Imatges de pàgina
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Henry VII.

THE BOOK OF

THE FEATS OF ARMS,

AND OF

CHIVALRY.

THIS book was written by Christina, who was born at Pisa, in Italy; hence she is commonly called Christina of Pisa; but removing with her father to Bologne, in France, she wrote in the language of that country. She florished about the year 1400.

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Her book was translated into English, and printed by Caxton, fol. in 1489. It was col lected from Frontinus, Vegetius, and the Ar bre of Battles; to which she added "many other things requisite to war," &c.

At the end, Caxton says that this book "was delivered to him by that prince (Henry VII.) in his palace of Westminster, the 23d of Ja

nuary, in the fourth year of his reign, who desired and willed him to translate it into English, and put it into print, that every gentleman born to arms, and all manner of men of war, &c. should have knowledge how to behave themselves in feats of war, &c.

"This book is divided into four parts.-1. The first part deviseth the manner that kings and princes ought to hold, in the feats of their wars and battles, after the order of books, dicts' of the most preu and noble conquerors of the world; and how and what manner feats ought, and the manners that they ought to keep and hold in their offices of arms.-2. Item, The second part speaketh after Frontin, of cautles and subtleties of arms; which he calleth stratagems of the order and manner to fight and defend castles and cities, after Vegece and other auctors; and to make war and give battle in rivers and in the sea.-3. Item, The third part speaketh of the droits and rights of arms, after the laws and droits written.-4. Item, The fourth part speaketh of the droits of arms in the feats of safe conducts, of the tryewes of mark, and after of champ of battle, that is, of fighting within lists."

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