The Stationers’ Company
. In 1403, by the
authority of the Lord Mayor and Court of
Aldermen of the City of London, the stationers
were formed into a guild or fraternity, and had
their ordinances made for the good government
of their fellowship. Thus constituted, they
regularly assembled, under the government of
a master and two wardens. Their first hall
was in Milk Street; but, notwithstanding all
the endeavours that have been made, no privilege
or charter has yet been discovered under
which they acted as a corporate body. It
appears from the most authentic records
that the Company of Stationers, or text-writers who
wrote and sold all sorts of books then in use,
namely, A. B. C. with the Paternoster, Ave,
Creed, Grace, etc., to large portions of the
Bible, even to the whole Bible itself, dwelt in
and about Paternoster Row. Hence we have,
in that neighbourhood, Creed Lane, Amen
Corner, Ave Maria Lane, etc., all places named
after some Scripture allusions.