Humphrey Toy
Encyclopedia
Humphrey Toy was a British bookseller and publisher, and the son of bookseller Robert Toy. In 1567, he published the first translation of New Testament in Welsh
from the original Greek, translated by his close friend William Salesbury
. Along with the Bible, Toy published the first translation of the Book of Common Prayer
in Welsh, also translated by Salesbury.
. In 1551, Toy entered Queens' College, Cambridge
as a sizar
, but he left Cambridge before earning a degree. After Robert Toy died in 1556, most of his property passed to Toy's stepmother Elizabeth Toy with the provision that it would pass to Humphrey after her death. Until her death around 1558, Toy assisted his stepmother in running his father's shop and publishing interests. At some point during this period, Toy married Margaret Revell.
While at the Stationer's Company, Toy became an active printer and publisher, and became particularly interested in religious works. He worked closely with Christopher Plantin of Antwerp, who helped Toy acquire a large collection of European protestant works. Toy also entered into a dispute, along with three other printers, with Richard Jugge
, over the right to print Bibles in English.
, and worked with him professionally on several occasions. In 1567, Toy financed and published Salesbury's translation of New Testament in Welsh
, the first translation made into Welsh from the original Greek. That same year, Toy financed and published Salesbury's translation of the Book of Common Prayer
into Welsh, the first such translation.
Both the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer were printed by Henry Bynneman
, with financing and oversight from Toy. Toy was recognized on the first page of Book of Common Prayer for providing "the costes and charges" of the publication.
After the Book of Common Prayer and New Testament, Toy also published a guide to Welsh pronunciation, and several smaller works for Salesbury.
. After his death, his widow Margaret and his apprentice Thomas Chard took control of his estate, and continued his work in both publishing and bookselling. Chard operated the Helmet until 1585, and it subsequently changed hands several times before disappearing in 1607.
Approximately thirty works printed by Toy are still in existence; among these, an edition of Richard Grafton
's Chronicle that he printed is the most notable.
Welsh Bible
Bible translations into Welsh have existed since at least the 15th century, but the most widely used translation of the Bible into Welsh for several centuries was the 1588 translation by William Morgan, as revised in 1620...
from the original Greek, translated by his close friend William Salesbury
William Salesbury
William Salesbury also Salusbury was the leading Welsh scholar of the Renaissance and the principal translator of the 1567 Welsh New Testament.Salesbury was born in about 1520 in the parish of Llansannan, Conwy...
. Along with the Bible, Toy published the first translation of the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
in Welsh, also translated by Salesbury.
Early life
Toy was born around 1537, the son of Robert Toy, a bookseller, and his wife who died in 1546. The Toy family was of Welsh originWelsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
. In 1551, Toy entered Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
as a sizar
Sizar
At Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Cambridge, a sizar is a student who receives some form of assistance such as meals, lower fees or lodging during his or her period of study, in some cases in return for doing a defined job....
, but he left Cambridge before earning a degree. After Robert Toy died in 1556, most of his property passed to Toy's stepmother Elizabeth Toy with the provision that it would pass to Humphrey after her death. Until her death around 1558, Toy assisted his stepmother in running his father's shop and publishing interests. At some point during this period, Toy married Margaret Revell.
Publishing Career
Toy entered work with the Stationer's Company in August 1560, and served as the company's renter warden from 1561 to 1563. Toy later rose through the ranks of the company, and served twice as its underwarden in 1571 and 1573. While working at the Stationer's Company, Toy took control of the bookshop that he inherited from his father and stepmother. Toy's shop was known as the Helmet, because of the helmet depicted on its sign, and Toy was granted a seventy year lease on the location of the shop.While at the Stationer's Company, Toy became an active printer and publisher, and became particularly interested in religious works. He worked closely with Christopher Plantin of Antwerp, who helped Toy acquire a large collection of European protestant works. Toy also entered into a dispute, along with three other printers, with Richard Jugge
Richard Jugge
Richard Jugge was an eminent English printer, who kept a shop at the sign of the Bible, at the North door of St Paul's Cathedral, though his residence was in Newgate market, next to Christ Church.-Life:...
, over the right to print Bibles in English.
Work with William Salesbury
Possibly because of his Welsh background, Toy formed a friendship with the Welsh scholar William SalesburyWilliam Salesbury
William Salesbury also Salusbury was the leading Welsh scholar of the Renaissance and the principal translator of the 1567 Welsh New Testament.Salesbury was born in about 1520 in the parish of Llansannan, Conwy...
, and worked with him professionally on several occasions. In 1567, Toy financed and published Salesbury's translation of New Testament in Welsh
Welsh Bible
Bible translations into Welsh have existed since at least the 15th century, but the most widely used translation of the Bible into Welsh for several centuries was the 1588 translation by William Morgan, as revised in 1620...
, the first translation made into Welsh from the original Greek. That same year, Toy financed and published Salesbury's translation of the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
into Welsh, the first such translation.
Both the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer were printed by Henry Bynneman
Henry Bynneman
Henry Bynnemans career as a printer lasted from 1566, when he became free of the Stationers' Company, until 1583. He had been apprenticed to Richard Harrison in 1560, but that printer died about January of 1563; though definitive evidence is lacking, Bynneman likely served the remainder of his...
, with financing and oversight from Toy. Toy was recognized on the first page of Book of Common Prayer for providing "the costes and charges" of the publication.
After the Book of Common Prayer and New Testament, Toy also published a guide to Welsh pronunciation, and several smaller works for Salesbury.
Death
Toy died on October 16, 1577 and was buried at All Saints' Church, BristolAll Saints' Church, Bristol
All Saints is a church in Corn Street, Bristol, England.The west end of the nave survives from the original 12th century church, and the east nave and aisles were built in the 15th century. The north-east tower was added in 1716 by William Paul, and completed by George Townesend...
. After his death, his widow Margaret and his apprentice Thomas Chard took control of his estate, and continued his work in both publishing and bookselling. Chard operated the Helmet until 1585, and it subsequently changed hands several times before disappearing in 1607.
Approximately thirty works printed by Toy are still in existence; among these, an edition of Richard Grafton
Richard Grafton
Richard Grafton , was King's Printer under Henry VIII and Edward VI. He was a member of the Grocers' Company and MP for Coventry elected 1562-63.-Under Henry VIII:...
's Chronicle that he printed is the most notable.