Page:The Library, volume 5, series 3.djvu/77

Rh and accused the printer of selling five hundred of them without authority to a bookseller named Peter Parker. He also gave Braddyl an order for five thousand copies of Bunyan's 'Grace Abounding,' and declares that the printer printed seven thousand and never accounted for any of the profits. Finally, he winds up his indictment by accusing Braddyl of being the author and printer of the Third Part of the 'Pilgrim's Progress,' which was the joint publication of John Back and John Blare, two booksellers on London Bridge, and Jonathan Deakin, and 'by transporting a great part of the original work, especially the titles, hindered the sale of the plaintiff's copies.'

Now for the other side of the picture. Thomas Braddyl in his reply admitted that 'it might be true' that he received an order from Ponder to print 'about' ten thousand copies of the 'Pilgrim's Progress,' but excused himself from making a more definite statement on the ground that the transaction had taken place so long ago that he could not remember with certainty the exact number, but he denied positively that the price was fixed at four shillings and sixpence a ream. He declared that it was Ponder's own desire that the impression should be taken up by Awnsham Churchill and Nicholas Boddington, but that these booksellers insisted upon Braddyl being joined in the sale, as Ponder was then a prisoner in the King's Bench for debt. The printer further stated that Ponder was indebted to him in a sum of £14 for money and clothes supplied to his son, and in settlement of an execution levied against Ponder by E. Horton.