Sold for $1,016

(Reims), 1572. 8vo. ff. (xx), 110 (but 100), 80, (2, errata) (erratic foliation); two blanks at front. From the library of the Dukes of Manchester, with their Kimbolton Castle library book-plate on front paste-down. Later full brown calf, stamped in blind and in gilt, rubbing to boards, joints, and extremities; all edges gilt; marbled endpapers; front free endpaper starting; front free leaf excised; contemporary manuscript on verso of front blanks and on leaves at rear; scattered contemporary underlining and marginalia, largely at front; ownership signature of Francis St. John on title-page, previously attributed to be lawyer and politician of Thorpe Hall, Peterborough (1634-1705). USTC 342; Scott, A Bibliography of Works relating to Mary Queen of Scots 85; Brunet I 1370; Wilkinson, Mary Queen of Scots and French Public Opinion, pp. 63-66

A rare work published in defense of Mary, Queen of Scotts, "the most significant Catholic response to the deposition and imprisonment" of her (Wilkinson). Variously attributed to François de Belleforest and John Leslie, it is surmised that it was a collaborative effort between English and Scots exiles and loyalists of Mary of Guise. Issued in two parts, the first is a reply to the French translation of Buchanan's Detectio, the second part is a reply to a translation from the Treatise of Treasons.

As Scott explains, "the book, which is of considerable rarity, has been treated by many bibliographers as an original work; the authorship they attribute to Francois de Belleforest, a voluminous French author and translator. It is manifest, however, that if Belleforest had any part in its production, it was only as editor and translator." He further explains that copies are found with variant settings, caused by the "addition or removal of passages offensive to many of the actors in the drama".

Rare to auction, according to RBH this is only the fourth copy offered since 1983.