28 E. R. McDix on 



16th century, it will be especially necessary to do a good deal of 

 of this work in the English records ; also in our Municipal 

 Eecords. It is a curious thing how evidence will be found 

 there when our own records here are silent. To go back to 

 that time I might give as instance the sending over of William 

 Kearney to print the Irish Bible. That is not mentioned in the 

 chronicles of the Irish Privy Council. 



I have already referred to the researches of Mr. Henry R. 

 Plomer and the assistance which his research has given in throw- 

 ing light on Franckton's Patent and Franckton's successors, 

 and to his article in the "Irish Book Lover" suggesting that 

 Hugh Singleton, a London printer contemporary with Humphrey 

 Powell, about whom there is some mystery as to whether his 

 printing was done in London or elsewhere, possibly came over 

 and printed some of his works in Ireland. I only mention this 

 again here for the purpose of showing that there are difficulties 

 still to be solved which might well attract careful and eagar 

 students to diligent and interesting research. 



APPENDIX A. 



Note. — Let me here recapitulate a little, and very shortly 

 state exactly and concisely how the London Company of Stationers 

 succeeded Franckton as State Printers in Ireland. It has never 

 been clearly stated before in this form : — 



The Reversion of John Franckton's Letters Patent {for life) 

 was granted or promised to Verdon (a freeman of Dublin) and to 

 Wright. 



The London Company of Stationers petitioned against this 

 and alleged Franckton's insufficiency, etc. (I2th March, 1617/18), 

 and asked that the office, etc., of Printer be given to Felix 

 Kyngston, Mathew Lownes and Bartholomew Downes. This 

 was not granted exactly as sought but Thomas Doivnes was sub- 

 stituted for Lownes and B. Downes. 



Franckton assigned, early in 1618, his Letters Patent to the 

 two men, Felix Kyngston and Thomas Downes. 



