Chapter VI: Preface (3)

_Red_ is the chief Colour that is used with _Black_ in Book-Printing: of _Reds_ there are two sorts in general use, _viz._ _Vermillion_ and _Red-Lead_; _Vermillion_ is the deepest and purest Red, and always used to Books of Price. _Red-Lead_ is much more faint and foul, and though more used than _Vermillion_, yet used only to Books of Vulgar Sale and Low price, as Almanacks, _&c._

Yet may other Colours also be used to Print withal; yea, any Colours that are used in Oyl-Painting, as _Lake_ and _Russet_, which are _Reds_ deeper than _Vermillion_; _Virditur Indico_ and _Bice_ for Blews; _Orpment_, _Pinck_, _Yellow Oaker_, for Yellow: _Virdigreace_, and Green _Virditur_, for Greens: or what other Colours may be fancied.

But all Colours for Printing must be Ground with _Soft Varnish_; especially those Colours that are of themselves Dryers; as _Red-Lead_, _Vermillion_, _Orpment_, _Verdigrease_; For should they be Ground with _Hard Varnish_ the Colour’d _Inck_ would dry and harden so quick and fast upon the _Form_, that it would soon be choaked up, and consequently want _Washing_ e’re the _Form_ be _Wrought off_; which would be very troublesome to the _Press-man_, because he must expect to have all his _Underlays_ to new fit to their places: And besides, it will so Dry and Harden upon the _Balls_, that the Grain of the _Leathers_ would quickly tear off, and fill the _Form_ full of _Picks_.

The fittest Colours therefore for Printing, are such as are of the lightest Body and Brightest Colour.

They are to be Ground with a Mullar on a smooth Marble Stone, so long that the Colour becomes impalpable, and is throughly mingled with the _Varnish_.

¶ 18. _Of Printing with Gold and Silver._

This Operation is seldom used but for Printing Names; and therefore rarely drest in a _Form_ to the _Press_; but is usually Printed in the _Stick_: And then the _Compositer Justifies_ his Stick very _Hard_, as well that the _Letters_ fall not out when the _Back_ of the _Stick_ is turned upwards, as that the strength of the _Hard Varnish_ the _Face_ of the _Letter_ is _Beat_ with, pulls not the _Letter_ out of the _Stick_.

Therefore the _Press-man_ makes two little _Balls_, by tying about an Handful of Wooll in new clean Leather, and dabs one of his _Balls_ upon the Hardest _Varnish_ he has, and with the other destributes his _Varnish_ to a convenient Fatness, as he did his _Balls_ in ¶ 12. With one of these _Balls_ he _Beats_ the _Name_; and having his Paper _Wet_, he lays a single _Blanket_ on the _Correcting-stone_, and his Paper on the _Blanket_; and with a _Riglet_ fitted to the _Stick_, he presses the _Letter_ to keep it straight in _Line_: Then places the _Face_ of the _Letter_ exactly flat down upon the Paper, and with the force of both his Hands presses the _Letter_ hard and even down upon the Paper, to receive an Impression: But he takes care not to wriggle the _Letter_ in the _Stick_ backwards or forwards, lest either the _Beard_ Print, or the sides of the _Letter_ be more or less besmeared with the _Varnish_: Because the Gold or Silver will stick to the least Sully that the _Varnish_ may chance to make.

Then cutting his Gold or Silver to a size full big enough to cover the Printed _Name_ or _Matter_, he lays his Gold or Silver on what was Printed, and with a little White Cotton gently presses the Gold or Silver upon the Printed _Matter_, and lets the Paper lye by a while; as well that it may dry, as the _Varnish_ Harden, (which will quickly be) he with his Handkerchief gently wipes over the Printed _Matter_. So shall all the Gold or Silver that was toucht by the _Varnish_, stick to the _Varnish_ on the Paper, and the other will wipe away.

If he lifts to Polish it, he uses a Tooth or the Ivory Handle of a Knife.

¶ 19. _Rules observed; and Remedies to the Inconveniences the_
Press-man _may meet with in a Train of Work_.

1. The _Press-man_ is to make a _Proof_ so oft as occasion requires: If he takes off his _Form_ to make a _Proof_, he _Un-locks_ and lays the _Quoins_, as shall be shewed when I come to _Washing_ of the _Form_: but many _Printing-houses_ have an empty _Press_ stands by to make _Proves_ on.

The _Compositer_ having brought the _Form_ to the _Press_, lays it down on the _Press-stone_, and the _Press-man_ places it even under the _Plattin_, that the _Plattin Bear_ not harder on the hither or farther side of the _Form_: Then he _Pulls_ the _Cards_ upon the _Form_, to press it into a flat position: Then _Beats_ the _Form_ four or five times over, that he may be sure it _Take_: Then he lays the _Proof-sheet_ on the _Form_, so as by his Judgement it shall have an equal _Margin_ on all its opposite sides, and a double _Blanket_ on the _Proof-sheet_; and _Running in_ the _Carriage_, _Pulls_ the _Proof-sheet_: Having _Pull’d_ it, he _Runs-out_ the _Carriage_ again, and takes the _Proof-sheet_ off the _Form_. Then with the _Ly-brush_ dipt in _Ly_, he _Rubs over_ the _Face_ of the _Letter_ three or four times, to Wash off what _Inck_ may remain on it, and carries the _Form_ again to the _Correcting-stone_ and lays it down: And the _Proof_ he carries to the _Compositers Case_.

2. If the _Form_ he Works on be _Small-letter_, or _Old Letter_, he uses _Strong Inck_; and _Beats Lean_: For _Weak Inck_ and _Fat Beating_, will quickly Choak up the _Face_ of the _Letter_. But to fetch off _Hard Inck_ thin _Beat_ on the _Face_ of the _Letter_, he _Pulls Hard_. But if the _Form_ be great _Letter_ or _Black English Letter_, it will allow _Fatter Beating_.

3. He keeps a constant and methodical posture and gesture in every action of _Pulling_ and _Beating_, which in a train of Work becomes habitual to him, and eases his Body, by not running into unnecessary divertions of Postures or Gestures in his Labour, and it eases his mind from much of its care, for the same causes have constantly the same effects. And a _Pull_ of the same strength upon the same _Form_, with the same _Beating_, and with the same _Blankets_, &c. will give the same Colour and Impression.

4. That every two Sheets, if the _Form_ be small _Letter_ (rarely three, unless _Great Letter_) he _Takes Inck_; and so soon as he comes off the _Form_, viz. has _Beat_ it, he falls to _Destributing_ his _Balls_. And that Sheet which he _Takes_ not _Inck_ he steps to the _Heap_ to overlook the Colour, _viz._ whether he has _Taken_ too much or too little _Inck_; and to see if no accidents have befallen the _Form_, viz. that no _Letters_, _Quadrats_ or _Furniture_, &c. Rise, that no _Letters_ are _Batter’d_; That _Bearers_ fail not, _viz._ grow so thin with long _Pulling_ on, as not to perform the office of _Bearers_; that the _Register_ keep good; that no _Pick_ be got into the _Form_, or any other accident that may deface the beauty of the Work, but all this while still keeps his _Balls Destributing_.

If he have taken too much _Inck_, which sometimes may happen (but seldom for want of carelessness) he will not _Take Inck_ again, till he have wrought his _Balls_ to a good and moderate Colour. But if the Sheet already _Pull’d_, be so _Black_ that it may not tolerably pass, he Doubles or Folds it in the middle and lays it cross the _Heap_, that the _Gatherer_ may take or leave it, in case the _Heap_ falls Short. If he foresee the next Sheet will also be too _Black_, he takes a Dry Sheet of Waste Paper between his _Balls_ and _Destributes_ upon that Dry Sheet, that it may take off the _Inck_.

If in doing this, the strength of the _Inck_ have _Pull’d_ the _Paper_ to pieces, so that small rowl’d-up bits may stick upon the _Ball-leathers_, if they be but a few he picks them off with his Fore-finger and Thumb, but if there be many he makes his _Balls_ clean by _Scraping_ them (as I shewed in ¶ 10. of this §) for else these small rowl’d-up bits of Paper will be apt to fill the _Form_ full of _Picks_.

If _Letters_, _Quadrats_ or _Furniture Rise_, he puts them down, the _Letters_ and _Quadrats_ with his _Bodkin_, and the _Furniture_ with his _Hammer_, and _Locks_ the _Quarter_ they are in, a little Harder.

If any _Letters_ are _Batter’d_, he _Unlocks_ the _Quarter_ they are in, and desires the _Compositer_ to put in others in their room.

If _Bearers_ Fail, that is, Squeeze thinner with long _Pulling_ on, he takes those _Bearers_ off, if they are on the _Frisket_, and puts on thicker: But if the _Furniture_, were _Under-laid_ (as I shewed in ¶ 7. of this §) he _Unlocks_ the _Quarter_ they are in, and _Underlays_ them according to his Judgement.

If _Register_ be _Out_, which sometimes happens by the starting of the _Quoins_, he mends it, as I shewed in ¶ 7. of this §.

If a few _Picks_ are got into the _Form_, that is, little bits of Paper, Skin or Film of _Inck_, Grease or other filth which may stick to the _Face_, or get into the hollows of the _Letter_, he with the point of a Needle picks them out: But if many be gotten in, he takes off the _Form_ and Washes it, as shall hereafter be shewed.

And though he every other Sheet overlook the _Heap_ (as was said before) yet his _Companion_ that _Pulls_, by an habitual use casts his eye upon every single Sheet; Yet rarely hinders his riddance by it, for while he is taking the Sheet off the _Tympan_, he gives a quick spreading glance upon it, and lays it down, as was shewed ¶ 15. of this §, unless he perceive somewhat to mend: For then he lets it lye on the _Tympan_ till he has mended what was amiss.

And that he may _Take Inck_ more equally, to keep the _Balls_ of an equal Fatness, he keeps the _Rubb’d out Inck_ on the _Inck-block_ of an equal Fatness; which to do, he with the under-edge of the bottom of the _Brayer_, draws often from the mass of _Inck_ a small, (and as near as he can guess) an equal quantity of _Inck_, viz. about the quantity of a Pea, and with the _Brayer_ Rubs and disperses that _Inck_ of an equal thickness, all over the hither corner of the _Inck-block_. While this is doing he holds the _Balls_ upright on one another in his Left Hand, leaning the Handle of the uppermost _Ball-stock_ against his Breast.

The equal and often _Taking_ of _Inck_ in a small quantity, and constant _Destributing_ of the _Balls_, is the onliest means to keep the _Heap_ throughout of an equal Colour, and to avoid _Beating_ of _Fryers_.

5. If he meets with naughty Sheets in his Work; as torn, or stain’d, _&c._ he Prints them not, but throws them under the _Paper-bench_; and if any crease or wrinkles be in any Sheet, he laying the backs of his four Left Hand fingers upon a smooth place in the Sheet, rubs with the backs of the Nails of his Right Hand Fingers from-wards him upon the wrinckles, till he have smoothened them.

6. And though his constant care is to Lay every particular Sheet even upon the _Heap_, yet it often happens either through _White Pages_ that may come in the _Form_, which because not Printed lye solid on one another, the unequal pressing of one side or end of the Paper, or the unequal Bearing of the _Plattin_ on one side or end of the _Form_; I say it often happens by these accidents, that the _Heap_, as it grows higher is on one part of the Sheet raised above, and on another part sunk below an Horizontal level: It is raised higher on that side or end of the _Heap_ most prest in the _Tympan_, and by consequence makes the Paper there more Huffie; Because deep pressure of the _Letter_ into the Paper below the common level of the Sheet bears the Paper off from the _Heap_, on the underside the Sheet; and the greater the number of Sheets are thus Printed off and laid on the _Heap_, the more that side or end of the _Heap_ shall Rise: And by the Rule of Contraries, when _White Pages_ come in the _Form_, the greater number of Sheets laid on the _Heap_, shall where those _White Pages_ lye, make the _Heap_ lower in that place, because they clap solider together, for want of Printing the Paper through the backside level of each Sheet: So that the small un-level lying of every Sheet, though unperceptable, in a small number of Sheets, makes each Sheet incline to the lowest side of the _Heap_, and as the _Heap_ accumulates heighth, throws the _Heap_ more or less towards the dripping side, or end over the bottom of the _Heap_.

To remedy which, he claps the insides of both his Hands against both the ends of the _Heap_, but more forcibly against the Hanging over end towards the other end, till he has drove the _Heap_ into an upright position.

If either of the sides hang over, he with the inside of his Left Hand commonly against the farther side of the _Heap_, and the outside of his Right Hand fingers on the hither side the _Heap_, either draws the hanging over side towards him with his Left Hand, or thrusts it from him with his Right Hand fingers, as aforesaid, while his opposite Hand does the office of a stop, that it be not drawn too forward, or thrust too much backward. Then where the _Heap_ rises above the Level, he with the inside flats of one or both of his Hands presses it down into an Horizontal Plain.

7. If it be a _Reteration_ he Works, and a great Number is laid on, he uses a _Tympan-cloath_ instead of a _Tympan-sheet_: This _Tympan-cloath_ is a Fine and even Linnen Cloath, about an Inch or two larger on every side than the Paper he Works on: He Wets this Cloath and wrings the Water out again, so that it remains only moist: Then lays his Cloath instead of his _Tympan-sheet_, and Pastes the corners of the under side of it to the _Tympan_, and Works upon it as on a _Tympan-sheet_.

One reason why he uses a Cloath to Work the _Reteration_ on rather than a Sheet of Paper, is, because a Sheet of Paper quickly wears out, which a Cloath will not do. Another reason is, that when the _Inck_ that wrought off the _White Paper_ Sets off upon the _Tympan Cloath_, it may in clean _Ly_ be washt clean again: For a good _Press-man_ will not Work on a foul _Tympan Cloath_ or (if he use no Cloath) on a foul _Tympan-sheet_, because as the _Inck_ of the _White-paper_ aforesaid, set off on the _Tympan Cloath_, so the more the _Tympan Cloath_ has gathered _Inck_ from the _White-Paper_, the more it will Return or give back again, towards the besmearing of every Sheet that is Printed on it.

The reason why the _Press-man_ does not use a Cloath to Work the _White Paper_ with, is, because in Working the _White-Paper_, the use of the _Tympan-Sheet_ is principally to lay all the Sheets of the _Heap_ even by, as being of the exact size with all the rest of the _Heap_, which a _Tympan-Cloath_ is not, nor could it, without great trouble, be reduced to that size by the _Press-man_, or if reduced to that size, without much difficulty be laid even or square on the _Tympan_: Because the _Cloath_ when _Wet_, will be hard to be kept straight and square, but every side will naturally run into irregularities, which a Sheet of _White Paper_ will not do.

8. Sometimes, through the loose _Hanging_ of the _Plattin_ on its _Cords_, or through the much wearing of the _Hose_, or the _Garter_, or the _Worms_ in the _Nut_ and _Spindle_, or the irregular wearing of the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_ in its _Nut_, or too much play of the Tennants of the _Head_ in their Mortesses, or the irregular dryness of the _Tympan_, or through irregular _Runing in_ of the _Carriage_, It will happen that the _Letter_ will _Double_ upon the Sheets, that is, Print double.

If the loose Hanging of the _Plattin_ be the cause, it is easily mended by turning about the _Female Screws_ fitted to the tops of the _Hose_, as was shewed ¶ 4. of this §.

If the _Hose_ be worn, or the square holes the _Hose_ Works in, it may for the present be botcht up by putting Scaboards between the _Hose_ and the square holes of the _Till_; but to mend it perfectly either another _Till_ must be made, or a new _Hose_, or both.

If the _Garter_ be worn too wide; the Smith must either mend the Old, or make a new one.

If the _Worms_ of the _Nut_ or _Spindle_ be worn, the _Spindle_ must be examin’d by the Smith, and made true, and have a new _Nut_ Cast on it.

If the _Toe_ of the _Spindle_ and its _Nut_, or either of them be worn irregularly, it is Smiths Work to mend.

If the Tennants in the _Head_ have too much Play in their Mortesses; which though it seldom happens, yet if the _Head_ were not made of well seasoned Stuff, the Tennants may be subject to shrink, and so have too much play. There is no substantial remedying this fault, but by making a new _Head_.

If an unproper temperature of the _Tympan_ be the cause; that is, when it is dry in one place and moist in another, the dryed place may by its spring force the Paper against the _Face_ of the _Letter_, and in part Print it before it come to feel the force of the _Plattin_; (but this is rather slurring than _Doubling_) and when the force of the _Plattin_ does come, the spring in the dryed part will again remove the Paper, and the force of the _Plattin_ gives its full Impression where the Paper is thus removed, but when it is real _Doubling_, it happens generally on the whole Sheet.

This _Doubling_ or _Slurring_ is mended, by reducing the dryest part of the _Tympan_ to an equal moist temperature with the moistest.

_Doubling_ often happens in the middle of the _Form_, and the reason is, because the foreside of the _Plattin_ Prints beyond the middle of the _Form_ at the first _Pull_, and the hindside of the _Plattin_ by the _Second Pull_ reprints part of the _First Pull_: So that a Spring in the _Tympan_ removes the Paper in this interval of Time.

This fault is mended by exact observing the _Runing in_ of the _Carriage_.

_Doubling_ may also happen by the too loose and flapping straining of the _Tympan_, when it was first _Drawn_.

This cannot be mended without taking the _Tympan_ off, and _Drawing_ on a new one.

A _Press-man_ having _Pull’d_ a Sheet, may by some accident (either of Object or Discourse) let it ly on the _Form_ after he has _Run-out_ the _Carriage_, and afterwards forget it was _Pull’d_, yet may perhaps lift the _Tympan_ a little off the _Form_, which lifting off (if the _Joynts_ are not very good) will remove the Sheet, if then he _Pull_ it again, it will _Double_.

This fault because it is but an accident I shall pass by, and only say,

If the _Joynts_ are so faulty (as sometimes Old _Joynts_ are) that the _Press-man_ cannot keep _Register_ with them, the Smith must make new or mend the Old.

9. When the _Press-man_ leaves Work at Noon, he draws half the Nails out of the Balls, and takes the Wooll out: Then doubles the loose half of the _Leather_ over the remaining Nail’d-on half, with the _Incky sides_ of each half next each other, and Rowls up the _Leathers_ close, and laies them in a Bowl or Pan of Water to Soak till he has Din’d.

He also covers the _Form_ with the _Tympan_, to keep it from dust or filth that may fall on it: And takes out the _Blankets_ and lays them on the _Heaps_: And with a _Spunge_ Wet in Water besprinkles the backside of the _Tympan_, to Soak it whiles he is at Dinner.

Coming again to his Work afternoon, he takes the _Handles_ of the _Ball-stocks_ between his Thighs, (being seated as before, when he knockt up the _Balls_, ¶ 10.) to hold them fast, and he takes the turn’d down backsides of the _Ball-leathers_ in both his hands, (for the other side being all over Black, would black his Hands) and rubs them between his Fingers very well, to supple them. Then squeezes and Wrings the Water well out again; and _Teizes_ his Wooll, by opening all the hard and almost matted knots he finds in it: but he does not pull the Wooll or hardned knots in it assunder from the whole mass of Wooll: But endeavours to keep the Wooll of each _Ball_ intirely connected in the same mass, and only opened, to Loosen and Soften it: For pulling the knots to pieces, would tear the Wooll, and soon make it unfit for use. Having _Teazed_ the _Wooll_ he _Knocks up_ his _Balls_ again, as I shewed in ¶ 10.

Then he goes to the _Tympan_, and squeezing his _Spunge_ as dry as he can, he rubs it over the backside of the _Tympan_, to Suck up the Water, that may lye on it.

Then taking the _Blankets_, he rubs them between both his Hands to soften them; for we must suppose that the Mornings _Pulling_ on them has compacted and hardned them: being well Rub’d, he lays them in the _Tympan_ again, as was shewed before in ¶ 7. and falls again to his Afternoons train of Work.

Having wrought all day, though his _Form_ be not _Wrought off_, it may yet be _Foul_, so that he must _Wash_ it: Nay, in small _Letter_ a good _Press-man_ will _Wash_ his _Form_ twice a day: Wherefore he calls to the Boy to Heat the _Ly_, somewhat before he is ready for it, about a Heating time: And having a _Shooting-stick_ lying by him on the _Till_ or some other convenient place, drives every _Quoin_ between the _Furniture_ and the _Chase_ fast up; least they may have somewhat shrunk, or else started back: Then with a piece of Chalk he makes a score on the two farthermost _Corners_ of the _Carriage_; and through the _Quoins_ droven against them, and upon the two _Corners_ of the _Carriage_ of the _Tympan_ and their _Quoins_, and lets the _Quoins_ ly; but he _Unlocks_ all the opposite _Quoins_, and takes them out of their places; laying those _Quoins_ that he takes from between the fore-end of the _Carriage_ and the _Chase_ on the hithermost upper long side of the _Plattin_, the hithermost _Quoin_ on the hithermost side of the _Plattin_, and the farthermost _Quoin_ on the farthermost side of the _Plattin_; with their small ends towards him, and fromwards him as they lay on the _Carriage_. The _Quoins_ that he takes from the hither side of the _Carriage_, he lays on the hithermost Return side or end of the _Plattin_; that on his Left Hand on the _Carriage_, towards the farther Corner of the _Plattin_, and that _Quoin_ on the Right Hand on the _Carriage_, towards the hither corner of the _Plattin_, with their small ends towards the Hand they lay on, on the _Carriage_.

Having taken out and placed these four _Quoins_, he tryes if the _Form_ will _Rise_, as was shewed § 22. ¶ 7. then takes up the _Form_, and carries it to the _Ly-Trough_, and lays it in it, even as the _Compositer_ brought the _Form_ to the _Press_, and laid it on the _Press-stone_. § 22. ¶ 7. and taking the _Ly Kettle_, or _Chafer_, in his Left Hand pours the _Ly_ Scalding hot place by place over the whole _Form_: And then with the ends of the Hair of the _Ly Brush_ rubs gently over the whole _Form_: And as he thus _Rubs_ with his Right Hand Rocks the _Ly-Trough_ a little on its Axis, that the Body of _Ly_ may accompany the _Ly-Brush_ in its progress from the hither to the farther side of the _Form_: And thus he _Washes_ the _Form_ still on, till he perceive the _Face_ of the _Letter_ purely clean.

Then he lets the _Ly_ out again into the _Ly-Kettle_ at the Hole and Pipe in the Left Hand hither corner of the _Ly-Trough_: and stopping the hole again, sets by the _Ly-Kettle_. Then with a Dish or two of fair Water he _Rinces off_ the Laver of the _Ly_ that may ly on the _Face_ of the _Letter_, and rears up the _Form_ and throws a Dishful or two of fair Water on the backside of it, to _Rince_ it also. Then takes the _Form_ out of the _Ly-Trough_, and sets it by, shelving with its _Face_ against the Wall, to Dry.

If the _Heap_ be _Wrought off_, he lets the _Compositer_ know it, to take Charge of it.

Having _Wrought off_ his _Heap_, he takes it off the _Paper-bench_, and sets it by on the floor, covering it with a Waste-sheet: And gives notice to the Boy, or to the _Ware-house-keeper_, to fetch it away and _Hang it up_ to Dry.

Then he draws the _Balls_, and takes the _Blankets_ out of the _Tympan_ (as at Noon:) And if he have Paper to _Wet_, _Wets_ it as was shewed ¶ 9. of this §.

§ 25. _The Office of the_ Warehouse-keeper.

¶ 1. _Of_ Hanging up _Paper_.

The _Warehouse-keeper_ takes the _Heap_ out of the _Press-room_, and carries it into the _Warehouse_, or other _Drying-place_, and setting it upon a Form or Bench of convenient heighth, with an end of the _Heap_ from him, he takes the _Handle_ of the _Peel_ in his Left Hand, and lays the _Board_ flat down upon the _Heap_, with the Left Hand side of the _Board_ towards the Left Hand side of the _Heap_, and so as its upper edge may reach to almost three quarters of the length of the Sheet, and that the Right Hand end of the _Peel_ may ly on the middle of the _Heap_: Then with his Right Hand he doubles over so much of the _Heap_ as he thinks good, perhaps about a _Quire_, or half a _Quire_, or about seventeen Sheets, more or less, either as he can allow them time to _Dry_, or have room on his _Racks_ to _Hang_ them on. Having thus doubled his first _Doubling_ on the _Heap_, he removes the Left Hand half of the _Peel_ almost off the _Heap_, viz. to about two Inches within the Left Hand side of the _Heap_, and doubles, as before, a second _Doubling_ to hang over the first _Doubling_, towards the Left Hand about two Inches, as aforesaid, on the _Peel_, and as near as he can guess, the same number of Sheets. And having these two _Doublings_ on his _Peel_, he takes the _Peel_ off the _Heap_, and holding the _Handle_ a little aslope, that the _Shorter Folding-over_ of the Sheets may open from the _Peel_, he lifts it up, and places it at one end of his first _Rack_, and lets it hang on it, by drawing the _Peel_ from under the Paper. In like manner he Loads and unloads his _Peel_ again successively, till he have _Hung up_ the whole _Heap_. See Plate 31.

Note, that the sides of the Sheets do not hang against one another, but lap over one another, as you may see by Plate 31. Nor are they _Hung up_ to _Hang_ with their edges against the side of the former _Hanging-up_, but to lap over, so as every Right Hand _Doubling_ may lap about two Inches over the Left Hand _Doubling_; that when the _Books_ are taken down, the _Warehouse-keeper_ clapping the flat side of his _Peel_ against the Right Hand edge of the Paper, slides several _Doublings_ over one another (perhaps three or four:) And putting the _Peel_ under them, takes them off the _Racks_, and lays them on the _Heap_ again, on a clean Waste Paper, and sets the _Heap_ orderly by, till it comes to be _Gather’d_.

The _Warehouse-keeper_ is also very careful to lay all the Sheets, so as the respective _Signatures_ of every Sheet may ly exactly over the respective _Signature_ of the first Sheet, lest when the _Books_ come to be _Gathered_, some Sheets may be _Turned_, which will give him a great deal of trouble to _Turn_ them right when he _Colations_ the _Books_.

¶ 2. _Of_ Laying the Heaps.

_Laying the Heaps_ is to place them on Benches or Forms of a convenient Heighth, in an orderly _Signatural_ Succession. By an orderly _Signatural_ succession, I mean the first _Signature_, which most commonly is A (and therefore shall be so accepted) be placed on the Left Hand of the Bench, with either the Side or Foot of the _Page_, as the _Volumn_ requires, that hath the single _Signature_ A at the bottom of it upwards, and towards the hither side of the Bench. On the Right Hand side of the _Heap_ A is B, and next it C, in like order D E F, &c.

¶ 3. _Of_ Gathering of Books.

_Gathering of Books_ is to take one Sheet off every _Heap_, beginning at the last _Heap_ first, _viz._ at the Left Hand end of the Range. The _Gatherer_ takes it off with his Right Hand, and disposes the hither end of the Sheet into his Left Hand, clapping his Left Hand Thumb upon the middle of the Sheet, to hold it fast. Then he takes a second Sheet off the second _Heap_ from the Left Hand, _viz._ towards the Right; and lays the second Sheet on the first, and so successively a third, a fourth, a fifth, &c. till he has _Gathered_ the last Sheet on his Right Hand; still observing to lay the middle of each Sheet under his Thumb, and all the single _Signatures_ on each Sheet orderly and successively on one another.

Thus he _Gathers_ on, till one of all the _Heaps Comes off_; which when it does, he Doubles or Quires up all the other _Heaps_, and lays them by till he can _Bundle_ and Tye them up; which when he has also done, he writes upon them _Imperfections_ of (the _Title_ of the _Book_) and Writes on it the _Signature_ of the Sheet that is Wanting, and sets it by in a convenient place of the _Warehouse_, that he may have recourse to it on any occasion.

Though I shewed how he _Gathered_ the _Books_, yet shewed not how he _Knocks them up_ and _Folds_ them: Wherefore,

Having thus _Gathered_ one _Book_, he _Knocks it up_, that is, he carries it to a Table provided on purpose near him; and taking the ends of the _Book_ between the two Bows of the Thumb and Fore-finger of each Hand, he grasps the ends loosly between them, and placing the hither long side or edge of the _Book_ on the plain of the Table, he lifts the whole _Book_ a little above the plain of the Table, (about an Inch or two, more or less) and while the whole _Book_ is held loosly by its ends, lets it fall gently down on the Table, that the edges of such Sheets as may stand out, or lower than the rest, may be drove even with the rest of the edges of the _Book_, and also that the edges of such Sheets as may lye above the edges of the _Book_ may be joulted downwards, and lye even in the same Range with the rest of the edges.

And as he is _Knocking up_ the lower edge of the _Book_, he at the same time evens the two ends of the _Book_, by thrusting the Bows of his Thumbs and Fingers against the ends of the _Book_, which being loosely grasp’d, and the Bows of his Thumbs and Fingers bearing pretty stiff towards each other; will drive in the ends of such Sheets as may stick out at either end; and so even the ends of the _Book_ at the same time.

Having thus even’d all the edges, he lays the _Book_ flat down on the Table, and holding one end of it stiff and tight in his Left Hand, he rubs the whole flat of his Right Hand hard upon the upper Sheet, to press it and all the other Sheets as close together as he can; then takes it up, and gives the edges another or two gentle _Knocks_, as before; and then _Folds up_, or _Doubles_ the _Book_, according to its respective _Volumn_.

If it be _Folio_, _Quarto_, _Octavo_ or _Sixteens_, he _Folds_ it in the _Short Cross_; but if it be _Twelves_, _Eighteens_, _Twenty-fours_, he _Folds_ it in the _Long Cross_.

But most times before he _Folds_ the _Books_ he will _Colation_ them: (as shall be shewed by and by:) therefore having _Gathered_ the _Book_, he lays it by on a Sheet of Waste Paper, and _Gathers_ a second _Book_ as he did the first, and lays that flat open on the first, then _Gathers_ a third, fourth, fifth _Book_, &c. as before, and lays them successively on each other, till he have raised an _Heap_ of _Books_ so high, that he grows cautious of laying more on, lest its heighth should exceed his management. Then _Gathers_ on, and raises another _Heap_ or _Heaps_ till one of the _Signatures_ comes off.

¶ 4. _Of_ Colationing Books.

The _Colationing of Books_, is,

First, To examine whether the whole number of Sheets that belong to a _Book_ are _Gathered_ in the _Book_.

Secondly, To examine that two Sheets of one sort are not _Gathered_.

Thirdly, To examine whether the proper _Signature_ of every Sheet lye on its proper corner of the _Gathered Book_.

To do this, The _Colationer_ provides himself with a _Bodkin_; which is nothing else than a pretty thick Sowing Needle, (most commonly broken-eyed,) having its thick end thrust fast into a round piece of Wood, about the thickness of a Tobacco-Pipe, and about three or four Inches long.

Now having the _Heap_ of _Gathered Books_ before him, with the single _Signature_ A lying upwards on his Right Hand, and his Left Arm cross the _Heap_, and his Hand near the _Signature_ corner, with his _Bodkin_ in his Right Hand, he pricks up the corner of the first Sheet A, and at the same moment he pricks it up, slips the Balls of his two Fore-fingers of his Left Hand, and secures it from falling back again on the _Gathered Heap_ of _Books_ between his Thumb and hinder Joynt of his Fore-finger, and immediately pricks into the Sheet B, casting his Eye upon the _Signature_, as well to see that it is B, as to see that it is singly B, and not B 2, B 3, _&c._ For if the single _Signature_ lye not on the same corner of the _Heap_, the Sheet must be turned till it do. In like manner he picks up and receives C D, _&c._ still casting his Eye that it be the right _Letter_, and single _Signature_, as aforesaid.

If he finds two Sheets of the same _Signature_, he takes one out and lays it by, or else on the _Heap_, if they be not all _Gathered_.

If he finds one Sheet wanting, he fetches that Sheet from the _Heap_; or if he want it at the _Heap_ the _Book_ is laid by as _Unperfect_ till he have _Colationed_ the whole _Impression_ of _Books_, to see if he can make it _Perfect_ with some other _Book_, that may have two of the same Sheets _Gathered_ in it.

Having examined that his _Book_ is _Perfect_, he _Knocks_ and _Folds it up_, as was shewed in the last ¶.

Having _Gathered_, _Colationed_ and _Folded_ these _Books_, he _Tells_ them, to see how the _Impression Holds out_; and as he _Tells_ them, he lays a set number of _Books_ (if the _Books_ be _Thick_, five, if Thinner, Ten, if very Thin, twenty five or fifty) with the _Folded Side_ or _Back_ one way, and the same _Number_ of _Books_, with the _Folded_ or _Back-side_ the other way, _viz._ the edges of the latter number of _Books_ upon the _Backs_ of the former _Number_: As well to distinguish and Count the _Number_ of _Books_ readily, as to keep the Bundle in a flat and Horizontal position. For if the _Backs_ of the _Quired Books_ in a Bundle, should lye all one way, the _Fold_ of the _Back_ being more or less hollow in the middle of each _Book_, will in a _Number_ of _Books_, by springing upwards, mount the _Backs_; and consequently the edges of the _Books_ in the _Bundle_ will be depressed, so that in a great _Bundle_ the _Books_ will be subject to slide off one another.

These _Books_ being thus Counted, he sets them by on Waste Paper in convenient Piles, _viz._ Piles of about three or four Reams high (according as the Paper may be thicker or thinner) he sets them by (I say) in Piles of equal Numbers, Range by Range, till the whole _Impression_ is set by.

And before he Tyes them up, he puts them into the _Standing Press_, placing in it so many _Books_ as the _Press_ will hold, both in width and Heighth; observing to set in every _Pile_ he puts Range by Range into the _Press_, an equal number of _Books_, that each _Pile_ may equally feel the force of the Screw.

Then with a strong Iron Bar he turns about the _Spindle_ as oft he can, with his main Strength to Squeeze and _Press_ the _Books_ as close and tight as he can together: and so lets them stand in _Press_ about a Day and a Night. Then takes them out, and in like manner puts in more _Books_, till the whole Impression is _Prest_. See Plate 32.

As he takes each number of _Books_, he Tyes them up with Packthred, lays a Waste Paper under and upon each _Bundle_; and if the _Master-Printer_ Printed the _Impression_ for Himself, he writes the _Title_ of the _Book_, and number of the _Books_ on the uppermost Waste Paper, and sets them by square and orderly on the Shelves in the _Warehouse_, to deliver them out according to the _Master-Printers_ order. But if the _Impression_ were Printed for an Author, or a Book-seller, he sends them to the Authors or Book-sellers, without writing on the uppermost Waste Paper.

¶ 5. _Of_ Setting out _Paper_, _and_ Culling _the_ Cording Quires.

Each Ream of Paper contains twenty Quires: These twenty Quires are by the Paper-makers so disposed that the Back or Doubling of each Quire lyes upon the opening or edges of the next Quire: For reasons given in the last ¶.

Two of the twenty Quires in a Ream are called _Cording Quires_, viz. the two _Out-side Quires_; because the whole Ream is Corded or Tyed up between them. They are also called _Cassie Quires_, because they serve for Cases to the Ream. These Quires are by the Paper-maker made up of torn, wrinckled, stained, and otherwise naughty Sheets; yet does not perhaps the whole Quire consist of such Sheets, but commonly some good Sheets are in _Culling_ found among them, as shall be farther shewed by and by.

The _Warehouse-keeper_ therefore when he _Sets out_ Paper, lays by the uppermost _Cording Quire_, and then nimbly snatches with his Right Hand at the back of the next Quire, and if the back lys towards him, draws it into his Left Hand with the edges of the Quire towards his Fingers; but if the back lye from him, nimbly turns it while it is coming to his Left Hand, and so again nimbly snatches at the back of the succeeding Quires, placing their backs all one way on the First Quire in his Left Hand, till he have Counted or taken off of the Ream a _Token_; which _Token_, if it be set out for _Half_ a _Press_, viz. a _Single Press-man_, is generally but five Quires, and is indeed often called _Half_ a _Token_: But if it be for an _Whole Press_, it contains Ten Quires. This _Token_ he lays by near him, upon a Waste Sheet of Paper, and again applies himself to _Set out_ the next _Token_ in the same manner, but lays the next _Token_ with the backs of the Quires over the edges of the former _Token_, and thus _Sets out_ so many _Tokens_ as his _Heap_ requires, yet always considers how his Paper _Holds out_, whether five and twenties, or but four and twenties: If it _Holds out_ five and twenties, he _Sets out_ in every Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth _Token_ Eleven Quires, to secure the _Impression_ to _Hold out_. If but four and twenties, he _Sets out_ Eleven Quires, in every second _Token_, and at last a Quire more to the whole _Heap_ to make good the wanting Sheets of every Quire, and to make _Proves_, _Revises_, _Register-Sheets_, _Tympan-Sheets_, and to supply other accidents that may happen at the _Press_, either by naughty Sheets, or Faults committed in _Beating_, _Pulling_, _Bad Register_, &c. for all or any of these accidents that happens to a Sheet, the _Press-man_ doubles it, and lays by in the _Heap_ as Waste, as I shewed § 24. ¶ 18. (4) and still he remembers, as aforesaid to lay by the two _out-side Quires_ of every Ream; and at last lays on the _Heap_ another Waste Sheet of Paper, and so brings it to the _Press_ to be _Wet_.

The _Culling the Cording Quires_, is, to examine every Sheet one by one. To do it, he lays the _Cording Quires_, or many _Cording Quires_ open before him against the Light, and takes up every Sheet successively and observes the goodness of it: Such Sheets as he finds good, he lays on his Right Hand, and the Bad on his Left. If a Sheet have but a little corner torn off, _viz._ so much as he judges the _Book-binder_ would take off with his _Plow_, to make the _Leaf_ square with other _Leaves_, he accounts that a good Sheet: But if more be torn off, he lays it by for Bad; and so he does Wrinckled and stain’d Sheets.

Having thus _Cull’d_ all the _Cording Quires_, he tells out the good Paper into Quires, allowing five and twenty to the Quire, if the Quires of the Ream hold out five and twenty; or else but into four and twenty. And the good Paper thus _Cull’d_, he tells into an _Heap_ or _Heaps_, as far as it will go.

But yet the careful _Warehouse-keeper_ will not give the _Press-man_ this _Culd_ Paper to Print at the begining or end of a _Book_, but disposes that _Heap_ or _Heaps_ so as they may be used about the middle of the _Book_: For though we call’d it good Paper, yet it very rarely happens to be so beautiful as the _Inside Quires_.

The Bad Paper he also _Tells out_ into Quires, but allows no more than four and twenty Sheets to the Quire, because it is commonly set by in the _Warehouse_ to be sold.

It is also the Office of the _Warehouse-keeper_ to keep a Day Book, and in it to set down what Books he Sells, and for how much, and to whom, and whom by order of the _Master-Printer_ he Trusts with Books, and for how long Time; that so the _Master-Printer_ may as oft as he pleases have an account how the _Impression_, or part of it, is disposed of.

(_As an Appendix._) _Ancient Customs used in a_ Printing-house.

Every _Printing-house_ is by the Custom of Time out of mind, called a _Chappel_; and all the Workmen that belong to it are _Members of the Chappel_: and the Oldest Freeman is _Father of the Chappel_. I suppose the stile was originally conferred upon it by the courtesie of some great Churchman, or men, (doubtless when Chappels were in more veneration than of late years they have been here in _England_) who for the Books of Divinity that proceeded from a _Printing-house_, gave it the Reverend Title of _Chappel_.

There have been formerly Customs and By-Laws made and intended for the well and good Government of the _Chappel_, and for the more Civil and orderly deportment of all its Members while in the _Chappel_; and the Penalty for the breach of any of these Laws and Customs is in Printers Language called a _Solace_.

And the Judges of these _Solaces_, and other Controversies relating to the _Chappel_, or any of its Members, was plurality of Votes in the _Chappel_. It being asserted as a Maxim, _That the Chappel cannot Err_. But when any Controversie is thus decided, it always ends in the Good of the _Chappel_.

1. Swearing in the _Chappel_, a _Solace_.

2. Fighting in the _Chappel_, a _Solace_.

3. Abusive Language, or giving the Ly in the _Chappel_, a _Solace_.

4. To be Drunk in the _Chappel_, a _Solace_.

5. For any of the Workmen to leave his Candle burning at Night, a _Solace_.

6. If the _Compositer_ let fall his _Composing-stick_, and another take it up, a _Solace_.

7. Three _Letters_ and a _Space_ to lye under the _Compositers Case_, a _Solace_.

8. If a _Press-man_ let fall his _Ball_ or _Balls_, and another take it up, a _Solace_.

9. If a _Press-man_ leave his _Blankets_ in the _Tympan_ at Noon or Night, a _Solace_.

These _Solaces_ were to be bought off, for the good of the _Chappel_: Nor were the price of these _Solaces_ alike: For some were 12 _d._ 6 _d._ 4 _d._ 2 _d._ 1 _d._ _ob._ according to the nature and quality of the _Solace_.

But if the Delinquent prov’d Obstinate or Refractory, and would not pay his _Solace_ at the Price of the _Chappel_; they _Solac’d_ him.

The manner of _Solacing_, thus.

The Workmen take him by force, and lay him on his Belly athwart the _Correcting-stone_, and held him there while another of the Work-men, with a Paper-board, gave him 10 _l. and a Purse_, viz. Eleven blows on his Buttocks; which he laid on according to his own mercy. For Tradition tells us, that about 50 years ago one was _Solaced_ with so much violence, that he presently Pissed Blood, and shortly after dyed of it.

These nine _Solaces_ were all the _Solaces_ usually and generally accepted: yet in some particular _Chappels_ the _Work-men_ did by consent make other _Solaces_, viz.

That it should be a _Solace_ for any of the Workmen to mention Joyning their Penny or more apiece to send for Drink.

To mention spending _Chappel-money_ till _Saturday_ Night, or any other before agreed time.

To Play at _Quadrats_, or excite any of the _Chappel_ to Play at _Quadrats_; either for Money or Drink.

This _Solace_ is generally Purchas’d by the Master-Printer; as well because it hinders the Workmens work, as because it Batters and spoils the _Quadrats_: For the manner how they Play with them is Thus: They take five or seven more m _Quadrats_ (generally of the _English Body_) and holding their Hand below the Surface of the _Correcting Stone_, shake them in their Hand, and toss them up upon the _Stone_, and then count how many _Nicks_ upwards each man throws in three times, or any other number of times agreed on: And he that throws most Wins the Bett of all the rest, and stands out free, till the rest have try’d who throws fewest _Nicks_ upwards in so many throws; for all the rest are free: and he pays the Bett.

For any to _Take up a Sheet_, if he receiv’d _Copy-money_; Or if he receiv’d no _Copy-money_, and did _Take up a Sheet_, and carryed that Sheet or Sheets off the Printing-House till the whole Book was Printed off and Publisht.

Any of the Workmen may purchase a _Solace_ for any trivial matter, if the rest of the _Chappel_ consent to it. As if any of the Workmen Sing in the _Chappel_; he that is offended at it may, with the _Chappels_ Consent purchase a penny or two penny _Solace_ for any Workmans singing after the _Solace_ is made; Or if a Workman or a Stranger salute a Woman in the _Chappel_, after the making of the _Solace_, it is a _Solace_ of such a Value as is agreed on.

The price of all _Solaces_ to be purchased is wholly Arbitrary in the _Chappel_. And a Penny _Solace_ may perhaps cost the Purchaser Six Pence, Twelve Pence, or more for the _Good of the Chappel_.

Yet sometimes _Solaces_ may cost double the Purchase or more. As if some _Compositer_ have (to affront a _Press-man_) put a Wisp of Hay in the _Press-mans Ball-Racks_; If the _Press-man_ cannot well brook this affront, he will lay six Pence down on the _Correcting Stone_ to purchase a _Solace_ of twelve Pence upon him that did it; and the _Chappel_ cannot in Justice refuse to grant it: because it tends to the _Good of the Chappel_: And being granted, it becomes every Members duty to make what discovery he can: because it tends to the farther _Good of the Chappel_: And by this means it seldom happens but the Agressor is found out.

Nor did _Solaces_ reach only the _Members of the Chappel_, but also Strangers that came into the _Chappel_, and offered affronts or indignities to the _Chappel_, or any of its Members; the _Chappel_ would determine it a _Solace_. Example,

It was a _Solace_ for any to come to the _Kings Printing-house_ and ask for a Ballad.

For any to come and enquire of a _Compositer_, whether he had News of such a Galley at Sea.

For any to bring a Wisp of Hay, directed to any of the _Press-men_.

And such Strangers were commonly sent by some who knew the _Customs of the Chappel_, and had a mind to put a Trick upon the Stranger.

Other Customs were used in the _Chappel_, which were not _Solaces_, viz. Every new Workman to pay half a Crown; which is called his _Benvenue_: This _Benvenue_ being so constant a Custome is still lookt upon by all Workmen as the undoubted Right of the _Chappel_, and therefore never disputed; yet he who has not paid his _Benvenue_ is no Member of the _Chappel_, nor enjoys any benefit of _Chappel-Money_.

If a Journey-man Wrought formerly upon the same Printing House, and comes again to Work on it, pays but half a _Benvenue_.

If a Journey-man _Smout_ more or less on another Printing House, and any of the _Chappel_ can prove it, he pays half a _Benvenue_.

I told you before that abusive Language or giving the Lye was a _Solace_: But if in discourse, when any of the Workmen affirm any thing that is not believed, the _Compositer_ knocks with the back corner of his _Composing-stick_ against the lower Ledge of his _Lower Case_, and the _Press-man_ knocks the Handles of his _Ball-stocks_ together: Thereby signifying the discredit they give to his Story.

It is now customary that Journey-men are paid for all Church Holy days that fall not on a _Sunday_, Whether they Work or no: And they are by Contract with the Master Printer paid proportionably for what they undertake to Earn every Working day, be it half a Crown, two Shillings, three Shillings, four Shillings, _&c._

It is also customary for all the Journey-men to make every Year new Paper Windows, whether the old will serve again or no; Because that day they make them, the Master Printer gives them a _Way-goose_; that is, he makes them a good Feast, and not only entertains them at his own House, but besides, gives them Money to spend at the Ale-house or Tavern at Night; And to this Feast, they invite the _Correcter_, _Founder_, _Smith_, _Joyner_, and _Inck-maker_, who all of them severally (except the _Correcter_ in his own Civility) open their Purse-strings and add their Benevolence (which Workmen account their duty, because they generally chuse these Workmen) to the Master Printers: But from the _Correcter_ they expect nothing, because the Master Printer chusing him, the Workmen can do him no kindness.

These _Way-gooses_, are always kept about _Bartholomew-tide_. And till the Master-Printer have given this _Way-goose_, the Journey-men do not use to Work by Candle Light.

If a Journey-man marry, he pays half a Crown to the _Chappel_.

When his Wife comes to the _Chappel_, she pays six Pence: and then all the Journey-men joyn their two Pence apiece to Welcome her.

If a Journey-man have a Son born, he pays one Shilling.

If a Daughter born, six Pence.