a family of printers deservedly celebrated. They flourished at the time of the revival of learning, and contributed a great deal towards dispelling the cloud of ignorance which had so long overshadowed Europe. Some of the classics before the 16th century were in a great measure lost, and all of them were exceedingly corrupted. By their abilities and indefatigable industry these defects were supplied, and the learned were furnished with beautiful and correct editions of the Greek and Roman authors. Thus the world was not only supplied with an inexhaustible fund of amusement and instruction in these ancient writings; but it is to the ardour which they inspired, and to the model of elegance which they displayed, that the present advanced state of literature is in a great measure owing.
HENRY STEPHENS, the first of these illustrious men, was born in France, soon after the discovery of printing, perhaps about the year 1465. He settled as a printer at Paris, and was probably patronized by Louis XII. A great proportion of the books which he published were Latin: They are printed in the Roman letter, and are not inelegant, though some of them abound rather too much in contractions. He died about the year 1520, and left behind him three sons, Francis, Robert, and Charles. His widow married Simeon de Colines (Colineus in Latin), who thus got possession of Henry's printing-office, and continued the profession till his death.
Of FRANCIS, the eldest son, little more is known than that he carried on business along with his father-in-law Colines, and that he died at Paris in 1530.
ROBERT STEPHENS, the second son, was born in 1503. In his youth he made great proficiency in the Roman, Greek, and Hebrew languages, and at the age of 19 had acquired so much knowledge, that his father-in-law entrusted him with the management of his press. An edition of the New Testament was published under his inspection, which gave great offence to the Paris divines, who accused him of heresy, and threatened to prevent the sale of the book. Soon after he began business himself, and married Perrette the daughter of Judocus Badius, a printer and an author. She was a woman of learning, and understood Latin, which indeed was the necessary consequence of her situation. Her husband always entertained a number of learned men as correctors of the press: Being foreigners, and of different nations, they made use of no other language but Latin; which Perrette being accustomed to hear, was able in a short time The ALPHABET with the STENOGRAPHY. The Double and Triple Consonants.
<table> <tr> <th>Char.</th> <th>Arb. Abbrev.</th> <th>D.C.&c. Char.</th> <th>Arb. Abbrev.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>a, ans. above</td> <td>ch</td> <td>c</td> <td>each, such</td> </tr> <tr> <td>be, by, because</td> <td>sh</td> <td>b</td> <td>shall, she</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>th</td> <td>r</td> <td>that, they</td> </tr> <tr> <td>do, did</td> <td>thr</td> <td>r</td> <td>therefore</td> </tr> <tr> <td>over, every, mid</td> <td>str</td> <td>s</td> <td>strive, strong</td> </tr> <tr> <td>from, if</td> <td>wh</td> <td>w</td> <td>who, which</td> </tr> <tr> <td>God, give, gives</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>he, had, his</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>I, eye, below</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>kings, know</td> <td>b</td> <td>c</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lord, will, all</td> <td>d</td> <td>r</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>me, my, most</td> <td>f</td> <td>e</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>and, in, nature</td> <td>g</td> <td>i</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>O, oh, one, above</td> <td>b</td> <td>r</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>people, peace</td> <td>k</td> <td>x</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>quest, quantity</td> <td>lr</td> <td>y</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>or, are</td> <td>m</td> <td>n</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>is, us, soon</td> <td>n</td> <td>n</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>the, so, it</td> <td>p</td> <td>r</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>have, save</td> <td>q</td> <td>s</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>you, view, middle</td> <td>s</td> <td>t</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>we, with</td> <td>l</td> <td>u</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>except, example</td> <td>v</td> <td>w</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>yes, your; yes, bel</td> <td>w</td> <td>x</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>x</td> <td>y</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>
Vowels Places
a i e o u y
Arbitrarians.
on one " as for ; only of oft often o nothing at am n wherefore
Figures.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1779, L$67.17. inv. 11
The LORDS Prayer:
The PREPOSITIONS and TERMINATIONS.
<table> <tr> <th>Prepos.</th> <th>Char.Ex.</th> <th>Signifi.</th> <th>Term.Char.Ex.</th> <th>Signifi.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>abs obs</td> <td>c</td> <td>abstain</td> <td>able</td> <td>ible</td> </tr> <tr> <td>anti ante</td> <td></td> <td>antidote</td> <td>flat</td> <td>flat</td> </tr> <tr> <td>contra</td> <td></td> <td>contravention</td> <td>full</td> <td>conflict</td> </tr> <tr> <td>contra</td> <td></td> <td>counterfeit</td> <td>forense</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>dis-vocem</td> <td></td> <td>discompose</td> <td>ing</td> <td>thing</td> </tr> <tr> <td>hypo-o-er</td> <td></td> <td>hypovente</td> <td>ions</td> <td>things</td> </tr> <tr> <td>magni-v-a</td> <td></td> <td>magnify</td> <td>sum</td> <td>petition</td> </tr> <tr> <td>omni</td> <td></td> <td>omniscience</td> <td>tuan &c</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>inter-e-ro</td> <td></td> <td>enter</td> <td>entertain</td> <td>petitions</td> </tr> <tr> <td>post</td> <td></td> <td>postpone</td> <td>postpones</td> <td>petitions</td> </tr> <tr> <td>recon</td> <td></td> <td>reconcile</td> <td>self</td> <td>harmless</td> </tr> <tr> <td>recom</td> <td></td> <td>reconcile</td> <td>self</td> <td>indictment</td> </tr> <tr> <td>satis</td> <td></td> <td>satisfy</td> <td>self</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>super</td> <td></td> <td>transfer</td> <td>strict</td> <td>substract</td> </tr> <tr> <td>circum</td> <td></td> <td>extricate</td> <td>ward</td> <td>forward</td> </tr> </table>
Points.
A Comma : A Semicolon ; A Colon : A Period / A Point of Interrogation ? A Point of Admiration !
Abbreviating Marks
At Substantive | Division An Adjective | Divisible A Verb | Divide A Participle | Dividing FABRICIUS' Reply to PYRRHUS.
LETTER &c.
POPE to ATTERBURY.
S. PAUL'S SPEECH. not only to understand, but even to speak with tolerable ease.
In 1531 he published his Latin "Thesaurus;" a work of great importance, which he laboured at for two years. The mark which he put upon all his books was a tree branched, with a man looking upon it, and these words noli altum sapere, to which he sometimes added sed ince. In 1539, Francis I. made him his printer, and ordered a new set of elegant types to be founded for him. His frequent editions of the New Testament gave great offence to the doctors of the Sorbonne, who accused him of hereby for his annotations, and insisted upon the suppression of some of his books. Although Henry the French king in some measure protected him, the persecution of these divines rendered him so unhappy, not to mention the expense and loss of time which an almost constant attendance at court unavoidably occasioned, that in 1552 he abandoned his country and went to Geneva. Here he embraced the Protestant religion, and thus justified in some measure the suspicions of his theological enemies. It has been affirmed by several writers that he carried along with him the royal types, and the moulds also in which they were cast; but it is certain that he never afterwards made use of those types. Besides, is it possible that the author of so daring a theft could have been not only protected in Geneva, but even courted and honoured by the most eminent men of the age? Is it credible that such a crime could have been concealed for 60 years; or that Henry, the son and heir of the perpetrator, would have enjoyed the favour of the French king, if Robert Stephens had acted such a shameful part? If he was burnt in effigy at Paris, it was not for theft, but for having changed his religion. After his arrival at Geneva, he published an account of the dispute between him and the Paris divines, which does as much honour to his abilities as his Thesaurus does to his learning. He died in 1559, after a life of the most extraordinary industry. The books of which he was the editor were not fewer than 360. Many of them were ancient classics in different languages. Several were accompanied with annotations which he collected, and all of them were corrected by collating manuscripts. He was so anxious to obtain perfect accuracy, that he used to expose his proofs in public, and reward those who discovered a mistake. His books consequently were very correct. It is said that his New Testament, called O Mirificum (because the preface begins with these words), has not a single fault.
It was Robert Stephens who first divided the New Testament into verses during a journey between Paris and Lyons. The advantages of this improvement are fully counterbalanced by its defects. It has destroyed the unity of the books, and induced many commentators to consider every verse as a distinct and independent aphorism. To this in some measure is to be ascribed the many absurd interpretations and creeds that have been forced out of that book.
By his last will his estate was left exclusively to such of his children as should settle at Geneva. He left behind him three sons, Henry, Robert, and Francis.
Charles Stephens, the third son of Henry, was, like the rest of his family, familiarly acquainted with the learned languages. This recommended him to Lazarus de Baif, who made him tutor to his son, and in 1540 carried him along with him to Germany. He studied medicine, and practised it with success in France. He did not, however, forsake the profession of his family, but exercised it in Paris, where he became the editor of many books remarkable for neatness and elegance. He wrote above thirty treatises on different subjects, particularly on botany, anatomy, and history. He died in 1564.
Robert Stephens, the son of Robert the first of that name, did not accompany his father to Geneva, but continued to profess the Catholic religion, and to reside at Paris. His letter was remarkably beautiful.—He was made king's printer, and died about 1589.
His brother Francis was also a printer. He embraced the Protestant religion, and resided at Geneva.
Henry Stephens, the remaining son of Robert, was born at Paris in 1528. He became the most learned and most celebrated of all his family. From his very birth almost he gave proofs of uncommon abilities, and displayed an ardent passion for knowledge. The Medea of Euripides, which he saw acted while at school, first kindled his love for poetry, and inspired him with the desire of acquiring the language in which that tragedy is written. He intreated his father not to condemn him to study Latin, which he already understood from conversation, but to initiate him at once into the knowledge of Greek. His father willingly granted his request; and Henry applied with such vigour, that in a short time he could repeat the Medea by heart. He afterwards studied Greek under Peter Daneius, who was tutor to the Dauphin, and finally heard the lectures of Tufanus and Turnebus. He became eager at an early age to understand astrology, and accordingly attended a professor of that mysterious art; but he was not long in discovering its absurdity. At 19 he began his travels, which he undertook in order to examine foreign libraries, and to become acquainted with learned men. He spent two years in Italy, and returned into France completely master of Italian, and bringing along with him copies of several scarce authors, particularly a part of Anacreon, which before was thought lost.
He found his father publishing an edition of the New Testament, to which he prefixed some Greek verses.—Soon after, he visited England and the Netherlands, where he met with John Clement, an Englishman, to whom he was indebted for the remaining odes of Anacreon. During this journey he learned the Spanish language, which was very much spoken at that time in the Low Countries.
Whether Henry accompanied his father to Geneva or not is uncertain; at least he must have returned immediately to France, for we find him soon after established at Paris, and publishing the odes of Anacreon. In 1554 he went to Rome, and thence to Naples. This journey was undertaken at the request, and in the service, of the French government. He was discovered, and would have been arrested as a spy, had he not by his address and skill in the language of the country been able to pass himself for a native of Italy. On his return to France he assumed the title of printer to Ulric Fugger, a very rich and learned German nobleman, who allowed him a considerable pension.
In 1560 he married a relation, as is generally supposed, of Henry Scrimgeour, a Scotch nobleman, with whom he was intimately acquainted. She was a woman, as he himself informs us, endowed with the noblest spirit and the most amiable dispositions. Her death, which happened in 1586, brought on a disease that had twice attacked him before. It was a disgust at all those pursuits which had formerly charmed him, an aversion to reading and the sight of books. It was probably occasioned by too constant and severe an application to literary pursuits. In 1572 he published his Thesauros Linguae Graecae, one of the greatest works, perhaps, that ever was executed by one man, if we consider the wretched materials which more ancient dictionaries could furnish, if we consider the size and perfection of the work, and the immense labour and learning which must have been employed in the compilation. This work had been carried on at a greater expense than he could well bear. He expected to be reimbursed by the sale of the book, but he was unfortunately disappointed. John Scapula, one of his own servants, extracted from it whatever he thought would be most serviceable to students, and published it beforehand in 4to. By this act of treachery Henry was reduced to poverty.
About this time he was much beloved by Henry III. of France, who treated him so kindly, and made him such flattering promises, that he resided frequently at court. But these promises were never fulfilled, owing to the civil wars which soon after distracted France, and the unfortunate death of King Henry himself. During the remainder of his life his situation was very unsettled. We find him sometimes at Paris, sometimes in Geneva, in Germany, and even in Hungary. He died at Lyons in 1598, at the age of 70. He was fond of poetry from his very infancy. It was a custom of his to compose verses on horseback, and even to write them, though he generally rode a very mettlefome steed. His Thesaurus was his great work, but he was also the author of several other treatises. His poems are numerous: His Apology for Herodotus is a witty satire on the Roman Catholics. His Concordance to the New Testament must have been a laborious work, and has deservedly endeared him to every Christian who wishes to acquire a rational and critical knowledge of the Scriptures. The number of books which he published, though fewer than his father, was great, and superior in elegance to any thing which the world had then seen. A great proportion of them were Greek; he was the editor, however, of many Roman and even of some eastern writings. His Greek classics are remarkably correct; the principal of them are Homer, Anacreon, Aeschylus, Maximus Tyrinus, Diodorus Siculus, Pindar, Xenophon, Thucydides, Herodotus, Sophocles, Diogenes Laertius, Plutarch, Plato, Apollonius Rhodius, Aelchinics, Lyfas, Callimachus, Theocritus, Herodian, Dionysius Halicarnassensis, Dion Cassius, Isocrates, Appian, Xiphilin, &c. His temper in the latter part of his life is represented as haughty and severe, owing probably to his disappointments. He left behind him a son and two daughters, one of whom was married to the learned Isaac Cabaubon.
PAUL STEPHENS, the son of Henry, continued his father's profession at Geneva. He was a man of learning, and wrote translations of several books, and published a considerable number of the ancient classics; but his editions possess little of his father's elegance. He died in 1627, at the age of 60, after selling his types to one Chouet a printer.—His son ANTONY, the last printer of the family, abandoned the Protestant religion, and returned to France, the country of his ancestors. He received letters of naturalization in 1612, and was made printer to the king; but managing his affairs ill, he was reduced to poverty, and obliged to retire into an hospital, where he died in 1674, miserable and blind, at the age of 80.