Newspapers for the Year 1643

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1641-3. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1887.

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'Newspapers for the Year 1643', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles I, 1641-3, (London, 1887) pp. 563-567. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas1/1641-3/pp563-567 [accessed 26 March 2024]

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Newspapers for the Year 1643

Mercurius Aulicus, published weekly, five Nos., viz., 3rd, 4th, 6th 7th, and 24th weeks. Between 15th Jany. and 11th June 1643. Printed by H. Hall. Besides communicating the intelligence and affairs of the Court to the rest of the kingdom, they contain particulars of the proceedings in Parliament, and the military operations undertaken on both sides. [Newspaper Collection I.]
A continuation of certain special and remarkable passages from both Houses of Parliament and other parts of the kingdom. Published weekly; two numbers, viz., No. 28, from 19th to 26th Jany. 1642–3, and No. 52 from 17th to 25th August 1643. The former printed for Walter Cook and Robert Wood 1643, and the latter for F. Coles and F. Leach, and are to be sold at the Old Bailey. [Newspaper Collection I.]
A Perfect Diurnal of the Passages in Parliament. Published weekly; four Nos., viz., 31 from the 9th to 16th Jany. 1642–3, No. 44 from 17th to 24th April, No. 48 from 8th to 15th May, No. 49 from 15th to 22nd May 1643. Printed by R. Austin and A. Coe for Walter Cook and Robt. Wood, and sold by Thos. Bates in the Old Bailey, London. [Newspaper Collection I.]
A Perfect Diurnal of some Passages in Parliament (new series) published weekly; 14 Nos., viz., three for 1643, six for 1644, one for 1647, three for 1648, and one for 1649. Those for this year are No. 5 from 24th to 31st July, No. 9 from 11th to 18th Sept., and No. 14 from 16th to 23rd Oct. 1643. Printed for Francis Coles and Laurence Blaikelock, and are to be sold at their shops in the Old Bailey and at Temple Bar. Licensed and entered according to order in the Company of Stationers' Register book. Imprimatur G.M. [Newspaper Collection I.]
Certain Informations from several parts of the kingdom, for satisfaction of all sorts of people that desire to be truly informed. Published weekly; four Nos., viz., No. 1 from 16th to 23rd Jany. 1642–3, No. 2 from 23rd to 30th Jany., No. 21 from 5th to 12th June, and No. 36 from 18th to 25th Sept. 1643. The first two numbers were printed for Henry Overton, and the last by G. Bishop and R. White, being licensed and entered into the [Stationers'] Hall book according to order. [Newspaper Collection I.]
The Kingdoms Weekly Intelligencer, sent abroad to prevent misinformation. Clubs Trump. Published weekly; 11 Nos., viz., four for the year 1643, three for 1644, three for 1647, and one for 1648 Those for this year are No. 5 from 24th to 31st Jany., No. 11 from 7th to 14th March, No. 24 from 27th June to 4th July, and No. 32 from 14th to 21st Nov. Printed according to order for G. Bishop and R. White. [Newspaper Collection I.]
Mercurius Civicus. London's Intelligencer or Truth impartially related from thence to the whole kingdom, to prevent mis-information. Published weekly; three Nos., viz., No. 6 from 8th to 16th June, No. 21 from 12th to 19th Oct., and No. 29 from 7th to 14th Dec. 1643. Printed according to order for Thos. Bates and J. W. Junior. Notices at the top of No. 29. Repulse of the Cavaliers from Plymouth. Arundel Castle surrendered to Lord Hopton, and Mr. Pym interred in Westminster Abbey. [Newspaper Collection I.]
The Weekly Account, communicating the choicest and most remarkable intelligence from all parts of the kingdom. Published weekly; five numbers, of which three are for the year 1643 and two for 1644, viz., No. 1 from 30th Aug. to 6th Sept., No. 5 from 27th Sept. to Oct. 4th, and No. 15 from 6th to 13th Dec. 1643. Licensed and entered in the Stationers' Hall book according to order. Printed for Philip Lane at Gray's Inn Gate, London. No. 1 opens with a paragraph containing "six satisfying reasons in answer to 'Mercurius Aulicus,' who alleged that the Parliament have no just grounds to raise an army, but through fears and jealousies." No. 5 amongst other entries contains, "The Players' misfortune at the Fortune [Theatre] in Golding Lane, their players' clothes being seized upon in the time of play by authority from the Parliament," and No. 15 contains a notice of the death of Mr. Pym. "It is reported that he died of that loathsome disease which the Greeks call phtheriasis [Greek text], the Latin's 'Morbus pedicularis,' but the dead body exposed to the view of above a thousand witnesses did sufficiently convince the [un]truth and malice of the report." [Newspaper Collection I.]
The True Informer. Published weekly; 2 Nos. viz., No. 1 for 23 Sept. 1643, and No. 22 for 10 to 17 Feb. 1643–4. Licensed and entered in the Stationers' Hall book according to order. Printed for Thos. Bates and J. W. Junior and are to be sold at their shops in the Old Baily. No. 1 contains an account of the battle near Newbury. [Newspaper Collection I.]
The Scottish Dove, sent out and returning, bringing intelligence from their army, and makes some relations of other observable passages of both kingdoms, for information and instruction published weekly, one number viz., No. 2 from 20 to 27 Oct. 1643. Licensed and entered into the Stationers' Hall book according to order. Printed for Laurence Chapman, London. This number contains the following paragraph: "And for the armies prepared in Scotland, they are both willing and ready, but the truth is the distractions of Ireland, by the hellish plot of cessation of arms, have bred some troubles in Scotland, if the Scots in Ireland should accept of the cessation it would prove destructive, if they continue in arms, they must have supplies; the charge has been great to the kingdom of Scotland already, and will be much greater, by adding new forces to them; they would secur all places if it be possible, and bridle the malignant spirits at home, who since that cessation are more bold to show themselves. They expect some Commissioners from hence, and their advance money, and will be in action very shortly, if God permit; great works for God have ever met with great oppositions; the Lord rebuked the wilful opposers. There are ten or twelve ships at Bristol ready rigged and going out to fetch over rebels from Ireland." [Newspaper Collection I.]
"Anti-Aulicus" discovering weekly the policies, deceits, and erroneous maxims of the Court, and informing the people of their cause, interest and whatsoever he conceives will advantage the same; as "Aulicus" shall give occasion in his weekly pamphlet. No. 1 only. Undated, but probably Oct. 1643. Printed according to order, for H. T. The following paragraph is copied from page 51. Then the King deals with the Independents, and by intimations of liberty of conscience, and suggestions that they and other men of tender consciences will find as hard usage from the Presbyterian government, as ever they did from the Episcopal; he fancied a certain hope, either of giving them to his party, or of dividing one amongst another; but 'tis so visible that such proffers are made for self-ends, and the integrity of the Independents to the Parliament is so real, that that project too is 500l. worse than naught. But a further progress has been made by the well-known Lord Lovelace, who by a secret messenger and letter to Sir Henry Vane, did to this effect impart, "that the king having taken notice of him and others of his judgment, and conceiving them to be real and hearty in their intentions, did promise unto them liberty of conscience; and that all those laws that have been made by the Parliament, and all other the rights and liberties of the people should inviolably be preserved, of which he would give what assurance could be devised; desiring likewise that either he or some other by his appointment, would upon safe convoy, treat further of the business at Henley, or what other place he thought fit." Answer was made "that he would advise of the matter with his intimate friends, and return a further answer." The friends advised withall were Mr. Speaker, Mr. St. John, Mr. Browne, and many other gentlemen he met withall of the House of Commons, who concealed [counselled] that an answer of seeming compliance should be returned, and a convoy sent for Mr. Wall, chaplain to my Lord of Warwick, who finding that the utmost of the design was only to entrap Sir Henry Vane, by first inviting him to the conference, and then discovering it underhand, and so render him obnoxious to the mistake and ill-opinion of goodmen. Mr. Wall was recalled, and a full relation of the business made to the House of Commons; who gave thanks to Sir Henry for his wise and faithful carriage of the matter; and so the Court was again frustrated, and Lovelace better informed, that his loose lordship is fitter for a potation than a conspiracy. The ordinance of Parliament providing that the houses of delinquents and ill-affected persons, shall not be pulled down or destroyed but reserved for the benefit and use of the Commonwealth, does very much afflict Mr. "Aulicus." He would it seems have all confiscations go not to the public bank but to your King's private purse, and be employed not for supply of public necessities as the Parliament intends them, but for maintenance of Court revels to bestow on this "dancing" monsieur or that gamesome stripling. No, Aulicus, we shall teach you Commonwealth language, that the houses of delinquents to the state are no longer theirs but the State's or Commonwealth's, and are to be employed for the benefit thereof. And but that your rebellion enforces the Parliament to convert the money into arms and ammunition, they could more comfortably employ it, to raise again those many honest families, the Court oppressions and your necessitating us to continue this war, have well nigh beggered, to clear the prisons of such honest men as their casual wants brought thither, and to many other public and pious uses. [Newspaper Collection I.]
Mercurius Britanicus, communicating the affairs of Great Britain for the better information of the people. Published weekly; 9 Nos., viz. 4 for 1643 and 5 for 1644. Those for 1643 are No. 11. from 2 to 9 Nov., No. 12 from 9 to 16 Nov., No. 15 from 30 Nov. to 7 Dec., and No. 18 from 21 to 28 Dec. Licensed and entered in the Stationers' Hall book according to order. Printed for G. Bishop and R. White. The news contained in "Mercurius Aulicus" is sarcastically criticised by this journal, which calls in question many of the received statements. In No. 11 occur the following paragraphs: "He [Aulicus] tells us of a Proclamation set out by the King, against the Covenant. 'Aulicus,' we pity the misfortune that our King should be so near you, that you can abuse that royal name to every proclamation as you do, but it is no wonder you proclaim against our Covenant; we hear you are setting out a proclamation against preaching and praying this winter, that none presume to keep his Majesty's liege people too long in the cold, and that the health of the body in this world, is to be preferred before the salvation of the soul in the next, which you are not so certain of, and that it can be no wholesome divinity that gives the subjects colds and agues. Reader, who would imagine they should make such wicked proclamations at "Oxford." Cottington's stratagem. The forces from Ireland land apace upon the English shores, but first come over the English soldiery, and this is Cottington's method, a most dangerous and political stratagem, for I am able to prove it was his counsel that the rebels should come last over, lest things should be too soon discovered and abhored; this is a plot of the same litter with that of arming the Papists last here; you know it was done with many apologies and pretences before it. I hope the Cavaliers will see these delusions and come away with the King to his Parliament, and leave the Papists to themselves; it would be an act worthy of a chronicle, and I should write their names in letters of gold.
In No. 12, page 89, is the following passage:—I am persuaded in time they [the Royalists] will go near to put down all preaching and praying, and have some religious masque or play instead of morning and evening prayer; it has been an old fashion at Court, amongst the Protestants there, to shut up the Sabbath with some wholesome piece of Ben Jonson or Davenant, a kind of comical divinity. "Aulicus," fie! are you not ashamed so many bishops and so many prelates at Oxford, and bring forth no better a reformation ? [Newspaper Collection, I.]
The Kingdom's Weekly Post, with his packet of letters, publishing his message to the City and country. One number, viz., No. 7 for Dec. 20–28, 1643. Printed by John Hammond according to order [Newspaper Collection, I.]