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Draft minutes are dated 26 Mar 1683, 2, 19 and 20 Apr 1683, 7 May 1683, 4, 25 and 30 Jun, 2 Jul 1683, 6 Aug 1683, 1 Oct 1683, 6 and 12 Nov 1683, 3, 19 and 20 Dec 1683, 2 Mar 1685 and 3 and 17 Feb 1685.

At front of file is a small slip of paper with the inscription 'The Court for 1683'.

Some minutes have other documents inserted:

Minutes for 26 Mar 1683:

1. letter from James Collins to the master, requesting that he not be elected Renter Warden until he is in a better financial position, 26 Mar 1683.

2. accounts listing company income and expenses, undated.

3. petition from James Collins stating that he had mortgaged his English Stock share to George Sawbridge not knowing of the order forbidding mortgaging of shares without the consent of the Table, and requesting time to clear the mortgage, undated.

4. letter from James Collins to Mr Garret, asking him to deliver his petition to the Master and to gather the support of others, undated.

Minutes for 7 May 1683:

1. surrender of yeomanry share in English Stock by Ann Godbid, 4 May 1683.

Minutes for 1 and 25 Oct 1683:

1. draft letter to [Samuel Hoyle] informing him that he must settle his account with Mr Felton and Sam[uel] Lownds, who has been chosen to supply the place of Renter Warden for the remaining part of the year, and deliver his books to them both, undated.

Inserted loose:

1. surrender of livery share in English Stock by Margaret White, 19 Apr 1683.

Draft minutes are dated 26 Mar 1684, 7 and 24 Apr 1684, 27 May 1684, 2 and 10 Jun 1684, 16 and 25 Jun 1684, 5 and 7 Jul 1684, 4 Aug 1684, 1 and 30 Sep 1684, 6 Oct 1684, 3 Nov 1684, 3, 20 and 27 Dec 1684 and 16 Jan 1685.

At front of file is a small slip of paper with the inscription 'Court - 1684'.

Some minutes have other documents inserted:

Minutes for Apr 1684:

1. letter from R[ober]t Graham and L M Burton to the master and wardens, recommending William Phillips as a fit person to serve the King as a court assistant, undated.

Minutes for 27 May 1684:

1. draft petition from the company to the King, thanking him for the new charter and for the rights and privileges contained within it, undated.

Minutes for 2 and 10 Jun 1684:

1. letter from Rog[er] Norton and Hen[ry] Hills to Mr Garrett, requesting that as Mr Tooks had not had time that morning to bind an apprentice, Mr Garrett should seal the indenture between them and enter it as done in the morning, 5 May 1684.

Minutes for 16 and 25 Jun and 5 and 7 Jul 1684:

1. petition from Rich[ard] Butler, company freeman and prisoner in Ludgate, requesting relief for the care of his wife and children, undated.

2. letter from the Duke of Buckingham to Roger Norton, master, requesting that James Segnin, the borther of the Duke's chemist, be made free of the company, 26 Jun 1684.

Minutes for Sep 1684:

1. surrender by W[illia]m Rawlins to John Place of his 40th share in English Stock, 30 Sep 1684.

Minutes of 3 Nov 1684:

1. draft petition from the master, wardens and assistants to the King, requesting that he appoint licencers for the authorising or reprinting of all books and papers, in order to better prevent and suppress seditious works and libels, undated.

2. letter from Ro[ger] Lestrange to Roger Norton, master, complaining that several libels against himself had been entered into the book of copies, and requesting that the printer John Southby be prosecuted, 27 Oct 1684.

3. letter from Ro[ger] Lestrange to the master and wardens, stating that he is unable to attend Lord Sunderland that morning, and requesting that they deliver an enclosed document to Lord Sunderland on his behalf, 2 Jan 1685.

4. letter from Lord Sunderland to the master and wardens, stating that the King commands the company to apply itself to the best means for preventing intolerable liberties of the press, and to communicate with the Surveyor of the Press, who has orders from his Majesty to signify to the company, 17 Dec 1684.

5. letter from R[o]g[er] Lestrange to Mr Garrett, requesting that he presents Mr Lestrange's services to the master and wardens and let them know that he will have an unstated item finished on Friday morning, 23 Dec 1684.

Minutes for 3, 20 and 27 Dec 1684 and 16 Jan 1685:

1. draft demand from Roger Norton, master, to an unstated company, demanding that it pays £83 6s 8d of due rent to Thomas Guy, and stating that if it does not do so then the company will not continue to forbear to comprint with it any longer the 25 Mar 1685.

Draft minutes are dated 26 Mar 1685, 6 Apr 1685, 6, 11, 20 and 22 May 1685, 1 and 26 Jun 1685, 4 and 6 Jul 1685, 3, 18 and 22 Aug 1685, 7 and 12 Sep 1685, 5 Oct 1685, 2 Nov 1685, 7 and 22 Dec 1685, 1 Feb 1686 and 1 Mar 1686.

Some minutes have other documents inserted:

Minutes for 6 Apr 1685:

1. letter from Peter Parker and Thomas Guy, printers for the University of Oxford, to the master, wardens and court, offering to continue their former agreement that if the company pays its first quarter of rent then they will forbear to comprint, and stating that they will forgo the company's unpaid three quarters rent if the company acquits them of the Psalms they have printed, 25 Mar 1685.

Minutes for 6 and 11 May 1685:

1. Lord Mayor's precept to the master, wardens and court, requiring them to nominate a new livery and return the names of those nominated to the Guildhall on the morning of 7 July, 5 May 1685.

2. Lord Mayor's order, stating that as the liveries of several city companies are to be suspended and the livery status of these companies determined, their liveries must be newly granted, and ordering that their masters and wardens nominate loyal members to form the new livery, 5 May 1685.

3. list of members of the Haberdashers', Fishmongers', Merchant Taylors' Girdlers', Leathersellers' and Barber Chirurgeons' Companies, 6 May 1685.

4. Lord Mayor's order, listing those approved by the court as members of the new livery, 7 May 1685.

5. Lord Mayor's order, requesting that the master and wardens of several companies send their new charters to the town clerk to be enrolled in the journals of the court [of aldermen], 8 May 1685.

Minutes for 20 and 22 May 1685:

1. royal command to Roger L'Estrange, signed by Lord Sunderland, renewing regulations concerning licensing and the restriction of number of presses, 21 May 1685.

Minutes for 6 Jul 1685:

1. letter from Jo[h]n Richardson to the master, stating that by reason of commands to attend the service of his Majesty he is unable to attend the duties of renter warden, requesting that the court make a new choice and stating that he is happy to pay the fine for not serving, 6 Jul 1685.

Minutes for 3, 18 and 22 Aug 1685:

1. Lord Mayor's statement that the master, wardens and assistants had presented to the court [of aldermen] a list of names of those nominated to be liverymen of the company, and that the court approves and allows them to be of the livery, 30 Jul 1685.

2. true copy of licence and deputation from the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of London to Roger Midgley, permitting him to licence books on behalf of the bishops under the revived Printing Act, 21 Aug 1685.

Minutes for 7 and 22 Dec 1685:

1. memorandum reading 'Memorandum December the 7th 1685 that the precedanse of the Westminster parliament before that at Oxford where printing in partnership for Mr Faniewell Herick Mr Tho Bassett Mr John Wright Mr Francis Smith Mr Ralp Smith Mr Robert Boulter and Benjamin Harris and Richard Chigwell, witnis my hand Benjamin Harris'.

Minutes for 1 Feb 1686:

1. otherwise blank piece of paper with the inscription 'Court 1st february 1685'.

Minutes for 1 Mar 1686:

1. draft minutes of meeting of the Committee about Stall Booksellers, 5 Mar 1686, with an annotated copy.

Inserted loose:

1. copy Lord Mayor's order that booksellers free of other companies be turned over to the company, and that in the future the chamberlain of the city do not admit any stationer to any company other than the Stationers' Company, 7 May 1685.

2. small slip of paper with the inscription 'Court - 1685'.

3. warrant from the Chief Justice 'to all Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs Constables & all other officers & Ministers whome these may concerne', requiring them to assist the company in searching out seditious printing, 3 Nov 1685.

Committee minutes are written on some Court minute documents:

Court sitting of 6 Apr 1685: meeting of the Committee about Peter Parker and Thom[a]s Guy, 29 Apr 1685.

Court sitting of 6 Jul 1685: meeting of the Committee appointed about Parker & Guy, 21 Jul 1685.

Draft minutes are dated 26 Mar 1686, 3 May 1686, 7 Jun 1686, 3 and 5 Jul 1686, 2 Aug 1686, 6 and 8 Sep 1686, 4, 11 and 12 Oct 1686, 8 and 26 Nov 1686, 6 and 20 Dec 1686, 7, 21 and 28 Feb 1687, 1, 7 and 23 Mar 1687.

At front of folder is a small piece of paper with the inscription 'The Court. 1686'.

Some minutes have other documents inserted:

Minutes for 3 May 1686:

1. bill for clerical Corporation and English Stock work undertaken in 1681; on the front is written '23 April 1686 The two Wardens Mr Towse and Mr Henry Clarke have considered Mr Garretts Bill within mentioned & have searcht presendents for that purpose & have thought fitt that he may have £12 given him as a gratuity for the same. Jo: Bellinger Ambrose Istid John Towse Hen: Clarke Robert Scott', undated.

2. letter from Timothy Goodwin to Mr Warden Isted at Stationers Hall, stating that he is willing to resign from the Livery, as Mr Isted and Warden Billing had asked him at the Castle Tavern to make his choice to remain or not if he found the role an inconvenience, 3 May 1686.

Minutes for 7 Jun 1686:

1. petition from several London master printers to the master, wardens and assistants, stating that despite an Act of Parliament authorising only one printing press in York there are three present, which print many copies that are the property of London booksellers and that should be printed in London, and praying that the Company orders the suppression of such grievance, undated.

Minutes for 3 Jul 1686:

1. memorandum reading 'Before the election of Warden Bellinger to be Master the Court first voted the manner how they would press to the election of a Master And because some members moved for the Balotting box to be made up of [illegible] It was putt to the question & carried in the negative And then the Court preceded to election againe by scoreing and the Major vote fell upon Warden Bellinger to be Master', undated.

Minutes for 8 Sep 1686:

1. letter from John Bellinger and Rob[er]t Clavell to Roger L'Estrange, referring to a decision made that morning to put off the election of treasurer, and assuring L'Estrange that when they and the partners of the English Stock do proceed to the election then he will be given timely notice of this, 8 Sep 1686.

Minutes for 6 Dec 1686:

1. copy of bond binding Obadiah Blagrave to the company as treasurer, 8 Nov 1686.

Inserted into minutes for Court sitting of 7, 21 and 28 Feb 1687 are 4 documents:

1. letter from Mr Thynne to the master, stating that no copies of books had been sent by the company to the library at St James's as required by the Act of Parliament for Printing, requesting that these copies be sent, and stating that if this is not done then he shall be forced to prefer a chancery bill against the persons involved, 7 Feb 1687.

2. surrender of yeomanry share of the English Stock by Thomas Pierrepont, 7 Feb 1687.

3. letter from Jo[hn] Bellinger and John Baker to Mr Garrett, stating that as Mr Blagrave cannot execute his security as soon as intended he should give a bond of £1000 for the present, 21 Oct 1686.

4. letter from Simon Miller to the master, wardens and assistants, requesting dismissal from the table of assistants, 6 Sep 1686.

Committee minutes are written on some Court minute documents:

Court sitting of 8 Nov 1686: meeting of the Committee appointed about buying Mr Sawbridge's interest in Cambridge printing, 19 Nov 1686.

Court sitting of 8 Nov 1686: meeting of the Committee appointed about Mr Leigh's account, 26 Nov 1686.

Court sittings of 7 and 23 Mar 1687: meeting of the Committee appointed about Haberdashers stall booksellers, 4 Mar 1687.

Court sittings of 7 and 23 Mar 1687: meeting of the Committee appointed about the Court's last copies, 18 Mar 1687.

Draft minutes are dated 4 Apr 1687, 2 and 30 May 1687, 6 and 22 Jun 1687, 2 and 4 Jul 1687, 1 Aug 1687, 5 Sep 1687, 3, 13 and 17 Oct 1687, 7 Nov 1687, 5 and 20 Dec 1687, 9 Jan 1688, 1 and 5 Mar 1688.

At front of folder is a large, folded sheet of paper with the inscription 'Mr Warden Courts Voucher for 1687'.

Some minutes have other documents inserted:

Minutes for 6 and 22 Jun and 2 and 4 Jul 1687:

1. surrender of yeomanry share of the English Stock by Bernard White, 2 Jul 1687.

Minutes for 1 Aug 1687:

1. petition from Thomas Mathew stating that while providing a book for the press he had been informed that part of it, the Psalms of David in metre, was a copy belonging to the Company, and praying that the Company grant him and his heirs liberty to make use of the copy thereafter, undated.

2. letter from Ro[ger] Lestrange to Mr Garret, informing him that he had transferred his whole right and interest in Seneca's Morals, Tully's Offices and Bona's Guides to Richard Bentley, and requesting that they may be entered as his property, 15 Jul 1687.

3. handwritten music manuscript of a psalm setting with the words given under each stave, composer unknown, undated.

Minutes for 5 Sep 1687:

1. surrender of yeomanry share in the English Stock by William Fisher, 5 Sep 1687.

Minutes for 17 Oct 1687:

1. letter from W[illia]m Fisher to the master, wardens and assistants, stating his desire to resign from his position at the table and instead have a position in which he may serve the company better, 17 Oct 1687.

Minutes for 7 Nov 1687:

1. letter from Jo[hn] Gadbury to Mr Took, requesting that he reminds Captain Baker and Mr Basset of their promise to give charity to Mr Cross, a former servant of the Company. Beneath Mr Gadbury's letter is a short statement by Mr Baker that a certain sum of charity for Mr Cross had not been named. 4 Oct 1687.

2. letter from Mr Wryme, Keeper of the King's Library, to the master and wardens, requesting that copies of books printed before the expiration of the late Act for Printing &c be sent to the King's Library at St James's, and stating that if printers do not send copies of these willingly then he will request his Majesty's Attorney General to prepare a bill in Chancery to get them, 7 Nov 1687.

Draft minutes are dated 2 Apr 1688, 7 May 1688, 15 and 25 Jun 1688, 6 Aug 1688, 4 Sep 1688, 11 Oct 1688, 3 Nov 1688, 3 and 19 Dec 1688 and 1, 4 and 6 Mar 1689.

Some minutes have other documents inserted:

Minutes for 7 May 1688:

1. figures for Robert Turner, Adiel Mill, Mr Porter, W[illia]m Wild and Tho[mas] Hodgkin, possibly monies owed, undated.

Minutes for 4 Sep 1688:

1. Lord Mayor's order requesting that liverymen of several companies be restored to their places, with reference to a recent royal charter restoring to the city its ancient franchises, 7 Oct 1688.

Minutes for 4 and 6 Mar 1689:

1. memorandum from Tho[mas] Dring, stating that the company is to discharge Mr Guy and Mr Parker for comprinting the company's copies and pay all arrears for rent due, that Mr Guy and Mr Parker are to deliver to the company the primers they had printed and be paid 9s 9d per reame for this, and that Mr Guy and Mr Parker are to pay the company £180 in consideration for their comprinting, 6 Mar 1689.

2. copy petition from Gilbert Ironside, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, to the king, stating that the university has been molested by the king's printers of bibles in London and the Company of Stationers for printing bibles and books of common prayer with singing psalms annexed, and praying for an order that the process of Quo Warranto issued in his Majesty's name be withdrawn and the complainants (if wronged) pursue their remedy at law in their own names in a suit.

3. order of council signed by W[illia]m Bridgeman, that a copy of the above petition be given to Henry Hills and the other King's printers of bibles in London, that the matter be heard at the board on 5 Oct 1688, and that until the king declares his pleasure on the hearing all further proceedings upon the process of Quo Warranto are to be stopped, 23 Sep 1688.

Draft minutes are dated 3 Jun 1689, 1 and 6 Jul 1689, 1 and 5 Aug 1689, 9 Sep 1689, 7 Oct 1689, 1, 4 and 13 Nov 1689, 2 and 20 Dec 1689, 3 Feb 1690, 1 and 3 Mar 1690.

Some minutes have other documents inserted:

Minutes for 3 Mar 1689:

1. Lord Mayor's precept to the master and wardens, requesting certification of the name, surname and place of abode of all the company's liverymen who have not taken its oath of freeman or liveryman, together with duplicates of the above and of the livery list according to previous precepts of the 4th and 5th instant, 6 Mar 1689.

2. Lord Mayor's precept to the master and wardens, ordering the clerk to write out a list of the company's livery as it stood at Midsummer 1683 and a list of those admitted in the livery since that time and to bring duplicates to him on Thursday morning, and stating that care must be taken in the livery list so that the clerk can attest it upon oath if necessary, 4 Mar 1689.

Committee minutes are attached to some Court minute documents:

Court sittings of 3 Feb and 1 Mar 1690: minutes of a meeting of the Committee appointed to hear with our Master about Cambridge business, 1 Mar 1690.

Draft minutes are dated 26 Mar 1690, 7 Apr 1690, 5 May 1690, 2 and 5 Jun 1690, 7, 12, 15 and 18 Jul 1690, 1, 5 and 25 Sep 1690, 6, 22 and 25 Oct 1690, 3 Nov 1690 and 2 Mar 1691.

Some minutes have other documents inserted:

Minutes for 2 and 5 Jun 1690:

1. list of names with tallies beside them; names given are Ambrose Isted, Roger Norton, John Macock, John Towse, Henry Herringman, Edward Browton, John Bellinger and Robert Scott; the names Thomas Bassell and John Sims are crossed out.

Committee minutes are attached to some Court minute documents:

Court sitting of 26 Mar 1690: minutes of a meeting of the Committee about Mr Starkey's business, 3 Apr 1690.

Court sitting of 7 Jul 1690: minutes of a meeting of the Committee appointed to raise money for the use of the Stock, 8 Jul 1690.

Court sitting of 6 Oct 1690: minutes of a meeting of the Committee about Hawkers, 8 Oct 1690.

Court sittings of 22 and 25 Oct 1690: minutes of a meeting of the Committee appointed about the Subpression of Hawkers &t, 15 Oct 1690.

Draft minutes are dated 4, 6 and 20 Apr 1691, 4 May 1691, 8 Jun 1691, 4 and 6 Jul 1691, 23 Sep 1691, 5 Oct 1691, 2 Nov 1691 [2 copies], 7 Dec 1691, 1 Feb 1692 [2 copies], 1 Mar 1692; includes minutes of a meeting of the Committee about Checks on accounts, 11 Dec 1691.

Draft minutes are dated 26 Mar 1692, 15 Apr 1692, 2 and 27 May 1692, 2, 4, 18, 26 and 28 Jul 1692, 1 Aug 1692, 5 and 12 Sep 1692 and 3 Oct 1692; includes minutes of a meeting of the Committee appointed concerning the Oxford affair, 6 Jul 1692.

Rough and neat versions of minutes occur throughout; no inserts.

Spine reads 'B'.

Front cover reads 'Minute Book Begining 7th April 1772'.

Partially pasted into volume are 5 documents:

folio 28v: small piece of paper containing an addition to the rough notes for the Court sitting of 16 Mar 1773.

folio 138r: large fold-out containing a fees table titled 'Stationers Hall Fees to the Clerk and other Servants of the Company'. There are two subtitles, 'On Account of the Corporation' and 'On Account of the English Stock'.

folio 176 r: small piece of paper containing an addition to the rough notes for the Court sitting of 2 Dec 1777.

folio 177v: small printed piece of paper titled 'Inscription on a Brass Plate in Stationers Hall' and containing the transcription:

'To the united Munificence of

THE COMPANY OF STATIONERS

and other numerous Benefactors:

who,

when a calamitous Fire, Jan. 30, 1712/13,

had in one Night destroyed the Effects

of WILLIAM BOWYER, Printer,

repaired the Loss with unparalleled Humanity:

WILLIAM, his only surviving Son,

being continued Printer of the Votes of the House of Commons,

by his Father's Merits,

and the Indulgence of Three Honourable Speakers;

and appointed to print the Journals of the House of Lords,

at near LXX Years of Age,

by the Patronage of a Noble Peer;

struggling with a Debt of Gratitude which could not be repaid,

left this Tablet to suggest

what worn-out Nature could not express:

Nov. 18, 1777

EX VOTO PATRONI OPTIMI, AMICISSIMI,

PONI LUBENTER CURAVIT CLIENS DEVINCTUS

J. NICHOLS. MDCCLXXVIII'

This inscription relates to proceedings in the Court minutes for 2 Dec 1777 (folios 177r-178v), during which the executors of William Bowyer's will, including John Nichols, laid a copy of the will before the Court. Bowyer had left the Company several sums of money upon Trust, a silver cup and the aforementioned brass plate.

folio 265r: small piece of paper containing an addition to the rough notes for the Court sitting of 1 July 1780.

Rough and neat versions of minutes occur throughout; no inserts.

Spine reads 'Aug[us]t 1763 to March 1772'.

Front cover reads 'Minute Book Begining August 2 [illegible]'.

Rough and neat versions of minutes occur throughout.

Spine reads 'October 1755 to July 1763'.

Front cover reads 'Minute Book Begining October 7th [illegible]'.

Inserted into volume is 1 document:

folio 10r: undated note reading 'Charles Hitch 1st Divid[en]d - of 40d - 19th Dec - 1755 Lib. H fo:330 May 2 1759 - £20'

Rough and neat versions of minutes occur throughout; no inserts.

Spine reads 'October 1748 to September 1755'.

Front cover reads 'Minute Book 1748'.

At front of volume are draft accounts and a memorandum:

Draft accounts:

pages 1-4: undated Under Warden's account, titled 'An Account of what moneys is to be received by Mr Under Warden of the Company of Stationers for the time being'.

pages 5-7: undated Under Warden's account, titled 'An Account of what money is to be paid by Mr Under Warden for the time being'.

Memorandum:

page 4: an entry stating that the Under Warden was to state the times of payment on receipts and payments.

Rough and neat versions of minutes occur throughout; no inserts.

Spine reads ' September [illegible] to September 1748'.

Front cover reads 'Court Book 7th Sept 1742 to Sept 27th 1748 see Court Book K'.

On front endpapers is written in a modern hand 'See vol K of Court Book. Apparently used by the Clerk & copied into the Court Book with much left out. March 2 1744 says (f 248) 'Poor paid according to custom' here names of poor are given. More information in here than in Court Book K' and on the opposite page 'Freemen 4.6 Apprentices 5.- Turnover 2.6'.

At back of volume are upside-down folios containing accounts:

folios 1r-2r: 'The Clerk's Fees as Settled 10th February 1730' [or 1740]. Subheadings are 'On Account of the Corporation' and 'On Account of the English Stock'.