The Invention of Printing.: A Collection of Facts and Opinions, Descriptive of Early Prints and Playing Cards, the Block-Books of the Fifteenth Century, the Legend of Lourens Janszoon Coster, of Haarlem, and the Work of John Gutenberg and His AssociatesDe Vinne, Theodore Low
History
The Invention of Printing.: A Collection of Facts and Opinions, Descriptive of Early Prints and Playing Cards, the Block-Books of the Fifteenth Century, the Legend of Lourens Janszoon Coster, of Haarlem, and the Work of John Gutenberg and His Associates
De Vinne, Theodore Low
Incunabula -- Bibliography; Printing -- History -- Origin and antecedents
Mydehart Stocker deposed that the late Andrew Dritzehen fell sick on
St. John’s Day, or about Christmas time. When he fell sick, he was
laid upon a bed in the room of this witness. And this witness went to
him and said, “Andrew, how are you?” And he answered, “I believe that
I am on my death-bed. [p385] If I am about to die, I wish that I had
never been connected with the association.” Witness said, “Why so?”
He responded, “Because I know very well that my brothers will never
agree with Gutenberg.” Witness said, “Is not your partnership governed
by a written agreement? Are there not evidences of the nature of your
obligations?” Andrew said, “Yes. Everything has been done properly
by writing.” Witness then asked how the association had been formed.
Dritzehen then told him how Andrew Heilmann, Hans Riffe, Gutenberg
and himself, had formed a partnership, to which Andrew Heilmann and
himself had brought 80 guilders, at least, so far as he recollected.
When the partnership had been made, Andrew Heilmann and himself went
one day to the house of Gutenberg at Saint Arbogastus. When there,
_they discovered that Gutenberg had concealed many secrets which he
had not obligated himself to teach to them_. This did not please them.
Thereupon they dissolved the old partnership, and formed a new one.
[Here follows a repetition, substantially, of the statement made by
Gutenberg, concerning the indebtedness of each partner.]
The insolvency of Andrew Dritzehen is set forth in the testimony of the
priest who attended him before his death.
Herr Peter Eckhart, curate of St. Martin, said [as a priest, he
was not sworn], that the late Andrew Dritzehen sent for him during
Christmas week that he might have his confession. When he came to his
home, he found him ready to confess. He [the priest] asked him if
there was debt due by him to any person, or if any person owed him, or
if he had given or done anything which it was necessary that he should
reveal. Then Andrew Dritzehen told him that he was in partnership
with many persons, with Andrew Heilmann and others, and that he had
incurred an obligation in an enterprise to the amount of 200 or 300
guilders, and that, at that time, he was not worth a stiver.
Gutenberg’s need of money, and Dritzehen’s liability for money lent to
the association, are proved by another witness.
Thomas Steinbach deposed that Hesse, the broker, once came to him,
asking him if he knew where he could place some money, with little
risk of loss. Witness had recommended him to John Gutenberg, Andrew
Dritzehen and Anthony Heilmann, who needed money. Witness took up
for them 14 lutzelbergers, but he really lost 12-1/2 guilders by
the transaction. Fritz von Seckingen was their surety, and his name
was inscribed [as endorser] on the books of the house of commerce
[probably some kind of banking-house].
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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