sign in sign up
<<
Home , 1640s

‘The Summe of all Intelligence’ PAMPHLETS AND NEWSBOOKS OF THE

by Caitlin Stone

mong the books of cases and contract law in the AUniversity of Melbourne’s Law Rare Book Collection is a series of British pamphlets and other publications dating from the English Civil War (1625–1649). These include acts of , speeches, Title page of the sermons and at least one ‘newsbook’ Figure 1: pamphlet, Truth and Peace or early newspaper. This article by ‘a Honestly Pleaded …, gives an overview of this component true lover of God and King of the Law collection and points to Charles’, 1642. some of its more significant items.

Pamphlets

Pamphlets are small works of fewer than 50 pages. They typically deal with contentious subjects and so were often published anonymously. Pamphlets in the Law collection, for example, are attributed simply to ‘a Friend and servant’ or ‘a true lover of God and King Charles’ (see Newsbooks examined by government censors.1 figure 1). Pamphlet culture exploded The act temporarily saw the Pamphlets evolved into newsbooks, in in the 1640s when suppression of the ‘gutter press’ in the forerunners of newspapers. The political unrest excited the public favour of official, pro-government first English newsbook was appetite for news, and an easing of newsbooks. One positive published in 1641 and censorship laws gave writers and consequence of this censorship was was simply a record of parliamentary printers the freedom to spread it. the raising of standards in news proceedings. Later newsbooks, collecting and printing, as evidenced Yet, while their subject matter however, were more gossipy and in the newsbook was topical, it was as a consequence even scurrilous. Indeed charges of Mercurius Politicus (discussed further on page 13). often transient; pamphlets were libel were regularly brought against meant to be read now and thrown the editors and printers of early Although newsbooks are away. As a result, most newsbooks. The more sensational of essentially quarto pamphlets, they pamphlets were written in a rush these publications were put to an end differ from other pamphlets in a and printed in haste on cheap paper by the number of ways. Firstly, and perhaps Act Against Unlicensed and hoarded by printers especially for of 1649, which most importantly, they were serials. Scandalous Books this purpose. required all newsbooks to be Although few of the earliest

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE LIBRARY JOURNAL • 2005 11 newsbooks were numbered, printers and editors soon realised the marketing benefits of adding numbers to the front pages of their publications. Numbers gave the promise of a further issue and encouraged 17th Title page of the Figure 2: century ‘news junkies’ to watch out pamphlet, for the latest issue of their favourite His Highnes Speech to the Parliament in read. Newsbooks also differ from by the Painted Chamber …, pamphlets in their layout. In , 1655. pamphlets, the verso of the title page was left blank; but in 1642, the printers of newsbooks began printing on this page too, so gaining much-needed printing space. Pamphlets also generally had a full title page (see figure 2), whereas on newsbooks the title was reduced to a small section at the top of the first page (see figure 3).2

Pamphlets and newsbooks in the Law and and the rest of the Rare Book Collection His Majesties Answer to the Murther, Theft, deadly Sins’.6 Declaration of Both Houses of The Law Rare Book Collection Parliament, Concerning the includes approximately 30 Commission of Array of the 1 of Iuly, Leopards’ wombs (printed by Robert Barker in pamphlets and newsbooks of the 1642 and elephants’ teeth 17th century, the earliest dating from York, again in 1642). Other items are less directly relevant 1642. Most are remarkably well Oliver Cromwell is also to the events of the Civil War, but preserved, with few traces of represented in the collection in his readers, such as notes or nonetheless provide some fascinating speech of 22 1654, underlining. One of the rarest items His glimpses into the economic and in the collection is a 1649 pamphlet Highnes Speech to the Parliament in social life of 17th century England. titled the Painted Chamber, at their A Serious and Faithfull (, , One of these details the plans for Dissolution Representation of the Judgements of 1655) (shown in figure 2). Cromwell the wedding of Charles I’s sister Ministers of Gospell within the gave this speech on the dissolution of Elizabeth.7 It records the amounts 3 This is one of Province of London. the parliament before he created the spent on extravagances and a series of 17th century pamphlets first protectorate parliament. Another entertainments, such as ‘apparrell written by English Presbyterians in Cromwell-related item is a 1727 and like necessaries for the Lady opposition to the government. There reprint of a pamphlet originally Elizabeth’ (£1829); ‘Jewells for her, is only one other known copy of this printed in 1649 — and for apparrell for her servants’ pamphlet, in the Bodleian Library at A Hue and Cry (£3914); ‘Silks and other the University of .4 After Cromwell, or the City’s necessaries’ (£995), ‘To the Lamentation for the Loss of their The collection also includes two (London, Treasuror of Navie for the Navall Coin and Conscience pamphlets published by King Printed for A. Moore near St Paul’s, fight performed on the Thames, at Charles I to gain support for his 1727) presents an image of the marriage’ (£4800); and ‘For the attempt to raise troops against Cromwell as a horned and fiery-eyed Fireworks of the Thames’ (£2880). parliament by taking control of local ‘beast’ who ‘hath defy’d his God, The whole sum of these militia.5 The pamphlets are, murthered his King, and ruin’d his ‘Extraordinary Disbursments’ was The Country; undone Thousands, is ‘£296,8970’ (sic). Another item, Case of the Commission of Array (printed in London in 1642) Religious in nothing but Stated Regicide, An Additional Act for the Better

12 UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE LIBRARY JOURNAL • 2005 features of 21st century newspapers. Early issues included forthright editorials, and there are headlines and clearly defined articles, although the latter are divided geographically rather than according to their subject matter. Front page of Figure 3: also the newsbook, Mercurius Politicus Mercurius resembles our newspapers in the 1652. Politicus, breadth of its subject matter. The Law Rare Book Collection’s copy includes both ‘human interest’ stories and news that is more serious. The front page article, for example, tells the story of a farmer who was ‘so harsh and rigid toward the poor’ that a group of the ‘meaner sort’ in the town determined to punish him. The story continues:

They attempted him one night, and could not doe their work, but the next night they did it, routing him and his Protectors. He himself made an escape in its predecessors — in part as a result Improvement and Advancing the this shirt: (His name is Crow) of the Act of 1649 that regulated Receipts of the Excise and New- and run and hid himself in a details the pamphlet printing — but this did Impost at the Parliament, Tub of Feathers, but all would taxes to be paid for products as not affect its popularity. Nedham not save him; they got him into varied as treacle, ‘Trumpets for sold papers by supplying news that their hands, and (contrary to Children’, ‘otter skins, leopards’ was reliable, even if it was coloured his expectation) gave him fair wombs and elephants’ teeth’.8 by republican propaganda. Indeed Quarter. The Conclusion of all was, that having made him Nedham’s admitted aim was to Bible … swear on the they write ‘in defence of the Common- Mercurius Politicus dismissed him without wounds, wealth’ and help the people of but half frighted out of his The collection includes a copy of the 11 England ‘to learn to be true wits. early newsbook 10 Mercurius Politicus: Commonwealthsmen’. A ‘society column’ from Comprising the summe of all There are some clear differences Nedham’s unnamed intelligence, with the affairs and between Nedham’s newsbook and correspondent tells of ‘the great designs now on foot, in the three the newspapers we might dip into Feastings and Entertainments made nations of England, , and there by the Emperour (sic) for the (no. 129, dated 18–25 over breakfast today. In these early Electors … with great contentment November 1652). publications, the editor is hidden, Mercurius on all sides’.12 There are also articles (figure 3) was founded identifying himself only as Politicus on more weighty events. Nedham 1650 and published until April 1660. ‘Mercury’, the Roman god of reports on the outcomes of The title reflects the high-flown aims messengers. Indeed Mercurius trials and other court cases and gives of its editor, Marchamont Nedham, was one of many Politicus updates on diplomatic activities in who moved beyond the purely ‘Mercuries’ that included Mercurius Amsterdam, Paris and The Hague. and domestic news of many earlier Britannicus, Mercurius Bellicus newsbooks to provide his readers Individual The Law Rare Book Collection Mercurius Melancholicus. with ‘the summe of all knowledge’. articles are also unattributed, with holds a number of other noteworthy Throughout its ten year life, headlines providing only the place items dating from the 17th century. was indeed and date of the dispatch. Yet, despite Among these is a collection of Mercurius Politicus Britain’s pre-eminent newsbook.9 It these differences, parliamentary speeches from 1627 Mercurius was more ‘moderate’ than many of displays many of the and 1628, the Politicus Ephemeris

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE LIBRARY JOURNAL • 2005 13 Parliamentaria: or a faithfull register of the transactions in Parliament in the third and fourth years of the reign of our late Sovereign Lord King Charles, Title page of the containing the severall speeches, Figure 4: Ephemeris Parliamentaria, cases and arguments of law a collection of parliamentary transacted between His Majesty and speeches from 1627 and both Houses, together with the 1628, published in 1654. grand mysteries of the Kingdom (London, John then in agitation Williams and Francis Eglesfield, 1654). This book is notable for the use of red and black ink on its title page (figure 4), a relative rarity among printed books of this period because of the time and labour required to produce them. Unlike many other volumes in the Law collection, which were rebound in the 19th century, it also retains its original binding. ķķķ

he pamphlets and newsbooks in the Law Rare Book Notes TCollection are valuable not only for the information contained 1 Joad Raymond, Oxford, ClarendonThe Press, Invention 1999, of p. the 78. Newspaper: English newsbooks 1641–1649, within them, but also as prototypes 2 Raymond, ibid p. 23. , of the modern newspaper. In them, 3 A Serious and Faithfull Representation of the Judgements of Ministers of the we can clearly see the beginnings of Gospell within the Province of London: Contained in a letter from them to the many contemporary conventions in Generall and his Counsel ofLondon, Warre. Delivered imprinted to by His M.B. Excellency for Samuel by Gellibrand,some of the news reporting: editorials, headlines andsubscribers, Ralph Smith, Jan. 18, 1649. 1649, 4 Donald Wing, and even gossip all appear on their Short-title Catalogue of Books Printed in England, Scotland, pages. They also represent an Ireland, , and British3 vols, America, New York, and of Index English Committee Books Printed of the Modern in Other important stage in the history of LanguageCountries, Association 1641–1700, of America, 1972–1994, S2605A. printing. It became evident during 5 Martyn Bennett, London and New York, Longman, 1995, p. 115. The English Civil War, this period of frenzied pamphlet 6 writing and producing that the A Hue and Cry After Cromwell,London, printed or the City’s for A. Lamentation Moore near St for Paul’s, the Loss 1727, of their pp. 5–6. Coin and Conscience, 7 printing press could create as well as An Abstract or Brief Declaration of the Present State of His Majesties Revenew: transmit public opinion. Indeed with the assignations and defalcations upon the same: all monies brought into His while the news they report is Maiesties coffers from time to time, since his coming to the Crown of England, by what means so ever: the ordinary annuall issues, gifts, rewards, and extraordinary yesterday’s, the broader issues London,disbursments Printed as theyfor M.S., are distinguished 1651, pp. 14–15. in the severall titles hereafter following, revealed in these early printed works 8 are familiar and still relevant. An Additional Act for the Better Improvement and Advancing the Receipts of the Excise and New-Impost at thePrinted Parliament by Henry begun Hills at andWestminster John Field, the printers 17. day toof HisSeptember, Highness, An. 1657. Dom. 1657, 9 Raymond, op. cit., p. 14. 10 Mercurius Politicus: Comprising the summe of all intelligence, with the affairs 11–18and designs now 1652, on p.foot, 1458. in the three nations of England, Ireland, and Scotland, Dr Caitlin Stone is the Special Projects 11 18–25 November 1652, pp. 2025–2026. Mercurius Politicus, officer at the Universityof Melbourne’s 12 18–25 November 1652, p. 2032. Legal Resource Centre Library. Mercurius Politicus,

14 UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE LIBRARY JOURNAL • 2005