William Caxton, the First English Printer: A Biography |
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Common terms and phrases
Abbey amongst ancient apprentice Archbishop art of printing Atkyns ballads Bible book printed Bruges called Canterbury Caxton printed Caxton's press century Chaucer Chess chivalry Cologne common copy court curious divers doubt Duchess of Burgundy Duke of Burgundy Earl edition Edward Edward IV England English fable father folio French Geoffrey Chaucer Guttenberg Haarlem hath Henry Henry VI Histories of Troy honour house of Lancaster imprinted invention of printing inventor John Lydgate king knight knowledge labour ladies language Latin letters Lettou literature London look Lord Rivers Lydgate manner manuscripts Margaret master Mentz mercer merchants minstrels noble old printer parish period person poet popular present printed at Cologne printed by Caxton probably Pynson Raoul le Fevre readers Recueil Richard romance rude Schoeffer Statutes story thing tion transcribers translated Troye Turnour types unto virtuous Westm Westminster William Caxton woodcuts writing written Wynkyn de Worde
Popular passages
Page 133 - For herein may be seen noble chivalry, courtesy, humanity, friendliness, hardiness, love, friendship, cowardice, murder, hate, virtue, and sin. Do after the good and leave the evil, and it shall bring you to good fame and renown.
Page 157 - PASTON LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS, written during the Reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III., by various Persons of Rank or Consequence.
Page 23 - Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a grammar school ; and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used, and, contrary to the king, his crown and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill.
Page 45 - I never heard the old song of Percy and Douglas that I found not my heart moved more than with a trumpet...
Page 39 - I shewed him how it treated matters of love ; whereof the king was glad and looked in it, and read it in many places, for he could speak and read French very Well...
Page 11 - I never, and was born and learned mine English in Kent in the Weald where, I doubt not, is spoken as broad and rude English as in any place of England...
Page 70 - I durst in no wise disobey, because I am a servant unto her said grace, and receive of her yearly fee, and other many good and great benefits, and also hope many more to receive of her highness ; but forthwith went and laboured in the said translation after my simple and poor cunning...
Page 128 - I sitting in my study where as lay many divers pamphlets and books, happened that to my hand came a little book in French, which late was translated out of Latin by some noble clerk of France — which book is named Eneydos...
Page 15 - ... that, in my translations, I had over curious terms which could not be understood of common people ; and desired me to use old and homely terms in my translations. And fain would I satisfy every man ; and so to do, took an old book and read therein ; and certainly the English was so rude and broad that I could not well understand it.
Page 40 - His muse was of universal access, and he was not only the poet of his monastery, but of the world in general. If a disguising was intended by the company of goldsmiths, a mask before his majesty at Eltham, a May game for the sheriffs and aldermen of London, a mumming before the lord mayor, a procession of pageants from the creation for the festival of Corpus Christi, or a carol for a coronation, Lydgate was consulted and gave the poetry.