SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
375
brongfat to so small a nnmber of masters, or owners of printing-bowses, being of abilitie and good bebariour, as the arcbbisbopp of Can- terburie and bisbopp of London, for the tyme bein^, sball thereupon think it requisite, and conreoient, for the good service of the retime, to hare some more presses, or instruments for printing erected, and sett up : and that when, and as often as the saide archbisbopp and bishopp, for the tyme being, shall so thiuk it requisite and conrenient, and shall signifie the same to the said master and wardeins of the saide com- panie of stationers, for the tyme being ; that then, and so often, the saide master and wardeins, shall (within convenient tyme after) call the assistants of the said companie before them, and shall make choice of one, or more (as by the opinion of the saide archbishopp and bishopp, for the tyme being, need shall require) of sucfae persons being free stationers, as for theyr skill, abilitie, and good behaviour, shall be thought by the sude master, wardeins, and assistants, or the more parte of them, meet to have the charge and government of a presse, or printing-house ; and .that within fowerteen dayes next alter such election, and choice, the saide master, wardeins, and fower other at the least of the assistants of the saide companie, shall present before the high commissioners in causes ecclesiastical, or sixe or more of them, whereof the saide archbishopp, or bishopp, to be one, to allowe, and admitt everie sucne person so chosen and presented, to be master and gouvemonre of a presse, and printing-house, according to ^e same election and presentment, upon payne that everie person offending contrarye to the intent of this article, shall have his presse, and instruments for print- in g, defaced, and made unserviceable, and allso suffer imprisonment, by the space of one whole yeare, without bayle, or maynprize. Provided allwayes, that this article, or any thing therein conteyned, shall not extend to the office of the queene's majesties printer for the service of the realme ; but that the said office, and offices, shall be, and continue at the pleasure and disposicion of her majestie, her heiies, and successors, at all tymes, upon the death of her highnes's printer, or otherwise.
4. Item, That no person, or persons, shall im- print, or cause to be imprinted, or suffer by any meanes to his knowledge, his presse, letters, or other instruments, to be occupied in printing of any booke, worke, coppie, matter, or thing what- soever, except the same booke, work, coppie, matter, or any thing, hath bene heretofore allow- ed, or hereafter shall be allowed, before the im- printing thereof, according to the order appointed Dy the queene's majesties injunctions, and be first scene and perused by the archbishopp of Canterburie, and bishopp of London, for the tyme being, or one of them (the queene's majes- ties printer for some special service by her majes- tie, or by some of her highnes privie councell thereunto appoynted; and suche are, or shal be priviledged to print the bookes of the common fawe of this realme, for suche of the same books.
as shal be allowed of by the two cheefe justices, and cheefe barons, for the tyme being, or any two of them, onelye excepted) nor shall imprint, or cause to be imprinted, any booke, worke, or coppie, against the forme and meaning of any restraynte, or ordinaiuce conteyned, or to be conteyned, in any statute, or lawes of this realme, or in any injunction made, or sett fortbe bv her majestie, or her highness privie counsel], or againste the true intent and meaning of any let- ters patents, commissions, or prohibicions, under the greate seale of Englande; or contrarie to any allowed ordinaunce, sett downe for the good govemaunce of the company of stationers, within the cittie of London ; upon payne to haue all suche presses, letters, and instruments, as in or about the imprinting of any suche bookes, or copies, shall be imployed or used, to be defaced, and made uncerviceable for imprinting for ever ; and upon payne allso, that everye offender, and offenders, contrarie to this present article, or ordinaunce, shal be disabled (after any sucbe offence) to use, or exercise, or take benefite by using, or exercising of the arte, or feate of im- printing; and shall moreoversusteynesix monetha imprisonment without bayle, or maynprise :
6. Item, That everie suche person, as shall sell, utter, or putt to sale wittingly, bynde, stitch, or sowe; or wittinglie cause to be solde, uttered,
Cto sale, bounde, stitched, or sowed, any kes, or copies whatsoever, printed contrarie to the intent and true meaning of any ordinaunces or article aforesaid, shall suffer three moneth, imprisonment for his, or their offence.
6. Item, That it shall be lawful! for the war- deins of the saide companye, for the tyme being, or any two of the saide companie thereto deputed, by the saide wardeins, to make seaiche in all work-howses, shopps, ware-howses of printers, booke-sellers, booke-b3rnders, or where they shall haue reasonable cause of suspition ; and all books, copies, matters, and things printed, or to be printed, contrarie to the intent and meaning of these present ordinances, to seaze and take to her majesties use, and the same to carrie into the stacioners-hall in London; and the partie, or
Cies, offending in printing, selling, uttering, ling, stitching, or sowing any such bookes, copies, matters, or things, to arrest, bring, and present before the said highe commissioners in causes ecclesiastical], or some three, or more of them, whereof the said archbishop of Canter- burie or bishopp of London, for the tyme being, to be one.
7. Item, That it shall be lawfull to and for the aforesaide wardeins, for the ^rme being, or any two by them appoynted, without lett, or interruption of any person, orpersons whatsoever, to enter into any nowsse, work-howsse, ware- howsse, shopp, or other place, or places; and to seaze, take, and carrie away all presses, letters, and other printing instruments, set upp, used, or imployed, contrarie to the true meaning hereof, to be defaced, and made unserviceable, as afore- said; and that the saide wardeins shall so ofuni as need shall require, call the assistants of their
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