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
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
that I went about so to giue testimony also how farr I am from being wilfull in my owne opinions I doe in all humility submit my selfe to be rectified by your RRces in whatsoeuer I haue done or spoken which though offence had beene giuen will I hope make me somwhat more excusable then my aduersaryes pretend Howsoeuer I cannot dispayre For yf those ouersightes which I haue vnwillingly committed in that performance doe bring on me those outward troubles which shall frustrate some of my temporall hopes yet I am confident that those christian affections which Gods mercy hath made acceptable in me shall produce those inward comfortes which will vphould my faith tyll my contentments are made perfect and therfore his will be done I come now to speake of that imputatiō by which the stationers and their Abetters haue don my book and me the greatest iniury and that is in pretending my Hymnes for the Obseruable tymes to be furtherances to Popery and superstition When they cannot bring men to dislyke me and that labor of myne by disparaging the vsefullnesse thereof they obiect against the manner or method when that wil not serue turne they except against my calling when that wil not preuaile they impudently accuse it of obscenity when that effects not their purpose they gyue out that it is inclyning to Popery when none of these courses will aduantage them they rayle and send him that enquires for the booke to goe and seeke yt where he cann But the best of their stratagems hath beene by accusing yt of fauouring superstition For it hath not onely made many hundreds whoe knowe not yet what the Booke treates of to forbeare the buyeng and perusing of it but hath giuen them occasion also to passe their censures on me in so vnchristian a manner as if I were an Apostate that had fallen from my Religyon or sought the subuertion of yt for my outward profitt Wheresoeuer I come one gyddy brayne or another offers to fall into disputation with me about my Hymnes Yea Brockers and Costermongers and Tapsters and Pedlers and Sempsters and Fydlers and Feltmakers and all the Brotherhoods of Amsterdam haue scoffingly passed sentence vpon me in their conuenticles at taphouses and Tauernes So that insteed of diuvlging my booke that according to the Kings intēt yt might further y◠reverence práctise of deuotion and confirme in his Maiestyes subiectes obedience to the pyous discipline of our Church some of the stationers haue by traducing it giuen ignorant people occasion to speake the more in contempt of those Ordinances which they ought reuerently to obey If these presumptions shall be suffered without rebuke neither the Authority of the Church or State will shortly take place but that onely vvhich makes for the profitt or humor of the Stationers For some of them dare already tell me to my face that if the King had not peremptorely commāded the addition of my Hymns to the metricall Psalmbooke they would haue the sooner anexed thē but by compulsion they will not And for that cause one of them as hee himselfe affirmed hath sold of those bookes 500 lesse then hee might haue done in one quarter of a yeare What is this but to professe wilfull disobedience in contempt of his Majestie his pious Iniunctio as if he had not powre to command the publication of a few leaues to the glory of God without crauing their fauors For though it might be objected that I petitioned the sayd Hymnes might be added to the metricall Psalmes out of a priuate respect as doubting or foreseeing that the Stationers and others vvould feeke the suppressing of them if they vvere not compoūded withall to their owne liking Yet the Kings Maiesty had no such ende but inioyned the same meerely to this christian purpose that those Hymnes might be the more conueniently dispersed throughout his Dominions for the edifying and instructing of his Loyall subiectes perswading himselfe that those who haue enioyed so many greate Priuiledges by his gratious fauour would neuer haue opposed that authority by which they fub sist and by vertue wherof they receiue benefit of such Grants as are both of the same of a higher nature especially seeing it is probable that none of his louing subjectes worthy the name of a Christiâ would haue grudged to enlarge his booke the quantity of a fewe leaues at the ordinary rate to so pyous an ende as those Hymnes tend vnto considering how many poundes are yearly consumed in triuiall Pamphlets and other vayne expences But why should I onely complayne against the Stationers the inciuillity of those whom they haue stirred vp to clamor against the Hymnes for the solemne Dayes as if I alone suffred in this vproare Do not your RRces perceaue that the kings Iudgement Authority suffers by it Nay perceaue you not that while they seeme to aime at me they strike at you and seeke to ouerthrow or disparage the allowed Discipline of our Church Verily that is the white which they seeme to shoote at And there is not one of them but if he dare stand to his Objections before this reuerend Assembly I dare vndertake to prooue him to be little better then a Schismatick in his opinions an enimie to the govermēt established in the Church of England If vpō the review of my Hymnes there may be found either in them or in their Prefaces any thing repugnant to the Catholike Verity or the allowed Discipline I will recant it make publike acknowledgment of my error and vndergoe what punishment shal be thought deserued For I had rather be irrecouerably vndon both in my credit estate then to be an occasion of preiudice or scandall to the Church of God Nay let all my labors be made frustrate and my person be deliuered ouer to be subject to the tyrany of the Stationers if my Hymnes doe not euidently appeare vpon serious viewe to be instrumēts of Gods glory helpfull to deuotion tending to Christian Conformity and likely to be a meanes of deliuering our Solemnities from being so much traduced and misvnderstood for reliques of Popery as heretofore I am thus confident thereof by reason of that blessing which God hath already giuen For notwithstanding that great opposition of the Stationers hitherto made and those vilde imputations which they haue layd on my Booke Many haue confessed vnto me that my Hymnes for the Obseruable Tymes and their Prefaces haue made them more reverently affected towards that Discipline then formerly they were And haue professed that yt shall for euer hereafter teach them to be more conscionable in condemning and sleighting the obseruatiō of that which is established in our Church Yea some Divines haue modestly acknowledged that they did not so well consider the piety and vsefulnes of those observations as they haue since done If I were so greedy of temporall aduantages as the Stationers iudge me or yf I had meereley proiected my own profit in the course of my studies
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
pleasure Wherevpon least God should turne his blessing to a curse and my reputation to my shame if I sought not what way to ymploy it vnto his prayse and obseruing withall that we make vse of the most excelent expressions of the holy ghost in rude and barbarous Numbers whilst our own wanton fancies were paynted trymed out in the most moouing languag Me thought it fared with vs as with those agaynst whom the Prophet Hosea complayned that dwelt in sieled houses themselues whilst the Temple of God lay wast And therefore seeing no other to vndertake the same I spent about three yeeres to prepare my self for such a I aske and then proceeded with the translation of the Psalmes according to that ability God had giuen me But before I had halfe ended them I heard that one of much better sufficiency had made a long and happy progresse into that worke and therevpon in expectation of his more able performance delayed to proceed with what I had begunne vntill such tyme as I was informed that the other was by the multiplicity of weighty Affayres compelled to giue ouer his laborious Attempt And then I thought my selfe engaged agayne to proceede Now dureing the tyme of intermission as aforesaid that I might not want an imployment answereable to my first intention I was by some of the Clergy who I hope were moqued there unto by the Spirit of God inuiâ—…ed to collect and translate into Lyricke-verse the Hymnes dispersed throughout the Canonicall Scriptures Which I imbraced with much readynes persoiâ—…d willingly adding vnto theÌ„ such other parâ—…ds of Holy-writt Creeds and Songs as I conceiued proper and necessary to be sunge And because some can well enough allowe an endlesseâ—… variety of foolish Songs and ballads â—…eÌ„ding to the 〈◊〉 of the flesh and the deuill yet be apt to say wee 〈◊〉 Psalmes and Songes enough in this kind already And so 〈◊〉 also as I haué heard others whoâ—… presume much on their own foâ—…ndnes in 〈◊〉 in noraÌ„t by demauÌ„d what the SoÌ„gs of Moâ—…s Debâ—…rah 〈◊〉 sâ—…ch like are pertiâ—…eÌ„t vnto vs. To let those 〈◊〉 vnlerned ignorant men know that the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 none of the Canonicall Scriptures tyll these tymes of 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 haue in a short Proeme â—…ding to the opinion of the true Church declared that those Scriptures are euery whitt as vsefull and necessary for vs as for them in whose tymes and for whose particuler occasioÌ„s they were first written And before each Hymne I haue presixed also a briefe preface to shew in what sence the congregation or men may priuately and ought to repeat them Moreouer hauing with griefe obserued how the Church of England lyke Iesus Christ crucified betwen two theeues is traduced and abused between Papists and Schismatiks the one falsly charging her with want of order and christian discipline the other as vniustly vpbrayding her with popish and superstitious obseruations And hauing experience that there are great multitudes of wel affected people easie to be led aside for company into the later ouersight through want of some to informe them better who would with smal ado be conformable if they had meanes of instruction concerning their particuler mistakings Yea many of these being wel inclyned towards me and I not knowing which way to vse that affection better then to make it a meanes of increasing christian vnity and devotion I resolued to publish some what to stirre vp in them that obedience and reuerence which they ought to expresse towardes the pious ordinances of the Church and if I lost any mans esteem for so conscionable an attempt I assured my self I lost nothing but what was neuer worth the sauing To that end therefore hauing receiued incouragment and taken aduice from some of the most deuout and learned of our Deuines I composed certayne Hymnes and Songes appropriated to the ordynary publike occasions of our Congregations and to those tymes obseruable by commaund of the Churche and by the authority of the State that soe God might bee gloryfied in euery Solempnity and those tymes not so much prophaned and contemned as heretofore And because I had heard some Teachers in Israel professe themselues ignorant concerning the vse of the Holy-days obserued in our Church I tooke the more paines though not presuming to teach them to expresse before the proper Song of euery obseruable Time or other occasion their religious vse briefly in such a manner as I hope euery reasonable capacity may thereby vnderstand our Churches discipline in that poynt to be farr from a needles popish or superstious Tradition Moreouer that I might not trouble any mans charity or deuotion in the vse of these Hymnes I was as watchful as possible I could be to make all my expressions free from bitternesse or touches of those controuersies which might giue offence to the weake members of our Church And God so prosper me as I was and am cleare from meaning to grieue offend or discontent the soules or consciences of any Thus with a good purpose I began and finished those Hymns and Songes which make vp the Booke called the HYMNES and SONGS OF THE CHVRCH So named not for that I would haue them accounted part of our Lyturgie as I haue deliuered to his Maiestie in my Epistle but because they do for the most part treate of such particulers as concerne the whole Church of God And this is that booke for which his Maiestie vouchsafed mee the priuiledge before mentioned and which he pyously gratiously commaunded to bee annexed to the singing Psalmes that it might be the more generally the more conuenieÌ„tly divulgâ—…d amoÌ„g his subiects for their instruction And indeed by that means those poore people whose Pastors suffer them or cause them to be misinformed concerning that poynt shall carry about with them in their most vsesual book what may at one tyme or other open their vnderstandinges to perceiue their errour This is that Booke for which I was euer worst vsed for my best intentions suffer more then for all my former in discretioÌ„s for which I haue receiued those afroÌ„ts that may wel be raÌ„ked amoÌ„g my greatest iniuries notwithstanding it had besides the ordinary allowance of Authority the particular approbation and coÌ„mendation both of the King himselfe and of many the members of this most reuerend Conuocation Yea this is that Booke for which the Common wealth of Stationers â—… Tyrrany vnheard of in former ages desire to make me as odious as if I had ympolyed my whole study to the oppression of this weale publike or to the subuertioÌ„ of religion and for which they haue persued me with such violence and clamor as hath seldome or neuer been exampled in any cause Heare therefore I humbly beseech you their particuler obiections and for his sake who hath honoured you with high places and holy callings be you Iudges betweene mee and them For though in regard of my selfe I should take no more notice
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
not content to smother my booke as much as may be by denying to giue it vtterance according as the King hath commaunded and as by their trade they ought to doe or to disparage it by striuing to make me seeme vnfitting or insufficient for a worke of that nature but to countenance their detractions they pretend as I sayde before that the Lo Archb with other of your LLos haue disliked my Hymnes that my Lo of Canterbury would this Parlament take order to suppresse them I cannot but wonder at the bouldnesse and impudence of these fellowes that dare publish such improbable vntruthes to the disparagement of honorable personages For many of your Reuerences haue receiued those Hymnes at my hands and returned me that good respect which hath been my encouragement and I cannot thinke any possessing those reuerent places would haue so much forgotten humanity as to haue condemned my labors in such fashiâ—… as those giue out It caÌ„not be thought they censured them vpon the Stationers reports seeing that were an inexcusable leuity and if they examined it me thinks my paynes my pyous intention and the good vse which may be made of that booke would haue mooued them to counsell me how to amend that which was found amisse rather then to disparage my whole work for a few ouersights Can I suppose they who should encourage men in their pyous studies and be glad to see that we are able in any measure to exercise our facultyes towardes the setting forth of Gods prayse would be so harsh to giue me hard censures for my paynes because forsooth I haue not answered their expectations in some one tâ—…iuiall poynt Sure this were not that tendernesse which might be expected in the Fathers of the Church nor do I beleue that any of your LLâ—…s would vse that seuerity towards me for then if I had noâ—… better comfortes then such critescisme affords those who wâ—… their tyme altogether in idlenesse and abuse their facultyes to vainest purposes are in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…n I. Now that they haue abused my Lo Grace of 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 his dislike of my booke to the disparagement thereof I shal make yt very apparent For his Grace tooke notise that my booke was perused and allowed by his Maiestie himselfe and worthily approued his Royall iudgement both in Diuinity and Poetry the Stationers beeing present he was informed likewise concerning euery perticuler circumstance in the Grant and how it was his Maiesties pleasure my booke should be anexed to the metricall Psalmes and thereupon both illustrated the reasonablenesse thereof to the sayd stationers and gaue them and me incouragment to proceed to composition touching the same moreouer the Canonical Hymnes haueing beene allowed by the Lo Bp of London part of them imprinted for an assay I deliuered to my L Archbs own hands a coppy of them almost fowre yeare agoe since when about two yeares after they being imprinted altogether passed without contradiction euen to the diuvlging of a full impression and lastly haueing an addition of spirituall Songes for the obseruable tymes they came forth altogether authorised as well by the Kinges perticuler approbation as by the common allowance appoynted by the State Yea my Lo of Canterbury himselfe receiued one of those bookes from me vpon Michelmas day last and giuing me order to alter one word only hath permitted al the rest to haue free passage without controwle Is it likely then that my Lord will soe iniure the Kinges iudgement and his owne as to disparage in priuate what they haue publikely allowed or secretly combine with the stationers to oppose the Kinges royall commaund in that which he himselfe hath approoued reasonable Is it likely his Grace would soe dishonor the reuerent Authority of his place as to make the stationers or bookebinders his instruments of suppressing my booke in such a scandalous fashion consideringe what power hee hath giuen him to take order and reforme in matters of that nature or is it likely that his Lp had soe litle compassion and respect as not to consider what faultinesse might bee in my Hymnes or what inconuenience might arise by my Graunt vntyll I had bestowed besides my paynes so much cost in printing them that he might at one blowe make frustrate my studies and quite ouerthrowe my estate both together Whilst there was hope of a composition betweene me and the stationers the Priueledg was no GreeuaÌ„ce neither was there any fault found with my Hymnes and is it likly that since our disgreement mallice and detraction should finde out those escapes which the eye of Authority could not discouer Is it likely my Lo would â—…e soe partiall as to passe ouer all my paynes and vnquestionable expressions without regard finding but one place doubtful as easie to bee amended as found fault withall that he would haue sought to cast away my whole endeuour for that ouersighte which I was able and ready with all humility to reforme Or is it likly he reputed of so litle coÌ„sequeÌ„ce what yâ— King was pleased to peruse graÌ„t a priueledg for that neither his priuate deuotion nor his publike care would moue him to consider what good or inconuenience might succeede vpon the publication thereof vntill the stationers had for their owne endes awakened him Or if it were considered can I thinke he would haue beene silent vntill it might be obiected to my publike disgrace It cannot be but that they haue abused my Lds Grace and diuers other reuerend personages in their reports For such vsage of me were not answereable to yâ— reuereÌ„ce pyety of their callings if religious endeuours should euer finde such encouragmentes there were more hope of thrift to the worldwarde by makeing Ballades for the company of stationers then coulde bee by composing of Hymns and spirituall Songes for the honor of God I hope no man in authority enuies me the honor of my emploimeÌ„t nor grudges mee that poore profite which my labors may honestly bring in For though it bee noâ—… meane content to a christian whose soule is touched with the vnderstanding of spirituall comfortes to bee an instrument of Gods glory yet that which I haue attempted makâ—… me in regard of one of you noe better then the meanest seruant attendinge on the outward ceremonies is in comparison of him that hath yâ— most holy mysteries of the Church committed to his dispensation And as for the benefit likely to arise vnto me froÌ„ that I haue done I know not what it may proue hereafter but hitherto I haue bene acquainted with nothing saue the priuation of it and haue beene so preposterously rewarded for my best labors that if all those whoe are thought to censure me had mett with such discouragments as I haue done it is tenn to one but some of them now florishing in eminent places had sate as lowe as I doe at this day But if it shall please my Lo of Canterbury to pardon them for abusing his name in the
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—…
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
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