In conquerynge his rightfull enheritaunce/ that verray peas and charite may endure in bothe his royames/ and that marchandise may haue his cours in suche wise that euery man eschewe synne/ and encrece in vertuous occupacions/ Praynge your good grace to resseyue this lityll and symple book made vnder the hope and shadowe of your noble protection by hym that is your most humble seruant/ in gree and thanke And I shall praye almighty god for your longe lyf & welfare/ whiche he preferue And sende yow thaccomplisshement of your hye noble.  Ioyous and vertuous desirs Amen:/:  Fynysshid the last day of marche the yer of our lord god. a. thousand foure honderd and lxxiiii”

This was struck out in the second edition, and the following briefer farewell substituted:—­

   “Thenne late euery man of what condycion he be that redyth or herith
   this litel book redde take therby ensaumple to amend hym.

   Explicit per Caxton.”

The alteration may perhaps be received as an evidence of our first English printer’s fastidiousness as an author.

The bibliography of the editions, translations, and imitations of Cessoles is long and intricate.  Details of MSS. have not been thought necessary.  They have been amply described by Dr. Van der Linde.  The treatise on the rule of princes of Colonna has been taken as furnishing the matter which Jacques de Cessoles afterwards re-arranged under the attractive form of a description of the game of chess.  The editions of the Latin text are followed by particulars of the translations into French, English, Spanish, Italian, and other languages.  Each title has appended the name of the bibliographer on whose authority it is given.

These are as follows:—­

Hain.—­Repertorium Bibliographicum ... opera Ludovici Hain.  Stuttgart, 1826.

Ebert.—­A General Bibliographical Dictionary, from the German of Frederic Adolphus Ebert.  Oxford, 1837. 4 vols.

Graesse.—­Tresor de Livres rares et precieux:  par Jean George Theodore Graesse.  Dresde, 1859-67. 6 vols.

Brunet.—­Manuel du Libraire par Jacques-Charles Brunei.  Paris, 1860.

Linde.—­Geschichte und Literatur des Schachspiels von Antonius van der Linde.  Berlin, 1874.

Das erste Jartausend der Schachlitteratur (850-1880) zusammengestellt von Dr. A.v.d.  Linde.  Berlin, 1881.

Dr. van der Linde’s work is so complete that, for the most part, it has been thought sufficient to give his name, even when older authorities have been consulted.

COLONNA.

(See ante, p. xxviii.)

AEgidius Romanus de regimine principum L. III. s. l. 1473.  Folio.

This Ebert and Graesse conjecture to have been printed by G. Zainer.  They describe it as the first edition of a work frequently reprinted, and say that the last edition appeared at Lugd.  Batav. in 1643, and had on the title-page the name of St. Thomas Aquinas as author.  Hain mentions editions at Rome—­Stephanum Plannck, 1482, folio; Venetiis, 1498.