Page:Plomer Dictionary of the Booksellers and Printers 1907.djvu/19

 Ordinance against the book-trade was that of the 9th March, 164, which gave the Committee of Examinations power to appoint searchers for presses employed in printing scandalous and lying pamphlets. They were instructed to demolish and take away such presses, their materials and the printers' nuts and spindles, and to bring the printers, or their workmen, before the committee. They were also given power to commit to prison alike the printers, the vendors, and any persons who should refuse to allow their premises to be searched, and anyone so committed was not to be released until all the charges incurred in the seizure had been paid. The following stationers were appointed to act as searchers under the foregoing order, Felix Kyngston, Samuel Man, George Miller, John Bellamy, William Lee, junior, John Partridge, Christopher Meredith, Robert Dawlman, Matthew Walbancke, Richard Cotes, Joseph Hunscott, and John Raworth. Felix Kyngston was one of the oldest members of the Company, having taken up his freedom as far back as 1597. Samuel Man was warden of the Company, and the remainder were probably chosen for their known Presbyterian tendencies. At the same time, the Common Council of the City of London passed an act for the apprehending of all vagrant persons, men, women and children, who should be found hawking or crying pamphlets or books about the streets of the City.

Barely three months later, on the 14th June, Parliament sets out another Ordinance against the book trade. This begins with a preamble in which it is admitted that the previous Order had had little or no effect, and that in spite of it, very many, as well stationers and printers, as others of sundry other professions not free of the Stationers' Company, have taken upon them to set up sundry private Printing Presses in corners, and to print, vend, publish, and disperse Books, Pamphlets, and Papers, in such multitudes, that no industry could be sufficient to discover or bring to punishment, all the several abounding delinquents, and then proceeds to try and perform the feat which it has just declared impossible. The sundry other professions here alluded to were chiefly drapers and haberdashers, but no doubt Parliament had in its mind at that moment, (q.v.),