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HISTORY OF PRINTING.

1683, Jan. 8. Boolu delivered up by the richer Printert to the company, for the relief of the poor, from a mamucript tndoried : Decreet of the Lord* jn the Star-chamber, touching Printer! , Stationert, i-c. 23 Jtinit, Eliz. 28, 1686. Orderifor them lent to Archbithop Whitgift.

Whereas suudne decrees and ordinances have, upon grave advice and deliberation, been made and published for the repressing of such great enormities and abuses as of late (most men in tyme past) have been commonlye used and prac- tised by diverse contemptuouse and disorderly persons, professing the arte or misterie of print- mg and selling of books; and yet, notwithstand- ing the said abuses and enormities are nothing abated, but (as is found by experience) doe rather more and more increase, to the wilful and manifest breach and contempt of the said ordi- nances and decrees, to the great displeasure and offence of the queen's moste excellent maiestie ; by reason whereof sundrie intolerable offences, troubles, and disturbances, have happened, as well in Uie church as'in the civile government of the state and commonwealeof thisrealme, which seem to have growen, because the paynes and penalties, conteyned and sett downe in the same ordinances and decrees, have been too light and small for the correction and punishment of so grievouse and heynouse offences, and so the offenders and malefactors in that behalfe, have not been so severely punished, as the qualitie of their offences have deserved : her majestie, there- fore, of her moste godlie and gracious disposicion, being careful that speedie and due reformacion be had of the abuses and disorders aforesaid, and that all p«rsons using or professing the arte, trade, ormysterie of printing, ur selling of books, should from henceforth be ruled and directed therein by some certeyn and knowen rules, or ordinances, which should be inviolablie kept and observed, and the breakers and offenders of the same to be severely and shorplie pnnished and corrected, hathe straytly charged and required the mostreverend father-in-God, the archbishop of Canterbttrie, and the ri^ht honourable the lordes, and others of her majesties privy council, to see her majesties said most gracious and godlie intention and purpose to be dulie and effectuallie executed and accomplished. Whereupon the said most reverend father, and the whole present sitting in this honourable cowrte,tkis 23d day of June, in the twenty-eighth year of her majesties reign, upon grave and mature deliberation, have ordeynea and decreed that the ordinances and constitutions, rules and articles, hereafter follow- ing, shall, from henceforth, by all persons, be duly and inviolablie kept and observed, accord- ing to the tenor, purporte, and true intent and meaning of the same, as they tender her majes- ties high displeasure, and as they wyll aunswere to the contrarieat their uttermoste peril. Videlicet

Imprimis, That every printer, and other per- son, or persons whatsoever, which at this tyme present nath erected, or set up, or hereafter snail erect, set up, keep, mainteyn, or have anye printing-presse, rowie, or other instrument, u»r

imprinting of bookes, chartes, ballades, pour- trayctures, paper called damask-paper, or any such matters, or things whatsoever, shall bring a true note, or certificate of the saide presses, or other printing instruments allreadie erected,* within tenne days next coming, after the publication hereof; and of the saide presses, or other printing instruments hereafter to be erected, or set up, from time to tyme, within tenn days next auer the erecting, or setting up thereof, unto the master and wardens of the companie of stacioners, of the cittie of London, for the tyme being, upon payne that everye per- son fayling, or offending herein, shall have all and averie the said presses, and other instru- ments, utterlye defiused, and made unserviceable for imprinting for ever; and shall also suffer twelve moneths imprisonment without bayle or maynprise.

2. Item, That no printer of bookes, nor any other person or persons whatsoever shall set up, keepe, or mayntain, any presse or presses, or any other instrument, or instruments, for imprinting of bookes, ballades, charte, pourtrayctures, or any other thing or things whatsoever, but onely in the citie of London, or the suburbs thereof (except one presse in the nniversitie of Cam- bridge, and one other presse in the universitie of Oxforde, and no more) and that no person shall hereafter erect, sett up, or mavnleyne in any secrett, or obscure comer, or place, any such presse or instrument before expressed ; but that the same shall be in such open place or places, in his or their house or houses, as the wardeins of the said companie of stationers, for the tyme being, or suche other person, or persons, as by the saide wardeins shall be thereunto appointed, may from ^me to tyme have readie accesse unto, to seaiche for and view the same ; and that no printer or other person, or persons, shall at any time here- after witfastande, or make resistance to, or in any such view or search, nor denye, or keepe secrett any such presse, or other instrument, for imprint- ing, upon payne that every person offending in any thing conlrarie to this article, shall have all the said presses, and other printing instruments, defaced and made unserviceable for imprinting for ever ; and shall also suffer imprisonment one whole year, without bayle, or maynprise, and to be disabled for ever to keepe any printing presse, or other instrument for printing, or to be master of any printing-howsse, or to have any benefite thereby, other than onelye to worke as a journey- man for wages.

3. Item, That no printer, nor other person or persons whatsoever, that hath sett up anye presse, or instrument, for imprinting within sixe moneths last past, shall hereafter use, or occupie the same, nor any person or persons shall hereafter erect, or sett up_ any presse, or other instrument of print- ing, till the excessive multitude of pnnters, having presses alreadie sett up, he abated, diminished, and by death given over, or other-


 * See act 99 Geo. III. c. 79, umI the Six Acts.Dec. lilt.

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