[9]

Secondly, It is as much a Duty toward our Present Sove-
reign, of whose Royal Family, and Person, as much Ill is said,
and Publish’d, as is possible for the Wit of Man to Utter, or for
the Malice of Hell to Invent.

Thirdly, In Relation to Political Ends, and to the security
of the Publique, they ought to be supprest: for they do not only Re-
vile, and Slander his Majesties Royal Person, but many of
them Disclaim his very Title to the Crown; and Others Sub-
ject his Prerogative, and Consequently his Sacred Life to the
Sovereign Power of the People; and this is done too, with
all the Advantages of a Pestilent and Artificial Imposture.
Now why a Pamphlet should be Allow`d to Proclaim This
Treason to the World, which but whispered in a Corner
would certainly bring a Man to the Gallows, is not easily Com-
prehended.

Fourthly, It makes the English Nation cheap in the Eyes of
the World, to find the Bloud and Virtues of the Late King,
appear so little to be consider`d, beside the Hazardous Con-
sequence of Blasting the Royal Cause, and of Discourage-
ing Loyalty to Future Generations, by transmitting the
whole Party of the Royallists, in so many Millions of vi-
rulent Libels, to Posterity, for a prostitute Rabble of Villeins^*Feudal tenants entirely subject to a lord or manor to which he paid dues and services to in exchange for land. (OED),
and Traytours.

Fifthly, Those Desperate Libells and Discourses do not
only Defame the Government, Encourage and Enrich
the Faction, and Poyson the People; but, while They
are Permitted, Those Stationers and Printers, that would
otherwise be Honest, are forced either to play the Knaves
for Company, or to Break: for there`s scarce any other
Trading for them, but in That Trash. Their Customers
will be supply’d, and if they ask for any of these Trea-
sonous Books, they must either Furnish them, or Lose their
Custom.

Sixthly, The same Reason that prohibits New Pam-
phlets, requires also the Suppressing of Old ones, (of
the same Quality) for ’tis not the Date, that does the
Mischief, but the Matter, and the Number. If they be

[10]

Plausible, and Cunning enough to Deceive, and then
Numerous enough to Spread, Buchanan, and Knox will
do the business as sure as Baxter, and Calamy. Besides
that in some Respects, the Old Ones have a great Ad-
vantage of the New: for being Written in times of Free-
dom, and Menag`d by great Masters of the Popular Stile,
they speak playner, and strike homer to the Capacity
and Humour of the Multitude; whereas they that write in
the fear of a Law, are forc`d to cover their Meaning under Am-
biguities, and Hints, to the greater Hazzard of the Libeller,
than of the Publique.

Seventhly, They must be supprest, in Order to a Fu-
ture Regulation: for otherwise ’tis but Antedating New
Books, and making them pass for Old ones (which
may be done with very little Hazzard of Detection) or else,
as any Saleable Book grows scarse; tis but Reprinting it
with a false Date, and by these Additions, and Re-
cruits, a Stock of Seditious Pamphlets shall be kept in
Motion, to the end of the world. In Fine, if they are
not fit to be Sold, they are not fit to be kept; for a verbal Pro-
hibition without an Actual Seizure will be rather an Advantage
to the Private Trade, then a Hindrance; and bring Profit to
the Factious Book-sellers and Printers, that have Copies ly
upon their hands, by Enhansing the Prices.

Having already set forth the Quality of those Pam-
phlets that ought to be suppress’d, together with the
Necessity of Suppressing Old as well as New; It will now
follow properly, that I give some Instances of both sorts
upon the foregoing Subjects.

[11]

Instances of Treasonous and Seditious
Pamphlets.

I. Against the Life of the Late King.

The Armies Remonstrance from St. Albans, Nov. 16. 1648.

{P. 62} We Propound that That Capital and Grand Author
of our Troubles, the Person of the King, may be speedily
brought to Justice, for the Treason, Bloud, and Mischief He
is Guilty of.

God`s Delight in the Progress of the Upright.
{Printed for Thomas Brewster, 1649. Delivered in a Sermon by Thomas Brooks before the Commons, Dec. 26, 1648.}
Have ye not sins enough of your own, but will ye wrap
your selves up, in the Treachery, Murder, Bloud, Cruelty
and Tyranny of others? P. 17. Set some of those Grand Ma-
lefactors a Mourning, (that have Caus’d the Kingdom to
Mourn so many years in Garments Roll’d in Bloud) by
the Execution of Justice, &c. P. 19.

II. In Justification of Putting His Late Majesty
to Death.

The Speeches and Prayers of some of the Late King`s Judges.
{Printed 1660 Divers Impressions.}
{The Publisher to the Reader. In a Personated Letter from Cook to a Friend.}
That men may see what it is to have an Interest in
Christ in a Dying hour, and to be Faithful to his Cause.

I look upon it [the Murther of the King] as the most
Noble and high Act of Justice that our Story can Pa-
rallel. P. 41.

[12]

Mercurius Politicus.
{Printed by a Person now in Office and eminent employment, 1651.}
That Heroick and most Noble Act of Justice, in Judg-
ing and Executing the Late King—An Act Agreeing
with the Law of God, Consonant to the Laws of Men,
and the Practices of all well order’d States and King-
domes. P. 784.

Charles the First was Executed a Tyrant, Traytor, Mur-
therer, and a Publique Enemy to the Nation. P. 1032.

III. Against the Title of the Royal Family to the
Crown of England.

Mercurius Politicus.

{P. 982.} Playing the second Part of Perkin Warbeck, who once
Invaded the North after the same manner, with a Crew
of Scots at his Heels, and had every Jot as good a Title
as Himself, or as his Predecessor Henry the 7th.

{P. 832.} We had a sufficient Reason to lay aside this Bastard
Race of Usurpers and Pretenders, if it were for no other
Cause, but the Meer Injustice and vanity of their Title.

{P. 833.} We have cause to Cut off this Accursed Line of Tyran-
ny, Bloud, and Usurpation.

The False Brother.
{Printed by Mr. Baxters Printer for Fran. Tyton. 1651. one of his Majesties Servants, if he has not lately put off his place. }
The Parliament having wisely Chang’d the Government
to a Common-wealth, and Cut off that hereditary Usur-
pation of Monarchy, which was never either justly Begun,
or Continued. P. 34.

[13]

^aA Foul and Treasonous piece, printed for Giles Calvert, 1652.The Rise, Reign, and Ruine of the House of Stuarts.

^bPrinted by Mr. Baxt. Printer for Francis Tyton, 1650.The true Pourtraiture of the Kings of England.

It is high time now to End that Line that was never
either well Begun, or Directly Continued. P. 42.

A Short Reply, &c. together with a Vindication of the
Declaration of the Army of England.
{Printed by one in Office and great Employment, for Fran. Tyton, Aug. 16, 1650. }
Touching the Right of This King’s Inheritance, We af-
firm it not only to be none Originally, without the Con-
sent of the Nation; but also, to be justly Forfeited, by his
Own, and Father’s Destructive Engagements against the
Common-wealth, and therefore we know not of any
Duty, we Owe him, more than to any other engaged
Enemy of the Land. {P. 24.}

IV. Treasonous, Malicious, and Scandalous Libels
against the Person of his most Sacred Majesty
and the Royal Family.

Plain English.
{Printed for Livewell Chapman, 1660.}
What hope that the Reformed Religion will be pro-
tected and Maintained, by the Son, which was so Irreli-
giously betray’d by the Father? {P. 2.}

A Door of Hope.
{1660. Since His Majesties Return.}
C. S. the Son of That Murtherer, is Proclaimed King
of England, Whose Throne of Iniquity is built on the
Bloud of Precious Saints and Martyrs. {P. 1.}

[14]

The Case of King Charles.
{Printed by Peter Cole, 1648. The Author Cook the Regicide. }
The Murtherers of our Saviour were less Guilty than
that Prince.

An English Translation of the Scottish Declaration.
{Printed by a person in Office and credit for Fran. Tyton, 1650. }
Let Justice and Reason blush, and Traytors and Mur-
therers, Parricides, and Patricides, put on white Gar-
ments, and Rejoyce as Innocent ones, if This Man [the
late King] should escape the hands of Justice and Punish-
ment. {P. 22.}

{P. 13.} An Implacable and Gangren’d Person.

{P. 19.} A Butcher rather than a Prince of Bowels and Affection.

{P. 23.} [Charles the 2d] the Son of a Bloudy Father, Heir to
an Entayl’d Curse, more certain than to his Kingdom,
Train’d up in Bloud, and one that never suck’d in any
other Principles but Prerogative and Tyranny.

The None-such Charles.

{P. 167.} [Charles the First] rather chose to submit to the
Justice of an Axe in a Hang-mans hand, than to sway a
Scepter with Equity.

{P. 169.} This Age knows what such a Tyrant was, in not feeling
his force any more upon their Throats.

A True State of the Case of the Common-wealth.
{Printed 1654, by a person in Offices of great Trust and Benefit.}
That Accursed Interest;— a Family that God has
cast out before us;—that has worn the marques and
badges of Gods high displeasure for almost these Hundred
years, P. 47. The Person of the young Pretender, is a son of
Bloud, &c. P. 48.

[15]

Mercurius Britanicus.
{Printed by Mr. Baxters Printer, 1645.}
If any man can bring any tale or tiding of a wilfull King,
which hath gone astray these four years from his Parlia-
ment, with a Guilty Conscience, Bloudy Hands, a Heart
full of broken Vowes and Protestations, &c. P. 825.

V. Pamphlets tending manifestly to stir up the
People against his Sacred Majesty, and the
Establish’d Government.

God`s Loud Call.
{Printed by Simon Dover, 1661.}
{P. 17.} Oh! Worm! Darest thou be so impudent to put thy
self in Gods stead, to meddle with mens Consciences, and
Lord it in Religious Concerns?

Smectymnuus Redivivus.
{Printed for J. Rothwell, 1660. Publish’d by Mr. Thomas Manton, since his Majesties Return.}
The Plastring or Palliating of these Rotten Members
[Bishops] will be a greater Dishonour to the Nation and
Church, than their Cutting off, and the Personal Acts of
These Sons of Belial, being Conniv’d at, become National
Sins. {P. 58.}

The Root of these Disorders, (viz.) Popery, Super-
stition, Arminianism, and Prophaneness) proceedeth from
the Bishops, and their Adherents [whereof the King is
One.] {P. 66.}

A Sermon Preached at Aldermanbury-Church,
Dec. 28. 1662.
{Deliver’d by Mr. Edmund Calamy.}
The tongue of Man is not able to express the Misery of
that Nation, where the Ark of God is Taken [P. 8.]: and

[16]

the Ark of God is in This Instant in Danger of being Lost,
[P. 11.] We have lost our first Love to the Gospel, and
to the Ordinances, [ibid.] Abundance of Priests and Jesuits
are in the midst of us, and Popery preach’d amongst us.
But where are our old Eli`s now? our Moses`s? our Elijahs?
our Uriahs? {P. 13.}

Animadversions upon the Bishop of Worcesters Letter.
{Printed by Jo. Hayes, 1662. The Author Edw. Bagshaw. P. 8.}
We may lawfully refuse to submit unto such Impositions
as God hath no where commanded.

The Year of Prodigies.
{1661. Begun by Tho. Creek for Giles Calvert and Tho. Brewster, and finish’d by the Order of Calverts wife, whilest her husband was a Prisoner for that very book. To the Reader.}
Amongst the Hellish rout of Prophane and ungodly men,
let especially the Oppressors and Persecutors of the True
Church look to themselves, when the hand of the Lord, in
strange Signs and Wonders is lifted up among them; for
—The final overthrow of Pharaoh and the Ægyptians
(those cruel Task-masters and Oppressors of the Israe-
lites) did bear date not long after the Wonderfull and
Prodigious Signs which the Lord had shewn in the midst
of them.

A Word of Comfort.
{Printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1662. Preached by Thomas Watson, calculated for Corbet and Barkstead, and Dated upon the very day whereon they were Executed, Apr. 19. 1662. }
The Church of God appears in his Cause, and loseth
Bloud in his Quarrel. [P. 8.]

Is not God upon the Threshold of his Temple, ready
to fly? Are not the shadowes of the Evening stretched
out? and may we not fear the Sun-setting of the Gos-
pel? P. 30.

The Lord may let his Church be a while under
Hatches, to punish her Security, and to awaken her out
of her slumbering fits; yet surely the storm will not
continue long.{P. 39.}

[17]

A Dispute against the English-Popish Ceremonies.
{This Book was formerly condemned to be burnt by the Common Hangman, and Reprinted since his Majesties Return.}
Be not deceiv’d to think that they who so eagerly press
this Course of Conformity, have any such end as Gods
Glory, or the Good of his Church, and Profit of Reli-
gion. P. 9.

Let not the Pretence of Peace, and Unity, cool your
fervour, or make you spare to oppose your selves, unto
those Idle and Idolized Ceremonies, against which we
dispute. P. 11.

Instances of Pamphlets containing Treaso-
nous and Seditious POSITIONS.

VI. The Three Estates are Co-ordinate, and the
King one of the Three Estates.

Baxters Holy Common-Wealth.
{Printed for Francis Tyton, 1659.}
The Soveraignty here among us is in King, Lords, and
Commons. P. 72.

Parliament-Physick for a Sin-sick Nation.

{P. 111.} The Government of England is a Mixt Monarchy, and
Govern’d by the Major part of the Three Estates Assem-
bled in Parliament.

Ahabs Fall, with a Post-script to Dr.Fern.

The Houses are not only Requisite to the Acting of the
Power of making Lawes, but Co-ordinate with his Ma-
jestie in the very Power of Acting. {P. 42.}

[18]

VII. The Soveraignty is in the Two Houses, in
Case of Necessity.

{1662.} The Peoples Cause stated, in the [Pretended] Tryal of Sir
Henry Vane.

{P. 112.}The Delegates of the People in the House of Commons,
and the Commissioners on the Kings Behalf in the House
of Peers, concurring; do very far bind the King, if not
{P. 113.} wholly. — And when These cannot Agree, but break one
from another, the Commons in Parliament Assembled,
{–>}are, ex Officio , the Keepers of the Libertys of the Nati-
on, and Righteous Possessors, and Defenders of it against
all Usurpers and Usurpations whatsoever.

Observations upon his Majesties Answers, &c.

{P. 45.} Parliaments may Judg of Publique Necessity without
the King (if Deserted by the King) and are to be ac-
compted, by Virtue of Representation, as the whole Body
of the State.

Right and Might well met.

{P. 7. An. 1648. } Whensoever a King or other Superiour Authority cre-
ates an Inferiour, they Invest it with a Legitimacy of Ma-
gistratical Power to punish Themselves also, in Case they
prove Evill-Doers.

[19]

VIII. The Power of the King is but Fiduciary;
and the Duty of the Subjects but Condi-
tional.

Jus Populi.
{P. 1. An. 1644.} Princes Derive their Power and Prerogative from the
People, and have their Investitures meerly for the Peo-
ples Benefit.

Vindiciæ contra Tyrannos.

{P. 120. An. 1648.} If the Prince fail in his Promise, the People are Exempt
from their Obedience, the Contract is made Voyd, and
{P. 121.} the Right of Obligation is of no Force— It is therefore
permitted to the Officers of a Kingdome, either All or
some good Number of them, to suppress a Tyrant.

{1649.} The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates —

{The Title.} —Proving that it is Lawful for any who have the Pow-
er, to call to Account a Tyrant, or wicked King, and af-
ter due Conviction to depose, and put him to Death, if
the ordinary Magistrate have Neglected, or Deny’d to
doe it.

IX. The King is Singulis Major, Universis Minor.

A Declaration of the Lords and Commons touching the Four
Bills. {March 13, 1647.}

It is the Kings Duty to pass all such Lawes, as Both

[20]

Houses shall Judg good for the Kingdom: Upon a sup-
position, that they are good, which by them are Judg’d
such.

De Monarchiâ Absolutâ.
{The Author Edward Bagshaw, 1659.}
Detrahere Indigno Magistratum etsi Privati non debe-
ant; Populus tamen Universus quin possit, nemo, opinor,
dubitabit. P. 9.

Thorps Charge to the Grand-Jury at York, March 20. 1648.

Kings are Accountable to the People, I do not mean
to the Diffused humours and fancyes of particular men in
their single and natural Capacities; but to the People in
their Politique Constitution, lawfully Assembled by their
Representative. P. 3. 1649.

X. The Kings Person may be Resisted but not His
Authority.

Lex Rex.
{Printed by a Person in Office and Employment. Octob. 7. 1644. }
He that Resisteth the King, commanding in the Lord,
Resisteth the Ordinance of God. But he who Resisteth
the King, Commanding that which is against God, Resist-
eth no Ordinance of God; but an Ordinance of Sin and
Sathan. P. 267.

[21]

XI. The King has no Power to Impose in Ecclesi-
astical Affairs.

The Great Question.
{The Author Edw. Bagshaw. P. 2.}
I hold it utterly Unlawful for any Christian Magistrate
to Impose the Use of Surplices in Preaching, Kneeling at
the Sacrament, Set-Forms of Prayer, &c.

When once Humane Inventions become Impositions,
and lay a Necessity upon that which God hath left Free;
then may we lawfully Reject them, as Plants of Mans set-
ting, and not of Gods owning.{P. 5.}

XII. The Parliament of November 3d. 1640. is
not yet Dissolv’d.

{1661.} The Peoples Cause Stated in the [Pretended] Tryall of Sir
Henry Vane.

How and when the Dissolution of the Long-Parlia-
ment (according to Law) hath been made, is yet Unascer-
tain’d, and not particularly Declar’d: by reason where-
of, (and by what hath been before shew’d) the state of
the Case on the Subjects part, is much altered, as to the
Matter of Right, and the Usurpation is now on the other
hand. {P. 112.}

XIII. The Warre Rais’d in 1642. in the Name
of King and Parliament was Lawful.

Baxters Holy Common-Wealth.
{Printed for Francis Tyton, 1659.}
I cannot see that I was mistaken in the main Cause, nor
dare I repent of it, nor forbear the same, if it were to do
again in the same State of things—And my Judgment
tells me, that if I should do otherwise, I should be Guilty
of Treason or Disloyalty against the Soveraign Power of
the Land, and of Perfidiousness to the Common-
Wealth. {P. 486.}

The Form and Order of the Coronation of Charles the Se-
cond.
{1660. Since his Majesties Return.
Preached by Robert Dowglass, at Scoon, Jan. 1, 1651.}
A King abusing his Power to the overthrow of Religi-
on Lawes and Liberties—may be Controll’d and Op-
pos’d. This may serve to Justifie the Proceedings of this
Kingdome against the Late King, who in an Hostile way
set himself to overthrow Religion, Parliaments, Lawes,
and Liberties. {Pag. 10.}

XIV. The Covenant is Binding.

A Phœnix: or, the Solemn League and Covenant.
{Printed by Tho. Creek for Giles Calvert, Tho. Brewster and Livewel Chapman, since his Majesties Return.}
The breaking of our National Covenant is a Sin in Fo-
lio, a Sin of a high Nature—a greater sin, then a sin a-
gainst a Commandement, or against an Ordinance, a sin
not only of Disobedience, but of Perjury, a sin of Inju-

[23]

{A Sermon of Mr. Calamys. } stice, a spiritual Adultery, a sin of Sacriledge, a sin of
great unkindness. P. 158.

Two Papers of Proposals.
{1661, from the Presbyterian Ministers.}
The Covenant does undoubtedly Bind us to forbear
our own Consent to those Luxuriances of Church-Go-
vernment which we there Renounced, and for which no
Divine Institution can be pretended. {P. 13.}

A Short Survey of the Grand Case, &c.
{1663. Printed by Henry Bridges. }
{P. 21} Some say, the Terms are Dubious, if not false, it being
indefinitely asserted, It is not lawful to take Arms against
the King on any Pretence whatsoever, — Although Our
King is, and WE HOPE, EVER WILL BE, so qualified,
that in reference to Him, it MAY be true; yet it is not
Impossible for a King Regis Personum exuere; in a Natural, {A Treasonous Position.}
or MORAL Madness, or Phrensie, to turn Tyrant,
yea Beast, Waiving his Royal Place, violently, extrajudi-
cially, extramagisterially to assault his Subject, as Saul did
David: In this Case, men think Nature doth Dictate it, and
Scripture doth justifie a Man, se defendendo vim vi repellere,
to take Arms, though by rallying the Men of Belial, not
to Resist, yet to Restreyn^*Restrain., the King, and those who are
Commissioned by him, until they make good their Retreat,
and more safely run out of his reach. {As the Presbyterians restreyn`d the Late King. }

{P. 22.}To some it soundeth harsh to declare it a Trayterous
Position to take Arms by the Kings Authority, against
the Kings Person, or those Commissioned by him—
for if some Russians should (which God defend) seize the
Person of a King, he is a Man, from whom Commissions
may be by fear extorted, whereby true Loyalty must be
on their side, and Treason on the part of the Kings Coun-
cil, Kindred, and Ministers of State, if Arming against
his Person, by his Authority though on such a Pre-
tence.

[24]

{P. 23.} The Convincing Demonstration that there lyes no Ob-
ligation on me, nor any other Person, from the Oath
commonly called the Solemn League and Covenant, is a
Knot cut by the Sword of Authority, whilst it cannot be
loosed by Religious Reason.

{P. 47.} We are Expectants of God’s avengement of the Cove-
nant now it hath been taken,—We do not, cannot,
will not Declare,the Covenant doth not oblige me or any
other person to endeavour our alteration of the Govern-
ment in the Church.

I could add More, and Worse to the Instances already
given, but these shall suffice for a Taste. The Question is
now, By whom, the Government and Oversight of the Press
is to be undertaken, and the Contest lyes at present betwixt the
Booksellers and Printers, which although Concorporate by
an Ancient Grant, are in this point become Competitors;
and since they have divided Themselves, they shall be here
likewise distinctly considered.

The Stationers are not to be entrusted with the care
of the Press, for These following Reasons.

{Reasons why the Stationers are not to be Entrusted with the Care of the Press.}
First, They are both Parties and Judges; for diverse of
them have brought up Servants to the Mystery of Printing
which they still retein in Dependence: Others again are
both Printers and Stationers, Themselves; so that they are
Entrusted (effectually) to search for their own Copies; to
Destroy their own Interests; to Prosecute their own Agents,
and to Punish Themselves: for they are the Principal Au-
thors of those Mischiefs which they pretend now to Re-
dress, and the very Persons against whom the Penalties of this
Intended Regulation are chiefly Levell`d.

2ly. It is not Adviseable to Rely upon the Honesty of
People (if it may be Avoided) where That Honesty is to
their Loss: Especially if they be such as have already gi-
ven Proof that they prefer their Private Gayn before the

[25]

Well-fare of the Publique: Which has been the Stationer’s
case throughout our Late Troubles, some few Excepted,
whose Integrity deserves Encouragement.

3ly. In this Trust, they have not only the Temptation of
Profit, to divert them from their Duty (a fair part of their
stock lying in Seditious Ware) but the Means of Trans-
gressing with great Privacy, and Safety: for, make Them
Overseers of the Press, and the Printers become totally at
their Devotion; so that the whole Trade passes through the
fingers of their own Creatures, which, upon the matter,
concludes rather in a Combination, then a Remedy.

4ly. It seems a little too much to Reward the Abusers of
the Press with the Credit of Superintending it: upon a
Confidence that They that Destroy`d the Last King for
their Benefit, will now make it their businesse to Preserve
This to their Loss.

5ly. It will cause a great Disappointment of Searches,
when the Persons most concern’d shall have it in their
Power to spoyl all, by Notices, Partiality, or Delay.

6ly. As the Effectual Regulation of the Press is not at all
the Stationers Interest, so is it strongly to be suspected that
it is as little their Aym: for not One Person has been Fin`d,
and but one Prosecuted, (as is credibly Affirm’d) since the
Late Act, notwithstanding so much Treason and Sedition
Printed and disperst since That time.

7ly. It is enjoyn’d by the Late Act that no Man shall
be Admitted to be a Master-Printer, untill They who
were at that time Actually Master-Printers, shall be by
Death or otherwise reduc’d to the Number of Twenty:
which Provision notwithstanding, Several Persons have
since that time been suffer’d to set up Masters; which
gives to understand that the reducing of the Presses to a
Limited Number is not altogether the Stationers Pur-
pose.

[26]

The Printers are not to be Entrusted with the Government of the Press.

{Not the Printers,} First, All the Arguments already Objected against the
Stationers hold good also against the Printers, but not fully
so strong. That is, they are both Partyes, and Judges. Self-
ended, (upon Experiment) under the Temptation of Pro-
fit. Offenders as well as the Stationers; and in all Abuses of
the Presse, confederate with them. Beside, They will have
the same Influence upon Searches; and they have probably
as little Stomack to a Regulation, as the other. ‘Tis true;
the Printers Interest is not so Great as the Stationers; for
where Hee gets (it may be) 20 or 25 in the 100 for Prin-
ting an Unlawful Book, the Other Doubles, nay many
times, Trebles his Mony by selling it: Yet neverthelesse
the Printer’s Benefit lyes at stake too.

2dly. It were a hard matter to Pick out Twenty Master-
Printers, who are both Free of the Trade, of Ability to Menage
it, and of Integrity to be Entrusted with it: Most of the Ho-
nester sort being impoverished by the Late Times, & the great
business of the Press being Engross’d by Oliver`s^*Oliver Cromwell, the elected Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England following the execution of Charles I for treason in 1649.Creatures.

{although Incorporated;} But, They Propose to Undertake the Work upon Con-
dition to be Incorporate. That is; to be Disengaged from
the Company of Stationers, and to be made a Society by Them-
selves. It may be Answered that it would be with Them,
as ’tis with Other Incorporate Societies: They would be
True to the Publique, so far as stands with the Particular
Good of the Company. But Evidently Their Gain lyes
the other way: and for a State to Erect a Corporation that
shall bring so great a Danger upon the Publique, and not
one Peny into the Treasury, to Ballance the Hazzard, were
a Proceeding not ordinary.

{or giving Security.} But they Offer to give Security, and to be Lyable to Fines.
Let That be done, Whether they be Incorporate, or no.
In case of Failer, they`ll be content to lose their Priviledges.
What signifies That, but only a Stronger Obligation to a

[27]

Closer Confederacy? ‘Tis True, The Printers in a Distinct
and Regulated Society may do some good as to the Gene-
ral Business of Printing, and within the Sphere of that
Particular Profession: but the Question is Here, how to
Prevent a Publique Mischief, not how to Promote a Private
Trade. But are not Printers the fittest Instruments in
Searches? They are, without Dispute, Necessary Assistants,
either for Retriving Conceal`d Pamphlets, or for Examina-
tion of work in the Mettle, but whether it be either for
the Honour, or Safety, of the Publique, to Place so great a
Trust in the Hands of Persons of that Quality, and Interest,
is submitted to better Judgments.

To Conclude; both Printers, and Stationers, under Co-
lour of Offering a Service to the Publique, do Effectually
but Design One upon another. The Printers would beat down
the Book-selling Trade, by Menaging the Press as Them-
selves please, and by working upon their own Copies: The
Stationers, on the other side, They would Subject the Prin-
ters to be absolutely Their Slaves; which they have Effected
in a Large Measure already, by so encreasing the Number,
that the One Half must either play the Knaves, or Sterve.

{The Dependence of the Printers upon the Stationers is Dangerous.} The Expedient for This, must be some way to Disengage
the Printers from that Servile and Mercenary Dependence
upon the Stationers, unto which they are at present subject-
ed. The True State of the Business being as follows.

First, The Number of Master-Printers is computed to
be about 60. whereas 20. or 24. would Dispatch all the
Honest work of the Nation.

2dly. These Sixty Master-Printers have above 100 Appren-
tices (That is; at least 20 more then they ought to have
by the Law.)

3dly, There are, beside Aliens, and those that are Free of
other Trades, at least 150 Journy-Men, of which Number, at
least 30. are superfluous; to which 30. there will be ad-
ded about 36. more, beside above 50. Supernumerary Appren-
tices, upon the Reduction of the Master-Printers to 24. So
that upon the whole Reckoning, there will be left a Matter

[28]

of 60. Journy-men, and 50. Apprentices, to Provide for, a
part of which Charge might very reasonably be laid
upon those that either Bound or Took any of the said
Number, as Apprentices, contrary to the Limitation set
by Authority.

These Supernumerary Printers were at first Introduced by
the Book-sellers, as a sure way to bring them both to their
Prices, and Purposes; for the Number being greater then
could honestly Live upon the Trade, the Printers were
Enforc’d either to Print Treason, or Sedition, if the Stati-
oner Offered it, or to want Lawful Work, by which Necessi-
ty on the one side, and Power on the other, the Combinati-
on became exceeding Dangerous, and so it still Continues;
but how to Dissolve it, whether by barely Dis-incorpora-
ting the Company of Stationers, and subjecting the Printers
to Rules apart, and by Themselves; or by Making them
Two Distinct Companies, I do not Meddle.

This only may be Offer’d, that in Case Those Privileges
and Benefits should be Granted, to both Stationers, and Prin-
ters, which they themselves desire in point of Trade; yet in
regard that several Interests are Concern’d, That of the
Kingdom on the one side, and only That of theCompanies on
the other; It is but reason that there should be several Su-
per-intending Powers, and that the smaller Interest should give
place, and be Subordinate to the Greater: That is, The Ma-
ster, and Wardens, to Menage the Business of their Respe-
ctive Trade, but withall, to be Subjected to some Superior
Officer, that should over-look them Both on behalf of the
Publique.

{Let the care of Printing be Committed to Six Surveighers of the Press.} As the Powers of Licencing Books, are by the Late Act
vested in several Persons, with regard to the several Sub-
jects Those Books treat of; so may there likewise be seve-
ral Agents Authoris’d and Appointed for the Care of the
Press, touching These several Particulars, under the Name,
and Title of Surveyors of the Press: and every distinct Sur-
veyor to keep himself strictly within the Limits of his own
Province. As for Example.

[29]

{One for Law.} First, The Lord Chancellour, or Lord Keeper of the Great
Seal of England for the time being, the Lords Chief Justices,
and Lord Chief Baron for the time being, or One or More
of them, are specially Authoris’d to License, by Them-
selves, or by their Substitutes, all Books concerning the
Common Laws of This Kingdom.

Let there be one Surveigher of the Press Constituted
peculiarly for That Subject.

{Three for Divinity, Physique, &c i.e. One for each University and the Third for London&c. } 2dly. All Books of Divinity, Physique, Philosophy, or what-
soever other Science, or Art, are to be Licens’d by the
Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Bishop of London,
for the time being, or one of them, or by their, or one of
Their Appointments, or by either one of the Chancellours,
or Vice-Chancellours of either of the Universities, for the
time being.

Let Three Other Surveighers of the Press be likewise
Authorized for These Particulars.

{One for Heraldry, &c.} 3dly. All Books concerning Heraldry, Titles of Honour,
and Arms, or Concerning the Office of Earl-Marshall, are
to be Licens’d by the Earl-Marshall for the time being; or
in case there shall not then be an Earl. Marshal, by the
Three Kings of Arms or any Two of them, whereof Garter to
be One.

This is to be the Subject of Another Surveigher’s
Care.

{and Another for State Affairs, &c. } 4thly. Books of History, Politiques, State-Affairs, and
all other Miscellanies, or Treatises, nor comprehended un-
der the Powers before-mentioned, fall under the Juris-
diction of the Principal Secretaries of State, to be Allow’d
by Themselves, or one of them, or by their, or one of their
Appointments.

The Care of the Press concerning These Particulars
may be another Surveighers Business. So that six Persons
may do the whole work, with good Order, and Security.

[30]

Three Substitutes for the Bishops; and Chancellours, and One
a piece for the Rest.

A world now touching the Encouragements of these
Officers; and Then concerning Penalties to be Inflicted
upon Offenders, and Rewards to be Granted to Enformers.

{For Encouragement there must be Benefit and Power.} The Inward Motive to all Publique and Honourable Actions
must be taken for granted, to be a Principle of Loyalty,
and Justice: but the Question is here concerning Outward
Encouragements to This Particular Charge. There must be
Benefit, and Power. Benefit; that a man may Live Honestly
upon the Employment: and Power; for the Credit, and Exe-
cution of the Trust.

{The Employment being Troublesome and Chargeable.} The Benefit must arise partly from some Certain, and stand-
ing Fee; and in Part, from Accessary, and Contingent Advan-
tages, which will be but Few, and Small, in Proportion to
the Trouble and Charge of the Employment: for there must
be, First; A Constant Attendance: and a Dayly Labour in
hunting out, and over-looking Books, and Presses: and
Secondly, A Contiual Expense, in the Enterteynment of
Instruments for Discovery, and Intelligence; which being de-
ducted out of the Pittances of Licences, and Forfeitures, will
leave the Surveigher a very small Proportion for his Peyns.

The next thing is a Power to Execute; without which,
the Law is Dead, and the Officer Ridiculous.

Now concerning Penalties and Rewards.

{The Inconvenience of small Penalties,} 1. The Gayn of Printing some Books, is Ten times
Greater, if they Scape, then the Loss, if they be Taken:
so that the Damage bearing such a disproportion to the
Profit, is rather an Allurement to Offend, then a Discourage-
ment.

{and Rewards.} 2. As the Punishment is too small, for the Offender; so is
the Reward also, for the Enformer: for reckon the Time,
Trouble, and Money, which it shall cost the Prosecutour to
Recover his Allotment, he shall sit down at last a Loser by
the Bargain:^*Prosecution of crimes in the seventeenth century was conducted by individuals bringing charges to the court, unlike our modern system which has a government office tasked with prosecuting crimes. In the seventeenth century system, individuals (either ordinary citizens or victims themselves) would collect evidence and present it to the courts in an effort to gain either a financial reward from the state or the accused. and more then That, he loses his Credit, and
Employment, over and Above, as a Betrayer of his Fel-

[31]

lows; so great is the Power and Confidence of the Delinquent
Party.

{Which in Cases of Publique Concern ought to be Deep upon the Delinquent and the Reward Certain and Considerable to the Enformer.} The way to help This, is, to Augment both the Punish-
ment, and the Reward; and to Provide that the Inflicting of
the One, and the Obteyning of the Other, may be both
Easie, and Certain: for to Impose a Penalty, and to leave
the way of Raysing it, so Tedious, and Difficult, as in This
Case hitherto it is; amounts to no more then This: If the
Enformer will spend Ten Pound ’tis possible he may Recover
Five: and so the Prosecuter must Impose a greater Penalty
upon Himself, then the Law does upon the Offender; or
Else all comes to Nothing.

{An Expedient for the Quick and Easie getting of the Penalty.} An Expedient for this Inconvenience is highly Neces-
sary;and Why May not the Oath of One Credible Witness
or More, before a Master of the Chancery, or a Justice of
the Peace, serve for a Conviction. Especially the Person
Accused being Left at Liberty before such Oath taken,
either to Appeal to the Privy-Council, or to abide the De-
cision.

Now to the several Sorts of Penalties. and to the Ap-
plication of them.

{Penalties.} The Ordinary Penalties I find to be These; Death, Mu-
tilation, Imprisonment, Banishment, Corporal Peyns, Disgrace,
Pecuniary Mulcts: which Penalties are to be Apply’d with
regard to the Quality of the Offence, and to the Condition
of the Delinquent.

{Offences.} The Offence is either Blasphemy, Heresie, Schism, Trea-
son, Sedition, Scandal, or Contempt of Authority.

{Delinquents.} The Delinquents are the Advisers, Authors, Compilers,
Writers, Printers, Correcters, Stitchers, and Binders of un-
lawful Books and Pamphlets: together with all Publishers,
Dispersers and Concealers of them in General: and all Stati-
oners, Posts, Hackny-Coachmen, Carryers, Boat-men, Mariners.
Hawkers, Mercury-Women, Pedlers, and Ballad-Singers so of-
fending, in Particular.

[32]

Penalties of Disgrace ordinarily in Practice are Many,
and more may be Added.

{Penalties of Disgrace.} Pillory, Stocks, Whipping, Carting, Stigmatizing, Disable-
ment to bear Office, or Testimony. Publique Recantation, stand-
ing under the Gallows with a Rope about the Neck, at a Pub-
lique Execution. Disfranchisement (if Free-men) Cashiering
(if Souldiers,) Degrading (if Persons of Condition), Wear-
ing some Badge of Infamy: Condemnation to Work either
in Mines, Plantations, or House of Correction.

{Pecuniary Mulcts.} Under the Head of Pecuniary Mulcts, are Comprehend-
ed, Forfeitures, Confiscations, Loss of any Beneficial Office, or
Employment, Incapacity to hold or enjoy any: and Finally,
all Damages accruing, and Impos’d, as a Punishment
for some Offence.

Touching the Other Penalties before-mention’d, it suffices
only to have Nam’d them, and so to Proceed to the Ap-
plication of them, with respect to the Crime, and to the
Offender.

The Penalty ought to bear Proportion to the Malice, and
Influence of the Offence, but with respect to the Offender
too: for the same Punishment (unless it be Death it self)
is not the same Thing to several Persons; and it may be
proper enough to Punish One Man in his Purse, Ano-
ther in his Credit; a Third in his Body, and All for the same
Offence.

The Grand Delinquents are, the Authors or Compilers,
(which I reckon as all One) the Printers, and Stationers.

{The Authors.} For the Authors, nothing can be too Severe, that
stands with Humanity, and Conscience. First, ’tis the Way
to cut off the Fountain of our Troubles. 2dly. There are
not many of them in an Age, and so the less work to do.

{Printers and Stationers to be severely Punish’d.} The Printer, and Stationer, come next, who beside the
Common Penalties of Mony, Loss of Copies, or Printing-Ma-
terials, may be Subjected to These further Punishments.

Let them Forfeit the Best Copy they have, at the Choice
of that Surveigher of the Press, under whose Cognisance
the Offence lyes; the Profit whereof the said Officer shall

[33]

see Thus Distributed One Third to the King, a Second to the
Enformer, reserving the Remainder to himself.

In some Cases, they may be condemn’d to wear some vi-
sible Badge, or Marque of Ignominy, as a Halter instead of a
Hat-band, one Stocking Blew, and another Red; a Blew Bonnet
with a Red T or S. upon it, to Denote the Crime to be Ei-
ther Treason, or Sedition; and if at any time, the Person so
Condemn’d, shall be found without the said Badge, or
Marque, During the time of his Obligation to wear
it, let him Incurre some further Penalty, Provided only,
that if within the said time, he shall discover and seize, or
cause to be Seized any Author, Printer, or Stationer, Liable
at the time of That Discovery and Seizure to be Proceed-
ed against, for the Matter of Treasonous, or Seditious Pam-
phlets, the Offender aforesaid shall from the time of that
Discovery be Discharg’d from wearing it any Longer.

This Proposal may seem Phantastique at first sight; but
certainly there are Many Men who had rather suffer any other
Punishment then be made Publiquely Ridiculous.

It is not Needful here to run through every Particular,
and to Direct, in What Manner, and to What Degree, These,
and Other Offenders in the like kind shall be Punish`d, so
as to Limit, and Appropriate, the Punishment: but it shall
suffice, having Specifi’d the several Sorts of Offenders, and
Offences; to have laid down likewise the several Species of
Penalties, Sortable to every Man’s Condition, and Crime.

Concerning Rewards, something is said already, and I
shall only Add for a Conclusion, that they are every jot as
Necessary as Punishments; and ought to be various, according
to the Several Needs, Tempers, and Qualities of the Persons
upon whom they are to be Conferr`d. Mony is a Reward for
One; Honour for Another: and either of these Misplac`d,
would appear rather a Mockery, than a Benefit.

The End.