Towards an understanding of patterns of movement of people in relation to the translation of devotional literature in early modern Europe. Seventeenth-century German and Dutch translators of English devotional literature

This article expands on the generally accepted hypothesis in culturalhistory, that numerous migrants, exiles, or expatriates were amongthe most prolific translators in early modern Europe. It examinesDutch and German translators of English devotional literature in theseventeenth century in terms of the following framework: the extentto which these individuals were involved in migration, and the natureof the relationship between border crossings and translation. I willcompare several highly mobile translators from the Hartlib circle, withthe three most prolific Dutch and German translators of devotionalliterature during this period. My findings suggest that it was notmigration but mobility that stimulated the collection and translation ofdevotional literature. Mobility, however, was not the only determinant.