Richard Tottel (died 1594) was an English publisher and influential member of the legal community. He ran his business from a shop located at Temple Bar on Fleet Street in London. The majority of his printing was centered on legal documents, but he is most known for a collection he edited and published in 1557 called Songes and Sonnettes.
Son of William Tothill (the more common spelling of the family name) and Elizabeth Matthew, Richard Tottel's early life is not one easily deciphered. Tottel's father was a wealthy citizen of Exeter, England and held many public offices in his life span including bailiff in 1528, sheriff in 1529, and eventually mayor in 1552. Tottel was the third child of eleven, having three brothers and seven sisters.[1][2]
At some point, approximately 1540, Tottel was indentured to a William Middleton, a printer of law books in London. Towards the end of Tottel's indentureship, in 1547, William Middleton died. Middleton's wife remarried within seven months to William Powell, another printer of Law books. The new Mrs. Powell and William Powell freed Tottel, who then went on to take over the printing house of Henry Smithe at the Sign of the Hand and Star after Smithe's death in 1550. Sometime after, Tottel married Joan Grafton who bore him one son, William, and several daughters.[2]
Professional career and midlifeedit
The title page of Henry de Bracton's De legibus & consuetudinibus Angliæ (The Laws and Customs of England, 1st ed., 1569)[3] which was one of Tottel's publications, as is indicated by the statement "Apud Richardum Tottellum". The phrase Cum priuilegio ("With privilege") at the bottom of the page refers to Tottel's exclusive patent to publish books on the common law.
Tottel's career leapt forward when he was granted a patent that would allow him to print all authorized books dealing with common law. This patent was originally granted in April 1553 and was to last seven years. In 1556, the patent was renewed for another seven years and, in 1559, Tottel's patent was granted to him for life.[4]
Tottel's publishing played a large role in the founding of the Worshipful Company of Stationers. Upon receiving its royal charter in 1557, the Stationers' Company of London named him as the sixty-seventh member of their charter out of ninety-four. Tottel would later rise in the ranks of the Stationers' Company including the title of warden, upper warden, and master from 1578 to 1584. Due to Tottel's failing health he was continually absent to his duties within the company and was excluded from their ranks. He was still fairly loved and admired within the company and at liberty to attend their meetings whenever he was in the area.[4][5]
Tottel's published works mainly include law documents as he was the sole publisher from 1553 until he died. However, he did publish a variety of other books ranging from literary works to books on animal husbandry. The book that gained him a lasting place in history is his publication and editing of Songes and Sonettes, also known as Tottel's Miscellany.[5]
The following is an incomplete list of works published by Tottel:
William Baldwin – A Treatise of Morall Phylosophye Contaynyng the Sayinges of the Wise (1547)
Tottel's death came as no surprise. He died in early July 1593 after suffering little less than a decade of infirmity brought on by old age. As the sole owner of the printing patent for law books in the kingdom of Elizabeth I a huge legal battle ensued following his death. Eventually the patent was dissolved, and the rights to printing such volumes were free to any publisher.[2]
Though Tottel printed several volumes unrelated to law, the bulk of his publications were legal pieces. In light of this, it is ironic that he is best known for the compilation he edited and printed known as Tottel's Miscellany or Songes and Sonnets. Tottel's treatment of this piece is both careful and bold. His accuracy and ability are seen to be of scientific quality in an age where neither was of great importance. Now, hundreds of years on and eight editions later, he is still praised for his work on this and many other works of English literature.[2]
Referencesedit
^Byrom, H. J. "Richard Tottell—His Life and Work." Library 4th ser. VIII.2 (1927): 199. Print.
^ abcdKinney, Arthur F., and David W. Swain, eds. "Tottel, Richard." Tudor England: An Encyclopedia. New York: Garland, 2001. 699-700. Print.
^Henrici [Henry] de Bracton (1569), T.N. (ed.), De legibus & consuetudinibus Angliæ libri quinq[ue]; in varios tractatus distincti, ad diuersorum et vetustissimorum codicum collationem, ingenti cura, nunc primu[m] typis vulgati: quorum quid cuiq[ue]; insit, proxima pagina demonstrabit [Five books on the laws and customs of England; divided into various treatises, in order to make a collection of diverse and most ancient books, with great care, now for the first time in vulgate type: what is in each of them, the next page will show] (1st ed.), London: Apud Richardum Tottellum [At the house of Richard Tottel], OCLC 41109107.
^ abcKnott, Christopher A. "Richard Tottell." The British Literary Book Trade, 1475-1700. Ed. James K. Bracken and Joel Silver. Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol. 170. Detroit: Gale Research, 1996. Literature Resource Center. Gale. Web. 5 Oct. 2009.
December 18, 2023
richard, tottel, died, 1594, english, publisher, influential, member, legal, community, business, from, shop, located, temple, fleet, street, london, majority, printing, centered, legal, documents, most, known, collection, edited, published, 1557, called, song. Richard Tottel died 1594 was an English publisher and influential member of the legal community He ran his business from a shop located at Temple Bar on Fleet Street in London The majority of his printing was centered on legal documents but he is most known for a collection he edited and published in 1557 called Songes and Sonnettes Contents 1 Early life 2 Professional career and midlife 3 Death and legacy 4 ReferencesEarly life editSon of William Tothill the more common spelling of the family name and Elizabeth Matthew Richard Tottel s early life is not one easily deciphered Tottel s father was a wealthy citizen of Exeter England and held many public offices in his life span including bailiff in 1528 sheriff in 1529 and eventually mayor in 1552 Tottel was the third child of eleven having three brothers and seven sisters 1 2 At some point approximately 1540 Tottel was indentured to a William Middleton a printer of law books in London Towards the end of Tottel s indentureship in 1547 William Middleton died Middleton s wife remarried within seven months to William Powell another printer of Law books The new Mrs Powell and William Powell freed Tottel who then went on to take over the printing house of Henry Smithe at the Sign of the Hand and Star after Smithe s death in 1550 Sometime after Tottel married Joan Grafton who bore him one son William and several daughters 2 Professional career and midlife edit nbsp The title page of Henry de Bracton s De legibus amp consuetudinibus Angliae The Laws and Customs of England 1st ed 1569 3 which was one of Tottel s publications as is indicated by the statement Apud Richardum Tottellum The phrase Cum priuilegio With privilege at the bottom of the page refers to Tottel s exclusive patent to publish books on the common law Tottel s career leapt forward when he was granted a patent that would allow him to print all authorized books dealing with common law This patent was originally granted in April 1553 and was to last seven years In 1556 the patent was renewed for another seven years and in 1559 Tottel s patent was granted to him for life 4 Tottel s publishing played a large role in the founding of the Worshipful Company of Stationers Upon receiving its royal charter in 1557 the Stationers Company of London named him as the sixty seventh member of their charter out of ninety four Tottel would later rise in the ranks of the Stationers Company including the title of warden upper warden and master from 1578 to 1584 Due to Tottel s failing health he was continually absent to his duties within the company and was excluded from their ranks He was still fairly loved and admired within the company and at liberty to attend their meetings whenever he was in the area 4 5 Tottel s published works mainly include law documents as he was the sole publisher from 1553 until he died However he did publish a variety of other books ranging from literary works to books on animal husbandry The book that gained him a lasting place in history is his publication and editing of Songes and Sonettes also known as Tottel s Miscellany 5 The following is an incomplete list of works published by Tottel William Baldwin A Treatise of Morall Phylosophye Contaynyng the Sayinges of the Wise 1547 Thomas More A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation 1553 John Lydgate Fall of Princes 1554 Stephen Hawes Pastime of Pleasure 1555 Translation of Cicero s De Officiis by Nicholas Grimald 1556 Translations of the second and fourth books of Virgil s Aeneid by Henry Howard Earl of Surrey 1557 Thomas More Works 1557 Thomas Tusser A Hundreth Good Points of Husbandry 1557 Tottel s Miscellany First edition 1557 second edition 31 July 1557 third edition 1558 fourth edition 1565 fifth edition 1567 and sixth edition 1574 Arthur Brooke The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet 1562 William Painter author The Palace of Pleasure 1566 67 James Dyer Collection of Cases 1586 4 5 Death and legacy editTottel s death came as no surprise He died in early July 1593 after suffering little less than a decade of infirmity brought on by old age As the sole owner of the printing patent for law books in the kingdom of Elizabeth I a huge legal battle ensued following his death Eventually the patent was dissolved and the rights to printing such volumes were free to any publisher 2 Though Tottel printed several volumes unrelated to law the bulk of his publications were legal pieces In light of this it is ironic that he is best known for the compilation he edited and printed known as Tottel s Miscellany or Songes and Sonnets Tottel s treatment of this piece is both careful and bold His accuracy and ability are seen to be of scientific quality in an age where neither was of great importance Now hundreds of years on and eight editions later he is still praised for his work on this and many other works of English literature 2 References edit Byrom H J Richard Tottell His Life and Work Library 4th ser VIII 2 1927 199 Print a b c d Kinney Arthur F and David W Swain eds Tottel Richard Tudor England An Encyclopedia New York Garland 2001 699 700 Print Henrici Henry de Bracton 1569 T N ed De legibus amp consuetudinibus Angliae libri quinq ue in varios tractatus distincti ad diuersorum et vetustissimorum codicum collationem ingenti cura nunc primu m typis vulgati quorum quid cuiq ue insit proxima pagina demonstrabit Five books on the laws and customs of England divided into various treatises in order to make a collection of diverse and most ancient books with great care now for the first time in vulgate type what is in each of them the next page will show 1st ed London Apud Richardum Tottellum At the house of Richard Tottel OCLC 41109107 a b c Tottel Richard Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 a b c Knott Christopher A Richard Tottell The British Literary Book Trade 1475 1700 Ed James K Bracken and Joel Silver Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol 170 Detroit Gale Research 1996 Literature Resource Center Gale Web 5 Oct 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard Tottel amp oldid 1181866120, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
