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HISTORY OF PRINTING.
this motto: iv PtPKioun pia ij So^kc Tnyv. Maittaire has given other used by him occasion- ally; but many of the impressions of Vascosan, both Greek and Latin, are found without any device. The first Frederic Morel was Vascosan's son-in-law, and was employed by him; the se- cond illustrious typographer of that name was his grandson. He composed his epitaph, recorded by Maittaire, Hii. Typographoram Paritientium.
1576. The first book printed in the island of Sardinia is a Spanish work of Don Juan Colo- ma, which was published at Cagliari, or Caller, the capital of the island, by Vincentio Sembe- nino. A copy of this rare and curious volume was in the Spanish collection of D. J. A. Conde, sold in London, in 1824. — CoUon.
1676. The city of Evora, in Portugal, had, at this period, a large printing establishment. Id the years 1S53 — 1576, Ahdreas de Burgos was settled at Evora, as a. printer; and was followed by Martin de Burgos and Manuel de LjTa, be- fore the close of this century. An exceedingly rare book on China, written \)y Gasper de Cruz, is noticed as having been executed herein 1570.
1577. William Seres appears to have been a general assistant to the whole typographical profession, for he was concerned with John Day, Anthony Scoloker, Richard Kele, and William Hill; and some of Day's works are stated to have been printed purposely on his account; but their names do not occur together after the year 1550. Seres appears to have enjoyed more than one licence for the imprinting of certain books, since Strype relates that " Sir William Cecil, principal secretary of state to king Edward, procured for him, being his servant, a licence to print all manner of private prayers called Primers, as should be agreeable to the Common Prayer, es- tablished in the court of parliament; and that none else should print the same. Provided, that before the said Seres, or his assigns, did begin to print off the same, he or they snould present a copy thereof, to be allowed by the lords of the pnvy council, or by the lord chancellor for the time being, or by the king's four ordinary chap- lains, or two of them. Aad when the same was or should be from time to time printed, that by the said lords, and other of the said privy coun- cil, or by the lord chancellor, or with the advice of the wardens of the occupation, the reasonable price thereof by sett, as well in the leaves, as being bound in paste or board, in like manner as was expressed in the end of the book of Com- mon Prayer." He farther states, that "Seres had a privilege for the printing of all Psalters; all manner of Primers, English and Latin, and all manner of Prayer Books; that as this privi- lege was taken away by queen Mary, so it was restored again by queen Elizabeth, by means of lord Cecil, with the addition of the grant to him and his son, during the life of the longest liver, and that this gave occasion to a great cause; for Seres, the father, in his latter years, not being able to follow his business, assigned his privilege, with all his presses, letters, stock in trade, and copies to one Henry Denham, for a yearly rent.
Denham took seven young men of the company of stationers to join mm in the same; but certain inferior persons of the company, setting up presses, more than England might bear, did print other men's copies forbidden to them, and privileged to others by the queen's letters patents. These endeavoured for their own gain to have their privilege taken awav, preferring a petition to the privy council, wherein they pretended that in justice it stood with the best policy of this realm, that the printing of all good and useful books should be at the liberty of every man to do, without granting or allowing any privilege by the prince to the contrary. And they said it was against the law, and that the queen ought not to grant any such. Seres upon this, in a petition to the lord treasurer, urged against these men, that privilege for special books was ever granted by the prince; for that for the most part in all ancient books we read these words. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum ,- and that many records might be found the same; whereby it appeared that the prince or magis- trate, had ever care to commit the printing of all good books, especially of the best sort, to some especial men well known and tried for their fide- lity, skill, and ability. Examples whereof might be shewed as well in England, as other christian countries. And that the reason hereof was, that printing of itself was most dangerous and pemi- cious,if it were not straitened and restrained by politic order of the prince or magistrate. This affair at last was made up by friendly agreement. The expedient was this, that those who had pri- vileges, were to grant some allowances unto the company of stationers for the maintenance of charge and their poor. This was about 1583."
William Seres used the above monogram to the books he printed, which amounted to more than one hundred. His earliest residence is imagined to have been near the house of John Day, on Snow hill; but in 1548, when he be- came connected with Anthony Scoloker, he lived in Savoury Rents and in Ely Rents, without Aldergate, whence we find him, in 1539, re- moved to Peter coUege,which,from the researches of Herbert, is shewn to have been by the side of dean's court, in St. Paul's church yard. His next residence was the sign of the Hedge hog, but a short distance from the same building, since it became converted into the stationers' hall; and Seres, who was one of the most ancient members of the livery of that company, after
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