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THe most accurate Book, that ever came forth into Light, had some Mistakes of the Presse therein. Indeed, I have heard of Robert Stephen, that he offered a great Summe of Money (equivalent perchance to five Pounds of our English Coin) to such who would discover any Erratum in his Folio Greek Testament, dedicated to King Francis the first.
But sure I am, that some of our English Bibles, which may be presumed set forth with the best Care, printed at London, have their Errats; and therefore Prelial Faults being a catching Disease, no wonder if my Book as well (or rather as ill) as others, be subject to the same.
Here it will be objected that there is a known and sure Receipt for the Cure of this Disease, viz. the Listing of such Faults as have escaped, either in the Beginning or End of the Book; that so the Reader may, if he please, amend, if other∣wise, avoid them. Such an Index Erratorum, or Catalogue of Mistakes, is, in some sort a STOOL OF REPENTANCE, wherein Offenders find their lost Innocence; and such faults thus confessed, are never charged either on the Author's or Printer's Account.
It is answered, that although such a List of Faults, generally followeth as the Impedimentum or Baggage in the Rere of a Book, yet seldome or never is it adequate to all the Errata's, which are committed therein.
For first, all committed, are not discovered, neither by the Corrector, nor the Author himself, who perusing his own Book, in overlooking the faults therein, Overlooks them indeed, and following the conduct of his own fancy, (where∣in He intended all to be right) readeth the words in his Book, rather as they should be, than as they are printed.
Secondly, all faults which are discovered are not confessed. Such as the Printer esteemeth small, He leaveth to be amended by the direction of the Sense, and discretion of the Reader; according to the common Speech, that the Reader ought to be better than his Book.
In my Book, the Index of Errata's amounts not to above forty, a very small number in proportion of so voluminous a Work, which with Credit might crave the allowance of twice as many more thereunto: The Animadvertor in these his Notes, maketh great advantage of some of these un-confessed-Faults, and I sometimes plead the mistake of the Press for my Answer, though seldome, save when some similitude of form in the mistaken letter rendreth it probable for a Prelial Error.