This company had their hall in , from whence they removed to college, at the south-west corner of church-yard. The company purchased the site; and about

, adopted the old building to their own purposes. The chapel was converted into an armoury and a warehouse. It was afterwards converted into the Feathers-tavern; and covered the spot now occupied by the garden of the deanery.

The late highly respected and amiable John Nichol, esq. F. S. A. who was master of this company in , published considerable extracts from their archives in his

Literary Anecdotes of the Nineteenth Century.

Stow, mentioning

the dean's lodging, a faire old house, and divers large houses which yet remaine, and (of old time) were the lodgings of prebendaries and residentiaries, which kept great households and liberall hospitalitie,

Then was there the Stationers-hall, lately builded for them, in the place of Peter's college; where, in the year

1549

, the

4th day of January

,

five

men were slayne by the fall of earth upon them, digging for a well.

The wardens of the company, in their accompts from

for reparations,

1l. 5s. 6d.

;

for a labourer for cleaning the dean's yard

4d.

The fitting up of the new hall (which was a large building) was defrayed by the voluntary subscriptions of the several members. Among other benefactions, glazed windows were contributed; and also the wainscoting both of the parlour and the council-chamber.

Several sums were received for the occasional use of the hall for different public purposes.

-.

Item, received, the VIII daye of January, of the Wardmothe Inquest of Castell Baynard-warde, for occupyinge the hall,

4s.

Item, recevyd for occupyinge the hall at a wedding,

3s. 4d.

The building, when fitted up, consisted of a hall, sufficiently capacious for the Wardmote Inquest, a great parlour, a council-chamber (in which were historical paintings, and at least portraits), kitchen, buttery, and several warehouses; over which were rooms let out to different tenants; among whom were, in , John Pont, who paid annually ; John Walley, for chamber, ; William Seres, for a cellar,

Seres was afterwards times elected master of the company.

Though unable to describe the exterior of this hall, the records of the company contain a particular account of its furniture in .

This ys the inventory of all suche stuffe, with other thyngs, as dothe appertayne to this howse as followeth; that ys to saye, In the Hall. In the hall joined with vaynescott playne pannelles, with crestes and benches. Item, a skrene with a deske for plate. Item, the hall paysse over the hygh bourde. Item, a deale table of five yardes and a half longe, with three tresselles. Item, two syde tables paynted red and blacke, one of them with a leafe and a staye of ireon, with six tresselles to them. Item, six new joyned formes. Item, all thewyndowes glaysed. Item, one banner. Item, three scutcheons. Item, a lattes, with the appurtenances. In the Great P«lour. Item, a joyned table, with a frame of four yards lounge. Item, a joyned table, with a frame of three yardes longe. Item, twelve joyned stowles. Item, two olde formes. Item, a joyned cubberte, with a hall payse, and a deske for plate. Item, all the p'lour joyned with wayneskott with playne pannells and crests. Item, a dornexe carpett. Item, an iron plate for the chynne. In the Counsell P«lour. Item, a table of the namesof the auncients. Item, a newe joyned drawyng table, with a frame. Item, one vysser and two whippis for reformacyon. Item, two new joyned formes. Item, a cheste with three lockes, three keyes. Item, a box with two lockes and two keyes. Item, a joyned box with a locke and a key, for the herse clothe. Item, all the p'lour joyned with wayneskott new playne pannell and crests, with benches alonge the table. Item, all the wyndowes glaysed, with six casements of iron. Item, nine paynted storyes standynge above the vayneskott in the sayde p'lour. Item, a courte cubberte, with two stayes of iron. Item, a greene carpett of two yardes and three quarters longe. Item, one herse clothe of the gift of Mr. Cawood. In the Chappell. Item, a table with three tresseles in two peces. Item, two jackes. Item, three gonnes. Item, a bowe, and a shaffe of arrowes. Item, eight alman revetts. Item, five hed peces. Item, three skulles with two cappes. Item,--seven payre of spents, and one spente. Item, nine gorgetts. Item, four swordes. Item, four cotts. Item, a bore spere. Item, eight blacke bylles. Item, five blacke gyrdelles. Item, one pyke. Item, three gyrdelles. Item, four dagors. In the Buttrye. Item, a great cheste, bought of Mr. Seres. Item, a horne garneshed with a leppe, and the toppe sylver and gylte, and the foote coper and gylte. Item, three olde playne table clothes. Item, three olde playne towelles. Item, four stone crusys covered with pewther. Item, twenty-eight stone potts. Item, twelve dosyn of trenchers. Item, two shelves. Item, a geste for ale and bere. Item, a new tabull cloth for one old by Toye. Item, one dosyn of napkyns, gyven by Mrs. Toy, pleyne. In the Kytchen. Item, a dressynge bourde four yardes and a halfe long. Item, two shelves. Item, a payre of iron rostyne rackes. Item, an iron barre in the chemne. Item, three tramelles to hange potts on. Item, three spytts. Item, a brasse potte, and a brasse panne. Item, a stone morter and a pestell. Item, four cressets with staves. Item, forty-six platters. Item, forty-four deshes. Item, forty-four sawcers. Item, one olde deske besyde. In the Seller. Item, a geste for bere and ale. Item, in olde lede contaynynge in wayghte two hundredth lacken five pounde. Item, of a thousande of tyle. Remaynynge in the cheste with three lockes and three keyes, which standeth in the Counsell Chamber. Imprimis, one longe case with locke and keye, covered with lether. Item, the corporacyon of stacyoners under the greate seale of Englande, made in anno Phil. & Marie 3 & 4. Item, one box of evydence conteyneng eight pieces for the purchase of our hall. Item, one leaze betwene the company and John Poynt, concernynge the howse he dwellyth yn for the terme of thirty-one yeres to his oblygacyon for performance of covenants. Item, one oblygacyon made by Adam Bland to the company in parte that he should doo no injury to the hall. Item, one oblygacyon that Hugh Syngleton standyth bound to William Seres in twenty nobills for payment of 4l. 10s. whereof 26s. 8d. is payde, and so remayneth 3l. 3s. 4d. whych oblygacyon is gyven to the hall. Item, another boxe with a patent given by harolds to the company of stacyoners, concernynge their armes, with charges, a gyfte of Mr. Cawood. Item, one spone of sylver parcell gylt, of the gyft of Mr. Dockray. Item, a spone all gylte, of the gyft of Mr. Cawood. Item, a spone of sylver all gylte, of the gyft of Mr. Walye, &c.

The charges of our denner as followeth; that is to saye,

The company of stationers do not appear to have had any authority granted them with relation to printed books, as an incorporated body, till they received their charter, dated the , in the and of Philip and Mary, by the title of

The master and keepers, or wardens, and commonalty of the mystery or art of stationers of the city of London,

The copy of a book entered is in ,

to William Pekerynge, a ballett, called a Ryse and Wake,

4d.

-, the fellowship of the company were permitted, by the court of aldermen, to wear a livery gowne and livery hood, in such decent and comly wise and order as the other companies and fellowships of the city; and ordered to prepare them to attend the lord mayor on public occasions; and in ,

The lyvery new begonne and revyved agayne, in the colors of skerlett and browne blew, worne on the feast daye, beinge the Sondaye after Saint Peter's daye.

In , a considerable sum was laid out for enlarging and translating, with the making a payre of new stairs in the hall. And in the same year

paid for the pavynge of the long causey between Paul's church door and the Stationer's hall,

20s. 1d.

In , a subscription was raised, among the members of the company,

towards building the new kitchen and buttery, with other necessaries.

In , the feasts of the company were restrained by order of common council.

In , some certain persons endeavoured to obtain from the queen a privilege for the sole printing of all ballads, damask paper, and books in prose or metre, from the quantity of sheet of

, the lords of the Star-chamber affirmed and confirmed their former laws, empowering them to search into bookbinders-shops, as well as printing-offices, for unlawful or heretical books, and take up the offenders.

-. A precept from the lord mayor, requiring the master, wardens, and of the comeliest personages of the company, to attend him at the park corner above St. James's, on horseback, in velvet coats, chains of gold, and with staff torches, to wait on the queen,

for the recreating of her majesty,

In the accompts of are the following entries:

Item, a little box of plate and other things given by the master and wardens, and divers other persons. Item, paid for charges of search dinners, ten times, at 3s. 4d.- 33s. 4d.

The chapel in was leased to Mr. Bishop for a year; and a room on the south side of the yard, next the great warehouse, towards the street, was (in ) allowed to the clerk, for the company's business.

, the company obtained the king's letters patent for the sole printing of primers, psalms, almanacks, &c. in English, for the help and relief of them and their successors for ever.

In or about the year , the company thought proper to remove from their old hall to the situation they now occupy; and on the in that year, the purchase of Bergavenny house was ordered to be paid for from the stock of the partners in the privilege. That house is thus described :--

At the north end of Ave Mary-lane, is

one

great house, builded of stone and timber, of old time pertaining to John duke of Britaine, earle of Richmond, as appeareth by the records of Edward the

second

. Since that, it was called Pembrooke Inne, neere unto Ludgate, as belonging to the earles of Pembrooke in the times of Richard the

second

, the eighteenth yeere, and of Henry the sixt, in the

fourteenth

yeere. It was afterwards called Aburgavenny-house, and belonged to Henry late lord of Aburgavennie. But the worshipfull company of stationers have since that purchased it, and made it the hall for the meeting of their societie, converting the stone-worke into a new faire frame of timber, and applying it to such serviceable use, as themselves have thought convenient for the amending it in some particulars in which it had been found defective.

In , an annual sermon, with cakes, wine, and ale, for the company, on Ash-Wednesday, was established by the will of alderman John Norton.

In , feasting was restrained for months, by order of the lord mayor.

In , a precept was issued by the court of aldermen, ordering livery gowns to be decently faced with fur. The number of livery then .

In , the company's plate was pledged, to raise towards

, the company were called upon for as their quota of expended by the city for pageants and other solemnities, and beautifying the city, against the late entrance-time of his majesty passing through the same for his coronation, and for other necessary and public service of the city.

In , the company of stationers contributed towards the repairs of .

In , it having been noticed that some of the assistants, and others of the livery, came to the hall in falling bands, doublets slashed and cut, or other indecent apparel, not suitable to the habit of citizens; it was ordered that the assistants do come to the hall on court-days in ruff bands.

,

A decree of the Star-chamber concerning printing,

In , the several companies were required to lend to the king; of which the stationers' quota was and in , in like manner, towards which they paid l In , they were called on to pay a week for months, besides for a royal subsidy. To defray these heavy charges, all their plate was sold, except Mr. Hulet's standing cup, the white plate at an ounce, parcel of gilt plate at and another at

In , ounces of plate were pledged for to answer the assessment of a week for months.

In , a precept occurs, from the lord mayor, ordering the company to substitute the arms of the commonwealth for those of the late king; and to remove the king's picture and all monarchial arms out of the hall.

, the court after the fire of London was held at Cooks' hall; and afterwards at St. Bartholomew's hospital, in the Lame Hospital hall.

. All the ruined ground, as well belonging to the hall as to other tenements of the company destroyed by the late dreadful fire, to be forthwith cleared, and measured.

. A precept was received, to attend the lord mayor, for receiving his majesty's pleasure about rebuilding the company's hall.

. The application of a nonconformist minister, with the elders of his church, for the use of the company's hall as a meeting-place for their congregation, was refused.

In , on account of the public funeral of the gallant and ever-to-be-lamented lord Nelson, the master and wardens, with of the senior members of the company, attended the solemn

The present hall is a plain building of brick; it as substantially repaired, cased with stone, and modernized, in the year , by the late Robert Mylne, esq. Before it is a paved court-yard, inclosed by a handsome iron railing, with gates. The front exhibits a range of large arched windows, an ornamented entrance, and a neat cornice with pannels of bas reliefs above. The basement story, and some other parts of the fabric,

serve as warehouses for the company's stock of printed books, and for other printed books which are the property of such individual members of the fraternity as choose to rent them.

the arms and crest of the company, which were preserved for their antiquity and excellence,

Learning,

Religion.

Mary, queen of Scots, escaping from Lochlevin castle by the assistance of George Douglas.

The court room is a spacious apartment, to which another was added in . The former is divided from the latter by elegant columns of scagliola marble. This noble apartment is lighted by large windows, and an elegant lanthorn at the west end; the widows are hung with crimson curtains, festooned, and overlook a pleasant garden. The ceiling is coved, and richly ornamented with stucco-work; it rises from an elegant composite cornice, and from the centre is suspended a large chandelier of cut glass. The chimney-piece, which is composed of variegated marbles, has a beautifully enriched frieze, finely sculptured with fruits and flowers in the boldest relief, and similar decorations are extended to the cornice in various tasteful and picturesque forms. At the west end of this apartment is a fine painting by West, of

king Alfred dividing his last loaf with the poor pilgrim.

In the Stock Room, which opens from the hall, and in which the

mercantile part of the company's business is transacted,

ob.

1721

, aet.

57

,

a man, who for more than half a century stood unrivalled as a learned printer; and to his literary and professional abilities added an excellent moral character.

printers, compositors or pressmen,

Besides the above bequests, various others have been made to this company for charitable purposes; and much advantage is also derived from the produce of the sale of Almanacks, and the joint stock, or capital, connected with it, which is divided into shares, half-shares, quarter-shares, and half-quarter shares, and held by different classes of its members. The freemen are numerous, and includes stationers, printers, booksellers, bookbinders, &c. The company's hall, has been frequently the scene of musical concerts,

On the east side of , Blackfriars, is

[] Vide, ante, p. 364.

[] It is to be regretted that the city companies do not allow extracts of an historical nature to be made from their archives; the illustrations that would be afforded to the history, manners, customs, and policy of our ancestors, would be immense. It reflects also great discredit on numerous masters of companies, possessed of unbounded wealth, and possessing the power of publishing separate histories of their companies, that with the exception of the above work, nothing has been done respecting the remaining ninety companies! It is to be hoped that on the completion of the labours of the record commission some notice will be taken in parliament of the public stores of information hoarded up in the city, and which (without trenching on the rights and privileges of the corporation) ought to be printed, if only to illustrate our national history.

[] Vol. iii, p. 545.

[] Stowe, ed. 1618, p, 649.

[] Engraved in Hansard's Typographia.