[Chavigny de la Bretonnière (François de)] Le Cochon Mitré. Dialogue, manuscript on vellum, 32pp., text in black and red, title with floral ornament, full-page illustration, head- and tail-piece, decorative initial, framed in filet borders of red and blue throughout, yellow silk pastedowns and endpapers,18th century dark green crushed morocco, gilt, covers with filet and garland borders, flat spine in compartments, all but one filled with a pattern made up from small circular tools, the other with red morocco label, lower joint starting, but holding firm, corners worn, rubbed and scuffed, large12mo (book block 133 x 87mm.; binding 138 x 196mm.), no place, [c.1780].

⁂ A stunning manuscript copy of this vehement late 17th century satire, which closely imitates the printed text in style. Originally published in 1688 this satire against François Michel Le Tellier, Marquis of Louvois (Secretary of State for War under Louis XIV) and his brother Charles-Maurice Le Tellier, Archbishop of Reims (the eponymous 'Cochon mitré) takes the form of a dialogue in hell between Scarron et Furetière. The author was a defrocked Benedictine, who having written against Louis XIV, Madame de Maintenon and the Académie Française fled to Holland. He was extradited by Louvois, who threw him into the Bastille. He was later transferred to Mont Saint-Michel, where he was kept in a cage without heat or light.