one of the first printers, and, according to some, the inventor of the art, was born at Haerlem about the year 1370, and executed several departments of magistracy of that city. Those writers are mistaken who assign to him the surname of Coffer, or assert that the office of editius was hereditary in his family. In a diploma of Albert of Bavaria in 1382, in which, among other citizens of Haerlem, our Laurentius's father is mentioned by the name of Joannes Laurentii filius, Beroldus is called editius, who was surely of another family; and in 1396 and 1398 Henricus a Lunen enjoyed that office; after whose resignation, Count Albert conferring on the citizens the privilege of electing their editius, they probably soon after, fixed on Laurentius: who was afterwards called Cyfer from his office, and not from his family name, as he was descended from an illegitimate. Commodus retired during a pestilence. Its name was Lauro from an adjoining grove of bay trees, midway between Ostia and Antium. Supposed to have stood in the place now called San Lorenzo; which seems to be confirmed from the Via Laurentina leading to Rome.