A SHORT ANSWER To a Pamphlet, Entitled, The CASE & of William Bentley Printer at Finsbury near London, touching his Right to the Printing of BIBLES and PSALMS.  
I. Whereas Bentley insinuates, as if the Printing at Finsbury was upon his own Account, the truth is, if he was any other than a Servant to, he was at the best but an inconsiderable Partner with certain Merchants; for they having formerly imported Bibles erroneously printed, and being thereupon restrained from any further importing, by Order of the Parliament, did erect the Printing-House at Finsbury, and employed Bentley there upon their Account, which is the true Original of their Bible-Printing in that place; the Work being begun and carried on there, not for any public end, but merely for the private Profit of the said Merchants, who, together with himself, were men Foreigners as to the Art and Mystery of Printing. And that it was not out of any public Respect, is evident, because when others erected Presses, and so ordered the matter, that they sold Bibles at cheaper Rates than these men of Finsbury did: Then the matter of private Profit ceasing, the Merchants withdrew their Stocks, and Bentley himself also gave over Bible-Printing, and so continued for the space of about Five years, but employed the Printing-House in printing Popish-Books, and invading other men's Proprieties by printing their Copies from them. And as concerning the said Popish-Books, although one of them seized by His Highness' Printers, was (by Order of the Council) burned by the hands of the Hangman, yet about two Months after, search being made in his house of Finsbury, the same persons found the same Popish-Books prepared for the Press again, in defiance of Authority, which they seized and brought away the second time; for which second Offence he ought by Law to be disabled for ever from the exercise of Printing, in case he had been a Lawful Master-Printer, whereas the Truth is, he was a Paper-Seller.  
II. Whereas, he pretends service done to the public by his supplying the Armies in Ireland and Scotland, at cheaper rates then ordinary, with Bibles; it is to be observed, that multitudes of Bibles being at that time printed by others, who sold them at cheaper rates than he had done, thereupon his Bibles came to lie upon his hands as a dead Commodity, and so he was constrained to put them off at easy rates; but it is to be observed likewise, that the cheapness of vending was much beside his intention, forasmuch as since that time, a motion was made by him the said Bentley, to other persons who were then printing Bibles, that he and they might by consent resolve to advance the prices of Bibles to a higher rate; which he not obtaining, both himself and his Partners declined the whole business of printing Bibles: after which he went to the Barbadoes and never stirred more about it, till upon his return he saw that the sole printing of Bibles was by Purchase of the Original Manuscript of the Translation, and an Entry thereof in the Register of the Stationer's Company, legally vested in his Highness' Printers; immediately whereupon he began to lay claim to, and made many Clamours about his pretended Right, supposing thereby to have constrained his Highness Printers to admit him to partake of the benefit of their Copy; and during the time of the Clamour, one of his Partners offered his Highness' Printers, for himself and Bentley, that if the said Printers would accept of their laying down a third part of the moneys laid out in the Purchase, and admit them to a third share in the Propriety of the Bible-Copy, they would then shut out all others, and agree to raise the Price of Bibles above the rates at which they are now settled by his Highness.  
III. Whereas he pretends to a right of printing Bibles and Psalms, by virtue of a Proviso contained in the Act of Parliament, dated September 20. 1649. which he citys thus, That notwithstanding the particular Restrictions thereby made, that Act should not extend to the Printing-press at Finsbury for printing Bibles and Psalms, but that it should continue to all Intents and Purposes, as if that Act had not been had or made. It may be observed, that the Intent of the said Act (as appears by the Contents of it) is, That in regard irregular Printing increased, by reason of the multitude of Printing-presses erected in By-corners out of the Eye of Government, therefore no Printing-press shall hereafter be erected in any place without the Precincts of London, except the two Universities, York, and Finsbury; by which means, Finsbury stood excepted from the Restriction in the same manner as the two Universities and York did: so that the Intent of the Act was, only to save Finsbury harmless from the Penalty, notwithstanding it stood out of the Precincts of London, and not to confer a Right of any Copy upon the men of Finsbury. This is not only the Opinion of the ablest Lawyers, but well enough understood by Bentley himself, as appears in this, That he never durst put the Issue of his Clamours and Pretences upon a Trial at Law, though often offered by His Highness' Printers. However, something may be added here as considerable, First, that Bentley in his Case citys the words of the Act falsely, inserting them thus, viz: That the Act should not extend to the Printing-press at Finsbury; whereas indeed the words are, That the Clause (that is to say, The Clause of the Act confining all Presses to the Limits of London) should not extend to Finsbury: but, that in reference to the said Clause confining, it should remain as if this Act had not been had or made. Moreover, in the following part of the Act where Provision is made on purpose for the settling and securing Titles and Propriety in Copies; there is not the least mention made of any Propriety conferred upon Finsbury. Much more may be said upon a full Hearing, but here we mind brevity.  
iv Whereas Bentley saith, The Company of Stationers by irregular deal and misinformation were forced to make an undue Entry in their Registry of the Copy of the Bible to His Highness' Printers, the very truth is this, That His Highness being informed, that His Printers had made a legal Purchase of the Original Copy of the Translation of the Bible from the Proprietors, did thereupon, by special Warrant to the Company of Stationers, give direction for the Entry of the said Copy for His said Printers, as the lawful Proprietors thereof; which was done accordingly.  
V Whereas Bentley charges His Highness Printers to have abused the Deputation given them from Sir john Barkstead and Mr. Foxcroft, they have, and are still ready to justify themselves in what they have done by Authority of Parliament, and by the Orders and Instructions of His Highness and the Council, for putting the said Act in execution.  
VI Whereas Bentley sets so high an esteem on the Bibles of his own Printing, undervaluing all other, it appears upon a cursory view of some part of his Bible, that so many gross Errors are in a few Pages escaped, that it must be presumed, upon a strict enquiry, they will exceed the number of those against which he makes Complaint.  
There are divers other Passages in his Pamphlet insinuating matter of falsehood and scandal against His Highness' Printers and others, which being both frivolous and false, it were needless to make any reply to them, after so full an answer given to the most material untruths and scandals. And for what is suggested (we conceive untruly) concerning the Company of Stationers, is left to their own vindication. All which are humbly submitted to consideration.  
All which and more, will be made good by His Highness' Printers.