ABSTRACT
The Free City of Frankfurt-on-the-Main was one of the most important places in Germany. The Golden Bull of 1356 constituted it the seat of Imperial Election. It was a renowned centre of trade, and twice a year, at Eastertide and at Michaelmas, merchants from every country were to be found at its famous fair. It stood first in the bookselling and printing trade of Germany. A member of the Protestant party, its city-fathers found it commercially advantageous to tolerate Roman Catholics and all the factions of the revolt against Rome, even the Socinian faction. An evil reputation indeed must have preceded Bruno, for we find it recorded in the Book of the Burgomaster, July 2nd, 1590, 1 that when he begged permission to dwell in the house of Wechel, the printer, it was “Resolved that his petition be refused and that he be told to take his penny elsewhere.”
