18th November, 1477. Printing of the first English (dated) printed book, "Dictes & Sayengis of the Phylosophers". Written by Anthony Woodville, the book was published by William Caxton. Caxton was the first known printer and publisher, introducing a printing press into England in 1476, he was also the first English retailer of printed books; and the first to print Chancer’s Canterbury Tales, which also has a claim to be the first printed book, alongside "Dictes & Sayengis of the Phylosophers". Caxton further was the first person to translate Aesop's Fables into English in 1484. Anthony Woodville, also known as 2nd Earl River, was the brother of Queen Elizabeth Woodville who married King Edward IV, during the Wars of the Roses. Upon Edward’s death in 1483, Woodville was executed upon the order of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who would become Richard III. The fabled Princess in the Tower, were the nephews of both Richard III, and Anthony Woodville. On the same day (18th October) in 1616, English botanist, herbalist, physician, and astrologer Nicholas Culpeper was born. Inspired by the work of medical reformers such as Paracelsus (whose birthday was last week), Culpepper published his books of medical and pharmaceutical knowledge in English, a publishing language that was born with William Caxton. By publishing in English, Culpepper’s works could be read by ordinary folk healers who could not read Latin. His most known work was ‘The English Physician’ published in 1653, it is known today as Culpeper’s Herbal. His questioning of traditional methods and knowledge, pairing herbs and planetary influences to counter illnesses and disease, led him to be accused of Witchcraft in 1642. Continued in comments. #15thcentury #warsoftheroses #canterburytales #williamcaxton #printingpress #richardiii #princessinthetower #nicolasculpeper #herbology #bottlesart #ceramicbottles #medicinebottle #candles #candlesart #historicalart #ofgraveconcern #folkmedicine #astrologycandles #paracelsus #culpepersherbal #herbal #witchcraft #witchtrials #henryviii #weirdhistory #strangehistory #darkhistory #illustration #illustrationartists #darkillustration https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5dj4tgXK5/?igshid=i2jlbpuhfbry
