6 4

The Dci7ice of Death.

attention. These are extremely rare, and two only haveoccurred on the present occasion.

i. A manuscript Prayer-book of the fifteenth century isvery briefly described by M. Peignot, 2 which he states tobe the only one that has come to his knowledge.

2. An exquisitely beautiful volume, in large 8vo. boundin brass and velvet. It is a Latin Horae, elegantly writtenin Roman type at the beginning of the 16th century. Ithas a profusion of paintings, every page being decoratedwith a variety of subjects. These consist of stories fromscripture, sports, games, trades, grotesques, &c. &c. theseveral employments of the months, which have also thesigns of the zodiac, are worth describing, there being twosets for each month.

January. —i. A man sitting at table, a servant bringingin a dish of viands. The white table-cloth is beauti-fully diapered. 2. Boys playing at the game calledHockey.

February. —1. A man warming himself by a fire, adomestic bringing in faggots. 2. Men and womenat table, two women cooking additional food in thesame apartment.

March. —1. A man pruning trees. 2. A priest confirminga group of people.

April. —1. A man hawking. 2. A procession of pilgrims.

May. —1. A gentleman and lady on the same horse.2. Two pairs of lovers : one of the men plays on aflute, the other holds a hawk on his fist.

June. —i. A woman shearing sheep. 2. A bridal procession.

July. —1. A man with a scythe about to reap. He drinksfrom his leathern bottle. 2. Boys and girls at the sportcalled Threading the needle.

August. —1. A man reapiig with a sickle. 2. Blind man'sbuff.

September. —1. A man sowing. 2. The games of hotcockles and.....

October. —1. Making wine. 2. Several men repairing casks,the master of the vineyard directing.

2 Rechei ^hes, p. 144, and see Catal. La Valliere, No. 295.