De theavilla capta [Ensemble] De caleti et guinae [Ensemble] Amplissimi cu iusdam viri epistola ad Francic. Lotaringum [Ensemble] De sacra Francisci II. Galliarum regis initiatione

Rare gathering of 4 pamphlets by Michel de L'Hôpital in first editions. Printer's device on title page. Contemporary monogram stamp on 3 title pages out of 4: four letters appear intertwined: B. E. L. J. Only the last text: De sacra Francisci II dates from 1560, all other titles being from 1558. Text in italics.
Modern binding in full brown boards signed Boichot, smooth spine decorated with a red morocco title-label in Chinese style framed by two double gilt fillets, all edges red.
Small wormholes in the lower part of the first text. Traces of pale dampstains at bottom of pages. One wormhole to the left of the printer's device and passing through the 4 leaves. Pale dampstains throughout. Similarly, pale dampstains throughout the third text, similarly on the last text, more pronounced stains on the final leaves. Missing one blank leaf before the title De caleti et guinae, the signature beginning with A2 with the title page.
He who embodied according to Du Bellay "The double honor of muses and laws" represented for many the providential man when he was appointed Chancellor of France by Catherine de Medici. This humanist who was trained in law in Italy, architect of religious tolerance between Protestants and Catholics, and great jurist of his time, had very early literary renown. The majority of his works are however in relation to his political role, clearly marked by the wisdom of ancient writings (Cicero) and the teaching of Saint Paul for religion; one distinguishes there a sort of Christian stoicism. In his time, his famous Epistles were compared to those of Horace, and his satires were much appreciated at court. He was very early the protector of the poets of the Pléiade, and particularly of Ronsard who addressed an ode to him in 1550: Ode à Michel de L'Hospital. The publication at Frédéric Morel of L'Hospital's works confirms his proximity with the poets of the time, Morel was indeed the most renowned publisher of poets and humanists then in Paris. Monsieur de Sainte Marthe claimed that L'Hospital had imitated Horace more than any other poet, that he had not only equaled him for the beauty of expression and gravity of sentences, but that he had surpassed him by the sweetness of his versification. Monsieur de Thou shared this opinion on the neo-Latin poet. His writings were collected by Patisson in 1585.