[1586, June 23. Extract from The newe Decrees of the Starre Chamber for orders in printinge, printed by Arber, ii. 807, from S. P. D. Eliz. cxc. 48.]
4. Item that no person or persons shall ymprynt or cawse to be
ymprinted, or suffer by any meanes to his knowledge his presse,
letters, or other Instrumentes to be occupyed in pryntinge of any
booke, work, coppye, matter, or thinge whatsoever, Except the same
book, woork, coppye, matter, or any other thinge, hath been heeretofore
allowed, or hereafter shall be allowed before the ymprintinge
thereof, accordinge to thorder appoynted by the Queenes maiesties
Iniunctyons, And been first seen and pervsed by the Archbishop of
Canterbury and Bishop of London for the tyme beinge or any one
of them (The Queenes maiesties Prynter for somme speciall service
by her maiestie, or by somme of her highnes pryvie Councell therevnto
appoynted, and such as are or shalbe pryviledged to prynte the
bookes of the Common Lawe of this Realme, for such of the same
bookes as shalbe allowed of by the Twoo Chief Justices, and Chief
Baron for the tyme beinge, or any twoo of them onely excepted).
Nor shall ymprynt or cause to be ymprinted any book, work or coppie
against the fourme and meaninge of any Restraynt or ordonnaunce
conteyned or to be conteyned in any statute or lawes of this Realme,
or in any Iniunctyon made, or sett foorth by her maiestie, or her
highnes pryvye Councell, or against the true intent and meaninge of
any Letters patentes, Commissions or prohibicons vnder the great
seale of England, or contrary to any allowyd ordynaunce sett Downe
for the good governaunce of the Cumpany of Staconers within the
Cyttie of London, vppon payne to haue all such presses, letters, and
instrumentes as in or about the pryntinge of any such bookes or
copyes shalbe employed or vsed, to be defaced and made vnserviceable
for ymprintinge forever. And vppon payne also that euery offendour
and offendours contrarye to this present Artycle or ordynaunce shalbe
dishabled (after any such offence) to vse or exercise or take benefytt
by vsinge or exercisinge of the art or feat of ympryntinge. And shall
moreover sustayne ymprysonment Six moneths without Bayle or
mayneprise.
Clause 6 empowers the Stationers Company to seize offending books and bring offenders before the 'highe Comissioners in causes Ecclesyastycall or some three or more of them, whereof the sayd Archbishop of Canterbury or Bishop of London for the tyme beinge to be one'.
lxxviii.
[1587, Jan. 25. Anon. to Secretary Sir Francis Walsingham, printed
from Harl. MS. 286, f. 102, in Collier, i. 257. A partial copy by T. Birch
is in Addl. MS. 4160, No. 53.]
The daylie abuse of Stage Playes is such an offence to the godly,
and so great a hinderance to the gospell, as the papists do exceedingly
rejoyce at the bleamysh thearof, and not without cause; for every
day in the weake the players billes are sett up in sondry places of
