Histoire de la Maison de Montmorenci.

First edition.
Contemporary full blonde calf binding. Spine with five raised bands decorated with gilt compartments and fleurons, with blonde and citron morocco title and volume labels. All edges speckled red. Headcap of second volume worn. Spines of third and fifth volumes showing worm damage. Worming not affecting text in second, third and final volumes. The house of Montmorency was one of the most prestigious families of the French nobility and provided France with several constables, the most illustrious being the Renaissance prince: Anne de Montmorency. The five volumes are divided as follows: The first volume is devoted to a genealogy and chronology of the Montmorency from 960 until 1531, shortly before Anne became Constable, that is to say the highest function after the king. The second volume contains the life of Anne and that of François, marshal of France, from 1494 until 1579. The third volume is occupied by several biographies: Henri, Constable of France; Charles Duke of Amville, grand Admiral of France; & that of Henri II, Duke of Montmorenci, from 1547 until 1632. The fourth and fifth volumes contain the life of François-Henri de Montmorenci, Marshal Duke of Luxembourg, from 1628 until 1695. It is in the first volume that one will find the general history of the Montmorency, notably on the Middle Ages where the Montmorency worked with brilliance, but Desormeaux's work does not claim to be exhaustive, having made choices, notably biographical ones; however the work, of great quality, is undoubtedly the best that has been devoted to this illustrious family which merges so well with that of France; thus this anecdote is told that when in 1764 the duchess of Montmorency presented Désormeaux's work to Louis XV, asking: "Does His Majesty know the history of the house of Montmorency?" the King replied: "Madame, I know the history of France."