WILLIAM CAXTON

Although Johannes Gutenberg was responsible for the invention of the movable type printing press sometime about 1450, it was William Caxton who would publish the first book in England over twenty years later. Born in the Weald of Kent sometime about the year 1422, little is known of him beyond the autobiographical notes that he wrote in the prefaces and epilogues to his printed books. He generously thanks his parents for having given him an education that fitted him to earn a living, though he doesn't say anything about where this education took place or what he was taught. One piece of definite information can be found in the records of the Mercers' Company. In 1438, at the age of sixteen, he was apprenticed to Robert Large, a well-known and wealthy London mercer.

About 1446 he became a merchant on his own account and went to Bruges, which was then a thriving merchant town. It is most likely that he sold cloth and other goods including manuscripts, for Bruges was the centre of a flourishing trade in manuscripts and paintings. Being a good man of business, he soon became prosperous. Because of its predominance as a market, merchants from all over Europe gathered in Bruges and established themselves in national communities ruled by a governor. The English merchant community was known as the 'Merchant Adventurers' and Caxton became their governor in 1462. This important position involved delicate and responsible commercial negotiations, and Caxton seems to have fulfilled his duties honourably and with success.

About 1470 his life changed completely. He gave up his connection with commerce, and entered the service of Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy, the sister of Edward IV. Nobody seems to know why he did this, but it could have been because he wished for greater freedom for literary work. He had acquired a copy of the French version of the History of Troy, and he started to translate it, finishing it in 1471. Entitled the "Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye", he dedicated it to his patroness, the Duchess of Burgundy. It was this piece of work which led him to turn his attention to the art of printing. The book was much sought after, and the labour of producing manuscript copies was too heavy and too slow to meet the demand. Therefore, he says, "I have practysed & lerned at my grete charge & dispense to ordeyne this said book in prynteŒthat every man may have them attones."

There is some evidence to show that Caxton first learned printing at Cologne, which is where other famous printers had learned it, but nobody seems to know for sure where he acquired the knowledge. The "Recuyell", was undoubtedly printed at Bruges in 1474, at the press of Colard Mansion, an illuminator of manuscripts, who had set up a press in that city in 1473. Caxton's second book, the "Game & Pleye of Chess", which was another translation from the French, came, it is almost certain, from the same press in 1475.

At Michaelmas, 29th. September, 1476, Caxton's name was entered on the account roll of John Estency, Sacrist of Westminster Abbey, as paying a year's rent in advance for some premises. This was probably a shop, and it was there that he set up his press. The first known piece of printing done in England was "A Letter of Indulgence" by John Sant, Abbot of Abingdon. A copy of this, with the date of purchase 13th. December 1476, and issued from this press, was discovered at the Public Record Office in February 1928. Until then, no one knew of its existence. The first dated book printed in England, "The Dictes or Sayengis of the Philosophres", bearing the imprint 1477, was completed on 18th. November 1477. This book was translated from the French by Caxton's friend and patron, Earl Rivers. It was followed by nearly one hundred other works, including, amongst others, the works of Chaucer and Gower, Sir Thomas Malory's "Morte d'Arthur", and various translations of more or less classical works from French, Latin and Dutch. Of these Caxton was personally responsible for the translation of about twenty-five, besides editing nearly all of them.

Caxton was not only a skilful master-printer and publisher of books, but to some extent a man of letters. Whether as editor, author or translator, his work has a certain style and shows a true enthusiasm for literature. He did not try to lead public taste, and made little attempt to educate the masses. He printed what was popular, what he knew would sell or what the prevailing predilection for religious writings made a certain success. Romances and poetry were popular, and so he printed them, and he did publish a few works of instruction. Twenty three of the seventy-seven original works that he published were done under patronage. In this way he was assured of financial support, and the favour of influential personages.

William Caxton worked hard, and was still working when he died in 1491. Of him, one thing is sure. His work as writer, translator, publisher and printer helped to fix the literary language of England in the sixteenth century.

BILL HUTCHINGS