The Scholars Purgatory Discovered, Text (3 of 3)

The Scholars Purgatory Discovered · Text (3 of 3)

p. 87For, they hauehave not only offred me those injuries, afore mentioned, and many other which humanity forbidds; but exercised their tongues also, so scurrilously; so vnciuelly, and so vniustly to the disgrace of my personn, that had I not long tyme envred my selfe to the barking of Doggs, and the snarling of such Beasts, I had bene much out of patience.

If I might not be thought to misapply the text, (as I thinke I should not) there is scarce one passage in the Psalmes of blessed Dauid, concerning the cōbinations & practises of a malitious multitude, but I hauehave had occasiō in a literall sēce to apply the same to my Aduersaries For, they hauehave rewarded me euill for good, and layd things to my charge which I knew not. They hauehave priuely laid netts to ensnate me without a cause. They hauehave reviled me all the day long, are madd vponupon me, and sworne together against me. Like Oxen and fatt Bulls they hauehave enclosed me, grind at me like dogs round about the Citty; & when I sound the words of their mouthes as soft as butter, there was warr in their hearts. They hold all together, keepe thēselues close, & marke my stepps▪ whē they see me, they flatter, speake lyes, & dissēble with their double heart. They are sett on fyre, they hauehave whett their tōgues like swords; their teeth are speares & arrows, their lipps speake deceit, & their mouth is full of …urfing and bitternesse, they hauehave persecuted me whē I was smitten, euē in my Aduersity they reioyced, p. 88& gathered themselues together against me, They whisper and take counsell to my hurt. The drunkards among them hauehave made songes on me; yea the very abjects hauehave 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 hauehave passed whithout exception.

But, Gods will be done, For; I know he will in the best opportunity, deliuer me from those oppressors. I hauehave bene hithèrto as a deafe man to all they hauehave 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 hauehave, perhapps, bene permitted soe much & soe foolishly to prouoke me, that those many iniuryes they hauehave offred others, might be called into question by this meanes, for the generall good. yea paradventure they hauehave 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 p. 89me; because I hauehave placed my hope only on him. Yea, he vvill shew me some token for good, that such as hauehave hated me may be ashamed, & that those vvho louelove me may praise his name for my cause; In vvhichwhich assurance, I vvill rest, expecting my revvard from aboue the Sunne. For, I hauehave vvith Salomon obserued and seene that here vnderunder 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 hauehave euer honored, loued, & obeyed, vvill in vvhat you may be as helpefull in the setling of my ontvvard peace, as your Instructions hauehave bene to beget in me an invvard contentment. That, vvhichwhich hath bene cēsured vndiscreet in my former studyes vvas punished seuerely: let not that also, vvhichwhich the King & Authority approoues commendable, be made preiuditiall vntounto me. For, vvhichwhich 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 vvhichwhich is vvorse, suffer for his good intentions; & because p. 90he hath endeauored more then a hundred, bee abused more then a thousand.

I would it were otherwise, for their sakes, vvho hauehave but begun to tast the comfort & svveetnesse of attempting good things; that none of those may be discouraged (through my hard vsage) vvho hauehave in the prime of their youth, forborne their pleasures, & forsaken the ordinary pathes of preferment, to prosecute that, vvhichwhich 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 eueryevery 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 giuegive 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 hauehave had some cause to complaine, not only among the Stationers, but (I am sorry I should hauehave reason to speake it) some, euen of the Cleargy, are that vvay blame vvorthy; & hauehave (as I am credibly informed) so friuelously & so inuiriously objected p. 91against my Hymnes; that their ovvne freinds, & hearers hauehave discouered that it vvas the Author rather then his Booke vvhichwhich 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, hauehave 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, hauehave 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, & vnderunder 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 hauehave I giuen them, that they should thus deale vvith me? What labor of thei…s did I e…r traduce? p. 92Or vvhose good repute at any tyme hauehave I envied at? vvhen I hauehave seene the nakednesse of some among them, I hauehave couered it. Yea, I hauehave 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 hauehave performed a laborious vvorke, not so exactly, perhapps, as they conceaue it might hauehave 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 hauehave deserued ill, let them not secreetly traduce me, but christianly reprooue me according to the duty of their callings. If I hauehave deserued nothing, let them advise me hovv to merrit better; or suffer me to be altogether vnspoken of, as those many thousands are that do… nothing. If I hauehave deserued any thing, let t…m leaue me to the fruite of mine ovvne labor, & if that be not able to reward it selfe vvithout their cost, I vvil suffer the losse. I hauehave hitherto spent my ovvne tyme & fortunes, in my studyes; neuer ayming at any of their spirituall promotions, (no not so much as at a lay Prebhend) for my labor. For, the principall revvard I seeke, is that vvhichwhich eueryevery eye seeth not, & that vvhichwhich p. 93those vvho iudge my affections by their ovvne, think me to hauehave least thought on. As for that outward benifite vvhichwhich the necessityes of this life, & my fraylties vrge me somevvhat to looke after; it is that little profitt only, vvhichwhich my worke naturally brings vvith it selfe: nor shall I be long discontented, if that alsoe be taken from me. Some hauehave already a strong expectatiō to see me wholy depriued of it; & some (kind harts) could be content to allow me a part thereof, but not so much as they suppose my iust profitt vvould amount vntounto. For, (they say) that were too great a consideration for so little a vvorke. Wherein, they shew their grosse partiality: For, thousands a yeare is not accounted suffieient for some who hauehave suddainely attained their estates, by vnnecessary or base (& perhapps, wicked) employments: Yet, they esteeme one hundred too much for him that hath performed a worke honest & profitable to the publike▪ because he performed it in a shorter tyme then some vvould hauehave done. Neuer thinking how many yeares practise & expences, he had first con…ed▪ to make himselfe fit for such an … neuer considering what he might hauehave gained, if he had bestowed the same tyme, charge, & industry in other professions; neuer regarding …owlōg he might hauehave bene vvithout hope of profit, if that had not happened, Hovv vncertain… the fruite may yet prooue, nor hovv many troubles, p. 94charges, and hinderances he hath bene heretofore at, without any consideration at all. But, I leaue them to their vniust diuission: Let them alot me what they please, & ballance my Talent as they list. God will prouide sufficient for me, to whose pleasure I referr the succeffe: &, though I may in this manner speake a little, to shew them I am sensible of their vsage. Yet, they shall see I will walke as contentedly, what euer happens, as if I had the fullfilling of all my hopes.

I beseech your RRces to pardon me, though my penn hath spirted a little ynke on those last mētioned; For, next the Stationers they hauehave bene of all others the most iniurious vntounto me: And saue that I hauehave a Christian regard, to their calling, and to preserue the patience becomming him that hath exercized himselfe in sacred Studies, I had here dropt gall, and made them perceaué that I hauehave as true feeling of harsh vsages, as other men. But, I do for Gods sake spare them, and for your sakes, whom I hauehave found ready to comfort, assist, and direct me in my good purposes.

I do forbeare the Stationers alsoe in the mention of many particuler mivsages yet not spoken of; and in desisting to agrauate what I hauehave hitherto touched vponupon, so farr forth as I hauehave cause.

p. 95For, if I should here declare vntounto your RRces, by way of illustratiō how many seuerall Discourtisies they hauehave offred me; hovv they hauehave resisted the Kings Grant, since the beginning of our Controuersy: hovv they concluded to let me disburse all the mony I could, before they would openly oppose me, that thē my profit being hindered I might be constrained to yeald to their pleasures, or to be ruined in my estate: Hovv violently they hauehave euer since persecuted my purposed hinderance, to my great losse: How willfully they hauehave misenformed the Kings Majestie & diuerse honorable personages concerning my Grant (& my procedings) to procure my damage: Hovv vniustly they gaue out among their Customers, that my Grant was a Monopoly, & an exaction to the oppression of the people: Hovv impudently & faulsly, they hauehave verefied, that I had procured that no man might buy a Bible, Testament, or Communion-Booke which out my Hymnes: How they compelled a fevv of the Bookebynders (whose estates much depend on their fauors) to present the high Court of Parliament with diuers vntrue suggestions in the name of fourescore; when as all except 4. or 5, of them, did (as I hauehave heard) reiect the said information as faulse & rediculous: hovv foolishly they hauehave sought to make me seeme pore in my estate, as if I had aymed at some reputation that way: p. 96Hovv from day to day, during all this Session they hauehave maintained three or foure of their Instruments, to clamor against me at the Parliament house dore, in so rude a fashion as vvas neuer exampled in any Cause: How farr they hauehave threatned to engage themselues & their fortunes in my opposition: Hovv dishonestly they dare pretend the good of the Common vvealth when they hauehave but priuate ends; & vvhen they themselves do really oppresse the same, & are (in a higher nature) truly guilty of those greeuances, vvhichwhich they faulsely lay vntounto my Charge: Hovv malitiously they hauehave hindered themselues & their whole Company, of an assured benifite, that I might hauehave the greater losse: Hovv they take occasion in all Assemblyes to vent as much as they cann to my disparagment; as if they had projected to make me (if it vvere possible) infamous through out the whole Kingdome. I say, if I should giuegive vntounto your RRces all these perticulers truly Illustrated; & shew how false I could prooue their informations; hovv cruell their dealings, hovv base their slanders, hovv absurd their cavills, & hovv much I hauehave vvith patience endured them vnspoken of (till this day) in hope to find them better affected; you vvould say that God had enabled me beyond the povvre of mine ovvne vveaknesse. And perhapps alsoe, you vvould think it a vvorke of mercy, to helpe deliuer me from their Tyranny.

p. 97But, the amplification of these things, and my answeares to all those obiections vvhichwhich they hauehave published, I reserue for the high Court of Parliament; or for their hearing vvho shalbe appointed Iudges of the differences betvveene vsus. And then, if I shall not appeare vvorthy to be freed frō their oppression, I wilbe cōtented still to suffer; & to giuegive vp both my labors and Priueledges to be the prey of their Auarice. In the meane tyme, I vvill defend my selfe and my right as I am able. In vvhichwhich I know, I shall hauehave much to doe; Seeing those vvhom I am to resist are an Aduersary so many wayes armed for my disadvantage, as I could hardly hauehave found out the like. For, they will not only come against me, in the Name of a respected Corporation, pretending the good and releefe of a pore Multitude (vvhichwhich I shalbe able to proue vnderunder the hands, of 60 of their owne Company they hauehave made porer then otherwise it vvould hauehave bene) but they hauehave so many other fayre pretences alsoe, such clokes of sincerity, and such vnsuspected insinuations to screwe themselues into good opinion, to his disaduantage vvhom they oppose, that he shall hauehave need of all his faculties.

And, though their cause should appeare faulty: Yet, they hauehave soe plentifull a stock to make it hopefull; soe many heads to plott euasions; soe many Soliciters to prosecute their designes, p. 98such Instruments ready to stretch their consciences to serue them; So many seuerall persons to procure freinds; Such a multitude to lay the shame and blame among▪ when they do a man any wilfull or apparant iniury; So much oppertunity (by meanes of their Trade and Customers) to possesse the generality on their behalfes; Such a Brood of Ingles (by reason of their many troublesome suites) in eueryevery Court of Iustice, and about eueryevery eminent person, ready to serue their turnes; And so desperately valiant are they in vowing the persecutiō of what they vndertake (though it were to be maintained by the expence of many thousand p…unds) that to graple with them, and come of vnfoiled, were one of Hercules his labors.

I scarcely sett my foot into any place, whither I vsually resort, but I am told of their foule language against me: I seldome meet that man of my Acquaintance, but they hauehave possest him with somewhat against my Grant; Nor come I into that Noble-mans lodginge, where they hauehave not already one of his Chamber, or some other near about him, forward to dispute their cause; and vppon all occasions to possesse their Lord with such vntrue suggestions as they dare informe. And questionles they hauehave other aduātages that my experience among them, hath not yet discouered; which if God should turne to foolishnes, I doubt they would grow desperate. For, (as I am told) p. 99one of them vvas not ashamed lately to affirme, that if their ayme succeeded not, it vvould cost some their liues. God blesse the men, and giuegive them grace to see their distemper before it come to that; and in tyme to suspect the honoesty of that cause, vvhichwhich vvresteth out such vvords of desperation. For mine owne parte, my conscience is witnesse of such vvarrantablenes in mine, that (vvhether I sink or swimme in that particuler) I hope, and am perswaded, it shall make toward my best happinesse.

But, I hauehave gotten (some vvill say) such a powrefull and furious Aduersary by this quarrell, that I shall fill my life full of troubles & dangers. Indeed, I looke to find them perfect enimies; but (since I must hauehave enimies) they are such soes as I would desire to hauehave. I expect they vvill proue violent & subtill, but not so violent or subtill, as the Deuill, who is eueryevery moment watching to deuour me: And, it may be their malice vvill make me so vigilant ouer my selfe, that I shall the better escape his. I hauehave heard one that thinking to kill his enimie, gaue him a sleight hurt that cured him of a mortall disease; and so may they serue me. I was euer as carefull as I could be, of my wayes; Yet, knowing no great Foes I had, but such only as were spirituall, I more striued for an inward sincerity, then to make fayre appearances outwardly; and therefore gaue, perhapps, some occasion now and then, of scandall through my simple freedome: p. 100because, haueing no ill purpose, I thought eueryevery looker on, vvould censure as charitably of my Actions, as my Intentions deserued. But, novv I shall hauehave remembrancers to prouoke me to more strict circumspection, & betwixt the Deuill in secret, & my nevv foes in publike▪ shalbe kept, I hope so watchfull, that myne eye shall not dare looke off from God. Nor, my hand fasten it selfe vponupon the rotten sta…e of any humane protection. I will perswade my selfe, that where ere I goe, one of them doggs me: & though it is not the feare of the world for which I make conscience of vvhat I do, yet an outward obiect may sometyme quickē an inward consideration when it is almost asleepe, & I embrace the occasion▪

They lately threatned the marking of my wayes: & I therefore giuegive them hearty thankes: for, I neuer since behold one of their Fraternity, but it is an Alarum to me, & driues me immediately to consider, what I last did, what I am then doing, & what I purpose to goe about. Nay, I hauehave apossiblity of braue Aduantages, if their enmity encrease, as it hath done hitherto. There is not an ouersight which I was guilty of since my cradle, nor a Folly which I was euer suspected of, nor any forgetfulnesse which I may be prone to fall into; but I hope they vvill enquire it out & lay it to my charge. That the great Accuser may hauehave the …sse to obiect, at the last Iudgment.

p. 101These priueledges will I gaine by it. If they accuse me of ought wherein I am truly faulty; it shall I trust moue me to a true repentance, begett in me amendment for the tyme to come; & through the shame of this life, lead me into the glory of the next. If any cry me be obiected whereof I am cleare, I vvill remember that the vvorld hath sometyme praised me more then I diserued, so (…etting her praises & disparagments to ballance one another) vvill forgiue her, & hauehave as little to do vvith her, hereafter as I cann. Yea, it may be that if my Aduersaries vvould once speak out & openly, that which they whisper priuately to to my disgrace, I should thence take occasion not only to acquite my selfe of many imputations, vvhereby I am novv iniured to the scandall of my personn, & the hinderance of some of that good vvith my labors might els effect; But I shall paraduenture alsoe find oppertunity thereby to to publish that, which vvill teach others vpō what considerations they may keepe their minds quiet, in the like affliction; And shevv them how to convert all malitious defamations to the shame of their enimies, to the glory of God, to their present consolation, and to their future aduantage for euer. Nay if my Aduersaries hold on that violence vvhichwhich they now make shevv of, I trust to Discouer hereafter, by my constant example, these to be no brauadoes or meere verball florishes▪ p. 102but that there is in my soule a reall knowledge & feeling of what I professe.

For, I hauehave by my selfe mustered my forces; and I hauehave considered that I am but one, and they many: I know no man of powre whose assistāce I may challenge by any desert of my owne, whereas their large gratuities hauehave that way made them strong. I find my naturall bashfullnesse to be such that I could not (though it were to saue my life) trouble men in honorable place about my priuate quarrells. For, if they be altogether strangers it seemes to me impudence to solicite them; If we are but acquainted only, me thinks I should first deserue somewhat. And I hold that he who is worthy the name of my freind will do me what fauor he cann without asking it, assoone as he parceaues I need him. On the contrary; their audacity is such, that they cann shamelesly importune and scrape to any man, for their aduantage; euen to those whom they hauehave abused rather then faile. I hauehave remembred likewise, that I am scarce able to prouide their due fees required in the prosecution of my cause, whereas they hauehave large bribes to giuegive (if any liued in this Age that vvould accept them.) I hauehave pondered alsoe, how vnapt my disposition is to vvork vponupon dishonest Aduantages, and how readily they take all oppertunities to my vvrong. Beside these, many other disproportions I discouered in our strenghts vpō my survay; Neuertheles when I had sett downe the nature of p. 103my cause, and surveyed vvhat Amunition God … a good conscience had stored vp vvithin me, I made vp my Resolution for the cumbate; And, now I beginn to be acquainted with their skirmishes, the more my dangers appeare, the lesse are my discouragments. Yea, I vowe, all their great threats are but as so many handfulls of dust cast into the vvind; and all the mischeefe the vvhole body of their forces is yet able to bring about, cannot breake me of so much sleepe as on… flea.

For, when according to Dauids example I seek to strenghthen my saith with calling to mind Gods former protections; I finde that when I was all alone and vnarmed (after the manner of the vvorld) I was deliuered from two afflictions, vvhichwhich (all circumstances considered) were as dangerous in appearance▪ as the Beare and Lyon which assailed Dauid: and I take it for an in…allable token, that I shall be now alsoe saued from the Philistian-like troupe, and their Goliah-like Champions, who hauehave railed vponupon that which vva… prepared for the honor of the liueing God: And (though I am not vsed to their vveapons) shall be provided of a sling and a stone sufficient enough to encounter their yron speares, and brazen headpeeces, in spight of that Targateer in vvhom they trust. And I am perswaded that God hath permitted me to suffer what hath be fallen me by their meanes, not only to punish my synnes, and p. 104exercize my faith in him; but that being a little experienced in Dauids afflictions, I might hauehave somevvhat the more feeling of that which he suffred (by reason of the Combinations of his vvicked Aduersaryes) and …oe be made the abler to expresse his passions, and the persecutions of Iesus Christ and his members, sett forth in his holy Psalmes; which I am preparing for our English Lyre. For, I finde aswell by my owne experience, as by the testimony of diuers learned men conuersant in that booke, that it can neuer be relished or vvell vnderstood by any man, vntill he hath passed through the tryall of some extraordinary afflictions.

These expressions will to some (paraduenture) who are not acquainted with me, and the true state of my cause, seeme impertinent and vnsauory; but, I knowe their vse & necessity to be such, and hauehave so vvell examined the warrātablenes…e of my priuate ends therein, (and the probablenesse of a profitable successe) that I am not ashamed to expose them to the vvorld; nor fearefull of any man… dislike. Nor do I value the taxation of those who shall vponupon the view of this condemne me of too much bitternesse in the reprouing and laying open the cruelty of my Aduersaryes. For, my conscience is vvitnesse that I hauehave vsed no termes of sharpenesse but such as I hauehave example for, out of the cō plaints of the meekest saints of God; and such as are properly required to describe the true nature of p. 105their malice. And I protest before the almighty God, that to my knowledge I hauehave added nothing in this discourse concerninge them, but what is either true in my owne experience, or so probably declared vntounto me, that I hauehave no cause to suspect the contrary: And so far am I from bearing the least personall malice to any of them, that I dayly pray for them as heartely as for my selfe. Yea, that day in vvhichwhich they do me the greatest vnkindnesses, I most earnestly vvish them well; & do thē feele my spirit striuing against my naturall corruption on their behalfe, more powrefully then at other tymes. And (vvhateuer they beleeue of me) God let me not prosper in any affayre of this life, if I vvould not be depriued of my best earthly hopes, rather then do a vvilfull i…iury, euen to him among them of vvhose particuler malice I hauehave most experience. Which protestation, no man haueing the feare of God dare to pronounce vntruly; nor cann any man haueing the charity of a good Christian, suspect it to be false, being so deliberately declared.

Or if this asseueration be not enough, my dayly practise and behauior towards them vvill witnesse somevvhat on my befalfe. For, though they hauehave not only hindered my profit to the value of some hundreds of pounds since our dissention, but vvasted much alsoe of my principall estate; p. 106Yet, when I had sufficient Authority to hauehave made my selfe immediatly whole againe, vponupon their goods who were prime Agents against me; neuerthelesse, I long forbore to put my powre in execution, and vvhen I vvas compelled to execute it vponupon some of them, I returned their goods back againe vponupon their owne entreaty, & forgot and forgaue all misvsages without returning so much as a harsh vvord vntounto them, or retaining so much as the charges of ceasure; because, if it had bene possible I vvould hauehave vvonn them by fayre meanes. Yea, vvhen it vvas in my powre to hauehave procured the committment of some among them, who had showne themselues most spightfull vntounto me; I forbore to aggrauate the matter against them, according to their desert (euen out of meere charitable compassion) though I suspected they vvould laugh at me for my labor, as I heard aftervvard they did. Which doth (at least) probably verify that I hauehave no malignant or reuengfull inclination toward the personn of any one among them. For, what cann they deuise against me more prouoking then they hauehave already done? Verely, there is no other cruelty lest, for them to practise, but the torturing of my flesh: & what is that, in respect of vvounding my reputation, which they hauehave so much endeauored.

Men of the basest condition vvill dayly hazzard their bodyes for the defence euen of their suparfluous goods, or vponupon the giuing of one p. 107disgracefull word; & therefore, it seemes that among some, those are greater iniuries then to vvound & kill. How great wrong do I then beare in my fame, that suffer patiently not only their triuiall imputatiōs, but to be vniustly alsoe, accounted a blasphemer & a profane person? and am by their meanes depriued, not only of superfluities, but in a manner of all my liuelyhood? For when those Freinds who are engaged for me are satisfied (to which purpose there is yet I praise God, sufficient set apart) I vovve in the faith of an honest man, that there vvill not be left me in all the world, to defend me against my Aduersaryes, & supply the comon necessityes of nature, so much as vvill feed me one vveeke, vnles I labor for it. Which, my enimies are partly enformed of, & do therevpon triumph. But not to my discontentment. For, I do comfort my selfe, to think how sweet it will be to sitt hereafter at some honest labor, and sing those Hymnes and Songes to the praise of God, for which the vvorld hath taken from me her fauors. Nor doth it trouble me to publish thus much of my pouerty, though I knowe it vvill sound disgracefully in the eares of most men. For, I meane to procure no man to hazzard his estate for me, by pretending better possibilities to secure him then I hauehave; as others vsually do: Nor value I the reputation vvhichwhich comes by vvealth or such like things as may be lost through the malice of others, because I know I shall be the p. 108better esteemed of for those toyes, by none but Fooles or such Ideots as will sooner blush to be found pore, then dishonest. Yea, I am assured that among good & wise men, it vvill be no more shame vntounto me to be made pore by such meanes as I hauehave bene, then it is to be made sick by the hand of God: Nor cann I think it vvill be more my disgrace to hauehave vvasted my estate through my studyes, then it is to some other students to hauehave thereby empaired their healthes.

But, some will object that I hauehave by publishing this Apology not only taxed those vvho are guilty of such things as I hauehave perticularized, but layd a publike imputation alsoe, vponupon the whole Company of Stationers; & bene so generall in my accusations that the credit euen of those honest men among them, vvill be much endangered. Indeed, the good & badd are incorporated together into one body, & so intermixed that it wilbe very difficult to shoot at the Starlings & misse the Pigeons. Yet, I hauehave discharged this among them (in spight of their threatning the Starchamber) & if novv it be examined where my pelletts fell, you shall find none wounded, but those Starlings which hauehave troubled the Douehouse; & that there is not one innocent Doue dispoiled of a feather▪

I protested in the beginning of this discourse, that I had no purpose to lay any scandall vponupon the whole Corporation; & that it may appeare I protested p. 109no more then truth, I will here shew you how those Stationers against vvhom I hauehave complained, may be knovvne from such as I desire to except from this accusation. I vvill be bold to averr, that many, (& the most powrefull of them) are some of those vvho vsurpe the maniging of the Companies affaires; and that to cullor their malice & priuate coueteousnesse, they do in the name of the Corporation & at the common charge prosecute against me; pretending that it is the cause & good of their vvhole Company, for which they stand. Neuerthelesse, I do not take the vvhole body of the Corporation to be my aduersary, no more then I vvould think the whole Citty of London hated me, if the greatest part of the Court of Aldermen should persue me with malice vponupon a priuate quarrell. For, most of those men who are princepally busy against me, vnderunder the name of the Company of Stationers, are aboue all others iniurious & scandalous to that Company; as appeares by those petitions which hauehave bene heretofore preferred both to the Kings Majestie & the Parliament house, by some of their owne fraternity, against the oppressions & vsurpations of their Gouernors. Those indeed may well be called the scumme (that is the creame) of the Company. For, if they were throughly churnd, welnigh all the fatnesse of his Majesties gratious priueledges giuen to releeue their pore, and for the generall benifite p. 110of their Corporation, vvould be found in them. And so farr is the maine body of their Society from fauoring their courses, or from fearing any disgrace to them by this Apology that lately hearing it vvas to be divulged by the name of the Stationers Commonvvealth; they did▪ expect it with much content: In hope it vvould be an occasion to make some vvay to their deliuerance, from those iniuries vvhichwhich they suffer. And verily, if you had heard, as I hauehave done, how many of the Printers, of the Bookebynders, and of the yonger Bookesellers among them, do complaine against most of their Gouernors, and how many matters of great consequence they do probably obiect: You vvould thinke it were vnsufferable, and that it is great pitty there is not some course taken for the strick examination of their Abuses, in such manner that those who are oppressed, may come to declare their greeuances vvithout feare of a future disaduantage. For, those against vvhom they vvould complaine, haueing now in their povvre the estates, & employments of such poore men as think themselues oppressed, they dare not openly appeare against them, vntill they perceaue a likely hope of being fully, speedily, and impartially heard; lest it turne to their vtter vndoing, if they preuaile not.

But, what if those aforesaid among the Stationers (who vvould be taken▪ forsooth▪ to be the whole Corporation) hauehave not abused their owne p. 111society only, but that trust alsoe vvhichwhich hath bene committed vntounto them by the State? What, if it may be proued that those bookes vvhichwhich they hauehave taken from others as vnlawfull, hauehave bene divulged againe by some in office among them for their priuate commodity? What, if it may appeare they hauehave solde those bookes vvhichwhich did to their knovvledge cōtaine matter iniurious to the person of the King, and Prince? VVhat, if many of those pamphletts vvhichwhich hauehave discontented his Majestie, troubled the State, & disturbed the people, were dispersed (nay procured to be ymprinted) by some of those? & that their shifting it vponupon their seruants, with such like evasions, vvill be found of no truth? What, if it vvill be justified, that the Wardens of their Company hauehave found such bookes imprinting; taken a vvay part of them; knevv they vvere vnauthorized and scandalous; & yet permitted both the presse to go on, and the bookes to be divulged? What, if they hauehave dispersed popish and schismaticall bookes more then any others? What, if those foolish & prophane bookes vvhere vvithall the vvorld is novv filled to the peruerting of youth, and the corrvption of good manners, be manifested to be the coppies that hauehave enriched many of them? What if those vvrongs, offred to the Vniuersities, and those greeuances vvhichwhich the vvhole commonvvealth suffers (in being burthened with volumes of trash▪ in being oppressed in the prizes of bookes p. 112and iniured by their vnseruiceable bynding) may be declared to be altogether by their default? Verely, if I should instance vponupon these particulers, what I could; their Foundations would shake, & the vvhole frame of their foolish machinations would be shattred about their eares. But, I spare to proceed further vntill they shall further cōpell me: (euē for the sakes of their pore vviues & Children) & vvould vvish them to be vvarned by this gentle Item, to amend among themselues vvhat is amisse before the strict hand of Authority cease them; lest it be then made apparant to the whole Kingdome, that my cheefe persecutors among the Stationers, be those who are so vnvvorthy to beare the name of the vvhole Company, that they are not so much as good members thereof, but rather, enimies, Robbers and Defamers of their Society, and iniurious to this vvhole Commonvvealth.

But, doe I lay this to the charge of all those who are the rulers of this Corporation? No verely, not to them alone. For, I beleeue there be some of their Cheefes greeued at the peruersenesse of such among them vvho hauehave bene iniurious to me, & to their Society; and I think they vvould vvillingly remedy all, if the vvilfulnesse of the rest were not more powrefull then their good perswasions; as one (not of the meanest of them) lately confest vntounto me. There be alsoe among the inferior sort of Bookesellers, (as my experience hath taught me) some vvell and some ill affected to p. 113my cause: among vvhichwhich multitude, if any man be desirous to distinguish those men from the rest, to whose charge I purpose not to lay the abusing of me, in such manner as is mentioned in this discourse; by these obseruations following yt may infallably be done.

When any man shall come to a Stationers shopp to buy a Psalmebooke, or any other booke, with which the Psalmes of Dauid in English meeter are bound vp: if he be proffered that booke with my Hymnes therevnto, annexed (according to the Kings Command) or if vvanting it, a reasonable excuse be made; or a promise to prouide it according to the Customers desire: or if vponupon the mentioning of me, and that worke of mine, he do neither cauil, nor obiect any thing to the disgrace of that, or me: or if vponupon enquiry after this booke, he promise to procure it, or shew some likely cause why it is not to be had, & neither raile, nor grumble, nor looke doggedly on him that demands it, before departure: that man was neuer any of those that abused me. Or, if he were, it seemes he is either sorry, or so ashamed he hath wronged me, that he deserues to be forgiuen: & therefore, I vvould not that any thing which he was guilty of to my harme, should be layd to his charge while he continues in that temper; but my desire is (if it vvere possible) that eueryevery man vvho hath heard him abuse me, should rather quite forget that any such vvronges had bene done.

p. 114For, some hauehave bene ledd on to iniure me out of meere ignorance; some, for Company sake; some, because of their dependance vponupon such as are my illwillers; and some, by reason they beleeued ouerwell of those who missedd them: all which, will turne another leafe, as soone as the state of my cause appeareth. But, they vvho hauehave out of pure malice persecuted me, will not so relent. The Deuill owes them a shame, & vvill not suffer them to see vvherevnto their enuy & blind Coueteousnesse vvill bring them, before he hath payd them. Assooone as euer this booke shewes it selfe abroade, I durst wager the price of it, that you shall finde those fellowes at some Tauerne within a flight shot of Paules, constulting, quotinge, commenting, and obseruing, vvhat may be collected out of it, to my disaduantage: and, if anger do not put them beside their old custome, it vvill cost them a vvorthy legg of Mutton, a Capon, and a gallon or twoe of vvine before any matter vvillbe disgested vvorth their expences. Next morning (it is tenn to one els) they may be found at some Lavvyers Chamber, to know what cann be pickt out of this Apology, to beare an Action of slander; or some such like cullor of prosecuting the Law, against me. But, that vvill be to little purpose; for the booke is so large that if their Counsell hauehave any good practise, he must be fayne to take tyme vntill the next long vacation to read it ouer; and by that tyme, he vvill hauehave the same p. 115opinō of thē which I expresse. Assoone as they com frō Counsell; at some typling house they vvill presently meet againe, to comfort themselues vvith that little hope which the law seemes to promisse. And it may be, thither they vvill send for some of those hyreling Authors of theirs, that vse to fashion those Pamphletts that suite the seuerall humors and inclinations of the tymes; or one of those that penns for them such vvorthy storyes, as the Dragon of Sussex, Tom Thumbe, and the vveekely newes. From vvhom if they cann procure but the promise of makeing some foolish libell against me; or to publish an impudent reply to my Apology; it shall not cost him a farthing, if he sitt among them till tvvelue a clock at night; and perhapps he shall hauehave somewhat in earnest alsoe, of a better penny.

If any man enquire of thē for my booke of Hymnes, he shall be sent avvay vvithout it; and perhapps they vvill passe some scandalous censure therevpon. If this booke be asked after among them, they vvill presently discouer themselues by some bitter language; and by protesting against it, as a scurrilous and libellous pamphlet: vponupon the very nameing of me, their cullor doth vsually change: And if the Company and I should hauehave any meetings together about these matters in question, those vvill discouer themselues from the rest, by their Distempered lookes, their contemptible speeches of me, their furious behauiors, p. 116& these are the marks, whereby I distinguish those whom I accuse from those whom I cleare. And, here are no personall Notions, whereby the person of any perticuler man is vninstly desamed (for publikely to accuse any one in that kind vntill Authority require it, is both vnlawfull & vncharitable) But these are markes of quality, which if any man hauehave vponupon him (especially being thus forewarned) it is his ovvne fault if his disgrace follovv. And I do no greater vvrong in saying he that doth this or thus, is my malitious enimie; then in affyrming, that he who stealeth is a Theefe.

But, these rules do but only marke my freinds from my Foes among the Stationers: Because therefore, I hauehave charged them in generall with some abuses publikely iniurious; I vvill declare alsoe, how such as are to be approoued blamelesse among them, shalbe knowne from the rest; by expressing the trne definitiō of an honest Stationer; & the liuely Charecter of his cōtrary. Whom, for difference sake, I call a meere Stationer.

An honest Stationer is he, that exercizeth his Mystery (whether it be in printing, bynding, or selling of Bookes) with more respect to the glory of God, & the publike aduantage, then to his ovvne commodity: & is both an ornament, & a profitable member in a ciuill Commonwealth. He is the Caterer that gathers together prouision to satisfy the curious appetite of the Soule, & is carefull to p. 117his powre that whatsoeuer he prouides shalbe such as may not poyson or distemper the vnderstanding. And, seeing the State intrusteth him with the disposing of those Bookes, which may both profitt & hurt, as they are applyed, (like a discreet Apothecary in selling poysnous druggs) he obserues by whom, & to vvhat purpose, 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 vntounto 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▪ p. 118Yet 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 vvhichwhich hauehave 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 vsus; he prayes in …ilence for amendment, and that God vvould not lay to the charge of the whole Corporation, that vvhichwhich but some among them are guilty of. He feares none of those reproofes vvhichwhich 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 louelove 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 hauehave subsisted, and prospered thus long. And thus, you hauehave the true discription of such a Stationer as I exempt from my reprofes; now followes the Charecter of him, at whose reformation I hauehave aymed.

p. 119A 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 hauehave 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 (giuegive 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 hauehave 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 vponupon, to encrease hi… trade: And if another man, of his small vnderstanding, p. 120should 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 hauehave 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 vponupon Authors at his first acquintance, & ring them to his hiue, by the promising sounds of some good entertainement; but assoone as they hauehave prepared the hony to his hand, he driues the Bees to seek another Stall. If he be a Printer, so his worke hauehave such appearance of being vvell done, that he may receaue his hyre, he cares not how vnworkmanlike it be parformed; nor how many p. 121faults 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 MonethMonth, which vvould last a hundred yeares, if it had 2^d. 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 vvhichwhich 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 hauehave 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 vponupon his hands, to imprint nevv Titles for yt, (and so take mens moneyes twice or thrice, for the same matter vnderunder 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 shallbe contriued and named alsoe, according to his owne pleasure: vvhichwhich is the reason, so many good Bookes come forth imperfect, and vvith foolish titles. p. 122Nay, 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 louelove 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 vponupon 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 vnderunder 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 p. 123but 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 vponupon 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 hauehave but the sole printing of the Masse-booke or our Ladyes Psaltet. He will take vponupon 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 hauehave offred me to my face; he will vnciuelly giuegive 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 p. 124what 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 cō trouersy 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 vponupon 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 shalbe 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 hauehave 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 hauehave but any hope of getting the better; the Tauerne is the Temple where he giueth his God praise: Thither he presently p. 125repayres to offer vp the sacrifize of fooles; and perhapps is ledd from thence in slate, betweene two supporters (Porters I should hauehave 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 vponupon 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 wilbe better aduis'd. He will bestow both vponupon me, and vponupon this booke, all the foule termes he cann inuent; or giuegive out, perhapps, that it is nothing sutable to that Mynd which I hauehave 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 vvhichwhich I hauehave 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 hauehave 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; p. 126as 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 hauehave 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, 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 hauehave 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 vntounto himselfe this Character, or hauehave it prooued to be true vponupon him by apparant testimony. For, it shall satisfy me enough (& it shall do the p. 127Commonwealth 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) vvhichwhich they cannot remedy (as some vvonld hauehave done) but by their vices which they ought to giuegive 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 hauehave 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 hauehave had meanes to know them perfectly; & was compelled to search into the very marrow of their Mystery: and when through my louelove 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 p. 128confident, 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 hauehave bene trayned vp all my life tyme in afflictions, & hauehave heretofore suffred cō cerning 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 hauehave 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 eueryevery common man; that such as those whom I hauehave 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, & p. 129stirr vp sedition; that they hauehave 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 hauehave so pestered their printing houses, & shopps with fruitlesse volumes, that the Auncient & renouned Authors are almost buried among them as forgotten; and that they hauehave so much vvorke to preferr their termely Pamphlets, vvhichwhich 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 vsus, 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 vsus vvould Study Phisick, the Mathamaticks, Poetry, or any of the liberall sciences, they hauehave in their vvarehouses so many volumes of quacksaluing recepts; of faulse propositions; and of inartificall Ryminngs (of vvhichwhich last sort they hauehave some of mine there God forgiue me) that p. 130vnles 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 vponupon 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 vvhichwhich is found among vsus. And, I doe foresee, that if they proceed as hitherto they hauehave done, they will be the ruine of their owne Mystery, & bring an invndatiō of Barbarisme vpō all his Majesties Kingdomes, vvhichwhich God diuert.

These things hauehave 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 hauehave sought as much how to finde a gentle plaster to cure those vl…rs, as to make a sharpe instrument to search p. 131them. 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, hauehave brought vponupon it; How, the repinings and discontentments vvhichwhich 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, shallbe 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 hauehave done troubling your RRces for this tyme: Though I bent my bow to shoot in my owne defence; yet I hauehave stuck my arrowes vponupon a publike enimie. Now you hauehave heard me, healpe, or leaue me to my selfe as you shall think fitting: For, I hauehave in eueryevery circumstance honestly deliuered my Conscience; and I knovv God vvill deliuer me.

Nec Habeo, nec Careo, nec Curo.

End of the text · George Wither, The Scholars Purgatory Discovered (1624)