SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
451
pany, were about 25 per cent, more at Dublin tban at London, occasioned bj the expense of conveyance.
1608. Richard Field was esteemed a good printer, and most probably served his appren- ticeship with T. Vautrollier, whose daughter Jaldn ne married January 13, 1588. After the death of his father-in-law, in 1589, he succeeded to his business, on the same premises in Black friers, and adopted the same sign and marks of the Anchor. How many works he printed, or when be died is not known. He was a native of Straford-upon-Avon,in Warwickshire.
1608. A World of Wonders ; or an introduc- tion to a treatise touching the conformitie of ancient and modern wonders ; or a preparative treatise to the Apologie for Herodotus. The Argument whereof is taken from the Apologie for Herodotus. Written in Latine bu Henry Stephen, and continued here by the author him- telfe. Translated out of the best corrected French copie. Edinburgh : imprinted by Andro Hart and Richard Lawson. Folio.
Beloe, in the sixth volume of his Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books, p. 231-41, gives Uie whole of the whimsical verses, from p. 169 of this curious volume, of which, he says, there are two editions, the one printed at Edinburgh, which is classed among English books of rarity; the other at London ; — and, he adds, " I am not acquainted with many books which are more replete both with curious anecdote and entertain- ing information, than the translation of the Apology far Herodotus.*
1608. The second edition of the Hungarian Bible was printed at Hanau, a large town of Germany, seated at the junction of the Kinzig and Maine.
1608. 7%e Contention between Tltree Brethren, the Whoremonger, the Drunkard, and the Dice Player. To approve which of these three is the worst by reason that their deceased father had given his succession from the worst of them. London, printed by Robert Raworth, for Henry Gosson, and are to be sold at the Tunn, in Patemoster-row. 1608.
1608. Mr. Cuthbert Burby gave £20 to the poor of the stationers' company.
1609. Pierre Marcigay, a printer of St. Maloes, in Bretagne, in France, executed a very curious book containing a sacred drama in the Breton poetry : and it is the earliest specimen of St. Maloes printing which Dr. Cotton had met with. A copy in the Bodleian.
1609. SiUnced Ministers, To tlie Right High and Mightie Prince James, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britaine, j-c. An Humble Sup- plication for Toleration, and liberty to enjoy and observe the Ordinances of Christ Jesus, ire i^c. By some of the late silenced and deprived minis- ters and people, 4rc. 4to.
In 1606 an act was passed to punish with perpetual imprisonment, those who refused to
- A cop7 of this cnriouf work is in the possession of
F. R. Atkinson, Kiq., at Oak Uoose, new Mwdiater.
take the oath of allegiance. Besides the Puri- tans and Catholics, a few Unitarians were added to the objects of religious malevolence ; but when three of this persuasion had suffered at the stake, the king thought it better policy to limit the punishment to perpetual captivity. On March 13, 1614, Bartholomew Legat was burnt for professing Arianism in London.
It has been nobly observed, " that to put men in prison merely on account of their religious belief or persuasion, is a ^reat oppression ; and, properly speaking, false imprisonment : to fine them, or take away their estates for that cause, is robbery : to put them to death for not acting against their conscience, is murder. ' Can any thing be more wicked ? Is it not then hard to determine whether the folly and absurdity, or tyranny and wickedness of persecution on ac- count of religion are greater ? That good was to mankind, or their bene6t in this wond,or the next, are the real motives to so umust and cruel a practice is the highest degree of impudence to pretend ; and certainly must be too gross a deceit to obtain any credit but with bigots or enthusi- asts, fools or madmen. It being evident, then, that these are no other than pretended motives, what are the real ? An inhuman temper, with a combination of the worst of men's passions, particularly malice, envy, covetousness, pride, ambition, a desire to domineer and tyrannize over others ; to which are sometimes added bigotry and enthusiasm ; these are the real in- centives to persecution, and, when joined to a large measure of hypocrisy, complete the cha- racter of a persecutor."*
" Experience," says Turgot,t teaches that the sword, the fagot, exile, and proscription, are better calculated to irritate than to heal a disease, which, having its source in the mind, cannot be relieved by remedies that act only on the body. The most efficacious means are sound doctrines and repeated instructions, which make a ready impression when inculcated with mildness. — Every thing else bows to the sovereign autho- rity of the magistrates and the prince ; but religion alone is not to be commanded." And who can reflect upon the past, and not exultingly exclaim with the brightest luminary of modern times,^ that " the great truth has finally gone forth to the ends of the earth, that man shall
NO MORE RENDER ACCOUNT TO MAN FOR HIS BELIEF, OVER WHICH HE HIM.SELF HAS NO
CONTROL." This has been accomplished by the Press, the liberty of which is the true measure of the liberty of the people. " The one cannot be attacked without inju^ to the other. Our thoughts ought to be perfectly free; to bridle them, or stile them in their sanctuary, is the crime of leze humanity. What can I call my own, if my thoughts are not mine."§
- ConMerafions on War, &c.
-t- Anne Robert James Turgot, born at Puis, May 10 17i7, died March 18, 178I.
t Lord Brougham's Inaugnral JMsconrse at Glasf(ow.
} Bartholomew Mercter born at Lyons, April I, 1734 died May is, 17M.
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