17. _Treatise of Roger Bacon_, 'de retardacione accidentium senectutis;'
with two drawings. Middle of the fifteenth century. Bodl. MS. 211.
18. An English astrological Calendar, in six divisions, folded for the
pocket; written in the latter half of the fourteenth century.
Extremely curious; contains prognostications of the weather,
fatality of the seasons, &c., accompanied with innumerable figures of
saints, illustrations of prognostics, the symbols found on the Runic
Clog-Almanacks, the occupations of the several months, the signs of
the Zodiac, and two quaint figures respectively labelled 'Harry ye
Haywarde' with his dog 'Talbat,' and 'Peris ye Pyndare.' Formerly
kept in a tin box. It contains the following note by T. Hearne:
'Oct. 17, 1719. This strange odd book (upon which I set a very great
value, having never seen the like) was given me by the Rt. Reverend
Father in God William [Fleetwood] Lord Bishop of Ely, to whom I am
oblig'd upon many other accounts.'
19. An _Historical Roll_, upwards of thirteen feet long, showing the
descent of the English Kings, from the expedition of Jason in search of
the Golden Fleece to the accession of Edward I (1272). Formerly
belonging to the Abbey of St. Mary at York.
Illustrated with representations of various scenes up to the landing
of Brute in the Isle of Wight, and thenceforward with portraits of
the monarchs.
20. _Map of the Holy Land_, on a paper roll, nearly seven feet long;
written, apparently, in the first half of the fifteenth century.
In the Douce collection. Engraved in facsimile during the past year,
1867, for the Roxburghe Club, to illustrate the Itineraries of
William Wey, which were edited by Rev. G. Williams, B.D., for the
same Club, from Bodl. MS. 565, in 1857. The Map in many points
agrees very closely with the latter, but contains also some
discrepancies, and is somewhat earlier in date.
21. A _Psalter_, with the usual Canticles, Litany, &c; written about the
middle of the fourteenth century.
This magnificent volume was given by Robert de Ormesby, a monk of
Norwich, to the choir of the Cathedral Church, 'ad jacendum coram
Suppriore qui pro tempore fuerit inperpetuum.' It is illustrated
with illuminations most beautifully executed, but, at the same
time, containing the most grotesque and profanely inappropriate
figures, resembling those sometimes found on the _Misereres_ of
collegiate churches. It is bound in a large covering of sheepskin,
which by overlapping the volume has no doubt greatly contributed to
preserve its freshness and beauty of condition. A facsimile from one
page is to be found in Shaw's _Illuminated Ornaments_, 1833, with a
description by Sir F. Madden. It belongs to the Douce collection.
* * * * *
In a separate glass case adjoining the preceding (in which was formerly
exhibited a fine specimen of the typography of the Royal Press at
Berlin, in a German Bible given by the King of Prussia) is now displayed
a fine Bible printed at Glasgow in 1862, in two folio volumes, and
illustrated with very beautiful photographs by Frith, which was called
the Queen's Bible from its being dedicated by permission to Her Majesty.
In a glass case in the adjoining window is a German Bible, printed in
1541, with texts on the fly-leaves in the handwriting of Luther and
Melanchthon, whose signatures, although much defaced by some possessor,
are still very legible. See p. 245.