[ 56 ft                         14 July 1559—5 July 1560.                k. woife. {H^^^ ]
 

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[Cheistopher Barker's Report in December 1582, on the Printing Patents op 1558—1582.]

man do therein: but in myne opinion he that hath it is the vnfittest man in England, in deed neither
profiting himself, nor the realme /

R[ichard] watkins
This patent conteyneth all Almanackes and Brognostications, which by reason a few persons and a
small stock will suffice to the execution thereof, is a pretty commoditie toward an honest mans lyving.
JMaster Birde and Idaster Tallis of her JVTaiesties Chappell
In this patent are included all musicke bookes whatsoeuer, and the printing of all ruled paper, for the
pricking of any songes to the lute, virginals or other instrunientes: The paper is somewhat beneficiall, as
for the musick bookes, I would not provide necessarie fui^niture to haue them.     This patent-is executed
by Henry Binneman also. /

Thomas Vauthovillere
Hath the printing of TULLLE, OVLD, and diuerse other great workes in Latin.  He doth yet, neither
great good, nor great harme withall.    This patent if it were fully executed, it were verie doubtfullj whether
the Printer should be a gayner, or a looser: He hath other small thinges wherewith he keepeth his presses
on work, and also worketh for bookesellers of the Company, who kepe no presses.

Thus (right^ honorable and my very good Lord) I haue gone through all her Maiesties grauntes
concerning printing, and haue faythfully yelded myne opinion, even as I would be credited to your
honour; which I ought not a httle to esteeme: and I protest before God, that if I could see how it might
tende to the honour of this Realme, or to the credit of the professours of that science, or might be any
way beneficiall to the common wealth, that priviledges were dissolved, I would yeeld myne opinion so: but
I haue alwayes wished that more power might be geven, yea and strict commandement also, to the Master,
the wardens and assistantes of the Stacioners, to oversee and correct the negligence, aswell of printers
priuiledged, as not priuiledged; who by false printing, evell paper, evell workemanship and such like
faultes, abuse her Maiesties subiectes, and procure the infamye of Barbarisme to the whole companye /

There are 22. printing howses in London, where. 8. or 10. at the most would suffise for all England, yea
and Scotland too. but if no man were allowed to be a Master Printer, but such whose behaviour were well
knowne, and auctorised by warrant from her Maiestie, the arte would be most excellently executed m
England, and many frivolous .and vnfruitfuU Copies kepte back, which are dayly thrust oute in prynt,
greatly corrupting the youth, and preiudiciall to the Comon wealth manye wayes /

There hath ben some negligence heretofore partlie growen by the disordered behaviour of Journemen,
that men haue taken to themselves too many apprentizes, whereby the multitude hath greatlie increased,
for the arte, of necessitie requireth the help of many persons, and therefore there must nodes be Journemen,
of whome the nomber is nowe aboute threescore, who Do both knowe and confesse that if priviledges were
Disolved they were vtterlie vndone, having no other qualitie to get their lyving, whereas Bookesellers,
bookebynders and makers of writmg tables all which are of om-e Companye, haue dyvers other meanes to
lyve. But we haue taken order for this, so that any man not being of the lyvery can hereafter haue but
one apprentize, being of the lyvery but twoe, and having been master or vpperwarden but three at the
most, except the Queenes Printer who is lymitted as the occasion of her highnes service shall requier: so
as thereby the increase is stayed, and euerye man with good order maye be well employed.

These persons (my lord) that are the cause of troubling your honom- so oft (of whose behaviour I am
loath to speake, but that this occasion enforceth me therevnto) are for the most part idle, vndiscrete, and
vnthriftie persons, pretending suche skill in lawe, as to Discom'se what the Prince by her highnes kingly
office may Doe, what other magistrates ought to doe, and in the meane tyme forgett their owne Dutie
toward god, toward their prince and their neighbour.

Of which company beuag fyve m nomber, one John wolfe nowe prysoner in the Clinck is the cheif, who
after many loose pointes of behaviour, obtayned his freedome of the ffishmongers, by what meanes I
knowe not; after which he sued for a priuiledge which was thought vnreasonable by some serving her
Maiestie which when he coulde not obtayne, began of his owne aucthoritie to print of all mens priuiledges
what liked him best: but being somewhat gaynesaid therein, fell to impugning and deniyng her highnes
whole grauntes and for mayntenance of his insolent attempte gathered diuerse Conventicles in his howse,
in Churches, and other places, seducing and perswading as manye as he could allure, to contemne her
maiesties said grauntes: yea incensed the whole Citie, saying their auncient liberties were thereby
infringed. And one ffranck Adams and william Lobley of great Counsell with hym, made collections of
money among poore men, to retayne Lawyers to fm'der their puipose, promising ten for one, if they
had not good successe.

Vnto WOLFE yet still, being in pryson, (as I heare saye) there is contynuall accesse by some of the saide
parties, and also by one sometyme a Scrivener, pretending skill in Lawe; who doth much seduce these
indiscrete fellowes to spend their money, and aggrauate the trouble. Of whome, some when they are
charitably demanded what they should gayne, if all were in common, and made havock for one man to vndoe
another? they aunswere, we should make them beggers like to our selves: meaning those that haue Patentes.
By their aunsere your honour maye percey ve what they be, and by your wisedome remeadye the outerage.

It Doth not becomme me to otter vnto your honour a meane of redresse: but if it please your Lordship to
commaund me that service, I will most willingly set downe my simple opinion for your Honour to consider
of.   Whome I beseech the Lord to his pleasure long to preserve /   Lansdowne MS. No. 48, pp. 189-194. ]

[I'/iis subject is also continued at p. 246,]

I. 144