From the evidence of Wynkyn de Worde, in the colophon of his edition of Vitas Patrum,' 1495, it appears that these ' Lives of the Fathers' were "translated out of French into English by William Caxton of Westminster, lately dead," and that he finished the work "at the last day of his life." His death however seems fixed, by two or three entries in the parish accounts of St. Margaret, Westminster, to the year 1491 or 1492, in which we read, "item; atte bureyng of William Caxton for RI, torches v viijd. Item; for the belle at same Bureyng, yjd." Wynkyn de Worde no doubt referred to this time.
Caxton, Mr. Warton observes, by translating, or procuring to be translated, a great number of books from the French, greatly con tributed to promote the state of literature in England. In regard to his types, Mr. Dibdin eays, be appears to have made Use of five distinct sets, or founts of letters, of which, iu his account of Caxton's works, be has engraved plates in fac-simile. Edward Rowe Mores, in his 'Dissertation upon English Typographical Founders and Foundries,' says Caxton's letter was originally of the sort called Secretary, and of this he had two founts; afterwards he came nearer to the English face, and had three founts of Oreat Primer, a rude one which lie used anno 1474, another something better, and a third cut about 1482; one of Double Pica, good, which first appears 1490; and one of Long Primer, at least nearly agreeing with the bodies which have since been called by those names. All of Caxton's works were printed in what are called black letter.
The following is probably as complete a list as can now be recovered of the productions of Caxton's press:—]. 'Le Recuell des Histoires de Troye, Lompose par raoulle le fours, ehapellein de Monseigneur le duo Philippe de Bourgoiogne en l'an de grace mil eccelxiiii: fol. 2. 'Propositio clarisaimi Oratorio Megiatri Johaunis Ruud!, dccretorutn doctoris ac adhunc Ambassiatorie Edwardi Regis Anglia et Fraucie ad illustr. Principem Karolum ducem Bdrgundie super susceptione ordinis garterij, &e.,' 4to. 3. ' The Recuycll of the Historyes of Troye,' com posed and drawen out of diverce booker of latyn in to Frensshe by Raoul le ffeure in the yore 1464, and drawen out of frensshe in to Englisshe by William Caxton at the cotnmauudement of Margarete Duchess of Bourgoyne, &e., whyche tiayd translacion and werke was begonne in Brugis in 1468 and ended in the holy cyte of Colen 19 Sept. 1471, fol. 4. The Game and Playe of the Cheese,' translated out of the French, fynysshid the last day of Marche, 1474, fob 5. A second edition of the same, fol. (with wood-cuts). 6. 'A Boke of the hoole Lyf of Jason,' 1475, fol. 7. The Dictes and notable wyse Sayenges of the Phyloaophera,' transl. out of Frensho by lord Antoine Wydeville Erle Ryuyeres, empr. at Westmestre, 1477, fol. 8. 'The Morale Prouerbss of Cristyne (of Pisa),' fol., 1478. 9. 'The Book named Cordyale ; or Memorare Novissima,' which treateth of The foure last Things,' begun 1478, finished 1480, fol. 10. ' The Chronicles of Englond,' Westm.,1480, fol. 11. 'Descripcion of Britayno,' 1480, fol. 12. ' The Mirrour of the World or thymage of the same,' 1481, fol. 13. The Hyatorye of Reynart the Foxe,' 1481, fol. 14. `The Boke of Tullius de senectute, with Tullius de Amicitia, and the Declamacyon, which laboureth to show wherein Honour aholde reste,' 1481, fob 15. Godefroy of Boloyne; or, the Taste Siege and Conquesto
of Jherusalem,' Weatm., 1481, fob 16. The Polycronycon,' 1482, fob 17. ' The Pylgremage of the Sowle,' trans]. from the French, Westm., 1483, fol. 18. 'Liber Festivalis, or Directions for keaping Feasts all the Yere,' Westm., 1483, fol. 19. ' Quatuor Sermones ' (without date), fol. 20. ' Confeasio Amantis,' that is to saye in Englisshe, 'The Con fessyou of the Loner,' maad and compyled by Johan Gower, squyer, Westm., 1483, fol. 21. 'The Golden Legends,' Westm., 1483, fol. 22. Another edition of ' The Legende,' am. folio. 23. A third, fin. at Westmestre, 20th May, 1483, fob 24. 'The Books callid Cathon' (Magnus), trans. fr. the French, 1483, foL 25. 'Parvus Chato' (with out printer's name or date, but in Caxton's type), fol. 26. ' The Knyght of the Toure,' transl. from the French; Westm., 1484, fol. 27. The Subtyl Historyes and Fables of Esope,' transl. from the French, 1484, fol. 28. 'The Book of the Ordre of Chyvalry, or Knyghthode,' trans'. from the French (assigned to 1434), fob 29. 'The Book ryal; or the Book for a Kyng, 1484, fol. 30. 'A Book of the noble Hystoryes of Kynge Arthur and of carton of hie Knyghtes,' which book was reduced in to Englyeshe by ayr Thomas Maim". Knyght, 1485, fol. 31. The Lyf of Charles the Grete, Kyng of Fraunce and Emperour of Rome,' 1485, fol. 32. Another edition of the same, 1485, fob 33. Thyatorye of the noble ryght valyaunt and worthy Knyghte Parys and of the fayr Vyeone, the doulphyns doughter of Vyenuoys,' transl. from the French, 1485, fol. 34. ' The Book of Good Manors,' 1486, fol. 35. The Doctrinal of Sapyence,' transl. from the French, 1489, fob 36. The Book of Fayttea of Armes and of Chyvalrye,' a translation from the first part of Vegetius de Re Militari, 1489, fol. 37. The Arte and Crafte to knowe well to dye,' tranal. from the French, 1490, fol. 38. ' The Boke of Eneydos, cam pyled by Vyrgyle,' translated from the French, 1490, fol. 39. ' The Tails of Cauntyrburye ' (no date), fol. 40. Another edition (without date or place), 41. 'Infancia Salvatoris,' 4to. 42. ' The Boko of Consolation of Philosophie,' whiche that Boecius made for his cousforte and consolacion (no date nor place), fol. 43. A collection of Chaucer's and Lydgate's minor Poems, 4to. 44. 'The Book of Fame, made by Gefferey Chaucer,' fol. 45. Troylus and Creesyde,' fol. 46. `A Book for Travellers,' fol. 47. 'The Lyf of St. Katherin of Senis,' fol. 48. 'Speculum Vita Christi; or the myrroure of the blesayd Lyf of Jhesu Criate,' fol. 49. Directorium Sacerdotum sive Ordinate secundum Us= Sarum, Westm., fol. 50. ' The Werke (or Court) of Sapience,' composed by John Lydgate, fol. 51. 'A Boke of divers Ghostly Maters,' Westm., fol. 52. ' The Curial made by Maystre Alain Charretier,' trawl from the French, fol. 53. ' The Lyf of our Lady, made by Dan John Lydgate, monke of Burye,' fob 54. The Lyf of Saynt Wenefryde,' reduced into Englysehe, fol. 55. 'A Lytel Tretise, intytuled or named The Lucidarye,' 4to. 56. 'Rave rendiaaimi viri dni. Gulielmi Lyndewodi, LLD. et efli Asaphensis conatitutiones provincialee Ecclesim Anglicanas,' 24mo. 57. ' The Historye of Kyuge Blanchardyne and Queen Eglantyne his wyfe,' fol.