The Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet (Two Volumes, Complete)

London: George Routledge & Sons. Near Fine with No dust jacket as issued. 1877. Reprint. Later Printing. Leather. Beautifully bound in half green leather over marbled boards, spines in six compartments separated by raised bands, gilt lettering in two compartments, gilt borders in remainder, gilt borders on covers, marbled endpapers and edges. Generously illustrated with 102 woodcuts. Translated by Thomas Johnes, Esq. Enguerrand de Monstrelet (c. 1400 - 1453), was a French chronicle writer and author of the Chronique de Enguerrand de Monstrelet. He was born in Picardy, most likely into a family of the minor nobility. In 1436 and later he held the office of lieutenant of the gavenier at Cambrai, and he seems to have made this city his usual place of residence. He was for some time bailiff of the cathedral chapter and then provost of Cambrai. Little else is known about Monstrelet except that he was present, not at the capture of Joan of Arc, but at her subsequent interrogation with Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy. Continuing the work of Froissart, Monstrelet wrote a Chronicle, which extends to two books and covers the period between 1400 and 1444, when, according to another chronicler, Mathieu d'Escouchy, he ceased to write. But following a custom which was by no means uncommon in the Middle Ages, a sequel, extending to 1516, was formed out of various chronicles and attached to his work. Monstrelet's own writings, dealing with the latter part of the Hundred Years' War, are valuable because they contain a large number of documents which are certainly, and reported speeches which are probably, authentic. Full title: The Chronicles of Enguerrand De Monstrelet; containing an Account of the Cruel Civil War between the Houses of Orleans and Burgundy; of the Possession of Paris and Normandy by the English; Their Expulsion thence; and of other Memorable Events that Happened in the Kingdom of France, as well as in Other Countries. A History of Fair Example, and of Great Profit to the French, beginning at the Year 1400, where that of Sir John Froissart finishes, and ending at the year 1467, and continued by others to the year 1516." . The very beautiful bindings show only minor shelf-wear. Both volumes are unmarked, tight, square and clean. NEAR FINE.. Woodcuts. 4to 11" - 13" tall. 640; 552 pp .