Note 531 — BOOK V PLAYS AND PLAYWRIGHTS

i. 17, ‘No member or members of this Company shall hereafter knowingly imprint or cause to be imprinted any book, pamphlet, portraicture, picture or paper whereunto the law requires a license, without such license as by the law is directed for the imprinting of the same (1678)’; 22, ‘By ancient usage of this company, when any book or copy is duly entred in the register-book of this company, to any member or members of this company, such person to whom such entry is made, is, and always hath been reputed and taken to be proprietor of such book or copy, and ought to have the sole printing thereof (1681)’; 26, ‘It hath been the ancient usage of the members of this company, for the printer or printers, publisher or publishers of all books, pamphlets, ballads, and papers, (except what are granted by letters pattents under the great seal of England) to enter into the publick register-book of this company, remaining with the clerk of this company for the time being, in his or their own name or names, all books, pamphlets, ballads, and papers whatsoever, by him or them to be printed or published, before the same book, pamphlet, ballad, or paper is begun to be printed, to the end that the printer or publisher thereof may be known, to justifie whatsoever shall be therein contained, and have no excuse for the printing or publishing thereof (1682)’.