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William Stansby's Early
Career
by
James K. Bracken
Heretofore the date of William Stansby's succession to the mastership of the Cross Keys printing house of his former master John Windet is thought to have been about 1615. R. B. McKerrow, in his Dictionary of Printers and Booksellers in England, Scotland and Ireland, and of Foreign Printers of English Books, 1557-1640, noted that Stansby "appears to have been taken into partnership by his former master, at whose death about 1615, he succeeded to the business."[1] In his portrait of John Windet, however, McKerrow was less precise about the date of Stansby's succession: "The last book entry under his [Windet's] name is found on May 14th, 1604; but he continued in business until 1611 when he assigned over his copyrights to William Stansby, who ultimately succeeded to the business" (Dictionary, p. 295). Evidence showing that McKerrow was incorrect in dating Windet's death about 1615 and, consequently, mistaken in placing Stansby's succession in the same year, although right in assuming that they had entered into a partnership, appears in Windet's will.[2] The will, tested on 21 November 1610, was probated on 8 January 1611, showing that Windet had certainly died between these dates. Furthermore, the will shows, first, that Windet and Stansby had previously agreed to a partnership in which Stansby owned half of the printing instruments of the Cross Keys as well as half of Windet's completed but unsold books, partially completed books, and manuscripts yet to be printed; and, second, that the remainder of Windet's professional property was to be offered to Stansby for purchase at a price established by Windet's executors. The second point of Windet's will is as follows:[3]
The details of Windet's will allow the events of Stansby's early career to be reexamined in new light. Stansby began his career as an apprentice to John Windet in the Cross Keys on Christmas 1590.[4] Admitted a freeman on 7 January 1597 (Arber, II, 717), Stansby evidently went into business for himself, although remaining closely associated with Windet. On 28 April 1597—only three months after he was made a freeman—Stansby entered his first book copy, The Policy of the Turkish Empire (Arber, III, 83), which he published in the same year (STC 24335). The book's imprint, "Printed by Iohn Windet for W. S. and are to be soulde at Powles Wharfe at the signe of the Crosse Keyes," suggests that Windet greatly aided Stansby in the publication. Stansby's name as publisher appears in the colophon. Stansby was then apparently content to labor quietly in Windet's printing house for the next decade.[5] After 1607, however, numerous books can be attributed to Stansby as a printer. Since he owned no press, Stansby probably about this time entered into the partnership with Windet which enabled him to use the resources of the Cross Keys for his own benefit. The earliest book whose printing has been attributed to Stansby is The Iesuites Play at Lyons (STC 21514),
The tremendous productivity of the Cross Keys printing house in 1611 and afterwards can be credited solely to Stansby. Some 104 books can be attributed to him in the period 1611-15. Three-quarters of these, seventy-eight in number, Stansby printed for other stationers, the remaining quarter, some twenty-six, being his own publications. Among the books which Stansby produced in this period are some significant folios—Richard Hooker's Of the Lawes of Ecclesiasticall Politie (STC 13714) of 1611; Thomas Fougasses' The Generall Historie of the Magnificent State of Venice (STC 11207) of 1612 (shared with George Eld); Samuel Purchas' Purchas His Pilgrimage (STC 20505 and 20506) of 1613 and 1614; Seneca's Workes (STC 22213), Walter Ralegh's The History of the World (STC 20637), Thomas Jackson's The Third Booke of Commentaries vpon the Apostles Creede (STC 14315), and William Leighton's Teares and Lamentations of a Sorrowfull Soule (STC 15434) of 1614; and William Camden's Annales (STC 4496) and William Martyn's The Historie and Liues of Twentie Kings of England (STC 17526 and 17527) of 1615. Following the death of Windet in late 1610 or early 1611, Stansby became solely responsible for the activities of the Cross Keys printing house. The books produced there are much to his credit.
Notes
R. B. McKerrow, Dictionary of Printers and Booksellers in England, Scotland and Ireland, and of Foreign Printers of English Books, 1557-1640 (1910; rpt. 1968), p. 256.
In the transcription, abbreviations have been expanded, with missing letters supplied in italics and superior letters lowered to the line.
Edward Arber, ed., A Transcript of the Registers of the Company of Stationers of London, 1554-1640 A. D. (1875-94; rpt. 1967), II, 173.
It is not certain if Stansby undertook other publications prior to 1607. Another book attributed to him in 1597 was STC 24117. The revision of the STC now assigns this to Windet. STC 16740 was attributed to Stansby in 1603. The revised STC now dates this 1625. Paul G. Morrison's Index of Printers, Publishers, and Booksellers in A. W. Pollard and G. R. Redgrave: A Short-Title Catalogue of Books Printed in England, Scotland & Ireland and of English Books Printed Abroad, 1475-1640 (1950), has been invaluable in identifying Stansby's books.
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