ing several books, but finding it not answer his expectation, removed, in 1538, to Aldersgate-street, London.

Pork.

Printing at this city was early, in respect to other places in this kingdom, which induces us to conclude they had enterprizing gentlemen among them, willing to cultivate common sense. HUGO GOES.

Supposed to be the son of an ingenious printer at Antwerp, erected a press here in 1506, where he continued some years, and then removed to

Beverley,

Where he lived in the Hye-gate, and used for a device an H and a Goose, he produced but little from hence. He afterwards removed to London.

Cabistock

Received the art so early as the year 1525, from
THOMAS RYCHARD,

Monk of the said monastery, where, among other productions,
was printed the Stannary Laws.
Southwark

Received printing in 1514, when PETER TREVERIS, A foreigner, erected a press, and continued till 1552. He lived at the sign of the Widows, and printed several books for William Rastell, John Reynes, R. Copland, and others, in the City of London

JAMES NICHOLSON

Set up a press here in 1526, and lived in 1537, in St. Thomas's Hospital, and had a license in 1538, from king Henry VIII. for printing the New Testament in Latin and English. JOHN REDMAN

Printed in Southwark before the year 1540, for Robert Redman. CHRISTOPHER TRUTHALL,

Supposed to be a feigned name; for in Queen Mary's reign he printed several books against the Papists, which it would have been dangerous to put the real name to.

Canterbury

Had a printing-house early, as appears by the liberties taken at the death of King Henry VIII. JOHN MYCHELL

Lived in St. Paul's parish, in 1550, and soon after in St. Aus tin's where he printed a chronicle cum priv. ad imprimendem sol um

Ipswich

Had a printing house in Cardinal Wolsey's time, in 1538, by JOHN OSWEN, who made use of Cum imprimendum solum, to his first production.

JOHN OVERTON practised the art in 1518. ANTHONY SCOLOKER from London, lived here in 1548. Worcester.

In the Roll's Chapel, is a license granted by Edward VI. to

JOHN OSWEN,

of the city of Worcester, and his assigns, to print and reprint, &c. every kind of book, or books, set forth by his Majesty, concerning the service to be used in churches, administration of the sacraments, and instruction of his subjects of the principality of Wales, and marshes thereunto belonging, &c. for seven years, prohibiting all other persons whatsoever, from printing the same. He printed till 1553, in which year, being the 7th of Edward VI. he was appointed printer for the prin cipality of Wales, and the marshes thereunto belonging.

Greenwich

Had a printer in 1554, who printed without inserting his name
to his production.
Norwich.

It appears in the year 1565, that many strangers from the Low Countries came, and settled in Norwich city, masters, workmen, and servants, (and had her Majesty's letters patents to work, and make all sorts of woollen manufactures) men, women, and children, to about 3925. This was encouraged by the Mayor and Sheriffs of this city, who waited on Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, at his palace there, and got the freedom and liberty of the city granted to them. Among these strangers the art of printing was introduced here, of whom Anthony Solmpne, was so well approved of, that he had his freedom presented to him.

ANTHONY DE SOLMPNE

Is taken notice of as a printer at Norwich, in Leland's appendix to his Collectanea, part 2. vol. vi. p. 41. and in the Bodlean Library among the Archives.

Moulsey.

Here might be recited the titles of great numbers of scurrilous phamphlets wrote, printed, and dispersed, on both sides, concerning ecclesiastical discipline, and never ending cavils and disputes about rites and ceremonies, in a snarling and ridicu lous manner; and the public printing presses being shut against the Puritans, some of the purchased a private one. If any desire to know the motions and stages of the press, which printed these books: know, it was first set up at Moulsey, near Kingston, in Surry, thence conveyed to Fawsley, in Northamptonsh re, thence to Norton, and afterwards to Coventry: from Coventry to Woolston, in Warwickshire, and from thence to Manchester, in Lancashire; discovered by Henry, Earl of Derby, in the printing More Work for the Cooper.

1

It was our intention, had we not exceeded our utmost limits by our copious extracts from the Colophons, &c. of the early printers, to have glanced at the Ancients, and to have contrasted their conduct with that of the Modern Master Printers; we should have been extremely happy, if the conduct of some of our contemporaries would have permitted us to have placed them in the same immortal rank with the early nursers and improvers of our Art: to the Ancients our highest admiration is due; far be it from us to impugn the conduct of the Moderns, we have merely cast the cap into the air, and all those who think it will fit them, we freely leave to wear it: as our immortal Bard says,

"Look here, upon this picture, and on this."

After having noticed the early printers, and given a list of their productions, we cannot close the present volume better than by introducing a few extracts, in proof of the estimation in which learned men considered manuscript works, prior to the discovery of the Art of Printing.

We find, from reason and ancient history, that mankind (during the early ages of the world) had industriously invented other means of communicating their ideas, than merely what was granted to them by the human voice; in order that they might not only be enabled to hold converse with freedom while at a distance; but also, that they may preserve and transmit to posterity the valuable deeds and most useful discoveries which had been made in the world; they also esteemed books, those curious repositories of the sentiments and actions of men, as a real and invaluable treasure, and the happy possessors, who well understood the subjects they conta ned, were caressed by the wise and favoured by the great, and conse quently were the only true learned, with whom all prudent princes and philosophers found it their interest to consult with and advise on all particular occasions.

Books were held in such estimation, that the learned thought it worthy the chief labour of their lives, either to compile, or collect those valuable tracts, and they imagined themselves more or less distinguished above mankind, as they excelled in the bulk or goodness of their libraries: of which a stronger instance can not be produced than that given by the late Dr. Conyers Middleton, in his Life of Cicero: "Nor was he (speaking of Cicero) less eager in making a collection of Greek books, and forming a library, by the same opportunity of Atticus's. help. This was Atticus's own passion, who, having free access to all the Athenian libraries, was employing his slaves in copying the works of their best writers, not only for his own use, but for sale also, and the common profit both of the slave and the master: for Atticus was remarkable, above all men of his rank, for a family of learned slaves; having scarce a foot-boy in his house, who was not trained both to read and write for him. By this advantage he had made a very large collection of choice and curious books, and signified to Cicero his design of selling them; yet seems to have intimated withal, that he expected a larger sum for them than Cicero would easily spare;

which gave occasion to Cicero to beg of him in several letters to reserve the whole number for him, till he could raise money enough for the purchase. Pray keep your books, says he, for me, and do not despair of my being able to make them mine; which if I can compass, I shall think myself richer than Crassus, and despise the fine villa's and gardens of them all." Again, "Take care that you do not part with your library to any man, how eager soever he may be to buy it; for I am setting apart all my little rents to purchase that relief for my old age." In a third letter, he says, "That he had placed all his hopes of comfort and pleasure, whenever he should retire from business, on Atticus's reserving these books for him." Atticus lent him two of his librarians to assist his own, in taking catalogues, and placing the books in order; which he calls the infusion of the soul into the body of his house."

And among other writers on this subject, Mr. Watson, in his History of Printing, tell us, from an epistle of Antonius Bononia Becatellus, surnamed Panorme, to Alphonsus king of Naples and Sicily, Lib. 5. Epist. Significasti mihi nuper ex Florentia, &c. You lately wrote to me from Florence, that the works of Titus Livius are there to be sold, in very handsome books; and that the price of each book is 120 crowns of gold: therefore I entreat your majesty, that you cause to be bought for us Livy, whom we use to call the king of books, and cause it to be sent hither to us. I shall in the mean time procure the money, which Fam to give for the price of the book. One thing I want to know of your prudence, whether I or Poggius have done best; he, that he might buy a country-house near Florence, sold Livy, which he had writ in a very fair hand; and I, to purchase Livy, have exposed a piece of land to sale: your goodness and modesty have encouraged me to ask these things with familiarity of you. Farewell, and triumph." There are several passages which shew the great value and esteem of manuscripts, and that the manner of their conveyance was by notaries, as lands, &c.

Nor was it in Italy only that books were sold at this enor mous price, but in France also, as appears by what Gaguin wrote to one of his friends who had sent to him from Rome to procure a Concordance for him: "I have not to this day found out a Concordance, except one, that is greatly esteemed; which Paschasius, the bookseller, has told me is to be sold, but the owner of it is abroad; and it may be had for a hundred crowns of gold."

The late Mr. Ames had a folio manuscript in French verse, called Romans de la Rose (from whence Chaucer's translation) on the last leaf of which is wrote, Cest lynir costa au palas de Parys quarante coronnes dor, sans mentyr; that is, This book cost at the palace of Paris 40 crowns of gold, without lying. (About £33, 68. 6d. sterling.

Galen says, in his Commentary upon the Third of the Epidemicks, and upon the First Book of the Nature of Man, that Ptolemeus Philadelphus gave to the Athenians fifteen talents, with exemption from all tribute, and a great convoy of pro visions, for the Autographs and Originals of the Tragedies of Eschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.