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It is evident that in the early part of the reign of Henry VIII. there was a large importation of foreign-bound books, much to the detriment of native workmen. So great was the abuse caused by this importation, that it was found advisable to issue various official papers on the subject.

The earliest English document concerning printed books is a statute made in the first year of King Richard III., by virtue of which foreigners were allowed to bring over their books and sell them without let or hindrance. The result of this permission was, however, not quite what was intended, as very shortly numbers of Englishmen became expert in the craft of printing “in all poyntes,” as well as skilled in the “mysterye of byndynge”; and these found themselves so outnumbered by aliens and hampered by the foreign competition, that in 1533 an act was passed for their relief, the most important clause in which was one imposing a forfeit of six shillings and eight pence on every printed book brought from abroad ready bound in boards, leather, or parchment.

The act is as follows:—

“Anno XXV., Henrici VIII. (1533). Actis made in the session of this present Parliament, cap. XV. London, printed by Thomas Berthelet.

“Where as by the prouision of a statute made in the fyrste yere of the reygne of Kynge Rycharde the thyrde, it was prouided in the same acte, that all straungers repayrynge in to this realme, myghte laufully bringe in to the sayd realme printed and written bokes to selle at theyr libertie and pleasure. By force of whiche prouision there hath comen in to this realme sithen the makynge of the same, a marueylous nombre of printed bookes and daylye dothe. And the cause of the makynge of the same prouysion semethe to be, for that there were but fewe bokes and fewe printers with in this realme atte that tyme, whyche coulde welle exercise and occupie the sayd science and crafte of pryntynge: Never the lesse, sythen the makynge of the sayde prouisyon, manye of this realme, beynge the kynges naturalle subjectes, haue gyuen them soo delygentelye to lerne and exercyse the sayd crafte of printynge, that at this daye there be within this realme a greate nombre counnynge and experte in the sayd science or crafte of pryntynge, as able to exercyse the sayde crafte in all poyntes, as anye straunger in anye other realme or contray. And further more where there be a greate numbre of the kynges subiectes within this realme, whiche lyue by the crafte and mysterye of byndynge of books, and that there be a greate multitude welle experte in the same: yet all this not withstandynge there are dyuers persons, that bringe from beyonde the se greate plentie of printed bookes, not onelye in the latyne tonge, but also in our maternall englishe tonge some bounde in bordes, some in lether, and some in parchment, and them selle by retayle, wherby many of the kynges subiectes, beinge bynders of bokes, and hauing none other facultie wherewith to gette theyr lyuinge, be destitute of worke, and lyke to be vndone: except some reformation herin be had. Be it therefore enacted by the kynge oure soverayne lorde, the lordes spiritual and temporal, and the commons in this present parlyament assembled, and by auctoritie of the same, that the sayde Prouiso, made the fyrst yere of the sayd King Richarde the thirde from the feaste of the