The first law in Spain was followed by an ever increasing strictness under the inquisitor who drew up several indices of prohibited books, completely independent of the official Roman lists.

The German Diets and the French kings were careful to give their subjects the benefit of their selection of reading matter.

In England, too, lists of prohibited books were drawn up under all the Tudors.

Mary restricted the right to print to licensed members of the Stationers' Company; Elizabeth put the matter in the hands of Star Chamber.

[Sidenote: 1559] A special license was required by the Injunctions, and a later law was aimed at "seditious, schismatic or libellous books and other fantastic writings." [Sidenote: 1588] [Sidenote: Catalogues of dangerous books] The idea of a complete catalogue of heretical and dangerous writings under ecclesiastical censure took its rise in the Netherlands.