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HISTORY OF PRINTING.
news published, in the shape of small quarto pampnlets,as they arrived. These were entitled, News from Brest, or a Diurnal of sir John Norris, ^e. printed by Richard, Yardley, 1694, ito. News from Flanders,\5i99. News from Italy, Hungary, &c. as they happened to refer to the transactions of their respective countries, and generally purported to be translated from the Low Dutoh. It is, however, during the civil wars, when the minds of men were more at variance, when their tempers were inflamed to a greater fierceness, and gave a keener edge to the sharpness of civil discord, that we are to look for the dissemination of these Weekly News Books, as they were then called, and to which we refer the reader.*
The three months following the defeat of the Armada, witnessed a fresh persecution of the Catholics in England, of whom about thirty suffered the punishment of traitors, for the prac- tice of their religion only, without a single accu- sation of disloyalty.
1588, Oct. 5. A true report of the inditement, arraignment, conviction, condemation, execution, of John Weldon, William Hartley, and Robert Sutton, who suffered for high treason in several places about London,imprinted by Richard Jones, 1588. 4to.
A packe of Spanish lyes, sent abroad in the world ; first printed in Spaine in the Spanish tonffue,and translated out of the originall. Now ripped up, unfolded, and by just examination corulemned, as conteyning false, corrupt, and de- testable wares, worthy to be damned and burned. Printed by the deputies of Christopher Barker. 1588. Ato.
1588. Queen Elizabeth giants a patent to John Spilman, a German, to erect a paper-mill at Dartford, in Kent, which has generally been considered i^e first in England ; but several in- stances have been given to the contrary. The following work was first printed in 1568.
A sparke of friendship, and warm good will ; with a poem concerning the commodity of sundry sciences ; especially concerning paper, and a mill, lately set up neer Dartfort by a high German, called Mr. Spilman, jeweller to the queen majesty. 1688, 4to. Dedicated to sir W. Raleigh. Begins, enforced by affection that, ^c. where firien<iship finds good giownd to grow upon.
John Spilman is said to nave brought over in his portmantua the two first lime trees, which he planted at Dartford, and are still g^rowing.
- The Roman poet (Ovid) in the following: lines, shows
the desire of the Roman people for nftws. Publius Ovidlus (Naso) was born B. C. 43, and died A. D. 18.
Hither in crowds the vulgar come and go ;
Millions of rumours here fly to and fro ;
Lies mlxt with truth, reports that vary still.
The itching ears of folks unguarded fill :
They tell the tale ; the tale in telling grows.
And each relater adds to what he knows;
Rash error, light credulity are here,
And causeless transport and ill -grounded fearj
New-raised sedition, secret whispers blown
By nameless authors and of things nnknown.
Fame, all that's done in heaven, earth, ocean views.
And o'er the world still hunts aroond for news.
Garth's Ovid, h. xU.
1588. Thomas Vautrollier was a scholar and printer from Paris, or Roan, came into Eng- land about the beginning of queen Elizabeth's reign, and first commenced business in Black Friars. On June 19, 1574, he received a patent, or licence, from the qiieen, to print the New Testament, (which he often inserted at the end. In 1584, he printed Jordanus Brunus, {ot which he fled, and the next year being in Edinburgh, he first taught that nation the use of doing their work in a masterly manner ; where he continued until, by the intercession of friends, he procured his pardon ; as appears from a dedication of his to the right worshipful Thomas Randolph, esq. where he returns him thanks for his great favour, and for assisting him in his great distress. He married his daughter, Jakin, to Richard Field, printer, in Black Friars, January 13, 1688, and buried several children in that parish, as appears from their church books. Vautrollier was a very curious printer, as is evident from his produc- tions, and commonly used an Anchor within a compartment, with this motto, anchora spei. He printed seventy-eight works, most of which were in Latin. lu 1688, he printed Certain advertisements out of Ireland, concerning the losses and distresses happening to the Spanish navy, upon the west coasts of Ireland, in their voyage intended from the ruirlhem isles beyond Scotland towards Spain, ito.
1588. A translation of the Bible into the Po- meranian tongue, a dialect of the Lower Saxony, was printed at Bardt, a sea-port town of Pome- rania, in 4to. by order, and at the expense of Bogislans XIII. duke of Pomerania. It is said to have been printed on good paper, with neat types, and accompanied with plates. In 1590, the Juveittla of M. A. Muretus, was printed at Bardt, bearing for imprint. Bardi Pomerana:, ex officina Principis. A copy of this latter work is in the Bodleian library.
1688. Robert Waldegravb, was descended from a good family, and commenced the art of printing in the year 1578, in the Strand, near Somerset House; from thence he removed to Foster-lane ; but afterwards, by being the printer of the Mar-prelate tracts, his press was seized and destroyeid, by the earl of Derby, at Man- chester, which involved him in troubles, and obliged him to retire to Wales; but by the assistance of his friends, overcame bis difficul- ties, and went to Edinburgh, when James VI. granted him a patent for printing the Confession of Faith, which is dated, March 13, 1889.
Waldcgrave used as his mark, a Swan in an oval, and about it this motto. Goo is mv Helper.
In nage 34 of Martin Mar Prelate, &c. are the following lines : " There was the last som- mer, a little catechisme, made by M. Dauison, and printed by Waldcgrave; but before he coulde print it, it must be authorized by the bishop, either Canterbury or London. He went to Canterbury to have it licensed, his grace com- mitted it to doctor Neuerbegood (Wood) he read it oucr in half a yere ; the booke is a great one.
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