(Statute to prevent the removal of valuable books from Oxford, A.D.
1373: from ©Munimenta Academica©, ed. by F. Anstey (Rolls Series) 1868,
i. 233: with _æ_ altered to _ae_.)
[Sidenote: A.D. 1373.
There are a great many
booksellers in Oxford,
who are not sworn to
the University; the consequence
of which is,
that books of great
value are sold and
carried away from Oxford,
the owners of them
are cheated, and the
sworn stationers are
deprived of their lawful
business; _it is therefore
hereby enacted_, that no
bookseller, except the
sworn stationers or
their deputies, shall sell
any book, being either
his own property or that
of another, exceeding
half a mark in value,
under pain of, for the
first offence, imprisonment,
for the second, a
fine of half a mark, for
the third, abjuring his
trade within the
precincts of the University.]
Quia, propter excessivam multitudinem vendentium libros, Oxoniae
Universitati minime juratorum, plerique codices magni valoris ad
partes exteras deferuntur, veri domini librorum eorumdem exquisitis
coloribus seducuntur, a stationariis Universitatis praedictae lucrum
consuetum subtrahitur, in Universitatis dedecus non modicum, gravamen
et jacturam, habita primitus de praemissis deliberatione sufficienti,
per congregationem Regentium antiquam consuetudinem in hac parte
renovare volentium _extitit ordinatum_, quod de caetero nullus
librorum venditor, publicis stationariis duntaxat exceptis, seu ab eis
legitime deputatis, aliquem librum alienum seu proprium vendat
excedentem pretium dimidiae marcae, infra jurisdictionem domini
Cancellarii Universitatis praefatae, sub poenis inferius annotatis;
_videlicet_ quod, si quis legitime convictus fuerit super
transgressione hujus ordinationis, prima vice incarceretur, et, in
secunda vice et transgressione, solvat dimidiam marcam Universitatis
usibus applicandam, tertia vero convictus abjuret officium sive artem
venditionis hujusmodi infra limites superius expressatos.
Facta est autem haec ordinatio vicesimo septimo die mensis Januarii,
anno Domini millesimo trecentesimo septuagesimo tertio.
II.
1632, Nov. 12.
(Letters patent from Charles I granting to the University three printers
and booksellers with privileges. Printed from the original in the Oxford
University Archives.)
¬Carolus Dei gratia¬ Anglie Scotie Francie et Hibernie Rex fidei
defensor &c. ¬Omnibus¬ ad quos presentes litere pervenerint salutem
¬Sciatis¬ quod nos de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia et
mero motu nostris dedimus et concessimus Ac per presentes pro nobis
heredibus et Successoribus nostris damus et concedimus dilectis nobis
in Christo Cancellario Magistris et Scholaribus Vniversitatis nostre
Oxon licenciam quod ipsi et Successores sui per scripta comuni eorum
Sigillo munita de tempore in tempus tres Typographos librorum
Impressores et Bibliopolas tam de alienigenis et extra obedientiam
nostram heredum et Successorum nostrorum ortis vel oriundis quam de
Indigenis infra eandem obedientiam natis vel nascendis infra Septum
vel Ambitum eiusdem Vniversitatis residentes et inhabitantes tam
conductivas quam proprias Domos habentes vel tenentes designare
poterint et constituere quorum singuli omnimodos libros seu Codices
publice non prohibitos editos vel edendos et librorum exemplar
Cancellarii eiusdem Vniversitatis vel eius vices gerentis ac trium
Doctorum quorum vnus ad minus Sacre Theologie existat Professor quibus
per eosdem Cancellarium magistros et Scholares facultas facta fuerit
libros examinandi Judicio approbandos ibidem imprimere excudere ac
Typis mandare ac tam libros et Codices illos quam alios vbicunque sive
infra Dominia nostra heredum vel successorum nostrorum seu extra eadem
impressos vel excusos ac vt prefertur approbatos tam in eadem
vniversitate quam alibi vendicioni exponere vendere et distrahere
quocies voluerint valeant et possint Quibus quidem Typographis
librorum Impressoribus ac Bibliopolis et singulis eorum tam
presentibus quam futuris ad omnia premissa licite et impune agendi
licentiam similiter damus et concedimus per presentes. ¬Ac¬ pro nobis
heredibus et Successoribus nostris vlterius volumus et concedimus quod
huiusmodi Typographi librorum Impressores et Bibliopole eciam extra
obedienciam nostram heredum vel Successorum nostrorum orti vel oriundi
et eorum singuli quamdiu infra ambitum vniversitatis predicte moram
traxerint et negocio antedicto sint intendentes in omnibus et per
omnia tanquam fideles Subditi et ligei nostri infra Regnum Anglie
oriundi reputentur habeantur et tractentur et singulis libertatibus
liberis consuetudinibus legibus et privilegiis vti et gaudere valeant
libere et quiete provt aliquis fidelis Subditus et ligeus noster
heredum vel Successorum nostrorum infra Regnum Anglie ortus vel
oriundus vti et gaudere debeat et ad quotas onera Consuetudines vel
Imposiciones quascunque aliter aut alio modo quam ceteri fideles
Subditi et ligei nostri heredum vel Successorum nostrorum infra Regnum
Anglie orti vel oriundi Solvenda vel contribuenda nullus eorum
arctetur vel compellatur Statutis de Alienigenis antehac editis seu
Statutis vel Provisionibus quibusvis aliis in contrarium non
obstantibus ¬Proviso¬ tamen quod iidem Typographi librorum Impressores
et Bibliopole et singuli eorum extra obedienciam nostram heredum vel
Successorum nostrorum oriundi omnia et omnimoda Custumas et Subsidia
et alia debita et onera pro rebus et merchandizis suis extra Regnum
Anglie traducendis vel in idem Regnum inducendis vt alienigene solvere
teneantur et legibus Regni nostri Anglie sint obedientes ¬Eo quod¬
expressa mencio de vero valore annuo vel de certitudine premissorum
sive eorum alicuius aut de aliis Donis sive Concessionibus per nos seu
per aliquem Progenitorum sive Predecessorum nostrorum prefatis
Cancellario Magistris et Scholaribus ante hec tempora facta in
presentibus minime facta existit aut aliquo Statuto Actu Ordinacione
Provisione Proclamacione sive Restriccione in contrarium inde antehac
habitis factis editis ordinatis sive provisis aut aliqua alia re causa
vel materia quacunque in aliquo non obstante ¬In Cuius¬ rei
testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus Patentes ¬Teste¬ me ipso
apud Westmonasterium Duodecimo die Novembris Anno regni nostri octavo.
per breve de privato Sigillo. Wolseley.
III.
1632/3, March 13.
(Letters patent from Charles I, confirming the charter of 12 Nov. 1632,
and further allowing each printer to have two presses and two
apprentices, forbidding unauthorized reprints for 21 years. Printed from
the original in the Oxford University Archives.)
¬Carolus Dei gratia Anglie Scocie¬ Francie et hibernie Rex fidei
Defensor &c. ¬Omnibus¬ ad quos presentes litere pervenerint salutem
¬Inspeximus¬ quasdam literas nostras Patentes magno Sigillo nostro
Anglie Sigillatas Quarum tenor sequitur in hec verba Carolus dei
gracia ... [&c., as above, dated 12 Nov. 1632, ending] ... Anno regni
nostri Octavo ¬Sciatis¬ quod nos de gracia nostra speciali ac ex certa
scientia et mero motu nostris predictas literas Patentes et singula in
eisdem contenta tam predictis Cancellario Magistris et Scholaribus
quam Typographis librorum Impressoribus et Bibliopolis sub forma in
eisdem literis Patentibus specificata designandis et constituendis tam
presentibus quam futuris concedimus et confirmamus Volentes quod eorum
singuli libertatibus et privilegiis in eisdem contentis plenarie
gaudeant et vtantur ¬Volumus¬ eciam et pro nobis heredibus et
Successoribus nostris concedimus eisdem Cancellario Magistris et
Scholaribus et Successoribus suis et Bibliopolis librorum
Impressoribus et Typographis in vniversitate predicta designandis et
constituendis vt predictum est dum moram trahunt et residentes sunt
infra septum vel ambitum eiusdem vniversitatis quod liceat eorum
cuilibet duo Prela seu Impressoria infra precincta predicta habere et
occupare eisque vti in omnibus suis necessariis Decreto in Curia
Camere Stellate Anno regni Domine Elizabethe nuper Regine Anglie
vicesimo octavo [17 Nov. 1585–16 Nov. 1586] seu decreto quovis alio in
contrarium in aliquo non obstante ¬Et¬ quod quilibet dictorum
Typographorum librorum Impressorum et Bibliopolarum duos Apprenticios
ad sibi deserviendum in arte et misterio predicto capere et conducere
valeat Statutis in huiusmodi casu editis et provisis in aliquo non
obstantibus ¬Ac¬ vt Magistri et Scholares eiusdem vniversitatis
librorum exemplaria idiomatis diversi tam vernaculi quam peregrini in
Bibliothecis in eadem Vniversitate hactenus latencia divulgare ac
libros Concionum exemplaria et tractatus de novo componere et edere in
religionis Christiane ac bonarum literarum et Artium incrementum
incitentur Dictique Typographi et librorum Impressores labores et
sumptus huiusmodi exemplaria ac libros typis mandandi et imprimendi
subeant libencius ¬Sciatis¬ vlterius quod nos de vberiori gracia
nostra speciali et ex certa scientia et mero motu nostris concessimus
dictis Cancellario Magistris et Scholaribus et Successoribus suis ac
Typographis et librorum Impressoribus infra septum vel ambitum
Vniversitatis predicte pro tempore existentibus residentibus tam
presentibus quam futuris in forma predicta designandis et
constituendis Et tenore presencium pro nobis heredibus et
Successoribus nostris volumus et concedimus quod quocies predictorum
Typographorum seu librorum Impressorum quispiam exemplaria librorum
Idiomatis cuiuscunque vernaculi vel peregrini ex Bibliotheca quavis
infra Vniversitatem predictam desumpta preantea non excusa vel
impressa Dummodo huiusmodi Exemplaria sub forma in predictis literis
Patentibus specificata divulgari approbentur Typis mandare vel
imprimere quod non liceat alicui cuiuscunque status vel condicionis
infra Terminum viginti et vnius Annorum proximorum post huiusmodi
exemplarium primam impressionem absque speciali licencia Cancellarii
Magistrorum et Scholarium predictorum in scriptis prehabita imprimere
seu reimprimere aut ab aliis imprimi seu reimprimi facere aut impressa
aut reimpressa vendere venalia habere edere vel evulgare seu clam vel
palam distrahere infra Diciones nobis vbicunque subiectas ¬Ac¬ de
vberiori gracia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia et mero motu
nostris pro nobis heredibus et Successoribus nostris concessimus
dictis Cancellario Magistris et Scholaribus et Successoribus suis ac
Typographis et librorum Impressoribus infra septum vel ambitum
vniversitatis predicte pro tempore existentibus residentibus tam
presentibus quam futuris in forma predicta designandis et
constituendis ¬Et volumus¬ tenore presencium quod quociescunque
predictorum Typographorum vel librorum Impressorum quispiam Conciones
tractatus vel libros per Magistrorum seu Scholarium predictorum
quempiam de novo componendos et edendos Dummodo huiusmodi Conciones
tractatus et libri vt prefertur approbentur Typis mandare vel
imprimere quod non liceat alicui cuiuscunque status vel Condicionis
infra decem Annos proximos post huiusmodi Concionum tractatuum vel
librorum primam impressionem absque speciali licencia Cancellarii
Magistrorum et Scholarium predictorum in scriptis prehabita imprimere
seu reimprimere aut ab aliis imprimi seu reimprimi facere aut
impressos vel reimpressos vendere venales habere edere vel evulgare
seu clam vel palam distrahere infra Diciones nostras Typographis
Bibliopolis librorum Impressoribus aliisque vniversis cuiuscunque
Status vel Condicionis existant infra Diciones nostras vbicunque
constitutis strictius inhibentes ne quis eorum infra seperatos
Terminos decem Annorum et viginti et vnius Annorum proximorum post
huiusmodi exemplarium Concionum tractatuum seu librorum primam
Impressionem preter Typographos vel librorum Impressores in
Vniversitate predicta vt predictum designandos et constituendos infra
Diciones nostras imprimere seu reimprimere aut ab aliis imprimi seu
reimprimi facere aut impressos vel reimpressos vendere venales habere
edere vel evulgare seu clam vel palam infra Dominia nostra distrahere
inducere vel importare sine licentia dictorum Cancellarii Magistrorum
et Scholarium in Scriptis prius habita presumat sub pena
Confiscacionis librorum huiusmodi preter Arbitrar, in mandata nostra
contemnentes infligenda ¬Ac¬ eisdem Cancellario Magistris et
Scholaribus damus et concedimus potestatem in locis quibusvis infra
Dominia nostra in quibus iusta fuerit suspicionis causa libros excusos
vel distractos contra tenorem Mandati nostri abscondi vel custodiri
per seipsos vel Deputatos suos pacis Custode Constabulario vel
Decennario eis asciociato scrutari et disquirere ac libros huiusmodi
repertos capere ad loca publica ad vsum nostrum deferre ibidem
remansuros quovsque vlterius in ea parte ordinatum fuerit ¬Mandantes¬
insuper vniversis et singulis vice-comitibus Custodibus pacis
Maioribus Balliuis Constabulariis Decennariis Prepositis et Ministris
quocies ex parte predictorum Cancellarii Magistrorum et Scholarium
fuerint requisiti quod eis auxiliantes sint consulentes et presidio
assistentes. ¬Eo quod¬ expressa mencio de vero valore annuo vel de
certitudine premissorum sive eorum alicuius aut de aliis Donis sive
Concessionibus per nos seu per aliquem Progenitorum sive Predecessorum
nostrorum prefatis Cancellario Magistris et Scholaribus ante hec
tempora facta in presentibus minime facta existit aut aliquo Statuto
Actu Ordinacione Provisione Proclamacione sive Restriccione in
contrarium inde antehac habito facto edito ordinato sive proviso aut
aliqua alia re causa vel materia quacunque in aliquo non obstante ¬In
Cuius¬ rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus Patentes
¬Teste¬ me ipso apud Westmonasterium Tertio-decimo die Marcii Anno
regni nostri Octavo
per Breve de privato Sigillo Wolseley
(with the Seal attached).
IV.
1636/7, March 12.
(An Indenture between the University of Oxford and the Stationers’
Company, by which the former releases to the latter all its rights of
printing Bibles &c. for the term of three years from 16 Feb. 1636/7, for
the sum of £200 yearly. Printed from the original in the University
Archives.)
¬This Indenture made¬ the Twentieth Day of March Anno Domini 1636 And
in the Twelueth yeare of the Raigne of our soueraigne Lord Charles by
the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender
of the faith &c. ¬Betweene¬ the Chancellor Masters and Schollers of
the vniuersity of Oxford of the one part And the Master and Keepers or
Wardens and Communaltie of the Art or Mistery of Stationers of the
Citty of London of the other part. ¬Whereas¬ by an Order made at
whitehall the Ninth Day of March in the yeare of our Lord god 1635 by
the Kings most excellent Maiestie and the right honorable the Lords
and others of his highnes priuie Councell it is recyted that there had
thentofore risen Diverse Debates and Controuersies betweene the
vniuersitie of Cambridge and the Printers there And the Kings Printer
and the Company of Stacioners in London for the printing of Diuers
Bookes in regard of a Charter for printing graunted to the vniuersitie
of Cambridge 26^o Hen. 8^o And that the same Controuersies and
Contentions vpon seuerall Refferences from his Maiestie had byn setled
by two Orders The one of the Tenth of December 1623 The other of the
Sixteenth of Aprill 1629 And that in regard his Maiestie of his equall
indulgence and grace to the vniuersitie of Oxford had graunted the
like Charter for printing to the said vniuersitie of Oxford as was
formerly graunted to the vniuersity of Cambridge It was that day
ordered by the Board according to the Kings expresse pleasure declared
That the vniuersitie of Oxford and their Printers should for the time
to Come enioy the benifitt of all the Articles and Clauses in the said
Orders of the Tenth of December 1623 And of the Sixteenth of Aprill
1629 As by the same Order made the said Ninth day of March relacion
being therevnto had appeareth ¬Now this Indenture witnesseth¬ that the
Chancellor Masters and Schollers of the said vniuersitie of Oxford for
divers good Causes and Consideracions them therevnto moveing ¬Haue¬
given and graunted And by these presents doe give and graunt vnto the
said Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comunaltie their Successors and
assignes full power License Libertie and authority to print and Cause
to be Imprinted All and euery such and such number of Bibles and other
Bookes and things whatsoeuer now or heretofore vsed to be printed by
the Kings Maiesties Printer And alsoe Lilies Grammers As the said
Chancellors Masters and Schollers or their Printer or Printers of the
said vniuersitie may might Could or ought to print or Comprint or
cause to be Comprinted or imprinted by force or vertue of the said
Three seuerall Orders before mencioned or any of them ¬To haue and to
hould¬ the said power License Libertie and authoritie vnto the said
Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comunalty and their Successors and
Assignes from the Sixteenth Day of February last past for and During
the Terme of Three yeares fully to be Compleat and ended ¬At vpon and
vnder¬ the yearely Rent or Summe of Two hundred Poundes of Currant
English money Payable at the Feasts of the Annunciacion of the Blessed
Ladie St Marie the Virgin and of St Michaell Tharchangell by euen and
equall porcions The first payment thereof to begin and to be made at
and vpon the Fiue and Twentieth Day of this instant month of March or
within Fifteene Dayes after either or any of the said Feasts or Dayes
of payment ¬And the said¬ Chancellor Masters and Schollers doe for
themselues and their Successors Couenant graunt and agree to and with
the said Master and Keepers or Wardens and Comunaltie and their
Successors and Assignes by these presents That neither the printers of
the said vniuersitie of Oxford nor any of them nor any person or
persons whatsoeuer by or vpon any License or authoritie deriued or to
be deriued from or given or graunted by the said Chauncellor Masters
and Schollers other then the said Master and Keepers or Wardens and
Communalty their Successors and Assignes shall or will at any tyme or
tymes hereafter within or During the said Terme of Three yeares print
or Comprint or Cause permit or suffer to be imprinted or Comprinted
any Booke Bookes or parcell of Booke Bookes Copies or things
whatsoeuer in the said Orders or any or either of them mencioned or
which they the said Chancellor Masters and Schollers or their Printers
may or might print or Comprint by force or vertue of the said Orders
or any or either of them ¬And the said¬ Master and Keepers or Wardens
and Comunaltie doe for themselues and their Successors Couenaunt
graunt and agree to and with the said Chancellor Masters and Schollers
and their Successors by these presents That they the said Master and
Keepers or Wardens and Comunaltie and their Successors shall and will
well and truely pay the said Two hundred pound in manner and forme and
at the daies and tymes before lymited and expressed for the payment
thereof vnto the said Chancellor Masters and Schollers ¬And lastly¬ it
is mutually Couenanted graunted and promised by and betweene the said
parties to these presents and their successors respectively That vpon
and at the tyme of the Expiration of the said Terme of Three yeares
They and either of them shall and will renue Continue and then make
and Conclude such and the like amicable Composicion and agreement And
vpon such termes rates and proposicions as are herein Conteyned and
expressed for soe long tyme after and vntill it shall be reasonably
agreed on both parts to relinquish the same ¬In witnes¬ whereof to the
one part of these present Indentures remayning with the said Master
and Keepers or wardens and Comunalty of the said Art or mistery of
Stacioners of the saide Citty of London The said Chancellor Masters
and Schollers of the said vniuersity of Oxford haue sett their Comon
seale And to the other parte of these present Indentures remayning
with the said Chancellor Masters and Schollers of the said vniuersitie
of Oxford The said Master and Keepers or wardens and Comunaltie of the
said Art or mistery of Stacioners of the said Citty of London haue
sett their Comon seale The Day and yeares first aboue written
Delivered as the Deede of the Stationers of London for the vse of the
Chancellors M^{rs} and Schollars of the Vniversitie of Oxford 31^o
Martij 1637. By the Warden of the sayd Companie in the presence of
John French
John Thimble
G. Locksmyth
[with a fragment of the seal]
[With this Indenture is an agreement of the same date that if more than
£200 a year be agreed to be paid to the University of Cambridge for a
similar suspension of rights a correspondingly increased sum will be
paid to the University of Oxford.]
* * * * *
A precisely similar indenture and agreement dated 12 Aug. 1639 renew the
deeds of 1636 for a second term of three years from 17 Feb. 1639/40,
under the same conditions.