Royal MS 16 G IX

XENOPHON, Cyropaedeia, translated into French by Vasco Fernandes de Lucena (cf. 15 D. IV) from the Latin version of Poggio Bracciolini, Preceded by a table of contents. Title (f. 10 b) 'Cy commence le premier livre de listoire Cyrus roy de Perse composee par Xenophon le philozophe et intitulee de la tresbonne monarchic translatee de grec en latin par Pogge de Florence et de latin en francois par Vasque de Lucene'. Poggio's Latin, apparently unpublished, is in Harley MSS. 2460 and 2678 (f. 65, imperf.). An Italian version, also made from it, was printed at Florence, 1521. Vasco's preface, addressed to Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, beg. 'A treshault trespuissant et tresexcellent prince Charles par la grace de dieu'. Text beg. 'Pensant en mon ceur souuentesfois'; ends 'il approuuera nostre oppinion'. Colophon, 'Cy fine ce present liure qui traitte qui traitte (sic) des faiz et haultes prouesses de Cyrus, lequel fut iadis compose par Zenophon le philosophe et depuis naguaires translate de latin en francois par Vasque de Lucene'.

Vellum; ff. 203. 16 in. x 11¹/₂ in. Executed in Flanders, circ. 1470-1480, probably for Edward IV, the arms of England and Yorkist badges appearing in the borders, which are of foliage, fruit, flowers, &c., on a plain ground. Originally probably in two volumes. Gatherings (beg. f. 7) of 8 leaves (xiv¹, xxiii⁷) ; a fresh lettering begins, with xv. Catchwords at right angles to text. Sec. fol. in table '-sade des Indiens'; in text 'trouuera presque'. Six large miniatures of mediocre quality, viz.:

1. Charles, seated under a canopy on the right, receives the book from Vasco. Over his seat are his arms, 1st and 4th, Burgundy modern, 2nd, per pale, Burgundy ancient and Brabant, 3rd, per pale, Burgundy ancient and Limburg, over all an escutcheon of pretence, Namur (cf. Add. MS. 36619, f. 1). The arras at the back of the room is decorated with the flint and steel of Burlay emprins'. In the border arms of gundy, and with Charles's motto 'Je England, on a shield and on two banners, borne by a mermaid and a knight. In the latter England is quartered with France ancient, elsewhere with France modern. f. 7.

2. Cyrus and troops on the march badge in border. f. 42 b.

3. Cyrus and troops in phalanx. f. 76 b.

4. Meeting of Cyrus and the Hyrcanian: arms in border. f. 112.

5. Cyrus and troops on the march : badge in border. f. 140 b.

6. Cyrus enthroned : Chrysanthes addresses the Persians: badge in border. f. 169.

No. 59 in cat. of MSS. at Richmond Palace in 1535 (cf. 15 D. I); cat. of 1666, f. 14 or 14b; not in CMA.