Index Expurgatorius Anglicanus / Or, a descriptive catalogue of the principal books printed or published in England, which have been suppressed, or burnt by the common hangman, or censured, or for which the authors, printers, or publishers have been prosecuted

by W. H. Hart

On January 31st, 1650/51, the House of Commons referred these books to the Committee of plundered ministers, to state the exceptions against them and to report the same to the House; and also ordered that their author, Mr. John Fry, a member of Parliament, should attend the House. On February 20th following, the Committee made their report to the House, in which are contained particulars of the various blasphemous and irreligious opinions contained in these books, and two days afterwards the House of Commons ordered that both the books should be burnt by the Common Hangman.[156]

196.

A single eye all Light no Darkness; or Light and Darkness One: In which you have it purely discussed, 1. The Original of Darkness. 2. What Darkness is. 3. Why it is called Darkness. As also what God is Within, and what Without; how he is said to be One, yet Two; when Two and not One, yet then One, and not Two. Likewise a word from the Lord touching the onely Resurrection of the Body, in, from, and to the Lord. With a certain parcel of Quæries to be answered from Heaven or Hell. This Revealed in L. C., one of the Universality. Imprinted at London, in the yeer that the Powers of Heaven and Earth was, is, and shall be shaken, yea damned, till they be no more for ever.

On June 21st, 1650, the House of Commons ordered that search should be made for the author, printer, and publisher of this pamphlet, and on the 27th September following, the confession of Laurence Clarkson "touching the making and publishing of this impious and blasphemous book" was reported to the House; and it was resolved that Clarkson should be forthwith sent to the House of Correction for one month, and from that time "to be banished out of the Commonwealth and the territories thereof, and not to return upon pain of death."

The book itself was to be burnt by the Common Hangman in the New Palace at Westminster, and upon the Exchange.[157] A copy is preserved in the British Museum Library. It is in quarto, and contains 16 pages.

197.

A petition of Josiah Prymat. 1651.

A folio broadside, of which the following is a copy:—

"To the Supream Authority of this Nation, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England.