A History of the Cambridge University Press, 1521-1921Roberts, S. C. (Sydney Castle)
History
A History of the Cambridge University Press, 1521-1921
Roberts, S. C. (Sydney Castle)
Cambridge University Press -- Bibliography; Cambridge University Press -- History
This Cantrell Legge was appointed one of the university printers
in 1606 and appears to have issued many books in co-operation with
the Stationers. Later, however, difficulties again arose, for
in 1620 Legge was prosecuted by the company for printing Lily's
_Grammar_. The university vehemently protested to the Archbishop
of Canterbury:
Ferunt enim Londinenses Bibliopolas suum potius emolumentum quam
publicum spectantes, (quae res et naturae legibus et hominum
summe contraria est) monopoliis quibusdam inhiare, ex quo timemus
librorum precia auctum iri, et privilegia nostra imminutum. Nos
igitur hoc metu affecti, ubi sanguis solet in re dubia ad cor
festinare, ita ad Te confugimus primariam partem ecclesiastici
corporis....
and to Lord Chancellor Bacon:
Ecquid permittis Domine?... Aspicis multitudinem Librorum indies
gliscentem, praesertim in Theologia, cujus Libri si alii aliis
(tanquam montes olim) imponerentur, veri simile est, eos illuc quo
cognitio ipsa pertingit ascensuros. Quod si et numerus Scriptorum
intumescat, et pretium, quae abyssus crumenae tantos sumptus
aequabit? Jam vero miserum est, pecuniam retardare illam, cui
naturae spiritum dederit, feracem gloriae, et coeleste ingenium
quasi ad metella damnari. Qui augent precia Librorum, prosunt
vendentibus libros non ementibus, hoc est cessatoribus non
studiosis....[28]
Evidently the high prices charged by the Stationers for books of
which they held, or claimed to hold, a monopoly were the source of
bitter complaints amongst teachers and students and the university
authorities set up a spirited opposition: "As to ye poore printer,"
wrote Dr Gooch, Master of Magdalene, to the Registrary (James
Tabor): "there is no waye but one, the universitie must stand upon
our Charter."[29]
Tabor prepared a list of comparative prices showing that while the
Stationers charged 4_d_ a sheet for Aesop's _Fables_ the Cambridge
printer sold them at 3_d_, that Ovid's _Epistles_ cost 8_d_ a sheet
in London and only 5_d_ in Cambridge and so on[30].
Finally, the university seized the opportunity offered by the King
passing through Royston on 16 December, 1621, to bring the matter
before the supreme tribunal.
Dr Mawe, the Vice-Chancellor, was in London at the time but,
leaving his own business unfinished, he hastened back and with Dr
Warde, Dr Beale, the Registrary, and Legge himself "went to Royston
to deliver a Letter and Petition to the King in ye behalf of ye
Universitye."[31] The King, having heard the complaint against the
Stationers' monopoly of "ye cheife vendible books in the land,"
against their high prices, their bad paper, and their inaccurate
printing, referred the matter to a committee composed of the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Lincoln, Lord Maundeville,
and the Lord Chief Justice.
[Illustration: PETITION OF THE UNIVERSITY TO JAMES I, 1621]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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