FROM THK INVENTION OF PRINTING. Ill

tlieir successors of the seventeenth century, and evenof many sons of the craft of times near the present.

The early printers incorporated their typographicaldevice with the designs on the covers. Richard Pyn-son caused many pretty devices to be stamped on thecovers of the hooks he printed. And Reynes, wholived in St. Paul’s Church Yard about the year 1527,embossed his monogram on the books he bound forhimself and others. He introduced this in a largedesign which he embossed, on the covers of his books,consisting of what are usually called “ the arms ofChrist.” This design is formed of a parallelogram,surrounded by double lines, and borders of scroll andornamental work, shaped like an arch within, underwhich is placed a shield, charged with the emblems ofChrist’s passion, as the cross, inscription, and crownof thorns; the hammer, nails, and pincers; thespears, sponge, and dice; the garment, money, lan-thorn, sepulchre, &c. The escutcheon is supportedby two unicorns, which stand upon a scroll, bearingthe motto,

“ Redemptoris Mvndi Armi,”in rude Saxon capitals. Above the shield is a richfull-faced black helmet, surrounded by mantling, andsurmounted by the pillar, scourges, and cock, as acrest. On each side of the crest are the two shieldsabove mentioned. These religious emblems are foundon a great number of Missals, Offices, and Hours ofDevotion, both manuscript and printed. 1 ’

b Johnson’s Typographia, i. 503.

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