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-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
which the said Master and Wardens each in their order shall give to such person and persons his and their hands saying these words Videl t. BROTHER you are Admitted to the Cloathing of this Company or words to that effect and that every person which shall be elected and chosen of the Livery or Cloathing of the said Society shall upon such his admission into the Livery or Cloathing as aforesaid according to the ancient usage of the said Society pay to the said Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London the summe of Twenty pounds for a Fee or Income for such his or their admission as aforesaid and to the Clerk of this Society his usual Fee of Ten shillings and to the Beadle of this Society his usual Fee of Five shillings and if any such person so elected into the Cloathing as aforesaid shall refuse to accept thereof having no reasonable cause and to be so allowed by the Master Wardens and Assistants or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants then he shall pay to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London for such refusal the summe of Forty pouâ—ds AND it is further Ordained that all those who shall be of the Livery or Cloathing of the said Society shall from time to time upon the Beadles summons for that purpose meet at such place and time as shall be appointed by the Master and Wardens of the said Society and also that every person being duely summoned as aforesaid and shall make default not having a reasonable Excuse or shall depart without the leave of the Master or Wardens or one of them shall for every such Default pay to the said Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London the summe of one Shilling AND also it is Ordained That every year yearly in a Court of Assistants to be holden as aforesaid at the usual time the Master Wardens and Assistants or the major part of them then present may Elect and choose one honest discreet and able man being of the Livery of the said Society who shall bear the Title of Renter-warden of the said Society for One year next ensuing and till another shall be chosen and sworn in his place and in case of the death or Removal of any Renter-warden the Master Wardens and Assistants or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants shall forthwith proceed to a New Election of a Renter-warden in manner and form aforesaid which person so Elected shall forthwith accept the said Office and take the Oath hereafter for that purpose in these Presents mentioned and also shall diligently attend the Master and Wardens upon their summons and carefully collect and receive all Quarteridges due from and payable by all and every or any of the members of this Society and also all the Rents due to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London upon all or any Lease or Leases whatsoever already made or hereafter to be made by the said Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London and shall also at the usual time to wit within One month after some other person shall be sworn into the said Office or such other longer time as shall be appointed by the Master Wardens and Assistants or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants render to the said Master Wardens and Assistants or such other person as the Master Wardens and Assistants shall appoint a true plain perfect and just Accompt in writing of all such Moneys which he hath received and Disbursments which he hath made during his time of being Renter-warden for the use of the said Society and shall speedily make payment of what shall remain in his hands due upon such Accompt and deliver his Books and all other Papers or things whatsoever which may concern the said Society to the Master and Wardens or such other person or persons as the Master and Wardens shall appoint upon pain that every person offending against this Ordinance shall pay to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London for every months time that he shall after request or summons in that behalf made refuse or delay to make such Accompt the summe of Five pounds and for every months time after such Accompt stated that the Moneys which shall be due upon the foot of such accompt to the said Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the mystery or art of Stationers of the City of London or any part thereof shall remain unpaid the sum of Five pounds he having no reasonable Impediment or Excuse which shall be so allowed by the Master Wardens and Assistants or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants for his failor therein AND further it is likewise Ordained That after the Election of the Renter-warden by the Master Wardens and Assistants or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants as aforesaid if the person so Elected shall refuse to accept the said Office and take the said Oath in manner aforesaid having no reasonable or just Impediment or Excuse that may hinder him so to doe and which shall be allowed by the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Society or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants then such person so Elected and refusing to take upon him the Execution of the said office shall for such his refusal forthwith pay to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or art Stationers of the City of London the summe of Fifty pounds But if any person which shall be chosen Renter-warden as aforesaid shall make his application to the Court of Assistants the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants if they think fit may excuse him upon payment of a smaller summe of money so as it be not under the summe of Twenty four pounds And also it is likewise ordained That every person who shall hereafter serve in the said place or office of Renter-warden to the said Society according to the ancient usage of the said Society shall every year upon the day that the Lord Maior of London shall be presented and sworn at Westminster in the common Hall of the said Society or at such other place as the Master and Wardens shall appoint at his costs and charges find and provide one competent and sufficient Dinner for the Master Wardens and Assistants and all the Members of the Livery of the said Society And if default shall be made hereof that then every such person shall forfeit and pay for such his default to the Master and Keepers
Government or shall do any act or thing which may in any wise prejudice the said Society or may tend to the breach of any of the aforesaid lawfull constitutions and Ordinances Then every person so offending for such his Offence against any part of this Ordinance 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 such Fine not exceeding Five pounds as the Master Wardens and Assistants or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants shall impose upon him or them for such his or their Offence ALSO it is Ordained That if the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Society or any of them or any other Member of the said Society shall at any time hereafter reveal disclose or make known any of the lawful secrets conferences or consultations of the said Society tending to the discredit damage or prejudice of the said Society or any of the Governours Officers or Members thereof That then such person so offending be he Master Warden or one of the Assistants shall be excluded from the Court of Assistants or common Council of the said Society untill he hath paid such Fine not exceeding the summe of Five pounds as the Master Wardens and Assistants or the major part of them in Court shall impose upon him or them for such his or their Offence And every other member so offending 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 such Fine not exceeding Forty shillings as the Master Wardens and Assistants or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants shall impose upon him or them AND he it further Ordained That when any difference or differences shall hereafter arise between any member and members of this Company for any Copy Right or any thing relating to Printing Book-selling or Book-binding That then before any Action or suit be commenced they shall first make their application to the Master Wardens and Assistants in a Court of Assistants and give them true information of the ground and occasion of such Difference or controversie which said Master Wardens and Assistants in a Court of Assistants are hereby authorized to hear all parties concerned and to use their utmost Endeavours to compose such Difference and Differences without the trouble and charge of going to Law upon pain that every member that shall for any of the Causes aforesaid commence any Suit or Suits without application made 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 pounds AND whereas since the making of the late Act of Parliament made in his now Majesties Reign intituled An Act for preventing the frequent abuses in Printing Seditious Treasonable and unlicensed Books and Pamphlets and for regulating of Printing and Printing-presses several members of the said Society have Erected Presses contrary to the said Act and therewithall have printed several seditious treasonable schismatical scandalous and unlicensed Books and Pamphlets to the great Scandal of the said Company and the Government thereof For the future prevention whereof It is hereby Ordained That no Member of this Company shall hereafter Erect or cause to be Erected any Press or Presses for Printing or any Printing-house or Printing-houses nor shall knowingly Demise or Lett or suffer to be held or used any House Vault or Cellar or other Room whatsoever for a Printing-house or place to print in unless he or they who Erect such Press or Presses Printing-house or Printing-houses or shall so knowingly demise or lett such Houses Cellar Vault or Room or suffer the same to be used shall first give Notice to the Master and Wardens of the said Society or one of them of the Erecting such Demise or Presses Printing-house or Printing-houses or of such Demise or suffering to work or Print upon pain of forfeiting the summe of Ten pounds for every Offence to be committed contrary to any of the Clauses of this Ordinance and Forty shillings a day during every day 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 to the use of the Poor of the said Company AND also it is further Ordained That no Member or Members of the said Society shall at any time from henceforth erect or cause or procure or suffer to be erected any private Press or Presses commonly called A Press in a hole nor shall countenance assist or contribute towards the erecting or setting up of any such private Presse or Presses or shall knowingly accommodate furnish or supply any such private Presse or Presses with Paper or any other materials for Printing or contribute towards the same or pay or contribute towards the payment of any Wages Sallary or Hire to any person or persons for the working at any private Presse or Presses or towards the payment of any Rent or Reward for any House or place where such private Presse or Presses shall be Erected and set up or connive at or conceal any such Presse or Presses House or Houses place or places or the Name or Names of any such person or persons that shall erect or cause to be erected or contribute towards the erecting furnishing supplying working at or preparing work for any such private Presse or Presses or shall willingly and knowingly buy barter or contract for any Impression or part of any Impression of any Book or Books or part of Book Pamphlet or Paper or knowingly bind stitch put together for sale publish dispose or disperse any Book Pamphlet or Paper which shall be Imprinted at any such private Presse or Presses upon pain that every Member in any of the said cases offending shall be lyable to be disfranchised for such Offence or to pay to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comminalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London such reasonable Fine not exceeding Fifty pounds as the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Company or the major part of them in a Court of Assistants shall Impose upon him for such his Offence And for the better discovery of all such private Printing-presses commonly called Presses in Holes it is further Ordained That every person and persons that shall discover any such private Printing-presse to the Master and Wardens of the said Society or either of them shall have the summ of Five pounds or what more the Master or Wardens shall think fit as a Reward for such his Service to be paid to him out of the common Stock of the said Society by the said Master or Wardens or one of them and shall be allowed in their or any of their Accompts AND it is likewise further Ordained That no member or members of the said Society shall imploy