thereby "to get his living truly." He observes, respecting the place where he received the rudiments of his native language, that "it was spoken as broad and rude as in any place in England;" but it is most probable that he finished his education in London, which city he calls "his mother; of whom he had received his nurture and living." A Lewis and Oldys conjecture that he was put apprentice, (between his fifteenth and eighteenth year,) to one Robert Large, a mercer, or merchant of considerable eminence: who was afterwards successively elected high sheriff and lord mayor of London. According to Bagford, Foreign writers, by Caxton, with whatever indifference we may now look upon them, were works of consequence. It is to be remembered, that the literature of the time consisted principally of translations. The French for a century or two before, employed themselves in rendering into their own tongue a number of productions, then held in estimation, chiefly Latin, upon different subjects, religious and civil. These translations, though the originals were in prose, were often done in metre. Even some of the classics were rendered into French. This circumstance, which was comparatively a great improvement in the learning of that nation, had its effects in England. Caxton, therefore, was" mercers in those days were general merchants, very usefully employed in becoming a translator. By himself, or the aid of his friends, a considerable number of pieces were turned into English, and being printed by him, enriched the state of letters in this country with many valuable publications. Virgil, Ovid, Cicero, and many other eminent writers, were circulated in our own language immediately after the introduction of the art of printing. The garb indeed, in which they appear, was very mean when compared with their native dress; but still the introduction of them, even in so imperfect a form, could not fail of being attended with a desirable accession to the knowledge and taste of Englishmen. The following tribute to the memory of Caxton, is from the pen of Ebenezer Elliot, the talented author of Corn Law Rhymes, and other works. TO CAXTON. LORD! taught by thee, when Caxton bade A grave for tyrants then was made- For bread, for bread, his press prepared; The fraud and force of many an age. The power he grasp'd let none disdain, We thank thee, Lord! with many a tear; Of Caxton does thy bidding here.* We help ourselves-thy cause we aid, We build for heaven, beneath the skies; And bless thee, Lord, that thou hast made Our daily bread a tyrant's sighs. William Caxton, (the subject of our enquiry) was born according to his own statement, in the weald, or woody part of Kent. With respect to the date of his birth, we are left to surmise. Oldys states the year 1412. In his works he expresses his gratitude to his parents for having caused him to be instructed in his youth, and trading in all sorts of rich goods." Amongst other commodities, books were included, which the mercers either purchased in manuscripts, or caused to be printed at their expense. Whatever were the traits of his juvenile cha racter, we may conclude that he conducted himself to his master's satisfaction; who, on his death, in 1441, bequeathed our printer a legacy of "twenty marks," which Lewis considers a great sum in those days, and a proof of his good behaviour and integrity. Thus freed, by the death of his master, from all obligation to con tinue in the same line, (although he had become a sworn freeman of the company of mercers,)* either curiosity or speculative projects induced him to quit England for the Low Countries. Lewis informs us, that he travelled as an agent or factor for the company of mercers; Oldys attributes to him both talent and occupation and Palmer, that he was an accomplished mer chant, and had acquired a great deal of politeness It is certain, that he was joined in a commis sion, in 1464, with one Richard Whitehill," to continue and conclude a treaty of trade and commerce between Edward the IV. and Philip duke of Burgundy; in this document they are styled "ambassadors and special deputies. Seven years after, he describes himself as leading rather an idle life; "for having no great charge or occupation, and wishing to eschew sloth aud idleness, which is the mother and nourisher of vices;" moreover "having good leisure, being in Cologne;" he sat about finishing the translation of Raoul le Fevre's Recuyell des Histoires de Troye; he began this two years prior, 1469. We are little acquainted with his pursuit and travels abroad, he informs us, that he com fined himself "for the most part to the countrie of Barbant, Flanders, Holland, and Zealand and in France was never! He appears to hav preserved that respectable character in foreig countries which he had acquired in his own; indulged his literary passions in the perusal histories and romances, to which he was excite by his "venerable" friend Bolomyer. the time of Caxton, were general merchants, trading in kinds of goods, and that they united a love of literatu *It is pretty certain, says Mr. Dibdin, that mercers, and a love of books with their other multifarious concerns Hence, probably, Caxton acquired his passion for book *This Ode was written for the anniversary of the Sheffield and learning-a passion which never seems to have de Typographical Society, January, 1832. serted him. The Low Countries were this at period the great nt of Europe, in which were to be purchased, at all times, and in great abundance, the produce and manufactures of most parts of the world. Treats of commerce between England and them were frequently made and broken; and it requid not only considerable knowledge in comcalafairs, and in the relative commercial and advantages of the two countries, but a sound judgment, and much circumspecand prudence, to make or renew them.Marlants seem to have been generally employed on these occasions; and we may reasonably conjecture that Caxton's character and experias a merchant, and his long residence the Netherlands, pointed him out as a fit person for this embassy. curious as to every thing relative to the invention of printing, though it is much to be regretted that he had not inspected the beautiful specimens of the Roman, Venetian, and Parisian presses, before he caused his fount of letters to be cut, otherwise it is probable that he would have selected the Roman character, amongst the variety of his type. It is conjectured that he consulted Zell and Olpe of the Cologne press, (who had learned the art at Mentz) and Colard Mansion of Bruges, as to the materials necessary for his office. We have no account of Caxton's typographical labours from 1471 to 1474. Is it not probable that a curious and active mind like his, just embarked in a new undertaking, would have a variety of subjects in view for publication? We are not informed of the exact period when he returned to his native country: Oldys is of opinion, that three years might elapse during the period of his procuring materials for his office, prior to his return, at which time he had arrived at the evening of life; for we find him in England, in 1474, which date appears to the Game of Chess. This is considered the first book ever printed in this kingdom: it is dedicated to the duke of Clarence, brother to Edward IV. it has been conjectured that it was printed before his return. On the marriage of lady Margaret to Charles of Burgundy, his majesty placed Caxton her house establishment: the situation he afed is not known: Lewis says that it could not bra men one, because her grace requested him erect his English: Oldys thinks that he was ployed in a literary way. Caxton acknowges that he received an yearly fee, besides Hay other good and great benefits; Mr. Dibdin es that he was a sinecure gentleman of bousehold. It was at the request of this aly that he finished the translation of the History Upon his arrival in England, his press was set Tray; on the completion of which, she did up in a part of Westminster abbey,* at which A fail to reward him largely. He informs us, time Thomas Milling, bishop of Hereford, held the latter part of this performance, that his the abbotship of St. Peter in commendam. were dimmed with over much looking on According to Oldys, his father, William Caxton, der white paper; that his courage was not so resided with him at Westminster during the pe and ready to labour as it had been; and the height of his business; he must have lived Stage was creeping on him daily, and enfeebling to a good old age. From a memorial in St. all body: that he had practised and learnt, at Margaret's church, we learn that he died between neat charge and expense, to ordain this said 1478-80. John Leland, the learned antiquarian, in print, after the manner and form as we who died in London 1552, sixty years after e see it; and that it was not written with Caxton, calls the latter Anglie Prototypographus, and ink as other books be." By this we the first printer of England. Bagford informs derstand, that he had learned the art of print- us that our typographer, exclusive of the labour and that he was advanced in years. We of working at his press, contrived, though "well at that our typographer " paid his obedience to stricken in years," to translate not fewer than Edward IV. (then driven to the duke of Bur-five thousand closely printed folio pages, and ady's court, to seek succour against the earl that "his like for industry," had never yet Warwick,] and received his majesty's appro- appeared. Oldys states, that "he kept preparing for his engagement in this new art.' copy for the press to the very last." There is no doubt but Caxton was particularly *p, duke of Burgundy, died in June, 1467, and was ed by his son, Charles.-Philip, duke of Burgundy, most magnificent prince of his age: his court, the most polished; and his fondness for the expir4 of chivalry, and for literature, equally great tial. In the prologue to a book of the whole an, translated under the protection of King Ed**Canton thus describes the chamber of this prince, attle of Hesdein, in Artois. It ought to be preat Philip had instituted the order of the Knights inden Fleece. "Bat, well wote I, that the noble Pip, first founder of this said order, did do maken ⚫ber in the castle of Hesdein, wherein was craftily ariously depainted, the conquest of the golden fleece, De add Jason; in which chamber I have been, and the said history so depainted; and in remembrance Medea, and of her cunning and science, he had do in the said chamber, by subtil engine, that, when wad, it should seem that it lightened, and after, thun, and rain, and all within the said chamber, as , and when it should please him, which was all for his singular pleasure." Wynkyn de Worde, in the colophon of his edition of the Viata Patrum, in 1495, mentions, that these lives of the fathers were "translated out of French into English by William Caxton * Mr. Dibdin, in his Typographical Antiquities, vol. 1, p. ci. cii. says:-"It is most probable that Caxton, after the manner observed in other monasteries, erected his press near one of the chapels attached to the aisles of the abbey, and his Printing-office might have superseded the use of what was called the Scriptorium of the same. No remains of this once interesting place can now be ascertained; indeed, there is a strong presumption, that it was pulled down in making alterations for the building of Henry VIIth's chapel; for if Henry made no scruple to demolish the chapel of the Virgin (See Pennant's London, p. 78, 3rd edit.) in order to carry into effect his own plans for erecting the magnificent one which goes by his own name, the office of the Printer stood little chance of escaping a similar fate! According to Bagford, Caxton's office was afterwards removed into King-street, but whereabouts, or what sign is not known."" of Westminster, late dead;"and that" he finished it the last day of his life." Oldys is of opinion, that he purposely selected this work for his final literary effort; because, "from the examples of quiet and solemn retirement therein set forth, it might further serve to wean his mind from all worldly attachments, exalt it above the solicitudes of this life, and inure him to that repose and tranquility with which he seems to have designed it." For some time previous to his decease he attended the making up of the churchwardens' accounts, as one of the principal parishioners, and a regular vestryman; his name being subscribed to several of these: it will appear that he died either in 1491 or 1492; quickly following one of his female relatives to the grave.-For further information of Caxton, see 1491. TO CAXTON. From "Laigh Lyrics to Heigh Men." HAIL! mighty Caxton ! friend to great and low Steps in, and points his finger with derision. More than a tithe of this sad world does know. But thou! great printer! never has thy name The glorious objects of life's little span. J. B. B. That Caxton introduced the art of printing into England, and first practised it here, was never doubted till the year 1642: a dispute arose, at this time, between the company of stationers and some persons, respecting a patent for printing; the case was formally argued; and in the course of the pleadings, Caxton was proved, incontestably, to have been the first printer in England. Soon after the Restoration, a book was discovered in the public library at Cambridge, the date of which was Oxford, 1468. The probability is, however, that the date of this book is incorrect, and that it should have been 1478, not 1468; this is inferred from its being printed with separate fusile metal types, very neat and beautiful, from the regularity of the page and the appearance of signatures; and, moreover, from the fact, that no other production issued from the Oxford press till eleven years after 1468, it being highly improbable that a press connected with a university should have continued so long unemployed. But, even granting that the date is accurate, and that the book was printed in 1468, six years before the execution of any work by Caxton, the merit of Caxton, and the obligations of this country to him, are but little lessened by this circumstance. Dr. Conyers Middleton,* in his curious dissertation concerning the Origin of Printing in England, printed in 4to, in 1735, gives the following statement of Caxton and the Oxford book: It was a constant opinion delivered down by our historians, that the art of printing was introduced and first practised in England by William Caxton, a mercer and citizen of London; who, by his travels abroad, and a residence of many years in Holland, Flanders, and Germany, in the affairs of trade, had an opportunity of informing himself of the whole method and process of the art; and by the encouragement of the great, and particularly of the abbot of Westminster, first set up a press in that abbey, and began to print books soon after the year 1471. This was the tradition of our writers; until a book, which had scarce been observed before the restoration, was then taken notice of by the curious, with a date of its impression from Oxford, anno, 1468, and was considered immediately as a clear proof and monument of the exercise of printing in that university, several years before Caxton began to practise it. This book, which is in the public library at Cambridge, is a small volume of forty-one leaves in quarto, with this title: Exposicio Sancti Jeronimi in Simbolum Apostolorum ad Papam Laurentium: and at the end, "Explicit Exposicio, &c. Impressa Oxonie, & finita An. Dom. M.CCCC.LXVIII. XVII. die Decembris." The appearance of this book has robbed Caxton of a glory which he had long possessed, of being the introducer of printing into this kingdom; and Oxford ever since has carried the honour of the first press. The only difficulty was, to account for the silence of history in an event so memorable, and the want of any memo rial in the university itself, concerning the estab lishment of a new art amongst them, of such use and benefit to learning. But this likewise has been cleared up by the discovery of a record which had lain obscure and unknown at Lam beth-house, in the register of the see of Canter the son of a clergyman, and born at Richmond, in York * Conyers Middleton, a celebrated divine and critic, was shire, December 27, 1683. In 1717 he was created D.D. b mandamus, on which occasion he resisted the claime Dr. Bentley, regius professor, to exorbitant fees. Thi occasioned a law-suit, in which Middleton triumphed. I 1724 Dr. Middleton was in Italy, and having a near obser vation of the ecclesiastical pomp and ceremonies, he wrat rites of the Roman church were drawn from the heathens his famous letter from Rome, to shew that the religion In 1731 he was appointed Woodwardian professor, but signed that place in 1734. In 1741 appeared his Life Cicero, in 2 vols. 4to., afterwards reprinted in 3 vols. 8v This is a very curious and valuable work, and highly cessary towards forming a just idea of the character an writings of that great man, as well as exhibiting an exa picture of the Roman republic in his time. In 1743 D Middleton published the Epistles of Cicero to Brutus, an those of Brutus to Cicero, in Latin and English, with Cambridge, July 28, 1750; and in 1752 appeared all hi vindication of their authenticity. Dr. Middleton died a works, with the exception of the Life of Cicero, in 4 var 4to.-Hansard says that Dr. Middleton appears to hav been the first person who wrote upon the Origin Printing in England. bury, and gives a narrative of the whole transac- | there was any printing-press or printer in France, tion, drawn up at the very time. An account of this record was first published in a thin quarto volume, in English, with this title"The Original and Growth of Printing, ted out of History and the Records of this Kingdom: wherein is also demonstrated, that Prating appertaineth to the Prerogative Royal, da Flower of the Crown of England. By Richard Atkyns, Esq. London. 1664." Spain, Italy, or Germany, except the city of Mentz, which claims seniority, as to printing, even of Haerlem itself, calling her city, Urbem Moguntinam Artis Typographica Inventricem Primam, though it is known to be otherwise; that city gaining the art by the brother of one of the workmen of Haerlem, who had learnt it at home of his brother, and after set up for himself at Mentz. This press at Oxon was at least ten It sets forth, in short, that, "as soon as the years before there was any printing in Europe, art of printing made some noise in Europe, except at Haerlem and Mentz, where it was but Thomas Bourchier, archbishop of Canterbury, newly-discovered. This press at Oxford was mored King Henry VI. to use all possible afterwards found inconvenient to be the sole means to procure it to be brought into England: printing-place of England; as being too far the king approving the proposal, dispatched one from London and the sea. Wherefore the king Mr. Robert Turnour, an officer of the robes, into set up a press at St. Alban's, and another in the Flanders, furnished with money for the purpose; city of Westminster, where they printed several who took to his assistance William Caxton, a books of divinity and physic; for the king (for man of abilities, and knowledge of the country; reasons best known to himself and council) perand these two found means to bribe and entice mitted then no law-books to be printed; nor did over to England, one Frederick Corseillis, an any printer exercise this art, but only such as ander-workman in the printing-house at Haer- were the king's sworn servants; the king himself le, where John Gutenberg had lately invent- having the price and emolument for printing ed the art, and was then personally at work. It books. By this means, the art grew so famous, was resolved, that less than 1000 merks would that anno primo Rich. III. c. 9. when an act of not produce the desired effect; towards which parliament was made for restraint of aliens for am, the said archbishop presented the king 300 using any handicrafts here (except as servants erks. The money being now prepared, the to natives), a special proviso was inserted, that management of the design was committed to strangers might bring in printed or written books Mr. Robert Turnour, who was then master of to sell at their pleasure, and exercise the art of the robes to the king, and a person most in fav- printing here, notwithstanding that act: so that, our with him of any of his condition. Mr. Tur- in that space of 40 or 50 years, by the indulgence took to his assistance Mr. Caxton, a citizen of Edward IV. Edward V. Richard III. Henry of good abilities, who traded much into Hol- VII. and Henry VIII. the English proved so land; which was a creditable pretence, as well good proficients in printing, and grew so numerfor his going, as to stay in the Low Countries. ous, as to furnish the kingdom with books; and M. Turnour was in disguise (his beard and so skilful, as to print them as well as any beyond hair shaven quite off;) but Mr. Caxton appeared the seas; as appears by the act 25 Hen. VIII. known and public. They, having received the c. 15, which abrogates the said proviso for that said sum of 1000 merks, went first to Amster- reason. And it was further enacted in the said dam, then to Leyden, not daring to enter Haer- statute, that if any person bought foreign books en itself; for the town was very jealous, hav-bound, he should pay 6s. 8d. per book. And it ng imprisoned and apprehended divers persons ho came from other parts for the same purpose. They staid till they had spent the whole 1000 rks in gifts and expenses; so as the king as fain to send 500 merks more, Mr. Turnour haring written to the king that he had almost de his work; a bargain (as he said) being truck betwixt him and two Hollanders, for ging off one of the under-workmen, whose as Frederick Corsells (or rather Corselho late one night stole from his fellows in se into a vessel prepared before for that ; and so, the wind favouring the design, ught him safe to London. It was not thought adent to set him on work at London: but, by the archbishop's means (who had been viceellor and afterwards chancellor of the univity of Oxon), Corsellis was carried with a ard to Oxon; which guard constantly watched to prevent Corsellis from any possible escape, all he had made good his promise in teaching them how to print. So that at Oxford printing as árst set up in England, which was before was further provided and enacted, that in case the said printers or sellers of books were unreasonable in their prices, they should be moderated by the lord chancellor, lord treasurer, the two lords chief justices, or any two of them: who also had power to fine them 3s. 4d. for every book whose price should be enhanced. But when they were by charter incorporated with bookbinders, booksellers, and founders of letters, 3 and 4 Philip and Mary, and called, The Company of Stationers-they resisted the power that gave them life, &c.—Queen Elizabeth, the first year of her reign, granted by patent, the privilege of sole printing all books that touch or concern the common laws of England, to Tottel, a servant to her majesty, who kept it entire to his death; after him to one Yestweirt, another servant to her majesty; after him to Weight and Norton; and after them, King James granted the same privilege to More, one of the signet; which grant continues to this day, &c. From the authority of this record, all our later writers declare Corsellis to be the first printer in U the right of the king's prerogative; and that Sir John Birkenhead took care to inspect the original, then in the custody of archbishop Sheldon; and, finding it not sufficient to prove what Atkyns had cited for, made no report of the manuscript to the house; but only moved, that the former law should be renewed. The manuscript was probably never returned to the proper England; as likewise Mr. Anthony Wood, the It is probable then, that, after Mr. Atkyns had learned Mr. Mattaire, Palmer, and one John published his book in April 1664, the parliament Bagford, an industrious man, who had pub-thought proper, the next year, to enquire into lished proposals for an History of Printing (Phil. Trans. for April, 1707). But Dr. Middleton has called in question the authenticity of this account, and has urged several objections to it, with the view of supporting Caxton's title to the precedency with respect to the introduction of the art into this country. Atkins, who, by his manner of writing, seems to have been a bold and vain man, might possibly be the inven-keeper of it; but was afterwards burnt in the tor: for he had an interest in imposing it upon the world, in order to confirm the argument of his book, that "Printing was of the prerogative royal;" in opposition to the Company of Stationers, with whom he was engaged in an expensive suit of law, in defence of the king's patents, under which he claimed some exclusive powers of printing. For he tells us, p. 3, "That, upon considering the thing, he could not but think that a public person, more eminent than a mercer, and a public purse, must needs be concerned in so public a good: and the more he considered, the more inquisitive he was to find out the truth. So that he had formed his hypothesis before he had found his record; which he published, he says, as a friend to truth; not to suffer one man to be entitled to the worthy achievements of another; and as a friend to himself, not to lose one of his best arguments of entitling the king to this art." But, if Atkyns was not himself the contriver, he was imposed upon at least by some more crafty; who imagined that his interest in the cause, and the warmth that he had shewed in prosecuting it, would induce him to swallow for genuine whatever was offered of the kind. fire of London, September 13, 1666. That printing was practised at Oxford, was a prevailing opinion long before Atkyns. Bryan Twyne, in his Apologia pro Antiquitate Academiæ Oxoniensis, published 1608, tells us, it is so delivered down in antient writings; having heard, probably, of this Lambeth manuscript. And Charles I., in his letters patent to the university of Oxford, March 5, in the eleventh of his reign, 1635, mentions printing as brought to Oxford from abroad. As to what is objected, "that it is not likely that the press should undergo a ten or eleven years sleep, viz. from 1468 to 1479," it is probably urged without a foundation. Cor. sellis might print several books without date or name of the place, as Ulric Zell did at Cologne, from 1467 to 1473, and from that time to 1494. Corsellis's name, it may be said, appears not in any of his publications; but neither does that of Joannes Petershemis. See Meerman, vol. I. * The rebellion of Jack Cade took place on the 1st of June, 1450, who assumed the name of Mortimer. This followers of the very lowest description. On the 24th of insurgent encamped on Blackheath, at the head of 20,000 this month was fought the battle of Seven Oaks, when Cade turning on his pursuers, put them to flight, killed Sir Humphrey Stafford their commander, and arrayed himself Further, Shakspeare, who was born in 1564, and died 1616, in the Second Part of Henry VI. act iv. sc. 7, introduces the rebel John Cade,* thus upbraiding lord treasurer Say: "Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm, in creating a grammar-school: and It may be asked, by way of reply, is it likely whereas, before, our forefathers had no other that Atkyns would dare to forge a record, to be book but the score and the tally, thou hast laid before the king and council, and which his caused printing to be used; and, contrary to the adversaries, with whom he was at law, could dis-king, his crown, and dignity, thou hast built a approve? He says, he received this history from a person of honour, who was some time keeper of the Lambeth library. It was easy to have confuted this evidence, if it was false, when he published it, April 25, 1664. John Bagford (who was born in England, 1651, and might know Mr. Atkyns, who died in 1677), in his History of Printing at Oxford, blames those who doubted of the authenticity of the Lambeth MS.; and tells us that he knew Sir John Birkenhead had an authentic copy of it, when in 1665 [which Bagford by some mistake calls 1664, and is followed in it by Meerman] he was appointed by the house of commons to draw up a bill relating to the exercise of that art. This is confirmed by the journals of that house, Friday, October 27, 1665, Vol. VIII, p. 622, where it is ordered that this Sir John Birkenhead should carry the bill on that head to the house of lords, for their consent. The act was agreed to in the upper house on Tuesday, October 31, and received the royal assent on the same day: immediately after which, the parliament was prorogued. Journal of the House of Lords, Vol. XI. P. 700. See in the knight's panoply and spurs. On the 1st of July, he took possession of Southwark, and two days later, entered London, cutting with his sword the ropes of the draw bridge as he passed. On the 4th he commanded lord Say and Sele to be beheaded, which sentence was immediately infuriated mob, was William Ascough, bishop of Salisbury, carried into effect in Cheapside.* Another victim of this to which he had been consecrated in 1438. He was inhumanly murdered on the altar in his cathedral, by Cade and his followers. Bishop Ascough was descended from an ancient family in Lincolnshire. On the 11th of July, Cade was slain near Lewes, in Sussex. LORD SAY'S APOLOGY. Justice, with favour, have I always done. Prayers and tears have moved me, gifts could never: -Henry VI. p. 2, act 5. |