William Seres
Encyclopedia
William Seres was an English Protestant printer, starting work in about 1546, and working in partnership with John Day
for a few years. Day and Seres specialized in religious works, such as those by Robert Crowley
, which were largely related to theological controversies of the time. By 1550, Day and Seres were busy and successful enough to amicably separate their businesses.
Seres afterwards joined partnership for a time with the printer and translator Anthony Scoloker, and in 1553 received letters patent
for the printing of psalters, primers
and prayer-books
. However, he lost this privilege after the accession of Queen Mary
to the throne in July 1553, when the entire religious climate of the country changed. He seems to have sought safety on the Continent. His letters patent were renewed with the accession in 1558 of Elizabeth I
.
In his old age he assigned his business for a yearly rental to Henry Denham
who became a member of the Stationers' Company in 1560. Seres lived to be Master of the same Company for several years in succession, and died about 1579.
Seres' important work includes a 1549 edition of John Rogers' Matthew Bible
, which was first printed in 1537 by Richard Grafton
and Jacobus van Meteren
as a mixture of the translations by John Tyndale and Miles Coverdale. Seres also printed Baldassare Castiglione
's The courtyer ... done into Englyshe by Thomas Hoby
in 1561.
John Day (printer)
John Day was an English Protestant printer. He specialised in printing and distributing Protestant literature and pamphlets, and produced many small-format religious books, such as ABCs, sermons, and translations of psalms...
for a few years. Day and Seres specialized in religious works, such as those by Robert Crowley
Robert Crowley (printer)
Robert Crowley also Robertus Croleus, Roberto Croleo, Robart Crowleye, Robarte Crole, and Crule , was a stationer, poet, polemicist and Protestant clergyman who was among the Marian exiles at Frankfurt...
, which were largely related to theological controversies of the time. By 1550, Day and Seres were busy and successful enough to amicably separate their businesses.
Seres afterwards joined partnership for a time with the printer and translator Anthony Scoloker, and in 1553 received letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
for the printing of psalters, primers
Book of Hours
The book of hours was a devotional book popular in the later Middle Ages. It is the most common type of surviving medieval illuminated manuscript. Like every manuscript, each manuscript book of hours is unique in one way or another, but most contain a similar collection of texts, prayers and...
and prayer-books
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
. However, he lost this privilege after the accession of Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
to the throne in July 1553, when the entire religious climate of the country changed. He seems to have sought safety on the Continent. His letters patent were renewed with the accession in 1558 of Elizabeth I
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...
.
In his old age he assigned his business for a yearly rental to Henry Denham
Henry Denham
Henry Denham was one of the outstanding English printers of the sixteenth century.He was apprenticed to Richard Tottel and took up the freedom of the Stationers' Company on August 30, 1560. In 1564 he set up his own printing house in White Cross Street, Cripplegate, but in the following year he...
who became a member of the Stationers' Company in 1560. Seres lived to be Master of the same Company for several years in succession, and died about 1579.
Seres' important work includes a 1549 edition of John Rogers' Matthew Bible
Matthew Bible
The Matthew Bible, also known as Matthew's Version, was first published in 1537 by John Rogers, under the pseudonym "Thomas Matthew". It combined the New Testament of William Tyndale, and as much of the Old Testament as he had been able to translate before being captured and put to death...
, which was first printed in 1537 by 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:...
and Jacobus van Meteren
Jacobus van Meteren
Sir Jacobus van Meteren was the financier and printer of early English versions of the Bible. He was involved in the printing of an edition of Tyndale's New Testament in 1535 . The Coverdale Bible of 1535 may also have been his work...
as a mixture of the translations by John Tyndale and Miles Coverdale. Seres also printed Baldassare Castiglione
Baldassare Castiglione
Baldassare Castiglione, count of was an Italian courtier, diplomat, soldier and a prominent Renaissance author.-Biography:Castiglione was born into an illustrious Lombard family at Casatico, near Mantua, where his family had constructed an impressive palazzo...
's The courtyer ... done into Englyshe by Thomas Hoby
Thomas Hoby
Sir Thomas Hoby was an English diplomat and translator. He was born in 1530, the second son of William Hoby of Leominster, Herefordshire, by his second wife, Katherine, daughter of John Forden. He matriculated at St. John's College, Cambridge in 1546...
in 1561.
External links
- http://nq.oxfordjournals.org/content/CLII/mar19/211-b.extract