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jects, and strangers, other then as is aforesaid, to do any the premisses, or to bring, or cause to be brought, of any forren realmes into any our dominions, any songe, or songes, made and printed in any forren countrie, to sell, or put to sale uppon paine of our displeasure ; and the offender in any of the premisses, for euery time to forfet to us, our heires, and successors, fortie shillings, and to the said Thomas Tallis, and William Birde, or to their assignes, and to the assignees of the suruiuer of them, all, and euery the said bookes, papers, songe, or songes. We have also by the same willed and commaunded our printers, maisters, and wardens of the mis- terie of stationers, to assist the said Thomas Tal- lis, and William Birde, and their assignees, for the dew executing of the premisses."
1576, March 7. The general assembly consti- tuted at Edinburgh, enacted, that " no comedies, nor tragedies, or such plays, shall be made on any history of canonical scriptures, nor on the sabbath day. If any minister be the writer of such a play, he shall be deprived of his ministry. As for plays of another kind, they also shall be examined before they be pronounced publicly." In 1676, the assembly refused its permission to the bailie of Dunfermline, to represent on Sunday afternoon, a certain play which was not founded on the canonical part of scriptures. And in 1577, it was ordered by the assembly, " that the plays of Robin Hood, king of May, and such others on the Sabbalh day, be discharged." Two years afterwards, it was resolved, that " such in- dividuals as after due admonition persisted in frequenting May-plajs, should not be admitted to the communion oi the church, without yield- ing satisfaction for the specified offence."
1576. Thomas Bassendyne published the CL. Ptalmi of David, in English metre. With the forme of prayert, and ministration of the Sacra- ments, used m the church of Scotland. Where- unto, besydes that was in the former bookes, are also added sundrie other prayers, urith a new exact kalender,for xviyeret next to come. Printed at Edinburgh, by Thomas Bassendyne, dwelling at the Nether Bow, 1575, cum primUgio.
1576. A godly sermon, no less fruitfull than famous, made in the yeare of our Lord God, 1338, and found out, being hyd in a wall, which sermon is here set forth by the old copy, without adding or dimimthing, save the old and rude English here and there amended. London: printed by John Audeley, in Little Britain-street without Aldersgate-street.
1576. A right pithy, pleasant, and merie eomedie, intituled Gammer Gurton's Needle. Played on the stage not long ago, in Chrises col- ledge, in Cambridge. Made hyMr. S.* master of arts, London: printed by Thomas Col well. Fleet-street 4to.
HISTORY OF PRINTING.
- John Still, afterwards bishop of Bath and Wells. This
is a piece of low mstic hamoor, the whole Jest turobig upon the loss and recovery of the needle with which Oammer Ourtoo was mending a certain piece of attire be- longing to her sponse. A copy was sold by Mr. Evans, in London, January, IBSO, for in I0>.
1575. The Mariners bohe, containing godly and necessary orders and prayers, to be observed in every ship, both for the mariners, and all other whatsoever they be that shall travaile on the sea, for their voyage. By Thomas Mors. Printed by Henry Bynneman, dwelling at the sign of the Mermaid, in Knight Rider' s-street, London.*
A veiT rare dramatic piece, which is known to be umque,and which has particularly attract- ed the attention of collectors, is first noticed in the books of the stationers' company, where, of July 26, 1676, John Hunter enters, A new and pleasant Comedie or Plate, after the manner of Common Condyaons. The original entry of it is perhaps earlier than any register at stationers* ball now remaining. See the Prolegomena to Reed's Shakspeare, 1786.
X)nly a mutilated copyf is known to exist of this great literary curiosity, which contains the following
SONO BY MARINERS.
Lnstely, lustely, lostely let as sail forthe.
The wlnde trim doth serve us, it blows at the North
All things we have ready, and nothing we want To foroUbe oar ship that lideth hereby, Victals and weapons, ther be nothing sicant, Like worthie mariners oureelves we will trie. Lnstely, lnstely, &c.
Her llagges be newe trimmed set flanntyng alofte. Our ship, for swift swimming, oh she doeth excell. Wee feare no enemies wee have escaped them oft. Of all ships that swimmeth, she beareth the bell. Lnstely, lostely, &c.
And here is a maister excelletb in skin, And our maisters mate he is not to seeke. And here is a boteswalne will doe his good will. And here is a ship boye wee never bad to leake. Lostely, lostely, &c.
If fortnne then &lle not, and onr next voiage prove. Wee will return merely and make good cheare. And holde al together as freends linkt in love. The Cannes shall be tilled with wine, ale. and beare. Lnstely, lostely, &c.
1575. Some certain persons endeavoured to obtain from the queen a privilege for the sole printing of all ballads, damask paper, and books xn prose or metre, from the quantity of one sheet of paper to four and twenty. The company of stationers made a petition to the lord treasurer, , for the stay of this; setting forth, that it would be the overthrow of a multitude of families, and cited the various privileges which had already been granted by the queen. Another gfrievance which the company stated, was, that their num- ber in the city amounted to one hundred and
- Tbeflnl printed work relative to nautical tSfain was
executed at Barcelona, in tie year 150S.
The common and statute law of sea matters, handed down by tratlition, and by the Rhodian code from the an- cients, was gradually modified into that system of regu- lations known by the-namc of II Cotuulato del Mare, which received the papal sanction in the year 1075 : was re- enacted in most aea ports of the Mediterranean, but not at Marseilles until 1 1 62. It has been translated into most European langunges. The Dutch version of 1704, Is the best. It was one of the maritime laws of Richard I. that the homicide should be tied to the dead body and cast into the sea. Richard reigned tmm July, H89, to April, 1 199.
t Purchased at the sale of Dr. Wright's books, 17S7, for £i Sf. And the duke of Roxburgh gave ^9 lOi. for this rare tract at the sale of Mr. Steevens's books.
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