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DECREE OF STAR CHAMBER. 
 
One hundred and fifty copies printed from 
 type, in the month of December, 1884, 
 of which this is Number 1 ^ t: 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2007 with funding from 
 
 Microsoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/decreeofstarchamOOenglrich 
 
DECREE OF STAR CHAMBER 
 CONCERNING PRINTING. 
 
 MADE JULY II, 1637. 
 
 REPRINTED BY THE GROLIER CLUB, FROM THE 
 FIRST EDITION BY ROBERT BARKER, 1 637. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 O the unprofessional reader, 
 statute law is especially un- 
 interesting. An explanation 
 seems proper before the 
 reprint of an English law 
 which has been obsolete for more than 
 two hundred years. But this decree has 
 an exceptional interest. Although not the 
 first nor the last of arbitrary laws for the 
 regulating of printing, there is probably 
 no other law in the English statute-book 
 which so plainly shows the futility of med- 
 dlesome legislation. 
 
 The censorship of printing is almost as 
 old as the invention of typography. Be- 
 ginning 
 
T^reface. 
 
 ginning in i486 with the mandate of the 
 Archbishop of Mentz, who made fine and 
 excommunication the penalties of unli- 
 censed printing, repressive laws with more 
 cruel penalties were soon after enacted by 
 the legislators of every country in which 
 printing was introduced. Although the 
 uprooting of heresy was the object of these 
 laws, it was soon found that the spread of 
 heresy was not the only offense of the 
 early press. Attacks against royal au- 
 thority or patrician privilege were offenses 
 quite as frequent, and even more irritating. 
 But neither in England nor on the Con- 
 tinent were these offenses stopped by 
 severity of punishment. 
 
 Believing that prevention would be bet- 
 ter than cure, the legislators of England 
 undertook to suppress seditious publica- 
 tions by making it difficult to buy books, 
 or to have writings of any kind printed. 
 It was expected by the framers of this 
 decree, when it had been declared unlaw- 
 ful, without special authorization, to make, 
 buy, or keep types or presses, or to prac- 
 tice the trade of a printer, publisher, or 
 book-seller, or even to print unobjection- 
 able 
 
T^reface. 
 
 able books, that printing would be found 
 too full of risk to the politician or the 
 patriot. Considering the limited number 
 of printers who would be allowed to learn 
 and practice the trade, it was believed 
 that the fear of severe punishment on one 
 side, and the hope of getting by favor 
 lucrative patents or monopolies in printing 
 on the other, would compel all printers to 
 a careful observance of the laws. 
 
 From the thorough manner in which 
 every loop-hole of evasion or escape is 
 stopped up, this decree seems to have 
 been modeled after a Spanish decree of 
 1550, which had been re-enforced by order 
 of that great hunter of heresy, Philip II. 
 of Spain. Compared with that, the Eng- 
 lish law is merciful. There are no penal- 
 ties of burning alive or burying alive — no 
 threats of torture or of maiming. The de- 
 cree of the Star Chamber is an acknowl- 
 edgment of a marked change in the temper 
 of the English people. Excommunication 
 had lost its terrors. It was not a humani- 
 tarian age, but even the legislators felt 
 that there had been enough of burning 
 alive during the reign of Mary. There 
 
 were 
 
T^reface. 
 
 were members of the Star Chamber who 
 beHeved in the efficacy of torture, but they 
 did not think it wise to specify torture as a 
 penalty. Public whipping and the pillory 
 were the severest corporal penalties that 
 they dared name. The right to inflict 
 more was veiled under the phrase, *' and 
 such other punishment as by this Hon- 
 ourable Court shall be thought fit." The 
 people were not in a mood to be men- 
 aced by cruel punishment. Enough of in- 
 dignation had been shown, in 1579, when 
 Stubbs's right hand had been hacked off, 
 and but a month before the enactment of 
 this decree, when Prynne's ears had been 
 cropped, to serve as a warning to legis- 
 lators against the unwise provoking of a 
 sudden rebellion. 
 
 The members of the Star Chamber 
 saw this, but they could not wisely read 
 other signs of the times. In the wide- 
 spread popular discontent at laws which 
 abridged the freedom of speech and of 
 printing, the legislators saw only the rash 
 actions of the few brave men who de- 
 nounced the laws. They thought, or affected 
 to think, that these men did not represent 
 
 one-tenth 
 
"Preface. 
 
 one-tenth of the people. That this belief 
 would have been shaken, or destroyed, if 
 printing had been free, cannot be doubted. 
 If every Englishman could have had lib- 
 erty to speak or print his thoughts, Charles 
 and Laud and Strafford would have had 
 forewarnings which might have saved 
 them from the headsman's axe. Nowhere 
 in history can one find an instance of 
 sadder legislative folly than is shown in 
 this decree. The people of England were 
 boiling with discontent. Instead of try- 
 ing to remove the causes that made the 
 discontent, the ministers of Charles I. 
 preferred to destroy its manifestations. 
 Annoyed by a little hissing of steam, they 
 closed all the valves and outlets, but did 
 not draw or deaden the fires which made 
 the steam. They sat down in peace, grati- 
 fied with their work, just before the ex- 
 plosion which destroyed them and their 
 privileges. In 1641, the Long Parliament 
 brought the head of Strafford to the block, 
 and the Court of Star Chamber was abol- 
 ished ; in 1645, Archbishop Laud was exe- 
 cuted; in 1649, King Charles himself was 
 beheaded. 
 
 This 
 
T^reface. 
 
 This decree is not of interest merely as 
 a turning-point in the progress of civil 
 liberty. In connection with the notes that 
 follow, it may be read with profit by those 
 who believe in the wisdom of laws that 
 prevent or hinder the educating influences 
 to be had from foreign books or works of 
 art, or the transplanting of foreign ideas or 
 beliefs ; as well as by the trades-unionists 
 who maintain that their trades would be 
 improved and the public benefited by a 
 restriction of workmen and of apprentices. 
 We may rightfully smile at the folly and 
 futility of many of the provisions of this de- 
 cree ; but it will be read to little purpose if 
 it does not provoke the question — Will not 
 the reader of the next century look on 
 many of our meddlesome laws with as 
 much wonder as we look on this decree of 
 the seventeenth century ? 
 

DECREE 
 
 OF 
 
 Starre-Chamber, 
 
 CONCERNING 
 
 Printing, 
 
 3\dade the eleuenth day of yuly 
 laji pajl, 1637. 
 
 'ffsmi^msism^mssaik'. 
 
 H Imprinted at London by Robert barker, 
 
 Printer to the Kings moft Excellent 
 
 Maieftie : And by the Affignes 
 
 oi lobn Bill 1637. 
 
In Camera Stellata coram Con- 
 
 cilio ibidem, vndecimo die 
 
 My, Anno decimo tertio 
 
 Caroli T^gis. 
 
 His day Sir I o h n 
 Bankes Knight, 
 His SVlaieJiies At- 
 tourney Generally 
 produced in Court a "Decree 
 drawn and penned by the aduice 
 of the T^ight Honourable the 
 Lord Keeper of the great Scale 
 of England, the mojl T^euerend 
 Father in God the Lord Arch- 
 qA 3 Bifhop 
 
qA 'Decree 
 
 Bifhop of Canterbury his Grace, 
 ifAe T^ight Honorable and T^ight 
 T^euerend Father in God the 
 Lord Bifhop of London Lord 
 high Treafurer of England, the 
 Lord chiefe luftices, and the 
 Lord chiefe Baron, touching the 
 regulating of "Printers and 
 Founders of letters, whereof the 
 Court hauing confederation, the 
 faid Decree was direBed and 
 ordered to be here "Recorded, and 
 to the end the fame may be pub- 
 liquCy and that euery one whom 
 it may concerne may take notice 
 thereof The Court hath now 
 alfo ordered, That the faid De- 
 cree fhall fpeedily be Trinted, 
 
 and 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 and that the fame befent to His 
 Maiefties Printer for that pur- 
 pofe. Whereas the three and 
 twentieth day of lune in the 
 eight and tzventieth yere of the 
 reigne of the late Queene Eliza- 
 beth, and before, diners Uecrees 
 and Ordinances haue beene 
 made for the better gouernment 
 and regulating of Printers and 
 Printing, which Orders and 
 P)ecrees haue beene found by 
 experience to be defeH^iue infome 
 particulars ; oAnd diuers abufes 
 haue f thence arifen, and beene 
 praBifedby the craft and malice 
 of wicked and euill difpofed per- 
 fonSy to the preiudice of the pub- 
 J{ 4 like ; 
 
qA "Decree of^ &c. 
 
 like; oAnd diners libellous , fe- 
 ditiouSy and mutinous bookes 
 haue been vnduly printed, and 
 other bookes and papers without 
 licence, to the dijlurbance of the 
 peace of the Church and State : 
 Forpreuention whereof in time 
 to come. It is now Ordered and 
 ^Decreed, That the faid former 
 Decrees and Ordinances fhall 
 fiand in force with thefe Addi- 
 tions, Explanations, and Alter- 
 ations following, viz. 
 
 Imprimis, 
 
In Camera Stellata coram Con- 
 
 cilio ibidem, vndecimo die lulii, 
 
 zAnno decimo tertio C A R o L i 
 
 Regis. 
 
 Mprimis, That 
 noperfonorper- 
 fons whatfoeuer 
 (hall prefume to 
 print, or caufe 
 to bee printed, either in the 
 parts beyond the Seas, or in 
 this Realme, or other his Ma- 
 iefties Dominions, any feditious, 
 fcifmaticall, or offenfive Bookes 
 
 B or 
 
qA T>ec?ee 
 
 or Pamphlets, to the fcandall of 
 ReHgion, or the Church, or the 
 Government, or Governours of 
 the Church or State, or Com- 
 monwealth, or of any Corpora- 
 tion, or particular perfon or 
 perfons whatfoeuer, nor fhall 
 Import any fuch Booke or 
 Bookes, nor fell or difpofe of 
 them, or any of them, nor caufe 
 any fuch to be bound, ftitched, 
 or fowed, vpon paine that he or 
 they fo offending, fhall loofe all 
 fuch Bookes & Pamphlets, and 
 alfo haue, and fuffer fuch cor- 
 re6lion, and fevere punifhment, 
 either by Fine, imprifonment, 
 or other corporall punifhment, 
 
 or 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 or otherwife, as by this Court, 
 or by His Maiefties Commifsion- 
 ers for caufes Ecclefiafticall in 
 the high Commifsion Court, re- 
 spediuely, as the feverall caufes 
 fhall require, fhall be thought 
 fit to be inflided upon him, or 
 them, for fuch their offence and 
 contempt. 
 
 II. Item, That no perfon or 
 perfons whatfoeuer, fhall at any 
 time print or caufe to be im- 
 printed, any Booke or Pamphlet 
 whatfoever, vnleffe the fame 
 Booke or Pamphlet, and alfo all 
 and euery the Titles, Epiftles, 
 Prefaces, Proems, Preambles, In- ' 
 B 2 trodu6lions, 
 
qA "Decree 
 
 trodu6lions,Tables, Dedications, 
 and other matters and things 
 whatfoeuer thereunto annexed, 
 or therewith imprinted, fhall be 
 firft lawfully licenced and au- 
 thorized onely by fuch perfon 
 and perfons as are hereafter ex- 
 preffed, and by no other, and 
 fhall be alfo firft entred into the 
 Regifters Booke of the Company 
 of Stationers ; vpon paine that 
 euery Printer offending therein, 
 fhall be for euer hereafter dif- 
 abled to ufe or exercife the Art 
 or Myfterie of Printing, and re- 
 ceiue fuch further punifhment, as 
 by this Court or the high Com- 
 mifsion Court refpediuely, as 
 
 the 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 the feverall caufes fhall require, 
 fhall be thought fitting. 
 
 III. Item, That all Bookes 
 concerning the common Lawes 
 of this Realme fhall be printed 
 by the efpeciall allowance of 
 the Lords chiefe luftices, and 
 the Lord chiefe Baron for the 
 time being, or one or more of 
 them, or by their appointment ; 
 And that all Books of Hiftory, 
 belonging to this State, and 
 prefent times, or any other 
 Booke of State affaires, fhall be 
 licenced by the principall Sec- 
 retaries of State, or one of 
 them, or by their appointment; 
 B 3 And 
 
qA T)ecree 
 
 And that all Bookes concern- 
 ing Heraldry, Titles of Honour 
 and Armes, or otherwife con-, 
 cerning the Office of Earle 
 Marfliall, fhall be licenced by 
 the Earle Marfhall, or by his ap- 
 pointment; And further, that 
 all other Books, whether of 
 Diuinitie, Phificke, Philofophie, 
 Poetry, or whatfoeuer, fhall be 
 allowed by the Lord Arch-Bifh- 
 op of Canterbury, or Bifhop of 
 London for the time being, or by 
 their appointment, or the Chan- 
 cellours, or Vice-Chancellors of 
 either of the Vniuerfities of 
 this Realme for the time being. 
 Alwayes prouided, that the 
 
 Chan- 
 
of Starre-Chamber, 
 
 Chancellour or Vice-Chancel- 
 lour, of either of the Vniuerfi- 
 ties, fhall Licence onely fuch 
 Booke or Bookes that are to be 
 Printed within the Hmits of the 
 Vniuerfities refpediuely, but 
 not in London, or elfewhere, not 
 medhng either with Bookes of 
 the common Law, or matters of 
 State. 
 
 IV. Item, That euery perfon 
 and perfons, which by any De- 
 cree of this Court are, or fhall 
 be appointed or authorized to 
 Licence Bookes, or giue War- 
 rant for imprinting thereof, as is 
 aforefaid, fhall haue two feuerall 
 
 written 
 
qA "Decree 
 
 written Copies of the fame 
 Booke or Bookes with the Ti- 
 tles, Epiftles, Prefaces, Proems, 
 Preambles, Introdu6lions, Ta- 
 bles, Dedications, and other 
 things whatfoeuer thereunto an- 
 nexed. One of which faid 
 Copies fhall be kept in the 
 publike Regiftries of the faid 
 Lord Arch-Bifhop, and Bifhop 
 oi London respediuely, or in the 
 Office of the Chancellour, or 
 Vice-Chancellour of either of 
 the Vniuerfities, or with the 
 Earle Marfhall, or principall 
 Secretaries of State, or with the 
 Lords chiefe luftices, or chiefe 
 Baron, of all fuch Bookes as 
 
 (hall 
 
of Starre- Chamber, 
 
 fhall be licenfed by them refpec- 
 tiuely, to the end that he or they 
 may be fecure, that the Copy fo 
 Hcenfed by him or them fhall 
 not bee altered without his or 
 their priuitie, and the other fhall 
 remain with him whofe Copy 
 it is, and vpon both the faid Co- 
 pies, he or they that fhall allow 
 the faid Booke, fhall teftifie vn- 
 der his or their hand or hands, 
 that there is nothing in that 
 Booke or Books contained, that 
 is contrary to Chriftian Faith, 
 and the Do6lrine and Difcipline 
 of the Church of England, nor 
 againfl the State or Gouern- 
 ment, nor contrary to good life, 
 C or 
 
qA "Decree 
 
 or good manners, or otherwife, 
 as the nature and fubie6l of the 
 work (hall require, which Hcenfe 
 or approbation fhall be imprint- 
 ed in the beginning of the fame 
 Booke, with the name, or names 
 of him or them that fhall autho- 
 rize or licenfe the fame, for 
 a teftimonie of the allowance 
 thereof 
 
 V. I^em, That euery Mer- 
 chant of bookes, and perfon and 
 perfons whatfoeuer, which doth, 
 or hereafter (hall buy, import, or 
 bring any booke or bookes into 
 this Realme, from any parts be- 
 yond the Seas, fhall before fuch 
 
 time 
 
of Starre- Chamber. , 
 
 time as the fame book or books, 
 or any of them be deHuered 
 forth, or out of his, or their hand 
 or hands, or expofed to fale, 
 giue, and prefent a true Cata- 
 logue in writing of all and euery 
 fuch booke and bookes vnto the 
 Lord Arch-BIfhop of Canter- 
 bury, or Lord Bifhop oi London 
 for the time being, vpon paine 
 to haue and fuffer fuch punifh- 
 ment for offending herein, as by 
 this Court, or by the faid high 
 Commifsion Court refpediue- 
 ly, as the feuerall caufes fhall re- 
 quire, fhall be thought fitting. 
 
 VI. Item, That no Mer- 
 C 2 chant, 
 
qA "Decree 
 
 chant, or other perfon or perfons 
 whatfoeuer, which fhall import, 
 or bring any book or books into 
 the kingdome, from any parts 
 beyond the Seas, fhall prefume 
 to open any Dry-fats, Bales, 
 Packs, Maunds, or other Fardals 
 of books, or wherein books are; 
 nor fhall any Searcher, Way- 
 ter, or other Officer belonging 
 to the Cuftome-houfe, vpon 
 pain of loofmg his or their place 
 or places, fuffer the fame to 
 paffe, or to be deliuered out of 
 their hands or cuftody, before 
 fuch time as the Lord Arch-Bi- 
 fhop of Canterbury, or Lord Bi- 
 fhop of London^ or one of them 
 
 for 
 
of Starve- Chamber. 
 
 for the time being, haue appoin- 
 ted one of their Chaplains, or 
 fome other learned man, with 
 the Mafter and Wardens of the 
 Company of Stationers, or one 
 of them, and fuch others as they 
 fhall call to their afsiftance, to be 
 prefent at the opening thereof, 
 and to view the fame : And if 
 there fhall happen to be found 
 any feditious, fchifmaticall, or of- 
 fenfiue booke or bookes, they 
 fhall forthwith be brought vnto 
 the faid Lord Arch-bifhop of 
 Canterbury, Lord Bifhop oi Lon- 
 don for the time being, or one of 
 them, or to the High Commifsi- 
 on Office, to the end that as well 
 C 3 the 
 
qA T)ecree 
 
 the offender or offendors may 
 be punillied by the Court of Star 
 Chamber, or the high Com- 
 mifsion Court respe6liuely, as 
 the feuerall caufes fhall require, 
 according to his or their deme- 
 rit ; as alfo that fuch further 
 courfe and order may be taken 
 concerning the fame booke or 
 bookes, as fhall bee thought 
 fitting. 
 
 VI I. Item, That no perfon 
 or perfons fhall within this 
 Kingdome, or elfewhere im- 
 print, or caufe to be imprinted, 
 nor fhall import or bring in, or 
 caufe to be imported or brought 
 
 into 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 into this Kingdome, from, or out 
 of any other His Maieffies Do- 
 minions, nor from other, or any 
 parts beyond the Seas, any Co- 
 py, book or books, or part of any 
 booke or bookes, printed be- 
 yond the feas, or elfwhere, which 
 the faid Company of Stationers, 
 or any other perfon or perfons 
 haue, or fhall by any Letters Pa- 
 tents, Order, or Entrance in their 
 Regifter book, or otherwife, 
 haue the right, priuiledge, au- 
 thoritie, or allowance foly to 
 print, nor fhall bind, ftitch, or 
 put to fale, any fuch booke or 
 bookes, vpon paine of loffe and 
 forfeiture of all the faid bookes, 
 
 and 
 
(v^ T)ecree 
 
 and of fuch Fine, or other pu- 
 nifhment, for euery booke or 
 part of a booke fo imprinted or 
 imported, bound, ftitched, or put 
 to fale, to be leuyed of the party 
 fo offending, as by the power of 
 this Court, or the high Com- 
 mifsion Court refpedliuely, as 
 the feverall caufes fhall require, 
 fhall be thought fit. 
 
 VIII. Item, Euery perfon 
 and perfons that fhall hereafter 
 Print, or caufe to be Printed, any 
 Bookes, Ballads, Charts, Por- 
 traiture, or any other thing or 
 things whatfoeuer, fhall there- 
 unto or theron Print and fet his 
 and their owne name or names, 
 
 as 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 as alfo the name or names of the 
 Author or Authors, Maker or 
 Makers of the fame, and by, or 
 for whom any fuch booke, or o- 
 ther thing is, or fhall be printed, 
 vpon pain of forfiture of all fuch 
 Books, Ballads, Chartes, Portrai- 
 tures, and other thing or things, 
 printed contrary to this Article ; 
 And the preffes. Letters and o- 
 ther inftruments for Printing, 
 wherewith fuch Books, ballads, 
 Chartes, Portraitures, and other 
 thing or things fhall be printed, 
 to be defaced and made vnfer- 
 uiceable, and the party and par- 
 ties fo offending, to be fined, im- 
 prifoned, and haue fuch other 
 D cor- 
 
qA T)ecree 
 
 corporall punifliment, or other- 
 wife, as by this Honourable 
 Court, or the faid high Com- 
 mifsion refpedtiuely, as the feue- 
 rall caufes fhall require, fhall be 
 thought fit 
 
 IX. Item, That no per- 
 fon or perfons whatfoeuer, fhall 
 hereafter print, or caufe to be 
 printed, or fhall forge, put, or 
 counterfeit, in, or vpon any 
 booke or books, the name, title, 
 marke or vinnet of the Com- 
 pany or Society of Stationers, 
 or of any particular perfon or 
 perfons, which hath or fhall 
 haue lawfull priuiledge, autho- 
 
 ritie, 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 ritie, or allowance to print the 
 fame, without the confent of the 
 faid Company, or party or par- 
 ties that are or fhall be fo priui- 
 ledged, authorized, or allowed 
 to print the fame booke or 
 books, thing or things, firft had 
 and obtained, vpon paine that 
 euery perfon or perfons fo of- 
 fending, fhall not onely loofe 
 all fuch books and other things, 
 but fhall alfo haue, and fuffer 
 fuch punifhment, by imprifon- 
 ment of his body, fine, or other- 
 wife, as by this Honourable 
 Court, or high Commifsion 
 Court refpe6liuely, as the feue- 
 rall caufes fhall require, it fhall 
 D2 be 
 
qA Decree 
 
 be to him or them Hmited or 
 adiudged. 
 
 X. IteMy that noHaberdaflier 
 of fmall wares, Ironmonger, 
 Chandler, Shop-keeper, or any 
 other perfon or perfons whatfo- 
 euer, not hauing beene feuen 
 yeeres apprentice to the trade of 
 a Book-feller, Printer, or Book- 
 binder, fhall within the citie or 
 fuburbs of London, or in any 
 other Corporation, Market- 
 towne, or elfwhere, receive, take 
 or buy, to barter, fell againe, 
 change or do away any Bibles, 
 Teftaments, Pfalm-books, Pri- 
 mers, Abcees, Almanackes, or 
 
 other 
 
of Starre-Chamber. 
 
 other booke or books whatfoe- 
 uer, vpon pain of forfeiture of all 
 fuch books fo receiued, bought 
 or taken as aforefaid, and fuch 
 other punifhment of the parties 
 fo offending, as by this Court, 
 or the faid high Commifsion 
 Court refpedliuely, as the feve- 
 rall caufes fhall require, fhall be 
 thought meet. 
 
 XL Item, for that Printing 
 is, and for many yeers hath been 
 an Art and manufacture of this 
 kingdome, for the better incou- 
 raging of Printers in their ho- 
 neft, and iuft endeauours in 
 their profefsion, and preuention 
 D3 of 
 
qA T>ecree 
 
 of diuers libels, pamphlets, and 
 feditious books printed beyond 
 the feas in Englifh, and thence 
 tranfported hither; 
 
 It is further Ordered and 
 Decreed, that no Merchant, 
 Bookfeller, or other perfon or 
 perfons whatfoeuer, fhall im- 
 print, or caufe to be imprinted, 
 in the parts beyond the feas, or 
 elfwhere, nor fhall import or 
 bring; nor wilHngly afsift or 
 confent to the importation or 
 bringing from beyond the feas 
 into this Realme, any Englifh 
 bookes, or part of bookes, or 
 bookes whatfoeuer, which are 
 
 or 
 
of Starre- Chamber, 
 
 or fhall be, or the greater, or 
 more part whereof is or fhall 
 be Englifh, or of the Englifh 
 tongue, whether the fame book 
 or bookes haue been here for- 
 merly printed, or not, vpon pain 
 of the forfeiture of all fuch Eng- 
 lifh bookes fo imprinted or im- 
 ported, and fuch further cen- 
 fure and punifhment, as by this 
 Court, or the faid high Com- 
 mifsion Court refpedliuely, as 
 the feuerall caufes fhall require, 
 (hall be thought meet. 
 
 XII. Item, That no ftranger 
 
 or forreigner whatfoeuer, be fuf- 
 
 fered to bring in, or vent here, 
 
 any booke or bookes printed 
 
 D4 be- 
 
qA ^Decree 
 
 beyond the feas, in any lan- 
 guage whatfoeuer, either by 
 themfelues, or their fecret Fa- 
 (flors, except fuch onely as bee 
 free Stationers of London, and 
 fuch as haue beene brought vp 
 in that profefsion, and haue their 
 whole meanes of fubfiftance, and 
 liuelihood depending thereup- 
 on, vpon paine of confifcation of 
 all fuch Books fo imported, and 
 fuch further penalties, as by this 
 Court, or the high Commifsion 
 Court refpe6tiuely, as the feue- 
 rall caufes fhall require, fhall be 
 thought fit to be impofed. 
 
 XIII. Item, That no perfon 
 
 or 
 
of Starre- Chamber, 
 
 or perfons within the Citie of 
 London, or the hberties thereof, 
 or elfewhere, fhall ere6l or caufe 
 to be eredled any Preffe or Print- 
 ing-houfe, nor fhall demife, or 
 let, or fuffer to be held or vfed, a- 
 ny houfe, vault, feller, or other 
 roome whatfoeuer, to, or by any 
 perfon or perfons, for a Printing- 
 houfe, or place to print in, vnleffe 
 he or they which fhall fo demife 
 or let the fame, or fuffer the fame 
 to be fo vfed, fhall firft giue no- 
 tice to the faid M after and War- 
 dens of the Company of Statio- 
 ners for the time being, of fuch 
 demife, or fuffering to worke or 
 print there, vpon paine of impri- 
 E fonment, 
 
dA T)ecree 
 
 fonment, and fuch other punifh- 
 ment, as by this Court, or the 
 faid high Commifsion Court 
 refpe6liuely, as the feuerall 
 Caufes fhall require, fhall bee 
 thought fit. 
 
 XIV. IteMy That no loyner, 
 or Carpenter, or other perfon, 
 fhall make any printing-Preffe, 
 no Smith fhall forge any Iron- 
 worke for a printing- Preffe, and 
 no Founder fhall caft any Let- 
 ters for any perfon or perfons 
 whatfoeuer, neither fhall any 
 perfon or perfons bring, or caufe 
 to be brought in from any parts 
 beyond the Seas, any Letters 
 
 Founded 
 
of Starre- Chamber, 
 
 Founded or Caft, nor buy any 
 fuch Letters for Printing ; Vn- 
 leffe he or they refpedliuely fhall 
 firft acquaint the faid Mafter 
 and Wardens, or fome of them, 
 for whom the fame Preffe, Iron- 
 works, or Letters, are to be made, 
 forged, or caft, vpon paine of 
 fuch fine and punifhment, as this 
 Court, or the high Commifsi- 
 on Court refpe6liuely, as the fe- 
 uerall caufes fliall require, fhall 
 thinke fit. 
 
 XV. Item, The Court doth 
 declare, that as formerly, fo now, 
 there fhall be but Twentie Ma- 
 fter Printers allowed to haue the 
 E 2 vfe 
 
qA "Decree 
 
 vfe of one Preffe or more, as is 
 after fpecified, and doth hereby 
 nominate, allow, and admit thefe 
 perfons whofe names hereafter 
 follow, to the number of Twen- 
 tie, to haue the vfe of a Preffe, or 
 Preffes and Printing-houfe, for 
 the time being, vz^. Felix King- 
 Jlone, oAdam I/lip, Thomas "Pur- 
 foot.MilesFleJher, Thomas Har- 
 per, yohn TBeale, yohii Legat, 
 T^obert Young, yohn Haviland, 
 GeorgeSVliller, T^ichard'^adger, 
 Thomas Cotes, "Sernard oAl/op, 
 Richard Bijhop, Edward Griffin, 
 Thomas Pur/low, Richard Hod- 
 gJkin/onne,y ohn Daw/on, yohn 
 T^aworth, Marmaduke Tar/ons. 
 
 And 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 And further, the Court doth 
 order and decree, That it (hall 
 be lawfull for the Lord Arch- 
 Bifhop of Canterbury, or the 
 Lord Bifhop of London, for the 
 time being, taking to him or 
 them fix other high Commifsio- 
 ners, to fupply the place or places 
 of thofe, which are now already 
 Printers by this Court, as they 
 fhall fall void by death, or Cen- 
 fure, or otherwife : Prouided 
 that they exceed not the num- 
 ber of Twentie, befides His 
 Maiefties Printers, and the 
 Printers allowed for the Vni- 
 uerfities. 
 
 E 3 XVI. Item, 
 
qA ^Decree 
 
 XVI. Item, That euery per- 
 fon or perfons, now allowed or 
 admitted to haue the vfe of a 
 Preffe, and Printing-houfe, fhall 
 within Ten dayes after the date 
 hereof, become bound with fure- 
 ties to His Maieftie in the high 
 Commifsion Court, in the fum 
 of three hundred pounds, not to 
 print, or fuffer to be printed in 
 his houfe or Preffe, any booke, or 
 bookes whatfoeuer, but fuch as 
 fhall from time to time be law- 
 fully licenfed, and that the like 
 Bond fhall be entred into by all, 
 and euery perfon and perfons, 
 that hereafter fhall be admitted, 
 or allowed to print, before he or 
 
 they 
 
of Starre- Chamber, 
 
 they be fuffered to haue the vfe 
 of a Preffe. 
 
 XVII. //^;;^,That no allowed 
 Printer fhall keepe aboue two 
 Preffes, vnleffe he hath been 
 Mafter or vpper Warden of his 
 Company, who are thereby al- 
 lowed to keep three Preffes and 
 no more, vnder paine of being 
 difabled for euer after to keepe 
 or vfe any Preffe at all, vnleffe 
 for fome great and fpeciall occa- 
 fion for the publique, he or they 
 haue for a time leaue of the Lord 
 Arch-Bifhop of Canterbury, or 
 Lord Bifhop of London for the 
 time being, to haue or vfe one, or 
 E 4 more 
 
qA T>ecree 
 
 more aboue the forefaid num- 
 ber, as their Lordfhips, or either 
 of them fhall thinke fit. And 
 whereas there are fome Mafter 
 Printers that haue at this prefent 
 one, or more Preffes allowed 
 them by this Decree, the Court 
 doth further order and declare. 
 That the Mafter and War- 
 dens of the Company of Statio- 
 ners, doe foorthwith certifie the 
 Lord Arch-Bifhop of Canter- 
 bury, or the Lord Bifhop of 
 London, what number of Preffes 
 each Mafter Printer hath, that 
 their Lordfhips or either of 
 them, taking vnto them fix other 
 high Commifsioners, may take 
 
 fuch 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 fuch prefent order for the fup- 
 prefsing of the fupernumerarie 
 Preffes, as to their Lordfhips, or 
 to either of them fhall feem beft. 
 
 XVI I L Item, That no per- 
 fon or perfons, do hereafter re- 
 print, or caufe to bee reprinted, 
 any booke or bookes whatfoe- 
 uer (though formerly printed 
 with Hcence) without being re- 
 uiewed, and a new Licence ob- 
 tained for the reprinting thereof. 
 Alwayes prouided, that the Sta- 
 tioner or Printer bee put to no 
 other charge hereby, but the 
 bringing and leaning of two 
 printed copies of the book to be 
 F printed, 
 
aA "Decree 
 
 printed, as is before expreffed of 
 written Copies, with all fuch ad- 
 ditions as the Author hath made. 
 
 XIX. I^em, The Court doth 
 declare, as formerly, so now, 
 That no Apprentices be taken 
 into any printing-houfe, other- 
 wife then according to this pro- 
 portion following, (vz^.) euery 
 Mafter- Printer that is, or hath 
 beene Mafter or vpper War- 
 den of his Company, may haue 
 three Apprentices at one time 
 and no more, and euery Mafter- 
 printer that is of the Liuerie of 
 his Company, may haue two 
 Apprentices at one time and no 
 
 more. 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 more, and euery Mafter-prin- 
 ter of the Yeomanry of the 
 Company may haue one Ap- 
 prentice at one time and no 
 more, neither by Copartner- 
 fhip, binding at the Scriueners, 
 nor any other way whatfoeuer ; 
 neither fhall it be lawfull for any 
 M after- Printer when any Ap- 
 prentice or Apprentices, fhall 
 run or be put away, to take an- 
 other Apprentice, or other Ap- 
 prentices in his or their place or 
 places, vnleffe the name or names 
 of him or them fo gone away, 
 be raced out of the Hall-booke, 
 and never admitted again, vpon 
 paine of being for euer difabled 
 F 2 of 
 
dA ^Decree 
 
 of the vfe of a Preffe or printing- 
 houfe, and of fuch further pu- 
 nifhment, as by this Court, or the 
 high Commifsion Court re- 
 fpe6liuely, as the feuerall caufes 
 fhall require, fhall be thought fit 
 to be impofed. 
 
 XX. Item^\vt Court doth hke- 
 wife declare, that becaufe a great 
 part of the fecret printing in cor- 
 ners hath been caufed for want 
 of orderly imployment for lour- 
 neymen printers. Therefore the 
 Court doth hereby require 
 the Mafter and Wardens of the 
 Company of Stationers, to take 
 efpeciall care that all lourney- 
 
 men 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 men-printers, who are free of 
 the Company of Stationers, fhall 
 be fet to worke, and imployed 
 within their owne Company of 
 Stationers ; for which purpofe 
 the Court doth alfo order and 
 declare, that if any I ourney man- 
 Printer, and free of the Com- 
 pany of Stationers, who is of 
 honeft, and good behauiour, and 
 able in his trade, do want im- 
 ployment, he fhall repaire to 
 the Mafter and Wardens of 
 the Companie of Stationers, 
 and they or one of them, taking 
 with him or them one or two 
 of the Mafter Printers, fhall go 
 along with the faid lourney- 
 F 3 man 
 
qA TDecree 
 
 man-Printer, and fliall offer his 
 feruice in the firft place to the 
 M after- Printer vnder whom he 
 ferued his Apprentifhip, if he 
 be Huing, and do continue an 
 allowed Printer, or otherwife 
 to any other Mafter Printer, 
 whom the Mafter and War- 
 dens of the faid Company fhall 
 thinke fit. And euery Mafter 
 Printer lliall bee bound to im- 
 ploy one Journeyman, being fo 
 offered to him, and more, if need 
 fhall fo require, and it fhall be fo 
 adiudged to come to his fhare, 
 according to the proportion of 
 his Apprentices and imploy- 
 ments, by the Mafter and 
 
 War- 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 Wardens of the Company of 
 Stationers, although he the faid 
 Mafter Printer with his Ap- 
 prentice or Apprentices be able 
 without the helpe of the faid 
 lourneyman or lourneymen to 
 difcharge his owne worke, vpon 
 paine of fuch punifhment, as by 
 this Court, or the high Com- 
 mifsion Court refpe6tiuely, as 
 the feuerall caufes fhall require, 
 fhall be thought fit. 
 
 XXL Item, The Court doth 
 declare. That if the Mafter and 
 Wardens of the Companie of 
 Stationers, or any of them, fhall 
 refufe or negle6l to go along 
 F 4 with 
 
qA "Decree 
 
 with any honeft and fufficient 
 lourney-man Printer, fo defiring 
 their afsiftance, to finde him im- 
 ployment, vpon complaint and 
 proofe made thereof, he, or they 
 fo offending, fhall fuffer impri- 
 fonment, and fuch other punifh- 
 ment, as by this court, or the high 
 Commifsion Court refpe6liuely, 
 as the feuerall caufes fhall re- 
 quire, fhall bee thought fit to 
 bee impofed. But in cafe any 
 Mafter Printer hath more im- 
 ployment then he is able to dif- 
 chargewith helpeof his Appren- 
 tice or Apprentices, it fhall be 
 lawfull for him to require the 
 helpe of any lourney-man, or 
 
 lourney- 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 lourneymen-Printers, who are 
 not imployed, and If the faid 
 lourneyman, or lourneymen- 
 Printers fo required, (hall refufe 
 Imployment, or negle6l It when 
 he or they haue vndertaken It, 
 he, or they Ihall fuffer Imprlfon- 
 ment, and vndergo fuch punllh- 
 ment, as this Court (hall thinke fit. 
 
 XXI I. Item, The Court 
 doth hereby declare, that it doth 
 not hereby reftraine the Printers 
 of either of the Vniuerfities 
 from taking what number of 
 Apprentices for their feruice in 
 printing there, they themfelues 
 fhall thinke fit. Prouided al- 
 
 G wayes, 
 
qA "Decree 
 
 wayes, that the faid Printers in 
 the Vniuerfities fhall imploy all 
 their owne lourney-men within 
 themfelues, and not fuffer any of 
 their faid lourney-men to go 
 abroad for imployment to the 
 Printers of London (vnleffe vp- 
 on occafion fome Printers of 
 London defire to imploy fome 
 extraordinary Workman or 
 Workmen amongft them, with- 
 out preiudice to their owne 
 Journeymen, who are Free- 
 men) vpon fuch penalty as the 
 Chancellor of either of the 
 Vniuerfities for the time being, 
 fhall thinke fit to inflid vpon 
 the delinquents herein. 
 
 XXIII. Ltem^ 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 XXIII. Item, That no Ma- 
 fter-printer fhall imploy either 
 to worke at the Cafe, or the 
 Preffe, or otherwife about his 
 printing, any other perfon or 
 perfons, then fuch onely as are 
 Free-men, or Apprentices to 
 the Trade or myftery of Print- 
 ing, vnder paine of being difa- 
 bled for euer after to keep or vfe 
 any Preffe or Printing-houfe, 
 and fuch further punifhment as 
 by this court, or the high Com- 
 mifsion Court refpe6i:iuely,as the 
 feuerall caufes fhall require, fhall 
 bee thought fit to bee impofed. 
 
 XXIV. Item, The Court 
 
 G 2 doth 
 
qA ^Decree 
 
 doth hereby declare their firme 
 refolution, that if any perfon or 
 perfons, that is not allowed 
 Printer, fhall hereafter prefume 
 to fet vp any Preffe for printing, 
 or lliall worke at any fuch 
 Preffe, or Set, or Compofe any 
 Letters to bee wrought by any 
 fuch Preffe ; he, or they fo 
 offending, fhall from time to 
 time, by the Order of this 
 Court, bee fet in the Pillorie, 
 and Whipt through the Citie 
 oi London, and fuffer fuch other 
 punifhment as this Court fhall 
 Order or thinke fit to inflict 
 vpon them, vpon Complaint or 
 proofe of fuch offence or offen- 
 ces, 
 
of Starre-Chamber. 
 
 ces, or shall be otherwife punish- 
 ed, as the Court of high Com- 
 mifsion fhall thinke fit, and is 
 agreeable to their Commifsion. 
 
 XXV. Item, That for the 
 better difcouery of printing in 
 Corners without licence ; The 
 M after and Wardens of the 
 Company of Stationers for the 
 time being, or any two licenfed 
 Mafter-Printers, which fhall be 
 appointed by the Lord Arch- 
 Bifhop of Canterbury, or Lord 
 B. oi London for the time being, 
 fhall haue power and authority, 
 to take vnto themfelues fuch af- 
 fiftance as they fhall think need- 
 G 3 full 
 
qA TDecree 
 
 full, and to fearch what houfes 
 and (hops (and at what time they 
 fhall think fit) efpecially Print- 
 ing-houfes, and to view what is 
 in printing, and to call for the li- 
 cence to fee whether it be licen- 
 fed or no, and if not, to feize 
 vpon fo much as is printed, to- 
 gether with the feuerall offend- 
 ers, and to bring them before the 
 Lord Arch-Bifhop of Canterbu- 
 ry, or the Lord Bifhop of Lon- 
 don for the time being, that they 
 or either of them may take fuch 
 further order therein as fhall ap- 
 pertaine to luftice. 
 
 XXVI. Item, The Court 
 
 doth 
 
of Starre-Chamber, 
 
 doth declare, that it fhall be law- 
 full alfo for the faid Searchers, if 
 vpon fearch they find any book 
 or bookes, or part of booke or 
 books which they fufpe6l to con- 
 taine matter in it or them, con- 
 trary to the do61rine and difci- 
 pline of the Church oi England, 
 or againfi; the State and Gouern- 
 ment, vpon fuch fufpition to 
 feize upon fuch book or books, 
 or part of booke or books, and 
 to bring it, or them, to the Lord 
 Arch-Bifhop of Canterbury, or 
 the Lord Bifhop of London for 
 the time being, who fhall take 
 fuch further courfe therein, as 
 to their Lordfhips, or either of 
 them fhall feeme fit. 
 
 G4 XXVII. 7/^;;^, 
 
qA T>ecree 
 
 XXVII. Item, The Court 
 doth order and declare, that 
 there fhall be foure Founders of 
 letters for printing allowed, and 
 no more, and doth hereby nomi- 
 nate, allow, and admit thefe per- 
 fons, whofe names hereafter fol- 
 low, to the number of foure, to 
 be letter-Founders for the time 
 being (viz.) lohn Grifmand, 
 Thomas Wright, oArthur Ni- 
 chols, Alexander Fi/eild. And 
 further, the Court doth Order 
 and Decree, that it fhall be law- 
 full for the Lord Arch-bifhop 
 of Canterbury, or the Lord Bi- 
 fhop of London for the time be- 
 ing, taking unto him or them, fix 
 
 other 
 
of Starre-Chamber. 
 
 other high Commifsioners, to 
 fupply the place or places of 
 thefe who are now allowed 
 Founders of letters by this 
 Court, as they fhall fall void by 
 death, cenfure, or otherwife. 
 
 Prouided, that they exceede 
 not the number of foure, fet 
 downe by this Court. And if 
 any perfon or perfons, not being 
 an allowed Founder, fhall not- 
 withftanding take vpon him, or 
 them, to Found, or caft letters 
 for printing, vpon complaint 
 and proofe made of fuch offence, 
 or offences, he, or they fo offend- 
 ing, fhall fufferfuch punifhment, 
 as this Court, or the high Com- 
 
 H mifsion 
 
qA T)ecree 
 
 \ mifsion court refpediuely, as 
 the feuerall caufes (hall require, 
 fhall think fit to infli6l vpon 
 them. 
 
 XXVIII. Item, That no Ma- 
 fter- Founder whatfoeuer fhall 
 keepe aboue two Apprentices at 
 one time, neither by Copartner- 
 fhip, binding at the Scriueners, 
 nor any other way whatfoeuer, 
 neither fhall it be lawfull for any 
 Mafter-Founder, when any Ap- 
 prentice, or Apprentices fhall 
 run, or be put away, to take an- 
 other Apprentice, or other Ap- 
 prentices in his, or their place or 
 places,vnleffethename,or names 
 
 of 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 of him, or them fo gone away, be 
 rafed out of the Hall-booke of 
 the Company, whereof the Ma- 
 fter- Founder is free, and neuer 
 admitted again, vpon pain of fuch 
 punifhment, as by this Court, or 
 the high Commifsion refpe6liue- 
 ly, as the feuerall Caufes fhall 
 require, fhall be thought fit to 
 bee impofed. 
 
 XXIX. Item, That all lour- 
 neymen-Founders be imployed 
 by the Mafter- Founders of the 
 faid trade, and that idle Journey- 
 men be compelled to worke 
 after the fame manner, and vpon 
 the fame penalties, as in cafe of 
 H 2 the 
 
dA "Decree 
 
 the lourneymen-Printers is be- 
 fore fpecified. 
 
 XXX. Bern, That no M after- 
 Founder of letters, fhall imploy 
 any other perfon or perfons in 
 any worke belonging to the caft- 
 ing or founding of letters, then 
 fuch onely as are freemen or ap- 
 prentices to the trade of found- 
 ing letters, faue onely in the 
 pulling off the knots of mettle 
 hanging at the ends of the letters 
 when they are firft caft, in which 
 work it fhall be lawfull for euery 
 M after- Founder, to imploy one 
 boy only that is not, nor hath 
 beene bound to the trade of 
 
 Founding 
 
of Starre- Chamber, 
 
 Founding letters, but not other- 
 wife, upon pain of being for euer 
 difabled to vfe or exercife that 
 art, and fuch further punifhment, 
 as by this Court, or the high 
 Commifsion Court refpe6liuely, 
 as the feuerall caufes iliall re- 
 quire, be thought fit to be 
 impofed. 
 
 XXXI. Item, That euery 
 perfon or perfons whatfoeuer, 
 which fhall at any time or times 
 hereafter, by his, or their con- 
 fefsion, or otherwife by proof be 
 conui6led of any of the offences, 
 by this, or any other Decree of 
 this Court made, fhall before 
 H 3 fuch 
 
qA "Decree 
 
 fuch time as he or they fhall be 
 difcharged, and ouer and aboue 
 their fine and punifhment, as 
 aforefaid, be bound with good 
 fureties, neuer after to tranf- 
 greffe, or offend in that or the 
 Hke kinde, for which he, or they 
 fhall be fo conui6led and pun- 
 ifhed, as aforefaid ; And that all 
 and euery the forfeitures afore- 
 faid (excepting all feditious 
 fchifmaticall Bookes, or Pam- 
 phlets, which this Court doth 
 hereby Order to bee prefent- 
 ly burnt). And except fuch 
 Bookes, as the forfeitures are 
 already granted by Letters Pat- 
 ents, fhall be diuided and dif- 
 
 pofed 
 
of Starre- Chamber. 
 
 pofed of, as the high Commifslon 
 Court fhall find fit. Alwaies 
 prouiding that one moitie be to 
 the King. 
 
 XXXII. Item, That no Mer- 
 chant, Mafter, or Owner of any 
 Ship or Veffell, or any other 
 perfon or perfons whatfoeuer 
 fhall hereafter prefume to land, 
 or put on fhore any Booke or 
 Bookes, or the part of any 
 Booke or Books, to be import- 
 ed from beyond the feas, in 
 any Port, Hauen, Creek, or 
 other place whatfoeuer within 
 the Realme of England, but 
 only in the Port of the City of 
 H 4 London, 
 
dA TDecree 
 
 London, to the end the faid 
 Bookes may there be viewed, 
 as aforefaid: And the feuerall 
 Officers of His Maiefties Ports 
 are hereby required to take no- 
 tice thereof. 
 
 XXXI 1 1. 7/^;;^, That whereas 
 there is an agreement betwixt 
 Sir Thomas TBodley Knight, 
 Founder of the Vniuerfity Li- 
 brary at Oxford, and the M after, 
 Wardens, and Afsiftants of the 
 Company of Stationers (viz.) 
 That one Booke of euery fort 
 that is new printed, or reprinted 
 with additions, be fent to the 
 Vniuerfitie of Oxford for the 
 
 vfe 
 
of Starre-Chamber, 
 
 vfe of the publique Librarie 
 there ; The Court doth hereby 
 Order, and declare, That euery 
 Printer fhall referue one Book 
 new printed, or reprinted by 
 him, with additions, and fhall 
 before any publique venting of 
 the faid book, bring it to the 
 Common Hall of the Companie 
 of Stationers, and deliuer it to 
 the Officer thereof to be fent 
 to the Librarie at Oxford ac- 
 cordingly, vpon paine of im- 
 prifonment, and fuch further 
 Order and Dire6lion therein, as 
 to this Court, or the high Com- 
 mifsion Court refpe6liuely, as 
 the feuerall caufes fhall require, 
 fhall be thought fit. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 PREAMBLE. 
 
 EFORE the reign of Charles I. 
 the liberty of the press had 
 been jealously curtailed. No 
 one could print or make a book 
 without the express permis- 
 sion of authorities appointed 
 by the King. From the time of Edward VI. the 
 custom of licensing printers was universally fol- 
 lowed. The reasons for these restrictions appear, 
 from the preambles and text of the various stat- 
 utes and patents and from contemporary annals, 
 to be, first, to prevent the unlimited production 
 of books and pamphlets, as well as casual hand- 
 bills and broadsides, wherein persons of position 
 might be criticised and satirized, and affairs of 
 
 state 
 
oAppendix. 
 
 state unduly commented upon ; and, secondly, 
 in later times, to furnish a means for suppressing 
 the printing of seditious works by the Puritans, 
 who often established secret printing offices in 
 various parts of the kingdom. As was further 
 intended by the government, the monopolies thus 
 created served also, though with indifferent suc- 
 cess, to promote domestic skill and to aid Eng- 
 lish workmen, the prohibitory character of the 
 various enactments preventing competition from 
 abroad, where the art of printing, from the first, 
 had been making rapid strides. 
 
 The list of licensees, though these devoted 
 themselves rather to publications concerning 
 pubhc affairs and polity, as distinguished from 
 lighter works, shows how limited the number 
 of skilled printers continued to be. Grafton, 
 Cawood, Jugge, and the Barkers, in the times of 
 Mary, and Elizabeth, and James I., Norton, and 
 Bill, and the Barkers again, licensed by Charles 
 L, were officially, at least, at the head of their 
 guild ; yet one looks in vain among precious 
 exemplars of the art produced during that period, 
 to discover the books which should entitle them, 
 or indeed any English printers, to take rank with 
 the famous printers of the Continent. 
 
 This decree was re-enacted in the sixteenth, 
 and again in the eighteenth, year of the reign of 
 King Charles II., and a third time, for seven 
 years, in the fifth year of the reign of James II. 
 
 While 
 
appendix. 
 
 While it was in force, knowledge of affairs was 
 being diffused only by means of shabby periodi- 
 cals, scarcely largfer than a sheet of letter-paper, 
 and printed only on one side. Yet from this 
 beginning, a craving for news, a desire for freedom 
 of discussion, and a popular interest in current 
 events grew apace ; the final result of which was 
 the disappearance from the statute-books of all 
 legislation of this obnoxious character. The 
 event was doubtless hastened by the unjust con- 
 viction of William Anderton, a printer, on the 
 charge of high treason. His offense was the 
 alleged printing of two political pamphlets, and 
 for this he was beheaded and quartered soon 
 after his trial, June 3, 1693. 
 
 In 1695 a bill to continue the Licensing Act 
 in force was defeated in Parliament,* though 
 patents continued to be granted for special 
 objects, such as the publication of the statutes, 
 etc., and the custom still continues. 
 
 VI.-VII. 
 
 The sixth section was, in effect, in furtherance 
 of the effort to regulate the character of the 
 national literature. Together with the section 
 
 * Macaulay says that this and civilization than the 
 repeal of the license laws Great Charter or Bill of 
 **has done more for liberty Rights." 
 
 following. 
 
(tAppendix, 
 
 following, it seems to have originated in the time 
 of Henry VIII. For half a century prior, stat- 
 utes had been in force which, though restraining 
 aliens from working at the trade in England, 
 provided that foreign books and prints might be 
 freely imported. During the reigns of Edwards 
 V. and VI., Richard III., and Henrys VII. and 
 VIII., spurred on by competition from abroad and 
 freed from injurious restraints at home, English 
 printers succeeded in producing work which was 
 equal to the best foreign efforts. About the 
 time when the fruits of this wise policy were 
 becoming manifest, a new statute (25 Henry 
 VIII., Ch. 15) established a duty of six shillings 
 and eightpence each upon foreign books. The 
 attempt was also made to legislate in favour of the 
 purchaser by giving to the Lord Chancellor, the 
 Lord Treasurer, and the Lord Chief Justices, or 
 to any two of them, the absolute right to fix the 
 prices at which domestic books should be sold, 
 and to inflict a fine of three shillings and four- 
 pence for any book sold too dear. Thus, as it 
 will be seen, by the removal of that competition 
 which had theretofore served as a healthy stim- 
 ulus, a strong incentive to excellence was taken 
 away ; and, by fixing prices in accordance with 
 an arbitrary caprice which might be exercised 
 without regard to actual values, the master 
 printers' profits were made to depend upon the 
 whims of those who, by constituting themselves 
 
 censors, 
 
oAppendix. 
 
 censors, could indirectly compel the withdrawal 
 from the market of any book that was dis- 
 pleasing to them. The history of that period 
 contains too many instances of so arbitrary a 
 power unworthily exercised for us to believe that 
 this provision continued to be a dead letter. 
 From this time onward, the laws relating to Eng- 
 lish printing continued to impose great hardships 
 upon those who practised the art, and to dis- 
 courage progress in literary taste and cultivation. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 It has been said that this decree is the first 
 record of the separation of the art of type- 
 founding froni that of printing. Makers of, 
 so-called seditious books had found it necessary 
 to cast their own fonts in secret, lest the im- 
 portation of types should expose them to a 
 greater risk of detection. 
 
 The earlier printers at first practised the vari- 
 ous departments of their art themselves, — mak- 
 ing the presses, casting the type, and preparing 
 the inks. With wider knowledge and a greater 
 demand for books, and with the consequent 
 enlargement of the facilities for producing them, 
 came a division of such labours. This began in 
 the foundries of France and the Netherlands. 
 
 From 
 
oAppendix. 
 
 From these countries types were sent abroad, 
 and here the most skillful makers were found. 
 
 XV. 
 
 This section seems to be a re-enactment 
 of a former statute (28 Eliz.), which likewise 
 limited the number of printers to twenty. 
 The subsequent statutes, passed after the 
 Restoration, contained similar provisions, and 
 were substantially re-enactments of the same 
 statute. 
 
 The attempt to limit the number of printers 
 was a signal failure. From a paper, published 
 October 23, 1666, called ''The Case and Pro- 
 posals of the Free Journeymen Printers in and 
 about London," it appears that there were 
 then in that city only one hundred and forty 
 workmen who had served regular apprentice- 
 ships. This paper was a protest against the 
 employment of ''foreigners" in the trade. The 
 " foreigners," so called, were persons who had 
 not served an apprenticeship, and who were 
 depriving t!he others of employment. 
 
 The privilege given to the masters and work- 
 men by this section was of no benefit to the 
 public. Nor in effect was it of any benefit to 
 the trade itself. A few favoured ones obtained 
 patents or monopolies for the printing of nearly 
 
 every 
 
oAppendix, 
 
 every book that was salable. The unfortunate 
 many could find but little work to do. Books 
 were dear, incorrect, and badly printed. No 
 English printer of the seventeenth century stood 
 in repute on the Continent. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 This prohibition struck at the very root of 
 intellectual progress. If all the printers were 
 juniors, then forty presses only were allowed ; 
 even though all were master printers, or upper 
 wardens, the limit was sixty. Outside of the 
 universities and the office of the King's printer, 
 the number of presses in all England could be, 
 at the most, only four times as many as there 
 were in 1475 at a single establishment in Ant- 
 werp — that of Christopher Plantin. 
 
 These presses were worked by hand, by pull- 
 ing a lever which turned a screw. Impres- 
 sions were made slowly and laboriously. Two 
 thousand impressions were rated as a fair day's 
 work, but, as it took four impressions to perfect 
 on both sides a sheet of foHo, the actual per- 
 formance of a press was about five hundred 
 sheets a day. Size of sheet considered, this 
 performance is about one-fortieth of that of the 
 slowest form of modern book printing press. 
 
 XX 
 
oAppendix, 
 
 XX. 
 
 Probably, none of the many to us absurd 
 provisions of this decree had a more stifling 
 effect upon national and individual endeavour 
 than that which compelled the employment, 
 by a master printer, of as many superfluous 
 journeymen as the Company of Stationers might 
 impose upon him. This provision substantially 
 deprived the master printer of the power of 
 selecting the best workmen ; for even those, 
 who from their own incompetency were out of 
 employment, could, for this very reason, either 
 displace their skilled competitors or entail a 
 grievous burden upon employers. A premium 
 was thus placed upon demerit, and the idle, 
 whatever the reason for their idleness, obtained 
 the preference. 
 
 The language of the concluding portion of the 
 section, " although the said Master Printer with 
 his apprentice or apprentices be able without the 
 help of the said journeyman or journeymen to dis- 
 charge his own work," exhibits a remarkable lack 
 of foresight. The Robert Barker who printed 
 this decree, though he enjoyed as sole licensee 
 a favour which no one else shared, though he 
 possessed a special monopoly which was upheld 
 by all the power of the Crown and the judiciary, 
 is said, notwithstanding, to have passed the last 
 years of his life and to have died a poor debtor 
 
 in 
 
oAppendix. 
 
 in the King's Bench Prison.* It is uncertain how 
 long, prior to his death, his incarceration began, 
 but Ames, in his " Typographical Antiquities," 
 says that it had endured for ten years. 
 
 XXVII.-XXVIII. 
 
 As might have been expected, so it turned 
 out, that even if these type-founders had pos- 
 sessed the skill, they did not have the means 
 to supply the whole Kingdom. It was chiefly 
 due to this restriction that the best types 
 were imported from Holland, with scarcely any 
 home competition, for the next century and 
 a half 
 
 By no means the least harmful effect was the 
 neglect displayed by the four monopolist type- 
 founders of the needs and requirements of 
 printers. One notable result of this neglect was 
 
 * One of Barker's patents the seventh commandment, 
 
 was the printing of the For this offence the Star 
 
 Bible, for correcting the Chamber fined Barker 
 
 translation of which he ;^3ooo. This was but one 
 
 paid out ;^35oo. But in of the many " egregious 
 
 1632, he (in special partner- blasphemies and damnable 
 
 ship with Martin Lucas) errata " of the licensed 
 
 printed an edition of the printers. The payment of 
 
 book in which the word this fine w^s the beginning 
 
 "not" was left out of of Barker's downfall. 
 
 that 
 
appendix. 
 
 that the University of Oxford found it necessary 
 to collect the sum of ^^4000 — a large amount 
 for that time — for the purpose of purchasing 
 on the Continent types which could not be pro- 
 cured in England. The English founders made 
 Roman, Italic, and Black-letter, but to get good 
 cuts of Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, and Oriental 
 types it was necessary to go to Holland, France, 
 or Italy. The domestic types were often 
 of a low grade; and not only in the seven- 
 teenth, but also during the eighteenth century, 
 English types were held in slight esteem. 
 Those who could do so imported even the 
 common forms from Holland or France. This 
 very decree seems to have been printed with 
 French types, as appears from the frequent use 
 of the character VV in place of W, the latter 
 being a letter not used in the French language, 
 and not found in French fonts. Hansard says 
 that the glorious works which immortalized the 
 reign of Queen Anne were printed in Dutch 
 types, and that Dutch founders were active com- 
 petitors on English soil even to the beginning of 
 the nineteenth century. 
 
 The attempt to keep the art of type-founding 
 still a mystery was not only another impediment 
 in the way of progress, but was indeed a partial 
 failure. To those who believe in the wisdom of 
 a regular apprenticeship as the only fit introduc- 
 tion to the practice of a trade, it may be of 
 
 interest 
 
appendix. 
 
 interest to know that the most eminent Eng- 
 lish founders were self-taught. Moxon (1659- 
 1683) says that he served no apprenticeship to 
 letter-cutting, and that he did not know any- 
 expert at punch-cutting who had been an ap- 
 prentice to the art. The first Caslon was self- 
 taught; so were Baskerville and Alexander 
 Wilson. 
 
PRE88 OF THEO. L. DE VINNE & CO. NEW-YORK. 
 
V >/V