CAXTON, WILLIAM, to whom England owes the introduction of printing, was born probably in 1112, in the Weald of Kent. He was put apprentice to one Robert Large, a mercer or merchant of considerable eminence ; and afterwards lie travelled in the Low Coun tries for a short time. In 1471 Caxton de scribes himself as leading a life of ease, when, 'having no great charge or occupation,' he set about finishing the translation of Raoul le Fevre's ' Recueil des Histoires de Troye,' which he had commenced two years before. The original was the first book he printed, and this translation the third. In the Low Countries he entered into the service, or at least the household, of Margaret, duchess of Burgundy, who encouraged him to finish his translation of Le Fevre's ' History of Troy.' From the prologues and epilogues of this work we discover that he was now somewhat advanced in years, and that he had learnt to exercise the art of printing ; but by what steps he had acquired this knowledge cannot be discovered ; his types, however, show that he acquired it in the Low Countries. The time of his return to his native country is not known with certainty; but the usual supposi tion has been that he brought the art of print into England in 1474. In 1477 he had
undoubtedly quitted the Low Countries, and had taken up his residence in the vicinity of Westminster Abbey, where and in which year he printed his Dictes and Sayings of the philosophers.' Stowe says he first exercised his business in en old chapel near the en trance of the Abbey ; but a very curious placard, a copy of which, in Caxton's largest type, is now at Oxford in the late Mr. Dance's library, shows that he printed in the Alrnonry. His death took place in 1491 or 1492.
Caxton, Mr. Wartou observes, by .ransla ting, or procuring to be translated, a great number of books from the French, greatly contributed to promote the state of literature in England. The known productions of his press amount to 64, and are enumerated with their titles in the Penny Cyclopredia.' Lists are also given by Dibdin, Lewis, and others.
The two largest assemblages of the produc tions from Caxton's press now known are those in the British Museum and in Earl Spencer's library at Althorpe.