his shop in Pope's Head Alley, Lombard Street.
For several reasons he is well known to bibliog-
raphers; and his strong personality and tireless en-
ergy might easily have led him into the field of the
theatre. For many years he was a member of the
Fishmongers' Company, to which also, in all prob-
ability, his father had belonged. After a ten years'
apprenticeship with the eminent printer, John Day,
he spent several years abroad "gadding from coun-
try to country," but learning the printing trade
from the best establishments on the Continent. His
longest stay was in Italy, where he was connected
with the printing-office of the Giunti, and also, it
seems, of Gabriel Giolito. In 1576 he printed two
Rappresentazioni, "ad instanzia di Giovanni Vuolfio,
Inglese." About the year 1579 he established him-
self in London (where he was dubbed by his fellows
"Machiavel"), and began an energetic warfare on
the monopolies secured by certain favored printers.
The fact that he was for a time "committed to the
Clink" failed to deter him. We are told that he
"affirmed openly in the Stationers' Hall that it was
lawful for all men to print all lawful books, what
commandment soever Her Majesty gave to the con-
trary." And being "admonished that he, being but
one, so mean a man, should not presume to con-
trary Her Highness' government: 'Tush,' said he,
' Luther was but one man, and reformed all the
world for religion, and I am that one man that must
and will reform the government in this trade.'" The

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