GRAFTON, RICHARD (d. 1572), English printer and chronicler, was born probably about 1513. He received the free dom of the Grocers' Company in 1534. In 1537 Grafton under took, in conjunction with Edward Whitchurch, to produce a modified version of Coverdale's bible, generally known as Mat thew's Bible (Antwerp, 1537). He went to Paris to reprint Cover dale's revised edition (1538). There Whitchurch and he began to print the folio known as the Great Bible by special licence ob tained by Hcnry VIII. from the French Government. Suddenly, however, the work was officially stopped and the presses seized. Grafton fled, but Thomas Cromwell eventually bought the presses and type, and the printing was completed in England. The Great Bible was reprinted several times under his direction, the last occasion being 1553. In Grafton and Whitchurch secured the exclusive right of printing church service books, and on the accession of Edward VI., he was appointed king's printer. In this capacity he produced The Booke of the Common Praier and Ad ministracion of the Sacramentes, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Churche: after the Use of the Churche of Englande seq.), and Actes of Parliament (1552 and 1553). In 1553 he printed Lady Jane Grey's proclamation and signed himself the queen's printer. For this he was imprisoned for a short time, and he seems thereafter to have retired from active business. His historical works include a continuation (1543) of Hardyng's Chronicle from the beginning of the reign of Edward IV. down to Graf ton's own times. He seems to have taken liberties with the original. After he retired from the printing business he published An Abridgement of the Chronicles of England (1562), Manuell of the Chronicles of England 0565), Chronicle at large and meere Historye of the Affayres of England (1568) . In 1553-54 and he represented the City in parliament, and in 1562-63 he sat for Coventry.