A A SocialSocial and and CultureCulture HistoryHistory of of EnglishEnglish

Nov 26thNov 26thSina Sina NobbeNobbe

Stephanie KampmannStephanie Kampmann

TheThe LateLate MiddleMiddle English English PeriodPeriod

OutlineOutline

HistoricalHistorical backgroundbackgroundCaxtonCaxton and and thethe Printing PressPrinting PressBeginningsBeginnings of Standard Englishof Standard English

HistoryHistory

1381 1381 PeasantPeasant’’s s RevoltRevolt1399 1399 DepositionDeposition of Richard II , of Richard II , AccessionAccession of of Henry IVHenry IV1431 Joan of Arc 1431 Joan of Arc burntburnt1435 Congress/Treaty of 1435 Congress/Treaty of ArrasArras1454 Richard Duke of York 1454 Richard Duke of York becamebecame ProtectorProtector1455 1455 –– 1485 1485 thethe WarsWars of of thethe Roses Roses 1485 Henry VII was 1485 Henry VII was crownedcrowned kingking

HistoryHistory –– thethe WarsWars of of thethe RosesRoses

Richard II Richard II deposeddeposed bybyHenry IV (Henry IV (reignedreigned 1399 1399 –– 1413)1413)14131413--1422 Henry V1422 Henry V1422 1422 –– 1461 Henry VI1461 Henry VI1455 (1455 (firstfirst battlebattle of St Albans) of St Albans) –– 1485 1485 (Henry VII) (Henry VII) House of Plantagenet:House of Plantagenet:LancasterLancaster (red) and York ((red) and York (whitewhite))14611461--83 Edward IV (York) 83 Edward IV (York) wonwon

thethe battlesbattles againstagainst thethe House of House of LancasterLancaster

HistoryHistory –– thethe WarsWars of of thethe RosesRoses

1485 Henry VII 1485 Henry VII crownedcrownedestablishedestablished oneone House: TudorHouse: Tudor

CaxtonCaxton and and thethe Printing PressPrinting Press

William Caxton William Caxton Early Years (London)Early Years (London)

born around about 1422 in Kent, died born around about 1422 in Kent, died 1492 in Westminster1492 in Westminsterat the age of about 16 he went to London at the age of about 16 he went to London --> apprentice of Robert Large, a member > apprentice of Robert Large, a member of the Mercerof the Mercer’’s Company s Company

Caxton in the Low Countries Caxton in the Low Countries (Flanders)(Flanders)

http://www.demarests.com/documents/maps/d_map_3.jpg

http://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/lowcountries/burgund.gif

Caxton in the Low Countries Caxton in the Low Countries (Flanders)(Flanders)

around 1443 he went to Bruges, the most important and prosperousaround 1443 he went to Bruges, the most important and prosperouscommercial centre in Northern Europecommercial centre in Northern Europein 1452 Caxton was a full member of the Mercerin 1452 Caxton was a full member of the Mercer’’s Companys Companyduring the 1460s Caxton had a leading role as a merchant: during the 1460s Caxton had a leading role as a merchant: Governor of the English Nation; that also meant that he covered Governor of the English Nation; that also meant that he covered the the office as ambassador on behalf of the English king (office as ambassador on behalf of the English king (--> Edward IV, > Edward IV, House of York)House of York)Caxton, as all other members of the MercerCaxton, as all other members of the Mercer’’s Company, supported s Company, supported the House of York during the the House of York during the Wars of the RosesWars of the Rosesceased to be Governor in 1470; maybe because of the political ceased to be Governor in 1470; maybe because of the political changes in Englandchanges in England

Caxton in Cologne: First contact Caxton in Cologne: First contact with Printing with Printing

since 1471 he lived in the house of his protector, Louis de since 1471 he lived in the house of his protector, Louis de GruuthuseGruuthuseprinting came first to Cologne in the 1460s, introduced by Ulricprinting came first to Cologne in the 1460s, introduced by Ulrich h Zell; originated in Mainz Zell; originated in Mainz –– J. GutenbergJ. GutenbergCologne had a university at that time, so the local market for bCologne had a university at that time, so the local market for books ooks was goodwas goodCologne was also a trading centre and traded with England via Cologne was also a trading centre and traded with England via waterway (Rhine)waterway (Rhine)on 9 September 1471 (Edward IV had gained back his power in on 9 September 1471 (Edward IV had gained back his power in England) Caxton finished his translation of England) Caxton finished his translation of RecuyellRecuyell of the Histories of the Histories of Troy of Troy and the preface:and the preface:published his first book published his first book De De proprietatibusproprietatibus rerumrerum BUT he was not yet BUT he was not yet involved in the printing process involved in the printing process

From the Low Countries back to From the Low Countries back to EnglandEngland

in 1476 Caxton went to Westminsterin 1476 Caxton went to Westminsterintroduction of the printing press in England introduction of the printing press in England (picture)(picture)printed translation of printed translation of RecuyellRecuyell of the Histories of of the Histories of Troy; Troy; this book was originally by the Frenchman this book was originally by the Frenchman RaoulRaoul LefLefèèvrevre: the FIRST book ever to be : the FIRST book ever to be printed in Englishprinted in EnglishThe Play of ChessThe Play of Chess; translated Jean de ; translated Jean de VignayVignay’’ssFrench translation of French translation of JacobusJacobus de de CessolisCessolis’’ss Latin Latin original original

CaxtonCaxton’’s Readership s Readership

68% of his publications were in English 68% of his publications were in English --> > economic reasons, no competitioneconomic reasons, no competition28% in Latin and28% in Latin and4% in French (all published in the Low 4% in French (all published in the Low Countries); Church context: Books of Countries); Church context: Books of Hours, Indulgences Hours, Indulgences

CaxtonCaxton’’s Readerships Readership

1. Publications for the Court 1. Publications for the Court contained themes like war, knightly exploits and contained themes like war, knightly exploits and love but also religious textslove but also religious textssome were in Frenchsome were in Frenchtranslation of translation of RecuyellRecuyell of the Histories of Troy of the Histories of Troy

2. Nobles who were close to the Court2. Nobles who were close to the Courtsame topics as for the Court but these were in same topics as for the Court but these were in English English

3. non3. non--courtly readers courtly readers 2nd edition of the 2nd edition of the Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

ComparisonComparison of of PrintPrint versionsversions

http://molcat1.bl.uk/treasures/caxton/search.asphttp://molcat1.bl.uk/treasures/caxton/search.asp

Chaucer and the Chaucer and the Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

Chaucer was born in the early 1340s and Chaucer was born in the early 1340s and was buried 1400 in the was buried 1400 in the PoetsPoets’’ CornerCorner in in Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey in 1385 he was appointed member of in 1385 he was appointed member of Parliament to represent Kent, so he Parliament to represent Kent, so he moved theremoved therehe is called the he is called the Father of English Poetry Father of English Poetry

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales

a series of stories that were told by a series of stories that were told by pilgrims on their way to Canterburypilgrims on their way to Canterburyoften bawdyoften bawdyChaucer was inspired by contemporary Chaucer was inspired by contemporary European literatureEuropean literaturewhen Chaucer died, he left the when Chaucer died, he left the TalesTalesunfinished, but nevertheless they were unfinished, but nevertheless they were very successful very successful

CaxtonCaxton’’s English s English

his spelling varied within each book (also the within the same this spelling varied within each book (also the within the same title!)itle!)one of his patrons, Margaret of York (sister to Edward IV), corrone of his patrons, Margaret of York (sister to Edward IV), corrected ected his translationshis translationshe was aware of regional variationshe was aware of regional variationsknew that he should use a type of language that was understood bknew that he should use a type of language that was understood by y a larger group of people a larger group of people tried to balance his usage BUT aimed at language that was spokentried to balance his usage BUT aimed at language that was spokenby the gentry and noblemenby the gentry and noblemencalled usage of Old English called usage of Old English ““plain and rudeplain and rude””, connected with the , connected with the lower classeslower classesPreface to Preface to EneydosEneydosat that time in Europe, there were ever stricter norms for Latinat that time in Europe, there were ever stricter norms for Latinbooks books

Text 15: from CaxtonText 15: from Caxton’’s Prolog to s Prolog to EneydosEneydos (1490)(1490)And And whanwhan I I sawesawe the the fayrfayr & strange & strange termestermes therintherin I doubted that it I doubted that it sholdesholde not not

please some please some gentylmengentylmen whichewhiche late blamed me, saying that in my late blamed me, saying that in my translacyonstranslacyons I I had had ouerouer curyouscuryous termestermes whichewhiche couldecoulde not be not be vnderstandevnderstande of of comyncomyn peplepeple and and desired me to desired me to vsevse oldeolde and homely and homely termestermes in my in my translacyonstranslacyons and and faynfayn woldewolde I I satysfyesatysfye eueryeuery man and so to doo, toke an man and so to doo, toke an oldeolde bokeboke and and redderedde therintherin and and certaynlycertaynly the the engliyssheengliysshe was so was so rude and broodrude and brood that I that I coudecoude not not welewelevnderstandevnderstande it. And also my it. And also my lordelorde abbot of abbot of westmynsterwestmynster dedded do do sheweshewe to me late, to me late, certayncertayn euydenceseuydences wrytonwryton in in oldeolde englyssheenglysshe, for to reduce it in, for to reduce it in--to our to our englyssheenglysshenow now vsidvsid And And certaynlycertaynly it was it was wretonwreton in in suchesuche wysewyse that it was more that it was more lykelyke to to dutchedutche than than englyssheenglysshe; I ; I coudecoude not reduce ne not reduce ne bryngebrynge it to be it to be vnderstondenvnderstondenAndcertaynlyAndcertaynly our our langagelangage now now vsedvsed varyethvaryeth ferreferre from that from that whichewhiche was was vsedvsed and and spoken when I was borne For we spoken when I was borne For we EnglyssheEnglysshe men men benben borne under the borne under the domynacyondomynacyon of the of the monemone, , whichewhiche is never is never stedfastestedfaste but ever but ever waveryngewaverynge, , wexyngewexynge one season and one season and wanethwaneth & & dyscreasethdyscreaseth another season. And that another season. And that comyncomynenglyssheenglysshe that is spoken in one that is spoken in one shyreshyre varyethvaryeth from a from a nothernother. In so . In so mochemoche that in that in my my dayesdayes happened that happened that certayncertayn marchauntesmarchauntes were in a were in a shippeshippe in in tamysetamyse for to for to hauehaue sayledsayled ouerouer the see into the see into ZelandeZelande and for and for lackelacke of of wyndewynde, , theithei taryedtaryed atteatteforlondforlond, and , and wentewente to to landelande for to for to refresherefreshe them; And one of them; And one of theymtheym named named sheffeldesheffelde, a mercer, cam in, a mercer, cam in--to an to an howshows and axed for mete and and axed for mete and specyallyspecyally he he axydaxydafter after eggyseggys; And the ; And the goodegoode wyfwyf answerdeanswerde, that she could , that she could spekespeke no no frenshefrenshe. And . And the the marchauntmarchaunt was angry, for he also was angry, for he also coudecoude spekespeke no no FrensheFrenshe, but , but woldewolde hauehauehaddehadde eggesegges and she and she understodeunderstode hymhym not. And not. And thennethenne at at lastelaste a a nothernother saydsayd that that he he woldewolde have have eyreneyren then the good then the good wyfwyf saydsayd that she that she understodunderstod hymhym welwel.. LooLoo, , what what sholdesholde a man in a man in thysethyse dayesdayes now now wrytewryte, , eggesegges, or , or eyreneyren CertaynlyCertaynly it is hard it is hard to to playseplayse eueryeuery man, by cause of man, by cause of dyversitedyversite & & chaungechaunge of of langagelangage. .

CaxtonCaxton’’s Printing Workshop: s Printing Workshop: Typeface and WoodcutsTypeface and Woodcuts

used a special typeface, similar to handwriting to used a special typeface, similar to handwriting to appeal to his courtly readershipappeal to his courtly readershipthe typeface used for the the typeface used for the Canterbury Tales Canterbury Tales is is called called ““litteralittera bastardabastarda””2nd edition had a smaller typeface 2nd edition had a smaller typeface --> economic > economic reasonreason26 woodcuts can be found within the 26 woodcuts can be found within the Canterbury Canterbury Tales Tales (picture),(picture), created by a local artistcreated by a local artist

ImagesImages

http://www.bl.uk/treasures/caxton/woodcuts.html http://www.bl.uk/treasures/caxton/printingtype.html

ImagesImages

http://www.bookn3rd.com/?p=626

http://www.johnjarroldprintingmuseum.org.uk/history.html

BeginningsBeginnings of Standard Englishof Standard English

FourFour majormajor dialectsdialects in ME:in ME:NorthernNorthernMidland (East/West) Midland (East/West) Southern Southern KentishKentish

((ShopenShopen, T. and Williams, J.M. , T. and Williams, J.M. Standards and Standards and DialectsDialects in English , p.40)in English , p.40)

BeginningsBeginnings of Standard Englishof Standard English

FromFrom 14201420--1450 1450 townstowns and and guildsguilds wrotewrotetheirtheir recordsrecords in English in English TheThe last last willswills of Henry IV, V, VI of Henry IV, V, VI werewerewrittenwritten in Englishin English1485 Statutes and 1485 Statutes and PetitionsPetitions of of ParliamentParliamentwerewere publishedpublished in Englishin Englishbyby 1489 French was 1489 French was notnot usedused anymoreanymore

Text 13: Resolution of the London Text 13: Resolution of the London brewers (1422)brewers (1422)

Whereas our mother tongue, to wit, the English tongue, hath Whereas our mother tongue, to wit, the English tongue, hath in modern in modern days begun to be honorably enlarged and adorned; for that our modays begun to be honorably enlarged and adorned; for that our most st excellent lord king Henry the Fifth hath, in his letters missiveexcellent lord king Henry the Fifth hath, in his letters missive, and divers , and divers affairs touching his own person more willingly affairs touching his own person more willingly chousenchousen to declare the to declare the secrets of his will [in it]; and for the better understanding ofsecrets of his will [in it]; and for the better understanding of his people, his people, hath, with a diligent mind, procured the common idiom (setting ahath, with a diligent mind, procured the common idiom (setting aside side others) to be commended by the exercise of writing; and there arothers) to be commended by the exercise of writing; and there are many of e many of our craft of brewers who have the our craft of brewers who have the knowledegeknowledege of writing and of writing and readeingreadeing in in the said English idiom, but in others, to wit, the Latin and Frethe said English idiom, but in others, to wit, the Latin and French, before nch, before these times used, they do not in any wise understand; for which these times used, they do not in any wise understand; for which causes, causes, with many others, it being considered how that the greater part with many others, it being considered how that the greater part of the lords of the lords and trusty commons have begun to make their matters to be noted and trusty commons have begun to make their matters to be noted down in down in our mother tongue, so we also in our craft, following in some maour mother tongue, so we also in our craft, following in some manner their nner their steps, have decreed in future to commit to memory the needful thsteps, have decreed in future to commit to memory the needful things ings which concern us. which concern us.

(from: W. Herbert. The History of the Twelve Great Livery C(from: W. Herbert. The History of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of ompanies of London. Vol. 1, London, 1834, p. 106, London. Vol. 1, London, 1834, p. 106, qtdqtd. in . in McCrumMcCrum et al. 1986: 84 and et al. 1986: 84 and Baugh and Cable 2002: 154)Baugh and Cable 2002: 154)

BeginningsBeginnings of Standard Englishof Standard English

CitiesCities grewgrew ((espesp. London). London)RiseRise of of thethe middlemiddle classclass ((merchantsmerchants/ / craftsmencraftsmen))

⇨⇨ CaxtonCaxton, , merchantmerchant

Beginnings of Standard EnglishBeginnings of Standard English

London dialect:London dialect:Midland dialect: Migration brought influences to Midland dialect: Migration brought influences to and from the whole country and from the whole country ⇨⇨ from a southern from a southern to a midland dialect to Standardto a midland dialect to StandardLargest population and areaLargest population and areaCambridge (Oxford) more important for Cambridge (Oxford) more important for education than monasterieseducation than monasteriesCapitalCapital

Text 14: Text 14: OsbernOsbern BokenhamBokenham (1393(1393--1467?) 1467?) MappulaMappula AngliaeAngliae (excerpt) (excerpt)

(1490)(1490)And And þisþis corrupciouncorrupcioun of of EnglysheEnglyshe men men ynyn þerþer modremodre--toungetounge, , begunnebegunne as I as I seydeseyde with with famylyarfamylyar commixtioncommixtion of of DanysDanys firstefirste and of and of NormannysNormannys aftiraftir, , toke toke gretegrete augmentaciounaugmentacioun and and encreesencrees aftiraftir þeþe commyngcommyng of William of William conquerourconquerour by two by two thyngisthyngis. The . The firstefirste was: by was: by decredecre and and ordynaunceordynaunce of of þeþeseideseide William conqueror children in William conqueror children in gramergramer--scolisscolis ageynsageyns þeþe consuetude consuetude and and þeþe custom of all custom of all oþeroþer nacyonsnacyons, here , here owneowne modremodre--tongetonge loafteloafte and and forsakynforsakyn, , lernydlernyd here here DonetDonet on on FrensshFrenssh and to and to construynconstruyn ynyn FrensshFrenssh and to and to makenmaken here here LatynsLatyns on on þeþe same same sysesyse. . ThjeThje secoundesecounde cause was cause was þatþat by the by the same same decredecre lordislordis swonysswonys and all and all nobyllnobyll and worthy and worthy mennysmennys children were children were fyrstefyrste set to set to lyrnnynlyrnnyn and and spekenspeken FrenssheFrensshe, or , or þanþan þeyþey cowed cowed spekynspekynYnglysshYnglyssh and and þatþat all all wrytyngiswrytyngis and and endentyngisendentyngis and all and all manermaner pleesplees and and contrauercyescontrauercyes in in courtiscourtis of of þeþe lawelawe, and all , and all manermaner reknyngisreknyngis and and countiscountis ynynhowsooldehowsoolde schulleschulle be be doonyndoonyn the same. And the same. And þisþis seeyingeseeyinge, , þeþe ruralesrurales, , þatþatþeyþey myghtemyghte semynsemyn þeþe more more worschipfullworschipfull and honorable and and honorable and þeþeredlierecomynredlierecomyn to to þeþe famyliaritefamyliarite of of þeþe worthy and worthy and þeþe gretegrete, , leftynleftyn hurehuremodremodre toungetounge and and labourydlabouryd to to kunnekunne spekynspekyn FrensshFrenssh: and thus by : and thus by processeprocesseof of tymetyme barbaribarbariʒʒidid theithei in in bothynbothyn and and spokyanspokyan neythyrneythyr good good FrensshFrenssh nor nor good good EnglysshEnglyssh. .

((qtdqtd. in . in GraddolGraddol et al. 1996: 128f)et al. 1996: 128f)

SourcesSources

BaughBaugh, A. and T. , A. and T. CableCable. . A A HistoryHistory of of thethe English English LanguageLanguage. 5th . 5th editionedition. . London: London: RoutledgeRoutledge. 2002 . 2002 6+Shopen, T. and J.M. Williams. 6+Shopen, T. and J.M. Williams. Standards and Standards and DialectsDialects in English.in English.Cambridge Mass.: Cambridge Mass.: WinthropWinthrop. 1980. . 1980. Knowles, Garry. Knowles, Garry. A A CulturalCultural HistoryHistory of of thethe English English LanguageLanguage. London: Arnold. . London: Arnold. 19971997Leith, Dick and Leith, Dick and GraddolGraddol, D. , D. ““ModernityModernity and English as a national and English as a national languagelanguage””. . Ed. Ed. GraddolGraddol, David, Leith, D. and , David, Leith, D. and SwannSwann, J. , J. English English historyhistory, , diversitydiversity and and changechange. New York: . New York: RoutledgeRoutledge. 1996. 1996http://www.bl.uk/treasures/caxton/homepage.htmlhttp://www.bl.uk/treasures/caxton/homepage.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_roseshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_roseshttp://www.johnjarroldprintingmuseum.org.uk/history.htmlhttp://www.johnjarroldprintingmuseum.org.uk/history.htmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/caxton_william.shthttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/caxton_william.shtmlmlhttp://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/lowcountries/burgund.gifhttp://www.zum.de/whkmla/histatlas/lowcountries/burgund.gif