UN ORDINANCE MADE ON THE 6^^ DECEMBER 1682.]
 

M an %mewM^ of the Mmtex^ anlr iteejjetis ot ffiitattrens> antr

Commonaltfi of the ittfistevg ot i^rt of Stationet^s of the ©ttij

of ilontron> Jteltr at tfteit ©ommon l^all (n tfte J^avissJi of SC

M^xtin 3tutrgate> in the ©Oiattr of ifavttnstron luithin itontron>

on ©itetrnestrait the Si^th trag of 3ieeemher> l(nno l9om(ni ®ne

^housantr  StK l^untrretr  ©ifthtg antr ®Uio> ifor the Uiell^

godetnino: of the ffHewihex^ of thtis €oniyan|l> the ItaUi antr

©rtrinanee hereafter nientionetr> tuass then ntatre> enaetetr> antr

ortratneJjr hg the iWa!Ster> antr iteejiers or ®itartrens> anJjr

Commonaltai of the iW^^terg or %xt of Stationer!* of the

€itij of iiontron> in manner antr form foUoiiiin$> tiil^

j H E R E A s, It hath been the Ancient LTsage of the Members of this
Company, for the Printer or Printers, Publisher or Publishers of all
Books, Pamphlets, Ballads, and Papers, (except what are granted by
Letters Pattents under the Great Seal of England) to Enter into the
Publick Register-Book of tbis Company, remaining with the Clerk of
this Company for the time being, in his or their own Name or Names,
All Books, Pamphlets, Ballads, and Papers whatsoever, by him or them to
be Printed or Published, before the same Book, Pamphlet, Ballad, or Paper is begun
to be Printed, To the end that the Printer or Publisher thereof may be known, to
justifie whatsoever shall be therein contained, and have no Excuse for the Printing or
Publishing thereof; which Usage this Company now taking into their Consideration,
do think that the due Observation thereof may be a means to prevent the Printing
and Publishing of Treasonable, Seditious, and Scandalous Books, Pamphlets, Libels,
and Papers, or Discover the Printers or Publishers thereof.

IT IS THEREFORE Ordained, That all and every Member or Members of this
Company shall before the Printing or reprinting of any Book, Pamphlet, Ballad, or Paper
(except what are granted under the Great Seal of England as aforesaid) in his own Person
cause to be Entred into the Register-Book of this Company (remaining in the Custody of
the Clerk of this Company, paying the usual Fees for the entring thereof) in his and
their own Name and Names in words at length, the Title of all and every Book, Pamphlet,
and Paper, that he or they shall hereafter Print or Publish, or cause to be Printed or
Published. And to which Entry he or they shall set and subscribe his and their
respective Name and Names ; upon pain of forfeiting to the Master, and Keepers or
Wardens, and Commonalty of the Mystery or Art of Stationers of the City of London,
Twenty pounds; to be by them Recovered by Action of Debt, to their own Use.

WHICH said Ordinance in manner and form aforesaid, made at the Request of the
said Master and Keepers or Wardens, and Commonalty of the Mystery or Art
of Stationers of the City of London, by the Authority and Yertue of the said Act of
Parliament made in the Nineteenth Year of the said King Henry the Seventh, and
for the preventing of the Penalty inflicted by the aforesaid Statute upon the
Execution of Ordinances not approved, as by the said Act is directed, (as far forth as
by Law we may) We the said Lord Keeper, and Lords Chief Justices of either
Benches, do Approve, Ratifie, and Confirm. In Witness whereof. We the said Lord
Keeper, and Lords Chief Justices of either Benches, have hereunto subscribed our
Names, and set our Seals the said Tenth day of February, in the Five and Thirtieth
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, 8^g. Annoque
Domini 1682.                                                                             F. North, C S.

Edmund Saunders.
Francis Pemberton.

[From a British Museum copy, Press Mark 796. h. 21.]

I. 26