The Star Chamber on printing, 1637

A Decree of Star-Chamber concerning Printing, made the Eleventh Day of July last past, 1637.

In camera Stellata coram Concilio ibidem, undecimo die Julii Anno decimo tertio Caroli Regis.

THIS Day Sir John Bankes Knight, his Majesty's Attorney General, produced in Court a Decree drawn and penned by the advice of the Right Honourable the Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England, the most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, his Grace the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of London, Lord High Treasurer of England, the Lord Chief Justices, and the Lord Chief Baron, touching the regulating of Printers and Founders of Letters, whereof the Court having Consideration, the said Decree was directed and ordered to be here Recorded, and to the End the same may be publick, and that every one whom it may concern may take Notice thereof, The Court hath now also ordered, That the said Decree shall speedily be Printed, and that the same be sent to his Majesty's Printer for that Purpose. Whereas the Three and swentieth Day of June, in the Eight and Twentieth Tear of the Reign of the late Queen Eliz. and before divers Decrees and Ordinances have been made for the better Government and regulating Printers and Printing, which Orders and Decrees have been found by Experience to be defective in some Particulars; and divers Abuses have sithence arisen, and been practised by the Craft and Malice of wicked and evil disposed Person, to the prejudice of the Publick; and divers Libellous, Seditious and Mutinous Books have been unduly printed, and other Books and Papers without Licence, to the Disturbance of the Peace of the Church and State: For Prevention whereof in time to come, It is now ordered and Decreed, That the said former Decrees and Ordinances shall stand in force with the Additions, Explanations, and Alterations following, viz.

I Imprimis, That no Person or Persons whatsoever shall presume to Print or cause to be Printed, either in the Parts beyond the Seas, or in this Realm, or other his Majesty's Dominions, any Seditious, Schismatical, or offensive Books or Pamphlets, to the scandal of Religion, or the Church, or the Government, or Governors of the Church and State, or Common-wealth, or of any Corporation, or particular Person or Persons whatsoever, nor shall import any such Book or Books, nor sell or dispose of them, or any of them, nor cause any such to be Bound, Stitched, or Sowed, upon Pain of he or they so offending, shall lose all such Books and Pamphlets, and also have, and suster such Correction, and severe Punishment, either by Fine, Imprisonment, or other Corporal Punishment, or otherwise, as by this Court, or by his Majesty's Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical in the High Commission Court respectively as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fit to be inflicted upon him, or them, for such their Offence and Contempt.

II. Item, That no Person or Persons whatsoever, shall at any time Print or cause to be Imprinted, any Book or Pamphlet whatsoever, unless the same Book or Pamphlet, and also all and every the Titles, Epistles, Prefaces, Proems, Preambles, Introductions, Tables, Dedications, and other matters and things whatsoever thereunto annexed, or therewith imprinted, shall be first lawfully licensed and authorised only by such Person and Persons as are hereafter expressed, and by no other, and shall be also first entered into the Register Books of the Company of Stationers; upon pain that every Printer offending therein, shall be for ever hereafter disabled to use or exercise the Art and Mystery of Printing, and receive such further Punishment, as by this Court, of the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be chought fitting.

III. Item, That all Books concerning the Common Laws of this Realm shall be printed by the especial Allowance of the Lords Chief Justices, and the Lord Chief Baron for the time being; or one or more of them, or by their Appointment: And that all Books of History, belonging to this State, and present Times or any other Book of State Affairs, shall be licensed by the Principal Secretaries of State, or one of them, or by their appointment; And that all Books concerning Heraldry, Titles of Honour and Ams, or otherwise concerning the Office of Earl Marshal, shall be licensed by the Earl Marshal, or by his Appointment; and further, that all other Books, whether of Divinity, Physick, Philosophy, Poetry, or whatsoever shall be allowed by the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, or Bishop of London for the time being, or by their Appointment, or the Chancellors, or Vice-Chancellors of either of the Universities of this Realm for the time being.

Always provided, that the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor of either of the Universities, shall Licence only such Book or Books that are to be Printed within the Limits of the Universities respectively, but not in London, or elsewhere, not meddling either with Books of the Common Law, or matters of State.

IV. Item, That every Person and Persons, which by any Decree of this Court are, or shall be appointed or authorised to Licence Books, or give Warrant for imprinting thereof, as is aforesaid, shall have two several Written Copies of the same Book or Books, with the Titles, Epistles, Prefaces, Proems, Preambles, Introductions, Tables, Dedications, and other things whatsoever thereunto annexed. One of which said Copies shall be kept in the publick Registries of the said Lord Archbishop, and Bishop of London respectively, or in the Office of the Chancellor, or Vice-Chancellor of either of the Universities, or with the Earl Marshal, or Principal Secretaries of State, or with the Lords Chief Justices, or Chief Baron, of all such Books as shall be licensed by them respectively, to the end that he or they may be secure, that the Copy so licensed by him or them shall not be altered without his or their Privity, and the other shall remain with him whose Copy it is, and upon both the said Copies, he or they that shall allow the said Book, shall testify under his or their Hand or Hands, that there is nothing in that Book or Books contained, that is contrary to Christian Faith, and the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, nor against the State or Government, nor contrary to good Life, or good Manners, or otherwise as the nature and subject of the Work shall require; which License or Approbation shall be imprinted in the begining of the said Book, with the Name or Names of him or them that shall authorise or license the same, for a testimony of the Allowance thereof.

V. Item, That every Merchant of Books, and Person and Persons whatsoever, which doth, or hereafter shall buy, import, or bring any Book or Books into this Realm, from any Parts beyond the Seas, shall before such time as the same Book or Books, or any of them be delivered forth, or out of their Hand or Hands, or exposed to sale, give and present a true Catalogue in Writing of all and every such Book and Books unto the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, or Lord Bishop of London for the time being, upon pain to have and suffer such Punishment for offending herein, as by this Court, or by the said High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fitting.

VI. Item, That no Merchant, or other Person or Persons whatsoever, which shall import, or bring any Book or Books into the Kingdom, from any Parts beyond the Seas, shall presume to open any Dryfats, Bales, Packs, Maunds, or other Fardals of Books, or wherein Books are; nor shall any Searcher, Waiter, or other Officer belonging to the Custom-House, upon pain of losing his or their Place, or Places suffer the same to pass, or to be delivered out of their Hands or Custody before such Time as the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, or Lord Bishop of London, or one of them for the time being, have appointed one of their Chaplains, or some other Learned Man, with the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers, or one of them, and such others as they shall call to their Assistance, to be present at the opening thereof, and to view the same; and if there shall happen to be found any Seditious, Schismatical, or Offensive Book or Books, they shall be forthwith be brought unto the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Bishop of London for the time being, or one of them, or to the High Commission Office, to the end that as well the Offender or Offenders may be punished by the Court of Star-Chamber, or the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, according to his or their demerit; as also that such further Course and Order may be taken concerning the same Book or Books, as shall be thought fitting.

VII. Item, That no Person or Persons shall within this Kingdom, or elsewhere, Imprint, or cause to be Imprinted, nor shall import or bring in, or cause to be imported or brought into this Kingdom, from or out of any other his Majesty's Dominions, nor from other, or any Parts beyond the Seas, any Copy, Book or Books, or part of any Book or Books, printed beyond the Seas, or elsewhere, which the said Company of Stationers, or any other Person or Persons have, or shall by any Letters Patents, Order, or Entrance in their Register Book, or otherwise, have the Right, Priviledge, Authority, or Allowance solely to Print, nor shall bind, stitch, or put to Sale, any such Book or Books, upon pain of loss and forfeiture of all the said Books, and of such Fine, or other Punishment, for every Book or part of a Book so imprinted or imported, bound, stitch'd, or put to sale, to be levied of the Party so offending, as by the Power of this Court, or the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fit.

VIII. Item, Every Person and Persons that shall hereafter Print or cause to be Printed, any Books, Ballads, Charts, Protraicture, or any other thing or things whatsoever, shall thereunto, or thereon Print, and set his or their own Name or Names, as also the Name or Names of the Author or Authors, Maker or Makers of the same,and by, or for whom any such Book, or other Thing is, or shall be Printed upon pain of for feiture of all such Books, Ballads, Charts, Protraictures, and other thing or things, Printed contrary to this Article; and the Presses, Letters, and other Instruments for Printing wherewith such Books, Ballads, Charts, Protraictures, and other thing or things shall be Printed, to be defaced and made unserviceable, and the Party and Parties so offending, to be fined, imprisoned, and have such other Corporal Punishment, or otherwise, as by this Honourable Court, or the said High Commission respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fit.

IX. Item, That no Person or Persons whatsoever, shall hereafter Print, or cause to be Printed, or shall Forge, Put, or Counterfeit, in, or upon any Book or Books, the Name, Title, Mark or Vinnet of the Company or Society of Stationers, or of any particular Person or Persons, which hath, or shall have lawful Priviledge, Authority, or Allowance to print the same, without the consent of the said Company, or Party, or Parties that are or shall be so priviledged, authroised or allowed to print the same, Books or Books, Thing or Things, first had and obtained, upon pain that every Person or Persons so offending, shall not only lose all such Books and other Things, but shall also have and suffer such Punishment, by Imprisonment of his Body, Fine, or otherwise, as by this Honourable Court or High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, it shall be to him or them limitted or adjudged.

X. Item, That no Haberdasher of small Wares, Ironmonger, Chandler, Shop-keeper, or any other Person or Persons whatsoever, not having been seven Years Apprentice to the Trade of a Bookseller, Printer, or Book-binder, shall within the City and Suburbs of London, or in any other Corporation, Market Town, or elsewhere, receive, take or buy to barter, sell again, change or do away any Bible, Testaments, Psalm Books, Primmers, Abces, Almanacks, or other Book or Books whatsoever, upon pain of forfeiture of all such Books so received, bought or taken as aforesaid, and such other Punishment of the Parties so offending, as by this Court, or the said High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought mete.

XI. Item, For that Printing is, and for many Years hath been an Art and Manufacture of this Kingdom, for the better encouraging of Printers in their honest, and just Endeavours in their Professions and prevention of divers Libels, Pamphlets, and seditious Books Printed beyond the Seas in English, and thence transported hither.

It is further ordered and decreed, that no Merchant, Bookseller, or other Person or Persons whatsoever, shall Imprint, or cause to be Imprinted, in the Parts beyond the Seas, or elsewhere, nor shall import, or bring, nor willingly assist or consent of the Importation or bringing from beyond the Seas into this Realm, any English Books, or part of Book, or Books whatsoever, which are or shall be, or the greater, or more part whereof is or shall be English, or of the English Tongue, whether the same Book or Books have been here formerly Printed, or not, upon pain of the forfeiture of all such English Books so imprinted or imported, and such further Censure and Punishment, as by this Court, or the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought mete.

XII. Item, That no Stranger or Foreigner whatsoever, be suffered to bring in, or vent here, any Book or Books printed beyond the Seas, in any Language whatsoever, either by themselves or their secret Factors, except such only as be free Stationers of London, and such as have been brought up in that Profession, and have their whole means of Subsistance and Livelihood depending thereupon, upon pain of Confiscation of all such Books so imported, and such further Penalties, as by this Court, or the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fit to be imposed.

XIII. Item, That no Person or Persons within the City of London, or the Liberties thereof, or elsewhere, shall erect or cause to be erected any Press, or Printing-house, nor shall demise, or let, or suffer to be held or used, any House, Vault, or Cellar, or other Room whatsoever to or by any Person or Persons, for a Printing-house, or place to Print in, unless he or they which shall so demise or let the same, or suffer the same to be so used, shall first give Notice to the said Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers for the time being, of such demise, or suffering to Work or Print there upon pain of Imprisonment, and such other Punishment as by this Court, or the said High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fit.

XIV. Item, That no Joiner or Capenter, or other Person, shall make any Printing Press, no Smith shall forge any Iron-work for a Printing-Press, and no Founder shall cast any Letters for any Person or Persons whatsoever, neither shall any Person or Persons bring or cause to be brought in from any Parts beyond the Seas, any Letter Founded or Cast, nor buy any such Letters for Printing; unless he or they respectively shall first acquaint the said Master and Wardens, or some of them, for whom the same Press, Iron Works or Letters are to be made, forged, or cast upon Pain of such Fine and Punishment, as this Court, or the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall think fit.

XV. Item, The Court doth declare, that as formerly so now, there shall be but Twenty Master Printers allowed to have the use of one Press or more as is after specified, and doth hereby nominate, allow, and admit these Persons whose Names hereafter follow, to the Number of Twenty, to have the use of a Press or Presses and Printing House, for the Time being, viz. Felix Kingston, Adam Islip, Thomas Purfoot, Miles Flesher, Thomas Harper, John Beal, John Legat, Robert Young, John Haviland, George Miller, Richard Badger, Thomas Cotes, Bernard Alsop, Richard Bishop, Edward Griffin, Thomas Purslow, Richard Hodgkinson, John Dawson, John Raworth, Marmaduke Parsons. And further, the Court doth Order and Decree, That it shall be lawful for the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, or the Lord Bishop of London, for the time being, taking to him or them six other High Commissioners, to supply the place or places of those, which are now already Printers by this Court, as they shall fall void by Death, or Censure, or therwise; provided that they exceed not the Number of Twenty, besides his Majesty's Printers, and the Printers allowed for the Universities.

XVI. Item, That every Person or Persons, now allowed or admitted to have the use of a Press, and Printing House, shall within Ten Days after the Date hereof, become bound with Sureties to his Majesty in the High Commission Court, in the Sum of Three Hundred Pounds not to Print, or suffer to be Printed in his House or Press, any Book or Books whatsoever, but such as shall from time to time be lawfully licensed, and that the like Bond shall be entered into by all, and every Person and Persons that hereafter shall be admitted or allowed to Print, before he or they be suffered to have the use of a Press.

XVII. Item, That no allowed Printer shall keep above two Presses, unless he hath been Master or upper Warden, of his Company, who are thereby allowed to keep three Presses and no more, under pain of being disabled for sever after to keep or use any Press at all, unless for some great and special Occasion for the Publick, he or they have for a time leave of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, or Lord Bishop of London for the time being, to have or use one or more, above the aforesaid Number, as their Lordships, or either of them shall think fit. And whereas there are some Master Printers that have at this present one, or more Presses allowed them by this Decree, the Court doth further Order and Declare, That the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers, do forthwith certify the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, or the Lord Bishop of London, what Number of Presses each Master Printer hath, that their Lordships, or either of them, taking unto them six other High Commissioners, may take such present Order for the suppressing of the supernumerary Presses, as to their Lordships, or to either of them shall seem best.

XVIII. Item, That no Person or Persons do hereafter reprint, or cause to be reprinted, any Book or Books whatsoever (tho' formerly Printed with Licence) without being reviewed, and a new Licence obtained for the Reprinting thereof. Always provided, that the Stationer or Printer bet put to no other charge hereby, but bringing and leaving of two printed Copies of the Book to be printed, as is before expressed of written Copies, with all such Additions as the Author hath made.

XIX. Item, The Court doth Declare, as formerly so now, That no Apprentices be taken into any Printing House, otherwise than according to this Proportion following, (viz.) every Master Printer that is, or hath been Master or Upper Warden of his Company, may have three Apprentices at one time and no more, and every Master Printer that is of the Livery of his Company, may have two Apprentices at one time and no more, and every Master Printer of the Yeomanry of the Company may have one Apprentice at one time and no more, neither by Copartnership, binding at the Scriveners, nor any other way whatsoever; neither shall it be lawful for any Master Printer when any Apprentice or Apprentices shall run or be put away, to take another Apprentice, or other Apprentices in his or their place or places, unless the Name or Names of him or them so gone away, be razed out of the Hall Book, and never admitted again, upon pain of being for ever disabled of the use of a Press or Printing House, and of such further Punishment, as by this Court, or the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fit to be imposed.

XX. Item, The Court doth likewise Declare, That because a great part of the secret Printing in Corners, hath been caused for want of orderly Employment for Journeymen-Printers, Therefore the Court doth hereby require the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers, to take special care that all Journeymen-Printers, who are Free of the Company of Stationers, shall be set to Work, and employed within their own Company of Stationers; for which purpose the Court doth also Order and Declare, That if any Journeyman-Printer, and Free of the Company of Stationers, who is of honest and good Behaviour, and able in his Trade, do want Employment, he shall repair to the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers, and they or one of them, taking with him or them one or two of the Master Printers shall go along with the said Journeyman-Printer, and shall offer his Service in the first place to the Master Printer under whom he served his Apprenticeship, if he be living, and do continue an allowed Printer, or otherwise to any other Master Printer whom the Master and Wardens of the said Company shall think fit. And every Master printer shall be bound to employ one Journeyman, being so offered to him, and more, if need shall so require; and it shall be so adjudged to come to his share, according to the proportion of his Apprentices and Employments, by the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers, altho' the said Master Printer, with his Apprentice or Apprentices be able without the help of the said Journeyman or Journeymen to discharge his own Work, upon pain of such Punishment, as by this Court, or the High Commission Court respective, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fit.

XXI, Item, The Court doth Declare, That if the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers, or any of them, shall refuse or neglect to go along with any honest and sufficient Journeyman Printer, so desiring their Assistance, to find him Employment, upon Complaint and Proof made thereof, he or they so offending, shall suffer Imprisonment, and such other Punishment, as by thisCourt or the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Clauses shall require, shall be thought fit to be imposed. But in case any Master Printer hath more Employment than he is able to discharge with help of his Apprentice or Apprentices, it shall be lawful for him to require the help of any Journeyman or Journeymen Printers who are not Employed; and if the said Journeyman or Journeymen Printers so required, shall refuse Employment, or neglect it when he or they have undertaken it, he or they shall suffer Imprisonment, and undergo such Punishment as this Court shall think fit.

XXII. Item, The Court doth hereby Declare, That it doth not hereby restrain the Printers of either of the Universities from taking what Number of Apprentices for their Service in Printing there, they themselves shall think fit. Provided always, that the said Printers in the Universities shall Empoly all their own Journey-men within themselves, and not suffer any of their said Journey-men to go Abroad for Employment to the Printers of London, (unless upon occasion some Printers of London desire to Employ some extraordinary Workman or Workmen amongst them, without prejudice to their own Journey-men, who are Freemen) upon such penalty as the Chancellor of either of the Universities for the time being, shall think fit to inflict upon the Delinquents herein.

XXIII. Item, That no Master Printer shall Employ either to Work at the Case, or the Press, or otherwise about his Printing, any other Person or Persons, than such only as are Freemen or Apprentices to the Trade or Mystery of Printing, under pain of being disabled for ever after to keep or use any Press or Printing-House, and such further Punishment as by this Court, or the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fit to be imposed.

XXIV. Item, The Court doth hereby declare their firm Resolution, that if any Person or Persons that is not an allowed Printer, shall hereafter presume to set up any Press for Printing, or shall work at any such Press, or Set, or Compose any Letters to be wrought by any such Press, he or they so offending, shall from time to time, by the Order of this Court be set in the Pillory, and Whipt through the City of London, and suffer such other Punishment, as their Court shall Order or think fit to inflict upon them, upon Complaint or Proof of such Offence or Offences, or shall be otherwise punished, as the Court of High Commission shall think fit, and is agreeable to their Commission.

XXV. Item, That for the better discovery of Printing in Corners without Licence, the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers for the time being, or any two licensed Master Printers, which shall be appointed by the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, or Lord Bishop of London for the time being, shall have Power and Authourity to take unto themselves such Assistance as they shall think Needful, and to search what House and Shops (and what time they shall think fit) especially Printing Houses, and to view what is in Printing, and to call for the Licence to see whether it be licensed or no; and if not, to seize upon so much as is Printed, together with the Several Offenders, and to bring them before the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, or the Lord Bishop of London for the time being, that they or either of them may take such further Order therein as shall appertain to Justice.

XXVI. Item, The Court doth Declare, that it shall be lawful also for the said Searchers, if upon Search they find any Book of Books, or part of Book and Books, which they suspect to contain Matter in it or them, contrary to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, or against the State and Government, upon such suspicion to seize upon such Book or Books, or part of Book or Books, and to bring it, or them to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, or the Lord Bishop of London for the time being, who shall take such further Course therein, as to their Lordships, or either of them, shall seem fit.

XXVII. Item, The Court doth Order and Declare, That there shall be Four Founders of Letters for Printing allowed, and no more, and doth hereby nominate, allow, and admit these Persons, whose Names hereafter follow to the Number of Four, to be Letter Founders for the time being, (viz) John Grismand, Thomas Wright, Arther Nichols, Alexander Fifield. And further, the Court doth Order and Decree, that it shall be Lawful for the Lord Archibishop of Canterbury, or the Lord Bishop of London for the time being, taking unto him or them, fix other High Commissioners, to supply the Place or Places of those who are now allowed Founders of Letters by this Court, as they shall fall void by Death, Censure, or otherwise.

Provided, that they exceed not the Number of Four, set down by this Court. And if any Person or Persons, not being an allowed Founder, shall notwithstanding take upon him or them, to Found or Cast Letters for Printing, upon Complaint and Proof made of such Offence and Offences, he or they so offending, shall suffer such Punishment as this Court, or the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall think fit to inflict upon them.

XXVIII. Item, That no Master Founder whatsoever, shall keep above two Apprentices at one time, neither by Copartnership, Binding at the Scriveners, nor any other way whatsoever; neither shall it be lawful for any Master-Founder, when any Apprentice or Apprentices shall run or be put away, to take another Apprentice, or other Apprentices in his or their Place or Places, unless the Name or Names of him or them so gone away, be rased out of the Hall Book of the Company whereof the Master Founder is Free, and never admitted again, upon Pain of such Punishment, as by this Court, or the High Commission respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fit to be imposed.

XXIX. Item, That all Journey-men Founders be Employed by the Master Founders of the said Trade, and that idel Journey-men be compelled to work after the same manner, and upon the same Penalties, as in Case of the Journey-men Printers is before specified.

XXX. Item, That no Master Founder of Letters shall Employ any other Person or Persons in any Work belonging to the Casting or Founding of Letters, than such only as are Freemen or Apprentices to the Trade of Founding Letters, save only in the pulling off the Knots of Metal hanging at the ends of the Letters when they are first Cast, in which Work it shall be lawful for every Master Founder to Employ one Boy only that is not, nor hath been bound to the Trade of Founding Letters, but not otherwise, upon Pain of being for ever disabled to use or exercise that Art, and such further Punishment, as by this Court, or the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fit to be imposed.

XXXI. Item, That every Person or Persons whatsoever, which shall at any time or times hereafter, by his or their Confession, or otherwise, by Proof be convicted of any of the Offences, by this, or any other Decree of this Court made, shall before such time as he or they shall be discharged, and over and above their Fine and Punishment, as abovesaid, be bound with good Sureties, never after to transgress, or offend in that or the like kind, for which he or they shall be so Convicted and punished as aforesaid; and that all and every the Forfeitures aforesaid (excepting all Seditious Schismatical Books or Pamphlets, which this Court doth hereby Order to be presently Burnt; And except such Books as the Forfeitures are already granted by Letters Patents, shall be divided and and disposed of, as the High Commission Court shall find fit. Always providing that one Moiety be to the King.

XXXII. Item, That no Merchant, Master, or Owner of any Ship, or Vessel, or any other Person or Persons whatsoever, shall hereafter presume to Land, or put on Shore any Book or Books, or the Part of any Book or Books to be imported from beyond the Seas, in any Port, Haven,Creek, or other place whatsoever, within the Realm of England, but only in the Port of the City of London, to the end the said Books may there be viewed, as aforesaid: And the several Officers of his Majesty's Ports are hereby required to take Notice thereof.

XXXIII. Item, That whereas there is an Agreement betwixt Sir Thomas Bodley Knight, Founder of the University Library at Oxford, and the Master, Wardenss, and Assistants of the Company of Stationers (viz.) That one Book of every sort that is new Printed, or Re-printed with Additions, be sent to the University of Oxford for the Use of the publick Library there, the Court doth hereby Order and Declare, That every Printer shall reserve one Book new Printed, or Re-printed by him with Additions, and shall before any publick venting of the said Book, bring it to the Common Hall of the Company of Stationers, and deliver it to the Officer thereof, to be sent to the Library at Oxford accordingly, upon pain of Imprisonment, and such further Order and Direction therein, as to this Court or the High Commission Court respectively, as the several Causes shall require, shall be thought fit.