ORDERS RULES AND ORDINANCES Ordained Devised and Made by the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of STATIONERS OF The City of LONDON for the well Governing of that Society LONDON Printed for the Company of Stationers 1678. 16 Feb. 1677 8. We do allow the Printing of these Orders for the Use of the Members of the Company Ri. Rainsford Fra. North. TO all to whom these Presents shall come We the Right Honourable Heneage Lord Finch Baron of Daventry Lord High Chancellor of England Sir Richard Rainsford Knight Lord Chief Justice of his Majesties Court of Kings Bench and Sir Francis North Knight Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster send Greeting Whereas in a Statute made in the Parliament holden at Westminster the Twenty Fifth day of January in the Nineteenth Year of the Reign of the late King of Famous Memory Henry the Seventh for the Weal and Profit of his Subjects It was amongst other things Ordained Established and Enacted That no Master Wardens and Fellowships of Crafts and Mysteries or any of them nor any Rulers of Guilds and Fraternities should take upon them to make any Acts or Ordinances nor to Execute any Acts or Ordinances by them then afore-made in Disinheritance or Diminution of the Prerogative of the King nor of any other nor against the Common Profit of the People But if the said Acts or Ordinances be Examined and Approved by the Chancellor or Treasurer of England or Chief Justices of either Bench or Three of them or before both the Justices of Assize in their Circuit or Progress in the Shire where such Acts or Ordinances be made upon pain of Forfeiture of Forty Pounds for every time that they do contrary as by the same Statute more plainly doth and may appear Know ye That the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London willing and desiring that the said Act of Parliament be in all things duely observed and kept the Third day of January in the Nine and Twentieth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. Have presented unto us a Book containing divers Orders Rules and Ordinances by them Ordained Devised and Made for the well Governing of their Society And as well for the Consideration of the good Estate thereof as for the better Governing and Ordering of the said Society at their humble Suit to us made to have the same Settled and Established And that We all and every their said Acts and Ordinances hereafter mentioned and by them so to us exhibited would Examine and those and every of them Correct and Amend and so Approve them in due and convenient manner and form as the said recited Act of Parliament requireth Wee well perceiving and considering the said Supplication to be good and reasonable according to their desire and by the Authority of the said Act of Parliament to us given All and every their Acts and Ordinances so to us Exhibited have Seen Read and Examined The Tenor whereof hereafter followeth Viz. THE Orders Rules AND ORDINANCES Ordained Devised and Made By the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of STATIONERS of the City of London for the well Governing of that Society IT is Ordained That the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Society and their Surcessors for ever shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter by the appointment of the Master or in his absence of the Wardens of the said Society for the time being Assemble themselves together as heretofore hath been usual and keep Courts at their Common Hall or other convenient place of Meeting within the City of London or Liberties thereof for such Affairs of the said Company as have been usually at such Courts done and dispatched wherein Care shall be taken as well for the better Ordering Ruling and Governing of the said Society and the Members thereof as also for the Correction Redress and Reformation of such Abuses and Disorders which may happen in the said Society amongst any the Members thereof and shall and may there also Admit Apprentices to their respective Members according to the usage of the said Society and Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom And may also then make free of the said Society such as have served their Apprenticeships or such as shall be otherwise thought fit to be admitted Freemen thereof as by the ancient Vsage of this Company hath been done and practised And may also at such Courts debate and determine all and every other lawful Act and Acts thing and things which shall at any time or times appear to the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater Number of them there met together fit and convenient touching or concerning the State or Government of the said Society or any thing relating thereunto Which said Courts or Assemblies shall be called Courts of Assistants and to which Courts or Assemblies to be held in manner aforesaid the said master Wardens and Assistants shall come in their Gowns and other decent Apparel and the said Assistants shall not depart from thence without the leave of the Master or one of the Wardens first had and that every person being a Member and Assistant of the said Society shall upon summons by the Beadle or other person for that purpose appointed repair to every such Court or Assembly to be holden by the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Society or the major part of them at such hours and times as he or they shall be appointed and shall not depart thence without the leave of the Master or one of the Wardens first had upon pain that every person so neglecting or disobeying not having a sufficient Excuse to be allowed by the Master Wardens and Assistants or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants shall forfeit and pay for every such Offence to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London the summe of One shilling IT IS also Ordained That the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Society shall and may yearly and every year from henceforth hold and keep Four Quarter Courts or Assemblies to wit One in each Quarter at such times and place within the City of London aforesaid or Liberties thereof as the said Master or Wardens of the said Society shall appoint To which said Courts or Assemblies the said Master or Wardens may cause to be summoned by their Beadle or other person appointed for that purpose all the Members of the said Society or so many of them as to the said Master or Wardens shall be thought fit every of which Members being so summoned shall accordingly appear at every such Court At all which times all the Orders and Ordinances
either to work at the Case or Presse or otherwise about his Printing any Iourneyman-Printer Freeman or Forreigner or other person whatsoever that shall have offended in any of the cases mentioned in the Two last before-mentioned Ordinances for the space of Three months next after due proof thereof made either by Confession or otherwise to the Court of Assistants of the said Society and notice thereof given to the wheral Master-Printers of the said Society without License from the Master or Wardens of the said Society first had and obtained Vpon pain that every Member so offending after Notice given as aforesaid shall forfeit and pay to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London the summe of Ten shillings for every month that he or they shall Imploy such Offender or Offenders as aforesaid AND it is likewise further Ordained That no member or members of the said Society shall knowingly permit or suffer his Apprentice or Apprentices or Covenant-servants at any time to work at any Presse or Presses any matter or thing whatsoever prohibited by the said Act of Parliament and the before-mentioned Two Ordinances and that if any such Master-Printer shall at any time discover or know that any of his Apprentices or Covenant-servants shall offend in any of the said Cases That then such Master-Printer shall cause such Apprentice or Apprentices or Covenant-servants forthwith to be brought to the Chamberlain of the City of London for the time being and make complaint of all such his and their Offences to the end that such Offender and Offenders may be punished according to the ancient custom of the said City Vpon pain that every Master-Printer not effectually putting in Execution this Ordinance or faintly prosecuting the same shall forfeit and pay to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London the summe of Forty shillings AND it is also Ordained That no Master-Printer or other Printer or Workman being a member of this Society shall teach direct or instruct any person or persons whatsoever other than his or their own Legitimate Son or Sons in this Art or Mystery of Printing who is not actually bound as an Apprentice to some lawful authorised Printer Vpon pain that every person so offending shall forfeit and pay to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London the summe of Five pounds AND also it is hereby further Ordained That no member or members of the said Society shall hereafter Erect or set up or cause to be erected or set up or countenance or contribute to the Erecting or setting up of any Printing-presse or Presses for any new Printing-house or Houses or shall supply or furnish the same with any Materials for Printing untill the now Legal Master-Printers and their Printing-houses be reduced according to the direction of the aforesaid late Act of Parliament Vpon pain of forfeiting the summe of Fifty pounds for every such Offence and Twenty pounds a month for every month that the same shall continue to be paid to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London AND it is also hereby further Ordained That if any Iourneyman Printer or other person being a member of the said Society shall work at any private illegal Press and not discover the same within Two days after such working as aforesaid to the Master and Wardens of the said Society or any of them or shall knowingly work at or upon the Printing of any seditious or scandalous Book Pamphlet or Paper or any other Book or Books or part of any Book or Books imprinted wrongfully and without leave or Assignment of the lawful Owner the sole printing whereof lawfully belonging to the said Society or to any other person or persons or shall knowingly bind stitch or sow together any such Book or Books That then such Iourney-man Printer or other person as aforesaid their or any of their Widows shall not in any wise be admitted a Pensioner to the said Society AND it is hereby further Ordained That no person whatsoever being a Member of this Company Except his Majesties Printers or their Assigns who pretend an Interest in the Statutes and Abridgment of Statutes by Grant from the King shall at any time or times hereafter print or cause to be printed the statute-Statute-Books or common Law-Books herein after named That is to say Poultons Statutes Cook upon Littleton Cooks Entries or Reports or any other Law-Books whatsoever whereunto Edward Atkins Esq or his Assigns now are or hereafter may be intituled by vertue of Letters Patents to him granted Vpon pain that every Member of this Company Except the Kings Printers and their Assigns aforesaid offending in the premisses shall forfeit and pay to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London for every Impression of the said Books before particularly named or of any other Law-Books granted in the said Patent to the said Edward Atkins printed contrary to the meaning of this Order the summe of Two hundred pounds of lawfull money of England in Trust for the said Edward Atkins The By-Law to be Read at the Administring of the Free-mans Oath and a Printed Copy thereof to be delivered to every Member of the said Company dealing in the Stationers Trade IT IS hereby Ordained that no Member or Members of this Company shall hereafter knowingly Imprint or cause to be Imprinted any Book Pamphlet Portraicture Picture or Paper whereunto the Law requires a License without such License as by the Law is directed for the Imprinting of the same AND in Case any Member as aforesaid shall henceforth know of the Imprinting Binding Stitching Publishing or Dispersing of any such Book Pamphlet Portraicture Picture or Paper as aforesaid such Member or Members as aforesaid shall from time to time disclose the same unto the Master or Wardens of the said Company within Three dayes after the knowledge of such Offence committed together with the Name or Names of such Person or Persons so offending Which said Master or Wardens upon such Information given shall cause the same to be entred in a Book hereafter mentioned within six dayes after such Information received upon pain that every Person offending in either or any of these Cases and having a part in the English Stock of this Company the Profits of such part of his Stock for one year shall be sequestred and paid into the hands of the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London to the use of the Poor of the said Corporation Vnless the Master Wardens and Assistants with the Consent of Roger L'Estrange Esq or such Persons as hereafter shall have the like Power concerning the Press committed to them
as he now hath upon hearing of the matter shall according to the nature of the Offence think fit to mitigate the same AND if any Person or Persons having no part in the English Stock of this Company shall offend in either or any of the Cases abovesaid Then such Person or Persons shall forfeit and pay to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery of Art of Stationers of the City of London to the use of the Poor of the said Corporation the summe of Ten pounds Vnless the Master Wardens and Assistants with the Consent of the said Roger L'Estrange Esq or of such Persons as shall succeed him in his Authority and Power as aforesaid upon hearing of the Matter shall according to the Nature of the Offence think fit to mitigate the same AND if any Person having and receiving a Pension from this Company or that hath or shall have any of the Companyes Money in his or their hands upon Loan shall offend in either or any of the Cases abovesaid Then such â—…sion shall be taken away from such Pensioner and all such Money which such person or persons as aforesaid doth or shall owe to this Company shall as soon as the same shall become due be forthwith called in and in default of payment a speedy course at Law shall be taken by this Company for the Recovery thereof AND if any Printer shall offend herein such Printer shall not for One year next following such Offence nor after One year expired without the Consent of the Master Wardens and Assistants be employed in the doing of any work for or belonging to the English Stock of this Company AND be it further Ordained That for the Future shall be kept by the Clerk of this Company two Books In one of which shall be fairly written such Informations given to the Master or Wardens as aforesaid and in the other shall be fairly written what Seditious Scandalous Treasonable and unlicensed Books and Pamphlets shall be seiz'd and Discoveries thereof made together with the Number of them and the Persons from whom they were seiz'd which Books shall be shewen to Roger L'Estrange Esq when he shall think fit The Masters Oath YOU shall swear to be good and true to our Sovereign Lord the Kings Majesty that now is and to his Heirs and Successors Kings or Queens of this Realm And that you shall as Master well and truely Order and Govern all the Fellowship of this Mystery and Company of Stationers whereof you are chosen Master for this present Year according to your best skill and Judgement And the good Rules and Ordinances of this Company you shall keep and see to be kept to the best of your power So help you God The Wardens Oath YOU shall swear to be good and true to our Sovereign Lord the Kings Majesty that now is and to his Heirs and Successors Kings or Queens of this Realm And that you shall as Wardens well and truely Order and Govern all the Fellowship of the Mystery and Company of Stationers whereof you are now chosen Wardens for this present Year according to the best of your skill and knowledge And the good Rules and Ordinances of this Company you shall keep and see to be kept according to the best of your power So help you God The Free-mens Oath YOU shall swear to be good and true to our Sovereign Lord the Kings Majesty that now is and to his Heirs and Successors Kings or Queens of this Realm and to be Obedient to the Master and Wardens of this Company in all lawfull manner You shall also keep secret all the lawfull Counsel of this Fellowship And all manner of lawfull Rules and Ordinances for the good Ordering of the said Fellowship ye shall to the best of your skill observe and keep and to your power ye shall be well willing helping and furthering to the good Governance and Wealth of the same Fellowship and shall not be party or privy in any Counsel or Device that may be to the hurt or hinderance of the same Company or to the overthrowing and breaking of the good Laws and Ordinances of the same But all such Practices Counsels and Devices you shall disclose to the said Master and Wardens of the Company and them labour to hinder and break so much as in you lyeth So help you God The Clerks Oath YOU shall swear to be good and true to our Sovereign Lord the Kings Majesty that now is and to his Heirs and Successors Kings or Queens of this Realm You shall be Obedient in all lawfull manner to the Master and Wardens of this Fellowship And you shall make true Entries of all such things as you shall be commanded by the Master Wardens and Assistants for the time being and faithfully keep all the Books and Records And in all other things you shall well and truely demean your self as Clerk of this Company and the same to execute according to the best of your skill and knowledge So help you God The Beadles Oath YOU shall swear to be good and true to our Sovereign Lord the Kings Majesty that now is and to his Heirs and Successors Kings or Queens of this Realm You shall be in all lawful manner obedient to the Master and Wardens of this Company and all persons of the said Company when you are commanded you shall in due time lawfully summon and warn to the Assemblies of the same All the lawful Counsel also and Secrets of this Company you shall well and truely keep And all other lawful things appertaining to your Office you shall well and faithfully doe So help you God The Oath of an Assistant YOU shall swear to be good and true to our Sovereign Lord the Kings Majesty that now is and to his Heirs and Successors Kings or Queens of this Realm And that you shall according to your best Skill and Judgement with your Advice or otherwise well and truely Assist the Master and Wardens of this Company when there shall be Occasion And the good Rules and Ordinances of this Company you shall keep and see to be kept to the best of your power So help you God ALL which Orders Rules Ordinances and Oaths in manner and form aforesaid made Wee the said Lord Chancellor of England and Lord Chief Justices of either Bench have seen perused and Examined and in Order to the preventing and avoiding of the Penalty inflicted by the aforesaid Statute upon the Execution of Ordinances not approved as by the said Act is directed And as far forth as by Law we may we do approve ratifie and confirm In Witness whereof to these Presents We the said Lord Chancellor of England and Lord Chief Justices of either Benches have hereunto subscribed our Names and set our Seals the Second day of February in the Thirtieth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Annoque Dom. 1677. H. Finch C. Ri. Rainsford Fra. North. FINIS