“~Stam und Wapenbuch hochs und niders Standts~,”—_A stem and armorial Bearings-book of high and of low Station_,—printed at Frankfort-on-Mayne, 1579, presents above 270 woodcuts of the badges, shields and helmets, with appropriate symbols and rhymes, belonging as well to the humblest who can claim to be “vom gutem Geschlecht,” _of good race_, as to the Electoral Princes and to the Cæsarean Majesty of the Holy Roman Empire. Most of the figures are illustrated by Latin and German verses, and again “picture and short posie” vindicate the title,—book of Emblems. And of the same character is a most artistic work by Theodore de Bry, lately added to the treasure-house at Keir; it is also a _Stam und Wapenbuch_, issued at Frankfort in 1593, with ninety-four plates all within most beautiful and elaborate borders. Its Latin title, _Emblema Nobilitate et Vulgo scitu digna, &c._, declares that these Emblems are “worthy to be known both by nobles and commons.” And so when an Emperor is married, or the funeral rites of a Sovereign Prince celebrated, or a new saint canonized, or perchance some proud cardinal or noble to be glorified, whatever Art can accomplish by symbol and song is devoted to the emblem-book pageantry,—and the graving tool and the printing press accomplish as enduring and wide-spread a splendour as even Titian’s Triumphs of Faith and Fame. Devotion that seeks wisdom from the skies, and Satire that laughs at follies upon the earth, both have claimed and used emblems as the exponents of their aims and purposes. _Plate 2_ [Illustration: _Christ’s adoption of the Human Soul @span 2: Otho Vænius 1615@_] With what surpassing beauty and nobleness both of expression and of sentiment does Otho Vænius in his “AMORIS DIVINI EMBLEMATA,” Antwerp, 1615, represent to the mind as well as to the eye the blessed Saviour’s adoption of a human soul, and the effulgence of love with which it is filled! (See Plate II.) They are indeed divine Images portrayed for us, and the great word is added from the beloved disciple,—“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” And the simple _Refrain_ follows,— _“C’est par cet Amour que les hommes Sont esleuez de ce bas lieu; C’est par cet Amour que nous sommes Enfans legitimes de Dieu: Car l’Ame qui garde en la vie De son Pere la volonté, Doit au Pere ès cieux estre vnie (Comme fille) en eternité.”_