The "tenement called the King's Arms" explains the use by Siberch of the royal arms as a printer's device; but although _cum gratia et privilegio_ appears on the title-page of several books printed by him, there is no official confirmation of his having held the office of university printer[5]. There are entries, however, in _Grace Books_ and in the _Audit Book_ of the university which show that in 1520 or 1521 the university advanced to him the sum of twenty pounds: Obligatur doctor Manfeld loco et vice magistri Norres pro summa pecunie quam recepit Johannes bibliopola ab universitate[6]. Probably, Mr Duff suggests, this sum of money--a larger amount than a university stationer's fee--may have been advanced with a view to helping Siberch in the establishment of a press. The debt is entered in the proctors' accounts until the year 1524-25 and in _Grace Book B_ it is recorded under the date 1538-9 that John Law, an alien priest, with Drs Ridley, Bulloke, Wakefield, and Maundefelde owed £20 sterling to the university, for which they had given a bond with their signature and seals; reference is made to this bond in the _Audit Book_ under the dates 1546, 1549, and 1553. From the description of Siberch as "presbiter alienigena" Mr Duff infers that Siberch eventually forsook printing for the Church. Such are the fragmentary references that have survived concerning the career of the first Cambridge printer. * * * * * Fortunately, however, eight complete specimens of his book-printing have been preserved: I The first Cambridge book (of which a page is shown in facsimile) reflects the atmosphere of the time. It is the _Oratio_ delivered by Henry Bullock, D.D., Fellow of Queens' College and afterwards Vice-Chancellor, in honour of the visit of Cardinal Wolsey to the university in the autumn of 1520. The 'frequentissimus cetus' before whom the oration was given included the imperial ambassadors and several bishops. The cardinal was lodged at Queens' College and both town and university delighted to honour him, as may be seen from the following items from the proctors' accounts: To the Vicechancellor for expences in going round the town with the mayor, to cleanse the streets against the coming of the Cardinal, 2_s_ 2_d_. Gifts to the Cardinal: for wine £3 6_s_ 8_d_; for carrying the same to Queens coll. 12_d_; for 2 oxen, £3 7_s_ 8_d_; for 6 swans, 28_s_ 8_d_; for 6 great pikes, 33_s_ 4_d_; for 6 shell fish, 4_s_ 4_d_; for a river fish called a breme, 6_s_ 8_d_. For repairing the streets on the Cardinal's coming, 13_d_. To 2 scholars who carried an altar on the coming of the Cardinal, 4_d_. [Illustration: A PAGE FROM _HENRICI BULLOCI ORATIO_, THE FIRST CAMBRIDGE BOOK] The style of the oration is even more lavish than the ceremonial preparations. "Scarcely from the obsequious senates of Tiberius and Domitian did the incense of flattery rise in denser volume or in coarser fumes."[7]