. These barrels, which lay at the custom-house, were imported
duty free; and I suspect that Henry's third son, the celebrated John
Duke of Bedford, who was then a lad, and just beginning to feed his
bibliomaniacal appetite, had some hand in interceding with his father
for the redemption of the duty.

[Footnote 269: Vol. viii., p. 501. It is a Clause Roll of
the 9th of Henry IV. A.D. 1407: "De certis Libris, absque
Custumenda solvenda, liberandis;" and affords too amusing a
specimen of custom-house latinity to be withheld from the
reader. "Mandamus vobis, quod certos libros _in sex Barellis
contentos_, Priori qt Conventui Ecclesiae Sanctae Trinitatis
Norwici, per quendam Adam nuper Cardinalem legatos, et in
portum civitatis nostrae predictae (Londinensis) ab urbe
Romana jam adductos, praefato, Priori, absque Custuma seu
subsidio inde ad opus nostrum capiendis, liberetis
indilate," &c.]

LIS. This DUKE OF BEDFORD was the most notorious bibliomaniac as well
as warrior of his age; and, when abroad, was indefatigable in stirring
up the emulation of Flemish and French artists, to execute for him the
most splendid books of devotion. I have heard great things of what
goes by the name of _The Bedford Missal_![270]

[Footnote 270: This missal, executed under the eye and for
the immediate use of the famous John, Duke of Bedford
(regent of France), and Jane (the daughter of the Duke of
Burgundy) his wife, was, at the beginning of the 18th
century, in the magnificent library of Harley, Earl of
Oxford. It afterwards came into the collection of his
daughter, the well-known Duchess of Portland; at whose sale,
in 1786, it was purchased by Mr. Edwards for 215 guineas;
and 500 guineas have been, a few years ago, offered for this
identical volume. It is yet the property of this last
mentioned gentleman. Among the pictures in it, there is an
interesting one of the whole length portraits of the Duke
and Duchess;--the head of the former of which has been
enlarged and engraved by Vertue for his portraits to
illustrate the History of England. The missal frequently
displays the arms of these noble personages; and also
affords a pleasing testimony of the affectionate gallantry
of the pair; the motto of the former being "A VOUS ENTIER:"
that of the latter, "J'EN SUIS CONTENTE." There is a former