An Order made by the Honourable House of Commons. IT 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 confent of the Author: And that if any Printer shall notwithstanding print or reprint any thing without the confent and name of the Author, that he fhall 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. I 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 fuch perfons as they thinke fit, to fearch in any houfe 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 demollifh and take away fuch Preffes and their materials, and the Printers Nuts and Spindles which they find fo employed, and bring the Mafter-Printers, and Workmen Printers before the faid Committee; and that the Committee or any four of them, have power to commit to prifon any of the faid Printers, or any other perfons that do contrive, or publikely or privately vend fell, or publifh any Pamphlet fcandalous to his Majefty or the proceedings of both or either Houfes of Parliament, or that fhall refufe to fuffer any Houfes or Shops to be fearched, where fuch preffes or pamphlets as aforefaid are kept: And that the perfons imployed by the faid Committee fhall have power to seize fuch fcandalous and lying pamphlets as they find uppon fearch, to be in any shopp or warhoufe, fold, or difperfed by any perfon whomfoever, and to bring the perfons (that fo kept publifhed, 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 feizing their preffes and materialls, be fatisfied for their paines and charges. And all Iuftices of the Peace, Cap. tains, Officers, and Conflables, are required to be afifting in the apprehend ng of any the perfons aforefaid, And in fearching of their hopps, Houfes, and Warehouses; And likewife all Iuftices of peace, Officers, and Conftables, are hereby required from time to time to apprehend fuch perfons as fhall publish, vend, or fell the faid pamphlets. And it is further ordered, That this Order be forthwith printed and publifhed, 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 diforders in Printing many falfe, 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 fhall 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 shall be forthwith printed and published. J. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum: Hen. Elsing Cler. D. Com. LONDON, Printed for I. Wright in the Old-baily, June 16, 1643. W Die Mercurii, 14 Junii. 1643. HEREAS divers good Orders have bin falfe 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 diforders, hath hitherto bin retarded through the prefent diftractions, 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 fundry private Printing Preffes in corners, and to print, vend, publish and difperfe Books, pamphlets and papers, in such multitudes, that no induftry could be sufficient to dif cover or bring to punishment, all the feverall abounding delinquents; And by reason that divers of the Stationers Company and others being Delinquents (contrary to former orders and the conftant custome ufed among the faid Company) have taken liberty to Print, Vend and publifh, the moft 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 Houfes: Nor 27 other Book, Pamphlet, paper, nor part of any fuch Book, Pamphlet, or paper, fhall from henceforth be printed, bound, stitched or put to fale by any person or perfons whatsoever, unleffe the fame be first approved of and licensed under the hands of such perfon or perfons as both, or either of the faid Houses fhall appoint for the licensing of the fame, and entred in the Regifter Book of the Company of Stationers, according to Ancient cuftom, 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 fhall be thought fit. And the Master and Wardens of the faid Company, the Gentleman Usher 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 search in all places, where they shall think meete, for all unlicensed Printing Preffes, and all Preffes any way imployed in the printing of fcandalous or unlicenfed Papers, Pamphlets, Books, or any Copies of Books belonging to the faid 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 Printer, which they find fo mifimployed, unto the Common Hall of the faid Company, there to be defaced and made unserviceable according to Ancient Custom ; And likewife to make diligent fearch in all suspected Printing-houses, Ware-houfes, Shops and other places. for fuch fcandalous and unlicenfed Books, papers, Pamphlets, and all other Books, not entred, nor figned with the Printers name as aforefaid, being printed, or reprinted by such as have no lawfull intereft in them, or any way contrary to this Order, and the fame to seize and carry away to the faid common hall, there to remain till both or either House of Parliament fhall difpofe thereof, And likewife to apprehend all Authors, Printers, and other perfons whatsoever imployed in compiling, printing, ftitching, binding, publishing and difperfing of the faid fcandalous, unlicensed, and unwarrantable papers, books and pamphlets as aforefaid, and all those who fhall refift the faid Parties in fearching after them, and to bring them afore either of the Houses or the Committee of Examinations, that so they may receive fuch further punishments, as their Offences shall demerit, and not to be released untill they have given fatisfaction to the Parties imployed in their apprehenfion for their paines and charges, and given sufficient caution not to offend in like fort for the future. And all Juftices of the Peace, Captaines, Conftables and other officers, are hereby ordered and required to be aiding, and affifting to the forefaid perfons in the due execution of all, and fingular the premiffes and in the apprehenfion of all Offenders against the fame. And in cafe of oppofition 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. |