Books and their makers during the Middle Ages : $b A study of the conditions of the production and distribution of literature from the fall of the Roman empire to the close of the seventeenth century, Vol. IIPutnam, George Haven
History
Books and their makers during the Middle Ages : $b A study of the conditions of the production and distribution of literature from the fall of the Roman empire to the close of the seventeenth century, Vol. II
Putnam, George Haven
Books -- History -- 400-1450; Copyright; Freedom of the press -- History -- To 1500; Manuscripts; Printers
for, the other twelve titles being: _The Horse, the Sheep, and the
Goose_, _The Chorle and the Bird_, _The Game of Chesse_, _Indulgence_,
_The Chronicles of England_, _The Canterbury Tales_, _The Golden
Legend_, the _Speculum Christi_, _The Mirrour of the World_, _The Book
of Courtesy_, and the _Liber Festivalis_. A number of Caxton’s books
were issued, after his death, by De Worde in later editions. The more
noteworthy of these were _The Canterbury Pilgrimage_, _The Chronicles
of England_, and _The Golden Legend_.
Caxton’s absorption in his printing business at Westminster and in
his literary occupations did not prevent him from continuing his
association with the Mercers’ Company, in which he must have retained
a number of old friends. Blades finds record of a payment made, in
1479, to Caxton from the royal treasury, of thirty pounds (equal to
about four hundred and fifty pounds at this time), “for certain causes
or matters performed by him for the said Lord the King”; and thinks it
probable that this payment was for assistance rendered to Edward IV.
and his retinue when fugitives at Bruges. It seems certain that the
friendship of Margaret of Burgundy, Edward’s sister, secured for Caxton
royal favour and interest in his venturesome undertakings. _Tully_
and _Godfrey_ were printed under the “protection” of the King, which
probably means that the cost of their production was supplied from the
royal treasury. Margaret, Countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII.,
and Earl Rivers, brother to the King, were included in the list of
Caxton’s Court friends. _The Chesse Booke_ was dedicated to the Earl
of Warwick, which probably also meant some measure of co-operation.
_The Order of Chivalry_ was dedicated to Richard III. _The Faytes of
Arms_ was translated and printed by Caxton, at the request of Henry
VII., while the _Eneydos_ was specially presented to Arthur, Prince
of Wales. Caxton appears to have been more fortunate than some of the
courtiers of his time, in being able, after the battle of Bosworth
Field, to retain with Henry the favourable relations he had had with
Richard. Caxton speaks of William Daubeney, the treasurer of Henry VI.,
as his “good and syngular friend.” William, Earl of Arundel, showed his
interest in the work of the Caxton Press by allowing to the printer a
“yearly fee of a buck in summer and a doe in winter.” Other of Caxton’s
friends, whose names are given by Blades, were Sir John Falstoffe,
described as a great lover of books, and Hugh Bryce and William Pratt,
important members in the Mercers’ Company. Some of Caxton’s clients
utilised his services with commissions for translating as well as for
printing. For one “noble lady with many fair daughters,” he produced
_The Knyght of the Toure_. _The Book of Good Manners_ was printed by
Caxton at the special request (made on his death-bed) of Caxton’s
old friend, William Pratt, the purpose of the publication being “the
amendment of manners and the increase of virtuous living.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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