Augustine Matthews (fl. 1615 – 1637) was a printer in London in the Jacobean and Caroline eras. Among a wide variety of other work, Matthews printed notable texts in English Renaissance drama.
The title page of Lady Mary Wroth's The Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania, 1621, printed by Augustine Matthews
Matthews became a freedman (a full member) of the Stationers Company on 9 May 1615. By 1619 he was established in his own business (in Cow Lane), and for the next two decades he produced a range of literature for many of the booksellers of his generation.
In the field of drama, Matthews printed these editions of these plays:
In the standard practice in his era, Matthews the printer generally worked for booksellers functioning as publishers. Matthews printed the second quarto of Othello for stationer Richard Hawkins; he printed the 1622 third edition of The Troublesome Reign for Thomas Dewes – a controversial text, since its title page attributed that play to Shakespeare.[1] The 1635 fourth edition of The Scornful Lady was a rare instance in which Matthews acted as both printer and publisher.
Printers in Matthews's era were sometimes identified by name, sometimes by initials, and sometimes not at all. Bibliographers have worked to assign responsibility for specific texts to specific printers. Matthews is thought to have been one of the London printers, along with Edward Allde and Nicholas Okes, who produced the early quartos of Middleton's A Game at Chess.[2]
Matthews printed a wide range of work beyond the confines of drama. He was an important printer of the works of John Donne,[3] and printed some of the work of the poet George Wither. In 1621 he printed the first edition of Lady Mary Wroth's controversial Urania for John Marriot and John Grismand.[4] (The project was a rush job; the text ends in the middle of a sentence.) He also printed items in the religious literature that was so abundant in the early seventeenth century. Two examples: Matthews printed a pair of collections of Thomas Adams's sermons, The Soldier's Honour (1629) and Erienopolis, the City of Peace (1630), both for John Grismand.
As was common for printers and booksellers of his historical period, Matthews had recurring problems with the authorities. In 1629, he, Nathaniel Butter, and two others were accused of publishing unlicensed books.[5] At other times in his career, Matthews got into trouble for running too many presses, and for having too many apprentices.[6]
Referencesedit
^E. K. Chambers, The Elizabethan Stage, 4 Volumes, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1923; Vol. 4, p. 23.
^Cyndia Susan Clegg, Press Censorship in Jacobean England, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2001; p. 188.
^John Donne, Pseudo-Martyr, Anthony Raspa, ed., Toronto, ON, Magill-Queen's University Press, 1993; p. lxv.
^Gary Fredric Waller, The Sidney Family Romance, Detroit, MI, Wayne State University Press, 1993; p. 247.
^Cyndia Susan Clegg, Press Censorship in Caroline England, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2008; p. 108.
^David McKitterick, A History of Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1998; p. 166.
February 19, 2024
augustine, matthews, 1615, 1637, printer, london, jacobean, caroline, eras, among, wide, variety, other, work, matthews, printed, notable, texts, english, renaissance, drama, title, page, lady, mary, wroth, countesse, mountgomeries, urania, 1621, printed, matt. Augustine Matthews fl 1615 1637 was a printer in London in the Jacobean and Caroline eras Among a wide variety of other work Matthews printed notable texts in English Renaissance drama The title page of Lady Mary Wroth s The Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania 1621 printed by Augustine MatthewsMatthews became a freedman a full member of the Stationers Company on 9 May 1615 By 1619 he was established in his own business in Cow Lane and for the next two decades he produced a range of literature for many of the booksellers of his generation In the field of drama Matthews printed these editions of these plays Q2 of Thomas Middleton and William Rowley s A Fair Quarrel 1622 Q3 of The Troublesome Reign of King John 1622 Q1 of John Webster s The Devil s Law Case 1623 Q1 of the anonymous Tragedy of Nero 1624 with printer John Norton Q2 of Beaumont and Fletcher s The Scornful Lady 1625 Q4 of the same play 1635 Q3 of Beaumont and Fletcher s Philaster 1628 Q3 of George Wilkins s The Miseries of Enforced Marriage 1629 Q2 of William Shakespeare s Othello 1630 Q1 of Philip Massinger s The Renegado 1630 Q1 of Sir William Davenant s The Cruel Brother 1630 Q1 of Thomas Drue s The Duchess of Suffolk 1631 Q3 of Beaumont and Fletcher s A King and No King 1631 Q3 of William Haughton s Englishmen for My Money 1631 Q1 of Richard Brome s The Northern Lass 1632 Q1 of the anonymous The Costly Whore 1633 Q1 of Thomas May s The Heir 1633 Q1 of Shackerley Marmion s A Fine Companion 1633 Q3 of John Fletcher s The Faithful Shepherdess 1634 In the standard practice in his era Matthews the printer generally worked for booksellers functioning as publishers Matthews printed the second quarto of Othello for stationer Richard Hawkins he printed the 1622 third edition of The Troublesome Reign for Thomas Dewes a controversial text since its title page attributed that play to Shakespeare 1 The 1635 fourth edition of The Scornful Lady was a rare instance in which Matthews acted as both printer and publisher Printers in Matthews s era were sometimes identified by name sometimes by initials and sometimes not at all Bibliographers have worked to assign responsibility for specific texts to specific printers Matthews is thought to have been one of the London printers along with Edward Allde and Nicholas Okes who produced the early quartos of Middleton s A Game at Chess 2 Matthews printed a wide range of work beyond the confines of drama He was an important printer of the works of John Donne 3 and printed some of the work of the poet George Wither In 1621 he printed the first edition of Lady Mary Wroth s controversial Urania for John Marriot and John Grismand 4 The project was a rush job the text ends in the middle of a sentence He also printed items in the religious literature that was so abundant in the early seventeenth century Two examples Matthews printed a pair of collections of Thomas Adams s sermons The Soldier s Honour 1629 and Erienopolis the City of Peace 1630 both for John Grismand As was common for printers and booksellers of his historical period Matthews had recurring problems with the authorities In 1629 he Nathaniel Butter and two others were accused of publishing unlicensed books 5 At other times in his career Matthews got into trouble for running too many presses and for having too many apprentices 6 References edit E K Chambers The Elizabethan Stage 4 Volumes Oxford Clarendon Press 1923 Vol 4 p 23 Cyndia Susan Clegg Press Censorship in Jacobean England Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2001 p 188 John Donne Pseudo Martyr Anthony Raspa ed Toronto ON Magill Queen s University Press 1993 p lxv Gary Fredric Waller The Sidney Family Romance Detroit MI Wayne State University Press 1993 p 247 Cyndia Susan Clegg Press Censorship in Caroline England Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2008 p 108 David McKitterick A History of Cambridge University Press Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1998 p 166 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Augustine Matthews amp oldid 1156178303, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
