Time well spent. OR, Opus Irae & Labour Benevolentiae. In eight Books. viz.  
A compendious Retractation for Bookmaking, a godly zealous Prayer, for Peace and Salvation, a Warning Piece for England, a Lamentable Complaint, a Pathetical Apology, a Potent Vindication, a Paradox, and the Authors Disaster for Bookmaking, with his Ship in Division.  
Containing many brief and pleasant meditations very useful for these distracted times, worthy observation and imitation.  
Dies Ascensionis Domini nostri & salvatoris in Caelis.  
11. May. 1643.  
Whereas Edward Browne sometimes servant to Sir James Cambell, Knight and Alderman of London, deceased, hath presenteed to the Kings most Excellent Majesty and the Lords and Commons in Parliament two Petitions wherein is briefly described the miserable condition of this distracted Kingdom as well as his own particular grievances, it is therefore ordered that not only his desire therein shall be granted, but that His time well spent in Print shall be forthwith publisted.  
per Clericum Duiman ad Jgnoramum.  
London, Printed in the year, 1643.   

The first of these is sufficiently answered in my Disaster, Paradox, and Vindication, and the latter is likewise answered in my Addition to those in my Apology.  
But therein I did forget to give his Worship hearty thanks, for his kind respects towards me & now I could wish that I had followed his grave advise, than should I have neglected the consures of men upon me and my Books, and so have been victorous by Patience, which is much better than strife and contention: For I do humbly acknowledge that I have overwatched or overwrought myself in making Books, and therefore think it is now best to surcease and leave; yet my mind is very much troubled which is the greatest misery that can happen to a man in this world, as the wiseman hath it in Pro. 18.14. The spirit of a man may bear bodily infirmities, but a wounded spirit who can bear? Therefore to ease my mind of this intolerable burden I have lately supervised my works, and therein find some literal faults escaped in the Press, by reason of my haste to have them printed: But all the wit I have cannot find so many substantial errors, as to make it the work of the devil, as some affirm, except that be one in my bitter Pill, where I do affirm that my supposed grand Adversary hath vilyfied as honest a man as himself, but pray let my modesty excuse my smooth language towards him, for though he doth, I do not delight in railing terms, because I know that in me, that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing, that I am not able of myself to think a good thought, that I am the greatest of all sinners: and therefore have nothing whereof to boast, but my infirmities, and those I glory in for sure I think it is the finger of God that by my foolishness hath struck to the heart root some guilty persons hypocritically and maliciously affected: and therefore to those that say my Books are like a rope of sand which will not hold together, but crumble and moulder into inconsistent, useless, and unprofitable things, I affirm and declare, that my Heavenly and Divine Ejaculations, and my Moral Satirical Fancies are so fare unlike that simile, that they are as strong as a chain of Iron, as true as Steel, and as precious as Gold. For the ground of the first work is apparent in the Epistle to the Reader; and how firmly at hangs thereon all men may judge. And if any new inspired Teacher, with assistance of the most Orthodox Divines in this Kingdom dare set pen to paper against my Angry Labours of good will to satisfle a troubled mind, which spring from the two former Letters, and some opprobrious speeches of any malignant parties. I have already by the assistance of the Almighty on these my weak endeavours, made it manifest in the view of all men, in my Disaster, Paradox, etc. that as the Hydrean heads of the Hypocrite began to appear in my view, so according to my skill I have cut them off with the twoedged sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and Reason, which I hope is so potent that all my malicious adversaries are not able to break one link thereof with the said instrument; though I must acknowledge they may abuse me with their Militia, which they have made Malitia, as some have done to divers others of fare better worth than I am for smaller matters. And therefore to expend my money in printing my own fancies, though never so good, I will not for all that their malice can do unto me, much less will I trouble myself for what they may falsely say of me.  
And I do once more challenge great Goliath and the Philistines to defy me with any propositions against Monarchy and Episcopacy, as it is established in this kingdom: let them if they dare put forth their knotty Riddles, and tie their Fox's tales one to another, with all the craft and cunning they can, and I hope with David to stick a stone in the forehead of great Goliath, which I shall find in the brook of God's word and other little Rivers, and with the help of my Father's Heifer I trust to untie, break, and blow up the hard Rocks in their fraudulent Riddles, that it shall be even and plain ground, and set such firebrands between their Fox's tales that shall burn and consume their seeming corn to ashes. For it grieves my very soul to see and hear rare men abused and contemned, but such malignant Woodcocks as Peter and other New England Apostles, applauded to the very Heavens. And certainly if they be suffered to continue long they will bring misery, Calamity, and destruction upon us all. For thus I heard one say in his Pulpit yesterday, That they are no people which have not God among them: which cannot be, for God is everywhere by his Omnipresence and Providence, though it is true his particular soul saving presence is only with his Saints. But hereby this fellow and divers others of his garb would infer, That all the wicked must utterly be destroyed from the face of the earth, which is very false and pernicious doctrine; for God set a mark upon Cain, lest any man finding him should kill him. And Christ saith expressly, the Tares must grow with the Wheat until the Harvest. But envy, malice, treason,  
MAster Walmesley and Mistress Vanpaine, of all Sir james his kindred I did think you had been the most truly religious, and therefore was bold to present unto each of you a Book, which I thought you would kindly accept of because it was of my composing, who was a poor servant when you dwelled with my master, rather than for any worth in the thing itself: but it seems my expectation therein was frustrated, for in stead of commending my expense of spare time in such works, I understand you have vilified the same. Therefore because you are so godly judicious, I would entreat you to peruse this fruit of my labour likewise, and certify my faults therein with a pen, and then send them unto me by some Porter, whose pains I will requite, and I shall esteem it a favour showed to  
Your poor servant, Edw: Browne. 4. Aug. 1643.  
MAster Browne, I have perused your Books, and I find them useless for me. I find in them light with darkness, holy things and vain unprofitable things mixed, which are altogether inconsistent: and I am sure if you will not look beyond the Moon, but fix your eyes a little, there you may find there a dead fly which makes your books of ointment unsavoury, if there were no other errors in your Book, the which there are many: but you must not expect that I will take upon me to nominate the particular errors in your books for then I should begin to be a book-maker as well as you: wherefore I will not now begin to confute books, because God hath not called me unto it. As for that which was good in Sir james Cambel my dear deceased Uncle, I suppose I know as well as yourself, and therefore I need not your book to teach me the knowledge of it: but if you will send me one of his pictures which you caused to be drawn upon a board the bearer hereof shall content you for it. And here according unto your desire I have sent you your two books, as also a book of yours which my brorher Walmesley entreated me to send you: and thus I rest, only advising you as a friend that you would cease to make more books unill you be enabled to make such as may be for the glory of God, and edifying of his Church, lest at length you be called unto account by the great God of heaven and earth, for misspending of your precious time in dishonouring of him in this way of book-making: and thus desiring of God that he would by his saving and illuminating Spirit discover unto you the knowledge of jesus Christ and him crucified for you. And thus I commit you unto the protection of Almighty God, and rest,  
Your loving friend, Anne van Peene. London, Aug. 11. Anno 1642.  
The second Letter came from my reverend 〈◊〉, in answer to those in my Apology, thus.  
Good Master Browne:  
I Must desire you to consider that my leisure will nor permit me to read such large Volumes, and beside, my eyes cannot master so small a print, otherwise I should be glad to give you my furtherance in any course that might promote your contentment. I do not yet well know why you sent me the copies of these Books which I had before, niether was I able to read perfectly half of your Letter, which might have acquainted me more fully with your mind: but, by what I both see and conjecture, I conceive you over-watcht your business, and are too tenderly affected with the censures of men upon your Book, and yourself, not remembering that the best victory is got by neglecting them. I am sorry you put my name to your Testimonial in print, not as ashamed of it, but as unwilling to have it public to a thing of no more moment: And for your Petition, my judgement is, that to prefer it to the King you shall do great wrong both to your Master, and the Executors, and yourself; I the rather mind you of it, because I would have you confident, that I will always be ready to do you any good to my power, as fits  
Your loving friend, Ri: Holdsworth. Em: Coll: jan. 6. 1642.