many founden that lacke. The more pyte is. I would it pleased our soverayne lord, that twyse or thryce a year, or as the lest ones, he wold do cry justes of pies, to th' ende, that every knyghte sholde have hors and harneys, and also the use and craft of a knyghte; and also to tornay one against one, or two against two, and the best to have a prys-a diamond or jewels, such as should plese the prynce.' The volume is a thin folio, with printed initials, and has rude wood cuts. The leaves are unnumbered. 1484. The Inquisition established in Spain, during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, by John de Torquemada, a Dominican monk and confessor to the queen. Torquemada, indefatigable in his zeal for the holy chair, used every means to extirpate heresy and heretics, in the The Book of Chivalry has been considered by space of fourteen years that he exercised the Oldys, whose words have been repeated by Ames office of chief inquisitor, is said to have prosecuted and Herbert, as "one of the scarcest books now near eighty thousand persons, of whom six thouremaining of our first printer;" and Mr. Dib-sand were condemned to the flames. Voltaire din adds, that it is also one of the most amusing. attributes the taciturnity of the Spaniards to the Caxton informs us, that the translation was universal horror such proceedings spread. "A made out of French into English, in such man- general jealousy and suspicion took possession ner as God had suffered him; which book was of all ranks of people: friendship and sociability not necessary for every common man, but only were at an end! Brothers were afraid of brothers, for such as intend to enter into the noble order fathers of their children."* of chivalry, the decay of which, in his day, he much laments, because the noble acts of the knights of old had spread renown throughout the universal world. Caxton concludes with presenting his little work to king Richard the Third, praying that he may command it to be read to all young lords, knights, and gentlemen, to induce them to imitate the example of the worthy knights of old, for which he shall have his prayers for a prosperous reign on earth, and everlasting bliss in heaven. 1484, Sep. 13. The Ryal book; or a Book for a Kyng. Folio. Mr. Dibdin states, that Herbert has given a correct account of this book, which was unknown to Ames, but that he had seen five copies of it.t * Mr. Lewis, in his Life of Caxton, thus explains our typographer's view of this subject:-"The design of these diversions being, as has been intimated, in part to please the ladies, and recommend to their favour the combatants, for their dress and manhood. But Mr. Caxton seemed to have another view in advising their encouragement, namely, the employing the nobility and gentry, that they might not spend their time worse, in gaming and debauchery, and preserving their ancient courage and valour, that the honour and security of the English nation might not suffer through their sinking and degenerating into delicacy and effeminacy. + Mr. D. gives this curious extract from signature f. j. recto:-"They that live after their jollity will hold company with fools: such folk can not, may not, ne will not, hold ne keep measure ne reason. They that live after hy. pocrisy be they that be martyrs to the devil: such hypocrites have two measures: for the two devils that torment the hypocrite be much contrary that one to that other. That one saith, eat enough, so that thou be fair and fat: that other saith, thou shalt not, but thou shalt fast, so that thou be pale and lean, to the end that the world hold thee for a good man; and that it may appear that thou doest much penance. Now it behoveth that the hypocrite have ii measures; one little and one great: of which they use the little measure tofore the people, and the great measure they use so that no man can see them. They retain not the true measure that be avaricious. In such manner as the mouth will; which is the lady of the house and commander. Then between the belly and the mouth of the glutton be three disputacions. The belly saith, I will be full; the mouth saith, I will not be full; the belly saith to him, I will that thou eat, and take enough, and dispend largely; the mouth saith, I shall not, I will thou restrain thee!-and what shall the sorry caitif do which is servant to his two evil lords? Two measures make the peace. The measure of the belly in an other man's house good and large; and the measure of his mouth in his own house sorrowful and over scarce." The Inquisition punished heretics by fire, to elude the maxim, Ecclesia non novit sanguinem ; for burning a man, they say, does not shed his blood. Otho, the bishop at the Norman invasion, in the tapestry worked by Matilda queen of William the Conqueror, is represented with a mace in his hand, for the purpose that when he despatched his antagonist he might not spill his blood, but only break his bones! "Religion" says Mr. D'Israeli "has had her quibbles as well as law." In the cathedral at Saragossa is the tomb of a famous inquisitor; six pillars surround his tomb; to each is chained a Moor, as preparatory to his being burnt. On this St. Foix ingeniously ob *Innocent the third, a pope as enterprising as he was successful in his enterprises, having sent Dominic with some missionaries into Languedoc, these men so irritated the heretics they were sent to convert, that most of them were assassinated at Toulouse in the year 1200. He called in the aid of temporal arms, and published against them a crusade, granting, as was usual with the popes on similar occasions, all kinds of indulgences and pardons to those who should arm against these Mahometans, so he styled these unfortunate Languedocians. Once all were Turks when they were not Romanists. It was then he esta blished that scourge of Europe, The Inquisition.-Dominic did so much by his persecuting inquiries, that he firmly established the inquisition at Toulouse.-D' Israeli. The inquisition, since its foundation, has burnt at the stake above 100,000 persons of both sexes, besides destroy ing twice that number by imprisonment. Religious war among Christians, for differences in opinion, on point now unintelligible, have cost the lives of above two mil lions in direct slaughters; and the wars to establish Chri tianity, and those waged against the Turks about th Holy Land, &c. have cost fifty millions of lives. The wa of Charlemagne, &c. to Christianise the Saxons, &c. ab of the Spaniards to Christianise the Moors and American cost, at least, fifteen millions.-In all cases of martyrdo or punishment for opinions, the prosecutors and persec tors do not allege actual mischief committed, but proces prospectively, under an hypothesis that the opinion ha tendency to produce some alleged or imaginary mischi -The inquisition and the Spanish vulgar make no tinction between a Moorish Mahomedan, a Jew, and Protestant Christian. In 1450, the books and manuscrip of each were burnt throughout Spain, and all science confounded with the sciences of the hated Arabians. Even in the reigns of the two last kings of Spain, fo were burnt and fifty-six condemned to worse than dea The French abolished the inquisition, but the English mies, under Wellington, restored Ferdinand, and, at t same time, this infernal tribunal.-Sir Richard Phillips The establishment of this despotic order was resist in France; but it may perhaps surprise the reader th Sir John Howell, (recorder of London in 1670,) in speech, urged the necessity of setting up an inquisiti in England! tance. Richard lost his life by defection: his courage and foresight were worthy of a better cause. He was born at the castle of Fotheringay, October 2, 1452; and during the contention of the roses was present in nearly every engagement of those unnatural wars. Richard with his consort (Ann Beauchamp, widow of Edward prince of Wales) was crowned at Westminster July 6, 1483, on the 8th of September following they were again crowned at York. After the death of Richard, the duke of Richmond was saluted king, by the title of Henry VII. 1485. Printing introduced into the following Vercelli, in Peidmont, by Jacob Suigus. serves, "if ever the Jack Ketch of any country should be rich enough to have a splendid tomb, this might serve as an excellent model." One of the most interesting anecdotes relating to the inquisition, exemplifying how the use of the diabolical engines of torture forces men to confess crimes they have not been guilty of, was related to Mr. D'Israeli by a Portuguese gentleman. A nobleman in Lisbon* having heard that his physician and friend was imprisoned by the inquisition, under the stale pretext of Judaism, addressed a letter to one of them to request his freedom, assuring the inquisitor that his friend was as orthodox a christian as himself. The physician, notwithstanding this high recommendation, was put to the torture; and, as was usually the case, at the height of his sufferings confessed every thing they wished. This enraged the nobleman, and feigning a dangerous illness he begged the inquisitor would come to give him his last spiritual aid. As soon as the Doman arrived, the lord, who had prepared his conadential servants, commanded the inquisitor their presence to acknowledge himself a Jew, to write his confession, and to sign it. On the refusal of the inquisitor, the nobleman ordered his people to put on the inquisitor's head a red- Different opinions have been entertained rehet helmet, which to his astonishment, in draw-specting the original author of this work: it is 37 aside a screen, he beheld glowing in a small said to be a translation of a French romance, infarmace. At the sight of this new instrument of tituled, Lancelot. Caxton's preface commences torture, "Luke's iron crown," the monk wrote with informing us, that, "having completed the and subscribed the abhorred confession. The translation of divers histories of great conquerors obleman then observed, "See now the enor- and princes," as well as "certain books of good mity of your manner of proceeding with un- examples and doctrine," he was solicited by Lappy men! My poor physician, like you, has essed Judaism; but with this difference, aly torments have forced that from him which fear alone has drawn from you!" A man of letters declared that, having fallen their hands, nothing perplexed him so much the ignorance of the inquisitor and his counand it seemed very doubtful whether they had read even the scriptures. The Inquisition has not failed of receiving its e praises. Macedo, a Portuguese Jesuit, has vered the origin of the inquisition in the restrial paradise, and presumes to allege that God was the first who began the functions of an qator over Cain and the workmen of Babel! The history of the Inquisition enters into that the human mind; and that by Limborch, rated by Chandler, with a very curious induction, loses none of its value with the phiphical mind. This monstrous tribunal of opinions aimed at the sovereignty of the intellectual world, without intellect. 143, Aug. 22. The battle of Bosworth Field, And the death of Richard III. The Tudor race cindebted to this day for their regal inheri la 15g, one Saavedra appeared at Lisbon as legate a dere, from the pope, to establish the inquisition in Portu The king conceded the necessary powers, and Saatra caused two hundred to be burnt, and collected 2,000 crowns. He then departed for Spain, but being Scovered to be an impostor, he was seized, but let off tha whipping and ten years in the gallies. The inquition was then established in Portugal.-Phillips. Udino, by Gerard de Flandria. 1485. The press of Caxton was entirely oc- *In what odious colours has Shakspeare made Richard III. describe himself, in the first scene of the first act of the celebrated tragedy of that name. But I, that am not shap'd for sportive tricks, That dogs bark at me, as I halt by them.-Act 1, Sc. 1. In this description what a monster of blended deformity and villany do we behold! The deformity of person anhis ingenious treatise entitled Historical Doubts, has given a variety of reasons to support the opinion of Rapin, that Richard was neither hunched backed nor deformed; and that personal ugliness was imputed to him, by the historians of the time, with many crimes of which he was en nouncing the depravity of soul! But Horace Walpole, in tirely innocent, merely to flatter his bitter enemies, his two immediate successors, Henry VII. and VIII. Richard III. was killed at the foot of a declivity in the ground at the east of the well, in Bosworth Field. The bedstead and travelling treasury of Richard is still shewn at Rothley, near Leicester. It was hollow, and full of gold pieces, not discovered till 120 years afterwards. His stone coffin was for many years in the possession of Sir Richard Phillips, then a bookseller at Leicester, and afterwards actually served as a horse trough, at the White Horse Inn. "Sic transit gloria mundi.” † A perfect copy of this work is in the library at Osterley Park, belonging to the earl of Jersey. Another (unfortunately defective) is in earl Spencer's library. 66 many noble and divers gentlemen to print the History of the Saint Greal," &c. Mr. Dibdin speaks of the popularity of this work, even so late as the reign of Charles the first, in proof of which he gives the following extract, which was written in the reign of king Henry the eighth: "Roger Ascham, in his Toyophilus and Schoolmaster, severely reprobates this and similar bookes of favned chevalrie; wherein a man, by readinge, should be led to none other ende, but onely to manslaughter and baudrye.' He says, the whole pleasure of this work standeth in these two special points;' and after asking whether this is good stuff for wise men to laugh at, or honeste men to take pleasure in?' He concludes by saying that, he knew the time when God's Bible was banished the court, and La Morte d'Arthur received into the prince's chamber!" The above gentleman observes, that the book has a handsome margin, that the press work is exact, and that it is one of the finest specimens of Caxton's press. It consists of about 550 pages. 1485, Dec. 1. The Lyf of Charles the Great. Folio. The preface begins with an exhortation to good deeds and noble acts; and Caxton closes the work with a most pious exhortation to the memory of Edward the fourth; and also praving his readers to pardon him of the simple and rude translation, beseeching them that should they find fault to correct it; in doing which they should not only have his thanks, but also his prayers to God for them, that he may bring both them and him, after this short and transitory life, to everlasting bliss, &c. Öldys, informs us that the scarcity of this work has prevented its having been sufficiently described in the histories of our first printed books. The volume is a thin folio, in double columns, which extends to м 7 in octavos, and it is conjectured that his cypher was printed on the eighth leaf, to complete the sheet. 1485, Dec. 19. Thystory of the noble and ryght valyaunt and worthy knyght Paris and of the fayr Vyene &c. Folio. The Harleian catalogue informs us, that this is ‘a very scarce book.' It appears that this romance has been slightly noticed by our early writers, but its author's name lies buried in obscurity. It is said to be of provincial growth, and to have been translated into French by Pierre de la Sippade. Mr. Dibdin observes, that this is a small folio, printed in double columns, with capital initials, and contains E 5. A, B, C, &c. in octavos; D has only six leaves, and E five. The last page is generally blank. The leaves are not numbered. In the year 1486, Caxton's press seems to have been idle ;-none of his works bear this date. Penal Mandate, forbidding the Translation into the Vulgar Tongue, &c. of Greek, Latin, and other Books, without the previous approbation of the Doctors, &c. "Berthold, by the grace of God, archbishop of the holy see of Mentz, arch-chancellor of Germany, and electoral prince of the holy Roman empire. Although, by a certain divine art of printing, abundant and easy access is obtained to books on every science necessary to the attainment of human learning; yet we have perceived that certain men, led by the desire of vain glory or money, do abuse this art; and that what was given for the instruction of human life, is perverted to purposes of mischief and calumny. For, to the dishonouring of religion, we have seen in the hands of the vulgar certain books of the divine offices and writings of our religion, translated from the Latin into the German tongue. And what shall we say of the sacred laws and canons, which though they have been written in the most suitable and careful manner, by men acquainted with law, and endowed with the greatest skill and eloquence, yet the science itself is so intricate, that the utmost extent of the life of the wisest and most eloquent man is scarcely equal to it? Some volumes, on this subject, which certain rash unlearned simpletons have dared to translate into the vulgar tongue, whose translation, many persons who have seen it, and those, too, learned men, have declared to be unintelligible, in consequence of the very great misapplication and abuse of words. Or what is to be said of works on the other sciences with which they sometimes even intermingle things that are false; and which, in order the more readily to find purchasers for them, they inscribe with false titles, and attribute to notable authors what are merely their own productions "Let such translators, whether they do this with a good, or with a bad intention, let them if they pay any regard to truth, say, whether the German tongue be capable of expressing tha which excellent writers, both Greek and Latin have most accurately and argumentatively writte on the sublime speculations of the Christian re ligion, and on the knowledge of things? The must acknowledge that the poverty of our idio renders it insufficient; and that it will be n cessary for them to invent from their own mind new terms for things; or, that supposing the to make use only of the old ones, they mu corrupt the sense of the truth, which from greatness of the danger attendant upon it, in t Sacred Writings, we greatly dread: for w would leave it to ignorant and unlearned m and to the female sex into whose hands copies the Holy Scriptures may have fallen, to find the true meaning of them? For instance, 1486. The oldest mandate for appointing a book-censor, with which we are acquainted, is It is probable that by the terms "libros de div officiis et apicibus Riligionis nostre," the archbishop that issued by Berthold, archbishop of Mentz, in ferred to the vernacular translations, not only of this year, which the curious reader will not Service-books of the Romish church, called the be displeased to see at full length; with the in-offices, but also of the Holy Scriptures; the word being generally used, in the middle ages, for writ structions given to the censors. epistles, &c. See Du Cauge, sub voce. "These things have occurred to our minds, because they are the most common. But what shall we think of those which are pending in very sharp disputes amongst writers in the Catholic church? Many other instances may be brought forward, but it is sufficient for our purpose to have named a few." But, since the beginning of this art arose dirinely, (to give it its proper appellation) in this our golden city of Mentz, and continues in it to this day, in its most improved and perfect state; it is with the greatest justice that we defend the gery of the art, and it becomes our duty to preserve the unspotted purity of the Divine Writings. Wherefore, with a view of meeting and restraining as with a bridle, the aforesaid errors, and the daring attempts of shameless or wicked men, as far as we are able by the will of God, whose cause is in question; we do, by strictly charging the observance of these presents, command all and every the ecclesiastical and secular persons subject to our jurisdiction, or transacting Esiness within its limits, of whatever degree, rder, profession, dignity, or condition, they may be, that they translate no works on any science, art, or knowledge whatsoever, from the Greek, Latin, or other language, into the vulgar German; nor, when translated, either dispose of, or obtain copies, publicly or privately, directly or hirectly, by any kind of barter, unless before their impression they shall have been admitted, by patent, to be sold, by the most noble and bonourable our beloved doctors and masters of the university in our city of Mentz, John Bertram de Nuremberg, in theology; Alexander Darthrich, in law; Theodoric de Meschede, in edicine; and Alexander Eler, in arts: the doctors and masters deputed for this purpose in the university of our city of Erfurt; or if in the Sown of Frankfort, the books exposed for sale shall have been seen and approved of by an bonourable, devout, and beloved master in theogy, belonging to the place, and one or two ctors and licentiates, annually paid for that pse by the governor of the said town. And whever shall treat with contempt this our provision, or shall lend his counsel, assistance, or war, in any way, directly or indirectly, in option to this our mandate, let him know that hes by so doing incurred the sentence of ex unication; and beside the loss of the books exposed for sale, a penalty of 100 florins gold, to be paid into our treasury; from wach sentence none may absolve him without special authority." "Given at the chancery of St. Martin, in our City of Mentz, under our seal, on the fourth day f the month January, MCCCCLXXXVI." The following are the Instructions issued to the censors, and accompanying the above man late "Berthold, &c., to the honourable, most learned, and beloved in Christ, Jo. Bertram, doctor in theology; Al. Diethrich, doctor in law; Th. de Meschede, doctor in medicine; and Al. Eler, master of arts; health and attention to the things underwritten." "Having found out several scandals and frauds, committed by certain translators of literary works, and printers of books, and wishing to counteract them, and according to our power to block up their way, we command that no one in our diocese, or under our jurisdiction, translate any books into the German tongue, or print, or sell them when printed, unless, in our city of Mentz, such works or books, have first, according to the form of the mandate above published, been by you seen, and as to their matter approved of, both for translation, and for sale." "We do, therefore, by the tenor of these presents, (having great confidence in your prudence and circumspection,) charge you, that if at any time, any works, or books, intended to be translated, printed, or sold, be brought to you, you shall weigh their matter, and, if they cannot be easily translated according to the true sense, but would rather beget errors and offences, or be injurious to modesty, you shall reject them; and whatever books you shall judge worthy to be allowed, two of you, at least, shall sign them, at the end, with your own hand, in order that it may more readily appear, what books have been seen and allowed by you. In so doing you will perform an office pleasing to our God, and useful to the state.' "Given at the chancery of St. Martin, under our privy-seal, the 10th day of January, MCCCCLXXXVI."-Beckmann's Hist. of Inven. 1486. John of Trittenheim, abbot of Spanheim, in his exhortations in this year, after many injunctions against idleness, observes that he has diminished their labour out of the monastery, lest by working badly you should only add to your sins, and have enjoined on you the manual labour of writing and binding books." And again, urging them to their duty, he says, "It is true that the industry of the printing art, lately, in our day, discovered at Mentz, produces many volumes every day; but is impossible for us, depressed as we are by poverty, to buy them all."-British Magazine. 1486. Printing introduced into the following places in the course of this year : Abbeville, Jean Du Pré and Pierre Gerard. Casale Maggiore, no printer's name. 1487. Only one book appeared from the press of Caxton, which was entitled the Book of Good Maners. Enprynted the xj day of Maye. Folio. A copy of this work appears to have been | rarely seen: the prologue commences thus, "When I consider the conditions and manners of the common people, which, without information and learning, be rude and not mannered, like unto beasts brute; according to an old proverb, he that is not mannered is no man," &c. Caxton informs us, that this work was 66 compiled by the venerable frere Jaques le Graunt, in Latin Jacocus Magnus, lycencyat in theology, religious of the order of St. Austin; and, that the book is of auctorite, or as moche as there is nothyng sayde therin, but for the moost part it is alledged by scripture, or ellis by sayeng of holy seyntes, doctours, philosophres, &c." It appears that the original French work was delivered to Caxton "by a special friend of his, a mercer of London, named William Praat." Le Grand, the author, was a native of Thou- | louse, and confessor of Charles VII: he is said to have refused the archbishoprick of Bourdeaux. It is comprised in four books. 1487. Printing introduced into the following places in the course of this year : Besançon, supposed by John Comtel. The work Liber de Pestilentia, 4to. printed here in this year, has no printer's name. Gaeta, by A. F. (Andreas Fritag.) Ischar, (Ixar, in Arragon,) Eliezer filius Alanta. 1487. Court of STAR CHAMBER founded. The authority of this court, which was before founded on common law and ancient practice, was in some cases confirmed by an act of parliament. This court assumed a power over the press, incompatible with the least notion of liberty of the subject, and of printing or publishing any thing which it might construe into a libel; and what did it not do? it often exercised the most inquisitorial jurisdiction over the human mind, which is not yet abolished. Many of its enactments will be noticed in the course of this work. The preamble is remarkable, and shews the state of the nation at this time. "The king, our sovereign lord, remembereth how by our unlawful maintenance, giving of liveries, signs and tokens, retainders by indentures, promises, oaths, writings, and other embraceries of his subjects, untrue demeanings of sheriffs in making panals, and untrue returns, by taking money, by juries, &c. the policy of this nation is most subdued." Lord Bacon extols the utility of this court. It must indeed be confessed, that such state of the country required great discretionary power in the sovereign; nor will the same maxims of government suit such a rude people, that may be proper in a more advanced state of society. The establishment of the Star Chamber, or the enlargement of its powers at this time, might have been as wise as the abolition of it in that of Charles I. 1487. While Henry VII. kept his residence at the castle at Winchester, on occasion of the birth of prince Arthur, he was entertained on a Sunday, during the time of dinner, with a religi ous drama, called Christ's Descent into Hell. It was represented by the choir boys of Hyde abbey, and St. Swithin's priory, two large monasteries at Winchester. And in the same reign, 1489, there were shows and ceremonies, and (religious) plays exhibited in the palace at Westminster. An entertainment of a similar nature was furnished, in 1503, at the marriage of king James of Scotland, with the princess Margaret of England, daughter of Henry VII. On the first Sunday of the magnificent festival, celebrated with high splendour, at Edinburgh, "After dynnar, a Moralite was played by master Inglyshe and hys companyons, in the presence of the kyng and qwene." So late as the reign of Elizabeth, and even so late as that of Charles I. plays continued to be acted on Sundays, by the choristers, or singing boys, of St. Paul's cathedral, and of the royal chapel. At this time the profession of the church was the one which abounded amongst all ranks of people, and one that was very often embraced by persons of the lowest station: for we find by a clause of a statute, that all clerks or students of the university were forbidden to beg, without permission from the vice chancellor.-Keith. 1488. A very great inconvenience of the Gothic impressions of this period arose from the numerous and continual abbreviations in which a great part of them abound. But this disad vantage is not chargeable exclusively on Gothic, but is sometimes found in early editions of the Roman character. Chevillier particularizes an edition of the Logic of Ockham, printed at Paris in this year, in folio, in a handsome letter; but in which scarce a single word is found unabbreviated. He adduces for instance, two lines taken at hazard from folio 121. They are printed in the following manner :"Sic hic e fal im qd ad simplr a e pducibile a Deo ga e & silr hic a ne ga ne pducibile a Deo." At length thus-"Sicut hic est fallacia secundum quid ad simpliciter. A est producible a Deo. Ergo A est. Et similiter hie A non est. Ergo A non est producibile a Deo. Another difficulty in reading these early works was the desire of the printers to compress as much as possible within a given compass; they neve divided the words at the end of lines, and mad use of vowels with a mark of abbreviation, as fo instance, dño for domino; c' for cum; quib' fo quibos; argëtoq for argentoque: &c. The vowe and consonants u and v, i and j, are confounde together, and used one for the other; the di thongs a and a were generally supplied by th simple e c was often used for t, as nacio f nation; f for ph, as fantasma for phantasma mihi was sometimes spelled michi; somnur sompnum ; quotidiana, cotidiana; the orthogr phy was consequently various, and often arbitrar Works on the civil and canon law, both print and manuscript, were peculiarly overcharg with abbreviations; and that to such a degre that a treatise was printed to point out the m thod of reading such perplexing works, entit |