Page:Plomer Dictionary of the Booksellers and Printers 1907.djvu/55

BISHOP (RICHARD), printer in London; St. Peter's Pauls Wharf, 1631-53. Took up his freedom March 29th, 1637, having in 1634 bought the business of William Stansby, printer, for £700. According to Sir John Lambe's Memoranda [Arber, iii. 700, etc.] this was originally John Day's business, being subsequently divided up between Peter Short and John Windet, Stansby having bought Windet's share.

BISSE (JOHN), bookseller in London; Bell in St. Paul's Churchyard, 1649-53. Only known through the entry in Smyth's Obituary, p. 35: "July 6. [1653] John Bisse, bookseller, died."

BLACKLOCK, see Blaiklock.

BLACKMORE (EDWARD), bookseller in London, (1) Blazing-Starre, St. Paul's Churchyard, 1620; (2) South door of Paul's Church; (3) Angel, St. Paul's Churchyard. 1618-58. Dealt chiefly in popular literature, such as Melton's Astrologaster, 1620, which contains his Blazing-Star address. He died September 8th, 1658. [Smyth's Obituary, p. 48.] The Weekly Intelligencer of November 25th, 1651, contains advertisements of two books issued by him.

BLADEN (WILLIAM), bookseller in London; Great North-doore of Pauls at the sign of the Bible, 1612-24; address unknown, 1640-42; printer in Dublin, 1630-63. First met with in 1612 as a bookseller in London in partnership with John Royston. In 1618 certain stationers of London formed themselves into a society "to trade in the city of Dublin by vending and selling of books and other commodities … to be transported out of England thither, and there to be sold," the books stocked for this purpose being known as the Irish "stock." They appointed William Bladen their factor in Dublin. He was admitted to the Franchise of the city in January, 1630/31, by special grace and on payment of a fine of £10 English money. In April, 1637, he was elected Sheriff for the following year. Meanwhile the trading venture of the London stationers had turned out a failure, and the partnership was dissolved in 1639, when William Bladen bought the stock for £2,600. His name first appears in imprints in 1641. In 1647 he filled the office of Lord Mayor of Dublin, and during the Commonwealth he acted as State Printer. His death took place in Dublin, in July, 1663, and he was buried on August 1st in St. Werburgh's Churchyard. Bladen's will was proved in the Prerogative