SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
53d
The instrutneDts of setUng the work afoot are these. The adviser, author, compiler, writer, correcter, and the persons for whom, and by whom ; that is to say, the stationer (commonly), Itnd the printer. To which may be added, the letter-foundeis, and the smiths, and joyneis, that work upon presses.
The usual agents for publishing are the print- ers themselves, stitchers, binders, stationers, hawkeis, mercury-women, pedlers, ballad-sing- eis, posts, carryers, hackney-coachmen, boat- men, and mariners. Other instruments may be likewise employ'd, against whom a general pro- vision may be sufficient. Hiding and couMal- ing of unlawful books, is but in order to pub- lishing, and may be brought under the same rule.
Touching the adviser, author, compiler, vnriter, and correcter, their practices are hard to be re- triv'd, unless the one discover the other.
This discovery may be procur'd partly by a penalty upon refusing to discover, and partly by a reward to the discoverer; but let both the penalty and the reward be considerable and certain : and let the obligation of discovery run quite through, from the first mover of the mis- chief, to the last disperser of it That is to say; if any unlawful book shall be found in the pos- session of any of the agents, or instruments aforesaid, let the person in whose possession it is found, be reputed and punish'd as the author of the said book, unless he produce the person, or persons, from whom he receiv'd it ; or else acquit himself by oath, that he knows neither directly nor indirectly how it came into his pos- session.
Concerning the confederacy of stationers and printers, we shall speak anon: but the thing that we are now upon is singly printing, and what necessarily relates to it.
One great evil is the multiplicity of private presses, and consequently of printers, who for want of publique and warrantable employment, are forc'a either to play the knaves in comers or to want bread.
The remedy is, to reduce all printers and presses that are now in employment, to a limited number; and then to provide against private printing for the time to come, which may be done by the means following.
First; The number of printers and presses being resolved upon, let the number of their journey-men, and apprentices be likewise limit- ed: and in like manner, the number of master- founders, and of their joumev-men, and their apprentices ; all which to be aAow'd of, and ap- prov'd by such person or persons, as shall be authoris'd for that purpose; neither let anv joyner, carpenter, or smith, presume to work for or upon any printing press, without such al- lowance as aforesaid, according to the direction of the late act for printing.
Secondly, Let all such printers,letter-fonnders, joyners, carpenters, and smiths, as shall hereafter be allow'd, as aforesaid, be respectively and seve- islly intenogated before their admittance, in
order to the discov^ of supeniiunemry printers and presses. That is ;
1. Let the printers be question'd what private presses they luve at any time wrought upon for so many years last past, and the time when, and for, and with whom : and what other printers, and presses they know of at present, beside those of the present establishment.
2. Let the founders be also examin'd, what letter they have fumish'd since such a time ; when and for whom, and what other printers, &c. — Ut tupru.
3. Let the joyners, carpenters, and smiths, be question'd likewise what presses they have erected, or amended, when and for whom ? and what other presses, printois, &c. — as before.
And if after such examination it shall appear at any time within so many months, that any man has wilfuUv conceal'd or deny'd the truth, let him forfeit nis employment as a person not fit to be trusted, and let the enfbrmer be taken into his place if he be capable of it, and desire it; or else, let him be rewarded some other way. The same course may be taken also concerning English printers and presses beyond the seas.
This may serve as to the discovery of private printers and presses already in employment: now to prevent underhand-dealing for the future, and to provide against certain other abuses in such as are allow'd.
first ; Let a special care be taken of card- makers, leather-^fuilders, flock-workers, and Suoyf-drawers; either by expresly inhibiting leir use of such presses, as may be apply'd to printing of books, or by tying them up to the same termes and conditions with printers ; and let no other tradesman whatsoever presume to make use of a printing-press, but upon the same conditions, and under the same penalties with printers.
2. Let no presse or printing-house be erected or lett, and let no joyner, carpenter, smith, or letter-founder, work for a printing-house, with- out notice (according to the late act.)
3. Let no matenalls belonging to printing, no letters really founded or cast, be imported or bought without the like notice, and for whom (according to the late act.)
4. Let every master-printer be bound at least, if not sworn, not to prmt, cause or sufier to be printed in his house, or press, any book or books without lawful licence (according to the late act.)
5. Let no master-printer be allow'd to keep a press but in his own dwelling-house, and let no printing-house be permitted with a back-dore to it.
6. Let every master-printer certifiewhat ware- houses he keeps, and not change them without giving notice.
7. Let every master-printer set his name to whatsoever he prints, or causes to be printed, ac- cording to the late act.
8. Let no printer presume to put upon any book the title, marque, or viimet, of any other person who has the priviledge of sole printing the same, without the consent of the person so priviledg'd (according to the late act), and let
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