534
HISTORY OF PRINTING.
matter it is to render you a publi^ue serrice. To present your majesty with a fiesh instance : — I was lately engaged as a commissioner, in a publiqne debate on the behalf of the loyal ofScers; and for no other crime, or provocation, but for asserting the profess'd desires of the whole party; a certain gentleman took such a heat, and confidence, as openly to charge me with writing against your majesty; affirming widial, that your majesty had accused me for it to the parliament, and that my lord chancellor would justifie it : since which time, it appears, not only that hee himself was the first person that by a private tale had endeavoured to exas* aerate my lord chancellor against mee; but that, being caUed to account by my lord's order, for 60 great, and so injurious a boldness, both to- wards your majesty, and his lordship, he desired God to renounce him, if ever he i^>ake the words, (although delivered in the face of a full com- mittee.) If I were impudent enough to trouble your majesty with a personal character, his familiar discourses, both concerning your sacred majesty and the honourable house of commons, would afibrd matter for it; but let God witness for me, that I have no passion, but for your m^esties service, and for the general good of your loyal subjects; both which interests I do numbly conceive to be very much concem'd in some provision, that men may not suffer in their reputations for doing their duties; and that those persons who have chearfully and honourably passed through the utmost extremities of a long and barbarous warr, out of a seoce of loyalty to your royal father, may not now at last be stung to death by the tongues of tale-beareis,and slan- derers for being faithful to your majesty. Which is the case of many, more considerable than myself, and among the rest in particular of Your Majesties Most loyal and obedient subject,
ROOES L'EsTBANOE.
To the Right Honourable the Lords and to the Honourable the Commoni astembled in Parlia- ment.
Having been lately employed to draw up some proposals touching the regulation of the press, and to search for certain seditions books and papers : I think it agreeable both to my reason and duty that I dedicate to your honours some acoompt of my proceeding; especially in this juncture, when both the danger and the remedv are the subject of your present care. The drift and argument of this little treatise is express'd in the title. One particular only was forgotten in the body of the discourse, which I must now crave leave to insert in my dedication; (i. e.) an additional expedient for Uie relief of necessi- tous and supernumerary printers; many of which would be well enough content to quit the trade, and betake themselves to other employ- ments, upon condition to be reimburst for their presses, letter, and printing materials : and it is
computed that £4000, or tfaereaboats, woaU buy off their stock; for the raising of wiiici sum, and so to be employ'd, there oocozs (hit expedient.
It is credibly reported, that there have beta printed at least ten or twelve impressioiu of t collection entituled, The First, Second, aad Third, Volume of FarewelSermom : (with thr figures of the gected ministers) which is a* other, than an arraignment of the law, and a charge of persecution against the kin^ liod his parliament.
Upon a supporition of twelve impreaaicnM;, (at a thousand a piece, which is the lowest) ^ clear profit, Ixside the diarm of paper and printiug, comes to j£3300, which sum, beiaf impos'd as a fine upon their heads for whom tht books were printea, will defray a conaiderabk part of the aforesaid charge, and what is want- mg may be abundantly made up by the liki course upon the publishers of other seditkm pamphlets, keeping the same proportion betwixt the profit and the punishment.
Of the FarewH-Sermani, I seiz'd the other day in quires, to the quantity of betwixt twentr and thirty ream of paper: and I discoTcced likewise the supposea author of anotheriMai- phlet, entituled [A Short Survew of the GmJ Cote of the Minietry, ^.] Wherein is main. tain'd, in opposition to the declarations reqoiied by the Act of Uniformity, that in some cases it may be lawful to take arms against the king. — To take arms by the king^s authori^ againM his person, or those commissioned by hun. And that the obligation of the covenant is a knot cut by the sword of authority, whilst it cannot be loosed by religious reason. Concerning whx^ and many other desperate libels, if your honomi shall think fit to descend into any particular en- quiry, it may be made appear, that whereas dm one of twenty is now taken, scarce one of a hon- dred could scape, if there were not connivcnee (at least, if not corruption) joyn'd to the aaft and wariness of the faction.
How the world will understand this freedone and confidence in a private person, I do not much concern my self; (provided that I oSieod not authority) but the question to me seent short and easy, Whether it be lawful, or not, for any man tnat sees his countrey in danger, to err out Treason? And nothing else hath extoited this singpularity of practice and address from
Your honours'
Most dutiful servant,
ROOER L'ESTRAMCK.
Coniiderationt and Propotalt in Order to iJu Regulations of the Prea.
I think no man denyes the necessity of sap- pressing licentious and unlawful pamphlets, aM of regujating the press; but in what maaacr and by what means this may be effected, thu^ the qoestion. The two main-points are priatiiif and publishing.
