Note x — BOOK V.

It is uncertain who was the Inventer of the Art of Printing, every Historian ascribing the Honour thereof to his own City or Country. Accordingly some ascribe the Invention of it to John Guttenburg, a Knight of Argentine, about 1440, and say, that Faustus was only his Assistant. Bertius ascribes it to Laurence John, of Harlem, and saith, Fust or Faust, stole from him both his Art and Tools. And to name no more, some attribute it to John Fust or Faust, and Peter Schoeffer (called by Fust in some of his Imprimaturs, Pet. de Gerneshem puer meus.) But there is now to be seen at Haerlem, a Book or two printed by Lau. Kofter, before any of these, viz. in 1430, and 1432. (See Mr. Ellis’s Letter to Dr. Tyson, in Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 286.) But be the first Inventer who it will, there is however great Reason to believe, the Art receiv’d great improvements from Faust and his Son-in-Law Schoeffer, the latter being the Inventer of metalline Types, which were cut in Wood before, first in whole Blocks, and afterwards in single Types or Letters. See my learned Friend Mr. Wanley’s Observations, in Philos. Trans. Nᵒ. 288, and 310.