John Cawood
Encyclopedia
John Cawood came of an old Yorkshire family of some substance and was apprenticed to John Reynes
, who is best known as a bookbinder and who died in 1543 or 1544. In 1553 Cawood replaced Richard Grafton
as Royal Printer. For his official salary of £6. 13s. 4d. per annum, Cawood was directed to print all "statute books, acts, proclamations, injunctions, and other volumes and things, under what name or title soever" in English, with the profit appertaining.
He was also granted the reversion of Reyner Wolfe's patent, authorized in 1547, for printing Latin, Greek and Hebrew books, for which he was to receive an additional 16s. 8d. per annum "and all other profits and advantages thereto belonging." He never enjoyed this reversion, for he died a year before Wolfe.
In 1553 Cawood seems to have acquired a certain amount of printing material from Steven Mierdman
, who on the accession of May had been obliged to leave England. In that year a number of books printed by Cawood contain initials formerly used by Mierdman.
Upon the incorporation of the Stationers' Company in 1557, Cawood was one of the Wardens and he became Master in 1561, 1562 and 1566. During his lifetime Cawood was a great benefactor of the Company, though unfortunately his gifts perished in the Great Fire.
As Queen's Printer
to Mary, Cawood was responsible for printing the proclamations and acts published during her reign, but on the accession of Elizabeth, the proclamation to that effect was printed by Richard Jugge
, who subsequently printed several others and was termed in a letter from the Privy Council
dated 20 December, 1558, "the Quenes majesties Prynter." On 25 January, 1559, Cawood's name was conjoined with Jugge's in the printing of An Acte whereby certayne offences be made treason, and from that time they continued jointly to print the State papers.
Cawood died in 1572, and had been three times married. His device consisted of his mark and initials.
John Reynes
John Reynes was a stationer and bookbinder in London, England. His apprentice was John Cawood. His name first appears in the colophon of an edition of Higden's ‘Polycronycon,’ issued in 1527, and he continued to publish books at intervals up to 1544. He is, however, better known as a bookbinder,...
, who is best known as a bookbinder and who died in 1543 or 1544. In 1553 Cawood replaced Richard Grafton
Richard Grafton
Richard Grafton , was King's Printer under Henry VIII and Edward VI. He was a member of the Grocers' Company and MP for Coventry elected 1562-63.-Under Henry VIII:...
as Royal Printer. For his official salary of £6. 13s. 4d. per annum, Cawood was directed to print all "statute books, acts, proclamations, injunctions, and other volumes and things, under what name or title soever" in English, with the profit appertaining.
He was also granted the reversion of Reyner Wolfe's patent, authorized in 1547, for printing Latin, Greek and Hebrew books, for which he was to receive an additional 16s. 8d. per annum "and all other profits and advantages thereto belonging." He never enjoyed this reversion, for he died a year before Wolfe.
In 1553 Cawood seems to have acquired a certain amount of printing material from Steven Mierdman
Steven Mierdman
Steven Mierdman was among the most important Dutch printers of Reformation books.Mierdman, also known as Stephen Mierdman, Steven Mierdmans, Stephen Myerdmann, and Steven Mierman, first printed in Antwerp from 1542-c. 1546, becoming a freeman of the city in November 1543...
, who on the accession of May had been obliged to leave England. In that year a number of books printed by Cawood contain initials formerly used by Mierdman.
Upon the incorporation of the Stationers' Company in 1557, Cawood was one of the Wardens and he became Master in 1561, 1562 and 1566. During his lifetime Cawood was a great benefactor of the Company, though unfortunately his gifts perished in the Great Fire.
As Queen's Printer
Queen's Printer
The Queen's Printer is a position defined by letters patent under the royal prerogative in various Commonwealth realms...
to Mary, Cawood was responsible for printing the proclamations and acts published during her reign, but on the accession of Elizabeth, the proclamation to that effect was printed by Richard Jugge
Richard Jugge
Richard Jugge was an eminent English printer, who kept a shop at the sign of the Bible, at the North door of St Paul's Cathedral, though his residence was in Newgate market, next to Christ Church.-Life:...
, who subsequently printed several others and was termed in a letter from the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
dated 20 December, 1558, "the Quenes majesties Prynter." On 25 January, 1559, Cawood's name was conjoined with Jugge's in the printing of An Acte whereby certayne offences be made treason, and from that time they continued jointly to print the State papers.
Cawood died in 1572, and had been three times married. His device consisted of his mark and initials.