An Essay in the History of Gold-Tooled
Bindings by Herbert P. Horne
London 1894
some measure attributed to the considerable importation of foreign books, during the early part
of the reign of Henry VIII. This importation so greatly increased to the detriment of English
printers and binders, that in 1533 the following Act was passed for the protection of their
interests. Where as by the provision of a statute made in the first year of the reign of king
Richard the third, it was provided in the same act, that all strangers repayrynge in to this real
me, might lawfully bring in to the said realme printed and written books to sell at their liberty
and pleasure. By force of which prouision there hath come in to this real me sithen the making of
the same, a marueylous number of printed books and daily dothe. And the cause of the making
of the same prouysion seem the to be, for that there were but few books and few printers with
in this real me at that time, which could well exercise and occupy the said science and craft of
pryntynge: Never the less, sythen the making of the said prouisyon, many of this realm, being
the kings natural subjects, haue gyuen them soo diligently to Ierne and exercise the said craft
of printing, that at this day there be within this realme a great number cunning and expert in
the said science or craft of printing, as able to exercise the said craft in all points, as any
stranger in any other real me or contrary. And further more where there be a great number of
the kings subjects within this realme, which lye by the craft and mystery of binding of books,
and that there be a great multitude well expert in the same: yet all this not withstanding there
are dyers persons, that bring from beyond the se grate pietie of printed books, not onelye in
the latyne tongue, but also in our maternal English tongue, some bound in borders, some in
leather, and some in parchment, and them sell by retail, whereby many of the kings subjects,
being binders of bakes, & having none other faculties wherewith to getter their lyuinge, be
destitute of work, and lyke to be undone: except some reformation herin be had. Be it therefore
enacted by the kings our sovereign lord, the lords spiritual and. temporal, and the commons in
this present parliament assembled, and by authorities of the same, that the said Prouiso, made
the first year of the said King Richard the third, from the feast of the nativity of our lord god next
coming, shall be void and 'of none effect.
'And further be it enacted by the auctorite afore said, that no person or persons, resiant or
inhabitant within this realme, after the sayd feast of Christmas next comyng, shal bie to sel
ageyne any printed bokes brought from any parties out of the kynges obeysance, redye
bounden in bordes, lether, or parchement, uppon peyne to lose and forfayte for everye boke
bounde oute of the sayde kynges obeysance, and brought into this realme, and bought by any
person or persons within the same to sell agayne, contrarie to this act, syxe shyllynge eyghte
pence.