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

I

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 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.

IT

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 search in any house or place where there is iuft caufe of sufpition, That Preffes are kept and employed in the printing of scandalous 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 Master-Printers, and Workmen Printers before the said Committee; and that the Committee or any four of them, have power to commit to prison any of the faid Printers, or any other perfons that do contrive, or publikely or privately vend fell, or publish any Pamphlet scandalous 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 searched, where fuch preffes or pamphlets as aforefaid are kept: And that the perfons imployed by the said Committee shall have power to seize fuch scandalous 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 so kept published, or fold the fame,) before the Committee; And that such persons 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, Captains, Officers, and Constables, are required to be afifting in the apprehending of any the persons aforesaid, And in searching of their shopps, Houses, and Warehouses; And likewise all Iuftices of peace, Officers, and Conftables, are hereby required from time to time to apprehend fuch perfons as shall publish, 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, p 1. 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 Masters & 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 man having no lawfull interest in them, being entred into the Hall Book to any other man as his proper Copies.

ORdere

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. Con.

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

W

Die Mercurii, 14 Junii. 1643.

HEREAS divers good Orders have bin lately made by both Houses of Parlia ment, for fuppreffing the great late abuses and frequent diforders in Printing many, 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 disorders, hath hitherto bin retarded through the prefent diftractions, and very many, aswell Stationers and Printers, as others of fundry other professions 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 difperfe Books, pamphlets and papers, in fuch multitudes, that no industry could be sufficient to difcover 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 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 said 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 person or perfons whatsoever, unleffe the fame be first approved of and licensed under the hands of fuch perfon or perfons as both, or either of the faid 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 persons shall 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 Affistants of the said 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 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 confents, and to feize 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 said Company, there to be defaced and made unserviceable according to Ancient Custom ; And likewife to make diligent fearch in all fufpected Printing-houses, Ware-houses, Shops and other places for fuch fcandalous and unlicensed Books, papers, Pamphlets, and all other Books, not entred, nor figned with the Printers name as aforefaid, being printed, or reprinted by fuch as have no lawful interest in them, or any way contrary to this Order, and the same to seize and carry away to the said common hall, there to remain till both or either House of Parliament fhall dispose thereof, And likewise to apprehend all Authors, Printers, and other persons whatsoever imployed in compiling, printing, stitching, binding, publishing and difperfing of the faid fcandalous, unlicensed, and unwarrantable papers, books and pamphlets as aforesaid, and all those who shall refift the said Parties in searching after them, and to bring them afore either of the Houses or the Committee of Examinations, that so they may receive such further punishments, as their Offences shall demerit, and not to be released untill they have given fatisfaction to the Parties imployed in their prehenfion 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, Constables 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.

ap

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.