4 - ‘Moche profitable unto religious persones, gathered by a brother of Syon’: Syon Abbey and English Books

Summary

Syon Abbey's involvement in the early printed book market has generated scholarly interest from a few angles. The classic, essential treatments of the topic, Doyle's discussion of the larger role of religious orders in the printed book trade and J. T. Rhodes's survey of Syon's involvement in the publication of pre-Reformation books, are an excellent starting point for this topic, providing lists and descriptions of texts and authors. Critics such as George R. Keiser and myself have examined the publication of Middle English mystical and visionary books, including those printed from Syon manuscripts. Vincent Gillespie's recent work on the printed books in the brothers’ library includes discussions of Syon brothers whose books are printed before the Reformation. In addition, Martha Driver has studied the woodcuts used in Syon books, arguing that Syon sisters and brothers played an important role in the production of devotional texts from their abbey. The wealth of materials available from Syon allows for further work to be done on Syon's contribution to the pre-Reformation English book market. This essay goes some way toward making this tradition better known to students and scholars, offering some suggestions about its importance in late medieval piety and the pre-Reformation print tradition.

The essay begins with a short chronological survey of the texts and authors of printed devotional works associated with Syon. After briefly summarising the major characteristics of Syon printed books I will analyse the framing materials for the texts and how they defined their readers and authors, leading into a consideration of why the Syon texts consciously self-identify themselves. Although there are other monastic authors, texts and reading communities specified in the devotional print tradition in late medieval England, Syon's role was far greater than that of any other religious house. Factors that may contribute to this impact were the abbey's location close to London and its printers, the wealth and connections of Syon's patrons and clientele, the learning of the brothers and sisters and their access to religious manuscripts and books, and the pastoral duties of the brothers – both to the sisters and to the laity.