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 Exceptionally there might be an oral direction, or a separate letter or warrant of approval, which was probably preserved in a cupboard at the company's hall. Here too were kept copies of prints, although not, I think, the endorsed copies, which seem to have remained with the stationers. I take it that the procedure was somewhat as follows. The stationer would bring his book to a warden together with the fee or some plausible excuse for deferring payment to a later date. The warden had to consider the questions both of property and of licence. Possibly the title of each book was published in the hall, in order that any other stationer who thought that he had an interest in it might make his claim. Cases of disputed interest would go for determination to the Court of Assistants, who with the master and wardens for the year formed the ultimate governing body of the company, and had power in the last resort to revoke an authority to print already granted. But if no difficulty as to ownership arose,

anno 1584'; 449, 'by warrant of master warden Bishops hand to the wrytten copie'; 457, 'by warrant of the wardens handes to thold copie'; 521, 'with master Hartwelles hand to the Italyan Booke'; 534, 'alowed vnder master Hartwelles hand, entred by warrant of the subscription of the wardens', &c.]*
 * [Footnote: warrant of master warden Bisshops hand to the former copie printed