Catalogue of all Printed Books and Papers of William Prynne, Title page – To the reader
An Exact CATALOGUE OF ALL Printed Books and Papers OF VARIOUS SUBJECTS, Written upon sundry Occasions By William Prynne Esq a Bencher of the Honourable Society OF LINCOLNS-INNE.
Before, His Imprisonments.
During, His Imprisonments.
Since, His Imprisonments.
Iucundi acti Labores.
Eccles. 12.12.
Of making many Books there is no end, and much study (or reading) is a werisomnesse to the flesh.
LONDON, Printed for Michael Sparke, Senior. 1643. and Re-printed for Edward Thomas, at the Adam and Eve in Little Britain, by T. Childe, and L. Parry. 1660.
The Stationer to the Reader.
Reader,
I Have with much importunity (after many denials) obtained and published a perfect Catalogue of all Printed Books and Papers of Several Subjects, Kinds (besides many other Treatises yet Un-published) written by William Prynne of Lincolns-Inne, Esquire; not out of any vain glorious Ostentation of the Authors indefatigable industry, and manifold good services to this Church, Kingdom, Parliaments, and our Kings themselves (whose Rights and Liberties he hath alwaies Vindicated, upon every Emergent occasion, against all Opposites and Underminers, to the losse of his own Liberty, Estate, and Hazzard of his Life, without the least thought of recompence or reward) but for these two principall Reasons.
First, To free the Author from those old & new Spurious Impostures which have been injuriously fathered on him by Walker the Ironmonger, Saunderson, and sundry other Imposters, to his Dishonor, and the Readers Delusion.
Secondly, To prevent all Imperfect Catalogues, and to discover what Copies of his have been published by Erronious Manuscripts, varying from the Original, without his knowledge, (by some who aimed more at their own private benefit, then the publick) his only end in compiling all these ensuing Treatises, being only Gods glory, the publick good of our Church, State, King, Kingdom, and preservation of our Religion, Laws, Liberties, Properties, Government and Parliaments Privileges, against all Underminers of them by force or fraud, not any private gain, he freely giving his Copies to those who Printed them; and disbursing above one hundred pounds out of his own purse, to publish and disperse sundry of these Treatises and Papers for His Majesties and the Parliaments service, and his Countries publick good, when none durst undertake to print them, for fear of utter ruine, by Usurping, Arbitrary, tyrannical Civil and Military powers. If thou reap any Information, Consolation, Reformation or Edification by any of these Publications, let the Author enjoy thy Prayers and just Respects, and his Stationer thy Custom.