Add MS 35322-35323

ROTHSCHILD BEQUEST. Vols. XIII., XIV. The Decameron of Boccaccio, in French. Translated by Laurens de Premierfait from a Latin version made for him (as he says in his preface addressed to the Duc de Berry) by "vng frere de Pordre des Cordeliers nommé maistre Antoine de Aresche " (see P. Paris, Les MSS. François, i. p. 242). Two volumes. The present copy, like Royal MS. 19 E. i., omits the preface, and begins with Boccaccio's prologue, "Le propre et droit office," etc.; preceded here by the heading "Cy commence le prologue de Jehan Boeace en son liure appelle decameron autrement surnomme le prince galeot . . . . Lequel liure ja pieca compila et eseripuit ledit Bocace en langaige florentin . et qui nagaires a este translate premierement en latin et secondemeut apres en langaige francois a paris en lostel de noble saige et honneste homme Bureau de Dampmartin cytoyen de paris. escuier conseillier de trespuissant et tresnoble prince Charles sixiesme de co nom roy de France . par moy Laurens de Premierfait famillier dudit Bureau." Vol. i. contains Days 1-5, vol. ii. Days 6-10. Colophon: "Cy fine le liure de decameron autrement surnomme le prince galeot . . . Lequel liure ja pica compila et escript Jehan Bocace de Certald en langaige florentin (etc., as in heading). Lesquelles deux translacionts par trois ans faictes furent acomplies le quinziesme jour de Juing lan mil cccc. et quatorze" (Vol. ii., f. 215). Vellum; ff. 272, 215, in double columns. Late xvth ecut. With ten nearly full-page miniatures, of rather coarse execution, enclosed in floriate borders, at the beginnings of the several days, in French style. Binding, dark-brown leather, tooled, by Berthelet (cf. Royal MS. 13 B. xx., executed for Henry VIII.). Among other ornaments are medallion heads of Plato and Dido, and the motto, "Foy pour debvoir," of Edward Seymour (ob. 1552), Duke of Somerset, Protector (cf. his seal, Cat. of Seals, iii. p. 504), in a lozenge-shaped compartment in the centre of each cover. 19 X 14 in.