William Bretton, Publisher of Fine Books, 1506–10

In this article William Bretton is placed in the context of his wealthy and well-connected family in order to explain his role as publisher and his choice of texts, 1506-10. He was born in 1485, one of the large family of Thomas Bretton, ironmonger of London, and his second wife Agnes. It is likely he learnt the wool trade mainly from his mother who operated as one the most successful merchants shipping out of London before 1505; she also married her daughters well forming links to the gentry and civic elite. Both Agnes and Angel Don, alderman (1505-06), may have had a considerable influence on the pious interests of William, for they had connections with Humphrey Hawarden, Dean of Arches, as well as John Young, friend of John Colet and future master of St Thomas of Acre. Angel died young in 1506 leaving a detailed and interesting will of which William was one of the executors with John Young as supervisor.

Both Hawarden and Young could have influenced Bretton’s choice of books, when he came of age in 1506, received his patrimony and immediately invested it in publishing. Aside from four standard texts (primers and a psalter with hymnal), there were three speculative publications: Lyndwood’s Constitutiones provinciale, Pupilla oculi, and the Speculum spiritualium, all by English clerics. His partners were Henry Jacobi and Joyce Pelgrim. All his books (save the last primer) were printed by Wolfgang Hopyl of Paris, and to a very high standard, clearly aimed at wealthy clergy. The coat of arms which illustrated several of the volumes can be firmly identified as Bretton impaled with Don. William’s publishing career ended early and the death in 1514 of his partner, the enterprising Jacobi, of whose estate he was administrator, may be the key factor. The wealth of his family suggests that it was ot financial difficulties which ended his career; his will of 1517 tells us nothing. William died in 1526 and was not survived by either his wife or daughter