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To the Honourable House of Commons in this present Par∣liament Assembled. The humble Petition of the Company of Stationers of the City of London.
THat the Committee for Printing appointed by this Honourable House, was pleased to direct the Printing of a new Impression of the Bible, of the last Translation, with Notes in the Margent, for the better exposition of hard places, and cleerer understanding of the Scriptures.
That diverse Reverend and Learned Divines of this Kingdome, were by Sr. Edward Dearing (then in the Chaire of the said Committee) ap∣pointed for the making of the said Notes, and have now very neare per∣fected the same for the Presse;
Yet so it is, may it please this Honourable House, that a very few Persons of the said Company, but Eleven in Number, (whereas the Company consisteth of many hundred Families) labouring to acquier the Printing and profit thereof to themselves, have privately gained some promise from some of the said Divines, intending to exclude all others of the Company, from having any benefit thereby.
And your Petitioners doe further shew, that they have not any common Stock (wherewith to pay the Subsidies charged upon their said Company by Parliament; nor to provide Armes or Corne, for the safety and provision of this City as they are assessed; neither to maintaine their owne Poore, which are very many: and hath cost them Communibus Annis, above 200lb. per Annum, neare upon 40 Yeares last past) excepting the benefit of Printing a few small Bookes, which now also by means of irregular Printing, they are almost quite deprived of: And that all the Free-hold they have, belonging to their Corporation, together with their Common Seale, lies now ingaged for 1500lb. which was borrowed at Interest, for the use and service of this present Parliament.
And their poverty is yet the greater, in that they have not so much as a Common Hall of their owne to assemble in; And that these Eleven men, who now labour to gaine to themselves the sole Printing of this Bible and Notes; are now, and have bin, (many of them) Pattentees, and Monopolizers of Printing the most vendable Bookes of worth and quantity now in use; To the great detriment of the Kingdome, and to the ruine and destruction of this poore Company.
THESE PREMISES CONSIDERED; and for as much as this is a publick worke, and was first moved from a Committee of this Honourable House; that therefore you would be pleased to Order that it may be Printed for the common benefit of the whole Company, which will much revive their languishing and miserable condition; wherein they (the aforesaid Eleven Parties) together with the many hundreds others of the said Corporation, may equally partake, both in the Charge and Profit thereof: Which will be a means, that the same will be Printed with the greater care and circumspection.
And your Petitioners shall ever pray.