Gloucester.
A BOOK WANTED OF ENZINAS.--FRANCISCO DE ENZINAS, OR DRYANDER, TRANSLATOR
OF THE SPANISH NEW TESTAMENT, 1543.
Can any obliging reader of the "NOTES AND QUERIES" inform me of the
existence, in any of our public libraries, or for sale, of the following
book: _Dryandri (Franciscus) Flandriæ propriæ incarcerationis et
liberationis Historia_: Antwerpiæ(?) 1545. Sm. 8vo.? Fox, the
martyrologist, writing of Dryander, says:
"I read the book in the shop of John Oporine, printer, of Basil."
I have a French translation of it, and a Spanish version is sanctioned
by Pellicea (after Gerdes), under this title: _Breve Descripcion del
Pais Baxo, y razon de la Religion en España_, en 8vo.; but in such a
manner as leaves it questionable. If a Spanish version is known, I
should esteem it a favour to be informed where it can now be found.
Enzinas passed part of the years 1542-3 with Melancthon at Wittemberg.
Having completed his New Testament, he returned early in the latter year
to Antwerp to get it printed. After much reflection and advice with his
friends, he made an agreement with Stephen Mierdmann of Antwerp, in the
following manner:
"I determined," says he, "to do my duty in the affair, at all
events; which was, to undertake the publication, and to leave the
consequences, and the course of the inspired Word, to the
providence of God, to whom it of right belonged. I therefore spoke
with a ----, and asked him whether he was willing to print my
book. He answered, Yes, very gladly; partly because I desire to do
some good for the commonweal more than for my own particular
interest, caring little for gain or for the slander of opponents;
and partly, also, said he, because it is a book that has long been
desired. Then I asked him whether it was needful to have a
_license_ or _permission_, and whether he could not print it
without these: for, said I, it would ill beseem the Word of God,
from which kings and rulers derive the authority for the exercise
of their power, that it should be subject to the permission or
prohibition of any human feeling or fancy. To this he answered,
that no law of the Emperor had ever forbidden the printing of the
Holy Scriptures; and this was well known, for in Antwerp the New
Testament had already been printed in almost every language of
Europe but the Spanish, and that neither himself nor any other
printer had ever previously asked permission. From his experience,
he had no doubt that, provided it was faithfully translated, the
New Testament might be freely printed without leave or license.
Then, said I, get ready your presses and everything needful for
the work. I will answer for the interpretation of the text, and
you shall take the risk of printing. And more, in order that you
shall not suffer by loss or fine from our Spaniards, I will take
the expense of the impression on myself. So I delivered to him the
copy, and begged him to dispatch the business as soon as possible.
"Nothing relating to it was done in secret; everybody knew that
the New Testament was being printed in Spanish. Many praised the
project; many waited for it with eagerness; my rooms were never
closed, every one who wished came in and out: and yet I doubt not
that some who came and beforehand praised my book, when they were
behind my back, and with their own parties, sung another song;
well perceiving that the reading of the Scriptures by the people
is not very likely to profit their avaricious stomachs. I care
little, however, for such opinions and selfish passions, confiding
in God alone, who directed and would protect an undertaking
devoted solely to His own glory."
It were too long for the "NOTES AND QUERIES" to tell how he was induced
to cancel the first leaf of his New Testament after it was printed,
because it had one word which savoured of Lutheranism; of his presenting
the finished volume to the Emperor Charles V. at Brussels; how he
received him, and what he said of his being entrapped by his confessor,
and cast into prison for fifteen months, escaping and being let down by
a rope over the city wall, until he found repose and security again at
Wittemberg with Melancthon.
Few of the early translations of the New Testament into the vulgar
languages of Europe are so little known as the Spanish of Francisco de
Enzinas, or Dryander; and yet, perhaps, of no one of them are there such
minute particulars of the printing and publication to be found upon
record as that published by him in 1543, and of his imprisonment in
consequence of it.