22
NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. v. JAX. 13, 1912.
said books, together with those that sett them
to sale, and to bring both the books and the
sellers of them before the Lords."
31 Oct., 1631. It being discovered that the warrant was too severe, and seemed to impeach the author, it is now agreed that all restraint be taken from the book and it allowed.
1631. Contest between John Haviland and Robert Young, printers, and George Sandes, translator, who had a patent to himself for printing and selling Ovid's ' Metamorphoses.' To find arbitrators.
9 Oct., 1633.
" A debate at the Board on the irregular course and practice used of late tymes in the printing and publishing of books, and particularly of the enhancing offprices."
The Attorney-General commissioned to make a report on the statutes concerning them.
8 Nov., 1633. The Attorney-General moved the Board
" that consideration might be had of the prices of all such books as are granted by patents to those who are no printers, in regard to the general enhancement thereof to excessive rates, in which case he did instance one book, the title whereof was Kelway's Reports, which, being but of a small volume, is sold for nine shillings." Mr. Attorney was instructed to make an inquiry what just price should be set on Kelway's and other books.
The case was heard before the Justices of the King's Bench, and Mr. Attorney was instructed to examine patents.
17 Jan., 1633/4. The Master and Wardens of the Stationers' Company appeared, on a petition by Robert Cross and Tobias Knowles, Messengers of His Majesty's Chamber, and assigns to George Wither, gent., for a patent of privilege to imprint and sell 'The Hymns and Spirituall Songs of the Church,' composed in verse by him the said George Wither, in which petition they complained that the Company of Stationers would not buy and bind up the said book with the Book of .Psalms. Their Lordships did not think fit anything whatever should be bound up with the Bible but the Book of Common Prayer, and the ' Psalmes in Meeter ' allowed. Any one breaking their ordinance should forfeit the books and have other punishment.
21 March, 1633/4. Robert Cross and Tobias Knowles came again before the Council, and
" did remonstrate, saying that his late Majesty had given George Withers a patent of privilege, and two orders against the Company of Stationers for the printing of the Hymns, and that they
should be bound up with the Psalms as declared'
in the Patent, the book itself being small, costing
only fourpence. The petitioners had taken
council and had lately covenanted with George
Withers for the patent and selling of his book for
21 years, by which they are tied to pay a great
sum quarterly and have already taken of the-
Patentee so many as are worth 400Z., part whereof
they have paid," and given security for the re-
mainder, for which cause they pray their Lord-
ships to take some present order for their relief,
and either free them from their contract, or con-
firm the Royal Patent and two Orders, in binding
the books with the singing Psalms, except only in
Bibles. The unjust opposition of the Stationers
did make ineffectual his late Majesty's favour.
George Withers also attended and read the-
petition.
" Their Lordships referred to Mr. Secretary Windebank."
Finally their Lordships decided the peti- tioners should deliver back the patent to- George Withers and restore all the books and the profit they have made, and George Withers should give them a full release.
7 March, 1633/4. Whereas of late " an infamous libell and Booke called ' Histrio- mastix,' full of Scandall to his Majestie, his Royall Consort the Queen, the Officers of his- house, the Magistrates, and the whole state,, fraught with uncharitable and unchristian cen- sures of all sortes of people,"
hath been printed, one Prynne the author and Michael Sparkes the printer, " they are sentenced by the Court of Star Chamber to undergo, besides fyne and imprisonment, corporal and shameful punishment, and the bookes are ordered to be burnt."
Search is to be made for all who hold them and for all who bought them, and the copies are to be seized and burnt.
19 March, 1633/4. A petition of Robert Young, printer, that his predecessors printed ' The Booke of Martyrs,' and cut all the pictures and matrices for the letters, and they had not enrolled the same in the Stationers' Register, and he had bought up all at a dear rate, and now the Company claim that the book belongs to them, and will not hear of arbitration. He is not able to contend against the whole Company, and he " prays the Council to order that two indifferent men " should hear and decide the case. They agree to this, and refer it to two Justices of the King's Bench.
1634. It had been resolved that Speed's ' Genealogies ' should no longer be bound up- with the Bible. But on 25 April, 1634, Dr. Speed petitions against this. He says that " he would runne a great risk of utter ruine if the order of the 17 th January be enforced concerning ' the Genealogies,' the patent for which to be bound up with the Bibles he and his father en- joyed."
