Scintilla, or, A light broken into darke warehouses. With observations vpon the monopolists of seaven severall patents, and two charters. Practiced and performed, by a mistery of some printers, sleeping stationers, and combining book-sellers. Anatomised and layd open in a breviat, in which is only a touch of their forestalling and ingrossing of books in pattents, and raysing them to excessive prises. Left to the consideration of the high and honourable House of Parliament now assembled. Sparke, Michael, d. 1653. 1641 Approx. 21 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2012-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A93604 Wing S4818B Thomason E169_3 ESTC R8350 99873287 99873287 157018

To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.

 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A93604) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 157018) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 30:E169[3]) Scintilla, or, A light broken into darke warehouses. With observations vpon the monopolists of seaven severall patents, and two charters. Practiced and performed, by a mistery of some printers, sleeping stationers, and combining book-sellers. Anatomised and layd open in a breviat, in which is only a touch of their forestalling and ingrossing of books in pattents, and raysing them to excessive prises. Left to the consideration of the high and honourable House of Parliament now assembled. Sparke, Michael, d. 1653. [2], 6 p. [s.n.], At London, Printed, not for profit, but for the common weles good: and no where to be sold, but some where to be given : 1641. Attributed to Michael Sparke. Cf. BM. Reproduction of the original in the British Library.

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.

 eng Booksellers and bookselling -- England -- Early works to 1800. Printing -- England -- Early works to 1800. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2011-07 Assigned for keying and markup 2011-08 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2011-10 Sampled and proofread 2011-10 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2012-05 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

SCINTILLA, OR A LIGHT BROKEN INTO darke Warehouſes.

With OBSERVATIONS VPON THE Monopoliſts of Seaven ſeverall Patents, and Two Charters.

Practiſed and performed, By a Miſtery of ſome Printers, Sleeping Stationers, and Combining Book-ſellers.

Anatomiſed And layd open in a Breviat, in which is only a touch of their foreſtalling and ingroſſing of Books in Pattents, and Rayſing them to exceſſive priſes.

Left to the Conſideration of the High and Honounourable Houſe of Parliament now aſſembled.

Let not one Brothor oppreſſe another.

Doe as you would be done unto.

AT LONDON, Printed, not for profit, but for the Common Weles good: and no where to be ſold, but ſome where to be given. 1641.

The EPISTLE to the Reader.

COurteous Reader (or otherwiſe) if thou lookeſt for the Reaſon of writing this Book, here it is, and ſo Anonimus leaves thee.

Non nobis Solum, nati ſumus, ſed partim patriae.
Bibles for Churches new Tranſlation large Folio.Kings Printers Patent of London.

CHurch Bibles ſold in former times in quires at 1l 10ſ ſold now (in quires) 2l, ſo rayſed in every Book 10ſ. If they Print 3000. of an Impreſſion, raiſed 1500l. In former times theſe were bought in quires at 1l 5ſ.

Church Bibles of a thinner ſort have been ſold at 1l in quires: Partners have bought them cheaper, buying a quantity, and thoſe Partners ſold them ſeverally at 17ſ 6d, not ſtocking or combining as now they doe, theſe Bibles were excellent for poore Pariſhes.

Large Folio Bibles of a Roman Print, with the Notes, ſold in former times in quires at 12ſ 6d: The ſame ſort now without the Notes be rayſed 7ſ 6d in a Book: 1500. of an Impreſſion ſo rayſed in every Book, amounts to 562l 10ſ.

Large Folio Engliſh Letter with Notes, be ſold at 13ſ 4d in quires. And ſmall Folio Engliſh, ſold 12ſ in quires: none of this ſort Printed now. Cambridge Bibles Folio of long primer letter, vide Cambridge Charter.

In the yeare 1629, the want of theſe ſorts of Folio Bibles cauſed Cambridge Printers to print it, and they ſold it at 10ſ in quires: upon which the then Kings Printers ſet ſix Printing-houſes at worke, and on an inſtant Printed one Folio Bible in the ſame manner, and ſold with it 500.This Folio would not have bin ſold under 12 or 14 ſh. if it had not bin that Cambridge had Printed it: but, now they ſold it at 5 ſh, which would have bin 12 ſh at leaſt, and the 4to at 5 ſh, which was before 9 ſh. Scot • Printers. Quarto Roman Bibles, and 500. Quarto Engliſh, at 5ſ a Book, to overthrow the Cambridge Printing, and ſo to keep all in their own hands. It were well if they would alwayes ſell at this price.

In former times our Kings Printers did agree with Mr. Andrew Hart, and after with Mr. John Hart Book-ſellers of Edenburg to ſerve them London Bibles at lower rates then they ſold them at here: ſo that they would not Print whereby they might keep all the priviledges to themſelves, ſince which Robert Young and Miles Fleſher, moſt cunningly combined with the Kings Printers here, and ſo ſunke the Printing-houſe there, ſo that now Scotland is deſtitute; and by this means Books are rayſed to greater rates here, and there likewiſe.

The Kings Printers and others here being intereſſed in the Iriſh ſtock, Ireland Patent, ſold Mr. William Bladon of Dublin their Stock there, and Pattent, and have ſo Bound him, as he ſhall not Print but what they liſt of their priviledge, ſo that Scotland and Ireland muſt grind at their Mill. Obſerve in what a caſe theſe be: for Bibles, eſpecially if the laſt Decree in Star-chamber had held, concerning Printing: for all muſt be bought at one place to ſerve three Kingdomes.

Cambridge Bible Folio.

Cambridge Large Folio Bible Roman,It is judged that the price Raiſed in theſe three ſorts, is not leſſe in the totall ſum then 200 li. And the Monopoliſts have compounded with them that they ſhall print no more Bibles, but for the Monopoliſts. of the beſt paper, ſold at 1l 10ſ, in quires, or cheaper, they rayſed it 10ſ on a Book, and ſold it at 2l.

Cambridge Medyum Folio Bible Roman, ſold at, or cheaper then 1l 2ſ 6d in quires; the Monopoliſts raiſe 7ſ, 6d and ſell it at 1l 10ſ.

Cambridge thinne paper Folio Roman, ſold at, or cheaper then 16ſ in quires; the Monopoliſts raiſed it 4ſ, and ſo ſell it at 1l in quires.

See the errors cortected in the Cambridge Bibles, which were Printed in the London.

Cambridge Quarto Roman Letter Bibles, with Pſalms, ſold at 7ſ. They have raiſed on a Book 3ſ, and ſo ſell it with Pſalmes at 10ſ in quires, which if the Monopoliſts ſhould buy but a 1000. it would be raiſed 150l.

Cambridge Quarto Engliſh Letter, with Pſalmes ſold in quires at 6ſ. rayſed on a Book 2ſ 4d. now the Monopoliſts ſell it at 8ſ 4d: if 3000 be ingroſſed by them, it would raiſe 350l.

Obſerve, they have not only bought in al thoſe Bibles with Pſalmes, Oxford Charter, and Grammers, and Schoole Books, but have for everagreed for what ſhalbe printed both there and at Oxford Books Priviledge: and where they were there Printed bravely, true, and in good paper, now look for other.

London Bibles in Quarto.

London Bible Quarto Engliſh Letter, with the Notes and Concordance of the old Tranſlation in times paſt was ſold at 7 ſh. in quires, and then it was 139. ſheets, and now but 116. and no Notes, and ſold at 9. ſh. 2d with Concordance: 3000. rayſed makes 350l.

London Quarto Roman with Notes, ſold in times paſt at 7ſ. The Quarto Roman now with no Notes ſold at 10. ſh. in quires, ſo rayſed in an Impreſſion of 3000 500l.

There hath been at leaſt 12000. of theſe Bibles Quarto with Notes Printed in Holland, and ſold very reaſonable: and many brought from thence hither, and they have been ſeiſed by the Kings Printers, and the parties that Imported them, not only loſt them, but were put in* Purgatory, The High-Commiſſion. and there glad to loſe their Bibles and all coſt to get off; and then the Monopoliſts ſold them again, and ſo kept al others in awe.

Great pitty our Printing ſhould be forced to be carryed to Strangers, in my judgement:I have known divers puniſhed for ſelling Bibles, but none for Maſſe Books better to have our own Nation ſet at work. More puniſhment for ſelling a 4to Bible with Notes, then a 100. Maſſe Books in the High Commiſſion.

In former times Bibles in Octavo ſold at 3. ſh. 4d in quires, London Octavo Bibles. are now ſold at 4. ſh. in quires, though then 9. ſheets more then now. There have been 10000. printed in a year, which might have been afforded at 3 ſh. a Book, ſo that there might have been ſaved to the Subject in an Impreſſion 500l.

Bibles 8to of a Large paper, London Bibles of a little Larger paper. not 3d in a Book more then the other, and ſold at 6. ſh. 2d in quires: are rayſed 2. ſh. 2d in a Book, which makes in that Impreſſion of 6000. the ſumme of 650.

Scottiſh Bibles,

Printed of excellent paper and print at Edenburg, Scots Bibles Octavo, Scots Patent 3 London. ſold in London 26. to the quartern, and London Bibles but 25. to the quartern at our rates, notwithſtanding the charg and hazard of importation. London Bible in 12 ſold at 4. ſh. in quires, ſtands not them in 1. ſh. 8d: there may be ſaved to the Subject in an Impreſſion 500l, and they great gainers.

Scottiſh Bible 12. ſold 26 other quartern, better paper,Scots Bible Edenburg. and better print then thoſe here: now al Scots printing of Bibles is taken-away by Young and Fletcher, two main proj • ctors. Holland vide 1639.

Holland Bible in 12 ſold at 2. ſh. in quires, better then the London one of 1639 ſold at 4 ſh. pitty the manufactory ſhould be carryed thither by deare ſelling here.

Latin Bibles 12 of Amſterdam, Lattin Bibles. printed well, and ſold at 2 ſh in quires, and good paper. London Latin Bible 12 printed with a popiſh Index, ſold at 4 ſh. in quires, and not under.

Obſerve London Stationers that bought of the Lattin Holland Bibles, puniſhed in the High Commiſſion for buying Lattin Bibles from Holland, a yeare before ever any were printed in London; obſerve what a but of Sack might doe.

London Teſtament octavo, ſold at 10d in quires, raiſed to 1 ſh. which 2d upon a Bock makes in 12000 impreſſion a year 100l.

Scots Teſtament at Edenburg, ſold here in London at 10d better paper and print than ours here.

London Teſtaments in 12, at 7d rayſed 3d in a Book, ſold now at 10d, make in 6000. the over priſe, rated 75l.

Cambridge Teſtament 24. were ſold at 6d in quires. London Teſt. 24 ſold at 8d a Book, 2d a Book rayſed in 4000, is 30l.

London Common prayers in 24. raiſed ob upon a Book 4000 of them is 8l 6ſh 8d.

London Common prayer Books in folio, ſold at 3ſh in quires, rayſed 1 ſh. on a Book, now ſold at 4ſh. comes to in 3000 an Impreſſion 150l.

Common prayers 4to ſold at 1 ſh 6d a Book: rayſed 6d on a Book, ſold at 2 ſh 3000. the Impreſſion is rayſed 57l.

Common prayers for quarto Bibles rayſed 2d on a Book.

Common prayers in 16, raiſed 1d on a Book, comes to 12 li 10 ſh 3000 of the Impreſſion.

Obſerve I pray now,Law Books. Law Pattent. I come to the Law Books, I had need to break two lights into the Warehouſe: but I perceive then this would riſe too bigge. I will only nominate 3 Books in 3 ſeverall Volumes, ſo by the 3 you may conceive the reſt.

The Monopoliſt have not only gotten all the Goſpel, Law Books. but alſo the Law as followes.

Poltons Statutes ſold at 1l 10 ſh in quires,Folio, in former times, now rayſed to 6 ſh 8d a Book; the Impreſſion of 1500 ſo rayſed by the Monopoliſt amounts to 500 li.

Edward the 4th Quarto, ſold at 13 ſh 4d, now rayſed 8 ſh in a Book, comes to in a 1000 Books to 400 li.

Compleat Iuſtice ſold at 2 ſh 2d a Book,Octavo, I will ſell every Impreſſion cheaper by a 100 li. And here have they ingroſſed the Scoole Books Patent.

Grammer of Oxford and Cambridge ſold at 5d a Booke:Schoole Books Patent 5, Lylies Grammer but theſe the Monopoliſts buy in, and ſell them, and theirs at 8d a Book, qs which in an yearely Impreſſion of 20000 is rayſed 250 li.

Camdens Greek Grammer ſold at 8 d. a Book in quires alwayes, Camden Greek Grammer, now ſold at 1 ſh. 2 d. Rayſed 6d on a Book. The ſame Printed in France, is ſold here at 4d ob. a Book, and ſo Rayſed in 3000 to the ſumme of 75 li.

Accedence, Accedence, this Book by chance a yeare a goe broke looſe from the Stake of the Monopoliſt, and was ſold at ſix ſhillings in the pound cheaper then they ſell them: but they have by Combination tyed him to the Stake again: for obſerve, if the old Partners cannot agree together, the Young will, though never ſo Indirect.

The Monopoliſt keep all others from Printing Concorances by their Pattent,Concordance Pattent, 6, and theſe being Printed in another Volume beyond Sea, and brought over, and ſold at half their priſe, they ſeiſe and take them from others, and ſel them again themſelves, although theirs be not to be had here: So have they likewiſe ſeiſed other Books Printed beyond the Seas, when not any Printed here were to be had.

But a touch of this: for it is too tart,Geneology pattent, 7, and I verily beleeve picks the Subjects pockets, that eats brown bread to fill the ſleeping Stationers belly with Veniſon and Sacke, and robs the Common-wealth in too ſtill away; and when the Sellers by Retale get not a ob: theſe Monopoliſts get a ſhilling: for the Octavo Geneologie, and the twelve, of every 4li. they make 15li. and for the 12. what the Retalers give 4li. for, they will not of they were to be returned again give fix ſhillings for it.

I hope when the Honourable Aſſembly of Parliament ſees this, as I ſhall be ready to make proof of all; they will put an end to theſe crying grievances, and help the calamities of the poore pinſhed Subjects.

Here I could open another window, but I ſee many poore ſtand within to keep it ſhut, and I will not adde miſery to their affliction.

Laſtly, ſome few obſervations ſhall ſerve for the Errata, which the Honourable Houſe of Parliament may correct in the Society of Stationers, by taking order that the Statute of 25 H. 8. c. 15. concerning the priſes of Bookes may be duly exerciſed; that there may be at leaſt 20 or 24 Aſſiſtants to the Company, and none of thoſe to be above twice Maſter, for now ſ • x or 8 of the Eldeſt Combining, carry all to their own mark, and ay me alwayes at their own end: and that if they wil not Print ſuch Coppies as are there entred to the Company, it may and ſhallbe free for any to imprint or Import them, untill ſuch times they Print them here to furniſh the Kingdome.

This may ſerve in part for ſhould I make a whole Errata it would be farre bigger then this Breviat, and here look but into a window of the Monopoliſts Law-Warehouſe: and there behold a free diſcovery as here followes.

Bought of the Law Printers Bookes at the partners priſes Stocked. Ian. 1639 1879. Tables to Cookes Littleton at • 11 d. a Book fol. 2 s. 4d.

October 1630.

1500 Eliments of the Law at 12ſh 6d. per reame which is 7 or 8d. a Book Stocked at 1 ſh 6d. Iuly 1631. 1500 Engliſh Lawers at 9 d. a Book, Stocked at 2 ſh Octoher 1630. 1334 Daltons Iuſtice, at 4 ſh. a Booke Stocked at 6 ſh. 25 to the quartern. 1200. Statuts at 22 ſh. Stock 36 ſh. 8 d. 26 to the quarter. 1200 Cookes Tables to reports, 2 ſh. 2 d. a Booke, Stocked at 4 ſh. 25 to the quartern. 1200 Cooks 11th Report at 1 ſh. 10 d. a Booke, Stocked at 5 ſh. 25 to the quartern. 1200 Weſt 1 part at 2 ſh. 2 d. a Booke, Stock 3 ſh 6 d. 26 to the quarter. 700. Woemans Lawer at 22 d. a Booke, Stock at 3 ſh. 26 to the quarter. 600. Kellowayes at 3 ſh 6 d. a Booke, Stock at 7 ſh. 6 d. 26 to the quarter, 1200 Littleton fol, at 10 ſh. a Booke, Stock, at 15 ſh. 6 d. 26 to the quarter. 600. Regeſters at 6 ſh. 8 d. a Booke, Stock at 15 26 to the quarter. 600 Cooks 2 d report Stocked at 4 ſh. 600 3 d. report at 4 ſh. 600 4th report at 5 ſh. bought at 1 ſh. 8 d. a Booke, 600 Natura Brevium 80 at 1 ſh. 8 d, S • ock't at 3 ſh. 8 d. 26 to the quarter. Aprill 1637. 1700 Courte at 12 ſh. 6 d. a Reame, Stock at 3 d. 26 to the quarter. 1600 Tearmes of the Law, at 2 ſh. a Booke, Stock at 3 ſh. 8 d. 26 to the quarter. 700 Finches Lawe 80 at 1 ſh a Booke, Stock at 2 ſh. 6 d. 26 to the quarter. 1000 Preſidents 80 at 6 d. a Book, Stock at 10 d. 26 to the quarter. 600 Cooks 1 Report at 2 ſh. 6 d. a Booke, Stock at 6 ſh. 2 d. 26 to the quarter. 2000 Compleat luſtice, 80 at 1 ſh. 3 d. a Booke Stock at 2 ſh. 2 d. 26 to the quarter. 500 Longe Quinto at 1 ſh. Stock't at 6 ſh. 1000 Doctor and Studient 13 ſh. 4 d. a Reame be 6 d. a Booke Stock 1 ſh. But I know

Obſequium amicos, Veritas odium parit. FINIS.