Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/416

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SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

407

national literature. They have been probably rejected with indignity, though their answerers' hare been preserved, yet even these are almost of equal rarity and price. They were rejected in times less enlightened than the present. In a national library every book deserves preserva- tion. By the rejection of these satires, however absurd, we have lost a link in the great chain of OUT national literature and history.*

1588. In the churchwardens' accounts of the church of Tavistock, in Devonshire, are the fol- lowing items :

Item, paid for a chayne and settinge thereof, for the fastenynge of the Dictionarie in the schole howse, ixd. Erasmus's Parapkrate on the GospeU lemain at the present time thus se- cured in Tavistock church, the original cost of which, according to another item, was ld<.

Item, paide Thomas Watts for amendynge of the BxhU, and the hookes of Cowmen Prayer, be- ynge toren in dyvers places, ii*. iid.

1588. The English Ape, the Italian Imitation, the Foote-tteppet of Fraunce. Wherein is ex- plained the wilful Blindness of subtill Miscbiefe, the striving of Starres, the catching of Moon- shine, and the secrete Sound of many hollow hearts. By W. R. Nulla Pietat Pravit.

At London. Imprinted by Robert Robinson, and are to be sold by Richard Jones, dwelling at Holboume Conduit, at the sign of the Rose and Crowne. 1 588. This singular tract is in black letter, and inscribed " To the Right Hon. and my singular good Ix)rd, Syr Christopher Hatton, Knight, Lord Cbauncellor of England, Knyght of the most noble Order of the Garter, and one of her Majesties most honorable Privie Counsell." This appears to be a severe satire on the manners of the times, particularly as they relate to dress. The author is very harsh indeed, when speaking of his countrywomen.

" It is a woonder more than ordinary to be- holde theyr perewigs of sundry collours, theyr paynting potts of perlesse perfumes, theyr boxes of slobber sauce, the fleaking of thejT faces, there strayned modesty, and theyr counterfayte coy- nesse. In so much that they rather seeme cur- tyzans of Venyce, than matrones of Englaude, monsters of i^gypt, than modest maydens of Europe, inchaunting syrens of Syrtes, then dili- gent searchers of vertue : these inchauntments charme away theyr modesty, and entrap fooles in folly. Bewitcheth them selves wytn wanton wyles, and be setteth other with these bitter srayles." The conclusion is an extravagant com- pliment to the queen, whom the author calls the " Phenix of the world."

1588. Discoursive Prombleme concerning Pro- phesies, how far they are to be valued, or credited, according to the surest rules, in Diuinitie, Philo-

  • For many curious particulars concerning the press,

and the autliors of the tracts, the reader is referred to D'lsraeli's QuarreU of Avthon, vol. lii. Paul's Life of Arehbahop Whilgift. Howell's State Trialt, vol. I. Bridge's Nortkamptmuhire, by Jcbb. Neale's Hietorp of the PurituM, by Tonlmin. cd. ISM. Beloe's Anecdotes of Scarce Books, vols. Ui. and vi. and Lowndes's Bibliogra- phers^ Manual.

sophie, Attrologie, and other leamiiw. By John Harvey. London, imprinted by John Jackson

In a copy of this work formerly in the ^posses- sion of Mr. Herbert, the editor of Ames's Typo- graphical Antiquities, a manuscript note by Mr. Herbert states, " that this is the farst instance where the word begun in one line, has been printed w"* the same type in y* succeeding line, which is printed in a dint type." — ^Although not very distinctly expressed, it is yet intelligible.

1598. The whole of the Sacred Scriptures were published in Welsh, with the following title: Y Bibl Cystegrlan, sef yr Hen Destament, a'r Neuyd4,2 Tim. iii. 14, 16. and Testament Newyddein Harglwydd Jem, Grist, Rom. i. 16.

This edition was under the superintendence of Dr. William Morgan,* vicar of Llanrhaiadi yn Mochnant, in Denbighshire. The coadjutors of Dr. Morgan, in this important undertaking, were the Drs. William Hughes, Hugh Bellott, David Powell, Edmund Price, and Richard Vaughan; to whom Willis adds John Salisbury, bishop of Man. Dr. Whitgift liberally contri- buted to the expenses of the translation, in con- junction with Dr. Gabriel Goodman, dean of Westminster, a native of Ruthin, in the princi- pality ; and entertained Dr. Morgan, while he continued in London. It was printed by Chris- topher Barker, the queen's printer, in 310 pages folio, with a fine black letter, and the typogra-

?hical execution elraant and correct. Mr. lughes says, "It reflects great credit on the persons engaged in it. It is the Word of God faithfully rendered from the orginal tongues, for which the English version served as an excellent guide. The Welsh translators were men of the Brst respectability as scholars and divines, and their work bespesucs them to be such."

1589. Jan. 1. A precept from the lord mayor requiring the master, wardens, and of the com- liest personages of the company of stationers, to attend him at the park comer above St. James's on horseback, in velvet coats, chains of gold, and with staff torches, to wait on the queen, " for recreating of her majesty" in her progress from Chelsea to Whitehall.

1589. The arte of English poesie, contrived in three books ; \st, of poets and poesie ; indly. of proportion ; 'Mly, of ornament. By Webster Puttenham. Imprinted by Richard Field, at t/te sign of the Anchor, in Black Friars, near Ludgate. 1589, 12mo. Containing a very good portrait of queen Elizabeth.f

Although the above work is dated 1589, it

  • William Morgan was born at Gwibesant, in Camar-

Tonshire, and educated at Cambridge. In 1599, he was preferred to the bishopricic of Llandaff ; and in 1601 to the see of St. Asaph. He died Sept. 10, 1604, and was buried in his church.

1 Puttenham records in thisworic an honourable anec- dote of Elizabeth, and characteristic of that high majesy which was in her thoughts, as well as in her actions. When she came to the crown, a Icnight of the realm,who had insolently behaved to her when lady Elizabeth, fell upon his Itnees, and besouj^ht her pardon, expecting to be sent to the tower : she replied mildly, " Do you not Itnow that we are descended of the lion, whose nature is not to barm or prey upon the mouse, or any ottier such small vermin ?"

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