I.

(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.)

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.

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

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

[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.

V.

(Tit. xviii, Sect. v. of the Laudian Statutes of the University, 1636, printed from Griffiths’ and Shadwell’s edition, Oxford, 1888; with ae for Æ. It would appear that no Architypographus was appointed till 1658.)

Cum Sereniss. Rex Carolus eius nominis Primus, pro eo affectu quo Literas ac Literatos fovet, Privilegia Universitatis, quoad rem Typographicam nimis antehac arctata, mirum in modum amplificaverit; ne Clementiss. Regis indulgentia sordidi ac illiberales Artifices ad privatum suum quaestum abutantur: Statutum est, quod nullus Typographus in posterum his Privilegiis aut titulo Typographi Universitatis nostrae gaudebit, nisi qui in Admissione sua singulis Statutis et Ordinationibus circa regimen Typographorum, per Domum Convocationis factis, vel in posterum edendis, se submiserit.

Quoniam vero in re Typographica usu compertum est, Mechanicos hosce Artifices (lucri sui compendium cum dispendio operis plerumque sectantes) Calligraphiae seu Operis decori et elegantiae minime studere, sed opera quaeque rudia ac inemendata in publicam lucem extrudere; Idcirco praesenti Statuto cautum esto, quod publicae Universitatis Typographiae, instruendae in Domo aliqua huic usui specialiter deputata, praeficiatur Architypographus unus, Vir Graecis Latinisque literis probe instructus, et in studiis Philologicis versatissimus: Cuius munus erit, Operis Typographicis ibidem praeesse; materiam sive supellectilem typographicam (Chartam scilicet, Praela, Typos, et alia huius Opificii instrumenta) ut sint in suo quaeque genere lectissima providere. In Operibus e publica Universitatis Typographia prodeuntibus, Typorum modulum, Chartae qualitatem, Marginum mensuram praescribere; Correctorum errata emendare; et alia quaecunque, ad Operis ornatum et perfectionem spectantia, sedulo curare. Cui muneri quo alacrius et liberius vacet, (praeter certam portionem lucri e libris impressis provenientis, ipsi posthaec, pro ratione symbolae quam ad publicae Typographiae peculium seu sortem communem contulerit, assignandam ab iis qui a Domo Convocationis ad ordinanda Statuta Typographica delegandi erunt,) Officium superioris Bedelli in Iure Civili, (utpote reliquis minus negotiosum,) quandocunque primum quoquo modo vacaverit, perpetuo in posterum annectendum fore praesenti Statuto cautum esto.