In 1664 Richard Atkyns, a Gloucestershire gentleman of some position,
and educated at Balliol, issued a book, the title of which sets forth
with unusual clearness the object of the volume:—“The Original and
Growth of Printing: Collected Out of History, and the _Records_ of this
Kingdome. Wherein is also Demonstrated, That Printing appertaineth to
the _Prerogative Royal_; and is a Flower of the _Crown_ of _England_. By
Richard Atkyns, _Esq_:” (London, printed by John Streater, for the
Author, MDCLXIV: quarto: pp. [12] + 24). Atkyns’s object was to
recommend himself to Charles II’s attention by proving that printing was
a royal privilege: and for this it was very desirable that there should
be evidence of the introduction of the art into England under royal
protection. The testimony of Stowe—corroborated by Howell—that “William
Caxton of London, Mercer,” introduced it in 1471, was unsuitable.
Atkyns, however, came upon a copy of the “1468” Oxford book, and “the
same most worthy Person who trusted me with the aforesaid Book, did also
present me with the Copy of a Record and Manuscript in _Lambeth_-House,
heretofore in his Custody, belonging to the See (and not to any
particular Arch-Bishop of _Canterbury_); the substance whereof was this
(though I hope, for publique satisfaction, the Record it self, in its
due time, will appear).” Then ensues the following story:—
_Thomas Bourchier_, Arch-Biſhop of _Canterbury_, moved the then King
(_Hen._ the 6th) to uſe all poſſible means for procuring a
Printing-Mold (for ſo ’twas there called) to be brought into this
Kingdom; the King (a good Man, and much given to Works of this Nature)
readily hearkned to the Motion; and taking private Advice, how to
effect His Deſign, concluded it could not be brought about without
great Secrecy, and a conſiderable Sum of Money given to ſuch Perſon or
Perſons, as would draw off ſome of the Workmen from _Harlein_ in
_Holland_, where _John Cuthenberg_ had newly invented it, and was
himſelf perſonally at Work: ’Twas reſolv’d, that leſs then one
Thouſand Marks would not produce the deſir’d Effect: Towards which
Sum, the ſaid Arch-Biſhop preſented the King with Three Hundred Marks.
The Money being now prepared, the Management of the Deſign was
committed to Mr. _Robert Turnour_, who then was of the Roabs to the
King, and a Perſon moſt in Favour with Him, of any of his Condition:
Mr. _Turnour_ took to his Aſſiſtance Mr. _Caxton_, a Citizen of good
Abilities, who Trading much into _Holland_, might be a Creditable
Pretence, as well for his going, as ſtay in the _Low Countries_: Mr.
_Turnour_ was in Diſguiſe (his Beard and Hair ſhaven quite off) but
Mr. _Caxton_ appeared known and publique. They having received the
ſaid Sum of One Thouſand Marks, went firſt to _Amſterdam_, then to
_Leyden_, not daring to enter _Harlein_ it ſelf; for the Town was very
jealous, having impriſoned and apprehended divers Perſons, who came
from other Parts for the ſame purpoſe: They ſtaid till they had ſpent
the whole One Thouſand Marks in Gifts and Expences: So as the King was
fain to ſend Five Hundred Marks more, Mr. _Turnour_ having written to
the King, that he had almoſt done his Work; a Bargain (as he ſaid)
being ſtruck betwixt him and two _Hollanders_, for bringing off one of
the Work men, who ſhould ſufficiently diſcover and teach this New Art:
At laſt, with much ado, they got off one of the Under-Workmen, whoſe
Name was _Frederick Corſells_ (or rather _Corſellis_), who late one
Night ſtole from his Fellows in Diſguiſe, into a Veſſel prepared
before for that purpoſe; and ſo the Wind (favouring the Deſign)
brought him ſafe to _London_.
’Twas not thought ſo prudent, to ſet him on Work at _London_, (but by
the Arch-Biſhops meanes, who had been Vice-Chancellor, and afterwards
Chancellor of the Univerſity of _Oxon_) _Corſellis_ was carryed with a
Guard to _Oxon_; which Guard conſtantly watch’d, to prevent
_Corſellis_ from any poſſible Escape, till he had made good his
Promiſe, in teaching how to Print: So that at _Oxford_ Printing was
firſt ſet up in _England_, which was before there was any
Printing-Press, or Printer, in _France_, _Spain_, _Italy_, or
_Germany_, (except the City of _Mentz_) which claimes Seniority, as to
Printing, even of _Harlein_ it ſelf, calling her City, _Urbem
Maguntinam Artis Tipographicæ Inventricem primam_, though ’tis known
to be otherwiſe, that City gaining that Art by the Brother of one of
the Workmen of _Harlein_, who had learnt it at Home of his Brother,
and after ſet up for himſelf at _Mentz_.
This Preſs at _Oxon_ was at leaſt ten years before there was any
Printing in _Europe_ (except at _Harlein_, and _Mentz_) where alſo it
was but new born. This Preſs at _Oxford_, was afterwards found
inconvenient, to be the ſole Printing-place of _England_, as being too
far from _London_, and the Sea: Whereupon the King ſet up a Preſs at
St. _Albans_, and another in the Abby of _Weſtminster_, where they
Printed ſeveral Bookes of Divinity and Phyſick, (for the King, for
Reaſons beſt known to himſelf and Council) permitted then no Law-Books
to be Printed; nor did any Printer exerciſe that ART, but onely ſuch
as were the Kings ſworn Servants; the King himſelf having the Price
and Emolument for Printing Books.
Printing thus brought into _England_, was moſt Graciouſly received by
the King, and moſt cordially entertained by the Church, the Printers
having the Honour to be ſworn the King’s Servants, and the Favour to
Lodge in the very Boſome of the Church; as in _Weſtminſter_, St.
_Albans_, _Oxon_, &c.
As no one believes in this story it is not worth while to do more than
to point out that no corroboration of it has ever been found, (much less
the original record discovered), that Henry VI was deposed 4 March
1460/1, and that the type shows no resemblance to that of Haarlem. Nor
does the rest of the book concern us. The tale, however, in the absence
of contradiction, obtained some vogue, so that we find for instance in
Layer Marney church in Essex some such inscription as the following
“Præ-missus, non amissus, Nicolas Corsellis Armiger Dominus hujus
manerii hic requiescit, hâc vitâ ad meliorem commigratus Anno D 1674 Die
Octobris 19^o.
Artem typographi miratam Belgicus Anglis
Corsellis docuit, Regis prece munere victus.
Hic fuit extremis mercator cognitus Indis:
Incola jam cælis, virtus sua famaque vivent.
Johannes Corsellis ejus Executor & Consanguineus hoc monumentum posuit.”
The Corsellis family came from Flanders in the 17th century. There is no
question that this clumsy forgery of Atkyns has had its effect in
befogging the subject to which it relates, and has predisposed critics
to suspect the date of the first Oxford book.