(Scribes, Illuminators, Bookbinders, Stationers and Booksellers, Parchment-makers, Printers.)
Not later than 1180:—
Peter, illuminator (Deed of Elias Bradfoth, in Oxf. Univ. Archives).
Ralph, illuminator (do.).
William, illuminator (do.).
Thomas, scribe (“scriptor”) (do.).
Reginald, parchment-maker (do.).
Roger, parchment-maker (do.).
c. 1190–1200. John, “illuminator”, in St. Mary’s[[16]] parish (Magd.).
c. 1190–1200. Roger, “pergamenarius”, in St. Mary’s parish (Magd.).
1190–1215. Peter, illuminator, in St. Mary’s parish (Magd.).
c. 1210–20 (?) Augustine, bookbinder, in St. Peter’s-in-the-East parish (Magd.).
1212, Nov. A, scribe (“Explicit opus manuum mearum, quod compleui ego frater A subdiaconus sancte Frideswide seruientium minimus, anno ... Mo CCo ... xiio ... anno conuersionis mee vijo ...”: Paris, Bibl. Nat. MS. fonds Français 24766).
In the first half of the 13th cent. occurs as a witness Reginald, bookbinder, in an old deed in the Oxford Univ. archives between Will. Burgey, and Nicholas “serviens Universitatis”, in one of the mayoralties of Petrus filius Toraldi. (Twyne I, p. 52.)
c. 1232–40. John, illuminator, St. Peter’s (Magd.).
c. 1232–40. Walter, bookbinder, St. Peter’s (Magd.).
1237–8. Walter de Ensham, illuminator, St. Mary’s (Magd.).
1240–57. Roger, scribe, (“exemplarius”, alias “Saumplarier”,) apparently dead in 1276: St. Peter’s (Magd.).
c. 1240–90. Simon Scoticus, parchment-maker (“parcamenarius”) in Cattestrete, St. Peter’s (Magd.).
1242. Robert de Derbi, illuminator, in Cattestrete, St. Peter’s (Magd.).
About the middle of the 13th cent. the following names occur in Twyne’s transcript of a St. Frideswide record—a deed between Petrus filius Toraldi and Adam filius Hugonis Ruffi about land in the parish of St. Mary the Virgin:—Robert, illuminator; Simon, parchment-maker; and as witnesses, Thomas, scribe; Peter, parchment-maker (Twyne XXIII, p, 69).
1251–2. Stephen, parchment-maker (“percamenarius”), in Cattestrete, St. Peter’s (Magd.).
1252–3. William, scribe (“le Samplarier”), St. Peter’s (Magd.).
1252–90. Stephen, bookbinder, St. Peter’s (Magd.).
1264–84. William de Pikerynge, bookbinder, (“laminator”), died before 1308: found both in St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s deeds: probably the same as William the bookbinder of Oxford, the motto on whose seal in 1275 was “Vivite innocue; lumen adest” (Magd.).
1266. Hugh, illuminator, St. Mary’s (Magd.).
1266–78. Symon and Yon, bookbinders, St. Peter’s (Magd.).
1267. Reginald, illuminator, St. Peter’s (Magd.).
1268–90. Martin, scribe (“Exemplarius” alias “le Saumplarier”): dead in 1298: St. Peter’s (Magd.).
1290. In this year it is agreed between the University and City that “Pergamenarii, Luminatores, Scriptores” were in the jurisdiction of the Chancellor of the University (Munimenta Academica, ed. Anstey, p. 52).
Before 1304. Geoffrey, illuminator (“alluminator”), St. Mary’s (Magd.).
1308. Robert, notary and stationer in Cattestrete: St. Mary’s (Magd.).
In the first quarter of the 14th cent. William of Nottingham wrote MSS. Merton Coll. 158, 166, 168, 169, 170 at Oxford (Coxe: see Little’s Grey Friars in Oxford, 1892, pp. 165–6).
1340/1, Feb. Adam, bookbinder, occurs incidentally as holding a tenement in Schidyerd way (now Oriel St.), in the Bodleian Oxford charter no. 125* (Turner’s Catal., p. 307). This tenement he left to the altar of St. Thomas the Martyr in St. Mary the Virgin’s church in 1349 (Wood’s City, ed. A. Clark, ii. 22, from a copy of the will).
1341. Symon Faunt and John Faunt, bookbinders, St. Mary’s (Magd.).
1342. In this year a MS. of William of Ockham’s Summa Logices now at Bâle (F. ii. 25 according to A. G. Little’s Grey Friars in Oxford, p. 226: see Sir Tho. Phillipps’s Catalogue of MSS. at Bâle, p. 7) was written at Oxford.
1344. John Joye, illuminator (“lumnour”), of Cattestrete: St. Peter’s (Magd.).
1345. In this year the Chancellor of the University was acknowledged to have jurisdiction over “quattuor stationarios ad hujusmodi officium per ... Universitatem admissos et pro tempore admittendos ac Universitati juratos vel jurandos, necnon in omnes et singulos scriptores scholaribus in scriptorum officio servientes” (Munimenta Academica, ed. Anstey, p. 150, cf. 176; Wood’s Annals, ed. Gutch, i. 441).
1349. In I. B. De Rossi’s Codices Palatini Latini bibliothecae Vaticanae descripti (1886) in MS. no. 377 “adnotatur emptio codicis ‘pro duobus Florenis cum dimidio Anno domini Mo.CCCo.XLo nono in ciuitate oxoniensi.’”
XIVth cent. Roger, stationer (Oxf. Univ. Archives, box F, no 24).
XIVth cent. Adam de Walton, parchment maker (ibid., box F. no. 26).
XIVth cent. William, bookbinder (ibid., box F, no. 28).
c. 1350. MS. New College 134 was written at Oxford in about A.D. 1350 (Coxe).
In the 14th cent. in an undated deed in the Oxf. Univ. Archives between John Pilat and Walter “filius Paulini de Eynsham” about land in St. Mary’s parish, the following occur as witnesses:—Ralph, Robert, James, illuminators; Walter, Augustine, Adam, bookbinders (“liurs”); Simon, parchment-maker (Twyne XXIII, p. 103; cf. Bodl. MS. Wood D. 2, p. 489).
1353. Thomas Hamme, bookseller (“Vetus quoddam inventarium de bonis Thomæ Hamme bibliopolæ et stationarii ut videtur anno domini 1353,”) once in the Oxf. Univ. Archives, box K, no. 2; but this most interesting document is noted by Gerard Langbaine as having been stolen during the Civil War (MS. Twyne I, 278).
1358/9. Richard Lynne, stationer (“stacionarius Universitatis Oxun.”) (Coxe): Richard the stationer occurs in Lent 1358 (Boase’s Registrum Oxoniense, 1st ed., p. xi).
1364. MS. New College 173 was written at Oxford in this year (Coxe).
1370. Robert, bookbinder, St. Mary’s (Magd.): Robert Bokebinder and Agnes his wife occur in 1377 (?) and 1380 (Oxf. City Doc., pp. 41, 47).
1373/4, Jan. 27. At this date “Quia, propter excessivam multitudinem vendentium libros Oxoniæ Universitati minime juratorum, plerique codices magni valoris ad partes exteras deferuntur” the University decreed that no booksellers except the sworn stationers or their deputies should sell any book exceeding half a mark in value. (Anstey’s Munimenta Academica, p. 233: see Appendix D. I, below, p. [281]).
1377? John, parchment-maker (“Parchemenor”), Holywell (Oxf. City Doc., p. 52).
1377? Richard, parchment-maker (“Parchemenor”), Holywell (Oxf. City Doc., p. 52).
1377? Roger Somervyle, stationer, St. Peter’s (Oxf. City Doc., p. 52).
1380. MS. Corpus Christi College (Oxford) 151 was written at Oxford in this year (Coxe).
1380. Roger, illuminator (“lymenour”), St. Mary’s (Oxf. City Doc., p. 41).
1380. John Madesdon, illuminator (“limenour”), St. Mary’s (Oxf. City Doc., p. 41).
1380. William, illuminator (“Lymenour”), St. Mary’s (Oxf. City Doc., p. 41).
1380. John Hyrys, parchment-maker (“Parchemener”) (Oxf. City Doc., p. 41).
1380. Richard, parchment-maker (“Parchemener”) (Oxf. City Doc., p. 43).
1380. Edward, parchment-maker (“Parchemener”) (Oxf. City Doc., p. 44).
1380. John Langeport, once stationer (“quondam stationarius”), north-east ward (Oxf. City Doc., p. 22).
1393. In Florence MS. Laurentian, bibl. S. Crucis, plut. xvii Sin., cod. x. “Explicit compilatio quaedam ... scripta per me F[ratrem] I[acobum] Fey de Florentia Ordinis Fratrum Minorum in Conventu Oxoniae anno Domini MCCCXCiii, die ... [xi Martii]” (Bandini’s Catalogue, A. G. Little’s Grey Friars in Oxford, p. 252).
1393. John Brother, illuminator (“limnator”), St. Mary’s (Magd.).
1403. John Brown, stationer, sold MS. Merton College 130 in this year, (Coxe), cf. MS. New College 104: see A.D. 1440.
1410. In the record of a tax levied on the University in this year occur the names of William and Roger, illuminators; Richard, senior and junior, parchment-makers; and Thomas and Robert, scribes (Twyne IV, p. 70).
1411. The University enacts that as the duties of the University stationers are laborious and anxious every one on graduation shall give clothes to one of the stationers (Munimenta Academica, ed. Anstey, p. 253).
1419. See under 1490.
1423. “Finit Menon Platonis [Latine] scriptus per Fredericum Naghel de Trajecto anno Domini MCCCC.XXiij ... in alma Universitate Oxoniensi” (MS. Corpus Christi College, Oxford, no. 243: Coxe).
1424. “Guilermus Secomps venditor librorum” may possibly be an Oxford bookseller in this year (see Coxe’s account of MS. Lincoln College Latin 14).
1424/5 John Dolle, bookbinder: see under 1453.
First half of 15th cent. In Bodl. MS. e Mus. 155, p. 507 (written perhaps in the first half of the 15th cent.) “Explicit liber 3us de consideracione 4te essencie secundum Rogerum Bacon correctus et scriptus per Johannem Cokkes manibus suis propriis Oxon.”
1426. John Wake, illuminator (“lymner”), St. Mary’s (Magd.): he appears as a surety in 1434 (Univ. Register Aaa, fol. 1).
1427. “Explicit conflatus Francisci de Maronis finitus per manus Nicolai de Bodelswerdia anno Domini 1427 ... tum temporis Oxoniæ studentis” (MS. Merton College 133: Coxe). A similar inscription dated 1429 is in MS. Oriel College 70 (Coxe). Kirchhoff mentions Nicolas de Frisia alias de Bolswerdia as a bookseller in 1427–31.
1430. “Explicit conflatus Francisci de Mayronis ... finitus et completus anno Domini 1430 ... per manus Johannis Jacobi Spaen de Amsterdamis, tunc temporis Oxonie studentis” (MS. Magd. Coll., Oxf., 103: Coxe).
1434. John Clerk (Clericus) occurs as a stationer in this year and 1438 (Univ. Register Aaa, foll. 4*, 11).
c. 1436. “Stephanus ligator librorum de Oxonia” occurs at about this date in Cambr. Univ. MS. Dd. xiv. 2, fol. 139 (information from T. W. Jackson, M.A.).
1439. John Godsond occurs as a stationer (Oxf. Univ. Archives, Aaa, fol. 15v): he has a dispute in the same year with John Coneley a “lymner,” his assistant (Anstey’s Munimenta Academica, pp. 550–1): in 1458 he is paid for chaining some Exeter College books (Boase’s Reg. Exon., 1st ed., p. 21).
1440. John Brown, stationer, in this year (cited by Heyner) may be the same as the one noted under 1403.
1440. John More, stationer, occurs frequently: in 1440 he or a person of his name sells MS. Lincoln College, Latin 109, probably in Oxford (Coxe): on 7 Nov. 1444 he is mentioned in Anstey’s Munimenta Academica, p. 741: in Apr. 1445 he values books in Oxford (ibid., p. 544): also in 1447–48 (ibid., pp. 565, 579, cf. 741) mentioned in the Treasurer’s accounts at Oriel, 1451–65: on 12 Apr. 1454 or ‘55 he sold MS. Magd. Coll. (Oxf.) 4 in Oxford (Coxe): in 1457 he values Exeter College books (Boase’s Reg. Exon., 1st ed., p. lxviii): on 21 Oct. 1457 he sold MS. Magd. Coll. (Oxf.) 134 in Oxford (“Mare,” in Coxe). A John More was living in 1460–61 and 1468–9 on the east side of Cat Street, probably in Lady Hall = Great St. Mary’s Entry, according to the St. Mary the Virgin church accounts preserved in the Bodleian (Oxford Rolls 13 &c.). He was also a binder (Oriel accounts).
1445. John Coneley, illuminator: see 1439: he is bound to work for Godsond for one year from 8 Nov. 1445 for 4 marks and 10 shillings.
1446. “Thomas Bokebynder de Catys-street” was imprisoned by the Chancellor for saying that the mayor and townsfolk were not under oath to respect the rights of the University (Anstey, Munimenta Academica, p. 556).
1448. William Bedewyne, illuminator (“lymnour”), “late of Oxford,” St. Peter’s (Magd.).
XVth cent. Willelmus Sengleton wrote MS. New College 127 (Coxe): he may be the Will. Singleton who was admitted B.A. in 1566/7 (Register of the Univ., vol. i., ed. Boase, p. 265).
XVth cent. “Expliciunt Questiones ... scripte per Johannem de Almania sive de Kasterle, in usum ... Thome Grace, illic [sc. at Oxford] in artibus graduati,” in MS. Magd. Coll. (Oxf.) 162 (Coxe).
1450–64. In these years Willelmus Salomon “Leonensis diocesis” wrote the works of Hugo de Sancto Caro or Hugo Viennensis in Oxford for Roger Keys, who in 1469
70 presented them to Exeter College, where they are now MSS. 51–68 (Coxe).
1452. “Johannes Bokebyndere Oxoniæ” occurs in the will of dr. Richard Browne (Anstey’s Munimenta Academica, p. 648).
1453. John Delle or Dolle, stationer, mentioned (Register of the Univ., vol. i., ed. Boase, p. 20, “Delle”): and in 1454 (Anstey’s Munimenta Academica, p. 741, “Dolle”). In 1454 his name occurs in Bodleian Oxford Charters 491 (Turner’s Catal., p. 351). He may be the same as John Dolle, bookbinder, who lived in Cat Street in 1424
5 (Boase’s Reg. Exon., 1894, p. 295).
1453. John Reynbold, a German, agreed at Oxford to write out three books of Duns Scotus on the Sentences (Bodl. MS. Ballard 46, fol. 70). He wrote several MSS. now at Balliol and Merton between 1451 and 1464.
1459. June 17. Will. Bokebynder occurs as a witness in Oxford, when MS. Merton Coll. 135 was given to the College (Coxe). In the same year he is mentioned in Oxford Univ. Archives, box F, no. 28.
1467. British Museum MS. Royal 6 D II once bore the following interesting inscription, before it was re-bound, “Iste liber ligatus erat Oxonii, in Catstrete, ad instantiam Reverendi Domini Thome Wybarun in sacra Theologia Bacalarii Monachi Roffensis, Anno Domini 1467” (see Casley’s Catalogue of the Manuscripts of the Kings Library (1734), Dibdin’s Bibliographical Decameron (1817), ii. 449: the volume contains the Letters of St. Jerome, and had been given to Rochester by Benedict, bp. of Rochester, d. 1226).
“1468”–1486
7. Oxford printing, see Appendix A.
1473. Thomas Hunt, “universitatis Oxonie stacionarius,” sold Brit. Mus. MS. Burney 11 (a Latin Bible) in this year (see the Catalogue, printed in 1840). In 1477 and 1479 he was living in Haberdasher hall in the parish of St. Mary the Virgin (Bodl. MS. Wood F. 15, a collection of Oseney rentals: Wood’s “Thomas Howle, stacioniar,” of Haberdasher hall in 1477 in Bodl. MS. Wood D. 2, p. 587, from the above MS., is a mis-reading by Wood for Honte, i. e. Hunte). In 1483 he appears as agreeing to sell certain books in Oxford at fixed prices (the list, which is on a paper now forming a fly-leaf of a French translation of Livy (Paris, 1486) now in the Bodleian, is printed in the publications of the Oxf. Hist. Soc. vol. v. (Collectanea, I), pp. 74, 141–3). In all probability he is the same Thomas Hunt who in 1485 printed the Phalaridis Epistolae at Oxford in conjunction with Theodoric Rood (see pp. [4], [238]).
1481–85. Theodoric Rood, printed at Oxford (see pp. [2], [4], [238]).
1482. F. H., — Hawkins, J. Alexander (Alison) occur as parchment-sellers: see p. [256].
1490. William Vavasour, scribe. MS. Corpus Christi Coll. (Oxf.) 228 was written “per manum fratris Wyllelmi Vavysur,” “Oxonie anno 1490” (the date and word “Oxonie” might possibly refer to the time and place of the “determinationes physicæ”: but) MS. Corpus 227 was “scriptus per me fratrem Wyllelmum, studentem Oxonie anno ... 1419 [1491]” and “per manum fratris Wyllelmi Vavysur ejusdem ordinis [sc. fratrum Minorum] ... 1491.”
1501. Sebastian Actors, bookseller of St. Mary the Virgin’s parish. Record of a grant of administration after his decease, 23 April 1501 (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
1501. Christopher Coke, stationer. A similar record with inventory, 13 Dec. 1501 (ibid.).
1502/3. William Lesquier, bookseller. A similar record, 1 Feb. 1502
3 (ibid.).
1506. Georgius Castellanus, bookseller (?): see p. [11].
1514. Henricus Jacobi. On Dec. 11, 1514 administration of the effects of Henricus Jacobi, deceased, was granted (Oxf. Univ. Archives). Two imperfect leaves of an edition of the Formalitates de mente magistri Johannis Duns Scoti by Antonius Syrretus were found in New College Library at Oxford by R. G. C. Proctor, Esq., the first of which bears the words “Venundantur in vniuersitate Oxoniensi sub intersignio sanctissime Trinitatis ab Henrico Jacobi bibliopole Londoniensis.” See p. [228].
1518. John Scolar and (1519
20) Carolus Kyrfoth, printers, see pp. [5]–7, [263].
1521. John Dorne, bookseller. His day-ledger, showing what books he sold and at what prices, from 19 Jan.-23 Dec. 1520, is MS. Corpus Christi College, Oxford, no. 131; this and two leaves of a similar day-book of about 1518–19, found in a binding in the same College library, are printed in the Oxford Historical Society’s Collectanea volume, no. 1 (pp. 78–139) and 2 (pp. 457–62), where also it is shown that Dorne, who was certainly “a Dutchman,” and as such paid with others an alien tax at Oxford in 1524 (see Rogers’s Oxford City Documents, Oxf. Hist. Soc. xviii, 1891, p. 56, as Johan Thorn), may be the Johannes Dorn who printed at Brunswick in 1507–9. An Opus Insolubilium printed by Treveris was to be sold “apud I. T.”, which Mr. E. G. Duff thinks is probably I. Thorne.
1524. William Howberghe (Howbert or Hubbert), Douchman (Dutchman: he resigned his office as Stationer 11 Oct. 1532, see Boase’s Reg. Oxon., p. 171). Gerard Pylegreme, Douchman (his will is extant at Oxford, dated 7 Feb. “1537”: Oxf. Univ. Archives). Balthasar Churchyard, Douchman. Harry Renkens, Douchman. All these pay taxes as Dorne above, in 1524, in the capacity of Stationers or Booksellers. Richard Alcoke, bell-ringer, Margarete Page, Rose Cater, Henry Mancipull, and “Sir Person” are possible additions to this list.
About 1525. Gressop, bookbinder. In Bodl. MS. Rawl. G. 47 (N. C. 14778) there is a note that the volume, which had been presented to All Souls Library by bp. Goldwell, was “resarcitus per Gressopum”: the date must be about 1525.
1531, Oct. A commission from the bp. of Lincoln to search the booksellers’ stalls at St. Frideswide’s fair for heretical books (Brit. Mus. MS. Lansdowne 938).
1532. David Pratt, B.A., of Cambridge, is stationer from 10 March 1535/6 to Oct. 1536 (Boase’s Reg. Oxon., p. 171).
1534. A patent is issued to Cambridge (where printing had been exercised from 1521 to 1522) allowing the University to have three licensed stationers and printers or sellers of books, and authority to print books is granted to the Chancellor and three Doctors. No similar patent was issued to Oxford.
1552. Henry Mylward, stationer (Boase’s Reg. Oxon., p. xx). He retired on 11 Apr. 1597 from old age (Clark’s Register, i. 262, where it is suggested that his name appears as Miller in 1578
9, living in St. Mary’s Parish). In 1583 (July 12) Beef Hall was leased to him (Oxf. Univ. Archives, box O, no. 10. cf. A. no. 14).
1554, Nov. 14. Herman Evans admitted stationer, but pronounced “contumax” in Oct. 1563 (Clark’s Register, i. 261).
1556, Aug. 11. Nicholas Wayte, admitted bookseller (Clark, i. 321).
—— —— —— Richard Walles, do. (Clark, ibid.).
—— Aug. 12. James à Wood, adm. parchment-seller (Clark, i. 322).
1564, Sept. 30. Thomas Wadloffe, adm. parchment-seller (Clark, ibid.).
1566, June 20. “Garbrande Harkes,” bookseller, licensed to sell wine (Clark, i. 323).
1566/7, Jan. 27. Conrad Myller, adm. bookseller (Clark, i. 321): licensed to sell ale in St. Mary’s parish, 16 Sept. 1572: living in 1587/8 (Clark, i. 325).
1567, Apr. 3. Gilbert Burnet, alias Cornyshe, adm. parchment-seller (Clark, i. 326).
1570, June 28. Nicholas Clyfton, adm. bookseller (Clark, i. 321).
—— Oct. 6. Christopher Cavye, do. (ibid.): in 1574 the Chancellor recommended that he should have a monopoly of second-hand books, since he was in difficulties (ibid.).
1570/1, Mar. 21. William Spyre, of St. Mary’s parish, adm. bookseller on the Chancellor’s recommendation. Still bookseller in 1590 (ibid.), and stationer in 1617 and 1619 (Clark, i. 321, 343). Probably the same as Will “Spewe” of the Company of Stationers (C. R. Rivington, Stationers Company, 1883, p. 27). Died before 20 Nov. 1636 (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
1573, Sept. 8. Joseph Barnes, adm. bookseller (ibid.). He was licensed to sell wine from Oct. 1575 to at least Oct. 1596. He was sole printer to the University from 1585 to 1617, resigned on 12 Feb. 1616/7, and died in 1618, being buried in St. Mary’s on Dec. 17 in that year. He lived (and printed) in a house at the west end of St Mary’s, now St. Mary’s Entry (see Letters from the Bodleian, ii. 428).
1573, Sept. 8. Robert Cave, adm. bookseller (Clark, i. 321): still a bookseller in 1693 (fragm. in C. C. C, Oxf., Library from M. XX. II).
1573, Dec. 5. Richard Garbrand, or Harks, adm. bookseller: still bookseller in 1599 (MS. Wood D. 3, p. 281, cf. 286, where it is stated that he was churchwarden of St. Mary’s in 1569); he died before 31 Jan 1603
4 (Clark, i. 323. compared with Griffiths’ Index of Oxford Wills).
1574, Mar. 25. Dominique Pinart, adm. bookseller (Clark, ibid.): in 1583 he occurs as a bookbinder (Oxf. Univ. Archives, Reg. Y. 99); still bookseller in 1616
7 (Clark, i. 321). Died before 18 Feb. 1627/8 (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
1574. John Gore occurs as an Oxford bookseller in a lease summarized in MS. Wood D. 3, p. 281, and lived in or near Cat St.
1577, Apr. 24. Humphrey Archer, adm. bookseller (Clark, i. 321). Administration was granted after his death on 13 Feb. 1587
8 (Oxf. Univ. Archives).
1577. Rowland Jenckes or Jenkes, a bookbinder, was condemned at the Assizes at Oxford for sedition (Wood’s History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford, ed. Gutch, ii. (1796), p. 188: and Webster’s Treatise of Witchcraft, p. 245, quoted by Bagford in Brit. Mus. MS. Harl. 5901, fol. 62).
1583. Carre occurs as a bookbinder (Oxf. Univ. Archives, Reg. Y. 99).
1584, Aug. 15. £100 is lent by the University to Joseph Barnes with which to set up a press, to be repaid in six years (ibid. Reg. L. 10, fol. 287, cf. 246). In Oct. 1592 the money had not been repaid.
1585. For printers and publishers from 1585–1640, see also p. [311].
1585/6, Jan. 10. A Committee of Convocation at Oxford appointed to consider De libris imprimendis (Oxf. Univ. Archives, Reg. L. 10, fol. 283).
1586, June 23. An Ordinance of the Star Chamber allows only two presses outside London, one at Oxford and one at Cambridge, and only one apprentice to each press (printed in full in Arber’s Transcript, ii. 807).
1588. In about this year occurs an Inventory of the goods of John Pigot, scrivener, implying his previous death (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
1590, Nov. 27. Robert Foxon, adm. bookseller (Clark, i. 321): but on 7 Mar. 1590
1 an Inventory of his goods was taken, implying previous death (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
—— —— Thomas Middleton, adm. bookseller (Clark, ibid.): he died before 28 March 1604 (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
—— —— Francis Peirce, do. (ibid.): still bookseller in 1616
7 (Clark, i. 521): died before 4 Jan. 1622
3 (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
—— —— Stephen Wilson, do. (ibid.): in 1591 he is a bookbinder also (Clark, i. 342).
1591, May 25. A patent was granted to Richard Wright of Oxford and his assigns to print Tacitus’s History in English, for life. (Patent Roll 33 Eliz., part 17, Arber’s Transcript, ii. 16). This partly explains the peculiarity noticed in 1591, no. 5 (p. 31, above): clearly it was printed nominally by Barnes, but published in London and perhaps in part printed there. Wright appears as belonging to both cities.
1593/4, Feb. 21. Thomas Gowre resigns the office of parchment seller and is succeeded by William Jennings (Fenninge?) (Clark, i. 322).
1594, Sept. 3. John Barnes, son of Joseph Barnes, is apprenticed to Rich. Watkins of St. Paul’s Churchyard, London, for seven years from Mich. 1594 (Arber’s Transcript, ii. 195: see the same work under date 7 June, 1602, &c.).
1596, May 21. Application was made to Convocation for a licence to Joseph Barnes to have a monopoly of printing inedited Greek and Latin books (Oxf. Univ. Archives, Reg. Ma., p. 15).
1597, Apr. 11. Lancelot Waistiell or Waystayle adm. stationer of the University: he resigned in 1608.
1598/9, Mar. 16. John Crosley adm. bookseller (Clark, i. 321): stationer in 1611 (Clark, i. 342): died before 12 Feb. 1612
3 (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills, where he is described as a citizen of London).
1600/1. Robert Billingsley occurs as a bookseller (Clark, i. 342): also bookbinder: he died before 17 Nov. 1606 (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
1603. The Stationers Company in London obtain a monopoly of printing Primers, Psalms and Almanacs.
1608, Apr. 18. Denis Edmonds adm. stationer.
1609. Nicholas Smith, bookbinder, died before 9 Aug. 1609 (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills): his wife Anne was Rob. Billingsley’s widow.
1609, Oct 24. John Garbrand alias Herks, bookseller, was licensed to sell wine (Clark, i. 323): he died before 29 Sept. 1617 (ibid.), and after 21 Mar. 1616
7 (Clark, i. 321).
1609, Oct. 20. William Davies occurs as stationer (Clark, i. 342): still such in 1615 and 1621 and 1637 (Clark, i. 343–4): bookseller in March, 1616
7 (Clark, i. 321).
1609/10, Mar. 13. A tenement in St. Mary’s parish was leased to John Adams, stationer (Oxf. Univ. Archives, box A, no. 23): he was a bookbinder from 1610 to 1620 (Magd. college deeds, cf. Clark, i. 343). In 1637, July 20, a house just North of the Schools Quadrangle was “lately” in the tenure of John Adams, bookbinder (Agreement between Magdalen and the University in Reg. R. 24, fol. 149r). For his printing, see pp. [308], [312].
1610, Dec. Henry Blewet or Bluett occurs as a bookseller in St Mary’s parish (Clark, i. 321): still such in 1616
7 (ibid.): died before 3 Jan. 1633/4 (“bookbinder”: Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
1611. Sampson Stronge alias Starkey, limner, died before 30 Mar. 1611 (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
1615/6, Jan. 2. Robert Nixon alias Waie occurs as a bookseller (Clark, i. 343): and in 1616
7 (i. 321).
1616/7, Feb. 12. William Wrench becomes a University printer, until 19 Jan. 1617
8: see p. [311].
—— John Lichfield, do.: see p. [311]: created Inferior Bedel 20 Mar. 1616/7: resigned his offices Jan. 1634
5.
1616/7, Mar. 21. Richard Wylcocks is bookseller (Clark, i. 321, bis).
—— —— William Turner, do. (ibid.): is University printer from 1624 to 1644
5: see p. [312]. In 1639 he was found to have abstracted in 1634 the Savile Greek type “under the pretence of printing a Greek Chronologer (one Malala)”: and by Feb. 13, 1639
40 had brought them back (Wharton’s Remains of Laud, ii. 174).
1616/7, Mar. 21. Edward Forrest is bookseller (Clark, i. 321).
—— —— William Toldervey, do. (ibid.).
—— —— John Westall, do. (ibid.): he occurs as binding for the Bodleian in 1636–7 (Macray’s Annals, 2nd ed., p. 77).
1617/8, Jan. 19. James Short do.: see p. [312].
1617, May 16. Roger Barnes, adm. bookseller (Clark, i. 321): see 1626, below.
—— June 10. William Wildgoose, do. (ibid.).
—— June 11. John Allam, do. (ibid.).
The two latter with Christopher Barker, William Johnson and John Chambers were reprimanded on 23 May, 1617, for setting up as booksellers without the Vice-Chancellor’s leave (ibid.).
1619, July 30. Edward Miles occurs as bookseller (Clark, i. 343): he was Clerk of the University, and died before 1 May, 1637 (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
1620/1, Jan. 6. Richard Parne adm. parchment seller, in place of Henry Dochin, dead, who had succeeded John Cooke (Clark, i. 322).
1623, Apr. Thomas Huggins occurs as stationer (Clark, i. 343), also in 1627 (of St. Mary’s parish) and 1634 (ibid. and 344).
1625/6. William Webbe occurs as stationer (Clark, i. 343). See p. [312]. Still stationer in 1636
7 (ibid. 344), and binder to the Bodleian (Macray’s Annals, 2nd ed., p. 77: died in 1652).
1626, June 18. Roger Barnes and John his son occur as bookbinders (Clark, i. 343), John is still bookbinder in 1630 (ibid.) and 1636–7, (Macray’s Annals of the Bodleian, 2nd ed., p. 77). Roger died before 30 Nov. 1631 (of All Saints parish, bookbinder and stationer: Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
1629, June 16. The University of Cambridge begs the loan of the Greek matrixes given to Oxford by sir Henry Savile: the request was granted on June 30 on Laud’s recommendation, and the matrixes returned 24 June, 1631. The year in which Savile’s famous “silver” Greek type (with which the Chrysostom of 1610–13 was printed at Eton) came to Oxford is not at present ascertainable.
1631. From the fine of £300 inflicted on the printer of the Wicked Bible of this year a fount of Greek type was purchased by Laud (not before 1634) for printing in London, Oxford or Cambridge, as the editors of the books might prefer. As a fact the printing took place in London, from 1637 on.
1632, Nov. 12. The first charter to Oxford allowing printing: printed in App D. II., p. 281: confirmed and amplified, 13 March, 1632/3 (p. 283). Laud in a letter to the University mentions King and Motteshead as two printers the University might well appoint out of the three allowed.
1635. Leonard Lichfield succeeded his father John, as University printer: died in 1657.
1636. Tit. xviii, sect. 5 of the Statutes of the University is framed “De Typographis Universitatis”: printed in App. D. V., p. 287. The Architypographus is here first mentioned.
1636. John Haviland of London is stated to have a press at London, Oxford and Cambridge (Arber’s Transcript, iii. 704).
1636–37. — Seale occurs as binding for the Bodleian (Macray’s Annals, 2nd ed., p. 77).
—— — Bott, do. (ibid.).
1636/7, Mar. 12. See p. [285] (agreement between the University and the Stationers’ Company).
1637, July 11. A severe decree of Star-Chamber is issued, restricting printing, but allowing the rights of Oxford: printed in Arber’s Transcript, iv. 528.
1637. In this year Laud, who had in every way facilitated the acquisition of good Oriental and other type by the University, was able to write to the Vice-Chancellor (on May 5) “You are now upon a very good way towards the setting up of a learned Press.”
1637, Oct. 14. The will of Hugh Jones of St. Mary Magdalen parish, printer (apprentice?), was proved (Oxf. Univ. Archives—Wills).
1638, Apr. 12. The will of John Wilmot, stationer, was proved (ibid.).
1639. See under 1616
7 (Turner).
1639, Aug. 12. Agreement with the Stationers’ Company: see p. [287].
The following booksellers of Oxford are at present only known from their imprints:—
Jackson, Simon, 1618.
Cripps, Henry, 1620–39.
Peerse, Elias, 1625–39.
Curteyne, Henry, 1625–40.
Butler, Thomas, 1628.
Bowman, Francis, 1634–40.
Allam, Thomas, 1636–39.
Godwin, Joseph, 1637–39.
Robinson, Thomas, 1639–40.
Hunt, Matthew, 1639–40.
Young, Robert, 1640.
[London booksellers who published for Oxford printers are here omitted: see pp. [311]–3.]
[The following discussion of the authorship of the Praise of Music (1586, no. 10) is referred to on p. [20] as occurring in Appendix C, and is therefore here inserted.]
The Praise of Music (1586).
This work is probably not by John Case, although constantly attributed to him. The facts of the matter may be stated as follows.
The book is strictly anonymous: all that can be gathered directly from it is that the author was himself an enthusiastic musician, though not necessarily of eminence; that he was a well-read scholar, as well in the Fathers as in the Classics, and that his style and method point to a man of imaginative mind, young in years, and with considerable elegance of thought and expression. The printer writes a dedication to Sir Walter Raleigh, alluding to the book as “an Orphan of one of Lady Musickes children.” This can only be meant to convey the impression that the author was dead: on the other hand the treatise can only have been composed recently from the allusions to the controversy about Church music: in fact the author was undoubtedly a Protestant in Elizabeth’s reign, who approved of elaborate music in Churches, within certain common-sense limits.
In 1588 John Case published at Oxford an “Apologia Musices” written in Latin, and maintaining nearly the same view about Church music as the book before us, to which Case makes no allusion. Case was elected scholar of St. John’s College, Oxford, in 1564; and in 1568 fellow. “But so it was,” says Wood (Ath. Ox., ed. Bliss, i. 685), “that being Popishly affected he left his fellowship and married [in 1574] and ... read logic and philosophy to young men (mostly of the R. C. religion) in a private house in St. Mary Magd. parish.”
The external evidence about the authorship in question may be put as follows. In favour of Case is the important fact that Thomas Watson the poet in a sonnet to Case does certainly seem to allude to the English as well as the Latin treatise. Most of the expressions may, and more than one must, apply to the Apologia, but the allusion to Marsyas can only refer to the “Praise,” which indeed is mentioned by name, “Mr. John Case ... his learned booke lately made in the prayes of Musick.” Again, the fact that the Apologia nowhere alludes to the former poem is itself an argument that they were not independent of each other, while supposing that Case was partly ashamed of so light and poetical a production and desired to be judged rather by a more philosophical work, such as the Latin treatise, we can understand a desire to ignore the former. To this may be added that such considerations as the above were sufficient to convince critics like Dr. Farmer, Mr. Joseph Haslewood and Dr. Bliss, as well as almost all others who have considered the point. Against such a conclusion the following points may be urged. Antony à Wood, who wrote lives of all Oxford writers up to his own time, and who was born in 1632, will not even suggest that Case was the author, but on the contrary declares that in all his searches he could never discover who wrote the book. Richard Heber seems also to have argued against Case’s connexion. With respect to Watson’s testimony it must be remembered that he had left the University some years before either book was published, and that it is quite possible that he wrote his sonnet with both books before him and with little on which to form a judgment except an obvious similarity of subject and point of view. Some catalogues are said to have credited the printer with the authorship, and Lowndes ascribes it to Barnaby Barnes!
The internal evidence is against the common authorship of the two books. The style of E.[[17]] is light, poetical and imaginative, with numerous digressions, apologized for and repeated: that of L. is more staid and so to speak scholastic; the sentences and thoughts fall into a logical form which are natural to Case. The latter passes by the mythological part of the history of Music, the former finds it in accordance with his taste. Both authors are learned: in E. the references to the Fathers are as numerous as those from any other source: in L. the references to secular authors predominate. Both draw from common sources, such as the Theatrum vitae humanae of Beyerlinck and the classical authors: but in the longest quotation common to both, one from Ornithoparchus’s Micrologus (E. pp. 39–40: L. pref.), a treatise on singing and music (afterwards, in 1609, translated into English), in which the imaginary descent of Concentus and Accentus from Sonus is given, they differ materially in one point of the account: nor are the explanations of the kinds and effects of the Greek styles of music entirely in accord. So too there are expressions peculiar to each book which could hardly have been absent from the other, had the authors been the same person (as in E. allusions to Mercury’s three parts of music; the Roman college of minstrels; three causes of music, pleasure, grief and enthusiasm: in L. to inanimate nature moved by music, Homer as a minstrel, the idea that strings from wolves’ and sheep’s guts would not harmonize together, bees not having ears, modern musicians). But lastly the personality of the authors is different. Both indeed take up the same general point of view, that music is lawful in a Church, and both entirely neglect the science of music though they profess to be ardent musicians: but in E. there is a distinct purpose to oppose the attempt to exclude all mixed and “exquisite” music from the public services: the author writes to his equals for the purpose of interesting and convincing them: in L. we see the dialectician addressing those trained in the schools and accustomed to the subtle distinctions and formalities of scholastic logic, and also the teacher of youth, indulging in moral and didactic reflexions (pp. 53–55). Once more, Case, according to Wood, was known before 1574 to have proclivities towards the Roman Catholic religion, and accordingly in L. we find no word of blame addressed to that Church, the nearest approach being a note of triumph over the defeat of the Armada on the last page. Could he then have written, as the author of E., the following expressions, all used in contempt, “in the time of popery” (p. 129), “popish church Musicke” (ibid.), “the hypocriticall Monkes and Friers sang their seuen canonicall houres” (p. 133), “rotten rythmes of popery and superstitious inuocation or praying vnto Saints doth not giue greater cause of vomit to any man than to my selfe” (p. 136)?
The author of the “Praise of Musicke” may one day be discovered, but he will probably be found to be some other than Dr. John Case.