No More Learning

of public officers or private correspondents, and how anxiously these communications were sometimes read we learn by the passage in Tacitus already spoken of. Somewhat similar public notices of public events were written during the period when the Turks were waging war with the Venetians; and it is stated that, in 1563, these descriptions of important occurrences were publicly read in Venice to audiences who each paid a coin called
gazetta for the privilege of listening. Hence the ori gin of the word Gazette as applied to papers contain
ing News. Some volumes of the manuscripts prepared by the governments of the period for these public read ings are preserved in the library at Florence. These also have been pointed to as the first Newspapers, but cannot fairly claim to be such. They were not pub lished for circulation. Like the Acta Diurna they were public documents, more in the nature of proclamations
by authority, than public journals.
In dismissing this chapter on News-letters and
News-writers, and other fore-runners of the modern Newspapers, it may be remarked that the title adopted by the old scribes still lingers amongst us on the head ing of an Irish journal of our time — "Saunders's News letter. "
CHAPTER III.
THE EARLY STRUGGLES OF THE PRESS.
"The Liberty of the Press —it is as the air we breathe, if we have it not, we die. "— Old Political Toast.
The Papal Power and the Press. —Origin of the Censorship. —Wolsey's Declaration. —Effects ofthe Reformation. —KinglyAuthority over the Press. —Increase in the number of Readers. —The Press makes Sup porters for itself. —Its early Champions. —Sir Richard Knightley and the Star Chamber. — Increase of Books. — Shakspeare and Bacon ex tend the scope of Thought among the People. —The Civil Wars break the bonds of the Press. — The Star Chamber Persecutions. — First Newspapers and Journalists.
rPHE Revolution that beheaded Charles the First
laid the foundation of the liberty of the press in
Before the period of the Civil Wars, the printer could only exercise his art under the sanction of the Clergy and of the King. This power over the press had been exercised since the days of Guttenberg, and arose in this manner : The Church of Rome was paramount when printing was invented, and assumed at once the same power of censorship over printed books which it had previously exercised over written ones. Pope Alexander the Sixth (Borgia) placed this authority in a more definite shape in 1 501 ; and, four teen years later, it was formally decreed by the Coun cil of the Lateran, that no publications whatever
J-
England.
38 THE FOURTH ESTATE.
should be issued in any place where the Church of Rome had jurisdiction, unless such printed work had first obtained the written sanction of the bishop, or of the inquisitor of the diocese. The authority thus set up was exercised in all countries where the Pope had influence, and, amongst the rest, it became part of the law in England. * The more far-seeing of the clergy at once understood the importance of controlling the new instrument for the multiplication of printed books. It is stated that Wolsey exclaimed — " We must destroy the press, or the press will destroy us;" and, in
* Here was the origin of the principle of a general censorship of the press, which has been ever since maintained by the Church of Rome in all countries where it had power to enforce it. The bishops were the censors in their respective dioceses ; but on the continent the tribunal of the inquisition, wherever the inquisition was established, were the censors ; they examined the MS. of every work previous to its being printed, and granted or refused an " Imprimatur," or licence, at their pleasure. The inquisition, moreover, sought after all books published beyond its jurisdiction, and, having examined their contents, condemned those which were contrary to the doctrine or discipline of the Church of Home, and of these it formed a list, known by the name of " Index of Forbidden Books," to which it has made copious addi tions from time to time. There are several of these indices, made at
different times, and in different places : the index of the Spanish In quisition was different from that of Rome. Collections of these indices have been made. One of the latest is contained in the " Dictionnaire Critique et Bibliographique des principaux Livres condamnes au Feu, supprimes ou censures," by Peignot, Paris, 1806. In countries where the inquisition was not established, such as France, England, and Ger many, the bishops acted as censors and licensers of books, which they examined, previous to printing, as to all matters concerning religion or morality. The censorship continued for a long time to belong to the ecclesiastical power, and even afterwards, when the civil power in various countries began to appoint royal censors to examine all kinds of works, the episcopal approbation was still required for all books which treated of religion or church discipline. Polit. Diet. , p. 2,571
THE CENSORSHIP IN ENGLAND. 39
saying so, he only repeated the sentiment that had before animated many dignitaries of his Church. But readers were few in those days, and the censorship, thus exercised, remained
comparatively unchallenged in this country till after the Reformation. That
change in the established religion of England, trans ferred to the King and the Bishops the power of cen sorship which had previously been exercised by the Pope and the Bishops. The Crown also had another power, which put an additional fetter on the press. Letters patent had been used as a means of establish ing monopolies of various kinds* in favour of parti cular persons, and thus when the art of printing was introduced, it was exercised under the authority of a licence. This power of licensing subsequently grew into a means of oppression ; and, added to the cleri cal censorship, was sufficient to keep the press strictly under the thumb of those in authority. The number of readers, however, increased, though but slowly; and, as they increased, books became more various and in greater demand. The Reformation gave an important impetus to reading, and as argu ments were brought into full play both for the new and for the old faiths, the people who were called upon by each party for support began to think and to judge for themselves. Henry the Eighth on one side, and the Pope on the other, appealed to the people of England as the audience from whom each sought converts and supporters, and from that time forth the people began to understand the value of the press.
* Collier's Essay on the Law of Patents, and General History of Monopolies, 8vo, London, 1803.
40 THE FOURTH ESTATE.
For much more than a century after their invention,
types may be said to have been almost entirely em
ployed for theological pamphlets and books. Some classic authors, and some volumes on wood-craft, and on chess, and other such topics likely to interest the dominant classes of the time, were completed ; but the staple product of the press was theology. When the growth of opinion and the will of the King brought about the Reformation, the field began to widen. Men were asked to think upon theological points, but, the mental process once begun, the authorities could not stop the thinking at a defined and authorized point, and a thinking and a reading class began to grow up in England. The privileged classes no longer had the complete monopoly of books, and literature began to find an audience beyond the precincts of the Court, and the Baronial Hall, and out of the pale of the Church. It was a part of the mission of the press to create patrons and supporters for itself from the crude mass of unlettered humanity, — to rear the readers
who in their turn might give it employment, and ex tend its power and usefulness. This it was now doing, though slowly ; yet, amongst its converts were many
both energetic, high-souled, and sincere.
In Elizabeth's reign we find men in various walks
of life running great risks, and enduring heavy penal ties for sake of the liberty of the press. The Star Chamber was called into play to stop this popular thirst for freedom of printed thought, and fines and imprisonment, with the pillory, the branding iron, and the hangman's fire in Smithfield, were employed at various times by Star Chamber authority, to torture
THE TRAVELLING PRESS. 41
writers, to terrify readers, and to cast odium upon unlicensed publications.
Attorney General Popham, on the trial of Sir R. Knightley and others before the Star Chamber in 1 588, referred to the fact, that " Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in her great wisdom, had issued proclamations that no pamphlets or treatises should be put in print but such as should be first seen and allowed ; and further, lest that were not sufficient, she ordained that no printing should be used anywhere but in London, Oxford, or Cambridge. Notwithstanding, all this served not," continues this legal authority ; " but they would print
in corners, and spread abroad things unprinted : where fore Her Majesty set forth a proclamation, in anno 25 (of her reign), that all Brownist books, and such other seditious books, should be suppressed and burnt. " Still the obnoxious publications appeared, "and another proclamation was fulminated against the new se ditious and infamous libels spread abroad. " That not sufficing, Sir Richard Knightley was selected for
prosecution, as an example to the country. "The historian of this gentleman's county tells us,* that this Sir Richard Knightley was divers times chosen Member of Parliament for the County of Northampton, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He was a great favourer of the Puritan party, and was at the expense of printing their libels, as is reported, being influenced by Sharpe and some other leading ministers of his county. These libels were printed by one Walgrave, whohad
* Bridges' History of Northamptonshire, by Jebb, fol. , p. 63 ; State Trials, Vol. 1263 MS. in Caius Coll. , Camb. , Class A, 1090-8, p. 206.
I. , p.
;
42 THE FOURTH ESTATE.
a travelling press for this purpose, which was once brought down to Fawesley, and from thence by several stages removed to Manchester, where both the press and the workmen were seized by the Earl of Derby. For this offence Sir Richard Knightley and his con federates were cited into the Star Chamber, andseverely censured (and heavily fined); but, upon the intercession of Archbishop Whitgift, who they had most insulted, they were set at liberty, and had their fines remitted. But, though thus zealous for the Puritan faction, he joined with Sir Francis Hastings in presenting a petition to the House of Commons for granting toler ation to the Papists. "
This early sufferer for liberty of unlicensed printing did honour to the cause, supported and justified the efforts of the benevolent Archbishop in his behalf, by asking toleration for those whose faith he had stoutly
The record of his trial before the Star Chamber throws some curious light upon those early days of the printing press.
On the 13th of Feb. 1558, were brought to the bar of the Star Chamber, Sir R. Knightley, Mr Hales, Sir — Wickstone,* and his wife. TheAttorney Gene ral urged their offences before the court with all his zeal. " Sir Richard,"said he, " being a great man in his county, a deputy-lieutenant, who had the govern ment thereof, a seditious and lewd rebel came unto him to have place and entertainment with him, and there Sir Richard received him to print: Sir Richard doth confess that Penry told him he would set forth such a like book as he had before him set forth for
* Neale'a History of the Puritans, Vol. 507,
opposed.
I. , p.
SECRET PRINTING. 43
the government of Wales. That book contains sedition and slander most opprobious; and yet Sir Richard was contented such a like book should be printed. But further, Sir Richard sent his man a ring for a token to receive the press into his house, who did so, and there they printed the Epitome, Walgrave himself being the printer. This is a most seditious and libellous pamphlet, fit for a vice in a play, and no other: but then the parson of the parish having found out the printing, told Sir Richard that it was very dangerous; whereupon Sir Richard caused him to take it down ; but neither disliked nor discovered but kept secret, and read the books himself. Again, when was told him his house would be searched for the press, he said he would course them that came to search his house; beside, at his recommendation, Walgrave was commended unto Mr Hales, and there had entertain ment, and there The Supplication to the Parliament' was printed by Walgrave, and published by Newman, Sir Richard's man and another book was there printed likewise. * * And from Mr Hales's house in Coventry these books and this press must be conveyed to Sir — Wickstone's, where Martyn Senior, and Martyn Junior, were both printed. * * And for Sir — Wickstone, albeit he knew the press was in
his house, yet he kept secret, and would never discover but came many times, and did visit there at the
press and his wife, by whose procurement and persua sions with her husband, they were first received into his house, did often relieve them with meat and drink, and gave them money in their purses. This the sum of their offence. "
is
it, ;
' ;
it
it
it,
44 THE FOURTH ESTATE.
The good lady of Sir Richard feeding in secret the persecuted workers at the press would make a subject for a picture or a poem. The bold knights threat to " course them that should come to search his house "— to hunt them with his greyhounds as he would a hare —
itself as a fair reprisal on those who thus pursued from refuge to refuge the printer
and the press.
But the Star Chamber could not reach the minds
of the people ; and whilst Elizabeth and her successors
were using its irresponsible power for the suppression of what were regarded as heretical books, the number of readers was increasing, and the power of the press was growing in the same proportion. Year by year, Protestantism encouraged a greater freedom in the ex pression of opinion, and a deepening feeling manifested itself in the controversial war of one sect with another. Books began also to offer amusement as well as ex citement and instruction to the people; and they, aided by the Grammar Schools of Edward the Sixth, and other similar educational foundations, became, as a class, more generally able to enjoy the luxury of read ing. The popular demand induced a noble supply. The science of Bacon, and the plays of Shakspeare, were amongst the productions of the early press; Raleigh gave his History of the World, Ben Jonson, and Beaumont and Fletcher, and others, helped to en rich dramatic poetry; and, so popular and fashionable did learning and literature become, that King James the First condescended to enlighten the world as to his views upon witchcraft and tobacco. Yet, with all this, no real freedom had been given to the press on the
probably suggested
THE PRESS AND THE CIVIL WAR. 45
most vital subjects. The affairs of the country and the people were unknown to printed discussion; points of faith had been debated, but questions of political condition were forbidden; no one dare canvass them, for the censorship was strictly exercised. Differences however arose as to the licensing of books amongst those who claimed to exercise that privilege. Bishops at times opposed bishops, and archbishops occasion ally ran counter to kings; as we shall presently see in the case of Charles the First and his episcopal bench. Meanwhile the pear was ripening, and, when the Civil Wars beheld King and Parliament contending to the
death for supremacy, the press was called in by both sides. Its aid was invoked by each, and to each it be came a powerful instrument for discussing the vital points in dispute. In this debate amid the clang of arms, with a whole excited nation for audience and ac tors, the trammels of its youth fell from the press. It stood up a great power, unshackled—free ; and though Royalists and Puritans alike, during the strug gle, and afterwards, attempted to re-impose its bonds, the first exercise of its freedom made so real an im
pression upon the mind of England, that no power has since succeeded in reducing it to the bondage from which it was released by the Revolution that destroyed Charles the First.
With this preliminary glance at the early struggles
of the press, let us return to the subject and to the
period of the first Newspaper.
We have stated that the first series of Newspapers,
which were linked together by anything like dates and
40
THE FOURTH ESTATE.
numbers, appeared in London in 1622. The copies of these publications, now in the British Museum Library, formed a part of Dr. Burney's Collection, and are bound in volumes. We have seen also that other
tracts, certainly not entitled to be called Newspapers, are to be found mingled with them, and, amongst these, there is one with the date of 1619. It is in type and appearance very like its successors—the numbers of the Weekly News—and it was published by Newberry, who appears subsequently as one of Butter's colleagues; but it is only a stray tract, and therefore not entitled to the name of Newspaper. It has, however, a feature in common with the Weekly News which may be no ticed. It tells only of foreign events ; and, to judge by the specimens of these early journals which remain to us, their writers dared not notice English News. The Star Chamber was still in the ascendant, and the books of the period had to obtain a licence for their issue. The laws of Henry the Eighth and his suc cessors still had force, yet these sheets of Weekly News have not the stamp which marks other publications of that time. It is probable that their harmlessness was their only safety. The time of great events was approaching, but the changes in the popular feeling did not then find expression in the journals ; and the editors, if editors they may be called, contented them selves with re-telling the News which reached England from other countries. This want of courage to talk about home affairs, what so many people must have been anxious to know, could have gained little respect for the writers ; whilst the character of the foreign advices was such, that other wits besides Ben Jonson
Shirley's sketch. 47
had their fling at the Newsmonger. Shirley, in his Love Tricks, first played in 1624-5, gives an unflatter
ing picture :—
Antonio. Prythee what's the News abroad ? Easparo. News ? Oh, excellent News !
truth is, the News-maker, Master Moneylack, is sick of a con sumption of the wit.
Ant. The News-maker ! Why, is there any News-maker ?
Eas. Oh, sir, how should younger brothers have maintained themselves, that have travelled, and have the names of countries and captains without book as perfect as their prayers ? Aye, and perfecter too, for I think there is more probability of forget ting their prayers, they say them so seldom. I tell you, sir, I have known a gentleman that has spent the best part of a thousand pounds while he was prentice to the trade in Holland, and out of three sheets of paper, which was his whole stock,
(the pen and ink-horn he borrowed,) he set up shop, and spent a hundred pounds a-year. It has been a great profession. Marry, most commonly they are soldiers ; a peace concluded is a great plague upon them, and if the wars hold we shall have store of them. Oh, they are men worthy of commendation. They speak in print.
Ant. Are they soldiers ?
Eas. Faith so they would be thought, though indeed they are but mongrels, not worthy of that noble attribute. They are indeed bastards, not sons of war and true soldiers, whose divine souls I honour, yet they may be called great spirits too, for their valour is invisible ; these, I say, will write you a battle in any part of Europe at an hour's warning, and yet never set foot out of a tavern ; describe you towns, fortifications, leaders, the strength of the enemy, what confederates, every day's march. Not a soldier shall lose a hair, or have a bullet fly be tween his arms, but he shall have a page to wait on him in
I long to hear some.
Ant. Prithee what is't ?
Eas. There is no News at all.
Ant. Call you that excellent News ?
Eas. Is it not good News that there is no bad News ? The
IS
THE FOURTH ESTATE.
quarto. Nothing destroys them but want of a good memory, for if they escape contradiction they may be chronicled.
Ant. Why, thou art wise enough to be an informer.
Eas. Ay marry, now you speak of a trade indeed, the very
Atlas of a state-politic, the common shore of a city.
falls amiss into them, and if there be no filter in the common wealth (they) can live by honesty, and yet be knaves by their privilege ; there is not an oath but they will have money for it.
Ant. Oh, brave trade !
This is a severe caricature, but amusing as being another unscrupulous sketch dashed off by a contem porary of the early News-gatherers. Shirley's reference to the military character of some of these people looks like another allusion to the Captain Rashingham already noticed.
Butter and his colleagues seem to have issued their publications at more than one office, and, in an historical sketch of the rise of Newspapers, the order in which names of the publishers appear on successive numbers of the Weekly News may well be given, to gether with the headings of the paper showing how they varied. The first number in the British Museum collection has the names of Bourne and Archer as pub lishers; its date, heading, and imprint are :—
The 23. of May (1622). The Weekly Newes from Italy, Germanie &c. London : Printed by I. D. for Nicholas Bourne and Thomas Archer.
The succeeding numbers run thus : —
The 30. of May. Weekly Newes from Italy, Germanie, Hungarie, Bohemia, the Palatinate, France, and the Low Countries. Translated out of the Low Dutch Copie. London : Printed by E. A. for Nicholas Bourne and Thomas Archer, and are to be sold at their shops at the Exchange, and in Pope's- head Pallace. 1622.
Nothing
THE WEEKLY NEWS. 49
The 18. of June. Weekely Newes from Italy, Germanie, Hungaria, Bohemia, the Palatinate, and the Low Countries, with a strange accident hapning about the City of Zitta, in Lusatia.
Translated out of the High Dutch Copie. London : Printed by J. D. for Nathaniel Newbery and William Sheffard, and are to be sold in Popes-head Alley. 1622.
The 2. of September. Two great Battailes very lately fought. The one betweene Count Mansfield and Don Cordua, the Spanish General, &c. London: Printed by J. D. for Nicholas Bourne and Thomas Archer, and are to be sold at their Shops at the Exchange, and in Popes-head Pallace. 1622.
The 9. September. Covnt Mansfield's Proceedings since the last Battaile, &c. London: Printed by E. A. for Nicholas Bourne and Thomas Archer, and are to bee solde at their Shops, at the Royall Exchange and Popes-head Pallace. 1622.
The 25. of September. Newes from most parts of Christen- dome, &c. London : Printed for Nathaniel Butter, and Wil liam Sheffard. 1622.
The 27. of September. A Relation of Letters and other Advertisements of Newes, sent hither unto such as correspond with friends beyond the Sea. From Rome, Italy, Spaine, France, the Palatinate, and divers other places. London : Printed for Nathaniel Butter, and Thomas Archer. 1622.
The 4. of Octob. A True Relation of the affaires of Europe especially, France, Flanders, and the Palatine, &c. Lon don : Printed for Nathaniel Butter and Nicholas Bourne. 1622.
Passing on to the following year, 1623, we find the titles become somewhat more regular : —
May 12. Numb. 31. The Newes of this present week. London : Printed for Nathaniel Butter, Nicholas Bourne, and William Sheffard. 1623.
May 17. Numb. 32. The last News. N. Butter and W. Sheffard. 1623.
May 26, 1623. (Here we have the year given in the heading. ) Numb. 33. A Relation of Count Mansfield's last
VOL. I. E
50 THE FOCRTH ESTATE.
proceedings, &c. N. Butter, N. Bourne, and W. Sheffard. 1623.
May 30. Numb. 34. The Last News. N. Butter and T. Archer. 1623.
July 18. Numb. 40. The Weekly News continued. N. But ter and N. Bourne. 1623.
July 22. Numb. 41. More News. N. Butter and W. Sheffard. 1623.
Oct 2. Number 50. Our Last News, &c. E. Allde for N. Butter and Thos. Archer, 1623.
The imprints of the News-books immediately pre ceding the numbers of the Weekly News, and bound with them in Dr. Burney's collection, are :—
Newes out of Holland. London : Printed by T. S. for Nathaniel Newberry, and are to bee sold at his Shop under St. Peter's Church in Cornhill, and in Popes Head Alley, at the Sign of the Star. 1619.
Newes from Poland. &c. London : Imprinted for F. K. and B. B. and William Lee, and are to bee sold at bis Shop in Fleet Street, at the sign of the Golden Buck, neere Serjeant's Inne. 1621.
Newes from France (a great fire in Paris). Translated from the French, and sold at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Ch. Yard. 1621.
This list of imprints may not be very sightly in the page of a modern book, but they are requisite in this place to give a fair idea of the varying title, and of the changes amongst the publishers, of the first Newspapers. It is probable that the legal responsi bility of issuing a weekly sheet of intelligence without the sanction of the censor may have had something to do with the alterations in the imprint as well as with the irregularities in the appearance of the publication itself. The contents of these primitive journals may
NEWSPAPERS IN 1622. 51
deserve a brief examination before we pass to the con sideration of more stirring and important facts.
Here are some specimens : —In " News out of Hol land, concerning Barneveldt and his fellow prisoners,
their conspiracy against their native country, with the enemies thereof &c, to which is adjoyned a Discourse wherein the Duke D'Espernons' revolt and pernicious designs " are truly displayed and reprehended by his
friends one of the "friends" of the Duke D'Espernons
who adopts the financial signature of L. S. D. reproves him for his rebellion after the following fashion. This passage will illustrate the slavish tone adopted by Butter —the price paid probably for impunity in prin ting News at all: — "You are not ignorant," says this anonymous counsellor with the pecuniary initials, " that Kings are the image of the living God, that their wills and commandments are laws to be specially observed, and that no man can dispense therewith, without being guilty of High Treason both divine and human. — Paris, 28 Mar. 1619. "
The Weekly News of October, 1622, gives us a paragraph of less dignified character —" Letters from Bologna," says the journalist, "assure us that among other prisoners there were taken certain unruly persons who, one riotous night, spoiled the image of our Lady,
and disrobed other saints ; but after great search they were found, and all likely to endure severe punishment. " Spoiling images and disrobing saints seem to have
been the substitutes in those days for the wringing of knockers, and stealing of door-plates of our time. Again, from the same publication: —" On a Tuesday in
September,
in the Piazzo of St Marke's in Venice, e2
52 THE FOURTH ESTATE.
there was a publication of the banishment of La Illus- trissimaSignoraBianca, sister to the illustrious Almeino Balli, for poysoning her husband, Illustrissimo Giron- imo Seranco, and whosoever could bring in her head, should have 2000 livres : her goods were publicly sold, her Vecchia bandited, and a servant of trust proscribed. "
Again—"In the open market-place of St. Marke's, one Antonio Stranariol did deadly wound in the head Giacomo Lanoradi, a musician of St. Marke's Church : for which he fled, and is not yet taken. " We find also in the same paper :—
A true relation of the cruel execution done in Ommelburg, a towne in the Bishopricke of Mentz, upon the persons of two ministers, or preachers of the Gospel, by the instigation of the Jesuits. 'Tis most manifestly known to all the world that hatred, ennuie, and dissension reigne mightily now-a-days: The sonne is against the father, and the sister against the brother, and in general we are so exasperated one against another, that if we could drowne one another in a spoone with water, we would not fetch a pail, as partly appeareth by this present example. Johannes Vander Veech, and Lambertus Liber, being two Protestant Preachers, and having disputed against certain priests at Krugsganck, the Jesuits caused them to be apprehended, and afterwards most cruelly to be executed within the towne of Ommelburg, the 30th of August, 1622, where the hangman with red hot pincers pulled the flesh from their bones, (so that a heart made of stone would have taken
compassion on them,) and put them to death with great mar- tyrization. But they have suffered it patiently, as a sheep that
is brought to the slaughter-house. About three days after the same, one of the Jesuits who was called Pater or Father John, aged 96 yeeres, was taken about 12 o'clock from his table, and was never seen afterwards. Therefore let us pray unto God that he will not judge us according to our deserts, but grant us everlasting salvation.
THE WEEKLY NEWS, 1640. 53
A later number of the Weekly News for the same year contains — "A continuation of the Affairs of the Low Countries and the Palatinate," —detailing the siege of Bergen bySpinola, and his retreat ;—"where- unto is added a letter fromaperson of speciall note, with
the articles between Monsieur Tilly, General for the Emperor, and Colonel Mernin, Governor of the City of Heidelberg, about the delivery of the same ;" " and also "another letter from a person of credit at Paris. These letters from special correspondents became more gene ral as the publication progressed. In later numbers we find "Briefe Abstracts of News from Divers Letters of trust," arranged in a somewhat similar manner to the foreign news in a journal of the present day.
Like a true speculator, Butter seems to have been full of hope to the last. By the latest of his weekly
to be found in Dr. Burney's collection, we see that, as on many previous occasions, the Paper had been stopped for a month, and then re-appeared ; but, in this instance, with the following title-page and
address to the reader : —
The Continuation of the Forraine Occurrents for 5 weekes last past, containing many remarkable Passages of Germany, &c. Examined and licensed by a better and more impartiall hand than heretofore. London, printed January 11, 1640, for Nathaniel Butter, dwelling at St. Austin's Gate.
The Printer to the Reader : —
Courteous Reader : We had thought to have given over printing our foreign avisoes, for that the licenser (out of a par tial! affection) would not oftentimes let pass apparant truth, and in other things (oftentimes) so crosse, and alter, which made us almost weary of printing, but he being vanished, (and that office fallen upon another, more understanding in these Forraine
publications,
54 THE FOURTH ESTATE.
Affaires, and as you will find more candid. ) We are againe (by the favour of his Majestie and the State) resolved to go on printing, if we shall finde the World to give a better acceptation of them, (than of late,) by their Weekly buying them. It is well known these Novels are well esteemed in all parts of the World, (but heere,) by the more judicious, which we can impute to no other but the discontinuance of them, and the uncertaine days of publishing them, which, if the poste fail us not, we shall keepe a constant day every weeke therein, whereby every man may constantly expect them, and so we take leave,
January the 9th, 1640.
The leave thus hopefully taken for a week, seems to have extended to a much longer period ; and indeed would appear to have been final. Stirring times were at hand, when the trammels of the press were to fall, because the State lost its power of coercion; and bolder and more unscrupulous journalists were to take the place of the unsuccessful Nathaniel Butter. In this address to the reader it may, however, be noticed that the licenser is named as one of the difficulties in the way, even of a Newspaper so humble in its pretensions as the Weekly News. There is not in the earlier numbers of that print any apparent evidence of such sheets of News being published under any such au thority. On the contrary, an examination of what remains to us of the journals issued by Butter and his colleagues, during the eighteen years between 1622 and 1640, — the changes of name in the imprint, and of place of publication, and the absence of any licenser's mark,—fully justify the belief already expressed, that these earliest Newspapers were issued without the cognizance of the law. —Thus, in February 1625, we find the News marked "London, Printed by B. A.
QUARRELS
OF THE CENSORS. 55
for Mercurius Britannicus ;" subsequently the B. A. is dropped, and the title stands Mercurius Britannicus only,* though the same type has evidently been used, and the publication is avowedly a continuation of pre vious sheets. Why this concealment, and these con stant variations, if the Weekly News was an authorized print ?
Whilst the only Newspapers of this early period were dragging their slow and unprofitable way, telling foreign intelligence only because home News were dangerous to touch, the question of the liberty of the press was working its way in other channels. Those who had the authority to license books clashed at times in their opinions of what was proper to be published. Thus, in the proceedings in Parliament against Eichard Montague, "for publishing a factious and seditious book," it appeared in evidence that the licensers dif
fered as to whether the work should appear or not. The Archbishop of Canterbury disallowed the book, and endeavoured to suppress it ; but the other bishops attested their approbation of and hastened the edi tion, Again, when the obsequious churchman, Dr. Sibthorp, printed sermon in which he advised the people to submit to the illegal taxes of Charles the First, the Bishop of London licensed the pamphlet; but the Archbishop of Canterbury refusing his sanction to the work, he fell under the King's displeasure, and his
* May Number 20. " The continuation of our Weekly News, from the 27th of April unto the 5th of May," &e. " London, Printed for Mereurius Britannicus, 1625. " This title Mercurius Britannicus was often used afterwards, as we shall see.
Howell's State Trials, Vol. II. , p. 1259.
t
5.
t
a
it,
56 THE FOURTH ESTATE.
see was sequestrated. * Again, in 1628, the case of the Rev. Dr. Mainwaring's two sermons, preached and published in support of Charles the First, shows in an other way how the licensing of books was complicated. These sermons had in the opening page the words " Published by his Majesty's Special Command," and this authority was directed to be so placed in print by the Bishop of London, who had been commanded by the King to license the works, yet feared to do so in his own name. These fears were well founded. The Parliament prosecuted the author, sent him to the Fleet, and compelled him to recant on his knees at the bar of the House of Commons. But, though declared disabled for holding preferment in the church, the King gave him a good rectory in Essex, in addition to the living of St. Giles's in the Fields. This bonus
was given to Mainwaring after Charles had issued a
the publications so sanc tioned by royal authority, and forbidding the reprint
ing of them under severe penalties. The books were burnt in London and Westminster, at Oxford, and at Cambridge, whilst the writer was rewarded by rich beni- fices in the Church.
The arbitrary power of the Star Chamber was brought into operation in 1630, in the case of Dr. Alexander Leighton, who had published five or six hundred copies of an Appeal to Parliament against Prelacy. In this work he had declared the prelacy of the English Church to be " an ti- christian, and satan- ical ;" he termed the prelates "themselves " men of blood," and called the bishops ravens and magpies. "
♦Howell's State Trials, Vol. II. , p. 1451.
proclamation condemning
THE SENTENCE ON LEIGHTON. 57
These expressions were quoted in the information against him as amongst the most serious of his offences. To us, who are accustomed to the frequent and severe denunciations of modern Newspaper writing, all this seems harmless enough ; yet, Leighton was convicted, and sentenced to be imprisoned in the Fleet for life ; to be fined £10,000; to be degraded of his ministry; to stand in the pillory; to have his nose slit, and to have his ears cropped ; and, further, to be branded in the cheek. This bitter judgment having been pronounced, the prisoner was taken to the Fleet, and there closely confined ; but, while steps were being taken in the Ecclesiastical Courts for his degradation from the ministry, some friends, aided it is believed by the goaler, assisted him to escape.