LITMIR.BIZ

      The size is 185 × 130 mm. There are 32 lines to a full page.

       Collation: A6 B4.

      Signatures: A i (2 not signed): A iii (4-6 not signed).

      B i (2 not signed): B iii (4 not signed). Ab i a has the title at top:

Collectarium Mansuetudinum et bono-

      Below this is a woodcut measuring 99 × 76, and representing a bearded king in hat with crown about it, clad in ermine tippet, and dalmatic over long robe. He holds a closed book in his R. hand, a sceptre in his L.: on the L. wrist is a maniple. His head is turned towards R. On R. a tree, plants across the foreground: a mound on L. with two trees seen over it.

      I feel confident that the woodcut is not intended for a portrait of Henry VI, and that it really represents some Old Testament personage: but I have not attempted to trace it in other books.

      It has a border in three pieces. Those on R. and L. are 115 mm. in height and contain small figures of prophets standing on tall shafts: that at bottom was designed to be placed vertically, and contains a half-length figure of a prophet springing out of foliage, and with foliage above.

      On A i b the woodcut is repeated without the border.

      Then follows the text as given by me. After it, on B iv a, is Robert Coplande's device, measuring 80 × 95; a wreath of roses and leaves, comprised within two concentric circles: within it the printer's mark.

      Outside in the upper L. corner a rose slipped and leaved: in the upper R. corner, a pomegranate.

      Below, a scroll inscribed: Robert (rose) Coplande.

      On B iv b the woodcut of the king, without border.

      Below it, in a neat hand:

      For the rest, the volume contains:

      Capgrave's New Legende, beginning imperfectly in the Table

      De S. Esterwino abbate. fo. xxxviii.

      This is preceded by two inserted leaves of paper: on the first are the missing items of the Table, supplied in a rough hand of cent. xvi. On the second, in a hand of cent. xviii, is:

      At the end of the Table (before A i) is written in a hand of cent. xvi:

      At top of A i (cent. xvi) is: T. T. Collected by Caxton.

      On A viii b, B ii a is the name (cent. xvi):

      He has written a good many marginal notes in the book.

      Collation: Table 2 ff. A8 B4 C8 D4 E8 F4 G8 H4 I8 K4 L8 (i-iii signed) M4 N8 (as L) O4 (i-iii signed) P8 (as L) Q4 R8 (as L) S4 (i-iii signed: ii, iii both numbered i) T8 (+ 1: 4 leaves cix-cxii on the 11000 Virgins inserted after cvii* instead of after cviii) U6 (6 blank unnumbered) X8 (Life of S. Byrgette) Y6.

      Followed by tract of Walter Hylton: 'to a deuoute man in temperall estate howe he shulde rule hym' etc. A8 B8 (leaves not numbered).

      On cxix b is Pynson's device: no date.

      On cxxxiii a (Life of S. Byrgette) the date m. cccccxvi. xx Feb. On the verso Pynson's device with break in lower border.

      At the end of Hylton's tract B viii a the date mcccccxvi last daye of Feb.

      On the verso Pynson's device with break in lower border.

      Hearne's preface to Otterbourne (i, p. xliv) contains some interesting matter bearing on the tract, which I summarize here.

      West had acquired his copy by purchase, among a number of printed books formerly the property of Archbishop Sancroft.

      On p. xlix Hearne tells us that Sancroft had written the following note in his copy of the tract:

      Ware (and Hearne) print the Bull of Julius, directing an inquiry into Henry's sanctity and miracles. I may add that some part of the results of this negotiation may be seen in the manuscript collection of Henry VIth's miracles preserved in the Royal MS. 13. c. viii and in the MS. Harley 423 (a partial copy of the other), both in the British Museum.1

      Furthermore Hearne reprints what is properly called a Memoria of King Henry VI such as is to be found in a fairly large number of Books of Hours or Primers both manuscript and printed. Hearne's text is taken from Horae printed by Wynkyn de Worde 1510, f. cli a, and is as follows.