(1)
The duchess had a library of her own; and we hear of her
borrowing romances from ladies in attendance on the blue-
stocking Margaret of Scotland. (2) Not only were books
collected, but new books were written at the court of Blois.
The widow of one Jean Fougere, a bookbinder, seems to have
done a number of odd commissions for the bibliophilous count.
She it was who received three vellum-skins to bind the
duchess's Book of Hours, and who was employed to prepare
parchment for the use of the duke's scribes. And she it was
who bound in vermilion leather the great manuscript of
Charles's own poems, which was presented to him by his
secretary, Anthony Astesan, with the text in one column, and
Astesan's Latin version in the other. (3)
(1) Champollion-Figeac, 387.
(2) NOUVELLE BIOGRAPHIE DIDOT, art. "Marie de Cleves."
Vallet, CHARLES VII, iii. 85, note 1.
(3) Champollion-Figeac, 383, 384-386.
Such tastes, with the coming of years, would doubtless take
the place of many others. We find in Charles's verse much
semi-ironical regret for other days, and resignation to
growing infirmities. He who had been "nourished in the
schools of love," now sees nothing either to please or
displease him. Old age has imprisoned him within doors,
where he means to take his ease, and let younger fellows
bestir themselves in life.
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