The Early English Text Society (EETS) was founded in 1864 by F. J. Furnivall, in part to supply lexicographical material for the Philological Society's 'New English Dictionary' (now the Oxford English Dictionary). Many medieval English texts were hitherto unprinted, or only in scarce editions, and hence unavailable to the Dictionary's readers. But Furnivall and his associates were also fascinated by these texts for their insights into medieval and early modern social history: Furnivall, social reformer and founding member of the Working Men's College, and under Carlyle's influence, read the material as a mirror from which political lessons could be learned for his own times. Initially he published medieval texts through the Philological Society but, asked to find another outlet, decided to found his own publishing society. This first volume (of three) of the EETS's history takes the story from Furnivall's birth to the beginnings of the EETS. It offers much new material concerning Furnivall's biography as a young man, as well his associates in the College (including Ruskin and the Pre-Raphaelites), and the EETS's early editors (including Richard Morris and Oswald Cockayne).