a genus of shell-fish. See SOLEN, CONCHOLOGY Index.

RASTALL, JOHN, a printer and miscellaneous writer, was born in London, probably about the end of the 15th century, and educated at Oxford. Returning from the university, he settled in the metropolis, and commenced printer, "then esteemed (says Wood) a profession fit for any scholar or ingenious man." He married the Ratfall, the sister of Sir Thomas More, with whom, we are told, he was very intimate, and whose writings he strenuously defended. From the title-page of one of his books, he appears to have lived in Cheapside, at the sign of the Mermaid. He died in the year 1536; and left two sons, William and John: the first of whom became a judge in Queen Mary's reign, and the latter a justice of peace. This John Ratfall, the subject of the present article, was a zealous Papist; but Bale says, that he changed his religion before his death. He wrote, 1. *Natura naturata.* Pits calls it a copious (*prolifica*) and ingenious comedy, defacing Europe, Asia, and Africa; with cuts. What sort of a comedy this was, is not easy to conceive. Probably it is a topographical description, written in dialogue, and therefore styled a comedy. 2. The patmye of the people; the chronicles of diverse realmys, and most especially of the realm of England, brevily compiled and emprinted in Cheapefide, at the sign of the mermaid, next Pollygate, *cum privilegio,* fol. 3. *Eccelesia Johannis Ratfall,* 1542, was one of the prohibited books in the reign of Henry VIII. 4. *Legum Anglicarum vocabula explicata.* French and Latin. Lond. 1567, 8vo. And some other works.