The tasks of the translators: social networks and the publication of continental European writings during the English Revolution, 1641–1660

In the vastly increased output of print in England between 1641 and 1660, we find a significant number of translations of continental European texts. This heterogeneous corpus of material consisted of writings by more than 315 non-native authors, including texts by or attributed to Greeks, Romans and Church Fathers, as well as alchemists, anti-Trinitarians, astrologers, astronomers, cardinals, geographers, grammarians, heralds, herbalists, heresiographers, historians, lawyers, librarians, linguists, magicians, millenarians, monarchs, mystics, novelists, occultists, philosophers, physicians, physiognomists, poets, politicians, popes, prophets, satirists, soldiers, theologians and travellers. Added to this were untranslated works that appeared predominantly in the original Latin, but also in other languages. This chapter focuses on the importance of social networks in facilitating the publication of these works – notably the writings of the Lutheran mystic Jacob Boehme. In the case of these texts, there was no haphazard scramble to profit from the collapse of pre-publication censorship. Rather there was an orchestrated campaign to usher in a universal reformation using all the available media of the day. Among the key players in this enterprise were members of Samuel Hartlib’s circle, their international correspondents and people connected to them. But there were also lesser-known figures deserving attention.