Andrew Crooke (died 20 September 1674) and William Cooke (died 1641?) were

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

publishers of the mid-17th-century. In partnership and individually, they issued significant texts of English Renaissance drama, most notably of the plays of

James Shirley James Shirley (or Sherley) (September 1596 – October 1666) was an English dramatist. He belonged to the great period of English dramatic literature, but, in Charles Lamb's words, he "claims a place among the worthies of this period, not so m ...

. Andrew Crooke was the son of a William Crooke, a

yeoman Yeoman is a noun originally referring either to one who owns and cultivates land or to the middle ranks of servants in an English royal or noble household. The term was first documented in mid-14th-century England. The 14th century also witn ...

of Kingston Blount,

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primarily ...

. On 26 March 1629, Andrew Crooke won his "freedom" of the

Stationers Company The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers (until 1937 the Worshipful Company of Stationers), usually known as the Stationers' Company, is one of the livery company, livery companies of the City of London. The Stationers' Compan ...

– that is to say, he gained full membership in the guild of London booksellers, publishers, and printers – and in time "became one of the leading publishers of his day." Perhaps his most notable solo achievements were the

1640 Events January–March * January 6 – The Siege of Salses ends almost six months after it had started on June 9, 1639, with the French defenders surrendering to the Spanish attackers. * January 17 – A naval battle over ...

publication of the second edition of

Ben Jonson Benjamin "Ben" Jonson (c. 11 June 1572 – c. 16 August 1637) was an English playwright and poet. Jonson's artistry exerted a lasting influence upon English poetry and stage comedy. He popularised the comedy of humours; he is best known for t ...

's 1616 folio, and his editions of the ''

Religio Medici ''Religio Medici'' (''The Religion of a Doctor'') by Sir Thomas Browne is a spiritual testament and early psychological self-portrait. Published in 1643 after an unauthorized version was distributed the previous year, it became a European best- ...

'' of Sir

Thomas Browne Sir Thomas Browne (; 19 October 160519 October 1682) was an English polymath and author of varied works which reveal his wide learning in diverse fields including science and medicine, religion and the esoteric. His writings display a deep curi ...

. (Of the latter, Crooke published two unauthorized editions in 1642, and the authorized and corrected edition of 1643, plus subsequent editions in 1645, 1648, 1656, 1659, 1669, and 1672). His currently best-known publication is

Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes ( ; 5/15 April 1588 – 4/14 December 1679) was an English philosopher, considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. Hobbes is best known for his 1651 book ''Leviathan'', in which he expounds an influent ...

' scientific and political tract Leviathan (book). William Cooke was a contemporary of Crooke; he began operating as a publisher in 1632. Cooke specialized in the publication of law books. Crooke tended more toward literature and general-interest works; he produced books like Sir Henry Blount's ''A Voyage to the Levant'' (

1636 Events January–March * January 1 – Anthony van Diemen takes office as Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), and will serve until his death in 1645. * January 18 – ''The Duke's Mistress'', the last ...

Richard Corbet Bishop Richard Corbet (or Corbett) (158228 July 1635) was an English clergyman who rose to be a bishop in the Church of England. He is also remembered as a humorist and as a poet, although his work was not published until after his death. Life ...

's ''Certain Elegant Poems'' (

1639 Events January–March * January 14 – Connecticut's first constitution, the Fundamental Orders, is adopted. * January 19 – Hämeenlinna ( sv, Tavastehus) is granted privileges, after it separates from the Vanaja parish, ...

), and John Bate's ''The Mysteries of Nature and Art'' (

1635 Events January–March * January 23 – 1635 Capture of Tortuga: The Spanish Navy captures the Caribbean island of Tortuga off of the coast of Haiti after a three-day battle against the English and French Navy. * January 25 ...

). Cooke's shop was near

Furnival's Inn Furnival's Inn was an Inn of Chancery which formerly stood on the site of the present Holborn Bars building (the former Prudential Assurance Company building) in Holborn, London, England. History Furnival's Inn was founded about 1383 when Wil ...

Gate in

Holborn Holborn ( or ) is a district in central London, which covers the south-eastern part of the London Borough of Camden and a part ( St Andrew Holborn Below the Bars) of the Ward of Farringdon Without in the City of London. The area has its roots ...

; Crooke kept his at the sign of the Green Dragon in St. Paul's Churchyard. Each man also operated with other partners for some projects, and worked alone on others. Crooke sometimes partnered with colleague Gabriell Bedell. Cooke partnered with Matthew Walbancke for Sir

Henry Spelman Sir Henry Spelman (c. 1562 – October 1641) was an English antiquary, noted for his detailed collections of medieval records, in particular of church councils. Life Spelman was born in Congham, Norfolk, the eldest son of Henry Spelman (d. 1581 ...

's ''De Sepultura'' (1641). Yet the partnership of Crooke and Cooke earned its greatest distinction in publishing first editions of plays, particularly those of James Shirley. They issued: * ''

The Example ''The Example'' is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy written by James Shirley, first published in 1637. The play has repeatedly been acclaimed both as one of Shirley's best comedies and one of the best works of its generation. And it provides ...

,'' 1637 * ''

The Gamester ''The Gamester'' is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy of manners written by James Shirley, premiered in 1633 and first published in 1637. The play is noteworthy for its realistic and detailed picture of gambling in its era. The play was lic ...

,'' 1637 * ''

Hyde Park Hyde Park may refer to: Places England * Hyde Park, London, a Royal Park in Central London * Hyde Park, Leeds, an inner-city area of north-west Leeds * Hyde Park, Sheffield, district of Sheffield * Hyde Park, in Hyde, Greater Manchester Austra ...

,'' 1637 * ''

The Lady of Pleasure ''The Lady of Pleasure'' is a Caroline era comedy of manners written by James Shirley, first published in 1637. It has often been cited as among the best, and sometimes as the single best, the "most brilliant," of the dramatist's comic works. ...

,'' 1637 * ''

The Young Admiral ''The Young Admiral'' is a Caroline era tragicomedy written by James Shirley, and first published in 1637. It has often been considered Shirley's best tragicomedy, and one of his best plays. The play was licensed for performance by Sir Henry He ...

,'' 1637 * ''

The Duke's Mistress ''The Duke's Mistress'' is a Caroline era stage play, a tragicomedy written by James Shirley and first published in 1638. It was the last of Shirley's plays produced before the major break in his career: with the closing of the London theatres d ...

'' 1638 * '' The Ball,'' 1639 * ''

The Tragedy of Chabot, Admiral of France ''The Tragedy of Chabot, Admiral of France'' is an early seventeenth-century play, generally judged to be a work of George Chapman, later revised by James Shirley. The play is the last in Chapman's series of plays on contemporary French politics ...

,'' 1639 * '' The Coronation,'' 1640 * ''

The Night Walker ''The Night Walker, or The Little Thief'' is an early seventeenth-century stage play, a comedy written by John Fletcher and later revised by his younger contemporary James Shirley. It was first published in 1640. Authorship The play enters th ...

,'' 1640 * ''

The Opportunity ''The Opportunity'' is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy written by James Shirley, published in 1640. The play has been called "a capital little comedy, fairly bubbling over with clever situations, and charming character." ''The Opportunity'' ...

,'' 1640. They also published John Fletcher's ''

Wit Without Money ''Wit Without Money'' is a Jacobean era stage play, a comedy written by John Fletcher, and first published in 1639. Date and authorship Scholars have dated the play to c. 1614, based on allusions to contemporary events – notably to the drago ...

'' in 1639. In addition, Andrew Crooke issued plays apart from Cooke: * Henry Killigrew's ''The Conspiracy'', 1638 * Shirley's ''

Love's Cruelty ''Love's Cruelty'' is a Caroline-era stage play, a tragedy written by James Shirley, and first published in 1640. The play was licensed for performance by Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels, on 14 November 1631. Like the majority of S ...

,'' 1640 * Robert Chamberlain's ''The Swaggering Damsel,'' 1640 *

Thomas Killigrew Thomas Killigrew (7 February 1612 – 19 March 1683) was an English dramatist and theatre manager. He was a witty, dissolute figure at the court of King Charles II of England. Life Killigrew was one of twelve children of Sir Robert Killigrew ...

's '' The Prisoners'' and ''

Claricilla ''Claricilla'' is a Caroline era stage play, a tragicomedy written by Thomas Killigrew. The drama was acted c. 1636 by Queen Henrietta's Men at the Cockpit Theatre, and first published in 1641. The play was an early success that helped to confir ...

,'' 1641. Most of the above plays were printed by

Thomas Cotes Thomas Cotes (died 1641) was a London printer of the Jacobean and Caroline eras, best remembered for printing the Second Folio edition of Shakespeare's plays in 1632. Life and work Thomas Cotes became a "freeman" (a full member) of the Stati ...

, the man who printed the

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

Second Folio The Second Folio is the 1632 edition of the collected plays of William Shakespeare. It follows the First Folio of 1623. Much language was updated in the Second Folio and there are almost 1,700 changes. The major partners in the First Folio had ...

1632 Events January–March * January – The Holland's Leguer, a brothel in London, is closed after having been besieged for a month. * February 22 – Galileo's ''Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems'' is pub ...

. There was a strong professional relationship between Crooke and Cotes. (Cooke usually employed other printers for his independently published plays, cited below.) William Cooke also published some Shirley plays on his own: * ''

The Bird in a Cage ''The Bird in a Cage, or The Beauties'' is a Caroline era comedy written by James Shirley, first published in 1633. The play is notable, even among Shirley's plays, for its lushness — what one critic has called "gay romanticism run mad." ...

,'' 1633 * ''

A Contention for Honor and Riches ''A Contention for Honor and Riches'' is a Caroline era stage play, a short drama or interlude written by James Shirley and first published in 1633. Generally classed as a morality play, it illustrates the continuing influence of archaic forms of ...

,'' 1633 * ''

The Witty Fair One ''The Witty Fair One'' is a Caroline era stage play, an early comedy by James Shirley. Critics have cited the play as indicative of the evolution of English comic drama from the humors comedy of Ben Jonson to the Restoration comedy of Wycherley ...

,'' 1633 * ''

The Triumph of Peace ''The Triumph of Peace'' was a Caroline era masque, "invented and written" by James Shirley, performed on 3 February 1634 and published the same year. The production was designed by Inigo Jones. Inspiration The masque was lavishly sponsored by ...

,'' 1634 * '' The Traitor,'' 1635 * ''

Love in a Maze ''The Changes, or Love in a Maze'' is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy of manners written by James Shirley, first published in 1639. It was one of Shirley's most popular comedies, especially in the Restoration era. The play (which involves a ...

,'' 1639 * ''

The Maid's Revenge ''The Maid's Revenge'' is an early Caroline era stage the play, the earliest extant tragedy by James Shirley. It was first published in 1639. ''The Maid's Revenge'' was licensed for performance by Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels, o ...

,'' 1639 * ''

The Humorous Courtier ''The Humorous Courtier,'' also called ''The Duke,'' is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy written by James Shirley, first published in 1640. ''The Humorous Courtier'' was licensed for performance by Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Reve ...

,'' 1640 (in partnership with James Becket). Altogether, Crooke and Cooke published almost two-thirds of Shirley's lifetime dramatic output. Cooke disappears from the historical record after 1641; his last known work was Sir

Edward Coke Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...

's ''The Complete Copy-Holder'' (1641). Crooke issued a second edition of ''Wit Without Money'' in

1661 Events January–March * January 6 – The Fifth Monarchists, led by Thomas Venner, unsuccessfully attempt to seize control of London; George Monck's regiment defeats them. * January 29 – The Rokeby baronets, a British ...

. In

1659 Events January–March * January 14 – In the Battle of the Lines of Elvas, fought near the small city of Elvas in Portugal during the Portuguese Restoration War, the Spanish Army under the command of Luis Méndez de Haro suff ...

, Crooke partnered with stationer Henry Brome (his shop was at the sign of the Gun in Ivy Lane) to issue a volume of

Richard Brome Richard Brome ; (c. 1590? – 24 September 1652) was an English dramatist of the Caroline era. Life Virtually nothing is known about Brome's private life. Repeated allusions in contemporary works, like Ben Jonson's ''Bartholomew Fair'', ind ...

's dramas called ''Five New Plays''; the collection contained ''

The English Moor ''The English Moor, or the Mock Marriage'' is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy written by Richard Brome, noteworthy in its use of the stage device of blackface make-up. Registered in 1640, it was first printed in 1659, and, uniquely among th ...

The Lovesick Court ''The Lovesick Court, or the Ambitious Politique'' is a Caroline-era stage play, a tragicomedy written by Richard Brome, and first published in 1659. Publication ''The Lovesick Court'' was entered into the Stationers' Register on 4 August 1640 b ...

The Weeding of Covent Garden ''The Weeding of the Covent Garden, or the Middlesex Justice of Peace'', alternatively titled ''The Covent Garden Weeded'', is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy written by Richard Brome that was first published in 1659. The play is a notewort ...

, The New Academy'', and ''

The Queen and Concubine ''The Queen and Concubine'' is a Caroline era stage play, a tragicomedy written by Richard Brome and first published in 1659. It has sometimes been called Brome's best tragicomedy. Publication and date The play was first printed when it was in ...

''. Crooke maintained personal relationships with other publishers and printers: Richard Cotes, brother of Thomas Cotes, left Crooke a bequest in his 1653 last will and testament, and bookseller John Parker left Crooke a memorial ring in his 1648 will. Crooke himself left no will when he died in the autumn of 1674; administration of his estate was granted to his widow on 15 October of that year. Crooke had business and family connections in

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...

, the city where Shirley operated in the 1637–40 era. Crooke's nephew, another Andrew Crooke, served as "His Majesty's printer and bookseller" in Dublin from 1693 until his death in 1732. (This later Andrew Crooke, "the second," once sued his own mother, Mary Crooke, in a business dispute.)Pollard, p. 282. In an odd coincidence of history, Andrew Crooke II had an apprentice named William Cooke, who eventually set up shop as a printer and bookseller in

Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...

, where he published ''The Chester Weekly Journal''.

References

;Citations * Nason, Arthur Huntington. ''James Shirley, Dramatist: A Biographical and Critical Study.'' New York, 1915; reprinted New York, Benjamin Blom, 1967. * Pollard, Mary. ''A Dictionary of Members of the Dublin Book Trade 1550–1800.'' Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2000. * Plomer, Henry Robert. ''A Dictionary of the Booksellers and Printers Who Were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1641 to 1667.'' The Bibliographical Society/Blades, East & Blades, 1907. * Stevenson, Allan H. "Shirley's Publishers: The Partnership of Crooke and Cooke," ''The Library,'' 4th series, Vol. 25 (1944–5), pp. 140–61.

External links

*
William Cooke
at LC Authorities, with 10 records {{DEFAULTSORT:Crooke, Andrew 17th-century English businesspeople Publishers (people) from London Business duos People from Oxfordshire (before 1974)

See also

References

External links