







 
   
     
       
         To the Honourable House of Commons assembled in Parliament. An abstract of the generall grieuances of the poore free-men and iourney-men printers oppressed and kept in seruile bondage all their liues by the vnlawfull ordinances of the master and wardens of the Company, which they fortifie only by a warrant dormant.
         Stationers' Company (London, England)
      
       
         
           1621
        
      
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         A72819
         STC 16786.10
         ESTC S123628
         99899007
         99899007
         151070
         
           
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             To the Honourable House of Commons assembled in Parliament. An abstract of the generall grieuances of the poore free-men and iourney-men printers oppressed and kept in seruile bondage all their liues by the vnlawfull ordinances of the master and wardens of the Company, which they fortifie only by a warrant dormant.
             Stationers' Company (London, England)
          
           1 sheet ([1] p.)
           
             s.n.,
             [London :
             1621]
          
           
             Against the 'unlawfull', i.e. monopolistic, ordinances of the company; this and STC 16786.8 presented before 29 May 1621--STC.
             Imprint from STC.
             Another issue, with heading altered, of STC 16786.8.
             Reproduction of original in the Guildhall Library, London, England.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Stationers' Company (London, England) -- Early works to 1800.
           Printers -- England -- London -- Early works to 1800.
           Printing -- England -- London -- Early works to 1800.
           London (England) -- History -- 17th century -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           TO
           THE
           HONOVRABLE
           HOVSE
           OF
           Commons
           assembled
           in
           Parliament
           .
        
         
           An
           Abstract
           of
           the
           generall
           grieuances
           of
           the
           poore
           Free-men
           and
           Iourney-men
           Printers
           oppressed
           ,
           and
           kept
           in
           seruile
           bondage
           all
           their
           liues
           by
           the
           vnlawfull
           ordinances
           of
           the
           Master
           and
           Wardens
           of
           the
           Company
           ,
           which
           they
           fortifie
           only
           by
           a
           Warrant
           dormant
           .
        
         
           With
           their
           most
           Humble
           Petition
           ,
        
         
           FFOM
           the
           beginning
           of
           Printing
           his
           Maiesties
           progenitors
           by
           their
           prerogatiue
           Royall
           did
           priuiledge
           such
           persons
           as
           they
           pleased
           soly
           to
           Print
           some
           peculiar
           bookes
           ,
           leauing
           the
           rest
           in
           generall
           to
           the
           Printers
           .
        
         
           And
           for
           this
           Art
           of
           Printing
           was
           the
           key
           that
           opened
           the
           doore
           of
           knowledge
           and
           learning
           (
           which
           is
           the
           honour
           and
           support
           of
           all
           States
           and
           Kingdomes
           )
           his
           Maiesties
           progenitors
           were
           pleased
           to
           incorporate
           a
           selected
           number
           ,
           and
           to
           indow
           them
           with
           a
           large
           Charter
           and
           many
           great
           priuiledges
           which
           was
           graciously
           intended
           for
           the
           generall
           good
           of
           the
           whole
           company
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           innouations
           brought
           in
           by
           the
           Masters
           and
           their
           ordinances
           ,
           the
           benefit
           is
           conuerted
           to
           them
           in
           particular
           ,
           and
           the
           petitioners
           vtterly
           ruined
           thereby
           .
        
         
           The
           lawes
           of
           the
           kingdome
           authorise
           all
           persons
           ,
           that
           haue
           serued
           an
           Apprentiship
           according
           to
           the
           statute
           ,
           lawfully
           to
           set
           vp
           and
           vse
           that
           trade
           to
           which
           they
           haue
           serued
           .
           But
           the
           petitioners
           are
           depriued
           of
           that
           benefit
           (
           which
           all
           honest
           and
           loyall
           subiects
           inioy
           )
           by
           ordinances
           of
           the
           Masters
           of
           their
           company
           .
           And
           made
           perpetuall
           bondmen
           to
           serue
           some
           few
           of
           the
           rich
           all
           their
           liues
           vpon
           such
           condissions
           ,
           and
           for
           such
           hire
           ,
           and
           at
           such
           times
           ,
           as
           the
           Masters
           thinke
           fit
           :
           for
           their
           trade
           of
           Printing
           (
           but
           as
           seruants
           )
           they
           must
           not
           vse
           ,
           so
           as
           they
           take
           all
           possibiltie
           of
           Aduancement
           (
           be
           they
           neuer
           so
           exquisite
           in
           their
           qualitie
           )
           from
           the
           petitioners
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           vncapable
           of
           maintenance
           for
           them
           their
           wiues
           and
           posterities
           .
        
         
           The
           Masters
           obtained
           a
           decree
           28.
           
           Eliz.
           prohibiting
           the
           petitioners
           to
           set
           vp
           any
           presse
           or
           presses
           wherewith
           to
           print
           vpon
           paine
           of
           sixe
           moneths
           imprisonment
           without
           Bayle
           or
           mainprise
           ,
           and
           his
           presses
           and
           other
           instruments
           to
           be
           defaced
           .
        
         
           The
           decree
           was
           obtained
           vnder
           colour
           of
           granting
           the
           petitioners
           diuers
           bookes
           in
           priuiledge
           to
           bee
           printed
           for
           their
           benefit
           ,
           and
           diners
           ordinances
           for
           the
           petitioners
           continuall
           and
           full
           imployments
           ,
           and
           other
           orders
           profitable
           for
           them
           .
           But
           the
           decree
           obtained
           ,
           they
           obserued
           none
           of
           their
           contracts
           :
           those
           being
           instituted
           without
           penalty
           .
           But
           all
           that
           tended
           to
           the
           petitioners
           preiudice
           ,
           and
           their
           Masters
           particular
           profits
           ,
           were
           inioyned
           vnder
           great
           and
           grieuous
           punishments
           .
        
         
           Whereas
           his
           Maiestie
           was
           graciously
           pleased
           to
           grant
           in
           priuiledge
           the
           printing
           of
           diuers
           bookes
           vnto
           the
           petitioners
           the
           poore
           Printers
           (
           they
           by
           their
           ordinances
           haue
           disposed
           them
           wholly
           to
           their
           owne
           particular
           benefit
           ,
           the
           petitioners
           hauing
           no
           share
           or
           benefit
           of
           his
           Maiesties
           most
           gracious
           and
           free
           bountie
           ,
           intended
           chiefely
           to
           the
           poore
           petitioners
           .
           And
           with
           the
           profit
           of
           his
           Maiesties
           gift
           ,
           they
           haue
           purchased
           and
           drawne
           into
           their
           hands
           diuers
           other
           priuiledged
           bookes
           ,
           conuerting
           them
           likewise
           to
           their
           owne
           ends
           .
        
         
           In
           like
           maner
           vnder
           a
           false
           pretence
           of
           relieuing
           the
           poore
           ,
           they
           haue
           obtained
           almost
           al
           into
           their
           hands
           ,
           what
           either
           his
           Maiestie
           :
           or
           his
           progenitors
           euer
           granted
           in
           priuiledge
           ,
           of
           which
           the
           Petitioners
           and
           poore
           sort
           of
           Printers
           expecting
           benefit
           ,
           reape
           indemnity
           and
           preiudice
           ,
           and
           his
           Maiesties
           Subiects
           in
           general
           are
           abused
           by
           their
           exactions
           .
        
         
           For
           they
           keeping
           multiplicity
           of
           Apprentisies
           ,
           (
           who
           after
           their
           Apprentiships
           ,
           like
           the
           Petitioners
           ,
           become
           for
           euer
           more
           seruile
           then
           before
           )
           Print
           Bookes
           most
           by
           their
           Apprentises
           ,
           whereby
           the
           Petitioners
           haue
           not
           halfe
           imployment
           sufficient
           to
           worke
           as
           seruants
           ;
           But
           the
           Petitioners
           are
           in
           worse
           case
           ,
           then
           when
           the
           priuiledges
           were
           in
           strangers
           hands
           ,
           which
           had
           no
           prentises
           .
           Besides
           the
           Masters
           of
           the
           Company
           haue
           raised
           the
           prizes
           of
           Bookes
           ,
           Print
           in
           worse
           Paper
           ,
           and
           with
           dimne
           and
           bad
           Letters
           .
        
         
           The
           Stationers
           to
           whom
           these
           priuiledges
           were
           neuer
           intended
           by
           his
           Maiesties
           most
           Gracious
           Gift
           ,
           or
           the
           Grant
           of
           his
           Progenitors
           ,
           are
           the
           chiefe
           Ingrossers
           of
           these
           Priuiledged
           Coppies
           ,
           with
           some
           few
           Printers
           .
           And
           further
           ,
           the
           Stationers
           by
           an
           agreement
           among
           themselues
           will
           retale
           no
           new
           Copies
           ,
           vnlesse
           they
           be
           of
           their
           owne
           .
           For
           be
           it
           neuer
           so
           Religious
           ,
           Learned
           ,
           or
           profitable
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           a
           Printers
           ,
           either
           by
           purchase
           ,
           or
           by
           free
           gift
           ,
           they
           will
           not
           sell
           the
           same
           :
           but
           the
           Printer
           must
           loose
           his
           labour
           ,
           his
           Paper
           and
           expence
           ,
           if
           he
           will
           not
           sell
           them
           at
           their
           rate
           :
           by
           which
           meanes
           the
           Stationer
           hath
           all
           the
           profit
           both
           by
           Printing
           and
           Booke-selling
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           Petitioners
           infringe
           any
           part
           of
           the
           former
           Decree
           ,
           or
           any
           of
           their
           owne
           Ordinances
           ,
           or
           but
           seeme
           to
           question
           their
           right
           in
           the
           benefits
           Graciously
           giuen
           them
           by
           his
           Maiestie
           ,
           or
           complaine
           of
           their
           vnconscionable
           and
           lawlesse
           proceedings
           ,
           they
           by
           vertue
           of
           a
           Warrant
           Dormant
           ,
           presently
           breake
           the
           Petitioners
           houses
           ,
           imprison
           their
           bodies
           ,
           seize
           their
           goods
           ,
           and
           deface
           their
           Presses
           and
           Printing
           Instruments
           ,
           without
           legall
           proceeding
           or
           euiction
           by
           information
           .
           And
           by
           this
           meanes
           dispose
           of
           all
           things
           amongst
           themselues
           ,
           so
           a
           few
           are
           raised
           to
           great
           and
           infinite
           estates
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Petitioners
           thereby
           made
           absolute
           beggers
           .
        
         
           
             Reasons
             why
             the
             Petitioners
             should
             be
             relieued
             in
             this
             high
             and
             most
             Honourable
             Court.
             
          
           
             The
             Decree
             and
             their
             Ordinances
             barre
             them
             all
             reliefe
             in
             any
             Court
             of
             Iustice
             ,
             or
             any
             other
             Court
             of
             Equity
             ,
             but
             this
             onely
             .
          
           
             The
             Decree
             and
             their
             Ordinances
             are
             absolutely
             contrary
             to
             the
             Lawes
             of
             this
             Kingdome
             ,
             and
             against
             the
             Lawes
             of
             God
             and
             Nations
             .
          
           
             The
             Masters
             haue
             in
             nothing
             performed
             their
             Contracts
             made
             at
             the
             obtaining
             the
             Decree
             .
          
           
             The
             Petitioners
             are
             depriued
             of
             that
             freedome
             that
             all
             other
             loyall
             subiects
             inioy
             ,
             and
             they
             ought
             to
             haue
             .
          
           
             His
             Maiesties
             bounty
             extended
             to
             charitable
             vses
             ,
             but
             is
             conuerted
             to
             their
             priuate
             endes
             and
             benefits
             .
          
        
         
           
             The
             Petitioners
             most
             humble
             request
             is
             :
          
           
             That
             the
             Decree
             may
             be
             dissolued
             .
          
           
             That
             the
             Petitioners
             may
             inioy
             that
             liberty
             and
             priuiledge
             that
             euery
             honest
             and
             loyall
             subiect
             ought
             to
             inioy
             .
          
           
             That
             they
             may
             haue
             equall
             share
             of
             what
             his
             Maiestie
             Graciously
             gaue
             for
             their
             charitable
             vses
             .
          
           
             And
             such
             other
             priuiledges
             distributed
             amongst
             the
             whole
             Company
             as
             of
             right
             belongs
             ,
             wrongfully
             by
             them
             now
             vsurped
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Petitioners
           shall
           beseech
           the
           Iudge
           of
           all
           Iudges
           ,
           to
           Crowne
           you
           all
           with
           eternall
           Honour
           .
        
      
    
     
  

