and had a peculiar passion for richly illuminated books, of which he created a library which, after that of the Duke of Burgundy, was the most celebrated in all Flanders. Van Praet collected a most interesting list of the books still in existence which once formed part of this celebrated library, and classed this MS. of the Chronicles of Froissart among the most beautiful. The Gruthyse library passed to his son, Jean of Bruges, and afterwards to Louis XII. of France, who added it to the library founded at the Château de Blois, by his father Charles of Orleans; from that library it was brought to the Bibliothèque Royale of Paris. The arms of Gruthyse have been, in every instance in which they occur in the illuminations, painted over by those of France; but in some places the more recent colour has peeled off a little, exposing the shield beneath, and in every instance the Gruthyse arms may be easily discerned by holding the parchment to the light. This magnificent work of middle-age art will furnish most of the Illustrations in the present volume. But a few will be added from other sources, which will add to the variety and interest of the work even if inferior in execution. I may here mention that I searched all the other public libraries of Paris, in hope of meeting with the lost volumes of our museum MS., finding in that of the Arsenal a very beautiful and complete MS. of the Chronicles, with the borders in colours and gold, but the miniatures only in black and white, of about the same date as the Museum MS. The remaining volumes of _that_ MS., however, could nowhere be discovered, and it is to be feared are lost. But the Gruthyse MS., being undoubtedly a finer work, will no doubt afford our subscribers greater gratification than the lost books, could they have been found. H. N. H. LONDON, _January, 1844_. [Illustration: <f>Isabella, Queen of Edward II. on her voyage to England, with Sir John of Hainault.</f>] PLATE I. QUEEN ISABELLA ON HER VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. Before commencing the History of Edward III., with which Froissart commences his Chronicles, he devotes a few short chapters to the latter events of the previous reign. In Chapters VIII. and IX. he relates the arrival of Isabella, Queen of Edward II., in Hainault, and the determination of Sir John of Hainault, brother to the Earl, to accompany her to England with an armed force, and restore her and her son to their rank and influence, usurped by the Spencers, the favourites of the weak monarch. The Illumination,[1] which is most beautifully executed, represents the Queen on her voyage; Sir John of Hainault is conversing with her; and she is accompanied by several ladies of her suite. Many interesting details of costume are carefully and accurately executed, and the whole miniature forms a most pleasing composition. [Illustration: <f>Execution of Sir Hugh Spencer.</f>] PLATE II.