The Angers library brings back a book of the 16th century which remained for 300 years in England

The links between Angers and England could be on the forestage in the weeks to come. Their importance could seem exagerated in the eyes of many people. Nevertheless, a fact had just given to the links between Angers and England an additional and disconcerting lighting. 

The municipal library of Angers will celebrate, on September 14th, the official entry in the local collections of the original and illuminated manuscript of a book written by a man called Nicolas de Houssemaine, doctor of the medecine university of Angers. The book was bought by Angers and other national and regional authorities to... England where it remainded for 300 years! The price of the acquisition has not been disclosed.That acquisition is the most important of the municipal library since 1977.

The book tells the chivalry romance of the Dammartin, a famous France family and her links with the French monarchs who ruled the country till 1789. The picture which illustrates the event is beautiful but cruel : a man with a sword hold the head of its victim. In 1499, Edward Plantagenet was beheaded on order of Henry and the book bought was written in 1500. The departure of the book for England during the 17th century is unclear but the value of that manuscript is mentionned on many websites from England and even from USA. 

The presence of the book (which will be displayed to the public during the next Heritage Days on September 15 during period of 30 mn max) looks like an involuntary allusion to the death of the last heir of the Plantagenet.