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HISTORY OF PRINTING.
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1639. Died Henry Pepweh. Ames con- sidered this person more in the light of an extensive publisher and bookseller, than in that of a printer; and he supposes that he probably might have been that agent or factor who lived at the sign of the Holy Trinity, in St. Paul's Church-yard, and who sold the numerous works which were printed abroad at the expense of merchants or literary men. About the close of the reign of Henry VII., independent of the books produced by the English presses, many religious volumes were printed on the Continent; and William Bretton, a London merchant, who perhaps was the same with William Bretton, MA. of Cambridge in 1494, was a particular encourager of foreign printing for the use of Britain and his own profit. Maittaire would infer that he resided at the sign of the Trinity, in St. Paul's Church-yard; but it is perhaps more probable that it was the dwelling of his
Sublisoing correspondent, although it is very oubtful whether Henry Pepwell were that per- son. His name does not appear until 1520, but all the works which are stated to have been sold at the house already mentioned, are attributed to him, as no other occupant of it is now known. The will of Henry Pepwell, citizen and stationer, is dated September llth, 1639; and it state, that he was a married man, as he left his wife, Ursula, and his children his executors. He desires to be buried in the church of St. Faith, beneath St. Paul's, near the high altar; and he bequeaths to the parish of Bermondsey in which, he was bom, a printed mau book of five shillings value, for prayers to be made for his soul. He •eems to have been attached rigidly to the Ro- man catholic religion all his days, and a useful man for John Stokesley, bishop of London.
The list of his works now extant, which were to be sold at the Holy Trinity, in St. Paul's church- yard : those to which Pepwell's name appears as printer, have it there indicated, together with the names of such foreigners as printed the books which were executed on the continent for him, amounting to seventeen.
The device of this printer consisted of his name on a ribbon. There are however some wood-cut representations of the Trinity, perhaps copies of the sign of his house in St. Paul's church-yard, which are considered by Ames as being equally entitled to the name of devices.
1639. In the course of this year, another Bible was printed by John Byddell. The principal emtor of it was Richard Tavemer, who received his education at Christ church, in Oxford, under the patronage of lord Cromwell, when secretary of state. It is probable that his patron encouraged him to undertake this work, on account of his skill in the Greek tongue. It is neither a bare revisal, nor a new version, but a correction of what is called Matthetee's Bible; many of whose marginal notes axe adopted, and
many omitted, and others inserted. Alter his patron's death, Tavemer was imprisoned. Wood believes through the influence of those bishops who were addicted to the Romish religion. He had, however, the address to reinstate himself in the king's favour; and regained his situation at court. His death is said to have happened in 1673. In November of the same year, the king, at Cranmer's intercession, appomted his vicar-general, lord Cromwell, to take special care and charge that no person within the realm attempt to print any English Bible during the space of five years, but such as shall be ad- mitted by the said lord Cromwell. The reason given was, " that the Bible should be perused and considered. in one translation; the frailty of men being such, that the diversity thereof may breed and bring forth manyfold inconveniences, as when wilful and heady folk shall confer upon the diversity of the said translations." Accord- ingly it appears by the bibles printed this very year, that Cromwell assigned other printers be- sides Grafton and Whitchurch, as John Byddell, Thomas Berthelet, &c. to print bibles in the English tongue.
1539. An epitome of the psalmet, or briefe meditation* upon the tame, with diverse other most christian prayers. Translated by Richard Tavemer. Curnprivilegio. No printer's name. Printed at the White Hart, in Fleet-street, in twelves.
1639. Fox, in his Acts and Monuments, cites Certayne other injunctions, set forth by the au- thoritie of the King, against English boohet, sectes, ^c.
First. That none without special license of the king, transport, or bring from outward parties into England, any manner of English books, neyther yet sell, give, utter, or publish any such, upon pain to for^it all their goods and chatties, and their bodies to be imprisoned, so long as it shall please the king's majesty.
Item. That none shall print, or bring over any English books with annotations, or prologues, unless such books before be examined by the king's privy council, or others appointed by his highness, and yet not to put thereto these words. Cum privilegio regali, without adding, ad impri- mendum solum. Neither yet to print it, without the king's privilege be printed uierewith in the English tongue, that all men may read it. Nei- thershall they print anytranslated book, without the plain name of the translator be in it, or else the printer to be made the translator, and to suffer the fine and punishment thereof at the king's pleasure.
Item. That none of the occupation of printing shall within the realm, print, utter, sell, or cause to be published any English books of scripture, unless the same be first viewed, examined, and admitted by the king's highness, or one of bis privy council, or one bishop within the realm, whose name shall therein be expressed, upon pain of the king's high displeasure, the loss of their goods and chatues, and imprisonment, so long as it shall please the king, &c.
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