Fair copy in French from the 1740s of much of Rollin’s Histoire Ancienne together with an original continuation of the work up to the present day: ‘De L’histoire depuis. J.[esus] C[hrist]’ which deals with ‘Le Royaume d’Angleterre’ and the execution of Mary Stuart by Elizabeth I.
Small quarto bound in parchment over pasteboard with traces of printed material visible within the binding; scuffing to extremities but overall a very good binding. Written in black ink on paper with horizontal chain lines, watermark incorporating a Fleur de Lis design - apparently a different paper stock later in the manuscript: [4] pp361; [4] [pp] 34 [6] [pp] 26. Calligraphic manuscript half title ‘Histoire Ancienne’ with a signature below, closed tear near gutter; full manuscript title page, partially calligraphic, again with a signature presumably of the copyist - perhaps ‘M. Bayle’ or ‘M. Royle’? The manuscript title follows the format of the printed title page of an Etienne edition: ‘Chez la veuve Etienne libraire Rue St. Tarquer, vis a vis la rue du Plastre.’ The text is set out in a miniscule hand, written within a pencilled box, recto and verso with extensive marginal notes. There is also some later marginalia, written at right angles to the text as well as an interpolated page, and revision/ crossing out of the marginalia - the text has been read and responded to by a later reader. Bound-in are several manuscript maps and charts: hand drawn foldout ‘carte de la retraite... ‘ (opposite page 109); smaller foldout map (p153) foldout diagram of the classical orders (p262). This section collates: [4] pp361; [6] pp26*. Following the chronological table is the comment: ‘Cet Extrait d’histoire ancienne a ete commence le 28 Juin 1747 et fini Le 12. Janvier 1748.’
Three blank leaves are followed by the writer’s personal rejoinder to Rollin, entitled: ‘De L’histoire depuis. J.[esus] C.[hrist]’ beginning with the birth of Jesus and continuing with a list of Emperors of the East and West; this narrative is picked up with the Normans and continues through the Middle Ages, offering an assessment of ‘Le Royaume d’angleterre’, mentioning ‘Jacques VI... roy d’Ecosse, Charles I, Cromwell and son and the succession to George I. There is also a brief account of ‘Marie Stuard qui regnee 1542-1567 se fut decapitee par Elizabeth, troisieme reine d’angleterre’ followed by a brief reference to the subjugation of Ireland. A further 4 blank leaves and then Rollin’s ‘Histoire Romaine depuis la fondation de Rome... la veuve Etienne’. Large foldout chart of ‘Les Environs de Rome’ and ‘Plan de Rome Ancienne’. The writer copies book I only: half title and semi-calligraphic title page [4] [pp] [34] 3 blanks and ‘De la Sphere en General’, [pp] 5 [1] ‘Ode... presentee a Son Majeste par M. Rigard[?] 1745 [pp] 26.
Charles Rollin (1661-1740) published his ancient history in the 1730s with his Roman history remaining unfinished at his death. It was highly influential in French thought which makes this attempt from the 1740s by a French scholar to continue the history particularly intriguing. There appear to be two signatures of the copyist/ writer which means that is quite likely that his identity can be recovered.
