Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/271

 262

HISTORY OF PRINTING.

voured to cultivate it, in order to secure their business from his press. John Petit, sworn bookseller to that university, and one of the most famous of that age, caused several noble editions to be printed by him ; as the Calepini Dietionarium Octo Linguar. 1516.

Amongst the works which issued from this prolific press, we find almost every important Latin classic author, generally exhibited in a large size, and having the pages filled with notes, or explanatioiu, by Badius himself and other commentators.

Badius was a Libraire Jure of the university of Paris, under which character he was specially employed by the doctors of the Sorboune in printing their centur(a, &c. His claims to the character of erudition were so far from con- temptible, that Trithemius praises him extra- vagantly ; and Erasmus has spoken well of his Latinity ; and the famous Heniy Stephans com-

gliments him highly on his abilities as a printer, o attached was Badius to the typographical profession, that he married his three imughters to three of the most eminent printers in Paris. Petronilla became the wife of Robert Stephans, and mother of Henry Stephans the second, and of two other sons, Robert and Francis. Badius gave the second, Johanna, to John Roigny, and the ygnngest Catherina to Michael Yascosanos. Jodocus Badius had a broiher named John, and a son named Conrad, who both exercised the same profession. The latter is found subse- quently as a refugee for the sake of religion at Geneva, and labouring in his profession there conjointly with Robert Stephans. Badius was succeeded in his business by his son-in-law John de Roigny.

The msigne or mark of Badius is the repre- sentation of an ancient printing press, beneath which is sometimes found the words Prelum Ascemianum. He occasionally subjoined this sentence, JBra mrrent.

1536. Died, John Rastell, a celebrated printer of London, where, according to several authorities he was born ; that he was educated in grammar and philosophy ; afterwards studied at Oxford, and probably brought up to the law. In 1517, he commenced the art of printing, which, at that time, was esteemed a profession fit for a scholar or ingenious man. Being dis- tinguished for his piety and learning, he became intimate with Sir Thomas More, whose sister Elizabeth he married ; he was a zealous defender of the catholic cause, and a great opposer of the proceedings of Henry VIII. There is not any information to be gained of Rastell's instructor, and it is known only, that he resided at the sign of the " Mermaid at Fowls gate, next Cheapside." Rastell's works are, Natura Naturata ; Canonet Attroloffici ; three dialogues, one of which is on purgatory, and which was answered by John Frith ; this produced from Rastell an Apology against John Frith ; who also followed it by a second reply, which is said to have ended in his onponent s conversion to Protestanism. Rastell likewise wrote the Rulet of a good Life ; and the

celebrated Anglorwn Begum Chronieon ; or, Pattimet of the People ; beside which seven Latin tracts are attributed to him, on the following subjects: Concerning good Workt; Of Speaking; Upon Indulgences ; On the Brotherhood of the Rosarjt/ ; the Abasement of Popery ; Words of the English Law ; or, les Termes de la Ley; and the Indexes of Anthotw Fitzherhert. The books printed by John Rastell are thirty in number. He left two sons, William and John ; the farmer of them succeeded his father as a printer, and the latter was in the commission of the peace, who had a daughter named Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. Robert lAugher, chancellor of the diocese of Exeter.

Like the devices of some of the other early printers, Rastell's principal mark was formed from the sign of bis dwelling-house, the mer- maid, of which a representation is here given.

There were, it is probable, two families of the Rastell's about this time, which makes it difficult, in manv places, to disting^uish one from the other. It is plam, that William Rastell, of St. Bride's parish in London, in the year 1530, and in the lifetime of John, was a very noted printer of law books. This family existea some time before the Rastells mentionea by Wood.

1536. John Hertford endeavoured to revive the art of printing at St. Albans, half a dozen books, executed within the space of four years, are all which are known to baveproceeded from its reestablishmeut. In 1538, Hertford finding it not to answer his expectation, removed to Aldersgate-street, London. This second inter- ruption, says Dr. Cotton, is easily accounted for, in the total dispersion of the inmates of religious houses by command of king Henry VIII.

1536, July 12. Died, Ebasmos, who oc- casionly assumed the prtenomen of Desiderius. This learned Dutchman was born at Rotterdam in 1467. He was a singing boy in the cathedral of Utrecht till his ninth year, then entered the school at Deventer, where he displayed such brilliant powers that it was predicted that he would be the most learned man of hLs time. Alexander Hegins was his master, and Adrianiu Florentius, afterwards pope Adrian FV. was his school fellow. Alter the death of his parents, whom he lost

VjOOQ IC