The Commonplace Book

Woodcuts and pictures from other people’s books, copied out with a caption apiece, as early modern readers kept commonplace books. First gathered on Twitter: #WoodcutWednesday, #NotALion and the manuscripts.

Sixteenth century

When you talk about Twitter to people who don’t use Twitter.

From: Thomas Hill, The contemplation of mankinde contayning a singuler discourse after the art of…
Printed: 1571
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13482)

Sixteenth century

When your friend is being the creepy dude at the club.

From: Thomas Hill, The contemplation of mankinde contayning a singuler discourse after the art of…
Printed: 1571
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13482)

Sixteenth century

When you wear a hat thinking you were having a bad hair day.

From: Thomas Hill, The contemplation of mankinde contayning a singuler discourse after the art of…
Printed: 1571
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13482)

Sixteenth century

Melancholy Bardus is melancholy.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

That awkward moment when a fight turns homoerotic.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

When that ironic hat looked dope in the store and you wear it out for the first time.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

That moment in a fight where you question your opponent’s penis size.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

That moment when you realize Cordelia was ripped as fuck.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

These guys really hate trees.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

When your friend asks which one is your bae.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

A #mensrights troll when he sees “feminist” in someone’s Twitter bio.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

The old dick stab.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

When that new hip restaurant doesn't take reservations and only has a few tables.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

Thug Lyfe.

From: Robert Greene, A notable discouery of coosnage
Printed: London, 1591
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 12279.7)

Sixteenth century

Rabbits Gone Wild.

From: Robert Greene, The groundworke of conny-catching
Printed: London, 1592
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 12789.5)

Sixteenth century

When your side piece shows up while you’re hanging out with your main.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The first and second volumes of Chronicles
Printed: London, 1587
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13569)

Sixteenth century

When you wake up, hung over, and realize who you've gone home with the night before.

From: Raphael Holinshed, The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande
Printed: London: for John Hunne, 1577
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 13568)

Sixteenth century

Exit pursued by a [headless demon] bear, [Redux].

From: A true and most dreadfull discourse of a woman possessed with the…
Printed: 1584
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 5681)

Sixteenth century

H is for “HOLY BALLS!”

From: The Bible. Translated according to the Ebrew and Greeke
Printed: London: Christopher Barker, 1583
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 2136)

Sixteenth century

Daniel took the game of Musical Chairs a little too seriously.

From: Stephen Batman, A christall glasse of christian reformation wherein the godly maye beholde the…
Printed: 1569
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1581)

Sixteenth century

That awkward moment when you’re the drunkest guy at the party.

From: Stephen Batman, A christall glasse of christian reformation wherein the godly maye beholde the…
Printed: 1569
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1581)

Sixteenth century

Be careful when passing your bag of demons.

From: Stephen Batman, A christall glasse of christian reformation wherein the godly maye beholde the…
Printed: 1569
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 1581)

Sixteenth century

If you're old enough to play with your food, you're too old to breastfeed, Ralph.

From: Matthew Parker, The. holie. Bible. conteynyng the olde Testament and the newe.
Printed: 1568
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 2099)

Sixteenth century

This ape-faced devil-dog supposedly appeared to Agnes Browne, age 12, in the 1560s.

From: John Phillips, The examination and confession of certaine wytches at Chensforde
Printed: London, 1566
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 19869.5)