s against piratical
publishers, seldom in expectation of monetary profit. Listen, for
example, to Sir Thomas Browne's excuse for publishing "Religio
Medici" (1643):

Had not almost every man suffered by the press or were not the
tyranny thereof become universal, I had not wanted reason for
complaint: but in times wherein I have lived to behold the
highest perversion of that excellent invention, the name of his
Majesty defamed, the honour of Parliament depraved, the
writings of both depravedly, anticipatively, counterfeitly
imprinted; complaints may seem ridiculous in private persons;
and men of my condition may be as incapable of affronts, as
hopeless of their reparations. And truly had not the duty I owe
unto the importunity of friends, and the allegiance I must ever
acknowledge unto truth, prevailed with me; the inactivity of
my disposition might have made these sufferings continual,
and time that brings other things to light, should have
satisfied me in the remedy of its oblivion. But because things
evidently false are not only printed, but many things of truth
most falsely set forth, in this latter I could not but think
myself engaged. For though we have no power to redress the
former, yet in the other, the reparation being within our
selves, I have at present represented unto the world a full and
intended copy of that piece, which was most imperfectly and
surreptitiously published before.

This I confess, about seven years past, with some others of
affinity thereto, for my private exercise and satisfaction, I
had at leisurable hours composed; which being communicated
unto one, it became common unto many, and was by transcription
successively corrupted, untill it arrived in a most depraved
copy at the press ... [2]

V

The men of the 18th century maintained the old tradition of
literary exclusiveness, but in a somewhat different way and more
consciously.

I find, Gentlemen, when you read with me in private, that nine
out of ten of you dislike the 18th century and all its literary
works. As for the Women students, they one and all abominate it.
You do not, I regret to say, provide me with reasons much more
philosophical than the epigrammatist's for disliking Doctor Fell.
May one whose time of life excuses perhaps a detachment from
passion attempt to provide you with one? If so, first listen to
this from Mr and Mrs Hammond's book "The Village Labourer,"