per Breve de privato Sigillo Wolseley

(with the Seal attached).

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 26o Hen. 8o 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 Mrs and Schollars of the Vniversitie of Oxford 31o Martij 1637. By the Warden of the sayd Companie in the presence of

John French

John Thimble

G. Locksmyth

[with a fragment of the seal]