James Roberts (printer)
Encyclopedia
James Roberts was an English printer.
Roberts was made free of the Company of Stationers on 27 June 1564, and on 24 June 1567 began to take apprentices. The first entry to him is for An almanacke and pronostication of Master Roberte Moore, 1570. He was one of several who petitioned the company for pardon on 27 January 1577–8, after having presented certain complaints. With R. Watkins he had a patent for almanacs and prognostications for twenty-one years from 12 May 1588. This patent lasted to the end of the reign of Elizabeth
. James I
granted for ever the right to the Stationers' Company from 29 October 1603. Roberts took over John Charlewood
's books on 31 May 1594, including the right of printing playbills, which William Jaggard unsuccessfully applied for.
About 1595 Roberts probably married Charlewood's widow, Alice. He is also said to have married a daughter of Heyes the stationer. The court of assistants ordered, on 1 September 1595, ‘that James Roberts shall clerely from hensforth surcease to deale with the printinge of the Brief Catechisme’ lately printed by him, and that he should deliver up all sheets of the book. On 25 June 1596 he was admitted into the livery.
‘A booke of the Marchaunt of Venyce, or otherwise called the Jewe of Venyce,’ was entered to him on 22 July 1598 (Arber, Transcript of the Registers, iii. 122), and he printed the first edition of the play in 1600. He also issued the first editions of A Midsummer Night's Dream
and Titus Andronicus
in the same year. He paid a fine on 26 March 1602 for not serving the rentership. On 26 July 1602 he had entered to him The Revenge of Hamlett, Prince of Denmarke, as yt was latelie acted by the Lord Chamberleyne his servantes’. The first edition was printed by N. Ling in 1603; the second and third impressions were printed by Roberts for Ling in 1604 and 1605. One other Shakespearean entry to him is for Troilus and Cressida
, as yt is acted by my lord chamberlen's Men,’ 7 Feb. 1603, of which the first printed edition came from the press of G. Eld in 1609. The last entry is on 10 July 1606 (Arber, Transcript of the Registers, iii. 326). ‘The players billes’ and some books were transferred to William Jaggard on 29 October 1615 (Arber, Transcript of the Registers, iii. 575). A long list of books belonging to Roberts towards the end of his life is reprinted in Joseph Ames
, Typographical Antiquities (ed. William Herbert
, ii. 1031–1032). Roberts first lived in St. Paul's Churchyard, London, at the sign of the Sun; he afterwards had a house in the Barbican
. He printed down to 1606. F. G. Fleay says that ‘he seems to have been given to piracy and invasion of copyright.’
Roberts was made free of the Company of Stationers on 27 June 1564, and on 24 June 1567 began to take apprentices. The first entry to him is for An almanacke and pronostication of Master Roberte Moore, 1570. He was one of several who petitioned the company for pardon on 27 January 1577–8, after having presented certain complaints. With R. Watkins he had a patent for almanacs and prognostications for twenty-one years from 12 May 1588. This patent lasted to the end of the reign of Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
granted for ever the right to the Stationers' Company from 29 October 1603. Roberts took over John Charlewood
John Charlewood
John Charlewood commenced business as a printer early in Mary's reign in partnership with John Tisdale, in Holborn. He was important as one of the first printer to print Italian works in England - the other being John Wolfe, who printed at roughly the same time as Charlewood.He was a member of the...
's books on 31 May 1594, including the right of printing playbills, which William Jaggard unsuccessfully applied for.
About 1595 Roberts probably married Charlewood's widow, Alice. He is also said to have married a daughter of Heyes the stationer. The court of assistants ordered, on 1 September 1595, ‘that James Roberts shall clerely from hensforth surcease to deale with the printinge of the Brief Catechisme’ lately printed by him, and that he should deliver up all sheets of the book. On 25 June 1596 he was admitted into the livery.
‘A booke of the Marchaunt of Venyce, or otherwise called the Jewe of Venyce,’ was entered to him on 22 July 1598 (Arber, Transcript of the Registers, iii. 122), and he printed the first edition of the play in 1600. He also issued the first editions of A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
and Titus Andronicus
Titus Andronicus
Titus Andronicus is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, and possibly George Peele, believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593. It is thought to be Shakespeare's first tragedy, and is often seen as his attempt to emulate the violent and bloody revenge plays of his contemporaries, which were...
in the same year. He paid a fine on 26 March 1602 for not serving the rentership. On 26 July 1602 he had entered to him The Revenge of Hamlett, Prince of Denmarke, as yt was latelie acted by the Lord Chamberleyne his servantes’. The first edition was printed by N. Ling in 1603; the second and third impressions were printed by Roberts for Ling in 1604 and 1605. One other Shakespearean entry to him is for Troilus and Cressida
Troilus and Cressida
Troilus and Cressida is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1602. It was also described by Frederick S. Boas as one of Shakespeare's problem plays. The play ends on a very bleak note with the death of the noble Trojan Hector and destruction of the love between Troilus...
, as yt is acted by my lord chamberlen's Men,’ 7 Feb. 1603, of which the first printed edition came from the press of G. Eld in 1609. The last entry is on 10 July 1606 (Arber, Transcript of the Registers, iii. 326). ‘The players billes’ and some books were transferred to William Jaggard on 29 October 1615 (Arber, Transcript of the Registers, iii. 575). A long list of books belonging to Roberts towards the end of his life is reprinted in Joseph Ames
Joseph Ames (author)
Joseph Ames was an English bibliographer and antiquary. He wrote an account of printing in England from 1471 to 1600, entitled Typographical Antiquities...
, Typographical Antiquities (ed. William Herbert
William Herbert (bibliographer)
William Herbert was an English bibliographer, known for his revision of the Typographical Antiquities of Joseph Ames.-Life:He was born 29 November 1718, and was educated at Hitchin, Hertfordshire. He was apprenticed to a hosier, and on the expiration of his articles took up his freedom of the...
, ii. 1031–1032). Roberts first lived in St. Paul's Churchyard, London, at the sign of the Sun; he afterwards had a house in the Barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
. He printed down to 1606. F. G. Fleay says that ‘he seems to have been given to piracy and invasion of copyright.’