as; two books printed by Wynkyn de Worde--Hawes's
_Example of Virtu_, and _The Lyf of Saynt Ursula_, translated by
Hatfield--seven pounds, ten shillings and one pound, ten shillings;
Skelton's _Ryght Delectable Traytise upon a goodly Garlande, or Chapelet
of Laurell_, printed by Richard Faukes in 1523--an excessively rare, if
not unique book--seven pounds, seventeen shillings and sixpence; Peele's
_Polyhymnia_, London, 1590, three guineas; Lyly's _Midas_, London, 1592,
seven pounds; and _England's Helicon_, collected by John Bodenham,
London, 1600, five pounds, ten shillings. Two volumes of ballads,
chiefly collected by the Earl of Oxford, and purchased by Major Pearson
at Mr. West's sale, were bought by the Duke of Roxburghe for thirty-six
pounds, four shillings and sixpence, and are now, with additions by the
Duke, preserved in the British Museum. Books bound for Pearson may be
recognised by the device of a bird surmounting a vase, stamped on the
panels of the back.

[Illustration: DUKE OF ROXBURGHE.]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 88: The marked catalogue says L94, 10s.]

[Footnote 89: _Bibliomania_, London, 1811, p. 617.]

JOHN KER, DUKE OF ROXBURGHE, 1740-1804

John Ker, third Duke of Roxburghe, was born on the 23rd of April 1740 in
Hanover Square, London. He was the elder son of Robert Ker, second Duke,
and on the death of his father in 1755 succeeded to the title and
estates. While on a tour on the Continent he became greatly attached to
Christiana, eldest daughter of the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and
there is little doubt that she would have become his wife had not King
George III. soon afterwards sought the hand of the Princess's younger
sister in marriage, when it was considered necessary to break off the
match, partly for political reasons, and partly because 'it was deemed
indecorous that the elder sister should be the subject of the younger.'
This was a great disappointment to both the Duke and the Princess, who
evinced the strength of their affection by remaining single during their
lives. George III., probably feeling that he had done the Duke an
injury, always manifested a warm friendship for him, and bestowed upon
him various appointments in the royal household. In 1768 he was made a
Knight of the Thistle, and in 1801 was invested with the Order of the
Garter. He died on the 19th of March 1804.

The Duke, who was remarkable both for his fine presence and his mental
accomplishments, collected