Charles II, 1665: An Act for continuance of a former Act for regulateing the Presse.

14 (13 & 14) C. 11. c. 33. continued.

Bee it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestye by and with the advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parlyament assembled That an Act made in the fowerteenth yeare of the Raigne of Our Soveraigne Lord the King that now is entituled An Act for preventing Abuses in printing seditious treasonable and unlicensed Bookes and Pamphletts and for regulating of Printing and Printing Presses shall be continued with the Alterations and Additions made in and by this Act and shall remaine in force untill the [end of the (fn. 1) ] First Session of the next Parlyament.

III. Every Printer, except the Two Universities, to reserve Three Copies, and deliver them to the Master of the Stationer's Company, one for the King, and one for each of the Universities.

And bee it further enacted That from and after the Six and twentyeth day of December One thousand six hundred sixty five Every Printer within the Citty of London or in any other place except the Two Universityes shall reserve Three printed Copies of the best and largest. Paper of every Booke new printed or reprinted by him with Additions, and shall before any publique vending of the said Booke bring them to the Master of the Company of Stationers and deliver them to him, One whereof shall by the said Master of the said Company of Stationers within Ten dayes after he hath soe received the same be delivered to the Keeper of his Majestyes Library, and the other two within the said ten dayes to be sent to the Vice Chauncellour of the two Universityes respectively for the use of the publique Libraries of the said Universityes

III. University Printers to do the like.

Printers or Master of the Company offending; Penalty.

And it is further enacted That the Printers in the said Universityes and every of them respectively from and after the said Six and twentyeth day of December shall deliver one such printed Copy as aforesaid of every Booke soe new printed or reprinted in the said Universityes or in either of them to the Keeper of His Majestyes Library as aforesaid as alsoe to the Vice-Chauncellour of either of the said Universityes for the time being, two other such printed Copyes for the use of the publique Libraries of the said Universityes respectively. And if any of the Printers aforesaid or the said Master of the Company of Stationers shall not observe the direction of this Act therein That then he and they soe makeing defaulte in not delivering the said printed Copies as aforesaid shall severally forfeit besides the value of the said printed Copies the summe of Five pounds for every Copy not soe delivered, as alsoe the value of the said printed Copyes not soe delivered, The same to be recovered by His Majestie His Heires and Successors and by the Chauncellour Masters and Schollers of either of the said Universityes respectively by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in any of His Majestyes Courts of Record at Westminster wherein noe Essoyne Protection or Wager of Law shall be allowed