FIFTEENTH CENTURY.
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the text of the Holy Gospels, or of St. Paul's Epistles, be examined, and no one of any know- ledge wUl deny that there is a necessity for many things to be suppUed or understood, from other writmcs."
" Th^e things hare occurred to our minds, because they are the most common. But what shall ve 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 hare named a few."
" But, since the beginning of this art arose Himnely, (to ^ve it its proper appellation) in this our golden city of Mentz, and continues in it to thb day, in its most improved and perfect state ; it is with the greatest justice that we defend the glory of the art, and it becomes our duty to pre- serve the unspotted purity of the Divine Writ- ings. 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 iar as we are able by the will of God, whose cause is in question ; — we do, by strictly charging the observance of these presents, com- mand all and every the ecclesiastioil and secular persons subject to our jurisdiction, or transacting business within its limits, of whatever degree, order, 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 Ger- man ; nor, when transuted, either disoose of, or obtain copies, publicly or privately, oirectly or indirectly, by any kind of barter, unless before their impression they shall have been admitted, by patent, to be sold, by the most noble and honourable our beloved aoctors and masters of the university in our city of Mentz, John Bert- ram de Nuremberg, in theology ; Alexander Diethrich, in law ; Theodoric de Meschede, in medicine; 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 town of Frsuikfort, the books exposed for sale shall have been seen and approved of by an honourable, devout, and belovra master in theo- logy, belonging to the place, and one or two doctors and licentiates, annually paid for ^at piurpose by the governor of the said town. And whoever shall treat with contempt this our pro- vision, or shall lend his counsel, assistance, or savour, in any way, directly or indirectly, in op- position to this our mandate, let him know that he has by so doing incurred the sentence of ex- commumcation ; and beside the loss of the books exposed for sale, a penalty of 100 florins of gold, to be paid into our treasury; froB which 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 of the month January, mcccclxxxvi."
The following are the Imtructumt issued to the censors, and accompanying the above man- date: —
"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 atten- tion to the things underwritten."
" Having found out several scandals and frauds, committed by certain translators of lite- rary 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, trans- late 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, accord- ing to the form of the mandate above published, been by you seen, and as to their matter ap- proved of, both for translation, and for sale."
" We do, therefore, by the tenor of these pre- sents, (having great confidence in your prudence and circumspection,) charge you, that if at any time, any works, or books, intended to be trans- lated, printed, or sold, be brought to you, you shall weigh their matter, and, if they cannot be easily translated according to the tnie 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 allowea by you. In so doing you will perform an office pleasing to our God, and use- ful to the state."
" Given at the chancery of St Martin, un- der our privy-seal, the lOUi day of January, MCCCCLXXXVI." — Beckmann't Hitt. oflnven.
1486. John of Trittenheim, abbot of Span- heim, in his exhortations in this year, after many injunctions against idleness, observes that he has " diminished their labour out of the mo- nastery, 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, dUcovered 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 Pre and Pierre Gerard. Brunn, by C. Stahel and M. Preinlein, though their name does not appear until 1491. Munster, by John Limburgus. Sleswic, by Stephen Amdes. Casale Maggiore,no printer's name. Chivasio, by Jacob Suigus Via ueria, by Jacob de S. Nazario. Toledo, by John Vasqui (Vasquez.) Rimini, by a Jew, who printed Hebrew only. Thoulouse, by John James Colomiez.
1487. Only one book appeared from the pre!i.< of Caxton, which was entitled the Book »f Good Maners. Erijirynted the xj day nf Maa/t. Folio.
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