An exact old writer[266] says of printers at this season of the year,
that “It is customary for all journeymen to make every year, new paper
windows about _Bartholomew-tide_, at which time the master printer makes
them a feast called a _way-goose_, to which is invited the corrector,
founder, smith, ink-maker, &c. who all open their purses and give to the
workmen to spend in the tavern or ale-house after the feast. From which
time they begin to work by candle light.”
_Paper windows_ are no more: a well regulated printing-office is as well
glazed and as light as a dwelling-house. It is curious however to note,
that it appears the windows of an office were formerly papered; probably
in the same way that we see them in some carpenters’ workshops with
oiled paper. The _way-goose_, however, is still maintained, and these
feasts of London printing-houses are usually held at some tavern in the
environs.
In “The Doome warning all men to the Judgment, by Stephen Batman, 1581,”
a ~black letter~ quarto volume, it is set down among “the straunge
prodigies hapned in the worlde, with divers figures of revelations
tending to mannes stayed conversion towardes God,” whereof the work is
composed, that in 1450, “The noble science of printing was aboute thys
time founde in Germany at Magunce, (a famous citie in Germanie called
Ments,) by Cuthembergers, a knight, or rather John Faustus, as sayeth
doctor Cooper, in his Chronicle; one Conradus, an Almaine broughte it
into Rome, William Caxton of London, mercer, broughte it into England,
about 1471; in Henrie the sixth, the seaven and thirtieth of his raign,
in Westminster was the first printing.” John Guttemberg, sen. is
affirmed to have produced the first printed book, in 1442, although John
Guttemberg, jun. is the commonly reputed inventor of the art. John
Faust, or Fust, was its promoter, and Peter Schoeffer its improver. It
started to perfection almost with its invention; yet, although the
labours of the old printer have never been outrivalled, their presses
have; for the information and amusement of some readers, a sketch is
subjoined of one from a wood-cut in Batman’s book.
[Illustration: ~Ancient Printing-office.~]
In this old print we see the compositor _seated_ at his work, the reader
engaged with his copy or proof, and the pressmen at their labours. It
exhibits the form of the early press better, perhaps, than any other
engraving that has been produced for that purpose; and it is to be
noted, as a “custom of the _chapel_,” that papers are stuck on it, as we
still see practised by modern pressmen. Note, too, the ample flagon, a
vessel doubtless in use _ad libitum_, by that beer-drinking people with
whom printing originated, and therefore not forgotten in their
printing-houses; it is wisely restricted here, by the interest of
employers, and the growing sense of propriety in press-men, who are
becoming as respectable and intelligent a class of “operatives” as they
were, within recollection, degraded and sottish.
_The Chapel._
“Every printing-house,” says Randle Holme, “is termed a chappel.” Mr.
John M‘Creery in one of the notes to “The Press,” an elegant poem, of
which he is the author, and which he beautifully printed, with elaborate
engravings on wood, as a specimen of his typography, says, that “The
title of _chapel_ to the internal regulations of a printing-house
originated in Caxton’s exercising the profession in one of the chapels
in Westminster Abbey; and may be considered as an additional proof, from
the antiquity of the custom, of his being the first English printer. In
extensive houses, where many workmen are employed, the _calling a
chapel_ is a business of great importance, and generally takes place
when a member of the office has a complaint to allege against any of his
fellow workmen; the first intimation of which he makes to the _father of
the chapel_, usually the oldest printer in the house: who, should he
conceive that the charge can be substantiated, and the injury, supposed
to have been received, is of such magnitude as to call for the
interference of the law, summonses the members of _the chapel_ before
him at the _imposing stone_, and there receives the allegation and the
defence, in solemn assembly, and dispenses justice with typographical
rigour and impartiality. These trials, though they are sources of
neglect of business and other irregularities, often afford scenes of
genuine humour. The punishment generally consists in the criminal
providing a libation by, which the offending workmen may wash away the
stain that his misconduct has laid upon the body at large. Should the
plaintiff not be able to substantiate his charge, the fine then falls
upon himself for having maliciously arraigned his companion; a mode of
practice which is marked with the features of sound policy, as it never
loses sight of _the good of the chapel_.”
Returning to Randle Holme once more, we find the “_good of the chappel_”
consists of “forfeitures and other chappel dues, collected for the good
of the chappel, viz. to be spent as the chappel approves.” This
indefatigable and accurate collector and describer of every thing he
could lay his hands on and press into heraldry, has happily preserved
the ancient rules of government instituted by the worshipful fraternity
of printers. This book is very rare, and this perhaps may have been the
reason that the following document essentially connected with the
history of printing, has never appeared in one of the many works so
entitled.
_Customs of the Chappel._
Every printing-house is called a _chappel_, in which there are these
laws and customs, for the well and good government of the chappel, and
for the orderly deportment of all its members while in the chappel.
Every workman belonging to it are _members of the chappel_, and the
eldest freeman is _father of the chappel_; and the penalty for the
breach of any law or custom is in printers’ language called a _solace_.