The Old Printer and the Modern PressPart I, "The old printer", is a revised edition of the author's "William Caxton", 1844; pt. II. "The modern press" is "a view of the progress of the press to our own day, especially in relation to ... cheap popular literature". |
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Common terms and phrases
Abbey amongst amusement ancient apprentice art of printing ballads Bible book printed booksellers brought Bruges Burgundy called century Charles of Burgundy Chaucer cheap literature chivalry chronicles circulation Cologne common copies Cyclopædia demand desire doubt Duke Duke of Burgundy edition Edward Edward IV England English fiction folio Free Libraries French Guttenberg hath Henry Henry VI History honour hundred John king Knight knowledge labour ladies Latin letters literary look Lord Rivers manuscript master ment Mentz mercer never newspapers noble number of readers paper parish Penny Magazine period poet popular literature present principle printer produced profit published Raoul le Fevre Richard Richard de Bury romances rude says Schoeffer Shakspere Society sold supply taste things thousand tion towns transcribers translated twenty types vols volumes Westminster William Caxton woodcuts writers written Wynkyn Wynkyn de Worde
Popular passages
Page 16 - 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 36 - 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.
Page 219 - That general knowledge which now circulates in common talk, was in his time rarely to be found. Men not professing learning were not ashamed of ignorance ; and, in the female world, any acquaintance with books was distinguished only to be censured.
Page 6 - And certainly our language now used varieth far from that which was used and spoken when I was born...
Page 149 - 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 45 - English in Kent, in the Weald, where I doubt not is spoken as broad and rude English as in any place of England ; and have continued by the space of 30 years for the most part in the countries of Brabant, Flanders, Holland, and Zealand.
Page 205 - He has melted down the best of our English Histories into Twelve-penny Books, which are filled with Wonders, Rarities, and Curiosities; for, you must know, his Title-pages are a little swelling.
Page 5 - 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 224 - ... the candid reader;" till, the critic still rising as the author sunk, the amateurs of literature collectively were erected into a municipality of judges, and addressed as THE TOWN! And now finally, all men being supposed able to read, and all readers able to judge, the multitudinous PUBLIC, shaped into personal unity by the magic of abstraction, sits nominal despot on the throne of criticism.