The appeal of iniured innocence, unto the religious learned and ingenuous reader in a controversie betwixt the animadvertor, Dr. Peter Heylyn, and the author, Thomas Fuller.

CHAP. VII. The Fourth General Answer. That FAVOVR of COVRSE is indulged to the first (as least per∣fect) Edition of Books.

THe first Edition of a Book, in a difficult Subject, hath ever been beheld as less complete; and a liberty of Correcting and Amending hath been al∣lowed to all Authors of this kind.

I will instance in his Book (whose Books would I was worthy to bear) Mr. Camden's Britania. His first Edition was a Babe in a little; the second, a Childe in a bigger Octavo; the third, a Youth in a Quarto (but Map-less;) the last, a Man in a fair Folio; first and last differing more then a Gally and Galeas, not onely in the Greatness but Perfection, every newer Edition amending the Faults of the former.

Next, we will insist in another Author above all exception, even the Animadver∣tor himself, who in his Epistle to the Reader, before the Second and much altered Edition of his MICROCOSME, thus expresseth himself, not unhappily either for his owne or my purpose:

I am not the first of whom it was said, Secundae Cogitationes sunt meliores; neither is it a thing rare for Children of this nature, to be as often perfected as born; Books have an Immortality above their Authors. They when they are full of Age and Guiltiness, can be retaken into the wombe which bred them, and with a new Life, receive a greater Portion of Youth and Glory. Every Impression is to them another being; and that alwayes may, and often doth bring with it, a sweeter Edition of Strength and Loveliness. Thus with them Age, and each several Death, is but an Usher to a new Birth; each several Birth the mother of a more vigorous Perfection.

Had the like liberty of a Second Edition been allowed me, which the Animadvertor assumed, his pains had been prevented, and most of the Faults he hath found in my Book (being either derected by my self, or discovered by my Friends, com∣municating the same unto me) had been rectified.

Thus in the Latin Tongue the same word SECUNDUS signifieth both Second and Successful, because Second Undertakings (wherein the failings of the former are observed and amended) generally prove most Prosperous.

But it will be Objected, Such Second Editions with new Insertions, Additions and Alterations, are no better than Pick-pockets to the Reader, who having purchased and perused the first Edition, is by this new one, both in his purse and pains equally abused, and his Book rendred little better than Waste paper.

I Answer; First, I am no more obnoxious to this Objection than other Authors who set fort New Editions. Secondly, I hope my Alterations shall not be so many or great as to disguise the second from the first Edition; Lastly, I will take order (God willing) for the Printing of a peice of Paper (lesse then a Leaf) in my second Impression, being the Index of Alteration, so that the Owners of the First, may (if so pleased) in less then an Hour, with their Pens, conform their Books to the new Edition, which though a little less Beautifull to the Eye, will be no less Beneficial to the Users thereof.

Here let me humbly tender to the Readers Consideration, that my HOLY WARRE, though (for some Design of the Stationer) sticking still in the Title Page, at the third Edition (as some unmarried Maids will never be more then eigh∣teen) yet hath it oftner passed the Press, as hath my HOLY STATE, MEDITA∣TIONS, &c. and yet never did I alter Line or Word in any new Impression.

I speak not this by way of Attribution to my Self, as if my Books came for that first with more Perfection then other Mens, but with Insinuation to the Reader, that ti is but equall that I, who have been no Common Begger in this Kind, yea never before made use of a second Edition, may now have the Benefit thereof allowed me, especi∣ally in a Subject of such Length, Latitude, Difficulty, Variety and Multiplicity of Matter.