But this is another instance of the risks of using Roman numerals (compare the three “1468” colophons cited in Chapter III), since the V in this date is clearly a misprint for a second X, which in some copies correctly takes its place. A possible explanation of Lavagna’s boast in 1473 lies in the fact that he was by birth a Milanese, while Zaroto came from Parma; so that if we may take the latter half of the colophon to mean “the first man in this town who introduced and discovered this art of printing,” it would be literally correct—that is, if we can be sure that Lavagna was actually a printer at all, a point on which Mr. Proctor was very doubtful. But to raise this question is perhaps only a modern refinement, since without the help of the doctrine _qui facit per alium facit per se_ we must accuse many worthy fifteenth-century tradesmen of lying in their colophons. Another dubious statement, which may perhaps be explained, was introduced, amid some very vainglorious boasting, in the colophon to the Oxford edition of the Epistles of Phalaris. This runs: Hoc opusculum in alma vniuersitate Oxonie a natali christiano Ducentesima et nonagesima et septima Olimpiade foeliciter impressum est. Hoc Teodericus Rood quem Collonia misit Sanguine Germanus nobile pressit opus: Atque sibi socius Thomas fuit Anglicus Hunte Dii dent ut Venetos exsuperare queant. Quam Ienson Venetos docuit vir Gallicus artem Ingenio didicit terra britanna suo. Celatos Veneti nobis transmittere libros Cedite: nos aliis, vendimus, O Veneti. Que fuerat uobis ars prima nota latini Est eadem nobis ipsa reperta patres. Quamuis semotos toto canit orbe Britannos Virgilius, placet his lingua latina tamen. This little work was happily printed in the bounteous University of Oxford in the two hundred and ninety-seventh Olympiad from the birth of Christ. This noble work was printed by Theodoric Rood, a German by blood, sent from Cologne, and an Englishman, Thomas Hunte, was his partner. The gods grant that they may surpass the Venetians. The art which the Frenchman Jenson taught the Venetians, the British land has learnt by its mother-wit. Cease, Venetians, from sending us the books you engrave: we are now, O Venetians, selling to others. The art which was first known to you, O Latin Fathers, has been discovered by us. Although Virgil sings of the Britons as all a world away, yet the Latin tongue delights them.