AN ENGLISHMAN'S LIBRARY (circa1475).
Source.—Paston Letters, vol. iii., No. 869.
[Note.—The original manuscript is much decayed, and the portions between brackets represent attempted reconstructions of the text.]
The inventory of the English books of John [Paston] made the fifth day of November, anno regni regis E. iiij....
[33]A romance of the fourteenth century, first printed by Wynkyn de Worde (1509-1528).
[33]A romance of the fourteenth century, first printed by Wynkyn de Worde (1509-1528).
[34]Chaucer'sTroilus and Cressida.
[34]Chaucer'sTroilus and Cressida.
[35]Possibly Chaucer'sLegend of Good Ladies.
[35]Possibly Chaucer'sLegend of Good Ladies.
[36]Possibly Chaucer'sParliament of Fowls.
[36]Possibly Chaucer'sParliament of Fowls.
[37]A poem by Lydgate (circa1370-1451). For a text of this poem see Early English Text Society, Extra Series, lx. (1891).
[37]A poem by Lydgate (circa1370-1451). For a text of this poem see Early English Text Society, Extra Series, lx. (1891).
[38]An anonymous ballad of the fourteenth century.
[38]An anonymous ballad of the fourteenth century.
[39]In this ballad Ypotis = Epictetus (see Horstmann'sAltenglische Legenden(1881)).
[39]In this ballad Ypotis = Epictetus (see Horstmann'sAltenglische Legenden(1881)).
[40]The "Vernicle," or "Veronica Kerchief" was one of the most popular legends of the Middle Ages. Veronica, a lady of Jerusalem (afterwards identified with the woman that had an issue of blood), seeing Christ sinking beneath the burden of the Cross, wiped His face with a veil. After this work of mercy the face of Christ was found imprinted on the veil.
[40]The "Vernicle," or "Veronica Kerchief" was one of the most popular legends of the Middle Ages. Veronica, a lady of Jerusalem (afterwards identified with the woman that had an issue of blood), seeing Christ sinking beneath the burden of the Cross, wiped His face with a veil. After this work of mercy the face of Christ was found imprinted on the veil.
[41]Cicero'sDe Senectute.
[41]Cicero'sDe Senectute.
[42]Scipio. In Cicero's dialogue,De Amicitia, the friendship of the chief speaker, Gaius Lælius, with the younger Scipio, is taken as the model of the theme. "Equidem ex omnibus rebus, quas mihi aut fortuna aut natura tribuit, nihil habeo quod cum amicitia Scipionis possim compare."
[42]Scipio. In Cicero's dialogue,De Amicitia, the friendship of the chief speaker, Gaius Lælius, with the younger Scipio, is taken as the model of the theme. "Equidem ex omnibus rebus, quas mihi aut fortuna aut natura tribuit, nihil habeo quod cum amicitia Scipionis possim compare."
[43]Lydgate'sWerke of Sapience.
[43]Lydgate'sWerke of Sapience.
Item, the new Book portrayed and blazoned.Item, a copy of Blazonings of Arms and the names tobe found by letter.Item, a book with arms portrayed in paper....
Item, the new Book portrayed and blazoned.Item, a copy of Blazonings of Arms and the names tobe found by letter.Item, a book with arms portrayed in paper....
Item, the new Book portrayed and blazoned.Item, a copy of Blazonings of Arms and the names tobe found by letter.Item, a book with arms portrayed in paper....
Memorandum, my Book of Knighthood and the man[ner] of making of Knights, of Jousts, of Tour[nements], fighting in lists, paces holden by so[ldiers] ... and challenges, statutes of war, andDe Regim[ine Principum].[45]
Item, a new Book of new Statutes from Edward IV.
[44]A treatise onWisdom. Dr. Gairdiner notes that the name is derived from the Greek Ὠ θεὰ but was used in the Middle Ages as the name for the Goddess of Wisdom (Paston Letters, vol. ii., p. 335, n. 1).
[44]A treatise onWisdom. Dr. Gairdiner notes that the name is derived from the Greek Ὠ θεὰ but was used in the Middle Ages as the name for the Goddess of Wisdom (Paston Letters, vol. ii., p. 335, n. 1).
[45]Thomas Hoccleve (1370?-1449) wrote theRegement of Princes, based on theDe Regimine Principumof Ægidius Colonna (see Early English Text Society, Extra Series, lxxii., 1897).
[45]Thomas Hoccleve (1370?-1449) wrote theRegement of Princes, based on theDe Regimine Principumof Ægidius Colonna (see Early English Text Society, Extra Series, lxxii., 1897).