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 FIFTEENTH CENTURY.

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type. Mr. Ottley seems to hare fonned a decided apision, that the Biblia Paupenim and the SpeculuT Salvationis were both executed by the same artist.

In Bibliography these books are .described under two classes; namely, Books of Images without Text ; and Books of Images with Text. Ofthefonner class, the most celebrated specimen is the volume called the Biblia Paupenim ; and of the latter, the Speculum Humane Falvationis is in the highest estimation.

The Speculum Salvationit is the most cele- brated block book in the annals of typographical controversy; if indeed the appellation of block book can properly be given to it, in which the lixt, accompanying the figures, is printed for the most part with moveable characters : in one edition of it, and in the other editions, entirely so. In truth, says Mr. Ottley, it seems to hold a distant place, midway between the ordinary books, printed entirely from engraved wooden Mocks, and the first specimen of typography in its mature state ; and is therefore independent of its intrinsic merit, particularly interesting. The latin edition is comprised in thirty-one sheets and a half; and in the Dutch the introduction ocenpics only four leaves, and consequently there ire only sixty-two leaves in the whole. The work when entire, is composed of a preface, and foity-five chapters in prose Latin, with rhyth- miral terminations to the lines, produced about 1«6.

, The change and improvement from the man- BCT in which these books of images wereexecuted to moveable wooden characters, seems obvious and not difficult ; but there is no evidence that they were ever used, except in the capital letters of some early printed books.

I43I. About this period, Whethamstede, the learned and liberal abbot of St. Albans, being desirous of familiarising the history of his patron saint to the monks of his convent, employed Lydgate, as it should seem, then a monk of Bury, to translate the Latin legend of his life m English rhymes. It was placed before the altar of diat saint, which Whethamstede afterwards adoned with much magnificenee, in the abbey church. He paid for the translation, writing, and illumination of the l^end one hundred liiUingt, and expended on the binding and other exterior ornaments upwards of three pounds. The monk, who mentions it, and who lived after him, when it was still unfinished, exclaims, "Sod grant that this work may receive, in our hap, a happy consummation." — Warion't Hit- t^efMlulish Poetry.

1431, May 30. Joan of Arc burned at Rouen, the general ignorance and barbarity of the times are marked by several curious and very striking circumstances. When Joan of Arc, the heroic paid of Orleans was cruelly put to death, the judges in their condemnation of her, were influ- eaced by a serious opinion that she was a sorceress, and a woishipper of the devil. Indeed, the in- fatuation witn the respect of the belief of witch- craft, must have been irresistable, when it was

not in the power of such a distinguished character as Humphrey duke of Gloucester, to prevent his duchess from being brought to an open trial, and sentenced to a public penance and imprisonment for life, upon an accusation of this kind.*

1433. Sixty-six nounds thirteen shillings and fourpence, was paio for transcribing a copy of the works of Nicholas de Lyra, in two vols, to be chained in the library of Grey Friars, London. It is most probable, however, that the illumina- tions, as well as the ornaments, probably included in the sum ; if not the materials used, at least the workmanship.

Sir Richard Whittington (the famed lord mayor of London,) built the library of tlie Grey Friars, now called Christ's Hospital, in London, which was one hundred and twenty-nine feet long, and twelve broad, (Pennant says thirty-one) with twenty-eight desks, and eight double settles of wainscot; and was also ceiled with wainscot. In three years it was filled with books to the value of £556; of which Sir Richard contributed £400, and Dr. Thomas Winchelsey, a friar, of the Augustine's, supplied the rest. Thomas Walden, a learned Carmelite friar, who went by order of Henry V. to the council of Constance, and died approved in 1430, bequeathed to the same library as many MSS. of authors, written in capital-roman characters, as were then esti- mated at more than two thousand pieces of gold ; and adds, that this library, even in his time, ex- ceeded all others in London, fur multitude of books, and antiquity of copies.

The postillsf of de Lyra are brief commenta- ries which he carried through the whole bible. They were formerly in great request. De Lyra Ls commended for having made the literal sense his primary object : but his writines partake strongly of the scholastic character. He obtain- ed in the schools the appellation of doctor utilis.

Nicholas de Lyra or Normandy was, as some pretend, a converted Jew. He assumed the habit of the Friars Minors, 1291 : came to Paris, and, for a considerable time, expounded the scriptures with applause in the convent of his order. He obtained the patronage of Jane of Burgundy, wife of Philip v., sumamed the long, who appointed him one of her executors. De Lyra died at a very advanced age, October 23^ 1340. Both Lutner and Wiclif were con.

Mar^ry Jourdain, the witch of Eye. and their associates, beinp accused of necromancy, were publicly exposed at St. Paul's, in July, 1441, and on the s I st of October foUow- ing, Mrs. Jourdain was condemned to be burnt for fur- nishing lovt-potionji to Eleanor Cohham, wife to the Duke of Gloucester. — Sec Shakspeare's Henry VI.
 * Roger BoUnbroke, chaplain to the Duke of Gloucester,

t The term pottiila frequently adopted by the commen- tators of period, was generally applied to those explanatory notes after the text, and was probably derived from the Latin pontea, or postiUa, unless we suppose the word post- ilia to be a corruption from poMta a pa<;e. — Du Cangd.

As to the terra postilla so often given to these early an- notations, Lomeir says that Alculn, preceptor of Charle- magrne, by order of that monarch, first collected the homilies of the fathers upon those portions of the ^spels which are termed in the Breviary " Dominicalir,'* and as these homi- lies were to be read after the gospels, respectively, hence the terms " Post ilia," which in process of timewere Joined together, and converted into ^ nown " fomininl generis.*

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