Sentences, Bishop of Paris died in the year 1164. His work of Sentences is a compilation from Hilary, Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine, &c. Folio, half bound, calf, p. 242.

All the preceding Works once belonged to the Monastery of S. Mary de Camberone, in Hanovya, I suppose Hanau, in Germany, and are in fine preservation.

XVIII. JOHAN. BRANDO. Chronodromon, sive Cursus Temporum; 3 vols. imperial Folio.

This Work is a continuous and well connected chain of History, bringing down the whole account of the known world from the Creation to the beginning of the 15th century, forming not only a chronological succession of events, but also of Authors and their Works, both profane and sacred, ecclesiastical and civil, through the long lapse of 5835 years. The History has never been published.

Of the Writer and his Work I am enabled to give a satisfactory account from an entry in the first page of the 1st vol. of this spendid MS. "Johannes Brando, Natione Flandr. ex page Hontenessa, territorii Hulstensis, Religiosus Monasterii nostri de Dunis, S. T. Doctor Parisiensis, scripsit Chronicon celeberrimum ab origine mundi ad an. 1414, quod ipse inscripsit CHRONODROMON id est Cursus Temporum. Jacobus Meyerus in concinnandis Flandriæ annalibus fatetur se hoc libro non parum adjectum. Reperitur adhuc MS. in monte Blandinio Gandavi, in S. Bertino Audomari Aldenburgi, in Flandria, (cænobiis ordinis S. Benedicti) & Lovanii in collegio Atrebatensi; tribus tomis in Pergameno: opus visu & lectu dignissimum. Obiit Brugis in Dunensi refugio, an. 1428, die 13 Julii. Porrò Chronodromon, Lovanii extantem, vidi an. 1651: est opus nitidissimè exaratum, in magno folio in Pergameno. Primi Tomi initium

est, Quemadmodum ex veteris noveque sacre pagine fonte, &c. Tomus secundus sic incipit, Jam vetustatis horrida squalescens in umbra, &c. Tomus Tertius sic, Moris est imbecillium, &c.-Ita habet R. D. Carolus de Visch in sua bibliotheca Script. S. ord. Cisterciensis; p. 179, edit. Col. an. 1656.”

From this description the copy in question is evidently the identical copy examined at Louvain by Visch. It is splendidly bound in pale red Russia, by one of the first workmen of these days, and is the finest MS. that I have ever seen either in private or public Libraries. The writing is a beautiful Gothic, and is perfect in its kind; and all the Dates, Eras, &c. are beautifully distinguished by a very bright red and blue.

The First volume, composed of smaller skins of vellum than the others, stands 18 inches high and is 13 broad. The second and third volumes stand 21 inches high and are 14 broad. Whether the Vellum, which is white, beautiful, and even ;-the Writing, in which neither the hand of the writer nor the pen ever seems to fall off or change; —or the Correctness, which appears to be without error;-or the Binding-be considered, the MS. is of unequalled splendour; and only two other copies are known to exist. The first page of each volume is highly ornamented with fine broad Borders and elegantly finished Miniatures, viz.

In the first Volume there is a fine Portrait of the Author Brando, in his monk's dress, sitting at the desk of his conventlibrary, writing. At the bottom of the leaf, a Bishop is represented baptising three persons in one vessel, a Deacon in his surplice kneeling by: over the heads of the persons baptised is suspended a small blue shield charged with three fleurs-de-lys, probably the Arms of the Convent, as they appear in each volume. The place of baptism is a kind of Court or Cloister, before a castellated House, supported on Pillars, through which there is a view of a well cultivated and hilly country. The

C

Borders of this page are filled with Birds, Flowers, and Arabesques, most correctly and tastefully executed and highly illuminated. Pages 540.

In the second Volume, the Author Brando is again introduced, mending his pen. His chair, writing-desk, &c. are very charac

teristic and curious. There is a label near him on which are written the words equo animo, probably the motto of the Arms before described, and which appear here again. The Miniature is 4 inches wide by 4 long. The Borders or Margins are full of Flowers, elegantly formed Arabesques, and Insects, highly finished. On the Verso of this leaf there is a well-executed Miniature, representing the Nativity. The figures of Joseph, Mary, three Shepherds, three Angels adoring with out-spread wings, Jerusalem in the distance, the Ass and the Ox in the stable, the new-born Babe lying on a pallet, the Glory shining through the broken tiling of the Shed, are all well arranged and very expressive. The broad Border charged with Flowers and Arabesques, in colors and gold, as before. Pages 480.

In the third Volume there is another Miniature of Brando, apparently when old; with a care-worn cheek, in the act of mending his pen. The Door of his Cell is open and gives a view into the Cloisters of his Convent. Half way down on the same page, there is a whole length of the Emperor Charlemagne, in a room of his Palace, dressed in his imperial purple robes over a full suit of Armour, an. regni, 30, and drawn Sword in his right hand, and a Globe surmounted by a Cross in his left. The Border round the page is charged with well-finished Flowers, and elegantly involved Arabesques, with the Arms of the Monastery, and an empty label. Pages 440.

At the end of the first volume are these words in rubric :

Laus Christo detur, Qui finis hujus habetur.

At the end of the second volume is the following, also in rubric :

Explicit hic Liber; Scriptor sit crimine liber;

Laus Christo detur, Qui finis hujus habetur.

The third volume ends abruptly, with the transactions of A.D. 1414, as if the writer had intended to proceed.

John Brando died at Bruges, July 13, 1428.

XIX. A curious Collection of HISTORICAL PAPERS, viz.

1. Negotiatio facta Bloesii nomine Imperii an. 1560: pro restitutione Metensis, Tulensis, & Verdunensis civitatum; per Legatos, electum Tridentinum & comitem de Stollemberg, pp. 6.

2. A Statistical History of Ireland, divided under the heads of its Counties, enumerating the Towns, the "Men of name," Boundaries, Havens, Bays, Rivers, and an estimate of who" are faithful to her Majesty" and who are opposed, with the reason of it.

3. The Exchange between Merchants, and the value of diverse Coins. This is a political and philosophical Dissertation upon Currency, and every question connected with it.

4. "Certen notes to be adiected to the former descriptions of Irelande (No. 2) and the severale partes of the same."

5. "To encrease the Staple kepte in England:"-dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. Plans and Rules for the encrease of Commerce, Imports and Exports, local disadvantages to be remedied, &c. &c.

The name of the Author of this tract is to be found in p. 38. "Obiections made by a wyse worship" man and answered by me John Johnsonne."

6. "The Plott of establisshing a free marte at Ipsewich deuised by John Johnson, stapler, and Christopher Godwin, merchaunt Adventurer."

7. An Italian Letter of Guicciardini, concerning the Trade of Hamborough.

8. "A brief Discourse of the Negotiacion of Thomas Randolffe Esquier, with the Kynge (James VI.) and Counsell of Scotlaund, beinge sent thether by her Matye the last January 1580."-Sir T. Randolfe was a pupil of the celebrated G. Buchanan, and was sent on no less than eighteen embassies to different parts of the world: he did much service to the English government, sowing dissentions in the Scottish court! He died June 8, 1590.

9. The Order of Monseigneur's Funeral. "Monseigneur departed this lyf the xth of June abowte one of the clocke after dinner at his Castell of Chasteau-liury, 1584."-After describing where and how long the body rested, it proceeds with the order of the Funeral; "the Kynge (Henry III of France) mounted uppon a horse of Spayne, mourninge in a gowne of surge violet with a square capp of the same:" then the Cardinals in violet and the Dukes in black and upon white horses: "the Queene (Catherine de Medicis) in a litter of tawney, her selfe allso in tawney; her gowne, pintell and attyre of her head, with a longe and large vaile of (?) which covered her whole body be

hynde:" &c. &c.

10.

"Whether it may staunde with good pollicie for her Magtie to joyne with the Frenshe Kynge in his enterprise of Fflanders."