1638 in literature

This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1638. Events January 3 – Joost van den Vondel's historical play Gijsbrecht van Aemstel is first performed, to mark the opening of the Schouwburg of Van Campen, Amsterdam's first public theatre (postponed from 26 December 1637). It is then performed annually in the city on New Year's Day until 1968. February 6 – Luminalia, a masque written by Sir William Davenant and designed by Inigo Jones, is staged at the English Court. March 27 – The King's Men perform Chapman's tragedy Bussy D'Ambois at the English Court. May – English poet John Milton sets out for a tour of the European continent. He spends the summer in Florence where he later claims to have met the incarcerated Galileo. October 27 – The King's Men act Ben Jonson's satirical city comedy Volpone (1606) at the Blackfriars Theatre in London. unknown dates An Armenian language edition of the Psalms printed in New Julfa (Isfahan) is the first book printed in Persia. The Peking Gazette, official newspaper of the Ming Government in Beijing, makes a switch in its production process from woodblock printing to wooden movable type printing. Swiss-born engraver Matthäus Merian produces his illustrated view of London. New books Prose Maximilien de Béthune, duc de Sully – Mémoires ou Sages et Royales Oeconomies d'estat Méric Casaubon – A Treatise of Use and Custom Johann Amos Comenius – Janua Linguarum Reserata, or a Seed-Plot of All Languages and Sciences Sir Kenelm Digby – A Conference With a Lady About a Choice of Religion Robert Fludd – Philosophia Moysaica Juan Rodriguez Freyle – El Carnero Francis Godwin, Bishop of Hereford (died 1633; as Domingo Gonsales) – The Man in the Moone, or the Discovrse of a Voyage thither, an early example of science fiction John Lilburne – A Work of the Beast Philip Massinger – The Duke of Milan (second quarto) John Pell – An Idea of Mathematicks Francisco de Quevedo – De los remedios de cualquier fortuna Captain John Underhill – News from America, or a New and Experimental Discovery of New England John Wilkins – The Discovery of a World in the Moon