Another testimony comes from Dr. Sambucus, who knew Grolier well when he
was living in Paris, and used to be fond of inspecting his cabinet of
coins. In the last year of Grolier's life he received a book on the
subject with a dedication to himself by the worthy Doctor. Grolier was
reminded in the preface of their long talks on antiquarian subjects, and
of the kindness which Sambucus had received from the treasurer and the
treasurer's father at Milan. 'During the last three years,' says
Sambucus, 'I have been enriching my library, and I have added some very
scarce coins to the cabinet that you used to admire.' He adds a few
complaints about dealers and the tricks of the trade, which we need not
repeat. 'And now farewell!' he ends, 'noble ornament of a noble race, by
whose mouth nothing has ever been uttered that came not from the heart!'
Some account of Grolier's career is to be found in De Thou's great
history. He praised the 'incredible love of learning' that had earned for
a mere youth the intimate friendship of Budaeus. He showed with what
administrative ability the Milanese territories were governed, and with
what dignity Grolier filled the high office of Treasurer at home.
Grolier, he says, built a magnificent mansion in the Rue de Bussy, which
was known as the Hotel de Lyon; in one of its halls he arranged the
multitude of books 'so carefully, and with such a fine effect, that the
library might have been compared to that which Pollio established in
Rome'; and so great was the supply that, notwithstanding his many gifts
to friends and various misfortunes which befell his collection, every
important library in France was able after his death to show some of his
grand bindings as its principal ornament. Grolier's old age was
disturbed by imputations against his official conduct, and it seemed at
one time as if his fortune were in considerable danger. 'He was so
confident in his innocence,' said the historian,'that he would not seek
help from his friends; but he might have fallen at last, if he had not
been protected by my father the President, who always used his influence
to help the weak against the strong and the scholar against the ignorance
of the vulgar.' The old Treasurer kept his serene course of life until he
reached his eighty-sixth year: he died at his Hotel de Lyon, surrounded
by his books, and was buried near the high altar in the Church of St.
Germain-des-Pres.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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