Considerations and Proposals In Order to the Regulation OF THE PRESS: TOGETHER WITH Divers Instances of Treasonous, and Seditious Pamphlets, Proving the Necessity thereof.  
BY ROGER L' ESTRANGE.  
LONDON, Printed by A. C. june 3ᵈ. M.DC.LXIII.   

TO THE KING'S Most EXCELLENT MAJESTY.  
SIR,  
IT is not without some Force upon my self, that I have Resolved upon This Dedication; for I have no Ambition to appear Pragmatical, and to become the Marque of a Peevish Faction: But since my Duty will have it Thus, I shall account all Other Interests as Nothing in Competition with my Allegiance.  
If Your Majesty shall vouchsafe to look so far, and so low, as into the Ensuing Treatise, You will find it, Sir, to be Partly, a Deliberative Discourse about the Means of Regulating the Press; (the matter being at This Instant under Public Debate) and in Part, an Extract of certain Treasonous, and Seditious Passages, and Positions, which may serve to Evince the Necessity of That Regulation. The Latter of which, I do most Humbly Offer to Your Royal Consideration, not presuming in any Sort, to Concern Your Majesty in the Former.  
In This Extract, is presented to your Majesty's view; First, That Spirit of Hypocrisy, Scandal, Malice, Error, and Illusion, that Actuated the Late Rebellion. Secondly, A Manifestation of the same Spirit Reigning still, and working, not only by the same Means, but in very many of the same Persons, and to the same Ends; That is, There is a Combination, and Design against Your Sacred Life, and Dignity, which is carried on by the same Arguments, Pretences, Ways, and Instruments, that Ruined Your Royal, and Blessed Father. All which, I think myself Bound, not only in Generals, to Declare; but more Particularly, to Trace, and to Discover to Your Majesty, as a Duty which I owe both to God, and to my Sovereign.  
The first part of the Conspirators Work, is to disaffect the People toward Your Majesty's Person and Government; and their next Business is to Encourage, and Carry on those Seditious Inclinations into Action.  
Touching the Former; Scarce any one Regicide or Traitor has been brought to Public Justice, since Your Majesty's Blessed Return, whom either the Pulpit hath not Canonised for a Saint, or the Press Recommended for a Patriot, and Martyr. (beside the Arraignment of the Bench, for the very Formalityes of their Trials) What is the Intent, or what may be the Effect of Suggesting to the People, that there is no justice to be found, either in Your Cause, or in Your Courts; Both which are Struck at in the same Blow) is submitted humbly to Your Royal Wisdom. Nor is the Faction less Industrious to draw an Odium upon Your Majesty's Person, and to Perplex, Seduce, and Exasperate the Multitude, in Matters of Religion, and concerning the Government of the Church.  
There have been Printed, and Reprinted, since Your Majesty's Happy Restauration, not so few as a Hundred Schismatical Pamphlets, against Bishops, Ceremonies, and Common-Prayer: in many of which, Your Majesty is Directly, and in All of them Implicitly, Charged with an Inclination to Popery. The Instruments that Menage This Part of the Plot, are Ejected Ministers, Booksellers, and Printers: and it is believed, by men of Judgement, and Experience, in the Trade of the Press, that since the late Act for Uniformity, there have been Printed near Thirty Thousand Copies of Farewel-Sermons (as they call them) in Defiance of the Law. All which, as they are now drawn together into one Binding, (to the Number of betwixt Thirty and Forty) and represented with Figures, do certainly make up one of the most Audacious, and Dangerous Libels, that hath been made Public under any Government; and they are now Printing it in Dutch too, for the greater Honour of the Scandal. By These Arts, and Practices, the Faction works upon the Passions and Humours of the Common-People; and when they shall have put Mischief into their Hearts, their next Business is to put Swords in their Hands, and to Engage them in a direct Rebellion: which Intent of theirs, together with the Means whereby they hope to Execute it, I shall humbly lay before Your Majesty in a few words.  
That they Propose, and Labour another Change, appears, First; From the Recourse they have in almost all their Schismatical Papers to the Obligation of the Covenant; which is no other, than to Conjure the People under the pain of Perjury, to Treat Your Majesty, as the Covenanters did Your Father; and (in a flat Contradiction to the Blessed Apostle) to pronounce, that He that [OBEYS] shall receive to himself Damnation. A Second Proof of their Design may be drawn from their still pleading the Continuance of the Long-Parliament; & the Sovereignty of the People▪ which is but in Plain Terms, to Disclaim Your Authority-Royal, and to Declare to the World, that they want nothing but Another Opportunity for Another Rebellion. What may be the Event of These Libertyes, belongs not to Me to divine; but that such Libertyes are taken, I do, with great Reverence, presume to Inform Your Majesty: And further; that the Visible Boldness, and Malice of the Faction, seems not to be the only Danger; Divers of the very Instruments, who are Entrusted with the Care of the Press, being both Privy, and Tacitly Consenting to the Corruptions of it; by virtue of which Connivance, many Hundred-Thousands of Seditious Papers, since your Majesty's Return, have passed Unpunished. And yet in This Prodigious Licence, and Security of Libelling Your Sacred Majesty, and the Government, let but any Paper be Printed that Touches upon the Private Benefit of some Concerned Officer; The Author of That Paper is sure to be Retrieved, and Handled with sufficient Severity.  
Finally; To present Your Majesty with some Common Observations: It is noted, First, as a very Rare Thing, for any Presbyterian Pamphlet to be Seized, and Suppressed, unless by Order from Above. Secondly, It is observed of Those Offenders that are Discovered, that Generally the Rich have the Fortune to Come off, and the Poor to Suffer: and Thirdly; that scarce One of five, though under Custody, is ever brought to either of Your Majesty's Principal Secretaryes of State.  
I have now Discharged my Soul both to God, and to Your Majesty; in what I take to be an Honest, and a Necessary Office; and I have done it with This Choice before me, either to suffer the worst that Malice, or Caluminy can cast upon me, or to Forfeit my Duty. I should not speak This but upon Experience, nor dare to mention it upon This Occasion, but that I think it highly Imports Your Majesty to know how Dangerous a Matter it is to Render you a Public Service. To present Your Majesty with a Fresh Instance; I was lately Engaged as a Commissioner, in a Public Debate on the behalf of the Loyal Officers; and for no other Crime, or Provocation, but for Asserting the Professed Desires of the Whole Party: A Certain Gentleman took such a Heat, and Confidence, as Openly to Charge me with Writing against Your Majesty; Affirming withal, that Your Majesty had Accused me for it to the Parliament and that my Lord Chancellor would justify it: Since which time, it appears, not only that He Himself was the first Person that by a Private Tale had Endeavoured to Exasperate my Lord Chancellor against Me; but that being called to Account by my Lord's Order, for so Great, and so Injurious a Boldness, both towards Your Majesty, and his Lordship, He desired God to Renounce him, if ever he spoke the Words, (Although Delivered in the Face of a Full Committee.) If I were Impudent enough to trouble Your Majesty with a Personal Character, His Familiar Discourses, both concerning your Sacred Majesty, and the Honourable House of Commons, would afford matter for it; but let God witness for me, that I have no Passion, but for your Majesty's Service, and for the General Good of Your Loyal Subjects: Both which Interests, I do humbly conceive to be very much concerned in some Provision, that men may not suffer in their Reputations, for doing their Duties; and that Those Persons who have Cheerfully, and Honourably passed through the utmost extremities of a Long and Barbarous War, out of a sense of Loyalty to Your Royal Father, may not now at last, be stung to Death by the Tongues of Tale-Bearers, and Slanderers for being Faithful to Your Majesty. Which is the Case of Many, more Considerable than myself, and among the Rest in Particular of  
Your MAJESTY'S Most Loyal and Obedient Subject Roger L'Estrange.   

To the Right Honourable the LORDS And, To the Honourable the COMMONS Assembled in Parliament.  
HAving been lately Employed, to Draw up some Proposals. touching the Regulation of the Press, and to Search for certain Seditious Books, and Papers: I think it Agreeable both to my Reason, and Duty, that I Dedicate to your Honours some Account of my Proceeding; especially in This Juncture, when both the Danger, and the Remedy, are the Subject of your Present Care. The Drift, and Argument of This Little Treatise, is Expressed in the Title. One Particular only was forgotten in the Body of the Discourse, which I must now Crave Leave to Insert in my Dedication; (i. e.) An Additional Expedient for the Relief of Necessitous, and Supernumerary Printers; Many of which would be well enough Content to Quit the Trade, and Betake themselves to Other Employments, upon Condition to be Re-imburst for their Presses, Letter, and Printing-Materials: and it is Computed that 4000 l. or thereabouts, would Buy off their Stock; for the Raising of which Sum, and so to be Employed, there occurrs This Expedient.  
It is Credibly Reported, That there have been Printed at least Ten, or Twelve Impressions of a Collection Entitled, The First, Second, and Third Volume of Farewel-Sermons: (with the Figures of the Ejected Ministers) which is no Other, than an Arraignment of the Law, and a Charge of Persecution, against the King, and his Parliament.  
Upon a Supposition of Twelve Impressions, (at a Thousand a piece, which is the Lowest) the clear Profit, beside the Charge of Paper and Printing, Comes to 3300 l. which Sum, being Imposed as a Fine, upon Their Heads for whom the Books were Printed, will defray a Considerable Part of the aforesaid Charge, and what is wanting, may be abundantly made up by the like Course upon the Publishers of Other Seditious Pamphlets, Keeping the Same Proportion betwixt the Profit, and the Punishment.  
Of the Farewel-Sermons, I Seized the other day in Quires, to the Quantity of betwixt Twenty and Thirty Ream of Paper; and I Discovered likewise the Supposed Author of Another Pamphlet, Entitled [A Short Survey of the Grand Case of the Ministry, etc.] Wherein is Maintained, in opposition to the Declarations Required by the Act of Uniformity; 
P. 21.  That in some Cases It may be lawful to take Arms against the King— To take Arms by the King's Authority, against his Person, 
P. 22.  or Those Commismissioned by Him— And that the Obligation of the Covenant is a Knot cut by the Sword of Authority, 
P. 23.  whilst it cannot be Loosed by Religious Reason. Concerning which, and many other Desperate Libels, if your Honours shall think fit to Descend into any Particular Enquiry, it may be made appear, that whereas not One of Twenty is Now taken, scarce One of a Hundred could Escape, if there were not Connivance (at least; if not Corruption) joined to the Craft and Wariness of the Faction.  
How the World will understand This Freedom, and Confidence, in a Private Person, I do not much Concern myself; (provided that I offend not Authority) but the Question to Me seems short, and easy, Whether it be Lawful, or not, for any Man that sees his Country in Danger, to Cry out TREASON? and Nothing Else hath Extorted This Singularity of Practice, and Address, from  
Your Honour's Most Dutiful Servant Roger L'Estrange.   

Considerations and Proposals In Order to the Regulation OF THE PRESS.  
I Think no man denies the Necessity of Suppressing Licentious and Unlawful Pamphlets, and of Regulating the Press; but in what manner, and by what means This may be Effected, That's the Question. The Two Main-points are Printing, and Publishing.  
The Instruments of setting the work afoot are These. 
The Promoters,  The Adviser, Author, Compiler, Writer, Correcter, and the Persons for whom, and by whom; that is say, the Stationer (commonly), and the Printer. To which may be Added, the Letter-Founders, and the Smiths, and joiners, that work upon Presses.  
The usual Agents for Publishing, are the Printers themselves, Stitchers, Binder's, Stationers, Hawkers, Mercury-women, Pedlars, 
and Publishers of Pamphlets.  Ballad-singers, Posts, Carrier's, Hackney-Coachmen, Boat-men, and Mariners. Other Instruments may be likewise employed, against whom a General Provision will be sufficient. Hiding, and Concealing of unlawful Books, is but in order to Publishing, and may be brought under the same Rule.  
Touching the Adviser, Author, Compiler, Writer, and Correcter, their Practices are hard to be Retrieved, unless the One Discover the Other.  
This Discovery may be procured partly by a Penalty upon refusing to Discover, and partly by a Reward, 
A General Expedient in Order to Discovery.  to the Discoverer; but let both the Penalty, and the Reward be Considerable, and Certain: and let the Obligation of Discovery run quite Through, from the first Mover of the Mischief, to the Last Disperser of it. That is to say; If any unlawful Book shall be found in the Possession of any of the Agents, or Instruments aforesaid, let the Person in whose possession it is found, be Reputed, and Punished as the Author of the said Bock, unless he Produce the Person, or Persons, from whom he Received it; or else acquit himself by Oath, that he knows neither Directly, nor Indirectly, how it came into his Possession.  
Concerning the Confederacy of Stationers, and Printers, we shall speak anon: but the thing we are now upon, is, singly Printing, and what necessarily relates to it.  
One great Evil is the Multiplicity of Private Presses, 
Multiplicity of Private Presses and Printers a great Evil.  and Consequently of Printers, who for want of Public, and warrantable employment, are forced either to play the Knaves in Corners, or to want Bread.  
The Remedy is, 
The Remedies are,  to reduce all Printers, and Presses, that are now in Employment, to a Limited Number; and then to provide against Private Printing for the time to come, which may be done by the Means Following.  
First; 
To Reduce, and Limit the Number,  The number of Printers and Presses being resolved upon, let the Number of their journeymen, and Apprentices be likewise Limited: and in like manner, the Number of Master-Founders, and of their journeymen, and Their Apprentices; all which to be Allowed of, and Approved by such Person or Persons, as shall be Authorised for that purpose; neither let any joiner, Carpenter, or Smith, presome to work for, or upon any Printing Press, without such Allowance as aforesaid, according to the Direction of the late Act for Printing.  
Secondly, 
And to discover the Supernumeraries;  Let all such Printers, Letter-Founders, Joiner's, Carpenters, and Smiths, as shall hereafter be Allowed, as aforesaid, be Respectively and severally Interrogated before their Admittance, in order to the Discovery of Supernumerary Printers and Presses. That is;  
1. Let the Printers be Questioned what Private Presses they have at any time wrought upon for so many years last passed, 
With the means of doing it.  and the time When, and For, and with Whom: and what other Printers and Presses they know of at Present, beside These of the present Establishment.  
2. Let the Founders be also Examined, what Letter they have Furnished since such a Time: When and for Whom, and what other Printers etc.— Ut Supra.  
3. Let the Joiner's, Carpenters, and Smiths be Questioned likewise what Presses they have Erected, or Amended, etc. When, and for Whom? and what other Presses, Printers, etc.— as before.  
And if after such Examination it shall appear at any time within so many Months, that any Man has wilfully concealed, or Denied the Truth, let him forfeit his Employment as a Person not fit to be Trusted, and let the Enformer be taken into his Place if he be capable of it, and desire it; or Else, let him be Rewarded some other way. The same course may be taken also concerning English Printers and Presses beyond the Seas.  
This may serve as the Discovery of Private Printers and Presses already in Employment: Now to prevent underhand-dealing for the Future, and to Provide against certain other Abuses in such as are Allowed.  
First; 
Let no Tradesmen but Printers use Printing-Presses.  Let a special care be taken of Card-makers, Leather-Guilders, Flock-workers, and Quoyf-drawers; either by expressly inhibiting their use of such Presses, as may be applied to Printing of Books, or by tying them up to the same Terms, and Conditions with Printers; and let no other Tradesman whatsoever presume to make use of a Printing-press, but upon the same conditions, and under the same Penalties with Printers.  
2ly. Let no Press or Printing-House be Erected or Let, 
Cautions for Securing and Regulating the Press.  and let no Joiner, Carpenter, Smith, or Letter-Founder work for a Printing-House, without notice (according to the late Act)  
3ly. Let no Materials belonging to Printing, no Letters ready founded, or cast, be Imported or Bought without the like notice, and for whom (according to the late Act.)  
4ly. Let every Master-Printer be Bound at least, if not sworn, not to Print, cause or suffer to be Printed in his House, or Press, any Book or Books without Lawful Licence (according to the late Act.)  
5ly. Let no Master-Printer be Allowed to keep a Press but in his own Dwellinghouse, and let no Printing-House be permitted with a Backdoor to it.  
6ly. Let every Master-Printer certify what Warehouses he Keeps, and not Change them without giving Notice.  
7ly. Let every Master-Printer set his Name to whatsoever he Prints, or causes to be Printed (according to the late Act.)  
8ly. Let no Printer presume to put upon any Book▪ the Title, Marque, or Vinnet, of any other Person who has the Privilege of Sole Printing the same, without the Consent of the Person so Privileged (according to the late Act) and let no man presume to Print another man's Copy.  
9ly. Let no Printer presume either to Re-Print, or Change the Title of any Book formerly Printed, without Licence; or to Counterfeit a Licence, or knowingly to put any man's Name to a Book as the Author of it, that was not so.  
10ly. Let it be Penal to Antedate any Book; for by so doing, New Books will be shuffled among Old Ones to the Increase of the Stock.  
11ly. Let the Price of Books be Regulated.  
12ly. Let no Journy-man be Employed, without a Certificate from the Master where he wrought last.  
13ly. Let no Master discharge a Journy-man, nor He Leave his Master, under 14 day's Notice, unless by Consent.  
14ly. Let the Persons employed, be of Known Integrity, so near as may be; Free of the said Mysteries, and Able in their Trades (according to the late Act.)  
But if 60 Presses must be reduced to 20, 
Obj.  what shall all those People do for a Livelihood that wrought at the other 40?  
It is provided by the Late Act, 
Ans.  that as many of them shall be employed as the Printers can find Honest work for, and a sufferance of more, is but a Toleration of the Rest to Print Sedition, so that the Supernumeraryes are in as ill a Condition now, as they will be Then; and yet something may be thought upon for their Relief.  
There have been divers Treasonous and Seditious Pamphlets printed since the Act of Indemnity; as, The Speeches of the Lare King's Judges; 
A Provision for Poor Printers.  Sir Henry Vane's [Pretended] Trial; The Prodigies 1 Part and 2. and the Like. Let any of These Necessitous Persons, make known at whose Request, and for whose Behoof These, or the Like Seditious Libels have been Printed, and they shall not only be Pardoned for having had a hand in it Themselves, but the first Enformer shall upon Proof or Confession be Recommended to the first Vacancy whereof he is Capable in the New-Regulation, and the Next to the Second, and so successively: And moreover a Fine shall be set upon the Heads of the Delinquents, to be Employed toward the Maintenance of so many of the Indigent Printers as shall be Interpreted to Merit that Regard, by such Discovery.  
Next to Printing, follows Publishing or Dispersing, which, 
Publishers and Dispersers about the Town▪  in and about the Town, is commonly the work of Printers, Stitchers, Binder's, Stationers, Mercury-women, Hawkers, Pedlars, and Ballad Singers.  
Concerning Printers, Stitchers, and Binder's; The Penalty may be Double, where the Fault is so: That is; 
to be Punished▪  where the same Person (for Example) is found to be both Printer and Disperser of the same unlawful Books, he may be Punished in Both Capacities: of the Rest (the Stationer excepted) little needs be said but that they may be Punishable, and the Penalty Suited to the Quality of the Offender.  
The most Dangerous People of all are the Confederate Stationers, 
The Stationers have their Private Warehouses, and Receivers.  and the breaking of That Knot would do the work alone. For the Closer Carriage of their business they have here in the Town, Their Private Warehouses, and Receivers.  
Let every Stationer certify, what Warehouses he keeps, and not change them without giving notice.  
Let the Receivers and Concealers of Unlawful, 
Receivers and Concealers to be Punished as Dispersers.  or Unlicens'd Books he Punished as the Dispersers of them, unless within 12 hours after such Receipt they give notice to— that they have such Quantities of Books in their Custody, and to whom they belong.  
They hold Intelligence Abroad by the means of Posts, Carrier's, 
The Stationer's Agents for Dispersing their Books Abroad.  Hackny-Coachmen, Boatmen, and Mariners: and for fear of Interceptions they Correspond by False Names, and Private Tokens; so that if a Letter, or Packet miscarry, 
Their ways of Privy Correspondence and Concealment.  people may not know what to make on't. As for the Purpose; so many Dozen of Gloves stands for so many Dozen of Books. Such a Marque for such a Price, etc.  
They enter in their Day-Books, only in General terms, such and such Parcels of Books, without naming Particulars.  
1. Let every Stationer, living in or about London, be obliged to keep a Day-Book of the Particulars of all the Unlicens'd Books, 
The means of Prevention & Discovery.  and Papers, which he sends, causes or allows to be sent, by any of the Messenger's abovementioned, into any parts of his Majesty's Dominions; and let him Enter the Names likewise of the Persons to whom he sends them, under a Penalty; if either he be proved, to have kept a False Book, or to have Corresponded under a False Name, and let every Stationer elsewhere (i. e. within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales) be obliged to keep a Day-Book likewise, of what Unlicens'd Books, and Papers, he Receives, and from whom, upon the like Penalty.  
2. Let no Stationer presume to send, cause or allow to be sent, either by Land, or Water, any Dry-Fatts, Bales, Packs, Mands, or other fardels, or Packquets of Printed Books, or Papers, without superscribing them in such sort, that they may be known to be Books, together with the Names of the Persons from whom they are sent, and to whom they are Directed: Under pain of Forfeiting all Parcels of Books that are not so superscribed, or otherwise that are advertised under False Names.  
3. Let every Hackny-Coach-man, Carrier, Boatman, or Mariner, that knowingly Transgresses in the Private Conveyance of such Letters or Packquets as aforesaid, be subjected to a Particular Penalty.  
Concerning Books Imported. They must be First Prepared beyond the 〈◊〉 Secondly, conveyed hither; and Thirdly, Received and Distributed here.  
Let the English Printer, 
An Expedient against Printing of English Books beyond the Seas;  Vender, or Utterer of any Books written in the English Tongue, or by an English man, in any Other Tongue and Printed beyond the Seas, to the dishonour of his Majesty or of the Established Government, be required to appear from beyond the Seas, by a Certain Day, and under such a Penalty; which if he Refuse, or wilfully fail to do, Let it be made Penal for any Person Living within his Majesties Dominions, (after sufficient Notice of his such Contempt) to hold any further Correspondence with him, Either by Message, Letter, or otherwise, till he hath given satisfaction for his Offence.  
Let a General Penalty be laid upon the Importers of any English Books, 
and Importing and Disposing of them.  whatsoever, Printed beyond the Seas. And so likewise upon the Contracters, for; the Receivers, Concealers, and Dispersers of, any Books whatsoever, Imported into This Realm, and Disposed of without due Authority. It rests now to be Considered. First What Books are to be suppressed, and Secondly, Into what hands the Care of the Press is to be Committed.  

The Books to be suppressed are as follows.  
FIrst, 
What Books, Libels, and Positions are to be suppressed, and  All Printed Papers pressing the Murder of the late King.  
Secondly, All Printed justifications of that Execrable Act.  
Thirdly, All Treatises Denying His Majesty's Title to the Crown of England.  
Fourthly, All Libels against the Person of His Sacred Majesty, His Blessed Father, or the Royal Family.  
Fifthly, All Discourses manifestly tending to stir up the People against the Established Government.  
Sixthly, All Positions Terminating in This Treasonous Conclusion, that, His Majesty may be Arraigned, Judged, and Executed, by his People: such as are These Following.  
Coordination, The Sovereignty of the Two Houses, or of the House of Commons; or of the Diffusive Body of the People, in Case of Necessity. The justification of the War Raised in 1642. in the Name of King and Parliament. The Defence of the Legality and Obligation of the Covenant. The Separation of the King's Person from His Authority. The Denial of His Majesty's Power in Ecclesiastical Affairs. The maintaining that the Long-Parliament is not yet Dissolved.  
If it be objected that This Looks too far Back; It may be Answered that Persons are Pardoned, but not Books. But to more Particular Reasons for the Suppressing of Old Pamphlets.  
First; It is (with Reverence) a Duty both from his Sacred Majesty and his Parliament, 
Reasons for the suppressing of old Pamphlets as well as new.  to the Honour, and Memory of the Late King, to deliver the Reputation of That Blessed Martyr, from the Diabolical Calumnies, and Forgeries, which are yet Extant against his Person, and Government.  
Secondly, It is as much a Duty toward our Present Sovereign, of whose Royal Family, and Person, as much Ill is said, and Published, 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 Public, they ought to be suppressed: for they do not only Revile, and Slander his Majesty's Royal Person, but many of them Disclaim his very Title to the Crown; and Others Subject 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 Allowed to Proclaim This Treason to the World, which but whispered in a Corner would certainly bring a Man to the Gallows, is not easily Comprehended.  
Fourthly, It makes the English Nation cheap in the Eyes of the World, to find the Blood and Virtues of the Late King, appear so little to be considered, beside the Hazardous Consequence of Blasting the Royal Cause, and of Discourageing Loyalty to Future Generations, by transmitting the whole Party of the Royalists, in so many Millions of virulent Libels, to Posterity, for a prostitute Rabble of Villeins, and Traitors.  
Fifthly, Those Desperate Libels and Discourses do not only Defame the Government, Encourage and every the Faction, and Poison 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 supplied, and if they ask for any of these Treasonous Books, they must either Furnish them, or Lose their Custom.  
Sixthly, The same Reason that prohibits New Pamphlets, 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 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 Advantage of the New: for being Written in times of Freedom, and Managed by great Masters of the Popular Style, they speak plainer, and strike homer to the Capacity and Humour of the Multitude; whereas they that write in the fear of a Law, are forced to cover their Meaning under Ambiguities, and Hints, to the greater Hazzard of the Libeler, than of the Public.  
Seventhly, They must be suppressed, in Order to a Future 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 scarce; 'tis but Reprinting it with a false Date, and by these Additions, and Recruits, 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 Prohibition without an Actual Seizure will be rather an Advantage to the Private Trade, than a Hindrance; and bring Profit to the Factious Booksellers and Printers, that have Copies lie upon their hands, by Enhansing the Prices.  
Having already set forth the Quality of those Pamphlets that ought to be suppressed, 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.   

Instances of Treasonous and Seditious Pamphlets.  

I. Against the Life of the Late King.  

The Army's Remonstrance from St. Alban, Nou. 16. 1648.  
We Propound that That Capital and Grand Author of our Troubles, the Person of the King, 
P. 62.  may be speedily brought to Justice, for the Treason, Blood, and Mischief He is Guilty of.   

God's Delight in the Progress of the Upright. 
Printed for Thomas Brewster, 1649.   
Have ye not sins enough of your own, 
Delivered in a Sermon by Thomas Brooks before the Commons, Dec. 26. 1648.  but will ye wrap yourselves up, in the Treachery, Murder, Blood, Cruelty and Tyranny of others? P. 17. Set some of those Grand Malefactors a Mourning, (that have Caused the Kingdom to Mourn so many years in Garments Rolled in Blood) by the Execution of Justice, etc. 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.   
That men may see what it is to have an Interest in Christ in a Dying hour, 
The Publisher to the Reader. In a Personated Letter from Cook to a Friend.  and to be Faithful to his Cause.  
I look upon it [the Murder of the King] as the most Noble and high Act of Justice that our Story can Parallel. P. 41.   

Mercurius Politicus.  
That Heroick and most Noble Act of Justice, in Judging and Executing the Late King— An Act Agreeing with the Law of God, 
Printed by a Person now in Office and eminent employment, 1651.  Consonant to the Laws of Men, and the Practices of all well ordered States and Kingdoms. P. 784.  
Charles the First was Executed a Tyrant, Traitor, Murderer, and a Public Enemy to the Nation. P. 1032.    

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

Mercurius Politicus.  
Playing the second Part of Perkin Warbeck, 
P. 982.  who once Invaded the North after the same manner, with a Crew of Sects at his Heels, and had every Jot as good a Title as Himself, or as his Predecessor Henry the 7th.  
We had a sufficient Reason to lay aside this Bastard Race of Usurpers and Pretenders, 
P. 832.  if it were for no other Cause, but the Mere Injustice and vanity of their Title.  
We have cause to Cut off this Accursed Line of Tyranny, 
P. 833.  Blood, and Usurpation.   

The False Brother.  
The Parliament having wisely Changed the Government to a Commonwealth, 
Printed by Mr. Baxters' Printer for Fran. Titan. 1651. one of his Majesty's Servants, if he has not lately put off his place.  and Cut off that hereditary Usurpation of Monarchy, which was never either justly Begun, or Continued. P. 34.   


a A Foul and Treasonous piece, printed for Giles Calvert, 1652.  The Rise, Reign, and Ruin of the House of Stuarts.  

b Printed by Mr. Baxt. Printer for Francis Titan, 1650.  The true Portraiture of the Kings of England. 
Printed by one in Office and great Employment, for Frand. Tycon, Aug. 16. 1650.   
It is high time now to End that Line that was never either well Begun, or Directly Continued. P. 42.   

A Short Reply, etc. together with a Vindication of the Declaration of the Army of England.  
Touching the Right of This King's Inheritance, We affirm it not only to be none Originally, without the Content of the Nation; but also, to be justly Forfeited, by his Own, and Father's Destructive Engagements against the Commonwealth, and therefore we know not of any Duty, 
P. 24.  we Owe him, more than to any other engaged Enemy of the Land.    

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

Plain English.  
What hope that the Reformed Religion will be protected and Maintained, 
Printed for Livewell Chapman, 1660.  by the Son, which was so Irrellgiously betrayed by the Father? 
P. 2.    

A Door of Hope.  
C. S. the Son of That Murderer, 
1660. Since his Majesty's Return.  is Proclaimed King of England, 
P. 1.  Whose Throne of Iniquity is built on the Blood of Precious Saints and Martyrs.   

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

An English Translation of the Scottish Declaration.  
Let Justice and Reason blush, 
Printed by a person in Office and credit, for Fran. Titan, 1650.  and Traitors and Murderers, Parricides, and Patricides, put on white Garments, and Rejoice as Innocent ones, if This Man [the late King] should escape the hands of Justice and Punishment. 
P. 22.   
An Implacable 
P. 13.  and Gangrened Person.  
A Butcher 
P. 19  rather than a Prince of Bowels and Affection.  
[Charles the 2d] the Son of a Blondy Father, 
P. 23.  Heir to an Entailed Curse, more certain than to his Kingdom, Trained up in Blood, and one that never sucked in any other Principles but Prerogative and Tyranny.   

The None-such Charles.  
[Charles the First] rather chose to submit to the Justice of an Axe in a Hangman's hand, 
P. 167.  than to sway a Sceptre with Equity.  
This Age knows what such a Tyrant was, 
P. 169.  in not feeling his force any more upon their Throats.   

A True State of the Case of the Commonwealth.  
That Accursed Interest;— 
Printed 1654. by a person in Offices of great Trust and Benefit.  a Family that God has cast out before us;— that has worn the marquess and badges of Gods high displeasure for almost these Hundred years, P. 47. The Person of the young Pretender, is a son of Blond, etc. P. 48.   

Mercurius Britanicus.  
If any man can bring any tale or tiding of a wilful King, which hath gone astray these four years from his Parliament, with a Guilty Conscience, 
Printed by Mr. Baxters' Printer. 1645.  Bloody Hands, a Heart full of broken Vows and Protestations, etc. P. 825.    

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

God's Loud Call. 
Printed by Simon Dover, 1661. P. 17.   
Oh! Worm! Darest thou be so impudent to put thyself in God's stead, to meddle with men's Consciences, and Lord it in Religious Concerns?   

Smectymnuus Redivivus.  
The Plastring or Palliating of these Rotten Members [Bishops] will be a greater Dishonour to the Nation and Church, 
Printed for I. Rothwell, 1660. Published by Mr. Thomas Manton, since his Majesty's Return.  than their Cutting off, and the Personal Acts of These Sons of Belial, being Connived at, become National Sins. 
P. 58.   
The Root of these Disorders, 
P. 66.  (viz.) Popery, Superstition, Arminianism, and Profaneness) proceedeth from the Bishops, and their Adherents [whereof the King is One.]   

A Sermon Preached at Aldermanbury-Church, Dec. 28. 1662.  
The tongue of Man is not able to express the Misery of that Nation, 
Delivered by Mr. Edmund Calamy.  where the Ark of God is Taken [P. 8.]: and 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 preached amongst us. But where are our old Eli's now? 
P. 13.  our Moses? our Elijahs? our Vriahs'?   

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

The Year of Prodigies.  
Amongst the Hellish rout of Profane and ungodly men, let especially the Oppressors and Persecutors of the True Church look to themselves, 
1661. Begun by Tho. Cree● for Giles Calvert and Tho. Brewster, and finished by the Order of Calverts wife, whilst her husband was a Prisoner for that very book.  when the hand of the Lord, in strange Signs and Wonders is lifted up among them; for— The final overthrow of Pharaoh and the Egyptians (those cruel Taskmasters and Oppressors of the Israelites) did bear date not long after the Wonderful and Prodigious Signs which the Lord had shown in the midst of them. 
To the Reader.    

A Word of Comfort.  
The Church of God appears in his Cause, 
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.  and loseth Blood in his Quarrel. [P. 8.]  
Is not God upon the Threshold of his Temple, ready to fly? Are not the shadows of the Evening stretched out? and may we not fear the Sunsetting of the Gospel? 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    

A Dispute against the English-Popish Ceremonies.  
Be not deceived to think that they who so eagerly press this Course of Conformity, 
This Book was formerly condemned to be burnt by the Common Hangman, and Reprinted since his Majesty's Return.  have any such end as God's Glory, or the Good of his Church, and Profit of Religion. P. 9  
Let not the Pretence of Peace, and Unity, cool your fervour, or make you spare to oppose yourselves, unto those Idle and Idolized Ceremonies, against which we dispute. P. 11.     

Instances of Pamphlets containing Treasonous and Seditious POSITIONS.  

VI The Three Estates are coordinate, and the King one of the Three Estates.  

Baxter's Holy Commonwealth. 
Printed for Francis Titan, 1659.   
The Sovereignty here among us is in King, Lords, and Commons. P. 72.   

Parliament-Physick for a Sinsick Nation.  
The Government of England is a Mixed Monarchy, 
P. 111.  and Governed by the Major part of the Three Estates Assembled in Parliament.   

Ahabs Fall, with a Postscript to Dr. Fern.  
The Houses are not only Requisite to the Acting of the Power of making Laws, 
P. 42.  but coordinate with his Majesty in the very Power of Acting.    

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

The People's Cause stated, 
1662.  in the [Pretended] Trial of Sir Henry Vane.  
The Delegates of the People in the House of Commons, 
P. 112.  and the Commissioners on the King's Behalf in the House of Peers, concurring; do very far bind the King, if not wholly, 
P. 113. — And when These cannot Agree, but break one from another, the Commons in Parliament Assembled, are, ex Officio, ☞ the Keepers of the Liberties of the Nation, and Righteous Possessors, and Defenders of it against all Usurpers and Usurpations whatsoever.   

Observations upon his Majesty's Answers, etc.  
Parliaments may Judge of Public Necessity without the King (if Deserted by the King) 
P. 45.  and are to be accounted, by Virtue of Representation, as the whole Body of the State.   

Right and Might well met.  
Whensoever a King or other Superior Authority creates an Inferior, 
P. 7. An. 1648.  they Invest it with a Legitimacy of Magistratical Power to punish Themselves also, in Case they prove evil-doers.    

VIII. The Power of the King is but Fiduciary; and the Duty of the Subjects but Conditional.  

Ius Populi.  
Princes Derive their Power and Prerogative from the People, 
P. 1. An. 1644.  and have their Investitures merely for the People's Benefit.   

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

The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates 
1649. —  
— Proving that it is Lawful for any who have the Power, 
The Title.  to call to Account a Tyrant, or wicked King, and after due Conviction to depose, and put him to Death, if the ordinary Magistrate have Neglected, or Denied to do 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 King's Duty to pass all such Laws, as Both Houses shall Judge good for the Kingdom: Upon a supposition, that they are good, which by them are Judged such.   

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

Thorps' Charge to the Grand-Iury at York, March 20. 1648.  
King's are Accountable to the People, I do not mean to the Diffused humours and fancies of particular men in their single and natural Capacities; but to the People in their Politic Constitution, lawfully Assembled by their Representative. P. 3. 1649.    

X. The King's 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, Resisteth no Ordinance of God; but an Ordinance of Sin and Satan. P. 267.    

XI. The King has no Power to Impose in Ecclesiastical Affairs.  

The Great Question. 
1660. The Author Edw. Bagshaw.   
I hold it utterly Unlawful for any Christian Magistrate to Impose the Use of Surplices in Preaching, 
P. 2.  Kneeling at the Sacrament, Set-Forms of Prayer, etc.  
When once Humane Inventions become Impositions, and lay a Necessity upon that which God hath left Free; then may we lawfully Reject them, 
P. 5.  as Plants of Man's setting, and not of Gods owning.    

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

The People's Cause Stated in the [Pretended] Trial of Sir Henry Vane. 
1662.   
How and when the Dissolution of the Long-Parliament (according to Law) hath been made, is yet Unascertained, and not particularly Declared: by reason whereof, (and by what hath been before showed) the state of the Case on the Subjects part, 
P. 112.  is much altered, as to the Matter of Right, and the Usurpation is now on the other hand. ☞    

XIII. The War Raised in 1642. in the Name of King and Parliament was Lawful.  

Baxter's Holy Commonwealth. 
Printed for Francis Titan, 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 Judgement tells me, that if I should do otherwise, I should be Guilty of Treason or Disloyalty against the Sovereign Power of the Land, 
P. 486.  and of Perfidiousness to the Commonwealth.   

The Form and Order of the Coronation of Charles the Second. 
1660. Since his Majesty's Return.   
A King abusing his Power to the overthrow of Religion Laws and Liberties— may be Controlled and Opposed. 
Preached by Rubert Dowglass, at Scoon, jan. 1. 1651.  This may serve to Justify the Proceedings of this Kingdom against the Late King, who in an Hostile way set himself to overthrow Religion, Parliaments, Laws, 
Pag. 10.  and Liberties.    

XIV. The Covenant is Binding.  

A Phoenix: or, the Solemn League and Covenant. 
Printed by Tho. Creek for Giles Calvert, Tho. Brewster and Livewel Chapman, since his Majesty's Return.   
The breaking of our National Covenant is a Sin in Folio, a Sin of a high Nature— a greater sin, than a sin against a Commandment, or against an Ordinance, a sin not only of Disobedience, but of Perjury, a sin of Injustice a spiritual Adultery, a sin of Sacrilege, 
A Sermon of Mr. Calamys.  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-Government which we there Renounced, 
P. 13.  and for which no Divine Institution can be pretended.   

A Short Survey of the Grand Case, 
1663. Printed by Henry Bridges.  etc.  
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, 
P. 21. — 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 Frenzy, to turn Tyrant, yea Beast, Waving his Royal Place, violently, extrajudicially, extramagisterially to assault his Subject, as Saul did David: In this Case, men think Nature doth Dictate it, and Scripture doth justify a Man, se defendendo vim vi repellere, to take Arms, though by rallying the Men of Belial, not to Restst, yet to Restreyn, the King, 
As the Presbyterians restreyned the Late King.  and those who are Commissioned by him, until they make good their Retreat, and more safely run out of his reach.  
To some it foundeth harsh to declare it a Traitorous Position to take Arms by the King's Authority, 
P. 22.  against the King's 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 King's Council, Kindred, and Ministers of State, if Arming against his Person, by his Authority though on such a Pretence.  
The Convincing Demonstration that there lies no Obligation on me, 
P. 23.  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.  
We are Expectants of God's avengement of the Covenant now it hath been taken,— We do not, 
P. 47.  cannot, will not Declare, the Covenant doth not oblige me or any other person to endeavour our alteration of the Government 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 lies 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.  
First, 
Reason's why the Stationers are not to be Entrusted with the Care of the Press.  They are both Parties and judges; for divers of them have brought up Servants to the Mystery of Printing which they still retain 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 Authors of those Mischiefs which they pretend now to Redress, and the very Persons against whom the Penalties of this Intended Regulation are chiefly Levelled.  
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 given Proof that they prefer their Private Gain before the welfare of the Public: 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 Transgressing 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, than 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 Destroyed the Last King for their Benefit, will now make it their business to Preserve This to their Loss.  
5ly. It will cause a great Disappointment of Searches, when the Persons most concerned shall have it in their Power to spoil all, by Notices, Partiality, or Delay.  
6ly. As the Effectual Regulation of the Press is not at all the Stationer's Interest, so is it strongly to be suspected that it is as little their Aim: for not One Person has been Fined, and but one Prosecuted, (as is credibly Affirmed) since the Late Act, notwithstanding so much Treason and Sedition Printed and dispersed since That time.  
7ly. It is enjoined by the Late Act that no Man shall de Admitted to be a Master-Printer, until They who were at that time Actually Master-Printers, shall be by Death or otherwise reduced to the Number of Twenty: which Provision notwithstanding, Several Persons have since that time been suffered to set up Masters; which gives to understand that the reducing of the Presses to a Limited Number is not altogether the Stationer's Purpose.   

The Printers are not to be Entrusted with the Government of the Press.  
First, 
Not the Printers,  All the Arguments already Objected against the Stationers hold good also against the Printers, but not fully so strong. That is, they are both Parties, and judges. Self-ended, (upon Experiment) under the Temptation of Profit. Offenders as well as the Stationers; and in all Abuses of the Press, confederate with them. Beside, They will have the same Influence upon Searches; and they have probably as little Stomach to a Regulation, as the other. 'Tis true; the Printers Interest is not so Great as the Stationers; for where He gets (it may be) 20 or 25 in the 100 for Printing an Unlawful Book, the Other Doubles, nay many times, Trebles his Money by selling it: Yet nevertheless the Printer's Benefit lies 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 Honester sort being impoverished by the Late Times, & the great business of the Press being Engrossed by Oliver's Creatures.  
But, 
although Incorporated;  They Propose to Undertake the Work upon Condition to be Incorporate. That is; to be Disengaged from the Company of Stationers, and to be made a Society by Themselves. It may be Answered that it would be with Them, as 'tis with Other Incorporate Societies: They would be True to the Public, so far as stands with the Particular Good of the Company. But Evidently Their Gain lies the other way: and for a State to Erect a Corporation that shall bring so great a Danger upon the Public, and not one Penny into the Treasury, to Balance the Hazzard, were a Proceeding not ordinary.  
But they Offer to give Security, and to be Liable to Fines. Let That be done, 
or giving Security.  Whether they be Incorporate, or no. In case of Failer, they'll be content to lose their Privileges. What signifies That, but only a Stronger Obligation to a Closer Confederacy? 'Tis True, The Printers in a Distinct and Regulated Society may do some good as to the General Business of Printing, and within the Sphere of that Particular Profession: but the Question is Here, how to Prevent a Public 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 Concealed Pamphlets, or for Examination of work in the Mettle, but whether it be either for the Honour, or Safety, of the Public, to Place so great a Trust in the Hands of Persons of that Quality, and Interest, is submitteed to better Judgements.  
To Conclude; both Printers, and Stationers, under Colour of Offering a Service to the Public, do Effectually but Design One upon another. The Printers would beat down the Book-selling Trade, by Menaging the Press as Themselves please, and by working upon their own Copies: The Stationers, on the other side, They would Subject the Printers to be absolutely Their Slaves; which they have Effected in a Large Measure already, by so increasing the Number, that the One Half must either play the Knaves, or Starve.  
The Expedient for This, 
The Dependence of the Printers upon the Stationers is Dangerous.  must be some way to Disengage the Printers from that Servile and Mercenary Dependence upon the Stationers, unto which they are at present subjected. 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 Apprentices (That is; at least 20 more than they ought to have by the Law.)  
3dly, There are, beside Aliens, and those that are Free of other Trades, at least 150 journeymen, of which Number, at least 30. are superfluous; to which 30. there will be added about 36. more, beside above 50. Supernumerary Apprentices, upon the Reduction of the Master-Printers to 24. So that upon the whole Reckoning, there will be left a Matter of 60. journeymen, 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 Booksellers, as a sure way to bring them both to their Prices, and Purposes; for the Number being greater than could honestly Live upon the Trade, the Printers were Enforced either to Print Treason, or Sedition, if the Stationer Offered it, or to want Lawful Work, by which Necessity on the one side, and Power on the other, the Combination became exceeding Dangerous, and so it still Continues; but how to Dissolve it, whether by barely Dis-incorporating 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 Offered, that in Case Those Privileges and Benefits should be Granted, to both Stationers, and Printers, which they themselves desire in point of Trade; yet in regard that several Interests are Concerned, That of the Kingdom on the one side, and only That of the Companies on the other; It is but reason that there should be several Super-intending Powers, and that the smaller Interest should give place, and be Subordinate to the Greater: That is, The Master, and Wardens, to Menage the Business of their Respective Trade, but withal, to be Subjected to some Superior Officer, that should overlook them Both on behalf of the Public.  
As the Powers of licensing Books, 
Let the care of Printing be Committed to Six Surveighers of the Press.  are by the Late Act vested in several Persons, with regard to the several Subjects Those Books treat of; so may there likewise be several Agents Authorised 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 Surveyor to keep himself strictly within the Limits of his own Province. As for Example.  
First, 
One for Law.  The Lord Chancellor, 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 Authorised to Licence, by Themselves, 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.  
2dly. All Books of Divinity, Physic, Philosophy, 
Three for Divinity, Physic, &c i e. One for each University and the Third for London, etc.  or whatsoever other Science, or Art, are to be Licenced by the Lord Archbishop of Conterbury, 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 Chancellors, 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.  
3dly. All Books concerning Heraldry, Titles of Honour, 
One for Heraldry, etc.  and Arms, or Concerning the Office of earl-marshal, are to be Licenced by the earl-marshal 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.  
4thly. Books of History, Politics, State-Affairs, 
and Another for State-Afffairs, etc.  and all other Miscellanies, or Treatises, nor comprehended under the Powers beforementioned, fall under the Jurisdiction of the Principal Secretaries of State, to be Allowed 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. Three Substitutes for the Bishops; and Chancellors, 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 Informers.  
The Inward Motive to all Public 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, 
For Encouragement there must be Benefit and Power.  and Power. Benefit; that a man may Live Honestly upon the Employment: and Power; for the Credit, and Execution of the Trust.  
The Benefit must arise partly from some Certain, and standing Fee; and in Part, from Accessary, and Contingent Advantages, which will be but Few, 
The Employment being Troublesome and Chargeable.  and Small, in Proportion to the Trouble and Charge of the Employment: for there must be, First; A Constant Attendance: and a Daily Labour in hunting out, and overlooking Books, and Presses: and Secondly, A Contival Expense, in the Entertainment of Instruments for Discovery, and Intelligence; which being deducted 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.  
1. The Gain of Printing some Books, 
The Inconvenience of small Penalties,  is Ten times Greater, if they Escape, than the Loss, if they be Taken: so that the Damage bearing such a disproportion to the Profit, is rather an Allurement to Offend, than a Discouragement.  
2. As the Punishment is too small, 
and Rewards.  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: and more than That, he loses his Credit, and Employment, over and Above, as a Betrayer of his Fellows; so great is the Power and Confidence of the Delinquent Party.  
The way to help This, 
Which in Cases of Public Concern aught to be Deep upon the Delinquent and the Reward Certain and Considerable to the Enformer.  is, to Augment both the Punishment, and the Reward; and to Provide that the Inflicting of the One, and the Obtaining of the Other, may be both Easie, and Certain: for to Impose a Penalty, and to leave the way of Raising it, so Tedious, and Difficult, as in This Case hitherto it is; amounts to no more than This: If the Enformer will spend Ten Pound 'tis possible he may Recover Five: and so the Prosecutor must Impose a greater Penalty upon Himself, than the Law does upon the Offender; or Else all comes to Nothing.  
An Expedient for this Inconvenience is highly Necessary; 
An Expedient for the Quick and Easie getting of the Penalty.  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 Decision.  
Now to the several Sorts of Penalties. and to the Application of them.  
The Ordinary Penalties I find to be These; 
Penalties  Death, Mutilation, Imprisonment, Banishment, Corporal Peyns, Disgrace, Pecuniary Mulcts: which Penalties are to be Applied with regard to the Quality of the Offence, and to the Condition of the Delinquent.  
The Offence is either Blasphemy, Heresy, Schism, 
Offences.  Treason, Sedition, Scandal, or Contempt of Authority.  
The Delinquents are the Advisers, 
Delinquents.  Authors, Compilers, Writers, Printers, Correctors, Stitchers, and Binder's of unlawful Books and Pamphlets: together with all Publishers, Dispersers and Concealers of them in General: and all Stationers, Posts, Hackny-Coachmen, Carrier's, Boat-men, Mariners. Hawkers, Mercury-Women, Pedlars, and Ballad-Singers so offending, in Particular.  
Penalties of Disgrace ordinarily in Practice are Many, and more may be Added.  
Pillory, 
Penalties of Disgrace.  Stocks, Whipping, Carting, Stigmatising, Disablement to bear Office, or Testimony. Public Recantation, standing under the Gallows with a Rope about the Neck, at a Public Execution. Disfranchisement (if Freemen) Cashiering (if Soldiers,) Degrading (if Persons of Condition), Wearing some Badge of Infamy: Condemnation to Work either in Mines, Plantations, or House of Correction.  
Under the Head of Pecuniary Mulcts, 
Pecuniary Mulcts.  are Comprehended, Forfeitures, Confiscations, Loss of any Beneficial Office, or Employment, Incapacity to hold or enjoy any: and Finally, all Damages accrueing, and Imposed, as a Punishment for some Offence.  
Touching the Other Penalties beforementioned, it suffices only to have Named them, and so to Proceed to the Application 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 itself) is not the same Thing to several Persons; and it may be proper enough to Punish One Man in his Purse, Another 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.  
For the Authors, 
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.  
The Printer, 
Printers and Stationers to be severely Punished.  and Stationer, come next, who beside the Common Penalties of Money, Loss of Copies, or Printing-Materials, 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 lies; the Profit whereof the said Officer shall see Thus Distributed One Third to the King, a Second to the Enformer, reserving the Remainder to himself.  
In some Cases, they may be condemned to wear some visible Badge, or Marque of Ignominy, as a Halter instead of a Hatband, one Stocking Blew, and another Red; a Blue Bonnet with a Red T or S. upon it, to Denote the Crime to be Either Treason, or Sedition; and if at any time, the Person so Condemned, shall be found without the said Badge, or Marque, During the time of his Obligation to wear it, let him Incur 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 Proceeded against, for the Matter of Treasonous, or Seditious Pamphlets, the Offender aforesaid shall from the time of that Discovery be Discharged from wearing it any Longer.  
This Proposal may seem Fantastic at first sight; but certainly there are Many Men who had rather suffer any other Punishment then be made Publicly 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 Punished, so as to Limit, and Appropriate, the Punishment: but it shall suffice, having Specified 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 aught to be various, according to the Several Needs, Tempers, and Qualities of the Persons upon whom they are to be Conferred. Money is a Reward for One; Honour for Another: and either of these Misplaced, would appear rather a Mockery, than a Benefit.  
The End.