objects. One, with which we are not immediately concerned, was to limit the number of printers and their presses; the other, to concentrate the censorship of all ordinary books, including plays, in the hands of the archbishop and the bishop. It is not clear whether the prelates were to act in their ordinary capacity or as High Commissioners; anyhow they had the authority of the High Commission, itself backed by the Privy Council, behind them. The effect of the order is shown in a bustle amongst the publishers to get on to the register a number of ballads and other trifles which they had hitherto neglected to enter, and in a considerable increase in the submissions of books for approval, either to the prelates themselves, or to persons who are now clearly acting as ecclesiastical deputies.[1] On 30 June 1588 an official list of deputies was issued by the archbishop, and amongst these were several who had already authorized books before and after 1586. These deputies, and other correctors whose names appear in the register at later dates, are as a rule traceable as episcopal chaplains, prebendaries of St. Paul's, or holders of London benefices.[2] Some of them were themselves
- [Footnote: Introduction to Mar Prelate Tracts, 74. Confirmations and special condemnations
of offending books are in Procl. 802, 812, 1092, 1362, 1383 (texts of two last in G. W. Prothero, Select Statutes, 169, 395).]*
- ↑ ii. 459, 'Master Hartwell certifying it to be tollerated'; 460, 'authorised or alowed as good vnder thand of Doctour Redman &c'; 461, 'certified by Master Hartwell to be alowed leavinge out the ij staues yat are crossed'; 464, 'master Crowleys hand is to yt, as laufull to be printed'; 475, 'aucthorised by tharchbishop of Canterbury as is reported by Master Cosin'; 479, 'which as master Hartwell certifyithe by his hande to the written copie, my Lordes grace of Canterbury is content shall passe without anie thinge added to yt before it be pervsed'; 487, 'sett downe as worthie to be printed vnder thand of Master Gravet'; 489, 'Master Crowleys hand is to yt testyfying it to be alowable to ye print'; 491, 'vnder the Bishop of London, Master Abraham Fraunce, and the wardens hands'; 493, 'Master Hartwells hand beinge at the wrytten copie testifyinge his pervsinge of the same'; 493, 'alowed vnder D^r Stallers hand as profitable to be printed', &c.
- ↑ Lambe notes (iii. 690) in 1636 that on 30 June 1588, 'the archbishop gave power to Doctor Cosin, Doctor Stallard, Doctor Wood, master Hartwell, master Gravett, master Crowley, master Cotton, and master Hutchinson, or any one of them, to license books to be printed: Or any 2 of those following master Judson, master Trippe, master Cole and master Dickens'. It will be observed that most of the first group of these had already acted as 'correctors', together with William Redman and Richard Vaughan, chaplains respectively to Archbishop Grindal and Bishop Aylmer. William Hutchinson and George Dickens were also chaplains to Aylmer. Hutchinson was in the High Commission of 1601. Richard Cosin was Dean of the Arches and a High Commissioner. Abraham Hartwell was secretary and Cole chaplain (Arber, ii. 494) to Archbishop Whitgift. Hutchinson, William Gravett, William Cotton, and George Dickins were or became prebendaries of St. Paul's. Thomas Stallard was rector of All Hallows'
