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 FIFTEENTH CENTURY.

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implored one boon ; swearing he would not ask a remission of punishment from such as he had justlv offended, but rather its execution. At the earnest in!>tance of the lords present, his suit is Kith difficulty prranted. But when De Meun stated the terms, not one lady could be found to accept the honour of beginning the chastisement, and De Meun escaped,leaving the ladies covered with blushes, and furnishing the lords present a very diverting occasion of laughter.

The earliest French romances of chivalry are generally divided into two classes, namely, those which relate to Arthur and the Round Table, and those which have relation to Charlemagne.

Chaucer invested the Romans de la Rote with an English dress, with all the charms, wit, and elegance of the original.

The following statement, from Henry's HUtory »/ Great Britain, may illustrate in Some degree, the manners of these rude and unlettered time ; "robbery was the reigning vice in all the nations of Europe; and the robbers, protected by the barons, who shared their booty, plundered all who came in their way, without distinction. A troop of these plunderers.^ommanded by Gilbert Middleton,ana Walter Selby, assaulted two car- dinals, who were escorted by Lewis Beaumont, bishop of Dnrfaam, and his brother lord Beau- mont, attended by a numerous retinue, near Darlington. The cardinals they robbed of their money and effects, and then permitted them to proceed on their journey ; but carried the bishop and his brother, the one to the castle of Morpeth, and the other to the castle of Mitford, ana de- tained them till they had paid certain sums, as ransoms. The same Unfortunate prelate had his palace afterwards plundered even to the bare walk, by sir Joselin Deinnlle." Injurious as such a state of society must necessarily have been to the promotion of religion and learning, various instances occurred, which proved that m an age of strife, and ignorance, there were, nevertheless, some who promoted a desire for learning.

U0\, March 10. The first person who suffered death under the act for exterminating heresy, was Sir William Sawtre, rector of St. Oswyth, London. He was brought to trial before the coDTocation of the province of Canterbury, at St. Panl's, and received sentence of condemnation upon a statute, which is so reproachful to the principles and manners of the times, and it was Dotoneof denunciation, but was instantly carried into execution on this day, by being burnt to death. It was an honour to himself, but a dis- grace to his country, that he was the first person "ho suffered death, for the adoption of^ senti- ments the truth of which is now admitted by erety liberal mind. Another clergyman, whose leammg alone would entitle him to respect and esteem, was committed to a loathsome prison by Arundel, though he did not carry his vindictive ^irit 90 far to Willimn Thorpe, as with Sawtre.

1402, June 5. Henry IV. issues from West- minster a proclamation to dispel the rumours of Richard II. hinngajmeared in Scotland, stating that he was recently d!ead and buried. In AprU

in the following year, the Idng replies to Louis duke of Orleans, who had reproached him with rebellion, usurpation, and the murder of Richard. " If you mean that we had any hand in his death, we say that you lie, and will lie falsely, as often as you shall assert it ; aa the true God knows whom we call to witness our innocence, offering, as a loyal prince ought, our body against yours, if you will or dare to prove it."*

1403. By the authority of the lord mayor and court of afdermen of the city of London, the stationers were formed into a guild or frateniity and had their ordinances made for the good government of their fellowship. Thus constituted , they regularly assembled, under the government of a master and two wardens. Their first hall was in Milk-street ; but, notwithstanding all the endeavours that have been made, no privilege or charter has yet been discovered under which they acted as a corporate body.

It appears from the most authentic records that the company of stationers, or text-writers who wrote and sold all sorts of books then in use namely, A. B. C. with the Paternoster, Ave Creede, Grace, &c. to large portions of the bible, even to the whole bible itseli, dwelt in and about Paternoster-row. Hence we have, in that neigh- bourhood, Creed-lane, Amen-comer, Ave Maria- lane, Sec. all places named after some scripture allusions.

There dwelled also turners of beads, and they were called Paternoster makers ; as I read in a record of one Robert Nikke, Paternoster maker and citizen in the re\ga of Henrf IV. — . . ...^^.

Archbishop Seldon, in his miraclet of Anti- christ, published in 1616, mentions " standing stationers and assistants at miracle markets and miracle forges." The name stationer was adapt- ed by all the old booksellers and printers and it is well known that they had stalls or sheds in St. Paul's church yard. They acc[uired that name, (but not exclusively) from keeping fixed sheds or stalls, as distinguished from itinerant venders, " whether" observes Dr. Pegge, " of books or broomsticks." Wynken de Worde in his will calls himself "citizen and stationer of London."

1404, Sept. 24. Died William of Wykeham, bishop of Winchester, in the reigns of Edward III., Richard II., and Henry IV., and secretary of state to the first of these monarchs. He was bom at Wykeham, in Hampshire, in the year 1324. He was eminent both as a scholar and as an architect. In April, 1386, the first* warden and fellows made their public entry into St.- Mary of Winchester's college, since called New college, which he had founded ; also a noble school at Winchester, was founded by him, and which continues to retain a high reputation to the present day. In his register under the year 1384, an episcopal injunction is recited, against

miniaturefl, and richly illuminated, for the use of king: Richard II. when a yonth, ia preserved in the Cottonian library. It has a calendar, with various tables, besides hymns, and the Atbana^an creed. The king is repre- sented, in different places, on his knees before the Virgin Maiy, who has the in&nt Jesus in her anns.-TZ.< Long.
 * A Latin Paalter, ornamented with the most tieautifal

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