An herde of all mañ dere
A pride of Lionys
A sleuth of Beeris.”
&c. &c.
This was evidently copied from some MS., and ends with “¶ Explicit,” and nothing more. On the next page we have the proper terms for carving or dismembering beasts, fowls, and fishes, followed on the last leaf by a list of bishoprics and provinces.
Having thus filled up all his leaves, the printer begins his third subject on a fresh signature, and introduces the “Liber Armorum” with the Preface (already printed). A long work on the “Blasing of Arms” follows, beginning on sig. c j, and ending on sig. f 10.
This is extremely interesting, both in matter and in the very rude woodcut representations of armorial bearings with which the text is profusely illustrated. Except in one or two cases of uncommon tints, these are all colour-printed, as are the initials to paragraphs. In the Grenville copy, the pressman having forgotten to roll the “forme,” the initials all appear in that semi-tinted state which would be the natural result of such an omission. We notice, too, that where the coats of arms require, say, three colours on one page, then the initials are also in three colours; but if only one colour is required for the arms, only one colour, and that the same, is used for the initials. Occasionally, where a peculiar colour was necessary, a brush was used to insert that tint by hand.
In workmanship the St. Albans printer, especially in the English books, is much inferior to the contemporary issue from the Westminster press. The types are worse, the arrangement worse, the presswork worse, and the ink worse. From this point of view alone, the theory that he would print for Caxton so much better than he did for himself, is not worth serious consideration.
The Book of St. Albans went through many editions, particulars of which are difficult to obtain.
1486. The Boke of St. Albans (Brit. Mus.). 149–. By Wynken de Worde “at the sygne of the Sonne.” 1496. By Wynken de Worde (Brit. Mus.). 15—. By W. Powell. “Imprinted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of George next to saynt Dunston’s Church by Wyllyam Powell.” 15—. By W. Copland. “Imprinted at London in Flete Street at the sygne of the Rose Garlande by Wylliam Copland for Richard Tottell” (Brit. Mus.). 15—. By W. Copland. “In Lothebury” 4to. 15—. By W. Copland. “In saynt Martyns parish in the Vinetre uppon the three crane wharfe.” 1548? By W. Copland. “Imprynted at London in the Vyentre vppon the thre Craned Wharfe by Wyllyam Copland.” 1550. By W. Powell. “Hawkynge Huntynge and Fishynge.” 8vo. London.