—— Rectory, Hereford, July 14.
THE VINE OF ST. FRANCIS.
(Vol. iii., p. 502.)
I feel much obliged for the information afforded by your Dutch correspondent. When I sent you my Query on the subject more than a year ago, I wrote principally from memory; but as I have now the work in question lying beside me as I write, and as it seems to be rarer and less known than I had imagined, you will perhaps find place for a more minute description of it.
The Vine of St. Francis is a folio volume, containing 418 numbered leaves, a "Prologhe" of one leaf (next to the title-page), and a "Tafel vā dit boeck" at the end, of five leaves and a half unnumbered.
The title-page contains a full-length picture of the saint, with a nimbus round his head, the knotted cord round his waist, and his palms extended, displaying the sacred stigmata. Above the picture is the title in red and black. I have written in Italics the words printed in red:
"Den wÿngaert vā Sinte Franciscus vol schoonre historien legenden ende duechdelÿcke leerēnghen allen menschen seer profÿtelÿch."
And under the picture "Cum gratia et privilegio." On the back of the title-page is printed as follows:—
"Dit is die generael tafel vā dese wÿngaert dwelcke ghdeylt is in drie boecken.
¶ Dat eerste boeck inhout
Sinte Franciscus grote legende