John Rastell facts for kids

John Rastell (born around 1475, died 1536) was a very busy English person! He was a printer, a writer, a lawyer, and even a member of Parliament. He lived during a time of big changes in England.

John Rastell's Life

John Rastell was born in Coventry, a city in England. He studied for a while at Oxford University. Later, he became a lawyer, working in London. Around 1512, he also started his own printing business. He even helped create big public shows for the king!

His Printing Work

John Rastell published many books. For example, he announced a book by Sir Anthony Fitzherbert about English laws in 1514. From 1520 onwards, he worked and lived at a place called "the sign of the mermaid at Powlysgate." Some of the books he printed there include The Mery Gestys of the Wydow Edyth (1525) and A Dyaloge of Syr Thomas More (1529). His last known published poem was Fabyl's Ghoste in 1533.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1529, John Rastell became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Dunheved in Cornwall. This meant he helped make laws for the country.

Religious Views and Challenges

John Rastell was married to Elizabeth, who was the sister of Thomas More, a famous English scholar. At first, John Rastell agreed with Thomas More's Catholic beliefs. In 1530, he wrote a book called A New Boke of Purgatory to defend a Catholic idea called Purgatory.

However, another writer named John Frith disagreed with him and wrote a reply. John Rastell wrote back, but it seems that John Frith's arguments made John Rastell change his mind. He started to agree with some of the new Protestant ideas.

Later Life and Difficulties

After changing his religious views, John Rastell found himself in a tough spot. He wasn't fully trusted by either side. He wrote a letter saying that he had supported the king and opposed the Pope. Because of this, he lost both his printing business and his law practice. He became very poor.

In 1536, he was put in prison. This might have been because he wrote against paying certain church taxes called tithes. He likely died in prison that same year. His will was approved on July 18, 1536. He had two sons, William Rastell and John Rastell the Younger.

John Rastell's Writings

The Pastyme of People

One of John Rastell's most famous books is The Pastyme of People, the Chronycles of dyvers Realmys and most specially of the Realme of England (1529). This book is a history of England, from the very earliest times up to the reign of King Richard III.

Legal Books

He also wrote important books about law. His book Expositiones terminorum legum Angliae (1527) explained legal terms. It was later translated into English and reprinted many times. Another legal work, The Abbreviacion of Statutis (1519), was also very popular, with many editions published.

The Four Elements Play

John Rastell also wrote a play called A new Interlude and a Mery of the Elements, or The Four Elements. This play was written around 1519. It's a type of play called a morality play, which teaches a lesson. The only remaining copy of this play is not complete, but it's known as one of his works.

First English Music Printer

John Rastell was also the first person in England to print polyphonic music. This means music with multiple independent melodies played at the same time. He started printing music in the 1520s. He used a special type of printing that could print musical notes, staff lines, and text all together.

Two song sheets he printed around 1523 still exist today. Since these simple, unbound works survived from such an early time, it suggests he might have printed a lot of music. The songs were in English, meaning they were likely for people in England, not for export. After he died, his musical printing equipment was bought by another printer named John Gough.