SCINTILLA, OR A LIGHT BROKEN INTO dark Warehouses. With OBSERVATIONS UPON THE Monopolists of Seven several Patents, and Two Charters. Practised and performed, By a Mystery of some Printers, Sleeping Stationers, and Combining Booksellers. Anatomised And laid open in a Breviat, in which is only a touch of their forestall and engrossing of Books in Patents, and Raising them to excessive prizes. Left to the Consideration of the High and Honounourable House of Parliament now assembled. Let not one Brothor oppress another. Do as you would be done unto. AT LONDON, Printed, not for profit, but for the Common Weles good: and no where to be sold, but some where to be given. 1641. The EPISTLE to the Reader. COurteous Reader (or otherwise) if thou lookest for the Reason of writing this Book, here it is, and so Anonymous leaves thee. Non nobis Solum, nati sumus, sed partim patriae. Bibles for Churches new Translation large Folio. King's Printers Patent of London. CHurch Bibles sold in former times in quires at 1 10 sold now (in quires) 2, so raised in every Book 10. If they Print 3000. of an Impression, raised 1500l. In former times these were bought in quires at 1 5. Church Bibles of a thinner sort have been sold at 1 in quires: Partners have bought them cheaper, buying a quantity, and those Partners sold them severally at 17 6d, not stocking or combining as now they do, these Bibles were excellent for poor Parishes. Large Folio Bibles of a Roman Print, with the Notes, sold in former times in quires at 12 6d: The same sort now without the Notes be raised 7 6d in a Book: 1500. of an Impression so raised in every Book, amounts to 562 10. Large Folio English Letter with Notes, be sold at 13 4d in quires. And small Folio English, sold 12 in quires: none of this sort Printed now. Cambridge Bibles Folio of long primer letter, vide Cambridge Charter. In the year 1629, the want of these sorts of Folio Bibles caused Cambridge Printers to print it, and they sold it at 10 in quires: upon which the then Kings Printers set six Printing-houses at work, and on an instant Printed one Folio Bible in the same manner, and sold with it 500 This Folio would not have been sold under 12 or 14 sh. if it had not been that Cambridge had Printed it: but, now they sold it at 5 sh, which would have been 12 sh at least, and the 4 to at 5 sh, which was before 9 sh. Scot● Printers. Quarto Roman Bibles, and 500 Quarto English, at 5 a Book, to overthrow the Cambridge Printing, and so to keep all in their own hands. It were well if they would always sell at this price. In former times our King's Printers did agree with Mr. Andrew Hart, and after with Mr. John Hart Booksellers of Edenburg to serve them London Bibles at lower rates than they sold them at here: so that they would not Print whereby they might keep all the privileges to themselves, since which Robert Young and Miles Flesher, most cunningly combined with the King's Printers here, and so sunk the Printing-house there, so that now Scotland is destitute; and by this means Books are raised to greater rates here, and there likewise. The King's Printers and others here being interessed in the Irish stock, Ireland Patent, sold Mr. William Bladon of Dublin their Stock there, and Patent, and have so Bound him, as he shall not Print but what they list of their privilege, so that Scotland and Ireland must grind at their Mill. Observe in what a case these be: for Bibles, especially if the last Decree in Star-chamber had held, concerning Printing: for all must be bought at one place to serve three Kingdoms. Cambridge Bible Folio. Cambridge Large Folio Bible Roman, It is judged that the price Raised in these three sorts, is not less in the total sum then 200 li. And the Monopolists have compounded with them that they shall print no more Bibles, but for the Monopolists. of the best paper, sold at 1 10, in quires, or cheaper, they raised it 10 on a Book, and sold it at 2l. Cambridge Medyum Folio Bible Roman, sold at, or cheaper than 1 2 6d in quires; the Monopolists raise 7, 6d and sell it at 1 10. Cambridge thin paper Folio Roman, sold at, or cheaper than 16 in quires; the Monopolists raised it 4, and so sell it at 1 in quires. See the errors cortected in the Cambridge Bibles, which were Printed in the London. Cambridge Quarto Roman Letter Bibles, with Psalms, sold at 7. They have raised on a Book 3, and so sell it with Psalms at 10 in quires, which if the Monopolists should buy but a 1000 it would be raised 150l. Cambridge Quarto English Letter, with Psalms sold in quires at 6. raised on a Book 2 4d. now the Monopolists sell it at 8 4d: if 3000 be engrossed by them, it would raise 350l. Observe, they have not only bought in all those Bibles with Psalms, Oxford Charter, and Grammars, and School Books, but have for everagreed for what shallbe printed both there and at Oxford Books Privilege: and where they were there Printed bravely, true, and in good paper, now look for other. London Bibles in Quarto. London Bible Quarto English Letter, with the Notes and Concordance of the old Translation in times past was sold at 7 sh. in quires, and then it was 139. sheets, and now but 116. and no Notes, and sold at 9 sh. 2d with Concordance: 3000. raised makes 350l. London Quarto Roman with Notes, sold in times passed at 7s. The Quarto Roman now with no Notes sold at 10. sh. in quires, so raised in an Impression of 3000 500l. There hath been at least 12000. of these Bibles Quarto with Notes Printed in Holland, and sold very reasonable: and many brought from thence hither, and they have been seized by the King's Printers, and the parties that Imported them, not only lost them, but were put in* Purgatory, The High-Commission. and there glad to lose their Bibles and all cost to get off; and then the Monopolists sold them again, and so kept all others in awe. Great pity our Printing should be forced to be carried to Strangers, in my judgement: I have known divers punished for selling Bibles, but none for Mass Books better to have our own Nation set at work. More punishment for selling a 4 to Bible with Notes, than a 100 Mass Books in the High Commission. In former times Bibles in Octavo sold at 3. sh. 4d in quires, London Octavo Bibles. are now sold at 4. sh. in quires, though then 9 sheets more than now. There have been 10000 printed in a year, which might have been afforded at 3 sh. a Book, so that there might have been saved to the Subject in an Impression 500l. Bibles 8 to of a Large paper, London Bibles of a little Larger paper. not 3d in a Book more than the other, and sold at 6. sh. 2d in quires: are raised 2. sh. 2d in a Book, which makes in that Impression of 6000. the sum of 650. Scottish Bibles, Printed of excellent paper and print at Edenburg, Scots Bibles Octavo, Scots Patent 3 London. sold in London 26. to the quartern, and London Bibles but 25. to the quartern at our rates, notwithstanding the charge and hazard of importation. London Bible in 12 sold at 4. sh. in quires, stands not them in 1. sh. 8d: there may be saved to the Subject in an Impression 500, and they great gainers. Scottish Bible 12. sold 26 other quartern, better paper, Scots Bible Edenburg. and better print than those here: now all Scots printing of Bibles is taken-away by Young and Fletcher, two main projectors. Holland vide 1639. Holland Bible in 12 sold at 2. sh. in quires, better than the London one of 1639 sold at 4 sh. pity the manufactory should be carried thither by dear selling here. Latin Bibles 12 of Amsterdam, Latin Bibles. printed well, and sold at 2 sh in quires, and good paper. London Latin Bible 12 printed with a popish Index, sold at 4 sh. in quires, and not under. Observe London Stationers that bought of the Latin Holland Bibles, punished in the High Commission for buying Latin Bibles from Holland, a year before ever any were printed in London; observe what a but of Sack might do. London Testament octavo, sold at 10d in quires, raised to 1 sh. which 2d upon a Bock makes in 12000 impression a year 100l. Scots Testament at Edenburg, sold here in London at 10d better paper and print than ours here. London Testaments in 12, at 7 d raised 3d in a Book, sold now at 10d, make in 6000. the over prize, rated 75l. Cambridge Testament 24. were sold at 6d in quires. London Test. 24 sold at 8d a Book, 2d a Book raised in 4000, is 30l. London Common prayers in 24. raised ob upon a Book 4000 of them is 8 6sh 8d. London Common prayer Books in folio, sold at 3sh in quires, raised 1 sh. on a Book, now sold at 4sh. comes to in 3000 an Impression 150l. Common prayers 4 to sold at 1 sh 6d a Book: raised 6d on a Book, sold at 2 sh 3000. the Impression is raised 57l. Common prayers for quarto Bibles raised 2d on a Book. Common prayers in 16, raised 1d on a Book, comes to 12 li 10 sh 3000 of the Impression. Observe I pray now, Law Books. Law Patent. I come to the Law Books, I had need to break two lights into the Warehouse: but I perceive then this would rise too big. I will only nominate 3 Books in 3 several Volumes, so by the 3 you may conceive the rest. The Monopolist have not only gotten all the Gospel, Law Books. but also the Law as follows. Poltons' Statutes sold at 1 l 10 sh in quires, Folio, in former times, now raised to 6 sh 8 d a Book; the Impression of 1500 so raised by the Monopolist amounts to 500 li. Edward the 4th Quarto, sold at 13 sh 4 d, now raised 8 sh in a Book, comes to in a 1000 Books to 400 li. Complete justice sold at 2 sh 2 d a Book, Octavo, I will sell every Impression cheaper by a 100 li. And here have they engrossed the School Books Patent. Grammar of Oxford and Cambridge sold at 5 d a Book: School Books Patent 5, Lilies Grammar but these the Monopolists buy in, and sell them, and theirs at 8 d a Book, q s which in an yearly Impression of 20000 is raised 250 li. Camden's Greek Grammar sold at 8 d. a Book in quires always, Camden Greek Grammar, now sold at 1 sh. 2 d. Raised 6 d on a Book. The same Printed in France, is sold here at 4 d ob. a Book, and so Raised in 3000 to the sum of 75 li. Accedence, Accedence, this Book by chance a year a go broke lose from the Stake of the Monopolist, and was sold at six shillings in the pound cheaper than they sell them: but they have by Combination tied him to the Stake again: for observe, if the old Partners cannot agree together, the Young will, though never so Indirect. The Monopolist keep all others from Printing Concorances by their Patent, Concordance Patent, 6, and these being Printed in another Volume beyond Sea, and brought over, and sold at half their prize, they seize and take them from others, and sell them again themselves, although theirs be not to be had here: So have they likewise seized other Books Printed beyond the Seas, when not any Printed here were to be had. But a touch of this: for it is too tart, Geneology patent, 7, and I verily believe picks the Subject's pockets, that eats brown bread to fill the sleeping Stationer's belly with Venison and Sack, and robs the Commonwealth in too still away; and when the Sellers by Retale get not a ob: these Monopolists get a shilling: for the Octavo Geneologie, and the twelve, of every 4li. they make 15li. and for the 12. what the Retalers give 4li. for, they will not of they were to be returned again give fix shillings for it. I hope when the Honourable Assembly of Parliament sees this, as I shall be ready to make proof of all; they will put an end to these crying grievances, and help the calamities of the poor pinshed Subjects. Here I could open another window, but I see many poor stand within to keep it shut, and I will not add misery to their affliction. Lastly, some few observations shall serve for the Errata, which the Honourable House of Parliament may correct in the Society of Stationers, by taking order that the Statute of 25 H. 8. c. 15. concerning the prizes of Books may be duly exercised; that there may be at least 20 or 24 Assistants to the Company, and none of those to be above twice Master, for now s●x or 8 of the Eldest Combining, carry all to their own mark, and ay me always at their own end: and that if they will not Print such Copies as are there entered to the Company, it may and shallbe free for any to imprint or Import them, until such times they Print them here to furnish the Kingdom. This may serve in part for should I make a whole Errata it would be fare bigger than this Breviat, and here look but into a window of the Monopolists Law-Warehouse: and there behold a free discovery as here follows. Bought of the Law Printers Books at the partners prizes Stocked. jan. 1639 1879. Tables to Cooks Littleton at ●11 d. a Book fol. 2 s. 4d. October 1630. 1500 Eliments of the Law at 12sh 6 d. per ream which is 7 or 8 d. a Book Stocked at 1 sh 6 d. july 1631. 1500 English lawyers at 9 d. a Book, Stocked at 2 sh Octoher 1630. 1334 Daltons' justice, at 4 sh. a Book Stocked at 6 sh. 25 to the quartern. 1200. Statutes at 22 sh. Stock 36 sh. 8 d. 26 to the quarter. 1200 Cooks Tables to reports, 2 sh. 2 d. a Book, Stocked at 4 sh. 25 to the quartern. 1200 Cooks 11th Report at 1 sh. 10 d. a Book, Stocked at 5 sh. 25 to the quartern. 1200 West 1 part at 2 sh. 2 d. a Book, Stock 3 sh 6 d. 26 to the quarter. 700. Woman's Lawer at 22 d. a Book, Stock at 3 sh. 26 to the quarter. 600. Kellowayes at 3 sh 6 d. a Book, Stock at 7 sh. 6 d. 26 to the quarter, 1200 Littleton fol, at 10 sh. a Book, Stock, at 15 sh. 6 d. 26 to the quarter. 600. registers at 6 sh. 8 d. a Book, Stock at 15 26 to the quarter. 600 Cooks 2 d report Stocked at 4 sh. 600 3 d. report at 4 sh. 600 4th report at 5 sh. bought at 1 sh. 8 d. a Book, 600 Natura Brevium 80 at 1 sh. 8 d, S●ock't at 3 sh. 8 d. 26 to the quarter. April 1637. 1700 Court at 12 sh. 6 d. a Ream, Stock at 3 d. 26 to the quarter. 1600 Terms of the Law, at 2 sh. a Book, Stock at 3 sh. 8 d. 26 to the quarter. 700 Finches Law 80 at 1 sh a Book, Stock at 2 sh. 6 d. 26 to the quarter. 1000 Precedents 80 at 6 d. a Book, Stock at 10 d. 26 to the quarter. 600 Cooks 1 Report at 2 sh. 6 d. a Book, Stock at 6 sh. 2 d. 26 to the quarter. 2000 Complete justice, 80 at 1 sh. 3 d. a Book Stock at 2 sh. 2 d. 26 to the quarter. 500 Long Quinto at 1 sh. Stocked at 6 sh. 1000 Doctor and Student 13 sh. 4 d. a Ream be 6 d. a Book Stock 1 sh. But I know Obsequium amicos, Veritas odium parit. FINIS.