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Dibdin refers to a Latin Psalter with an interlineary Saxon version, in the MS. library at Stowe, probably one of the oldest Psalters extant in England, and thought to be of the IXth century, whose binding "consists of oaken boards, upon the exterior of the first of which is a large brass crucifix, formerly, perhaps, covered or washed with silver. The crucifix measures, to the best of my recollection, about seven or eight inches in height. The workmanship is clumsy. Regarding this Psalter there is a tradition that it is the book upon which the Kings and Queens of England took their coronation oath previous to the reformation.' It is sufficient to observe further that it was formerly entered in the exchequer as “a little booke with a crucifix." Dibdin then makes mention of another book in the Stowe collection, a "MS of the Latin Gospels of the Xth or XIth century, bound in oaken covers, the outside of one of which is inlaid with pieces of carved ivory; which specimens of ivory sculpture I conceive to be of a later period-being probably inlaid by the piety of some subsequent owner. They are, however, very curious, and deserve explicit notice. The first consists of our Saviour, with an angel above him; the second, of the Virgin, with Christ in her lap-the Virgin is in half length; the third is a small whole length of Joseph, with an angel above. A gilt nimbus is around the head of each, but that which encircles the Virgin is perfect, and the compartment in which she appears (about five inches high) is twice the size of each of the others. The draperies throughout are good; it is altogether a choice and precious specimen of ancient binding."

Mr. Astle speaks of "a booke of Gospelles garnished and wrought with antique worked silver and gilt with an image of the crucifix, with Mary and John, poiz together cccxxij oz, Also, in the Jewel House in the Tower, "a work of gold enameled, clasped with a rubie; having on th' one syde a crosse of dyamounts, and vj other dyamounts, and th' other syde a flower de luce of dyamounts, and iiij rubies, with a pendante of white sapphires and the armes of Englande, which booke is garnished with small emerades and rubies hanging to a cheyne, pillar fashion, set with xv knottes, every one conteyning iij rubies (one lacking).” Archaeologia, vol. xiii, 220.

"Oone Gospell booke, covered with tissue and garnished on th' onside with the crucifix and the Queene's badges of silver guilt, poiz, with wodde, leaves and all cxij oz," is a description of a prayer booke said to have been in the possession of Queen Elizabeth in the sixteenth year of her reign. The cross and other Christian emblems were so much in keeping with the character of the majority of early manuscripts that we are not surprised to find them so frequently occurring.

It was not until the latter part of the fifteenth century that books were bound in thick boards, covered with leather stamped in arabesque and other curious patterns. Vellum bindings appear to have been stamped at the close of the fifteenth century, succeeding the solid old boards covered with stamped leather. During the fifteenth century vellum was used as a plain binding, with the margin frequently lapping over, and sometimes meeting on the edges of the book, thus forming a most excellent protection against dust and injury. Arabesques were the prevailing ornaments for stamped binding during the fifteenth century. Towards the sixteenth century historical subjects or portraits were occasionally employed. In the early part of the sixteenth century they are of frequent occurrence.

Among the most beautiful bindings of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, we must not forget to mention the covers of books in enamelled copper. (See the illustration, representing a large painted initial letter in a manuscript in the Royal Library at Brussels, showing the arrangement of the binding, in enamelled metal, of a book of the Gospels, ninth or tenth century.) The museum of Cluny, Paris, posseses two plates of incrusted enamel of Limoges, which must have belonged to one of these bindings; the first has for its subject the "Adoration of the Magi;" the other a representation of the monk, Etienne de Muret, conversing with St. Nicholas. The Cathedral of Milan contains in its treasury the covering of a book still more ancient and much richer, about fourteen inches in length and twelve wide, profusely covered with incrusted enamel and mounted and ornamented with precious stones of various colors. Among the curiosities of binding may be mentioned a specimen of literature in the shape of a book whose leaves were lead. Montfaucon, in his Palaeographia Graeca, represents Job, Suetonius, Frontinus and Pliny, in support of the existence of books formed entirely of lead. Montfaucon says he only saw one of these leaden books, which contained eight leaves, including its cover or binding, also of the same material. Rings are fastened

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through the side extremity of each leaf, in such a manner that a leaden rod or hinge running through the rings binds the Book. Montfaucon "found the original during his residence in Rome and presented it to Cardinal de Bouillon. It was about four inches long and two and a half wide. The leaves were covered with hieroglyphic ornaments, of which facsimiles and ingenious solutions were given by the learned antiquary." Against the weight of the material was urged the ductility of the surface. What a material for pocket editions, or readers of light literature! Think of sending books to the blacksmith's shop to be bound and repaired!

A most extraordinary volume, of extreme interest to English antiquaries, is known as ST. CUTHBERT'S BOOK, "said to be executed for that Saint when he was Bishop of the church of Lindisfarne. Ethelwald, one of the monks of the same monastery, smit with the perfection of the calligraphy, procured an artist of the name of Bilfrith to execute the illuminations and ornaments, and caused the volume to be bound with gold and precious stones. An inscription regarded as coeval records the names of Eadfrith, Oethelwald, Bilfrith and Aldred, as completing and ornamenting this volume of the Gospels to God and Cuthbert; its age will therefore necessarily be towards the middle of the seventh century, and as it stands so perfectly insulated-so completely different from every other book of an admitted later date executed in our own country-that that antiquary will probably have a tough knot to untie who shall strive to overthrow its chronology."

For some account of the prices paid for ancient bindings see foot note.

Scholars and priests frequently bound their own books, which accounts for the relatively small number of professed bookbinders during the early ages. The monasteries, the principal centres of book-making, had one or many members of their community, whose special function it was to bind the books written within their walls. Tritheimus, Abbot of Spanheim at the end of the fifteenth century, does not forget the bookbinders in the enumeration he makes of the different employments of his monks :-"Let one," says he, "fasten the leaves together and bind the book with boards. You prepare these boards, you dress the leather, you the metal plates which are to adorn the binding." Hearne 'has published a grant from Rich. de Paston to Bromholm Abbey, of twelve pence a year rent charge on his estates to keep their books in repair."

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In the year 1299, when a tax was imposed upon the inhabitants of Paris for the exigencies of the King, it was ascertained that the number of bookbinders then in town amounted only to seventeen, who, as well as the scribes and booksellers, were directly dependent on the University, the authorities of which placed them under the surveillance of four sworn bookbinders, who were considered the agents of the University.

We must except, however, from this jurisdiction the acknowledged bookbinder to the "Chambre des Comptes," who, before he could be appointed to this office, had to make an affirmation that he could neither read nor write.

In the musters, or processions, of the University of Paris, the bookbinders came after the

booksellers.

* In 1386, Martin Lhuiller, a bookseller at Paris, received from the Duke of Burgundy 16 francs, equivalent now in modern French money to about $25, for binding eight books, of which six were covered in grained leather. On Sept. 19, 1394, the Duke of Orleans paid to Peter Blondel, goldsmith, 12 livres, 15 sols, for aving wrought, besides the duke's silver seal, two clasps for the book of Boèce.

Edward the Third used to have his books bound. Here is a bill of costs:

"To Alice Claver, for the making of xvi laces and xvi tassels for the garnyshing of divers of the King's books, ijs, viijd.

And to Robert Boillet, for blue paper and nailles for closing and fastenyng of diuers cofyns of ffyre wherein the Kings boks were conveyed and caried from the Kings great wardrobe in London unto Eltham aforesaid, vd. Piers Banduyn, Stacioner, for bynding, gilding and dressing of a booke called Titus Liuius, xx8 for bindg, gilding and dressing of a booke called Frrossard, xvjs: for binding, gilding and dressing of a booke called le Gouuerment of Kings and Princes, xvjs. For the dressing of ij books, whereof one is called la forteresse de Foy, and the other called the book of Josephus, iij s, iiij d. And for binding, gilding and dressing of a booke called the bible historial, xx s." Among the expenses of the wardrobe accounts-Edw. III.

TO BE CONTINUED.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

ANDREANA.

The Family of Gen. Benedict Arnold.W. T. K. is referred to Sabine's American Loyalists for an account of the family of Arnold, after his treason,—and for further particulars to Mrs. Caulkins' History of Norwich, Conn., (1866), pp. 412-414.

His only sister, Hannah Arnold, never married. She lived with her brother, at New Haven, took care of his family, and managed his business while he was serving in the American army. Miss Caulkins speaks of her as "an accomplished lady, pleasing in her person, witty and affable." She followed her brother into exile, and died in 1803, at Montague, in Canada.

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NEW HAVEN, Feby 1st, 1776.

DEAR SIR,-This acknowledges the receipt of your friendly letter of 24th ulto. together with the money, (Eight hundred and nineteen dollars,) by Mr. Wheat of Norwich, for which I gave him my receipt. You will please to accept of my most sincere thanks for this attention to my brother's interest, and thus bringing his unhappy and troublesome business to a close. Indeed, my brother engaging in the second Expedition, and being obliged to have recourse to the Continental Congress to obtain that equitable adjustment of his public accounts which he had a right to expect from the Provincial Congress at Watertown, made it absolutely necessary for some friend to manage this affair for him, and he knew no one in whom he could place so thorough a confidence as yourself. The same reason induces me to apply to you, desiring your further friendship and assistance in saving my brother a part of his interest in another way. case is simply this: He last summer purchased a quantity of lumber, as a cargo for a Brig of about 120 tons which he then expected home from the West Indies. She arrived in July, when he lay sick with

The

The following letter, addressed by her to Silas Deane, a delegate from Connecticut to the Congress of 1775-6, is from the Deane Correspondence, in the second volume of the Collections of the Connecticut Historical the gout; of course was unable to attend to business.

Society (about to be published), pp. 356-58. Mr. Deane had, by her brother's request, remitted to her the balance found due him by the Congress, for expenses and disbursements in the expedition against Ticonderoga and Crown Point.

To HANNAH ARNOLD.*

PHILADELPHIA, 24th Jany, 1776. DEAR MADAM,—Your brother, on setting out on his expedition to Canada, transmitted me an accot of his expenses and disbursements in the taking of Crown Point and Ticonderoga; on which, after all he could obtain from the Massachusetts Assembly, there wes a balance of £245 145. od, due to him; and desired my assistance in procuriug a just settlement, by submitting it to Congress. Reasons unnecessary to be inserted in this letter induced me to put off the settlement until a few days since, when I obtained the balance above, being Eight hundred and Nineteen Dolls, which I yesterday took out of the Treasury and now send you, by Mr. Wheat of Norwich. As I gave my Rect, you will be so kind as to acknowledge the receiving the same in behalf of your brother, who directed me to send it to you when received. I shall ever consider the opportunities I have had of, in any measure, serving your gallant brother, among the most happy incidents of my life, and his friendship and confidence as a particular honor. I am with respect, Dr Madam,

Miss Hannah Arnold. (Copy.)

* Sister of Bendict Arnold.

Yours,

S. DEANE.

As soon as he was able to ride, found it necessary to go to Cambridge, in order to settle his Ticonderoga and Crown-Point expedition,-intending to fit away the Brig as soon as he came back. I suppose you are no stranger to the delays he met with there; and the expedition to Quebec in the mean time being determined on, he engaged in it; so found no time to return to his family, or to attend to his own private concerns. By this means the vessel is unemployed, and the lumber still on hand, and must inevitably be lost unless I can procure liberty to ship it to the West Indies. My brother being detained so much longer in his march to Canada than what he at first expected, together with many other unforeseen and disagreeable circumstances attending that important and necessary Expedition, makes it impossible for him to come home this winter, or to attend to his mercantile affairs. I'm therefore necessitated to do it for him. Beg you would therefore use your influence in Congress, that liberty be granted him to ship out to the Foreign West Indies this lumber, being about sixty thousand hoops and staves; the net proceeds to be returned in powder or any other article they may be pleased to

order.

I'm unacquainted with the modes of introducing these matters to Congress; must leave it to you to do it in such manner as you shall think most likely to succeed. Had my brother been home and neglected to ship the lumber within the limited time, he would not have had the same plea for desiring this favour. I hope the honorable Congress will consider him as suffering sufficiently already, (both in health and interest,) and will relieve him from this part of it,— especially as he is likely to lose a vessel and cargo at Quebeck. Had we not the lumber on hand, should be content to let the Brig lie idle; as it is, I think myself bound in justice to my brother to make this

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Andre's Ghost.-As I am only an occasional reader of Andreana, I am not sure that the following poem is not already known to collectors in that field. The name of the author is less likely to be known, and may be worth making a note of. It was written by Dr. Ezra Stiles, Jr., eldest son of President Stiles, and is found with some other compositions of his, in "A Family Tablet," a collection of original poetry by members of the Stiles family, printed in Boston in 1796. This little volume is now scarce,-some catalogue-makers might call it "very rare." have given a more particular account of it in the (yet unpublished) Historical Magazine for December, 1868. "André's Ghost not much worse than some other poems that were written on the same theme, which is about all that can be said of it. Its author died in North Carolina, in 1784. J. H. T. Hartford,

Conn.

ANDRE'S GHOST.

AN IMITATION OF "POMPEY'S GHOST."
FROM visions of unclouded day,
From joys refined without allay,
And heavenly charms without decay,
I come, through dark and dreary gloom,
Where fond Eliza wastes her bloom
Near the cold mansions of the tomb.

Behold thy Brother's ghost, fair Maid!
In robes of purest light array'd,
In robes whose beauties never fade!
By death this glory I obtain :
'Tis heaven's illustrious martyr's gain,
When freed from momentary pain.

Inglorious fate thine André bore-
My Sovereign call'd; I wish'd no more,
But hasten'd to Columbia's shore

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"" is

On Hudson's banks-Ah! traitorous tide!
No more thy waters sweetly glide,
Nor navies there securely ride.

Arnold himself shall oft repine,
And mourn his fate was not like mine,
Since he is doomed to wrath divine:
His shade shall stalk on some drear coast,
To life, to honor, glory lost.

No monument of fame shall boast.

u

Then stay those tears, sweet Maid! prepare
T'exchange for heaven this scene of care,
Immortal honors wait thee there;
There no harsh traitor finds his way,
Naught can obscure the face of day.
Nor Arnold shall his friend betray.

EUGENEO.

THE MATHER BIBLIOGRAPHY.
From the Boston Advertiser.

There is no family in this country upon whose writings so much labor and money have been spent by antiquaries and collectors as the Mather family. Nobody yet knows what a complete list of their published writings is. The list of Increase Mather's printed books and tracts appended to his life by Cotton Mather numbers eighty-seven separate publications. The list of Cotton Mather's publications, appended to his life by Samuel Mather, numbers three hundred and eightytwo. These lists are far from being complete. Mr. John Langdon Sibley has been laboring for years in making a list of the writings of the Mathers for his valuable biographical work, which is soon to appear, on the early graduates of Harvard College; and even his unwearied efforts, with the help of many collectors, have led to but imperfect results. Of Cotton Mather's writings two hundred and forty-two are in the Boston Athenæum, American Antiquarian Society, Massachusetts Historical Society, and the Prince collection now in the Boston Public Library. The number possessed by each library ranges from eighty to one hundred and thirty. Of one hundred and fourteen there is but a single copy in all the libraries which have been named. The British Museum and the Bodleian Library at Oxford, have made a specialty in collecting Mathers; but we have no information as to the number they possess. Mr. George Brinley, of Hartford, has over two hundred of Cotton Mather's books; and his is probably the largest collection in the world. The cost of some of these tracts would astonish persons who have not taken the field as collectors. "Worth their weight in gold" is generally regarded as the acme of valuation, but here the simile fails. We will not ruffle the sensibilities of rare-book buyers and their families by further revelations on this point.

There is an interesting question in this connection upon which we may be able to throw some light. When did Cotton Mather begin to print books? The earliest book

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