ᎪᏢᏒ 29 1919
LIBRARY

NOTES ON PRINTING IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

INCLUDING

AN ACCOUNT OF THE GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL LIBRARY

By ROLAND AUSTIN

Librarian, Gloucester Public Library

WHIL

HILE the formation of the present library of the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester dates from comparatively modern days, and its contents cannot attempt to vie with such treasures as those possessed by Durham, Hereford, or Exeter, the history of the monastic Library which preceded it can be carried back to very early times. The foundation stone of Serlo's Abbey Church was laid in 1089 and within fifteen years we find recorded in the Chartulary that Abbot Peter gave many books to the Library, but the several fires which occurred at Gloucester in the 12th and 13th centuries must have played havoc with such MSS. as the Library may have possessed: the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle recording such disasters in 1122, 1179, 1214, and 1300. In the 14th century a special room-happily preserved to us- -was built by Abbot Horton for the Library. Approached from the eastern walk of the magnificent cloister the position of the room corresponds exactly with that at Durham. On the North side are eleven windows-the large-end windows are late Perpendicular. Some of the MSS. formerly in this earlier Library have been traced-there are two at Hereford Cathedral Library, one having an inscription showing that it belonged to Thomas de Bredon, Abbot of Gloucester (1224-28). Others which have been identified as at one time at Gloucester are now at Lambeth Palace, Trinity College (Dublin), the British Museum, Trinity College (Cambridge), Jesus College (Cambridge), and Trinity College (Oxford). Successive Abbots took an interest in the Library, for we have records of gifts from John de Gamages 1284-1306), Thomas Horton (1351-77), Walter Froucester (1381-1412) and Reginald Butler (1437-50). Records concerning the Library in the later years of the Monastery are meagre in the extreme but it is certain that with the Dissolution its fate was sealed-the MSS. and printed books were almost wholly dispersed or destroyed, and it seems probable that for many years the Library did not exist. The destruction of the Cathedral Church itself was only prevented by the determination of the Citizens, so it is small wonder that the Library disappeared. On the foundation of the Chapter in 1541 the Abbey Library was converted into a Schoolroom for the College School, re-established by Henry VIII., and in the reign of Elizabeth the room was repaired and made more convenient for scholastic purposes. Not until the days of the Puritans did the Library once more receive attention. In 1648 Thomas Pury, the younger, and others, assisted by one Captain Hemming, succeeded in awakening interest in the establishment of a Library, evidently with a view to securing it for the City's use and enjoyment and not merely as the private possession of the Dean and Chapter. In an old MS. Catalogue of the Library is an entry in Latin show ing the interest in the Humanities possessed by some of the Parliamentarians. Translated, the entry reads —

"The officers of the legion which was at that time garrisoning this city gave from their own pay which they had earned in the same place, pounds partly for the erection of this Library and partly for

other public purposes."

Sir Robert Atkyns observed that 'these benefactors encouraged Literature to assist Reason in the midst of times deluded with imaginary inspiration." In 1656 the Library was settled upon the Mayor and Burgesses of the City, who undertook the guardianship of it at a time when the general care of the Cathedral was marked by great neglect. The books were placed in the Norman

Chapter-House and remained there until the 19th century. In 1826 and 1827 the Dean and Chapter had the Library refitted and about 1850 it was removed to the room originally built for it, the Chapter-House itself being restored to its proper usage. Both Boston of Bury and Leland made lists of books which they noticed in the Library in their day, and in quite recent times Mr. T. W. Williams has recorded MSS. in various libraries which he has identified as being once at Gloucester. Among the few MSS. still preserved in the Library are the chartularies and registers of the Abbey, numbering five in all, while there is also a transcript of one other. The most important, a History of the Abbey from 681 to the abbacy of Froucester (1381-1412) has been published in the Rolls Series, as have portions of the others. This History was lost for many years but was eventually recovered through a Berlin bookseller and restored to its original home. There are also several volumes containing some hundreds of leases, charters, and other documents, which when calendared are certain to supplement the historical record of the Abbey. In the covers of the Registers of Abbots Braunche and Morton were found some very interesting fragments, written about 985, describing miracles performed at the tomb of St. Swidhun, Bishop of Worcester 852-862. Facsimiles of, and notes on, these were published by the Rev. John Earle in 1861.

Among the MSS. of general interest are a late 12th or early 13th century copy of the Compendium Medicinae of Gilbert Anglicus; a Latin version of the same period of Haly's translation and commentary upon Galen's Ars Parva and other medical works. Another volume is a collection of astrological tracts at the end of which are astronomical notes from 1536 to 1557. There is a fine 12th century folio collection of Lives of Saints, and a copy of St. Augustine's De vera Innocentia of the same period. Of later date is a 15th century MS. of Lydgate's Siege of Troy and a collection of sermons in Latin by Michael of Hungary.

Of printed books the Library contains a few incunabula in excellent preservation if not of any great interest or variety. Such are:-Lactantius (Venice 1472), Joannes de Imola (Venice 1480), Pomponius Mela (Venice 1482), Bartholomaeus de Proprietatibus rerum (Paris 1480), Nuremberg Chronicle and Biblia Latina (Nuremberg, 1478). There is a very fine copy, almost perfect, of Coverdale's Bible of 1535 which is said to have been given by Oliver Cromwell to Alderman Pury, the elder,-famous for his speech against Episcopacy in the House of Commons-and by him presented to the Library. There is also a copy of Taverner's edition of Tyndale's Bible (1549). Though the books are mostly of a theological nature general English literature is represented by a fair number of works of interest. Among these are a fourth folio of Shakespeare, Drayton's Poly-Olbion, Purchas and Hakluyt, Moryson's Itinerary, a few county histories, Stow's Chronicle (1631), a good set of Diurnals, and the publications of the Record Commissioners. Botfield has recorded the principal works in the Library, which has had only a few additions made to it since his time. The view of the Library which is reproduced from Bonnor's Itinerary of Gloucester Cathedral shows it when placed in the Chapter-House. The old fittings were discarded with the removal of the books to the original room over the Cloister Walk.

CIRENCESTER

The printing presses set up during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Worcestershire exerted no influence in extending the art of typography to the neighbouring County of Gloucestershire, for though Bristol-itself an administrative County and so outside the scope of these notesis reputed to have had a press in the sixteenth, and certainly possessed one in the seventeenth century, there is no record of any in Gloucestershire before 1718, and even then one of the smaller centres was a few years in advance of the county town. As frequently happens, dates for the introduction of printing in the County have been assigned to at least two places within its borders without supporting evidence. Thus, on the authority of Cotton, there is said to have

been a printing press at Wotton-under-Edge as early as 1704, but no imprint before 1780 is known. Gloucester has been credited with a press in 1713-some nine years before the actual date-on the strength of an imprint, generally accepted as spurious, on a tract entitled The Cobler of Glocester. Glocester; printed by T. Cobb, MDCCXIII. Cotton, (Typ. Gaz., 2nd ed. 1866, p. 85) also mentions A Sermon, by Rev. John James, 8°. 1720" as the earliest specimen" of Gloucester printing he had met with, but no copy has been seen by later bibliographers.

"

Discarding these various dates and keeping strictly to the administrative County of Gloucestershire the first undoubted printing-press established within its area was at Cirencester, where, in 1718, was issued the first number of The Cirencester Post or Gloucestershire Mercury: 'printed and sold by Thomas Hinton over against the George Inn, in Pye Corner." Of this only a few copies are known the British Museum has one dated Monday, July 25, 1720, which is numbered Vol. II. No. 37, and another for December 9, 1723, is numbered Vol. VI. No. 5. If the numbering of the former can be relied upon the paper commenced publication at the end of October, or beginning of November, 1718, though the uncertainty of the correctness in numbering papers makes it possible to have been later. The Post was small quarto in size, not unusual with the earliest newspapers, and it contained 12 pages, the front one being embellished with a small woodcut showing Cirencester Church and other buildings. Hinton was printing at Cirencester in 1724 but no later date connected with him is known, though it is quite probable that the business was continued by another firm. The next printers at Cirencester of whom there is established record are G. Hill and J. Davis, who in December, 1740, commenced the publication of The Cirencester Post, and Weekly Miscellany, of which No. 42 is dated October 5, 1741. This was a paper of 4 pages measuring 15 inches by 9 inches. The imprint on the issue for October 26, 1741, is G. Hill and Comp." and on March 22, 1741-2 the firm is described as "Tho. Hill and Comp. which style continued until February 6, 1743-4, the latest number (164) which I have seen. Gloucester Journal of September 1, 1747, mentions the 'Cirencester Journal," and this may refer to the Cirencester Flying-Post, while the name of Hill as printer and bookseller in Cirencester has been traced as late as 1775, when Mrs. Hill owned the business.

The

The next printer in point of date eclipsed all others by the position which he attained, for not only was he a good typographer, but he also claims attention as a topographer, being the author of works on the County which still enjoy repute. Until recently the earliest known date connecting Samuel Rudder with Cirencester was 1753, a collection of election squibs issued between August 9 and October 17 in that year having been printed by him under the title of The Cirencester Contest. There is no date on the title, and it may be that the pamphlet was not printed until the following year, though it is now established that not only was Rudder in business as bookseller in Cirencester some time before, but that a book printed by him dated 1753 was as a matter of fact issued in 1752. His name occurs first in the Gloucester Journal for November 7, 1749, as one of the agents for selling a patent medicine, and he is there described as "Mr. Samuel Ruddey, Bookseller, in Cirencester." The error in spelling his name was repeated later advertisements. Rudder was baptised December 5, 1726, and so would be 23 years of age at this time, and it may fairly be assumed that he would not have set up in business much before. His name is seen frequently in the Gloucester Journal but the first evidence of his work as a printer is in the issue for August 4, 1752, where the following advertisement is to be found :

BUSBY'S English introduction to the Latin Tongue examined, By Way of Question and Answer: with the Memorial Verses expressing the Declensions, Terminations and Genders of Nouns; and the Mcmorial Verses for forming the Verbs, construed. Dedicated (by his Lordship's Permission) to the Right Honourable the Earl of Orrery. For the Use of those Schools (public or private) where that Grammar is taught; particularly of the Lower Forms of Westminster-School,

And for the Ease and Benefit of Master and Scholar, by Charles Davies,
B.A. Master of Swansea Free Grammar-School. Cirencester; printed

by Samuel Rudder. MDCCLIII.

It will be noticed that while the book is dated 1753 the advertisement was inserted some months before that year began, and a copy in the Gloucester Public Library presents clear evidence that it was actually published in 1752. This is a presentation copy to the Earl of Orrery, a patron of literature to whom Swift owed help, and it bears on the fly-leaf the inscription "Orrery, from the author, 1752.' It is almost certain that this was Rudder's carliest printed work—certainly no other has been seen which can be placed before it.

In addition to the ordinary business of printer and bookseller Rudder dealt in the miscellaneous trade nearly always associated with provincial bookselling of the period, for on the back of a pamphlet printer by him in 1780, entitled “Joseph of Arimathea," is an advertisement of his announcing :—

At the Lowest Price, without Abatement. A proper allowance being made to such as pay ready money, All Sorts of Linen Cloth, (particularly a very stout sort, of a good colour) for poor families. Gowns, which will come as low as 6s. 6d. a Gown for a grown person. Another of Rudder's early productions is entitled The Young Astronomer's Assistant, and Countryman's Daily Companion, by William Hitchman, Shoemaker, of Poulton, near Cirencester, printed in 1755. Though Rudder's name does not appear as the printer some devices used by him in other books enables this to be identified as from his press.

Not content with the demands of business Rudder turned his attention to the history and antiquities of his native county. In his History of Gloucestershire he tells us that Stouts' Hill, in the parish of Uley near Dursley," was the place of the writer's nativity, where he collected his first ideas, and for which he still indulges a natural partiality." His literary work began with the publication in 1763 of The History of Fairford Church, a small pamphlet of but eight leaves. This was printed without the name of the author, but a postscript states that:

The curious reader is sometimes desirous of knowing the name of the author or compiler of the book that affords him entertainment; but the printer is not at liberty to gratify the public in that particular with regard to this pamphet (sic). Thus much, however, the printer thinks it necessary to observe, that it was His business only to follow the author's copy.

The little history went through eleven editions in Rudder's lifetime, and was frequently reprinted after his death. Its success led him to plan a more ambitious work, and on 1st February, 1767, he issued an eight-page prospectus entitled Proposals for printing by Subscription, The Topographical, Biographical, and Natural History of Gloucestershire-Comprehending the Antient and Present state of that County." These proposals contain much interesting information and various references to the History of Glostershire by Sir Robert Atkyns, first published in 1712, and of which it was proposed to issue a second edition. Rudder's intentions were possibly the means of hastening this, for the new edition, almost entirely a reprint of the first, came out in 1768. He owed a good deal to Atkyns's History, and also enjoyed the help of county gentlemen and others in the preparation of his own, and a letter* extant shows the trouble which he took to secure reliable information, and to make his work of real value. In 1768 Rudder issued a specimen of the History, eight pages well printed in folio, entitled :— The History of the Parish and Abbey of Hayles, in Gloucestershire. Proposed as a specimen of a New History of that County . . . S. Rudder, Printer and Bookseller, in Cirencester .1768.

Progress was not so quick as the compiler had hoped for and the years which

*See The Library, July, 1915

passed in the preparation of the History created some discontent among his subscribers, but in July 1779 the long expected work was sent forth, though some of the plates were even then not ready, and were not supplied until March, 1782. The History met with general approval and still holds its place as one of the chief sources for the manorial and topographical history of the County. In 1780 Rudder issued the first edition of a History of Cirencester, utilising the text of the county history. A second edition, enlarged, was published in 1800. He also printed in octavo the History of Gloucester given in his county history, and this was ready in 1781. Rudder persistently avoided placing his name on the titles of his various books, and for reason states that this was done

from motives which actuated the editor of the 'Spectator,' who tells his readers" that he assumed so many fictitious characters because he would extort a little praise from such WHO WILL NEVER APPLAUD ANYTHING WHOSE AUTHOR IS KNOWN AND CERTAIN.

All Rudder's publications are good examples of typography, and there is little doubt that he had as much pride and interest in his business as his contemporary, Robert Raikes the younger, of Gloucester. He was held in high esteem by his fellow townsmen of Cirencester, where he held office as High Constable, and filled other local appointments. He died on March 15, 1801, at Chelsea, and was buried at Cirencester. Though three sons survived him there is no record of any of them continuing the printing business, which must have been a substantial one. Possibly it was carried on by James Turner, whose imprint occurs on a poll-book of 1802, and who may have been succeeded by Stevens and Watkins, the latter of whom, Philip Watkins, carried on a printing business in Cirencester for many years. Later printers and booksellers of the town are recorded by Mr. H. E. Norris in his pamphlet on the subject published in 1912, and in Notes and Queries for February 20, 1915.

GLOUCESTER

Mention has been made that up to the time of the establishment of the press at Cirencester the county town had not attracted printers, though it must have offered excellent opportunities for such enterprise. A few weeks before the issue of No. 1 of the Cirencester Post there had been published at St. Ives (Hunts) the St Ives Post Boy, a weekly paper which was issued by Robert Raikes, one of the early band of printers who saw possibilities in a Provincial press, and established newspapers which, two hundred years later, are still (in spite of the grinding pressure of War) showing unabated vitality. The Post Boy was in existence in 1719, and then met with a rival in the St Ives Mercury, published by William Dicey, which enjoyed only brief existence. Raikes approached Dicey with proposals of partnership, for it is certain both desired a wider field for their energies, and eventually one was selected and they removed to Northampton, where, on May, 2, 1720, the first number of the Northampton Mercury was published. Raikes and Dicey enjoyed a flourishing business at Northampton, but were still ambitious to extend their opportunities, and decided to establish another paper at Gloucester. Here, in 1722, they opened their new printing office, though it seems quite probable that Raikes was the manager of this from the beginning. An original copy of the small bill, eight inches by five, announcing the forthcoming paper reads as follows:

March 10, 1721-2

At the Printing-Office, Against the Swan-Inn in Gloucester. Will be shortly publish'd Weekly, a Newspaper entitled, The Gloucester Journal, which will contain not only the most authentick Foreign and Domestick News, but also the Price of Corn, Goods, &c., at Bear Key in London, and all other Trading Cities and Market Towns 50 miles round. The Paper will be suitable to all Degrees and Capacities, and will be collected with all the Care that Money or Industry is capable of procuring.

N.B. At the aforesaid Printing-Office, any Shop-keepers or others may have all Sorts of Bills and Advertisements Printed after the best Fashion; as also their Signs or any other Ornaments very curiously ingraved on Wood, at reasonable Rates,