Note 169 — Chapter III · THE PRINTER LETTER-FOUNDERS, FROM CAXTON TO DAY.

Parker, who, according to Strype (Life of Parker, London, 1711, fol., p. 278), extended his patronage to Binneman as well as to Day, and at whose expense the Historia was published, may possibly have claimed the disposal of founts specially cut for his own use, and in this manner secured for Binneman founts cast from Day’s matrices. Binneman is described as a diligent printer, who applied through Parker for the privilege of printing certain Latin authors, accompanying his petition by a small specimen of his typography, “which the Archbishop sent to the Secretary to see the order of his print. The Archbishop said he thought he might do this amply enough, and better cheap than they might be brought from beyond the seas, standing the paper and goodness of his print. Adding, that it were not amiss to set our own countrymen on work, so they would be diligent, and take good characters.”