"twelve honest and discreet persons," "too high and unreasonable prices."
Book
resrictionThe quaint preamble of this act of 1533 sets forth restriction as its "whereas," in reference to the act of Richard III, that "there hath come to this realm si then the making of the same, a marvelous number of printed books, and daily doth ; and the cause of the making of the same provision seemeth to be, for that there were but few books, and few printers within this realm at that time, which could well exercise and occupy the said science and craft of printing; nevertheless, sithen the making of the said provision, many of this realm, being the King's natural subjects, have given them so diligently to learn and exercise the said craft of printing, that at this day there be within this realm a great number cunning and expert in the said science or craft of printing, as able to exercise the said craft in all points, as any stranger in any other realm or country; and furthermore, where there be a great number of the King's subjects within this realm, which live by the craft and mystery of binding of books, and that there be a great multitude well expert in the same, yet all this notwithstanding, there are divers persons that bring from beyond the sea great plenty of printed books, not only in the Latin tongue, but also in our maternal English tongue, some bound in boards, some in leather, and some in parchment, and them sell by retail, whereby many of the King's subjects, being binders of books, and having no other faculty wherewith to get their living, be destitute of work and like
to be undone, except some reformation herein be had." This is interesting in connection with the American manufacturing clause.
Henry VIII granted many printing privileges, and in 1530 the first English copyright to an author was
