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

These periodicals, copies of which are preserved in the British Museum Library, were printed and published by Nathaniel Thompson and William Badcock, and a prosecution was thereupon instituted against them. They were tried and found guilty, and a fine of £3 6s. 8d. set on each of them. The following is a copy of the information:—

Memorandum quod Creswell Levinz miles attornatus domini regis nunc generalis qui pro eodem domino rege in hac parte sequitur in propria persona sua venit hic in curiam dicti domini regis coram ipso rege apud Westmonasterium, die Mercurii proximo post quindenam Paschæ isto eodem termino, et pro eodem domino rege dat curiam hic intelligi et informari, quod Nathaniel Thompson de parochia Sancti Dunstani in occidente Londoniæ Printer, et Willielmus Badcocke de parochia Sanctæ Bridgettæ alias Brides Londoniæ Wiredrawer, machinantes et malitiose intendentes agitare et procurare seditionem, litem, et discordiam inter diversos fideles subditos dicti domini regis nunc infra hoc regnum Angliæ, et præcipue inter gubernatores, inhabitantes, et parochianos parochiæ Sanctæ Bridgettæ alias Brides Londoniæ, et gubernationem, necnon gubernatores ejusdem parochiæ in contemptum, scandalum et infamiam cum prædictis parochianis prædictæ parochiæ Sanctæ Bridgettæ alias Brides inducere et inferre, decimo sexto die Aprilis, anno regni dicti domini regis nunc tricesimo secundo, apud parochiam Sancti Dunstani in occidente in warda de Farringdon extra Londoniam, quoddam odiosum, scandalosum, et diffamatorium libellum, intitulatum The True Domestic Intelligence or News both from City and Country causaverunt, et uter eorum causavit imprimi, publicari, et dispergi in, per, et trans totam civitatem Londoniæ, et diversos alios comitatus et locos infra hoc regnum Angliæ, in quoquidem libello (inter alia) continetur quædam falsa, ficta, seditiosa, et scandalosa materia prout sequitur in hiis Anglicanis verbis, videlicet, Several persons, Parishioners of St. Bride's, London, are going about in that Parish to get Subscriptions for destroying the Antient Annual Elective Vestry in that Parish, and to set up instead thereof a Rump Vestry for life; wherefore all the said Parishioners that are Rumpishly affected, may first consider the Act of Parliament, and his Majesties late Proclamation about tumultuous and factious Petitions for alteration of established Lawes and Customs, which will direct in this case. And note, the different effect of the said Vestries is this, That if any person of the Annual Elective Vestry do unlawfully, or against the good of the Parish, he may be turned out at the next Election, but the Rump Vestry are above that Interruption. Et postea iidem Nathaniel et Willielmus ulterius machinantes et malitiose intendentes defamare et scandalizare prædictos gubernatores prædictæ parochiæ Sanctæ Bridgettæ alias Brides et gubernationem ejusdem parochiæ et seminare litem et discordiam inter prædictos gubernatores et parochianos ejusdem parochiæ Sanctæ Bridgettæ et eosdem in contemptum et ignominiam inferre et ducere postea scilicet vicesimo die Aprilis, anno regni dicti domini regis tricesimo secundo supradicto, apud parochiam Sancti Dunstani in occidente prædictam, in warda de Farringdon extra Londoniam prædicta, quoddam alium libellum scandalosum diffamatorium intitulatum The True Domestic Intelligence or News both from City and Country similiter causaverunt, et quilibet eorum causavit imprimi, publicari, et dispergi, in, per, et trans totam civitatem Londoniæ, et diversos alios comitatus et locos infra hoc regnum Angliæ, in quoquidem libello ultimo mencionato (inter alia) continetur hæc alia falsa, ficta, seditiosa, et scandalosa materia, prout sequitur in hiis aliis Anglicanis verbis et figuris sequentibus videlicet The great point now depending in St Bride's Parish, London, To advise how some persons may spend and waste the parish money and goods at pleasure, and how to secure the Officers from giving an honest account, and how some may lord it, and keep the rest of the parishioners in awe and incline them to give treats to be equally and lawfully dealt with. The opinion is summ'd up in short thus, That the crafty guilty ones should wheedle in the simple ones, about the eighth part of the Parishioners that do pay to the poor, and name themselves the majority, and subscribe their names for getting 15 or 20 persons composed into a Rump Vestry for life; And if 3 or 4 dissenting persons from the Church joyn with the rest 7 or 800, call them all such; and it will operate effectually, as 'tis conceived, or else be sure at the choice of Vestrymen to wheedle, wrangle, evade, shuffle, and hector the people, if possible, into a belief, that they are not themselves, and that a Negative Vote is senseless, and was never used in a free choice, but that 10 hands in the affirmative shall carry it against 2 or 300 that would be of the negative, else at the last shift allow onely the majority to be guess'd at without the distinction by Pole or Negative Vote with Hands. Note the Authority of St. Bride's Annual Elective Vestry is chiefly this, to honestly and prudently manage the Parish Moneys, Goods, Lands, and Tenements, and prevent the mis-applying, imbezeling, or wasting any of the same. Now, whether the antient Annual Elective Vestry, or an innovated select Rump Vestry for life, are the fittest for that purpose, it is referred to any indifferent honest man to judge. In magnum scandalum et contemptum dicti domini regis, et magnum nocumentum ignominiam, litem, et discordiam prædictorum gubernatorum ac parochianorum, et inhabitantium parochiæ Sanctæ Bridgettæ, alias Bride's, prædictæ, in malum exemplum omnium aliorum in tali casu delinquentium, et contra pacem dicti domini regis nunc, coronam et dignitatem suas.[217]

257.

Directions to a Painter. 1680.

On February 20th, 1680, a Warrant was issued by His Majesty in Council, to the Stationers' Company, for the seizing of this "scandalous and dangerous pamphlet," which was accordingly done, and about 1,200 copies were found, and burnt, by His Majesty's Order, at Whitehall-gate.

258.

The Observator in Question and Answer, No. 27, Saturday, June 25, 1681.

This Periodical, a copy of which is preserved in the British Museum Library, was printed and published by Joan Broome, and a prosecution was therefore instituted against her. The indictment is as follows:—

Londonia, Juratores pro domino rege super sacramentum suum præsentant quod Johanna Broome, nuper de parochia Sancti Gregorii in warda de Castlebaynard Londoniæ prædicta vidua, Deum præ oculis suis non habens, sed instigatione diabolica mota et seducta, et falso, et malitiose machinans et intendens pacem et communem tranquillitatem hujus regni Angliæ perturbare, ac diversas dissensiones et differentias inter diversos ligeos et subditos dicti domini regis Religionis Protestantis suscitare et movere et proditorie conspirationes Papistarum contra dictum dominum regem nunc supprimere, necnon machinans et contrivans discordiam inter dictum dominum regem et ligeos et subditos suos infra hoc regnum Angliæ suscitare et movere, et dictum dominum regem in displicentiam et suspicionem erga Communes hujus regni Angliæ nuper in Parliamento assemblatos excitare, vicesimo quinto die Junii anno regni domini nostri Caroli Secundi Dei gratia Angliæ, Scotiæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ regis, Fidei Defensoris &c. In tricesimo tertio et diversis aliis diebus et vicibus tunc antea vi et armis, &c., apud Londoniam videlicet in parochia et warda prædictis falso, nequiter, libellose, et malitiose impressit et publicavit, et imprimi et publicari causavit quendam fictum falsum et scandalosum libellum de et concernentem præfatos ligeos et subditos, necnon Communes hujus regni Angliæ nuper in Parliamento assemblatos, intitulatum The Observator in Question and Answer devisatum scriptum et compositum per quosdam homines juratoribus prædictis adhuc ignotos, in quoquidem libello continentur hæc ficta, falsa, libellosa, et scandalosa verba sequentia: Q. Why should not we Encounter those addresses now with Petitions? A. I'le dictate a petition to ye, If you'le write it; but do it faithfully, then and without Interruption; (and upon my Soul) I'le speak the sense of the Party as near as I can. Q. I'le be Just to ye: And now begin when you will, I'm ready for you. A. Your Majestse's most humble and obedient Subjects, having suffer'd many Disappointments, by reason both of Short and of Long Parliaments, and the late executing of the Law, against Dissenters: The Pretences of Tyranny and Popery being grown Stale; the Popish Plot drawn almost to the Dregs, and the Eyes of the People so far open'd, that they begin to see their Friends from their Enemies; to the Disheartening of All True Protestants, and the Encouraging of the sons of the Church, We your Majestie's Dissenting Subjects, being thereby brought unto so low a state, That without a timely Relief, we the Godly People of the Land must Inevitably perish; May it please your Majesty to grant the Right of Calling and Dissolving Parliaments, Entring into Associations, Leagues and Covenants; The Power of the Militia; War and Peace; Life and Death; The Authority of Enacting, suspending, and Repealing Laws, to be in your Liege People, the Commons of England, And these things being granted, (whereof your Petitioners stand in Great need) If your Majesty wants either Men, or Moneys for the support of your Royall Dignity and Government, your Majesty shall see what we your Loyall Petitioners will do for you. Q. What a Rogue are you to make me write such a Petition? A. And what a Fool were you to expect others? for all the Rest is Cant and Gibbrish, But this is English. Ad magnam disturbationem pacis dicti domini regis, in malum exemplum omnium aliorum in consimili casu delinquentium, ac contra pacem dicti domini regis nunc coronam et dignitatem suas &c.[218]

The result of the prosecution does not appear.