328 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[2»« S. IX, Atril 28. '60. 



works of such writers as Greene, Breton, Rich, 

 Lodge, Munclay, Churchyard, Decker, Nash, 

 Rowlands, and other of their contemporaries. It 

 occurred to me that a series, issued so that any 

 one could subscribe at pleasure for a single re- 

 print, or a selection, or for the whole, would be 

 more satisfactory than attempting to form a new 

 Society. My leisure is too limited to enable me to 

 add more than those bibliographical notices which 

 the reading of years has placed ready to my 

 hand, but the texts are really all that people care 

 about. If the project meets with the approbation 

 of the Editor and readers of " N. & Q ," I should 

 be inclined to commence it forthwith, and would 

 gladly receive any communications on the subject, 

 addressed to me at No. 6. St. Mary's Place, West 

 Brompton, near London. J. O. Halliwell. 



[We think so well of Mr. Halliwell's plan, and agree 

 so entirely with him in opinion that carefully reproduced 

 Texts "are really all that people care about," that We 

 have adopted his suggestion, and sent our names as sub- 

 scribers to Mr. Richards, 37. Great Queen Street, Lin- 

 coln's-Inn-Fields; and, in the hopes that other lovers of 

 our old literature will encourage the scheme, we here re- 

 print Mr. Halliwell's Prospectus. 



It is obvious that when once the work is in operation 

 other books will suggest themselves for republication. 

 A reprint of Harsenet's Discoveric, for instance, would 

 be welcome to a verv large class of readers. — Ed. " N. 

 &Q."] 



" The Percy Library. 



" Daily experience in what is required for reference in 

 Shaksperian criticism convinces me that a series of re- 

 prints of our early literature, on a more comprehensive 

 scale than has yet been attempted, is desirable. It is 

 proposed, therefore, under the general title of 'The Percy 

 Library,' but each piece to be a separate publication in 

 itself, to reprint the chief works of such writers as 

 Greene, Breton, Rich, Lodge, Munday, Churchyard, 

 Decker, Nash, Rowlands, and other contemporary popu- 

 lar authors. By issuing these at a small price, a few 

 shillings each, it is hoped that a sufficient number of 

 copies will be sold to warrant the continuation of the 

 design. 



" My leisure will not allow me to add notes, or to do 

 more than give a few preliminary pages of bibliogra- 

 phical notice to each piece. This is, indeed, all that is 

 really required ; for it should be borne in mind that these 

 tracts, however quaint and curious, are less valuable as 

 compositions, than as useful to students for special pur- 

 poses. 



"These reprints will be printed uniformly with the 

 publications of the Percy Society, by Mr. Richards, the 

 excellent printer to that Society, who will also be the 

 publisher. 



" Those who wish to have complete sets, and subscribe 

 to the series, will oblige by giving their names as soon as 

 convenient. Such subscribers will receive copies by post 

 before publication. 



" I should feel obliged by any suggestions in respjet to 

 the selection of works for publication, or for any infor- 

 mation regarding old books in private hands which are 

 worthy of being reprinted. 



"J. 0. Halliwei.u 



" No. G. St. Mary's Place, 

 "West Brompton, near London." 



. A BOOK PRINTED AT HOLYROOD HOUSE. 

 (2» d S. ix. 263.) 



Among the suicidal acts of the rash and impru- 

 dent James VII. was the establishment by him of 

 a Popish seminary or college within the precincts 

 of Holyrood House ; wheiv, by an unlawful stretch 

 of the prerogative, the Jesuits, under royal au- 

 thority, openly inculcated Rcmish principles in 

 direct defiance of the laws of these kingdoms. 



Not satisfied with this innovation, the infatuated 

 James farther made provision to insure a supply 

 of Popish books for his Propaganda by appoint- 

 ing "James Watson Printer to His Majesty's 

 Household, College, and Chappel" there. Wat- 

 son, who was father to the better known printer 

 of the same names of a later period, died in 1687, 

 after a very brief enjoyment of his spurious li- 

 cences ; when the Romish press fell into the hands 

 of an alien, one Peter Bruce, and thenceforth the 

 Holyrood imprints run — " Printed by Mr. P. B., 

 Enginier" — who in like manner describes himself 

 as specially retained for the same snug coterie in 

 that royal locality. To outward appearance there 

 seemed to have been a most unaccountable apathy 

 or subserviency on the part of the Scotch while 

 these Jesuitical proceedings to deprive them of re- 

 ligious liberty were in progress ; but as far as the 

 bulk of the people were concerned, it was only 

 the spirit of Knox in abeyance : for we are told 

 that with the Revolution came a wave of Coven- 

 anting zeal which nothing could withstand ; and 

 on the 10th Dec. 1688, the culminating point of 

 endurance having been reached, the Edinburgh 

 populace broke into Holyrood House, where Mes- 

 ton, the Popish Butler, says they 



" . . furiously, with sword in hand, 

 From superstition purg'd the land; 

 With pitchforks, scythes, and such like tools, 

 Reform'd Kirks, Colleges, and Schools," — 



scattering the College of Jesuits, demolishing the 

 costly chapel, and for ever silencing the Holyrood 

 press ! 



But my purpose was to note a few of the pro- 

 ductions of this press, which I hope your corre- 

 spondents in the North will add to, and correct 

 where needed : — 



1. " Sure Characters," &<>• (This I hear of for the first 

 time in " N. & Q.") 1G87. 



2. " The Hind and Panther. 4to. Watson. 1G87." 



3. " The Following of Christ. By T. a Kempis. 1G87." 



4. " Faith of the Cath. Church concerning the Eucha- 

 rist invincibly proved. 1687." 



5. " A Manuall of Prayers. 1688." 



6. " The Christian Diurnall." 



7. " A Pastoral Letter from the 4 Cath. Bishops to the 

 Lay-Catholics of England. P. B. 1688." 



8. " Reasons for Abrogating the Test. By Bp. Parker. 

 1688." 



The ehef-cTauvre of these was Dryden's Poem, 

 which Macaulay says was brought out with every 

 advantage Royal patronage could give, and « 



