Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/262

 SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

263

txsnsl&tion, which was pretended to be full of heresies and errois ; and holding out the expect- ation that another and more faithful translation riiould be prepared and published. The rigour with 'which the king pursued Tindall and his foUowers, serves to mark the inconsistencr of hm character, who, through the whole ol his reign, distinguished himself, sometimes by the zeal wiUi which he promoted literature, and at other times by the cruel policy which he exer- cised against those who read and studied the scriptures in English. Dr. Stokesley, bishop of liOndoD, who in the month of May, m this year, caused all the New Tettamentt of Tindall, and many other books which he bad bought np, to be biongfat to St Paul's churchyard, ana there bomt, was one of the most cruel persecutors among the prelates of his time. The following particulars of the charges laid against sereral utdiridaals, who were either imprisoned, and oompelled to abjure, or put to death.

John Raimund, a Dutchman, 1628, "for causing fifteen hundred of Tindall's New Testa- maUs to be printed at Antwerp, and for bringing fire hundred into England."

Thomas Curson, monk of Bastacre, in Nor- felk, 1630, " for going out of the monastery, and changing his weed, and letting his crown to grow, working abroad for his living, making copes and vestments. Also, for having the New Tettament of Tindall's translation, and another book containing certain books of the Old Tetta- memt, translated into English, by certain persons whom the papists call Lutherans."

John Row, bookbinder, a Frenchman, "for binding, buying, and dispersing of books inhibi- ted, was enjoined, beside other penance, to go to Smithfield with his books tied about him, and to cast them in the fire, and there to abide till ^thej were all burnt to ashes."

Christopher, a native of Antwerp, " for selling certain New TettamenU, in English, to John Row, aforesaid f was put in prison at Westmin- ster, and there died."

Edward Hewet, a servingman, his crime was, " that after the king's proclamation, he read the New Tatament in Englitk ; also the book of John Frith, against purgatory, Sec."

Walter Kiiy, servant,, his crime was, " that be, after the king's proclamation, had and used these books, the New Testament, the Swmme of Seriptttre, a Primer, and Psalter, in English, hidden in his bed-straw at Worcester."

In 1619, a shoemaker, residing at Newberry, in Berkshire, was burned alive, for having in his possession some books in English, and denying Uie articles of the Christian faith. A copy of Tindall's New Testament being found in the possession of any person was sufficient to convict him of here^, and subject him to the flames.

John Mel, of Bockstead, 16.'?2, " for having and reading the New Testament the Psalter, and the book called A. B. C. all in English.

William Nelson, priest at Lith, 1631, for having, and buying of Periman, certain books of Lttlher, Tindall, Thorpe, and others, and for

reading and perusing the same contrary to the king's proclamation, for which he was amnred."

About the latter end of the year 1633, Thomas Bennet, a schoolmaster at Exeter, was burnt at the stake, near that city, for writing upon the doors of the cathedral church, that the pope was aTUichrist.

Humphrey Monmouth, who supported Tindall abroad, was imprisoned in the tower ; and though a man of wealth, was almost reduced to rum. Penance was enjoined to Thomas Patmore, and to John Tindall, (brother to die translator) on suspicion of importing and concealing Tindedl's Testaments; and Sir Thomas More, adjudged, " that they should ride with their faces to the tails of their horses, having papers on their heads, and the New Testaments, and other books which they had dispersed, hung about their cloaks ; and. at the standard at Cheapeide, should them- selves throw them into a fire prepared for the purpose ; and that they should afterwards be fined at the king's pleasure." The fine set upon them was £18,840 0*. iOd.

The following are a few of the names of per- sons accused before John Longland, bishop of Lincoln, in 1621, with the cnarges brought againt them, extracted from the bishop's register. An enumeration of a few of the cnarges, will exhibit their nature.

Agones Well, detected by her brother, " for learning the epistle of St. James in English, o{ Thurstan Littlepage."

The wife of Bennet Ward and her daughter, " for saying that Thomas Pope was the devoutest man that ever came in their house, for he would sit reading in his book, to midnight, many times"

John Butler, impeached by his own brother, " for reading to him (his brother) in a certain book of the scriptures, and persuading him to hearken to the same."

Robert Collins, and his wife ; and John Col- lins, and his wife, " for buying a Bible of Stacey, for twenty shillings."

John Heron, " for having a book of the Expo, sition of the Gospels, fair written in English.' *

These are but a few of the many instances adduced by Fox, from the register of Longland, bishop of Lincoln, of persons accused and suf- fering, either in one way or other, for possessing, or reading, or hearing the scriptures, or other books, that the clergy deemed inimcial to them, or their religious tenets ; and for whose accusa- tion husbands had been suborned against their wives, wives against their husbands ; children against their parents, and parents against their

• On the 14th of October, isig, • plscard ■ppaind at Bmsscls, whereby " all such u had iii their coatodv any prohibited books, which they had not brought forth to be bntnt, as required by former placards against h«resy ; or liad otherwise contravened them, were condemned to death, without pardon, or lepriere."

On the last of Joly, 1540, the Emperai Chailes V. published another idacard against heretical boolu. By tills it was ordered, " that none should presume to print any books, unless they first obtained from the emperor, a license for exercising the trade of a printer, &c. on pain of death."

VjOOQ IC