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Printed at Westminster by William Caxton about the year 1477
The unique book here reprinted in facsimile came to the Cambridge University Library in a famous volume of tracts described by Mr Blades (Biography and Typography of W. Caxton, 1882, p. 201).
The volume had formed part of the collection of John Moore, Bishop of Ely, which was given to the University by King George the First in 1715.
The first leaf, which is wanting, was probably blank.
I certify that I have printed 250 copies only of this facsimile, that the impressions have been rubbed off the plates and the negatives destroyed.
For thought constreynt & greuous heuynes For pensifhed and higħ distres To bed I went now this other nyght Whan that lucina witħ hir pale light Was Ioyned last witħ phebus in aquarye Amyd decembre, whan of Ianuarye Ther be kalendes of the new yere And derk dyane horned and nothing clere Had her beames vnder a mysty cloude Witħ in my bed for cold I gan me shroude Al desolate for constraynt of my woo The long nyght walowyng to and fro Til at laste er I began take kepe Me dyde oppresse a sodeyn dedly slepe Witħ in the whiche me thougħt I was Rauysshed in spiryte in to a temple of glas I nyste how fer in wildernes That founded was as by liklynes Not vpon stele, but on a craggy roche Lyke yse y froze, and as I did approche Agayn the sonne that shone so clere
As ony Cristal and euer ner and ner As I cam nyghe this grisly dredful place I wex astonyed, the light so in my face Be gan to smyte, so persing euer in one On euery part wher that I gan gone That I ne might no thing as I wolde Aboute me considere and beholde The wonder estres for brightnes of the sonne Til atte last certayn skyes donne Witħ wynde chaced han her cours y went To fore the stremes of titan and y blent So that I mighte witħ in and witħ oute Wherso I wolde beholden me aboute For to reporte the facōn and manere Of aƚƚ this place that was circuler In compas wyse, round by entayle wrought And whan I had longe gone and sought I found a wiket and entred in as fast In to the temple and myn eyen cast On euery syde now lowe eft alofte And right anon as I gan walken softe Yf I the sotħ a right reporte shal I sawe depeynted vpon a wal