Augustine Mathewes

MATHEWES (AUGUSTINE), printer in London, 1619–53; (i) In St. Bride’s Lane in Fleet Street in the Parsonage House, 1620; (2) Cow Lane near Holborn Circus. Augustine Mathewes took up his freedom as a stationer on May 9th, 1615 [Arber, iii. 684]. The first book entry under his name is Thomas Dekker’s O per se O, or the belman of London, assigned to him on September 27th, 1619, by John Busby [Arber, iii. 657], and printed by him in the parsonage house of St. Brides. In the following year Mathewes is found in partnership with John White, son of William White, in Cow Lane. From 1624 to 1626 he printed several books for John Norton. On October 24th, 1633, Thomas Jones assigned over to him a dozen copyrights including May’s translation of Lucan, and the following plays: The Tragedy of Nero, Massinger’s Virgin Martyr, Thomas May’s The Heire, Beaumont and Fletcher’s Cupid’s Revenge and The Scornful Lady. Sir John Lambe in 1634 referred to Augustine Mathewes as “pauper,” and added “Let them agree who shall be, they have now three presses,” but to whom he was referring is unknown [Arber, iii. 704]. Mathewes was taken reprinting Dr. Cole’s Holy Table, and was condemned to lose his press, which was made over to Marmaduke Parsons; but from an entry in the Stationers’ Registers we know that Mathewes was still publishing or printing books as late as the year 1653.