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Breton (or Bretton) was a publisher of six liturgical and other religious works, all printed at Paris for sale in London between 1506 and 1510: the Constitutiones of Lyndewode and Athon (1505/6, STC 17109), the Sarum Horae (1506, STC 15903), the Psalterium cum hymnis (1506, STC 16258), the Sarum Graduale (1507, STC 15862), the Pupilla Oculi of Joannes de Burgo (1510, STC 4115), and another edition of the Sarum Horae (1510, STC 15909). Duff (p. 18) adds to this list the Speculum Spiritualium (Paris: Wolfgang Hopyl, 1510), but omits the Sarum Graduale. From three wills in the Public Record Office (all probated in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury), it is clear that he was the son of Thomas and Agnes Breton. On 22 September 1485, "Thomas Bretenn Alderman of londonn" made his will, in which he specifies that he "be buried . . . in the chirch of saint mary at hille by billingesgate in londonn" (P.R.O., Prob. 11. 7/Logge 15). He divides his estate in three parts: one-third for charity, one-third for his wife, and one-third for his children. He makes a bequest to the fellowship of Ironmongers, designates William Horne overseer of the will, and names as his four executors his wife, his son, John Storke, and his cousin William Curle. All except his son (who was probably too young) probated the will on 15 November 1485.

On 21 September 1516, "Agnes Bretonn of londonn widowe late the wife of Thomas Bretonn decessed Citezein while he lyved and Aldremann of the Citie of londonn" had her will drawn (P.R.O., Prob. 11. 18/Holder 25). In it,

she requests burial within the parish church of St. Dionis Backchurch, London, in the Chapel of St. John the Evangelist, where her husband was buried, and she provides 50 marks for masses over a period of five years. Her residuary legatee is her son, William Breton, whom she names sole executor; she designates her son-in-law, Sir Laurence Aylmer, knight and Alderman of London, overseer of her will, which William Breton probated on 26 November 1516.

Finally, "William Bretonn of londonn grocer and merchaunt of the Staple of Caleis" made his will on 26 April 1517 (P.R.O., Prob. 11. 22/Porch 9). His charitable bequests include money for the Observant Friars at Greenwich, the London parishes of St. Dunstan in the East and of St. Dionis Back-church, the Fraternity of Our Lady Barking in London, the five orders of friars in London, the convent of Minors without Aldgate, and the prisoners in the Counters in London and Ludgate. He leaves 40s. each to Thomas Aylmer and Antony Burley; 20s. each to his servants Antony Crull, Robert Pynchebek, Alice Lawdys, and Jane; and 40s. to the Almshouse of Mariners in Deptford. He provides for a priest to sing for his mother, "Annes" Breton, for five years, in accordance with her will, and he bequeaths five marks toward reparations of the housing belonging to the Chantry of Master Darbys in the parish of St. Dionis, where his father Thomas Breton and his mother Annes Breton were buried. He leaves the residue of his estate to his then unmarried and under-age daughter, Anne Breton, and he names as his executors his brother-in-law, Sir Laurence Aylmer, knight and Alderman of London, and his sister Lady Julian Aylmer (Sir Laurence's wife). In his own hand, he added (probably at a later date) that if his sister Julian were to die before settling his estate, then his cousin Antony Burley was to administer his goods. On 23 July 1526, Burley renounced administration of Breton's estate, and on 14 August 1526 administration was granted to Sir Laurence Aylmer, knight, and William Basset, citizen and ironmonger of London (Lady Julian having died).