The publication of the Liber Festivalis on the last day of June, 1483, marks the beginning of a new group of books, for in it first appears a recasting of type No. 4 on a slightly larger body, and with one or two different letters, thus giving us a clear date by which to divide all books in this type into two divisions.
The Liber Festivalis, or Festial as it should more properly be called, was compiled by John Mirk, canon of the abbey of St. Mary at Lilleshall, in Shropshire. It was intended, as the compiler tells us, to supply short sermons for ignorant priests to expound to their congregations on saints' days, and the stories were obtained from the Golden Legend and the Gesta Romanorum. It was in no way a service book, though often so considered, indeed, it is included in Dickinson's List of printed service books according to the ancient uses of the Anglican Church, but was more in the nature of a preacher's assistant, such as are published to the present day, giving a series of headings and anecdotes applicable to particular subjects.
This first edition of Caxton's differs considerably in the text from all later editions, which follow the version printed at Oxford by Rood and Hunte in 1486.
It is a folio of 116 leaves, of which the first is blank, and has 38 lines to the page.
With it was issued a supplement of 30 leaves, called Quattuor Sermones, which were homilies on such matters as the Seven Sacraments, Seven Deadly Sins, and the like.
LIBER FESTIVALIS
(see page [56])]