Moncrieff Thomas Editor Translator (1 results)

First Edition. in contemporary calf backed marbled boards, spine with raised bands, unlettered, slightly chipped at head, a little worn but generally a lovely unsophisticated copy. 8vo (188 x 120 mm), pp. 5, [3], 77, [3]; [iv], 72, p. 62-3 of the first part upper marginal tear just touching headline, uncut throughout and the second work largely unopened, A lovely unsophisticated copy of this unusual dual language history of the ?Old Alliance? between Scotland and France. Unusually, instead of printing the work in parallel text, the publishers decided to print the entire text in English, followed by the entire text in French, with a separate title-page and table of contents for each section. The early owners reading this book were clearly English speaking as, although the work is uncut throughout, it is only the second work that is largely unopened. After an introductory discussion of the origins of the alliance, which some claim dates back to Charlemagne and some to Philip the Fair in 1295, the work opens with a lengthy excerpt from the treaty of 1326, between Charles IV and Robert I, using it to demonstrate the bond between the two nations ?in good faith, as loyal allies, whenever they shall have occasion for aid or advice, in time of peace or war, against the King of England and his subjects? Much of the work is concerned with the privileges of the Scots in France, including the formation of the Scots Guards, or Garde Ecossaise, the naturalisation of Scots, the privileges of Scottish merchants trading in France and the ability of Scots to attend French universities. Although seen principally as a military and diplomatic agreement, the alliance also had a direct influence on numerous aspects of Scottish life, from architecture and cuisine to law-making and language: at the height of the alliance, French was spoken widely in Scotland. ESTC t96210.…