CHAPTER XIII EARLY PRINTING IN IRELAND In heading a chapter "Early Printing in Ireland," one is somewhat reminded of the celebrated chapter on snakes. As a matter of fact, however, there is no real analogy. Ireland was very slow to adopt the printing-press, and made little use of it when she did adopt it, yet it would not be quite accurate to say that there was no early printing in Ireland. But it can truthfully be said that Ireland's early printing was late--late, that is, compared with that of other countries. The first typographical work known to have been produced in Ireland is the Book of Common Prayer--the First Prayer-Book of Edward VI.--which was printed in Dublin in 1551 by Humfrey Powell. Powell was a printer in Holborn Conduit in 1548, and in 1551 went to Dublin and set up as King's Printer. A "Proclamation ... against the rebels of the O'Conors.... Imprynted at Dublyn, by Humfrey Powell, 16th August, 1564," seems to be the only other known specimen of his Dublin printing. The colophon of the first book printed on Irish ground is as follows:-- Imprinted by Humfrey Powell, Printer to the Kynges Maiestie, in his hyghnesse realme of Ireland, dwellyng in the citee of Dublin in the great toure by the Crane. _Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum_ Anno Domini M.D.LI. This Prayer-book is exceedingly rare. The British Museum possesses no copy, but has to content itself with photographs showing the title, colophon, etc., of that in the library of Trinity College, Dublin. Emanuel College, Cambridge, has one which formerly belonged to Archbishop Sancroft. Cotton, in his _Typographical Gazetteer_, says that Powell's Prayer-book is most creditable to the early Irish press. It is in the English language, and printed in black letter. The first book printed in the Gaelic language, though in Roman type, has already been spoken of. The first Gaelic type was exhibited to the world in a tiny volume of fifty-four pages printed at Dublin in 1571, and entitled _Irish Alphabet and Catechism_. This was compiled by John O'Kearney, and contained the elements of the Irish language, the Catechism, some prayers, and Archbishop Parker's articles of the Christian rule. The following is a facsimile of the title-page to which a translation is added:-- Irish Alphabet and Catechism. Precept or instruction of a Christian, together with certain articles of the Christian rule, which are proper for everyone to adopt who would be submissive to the ordinance of God and of the Queen in this Kingdom; translated from Latin and English into Irish by John O'Kearney. Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? Arise, cast us not off for ever. Ps. xliv. ver. 23.