ADDENDUM.
 

THE   CONTROVERSY,   &c.  OE   1643-5.
 

HE following, chiefly from printed originals in the British Museum,
were set in type with a view to being incorporated in the Intro¬
duction : but not being required, they are inserted here with
some additions, as throwing great light on the history of the
Company about 1643-5.

[January 1643]

To the honourable House of Commons in this present Parliament assembled.

The humble Petition of the Company of Stationers of the City of London.

HUMBLYSHEWETH^

Hat the Comittee for Printing appointed by this Honourable House_, was
pleased to direct the Printing of a new Impression of the Bible, of the last
Translation, \_i. e. the present authorized version ofXQll] with Notes in the
Margent, for the better exposition of hard places, and cleerer under-
standiDg of the Scriptures.

That diverse E-everend and Learned Divines of this Kingdome, were by
Sir Edward Dearing (then in the Chaire of the said Committee) ap¬
pointed for the makiug of the said Notes, and have now very neare per¬
fected the same for the Presse;
Yet so it is, may it please this Honourable House, that a very few Persons of the
said Company, but Eleven in number, (whereas the Company consisteth of many
hundred Families) labouring to acquier the Printing and profit thereof to themselves,
have privately gained some promise from some of the said Divines, intending to exclude
all others of the Company, from having any benefit thereby.

And your Petitioners doe further shew, that they have not any common Stock
(wherewith to pay the Subsidies charged upon their said Company by Parliament; nor
to provide Armes or Corne, for the safety and provision of this City as they are assessed ;
neither to maintaine their owne Poore, which are very many: and hath cost them
Communihus Annis, above 200^^ per Annum, neare upon 40 Yeares last past) excepting
the benefit of Printing a few small Bookes, which now also by means of irregular
Printings they are almost quite deprived of: And that all the Free-hold they have,
belonging to their Corporation, together with their Common Seale, lies now ingaged for
1500^^ which was borrowed at Interest, for the use and service of this present
Parliament.

And their poverty is yet the greater, in that they have not so much as a Common
Hall of their owne to assemble in; And that these Eleven men, who now labour to gaine
to themselves the sole Printing of this Bible and Notes ; are now, and have bin, (many
of them) Pattentees, and Monopolizers of Printing the most vendable Bookes of worth
and quantity now in use ; To the great detriment of the Kingdome, and to the mine and
destruction of this poore Company.

I. 583