Page:She (1888).djvu/52

Expanded Version of the above Black-Letter Inscription.

‘Ista reliquia est valde misticum et myrificum opus, quod majores mei ex Armorica, scilicet Britannia Minore, secum convehebant; et quidam sanctus clericus semper patri meo in manu ferebat quod penitus illud destrueret, affirmans quod esset ab ipso Sathana conflatum prestigiosa et dyabolica arte, quare pater meus confregit illud in duas partes, quas quidem ego Johannes de Vinceto salvas servavi et adaptavi sicut apparet die lune proximo post festum beate Marie Virginis anni gratie MCCCCXLV.’

Fac-simile of the Old English Black-Letter Translation of the above Latin Inscription from the Sherd of Amenartas found inscribed upon a parchment.

Thys rellike ys a ryghte miſtycall worke & a marveylous y^e whyche myne aunceteres afore tyme dyd conveighe hider w^t y^m ffrom Armoryke wh^e ys to seien Britayne y^e leſſe & a certayne holye clerke ſhoulde allweyes beare my ffadir on honde y^t he owghte vttirly ffor to ffruſſhe y^e ſame affirmynge y^t yt was ffourmyd & confflatyd off ſathanas hym ſelffe by arte magike & dyvellyſſhe wherefore my ffadir dyd take y^e same & to braſt yt yn tweyne but I Iohn de Vincey dyd ſave whool y^e tweye p̄tes therof & topeecyd y^m togydder agayne ſoe as yee ſe on y^s deye mondaye next ffolowynge after y^e ffeeſte of ſeynte Marye y^e bleſſed vyrgyne yn y^e yeere of ſalvacioun ffowertene hundreth & ffyve & ffowrti.

Modernised Version of the above Black-Letter Translation.

‘Thys rellike ys a ryghte mistycall worke and a marvaylous, ye whyche myne aunceteres aforetyme dyd conveigh hider with them from Armoryke which ys to seien Britaine