An Order made by the Honourable House of Commons Die Sabbati, 29, Januarii. 1641 [1642].

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Tis ordered that the Mafter and Wardens of the Company

of Stationers fhall be required to take especiall Order, that the Printers doe neither print, nor reprint any thing without the name and consent of the Author: And that if any Printer fhall notwithstanding print or reprint any thing without the confent and name of the Author, that he shall then be proceeded against, as both Printer and Author thereof, and their names to be certified to this House. H. Ellinge Cler. Parl. do. Com.

Die Iovis 9. Martii 1642 [1643].

An Order of the Commons affembled in Parliament For regulating Printing.

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T is this day Ordered by the Commons House of Parliament, That the Committee for Examinations, or any foure of them, have power to appoint such persons as they thinke fit, to search in any house or place where there is iuft caufe of sufpition, That Preffes are kept and employed in the printing of fcandalous and lying Pamphlets, and that they do demollish and take away such Preffes and their materials, and the Printers Nuts and Spindles which they find fo employed, and bring the Master-Printers, and Workmen Printers before the faid Committee; and that the Committee or any four of them, have power to commit to prison any of the said Printers, or any other persons that do contrive, or publikely or privately vend fell, or publish any Pamphlet fcandalous to his Majefty or the proceedings of both or either Houses of Parliament, or that shall refuse to suffer any Houses or Shops to be fearched, where such preffes or pamphlets as aforefaid are kept: And that the perfons imployed by the faid Committee shall have power to seize fuch fcandalous and lying pamphlets as they find uppon search, to be in any shopp or warhoufe, fold, or difperfed by any perfon whomfoever, and to bring the perfons (that so kept published, or fold the fame,) before the Committee; And that fuch perfons as the Committee fhall commit for any offences aforefaid, fhall not be released till the parties imployed for the apprehending of the faid perfons, and seizing their presses and materialls, be fatisfied for their paines and charges. And all Iuftices of the Peace, Captains, Officers, and Constables, are required to be afifting in the apprehending of any the perfons aforesaid, And in searching of their shopps, Houses, and Warehouses; And likewise all Iuftices of peace, Officers, and Constables, are hereby required from time to time to apprehend fuch perfons as fhall publifh, vend, or fell the faid pamphlets. And it is further ordered, That this Order be forthwith printed and published, to the end that notice may be taken thereof, that the contemners of this Order may be left inexcufable for their offence. [A Collection of all the publicke Orders Ordinances and Declarations, &c. by EDWARD HUSBAND, PI. London. 1646.

AN

ORDER

OF THE

LORDS and COMMONS

Affembled in Parliament.

For the

Regulating of Printing,

And

For fuppreffing the great late abuses and frequent disorders in Printing many false, Scandalous, Seditious, Libellous, and unlicensed Pamphlets, to the great defamation of Religion and Government.

Also, authorizing the Mafters & Wardens of the Company of Stationers to make diligent search, seize and carry away all fuch Books as they shall finde Printed, or reprinted by any inan having no lawfull intereft in them, being entred into the Hall Book to any other man as his proper Copies.

Die Mercurii. 14 June. 1643.

Rdered by the Lords and Commons affembled in Parliament, that this Order fhall be forthwith printed and published.

J. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum:

Hen. Elsing Cler. D. Coni.

LONDON, Printed for I. Wright in the Old-baily, June 16, 1643.

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Die Mercurii, 14 Junii. 1643.

HEREAS divers good Orders have bin lately made by both Houses of Parliament, for fuppreffing the great late abuses and frequent disorders in Printing many,

false forged, fcandalous, feditious, libellous, and unlicensed Papers, Pamphlets, and Books to the great defamation of Religion and government. Which orders (notwithstanding the diligence of the Company of Stationers, to put them in full execution) have taken little or no effect: By reason the bill in preparation, for redreffe of the faid disorders, hath hitherto bin retarded through the prefent distractions, and very many, aswell Stationers and Printers, as others of fundry other profeffions not free of the Stationers Company, have taken upon them to set up sundry private Printing Preffes in corners, and to print, vend, publish and disperse Books, pamphlets and papers, in such multitudes, that no industry could be sufficient to dif cover or bring to punishment, all the severall abounding delinquents; And by reason that divers of the Stationers Company and others being Delinquents (contrary to former orders and the conftant custome used among the said Company) have taken liberty to Print, Vend and publish, the most profitable vendible Copies of Books, belonging to the Company and other Stationers, especially of fuch Agents as are imployed in putting the faid Orders in Execution, and that by way of revenge for giveing information against them to the Houses for their Delinquences in Printing, to the great prejudice of the faid Company of Stationers and Agents, and to their difcouragement in this publik service.

It is therefore Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That no Order or Declaration of both, or either House of Parliament shall be printed by any, but by order of one or both the faid Houses: Nor

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other Book, Pamphlet, paper, nor part of any fuch Book, Pamphlet, or paper, fhall from henceforth be printed, bound, ftitched or put to fale by any perfon or persons whatsoever, unlesse the fame be first approved of and licensed under the hands of such perfon or perfons as both, or either of the said Houses fhall appoint for the licensing of the fame, and entred in the Register Book of the Company of Stationers, according to Ancient custom, and the Printer thereof to put his name thereto. And that no person or perfons fhall hereafter print, or cause to be reprinted any Book or Books, or part of Book, or Books heretofore allowed of and granted to the faid Company of Stationers for their relief and maintenance of their poore, without the licence or confent of the Master, Wardens and Affiftants of the faid Company; Nor any Book or Books lawfully licenced and entred in the Register of the faid Company for any particular member thereof, without the licence and consent of the owner or owners thereof. Nor yet import any such Book or Books, or part of Book or Books formerly Printed here, from beyond the Seas, upon paine of forfeiting the fame to the Owner, or Owners of the Copies of the faid Books, and fuch further punishment as shall be thought fit.

And the Master and Wardens of the said Company, the Gentleman Ufher of the House of Peers, the Sergeant of the Commons House and their deputies, together with the perfons formerly appointed by the Committee of the House of Commons for Examinations, are hereby Authorized and required, from time to time, to make diligent fearch in all places, where they fhall think meete, for all unlicensed Printing Preffes, and all Preffes any way imployed in the printing of fcandalous or unlicensed Papers, Pamphlets, Books, or any Copies of Books belonging to the said Company, or any member thereof, without their approbation and consents, and to seize and carry away fuch Printing Preffes Letters, together with the Nut, Spindle,

and other materialls of every fuch irregular Printe which they find fo mifimployed, unto the Comm Hall of the faid Company, there to be defaced ar made unferviceable according to Ancient Custom And likewife to make diligent search in all suspecte Printing-houses, Ware-houses, Shops and other plac for fuch fcandalous and unlicensed Books, paper Pamphlets, and all other Books, not entred, nor figne with the Printers name as aforesaid, being printed, ‹ reprinted by such as have no lawfull intereft in then or any way contrary to this Order, and the same t seize and carry away to the said common hall, there t remain till both or either House of Parliament sha dispose thereof, And likewise to apprehend all Author: Printers, and other persons whatsoever imployed i compiling, printing, ftitching, binding, publishing and difperfing of the said scandalous, unlicensed, and un warrantable papers, books and pamphlets as aforefaid and all those who shall refift the faid Parties in fearch ing after them, and to bring them afore either of th Houses or the Committee of Examinations, that so the may receive fuch further punishments, as their Offence fhall demerit, and not to be released untill they have given fatisfaction to the Parties imployed in their ap prehenfion for their paines and charges, and giver sufficient caution not to offend in like fort for the future. And all Juftices of the Peace, Captaines, Con ftables and other officers, are hereby ordered and required to be aiding, and assisting to the forefaid per fons in the due execution of all, and singular the prem iffes and in the apprehenfion of all Offenders agains the fame. And in cafe of opposition to break open Doores and Locks.

And it is further ordered, that this Order be forthwith Printed and Published, to the end that notice may be taken thereof, and all Contemners of it left inexcufable.

FINIS.