"¶ SPECULUM CHRISTIANORUM MULTA BONA CONTINENS."
I have a small black-letter tract which bears the above title: I am desirous of learning the author's name, and that of the printer, together with the date and place of its production. It extends from signature A 1 to G 8, and ends abruptly on the verso of G 8 without any colophon. On the verso of the title page is a small woodcut representing the Holy Dove hovering over the Virgin, who is surrounded by nine kneeling figures, all under a depressed arch, supported by two pillars whose shafts have a kind of chevron ornament worked on them, somewhat similar to the pillars of the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral. Perhaps if I give the title-page of this curious little tract in extenso, it will be more easily identified:
"¶ Speculum Christianorum multa bona continens. Primo modo.
¶ De preceptis dei
¶ De septem vitiis captalibus
¶ De septem virtutibus his contrariis
¶ De octo tabulis: cu quibusda oronib' deuotissimis
¶ De modo se preparadi ad sacrametum eucharistie
¶ De effectu sacramenti
¶ De antichristo
¶ Expositio oronis duice: cum quoda bona notabili
¶ De Ramis. vii. vicioru capitaliu: et eorum remediis
¶ De contentu mundi: cum aliis notabilibus."
It should be noted that this table of contents is by no means a fair representative of the subjects on which the pamphlet treats. On the verso of page E iii. is the following curious passage:—
"¶ Peccata britonum et causa depositionis eorum. Negligentia prelatorum | rapina potentu | cupiditas indicu | rabies periuriorum | inordinatus cultus vestimentorum: detestanda luxuria | omne petm publicum & notorium clamat vindicta ad deum. Sed precipue quattuor: merces mercenarii, pctm sodomiticum, homicidium, oppressio innocentiu. Heu heu heu quot clamores vindicte sunt nunc ante deum."
This passage is introduced without any farther connexion with the subjects under discussion, than the mere heading of the section gives it. Permit me to trouble you with one more extract, before I leave my Query in the hands of your readers:
| "¶ De duabus scalis: una dirigente ad celum: etaltera ad infernum. | |
| ¶ Scala ad celum Perseverantia bona Patientia in adversis Obedietia in preceptis Patientia in vita Cotritio et cofessi pcti Cognito tui Caritas | ¶ Scala ad infernum Desperatio Obstinentia in peccatis Furor in adversis Iniusticia facti Odiu boni et dilectio pcti Ignorantia Malicia." |
On the recto of C vj.
Any information which some of your bibliographical correspondents may give concerning this little work, will be very acceptable.
W. Sparrow Simpson, B.A.