BATTERSBY, John ‹ LBT 28525 ›
floruit 1597 (B)—1597 (B); Male
Occupations (3)
| Occupation | Comment |
|---|---|
| Printer | McKerrow, R.B. &c. (1910) |
| Patentee | McKerrow, R.B. &c. (1910) |
| Merchant - of Plymouth | McKerrow, R.B. &c. (1910) |
SOURCES & TRANSCRIPTIONS
Transcriptions
McKerrow, R.B. &c. (1910), p.27
BATTERSBY (JOHN), patentee, 1597-1619. By letters patent dated April 6th, 1597, John Battersby was appointed Queen's Printer in Latin, Greek and Hebrew for life, in succession to Francis Flower { }, and was to receive the annual fee of 26s. 8d. At the accession of King James I, although John Battersby was still living, John Norton { NORTON, John ( - 1612) ‹ LBT 08174 › } petitioned the king to be allowed to exercise the office, alleging that Battersby's patent was void in law, and no doubt backing up his petition with a substantial sum of money, obtained a patent on precisely similar terms to that already granted to Battersby, on May 12th [Patent Roll, I Jas. I, Pt. 2]. This led to extensive litigation and eventually Battersby sold the office to Thomas Adams { ADAMS, Thomas (1566 - 1620) ‹ LBT 08760 › } and Cuthbert Burby { BURBY, Cuthbert ( - 1607) ‹ LBT 08823 › }, who were secret agents for John Norton, for a sum of £700, of which Norton found £200. It is difficult to understand what actually was Battersby's position after this, as his imprint is found on the fourth edition of John Stock wood's Disputatiuncularum grammaticalium libellus, printed in 1619 [B.M., 827. a. 27]. In the documents connected with the law suit, Battersby is described as "a merchant of Plymouth." [Exchequer K R. Bills and Answers, London and Midd., 1018.]
McKerrow, R.B. &c. (1910), p.27
BATTERSBY (JOHN), Assigns of, 1597-1605. The names of those whom Battersby chose to print for him under his patent have not been ascertained before 1605, when we learn from a law suit that he assigned over his interests for a sum of £700 to Thomas Adams { ADAMS, Thomas (1566 - 1620) ‹ LBT 08760 › } and Cuthbert Burby { BURBY, Cuthbert ( - 1607) ‹ LBT 08823 › } [Exchequer K R. London and Midd., 1018].
MLT Note: - Queen's Printer in Latin, Greek and Hebrew.