Badges
14501940
15001600170018001900
Floruit: 1541
floruit 1541 (B)—1541 (B); Male
Livery Companies
| Company |
Source
|
| Stationers' Company |
|
Occupations (1)
| Occupation |
Comment
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| Stationer |
Duff, E.G. (1905)
|
Addresses (3)
SOURCES & TRANSCRIPTIONS
Transcriptions
DUFF, E.G. (1905), p.13
BIRCKMAN (ARNOLD), stationer in London, was a native of Cologne, and one of the large family of stationers of the name who had establishments in various cities. He is first mentioned in 1541 in the Returns of Aliens [I, p. 67], when he kept a shop in charge of Henry Harman { HARMAN, Henry ‹ LBT 30048 › }, his factor, and his goods were valued at 100 marks. In 1544 their value had risen to 80 pounds [R.of A.,I, p. 93], and in 1549 to 100. [R. of A., p. 159.] At the time of the incorporation of the Stationers' Company in 1557, Arnold Birckman is entered as giving large subscriptions and a window to the Hall, so that he was probably a brother of the Company. A letter from Sir W. Cecil to the Marquis of Winchester, dated April 21st, 1564, gives some curious information about the importation of tubs of books from the Frankfort Fair by Birckman. [Arber, Il, 63.] As late as 1571 Arnold and Agnes Birckman had a shop in London, with Andreas Fremorshem and Reynolde Mercator as servants. [R. of A., I, 411; II,12.] The last entry of his name is in 1576, but this may refer to another Arnold, son of the former. A third Arnold Birckman died about 1540-41. All these Arnolds are much confused and it is hardly possible at present to separate them exactly. The whole family, though very important as traders, bore anything but a good reputation. Erasmus was especially bitter against them and the reformers repeatedly wrote of them as dilatory and untrustworthy.
MLT Note: There were three Arnolds - Duff, E.G. (1905) - 'All these Arnolds are much confused and it is hardley possible at present to separate them exactly'.