Chapter I: Part 1
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
1. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. 2. Enclosed underlined font in ¤currency signs¤. 3. Enclosed a change of font size in ¿inverted question marks¿. 4. Enclosed blackletter font in ±plus-minus signs±. 5. Enclosed citations in ©copyright signs©. 6. Enclosed bold font in ¬not signs¬. 7. Enclosed raised font in ®registered signs®. 8. Enclosed lowered font in «angle quotation marks». 9. Superscripts are denoted by a caret before a single superscript character or a series of superscripted characters enclosed in curly braces, e.g. M^r. or M^{ister}. 10. Subscripts are denoted by an underscore before a series of subscripted characters enclosed in curly braces, e.g. H_{2}O. 11. All asterisms with two asterisks were above the single asterisk in the original were changed to "⁂". Asterisms with more than three asterisks were changed to two asterisms "⁂⁂". 12. [Reversed Q] indicates a reversed character Q. 13. [/] indicates an oblique single hyphen. 14. [EE] and [ee] indicates ligature characters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EARLY OXFORD PRESS
_MADAN_
London
HENRY FROWDE
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE
AMEN CORNER, E.C.
New York
MACMILLAN & CO., 66 FIFTH AVENUE
INSTAVR·MAG·P·I·
OF THE
ADVANCEMENT AND
PROFICIENCE OF LEARNING
or the
_PARTITIONS OF SCIENCES_
I̅X̅ Bookes
_Written in Latin by the Most Eminent
Illustrious & Famous LORD
FRANCIS BACON
Baron̄ of Verulam Vicont S^t Alban
Counsilour of Estate and Lord
Chancellor of England._
Interpreted
_by_ GILBERT WATS.
_Multi pertransibunt & augebitur Scientia._
OXFORD
_Printed by_ Leon: Lichfield,
_Printer to the_ University, _for_
Rob: Young, & Ed: Forrest.
C|Ↄ|ↃC XL
_W. Marshall sculpsit._
AN OXFORD TITLE-PAGE, 1640
]
_The
Early Oxford Press_
A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PRINTING AND PUBLISHING AT OXFORD
‘1468’–1640
_WITH NOTES, APPENDIXES AND ILLUSTRATIONS_
BY
FALCONER MADAN, M. A.
FELLOW OF BRASENOSE COLLEGE, OXFORD
Oxford
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
1895
Oxford
PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
BY HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREFACE
The present work was undertaken early in 1889, and is an attempt to describe in detail the products and working of the Oxford Press in its early days. Though eclipsed by the glories of the later University Press, the first period, included in this book, has a natural importance of its own. The Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century presses[1] are necessarily of interest, and when printing became firmly established in 1585 it began to reflect faithfully the current tendencies of thought and study in the University. Theology is predominant, animated on its controversial side with fierce opposition to the Church of Rome, but the quieter fields of classical work are well represented, and side by side is seen an increasing study of English literature. Of lighter books there are few, and of chapbooks perhaps only one (1603, no. 5).
The most important works produced at Oxford between 1585 and 1640 were Richard de Bury’s Philobiblon (1599), Wycliff’s treatises (1608), capt. John Smith’s Map of Virginia (1612), Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy (1621, &c.), Field on the Church (1628, &c.), Sandys’ translations of Ovid’s Metamorphoses (1633), the University Statutes (1634), Chaucer’s Troilus and Cressida in English and Latin (1635), Chillingworth’s Religion of Protestants (1638), and Bacon’s Advancement and Proficience of Learning, in English (1640: see frontispiece). There are of course many books on logic, philosophy and the like, intended for the University curriculum, and many collections of the rhetorical poems by which the University was expected to condole or rejoice with every change in the royal estate. 180 pages of mechanical grief at Elizabeth’s death in 1603 are at once followed by 200 pages of equally mechanical congratulations to James I: and the metrical tears dropped in turn on the grave of the latter monarch in March 1625, are in May succeeded with indecorous haste by songs of joy on the marriage of his successor. Some volumes of English poems and plays occur, by Skelton, Nicholas Breton, Churchyard, Fitz-Geffrey, Randolph, Cartwright, Fletcher, and others, and a few still lighter pieces, such as a Masque at Richmond, partly in Wiltshire dialect, and “Bushell’s Rock,” both in 1636. There are traces of the study of Spanish, French and Welsh, as well as of Latin and Greek; and an attempt to introduce phonetic writing and spelling was made by Charles Butler in 1633 and 1634. Even theological disputes are lightened by the solemn account of certain Jesuits in the East, who dressed up a carcase as that of a queen recently deceased, obtained much glory from the miracles it wrought, until the real corpse arrived and the priests vacated the vicinity (1633, Gregorius). There is something surprising in Oxford being chosen as the printing-place of a book to persuade mothers to nurse their own children (1622, Clinton); and an episcopal alchemist is not often to be met with in real life (1621, Thornborough). It is less to be wondered at that a college which had leased land to Queen Elizabeth for a quiet five thousand years, should try to be relieved of its agreement within fifty (1623, Oxford).
There is no need of a general history of the University Press at this time, as distinguished from the annals which the Appendixes of this work present. The printers were privileged members of the University, and occasionally printed “cum privilegio,” but there is little to invest their personal proceedings with importance. Though it is true that money was advanced in 1585 by the Earl of Leicester, Chancellor of the University, to set up Joseph Barnes with a new press, and that the charter of privileges in 1632 gave the University direct control of the printing, there are as yet few signs of actual academical patronage or interference, and the failures and successes of the printers and publishers, which can be traced in detail in Appendixes C and F, are the ordinary fluctuations of trade. Nor can the Oxford press at this time claim much connexion with the greater world of the English Court or Church. After it was placed on a permanent footing by the Earl of Leicester, its one great patron and protector within our period was Archbishop Laud, who occupied a similar position to that of Bishop Fell at a later period in the same century.
The year 1640 has been chosen as the inferior limit of this bibliography, partly because both the British Museum Catalogue of early English books and Arber’s Transcript of the Registers of the Stationers’ Company stop at that point, partly because the interest in the products of the press as such was found to be rapidly diminishing, and partly in consequence of the break-up of all quiet progress during the convulsions of the Rebellion, combined with the dismal prospect of that trackless wilderness—the literature of the Civil War.
The present bibliography presents, it is believed, four features of novelty:—the better representation of the titlepage by the use of Roman and Italic capitals as well as ordinary type; the mention of the chief type used in each book; the furnishing of the first words of certain pages, to facilitate the identification of imperfect copies; and the insertion of actual pages[2] of books printed at Oxford, selected from works which are cheap and common. These points are explained and discussed in a paper on ©Method in Bibliography©, printed at pp. 91–106 of vol. 1 of the Transactions of the Bibliographical Society (1893), to which the reader is referred, if he wishes to see a fuller account of the whole aim and method of the present book.
The best thanks of the writer are due for general help to Mr. E. Gordon Duff, Librarian of the John Rylands (late Spencer) Library at Manchester, to Mr. F. J. H. Jenkinson, Librarian of the Cambridge University Library, and to Mr. W. H. Allnutt of the Bodleian: but especially to the Delegates of the Clarendon Press both for undertaking on liberal terms a work which can scarcely prove remunerative, and for enabling the Oxford Historical Society to supply copies to its members, as vol. xxix, at a price far below its actual cost[3]. Mr. Horace Hart, the Controller of the Press, has taken a warm personal interest in the printing, and any merits of form which may be found are due to his experience and to the co-operation of his compositors. Nothing, however, can relieve the writer of responsibility for the errors and shortcomings which will be detected; and he can only plead that it is better to bring out an imperfect book, if it is a useful one and the result of hard work, than, by straining after an unattainable completeness, to delay indefinitely its publication.
F. MADAN.
OXFORD, _Dec._, 1894.
MINOR POINTS.
_Dates._ The books classed under a given year, such as 1615, are
necessarily such as were issued between 25 March 1615 and 24 March
1616, since no means exist for dividing them according to the
historical year. In recording a date between Jan. 1 and March 24, the
form used is invariably the double one, such as 23 Feb. 1615/6, by
which is implied what we understand by 23 Feb. 1616.
_Numbers of books._ Some notes on the number of books printed at
Oxford will be found on p. 291, and of books printed or published at
Oxford on p. 292, among the Notanda.
_References._ The usual style of reference throughout the book
(including index) is to the _year_ followed by the _initial letter_ of
the particular heading; as 1634 C, when the reference is to no. 9 on
p. 177 (Cosin). A few references will be found in the earlier pages to
years beyond 1640, made before it was decided to close the work at
that year.
_Titles._ The heading usually presents the author’s name in the form
by which he is generally known to posterity, as “James ii, king,”
although at the time of the book referred to he was prince James.
-----
Footnote 1:
See Appendixes A, B.
Footnote 2:
Separate leaves from rare and costly books are given in G. E.
Klemming’s ©Sveriges äldre liturgiska literatur©, Stockholm, 1879—a
practice which cannot be approved—but no local press has as yet been
similarly illustrated.
Footnote 3:
Separate copies can _only_ be obtained by ordering them from the
Clarendon Press, and are not supplied by the Society.
LIST OF CONTENTS
PAGE
PREFACE v
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND TABLES x
PLAN OF THE BIBLIOGRAPHY xi
THE OXFORD PRESS:—
Fifteenth Century 1
Early Sixteenth Century 5
Fictitious or Lost Oxford books, &c., 1459–1584 8
The Oxford University Press, 1585–1640 14
Periodical 225
Supplement of Additions and Corrections 227
List of Undated books 236
APPENDIX A—The Fifteenth Century Press (a detailed account of
books, type, copies known, &c.) 237
APPENDIX B—The Early Sixteenth Century Press 263
APPENDIX C—A chronological list of persons and proceedings
connected with book-production at Oxford, A.D. 1180–1640 266
— Discussion of the authorship of the ©Praise of Music©, 1586 279
APPENDIX D—Documents (Statute, 1373—Charters, 1632, 1632/3,
1636/7—Statute, 1636) 281
APPENDIX E—Woodcut and metal ornaments, tables of use of type,
notanda 289
APPENDIX F—Lists of Imprints and tables of Oxford printers and
publishers, 1585–1640 293
INDEX 315
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND TABLES
PLATE
I. A collotype (as are also plates II-VII) of the
titlepage of Wats’s translation of Bacon’s
©Advancement of Learning© (Oxford, 1640), see
p. 217: here reduced one-third in length and
breadth _Frontispiece_
OXFORD TYPE, “1468”-86.
II. Type 1 (see p. 241). The last page of the first
Oxford book, bearing the famous colophon with
date MCCCCLXVIII, discussed on pp. 245–52 _At end._
III. Types 2 and 3 (see pp. 242–3). The upper part of
the first page of the Latteburius, printed in
1482. Parts of the curious woodcut border are
also shown, which is the first used in English
printing _At end._
IV. Types 3, 4, 5, 6 (see pp. 243–4). The upper part
of K7^v of the Lyndewoode, printed in 1483 (?).
The coloured initials are of course inserted by
hand in the original _At end._
V. Types 5, 7 (see pp. 243–4). The text of f2^v of
the ©Festial©, printed in 1486/7 (?), showing
one of the smaller woodcuts and the woodcut
capital G _At end._
OXFORD TYPE, 1517–19.
VI. (_a_) The titlepage of Burley on the Posterior
Analytics of Aristotle, printed in 1517 (see
pp. 5, 263), showing the large wood-engraving
of the University Arms and the ordinary large
type.
(_b_) The four last lines of the back of the
titlepage reproduced above, showing the
ordinary large and small type _At end._
VII. The titlepage of Burley de Materia et Forma,
printed in 1518 by John Scolar. The woodcut
represents a master and scholar. The type is
the largest, used in titles only _At end._
OXFORD PRINTING, 1585–1640.
Each of the first seven hundred copies of this work contains three specimens of actual pages from old Oxford books, copies of which are both common and cheap. Thus nos. 1–200 contain pages from (1) Ursinus’s Summe of Christian Religion, 1587, (2), N. Fuller’s Miscellanea Sacra, 1616, (3) Carpenter’s Philosophia Libera, 1636: nos. 201–322 (1) Ursinus, (2) Fuller, (3) Reusner’s Symbola, 1638: nos. 323–500 (1) Ursinus, (2) Sanderson’s Logica, 1618, (3) Reusner: nos. 501–700 (1) Ursinus’s Summe of Christian Religion, 1589, (2) Du Moulin’s Accomplishment of the prophecies, 1613, (3) Grotius’s Defensio fidei catholicæ, 1636.
After no. 700, at least one actual page will be given, and its provenance will be indicated by a note of the form “38.20,” implying a page from the 20th book of 1638 (Reusner).
LIST OF TABLES.
PAGE
Details of the 15th century books 238–9
Owners of copies of ditto 240
Details of the early 16th century books 265
Type used in Oxford books, 1585–1640 291
The relations of Oxford printers and publishers,
1585–1640 311–3
PLAN OF THE BIBLIOGRAPHY
15th and early 16th century.
The books of these periods are in some respects exceptionally treated, but the general plan is similar to that of the later press. Pages 1–7 (printed off in 1889) must be taken in close connexion with Appendixes A and B, which correct and supplement those pages in important points.
1585–1640.
1. After the heading (which in all cases is the author or a body representing the author, if known; otherwise the catch-title) comes the title, reproduced faithfully so far as was possible with the employment of four types. A fifth minute type indicates letters represented by contractions in the original. The occurrence of a “motto” (whether a text or quotation), a device (see p. 289) or woodcuts (see p. 290) is noted in square brackets. A * before the heading implies “undated”: a † “no place of printing mentioned.”
2. Next follows the technical description, comprising:—
_a._ The number of the imprint (see pp. 292–310: it would have been
better to add the names of the printer and publisher to the bare
reference).
_b._ The date.
_c._ The apparent size of a page of an ordinary uncut copy, according
to the scale,
_for narrow sizes_ _for broad sizes_
in. in.
12–18 folio 12–18 large 4^o
9–12 large 8^o 9–12 4^o
7–9 8^o 7–9 small 4^o
6–7 12^o 6–7 square 12^o
5–6 16^o &c.
4–5 24^o
The number of leaves in a section (quire or gathering) precedes,
within round brackets, when different from what is suggested by the
apparent size: as “(eights) small 4^o.” When it has been desirable to
indicate further the way in which the original sheets of paper have
been folded, the words _single_, _double_, or _treble_ (for once,
twice, or thrice folded) are used on p. 238.
_d._ The number of pages of a perfect copy, in square brackets when
there is no printed pagination, as “pp. [16] + 121 + [9].” When
printed pagination does not occur in the book at all, the signatures
are also given.
_e._ The first words of the 11th page, and of later ones in the case
of a large work, always in italics.
_f._ The common type of the body of the work, followed by the terms
Roman, Italic, or English (i. e. Black-letter): see pp. 291–2.
_g._ The contents. _Every page not mentioned is blank_, without
exception.
3. Notes on the book. A reference to Wood’s ©Athenæ© and ©Fasti Oxonienses©, as edited by Bliss (1813–20), has been considered as superseding in most instances any biographical account of the author. And the limitation of the present work to a bibliography of a press, not of books connected with the University, has been borne in mind.
THE OXFORD PRESS.
The Fifteenth Century Press[4].
“1468.”
[¬Rufinus¬, of Aquileia]. [Sign. a 1^r:—] Incipit exposicio sancti Ieronimi in | simbolum apostolorum ad papam laure¿n¿tiu¿m¿. [Sign. e 9^v:—] Explicit exposicio sancti Ieronimi in | simbolo apostolorum ad papam laure¿n¿|cium Impressa Oxonie Et finita An|no domini . M . cccc . lxviij . xvij . die | decembris.
Impr. as above, Oxford, “1468”: 8^o: pp. [84], signn. a-d^8 e^{10}:
sign. b 1^r beg. _tali generacione_. Contents:—pp. (1–82) the
treatise.
The work here ascribed to St. Jerome is in reality by Tyrannius
Rufinus of Aquileia, _d._ 610.
1479.
1. ¬Aegidius¬ de Columna, of Rome. [Sign. a 2^r:—] Incipit tractatus sole¿n¿nis fratris Egi|dij de ordine fratrum Augustinensium de | peccato originali [Sign. c 7^v:—] Explicit tractatus breue [altered by hand to _breuis_] et vtilis de | origi¿n¿ali peccato Editus a fratre Egidio | Romano ordinis fratru¿m¿ heremita¿rum¿ san|cti augustini. Impresso [altered by hand to _impressus_] et finito [_finitus_, as before] Oxonie. | A natiuitate d¿omi¿ni . M . cccc . lxxix . xiiij . die | mensis marcij
Impr. as above, Oxford, probably 1479/80: 8^o: pp. [48], signn. a-c^8:
sign. b 1^r beg. _quod contrahamus_. Contents:—pp. (3–46) the
treatise.
The _editio princeps_ of this work by bp. Aegidius de Columna, of
Rome.
2. ¬Aristotle.¬ [Sign. y 6^r:—] Explicit textus ethicorum Aristotelis | per leonardu¿m¿ arretinu¿m¿ lucidissime transla|tus correctissimeq¿ue¿. Imp ressus Oxoniis | Anno d¿omi¿ni . M . cccc. lxxix.
Impr. as above, Oxford, 1479: 8^o: pp. [348], signn. a-x^8 y^6: sign.
b 1^r beg. _Mnis ars_. Contents:—pp. (3–4) “prefacio leonardi arretini
in libros ethicorum”: (5–15) “prologus” by the same: (17–347) the
treatise.
A Latin translation of the Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle by
Leonardus Brunus of Arezzo (Arretium).
1480.
*†¬Cicero¬, Marcus Tullius. [M. Tulli Ciceronis Oratio pro T. Annio Milone.]
[Oxford, about 1480]: 6^o: probably 60 pages, signn. a-e^6.
Contents:—pp. (probably 3–60) the oration.
Only known from fragments containing signn. b 3, b 4, e 3, e 4, in the
Bodleian Library at Oxford. It is still not absolutely certain that
this book was printed at Oxford. If it was, this, and not the Andria
of Terence printed by Pynson in 1497, was the first English edition of
any part of a classic author in the original language.
1481.
1. ¬Alexander¬ de Hales, the _doctor irrefragabilis_. [Sign. g 5^v:—] Explicit expositio venerabilis | Alexandri sup¿er¿ primu¿m¿ lib¿rum¿ de a¿n¿i¿m¿a. [Sign. y 7^v:—] Explicit elucidantissima exposi⸗|tio egregij Alexandri sup¿er¿ secundu¿m¿ | libru¿m¿ de anima. [Sign. H 8^r:—] Explicit sentenciosa atq¿ue¿ studio | digna expositio venerabilis Alexan|dri sup¿er¿ terciu¿m¿ lib¿rum¿ de anima. Imp⸗|pressum p¿er¿ me Theodericu¿m¿ rood de | Colonia in alma vniu¿er¿sitate Oxon̄. | Anno incarnac¿i¿onis d¿omi¿nice. M . cccc . | lxxxi . xi . die mensis Octobris.
Impr. as above, Oxford, 1481: la. 8^o, perhaps (eights) fol.: pp.
[480], signn. a-f^8, g^6, h-s^8, t-x^6, y-z and A-H^8: sign. b 1^r
beg. _vel non sit_, B 1^r beg. _vna natura_. Contents:—signn. a 2^r-g
5^v, bk. 1, with short preface: h 1^r-y 7^v, bk. 2: z 1^r-H 8^r, bk 3.
The _editio princeps_ et unica of the Latin Commentary on the De Anima
(περὶ ψυχῆς) of Aristotle, made by Alexander de Hales (i.e. probably
Hailes near Winchcombe) the _doctor irrefragabilis_ (_d._ 1245), to be
distinguished from Alexander de Ales or Alesius. Of this book there
are two issues, the earlier with no border, the later with an
elaborate woodcut border, the first ever found in an English printed
book, surrounding the entire printed text of sign. a 2^r. There are
two similar issues of the Lathbury, 1482.
2. *†¬Latin Grammar.¬ [A Latin Grammar in English with examples, only known from two leaves in the British Museum, signn. b 2 and (presumably) b 5: b 2 beg. “case As I muste”, ends “adyectyuys and voy”: b 5 beg. “Also when y haue”, ends “que¿m¿ queris”. Date probably 1481: probably sm. 4^o (but in eights), the chain lines being across the page.]
1482.
†¬Lathbury¬, John. [Sign. b 8^v:—] Explicit p¿ro¿logus Sequitur li⸗|ber moraliu¿m¿ sup¿er¿ trenis Iheremie p¿ro¿⸗|phete &c̄. [Sign. z 8^v:—] Et sic e¿st¿ fmis huius op¿er¿is mo⸗|raliu¿m¿ sup¿er¿ ca . I . treno¿rum¿ ihere. p¿ro¿ph¿et¿e In | cipit treno¿rum¿ Capitulum s¿ecundu¿m. [A similar colophon follows chapter 2 on sign. K (“k k”) 7^v.] [Sign. L 7^v:—] Explicit exposicio ac moralisacio | tercij capituli trenoru¿m¿ Iheremie pro|phete . Anno d¿omi¿ni M . cccc . lxxxij vlti⸗|ma die mensis Iulij | [Sign. O 5^v:—] Explicit tabula sup¿er¿ opus trenoru¿m¿ | compilatu¿m¿ per Iohannem Lattebu . | rij ordinis minorum.
Impr. as above, [Oxford] 1482: la. 8^o, perhaps (eights) fol.: pp.
[584], signn. a-z, A-I, kk, L-M^8, N-O^6: sign. b 1^r beg.
_strennuitatem_, B 1^r beg. _didit &c̄._ Contents:—signn. a 2^r-b 8^v,
prologue: c 1^r-L 7^v, the work in 3 chapters: M 1^r-O 5^v,
alphabetical index.
The _editio princeps_ et unica of the Latin Commentary on the
Lamentations of Jeremiah, made by John Lathbury. Of this book there
are two issues, with and without the woodcut border mentioned under
the Alexander de Hales, 1481.
1483.
1. [*†¬Anwykyll¬, John]. [Compendium totius grammaticae]. [Sign. n 1^r:—] Uulgaria quedam abs Terentio in Anglica¿m¿ ling|uam traducta.
No doubt printed at Oxford, probably in 1483: sm. 4^o: pp. [256?],
signn. a-q^8(?). Contents:—signn. a-m, the work(?), n 1^r-q 8^v,
Vulgaria Terentii.
A Latin Grammar in Latin believed to be by John Anwykyll, of which
this edition is only known from fragments, but which was reprinted at
Deventer in 1489. The Vulgaria Terentii (sentences from Terence with
English translation) was sold as a separate part, and still exists
complete in itself. There are two issues of the Grammar, not at
present clearly distinguished.
2. *†¬Hampole¬, Richard Rolle of. [Sign. a 2^r:—] Explanationes notabiles deuotissimi viri Ricardi | Hampole heremite sup¿er¿ lectio¿n¿es illas beati Iob q¿ue¿ solent | in exequijs defunctoru¿m¿ legi q¿ue¿ no¿n¿ minus historia¿m¿ q¿uam¿ tropo|logiam & anagogiam ad studentiu¿m¿ vtilitatem exactissi⸗|me annotauit. [Sign. k 6^v:—] Sermo beati Augustiui de misericordia | et pia oracione pro defunctis. |
[Oxford, probably 1483]: (sixes) 12^o: pp. [128], signn. a-k [“lr”]^6
l^4: sign. b 1^r beg. _visitat ad_. Contents:—sign. a 2^r-k 6^r,
Hampole on Job: k 6^v-l 3^v, Augustine.
3. *¬Logic.¬ [Sign. A 2^r:—] Uonia¿m¿ ex t¿er¿mi¿ni¿s fiu¿n¿t p¿ro¿p¿osici¿o¿n¿es ... [19 Latin treatises on logical subjects].
No place or date [Oxf., about 1483]: (sixes) 8^o: pp. [328], signn.
A-Z, Aa-Cc^6: Dd^8: sign. B 1^r beg. _nulla proposicio_, Bb 1^r _illis
superfluum_. Contents:—signn. A 2^r-Dd 5^v nineteen logical treatises,
the last ending “Explicit tractatus de motu velocitatis. Sequitur
tabula”: Dd 6^r-8^r, a table in Latin giving the heads of the parts of
each treatise, each group preceded by “Tractatus”: Dd 8^r “Ad lectores
carmen” and “Registrum cartarum”.
These nineteen logical treatises are strung together to form a
systematic work on Logic: at the end of the 17th, on sign. Bb 3^v, is
“Et sic finiuntur insolubilia swynishede.”, i. e. Roger Swineshede
(Suinesheved, Swincet &c.), but he was probably only the author of
that part. The last treatise is physical rather than logical.
4. *¬Lyndewoode¬, William. [Sign. S 9^v:—] Explicit opus magistri wil|helmi lyndewoode Super con⸗|stituc¿i¿ones prouinciales laus deo. [Sign. dd 7^v:—] Explicit tabula co¿m¿pendiosa super librum | qui intitulatur p¿ro¿uincialis co¿m¿pilata per wil⸗|helmu¿m¿ de Tylia nemore completa In festo | co¿n¿uersacionis Sancti Pauli . Anno d¿omi¿ni | Millesimo . CCCC . xxxiij.
No imprint, but Oxford about 1483: (eights) fol.: pp. [732], signn.
a-c^8, d^6, e-i^8, k^6, l-o^8, p^6, q-s^8, t^6, v-y^8, z^6, A-D^8,
E^6, F-N^8, O^6, P-R^8, S^{10}, aa-cc^8, dd^{10}: sign. b 1^r beg. _de
hijs habes_, B 1^r beg. _supra c. proxi._, bb 1^r beg. _eas
delinquat_. Contents:—sign. a 1^v, woodcut of a doctor at his desk: a
2^r, “Prologus”: a 2^v-S 9^v, the work in five books: aa 2^r-aa 2^v
“tabula constitucionum prouincialium”: aa 3^r-dd 7^v, an index: dd
8^r-10^r, table of Constitutions according to author.
The _editio princeps_ of the Provincial Constitutions of England, in
Latin, with a Latin Commentary on them by William Lyndewoode (_d._
1446). See 1664 L, 1679 L.
1485.
1. *†¬Alexander¬ de Villa Dei. [Textus Alexandri cum sententiis].
[Oxford, about 1485]: sm. 4^o.
Only known from two leaves (signn. c^2-c^3) in the Library of St.
John’s College, Cambridge. A grammatical work, of which other editions
were printed in London by Wynkin de Worde (sine anno) and Pynson
(1516), and elsewhere.
2. ¬Phalaris.¬ [Sign. a 2^r:—] Francisci Aretini Oratoris p¿re¿⸗|clarissimi in eloq¿ue¿ntissimas Phala|ridis tyranni epistolas per ipsum | e greco in latinu¿m¿ versas. Prohe⸗|mium foeliciter incipit [Sign. m 6^r:—] Hoc oposculu¿m¿ in alma vniuersi⸗|tate Oxonie. A Natali christiano | Duce¿n¿tesima & nonagesi¿m¿a septima. | Olimpiade foeliciter impressum e¿st¿.
Oxford, 1485, printed by Theodoric Rood and Thomas Hunte: (eights)
squ. 12^o: pp. [176], signn. a-d^8, e^6, f^8, g^6, h^8, i^6, k-l^8,
m^6: sign. b 1^r beg. _Udio vos_. Contents:—sign. a 1^v “Carmeliani
Brixiensis Poete ad lectorem Carmen,” 12 elegiac lines: a 2^r-m 6^r,
the work: on m 6^v after the colophon “Hoc Teodericus rood quem
collonia misit | Sanguine germanus nobile pressit opus | Atque sibi
socius thomas fuit anglicus hunte. | Dij dent vt venetos exuperare
queant | Quam ienson venetos decuit vir gallicus artem | Ingenio
didicit terra britanna suo. | Celatos veneti nobis transmittere libros
| Cedite nos alijs vendimus o veneti | Que fuerat vobis ars primum no
ta latini | Est eadem nobis ipsa reperta patres. | Quamuis semotos
toto canit orbe britannos | Uirgilius. placet his lingua latina tamen.
A Latin translation of the spurious Letters of Phalaris.
1486.
[†¬Mirk¬, John]. [Sign. ( ) 2^r:—] Incipit liber qui | vocatur festialis [Sign. z 3^r:—] Here endith the boke | that is callid festiuall. | the yere of oure lord M | cccc . lxxxvi . the day aftir | seint Edward the kyng.
Imprint as above, n. pl., but Oxford 1486 (probably 19 Mar. 1486/7):
la. 8^o: pp. [348], signn. ( )^8, a-b^8, c^6, d^8, d⸴^8, e^6, f^8,
g^4, h^8, i^6, k-l^8, m^6, n-o^8, p^6, q^8, r^6, s^8, t-v^6, x^8, y^6,
z^4: sign. b 1^r beg. _diuerse skylles_. Contents:—sign. ( ) 1^r,
woodcut of Crucifixion: ( ) 1^v-z 3^r, the work.
English sermons on the holy days and a few of the Sundays of the year:
written or collected by John Mirk, canon of Lilleshall. Other early
English printed editions exist, beginning with one by Caxton in about
1483. Variations are found in the setting up of signn. h and i. The
first two leaves are not at present known to exist.
-----
Footnote 4:
For a discussion of special points connected with the Fifteenth
Century Oxford Press, see Appendix A.
The Early Sixteenth Century Press[5].
1517.
¬Burley¬, Walter. ¶ Tractatus expositorius ⁄ super libros poste⸗|rioru¿m¿ Arestotilis: preclarissimi philisophi | Walteri Burlei artium liberalium | et trium philosophiaru¿m¿ magi⸗|stri meritissimi: ac in sacra | theologia doctoris perspi|cacissimi planissimiq¿ue¿ | suis posteris Oxoniensibus admodum vtilis incipit feli⸗|citer cum summa diligentia. | recognitus. [Then _woodcut_]. [Sign. B 6^v:—] Explicit scriptum planissimi doctoris Walteri | Burlei super libros posterioru¿m¿ Impressum | in academia Oxonie anno dominice i¿n¿|carnatio¿n¿is . M . CCCCC . xvii . | Die vero dece¿m¿bris quar|to ad laudem dei | & profectum | stude¿n¿tiu¿m¿. [Then _woodcut_: then] Fata regunt finem: spero dij cepta secundent. |
Impr. as above, Oxford 1517: sm. 4^o: pp. [20], signn. A^4, B^6: sign.
B 1^r beg. _Sed quia_. Contents:—sign. A 1^r, title, with arms of
University: A 1^v-B 5^v, the work: B 6^r, royal arms: B 6^v, colophon
with arms of University repeated.
A Latin Commentary by Walter Burley on the Posterior Analytics of
Aristotle.
1518.
1. ¬Burley¬, Walter. ¶ Tractat¿us¿ p¿er¿breuis de materia & forma: | M¿a¿g¿ist¿ri Walteri Burlei doctoris planissimi. [Then _woodcut_: then] ¶ Aliud perbreue co¿m¿pendiu¿m¿ de relatiuis e⸗|iusdem doctoris vtile tamen admodum | nouellis logicis. [Sign. B 3^r:—] ¶ Finit tractatus duorum principio⸗|rum et de relatiuis. M¿a¿g¿ist¿ri Walte|ri Burley Oxoniensis. | ¶ Finis. [Sign. B 4^v:—] ¶ Impositus est finis tractatui doctoris planissimi | de duobus principijs . s.[iue] mater ia et forma et de rela⸗|tiuis cum speciali priuilegio p¿er¿ septe¿n¿niu¿m¿ ex edicto dig|nissimi cancellarii Oxonie. [Then _woodcut_: then] ¶ Impressum est presens opusculum in celeberima | vniuersitate Oxoniensi per me Ioannem Scolar in | viculo diui Ioannis baptiste moram trahentem An⸗|no d¿omi¿ni . M . CCCCC . deci¿m¿ooctauo. Mensis vero Iu⸗|nij die septimo.
Impr. as above, Oxford, 1518: sm. 4^o: pp. [16], signn. A-B^4: sign. B
1^r beg. _est dare_. Contents:—sign. A 1^r, title: A 2^r-B 3^r, the
work in two parts: B 3^v, woodcut of royal arms: B 4^v, colophon.
2. ¬Dedicus¬, Joannes. Questiones | moralissime super li⸗|bros Ethicoru¿m¿ eruditissimi | viri Ioannis Dedicus artium libe⸗|ralium triumq¿ue¿ philosophiarum magistri | optime meriti / et in moralibus pre ceteris satis pe⸗|riti feliciter incipiunt subtilissimis Oxoniensibus in philo⸗|sophia morali lucubrare cupientibus non magis | vtiles q¿uam¿ necessarie. | [Then _engraving of the University arms_]. [Sign. N 4^v:—] ¶ Explicitum est Ioannis Dedici Oxoniensis in | morali philosophia eruditissimi preclaru¿m¿ opusculum | questionu¿m¿ / subtilissimediscucientiu¿m¿ (licet sparsim cu¿m¿ | quada¿m¿ tame¿n¿ depende¿n¿tia) singulas materias in dece¿m¿ | libris ethicoru¿m¿ Arestotilis inuestigatas / vti summa | industria lucubranti patebit. Impressumq¿ue¿ in cele⸗|berima vniuersitate Oxoniensi per me Iohannem | Scolar in viculo sancti Ioannis Baptiste mora¿m¿ tra⸗|hente¿m¿ . Anno d¿omi¿ni . M . CCCCC . decimooctauo . Men⸗|sis vero Maij die decimoquinto . [_ornament_] | ¶ Cu¿m¿ priuilegio . | ¶ Uetitum est per edictum sub sigillo ca¿n¿cellariatus | ne quis in septennio hoc insigne op¿us¿ imprimat | vel aliorum ductu impensis venditet in vni⸗|uersitate Oxonie: aut infra precinctum | eiusdem: sub pena amissionis omnium | librorum et quinq¿ue¿ libraru¿m¿ ster⸗|lingorum pro singulis sic ve¿n¿|ditis ubiubi impressi fue⸗|rint preter pena¿m¿ pretax⸗|atam in decreto. | ¶ Cornicum oculos configere noli.
Impr. as above, Oxf. 1518: (eights & fours) sm. 4^o: pp. [152], foll.
75 + [1], signn. A^8, B^4, C^8, D^4, E^8, F^4, G^8, H^4, I^8, K^4,
L^8, M-N^4: sign. B 1^r beg. _pertinet ad_. Contents:—p. (1) Title and
large woodcut: (2) large woodcut of the royal arms with supporters
&c.: (3–152) the work: (152) colophon, &c.
Of Johannes Dedicus (perhaps, as has been suggested by prof. H. W.
Chandler, Dethick) nothing is known. The Quaestiones extend to the end
of the 5th book of the Ethics, and the last paragraph is a summary of
the 6th.
3. *¬Laet¬, Jaspar. [at end:—] FIniunt prenostica exerpta a prenosticis egregii viri magistri Iasparis | Laet angligenis cognitu maxime vtilia. Et in celebe⸗|rima oxoniensi academia | [_woodcuts_] impressa [_woodcuts_]. |
Imprint as above, Oxford, [probably 1518]: 4^o[?]: broadside.
Contents:—on 1st page, the Praenostica.
Only known from the lower half of the sheet preserved in the Cambridge
University Library, where the upper half is also believed to be.
4. ¬Lux.¬ ¶ Co¿m¿pendium questionu¿m¿ de luce et lumine [followed by a small woodcut and the four quaestiones]. [Sign. B 4^v:—] ¶ Cum priuilegio dignissi⸗|mi Cancellarij vniuer⸗|sitatis Oxonie. [Then a large _woodcut_: then] ¶ Finit compendium questiuncularum de luce & de | lumine nouiter recognitum. Impressu¿m¿q¿ue¿ in celiberi⸗|ma vniuersitate Oxoniensi per me Ioannem Sco⸗|lar in viculo diui Ioannis baptiste moram trahentem | Anno d¿omi¿ni . M . CCCCC . deci¿m¿ooctauo . Mensis vero | Iunij die quinto.
Impr. as above, Oxford, 1518: sm. 4^o: pp. [16], signn. A-B^4: sign. B
1^r beg. _vt intentio_. Contents:—A 1^r, title: A 1^v-B 4^r, the work:
B 4^v, the colophon.
5. ¬Whittington¬, Robert. ¶ De heteroclitis nominibus. | ¶ Editio Roberti Whittintoni lichfeldien|sis Grammatice magistri: et protouatis | anglie in florentissima Oxoniensi achade|mia Laureati ⁄ de heteroclitis nominibus | et gradibus comparat¿i¿onis. [Then _woodcut_: then a “tetrastichon” and a “distichon.”] [Sign. B 4^v:—] [Roberti] whittintoni lichfeldiensis de heteroclitis no|[minibus & de] gradibus co¿m¿parationis Oxonie impressa p¿er¿ | [me Ioannem] Scolar in viculo diui Ioannis baptiste mo|[ram tra]hentem Anno d¿omi¿ni . M . CCCCC . decimooctauo | [M]ensis vero Iunij . die vicesimoseptimo.
Impr. as above, Oxford, 1518: sm. 4^o: pp. [16], signn. A^6, B^4:
sign. B 1^r beg. _Hic tapes_. Contents:—A 1^r, title &c. as above: A
2^r-B 4^v, the work (on B 4^v also occur a woodcut of the arms of the
University and the colophon).
Only known from an imperfect copy in the Bodleian rescued from the
binding of a book.
1519.
¬Compotus.¬ ¶ Compotus manualis | ad vsu¿m¿ Oxoniensiu¿m¿. | [_device_]. [sign. B 4^v:—] ¶ Impressum est presens opusculu¿m¿ in ce⸗|leberrima vniuersitate Oxoniensi p¿er¿ | me Carolum Kyrfoth. In vico | diui Joa¿n¿nis baptiste mora¿m¿ | trahe¿n¿te¿m¿ Anno d¿omi¿ni . M . D . xix. Me¿n¿sis | vero Februarij . die V. |
Imprint as above, Oxford, 1519: sm. 4^o: pp. [16], signn. A-B^4: sign.
B 1^r beg. ¶ _Februarius_. Contents:—A 1^r, title, and woodcut: A
1^v-B 4^r, the Compotus: B 4^v, University arms and colophon.
A system of arithmetic illustrated by wood engravings of the open
hand, values being attached to each part. Panzer after Maittaire
mentions a Paris ed. of 1498 “cum commento.”
-----
Footnote 5:
For a general discussion of the circumstances of the Early Sixteenth
Century Oxford Press, see Appendix B.
Fictitious Or Lost Oxford Books.
1459–1584.
1459.
A small sheet of paper printed on the ice-bound Thames at London 18 Jan. 1716 ascribes to Oxford the first printing in England, in the year 1459. Most of the information on the sheet is derived from Atkyns’s ©Original and Growth of Printing© (Lond. 1664).
1461.
Printing was “practised in Oxford in 1461,” according to Randle Holmes’s ©Academy of Armory© (Chester, 1688), quoted in Bigmore, i. 337.
1469–70.
In Herbert’s Ames, iii. 1393 we read:—“In the late Tho. Osborne’s catalogue of books for sale in June 1756, No. 1345 ‘Plinii Secundi Epistolarum, Liber primus. Exemplar elegans, literis initial. colorat. corio turcico, fol. deaur. lineis rubris & auro elegans ornat. 15l. 15s. Oxon. apud F. Corsellis. 1469.’ To which is added this note, ‘Hocce unicum est exemplar notum, a variis allegatum, et vix uni visum adeo ut Phoenix librorum dici mereratur [_sic_], certe primus est ex libris a Corcellis impressis, cui nomen suum adjunxerit, secundus vero ordine omnium quos unquam ille impressit, priorem scilicet scimus fuisse, Jeronymi Expositionem in Symbol. Apostol. Oxoniae 1468. Anno 1470, varia idem typographus impressit Opuscula, addito in fine nomine, sed nec unicum eorum reperitur hodie integrum. Possident quidam amatores fragmenta aliqua poematum Latinorum, ut Gerardi Lystrii Rhenensis, &c. Carmen Listrii lividorum hominum venenosas linguas, &c.’ This raised the curiosity of the book collectors, who considered this article as a confirmation of what R. Atkins had asserted about printing at Oxford. They all flocked to Osborne’s shop, who instead of the book, produced a letter from a man at Amsterdam, filled with frivolous excuses for not sending them to him. They were disappointed, and looked on the whole as a HVM; however the Plinii Epistolæ, and Ger. Listrii Oratio, &c. afterwards appeared at an auction at Amsterdam, and were bought for the late Dr. Ant. Askew; and were sold again at an auction of his books, by Baker and Leigh, in Feb. 1775. Lot 2064, and 2622, to which articles are annexed, viz. to Lot 2064, ‘Ad finem hæc verba, _Impr. Oxon. apud F. Corsellis_, 1470, Manu recentiore exarata sunt.’ Also to lot 2622, ‘Hæc verba, _Imprim. Oxon. ap. Corsellis_, 1469, Manu recentiore exarata sunt.’ To those who are at all conversant in early printing, the dates will appear at first sight a bungling forgery.” So far Herbert’s Ames, cf. Bowyer and Nichols’s ©Origin of Printing©, 2nd ed. (Lond. 1776), p. 171. The full entry of art. 2064 is “Listrii (Ger.) Oratio habita in Enarrationem Dionysii Halicarnassii; Dionysii Orbis expositio e Greco tralata Prisciano interprete; Ejusdem Carmen in venenosas Linguas Hominum, & Epicedium doctissimi Adoloscentis Ingenisissimique Petri Thessaliensis”: sold to Mr. Dent for £2 3_s._: art. 2622 has 1569 for 1469, and was sold to Capt. Smith for £1 6_s._
* * * * *
In the Auction Catalogue of the Library of Dr. Abr. de Vries of Haarlem (Amsterdam, Frederick Muller, 1864) art. 181 was:—“CORCELLIS.—Collection de lettres, copies authentiques, déclarations et notices en 1756 et 57 sur l’imposture fameuse du falsaire G. SMITH, à Amsterdam et la Haye, qui fabriqua une édition de ©Plinii epistolae©, avec souscription: _Oxoniae_, _Corcellis_. 1469. ©Hedwigii liber© 16. ibidem. 1470, etc. et trompa Mr. P. v. Damme et autres en Angleterre.—Recueillie et conservée pour prouver son innocence à la falsification et annotée par Mr. v. Damme. 12 pc. MS. Collection très-curieuse, contenant e. a. 7 lettres de Smith à v. Damme, une lettre forgée ou falsifié du Comte de Pembroke, une lettre de P. Burman Sec., copie d’une déclaration de Meerman, etc. etc.” It is to be hoped that this interesting collection will be brought to light again.
* * * * *
In the ©Monthly Miscellany, or Memoirs for the Curious© (June 1708), p. 177 it is stated that in the Bishop of Ely’s Library (now at Cambridge) are books “of the first printing in England at Oxford in 1469.”
1480.
“Guido de Columnia de historia Trojana, per T. R. (_Theodore Rood_). Quarto. 1480.” So Herbert’s Ames, p. 1393. The source of the error was discovered by Cotton to be a forgery in a copy of Guido sine anno et loco preserved in the Earl of Pembroke’s Library at Wilton (©Typ. Gaz.©, 1st ser., 2nd ed., p. 209.)
Before 1487.
“Books from the Oxford Press.... 208*. The Chronicles of England. Folio. Lent by the Earl of Jersey.” So in the Catalogue of the Caxton Celebration, 1877, p. 28. Some error. The reference is no doubt to Caxton’s Chronicle of England, printed in 1482.
1489.
When Cotton printed his ©Typographical Gazetteer©, 2nd series, (Oxf. 1866) he believed that an Indulgence of 1489 (altered to 1499), in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, was printed at Oxford. It is “a small broadside on vellum, consisting of 24 lines only, printed very closely and occupying a space of about nine inches by six.” The Indulgence is from Johannes de Gigliis alias de Liliis Apostolicus Subdiaconus, granted by Pope Innocent iii: and is dated 1499, there being no name of place or date of printing. There is no doubt that Cotton was mistaken in attributing this piece to the Oxford press.
1498.
1. Bagford, in his inaccurate way, gives the title of an edition of the Greek text of the Ethics of Aristotle by Aretinus “Oxon. 1498” (Brit. Mus. MS. Harl. 5901, fol. 3). He mentions the 1479 edition of the Latin text separately, but the former date can only be due to some confusion with the latter.
2. The Rufinus of 1468 appears as dated 1498 in Panzer, who quotes Schoenemann i. 585, and also in Migne’s ©Patrologia Latina©, xxi. col. 17.
1499.
Indulgence: see 1489.
1500.
1. Buridanus: see next article.
2. “Gualtheri Burley Tractatus de materia et forma ac de relativis. Oxonii 1500. 4.” So in Panzer ii (1794) p. 244, quoting Maittaire p. 739, ex Bibl. Bodl. p. 117 (an allusion to an error in the Bodleian Catalogue of 1674, repeated in the 1738 Catalogue p. 206). Bagford makes the same mistake, twisting the author’s name into Johannes Buridanus (Brit. Mus. MS. Harl. 5901, fol. 3). Even Hain (no. 4142) has copied from Panzer. The colophon of 1518. B shows how the error arose, as Cotton points out (©Typ. Gaz.©, 1st ser., 2nd ed., p. 209).
3, 4. Bagford is responsible for two more fictitious Oxford books of 1500. a ©Quaestiones de lumine et luce© (Brit. Mus. MS. Harl. 5901, fol. 3, Bodl. MS. Rawl. D. 375, fol. 103: a confusion with 1518. L) and a Whitinton _de heteroclytis nominibus_ printed at Oxford by Peter Treveris (!) (Bodl. MS. Rawl. D. 375, fol. 103: see 1518. W).
1506.
The following book though not printed at Oxford supplies information about an Oxford bookseller:—[sign. a 1^r:—] “Principia seu introduc-tiones f_rat_ris peregrini ytalici de lugo in via doctoris subtilis: adipisci eiusde_m_ doctoris doctrinam cupientibus. [at foot:—] Uenu_n_dant_ur_ autem in alma ac florentissima vniuersitate Oxonie_n_se. in intacte v_ir_g_in_is ac i_m_maculate / vico: s_an_cti ioha_n_nis eua_n_geliste / ad intersignium. [Then follow 4 tractatus: then on sign. g 4^r:—] Expliciunt principia seu introductiones (pro iuuenib_us_) fratris peregrini de lugo ... Imp_re_ssa aut_em_ Londini. p_er_ Richardu_m_ pyns_on_. cum solerti cura ac diligentia Honestissimi Iuuenis ac prudentissimi Hugonis Meslier. Expe_n_s_is_ aut_em_ georgii castellani / oxonii morantis / ad intersignium sancti Ioha_n_nis euangeliste: in quo venundatur op_us_ hoc. Finis....” Then follows a 5th treatise, ending with a letter from Peregrinus de Lugo dated “Tholose quarto Kalendas Februarij . M . ccccc . vj.” Herbert’s Ames (iii. 1396) refers this book to Oxford, although at i. 252 it is referred rightly to Pynson’s press at London.
1510.
References to a ©Compendium quaestiuncularum de luce et lumine©, Oxford 1510, will be found in Bagford (Brit. Mus. MS. Harl. 5901, fol. 22^v, Bodl. MS. Rawl. D. 375, p. 104), no doubt from the ©Catalogus librorum MSS^{rum} Angliæ et Hiberniæ© (Oxf. 1697, fol.), tom. 2, p. 280, col. 1, among the printed books of John Moore bp. of Norwich. An error for 1518.
1511.
The 1481 Alexander de Hales appears in Bagford (Brit. Mus. MS. Harl. 5901, fol. 23, Bodl. MS. Rawl. D. 375, p. 104) as of 1511, printed at Oxford.
1512.
“Walterus Burleius, super libros Posteriorum. 1512. 4^o.” So in Cotton’s ©Typ. Gaz.©, 2nd ser., p. 169, and in a longer form in Herbert’s Ames iii. 1396, and Panzer vii. p. 494, quoting Brüggemann i. 172. The source of the mistake is easily found in the colophon of 1517. B, a “v” having been overlooked. The error is repeated in the ©Bookworm© (1868) p. 126.
Before 1519.
According to Cotton (©Typ. Gaz.©, 2nd ser., p. 169) an edition of “Jo. Duns Scotus, Scriptum Oxoniense super primum Sententiarum” (Paris 1519) professes to be “impressa juxta editionem Oxoniensem.” This cannot be correct, unless _editio_ refers only to some traditional method of exposition or arrangement at Oxford.
About 1519.
“The following book printed at the charge of Cardinal Wolsey, with the King’s arms on one side, and the cardinal’s on the other; though it has neither date nor printer’s name, was probably performed about this time [1519] at this place [Oxford].” ‘Libellus prim. epistol. M. Tullii Cicer. Decus Oxoniensium, finitum universitate Oxoniensi. Quarto.’ So in Herbert’s Ames, iii. 1398, and substantially in Bagford’s account (Brit. Mus. MS. Harl. 5901, fol. 24^v, Bodl. MS. Rawl. D. 375, fol. 103): see Cotton’s ©Typ. Gaz.©, 2nd ser., p. 169. Clearly a blunder. The book which is said to be at Trinity College, Dublin, could not be found there in 1885.
1519.
“Roberti Whitintoni Lichfeldiensis Protovatis Angliæ in Florentissimâ Oxoniensi Academiâ Laureati, Opusculum de Concinnitate Grammatices & Constructione recognitum Anno Domini xix supra Sesquimillesimum, in 4to.” So Bagford (Brit. Mus. MS. Harl. 5901, fol. 23^v, cf. Bodl. MS. Rawl. D. 375, p. 103). Probably not printed at Oxford.
Before 1520.
John Dorne, bookseller in Oxford, sold in 1520 several copies of a small book described in his day-book as “Bene fundatum,” “Bene fundatum Oxonie” or “Bene fundatum uosgraf.” This seems to be a trace of a real Oxford book now lost, but no such printer as Vosgraf or Foxgrave (Dorne was from the Low Countries) is known. It would probably belong to the 1517–19 press. See Dorne’s book edited in the ©Collectanea© vol. i of the Oxford Historical Society, 1885. Cotton erroneously reads the title as “Bene sum datum.”
1542.
Shepery’s ©Hippolytus©: see under 1586. S.
1549.
“P. Martyr de Sacramento Eucharistiæ, disputatio hab. in acad., 1549,” 4^o. So in the ©Catalogus librorum R. Davisii©, pt. 4 (1692), p. 7, cf. p. 10. Some error.
1564.
“Analysis libri Aristotelis de Sophisticis Elenchis, opera et studio Griff. Poweli.” So in the ©Catalogus librorum R. Davisii©, pt. 2 (1686), p. 72. Error for 1594, which see.
1565.
“Ιωαννοῦ τοῦ Χρυσοστομου Ομιλιαι. Oxonii 1565 in forma minore.” So in the ©Bibliotheca Gudiana© (Hamb. 1706), p. 75: thence in Brüggemann, p. 422. An error for 1586, which see.
1569.
1. Guild’s ©Throne of David or an Exposition of the 2nd of Samuel©. Error in the ©Catalogus librorum R. Davisii©, pt. 1 (1686), p. 164, for 1659, which see.
2. “1569. An account of the Lithuanian translation of the Bible is in the Brit. Museum. Quarto.” So Herbert’s Ames, iii. p. 1398. For 1659, which see under _Chylinski_, Samuel B.
1576.
Fabricius, J. S.: “Meditationes Sacræ de unitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ. 1576,” 8vo. So _twice_ in the ©Catalogus librorum R. Davisii©, pt. 2 (1686) p. 20, pt. 3 (1688) p. 11. For 1676, which see.
1578.
“Thesaurus œconomiæ ... Johanne Caso Authore. 1597 ... Again 1578.” So Herbert’s Ames, iii. 1407. Perhaps for 1598, which see, but even that is perhaps an error for 1597!
1584.
Shepery’s ©Hippolytus©: see under 1586. S.
The Oxford University Press.
1585.
1. ¬Bilson¬, Thomas. THE TRVE DIFFE-|RENCE BETWEENE CHRI-|STIAN SUBIECTION AND | VNCHRISTIAN REBELLION: | WHEREIN THE PRINCES LAWFULL | power to commaund for trueth, and indepriuable | right to beare the sword are defended against the | Popes censures and the Iesuits sophismes vt-|tered in their APOLOGIE and DE-|FENCE OF ENGLISH | CATHOLIKES: | _With a demonstration that the thinges refourmed in the Church of England by the_ | _Lawes of this Realme are truely Catholike, notwithstanding the vaine shew_ | _made to the contrary in their late_ Rhemish Testament: _by_ | THOMAS BILSON Warden of Winchester. | Perused and allowed by publike authoritie. | [_Device_: then _two mottos_].
Impr. 2: 1585 (CIↃIↃXXCV): (eights) sm. 4^o: pp. [24] + 820 + [10]: p.
11 beg. _wee bee farre_, p. 111 _be not Judges_: chiefly Pica English.
Contents:—p. (1) title: (3–12) Epistle dedicatorie to queen Elizabeth:
(13) “the generall contents of euerie part”: (14–22) “To the Christian
Reader”: 1–820 the work, in 4 parts: (1–9) “the speciall contents of
euery part”: (9) “Faultes escaped”, i.e. errata.
For the author &c. see Wood’s ©Ath. Oxon.© ii. 169: where it is
pointed out that the book has a curious history. Its ostensible
purpose is to uphold the doctrine afterwards called “passive
obedience” by refuting two books which were regarded as subversive of
the Queen’s temporal power, (1) ©An apologie and true declaration of
the institution ... of the tvvo English colleges ... in Rome ... (and)
in Rhemes©, 1581 (ascribed to card. Will. Allen), (2) ©A true, sincere
and modest defence of English catholiques that suffer for their
faith©, n. d. (asserted by Antony à Wood to be also by card. Allen).
But Wood declares that the Queen “conceiving it convenient for her
worldly designs to take on her the protection of the Low-Countries
against the King of Spain, did employ our author ... to write the said
book” to _justify_ the Netherland revolt. And certain it is that in
consequence of the temperance and fairness with which Bp. Bilson
treats his subject, the parliamentary party in Charles I’s time used
this book to _oppose_ “passive obedience.”
* * * * *
Probably issued about the end of November, 1585. Greek type is used on
p. 263 and perhaps elsewhere. Another ed. appeared at London in 1586:
an extract from pp. 520–21 was reprinted in 1641 and again in Somers’s
Tracts, 2nd ed., iv. 29 (Lond. 1810).
2. ¬Case¬, John. [_Ornament_] SPECVLVM MORALIVM | QVAESTIONVM IN VNIVERSAM ETHICEN | Aristotelis, Authore Magistro IOHANNE CASO | Oxoniensi, olim Collegij Diui Io-|hannis Præcursoris | Socio. | [then the University Arms: then a _motto_ from Seneca].
Impr. 1, so also colophon: 1585: (eights) sm. 4^o: pp. [28] + 401 +
[19]: p. 11 beg. _Opp. Iuuenes_, p. 111, _Distinctio_: chiefly Pica
Roman. Contents:—p. (1) Title: (3–7) Epistola nuncupatoria to Robert
Dudley, earl of Leicester, chancellor of the University, signed
“Iohannes Casus”: (8–10) “Ad studiosos iuuenes vtriusque academiae”:
(10) “Prosopopœia Libri Ad Lectorem”: (11) “Honoratissimo suo domino
et patrono Comiti Leicestrensi &c. Iosephus Barnesius Typographus
Oxonie nsis”: (12–23) Complimentary Latin verses to the author:
between (24) and (25), “Tabula virtutum et vitiorum omnium”, a folio
leaf printed on one side only: (25–28) Præfatio: 1–401 the work in 6
books: (1–2) “Peroratio ad lectorem”: (4–17) Index: (17) Errata and
colophon.
The first book printed at the new Oxford press. The allusions to this
and kindred facts are (1) in the “Epistola Nuncupatoria.” Case says of
the reasons for dedicating the work to the Earl of Leicester “Unum est
nouum hoc præli beneficium, quod te authore nostra Academia nuper
recepit ... Prælum hoc nouum (cuius author existis) hunc nouum de
moribus libellum pressit. Ne ergo author libelli præli authori
videatur ingratus, tibi primùm eiusdem fructum ex animo propinauit
...” (2) the printer himself writes “Admirabilem hanc artem
typographicam (Mecęnas amplissime) primum Iohannes Faustus Moguntiæ
fauste genuit [the marg. supplies “Anno 1450”], eandem Guilielmus
Caxtonus ciuis Londinensis probè aluit & perpoliuit: Laus summa
debetur authori qui invenit, laus magna debetur mercatori qui primùm
ad nos transuexit ... Londinum diù in hac arte floruit, & non inuideo:
Cantabrigia eandem nunc didicit, Oxonia recepit, & certè gaudeo. Nam
si characteres typographi sint vera insignia & arma Mineruæ; vbi
terrarum potius floreret hæc nobilis scientia, quàm vbi vera publicè
docetur sapientia? vt enim à fonte in riuum dulcis aqua, ita hîc
quidem à mente in prælum dulcissima Musa fluet. Non nugæ, non aniles
fabulæ, non Aristarchi dentata opera hîc excudentur: ea solùm ex his
prælis in lucem venient quȩ sapientum calculis approbentur, & Sybillȩ
foliis sint veriora. Hoc vnum nunc restat (vir inclytissime) vt hunc
librum opus alterius ingenij & pignus laboris mei tuo honori offeram
... Vt ergo Thomas Thomasius collega meus [Cantabrigiensis] suo, ita
ego Iosephus Barnesius tibi (vir summe) meo patrono dominoque
gratulor: nos ambo & publico pro multis, & priuato nomine pro magnis
in nos meritis vobis vtriusque Academiæ patronis deuincti sumus,
gratias immortales vterque agimus, maiores in posterum pollicemur”:
(3) the Vice-chancellor, J. Underhill, writes “Non dedit hoc seclo
prælum Oxoniense priorem [librum] | Doctrinâque dabunt secula nulla
parem.” (4) Laurence Humfrey says “Hoc Speculum vobis nunc Oxoniensis
alumnus | Porrigit, en præli dat quoque primitias.”
It is clear that neither the Vice-chancellor nor the printer of this
volume had any suspicion that there had been printing in Oxford
previous to the publication of the present volume, unless “recepit” be
a vague allusion to it.
The work is a companion one to the same author’s ©Summa veterum
interpretum in universam dialecticam Aristotelis©, Lond., Tho.
Vautrollerius, 1584, see 1592. C, 1598. C: and there is even a
typographical connexion between the two.
For an account of the author, see Wood’s ©Ath. Oxon.©, i. 685. The
method adopted by Case is by _quaestiones_, _oppositiones_ and
_responsiones_ in the manner of the disputations in the schools at the
time. Other editions were issued at Oxford in 1596, and at Frankfurt
in 1589, 1610 and 1625. See 1596. C.
3. Corro, Antonio de. Sermons on Ecclesiastes: see 1586. E.
4. ¬Dudley¬, Robert, earl of Leicester. [_ornament_] IN | ADVENTVM ILLVSTRIS-|_SIMI LECESTRENSIS COMITIS AD_ | _Collegium Lincolniense_. |
Impr. 3: “tertio idus Ianuarij” 1585: (one) 8^o: pp. [2]: chiefly Pica
Roman. Contents:—p. (1) title as above: large device of University
arms: then “Carmen gratulatorium” of 8 elegiac lines, _beg._ “Comiter
hoc factum est”: then imprint.
Very rare. The visit appears from Wood’s ©Annals© ii. 223 to have been
in Jan. 1584/5, and the date of printing 11 Jan. 1584/5. The
difficulties in the way of regarding this sheet as the first printing
of the new Oxford Press are the form of the date, which usually
implies Jan. 1585/6, the assertion of Barnes that the Case was the
first production, and the improbability that the Committee of
Convocation appointed to consider “de libris imprimendis” on 23 Dec.
1584 would proceed to action so soon as 11 Jan. 1584/5. But the
fitness of the earlier date is too obvious to be gainsaid. This piece
is probably the first printed sheet issued by Barnes.
5. ¬Parsons¬, Robert. A | BOOKE OF | CHRISTIAN EX-|ERCISE APPERTAI-|ning to RESOLVTI-|ON, that is, shewing | how that we should re-|solue our selues to be-|come Christians in-|deede. _By R. P._ | _Perused, and accompanied_ | _nowe with a treatise ten-_|_ding to pacificati-_|_on, By_ | EDMVND BVNNY. [Then a _motto_ from Hebr. xiii. 8: the whole title and imprint is within a border of ornament.]
Impr. 2_a_ (colophon 4): 1585: sm. 12^o: pp. [28] + 494 + [2] + 140:
p. 11 beg. _ons, or if_, 111 _confidence_, 2nd p. 11 _helpes
whatsoeuer_, 111 _hel should_: chiefly Long Primer Roman. Contents:—p.
(1) title: (3–8) Bunny’s Epistle dedicatorie to Edwin Sandys, archbp.
of York (9–18) Bunny’s “Preface to the reader”: (19–28) “The contentes
of ... this booke”: 1–493 [misprinted 439], the work, in 2 parts: (1)
title of Bunny’s treatise: 1–140, the treatise: before p. 1 of the
treatise is an oblong sheet 5 × 11 in., folded, containing on one side
in two divisions “A table ... of the treatise following”: on p. 140 is
also a colophon.
Of this book also there is a curious history. Gaspare Loarte, a
Spanish Jesuit who spent most of his life at Rome, wrote an
“Essercitio della vita christiana” some time before 1569. In 1570, J.
Sancer, a friend of Robert Parsons the Jesuit, published a translation
into English of one of the three parts of the work. In 1582 Parsons
himself published “The firste booke of the Christian Exercise,
appertayning to resolution” in two parts, which is practically a new
work based on part of the original “Essercitio.” Loarte is mentioned
in the preface, but the author only signs his name by the initials, R.
P. This was again issued without Parsons’ knowledge in 1584.
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The Early Oxford PressChapter I: Part 1
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