Books and their makers during the Middle Ages : $b A study of the conditions of the production and distribution of literature from the fall of the Roman empire to the close of the seventeenth century, Vol. IIPutnam, George Haven
History
Books and their makers during the Middle Ages : $b A study of the conditions of the production and distribution of literature from the fall of the Roman empire to the close of the seventeenth century, Vol. II
Putnam, George Haven
Books -- History -- 400-1450; Copyright; Freedom of the press -- History -- To 1500; Manuscripts; Printers
This is a translation of “Le Livre des Vices et des Vertus,” said
to have been written early in the fourteenth century by Friar
Laurent, confessor of Philip the Bold. The book had come into
general circulation in France and had been twice translated into
English before the version of Caxton.
1489. “The Faytes of Arms and of Chivalry.” Folio. Per Caxton.
This is a translation by Caxton of the work of Christine de Pisa
of Venice. It was written in France about 1400. In her preface,
Christine says: “Because men of arms are not clerks, nor instructed
in the science of language, I have assembled and gathered together
diverse books to produce this work, and because that this is a
thing not accustomed and out of usage to women, which commonly do
not intermit but to spin on the distaff and to occupy themselves in
the things of the household; I supplicate humbly ... to have nor to
take for no evil if I, a woman, charge myself to treat of so high a
matter.”
1489. “Statutes of Henry VII.” Folio. The earliest known volume of
statutes, and noteworthy also because printed in English.
1489. “The Governal of Health”; “The Medicina Stomachi.”
The “Governal” was originally written in Latin, but was translated
into English before Caxton’s time. It is a compilation from the
writings of certain Greek and Arabian physicians. The “Medicina” is
attributed to Lydgate, who seems to have been Caxton’s favourite
author.
1489. “The Four Sons of Aymon.” Folio.
A translation by Caxton of a very famous and popular romance, which
originated probably as early as the twelfth century. Caxton’s
version was apparently produced from the volume printed in Lyons in
1480, “Les Quatre Filz Aymon.”
1490. “Eneydos.” Folio. “Translated by me Wyllyam Caxton.”
The original was not a version of the “Æneid,” but a romance based
in part on the “Æneid,” and in part on the “Fall of Princes” of
Boccaccio. Mr. Blades points out that a good sale was probably
expected for it, as a large impression was struck off, and the
existing copies are therefore comparatively numerous. The book
failed, however, to reach a second edition.
1490. “A Book of Divers Ghostly Matters.” “Emprynted at
Westmynstre. Qui legit emendet, pressorem non reprehendat Wyllelmn
Caxton. Cui, de alta tradat.”
The volume contains, with various writings, the “Rule of S. Benet.”
The compilation is credited to Jehan de Sonshavie.
1491. “The Arte and Craft to Know Well to Die.” Folio. Translated
by Caxton in 1490.
The complete work, of which Caxton’s volume is an abridgment, had
been known during the century, in manuscript form, under the title
“The Art and Craft to Live Well and to Die Well.” It had been
printed in Latin in Paris in 1483. Caxton had probably utilised for
his translation the French version printed in Bruges by Mansion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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