3. A manuscript of the Dance of Death, in German, is in the library of Munich. See Dr. Dibdin’s bibliographical Tour, vol. iii. 278; and Vonder Hagen’s history of German poetry. Berlin, 1812, 8vo. p. 459. The date of 1450 is given to this manuscript on the authority of Docen in his Miscellanies, vol. ii. p. 148, and new Literary Advertizer for 1806, No. 22, p. 348. Vonder Hagen also states that Docen has printed it in his Miscellanies, p. 349-52, and 412-16.
4. A manuscript in the Vatican, No. 314. See Vonder Hagen, ubi supra, who refers to Adelung, vol. ii. p. 317-18, where the beginning and other extracts are given.
5. In the Duke de la Valliere’s catal. No. 2801, is “La Danse Macabre par personnages, in 4to. Sur papier du xv siecle, contenant 12 feuillets.”
In the course of this enquiry no manuscript, decorated with a regular series of a Dance of Death, has been discovered.
The Abbé Rive left, in manuscript, a bibliography of all the editions of the Macaber Dance, which is at present, with other manuscripts by the Abbé, in the hands of M. Achard, a bookseller at Marseilles. See Peignot, Diction. de Bibliologie, iii. 284.
The following articles, accompanied by letter-press, and distinguishable from single prints, appear to relate to the Macaber Dance.
1. The Dance and song of Death is among books licensed to John Awdeley.[89]
2. “The roll of the Daunce of Death, with pictures and verses upon the same,” was entered on the Stationers’ books, 5th Jan. 1597, by Thomas Purfort, sen. and jun. The price was 6d. This, as well as that licensed to Awdeley, was in all probability the Dance at St. Paul’s.
3. “Der Todten Tantz au Hertzog Georgens zu Sachsen schloss zu Dresden befindlich.” i. e. “Here is found the Dance of Death on the Saxon palace of Duke George at Dresden.” It consists of twenty-seven characters, as follow: 1. Death leading the way; in his right hand he holds a drinking glass or cup, and in his left a trumpet which he is blowing. 2. Pope. 3. Cardinal. 4. Abbot. 5. Bishop. 6. Canon. 7. Priest. 8. Monk. 9. Death beating a drum with bones. 10. Emperor. 11. King. 12. Duke. 13. Nobleman. 14. Knight. 15. Gentleman. 16. Judge. 17. Notary. 18. Soldier. 19. Peasant. 20. Beggar. 21. Abbess. 22. Duchess. 23. Old woman. 24. Old man. 25. Child. 26. Old beggar. 27. Death with a scythe. This is a single print in the Chronicle of Dresden, by Antony Wecken, Dresden, 1680, folio, already mentioned in p. [44].
4. In the catalogue of the library of R. Smith, which was sold by auction in 1682, is this article “Dance of Death, in the cloyster of Paul’s, with figures, very old.” It was sold for six shillings to Mr. Mearne.