The Book of St Albans opens with an exploration of its own mysterious origins, examining the unknown typographer and the enduring attribution of its hunting treatise to Dame Juliana Berners. Though traditional scholarship frequently wove elaborate biographies for Berners, modern historical analysis suggests she likely lived at the beginning of the fifteenth century and compiled existing verse instructions on the chase. The volume itself emerged from a provincial press in Hertfordshire during the late fifteenth century, representing a rare departure from the predominantly Latin texts of the period by offering practical and cultural guides in English.
The first major section focuses on hawking, detailing the capture, care, and medical treatment of birds such as goshawks and sparrowhawks. The text outlines specific handling techniques, including the controversial practice of ensiling eyelids to calm a newly caught bird, alongside various herbal remedies and preventative measures for common ailments like the frounce. It also establishes the rigid social hierarchy governing which birds were deemed appropriate for different ranks of society, ranging from eagles for emperors down to muskets for holy water clerks.
The second treatise shifts to hunting, presented largely in verse and designed as a mnemonic guide for youths. It categorizes beasts of venery and chase, detailing the correct terminology for animals, their ages, and their horns. Detailed instructions govern the tracking and harvesting of the hare, the boar, and the red deer, complete with specific cries to be used when directing hounds. The section concludes with an instructional dialogue between a master hunter and his man, providing practical mechanics for the field.
The final and perhaps most elaborate section addresses heraldry and coat armour. Tracing the lineage of heraldic symbols back through biblical history to Adam and the angelic orders of heaven, the text establishes the theological and philosophical foundations of gentility. It categorizes the nine distinct colours and precious stones used in blazoning, outlines the virtues of chivalry, and provides exhaustive technical descriptions for identifying crosses, bends, bordures, and other heraldic charges in Latin, French, and English.
Throughout the work, the language exhibits distinct northern English orthography and vocabulary, preserving obsolete terms and phrasing from the period. The book ultimately stands as a vital artifact of medieval pedagogy, illustrating how the rising literate class codified the leisure activities and social distinctions that defined the medieval gentleman.
