I should be greatly obliged if I could obtain through "N. & Q." when,
where, and by whom an imperfect black-letter copy of the New Testament,
lately come into my possession, was printed, and also who was the
translator of it.
It is bound in boards, has three thongs round which the sheets are
stitched, seems never to have been covered with cloth, leather, or other
material like our modern books, has had clasps, and is four inches long and
two inches thick.
The chapters are divided generally into four or five parts by means of the
first letters of the alphabet. The letters are neither placed equidistant,
nor do they always mark a fresh paragraph.
It is not divided into verses. There are a few marginal references, and the
chapter and letter of the parallel passages are given.
Crosses are placed at the heads of most chapters, and also throughout the
text, without much apparent regularity. It contains a few rude cuts of the
Apostles, &c. The Epistles of St. Peter and St. John are placed before that
to the Hebrews.
Letters are frequently omitted in the spelling, and this is indicated by a
dash placed over the one preceding the omitted letter. A slanting mark (/)
is the most frequent stop used. I will transcribe a few lines exactly as
they occur, only not using the black-letter.
"B. As some spake of the temple/ howe yt was garnesshed with goodly
stones and iewels he sayde. The dayes will come/ when of these thyngis
which ye se shall not be lefte stone upon stone/ that shall not be
throwen doune. And they asked hym sayinge/ Master wh[=e] shall these
thynges be? And what sygnes wil there be/ when suche thynges shal come
to passe."--St. Luke, ch. xxi.
Land is spelt _londe_; saints, _sainctis_; authority, _auctorite_, &c.