such bookes are likely to be bought vp before he will deliuer them out of his hands If he be a Printer he makes conscience to exemplefy his Coppy fayrely truly If he be a Booke-bynder he is carefull his worke may bee strong seruiceable If he be a seller of Bookes he is no meere Bookeseller that is one who selleth meerely ynck paper bundled vp together for his owne aduantage only but he is the Chapman of Arts of wisdome of much experience for a litle money He would not publish a booke tending to schisme or prophānesse for the greatest gain if you see in his shopp any bookes vaine or impertinēt it is not so much to be imputed his fault as to the vanity of the Tymes For when bookes come forth allowed by authority he holds it his duty rather to sell them then to censure them Yet he meddles as little as he can with such as he is truly perswaded are pernitious or altogether vnprofitable The reputation of Schollers is a◅ deare vnto him as his owne For he acknowledgeth that from them his Mystery had both begining and meanes of continuance He heartely loues seekes the prosperity of his ovvne Corporation Yet he vvould not iniure the Vniuersityes to advantage it norbe soe sawcie as to make comparisons betweene them He loues a good Author as his Brother and vvillbe ready to yeeld him the due portion of his labors vvithout vvrangling When he comes to be Maister or Warden of his Company he labors truly to rectify what is amisse but fyndes so many peruerseones and so few of his good mind that his yeare is out before he cann bring any remedy to passe He greeues for those Abuses vvhich haue bene offred to me other Authors but fynding that by speaking on our behalfes he is likely to bring himselfe into an inconuenience vvithout profitt to vs he prayes in ◅ilence for amendment and that God vvould not lay to the charge of the whole Corporation that vvhich but some among them are guilty of He feares none of those reproofes vvhich are to be found in this booke For he knowes himselfe cleare and is resolued to make sale of it so it come forth vvith allowance from Authority In a vvord he is such a man that the State ought to cherish him Schollers to loue him good Customers to frequent his shopp and the vvhole Company of Stationers to pray for him For it is for the sake of such as he that they haue subsisted and prospered thus long And thus you haue the true discription of such a Stationer as I exempt from my reprofes now followes the Charecter of him at whose reformation I haue aymed A meere Stationer is he that imagines he vvas borne altogether for himselfe and exercizeth his Mystery without any respect either to the glory of God or the publike aduantage For which cause he is one of the most pernitious superfluities in a Christian gouerment and may be well termed the Deuills seedman seeing he is the aptest Instrument to sowe schismes heresies scandalls and seditions through the vvorld What booke soeuer he may haue hope to gaine by he vvill divulge though it contayne matter against his Prince against the State or blasphemy against God And all his excuse wil be that he knew not it cōprehended any such matter For giue him his right he scarcely reads ouer one page of a booke in seauen yeare except it be some such history as the Wise men of Gotham and that he doth to furnish himselfe with some foolish cōceits to be thought facetious He prayseth no booke but vvhat sells well and that must be his owne Coppy too or els he will haue some flirt at it No matter though there be no cause For he knowes he shall not be questioned for vvhat hee sayes or if he be his impudence is enough to outface it What he beleeues is prepared for him in the next world I know not but for his enriching in this life he is of so large a faith that he seemes to beleeue all Creatures and Actions of the vvorld vvere ordayned for no other purpose but to make bookes vpon to encrease hi◅ trade And if another man of his small vnderstanding should heare him plead his owne supposed right vvhere none might contradict He would halfe thinke that all our Vniuersityes and Schooles of Learning were erected to no other end but to breed Schollers to study for the enriching of the Company of Stationers If an Author out of meere necessity do but procure meanes to make sale of his owne booke or to peruent the combinations of such as he by some Royall lawfull priueledge He presently cryes it downe for a Monopoly affyrming that men of his profession may go hang themselues if that be suffred Marry Authors haue a long tyme preserued a very thankfull generation of them from hanging if they cannot afford them one booke of ten Millions to releeue them vvithall in a case of need vvhen that booke was the Authors owne alsoe no part of the Stationers former liuelyhood This is iust as reasonable a complaint as if a Cōpany of Haglers should preferr a bill against the Cuntry Farmers for bringing their owne Corne other prouisions to the next markett He will fawne vpon Authors at his first acquintance ring them to his hiue by the promising sounds of some good entertainement but assoone as they haue prepared the hony to his hand he driues the Bees to seek another Stall If he be a Printer so his worke haue such appearance of being vvell done that he may receaue his hyre he cares not how vnworkmanlike it be parformed nor how many faults he lett goe to the Authors discredit the readers trouble If his employment be in bynding bookes soe they vvill hold together but till his worke Maister hath sold them he desireth not they should last a weeke longer For by that meanes a booke of a Crovvne is mard in one Moneth which vvould last a hundred yeares if it had 2d. more vvorkmanshipp so their gaine employment is encreased to the subiects losse If he be a seller of Bookes he makes no conscience what trash he putts off nor hovv much he takes for that vvhich is vvorth nothing He vvill not stick to belye his Authors intentions or to publish secretly that there is somewhat in his new ymprinted books against the State or some Honorable personages that so they being questioned his vvare may haue the quicker sale He makes no scruple to put out the right Authors Name insert another in the second edition of a Booke And when the impression of some pamphlet lyes vpon his hands to imprint nevv Titles for yt and so take mens moneyes twice or thrice for the same matter vnder diuerse names is no iniury in his opinion If he gett any vvritten Coppy into his powre likely to be vendible whether the Author be vvilling or no he vvill publish it And
cruelty vnconscionablenesse of such as he a flourishing well esteemed Corporatiō is in danger to come to ruine disgrace This man with such as he are those whom I haue declamed against in this discourse no other nor will I that my generall accusations shall in part or in the whole be imputed to any man in perticuler but to him that shall apply vnto himselfe this Character or haue it prooued to be true vpon him by apparant testimony For it shall satisfy me enough it shall do the Commonwealth good seruice if by this satyricall discription of a bade Stationer and my definition of a good one those things which are amise may be amended hereafter And this is an easy and warrantable vvay of Correction For I do not marke them out by their redd Noses or corpulent paunches or such like personall defects vvhich they cannot remedy as some vvonld haue done but by their vices which they ought to giue ouer What an old Poet once said is yet in force LICUIT SEMPERQUE LICEBIT PARCERE PERSONIS DICERE DE VITIIS It shall be lavvfull euer and hath byn To spare the personns and to touch the syn I ha◅e taken that Authors vvord and put his vvarrant often tymes in execution and though I haue smarted for it neuer vvas nor euer vvill be driuen from this course of proceeding against Male factors vntill that foresaid Author come back and deny his warrant Blame me not if I seeme bitter to such as these for their disease needs it I haue had meanes to know them perfectly was compelled to search into the very marrow of their Mystery and when through my loue to a carnall rest I became loth to meddle vvith such a nest of hornets but to suffer an inconuenience rather they were so ◅oolishly confident that they stung me to it And doubtles it was permitted by the prouidence of God that their wickednesse might come to light before it should occasion greater troubles Yea perhapps I haue bene trayned vp all my life tyme in afflictions haue heretofore suffred cōcerning bookes partly to experience me in their Abuses partly to enable me to beare out the fury of such a powrefull multitude as doth novv oppose me Many men of good sufficiency do wonder as I heare what abuses worthy all these words cann be found among the Stationers For alas think they those do but sell bookes to such as come for them are a harmelesse kind of people by whom to their vnderstanding the Cōmonwealth can receaue no great preiudice in any matter concerning their Mystery But when they haue read ouer this it will begett another opinion If not my next discouery shall For I cann yet launce deeper make it euident to the capacity of euery common man that such as those whom I haue marked out are they who are the principall dispersers of heresyes the prime disturbers of vnity in the Church I cann demonstrate that they are most tymes occasioners of those grudgings discontentmēts which do other while distemper the minds of the people That much trouble to the State is procured by them that they are the likelyest instruments to kindle factions stirr vp sedition that they haue invoulued and obscured the certaine tenents of our Church amōg such a multitude of the priuate fancies and opinions of vpstart vvriters that the Common people scarce knovve vvhat principles vvee professe and our Aduersaryes take aduantage out of their vnallovved Pamphlets to impute to the Church of England vvhat absurdityes they please I cann make it euident they haue so pestered their printing houses shopps with fruitlesse volumes that the Auncient renouned Authors are almost buried among them as forgotten and that they haue so much vvorke to preferr their termely Pamphlets vvhich they prouide to take vp the peoples money and tyme that there is neither of them left to bestow on a profitable booke soe they who desire knowledge are still kept ignorant their ignorance encreaseth their affectiō to vaine toyes their affection makes the Stationer to encrease his prouision of such stuffe and at last you shall see nothing to be sould amongst vs but Currāto's Beauis of Southamptonn or such trumpery The Arts are already almost lost among the vvritings of Mountebanck Authors For if any one among vs vvould Study Phisick the Mathamaticks Poetry or any of the liberall sciences they haue in their vvarehouses so many volumes of quacksaluing recepts of faulse propositions and of inartificall Ryminngs of vvhich last sort they haue some of mine there God forgiue me that vnles vve be directed by some Artist we shall spend halfe our Age before vve cann find those Authors which are vvorth our readings For vvhat need the Stationer be at the charge of printing the labors of him that is Maister of his Art vvill require that respect which his paine deserueth Seeing he cann hyre for a matter of 40 shillings some needy IGNORAMUS to scrible vpon the same subject and by a large promising title make it as vendible for an impression or two as though it had the quintessence of all Art I cann make it appeare alsoe that they are the Cheefe hinderers of the aduancement of our language the principall peruerters of good manners and the prime causers of all that irreligious prophanenesse vvhich is found among vs. And I doe foresee that if they proceed as hitherto they haue done they will be the ruine of their owne Mystery bring an invndatiō of Barbarisme vpō all his Majesties Kingdomes vvhich God diuert These things haue I discouered with a mind neither malitio◅sly bent to the ruine of the Corporatiō of Stationers or desirous of the shame or confusion of any one member thereof but whatsoeuer some among them conceaue I ayme rather at the profitt of the one the reformation of the other And that this may appeare to be true I vvill in due tyme shevv that I haue sought as much how to finde a gentle plaster to cure those vl◅rs as to make a sharpe instrument to search them For if I may be heard without preiudice I cann declare by what meanes and how the Corporation of Stationers may be hereafter acquited of all those scandalls that some corrupt members thereof haue brought vpon it How the repinings and discontentments vvhich are among themselues may be quieted How all my inivryes may be satisfied to my contentment without their damage and how all the publike abuses mentioned in this discourse shall be in some good measure preuented for euer hereafter to the Kings Maiesties great content to the avoyding of much trouble heretofore occasioned to the State to the good likeing of both Vniuersityes to the profit ease credit of the Stationers thēselues to the furtherance of Christiā peace v◅ity in the Church to the preuention of many publik and priuate inconueniences and in a vvord to the glory of God and to the honor and benifite of all his Majesties Dominions And now I haue done troubling your RRces for this tyme Though I bent my bow to shoot in my owne defence yet I haue stuck my arrowes vpon a publike enimie Now you haue heard me healpe or leaue me to my selfe as you shall think fitting For I haue in euery circumstance honestly deliuered my Conscience and I knovv God vvill deliuer me Nec Habeo nec Careo nec Curo
THE SCHOLLERS PVRGATORY Discouered In the Stationers Common-wealth And Discribed in a Discourse Apologeticall asvvell for the publike aduantage of the Church the State vvhole Common-vvealth of England as for the remedy of priuate iniuryes By GEO VVITHER Pro 18. 13. He that answeares his matter before he heare him it is shame and folly vnto him Suffer him then that he may speake and when he hath spoken mock on Iob. 21. 2. IMPRINTED For the Honest Stationers The occasion and contents of this Apology THe Author of this ensuing Apology haueing the Kings Grant concerning his booke called the Hymnes Songes of the Church vniustly malitiously opposed by the Stationers who vnchristianly vilify scandalize alsoe the said Booke to the contempt of his Maiesties powre the hinderance of deuotion the preiudice of the Authors estate the disparagment of his best endeauors He doth here Apologize both for his Booke Priueledge shewing the true grounds of their spightfull opposition discouering the Progresse of it answearing such friuelous obiections as they haue dispersed discouering how iniurious alsoe they are euen to the whole Common-wealth in many other particulers It hath bene offred to the Presse because it was otherwise impossible to divulge the same so vniuersally as they haue spread their scandalls And it was directed alsoe to the most reuerend Conuocatiō that the said Booke might be corrected or approoued of as the wisdome of that graue Assembly shall finde cause that the representatiue body of the Church of England beholding a glimpse of the Stationers harbarous dispositions in misvsing this Author might from thence take occasion to be informed What other insolencyes abuses they are guilty of both to the disturbance of Christian vnity to the Common preiudice If the Printers hast shall occasion any slipps he desires that if his worke be legible he may be ex cused Soe doth our Author likewise if in the methode or language any ouer sight be committed For haueing many other employments and being constrayned to write it in hast that it might bee imprinted before this present Session of Parliament were expired there may be somewhat ouerseene perhapps which needeth pardon But as it is he humbly offers to consideration the said Apology whose perticulers are these that follow 1. First an Induction after which the Author haueing breefly touched vpon those troubles Imprisonments expences which compelled him to make some benifite of his owne books sheweth why he gott his Hymnes confirmed vnto him by his Maiesties Letters Patents what honest Course he tooke in procuring his Grant Pag. 1 c. 2. He sheweth how vniustly ingratfully the Stationers therevpon opposed him how vncivelly they abused him how vnchristianly they vilified his Hymnes rather as Censurers then sellers of Bookes And a little toucheth vpon the particuler vsur pations In sinuations Insolencyes Auarice abuses of Bookesellers Pag. 6 c. 3. He declareth why he exercised his Muse in Diuinity What reason he had to translate the Canonicall Hymnes into Lyrick verse that some of the Cleargy mooned him therevnto He sheweth alsoe to what end he composed the Spirituall Songs for the obseruable tymes Of what nature that Booke is which the Stationers oppose And what they doe in particuler rayle obiect against the said Booke Pag. 11 c. 4. He proueth by diuerse Arguments that the said Hymnes are necessary not impertinent as the Stationers obiect Then toucheth againe vpon the abuses grosse partiality of the Stationers acquiteth himselfe of seeking his owne profitt to the publike preiudice as his Aduersaries vntruly affyrme and demonstrateth his Patent to be neither Monopoly as the Stationers alleage as some of their Patēts are but rather a benifite Pag. 24 c. 5. He setteth downe the Stationers peremptery claime to all Authors labors refuting a Lawyers foolish judgment passed on their behalfes Instanceth in what particulers they vsurpe larger Prerogatiues then they will allow the King And then haueing iust occasion pointeth at their fraudulent vnsufferable abusing of the people in their Mystery of Booke selling Pag. 29 c. 6. He particularizeth în what vnciuell termes the Stationers vilifie his Hymnes How vniustly they disparage his expressions And how impudently they vsually preferr divulge those pernitious impertinent things whereby they themselues may receaue profitt Pag. 33 c. 7. He iustifies his expressions Protesteth with what mind what preparation and with what Caueats he proceeded in that worke And there withall mētioneth some of those difficulties which are in such a taske speaketh somwhat cōcerning the metricall version of Dauids Psalmes now in vse Pag. 35 c. 8. He maintaines the lawfulnesse of vndertaking a worke of that nature notwithstanding he is no profest Diuine against those who obiect he hath intruded vpon the Diuine calling glanceth at the ignorance and envy of those Obiectors P 39 9. He discouereth how presumptuously they haue countenanced their detraction and opposition by pretending that the Lo Archb of Cant andothers are all affected to the said Hymnes Grant And it is made euident that they haue impudently abused the Lo Archb therein Pag. 45 c. 10. He giueth reason for his translating and publishing the sōg of Salomō in Lyrick verse Setts downe the Stationers impious and scurrilous manner of traducing it Expresseth somewhat of that Songs comfortable vse with what may be said in answeare to them who think it ought to be restrained for feare of being misapplyed And haueing spoken somewhat concerning his owne proceedings submitteth all to censure Pag 49 c. 11. He displaies the Stationers demeanor toward those who come to aske for his Booke Setts forth the quality of those whom they haue drawne to passe their censures against it Shewes how wilfully the Kings iniunction his pious intent therein hath bene reiected And what inconueniences are likly to follow their insolencyes if order be not taken Pag 63 c. 12. He vpholds his Hymnes for the obseruable tymes against the Stationers those whom they haue stirred vp to oppose them Offers them to strictest examination Shewes his Christian simplicity in cōposing thē that they tend to the glory of God and the furtherance of vniformity That they were lawfully Authorized That they are consanant to the word of God the Doctrine of the Catholike Church and to all the lawes and ecclesiasticall Ordinances of this Realme Pag. 66 c. 13. He intimates that it is probable his Hymnes are scandalized by none but such as are ill affected to the gouernment of our Church Shewes that his prefaces hath vindicated all our Solemnities from those imputations of popery Schismaticks hath cast vpon them Toucheth vpon the pious vsefulnesse of the Churches Discipline Illustrateth their impiety who seeke to disparage or abolish it And specifieth in what places in what ridiculous manner the Stationers passe their virdicts vpon his booke Pag. 69 c 14. He setteth downe
of that generation I beseech your patience if passion may seeme to carrye me away t is in the cause of God I say there be some of them who spare not God himself and his religion but AVDAX OMNIA PERPETI haue blasphemed the sacred expressions of the holy Spirit and vnchristianly vilified that Booke which supreame Authority hath commaunded to be published for the reuerence and practice of deuotion And because in doing this they would not seeme so prophane as to make their gaine the cause of their opposition nor be thought so heathenish as to call out for Diana with their types at Ephesus they crye TEMPLVM DOMINI the Temple of the Lord and craftily cullor their ayme with the cloak of sanctity and zeale of true religion Yea they are growen so malepert and arrogant that being but the pedlers of Books and for the most part ignorant fellowes acquainted with nothing concerning them but their names and pryses they neuerthelesse dare take vpon them the miscensuring of any mans labours though allowed by authority In this kind among diuers others I at this present suffer their inisusag in a high measure And in me they haue abused the King the State and the whole Hierarchy Yea God and religioÌ„ Hauing therfore propoposed their iniuries of other natures to the consideration of them vnto whome properly they belong I am bould to appeale yet hither that I may obtaine the ceÌ„sure of this most reuerend Conuocation concerning those particulers which are most genuine to be determined of in this place I doe protest vnfaynedly that I will deliuer nothing in my relation which proceedes from spleene or malice nor expresse my selfe in more sharpe tearmes then my conscieÌ„ce shal witnes charitable and necessary to let your Reuerences vnderstand the height of those iniurys that I am to complayne on and the liuely character of those fellowes whose inâ—…ignityes the whole common-wealth of learning suffers vnder For they haue by their sly insinuations and honest pretences so farre screwed themselues into the good opinion of many Reuerend and Honorable parsonages and so strengthened themselues through the abuse of their fauours that my fingers will not serue and therefore pardon me if in a case of necessity I somtime vse my teeth to plucke those rusty nayles forth of the faire table of their yll deserued esteeme Neuerthelesse conceiue me not I pray you that I goe about to lay a generall ymputation vp â—…n all Sâ—…tioners For to disparage the whole profession were an act neither becomming an honest mâ—…n to doe noâ—… a prudent Auditory to suffer Their mystery as thâ—…y not vntruly tearme it consists of diuers Trades incorporated together as Printers Booke-binâ—…s Clasâ—…makers Bookesellers c. And of all these bâ—… some honest men who to my knowledg are so greeued being ouer-born by the notorious oppressions and proceedings of the rest that they haue wished themselues of some other calling The Printers mystery is ingenious paynefull and profitable the Booke-binâ—…â—…cessary the Claspemakers vsefull And in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 râ—…tailer of bookes commonly 〈◊〉 a Booke-seller is a Trade which being wel gouerned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…in certaine bounds might become somewhat seruiceable to the rest But as it is now for the most part abused the Bookeseller hath not onely made the Printer the Binder and the Claspmaker a slaue to him but hath brought Authors yea the whole Common-wealth and all the liberall Sciences into bondage For he makes all professers of Art labour for his profit at his owne price and vtters it to the Common-wealth in such fashion and at those rates which please himselfe In-somuch that I wonder so insupportable and so impertinent a thing as a meere Book-seller considering what the profession is become now was euer permitted to grow vp in the Commonwealth For many of our moderne booke-sellers are but needelesse excrements or rather vermine who beeing ingendred by the sweat of schollers Printers and book-binders doe as wormes in timber or like the generation of vipers deuour those that bred them While they did like fleas but sucke now and then a dropp of the writers blood from him and skipp off when he found himselfe diseased it was somwhat tollerable but since they began to feed on him like the third plague of AEGIPT without remoouing and to lay clayme to each Authors labours as if they had beene purposely brought vpp to studye for their mayntenance Yea since they take vppon them to publish bookes contriued altered and mangled at their owne pleasurs without consent of the writers nay and to change the name someyms both of booke and Author after they haue been ymprinted and all for their owne priuate lucre like traders in stuffes who vnder new names many tymes shift off their old wares And yet further also to disparage or censure maliciously both writers and their labours and so vsurp vnto themselues the high authority of the Church and State I say these things considered it is high tyme to seeke a remedie and a remedy I hope wil shortly be prouided in due place In the meane tyme I humbly beseech this reuerend AsseÌ„bly to take an assay of theÌ„ in my particular cause and in their manner of dealing with me touching that booke before mentioned lately priuiledged by his Maiesty For they haueing very vnchristianlik traduced both my selfe and it I will according to my duty giue vnto your Reuerences a true account of all my principall proceedings and intentions and my reasons against their fayned obiections together with what was by authority determyned by that work And then leaue my selfe and it vnto your Reuerences to approue alter amend or condemne as you shall thinke fytt wherein I will rest satisfied although it be to thâ—… ouerthrowing both of my credit and estate First then may it please you to vnderstand that being from my childhood in loue with the study of Diuinity though I haue yet neither knowledge nor opinion in my selfe worthy of so high a calling I ymployed that naturall faculty which God had giuen me vpon such expressions as sauouring of honesty and religion won me the generall good opinyon of honest men And though I was so young euery way that I first began to write and then to learne as the childishnesse and indiscretions of my Poems discouer yet they procured me much respect and applause which well con sidering on and weighing my knowne insufficiencies the slendernesse of my performances and my little meanes of knowledge together with what base entertaynment lynes of that nature vsually finde in the world I began to parswade my selfe that God had extraordinarily gyuen me this vnlooked for esteeme to some better purpose then eyther that I should dispyse the same or glory in it to a vayne end And that which made me giue most fayth to such an apprehensioÌ„ was this I obserued that the good repute which I had attayned vnto neuer gott me any outward profit nor euer be fryended mee in the compassing of any thinge for my
of their malicious wronges then the Nightingale in a Sommers night doth of the barking of dogges whooping of Owles but sing on without distemper to the contentment of myne owne soule Yet since their clamorous noise hinders others from heareing the voice of the Charmer and through my sides wounds the credit of Authority and may parhapps hereafter incourage them presumptuously for the bringing in of greater inconueniences I desire their dealing with me may be taken notice of by this most Reuerend Assembly To which end I haue here sett downe what they cry out to the disparagement of me and my booke instead of dispersing it abroad according to his Maiesties royall commaund Some giue out that my booke containes nothing but a few needles Songs which I composed and gott priuiledged by Patent meerely for my priuate benifit to the oppression of the Common-wealth Some discourage those that come to buy the booke other whiles denying that it is to be had other while peremptorily protesting against the selling of it or disgracefully telling such as enquire after the same that the worke is Ridiculous and that it better be◅itted me to medle with my poetry then to be ◅ampering with diuinity with such like other wordes of contempt Other some there be who dare auerr that my Lords Grace of Canterbury with many of the Bishopps and best Deuines doe much dislike and oppose the saide Hymnes Others againe buze in the peoples eares that the Hymnes for the Obseruable tymes are popish and tending to the maintenance of superstition And some there be among them who in such terms of ribaldry as no Stewes can goe beyond them blasphemingly affirme that the CANTICLES are obscene and not fitt to be divulged in Song or Verse Yea many other obiections they make and cast out diuers aspersions aswell vpon the Author as on his booke to bring both into contempt The maliciousnes and superfluity of wickednes appearing in these their euill speakeinges your Reuerences can easily perceiue Neuerthelesse forasmuch as there lye Padds in the straw which the best iudgements cannot discerne at the first sight And seeing I haue been openly traduced as vnbeseemingly intruding vpō the deuine calling and stand now accused as one that hath hatched and brought forth such thinges for my temporall aduantage which are offensiue and scandalous to the Church and consciences of good mē which I would not willingly be guilty of for all the world by your patience I do hereby giue an account of my action now in question hopeing that it shal be to the satisfying of this reuerend Assemblie the contentment of such as haue vpon misreport been offended to the shame of myne opposers And I trust also it shall discouer that although there may be founde indiscretions or ouersights in my vndertaking yet I haue deserued fairer vsage my aduersaries lesse credit and my studies better entertainement then heretofore they haue found To keepe my selfe the closer to that which shal bee pertinent to this Apology I wil make these particuler obiections my Theames which I haue repeated nor will I bring any other authorities to make good my defence then the true relations of what hath ben don and such plaine arguments as mine owne reason shal be able to frame For if this discourse come to the veiw of your Reuerēces only you wel enough know what the Recordes of Antiquity can afford to these purposes And if it happen among those only of meane capacity such playne expressions as I purpose to vse will acquire most credite among them And first whereas they giue out that my Hymnes are needles they doe not only thereby contemne and slight my paynes but lay an imputation of vanity vpon the wisedome of the Holy Ghost also For a greate part of them are parcells of the Canonicall Scriptures originally Songe And to say any fragment thereof were needeles is in effect to deminish from Gods words vpon which followes a heauie curse God deserues euery day to be praysed of vs for deliuering his Church by the ouerthrow of Pharoah in the redd Sea as much as he did in the very moment of their deliuerance And the song of Moses then vsed doth in each particuler as properly concerne euery christiā Congregation as it did the Iewes themselues vpon that occasion For Gods mercy shewed to v◅ in our baptisme and the spirituall ouerthrowe of the deuill pursuing vs with an host of sinnes and temptations is in myne opinion more effectually exprest to a spirituall vnderstanding by apprehending the actions and circumstances of that temporall deliuerance thē it could be by the power of any words or by any other ordinary means except by contēplating of that most excellēt material obiect the Sacrament of Baptisme it selfe of which the other was but a type In like manner all the other Canonicall Hymnes do admyrablie help towards Gods euerlasting mercies and for illustrating those particuler Misteries of our christian fayth which they did typically and prophetically foreshew Yea they are part of the propheticall witnes as the Hymnes of the newe Testament are patt of the Euangelicall witnes of our interest in Christ Iesus And verily the late neglect of their application in our christian mysteries hath not onely much iniured one of the two great witnesses of our saluation but giuen occasion also that many vnsound professors haue corrupted them euen to the bringing in of diuers Iewish and Talmudicall fancies to the fearefull distraction of weake people But were not those Hymnes necessary in respect of the variety of their arguments yet the variety of expression were somwhat needful although the matter were the same For as the seuerall dressings of one sort of meate maks it diuersly agreeable to the pallats and stomackes of men so the various manner of things de◅uered in holy Scripturs makes them applicable to our vnderstandings and what in one kind of deliuery seems harsh or obscure in another kind is acceptable and more easily apprehended That which is easie to you is hard parhapps to me and what may be thought an impropriety to some great iudgments doth many times most properly insinuate the speakers meaning vnto them of weaker capacityes In obseruing the seeming differences amonge Interpreters in their trāslatiōs of these words NASSECHV BAR part of the last verse of the secōd psalme I conceiued thereby that the profitable vse of variety was very apparant For the translation most agreeable to the original Hebrew renders the words OSCVLEMINI FILIVM the Septuagint APPREHENDITE DISCIPLINAM and Saint-Hierome ADORATE PVRE which beeing all orthodoxe Interpretations and agreeable both to the scope of the Psalme and that which the wordes originally beare and all standing well together also with the Analogie of fayth this variety made me conceiue in my meditations therevpon that the holy ghost had deliuered his meaning in these triple Equivokes that they might the more properly bee accomodated to the seuerall States and ages of his Church For pardon me if I
erre me thought in saying OSCVLEMINI FILIVM which was according to the genuin most cōmon vnderstāding of y◠original words among the Hebrewes I apprehended that the Holy ◅host exhorted his Church among the Iewes to homage and worshipp that Sonne of God whoe was diuers wais made māifest vnto thē to be their true King And APPREHENDITE DISCIPLINAM being according to that Translation which I am perswaded God himselfe extraordinarily prouided to reueale his truth by vnto the Heathen I conceiued that the Holy Ghost perswaded his Church among the Gentiles who yet knew not Christ their Kinge to imbrace the knowledge of him And ADORATE PVRE beeing the first trans◅ation that in latine the Church publikly receiued and about that tyme the true worship of Iesus Christ begining to be adulterated my mynd gaue me that psalme being a manifest prophecie concerning the kingedome of Christ to the worlds end it might be that God did by that interpretation perswad those peruerters of his Truth to repentance who should disturbe the peace and quiet of his kingdome in these later tymes But I stand not so thereupon as if I could not submitt to better iudgments Sure I am this meditation is no way repugnant to the Catholike verity and howsoeuer it shal be approoued it serues wel enough to my purpose for demonstratinge that the variety or different expressions of sacred things are not needles but do afford aduantage vnto those of meane capacityes if they meditate vpon them with reuerence and humility If it be but to awaken our dullnes and take away our wearisomenesse in holy duties variety is needful For flesh and bloud as we finde by daily experience loaths those things wherwithal they are naturally best plesed if they be to frequēt how much more tedious then will those things be vnto vs which are perpetually iterated in the same words being naturally vnpleasing to a carnall eare Since god in mercie hath prouided and permitted vs meanes to assist our weaknesses let not such as are strong enough to be without them condemne the vse of such helpes in those whoe beeing not so able must haue their affections weaned by degrees from their childish inclynations We see the Flesh and the Deuill hauing for their seruice thousands of vaine Songes and prophane ballads stored vp in the Stationers warhouses haue neuerthelesse many Muses perpetually ymployed for the composing of new Straynes And that many hundred pounds are yearely consumed vpon them to the inriching of those marchants to the shame of our profession to the corruption of youth and to the building vp of the kingdome of sinne and Satan as it is well knowne and obserued by many of good note in this reuerend assembly Yet there haueing been for diuers ages together but so many Hymnes composed and published as make in some impressiōs not aboue two sheets and a halfe of paper for the reuerence and practice of Deuotion vnto the honour of god they are censured impertinent malitiously exclaymed on violentely opposed and the Author of them seeking for the needefull hyre of his labour but his due and what strangers should haue been suffered to make thereof is publikely accused as a man coueteously hunting after the world and an iniurious oppressor of the common-wealth Oh god how partiall are all men bewitched with selfe-loue in the prosecution of their base ends and how vncharitable in their censunes For the Stationers haue not onely labored to depriue me of the benefit due to my labours but also to make me appeare without Christianity in my intentions by affirming that I sought myne owne benyfit onely in composing my booke of Hymns in publishing it according to the kinges commaund My Poem◅ last deuulged was sayd to haue been written in myne own prayse the Hymnes for my priuate profit I wonder to what purpose y◠next booke I write shal be cōposed Verily if I be not altogether forgetful of myne owne thoughtes o◅ too apt to beleeue ouerwell of my selfe as parhaps I am my principall ayme was the glory of God in both those vndertakinges Neuerthelesse truth is I am so inclyned to the corruptions of other men that although I did what I was able yet was I not altogether soe free from outward hopes as I ought to haue been in those works My weake fortunes my troubles and the chargablenesse of a studie that bringes with it no outward supplie put me vnto a kinde of necessity to cast my thoughts a side vnto wo◅ldly respects but I haue siu◅e been sory for it vpon better consideration And as a iust reward for my too earnest lookeing after vaine ho◅ I doe now accept of my present trouble that outwardly is like to impouerish me And the tyme thereof drawes me the more heedfully to consider it being iust about that season wherein I expected to reape some contentment in the fruition of my labors and expences God graunt this experience may inrich me another way and settle my hopes vpon more certaine thinges and that those who accuse mee of this imperfection may examine their owne heartes and if they finde them guilty of the like infirmity learne by myne example to confesse their errour And my prayer shal be that we both may more directly seeke gods glory in our vndertakings But why should I be the man more accused the◅ all others for seekeing after the iust hyre of my labours am I the only One guilty of studyinge myne owne profit◅ in the course of my paynefull endeuours for religious ende I would to god I were and that no man liuing saue I were so wicked as to make his owne glory and inriching the end and scope of his christian diligence For doubtles such an vniuersall pietie would be a powerfull meanes of drawing me to repentance But I beleeue there be so fewe who can with the Apostle cleare himselfe herein that if none might be permitted to throwe at me the stone of reproofe but only they who are free from this weaknes I may walke from Saint Michaels Mount in Cornwal to Douer◅ from thence euē through our mitropolitan Churches to the farthest Northeren Isles without touch of exception And whereas they obiect I haue compassed a priveledge to the publike greeuance your Reuerences shal ceiue how innocent I am from giuing cause of such an imputation if you please to consider the circumstances of his Maiesties Grant with his pyous intention and my carriage in the procuring and execution of it For I did not as some of the Stationers haue done in the name of many and by pretending the reliefe of the poore whome they may be prooued therby to oppresse monopolize the principall bookes of Sale within this Realme euen those wherein the whole cōmonwealth haue a inst interest which is really one of those Monopo◅es that our State abhores But hauing composed a new Booke which no man could claime a share in while it remayned myne owne and in mine owne power to make publike or no
proposing the same to his Maiestie briefly and plainely without pretēce of any by-respect I obtayned a free and gratious graunt to make such benifit thereof as vsually heretofore in like cases his Maiestie hath vouchsafed vnto others yea such as the Stationers would haue made of it without a priueledge if so be I had left it in their power Nor can any disaduantage come to the Common-wealth thereby seeing the price is lymited to be such as themselues sell bookes for like chargeable of the same kind Besides no mans trade or ymployment is therby vsurped vpon hindred or taken away but many are rather sett on worke in seuerall professions more then before Insomuch that there can be no publike grieuance truely named or probably pretended which that priuiledge is cause of except it bee a griefe to some fewe Idle drones to behould the laborious lyving vpon the sweate of their owne browes Indeed The Booke-sellers do peremptorily challeng an interest in euery mans labour of this kind and a worshipfull Lawyer was lately pleased on their behalfe to say that the benifite arisinge from the sale of bookes was their ancient and lawfull birthright But if his Masterships Iudgement be noe better in other cases I hope to blesse my selfe from his opinions For vnlesse he can proue the Author hath sould them his birth-right as often he doth for lesse then a messe of pottage he being the elder brother the right first by his owne lawe that he professes falleth vnto him And there are other heires but of a collaterall lyne the Printer and Booke-binder that clayme iust title beefore the booke-seller at least-wise may in Gauilekind be coheires with him yea indeed the meanest of them doubly deserues the better right But it may bee our learned Counseller was a kentish man where in some place the yongest brother inherites by custome of Borough English and so thought perhapps that the like teneur might be peculier vnto the Booke-sellers trade Therefore as I am willing his ignorance should excuse him so I hope all Authors shal be excused and and vnblame worthy if hauing their proper rightes incroched vpon they seeke repossession by the royall power To that purpose is my priueledge which the Sationers haue not onely called in question before the high Court of Parlament whose Censure I shall bee ready to abide with good contentment but by many clamors and by a multytud of papers in print also scandalized the Kinges Grauntas an oppression and cast vpon me the vniust imputation of a base Monopolist wheras I doubt not but I shal be able to proue that his Maiestie hath vouchsafed me nothing but what was IVS REGALE and in his Lawfull power to conferr and that I enioy nothing by vertue of the Priueledge he graunted me but what I am honestly capable to receiue For yf his Maiestie hath not a legall power to confirme vnto me that which is naturally myne own By what right then doe they and others enioy priueledges for those books wherein euery mā hath as good property as they Or if his Maiesty hath not Authority to commaund the addition of a fewe leaues for Gods glory and the peoples edification to such a booke as hath allowance from the Prerogatiue Royall onely Then either the Stationers are very presumptious in anexing the singing Psalmes and Robert Wisdomes Songs to the Bible and booke of Common prayer at their owne pleasures and for their owne profit Or els their Prerogatiue is more absolute then the Kings For the Stationers doe not onely reape the Benefit of diuers books by vertue of his Maiesties Graunts in such wise as the same is vouchsafed vnto me but in a farr larger manner and acording as they execut thē to the publkie iniury many waies Yea by the lawes and Orders of their Corporation they can and do setle vpon the particuler members thereof a prpetuall interest in such Bookes as are Registred by them at their Hall in their seueral Names and are secured in taking the ful benefit of those books better then any Author can be by vertue of the Kings Grant notwithstanding their first Coppies were purloyned from the true owner or imprinted without his leaue Moreouer they annexe Additions to bookes formerly imprinted and increase the pryses of them accordingly though y◠matter be altogither impertinēt And yet if the King do but conferr vpon some Author the sole printing of a tenth part of his owne labours which he might stil haue reserued in his owne power Or but please for the Reuerence and practise of deuotion to commaund the addition of a fewe leaues to some booke authorized by the State onely they immediately breake out into an vproare as if the Kinge had dealt vniustly with them As if the Author had cōmitted Sacriledge and as if the Common-wealth had beene ready to sinke vnder the weight of that burthen Good God! how many dung-botes full of fruitles Volumnes doe they yearely foyst vpon his Maiesties subiectes by lying Titles insinuations and disparaging of more profitable Books how many hundred reames of foolish prophane and sensles Ballads do they quarterly disperse abroade And howe many thousande poundes doe they yearely picke out of the purses of ignorant people who refer the Choyce of their books to the discreations and honesties of these men by that meanes ridding their warehouses from heapes of trasla and refuse which might els haue layne by the walles till the Ratts had eaten it how vnconscionably is the Subiect by these vsages robbed both of his mony and tyme how often in stead of being bettered are their manners corrupted and their affections drawne away by lewd and wanton Poemes how vnchristianly is their loyalty somtyme shakē by seditious Pamphlets Yea how dāgerously is their faith religiō peruerted by those many hereticall and schismaticall Treatises which they from tyme to time secretly or openly disperse through his Maiesties Dominyons How vnfortunate am I as some thinke that haueing performed a good worke doe neuertheles heare it exclaimed vpon as a friuelous labour and stand accused for oppressing the people because a fewe Hymnes contayning the prayses of God are commaunded to bee divulged the most conuenient way whilst such abuses as these afore mentioned and many of a higher nature may be winked at in my Accusers Yet I say rather how happy am I how much bound to praise Gods mercie who couers the multitudes of my transgressions and still bringes me into publike question for such Actions onely as shall vpon Tryall become myne honor and to the shame of my Traducers For I am confident that I shal in due time be deliuered from that and from all other scandalous imputations which the world hath layd to my charg And therefore whether it be now or hereafter I am indifferent and place such assurance in gods loue that I can stay his leasure I procured the Kinges Graunt being the possibility of a temporall blessing by moouing for it where I ought and as
I ought to seeke the same without entreating any mans furtheraÌ„ce and if it be not in euery perticuler iust and conuenient that I should enioy the same yt shall goe and I wil venture an vtter vndoeing rather then make vse of any mans friendship to detain it For God who hath hitherro prouided for me in such a manner as best befitted both my temporall and spirituall Condition will I knowe continue his prouident care of me while I can haue grace to be thankfull and retayne the resolution to doe my lawfull endeauour Howsoeuer let the worlde conceit of mee as it pleaseth I scorne to enioy my lyfe much more any priueledge to the common preiudice and am able to demonstrate as shall hereafter appeare that my booke and the Kinges Graunt haue beene malitiously traduced without cause Yet the Stationers haue not only scandalized the sayde graunt vniustly and layde the imputation of impertinencie to the Booke of Hymnes without cause but feareing as it seems lest their publication would discoÌ„uer their false dealing and gayne me and my labour some good approbation in spight of their mallice They haue as I sayd before practised also or rather conspired as much as in them lyes to hinder the lawful sale of my Booke For they prouide them not in their shoppes as they are commaunded by Authority nor furnish themselues with those as with other books notwithstanding they may take them vpon trust and make profitt of them before payment is required at their hands being content somewhat to hinder themselues that they may disaduantage me And to excuse this iniury they giue out contrary to their owne knowledges that if they take my bookes from me none will fetch them out of their handes which they falsly pretend meerely to dispariage that which I hope they shall neuer be able to bring out of credit tyl they haue lost their owne For they are daily so much enquired after that had the Booke-sellers preferred them to sale as they would haue done if the coppie had been their owne twenty thousand might haue been dispersed long ere this tyme. Yea if they had either any loyal respect to the Kings pyous commaund or loue to the practise of Deuotion or but that humanity which is to be found among Infidells they might haue deulged a hundred in place of euery tenâ—… which are yet dispersed For though fewe knowe where to get the sayd Hymnes because they are seldome to be had amonge the Booke-sellers yet thousandes of them haue beene bought vp by gentlemen and others whoe hauing enquired out with much difficulty where to finde them report to mee howe much I am abused amonge the Stationers and how hardly they cann forbeare from vsing them vnciuilly that come to aske for my Booke with diuers other particular Discourtesies But because those vsages doe demonstrate their owne euill disposition rather then disparage the said Booke I wil omitt to perticularize those many discourtesies which I am that way offered and proceed to answere such other obiections as they and their abetters haue framed to bring both my Hymnes and me into contempt And first they obiect forsooth that they are not worthy to be annexed with their Psalmes in meeter in respect of that insufficiency which they haue discouered in my expressions For so harsh and improper do my lynes appeare to these iuditious censurers and their chaplins that some compare them to DOD the fillkemans late ridiculous translation of the Psalmes which was by authority worthily condemned to the fire Some tearme them in scorne WITHERS SONNETS and some among them the better to expresse what opinion they haue of their pious vse are pleased to promise that they wil procure the â—…aring Ballett singer with one legg to sing and self them about the Citie which base speeches proceeding from those skoffing Isâ—…alites I could well enough brooke in respect of mine owne person oâ—… meâ—…t For there is soe much euill euen in the best of my actions that contempt is the fayrest reward which they can iustly challenge Yet when I call to minde with what Christian intentions I was emploieâ—… 〈◊〉 those Hymnes and howe many howers at â—…ight I spent about them whilst it may be my Traducers were either sleeping out their tyâ—… oâ—… 〈◊〉 employed when I consider also howâ—… many 〈◊〉 religious men haue approoued theÌ„ how much their pious vse might further the reuerence and practise of Deuotion to the prayse of God it greeues me that there should bee in this nation any so wicked as to oppose so Christian a worke to so friuelous an end But when I remember by whome and by what Authority that booke was allowed and commaunded to be made publik and withall what mistery of iniquity it is that hath conspired against the saÌ„e me thinkes it is an Iniurie not to be tollerated Is it reason they who liue by bookes should bee permitted to abuse the Authors of their liuelyhood Or is it seemely that those whoe as I sayd before are but the pedlers of books should become their censurers and by consequent both the censurers and deprauers of that Authority which allowed them If this be tollerated the fayrest draughts of Apelles shal be daily subiect to the foolish critiscismes of those arrogant coblers and the State shall not be able â—…re long to publish any thing but what they haue a fancie to approoue For to this passe it is already come that whatsoeuer the State dislykes shal be imprinted and devulged by them though both absurd and scaÌ„dalous with twice more seriousnes then any booke lawfully commaunded but let it tend to schisme and they will disperse more vnder-hand in one weeke then the Royall Authority shal be able to divulge in a yeare toward the setling of vnity in the Church I know not what it is which should make my booke of Hymnes appeare soe ridiculus vnto theâ—… or so vnworthy to be annexed to the English Psalm-book as they pretend In respect of the matter it cannot iustly be excepted against for a great part therof is canonicall Scripture and the rest also is both agreeable therunto in euery perticuler and consonant to the most approoued Discipline of the Church of England Soe that how squeâ—…ishly soeuer some of their stomackes brooke it they being allowed by Authority are as fitt I trust to keepe company with Dauids Psalmes as Robert Wisdomes TVRKâ—… and POPE and those other apocryphall Songs and praiers which the stationers add to the Psalmebooke for their more aduantage Sure I am that if their additions shal be allowed of by the most voices yet mine shal be approoued of before those by the best Iudgments Now as for the manner of expression which I haue vsed I hope it is such as no iust exception cann be taken therunto seeing I haue aswel in that which is of my owne Inuention as in the Translations vsed that simplicity of speech which best becommeth yâ— subiect without affectatioÌ„ to those poetical phrases
flatter speake lyes disseÌ„ble with their double heart They are sett on fyre they haue whett their toÌ„gues like swords their teeth are speares arrows their lipps speake deceit their mouth is full of â—…urfing and bitternesse they haue persecuted me wheÌ„ I was smitten eueÌ„ in my Aduersity they reioyced gathered themselues together against me They whisper and take counsell to my hurt The drunkards among them haue made songes on me yea the very abjects haue assembled made mowes at me so nearely imitated that crew of whom the Psalmist complaineth that if my Hymnes vvere as full of that good spirit which inspired David as my Adversaryes seeme to be of that evill spirit which possessed his enimies my Songes might vvell haue passed whithout exception But Gods will be done For I know he will in the best opportunity deliuer me from those oppressors I haue bene hithèrto as a deafe man to all they haue obiected because I knew it was gods pleasure that I should be afflicted for the evill which is in my vvorke that he might the more comfort me for that which his goodnesse hath made good in me And I had bene longer silent in their reproofe but that my Adversaries haue perhapps bene permitted soe much soe foolishly to prouoke me that those many iniuryes they haue offred others might be called into question by this meanes for the generall good yea paradventure they haue giuen this occasion that their owne words might make them fall whether it be so or not sure I am to be deliuered from them when my suffrings are compleat He that hath showne me troubles will as he hath often done novv also deliver me Euen he vvill comfort me for those yeares wherein he hath afflicted me because I haue placed my hope only on him Yea he vvill shew me some token for good that such as haue hated me may be ashamed that those vvho loue me may praise his name for my cause In vvhich assurance I vvill rest expecting my revvard from aboue the Sunne For I haue vvith Salomon obserued and seene that here vnder the Sunne the race is not to the svvift nor the batle to the stronge nor bread to the vvise nor riches to men of vnderstanding nor favor to men of knowledge but tyme chance commeth to them all Eccl. 9. 11. And I hope that your RRces vvhom as the Ambassodors true Ministers of God I haue euer honored loued obeyed vvill in vvhat you may be as helpefull in the setling of my ontvvard peace as your Instructions haue bene to beget in me an invvard contentment That vvhich hath bene ceÌ„sured vndiscreet in my former studyes vvas punished seuerely let not that also vvhich the King Authority approoues commendable be made preiuditiall vnto me For vvhich vvay then shall I employ my selfe vvithout disadvantage Although I grudge not that men addicted to the most vaine exercizes cann reap profitt regard Yet methinks it is somevvhat vnequall that he vvho hath bestovved his tyme his paines his fortunes in better studyes should be altogether denyed his labor for his travell Or vvhich is vvorse suffer for his good intentions because he hath endeauored more then a hundred bee abused more then a thousand I would it were otherwise for their sakes vvho haue but begun to tast the comfort svveetnesse of attempting good things that none of those may be discouraged through my hard vsage vvho haue in the prime of their youth forborne their pleasures forsaken the ordinary pathes of preferment to prosecute that vvhich may redound as vvell to the profit of others as to their ovvne benefite And I vvould to god that such as ought to cherish direct those vvho desire to spend their tyme best faculties in the seruice of God vvould not so enuiously carpe at honest parformances as many do vvhen their humor is not fitted in euery perticuler Perhapps alsoe vvhen those perticulers vvere approoued of by wisermen When an Archer hath shott it is aneasy an ordinary matter for the foolish lookers on to say he hath mist thus or thus much of the marke but giue them the Bovv it vvill soone appeare that they are better at finding fault vvith others then in doing vvell themselues Against such as these I haue had some cause to complaine not only among the Stationers but I am sorry I should haue reason to speake it some euen of the Cleargy are that vvay blame vvorthy haue as I am credibly informed so friuelously so inuiriously objected against my Hymnes that their ovvne freinds hearers haue discouered that it vvas the Author rather then his Booke vvhich they affected not For al they could say being vrged to expresse perticuler exceptions was this that I was no Divine And it hath appeared to the iust disparagment of some among them that they had neuer so much as handled the booke they disapprooued Whence should this proceed but from selfe corruption the basest enuy And what flesh blood could endure it with silence The most eminent the most learned the most devout the most approoued of our Devines haue thought it worthy praising God for to see a man of my quality exercize his faculty that way Some of the most reuerend of them haue sought me out honored me for it with more respect then I find my selfe vvorthy of that they might encourage me in such endeauors Yea the Kings most excellent Majestie hath by his priuiate approbation of that booke vnder his publike seale giuen soe princely a testemony of his desire to credit cherish in his Subjects exercizes ' of such nature that their abuse of me is not without some iniury to the Iudgment Authority of his Majestie Surely he hath not deserued it at their hands And alas vvhat cause haue I giuen them that they should thus deale vvith me What labor of theiâ—…s did I eâ—…r traduce Or vvhose good repute at any tyme haue I envied at vvhen I haue seene the nakednesse of some among them I haue couered it Yea I haue labored to saue the reputation of such as these vvhere their indiscretions had nigh lost it And vvill they so recompence me as to conuert my best Actions to my reproach Cann they not be content to be silent vvhen they are not disposed to approoue but must they dispraise alsoe to the encouragment of my other ignorant Aduersaries in their opposition And because I haue performed a laborious vvorke not so exactly perhapps as they conceaue it might haue bene vvill they make it more my disparagment then it is to some of them to be employed about nothing If in any thing I haue deserued ill let them not secreetly traduce me but christianly reprooue me according to the duty of their callings If I haue deserued nothing let them advise me hovv to merrit better or suffer me to be altogether vnspoken of as those many thousands are that doâ—…
it shall be contriued and named alsoe according to his owne pleasure vvhich is the reason so many good Bookes come forth imperfect and vvith foolish titles Nay he oftentymes giues bookes such names as in his opinion will make them saleable vvhen there is litle or nothing in the whole volume sutable to such a Tytle If he be none of the Assistance of his Company he ordinarily rayles on their partiallyty in m◅niging of the Kings Priveledges or the generall stock but this he doth more in enuy them in loue to vpright dealing For when he comes to those places into which his very troublesomnesse sometyme helpes him the sooner he makes all vvorse then before playes the knaue CUM PRIVILEGIO He is then bound to pray for the poore much more then they are for him For they are indeed his Benefactors He will be ready vpon all occasiōs to boast of the 200. li a yeare which is giuen among their pensioner◅ but he hath not thankfulnesse enough to tell any man that it ariseth out of his Majesties Priviledges bestowed for that purpose nor how many thousand pounds are yearely made thereof beside If he once gett to be an officer in the Society he forgetts to speak in the first personn for euer after but like a Prince sayes we vvill wee do this c. He thinks vpō nothing more then to keepe vnder the inferiors of the Corporation to drawe the profitt of the Kings Priveledges to his priuate vse He stands infeare of nobody ◅ut the Archb of Canterbury the Bishop of Londō the high Commission loues nobody but himselfe I cannot deuise what his Religion is nor he neither I think For what sector profession soeuer his customer is of he will furnish him with Bookes tending to his opinions To a Papist hee rayles vpon Protestants to Protestants he speakes ill of Papists to a Browinst he reuiles them both Yet I dare say this for him that he is an enimy to the alteration of Religeon in this Commonwealth because he feares it would spoyle their Priueledge for Dauids Psalmes in English meeter or hinder the reprinting of many vendible coppyes Marry a Tolleration he would hold well with all soe he might haue but the sole printing of the Masse-booke or our Ladyes Psaltet He will take vpon him to censure a booke as arrogantly a◅ if he had read it or were a man of some vnderstanding He speakes of reuerend Doctors as disdaynfully as of schoole boyes And mentiones the Vniuersityes with no more respect then if all their famous Colledges were but so many Almeshouses maintained out of the Stationers Hall When he shall heare me or any other object those Abuses which some of his Company haue offred me to my face he will vnciuelly giue the lye iustify the contrary as confidently as if he had bene present at all tymes in all places He is no more pittyfull to a pore man that falls into his powre then a hungry Beare to a Lambe When he spakes of him whom he loues not it is vsually with as much contempt of what quality soeuer the other be of as if he were one of the Almesmen of his Company If he come among the rest of his fraternity about any cōtrouersy betweene them and others he will speake any vntruth that may aduantage his owne side For if the matter should require to be iustifyde he knowes that among many the speaker will hardly be found out that when the lye is deuided among them all there will not fall much shame vpon any one man He will allow of no Priveledges which the Kings Majestie shall vouchsafe concerning bookes vnles he may be interested in the best part of the profitt Yea rather thē those which are bestowed vpō his owne Corporatiō shal be disposed of for the benefite of the generallity according to his Majesties intētiō he will go neare to do his best to forfeit them altogether For he will at any tyme suffer some mischeese himselfe to do another a great spight He will sweare the peace or good behauior against any one whom he is disposed to trouble though there be no cause And if he may haue but some of his Brotherhood to stand among he vvill not stick wilfully to misinforme the whole Court of Aldermen to procure the committment of such pore men as he prosecutes And this is one of his infallable markes if he preuaile in a businesse or haue but any hope of getting the better the Tauerne is the Temple where he giueth his God praise Thither he presently repayres to offer vp the sacrifize of fooles and perhapps is ledd from thence in slate betweene two supporters Porters I should haue said to his owne howse where he vtters his stomack to his vvife and famely He is so extreame guilty and so fearefull that most of these markes are to be found vpon him that all his freinds shall neuer perswade him but this Character vvas made by him and therefore he vvill take it to himselfe though he be one vvhom I neuer knew nor heard of He will condēne the Stationer that sells this Apology for a faulse brother and if it be possible to drawe the rest to be so indiscreet he will gett the whole Company to take this discription as an abuse to their Mystery but they wil be better aduis'd He will bestow both vpon me and vpon this booke all the foule termes he cann inuent or giue out perhapps that it is nothing sutable to that Mynd which I haue expresse in my Motto But let him examine them together he shall fynde they disagree not in a word He will much insist vpō all those bitter reproo◅es vvhich I haue vsed and be very sensible of them noe doubt because they touch himselfe but those iniuryes which are the cause of them he vvill neuer mention He will tell his Companions that they haue Boyes in the Church-yard able to answeare all this and it is odes but he will carpe al◅oe at some want of vvitt or learning in these expressions as if there needed any great witt or learning to be vsed in bidding a Dogg come out These pills may perhapps stirr his humors but they will not purge away one dramm of his corruptions For he is so blinded with coueteousnesse selfe will that to change his mind Noyse will preuaile with him as much as reason therefore this which I haue written was neuer intented to satisfy him but others He truly resembles the Ephesian Siluersimthes rather then his Mystery should decay would preferr Paganisme before Christianity prophane Ballads before Hymnes praysing God that which he hath not ability to compasse by Reasons he will attempt by vproares To conclude he is a dangerous excrement worthy to be cutt off by the State to be detested of all Schollers to be shun'd of all the people deserues to be curst expeld out of the Company of Stationers For by the coueteousnesse