







 
   
     
       
         The case of William Bentley printer at Finsbury near London, touching his right to the printing of Bibles and Psalms.
         Bentley, William, printer at Finsbury.
      
       
         This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A76416 of text R211837 in the  English Short Title Catalog (Thomason 669.f.20[34]). Textual changes  and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more  computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life.  The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with  MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.  This text has not been fully proofread 
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         EarlyPrint Project
         Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO
         2017
         A76416
         Wing B1944
         Thomason 669.f.20[34]
         ESTC R211837
         99870529
         99870529
         163451
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
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         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A76416)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 163451)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 247:669f20[34])
      
       
         
           
             The case of William Bentley printer at Finsbury near London, touching his right to the printing of Bibles and Psalms.
             Bentley, William, printer at Finsbury.
          
           1 sheet ([1] p.)
           
             s.n.,
             [London :
             1656]
          
           
             Imprint from Wing.
             Annotation on Thomason copy: "Nouemb 1656".
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Bible -- Publication and distribution -- Early works to 1800.
           Printing -- England -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A76416  R211837  (Thomason 669.f.20[34]).  civilwar no The case of William Bentley, printer at Finsbury near London, touching his right to the printing of Bibles and Psalms. Bentley, William, printer at Finsbury.  1656    1830 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A This text  has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription.  
        2008-07 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2008-08 SPi Global
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2008-09 Sarah Allison
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2008-09 Sarah Allison
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        2009-02 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
       
         
           THE
           CASE
           OF
           WILLIAM
           BENTLEY
           ,
           Printer
           at
           FINSBURY
           near
           LONDON
           ,
           touching
           his
           Right
           to
           the
           Printing
           of
           BIBLES
           and
           PSALMS
           .
        
         
           THat
           in
           1644.
           the
           late
           Kings
           Printers
           (
           who
           before
           did
           solely
           print
           Bibles
           at
           
             London
          
           )
           were
           Delinquents
           in
           Arms
           ,
           and
           no
           Impressions
           of
           Bibles
           then
           made
           :
           By
           means
           whereof
           the
           books
           became
           very
           scarce
           ,
           and
           the
           prices
           very
           dear
           :
           Which
           gave
           occasion
           to
           the
           
             Dutch
          
           to
           print
           them
           beyond
           Seas
           ,
           and
           import
           them
           hither
           ;
           but
           so
           notoriously
           false
           ,
           and
           erroneous
           ,
           as
           that
           the
           then
           Assembly
           of
           Divines
           ,
           taking
           notice
           thereof
           ,
           and
           desiring
           to
           redresse
           so
           great
           a
           mischief
           (
           for
           the
           better
           Communication
           of
           the
           word
           of
           God
           to
           all
           sorts
           of
           people
           in
           its
           purity
           )
           sent
           for
           the
           
             London
          
           Stationers
           to
           know
           at
           what
           rates
           they
           would
           undertake
           to
           serve
           the
           Common-wealth
           with
           Bibles
           &
           Psalms
           ,
           who
           affirmed
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           ,
           under
           4.
           
             s.
          
           6.
           
             d.
             per
          
           book
           in
           quires
           ,
           and
           so
           declined
           the
           work
           .
        
         
           That
           thereupon
           
             Bentley
          
           gave
           over
           a
           very
           good
           trade
           in
           
             London
             ,
          
           and
           sold
           above
           40.
           
             l.
             per
             annum
          
           Lands
           of
           Inheritance
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           publick
           good
           did
           ,
           by
           the
           favour
           of
           the
           Parliament
           ,
           erect
           a
           Printing-house
           on
           purpose
           ,
           and
           undertake
           to
           furnish
           the
           Common-wealth
           with
           Bibles
           and
           Psalms
           ,
           (
           better
           printed
           and
           corrected
           than
           any
           former
           Editions
           )
           in
           Octavo
           (
           with
           Marginal
           references
           )
           and
           in
           twelves
           ,
           at
           2.
           
             s.
             per
          
           book
           .
           And
           (
           finishing
           five
           considerable
           Impressions
           )
           did
           accordingly
           afford
           the
           same
           .
        
         
           That
           in
           1649.
           upon
           the
           Armies
           advance
           to
           
             Ireland
             ,
             Bentley
          
           supplied
           them
           with
           4000
           of
           the
           said
           books
           in
           Octavo
           bound
           up
           in
           Leather
           ,
           at
           no
           more
           than
           2.
           
             s.
          
           4.
           
             d.
             per
          
           book
           .
        
         
           And
           thereupon
           ,
           and
           for
           his
           former
           services
           ,
           The
           Parliament
           in
           the
           
             Act
          
           for
           regulating
           Printing
           ,
           dated
           20.
           
           
             Sept.
          
           1649.
           made
           an
           
             explicite
             Proviso
             ,
          
           that
           (
           notwithstanding
           the
           particular
           Restrictions
           thereby
           made
           )
           That
           
             Act
          
           should
           not
           extend
           to
           the
           printing
           Presse
           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
           .
        
         
           That
           in
           1650.
           upon
           the
           Armies
           advance
           to
           
             Scotland
             ,
             Bentley
          
           furnished
           them
           with
           5000
           of
           his
           said
           books
           in
           Octavo
           in
           Quires
           ,
           at
           no
           more
           than
           20.
           
             d.
             per
          
           book
           .
        
         
           That
           in
           1652.
           
           
             Robert
             Barker
          
           the
           younger
           ,
           claiming
           a
           title
           and
           Interest
           to
           the
           sole
           printing
           of
           the
           translated
           Copy
           of
           the
           Bible
           ,
           called
           the
           new
           Translation
           ,
           endeavoured
           to
           have
           it
           confirmed
           to
           him
           by
           
             Act
          
           of
           Parliament
           ;
           And
           to
           that
           end
           before
           the
           passing
           of
           the
           
             Act
          
           7.
           
             Jan.
          
           1652.
           for
           reviving
           the
           former
           
             Act
          
           for
           regulating
           Printing
           ,
           put
           in
           a
           Proviso
           to
           the
           House
           :
           which
           being
           twice
           read
           ,
           and
           after
           full
           Debate
           put
           to
           the
           question
           was
           with
           a
           Negative
           Vote
           cast
           out
           (
           the
           Parliament
           no
           wayes
           intending
           to
           Monopolize
           the
           Printing
           of
           the
           Bible
           .
           )
           And
           the
           said
           7.
           
             Jan.
          
           upon
           reading
           
             Bentley's
          
           Petition
           to
           have
           a
           Liberty
           according
           to
           his
           Proviso
           in
           the
           
             Act
          
           20.
           
           
             Sept.
          
           1649.
           the
           Parliament
           passed
           the
           
             Act
             ,
          
           reviving
           and
           continuing
           all
           the
           clauses
           and
           things
           of
           the
           former
           .
           As
           by
           the
           Records
           of
           Parliament
           may
           appear
           .
           By
           which
           
             Bentley's
          
           right
           is
           Implicitely
           confirmed
           ,
           both
           
             Acts
          
           being
           relative
           and
           connexive
           ,
           and
           now
           in
           force
           as
           a
           Law
           .
        
         
           That
           
             Bentley
          
           provided
           himself
           with
           Letter
           and
           Materials
           for
           several
           impressions
           of
           Bibles
           and
           Psalms
           ,
           above
           twelve
           moneths
           since
           ,
           to
           be
           afforded
           at
           reasonable
           rates
           ,
           engaging
           himself
           and
           friends
           to
           a
           very
           great
           value
           .
        
         
           But
           by
           some
           irregular
           dealings
           ,
           and
           upon
           misinformation
           ,
           the
           Company
           of
           Stationers
           have
           been
           enforced
           the
           sixth
           of
           
             March
          
           last
           ,
           to
           make
           an
           undue
           Entry
           in
           their
           Registry
           ,
           contrary
           to
           their
           custome
           ,
           to
           
             Henry
             Hills
          
           and
           
             John
             Field
          
           (
           his
           
             Highnesse
          
           Printers
           )
           of
           that
           Individual
           Copy
           of
           
             Barker
             ,
          
           which
           the
           Parliament
           rejected
           ,
           and
           adjudged
           as
           a
           Monopoly
           ;
           Notwithstanding
           ,
           that
           
             Bentley
          
           and
           others
           had
           put
           in
           their
           Caveats
           upon
           better
           grounds
           before
           hand
           ,
           but
           never
           were
           heard
           ,
           contrary
           to
           all
           right
           and
           equity
           .
           Whereby
           
             Hills
          
           &
           
             Field
          
           have
           sought
           to
           appropriate
           to
           themselves
           by
           abusing
           the
           Supream
           Authority
           ,
           that
           Book
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           common
           Interest
           ,
           and
           evidence
           of
           all
           Christians
           indefinitely
           ,
           and
           concern's
           the
           State
           no
           further
           than
           to
           have
           it
           well
           Translated
           ,
           and
           published
           by
           a
           prudential
           securing
           the
           doing
           of
           the
           work
           by
           able
           men
           in
           that
           Mystery
           ;
           neither
           ought
           it
           to
           be
           restrain'd
           to
           the
           Ceremony
           of
           an
           Entry
           as
           any
           mans
           private
           Copy
           ,
           It
           being
           (
           truely
           Translated
           )
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           and
           infallible
           truth
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           be
           conceived
           in
           the
           qualification
           of
           mens
           private
           works
           ,
           though
           never
           so
           Divine
           .
        
         
           That
           7.
           
           
             March
          
           last
           ,
           
             Hills
          
           and
           
             Field
          
           (
           pretending
           good
           service
           to
           the
           Common-wealth
           )
           obtained
           Deputations
           to
           themselves
           from
           Sir
           
             John
             Barkstead
             ,
          
           and
           Mr.
           
             Foxcroft
             ,
          
           (
           his
           
             Highnesse
          
           Commissioners
           for
           regulating
           of
           printing
           )
           in
           pursuance
           of
           his
           
             Highnesse
          
           Instructions
           of
           28.
           
           
             August
          
           1655.
           onely
           to
           search
           for
           ,
           and
           seize
           all
           scandalous
           ,
           and
           unlicensed
           books
           and
           Pamphlets
           :
           Who
           unlawfully
           ,
           and
           contrary
           to
           the
           purport
           of
           their
           Deputations
           ,
           abusing
           their
           power
           by
           prostituting
           it
           to
           their
           own
           private
           ends
           ,
           suppresse
           all
           printing
           of
           the
           Bible
           and
           Testament
           ,
           by
           those
           who
           were
           upon
           the
           work
           ,
           or
           bring
           them
           to
           unreasonable
           compositions
           with
           them
           ;
           whereby
           the
           prices
           of
           Bibles
           and
           Testaments
           are
           very
           much
           raised
           :
           And
           in
           particular
           the
           28.
           
           
             August
          
           last
           ,
           
             Hills
          
           and
           
             Field
          
           assisted
           by
           some
           Souldiers
           ,
           and
           producing
           nothing
           ,
           but
           the
           said
           Deputations
           ,
           did
           carry
           away
           from
           
             Bentleys
          
           house
           the
           Form
           and
           Materials
           for
           printing
           part
           of
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           and
           seized
           the
           Sheets
           to
           his
           
             Highnesse
          
           use
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           same
           were
           scandalous
           .
           And
           several
           times
           before
           ,
           and
           since
           have
           otherwise
           wrongfully
           disturbed
           him
           ;
           So
           that
           he
           ,
           his
           Wife
           ,
           and
           7.
           
           Children
           being
           debarred
           of
           their
           livelyhood
           ,
           so
           advisedly
           provided
           ,
           for
           by
           the
           Parliament
           ,
           are
           likely
           to
           be
           utterly
           ruined
           and
           undone
           .
        
         
           That
           
             Bentleys
          
           Bibles
           (
           being
           for
           the
           fairnesse
           of
           the
           print
           ,
           and
           truth
           of
           the
           Editions
           generally
           approved
           of
           to
           be
           the
           best
           that
           ever
           were
           printed
           )
           are
           now
           sold
           at
           8.
           
             s.
             per
          
           book
           in
           Quires
           ,
           at
           the
           least
           ,
           by
           the
           Book-sellers
           :
           And
           
             Field
          
           hath
           so
           far
           advanced
           the
           prices
           of
           his
           Bibles
           ,
           that
           he
           will
           get
           above
           1500.
           
             l.
          
           in
           one
           bargain
           ,
           more
           ,
           than
           otherwise
           he
           could
           have
           done
           ,
           if
           
             Bentley
          
           was
           not
           obstructed
           .
           And
           those
           singing
           Psalms
           which
           
             Bentley
          
           sold
           at
           2.
           
             d.
          
           and
           3.
           
             d.
          
           are
           now
           sold
           at
           6.
           
             d.
          
           by
           the
           Stationers
           Company
           ;
           to
           the
           apparent
           charge
           and
           losse
           of
           the
           people
           as
           well
           of
           the
           three
           Nations
           ,
           as
           of
           all
           the
           forreign
           Plantations
           .
           And
           moreover
           ,
           
             Bentley
          
           during
           the
           time
           that
           he
           printed
           his
           said
           Impressions
           ,
           did
           constantly
           keep
           an
           able
           ,
           and
           Judicious
           Correctour
           in
           his
           House
           ,
           and
           allowed
           him
           above
           100
           
             Marks
             per
             Annum
             ,
          
           for
           his
           care
           and
           pains
           .
           But
           in
           1653.
           
           
             Field
          
           made
           an
           Impression
           of
           the
           
             Bible
          
           and
           
             Psalms
          
           in
           24o
           ;
           .
           which
           for
           the
           smalnesse
           to
           carry
           in
           a
           pocket
           ,
           hath
           sold
           very
           much
           :
           but
           it
           is
           so
           egregiously
           and
           wilfully
           false
           printed
           ,
           (
           In
           which
           notwithstanding
           ,
           
             Field
          
           standeth
           peremptorily
           to
           justifie
           himself
           ,
           upon
           this
           nugatory
           pretence
           ;
           that
           because
           a
           society
           of
           Stationers
           having
           a
           great
           stock
           ,
           did
           under-sell
           him
           ,
           he
           could
           not
           bear
           the
           charges
           of
           the
           carefull
           ,
           and
           well
           correcting
           ,
           and
           printing
           his
           books
           )
           That
           if
           these
           Texts
           (
           amongst
           many
           hundreds
           of
           other
           dangerous
           ,
           and
           pernicious
           faults
           and
           errours
           )
           
             viz.
             John
          
           9.21
           .
           (
           wherein
           these
           words
           are
           omitted
           )
           
             Or
             who
             hath
             opened
             his
             eyes
             ,
             we
             know
             not
          
           )
           1
           
             Cor.
          
           6.9
           .
           
             Know
             ye
             not
             that
             the
             unrighteous
             shall
             inherit
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
             ,
          
           Rom.
           6.13
           .
           
             Neither
             yield
             ye
             your
             Members
             as
             instruments
             of
             righteousnesse
             unto
             sin
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           Rom.
           8.3
           .
           Rom.
           9.29
           .
           1
           Cor.
           6.15
           .
           2
           Epist.
           Joh.
           vers.
           5.
           
           Rev.
           22.16
           .
           )
           be
           all
           of
           them
           severally
           compared
           with
           the
           true
           ,
           &
           Authentick
           translation
           ,
           Those
           
             Bibles
          
           are
           worthy
           of
           some
           remarkable
           distinction
           ,
           to
           prevent
           the
           danger
           of
           the
           losse
           of
           many
           poor
           ignorant
           Souls
           ,
           who
           ground
           their
           belief
           upon
           what
           they
           hear
           ,
           or
           read
           ,
           or
           of
           others
           ,
           who
           being
           wickedly
           inclined
           ,
           will
           found
           to
           themselves
           a
           Doctrine
           of
           licentiousnesse
           ,
           by
           avouching
           a
           corrupted
           Text
           ;
           The
           very
           publishing
           whereof
           shall
           bear
           a
           kinde
           of
           allowance
           ,
           and
           approbation
           of
           Authority
           ,
           being
           past
           over
           in
           silence
           .
        
         
           That
           
             Hills
          
           never
           yet
           perfected
           ,
           or
           published
           any
           Impression
           of
           the
           
             Bible
             ;
          
           And
           if
           his
           knowledge
           and
           experience
           in
           the
           Art
           of
           printing
           be
           duely
           inquired
           into
           ,
           he
           may
           perhaps
           upon
           some
           good
           grounds
           ,
           be
           adjudged
           no
           proper
           qualified
           person
           for
           so
           serious
           Employment
           .
        
         
           That
           his
           
             Highnesse
          
           2.
           
           
             July
          
           last
           ,
           upon
           
             Bentley's
          
           Petition
           referred
           his
           right
           ,
           and
           matter
           of
           fact
           to
           be
           examined
           ,
           and
           certified
           by
           several
           honourable
           and
           reverend
           persons
           :
           Who
           10.
           
           
             Sept.
          
           last
           ,
           after
           a
           full
           hearing
           have
           reported
           in
           writing
           their
           opinion
           ,
           As
           to
           his
           right
           to
           the
           printing
           of
           Bibles
           and
           Psalms
           by
           virtue
           of
           the
           said
           
             Acts
          
           of
           Parliament
           :
           But
           (
           through
           the
           great
           affairs
           of
           the
           Common-wealth
           )
           
             Bentley
          
           hath
           had
           no
           opportunity
           to
           present
           it
           to
           his
           
             Highnesse
             .
          
        
         
           And
           whereas
           a
           Bill
           is
           preparing
           to
           be
           offered
           to
           the
           Parliament
           by
           
             Hills
          
           and
           
             Field
             ,
          
           and
           the
           Company
           of
           Stationers
           ,
           to
           have
           (
           according
           to
           their
           pretences
           of
           several
           proprieties
           )
           the
           sole
           power
           of
           printing
           Bibles
           and
           Psalms
           ,
           and
           totally
           to
           exclude
           
             Bentley's
          
           Interest
           so
           provided
           for
           by
           the
           said
           
             Acts
          
           of
           Parliament
           .
           Therefore
           least
           any
           thing
           should
           be
           done
           for
           regulating
           of
           printing
           in
           general
           ,
           or
           particular
           ,
           (
           being
           of
           such
           grand
           concernment
           to
           this
           Common-wealth
           )
           to
           his
           prejudice
           for
           want
           of
           a
           true
           Information
           of
           the
           premises
           ,
           (
           which
           he
           is
           ready
           to
           make
           good
           )
           
             Bentley
          
           doth
           humbly
           present
           this
           to
           your
           Honour
           ;
           And
           prayes
           your
           noble
           favour
           and
           assistance
           ,
           that
           he
           may
           be
           truely
           represented
           to
           his
           Highnesse
           ,
           and
           the
           Parliament
           ,
           and
           receive
           Justice
           ,
           as
           to
           their
           wisdomes
           shall
           seem
           meet
           .
        
      
    
    

