Memorials by Mr. ANSTIS, for Mr. AMES, in reply to several, concerning English Printers and Printing.

"Who printed the earliest Music, and when? if before Grafton, 1550?

"It is commonly supposed that in 1330 one of Paris first used the notes instead of points and letters. The first usage of them by Printers was, doubtless, in their Liturgick books. I have a 'Processionale secundum usum Sarum,' with them, but it was printed at Roan. If Charles Butler, in his Principles of Musick,' mentions any thing hereof? He was a very learned author. "The Dirige of Bastard Bonner;' who and when?

"I took only the title, being Commemoration or Dirige of Bastard Edm. Bonner, alias Savage (usurped Bishop of London), by Lemeck, à Valle, 1569; and, being a satire, as the Author took a fictitious name, so I should conjecture there might not be any mention where printed, and by whom; if either, I omitted the notice.

"Some account of Richard Grafton? I guess the Heralds' Office will give some information. Mr. Kettell will inspect what we call Grafton's Ordinary.

"Disputes between the Heralds of England and France; when printed, and who?

"It is at present mislaid; but I guess I shall find it. "Of the White Lion tearing the Scots Lion to pieces.

"The White Lion was the arms supporter of Mowbray, and thence descended to the Duke of Norfolk, who, after the victory at Flodden, gave it, bearing the Scotch Lion as his livery. See even Buchanan. I have seen it in the frontispiece of several books printed, but I cannot readily collect their titles.

"Of the Common Prayer turned into French; who and when? "It was done by a Chaplain to the Bishop of Ely, as soon as the first Liturgy was settled. I have forgotten his name.

"Of the first Common Prayers? and that printed in Latin, 1575, by Vantrollers, 8vo, by information from Mr. Baker, hath the heads of old Printers, that I am very desirous of a sight of that. "This will take some time, and you shall have an account. The first Latin Common Prayer that I have was in 1 Eliz.

"How the Stationer's Company obtained their charter, and who were the persons?

"If you mean that on 9 May, 3 and 4 Phil. and Mary, to Tho. Dockwray, John Cawood, Henry Coke, &c. to be a Corporation, I take it to be mentioned therein to be for prevention of Printing heretical books. Dockuray and Coke are not named by you as Printers. Quære if they were? I have a copy of this charter turned into English.

If you know any old letter-founders' names; who and when before 1600 ?

"I never made any remarks.

Paper-makers in England; who? and when the first papermill set up?

"I have

"I have not made any remarks upon this subject; but I take it paper is much antienter than several Writers have esteemed it. I mean paper made of rags, of linen, or silk. Bartolus the law

yer died 1355; and for his tract, De Armis,' printed in the notes to Upton de mil. Officio, f. 8, and again f. 10, where it appears that, quodlibet folium chartæ habet suum signum, per quod significatur cujus ædificii est charta.' I could add probably to any history you may design about paper.

"Book-binders?

"I know no more of Book-binders than the Statutes mention. There may be some discoveries from the images or impressions on the outside of the covers.

"Wood and copper cuts to books, who? and those who made the tools, of which the old bindings on the covers and clasps; cast or engraved?

"I never made any observations upon these subjects.

"Illuminators, who? &c.

"I take it these are named in the Statute of Richard III. In the early printed books the initial letter was generally a small one, with a large room left for the Illuminator to make a larger letter, and to adorn or illuminate it either with colours or metals, and doubtless you have observed several of both sorts. I take it that among those who enjoy the privilege of the Universities, are Illuminators; and, as I remember, there is a report of a wise determination in Westminster Hall, concerning the interpretation of this word, recited by Judge Fortescue in his Edition of Fortescue's Domin. &c. which you will see. The word is used figuratively in our liturgy, -illuminate all bishops, priests, and deacons,' though with relation to spiritual gifts. I take it in the History of the University of Paris,' there is some account of illuminators. "Grammars; if any printed by Caxton ?

"I know nothing of them.

"French Grammar; if before John Hawkins, 1530; and the anthor John Palsgrave; see Antony Wood?

"I know not.

M 2

PED

PEDIGREE of BARKER.

This entry was made by Mathew Barker, who attested the truth hereof, under bis hand. (Signed) MATH. BARKER.

Letters of Mr. AMES and Mr. LEWIS.

Rev. Mr. Lewis, at Mergate.

"Good Sir, Aug. 15, 1737. "I made use of this favour of our Friend, to convey the notice to you of my receiving safe your packet, by a young man, last Sunday evening, and that I have delivered the three letters into the Post office, as I suppose you intended I should, and gave to Mr. Thompson. For mine I return you thanks, and shall note the contents, of which I shall give you further notice.

"I have got from the wood-cutters the two octavo pages of Caxton's paper marks, for which he charges me one guinea. I chose rather to have them cut on wood than copper, because when the books shall be printed, the press-work at the same time and place may go on, without hindrance, or further charge than the rest of the book.

My Lady Pomfret and family are out of town now, that I cannot yet have the opportunity to know whether she has any more, or other, than in your list. I shall take the first opportunity at Sir Hans's, for that Prologue you mentioned, and Wynken de Worde's head.

"In looking over the priced Catalogue of Richard Smith, I found several of Caxton's books* sold:

1. The Recuyel of the Historyes of Troy 2. Book of Chess

3. History of Jason, &c.

4. Thymage of the World 5. Chronicles of England

6. Godfrey of Bologne, &c.

7. Legend of the Saints and Cathon

8. The Book the Knights of the Tour made, &c.

9. Pilgrimage of the Soul

10. Chastising of God's Children sold together for 11. Rule of Saint Bennet

12. Book of Good Manners

13. Virgil Æneidos in prose 14. Vitas Patrum, dated

S. d.

3 7

1474

13

5

1480 5 0 1480 13

1481 8 2

1483

4

5

5

2

1487

2 10

3 0

1485+ 8 4

"There were some good Catalogues in the book, and some though priced, imperfect, and the Bookseller not willing to take under half a guinea for it, so I forbore buying it; but, if it had been to be had at about half a crown, I should have bought it; but the above I copied out.

"A Friend lately brought me home a copy of the Sigean inscription, which I have shewn to Mr. Ward, and he to Dr. Mead; so, by comparing, it with Mr. Chishull's Dissertation and papers, they have observed a better reading by it.

This list may be curious to the modern purchasers of Caxton's various and scarce publications.

+ Perhaps by mistake for 1495.

"I believe

"I believe I might engage for the same number of your Caxton's Life as Mr. Thompson; but I hope to do more, so shall, now I know your mind, endeavour it.

"I shall also on the first opportunity mention your favour to Mr. Lye*, of Little Houghton in Northamptonshire; and wish for my own sake the book was wrote in English, also for that I know no man is able to express his mind so clearly as in his mother tongue.

"If you have not seen the Debates relating to the Quakers' bill, and some others, I will send you them down by the next, with the box of wood cuts. You have given me a pure opportunity to laugh at Mr. Thompson's Quaker's book he talks so much of. I am, dear Sir,

"Your most affectionate friend,

Mr. AMEs to the Rev. JOHN LEWIS.

J. AMES."

"SIR, March 7, 1737. "In this bookt, printed by Caxton, may be observed a new set of types, something larger than his usual, and more upright; none coloured by red, but good initials. The first of them I have imitated for your notice; they are such as Winkyn de Worde used afterwards. You will find Caxton was but five months and a half in translating this book, and but six days in printing it. This also is a thin folio, but something thicker than the last. I had the favour of transcribing these from the very curious collection of my friend Mr. James West, to whom I showed your draft of coins found at Reculvers, and asked his opinion, with Mr. Browne Willis's, who was at his house then, whether they deserved a plate; and they both said, 'Yes, to be sure; as they were found at the Reculvers; for they are great admirers of English History. Mr. West, among other commendations of that study, says, that if it was but encouraged, as by some countries, that of our own might shine as bright as the Romans ever did. I am obliged to Mr. West for the present of all Mr. Hearne's impressions of his plates, which were afterwards most of them consumed by the fire, and he had taken but twenty copies from them. There is now printing at Oxford Leland's Itinerary; and one Mr. Morell is about an edition of Chaucer's Tales, who desires of me a sight of his Boethius when you have done with it; I believe for what Caxton says of Chaucer. I should be glad to hear what is observable in Mr. Thompson's Chronicle, printed at St. Alban's; I have one of them, but not quite so perfect. I find, by comparing it with several of Caxton's books, that it is a different type and manner of printing, as you will observe yourself; as also the matter is, from Caxton's Chronicle and Polychronicle, all which I have compared, though mine are imperfect; that of Caxton's, as you had observed to me, is without the foreign affairs, but seems to be printed after that of St. Alban's.

* The famous Saxonist, of whom see the Literary Anecdotes, IX. 751. + The Book of Feytes of Armes, and of Chivalrye.' Afterwards Dr. Thomas Morell the learned Greek scholar, of whom see the Literary Anecdotes, vol. IX. p. 789.

"I have