5.* QUINDECIM SIGNA EXTREMI JUDICII DIEM PRÆCEDENTIA. Germanicè. Folio.

This very curious work begins on the recto of the first leaf, thus:

Wie vnd in welicher weis vnd form die fünfzehen zaichen kimen vor dem hingsten tag wil ich hienach. sagen. Durch &c.*

:

These are the first two lines of the first page; which contains 30 lines, encircled by a border: the whole is very evidently the effect of workmanship upon a wooden-block. Eight leaves follow, having two rude wood-cuts upon the rectos of each; with the exception of the last two leaves-which have only one upon each. At the top of each woodcut there is a German inscription. The first represents two men by a river side, pointing: the second, two men conversing; with a third, at some distance, stooping down by the side of a river: the third cut represents two men by the side of a river, with a mermaid and three sea-monsters apparently addressing them: the fourth, three men by the side of a river of fire the fifth, two men and five birds: the sixth, two men lying down, and three animals in the same positions: the seventh, two men-fire falling from heaven, &c.: the eighth, three men and an animal seeking shelter in caves-stones falling from the clouds: the ninth, three men, between a stag, a lion, and bear: the tenth is represented in the OPPOSITE FAC-SIMILE:† the eleventh, stars on fire, falling; two figures running away to the right: the twelfth, one man lying on his back, another about to fall on his face; three animals upon their backs the thirteenth, a shower of fire, and fire upon the ground: the fourteenth, two angels sounding each a trumpet; the dead raised, a skeleton to the right surrounded by flames-the whole meant to be a prelude to the day of judgment. Then follows a leaf with German text on the recto, comprehending 38 lines: a border round.

* The following is a literal translation of the commencement of this German preface: How and in what manner the FIFTEEN THINGS COME BEFORE THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, I shall tell as follows. Through the great and unfathomable mercy and overflowing love which Almighty God bears to all men, he hath ordained that these following fifteen things should be written before the day of judgment, and described to the reader.'

+ The following is a translation of the German at the head of the OPPOSITE FAC-SIMILE:

• The tenth sign is, that all the graves open from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same; and the dead rise from the graves, so that they are seen by the living.'

and vonden Das zehem-zeichert das sich all greber auff them von den dufiguing der funnels biß anden modergang der sammen and wy coren ersten auff den grebern, daß es dy lebenathen Tehen

Fac-simile of one of the Cuts in the QUINDECIM SIGNA EXTREMI JUDICII DIEM

PRÆCEDENTIA: circa 1430. [To face p. xxx.

From the preceding fac-simile the reader may have some notion of the terrific nature of these cuts. The figures are in general tall, and seem to have been executed by the artist who composed those for the • Birth and Acts of Antichrist.' The whole is struck off in a dark brownish ink. It would seem that Heinecken had never inspected a copy of this work, which is perhaps of even rarer occurrence than the preceding ones. His description of it is brief, and appended to that of the Birth and Acts of Antichrist;' and for this description he was indebted to M. Schlaeger, who sent him an account, from a copy of it (subjoined to the Antichrist) in the library of Saxe-Gotha. Idée Générale, &c. p. 390-1: but, from this account, it appears that the present copy wants the last cut of the Day of Judgment, and one leaf of the subsequent text. It is, undoubtedly, a singularly rare and curious treasure. Heinecken has not given any fac-simile from it. Bound in blue morocco.

6. ENNDKRIST. [ANTICHRIST.] Germanicè. Folio.

This extraordinary volume is a compilation from a popular work in its day, entitled COMPENDIUM THEOLOGIAE ;* as a reference is generally made to this work, or to the Apocalypse, at the end of each sentence, by way of explication to the cut beneath. It was probably attached to the 'Quindecim Signa,' &c. as it seems to begin abruptly at

Heinecken's observations, are well worth subjoining: The work appears to be more ancient than the author of the Curiosities of Vienna supposes. It is true that the 'COMPENDIUM THEOLOGIAE,' printed in 1473, is cited in it; as well as the 'Golden Legend' of Iacobus Voraginis, printed in 1470. But we must not conclude from thence, that the work called ANTI-CHRIST was a subsequent production; for the MSS. of the two first-named works were in existence before the conclusion of the 13th century.' Idée Générale, &c. p. 386. This is the substance of his observations. In his notes subjoined, Heinecken thinks the above author has confounded the Compendium Theologiae' with the COMPENDIUM THEOLOGICAE VERITATIS'-which latter work has been, in his opinion, erroneously attributed to Thomas Dorniberg; whereas, on the authority of Oudin, Script. Eccles. vol. iii, p. 2555, edit. Lips., it was in existence 200 years before. Heinecken supposes that the Inventor or Designer of the figures in ANTICHRIST, had in view the Compendium Theologiae of ROBERT BACON, of the order of the Minorites:-a work singularly curious, which he had seen in MS., and which he believed never to have been printed.' Ibid.

It may be worth adding, that, if Heinecken alludes to OUR Robert Bacon, the work he mentions has escaped the researches of Gesner and Pits. The latter is comparatively copious and particular. See Bibl. Gesneri, p. 728, edit. 1583: and Pitsæus de Rebus Britann. p. 318, 1619, 4to. Neither Du Fresnoy nor Baillet give the least account of Robert Bacon; and in the Bibl. Med. et Inf. Ætat. of Fabricius, vol. vi. p. 268, there is a superficial and inaccurate reference to Pits.

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top of the recto of the first leaf, with a cut of Jacob on his death bed, addressing his children 'Jacob sag seinein sun Dan Was im Kinstig,' &c. The Seeking in Marriage' of Antichrist is wanting. The cut below, of the Conception of Antichrist, is, in this copy, torn away. The remaining cuts are, with the exception of the last five, divided into two compartments, and are all uniformly printed on the rectos of the several leaves. The second cut, of the Birth of Antichrist, and of the death of his mother during parturition, is a very extraordinary one. Heinecken has correctly described the ensuing 42 cuts, and has given fac-similes, but very imperfectly, upon a small scale, of the 7th and 8th cuts.

The top of the 36th cut is translated below. * The following is a fac-simile of part of it, shewing Antichrist and his attendant spirit ; which latter, in some shape or other, of diminutive size, is usually made to accompany him.

• ANTICHRIST hateth the Prophets. Elias and Enoch are put to death at Jerusalem, and lie there three days and a half unburied, because no one would bury them.'