Humphrey Dyson
Encyclopedia
Humphrey Dyson was a London scrivener
and notary
, and notable early book collector in England
. He was the son of Christopher Dyson, a wax-chandler
of the parish
of St Alban
in central London. Humphrey himself may also have been a member of the wax-chandlers' company. Some accounts also identify him as a clerk
of the Parliament
of his day, though this is subject to doubt.
Dyson is remembered as an early book collector catering for the merging market for political and historical information. His notebooks for 1610-1630 furnish a rare source for the study of tracts and books, and pricing in the booktrade of that period.
His collecting was particularly focused on plays, tracts, broadsides, and proclamations. In 1618 he published in folio 'A Book containing all such Proclamations as were published during the Raigne of the late Queene Elizabeth.’
He wrote out the will
of Henry Condell
(13 December 1627), and also witnessed the will and codicil
which Nicholas Tooley
, the actor
in Shakespeare’s company
, made on June 3, 1623. His association with these two notarial acts have suggested Dyson may have had links to William Shakespeare
’s circle. His father's will, of 1608, refers to two daughters, Humphrey's sisters, respectively named Judith and Susanna. These happen to be also the names Shakespeare gave to two of his own daughters (Judith Quiney
, twin sister of Hamnet Shakespeare
, and Susanna Hall
). The Dyson household, in Wood Street, was not far from Silver Street, where Shakespeare was lodging in 1604.
Scrivener
A scrivener was traditionally a person who could read and write. This usually indicated secretarial and administrative duties such as dictation and keeping business, judicial, and history records for kings, nobles, temples, and cities...
and notary
Notary
A notary is a lawyer or person with legal training who is licensed by the state to perform acts in legal affairs, in particular witnessing signatures on documents...
, and notable early book collector in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was the son of Christopher Dyson, a wax-chandler
Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers
The Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The organisation was established in 1358 by the granting of by-laws and ordinances by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen. New ordinances were issued in 1371...
of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of St Alban
St Alban, Wood Street
St Alban's was a church in Wood Street, City of London. It was dedicated to Saint Alban. Only its tower now remains.-History:Some argue that it dated back to King Offa of Mercia, who is believed to have had a palace on the site which included a chapel...
in central London. Humphrey himself may also have been a member of the wax-chandlers' company. Some accounts also identify him as a clerk
Clerk of the Parliaments
The Clerk of the Parliaments is the chief clerk of the House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The position has existed since at least 1315, and duties include preparing the minutes of Lords proceedings, advising on proper parliamentary procedure and pronouncing the Royal Assent...
of the Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
of his day, though this is subject to doubt.
Dyson is remembered as an early book collector catering for the merging market for political and historical information. His notebooks for 1610-1630 furnish a rare source for the study of tracts and books, and pricing in the booktrade of that period.
His collecting was particularly focused on plays, tracts, broadsides, and proclamations. In 1618 he published in folio 'A Book containing all such Proclamations as were published during the Raigne of the late Queene Elizabeth.’
He wrote out the will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
of Henry Condell
Henry Condell
Henry Condell was an actor in the King's Men, the playing company for which William Shakespeare wrote. With John Heminges, he was instrumental in preparing the First Folio, the collected plays of Shakespeare, published in 1623....
(13 December 1627), and also witnessed the will and codicil
Codicil (will)
A codicil is a document that amends, rather than replaces, a previously executed will. Amendments made by a codicil may add or revoke small provisions , or may completely change the majority, or all, of the gifts under the will...
which Nicholas Tooley
Nicholas Tooley
Nicholas Tooley was a Renaissance actor in the King's Men, the acting company of William Shakespeare.Recent research has shown that Tooley was born in late 1582 or early 1583; his birth name was not Tooley but Wilkinson...
, the actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
in Shakespeare’s company
King's Men (playing company)
The King's Men was the company of actors to which William Shakespeare belonged through most of his career. Formerly known as The Lord Chamberlain's Men during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, it became The King's Men in 1603 when King James ascended the throne and became the company's patron.The...
, made on June 3, 1623. His association with these two notarial acts have suggested Dyson may have had links to William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
’s circle. His father's will, of 1608, refers to two daughters, Humphrey's sisters, respectively named Judith and Susanna. These happen to be also the names Shakespeare gave to two of his own daughters (Judith Quiney
Judith Quiney
Judith Quiney , née Shakespeare, was the youngest daughter of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway. She married Thomas Quiney, a vintner of Stratford-upon-Avon. The circumstances of the marriage, including Quiney's misconduct, may have prompted the rewriting of Shakespeare's will...
, twin sister of Hamnet Shakespeare
Hamnet Shakespeare
Hamnet Shakespeare was the only son of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, and the fraternal twin of Judith Shakespeare. He died at age 11 of unknown causes. There are several theories on the relationship, if any, between Hamnet and his father's later play Hamlet...
, and Susanna Hall
Susanna Hall
Susanna Hall , née Shakespeare, was the eldest child of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, and the older sister of Judith Quiney and Hamnet Shakespeare...
). The Dyson household, in Wood Street, was not far from Silver Street, where Shakespeare was lodging in 1604.
Manuscripts
- Dyson, Humphrey. “Catalogue of all such Bookes touching as well the State Ecclesiastical as Temporall of the Realme of England.” MS 117, Codrington Library, All Soul’s College, Oxford.