SIXTEENTH CENTDRY.
401
of two sheets of paper. In one place of the booke the means of saluation was attributed to the worde (preached) and what did he thinke you? he blotted out the worde (preached) and woold not have that worde printed; so ascribini^ the way to work mens saluation to the word read."
1388. In this year mention is made of one knave Thackwell, a printer, in Wales, who is mentioned in a hook intitled, Bridge's, ^c. by Martin Marprelate, p. 23. where he says, piti- fully complayning, is there any reason, why knave Thackwell, theprinter, which printed popish and traiterous Welsh books, in Wales, should have more favour at your gracelesse handes, then poore Waldegrave, who never printed any book against vou, that contayneth either treason or impiety. I'hackwell is at liberty to walk where he will, and permitted to make the vaoit he could of his press and letters; whereas Robert Waldegrave dares not shew his face, for the blood-thirstie desire you have for his life, only for printing of bookes, which toucheth the bishops myters. You know that Waldegrave's printing press and letters were taken away; his press being timber, was sawen and hewed in peices, the yron work being battered and made unserviceable, his letters melted, with cases, and other tooles, defaced (by John Woolfe, alias Machivill, beadle of the stationers, and most tormenting executioner of Waldegrave's goods) and he himself utterly deprived for everpnnting againe, having a wife and sixe small cnildren. Win this monstrous crueltie never be revenged think you? when Waldegrave's goods was to be spoiled and defaced, there were some printers, that rather than all the goods should be spoyled, offered money for it, towards the reliefe of the man's wife and children, but this could not be obtayned,and yet popishe Thackwell, though he printed popishe and trayterous bookes, may have the favour to make money of his presse and let- ters. And reason to. For Waldegrave's pro- fession overthroweth the popedome of Lembe- bith; but Thackwel's popery maintavneth the same. And now that Walgrave haCix neither presse nor letters, his grace may dine and sup the quieter. Waldegrave hath left house and home, by reason of your unnatural tyrannic; having left behind him a poor wife and sixe orphans, without any thing to relieve them. For, the husband you have bereaved both of his trade and goods. Be you assured, that the crye of these will one day prevail againsst you, unlesse you desist from persecuting.
And good your grace, I do now remember myself of another printer, that had presse and letter in a place called Charterhouse, in London (in anno 1687,neere about the time of the Scot- tish queen's death) intelligence was given unto your good grace of the same, by some of the stationers of London; it was made knowen unto you, what work was in hand, what letter the book was on, what volume, viz. in octavo, in half sheetes, what workmen wrought on the same; namely, I. C. the earle of Anindel's man, and three of his servants, with (heir several names,
what Uberalitie was bestowed on those workmen, and by whom, &c. Your grace gave the station- ers the hearing of this matter, but to this day the parties were never called in coram for it; but yet by your leave my lord, upon this in- formation unto your honourable worship, (he stationers had newes, that it was made knowen unto the printers, what was done unto your good grace, and presently insteed of the work, which was in hand, there was other appointed, as they say, authorized, by your lordship. I will not say it was your owne doing; but by your sleeve, thought is free. And my goodL. (nay, you shall be none of myL. but M. WTiitgift and you will,) are you partiaU or no in all your actions, tell me? yes you are? I will stand to it? Did you get a decree in the high court of starchamber only for Waldegrave? If it bee in general! (and you not partial!) why set you not that printing presse and letters out of Charterhouse, and dis- troy them, as you did Waldegrave's? Why did you not apprehend the parties, why? because it was popery at the least, that was printed in Charterhouse; and that maintayneth uie crowne of Canterburj'e? And what is more tolerable than popeiy? Did not your grace of late erect a new printer contrary to the foresay'd decree? One Thomas Orwine (who sometimes wrought popish bookes in comers; namely, Jetut ptaSer, nwr ladiei psalter, &c.) with condition he should print no such seditious books, as Waldegrave hath done? why, my lord, Waldegrave never printed against the state, but only, &c.
It has been sufficiently shown that the liberty of the press hardly subsisted in this reign, which was cmefly owing to the jealousy of the govern- ment towards the Catholics, and the inveterate enmity which archbishop Whitgift bore the Puritans. Proclamations were continually being issued against seditious writing and printing, thus closing the public press against those who were considered enemies either to the chnreh or state; yet in spite of every precaution, libels abounded, a clear demonstration that nothing is really gained by these violent suppressions and expurgatory indexes, which power in its usur- pation may enforce, but only with reluctance is obeyed. Nothing can be a greater check to the wantonness of power, than the privilege of un- folding private grievances at the bar of public opinion. Thus uie cause of individuals is made a public concern, and the general indignation which wrongs excite forms at once the severest punishment which can be inflicted on the op- pressor, and one of the strongest bulwarks that can be raised in defence of the unprotected. Helvetius* justly remarks, that the magistrate who prevents the libertv of the press, opposes all improvement in morality and politics; he sins against his country, he chokes the very seeds of
- CUode Adrian Helvetius wu a celebrated Dutch
fthysician, who settled at Paris, aad by admiuisterin; pecacunaha. in the dysentery, which raged riolently In that city, gained a pension, and the appointment of inspec- tor-general of the military hospitals. He died at Puis, Jan. 1, 1717, ased Si. Be wrote some medical tieatiaet.
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