GREENSMITH (JOHN), bookseller in London, 1641-2. Took up his freedom January 19th, 1635. [Arber, iii. 687.] Chiefly a publisher of political pamphlets and broadsides. In 16412 he was examined before a Committee of the House of Commons in connection with the Hertfordshire Petition, and confessed that Martin Eldred, of Jesus College, Cambridge, and Thomas Harbert brought a copy of the petition to him and he paid them half-a-crown for it. He also confused to having published various other pamphlets, Good newes from Ireland, Bloudy Newes from Ireland, and the Cambridge petition, which were composed by the same authors, and for each of which he gave the same sum. These pamphlets were printed by Bernard Alsop, q.v. [House of Commons Journal, January 25th, 16412.] Greensmith was sent to the Gatehouse for this offence. His address has not been found.
GRIFFIN (ANNE), printer in London; Old Bailey, St. Sepulchre's parish, 1634-43. Widow of Edward Griffin I, printer, 1613-21. She continued to carry on the business, and in 1638 her son, Edward Griffin II, was in partnership with her. Anne Griffin appeared as a witness against Archbishop Laud in January, 16423, and is described in her depositions as a widow, forty-eight years of age. She deposed to reprinting, in 1637, Thomas Becon's Displaying of the Popish Masse, for which she was reprimanded by Laud, who threatened to put down her printing house. [Domestic State Papers, Charles I, vol. 500, No. 6.]
GRIFFIN (EDWARD) II, printer in London; Old Bailey, St. Sepulchre's parish, 1638-52. Son of Edward and Anne Griffin, 1613-38. Took up his freedom January 18th, 16367. This was an old-established printing house, originally founded in 1590 by John Jackson, Ninian Newton, Edmond Bollifant and Arnold Hatfield. Edward Griffin I began to print here in 1613. He died in 1621, and was succeeded by his widow Anne, who took John Haviland into partnership, and the press for some years was run by a syndicate consisting of John Haviland, Robert Young and Miles Flesher, who controlled several printing houses in London. [Arber, iii. 700-704.] On October 26th, 1638, Edward Griffin the second and his mother jointly entered in the register Dr. Sibbes' Seven Sermons on Psalm 68 [Arber, iv. 442], and eventually Edward Griffin II succeeded to the business, which he continued to carry on until his death in 1652, when he in turn was succeeded by his widow Sarah Griffin.
