The following account of this truly wonderful specimen of human patience
and skill is from a rough copy that I took some years ago. I regret that I
cannot give any reference, as I made no note of my authority, which has now
escaped my {447} recollection. But that is of little consequence, as the
book is well known to bibliographists.
Perhaps the most singular bibliographic curiosity is that which belonged to
the family of the Prince de Ligne, and is now in France. It is entitled
_Liber Passionis Domini nostri Jesu Christi, cum Characteribus nulla
materia compositis_. This book is neither written nor printed! The whole
letters of the text are cut out of each folio upon the finest vellum; and
being interleaved with blue paper, is read as easily as the best print. The
labour and patience bestowed in its completion must have been excessive,
especially when the precision and minuteness of the letters are considered.
The general execution, in every respect, is indeed admirable; and the
vellum is of the most delicate and costly kind. Rodolphus II. of Germany
offered for it, in 1640, 11,000 ducats, which was probably equal to 60,000
at this day. The most remarkable circumstance connected with this literary
treasure is, that it bears the royal arms of England; but it cannot be
traced to have ever been in this country.
I now offer this notice, in the hope that the readers of "N. & Q." may
supply farther particulars; such as the time of its commencement or
completion, and also whether it is still in France. With respect to the
arms of England, which yet present a puzzle to all antiquaries, I beg to
submit a conjecture. I think it was intended as a present to our Henry
VIII., when he was in such high favour at Rome, for his _Defence of the
Seven Sacraments_, that Leo X. conferred on him the title of "Fidei
Defensor," and which all our sovereigns have subsequently retained. But
when he threw off the Papal authority, declared himself supreme head of the
Church, and proceeded to confiscate its property, the intention of
presentation was abandoned. This is at least plausible, as I do not mean
that it was _originally_ designed for a present to "bluff Harry," because
it was produced before he was born. But the arms were a work for any time;
and I think they were executed just before his rupture with the Pope was
known. To pay him a compliment afterwards from any part of Catholic Europe
was, of course, out of the question.