, and so far succeeded that some of his local
books on Lorraine were purchased for the National Library. He first built
a Hotel, not far from the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, with a large gallery
in which with infinite pains he built up a magnificent book-case; the
contents were of less importance; but he succeeded after a time in
filling it with books stamped with his new device of an eagle holding the
olive-branch.

One or two of the more serious collectors may be noticed before we pass
to the great age of Rothelin and La Valliere. Henri du Bouchet had
gathered about eight thousand books, all very well chosen, according to
the testimony of the Pere Jacob; on his death in 1654 he bequeathed them
to the Abbey of St. Victor on public trusts so that those who came after
him might find a solace in what had been 'his dearest delight.' He
requested that they might be free to students for three days in the week
and for seven hours in the day; and his wishes were duly regarded until
the great library of St. Victor was dispersed in 1791. The monks set up a
tablet and bust in memory of the generous donor; and perceiving that the
volumes were not emblazoned in the usual way they adopted the singular
plan of inserting pieces of leather bearing his arms into holes cut in
the ancient bindings.

The Abbe Boisot was another of the scholars who lived entirely for books.
While quite a young man he acquired a considerable library in his travels
through Spain and Italy; and in 1664, during an official visit to
Besancon, he was so fortunate as to acquire the MSS. of the Cardinal de
Granvelle, who had been the confidential minister of the Emperor Charles
V. Boisot wrote a delightful account of the adventures through which this
collection had passed. 'At first,' he says, 'the servants used what they
pleased, and then the neighbours' children helped themselves; when some
packing-cases were wanted, the butler, to show his economy, sold the
records contained in them to a grocer.' At last they were all tired of
these 'useless old papers,' and determined to throw them away. Jules
Chifflet, according to Guigard, was the means of saving the remainder. He
examined a number of the documents and recognised their importance,
though they were mostly in cipher; but he died before they could be
sorted out. Boisot bought what he could from the heirs, and found a good
many more MSS. in the neighbourhood. They passed with the rest of
Boisot's books to the Abbey