146
HISTORY Of PRINTING.
England; as likewise Mr. Anthony Wood, the learned Mr. Mattaire, Palmer, and one John Bagford, an industrious man, who had pub- lished proposals for an HUtory of Printing (Phil. Trans, for April, 1707). But Dr. Mid- dleton has called in question the authenticity of this account, and has urged several objections to it, with the view of supporting Caxton's title to the precedency with respect to the introduc- tion of the art into this country. Atkins, who. by his manner of writing, seems to have been a hold and vain man, might possibly be the inven- tor : for he had an interest in imposing it upon the world, in order to confirm the argument of his book, that " Printing wat of the prerogative royal;" in opposition to the Company of Uta- tionert, with whom he was engaged in an ex- pensive suit of law, in defence of the king'/ pa- tents, under which he claimed tome excltuive powert of printing. For he tells us, p. 3, " That, upon considering the thing, he could not but think that a pubUc person, more eminent than a mercer, and a public purse, must needs be con- cerned in so public a g^ood : and the more he considered, the more inquisitive he was to find out the truth. So that he had formed his hypo- thesis before he had found his record; whicn he published, he says, as a friend to truth ; not to safier one man to be entitied to the worthy achievements of another; and as a friend to himself, not to lose one of his best arguments of entitiing the king to this art" But, if Atkyns was not himself the contriver, he was imposed upon at least by some more crafty ; who ima- gined that his interest in the cause, and the warmth that he had shewed in prosecuting it, would induce him to swallow for genuine what- ever was offered of the kind.
It may be asked, by way of reply, is it likely that Atkyns would dare to forge a record, to be laid before the king and council, and which his adversaries, with whom he was at law, could dis- approve ? He says, he received this history from a person of honour, who was some time keeper of the Lambeth library. It was easy to have confuted this evidence, if it was false, when he published it, April 25, 1664. John Bagford (who was born in England, 16d I, and might know Mr. Atkyns, who died in 1677), in his History of Printing at Oxford, blames those who doubted of the au- thenticity of the Lambeth MS.; and tells us that he knew Sir John Birkenhead had an au- thentic copy of it, when in 1665 [which Bagford by some mistake calls 1664, and is followed in it by Meerman] he was appointed by the house of commons to draw up a bul relating to the exer- cise of that art. This is confirmed by the jour- nals of that house, Friday, October 27, 1665, Vol. VIII, p. 622, where it is ordered that this Sir John Birkenhead should carry the bill on that head to the house of lords, for their con- sent. The act was agreed to in the upper house on Tuesday, October 31 , and received the roval assent on the same day: immediately after which, the parliament was prorogued. See JoHmal of the House of Lords, Vol. XI. p. 700.
It is probable then, that, after Mr. Atkyns hti published his book in April 1664, the parliament thought proper, the next year, to enquire into the right of the king's prerogative ; and that Sir Jonn Birkenhead took care to inspect the original, then in the custody of archbishop Sheldon ; and, finding it not sufficient to prove what Atkyns had cited for, made no report of the manuscript to the house ; but only moved, that the former law should be renewed. ThenaoD- script was probably never returned to the piopet keeper of it ; but was afterwards burnt in the fire of London, September 13, 1666. That printing was practised at Oxford, was a prevail- ing opinion long before Atkyns. Bryan Twyne, in his Apologia pro Antiqvitate Academite Oz- oniensis, published 1606, tdls us, it is so de- livered down in antient writings ; having heard, probably, of this Lambeth manuscript And Charles I., in his letters patent to the univenitjr of Oxford, March 5, in the eleventh of histdgn, 1635, mentions printing as brought to Oxford from abroad. As to what is objected, "that it is not likely that the press should undergo a ten or eleven years sleep, viz. from 1468 to 1479," it is probably urged without a foundation. Cor- sellis misrht print several books without date or name of the place, as Ulric Zell did at Cologne, from 1467 to 1473, and from that time to 1494. Corsellis's name, it may be said, appears not in any of his publications ; but neither does that of Joannes Petershemis. See Meerman, vol. I. Further, Shakspeare, wh6 was born in 1564, and died 1616, in the Second Part of Henry VI. act iv. sc. 7, introduces the rebel John Cade,* thus upbraiding lord treasurer Say: "Than hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm, in creating a grammar-school : and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other book but the score and the tally, thou bast caused printing to be used ; atad, contrary to the king, his crown, and dignity, thou hast built a
- The rabeUloD of Jack Cade took place on the lit at
Jane, 1450, who assomed the name of Mtortimer. 1U* Insurgent encamped on Blackheatb, at the hemd of M,<M foUowera of the very lowest description. On the Mthot this month was fong-ht the battle of Seven Oaks, wha Cade taming on his pursuers, put them to flight, killed Sir Humphrey Staflbrd their commander, and arrayed hliudf in the knijtht's panoply and spurs. On the lat of July, he took posseaatoD of Soathwark, and two days later, enttnd London, catting with his sword the ropea qf tkt dnrn- trUge as he passed. On the 4th he corammnded loni Sty and 8ele to be beheaded, which sentence waalmmedlattl; carried into effect in Cheapaide.* Another wtcHmcHUt innulated mob, was William Aseoogb, bishop of SaUsbory, to which he bad been consecrated in U38. He was Inha- manly murdered on the altar in his cathedral, by Cade and his followers. Bishop AscooKh was descended born sa ancient femily In Unoolnshire. On the II tb of Joly, Cade waa slain near Lewes, in Sussex.
- Loan SAT's ArOLOOT.
Justice, with fiivonr, have I always done. Prayers and tears hare moved me, gifts could never: When have I ought exacted at your bands } Kent to maintain, the king, the realm, and yon ; Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks ; Bocsuse my book prefcrr'd me to the king. And seeing, ignorance is the curse of Oo3, Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to beaven, I7nleas you be posteas'd with devilish apiiita. You cannot hut forbear to murther me.
—Hnrf VI. p. % ttt >.
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