Andrew Chertsey
Encyclopedia
Andrew Chertsey was an English translator, now known for the devotional collection 'The craft to lyve well and to dye.'
. The following are attributed to him:
Works
He undertook several translations into English of French devotional books for Wynkyn de WordeWynkyn de Worde
Wynkyn de Worde was a printer and publisher in London known for his work with William Caxton, and is recognized as the first to popularize the products of the printing press in England....
. The following are attributed to him:
- A Lytell treatyse called the Lucydarye, Wynkyn de Worde, London, 1508?, from a French version of the Elucidarius of Honorius AugustodunensisHonorius AugustodunensisHonorius Augustodunensis , commonly known as Honorius of Autun, was a very popular 12th-century Christian theologian who wrote prolifically on many subjects. He wrote in a non-scholastic manner, with a lively style, and his works were approachable for the lay community in general...
. - Ihesus. The Floure of the Commaundementes of God, with many examples and auctorytees extracte and draw as well of Holy Scryptures as other doctours and good auncyente faders, the whiche is moche utyle and profytable unto all people, Wynkyn de Worde, London, 1521.
- A Goostly Treatyse of the Passyon of Christ, with many devout cōtemplacions, examples, and exposicyons of ye same, in prose and verse, Wynkyn de Worde, London, 1532. This book is stated to have been translated by Chertsey in 1520. A poetical prologue by Robert CoplandRobert CoplandRobert Copland , English printer and author, is said to have been a servant of William Caxton, and certainly worked for Wynkyn de Worde. The first book to which his name is affixed as a printer is The Boke of Justices of Peace , at the sign of the Rose Garland, in Fleet Street, London...
is prefixed, in which Chertsey is stated to have translated many other books. Two of these volumes Copland describes as dealing with 'The Sevyn Sacraments,' another was entitled 'Of Christen men the ordinary,' and a fourth 'The craft to lyve well and to dye.' Of this last work alone is anything now known. Caxton printed a book with the same title about 1491, consisting of his own translated extracts from a French work. But in 1506 Wynkyn de Worde published a complete translation of the same French work, and for this Chertsey assumed responsible. Thomas WartonThomas WartonThomas Warton was an English literary historian, critic, and poet. From 1785 to 1790 he was the Poet Laureate of England...
states that George AshbyGeorge Ashby (poet)-Life:He was born about 1390, and was from Warwickshire. He was clerk of the signet, first to Henry VI from the beginning of his reign, and afterwards to Margaret of Anjou, in whose service he evidently travelled abroad. Margaret named him steward of Warwick in 1446...
was probably the author of some of the books ascribed by Copland to Chertsey, but evidence is lacking.