FIFTEENTH CENTURY.
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expense; for as he was certain that none of those books could be had in Germany, he in- tended, on his return thither, to translate and publish some of the best of them. It was, pro- bably, at this period, that he transcribed, in the most beautiful manner, the whole of the New Tatament with his own hand, a labour which he nndertook from the ardour of his attachment to the Dirine volume, and which he is said to have rendered familiar to him by continued perusal.
Having procured a considerable number of manuscripts, he returned to Vienna, and for some time read lectures ; after which he went to Buda, on the invitation of Matthias, or Mattheo, king of Hungary, the great patron of learned men. The breaking out of the war occasioned bis withdrawing to Nuremberg, where he set up a printing-office, and printed several astrono- mical works. In 1774 he was prevailed upon by pope Sixtus IV. to return to Rome, to assist in reforming the calender. He arrived at Rome in the year 1475, but died there a year after, at only forty years of age, not without suspicion of being poisoned.
Many authors have ascribed the invention of printing to this individual. It is said of Regio- montanus, that he made an iron fly spring from under his hand, fly round the room with a hum- ming noise, and return to its flrst position : he is likewise reported to have made a wooden eagle, which flew from Nuremberg to meet the empe- ror, hovered over his head in a tonic motion, and went back the same way with him. It was no wonder that some authors should give so uni- vosal an artist, the repute of inventing printing. It is certain he was a very early printer, althouf^ not the inventor.
1476. Within the period of twenty years after the introduction of printing at Paris, we find the number of those who practised the art in that city, including Gerine and his associates, iacrease'd to thirty-five : and the commencement of the succeeding century witnessed the enlarge- ment of this list in an almost triple proportion. Of these artists, who varied greatly both in the nmnber and value of their impresdons, several distinguished themselves so eminently as to me- merit our particular notice. Amongst these were Pasqnier Bonhomme, whose earliest impression, Les Grands Clironiquet de France,* in 3 vols, folio, beats this date: he was one of the four principal librairet of the university : and as- turned for his imigne the image of St. Chris- topher.
- nik was dUtJnfniished from other esriy national chro-
Bicles l>7 the title of Chroniquet de St. Denft; bavini: been compiled by several of the relifrious of that celebrated ah. bey. According to do Chesnc, it was begun by Jean Char- tier a monk of this society, and continued by others firom the Bme of Chailes VII. to the decease of Louis XII. To the industry of the same society, says de Bare, are owiufr the numerous and exquisitely ornamented manuscripts of the worlc which are existing: lioth in public and private libraries. This worlt was reprinted by Vcrard in 1493, in 3 vcHa. folio . again by Eustace, with a continuation to the year 1514 ; which edition Is in the highest request.
Louis XII. was snmamed the Juati he wu horn Jane 17, 14<3 ; was married to the princess Mary of England, Octotwr, iSMj and died January 1, ISIS.
1476. The first whole Greek book was the Grammar of Constantine Losadis, printed at Milan, by Dionysius Palarisimus, in 4to. It was revised by Demetrius Cretensis.
1476. Printing was introduced into the follow- ing places during this year : —
Autwerp, by Theodore Martins, of Alost. Bruges, by Colard Mansion. Brussels, the Brethren of the Common Life. Delft, by Jacob Jacobs and Maurice Yemants. Nova Plzna, (New Pilsen,) in Bohemia, the printer's name not known.
Rostock, the Brethren of the Common Life. PoUiano, Innocent Ziletus and F. Antiquarius. Trent, by Herman Schindeleyp.
1477. In glancing at the rapid extension of the valuable art of printing, it ought not to be A forgotten, that Jews, as well as Christians, be- it' ) . came at an early period convinced of its impor- - tance^ and engaged in it with ardour. The Ptalm* in Hebrew, with the Commentary of KiWhi, were prinleid this year, in 4to., by Jo- seph and his son Chaim Mordecai, and Heze- kiah Monro, who printed 300 copies of them.
The Pentateuch, with the Targvm and the Com- ' mentary of R. Jarchi, was printed at Bolog^e in Italy, in 1482, folio. Ruth, Eccle*iaste$, Song of Solomon, and Lamentationt, with the Com- mentary of Jarchi; and Either, with the Com- mentary of R. Abenezra, were printed also at Bologne, in folio, in the same year. The for- mer and latter Prophets were first printed in Hebrew, at Soncino, in I486, folio, with the Commentary of R. Kimchi. The Hagiographa were printed at Naples, 1487, in small folio, ac- companied with several Rabbinical Commen- taries.
1477. John Philip de Lignamine was the third in the chronological order of Roman printers. He was a learned and modest typographer ; and many valuable works, almost entirely in prose, issued from his press ; but in point of number and importance of publication, be must unques- tionably yield to his cotemporaries. Tliis printer rarely executed large works, and his Laurentius Valla, of 1471, is the noblest specimen of his priess. He also, with one creditable and curious exception, namely, some Omucula of Philipus de Barberiis, 1481, used only one and the same fount of letter : but bis zeal fur literature, and his acknowledged modesty and learning, place him high in the estimation of competent judges. Before his commencing the art of printing, he is supposed to have practised physic. The next printers we find at Rome were named Sixtus Russinger, who printed at Naples from I47I to 1478 ; when he quitted that city and printed at Rome with Georgius AUemannus. He also printed at Naples with Franciscus de Tuppo, Sachsal, and Golsch. These are very rare but very comely printers. George Laver first printed at the Kusebian monastery, at Rome; whither he was invited by cardinal CoraSa, from 1470 to 1472 inclusive. Laver printed under the auspices of two learned editors, Pomponius LiBtus and Bartliolomoeus Platina. In 1473
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