The original and growth of printing collected out of history, and the records of this kingdome : wherein is also demonstrated, that printing appertaineth to the prerogative royal, and is a flower of the crown of England / by Richard Atkyns. Atkyns, Richard, 1615-1677. 1664 Approx. 69 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 18 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A26139 Wing A4135 ESTC R22866 12125456 ocm 12125456 54586 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A26139) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 54586) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 756:5) The original and growth of printing collected out of history, and the records of this kingdome : wherein is also demonstrated, that printing appertaineth to the prerogative royal, and is a flower of the crown of England / by Richard Atkyns. Atkyns, Richard, 1615-1677. [11], 24 p., 1 leaf of plates. Printed by John Streater for the author, London : 1664. Includes bibliographical references. Dedication and Epistle to the Parliament signed: Richard Atkins. First published anonymously as a broadside, without date. BM gives date, 1660? Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. 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Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor. The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines. Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Printing -- History -- Origin and antecedents. Printing -- England -- History. 2006-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-03 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-04 Andrew Kuster Sampled and proofread 2006-04 Andrew Kuster Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion PER ME REGES REGNANT IUSTITIA STABILITUR SOLIUM SCRIPTURA ET LEGES SUNT FUNDAMENTA CORONAE CEDANT ARMA TOGAE THE Original and Growth OF PRINTING : COLLECTED Out of HISTORY , and the Records of this KINGDOME . Wherein is also Demonstrated , That PRINTING appertaineth to the Prerogative Royal ; and is a Flower of the Crown of England . By RICHARD ATKYNS , Esq ; White-Hall , April the 25 th . 1664. By Order and Appointment of the Right HONOURABLE , Mr. Secretary MORICE , Let this be Printed . THO : RYCHAUT . LONDON : Printed by JOHN STREATER , for the AUTHOR , MDCLXIV . TO THE KINGS MOST Excellent Maiesty . Most Gracious and Dread Soveraign , THough I had the Honour to be very well known to His Majesty of ever Blessed Memory , Your most Royall Father , and to be a Sufferer in the loss of a considerable Estate , for His most Just Cause , yet I may not be so well known to Your Sacred Person : however , the same Duty that moved Me ▪ to fight for Him , remains in Me to write for You ; not out of any Confidence in my Pen ( for I am the first shall judge that my Self ) but out of Conscience and Loyalty to my Soveraign ; for whose sake , I resolve to hazard Censure , rather than to be wanting in any Discovery , that may tend to Your Majesties Interest , and indubitate Right . The least loss of Power in a Magistrate , is a great Detriment to his Government , and an Advantage to his Enemies ; the least Creep-Window robs the whole House ; the least Errour in War not to be redeem'd ▪ And as that ever Blessed late Martyr said ( when He gave his Watch of Government ▪ to be cleansed by the too-long Parliament ) the least Pin of it being left out , would cause a Discord in the whole : Therefore might Solomon well say , Where the Word of a King is there is Power : The King and Power being Relatives . That Printing belongs to Your Majesty , in Your publique and private Capacity , as Supream Magistrate , and as Proprietor , I do with all boldness affirm ; and that it is a considerable Branch of the Regal Power , will no Loyal Person deny : for it ties , and unties the very Hearts of the People , as please the Author : If the Tongue , that is but a little Member , can set the Course of Nature on Fire ; how much more the Quill , which is of a flying Nature in it self ▪ and so Spiritual , that it is in all Places at the same time ; and so Powerful , when it is cunningly handled , that it is the Peoples Deity . That this Power which is intire and inherent in Your Majesties Person , and inseparable from Your Crown , should be divided , and divolve upon Your Officers ( though never so great and good ) may be of dangerous Consequence : You are the Head of the Church , and Supream of the Law ; shall the Body govern the Head ? Men use to trust , when they cannot avoid it ; but that there may be a Derivative and Ministerial Power in them , with Appeal to Your Majesty , I do with all Humility admit and propose . Printing is like a good Dish of Meat , which moderately eaten of , turns to the Nourishment and health of the Body ; but immoderately , to Surfeits and Sicknesses : As the Vso is very necessary , the Abuse is very dangerous : Cannot this Abuse be remedied any other way , then by depriving Your Majesty of Your Antient and Just Power ? How were the Abuses taken away in Queen Elizabeth , King James , and the beginning of King Charles his time , when few or no Scandals or Libels were stirring ? Was it not by Fining , Imprisoning , Seizing the Books , and breaking the Presses of the Transgressors , by Order of Councel-Board ? Was it not otherwise when the Jurisdiction of that Court was taken away by Act of Parliament , 17 Car. If Princes cannot redress Abuses , can less Men redress them ? I dare positively say , the Liberty of the Press , was the principal furthering Cause of the Confinement of Your most Royal Fathers Person : for , after this Act , every Male-content vented his Passion in Print ; Some against his Person , some against his Government , some against his Religion , and some against his Parts : the Common People that before this Liberty believed even a Ballad , because it was in Print , greedily suckt in these Scandals , especially being Authorized by a God of their own making : the Parliament finding the Faith of the Deceived People to be implicitely in them , Printed the Remonstrance , the Engagement to live and dye with the Earl of Essex , the Covenant , &c. and so totally possest the Press that the King could not be heard : By this means the Common People became not onely Statists , but Parties in the Parliaments Cause , hearing but one side ▪ and then Words begat Blows : for though Words of themselves are too weak Instruments to Kill a Man ; yet they can direct how , and when , and what Men shall be killed : In the Statute of 21 Jac. Printing keeps very ▪ able Company ▪ as Salt-Peter , Gun-Powder , Ordnance , &c. all which are Exempted from being Monopolies . Not to be longer tedious , I too much fear , this late Act for two years compleats all the former Concessions of the late King : I know it was done in hast , and with a good Intent ; but by Your Majesties Gracious Leave and Pardon , even then very considerable Persons in Your House of Commons , were of Opinion they had nothing to do with it , the Power of the Press being so wholly in Your Majesty . Indeed , Necessity that hath no Law , was the cause of this Law , viz. to hinder the Growth of Scandalous Books and Pamphlets ; but it hath fallen very short of the End : for few or none , of many Printed , have bin brought in by the Stationers . I have now discharged my Duty to Your Majesty , and if I find I have so far prevailed upon Your Royall Goodness , as to ask unconcern'd Councel what is best to be done , I have my End ; I hope Your Majesty will have the Advantage . So prayeth , Your Sacred Majesties most Humble Servant , and most obedient Subject , RICHARD ATKINS . TO The Right Honourable , THE LORDS ▪ AND TO The Honourable , THE COMMONS ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT . May it please your Honours , I Have ever better understood mine own Disabilities , then to desire to appear in Print , where the Author stands as a Butt to be shot at , by the sharp Arrows of every busie Critick , and runs a most certain hazard , and most uncertain Benefit : But having been above twenty three years in Chancery , and other Courts of Justice ; and spent more then One Thousand Pounds , in vindicating the Kings Grant of Printing the Common Laws of England , and His Lawful Power to grant the same , and kept His Title alive even in the worst of Times ( when 't was reputed unlawful , because the Kings ▪ ) I cannot refrain from defending it , now the King is , or ought to be , restored to His Rights again ; especially since all Persons are invited by Order to speak their Minds freely concerning this Subject : So that there is a Necessity upon me to speak now , or for ever hereafter to hold my Peace ; this being probably the last time of Asking . 'T is not unknown to every Member of each House , how little Benefit hath accrued to the Kingdom , by the late Act of Parliament for two years , Entituled , An ACT for preventing the frequent Abuses in Printing Seditious , Treasonable , and Unlicensed Books and Pamphlets , &c. Which Act determines June next : Nor can it be thought , but that there is cause enough for another Act to take place , when this is expired . The Reason why this present Act hath operated so little is most apparent ; because the Executive Power is plac'd in the Company of Stationers , who onely can offend , and whose Interest it is to do so : They are both Parties and Judges , and 't were a high Point of Self-denial for Men to punish themselves : But they will wipe their Mouthes with Solomon's Harlot , and take it very unkindly , if the same , or a greater Power be not continued to them in the next Act to be made : They will promise as fair as the Long Parliament did to the late King ( to make Him a Glorious King ) and perform it as certainly as they did too . Jugglers seldome shew the same Trick twice together ; and the Italian Proverb is , If a man deceive me once , 't is his fault ; if twice , it is mine own : That the Great Councel of this Nation , should further trust those that have deceived them already , and believe fair Pretences , contrary to Reason and Practice , would be a sad Fate upon Us all ; when wofull Experience tells Us , That if the King be taken from being Head of the Law , there will not want a Law to take off His Head in a short time . There were a sort of People in King David's time , which imagined Mischief as a Law ; as in the late King's time , that practised Mischief by a Law : Which might incline the Parliament to frame a strict Law against this kind of Mischief . But I hope the King's Mercy in forgivin such , ( by which He imitates His Maker ) will find so hearty a Conversion , that Ingratitude shall never joyn with Rebellion , to provoke a Tyrannical Government over this Kingdom : such Men ( if I may so call them ) are worse then the Gentiles , of whom St. Paul saith , That having not the Law , and doing by Nature the things contained in the Law , are a Law unto themselves , which shew the Law written in their Hearts ; nay , worse then Beasts , who by Nature observe a Law amongst themselves . Shall Sense and Reason alone teach Creatures willingly to confine themselves to certain Rules for the Common Good , and shall Professors of Christianity break them ? Shall the Law of Nature command Men to be free from offending ; and shall the Law of God be thought to command them to be free to offend ? Let not our too-near Neighbours the Turks have that Advantage against Us. But whilest I declaim against others for breaking their Bounds , I may be thought guilty of committing the same Errour myself ; I shall therefore most humbly beg your Honours Pardon , and rest , Your Honours Most Humble , and Faithful Servant , RICHARD ATKINS . THE Originall and Grovvth OF PRINTING . REASON is the great Distinction between Man and Beast ; Gusman calls the Man of most Knowledg , A God amongst Men. And Bishop Hall divides the whole Duty of Man into Knowledg and Practice . In the Infancy of the World ( especially before the Sealing of the Scripture-Canon ) God Revealed himself and his Will frequently , either Vocally by himself , as to Moses in the Mount ; or else by divers and sundry other manners , As by Dreams , Visions , Prophecies , Extasies , Oracles , and other Supernatural means : Nor will I Blow up the Humours of these Times so high , as to Confine these his Miraculous Revelations to Gods People onely ( though to them most frequently and especially ) , but sometimes also to Hypocrites within the Church , as to Saul and others ; yea and sometimes even to Infidels , as to Pharaoh , Balaam , Nebuchadnezzar , Abimelech , &c. But since the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles , ( commonly called the Scriptures ) And that the Christian Church by the Preaching of the Gospel , is become Oecumenical , Dreams and other Supernaturall Revelations , as also other things of like nature as Miracles , have ceased to be of ordinary and familiar use ; So as now we ought rather to suspect Delusion in them , than ●o expect Direction from them : Yet God hath no where abridged or Limited himself from these supernatural wayes of Revealing his Will , in case his Written Word should be taken from us , or we from it : But we of this Latter Age have all these so Lively represented to our View , by the benefit of Printing , as if we our selves were personally present : For Printing is of so Divine a Nature , that it makes a Thousand years but as yesterday , by Prèsenting to our View things done so long before ; and so Spirituall withall , that it flyes into all parts parts of the World without Weariness . Finally , 't is so great a Friend to the Schollar , that he may make himself Master of any Art or Science that hath been treated of for 2000 years before , in lesse than two years time . But Virtue it self will not want Opposers , and Philosophy is ever odious to ignorant Ears : Nay , there are a sort of People in the World , that account Ignorance the Mother of Devotion , and therefore out of Conscience would not have even the Scriptures Printed in the Mother Tongue : But I shall not go out of my own Way , to bring them unto it , further than by defending the Theame I have in hand . Concerning the time of bringing this Excellent ART into England , and by whose Expence and Procurement it was brought ; Modern Writers of good Reputation do most erroniously agree together . Mr. Stowe in his Survey of London , speaking of the 37th year of King Henry the Sixth his Reign , which was Anno Dom. 1459. saith , That the Noble Science of PRINTING was about this time found in Germany at Magunce by one John Cuthenbergus a Knight , And that William Caxton of London , Mercer , brought it into England about the Year 1471. And first practised the same in the Abby of St. Peter at Westminster ; With whom Sir Richard Baker in his Chronicle agrees throughout . And Mr. Howell in his Historicall Discourse of London and Westminster , agrees with both the former in the Time , Person , and Place in generall ; but more particularly declares the Place in Westminster to be the Almory there ; And that Islip Abbot of Westminster set up the first Press of Book Printing that ever was in England . These three famous Historians having fill'd the World with the supposed truth of this Assertion , ( Although possibly it might arise through the mistake of the first Writer only , whose Memory I perfectly honour ) makes it the harder Task upon me to undeceive the World again : Nor wouldI undertake this Work , but under a double notion ; As I am a Friend to Truth , and so it is unfit to suffer one Man to be intituled to the worthy Atchievements of another . And as a Friend to my self , not to lose one of my best Arguments of Intituling the King to this ART in his Private Capacity . Historians must of necessity take many things upon trust , they cannot with their own but with the Eyes of others see what things were done before they themselves were , Bernardus non vidit omnia ; 'T is not then impossible they should mistake . I shall now make it appear they have done so , from their Own , as well as from other Arguments : Mr. Stowe his Expressions are very dubious , and the matter exprest very Improbable ; He saith PRINTING was found in Magunce , which presupposes it was practised some where else before , and lost : And further , That 't was found in the Reign of Henry the Sixth , Anno Dom. 1459. and not brought into England till Eleven years in the succeeding Reign of Edward the Fourth , being 12 years after , as if it had been lost again . If this be true , there was as little Rarity as Expedition in obtaining it , the age of 12 years time having intervened , and so indeed it might be the Act of a Mercer rather than a more eminent Person : But when I consider what great advantage the Kingdome in general receives by it , I could not but think a Publique Person and a Publique Purse must needs be concerned in so publique a Good. The more I Considered of this , the more inquisitive I was to find out the truth of it : At last , a Book came to my hands Printed at Oxon. Anno Dom. 1468. which was three years before any of the recited Authours would allow it to be in England ; which gave me some reward for my Curiosity , and encouragement to proceed further : And in prosecution of this Discovery , the same most worthy Person who trusted me with the aforesaid Book , did also present me with the Copy of a Record and Manuscript in Lambeth-House , heretofore in his Custody , belonging to the See ( and not to any particular Arch-Bishop of Canterbury ) the Substance whereof was this , ( though I hope , for publique satisfaction , the Record it self , in its due time , will appear . ) Thomas Bourchier , Arch-Bishop of Canterbury , moved the then King ( Hen. the 6th ) to use all possible means for procuring a Printing-Mold ( for so 't was there called ) to be brought into this Kingdom ; the King ( a good Man , and much given to Works of this Nature ) readily hearkned to the Motion ; and taking private Advice , how to effect His Design , concluded it could not be brought about without great Secrecy , and a considerable Sum of Money given to such Person or Persons , as would draw off some of the Work-men from Harlein in Holland , where John Cuthenberg had newly invented it , and was himself personally at Work : 'T was resolv'd , that less then one Thousand Marks would not produce the desir'd Effect : Towards which Sum , the said Arch-Bishop presented the King with Three Hundred Marks . The Money being now prepared , the Management of the Design was committed to Mr. Robert TurnoUr , who then was of the Roabs to the King , and a Person most in Favour with Him , of any of his Condition : Mr. Turnour took to his Assistance Mr. Caxton , a Citizen of good Abilities , who Trading much into Holland , might be a Creditable Pretence , as well for his going , as stay in the Low-Countries : Mr. Turnour was in Disguise ( his Beard and Hair shaven quite off ) but Mr. Caxton appeared known and publique . They having received the said Sum of One Thousand Marks , went first to Amsterdam , then to Leyden , not daring to enter Harlein it self ; for the Town was very jealous , having imprisoned and apprehended divers Persons , who came from other Parts for the same purpose : They staid till they had spent the whole One Thousand Marks in Gifts and Expences ▪ So as the King was fain to send Five Hundred Marks more , Mr. Turnour having written to the King , that he had almost done his Work ; a Bargain ( as he said ) being struck betwixt him and two Hollanders , for bringing off one of the Work-men , who should sufficiently discover and teach this New Art : At last , with much ado , they got off one of the Under-Workmen , whose Name was Frederick Corsells ( or rather Corsellis ) who late one Night stole from his Fellows in Disguise , into a Vessel prepared before for that purpose ; and so the Wind ( favouring the Design ) brought him safe to London . 'T was not thought so prudent , to set him on Work at London , ( but by the Arch-Bishops meanes , who had been Vice-Chancellor , and afterwards Chancellor of the University of Oxon ) Corsellis was carryed with a Guard to Oxon ; which Guard constantly watch'd , to prevent Corsellis from any possible Escape , till he had made good his Promise , in teaching how to Print : So that at Oxford Printing was first set up in England , which was before there was any Printing-Press , or Printer , in France , Spain , Italy , or Germany , ( except the City of Mentz ) which claimes Seniority , as to Printing , even of Harlein it self , calling her City , Urbem Maguntinam Artis Tipographicae Inventricem primam , though 't is known to be otherwise , that City gaining that Art by the Brother of one of the Workmen of Harlem , who had learnt it at Home of his Brother , and after set up for himself at Mentz . This Press at Oxon was at least ten years before there was any Printing in Europe ( except at Harlein , and Mentz ) where also it was but new born . This Press at Oxford , was afterwards found inconvenient , to be the sole Printing-place of England , as being too far from London , and the Sea : Whereupon the King set up a Press at St. Allans , and another in the Abby of Westminster , where they Printed several Bookes of Divinity and Physick , ( for the King , for Reasons best known to himself and Council ) permitted then no Law-Books to be Printed ; nor did any Printer exercise that ART , but onely such as were the Kings sworn Servants ; the King himself having the Price and Emolument for Printing Books . Printing thus brought into England , was most Graciously received by the King , and most cordially entertained by the Church , the Printers having the Honour to be sworn the King's Servants , and the Favour to Lodge in the very Bosome of the Church ; as in Westminster , St. Albans , Oxon , &c. By this meanes the ART grew so famous , that Anno prim . Rich. 3. cap. 9. when an Act of Parliament was made for Restraint of Aliens , from using any Handicrafts here ( except as Servants to Natives ) a special Provisoe was inserted , that Strangers might bring in Printed or Written Books , to sell at their pleasure , and Exercise the ART of Printing here , notwithstanding that Act : So that in the space of 40 or 50 years , by the especial Industry and Indulgence of Edw. the Fourth , Edw. the Fifth , Rich. the Third , Henry the Seventh , and Henry the Eighth , the English prov'd so good Proficients in Printing , and grew so numerous , as to furnish the Kingdome with Books ; and so Skilfull , as to print them as well as any beyond the Seas , as appears by the Act of the 25 Hen. 8. cap. 15. which Abrogates the said Provisoc for that Reason . And it was further Enacted in the said Statute , That if any person bought Forreign Books bound , he should pay 6 s. 8 d. per Book . And it was further Provided and Enacted , That in case the said Printers and Sellers of Books , were unreasonable in their prices , they should be moderated by the Lord Chancellor , Lord Treasurer , the two Lord Chief Justices , or any two of them , who also had power to Fine them 3 s. 4 d. for every Book whose price shall be enhanced . Thus was the ART of Printing , in its Infancy , Nursed up by the Nursing Father of us all , and in its riper Age brought up in Monasteries of greatest Accompt ; and yet were the Instruments thereof restrained from the Evil of enhancing the prices of Books , to the Detriment of their Fellow-Subjects , by the Authority aforesaid . While they had this Check upon them , they were not only Servants to the King , but Friends to the Kingdom : But when they were by Charter Concorporated with Book-Binders , Book-Sellers , and Founders of Letters , 3 and 4 Phil. and Mary , and called the Company of Stationers , the Body forgot the Head , and by degrees , ( breaking the Reines of Government ) they kickt against the Power that gave them Life : And whereas before they Printed nothing but by the Kings especiall Leave and Command , they now ( being free ) set up for themselves to print what they could get most Money by ; and taking the Advantage of those Virtiginous Times , of the latter end of Henry the 8. Edward the 6. and Queen Mary , they fill'd the Kingdom with so many Books , and the Brains of the People with so many contrary Opinions , that these Paper-pellets became as dangerous as Bullets , to verifie that Saying of Tertullian , That Lawyers Gowns hurt the Common-wealth as much as Souldiers Helmets . Thus was this excellent and desireable ART , within less than one hundred years , so totally vitiated , that whereas they were before the King's Printers and Servants , they now grew so poor , so numerous , and contemptible , by being Concorporated , that they turn'd this famous ART into a Mechanick Trade for a Livelyhood . But here I must break off ( though abruptly ) and answer an Objection ; for methinks I hear the Critick say , How can that be a Mechanick Trade now , that the Author allowes to be a famous Art heretofore , being alwayes one and the same thing ? The Matter of which before I answer , I must crave leave to give you the signification of the Word Mechanick ; the rather , because the several sorts of Trades , of which the Company of Stationers are Composed ( and more particularly the Book-Sellers who say they are of no Manufacture ) do peremptorily deny themselves to be Mechanicks . The Word Mechanicus , which signifies a Handicrafts-man , doth in the strict Sense comprehend Printers , Founders of Letters , and Book-Binders ; And I believe , in the large Sense , all Trades-men whatsoever : But if that be deficient , let us go to the Original Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies , a Cunning Contrivance of the Head , as well as Hand ; and this will certainly take in all Trades , for as much as there is Cunning in all Trades : But if it should miss any , yet it cannot fail of the Company of Stationers , because they are denominated a Mystery , and there the strict signification of the Word comes in again . Now for the matter of the Objection , That a Famous ART cannot be a Mechannick Trade . I Answer , This is so far from being true , that there is nothing in Nature but is good or bad according as 't is us'd ; for the great Creator of all things made nothing to no purpose ; even Meat and Drink ( without which we cannot live ) if abus'd , destroyes life ; Twenty dye of Surfets , for one that is starved for want of Meat . But to give you an instance ad idem : Musick is not onely an Art , but one of the Liberall Arts practised by Princes themselves , and made instrumentall to the Glory of God ; yet what Trade is there more despicable in the World both in Name and Nature , than a Common Fidler ; though he may draw as good a sound out of an Instrument , and have as much Art in Playing and Composing as any Gentleman , yet if he get his Living by it , and makes it his Trade , he is still but a Fidler : and herein I pity him more than any of other Professions , because he perverts the Creation , and turns Day into Night ; for most commonly when sober Persons are in Bed , he must play to please the humours of the lighter sort ; And though his Heart be ready to break through Melancholy , he must sing a merry Song to delight the Company , if commanded , or have his Fiddle sing about his Ears : Is not this Mechanick , think you ? But to Return where I digrest ; Printing became now so dangerous to the Common-wealth , That there were more Books Burnt in Ten years , than could be Printed in Twenty : And now it concern'd the Prince altogether as much to Suppress the Abuse , as it was before to Obtain the Use of Printing ; And had there not been a Reserve of Licensing such Books as should be Printed still remaining in the Crown , they might have published the wickedness of their own Imaginations with Authority . But Queen Elizabeth at her very first Entrance to the Crown , finding so great Disorders in Church and State , by reason of the abuse in Printing , Secures in the first place the Law and the Gospel , of both which the Kings and Queens of England have inherent Right as Heads of the Church , and Supream of the Law ; and not onely in their publique , but private Capacity , as Proprietors ; the Power and Signiory of this , under Favour , cannot be severed from the Crown : The Kings being the Trustees of the People , who have formerly taken an Oath at their Coronation , That they shall keep all the Lands , Honours , and Dignities , Rights , and Freedoms of the Crown of England , in all manner whole , without any manner of minishment ; and the Right of the Crown , hurt , decay'd , or lost , to their Power shall call again into the Antient Estate . Which Oath , the said Queen kept inviolably , and liv'd the more quietly for it all the time of her Reign , and died in Peace . True it is , they may , and do gratifie their Friends and Servants , in giving them the Emoluments and Profits that arise from Printing ; but the Power they cannot alienate from the Crown , without losing the most pretious Stone out of their Diadem . To shew you one Example for all , the said Queen , the first Year of her Reign , grants by Patent the Priviledge of sole Printing all Books , that touch or concern the Common-Laws of England , to Tottel a Servant to her Majesty , who kept it intire to his Death : After him , to one Yestweirt , another Servant to Her Majesty : After him , to Weight and Norton ; and after them , King James grants the same Priviledge to More , one of His Majesties Clerks of the Signet ; which Grant continues to this Day ; and so for the Bible , the Statute-Laws , the Book of Common-Prayer , Proclamations , as much as the Grammer , the Primer , &c. art all granted by Kings and Queens , not onely to gratifie their Friends and Servants , but to preserve the Regal Power and Authority on Foot , and these Books from being corrupted . The Truth of this the most impudent Opponent will not deny , because the Patents themselves give Evidence against them ; nor will they deny in words ( though they do daily in fact ) that the King hath Power to make such Grants . But this they will Object and say , That Gentlemen being not Printers by Trade , nor Free of the Company of Stationers , can never find out the Abuses of Printing themselves , nor understand the Cheats of them , they being so many ; but they must be discovered either by the Printers , or the Company of Stationers , or both together : This is the Common Objection . To which I Answer ; The Objection cannot properly lye against any man for being a Gentleman , because the greatest Nobleman will not deny himself to be one , nor can he with Honour refuse a Challenge from any Gentleman : And the very Mechanick is so willing to disguise his want of Gentility , that when he arrives to a Considerable Estate , he is very forward to purchase Honour . Nor can I think any man the less knowing for being a Gentleman , whose Education is most commonly at School , at the University , the Inns of Court , Travell , or both ; Whereas the Education of a Mechanick is only at School , without any other Improvements : This being the Course that each of them generally runs , 't is strange if the Gentleman should not get the start , and be better known to Letters , Manners , and Men , than the Mechanick . But this Objection goes further . That though they may know Letters , &c. better than the Mechanick , yet they can never arrive to a full Discovery of the Mystery and deceitfull part of the Trade ; that they must give Handicrafts men leave to know best . To which I Answer ; First , That there is no Magick in this Art ; Jugglers they may be , but Conjurers they are not . Secondly , That Gentlemen may and do know the Mystery and Deceipt of the Trade as well as those that act it ; but their knowledg tends different wayes . It is the Gentlemen or Patentees part to detect and hinder this Deceipt ; As 't is the Stationers to promote and practice it : Their Profit blinds them so , that they resemble certain Birds , who when they hide their heads , think none can see their Bodies ; Or like Children , who after a fault Committed , wink themselves , thinking thereby that none can find them out . To render this possible , I will give you an Instance of a Person , that none can deny to be a Gentleman , though he were much more , ( I mean the late King ) who was not onely aliquis in omnibus , but singularis in omnibus . This excellent Prince , hearing of a rare Head , amongst several other Pictures , brought Me from Rome , sent Sir James Palmer , to bring it to Whitehall to Him , where were present divers Picture-Drawers and Painters : He ask'd them all , Of whose Hand that was ? Some guest at it ; Others were of another Opinion ; but none was positive : At last , said the King , This is such a Man's Hand , I know it as well , as if I had seen him draw it : But ( said he ) is there but one Man's Hand in this Picture ? None could discern , whether there was or not : But most concluded , there was but one Hand : Said He , I am sure there are two Hands in it , for I know the Hand that drew the Heads ; but the Hand that drew the rest , I never saw before . Upon this , a Gentleman that had been at Rome , about Ten Years before , affirmed , That he saw this very Picture , with the two Heads , unfinished at that time ; And that he heard his Brother ( who staid there some years after him ) say , that the Widow of the Painter that drew it wanting Money , got the best Master she could find to finish it , and make it saleable . Is it not strange , that the King that was no Picture-Drawer himself , should see further into a Picture , than Painters by Trade . But were the Objection true ( as 't is much to be doubted ) yet were the Patentees still the very fittest Persons to be imployed , in redressing the Evils of the Press , wherein they are concern'd , because their Interest leads them to it : And Men will come to a soon Discovery , even of obscure things , where their Interest inclines them ; Indeed , the Printers Argument against the Booksellers , &c. being all of the Company of Stationers , doth hold in point of Government amongst themselves , That 't is absurd and ridiculous for any , to have the Rule and Oversight of that which they have no insight in . But this is not at all applicable ( nor do they intend it to be so ) to the King's Patentees ; who ( if they be not Printers themselves , nor have a Printer of their own ) agree with one to Print such a Book , whereof they have the Propriety , which Printer gives him Security to Print the same perfect , and with a fair Letter ; it matters not whether the Pattentee can set the Letters , or have Skill in the Manufacture himself ; 't is sufficient for him to examine it with his Copy when 't is done , ( which Copy cannot erre , because it is under the publique Licence ) and try whether it be as 't was agreed ; and if it be not as it ought to be in all respects , the Printer loseth his Labour and Charge : 'T is the Printers Interest then as well as the Patentees , to Print it perfect and fair ; without which , ( should they both joyn together ) they could not vend it , after 't was Printed . I confess , it would argue an ill Nature in me , not to be sorry for the just Occasion the Printers have to complain of their Brethren the Booksellers , were it not for this , That when some men fall out , others shall hear of their Goods : Yet I cannot but side with the Printers thus far , as to Declare , That they , with the Founders of Letters , are the onely Instruments of absolute Necessity in this ART ; whereas Book-Sellers might be supply'd out of the She-Shopkeepers in Westminster-Hall , if all the rest were higher promoted . In fine , These Book-Sellers are the Drones that devour the Honey , made by the Laborious Printers ; I cannot so sensibly express it , as themselves have done : therefore hear them ▪ and not Me ; Say they , So far were the Stationers from redressing the Printers Wrongs , that some of themselves , took upon themselves , the Exercise of their Function , and gave a Forreigner his Freedom gratis , to inable him to usurp the Exercise of the Printers Calling ; and to compleat the Abuse , Erect a Printing-House of their own : so as it is become a Question among the Book-Sellers , Whether a Printer ought to have any Copy or no ? Or if he have , They ( keeping the Register ) will hardly enter it : Or if they do , they and their Accomplices will use all means to disparage it , if not down-right counterfeit it , that they Tyrannize over Printers . And further , That for want of a due Establishment , Transgressors never want Incouragers to begin , or Chapmen to vend such Ware , when finished among the Stationers . They desire , that such as are free of the Trade , may be free indeed , and not manumitted ( as of late ) from the Service of one Master , to the Slavery of many Tyrants : That the Stationers have Usurped their Callings , and incouraged , yea hired others so to do , and stand related to each other , as the Buyer to the Seller . Upon all which , they refer their Cause , to the same Power that gave them theirs , who may resume , or abridge the same , upon Mis-use , at their pleasure . This is a sad Complaint of Elder Brethren against their Younger ; if one Dog will not prey upon another , what Reason can be given , why Men should devour Men ? And if this be the Usage those must trust to , to whom they profess Friendship ; what is like to become of the Patentees , against whom they profess Enmity ? If such a Power be continued to them , which I hope will be seriously considered of , before it shall be re-granted . Success ( which usually gives Confidence ) hath so hardned them , that having not felt the Justice of the King's Hand , for above twenty years last past , they now begin to swear Him out of , and Themselvs into , this Part of His Regal Power : For they being lately Examined upon Interrogatories , between Atkins et Uxor . Plaintiffs , and Flesher and the Stationers Defendants ; some of them ( I am sure ) are so streight-mouth'd , that they do not declare the whole Truth of what they know on our Part , and seem to make a Conscience of Swearing at all ; As if St. Paul had been in an Errour , when he said , An Oath for Confirmation , is an end of Strife . Indeed , they strein'd at a Gnat , but when they were to swear on the other Part ( namely their own ) they open their Mouthes wide enough to swallow a Camel. Say they , from the Year 1641. or 1642. until the time of His Majesties Blessed Restauration to His Crown , any Booksellers that listed , did print , or cause to he printed , such Law-Books as seemed good unto them , without Restraint or Prohibition , occasioned by the Licence of the late Times : And that such as had Licence under the King 's Grant to print Law-Books , were hindered to make the Benefit of the said Grant ; And that it was usual for such persons as printed Law-Books , to enter the same in the Book of Stationers-Hall ; And that it was conceived and taken , that such person and persons , as Entred a Copy in the said Hall-Book to be Printed , had the sole Right to print the same ; and those that claim'd the Right of Printing Law-Books under the King's Licence , were thereby taken to be Excluded , and debarred to claim any Benefit therein . Observe what a sad time the Kings Patentees endur'd for almost Twenty years together , confest by the Oaths of these honest Men , that joyn'd in dividing the Spoyl : And shall it be so still , now the King is return'd again ? I dare positively say it shall ; Witness a Book called Poulton's Abridgment , particularly Exprest in the Law-Patent , which they Printed since the Kings Restauration , by vertue of an Entry only in their Hall-Book , against the said Patent ; the Patentee's Lessee Flesher ( a principal Member of the Company ) finding the Stationers like to be worsted at the Council-Board in the Contest of their said Entry against the Kings Grant , joyns Interest with them , and also Engageth the Kings Patentees Trustee , and the Kings Printers ( who pretended Some Interest in the said Book ) on their side ; As if severall bad Titles could create one good one : By which means after Four Hearings , the Cause ( seeming to be between Party and Party ) was dismist , but with the Recommendation of the King and Councill to the Lord High Chancellor , on the behalf of the said Patentee ( who had the Equitable Right ) : The Company to requite the Lessees kindness in defending them from a Contempt against the KING , ( he being the person in Law that ought to have defended the Patent for the King against the said Company ) like Brethren — joyn with the Lessee to defend him against the Justice of the Court of Chancery , and Combine together to defeat the Patentee of his Rent by Covenant , and so bandy the Legall Interest from one hand to another , that it cannot be yet found where it Vests ; and to enable him the better , make him Master of the said Company for two years together ( never known before ) , and choose Wardens fit for the purpose , who Engage the Stock of the whole Company on his behalf , against the King 's Patentee : And being thus fortified , they published the said Book with this Title Page , Printed for the Company of Stationers , John Bill and Christopher Barker his Majesties Printers ; and so make a mixt Interest , to render the Title the more questionable in the future ; but do not so much as mention the Kings Patent at all , by which the said Book is granted by Name : This serves the Turn for the present occasion , and being so possest as aforesaid , Flesher and the Stationers give 200 l. to the Patentee's Trustee to release the Rent and Covenants of the said Lease , and the Kings Printers 100 l. or 200 l. for their assistance in so difficult a Work as this , and then sell the Impression for 1600 l. ( as appears by their own Oaths ) which Impression alone over-payes them all the Moneys they are out of Purse : And had they not been stopt in their full Carrear at the Council-Board , or rather by Injunction in Chancery , ( which they Complain of as a hinderance to their Trade also by Oath ) they had by this time altered the Ancient Law-Books , and cast them into a new Modell of their own Invention ; that by degrees the state and truth of the good Old Lawes by which Men hold their Lives and Estates , should utterly be lost and forgotten , and new Laws fram'd to fit the Humours of a new Invented Government ; which they little value , so they may have full rates for their Books , and their Goddess Diana be safe . I have gone thus far upon mine own Strength onely , without any publique or private assistance ; and because I am not willing to endure theField much longer of my self , I think it my Duty to state the Case truly as it is , and implore the Ayd of such Neighbours ( who cannot probably prevent the burning down of their own Houses , when mine is first set on fire ) : Common Experience tells us , a just Cause signifiės little of it self , if it be not backt with Diligence and Friends : Bonum apparens et bonum verum et absolute , are so like , ( though of a Contrary Nature ) that the Credit of the best Testimony gives either precedency ; 't is therefore not only hard , but impossible for one Man to Contend with a Thousand , and not be Conquered . Hercules was most Strong and Valiant , and yet , ne Hercules contra duos . I have no proper Refuge but to his Majestie in this Case , which I do chiefly Espouse for his sake , who like King David is worth Ten Thousand of us . I have not the Power to Impose , but rather to Propose his Majesties timely Assistance : Onely this I hope I may say without offence , That if the King suppose it not for his Interest ▪ I shall more willingly lay down the Cudgells , than I took them up at first : But if otherwise , I am as Careless of their Malice , as Gallio , it being not the first time I have past upon the Forlorne Hope . By this time the Impartiall Reader may inclin'd to believe , the Company of Stationers are not the fittest Persons to redress the Evills of the Press ; because 't is most certain , that none but themselves can offend : And 't would be greater Self-denyall in them than can be expected , to punish themselves contrary to their Interests . There are at least 600 Booksellers that keep Shops in and about London , and Two or three Thousand free of the Company of Stationers ; the Licensed Books of the Kingdome cannot imploy one third part of them : What shall the rest do ? I have heard some of them openly at the Committee of the House of Commons say , They will rather hang than starve ; and that a man is not hang'd for stealing but being taken ; necessitas cogit ad turpia . But this is not all , 't is not onely for their Interest not to Suppress them , but to Maintain them : An unlicensed Book bears Treble the price of another ; and generally the more Scandalous a Book is , by so much the more dear : This hath inricht the Wealthiest of them ; and when they fear losing their ill-got Goods , they put their Journy-men of the poorer sort , or their Apprentices , upon the Work , going shares with them , and taking their Oaths or other Security to be true to them , though false to all the World besides . Thus do they breed up their Youth like the Lacedemonians , who allow'd their Children little or nothing but what they could get by filching and stealing : That the Printers are Poor and Numerous , can no body deny , for it hath lately been the great Work of this Parliament to lessen their Number , and to provide for their Poor . But because Extream Prices may be doubted by those that do not usually buy , I will give you one Instance for all ; I was lately in a Book-seller's Shop , where I saw a Book in Quarto , entituled , Killing no Murder , it had but eight Leaves in all , stitcht up without binding , he demanded 5 s. for it , and would not take less : A Book of the same bigness Licensed , would have cost but 4 d. or 6 d. at the most . 'T is not then the Interest of the Company of Stationers to suppress unlicensed Books : Whose is it then ? I Confidently Affirm , it is the Patentees , who derive from the King. I shall give you one Similitude of the like Nature ; The King , as belonging to the Honor of Windsor , hath a great Quantity of Ground of which he makes little or no benefit , because it lyes in Common ; And the Neighbours thereabouts , do not onely eat the Herbage , but steal the Kings Deer , and destroy his Woods , without giving any Accompt or Satisfaction whatsoever : To prevent which Mischief , the King Incloseth several Parks , and gives the keeping of them to several Persons by Patent , reserving what he pleaseth out of them , the rest he gives the Patentees : these are still the Kings Parks , though kept by the Patentees ; for the King kills what Deer he pleaseth , disposes of the Venison , and fells the Timber for Repair of his Houses , Shipping , &c. What wrong doth He to His Neighbours , by Inclosing His own Lands , which He denyes to none of His Subjects ? Yet His Neighbours are troubled , because they cannot wrong Him as before ; and upon every Distemper of the Common-wealth , destroy the Fences , and make it Common again . Is it not ( think You ) the Interest of the Pattentees , to defend the Kings Right , and their own Profit under Him , and to prosecute the Law against such Offenders ? Is not the Interest of the King and His Patentees so involv'd , that they cannot be divided ? Just so is it by Inclosing Printing ; the King ( having the Right thereof , as much as of any Crown-Lands ) Grants all sorts of Books , necessary for the Education of Youth , or the Improvements of Age , or whatsoever else is usefull for Soul , Body , or Estate , to several Persons by Patent ; it will much concern these Patentees , in Honour and Profit both , to see their several Grants be not Trespassed upon , nor Corrupted by others : And so they have ever kept their Copies intire , till the latter end of the late King Charles His Reign ; At which time ▪ the Company of Stationers , by fair Pretences , ( as they did before to Queen Mary , to get their Charter ) obtain'd a Decree of Star-Chamber , to Invest the Executive Power of Printing in them , against the Patentees ; and then Libellous and scandalous Books and Pamphlets began to fly about like Lightning : And when this was strengthned with an Act of 17 Car. which took away the Jurisdiction of the Councel-Board and the Star-Chamber ( at least between Party and Party ) , their Mischief was compleated , and they impowred to vent the Passions of all Discontented Minds in Print , against Monarchy and Episcopacy ; which they persu'd with such Diligence and Success , that they did eradicate both Root and Branch : Whereas the Council-Board , and the Star-Chamber , did usually Fine and Imprison such Transgressors ▪ Of which , I can shew several Presidents , from the time of Queen Elizabeth , to this King's Reign . But it may be said , Scandalous , Libellous , and Heretical Books may be Printed of themselves , without any Relation to the several kinds of Books granted by Patent . I Answer , 'T is very true ; but as long as the Gospel , the Lawes , and all other Books for the Advancement of Learning , good Manners , and Education of Youth , that are in Grant , be kept intire , without any mixture of Heresie , Scandall , or Schisme , 't will go a great way in preventing Libells and Scandalls ; and the Parliament may do the rest with greater Ease , by reducing the Number of Presses , and inflicting great Penalties upon such as shall Print and Publish unlicensed Books and Pamphlets : Which Penalties cannot be too big , because it lyes in their own power whether they will offend or not . If the Power this Parliament hath given the Company of Stationers , had taken any good Effect , they might have possibly continued it : But as a Worthy Gentleman Notes , amongst other most true and Ingenious Observations , That not one Person hath been Fin'd , and but one prosecuted , by the Company of Stationers , since the late ACT , notwithstanding so much Treason and Sedition Printed and disperst since that time ; but he himself ( being an Active Gentleman and Loyall Subject ) hath Discovered more within this two years , than the Company of Stationers have done ever since they had a Charter . To this give me leave to adde , That 't is not likely ( setting profit aside ) even in order to Kingly Government , they should suppress these Books ; for a Corporation being in it self a Petit - State , is inconsistent with Monarchy . Wofull Experience tells us , That very few , if any , went further with the KING than their own Interests led them ; Which puts me in mind of a Story of Queen ELIZABETH , who being at Quinborough upon an Occasion , the Maior of the Town brought her onwards of her Way so far , till the Queen desir'd him to return back again , saying , he had brought her far enough : To which he replyed , Madam , I 'le bring your Majestie as far as my Way lyes . For his Worship , being a Landed Man , had a small Tenement about a mile further . I wish Corporations would do but as much as that , and not go out of their Way to destroy Monarchy ; for I must needs confess , that shining Shooes and set Ruffs were very forward to sit in Judgment upon the late King's Party , for doing but their Duty to their PRINCE , which they themselves ought to have done . And here I might take occasion to say , That though the Lawes of GOD be infinite and everlasting , and fitted for all Times and Persons , yet the Lawes of Men are like themselves , finite , imperfect , and subject to Infirmity , and Death it self , as the makers are : Hence it comes , that so many Laws are repeal'd , and others made in their rooms ; and hence it may come , that all lesser Governments under a Monarchy may by misuser be wholly taken away , or else abated ; as was heretofore the Barons Power by their so often taking up Arms against the KING ; and the two Hundreds of Dudson and Kings Barton , who were by this very Parliament taken out of the Jurisdiction of Gloueester , though enjoy'd by them ever since the Times of Richard the Third , the Grant being judg'd unreasonable ; our best Lawes and Constitutions by Age losing strength and vigour , as our Bodies do , either by the Crafty Evasions of the Offendors , or by the alteration of their Vices , or by the male-administration of Justice upon the Malefactors ; for the just performance of which last , none have greater Encouragement than the reward of a good Conscience to fortifie them against the malice of those they punish ; who though they Act according to their best Judgment , yet by reason of some doubtful penning of a Law , Offenders are also many times taken out of the hand of Justice , to the very great encouragement of the Delinquents , and discouragement of the Punishers ; insomuch , as when Twyn was lately arraign'd for Printing Treason , he was condemn'd by the old Law , though there be a new one now Extant for that very purpose . And so I return to the Stationers again ; where I find them very Sollicitous with the Parliament to Enlarge , or at least Confirm , this Power they have already , ( resolving to have it by Hook or by Crook ) and Promising all care and diligence for the future , if they shall be once more trusted ; saying , with Absolom , O that I were made Judge in the Land , &c. That every Man might have Justice : and what followes , but presently raising an Army against King David , though his own Father . Let not the Reader conjecture I lay an Imputation upon every particular Member of the Company , ( for there are too many of them that groan under the like Burthen , as I my self do , ) but against the whole Corporation , as a Body Politique ( especially as 't is now governed . ) I have now shewed you the Practices of the Company of Stationers , and some particular Members thereof , against the King , and his Patentees ; who , like Painted Sepulchres , appear Glorious without , but within are full of Rottenness and Corruption : I have also opened , tented , and sering'd the Sores of their Body Politique , and tryed them to the quick ( which I hope will not prove like the Touch of a Gall'd Horse-Back , to receive a Kick for my Labour and good-will ) . But because I am not so good a Chirurgion , as to close and cure them again my self , I shall implore the help of the Parliament , and shall most humbly Recommend them to their Cure , together with these ensuing Observations and Proposals . The Reasons inducing Queen Mary to Incorporate the Stationers , are expressed in her Charter in these words , Nos considerantes quod seditiosi et heretici Libri , Rithmi , &c. indies sunt editi , excuss . et iuspressi per diversas scandalosas , malitiosas , Schismatic . et heretic . personas , non solum movend . Subditos et Ligeos nostros ad seditiones et inobedientias , contra nos , Coronam et dignitatem nostras , verum etiam ad maximas et detestabiles hereses , contra fidem , &c. Et remedium congruum in hac parte providere Volentes ; de gratia nostra speciali &c. The Queen Erects the Corporation with Powers and Trusts , 1. To make Lawes pro securo regimine of the Members of the Company . 2. To search for and seize Books Printed contrary to Law. Observ . 1. The Erecting this Corporation hath not proved Remediall against the Mischiefs recited in the Charter ; But the Queen was wholly deceived in the Design aymed at in passing the Charter . 2. The Intrusting the Stationers with the Powers aforesaid , hath not only not remedied , but hath encouraged , encreased , and secured the Printing Sedition and Treason . For , 3. The Persons who are Intrusted with the Search and Discovery of the Offences to be remedied , are themselves the Common Offenders therein . The Company , in their Politique Capacity , cannot Execute the Trusts , or merit or offend , but by their particular Members ; divers principal Members of the Company have been actually Convicted , some as privy and accessory , other as Principals , in Printing and Publishing Illegal Books ; and many Treasonable Books have been printed , during the late Troubles , for several principal Members of the Company . 4. The Company of Stationers have in other things exceeded the Authorities granted by their Charter , as by Imposing and Administring of Oaths , &c. and by Entring other Mens Copies in their Hall-Book as their own , and then Printing and Selling them , in Opposition to the King 's Grant ; and this by vertue of a Law in the latė Evil Times : and have also assumed to themselves ( by Colour of the said Charter ) the whole Right of Priviledging and Exercising Printing , and have Combined to oppose and overthrow the King 's Just Power and Prerogative herein , and Interest of His Patentees . 1. From all which it appears , the Crown hath been deceived in the End and Design of Erecting the said Corporation . 2. That they have not proved Remediall , but Instrumental , to the Increase of the Mischiefs they should redress . 3. That they have broke and acted contrary to the Trusts imposed in them by their Charter . 4. They have , by Colour of their Charter , abused the Favour of the Crown , in exceeding the Authorities granted them , and assuming to themselves the whole Power of the Crown , concerning the Matter of Printing . I therefore take the boldness , most humbly to propose to your Honours ; I. That the King 's Just Power and Prerogative , in the impowring and restraining Printing , and in the Hearing , Regulating , and Determining all Differences touching the same ▪ as a Matter of State , be Declared and Confirmed , as an Antient and Hereditary Right of the CROWN ; And that all Laws contrary thereunto be Repealed . II. That an ACT for Regulating Printing may Establish Propriety therein according to the Kings Grants thereof , and may direct Rules for the Licensing and Management of Printing , and inflict Penalties for Abuses therein , with Legall Means for the Executing such Penalties , and for settling and securing every Man's Propriety , ( saving the Right of the Crown ) to regulate or restrain any Interest or Right in Printing , or other matter concerning the same , which by the King and Councill shall be conceiv'd a Nusance of State. III. That the Charter of the Company of Stationers , who Claym thereby an unlimited Power in Printing , be examined , together with the Unreasonablenesse thereof , and the Abuses committed thereby , by Testimony of Witnesses to be Summoned to that purpose ; And that the said Charter , and the Powers thereby granted , be limited according to Reason and the true Intent of the Grant. IV. That the Penalty for Printing without Licence , be forfeiture of the Book or thing so Printed , and treble the value thereof , one Moyety thereof to the Patenteé or Party interessed in the Right of Printing such unlicensed Book ( if any person be therein interessed ) , or otherwise to the KING , and the other Moyety to the Informer : But that Books once Licensed , may be reprinted without Licence , or so much of them as shall be without addition or alteration . V. That the KING 's Patenteé for Printing Law-Books , be Priviledg'd with a like Priviledge , as the Patenteés for the Bible are , or shall be Priviledged ; and with Power to search with an Officerfor unlicensed Law-Books , and to Seize and carry away the same to some publique place . VI. That no Disloyall or Notorious Criminal Person for Printing Treasonable or Seditious Books in the late Times of Trouble , be admitted to keep a Printing-Presse ; And that such as be Intrusted with a Printing-Presse , be Sworn not to offend the ACT of Parliament , &c. and give Security for the same . VII . That the Entry of other Mens Copies in Stationers-Hall , be declared to be of no Validity , especially as to give them any Title to such Books as are Granted by Patent to others . And now it may be most truly said , That the Author is very tedious , and yet hath made few or no Propositions but such as concern the King and his Patentees . To which I Answer , That all other Interests have not been wanting to make the best of their Case , and their Desires to be fully understood ; And as for the Company of Stationers , they were by this late ACT so amply provided for , as that at the Committeé of the House of Commons they had nothing more of Substance to desire . The Printers have also published a late Book , wherein they desire to be Incorporated and made a Company of themselves , apart from the Company of Stationers , of which they now are ; and therein also have stated the best of their Case . Mr. L'Estrange hath also published a Book , wherein he Treateth of the whole matter in generall , and shews the severall Abuses of Printing and Printers , but hath not applyed himself to any particular Interest : And therefore I have taken the Boldness to say somewhat , though weakly , for the KING and his Patenteés ; hoping an ill Pen shall not destroy a good Cause ; But that the Wisedome and Loyalty of this Parliament , which is Exemplary for both , will Supply all Defects , and take the Will for the Deed ; The rather , because Extream Necessity enforceth me to say somewhat now before the ACT be past ; Which makes me rather adventure to be ridiculous , than wanting to my Duty . I shall add onely one word more , That in a Business of so great Intricacy and Concernment as this of Printing , your Honours would not without very great Consideration , make an ACT for Perpetuity , In which all Interests may be equally Considered ; the rather , because the late ACT now in being , which was past in hast , is judg'd ( even by Your Selves ) to have many Imperfections in it . And if the Brewers , who at most can but steal away a Flegmatick part of the King's Revenue , deserve the serious Consideration of the Supreme Council of England , how much more these , that do not onely bereave the King of his Good-Name , but of the very Hearts of His People ; between whom there is as much oddes , as between a Pyrate that robs a Ship or two , and Alexander that robs the whole World. FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A26139-e1150 Revelation not Confined only to the People of God. The great Benefit of Printing . Printing supposed to be brought into England in the Year 1471. Page 404. Page 284. Page 353. Printing first set up at Oxford . Printing depraved , by being Incorporated with others None but the Kings sworn Servants permitted to be Printers . The Price of Books not to be enhauced . Object . 1. How and why the ART is called a Mechanick Trade . Answ . 1. Answ . 2. A Simile taken from Musick . Patents for Printing , granted to several persons . Object . 2. Answer . 3. Object . 1. Answ . 2. Answ . The King more skilfull than Mechanicks in their own Trade . Patentees fittest to redress the Evils of the Press . A brief Discourse concerning Printing . Page 8. Printers and Founders onely necessary to the Art of Printing . A Brief Discourse concerning Printing Pag. 5. Pag. 7 Pag. 12. Pag. 14. The dangerous Consequence of power in the Stationers . The Stationers Conscience . 'T is against the Stationers Interest to redress the Evills of the Press . The unconscionable dealing of Booksellers . Crown-Lands and Printing , equally the Kings Right . The sad Effects of the Executive Power of Printing in the Company of Stationers . Object . 4. Answ . Too great Penalties cannot be inflicted for Offences in Printing . More Treason and Sedition discovered by a Gentleman in two years ▪ than hath ever been by the Stationers . Humane Laws subject not only to Imperfection , but Death it self . Observations and Proposals recommended to the Parliament . Principals and particular Members of the Company high Delinquents . The Proposals . Object . 5 ▪ Answer .