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HISTORY OF PRINTING.

1599. The pleasant hittory of the two angry women of Abington, with the humorous mirth of Dicke Cotmies, and Nicholas Prouerbes, ttm seruing men. As it teas lately flayde by the right honorable the earle of ffottingltam, lord high admiral, his seruants. By Henry Porter, rent. 4to. Imprinted at London, for William Ferbrand, and are to be solde at his sliou, at the comer of Colman-streete, neere Lothbury. This writer produced only this piece, which is in the Garrick collection. 'Sold at Wright's sale forjCl 13j.; at Pearson's, for£l lit. 6d.

1599. Died, William Le Bee, a celebrated letter-founder and engraver of Paris. He was bom at Tours, in 1533 ; his father was a noble burgeoise, and supplied the famous Robert Ste- phens with paper, in whose house young Le Bee was brought up, and where he got an in- sight into the composition of the types of that c^ebrated printing-house. He afterwards, by order of Francis I. made those beautiful types which Robert Stephens used ; and Philip II. of Spain,* employed him to prepare the types for the Antwerp PolyglotL In 1546 Le Bee took a journey to Venice, where he wasmuch employed. He returned to Paris, and practised his art with much success until his decease, which took place about the beginning of lf>i>9.

Henry Le Bee, son of the above, was a printer at Paris. His sons and grandsons signa- lized themselves in the typographic art. The last of them died in the year 1686.

1600. John Woolfe, city printer, a fish- monger, used the art of printing, and (as Stow says, in his Survey of London, p. 233) in a con- test between the patentees and the stationers' company, taking upon him as a captain in this cause, was content with no agreement, but gene- rally affirmed, that he might and would print any lawful book,notwithstanding any command- ment of the queen. And to that end had in- censed the popularity of London, as in a com- mon cause, somewhat dangerously. And with him several of the rest changing their minds, were associated, and laboured to overthrow those privileges the queen had granted, or could grant. Whereupon the abovesaid committees of the stationers' company, finding thein so disordered, would have bound them to appear before the queen's council, which they promised to do ; but after conference with their abettors refused ; and still prosecuted their complaints to her maiesty, garnishing the same with pretences of the liber- ties of London, and the common wealth of the said company; and saying, the queen was de- ceived by those that were the means for obtain- ing such privileges. He afterwards was in such favour with the citizens, that he was made

• Wed September !3, IBIIS, In tlie rsrd year oThlB. " He was a monarch and a christian, and equally defective in both these characten : in the former case, because his inteUectaal eye constantly soared above, and never des- cended beneath the limits of ills own sphere, His reli^ous creed was g:loomyand unnierdful, because his deity was a tremendoafl b^gr : he had notliinK to hope fh>m his benevolence."— ScMifcr. He was burled in the Escurial, and was succeeded by his aoo Philip III.

printer to the honourable city of London. In Martin Marprelate's piece, p. 23, he is repre- sented cmel, and called John Woolfe (alias Machivill), beadle of the stationers, and most tormenting executioner of Waldegrave's goods. Sec. He dwelt at Paul's Chain, and in DistafF- lane, over against the sign of the Castle, and had a shop in Pope's-hcad alley, in Lombard- street, in 1598. He was city printer in 1681, and was succeeded by John Windet.

John Woolfe used the mark of a fleur-de-lis seeding, and sometimes about it, Ubiqve florescit.

A woman's woorth defended against all I he men in the world ; proving them to be more perfect, excellent, and absolute in all rertuous actions than any man of what quality soever. Written by one that hath heard much, seen much, but knows a great deal more. 1599. 4to.

A quip for an upstart courtier ; or a quaint dispute between velvet breeches, and cloth breeches. Wherein is plainly set downe the disorders in all estates and trades. 1592. 4to.

In 1592, when the four or five first books of Amadis de Gaul* in French, were delivered to John Woolfe to be translated and printed, the signature of bishop Aylraerf was affixed to every book of the original. Hence Dekker's familiarity of expression in the Untrussing of the Humour- ous Poet,

" Fuewell. my sweet Amadis de Gaul."

1600, Feb. 17. Jordanus Brunos was burnt alive on tliis day, by the inquisition of Rome. He was born at Nole, in tlie kingdom of Naples; was at first a Dominican, then went to Geneva, and turned Calvinist ; afterwards came to Lon- don, and wrote against all religions. Leaving

• Lea Vingt Qunrtre Livrea if Amadis de Oaute, traduit par Kicholas de Herberay et aulres, aeec te Tkreaor. 13 vols. In 12mo. and 3 vols, in 8vo. in all 36 vols. Lond. 1575.

This is esteemed the most celebrated and best of his romances. No boolt ever created a greater sensation on Its first pabllcation. Its popularity exceeded all bounds. All ranks of society were infatuated with the perusal. Amadia was in every body's hand, and formally quoted upon every occasion. The clergy became alarmed at its success ; and the learned Jesuit Possevin, even eighteen years after the publication, complains that the impression it produced was still unaltered. ** It had warped the minds of the French nation from their ancient notions and studies, and introduced a neglect of the acriptttrea.** He adds his solemn conviction, " Ulat the Devil instigated Luther to procure the translation into French, for the pur- pose of facilitating his grand scheme of overthrowing the catholic religion." This rare boolc was disposed of at the sale of colonel .Stanley, 1813, for jf21 IM. This copy was formerly Madame Pompadour's.

t John Aylmer, bishop of London, died at Fulham, June 3, liiH ■■ buried in St Paul's.

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