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HISTORY OF PRINTING.

These dramas curiously exemplify that regular progress in the history of man, which has shown itsuf in the more recent revolutions of Europe : the old people still clinging, from habit and affection, to what is obsolete, and the young ardent in establishing what is new; while the ba- lance of human happiness trembles between both.

1651. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, received the art of printing. Mr. Ames observes, that Ireland was one of the last European states into which the art of printing was introduced ; the earliest book at present known being an edition of the Boke of Common Prayer and Adminutra- tion of the Sacramenti, and other Bitet and Ceremaniet of the Churche. folio. It is a verbal reprint of the Common Prayer of Edward VI. of 1649, and bears for colophon, Imprinted by Hvmfrey Powell, printer to the Kynges Maieite, in hit Hyghnette realme of Ireland, dwellynge in the citee of Dublin in the great toure by the Crane. Cum prtvilegio ad imprimendum tolum, aniu> Domini M.D.L.I. Powell continued to exercise the printing business in Dublin for fifteen years or more, during which time he removed from the river side to a more southern residence, in St. Nicholas-street. His productions are cer- tainly most creditable to the early Irish press. A fine and perfect copy of Powell's first produc- tion,may be seen in the library of Trinity college, Dublin. Before his residence in Dublin, Powell practised the art of printing in London, in the years 1648 and 1649, and dwelt above Holbom conduit, where he printed four works. He was a member of the stationers' company, and his name is inserted in their charter uf 1666.

1661, AjprU 18. Nicholas Udall.had a patent granted him to print the works of Peter Martyr, and the English Bible in any size for seven years. Nicholas Udall, was successively head master of Eton and Westminster schools, and who early in life, had been a dramatic author, and produced a drama entitled Ralph Roister Doitter, and which is strongly contended is the first approach to any thing like a regular comedy in our language. Udall likewise produced the verses for a pageant on the entrance of Anne Boleyn into London. The editor of the new edition of Dodsley's old playt first established the intimate connexion between N. Udall and Ralph Roister Doister.

I66I. William Bonham was one of the ori- ginal members of the ancient stationers' com- pany, of which he was also one of the last wardens, serving that office with Thomas Ber- thelet, who died before their charter was granted, as Bonham did soon after. He first resided at the ^n^s Arms, and afterwards at the Red Lion, in St. Paul's church yard ; and his earliest work is supposed to have been an impression of Chaucer's works in connection with John Reynes. There are also attributed to him an edition of the English Primer, with the Epistles and Gos- pels, 1642, 4to. Chronicle of Fabyan, 1642, 2 vols, folio. The Bvble, 1651, folio.

1561. Andrew Hester was more a bookseller than a printer, dwelling in St. Paul's church

yard, at the sign of the White Horse. He sold the Primers composed by John Hislpy, bishop of Rochester, in 1539, and printed by Wayland. The whole Byble, 1560, 4to. printed for bim : no printer's name. A Preservative, |-c. 1 65 1, 8 vo.

1561. Thomas Petit resided in St. Paul's church yard, at the sign of the Maiden's Head, where he printed seveml law books, although be was not king's printer, nor does it appear that he had any exclusive patent for it, other printers also infringed on the patent right at the same period. Ames was of opinon that this person was related to John Petit, a printer at Paris.

An edition of the Bible was printed for bim by Nicholas Hill, in this year.

He printed in the whole twenty-five works.

Petit used the above monogram in a rich Ionic architectural compartment, the shield being sup- ported by cupids, with angels on the sill.

1650,'Tbomas Gavltier. The New Testa- ment in Englishe, after the Greeke translation annexed, with the translacioti of Erasmus in Latin, 8cc. In offieina Thoma Gitaltier, pro I. C. Pridie kalend. Decern. Octavo.

1551. The newe greate abredgement, briefly conteyning, all thactes and statutes of this realme of England, until the xxxv. yere of the reigne of our late noble kynge of moste imrthye and famtms memorye Henry the VIII. (whose soule God pardone) newly reuysed, trulye corrected and amended, to the greate pleasure and commoditie of all the readers thereof. It has the compartment used by Edward Whitchurch. Octavo.

1651. Stephen Mierdman. A new herball, wherin are conieyned the names of herbes in Greyke, Latin, Englysh, Duch, Frenehe, and in the potecaries, and herbaries Latin, with the properties, degrees, and naturell places of thesame, gathered and made by William Turner, phisicion tmto the duke of SomerseVs, grace. And are to be sold by John Gybken. Folio.

1551. John Case dwelt in Petei-coU^e rents, and published the following works :

French Hoode, and new apparel for ladies and gentlewomen, whereunto is added, afrossepaste to lie in a nights. Octavo.

Poor Shakerley his knowledge of good and evil, called otherwise ecclesiastics : by Attn turned into meter. Printed by R. Crowley for him. Octavo.

Certayne chapters of the proverbs of Salomon drawen into metre by Thmnas Sternholde, late grome of the kynges magesties robes. Printed for William Seres. Cum privilegio, ^c. 12ino.

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