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.

Seventeenth century

Old lady + animals = English witch

From: The wonderful discouerie of the vvitchcrafts of Margaret and Phillip Flower, daughters…
Printed: 1619
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 11107)

Sixteenth century

Your Enormous Codpiece Style Kung Fu is strong, but my Fancy Hat Style will defeat you.

From: Juvenall Borget, The divels legend. or: a learned cachephochysme containing the confession of the…
Printed: 1595
Image from: Early English Books Online (STC 3388)

That awkward moment when after you behead a guy, you don't know if it's the right guy.

NO. MORE. WIRE. HANGERS!

Venus and Mars caught in an adulterous embrace. Ovid. Metamorphoses. Frankfurt, 1563

Envy looks perfectly content. Ovid. Metamorphoses. Frankfurt, 1563.

Reminder: When you stumble upon a bathing goddess, don't pretend like your spear is your penis.

Gene Simmons’ has nothing on this #NotALion’s tongue.

That awkward moment when your angel feels left out during your threesome.

2 AM at the club.

Marsyas didn't think his run on American Idol would end quite like this.

The walk home from the club.

None of these animals seem particularly happy with your performance, Orpheus.

Theirs was a forbidden love…

What my dog imagines getting outside off the leash will look like.

When the meeting should have been over an hour ago, but that one guy keeps asking questions.

Dave thought his new profile pic made him look badass, but he just looked like a damn fool.

Moments after this woodcut was taken, Pete realized that it wasn't Nancy afterall.

Seventeenth century

Reginald was always so cruel when he had the last piece of pizza. #WoodcutWednesday @EBBA_Ballads 20250

From: Thomas Campion, A Friends aduice
Printed: Printed for H. Gosson, 1625?
Image from: English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA 20250); Pepys Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge, Pepys Ballads 1.52-53

Seventeenth century

The soul patch: Making someone look douchie since 1674. #WoodcutWednesday @EBBA_Ballads 20674

From: A godly song for all penitent Sinners in these Sinful Times
Printed: London, Printed for F. Coles, T. Ver[e,] J. VVright, and J. Clarke, 1674–1679
Image from: English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA 20674); Pepys Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge, Pepys Ballads 2.50

Seventeenth century

When your partner wants to get romantic, but it's clearly reading time. #WoodcutWednesday @EBBA_Ballads l20248

From: A Pleasant Song of the Valiant Deeds of Chivalry
Printed: Printed for I Clarke, UU. Thackeray, and T. Passinger, 1684–1686
Image from: English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA 20248); Pepys Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge, Pepys Ballads 1.522-523

Seventeenth century

When you discover your crush of years is a terrible kisser. #WoodcutWednesday @EBBA_Ballads 21751

From: Advice to Young Gentlemen
Printed: London: Printed for J. Back, at the Black Boy near the Draw-Bridge on London-Bridge, 1685–1688
Image from: English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA 21751); Pepys Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge, Pepys Ballads 4.87

When all you want to do is harvest your crops, but someone won't stop performing anilingus.

Seventeenth century

Renaissance jokes, amirite? #WoodcutWednesday @EBBA_Ballads 21800

From: The Scoulding Wife
Printed: Printed for A. Milburn in Green-Arbour-Court in the Little-Old-Bailey, 1689
Image from: English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA 21800); Pepys Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge, Pepys Ballads 4.136