Cylchgronau Cymru

BADDY VINDICATED, OR JONES v. JONES MORRIS PARRY, in his article 'Chester Welsh Printers'1, follows up a theory propounded by the Rev. Thomas Shankland2 that Thomas Baddy, a Nonconformist Minister in Denbigh, was guilty of de- frauding Thomas Jones, the Shrewsbury printer. The evidence against Baddy was inconclusive and, in our opinion, can be disproved Thomas Jones's Almanac for 1703 contains a lively passage entitled 'A Discovery of a Plott, carried on against Thomas Jones, to defraud him of his livelyhood'. Since Thomas Jones has such a masterly way of expressing his grievances, the relevant passage deserves quotation in its entirety '9 When Thomas Jones had Agreed with a Gentleman to Print him a Book, within such a time as it might easily be don Ellis3 (like Judas watching all opportunitys to betray his Mr.) shewed the Gentleman a note of his wages And told him he might have his Book Printed Cheaper if he would be ruled by Him Adding that his Mr. had bought a Press and Letters at Chester, which lay then there in the hand of Mr. Randle Holme, And he might goe and intersept his Mr.'s Bargain And that he would go with him and do his work there And gave him all his Mr.'s Profit. To which the Gentleman readily Complyed, Hired a horse, and went to Chester forthwith as private as he could, And when he was enquired for at his Lodging, his Land- lady sayd that he was Gon over the stone bridge (A quite Contrary way) to see some friends 2 or 3 miles off. When this Gentleman came to Mr. Holme at Chester, he Presses hard for the use of those things which Thomas Jones had bought, And Mr. Holme (having not received Arnest of Thomas Jones) Agreed with the Gentleman for the use of them for 6 Years, And when it was asked him who would do the work for him, he sayd that Ellis Edward, was to come from Thomas Jones of Salop to work for him And Ellis about that time told some of his friends that he was going towards Wales to Reprint the Welsh Almanacks, and the other Coppys belonging to Thomas Jones. 10 When the Gentleman Returned from Chester, it was Consulted how Ellis should part with his Mr. most for his own 1 M. Parry, 'Chester Welsh Printing'. Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, N.S. 21. p. 56 et seq. 2 T. Shankland, 'Joseph Harris a chychwyniad llenyddiaeth gyfnodol yng Nghymru'. Trafodion Cymdeithas Hanes Bedyddwyr Cymru (1912-13) p. 16-19. 3 Ellis Edward was Thomas Jones's compositor.