Illustrated Broadsides--Sir Francis Drake's Operations against the
Spaniards--Papers of News in the Reign of James I.--The first
Periodical Newspaper published in England--Illustrated Tracts relating
to Storms and Floods--Remarkable Murders favourite subjects with the
early Newswriters--Murder of the Rev. Mr. Storre--Murder in
Cornwall--Apparition of Three Skeletons--Visions in the Air--Attempt
on the Life of the Duke of Buckingham--Fall of Meteors at Bawlkin
Green, Berkshire--The _Swedish Intelligencer_--Passage of the River
Leck by Gustavus Adolphus--The Sallee Rovers--The _Weekly News_ of
1638, an Illustrated Paper--The Irish Rebellion of 1641--The Plague in
London--Murder on board an English Ship--The Earl of Strafford--His
Execution on Tower Hill--Archbishop Laud--A Burlesque Play about
him--Attack by the Mob on Lambeth Palace--Caricature of the Devil
offering Laud a Cardinal's Hat.
[Illustration: THE VALIANT EXPLOITS OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE, 1587.]
Before, and for a long time after, the general use of newspapers,
illustrated broadsides were published relating to particular events, or
satirising the vices and follies of the period. In a broadside adorned
with a woodcut representing Death and Time, and entitled, _The Doleful
Dance, and Song of Death_, allusion is made to the 'Fatal Assizes' of
Oxford, when three hundred persons, including the High Sheriff, died of
a distemper, which was supposed to have originated among the prisoners.
A sheet of a later date refers to the Spanish Armada and the Gunpowder
Plot; while a third, entitled, _Tittle-Tattle_, &c., satirises the
gossiping habits of the fair sex, and contains many illustrations of
manners, costume, and character. Such were the publications that did
duty for newspapers in the days of Queen Elizabeth, whose subjects,
however, were not left wholly without information as to passing events.
In 1587 there was published an illustrated tract giving an account of
the doings of Sir Francis Drake, who was employed by Queen Elizabeth to
harass the Spaniards in their harbours, and hinder them in their
preparations for invading England. These operations, which Drake himself
described as 'singeing the King of Spain's beard,' delayed the sailing
of the Armada, and gave Elizabeth time to prepare for defence. The tract
referred to is entitled, '_The true and perfect Newes of the worthy and
valiant exploytes performed and done by that valiant Knight Syr Frauncis
Drake; Not only at Sancto Domingo, and Carthagena, but also nowe at
Cales, and upon the Coast of Spayne, 1587_. _Printed at London, by J.
Charlewood, for Thomas Hackett._' There is an account, in verse, written
by one Thomas Greepe, of the doings of Sir Francis Drake and other sea
captains. The author tells his reader, 'Here hast thou, gentle Reader,
set forth unto thee the most worthy and valiant exploytes and
enterpryses, lately atchieved and done by that valiant Knight Syr
Frauncis Drake & others not pend in lofty verse, nor curiously handled,
but playnly and truly, so that it may be well understood of the
Reader.' There is no attempt made to illustrate the events related in
the tract, but on the title-page there is a woodcut of a ship in full
sail, which was perhaps intended to represent the admiral's own vessel.
I have reproduced it on a reduced scale, as an early specimen of marine
draughtsmanship.
Thomas Greepe commences his poem with the following rhapsody:--
'Triumph, O England, and rejoice,
And prayse thy God incessantly
For this thy Queene, that pearle of choyce,
Which God doth blesse with victory!
In countryes strange, both farre and neere,
All raging foes her force doth feare.
Yee worthy wights that doo delighte
To heare of Novels strange and rare,
What valors, woone by a famous knight,
May please you marke I shall declare.
Such rare exploytes performde and done
As none the like hath ever woone.'
He gives a list of the ships under Drake's command:--
'Twenty-five ships were then preparde,
Fifteene Pinnaces, brave and fine,
Well furnished for his safe garde,
Preventing foes that would him tyne.
With Masters good and Marriners rare
As ever tooke charge, I dare compare.
* * * * *
The _Bonaventure_, a ship royall,
Cheefe Admirall then of the fleete,
Sir Frauncis Drake, cheefe Generall,
As by desertes he was most meete.
Most worthy Captaynes of hand and heart
In this boon voyage then tooke hys part.
The _Primrose_ next, Vice-Admirall,
Appoynted by thyre best device,
Captayne Frobisher, Vice-Generall--
A valiant Captayne, ware and wyse.
Captayne Carelell they did ordayne
Lieftenant-Generall on the mayne.'
The poem thus winds up:--
'God save our Queene of merry England,
His sacred word long to maintaine;
Her Graces Navie and royall bande,
Through his good Grace, may long remaine.
Lord blesse her counsell, and keepe them aye
With all true subjects night and day.
Finis, quoth Thomas Greepe.'
This curious poem is supplemented by a letter, written by Sir Francis
Drake, 'To the right reverende, godly, learned Father, my very good
friend, M. John Fox, preacher of the word of God.' This was John Fox,
the Martyrologist, who died in 1587. The letter proceeds: 'Mister Fox,
whereas we have had of late such happy successe against the Spanyardes,
I do assure myselfe that you have faithfully remembered us in your good
prayers, and therefore I have not forgotten, breefly to make you
partaker thereof. The 19. of Aprill we arrived within the road of
Calles, where we found very many shipping, but amongst the rest 32 of
exceeding burden, lade and to be laden with provision, and prepared to
furnish the King's Navie, intended with all speede against England, the
which when we had boorded, and also furnished our severall ships with
provision as we thought sufficient, wee burnt; and although by the space
of two dayes and two nights that we continued there, we were still
endangered, both with thundering shott from the towne, and assailed with
the roaring Cannons of twelve galleys; yet we suncke two of them, and
one great Argosey, and still avoyded them with very small hurt, and so
at our departure we brought away foure ships of provision, to the great
terror of our enemies, and honour to ourselves, as it may appeare by a
most curteous Letter written unto me with a Flagge of truce by Duke
Petro, Generall of the Galleys. But whereas it is most certayne that the
king doth not onely make speedy preparation in Spayne, but likewise
expected a very great Fleete from the Straytes, and divers other places,
that should joyne with his forces to invade England; we purpose to sette
apart all feare of danger, and by Gods furtherance to proceed by all the
good means we can devise to prevent their coming; wherefore I shall
desire you to continue faithfull in remembrance of us in your prayers
that our purpose may take that good effect, as God may be glorified, his
Church, our Queene and country, preserved, and these enemies of the
trueth utterly vanquished, that we may have continuall peace in Israel.
Fro aboord her Majesties good ship the _Elizabeth Bonaventure_.
'Your loving freende, and faythfull Sonne in Christ Jesus,
'FRAUNCIS DRAKE.'
In the reign of James I. papers of news began to be published, but they
only appeared occasionally, and were chiefly devoted to foreign
intelligence. In 1619 we have 'Newes out of Holland,' followed by others
in 1620, 1621, and 1622. These occasional tracts were afterwards
converted into a regular weekly publication, entitled the '_Weekly
News_,' printed by J. D. for Nichs. Bourne and T. Archer. This was the
first periodical newspaper published in England. But long before this
many illustrated tracts and pamphlets were published relating to events
of recent occurrence. In one dated 1607 occurs the earliest instance I
have met with of an attempt to illustrate the news of the day. It is
entitled '_Wofull Newes from Wales, or the lamentable loss of divers
Villages and Parishes (by a strange and wonderful Floud) within the
Countye of Monmouth in Wales: which happened in January last past, 1607,
whereby a great number of his Majesties subjects inhabiting in these
parts are utterly undone_.' The writer of this news-book describes the
flood, and then, taking it for his text, preaches a sermon upon it. It
is printed in Old English, and is plentifully interspersed with pious
exhortations and scriptural references. It has on the title a woodcut, a
fac-simile of which is given on the next page.
This interesting little tract has a preface, in which the author
explains the difficulty he felt in producing it in the short time that
was allowed him for the purpose:--'Reader, when these newes were
brought, and an importunitie used to me that I would give the same
forme, and bestow an exhortation on them, I was unwilling, both in
regard of that short space (of lesse than one day which was limited to
undertake the matter) and also in respect of the usual unfaithfulness of
men ordinarily in reporting of such accidents as these bee; whereby it
often falleth out that the relation of them reapeth much discredit. But
when I could not have these just excuses taken, I began and finished
this businesse, as the shorte space wold permit me.'
The old story of the child washed away in a cradle, so often related as
having occurred in great floods, and which Mr. Millais has immortalised
in one of his pictures, is here told probably for the first
time:--'Another little childe is affirmed to have bene cast upon land in
a Cradle, in which was nothing but a Catte, the which was discerned, as
it came floating to the shore, to leape still from one side of the
Cradle unto the other, even as if she had been appointed steersman to
preserve the small barke from the waves' furie.'
[Illustration: GREAT FLOOD IN MONMOUTHSHIRE, 1607.]
Another tract of the same date is illustrated with a woodcut similar to
the one here copied, but it has in addition several more figures,
including a cradle with a child in it floating on the water. This tract
is entitled '_A true report of certaine wonderful overflowings of waters
now lately in Summersetshire, Norfolk, and other places in England,
destroying many thousands of men, women, and children, overthrowing and
bearing downe whole townes and villages, and drowning infinite numbers
of sheepe and other cattle_.' It is written in the same sermonising
style, beginning by calling men to repent, and to take warning from
these signs of God's anger. Then follows the narrative. The inundation
was caused by an irruption of the sea, and many incidents are related of
the flood. Here the cradle story is again told:--'An infant likewise was
found swimming in a cradle, some mile or two fro' ye place where it was
known to be kept, and so was preserved; for the cradle was not of
wicker, as ours are here, but of strong, thicke bordes, closely joynted
together, and that saved the infant's life.' This narrative of the
Somersetshire flood was reprinted in another tract with '_An Addition of
other and more strange Accidents happening by these Flouds, and brought
to light since the first publishing of this Booke_.' This second edition
is illustrated with the identical woodcut that is used in the tract
relating the floods in Wales. The two tracts recounting the
Somersetshire floods were 'printed at London by W. I. for Edward White,
and are to be sold at the signe of the Gunne, at the North doore of
Paules.' That describing the flood in Wales was 'printed for W. W., and
are to be sold in Paules Church-yarde at the sign of the Grey-hound.' In
those days printers frequently combined the functions of engraver and
printer; and as regards the tracts under notice, we must conclude that
the printer supplied each of his customers with the same woodcut, or
that the booksellers of the time were in the habit of lending their
woodcuts to each other.
Storms, floods, and burnings were favourite themes with the early
newswriters, and several illustrated tracts exist describing such
calamities. They are more or less interspersed with pious exhortations,
but the narrative is rarely allowed to flag, and every incident is
minutely described. There is '_Woeful newes from the West parts of
England of the burning of Tiverton_,' 1612; and a small quarto pamphlet
of 1613, printed in old English, affords another good example of this
kind of news. It is entitled--it will be observed how fond the old
newswriters were of alliterative titles--'_The Wonders of this windie
winter, by terrible stormes and tempests, to be losse of lives and
goods of many thousands of men, women, and children. The like by Sea and
Land hath not been seene nor heard of in this age of the world. London.
Printed by G. Eld for John Wright, and are to be sold at his Shop neere
Christ-Church dore._ 1613.' On the title-page is a woodcut, a copy of
which is annexed.
[Illustration: GREAT STORM, 1613.]
The tract opens very much in the manner of a sermon, and declares the
dreadful occurrences related are intended to 'move sinful mankind to
repentance and newnesse of life.' It then goes on to describe 'that
within these three fore-passed months of October, November, and
December, the devouring gulfes of the Sea hath swallowed up above two
hundred saile of ships, as well of our own Country as of neighbouring
Nations, with great store of passengers, seafaring men, and owners of
the same, adventuring their dear lives in the managing of the aforesaid
ships, with all their goods, and merchandizes, making for our country
all lost; yea, all, I say, in these three fore-passed months, hath been
lost and drenched in the deep vaults of this watery world, a thing both
lamentable and fearfull, that in so short a time, nay, in a small part
of the yeare, even in an instant, so many heavy mischances should
happen, and so many worthy vessels of adventure miscarrie, which had bin
sufficient (if goodspeed had prevailed) to have inricht a whole Citie
and bettered a kingdome; but such is the will of God, and such is His
just indignation against us.
'By certification from men of good accompt and calling, it is reported
and knowne for truth, that in the month of October last, a fleete of
fourteene sayle of ships making from Newcastle towards London, laden
with sea-coale and other commodities of those parts, had their passage,
by the tyranny of the windes, most untimely stopt, and violently caste
into the ocean's wombe, in which ships were perished to the number of a
hundred and forty seafaring men, besides other passengers, both of men
and women, which at that time made their watery graves in the deepe sea.
This first strooke feare into the hearts of people, which hath been
since seconded with many calamities, which lieth heavy upon the heart of
the reporter.' The writer then goes on to relate that between 'Dover and
Calice there hath been found floating upon the waters in one weeke of
fowle weather above seven hundred drowned persons of divers nations, as
of English, Dutch, French, and Spanish, with parts and parcels of many
splitted ships.' Further details are given at great length, and in
rather a wordy manner. For instance, the writer describes the great
number of women who are made widows by the disasters at sea, 'besides
fatherlesse children and children fatherlesse.' Several examples are
related of the force of the wind. 'A man and his wife riding over
Maidenhead Bridge upon one horse, by the fierceness of the wind, were
blowne beside, and there drowned both horse and all. God be merciful
unto us and preserve us from all such like mischances. The like mishap
befell in November last unto two Yorkshire men, as it is verified by
some gentlemen of the Inns of Court and Chancery, which knew the
parties, the one of them a tanner, named Francis Browne, the other a
clothier, called Richard Smith, both dwelling in a towne neere Wakefield
side called Thorby; which two countriemen falling out upon small
occassions wilfully purposed to come up to London, and their put their
causes of themselves to the Lawes tryall; yet notwithstanding came they
up together, where in riding over a bridge about Bedfordshire, and
conferring of their inward grudges, they were blowne both beside into
the river, where, by the fierceness of the windes, they were most
lamentably drowned, both horse and men; and thus by sodaine death ended
their malice, to the fear and amazement of all such as well could
witness their envious proceedings. These and such like accidents may be
fearful examples for the world to behold, especially for rich men,
shewing to them the certaintie of life and goods subject to the chances
of death and fortune, according to the saying of a worthy philosopher,
"Full little thinks the man at morning sun
What hap to him befalls ere day be done."'
A great many other instances are related of the fury of the tempests,
all of which the writer feels certain 'have been laid upon us for our
sinnes;' and winds up with a pious exhortation to take warning.
[Illustration: FLOODS AND TEMPESTS, 1613.]
Another tract of the same character and date, also printed in black
letter, has a larger and more elaborate woodcut on the title-page,
representing sinking ships, the shore strewed with dead bodies, and on
the outside of a church tower the devil is seen throwing down the broken
steeple. The following is the address to the reader:--'Reader, I do here
present unto thee and to thy understanding (if thou hast any) some part
of the lamentable losses and unrecoverable mischances that have
happened by occassion of these late blustering stormes of winde, and an
innumerable deal of rayne, the which a great many thousands have too
true cause to beleeve, because they are sharers in the misfortunes that
this outragious weather hath caused. Now, if thou hast sustained no loss
thyselfe, perhaps thou wilt not beleeve these things to be true that I
have written; but if thou wilt or doest beleeve, then pray to God that
it will please Him to give them patience that are loosers, and humilitie
that are winners, and give God thanks that he hath so blessed thee that
thou hast no share in these mishaps. But if thou wilt not beleeve, goe
and looke, or else remaine still in thy unbeliefe.' A copy of the
woodcut is given on the preceding page.
Another pamphlet, of 1613, has the annexed woodcut, and is entitled
'_Lamentable Newes, shewing the Wonderful Deliverance of Maister Edmond
Pet, Sayler, and Maister of a Ship, dwelling in Seething-lane, in
London, neere Barking Church; with other strange things lately hapned
concerning those great windes and tempestuous weather, both at Sea and
Lande_. _Imprinted at London by T. C., for William Barley, dwelling over
against Cree Church, neere Algate._ 1613.' It describes the wreck of a
Newcastle ship on the east coast, and how 'Maister Pet,' after being
exposed to the winds and waves for forty-eight hours, was rescued by a
Dutch man-of-war, he being the only survivor from his ship. It will be
seen the woodcut represents two seamen lowering what appears to be an
arm-chair into the sea. This was probably the artist's notion of the
safest and most comfortable way to rescue shipwrecked persons. The same
tract relates other occurrences during the stormy weather, such as 'A
man neere Bedford, being thaching a house, was blowne off and kild;
trees blown up by the rootes, houses and chimnies quite blown downe,'
&c. 'All which is for our sinnes.'
[Illustration: RESCUE OF EDMUND PET, MARINER, 1613.]
Remarkable murders were even more favourite subjects with the early
news-writers than storms and floods, a partiality that has continued
down to our own time. A tract of 1613 is devoted to the details of
'Three Bloodie Murders,' but it is mainly taken up with an account of
the murder of the Rev. William Storre, of Market Rasen, Lincolnshire.
The full title runs thus:--'_Three Bloodie Murders. The first committed
by Francis Cartwright upon William Storre, M. Arts Minister and Preacher
at Market Rasen in the countie of Lincolne. The second committed by
Elizabeth James on the body of her Mayde, in the Parish of Egham in
Surrie: who was condemned for the same fact at Sainte Margaret hill in
Southwark, the 2 of July 1613, and lieth in the White Lion till her
deliverie; discovered by a dombe Mayde and her Dogge. The third
committed upon a stranger very lately near Highgate foure mile from
London, very strangely found out by a Dogge. Also the 2 of July 1613._'
The circumstances relating to the murder of the Rev. William Storre are
given at great length and with much minuteness:--'Not long since, there
happened some controversey between the Lords and the rest of the
inhabitants of Market Raisin in the Countie of Lincolne concerning the
Commons and Libertie in the Towne Fields; and the matter being mooted by
one of them in the Church immediately after evening prayer on a Sabaoth
day, divers hot intemperate speeches passed among them; whereupon their
Minister, whose name was Mr. Storre, much disliking so indiscreete a
course, wished them to have respect both to the time and place where
they were: And further advised, seeing the cause in hand concerned a
multitude, (amongst whom, some of the least government would always be
the readiest to speake) that they would therefore make choice of two or
three of the fittest and most substantial men, to answere and undertake
for all the rest. This motion seemed to please them well, and therefore
they intreated him, that he would first, as a man indifferent speake
what he thought concerning the cause. But he not wishing to intermeddle
in that matter, twice or thrice denied their request; and the rather,
for that there was present one Francis Cartwright, a young man of an
unbridled humour, the only Sonne and Heire to one of the same Lordes of
the Towne, betwixt whom and himselfe, there was growne no small
unkindnesse. Yet in the end being pressed thereunto by their
importunities with the consent of both the parties he delivered his
opinion, useing therein such discretion and reasons to confirme the same
that they could not directly except against him. Notwithstanding, seeing
him incline more to the right of the Freeholders and the rest of the
Commons than to favour their intended purpose, they seemed to dislike
his speaches, and to cavill at the same.
'Young Cartwright standing by, not able any longer to contain himselfe
tooke occassion hereupon to breake forthe abruptly into these wordes:
The Priest deserveth a good Fee, he speaketh so like a Lawyer. Maister
Storre having often aforetime had experience of his hotte stomacke and
hastinesse as well towards others as himselfe, thought it best to reply
little against him for that present.' The Rev. Mr. Storre's forbearance
was of no avail, for next day young Cartwright took occasion to renew
the quarrel, and in the public market-place 'proclaymed that Storre was
a scurvie, lowsie, paltrie Priest; that whoever sayd he was his friend
or spake in his cause, was a Rogue and a Rascall, that he would (but for
the Law) cut his Throat, tear out his Heart, and hang his Quarters on
the May-pole.' These sanguinary threats caused Mr. Storre to seek the
protection of the Magistrates; and he afterwards preached a sermon
containing words which young Cartwright thought were purposely directed
against him, so that he 'more and more thirsted for revenge.'
'About a week after, he espied Mr. Storre walking about eight of the
clocke in the morning alone, by the south side of the Towne in his
cloake, went to a cutler's shop, and tooke out of the same a short
sword, formerly provided and made very sharpe for that purpose, and
presently overtooke him.' The young man attacked the clergyman, and the
pamphlet gives a minute account of the dreadful wounds he inflicted
upon him until 'A Mayde coming that way by occassion of businesse,
cried out, whereupon he fledde.'
The clergyman died of the frightful wounds he received, and the murderer
was taken and carried before a justice, 'where, either for lacke of
their due information of the truth, or by the corrupt and favourable
affection of the magistrate, or both, there was a very slender bayle
taken, and the malefactor by this flight sent away.' Cartwright's
friends 'laboured by corrupt dealing and wrong information' to procure
his pardon; but so barbarous a murder could not be hushed up, and the
culprit eventually 'fled beyonde the seas.'
[Illustration: MURDER OF THE REV MR. STORRE, 1613.]
On the title-page of the pamphlet is a woodcut representing the murder
of the Rev. Mr. Storre, which is copied above.
The two other murders are not related at such great length, and are not
illustrated.
This is the earliest example I have met with of a kind of illustrated
news that is very popular even in our own day. From the pains taken to
describe all the circumstances of the crime and its consequences, the
author evidently regarded it as a subject of the highest interest, and
worthy of all the elaboration he was capable of bestowing upon it.
[Illustration: NEWS FROM PENRHYN IN CORNWALL, 1618.]
There is a very curious and rare tract of the date of 1618, which
describes the circumstances of another remarkable murder. It is entitled
'_News from Perin (Penrhyn), in Cornwall, of a most Bloody and
unexampled Murther very lately committed by a Father on his owne sonne
(who was lately returned from the Indyes), at the instigation of a
mercilesse Step Mother, together with their severall most wretched
endes, being all performed in the Month of September last, Anno 1618._'
On the title-page is a woodcut representing the discovery of the murder,
which is reprinted in the body of the pamphlet. Another woodcut
illustrates a scene before the murder is committed, where the son hands
his bag of treasure to his step-mother. The story is a very minute
history of a scapegrace son, who, after various adventures, returns to
his father's house a penitent and reformed man. Many years having
elapsed, the son is not recognised by his father, who has married a
second wife and is in straitened circumstances. The son begs a night's
lodging and resolves not to make himself known till next morning. In the
meantime, to show that he will be able to recompense his host and
hostess for their hospitality, he gives the latter a bag of gold and
jewels to take care of for him till the morrow. The woman, excited by
the possession of the gold, thinks how easy it would be to relieve
themselves from their embarrassments by murdering their guest and
keeping possession of his treasure. She urges her husband to do the
deed. After many refusals he consents, and the father murders his own
son. In the morning it is made known to him who his victim is, and, in a
fit of remorse and despair, he kills himself; upon which the guilty wife
also commits suicide, and the tract thus winds up:--'And to the end it
may be a warning to all covetous step mothers, and a content for all
easie Fathers to avoyde the like hereafter. At the entreaty of divers
Gentlemen in the Countrey, It is as neere the life as Pen and Incke
could draw it out, thus put in Print.'
William Lillo, the author of _George Barnwell_, is said to have founded
his play of 'Fatal Curiosity' on this tract. Lillo was a prosperous
London jeweller and a successful dramatic author. He depicted the
harrowing details of this tragic story with great power; and the agonies
of old Wilmot, the father, constitute one of the most appalling and
affecting incidents of the drama.
A curious black-letter tract of 1616, which is illustrated with a
fearful apparition of three skeletons, is entitled, '_Miraculous Newes
from the cittie of Holdt, in the Lordship of Munster (in Germany), the
twentieth of September last past 1616, wherein there were plainly beheld
three dead bodyes rise out of their Graves, admonishing the people of
Judgements to come_.' The truth of this miraculous news is vouched for
by 'divers worthy Persons and Burgimasters of the same citty,' whose
names are given. This miraculous appearance was preceded by a fearful
tempest of thunder and lightning. 'When this great tempest of thunder
and lightning was ceased, there was heard throughout all the parts and
places of the citty a most hideous and dolefull clamour or outcry,
striking terror into all the people, yet no man could perceive whence it
came, or where this clamour should bee. The people came over all the
citty after the noise, but could not finde it; for when they were at one
corner of the citty they then heard it at another; and when they were
come to that other corner there it seemed to them to be in the middle of
the citty; and to them that were in the middest it seemed farther off.
So that all heard it, but none could find where it was, or from whence
it came.
'At length the people assembling in the churchyard behelde there so
strange and incredible judgements sent by the Lord, that for the most
part the beholders fell flatt on their faces to the ground, crying loude
unto the Lord for mercy. For there they beheld coming out of their
graves three most ghostly and fearfull dead bodyes.
1.
'Whereof the first that was seen to arise out of the earth, seemed very
white, cleane, and cleere, who opening his mouth and beating his handes
together spake thus: "Blessed be God in the highest Heaven, that our
releasement is come, for we have wayted many a hundred yeare for this
time." The people hearing this fell upon their knees and prayed unto the
Lord with weeping and great lamentation, saying: O Lord beholde us with
thy merciful eyes, and let us not be overwhelmed or smothered in our
sinnes.
2.
'The second dead man that arose out of the earth caused farre greater
feare and trembling then the former, for the beholders saw him
altogether from the toppe to the toe, like unto a burning fire; he
likewise opened his mouth, and wringing his handes, and tearing his
haire, cryed with a loude voyce: Repent yee, Repent yee; Almighty God
hath taken his chastising rodde in hand, to punish the people for their
sinnes, for their great wealth, for their great talke or presumptious
wordes, for their pompe, and for their pride: The which the Lord will no
longer suffer nor endure, for the cry and complaint of these sinnes is
asended up into his eares; Wherefore hee will destroy you with a
suddaine sicknesse, and fiery Pestilence, so that you shall not have so
much time as one houre, to utter one worde, to call upon God.
[Illustration: MIRACULOUS NEWS FROM MUNSTER IN GERMANY, 1616.]
3.
'After this fiery apparition and threatening speech ended, there
appeared likewise rising out of the grave a third dead man, grinding and
gnashing his teeth together, striking his handes the one against the
other, and crying with a most fearful and hideous voyce, insomuch that
it seemed to all the multitude there present, that the earth would
certainly have rent in sunder; and spake that all the people plainly
heard and understood his wordes, which were these; Woe, woe, woe, to
the wicked; this is the time that wee have long attended and looked for;
wherefore (ye people) looke to it, and beware lest the great day of the
Lord come upon you suddainly, and fall upon you unprovided; for the time
of his comming is neerer than you thinke.
'After the uttering of these wordes, the three dead Bodyes vanished and
the Graves were shut againe, the heavens became cleere, the Tempest
ceased, and all the people being released of their present horror and
feare, rejoyced, and assembling themselves together, gave glory and
laude, and praise unto the Lord for his Fatherly mercy and unspeakable
goodnesse, in the mitigation of his furie, and withdrawing his heavy
hand for the present. And thereupon appointed a sett day of
supplications, prayers, and fasting, with true and unfained Repentance
to be proclaimed, and observed.'
This account is supplemented by an 'apology,' setting forth that men
must not be incredulous because they hear of miraculous
occurrences--that God is able to bring back the age of miracles, &c. The
writer evidently thought his readers might require to be strengthened by
argument before they could place implicit faith in his narrative, and so
he takes some pains in his 'apology' to convince them that however
unnatural and uncommon may be the appearances he relates, the wickedness
of the world was a sufficient justification for this and other
extraordinary events. A copy of the woodcut that illustrates this
curious production is shown on the preceding page.
[Illustration: 'GOOD NEWES TO CHRISTENDOME,' 1620.]
In 1620 Nathaniel Butter printed an illustrated tract entitled _'Good
Newes to Christendome, sent to a Venetian in Ligorne, from a Merchant in
Alexandria, Discovering a Wonderfull and Strange Apparition, visibly
seene for many dayes together in Arabia over the place where the
supposed Tombe of Mahomet (the Turkish Prophet) is inclosed; By which
the learned Arabians prognosticate the Reducing and Calling of the great
Turke to Christianitie. With many other Notable Accidents: But the most
remarkable is the miraculous rayning of Bloud about Rome_.' This
tract, which is very long and discursive, relates, among other things,
the apparition of a woman in the air, with a book in her hand, being the
same apparition that is described at great length in a tract of 1642,
which I shall quote hereafter. In the tract under notice there is a
woodcut representing an army in the clouds--the clouds raining blood
over a city; a woman with sword and book; and a crowd of men below
watching the aerial phenomenon. The writer, in winding up his narrative,
thus addresses his reader:--'If you cannot beleeve it as truth, yet to
make that use of it as if it were true; and then shall you know, there
is but one way to happiness, and all the predictions, prophesies,
visions, apparitions, comets, inundations, stormes, tempests, famine,
warre, alteration, and subversion of kingdomes, with all the cabinet of
mysteries, tend to this end that _premium_ and _poena_ be the mastering
curbs of the world; that is, that God hath a _Magazine_ of judgements to
inflict on the obstinate sinner with punishments: and a store-house of
mercy to support the penitent soule with comfort.'
In 1627 we come upon a very curious and literal example of illustrated
news. In that year Charles I., having declared war against France,
fitted out an expedition of a hundred sail and an army of 7000 men for
the support of the Protestant cause in that country. The King's
favourite, the self-confident and vainglorious Duke of Buckingham, took
the command of the expedition, although he was totally unfit for that
position. He was personally brave, but possessed no other quality of a
commander. He had no knowledge or experience of the art of war, and was
too proud and presumptuous to be guided by the advice of others. The
expedition was destined for Rochelle, then in possession of the
Huguenots; but Buckingham went to sea without any understanding with his
allies; and, when he anchored off Rochelle, he was refused admission to
the town. He then directed his course to the neighbouring Isle of Rhe,
where he succeeded in landing his men under the fire of his ships, and
defeated a small French force commanded by the governor of the island.
Instead of immediately following up his success, Buckingham allowed the
French commander to secure and strengthen the fortress of St. Martin;
and when he did advance he foolishly left the enemy in possession of
another fort in his rear. He besieged the Castle of St. Martin for many
weeks, and then led his men to storm the place without having made a
single breach in the walls. They were repulsed at all points with
considerable loss, and attempted to retreat to their ships; but Marshal
Schomberg with a French army had thrown himself between the Duke and the
fleet, and had put a strong corps and artillery into the fort of La
Pree, which Buckingham had left in his rear. No precautions whatever had
been taken, and they suffered great loss before they could re-embark.
The expedition was a total failure, and Buckingham returned to England
beaten and disgraced.
While the Duke of Buckingham was besieging the citadel of St. Martin, an
attempt was made, or was said to have been made, upon his life by a
French Papist or Jesuit, with a thick four-edged knife. An account of
the Duke's proceedings while in the Isle of Rhe appears to have been
sent home, and was published probably with a view of influencing the
people in his favour and showing to what dangers he was exposed in the
national service. There is in the British Museum a tract entitled '_A
Continued Journal of all the Proceedings of the Duke of Buckingham his
Grace, in the Isle of Ree since the last day of July. With the names of
the Noblemen as were drowned and taken in going to releeve the Fort. As
also the Portraiture of the knife with which his Excellence should have
been murdered, which very knife was brought over by Captaine Buckestone
and delivered unto the Duchess of Buckingham her Grace on Monday night
last. Published by Authoritie. London, Printed for Thomas Walkley, and
are to be sold at his shop at the Eagle and Childe in Britaines Bursse,
1627._' The following account is given of the intended assassination of
the Duke:--
'Received the 27 of August.
'Here I have sent you all the remarkable Newes that I have upon the
last of _July_. There was taken by a _Perdue_ of ours, in the night (a
Frenchman), that was sent by _Monsieur de Thorax_, the Governour of the
Citadell, with a full intent to kill my Lord Duke; and for the speedy
effecting of the same he had prepared a strange and dangerous _Poynado_,
which, although it was taken about him, he confidently denied that he
came not with any intent to kill the _Duke_ untill he came to the
Tortures, which being presented before him he promised to discover all
to my _Lord_ if he would promise him life, the which he did, and doth so
performe with him, like a noble and mercifull Generall.' The tract
contains a large woodcut of a knife, a reduced copy of which is given
above, and underneath the engraving is the following description:--'This
is the true Portraiture of the poysoned knife, both in length and
breadth, having foure edges, with which a Jesuited Vilaine was sent out
of the Fort by Monsieur de Thorax, the Governour of that Island, with an
intent to have killed his Excellence, but by God's providence was
delivered. His Grace hath used the French so nobly in all respects that
he rather deserved their love than any wayes to have his life thus
treacherously sought after, under the pretence that it was a meritorious
act. Which knife was brought over into England by Captaine Buckestone,
and by him delivered unto the Dutches of Buckingham her Grace on Monday
night last.'
[Illustration: KNIFE INTENDED FOR THE ASSASSINATION OF THE DUKE OF
BUCKINGHAM, 1627.]
Whether the attempt on Buckingham's life was a reality or was got up for
the purpose of endearing the court favourite to all good Protestants, it
foreshadowed his ultimate fate. In the following year, while he was at
Portsmouth, and about to embark on a second expedition to Rochelle, he
was stabbed by Felton, who had served under him in the expedition to
the Isle of Rhe.
Besides the subjects already noticed, the old news-writers delighted in
signs and portents in the air, and failed not to improve the occasion
whenever they met with a text so much to their liking. There was a fall
of meteorites in 1628, which was chronicled at the time in an illustrated
pamphlet, entitled, '_Looke up and See Wonders: a miraculous Apparition
in the Ayre, lately seen in Barke-shire, at Bawlkin Greene, neere
Hatford, April 9th, 1628._' The author, like his fellow-chroniclers,
already quoted, regards the occurrence as a sign of Heaven's displeasure,
and addresses his readers thus:--'So Benummed wee are in our Sences, that
albeit God himselfe Holla in our Eares, wee by our wills are loath to
heare him. His dreadfull Pursiuants of _Thunder and Lightning_ terrifie
vs so long as they haue vs in their fingers, but beeing off, wee dance
and sing in the midst of our Follies.' He then goes on to tell how 'the
foure great quarter-masters of the World (_the foure Elements_) ... haue
bin in ciuill Warres one against another.... As for _Fire_, it hath
denied of late to warme vs, but at vnreasonable rates, and extreame hard
conditions. But what talke I of this earthy nourishment of _fire_? How
haue the _Fires_ of Heauen (some few yeares past) gone beyond their
bounds, and appeared in the shapes of Comets and Blazing Starres?... The
_Aire_ is the shop of Thunder and Lightning. In that, hath of late been
held a Muster of terrible enemies and threatners of Vengeance, which the
great Generall of the Field who Conducts and Commands all such Armies
(_God Almighty, I meane_) auert from our Kingdome, and shoote the arrowes
of his indignation some other way, vpon the bosomes of those that would
confound his Gospell.... Many windowes hath he set open in heauen, to
shewe what Artillery hee has lying there, and many of our Kings haue
trembled, when they were shewne vnto them. What blazing Starres (euen at
Noone-dayes) in those times hung houering in the Aire? How many
frightfull Ecclipses both of Sun and Moone?... It is not for man to
dispute with God, why he has done this so often ... but, with feare and
trembling casting our eyes vp to Heauen, let vs now behold him, bending
his Fist onely, as lately he did to the terrour and affrightment of all
the Inhabitants dwelling within a Towne in the County of Barkshire....
The name of the Towne is _Hatford_, some eight miles from _Oxford_. Ouer
this Towne, vpon Wensday being the ninth of this instant Moneth of
_April_, 1628, about fiue of the clocke in the afternoone this
miraculous, prodigious and fearefull handy-worke of God was presented....
The weather was warme, and without any great shewe of distemperature,
only the skye waxed by degrees a little gloomy, yet not so darkened but
that the Sunne still and anon, by the power of the brightnesse, brake
through the thicke clouds....
'A gentle gale of wind then blowing from betweene the _West_ and
_North-west_, in an instant was heard, first a hideous rumbling in the
_Ayre_, and presently after followed a strange and fearfull peale of
Thunder, running vp and downe these parts of the _Countrey_, but it
strake with the loudest violence, and more furious tearing of the
_Ayre_, about a place called _The White Horse Hill_, than in any other.
The whole order of this thunder, carried a kind of Maiesticall state
with it, for it maintayned (_to the affrighted Beholders' seeming_) the
fashion of a fought Battaile.
'It beganne thus: First, for an onset, went off one great _Cannon_ as it
were of _thunder_ alone, like a warning peece to the rest that were to
follow. Then a little while after was heard a second; and so by degrees
a third, vntil the number of 20 were discharged (or thereabouts) in very
good order, though in very great terror.
'In some little distance of time after this was audibly heard the sound
of a Drum beating a Retreate. Amongst all these angry peales shot off
from Heauen, this begat a wonderful admiration, that at the end of the
report of every cracke, or _Cannon-thundering_, a hizzing noyse made way
through the _Ayre_, not vnlike the flying of _Bullets_ from the mouthes
of great Ordnance; and by the iudgement of all the terror-stricken
witnesses they were _Thunder-bolts_. For one of them was seene by many
people to fall at a place called _Bawlkin Greene_, being a mile and a
half from _Hatford_: Which _Thunder-bolt_ was by one Mistris _Greene_
caused to be digged out of the ground, she being an eye-witnesse amongst
many others, of the manner of the falling.
'The forme of the _Stone_ is three-square, and picked in the end: In
colour outwardly blackish, some-what like Iron: Crusted ouer with that
blacknesse about the thicknesse of a shilling. Within it is soft, of a
grey colour, mixed with some kind of minerall, shining like small peeces
of glasse.
'This _Stone_ brake in the fal: The whole peece is in weight nineteene
pound and a halfe: The greater peece that fell off weigheth fiue pound,
which with other small peeces being put together, make foure and twenty
pound and better....
'It is in the Countrey credibly reported that some other Thunder-stones
haue bin found in other places: but for certainty there was one taken vp
at _Letcombe_, and is now in the custody of the _Shriefe_.'
This curious account is illustrated with a quaint woodcut, in the
foreground of which the thunder-bolt seen by Mistress Green is being
'digged out of the ground.'
[Illustration: FALL OF METEORS AT BAWLKIN GREEN, BERKSHIRE, APRIL 9,
1628.]
Amongst the many publications relating to the victorious career of
Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, there was one entitled the _Swedish
Intelligencer_, printed at London, in 1632, for Nathaniel Butter and
Nicholas Bourne, both of them names associated with the first
establishment of newspapers in England. The _Swedish Intelligencer_
gives very full accounts of the exploits of Gustavus, and it is
illustrated with his portrait, a bird's-eye view of the siege of
Magdeburg, a plan showing how the King of Sweden and his army crossed
the river Lech into Bavaria, and a plan or bird's-eye view of the battle
of Lutzen, where Gustavus was killed. The portrait, the siege of
Magdeburg, and the battle of Lutzen, are engraved on copper, but the
passage of the Lech is a woodcut. I have copied the latter, the others
being too elaborate for reproduction on a reduced scale. The three last
named are very curious as illustrations of war news. Gustavus had
crossed the Danube, and his troops overspread the country between that
river and the river Lech. Field Marshal Tilly was in front of him,
waiting for reinforcements from the army of Wallenstein, in Bohemia, and
the junction of fresh levies raised in Bavaria, with which he hoped to
drive the invaders back across the Danube. The account in the _Swedish
Intelligencer_ of this celebrated passage of the River Lech is too long
for quotation, but I give a condensed version of the circumstances from
other sources.
The Lech takes its rise among the mountains of the Tyrol, and, after
washing the walls of Landsberg and Augsburg, falls into the Danube at a
short distance from the town of Rain. The banks are broken and
irregular, and the channel uncertain. Nor are there many rivers of the
same size in Germany which can be compared with it in the strength and
rapidity of its current. The united forces of Bavaria and the League,
with this efficient means of defence in front, extended their right wing
towards the Danube and their left towards Rain, while the banks of the
river, as far as the city of Augsburg, were observed by their patrols,
supported by detached bodies of infantry. Tilly had taken the precaution
of breaking down the bridges over the Lech, and had thrown up field
works at points where he judged the passage might be considered attended
with fewest difficulties. That the Swedes would attack him in his main
position was a pitch of daring to which, well as he was acquainted with
the enterprising spirit of the king, he could scarcely suspect him of
having yet attained. Such, however, was the full determination of
Gustavus. After he had reconnoitred the course of the Lech for some
miles, at the imminent peril of his life, he fixed upon a point between
Rain and Thierhauppen, where the river makes a sweep to the eastward, as
the spot for carrying his venturous design into effect. The king's
first intention was to throw a floating bridge over the stream, but the
attempt was no sooner made than it was found to be rendered hopeless by
the rapidity of the current. It was then imagined that tressels might be
sunk, and firmly secured by weights in the bed of the river, on which
the flooring of the bridge might afterwards be securely laid. The king
approved of this plan, and workmen were commanded to prepare the
necessary materials at the small village of Oberendorf, situated about
half a mile from the spot. During the night of the 4th of April the work
was entirely finished, the supports fixed in the stream, and the planks
for forming the bridge brought down to the water's edge. The king had,
in the meantime, ordered a trench to be dug along the bank of the river
for the reception of bodies of musketeers, and several new batteries to
be constructed close to the shore, the fire from which, as they were
disposed along a convex line, necessarily crossed upon the opposite
side; those upon the left hand of the Swedes playing upon the left of
the enemy, and those on the right upon the wood held by the Bavarians.
Another battery, slightly retired from the rest, directed its fire
against the entrenchments occupied by Tilly's centre. By daybreak on the
5th, all necessary preparations having been made, the bridge was begun
to be laid, and completed under the king's inspection. Three hundred
Finland volunteers were the first who crossed, excited by the reward of
ten crowns each to undertake the dangerous service of throwing up a
slight work upon the other side for its protection. By four in the
afternoon the Finlanders had finished their undertaking, having been
protected from a close attack by the musketry of their own party and the
batteries behind them, from which the king is said to have discharged
more than sixty shots with his own hand, to encourage his gunners to
charge their pieces more expeditiously. The work consisted merely of an
embankment surrounded by a trench, but it was defended both by the
direct and cross fire of the Swedes. As soon as it was completed,
Gustavus, stationing himself with the King of Bohemia at the foot of
the bridge, commanded Colonel Wrangle, with a chosen body of infantry
and two or three field-pieces, to pass over, and after occupying the
work, to station a number of musketeers in a bed of osiers upon the
opposite side. The Swedes crossed the bridge with little loss, and after
a short but desperate struggle the Imperialists were routed. The whole
of the Swedish army was soon upon the eastern bank of the Lech, where
the king, without troubling himself with the pursuit of the enemy,
commanded his army to encamp, and ordered the customary thanksgivings to
be offered for his victory.[1]
The account in the _Swedish Intelligencer_ is wound up in these words:
'And this is the story of the King's bridge over the _Lech_, description
whereof we have thought worthy to be here in Figure imparted unto you.'
Then follows an 'Explanation of the Letters in the Figure of the
_Bridge_,' given below the illustration. The engraving does not appear
to have been entirely satisfactory to the author, for on its margin the
following words are printed: 'Our Cutter hath made the Ordnance too
long, and to lye too farre into the River. The Hole also marked with R,
should have been on the right hand of the Bridge.'
[Illustration: PASSAGE OF THE RIVER LECH, BY GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS. FROM THE
'SWEDISH INTELLIGENCER,' 1632.]
REFERENCES TO PASSAGE OF THE RIVER LECH.
'A The King of Sweeden, and the King of Bohemia by him.
B The Bridge.
C A Trench or Brestworke, in which the Kings Musketeers were lodged,
betwixt the severall Batteryes of the great Ordnance, which Musketeers
are represented by the small stroakes made right forwards.
D Divers little Field-pieces.
E Plat-formes or Batteryes for the Kings greater Cannon.
F The Halfe-moone, with its Pallisadoe or Stocket, beyond the Bridge,
and for the guard of it. It was scarcely bigge enough to lodge a
hundred men in.
G A little Underwood, or low Bushy place.
H A plaice voyd of wood; which was a Bache, sometimes overflowne.
I A Brestworke for Tillyes Musketeers.
K K Tilly and Altringer; or the place where they were shot.
L The high wood where the Duke of Bavaria stood.
M Tilleyes great Batteryes to shoot down the Bridge.
N A small riveret running thorow the wood.
O Tillyes great Brestworke; not yet finished. Begun at sixe in the
morning; and left off when he was shot.
P Some Horse-guards of Tillyes: layd scatteringly here and there all
along the river from Rain to Augsburg.
Q The kings Horse-guards, and Horse-sentryes.
R A hole in the earth, or casual advantageable place; wherein some of
the Kings Foot were lodged.
S The Hill behind Tillyes great worke.
T The fashion of the Tressels or Arches for the Kings Bridge.'
In 1636 the Sallee Rovers had become very troublesome, and not only
hindered British commerce, on the high seas, but even infested the
English coasts. They had captured and carried into slavery many
Englishmen, for whose release a 'Fleete of Shippes' was sent out in
January, 1636. Assisted by the Emperor of Morocco, the nest of pirates
was destroyed and the captives released. A full account of this
expedition is given in a curious pamphlet, entitled, '_A true Journal of
the Sally Fleet with the proceedings of the Voyage, published by John
Dunton, London, Mariner, Master of the Admirall called the Leopard.
Whereunto is annexed a List of Sally Captives names and the places where
they dwell, and a Description of the three Townes in a Card. London,
printed by John Dawson for Thomas Nicholes, and are to be sold at the
Signe of the Bible in Popes Head Alley, 1637_.' This tract is
illustrated by a large plan of Sallee, engraved on copper, with
representations of six English vessels of war on the sea. After minutely
describing the proceedings of the voyage, and giving a long list of the
captives' names, the journalist winds up in these words: 'All these good
Shippes with the Captives are in safety in England, we give God thanks.
And bless King Charles and all those that love him.'
At the end of the pamphlet is printed the authority for its publication:
'Hampton Court, the 20. of October, 1637. This Journall and Mappe may be
printed.'
There is an illustrated pamphlet of this period which I have not been
able to see. It is entitled, '_Newes, and Strange Newes from St.
Christopher's of a Tempestuous Spirit, which is called by the Indians a
Hurrycano or Whirlwind; whereunto is added the True and Last Relation
(in verse) of the Dreadful Accident which happened at Witticombe in
Devonshire, 21. October, 1638_.'
The _Weekly News_, begun in 1622, had been in existence sixteen years
when the idea of illustrating current events seems to have occurred to
its conductors; for in the number for December 20, 1638, there is,
besides the usual items of foreign news, an account of a 'prodigious
eruption of fire, which exhaled in the middest of the ocean sea, over
against the Isle of Saint Michael, one of the Terceras, and the new
island which it hath made.' The text is illustrated by a full-page
engraving showing 'the island, its length and breadth, and the places
where the fire burst out.' I have not been able to find a copy of the
_Weekly News_ for December 20, 1638, either in the British Museum or
elsewhere. My authority for the above statement is a letter in the
_Times_ of October 13, 1868. As far as I have been able to ascertain, no
other illustrations were published in the _Weekly News_, so that we must
conclude the engraving of the 'prodigious eruption of fire' was an
experiment, which in its result was not encouraging to the proprietor or
conductors of the journal.
[Illustration: TAKING OF THE CASTLE OF ARTAINE, IRELAND, 1641.]
When the Irish Rebellion of 1641 broke out, many news-books were
published describing the transactions in that country, and several of
them are illustrated. I may here remark that the illustrations of events
in these pamphlets, as well as many of those contained in the numerous
tracts published during the Civil War in England, appear to be works of
pure imagination, and were, probably, invented by the artist just as a
modern draughtsman would illustrate a work of fiction. Others, again,
were evidently old woodcuts executed for some other purpose. A few
instances occur, however, where drawings have been made from actual
scenes, and sometimes maps and plans are given as illustrations of a
battle or a siege. This rising of the Roman Catholics in Ireland began
with a massacre of the Protestants, and, according to the tracts
published at the time, the atrocities of recent wars in Bulgaria and
elsewhere were equalled in every way by the Roman Catholics in Ireland
in the seventeenth century. The illustrations in these tracts are very
coarse woodcuts. One represents the arrest of a party of conspirators,
and another is a view of a town besieged, while a third gives a group of
prisoners supplicating for mercy. The best illustration that I have met
with of this Irish news is contained in a pamphlet entitled, '_Approved,
good and happy Newes from Ireland; Relating how the Castle of Artaine
was taken from the Rebels, two of their Captaines kild, and one taken
prisoner by the Protestants, with the arrival of 2000 foot, and 300
horse from England. Also a great skirmish between the Protestants and
the Rebels at a place near Feleston, wherein the English obtained great
renowne and victory: Whereunto is added a true relation of the great
overthrow which the English gave the Rebels before Drogheda, sent in a
letter bearing date the 27 of February to Sir Robert King, Knight, at
Cecill house in the Strand. Printed by order of Parliament. London,
Printed for John Wright 1641._' The woodcut on the title-page of this
tract represents the taking of the castle of Artaine, but there is only
the following very short paragraph relating to it:--'The last news from
Ireland 7 March 1641. The 10 of February our men went to _Artaine_
against a castle so called, which had before done some mischiefe, to
some of our men, the enemy being in it. But the enemy fled before our
second coming, and left the Castle, and a garrison was left in it by
us.' The other news is related more at length, and one of the paragraphs
runs thus:--'On the 13 a man was brought to our City, being taken by
some of our scattering men scouting about our City, who confest without
constraint, that he had killed an _Englishwoman_ at a place called
_Leslipson_, 6 Miles West of our City, and washed his hands in her
bloud, being set on by the popish Priests so to doe; he was presently
hanged, but dyed with much repentance and a protestant, which few do.'
The concluding paragraph of this pamphlet shows the writer to have been
a man of a commercial spirit:--'Tis to be feared that a famine is like
to be in our City, in that still men come to us and provision is short,
and none of yours that come to us bring any vittailes, great taxes are
upon us, more than can be borne. He that had Butter, and Cheese, and
Cloath, at between 6 and 14 shillings a yard here sent by any out of
London might make a good trade of it. Cheshire Cheese is sould here for
sixpence a pound already. Some of your Londoners are come hither
(acquaintance of mine) that will send for such things, for great profit
may be made by them and quicke returne.' Annexed is a facsimile of the
woodcut representing the taking of the Castle of Artaine.
Several other pamphlets relating to the Irish Rebellion are illustrated,
but, with a few exceptions, the cuts bear very little relation to the
subject, and were probably not executed for the purpose. One gives an
account of a victory obtained by the English at Dundalk in 1642, and it
has a woodcut of a man firing a cannon against a town, a copy of which
is appended.
[Illustration: VICTORY AT DUNDALK, 1642.]
The description is in the following words:--'Newes from Ireland. On
Monday morning came three Gentlemen to our City of Dublin from Sir Henry
Tichbourne, who brought a message to the state of a great and happy
victory obtained by the aforesaid Sir Henry Tichbourne with 2000 horse
and foot marched to Ardee, and there put 400 of the Rebels to the sword,
yet lost not one man of our side; from thence upon the Saturday
following, he mustered up his forces against a place called Dundalke
some 14 miles northward from Tredath, where the enemy was 5000 strong,
and well fortified. At his first approach there issued out of the Towne
3000 of the Rebels who all presented themselves in Battallia, our
Forlorne hopes of horse and foot had no sooner fired upon them, but they
routed the Rebels. Captaine Marroe's Troope of horse setting on killed
great store of the Rebels who thereupon retreated to the Towne, made
fast the gates, and ran out at the other end to their boats beforehand
provided: Our Army coming in fired the gates, entred, and killed those
within. Captain Marroe followed the flying foe, and slew abundance of
them upon the strand, and it is reported by them that if he had known
the Fords and the River, he had cut them all off, if he had gained the
other side of the River, but being a stranger, could not doe it (wanting
a guide) without endangering the Troope. There was slaine of the Rebels
in this sudden skirmish not less than 1100 besides what they took
prisoners. Sir Philomy O'Neale fled with the rest of the Commanders; but
10 common soldiers were lost of our side. Sir Philomy O'Neale made speed
away to a place called Newry, a chiefe garrison of the Rebels. Sir Henry
Tichbourne hath sent 600 men more to Dublin, intending that place shall
be the next he begins withall, which is granted, and tomorrow there
goeth to him 500 men, if not 5000, for whose safety and prosperity in
the meantime is the subject of our daily prayers that he may have as
good success as in all his other designs from the first till this time;
for no man was ever so beloved by his souldiers, that protest to follow
him while they can stand. We are in great hope he will recover the Newry
very shortly; it is credibly reported, that they got 20,000 pounds at
least in pillage at Dundalke.'
In another pamphlet, dated 1642, there is an account of a battle at
Kilrush, which is also illustrated with a woodcut. The circumstances are
related in detail, but they are sufficiently set forth in the title,
without further quotation:--'Captaine Yarner's Relation of the Battaile
fought at Kilrush upon the 15th day of Aprill, by my Lord of Ormond, who
with 2500 Foot and 500 Horse, overthrew the Lord Mountgarret's Army,
consisting of 8000 Foot and 400 Horse, all well armed, and the choyce of
eight Counties. Together with a Relation of the proceedings of our Army,
from the second to the later end of Aprill, 1642.'
[Illustration: BATTLE OF KILRUSH, 1642.]
Many other illustrated pamphlets relating to current events were
published at this time. It would appear that in 1641 there was a
visitation of the plague in London, and a tract of that date has
reference to it. It is entitled:--'_London's Lamentation, or a fit
admonishment for City and Country, wherein is described certain causes
of this affliction and visitation of the Plague, yeare 1641, which the
Lord hath been pleased to inflict upon us, and withall what means must
be used to the Lord, to gain his mercy and favour, with an excellent
spirituall medicine to be used for the preservative both of Body and
Soule._' The 'spiritual medicine' recommended is an earnest prayer to
heaven at morning and evening and a daily service to the Lord. The
writer endeavours to improve the occasion very much like a preacher in
the pulpit and continues his exhortation thus:--'Now seeing it is
apparent that sin is the cause of sicknesse: It may appear as plainly
that prayer must be the best means to procure health and safety, let not
our security and slothfulnesse give death opportunity, what man or woman
will not seem to start, at the signe of the red Crosse, as they passe
by to and fro in the streets? And yet being gone they think no more on
it. It may be, they will say, such a house is shut up, I saw the red
crosse on the doore; but look on thine own guilty conscience, and thou
shalt find thou hast a multitude of red crimson sinnes remaining in
thee.' I have copied the illustration to this tract, and it will be seen
that it is divided into two parts--one representing a funeral procession
advancing to where men are digging two graves--the other showing dead
bodies dragged away on hurdles. The first is labelled 'London's
Charity.' The second 'The Countrie's Crueltie.' This was perhaps
intended to impress the reader in favour of the orderly burial of the
dead in the city churchyards, a subject on which public opinion has very
much changed since that time.
[Illustration: THE PLAGUE IN LONDON. 1641.]
We have already noticed that the vicissitudes of the sea and the
accidents of maritime life, which supply so much material to modern
newspapers, were not less attractive to the early news-writers. There is
a very circumstantial account of the voyage and wreck of a ship called
the _Merchant Royall_ in a pamphlet published in 1641. The engraving it
contains is the same block used by Thomas Greepe in 1587. It is
entitled, '_Sad news from the seas, being a true relation of the losse
of that good Ship called the Merchant Royall, which was cast away ten
leagues from the Lands end, on Thursday night, being the 23 of September
last 1641 having in her a world of Treasure, as this story following
doth truly relate_.' Another illustrated pamphlet, dated 1642, contains
a long and minute narrative of how a certain ship called the _Coster_
was boarded by a native of Java, who, watching his opportunity, murdered
the captain and several of the crew, but who was afterwards killed when
assistance arrived from another ship. There is a woodcut representing
the murders, and the title runs as follows:--'_A most Execrable and
Barbarous murder done by an East Indian Devil, or a native of
Java-Major, in the Road of Bantam, Aboard an English ship called the
Coster, on the 22 of October last, 1641. Wherein is shewed how the
wicked Villain came to the said ship and hid himself till it was very
dark, and then he murdered all the men that were aboard, except the
Cooke and three Boyes. And lastly, how the murderer himselfe was justly
requited. Captain William Minor being an eye-witnesse of this bloudy
Massacre. London: Printed for T. Banks, July the 18, 1642._' The very
full particulars given in this pamphlet show how minute and
circumstantial the old news-writers were in their narratives. It will be
seen by the following extracts that the story has an air of truth given
to it by careful attention to various small matters of detail:--
'On Friday the 22 of October last 1641 towards night there came aboard
an English ship called the _Coster_, in a small Prow (or flat Boat with
one paddle) a proper young man, (a Java, which is as much as to say as a
man born or native of the Territory of Java.) This man, (or devill in
mans shape) with a pretence to sell some Hews, (hatching mischiefe in
his damned minde,) did delay and trifle time, because he would have the
night more dark for him to do his deeds of darknesse. At last he sold 6
Hews for half a Royall of 8 which is not much above two shillings. There
came also another Java aboard, (with the like small Prow or Boat) to
whom he gave the half Royall, sent him away and bade him make haste; he
being asked for what the other Java went for, the answer was that he had
sent him for more Hews and Goates to sell.
'Night being come, and very dark, (for it was the last night of the wane
of the Moone) this inhumane dog staid lurking under the half deck having
2 Crests (or dangerous waving daggers) and a Buckler, of which he would
have sold one and the Buckler with it, and as he was discoursing he took
off one of the Crests hefts and put cloth about the tongue of the Blade,
and made it sure fast: on the other Crest he rolled the handle with a
fine linnen cloth to make it also sure from slipping in his hand; these
things he did whilst the Master, Robert Start, Stephen Roberts, his
mate, Hugh Rawlinson, Chirurgeon, William Perks, Steward, James Biggs,
Gunner, and 3 Boys or Youths attending. At supper they were very merry,
and this Caitiffe took notice of their carelessnesse of him to suffer
him to sit on the quarter deck upon a Cot close by them.
'Supper being ended about 6 at night the Master went to his Cabin to
rest, the Gunner asked leave to go ashore, (the ship riding but half a
mile from landing.) Afterwards Robert Rawlinson and Perks walked upon
the quarter deck; and the devilish Java perceiving the Master to be
absent, he asked the Boyes where he was, who answered he was gone to
sleepe. This question he demanded 3 or 4 times of the Boyes, and finding
it to be so, he arose from the place where he sate, which was on the
starboard side and went about the Table next the Mizzen Mast (where
Roberts, Rawlings and Perks were walking) with his Target about his Neck
for defence against Pikes, or the like; and his 2 Crests in his hand,
and upon a sudden cries _a Muck_, which in that language is I hazard or
run my death. Then first he stabd Roberts, secondly he stabd Rawlinson,
thirdly Perks, all three at an instant. After that he let drive at the
Boyes, but they leapd down, and ran forward into the forecastle, where
they found the Cooke, to whom the Boyes related what had happened.'
Further details are given at great length, showing how the savage
continued his bloody work, and how he was finally overpowered. The
narrative thus winds up:--
[Illustration: MURDERS ON BOARD AN ENGLISH SHIP, 1642.]
'It is observable that of all these men that were thus butchered, the
Hel-hound did never stab any man twice, so sure did he strike, nor did
he pursue any man that kept clear of his stand under the quarter-deck.
So there dyed in all (in this bloody action) Robert Start, Master,
Stephen Roberts, his Mate, Hugh Rawlinson, Chirurgeon, William Perks,
Steward, Walter Rogers, Gunner's Mate, and Francis Drake, Trumpeter of
the _Mary_. And after the Muck, Java, or Devill, had ended the first
part of this bloody Tragedy, there was only left in the ship, the Cooke,
3 Boyes, and one John Taylor, that was almost dead with a shott he
foolishly made. So that 7 men were unfortunately lost (as you have
heard) and the Gunner escaped very narrowly through God's merciful
prevention, from the like of these related disasters and suddaine
mischiefs, Good Lord deliver us.'
The engraving, like all those belonging to this period, is very rough;
but it was evidently prepared specially for the occasion, and some care
appears to have been taken to represent the '_Java_' as he is described.
It is a genuine attempt to illustrate the story, and on that account is
more interesting than some of the woodcuts in the early newspapers.
The Earl of Strafford, who was executed on Tower Hill, May 12, 1641,
forms the subject of more than one illustrated tract of this period. In
1642 was published a curious pamphlet, consisting of an engraved title
and eight pages of illustrations, representing the principal events of
1641-2. There are sixteen illustrations, exclusive of the title, two on
each page. They are all etched on copper, and are done with some freedom
and artistic ability. I shall have occasion to refer to this pamphlet
hereafter; but at present I have copied the engraving entitled, 'The
Earle of Strafford for treasonable practises beheaded on the
Tower-hill.'
In this example of illustrated news the artist has faithfully
represented the locality in his background, but there the truth of his
pencil stops. Strafford himself, although his head is not yet severed
from his body, lies at full length on the scaffold, and instead of the
usual block used for decapitations the victim's head rests on an
ordinary plank or thick piece of wood. There is no one standing on the
scaffold but the executioner, whereas history asserts that the Earl was
attended in his last moments by his brother, Sir George Wentworth, the
Earl of Cleveland, and Archbishop Usher. These omissions, if they were
noticed at all, were no doubt looked upon as trivial faults in the
infancy of illustrated journalism, and before a truth-loving public had
learnt to be satisfied with nothing less than 'sketches done on the
spot.' What appears to be a more correct view of the execution was,
however, published at the time. In the British Museum are two etchings
by Hollar (single sheets, 1641), representing the trial and execution
of the Earl of Strafford. They both look as if they had been done from
sketches on the spot, that of the execution giving a correct view of the
Tower and the surrounding buildings, but they are too crowded to admit
of reproduction on a reduced scale.
[Illustration: EXECUTION OF STRAFFORD, 1641.]
The taste of the time tolerated the publication of satires and petty
lampoons even upon dead men. Soon after Strafford's death a tract was
published entitled '_A Description of the Passage of Thomas, late Earle
of Strafford, over the River of Styx, with the Conference betwixt him,
Charon, and William Noy_.' There is a dialogue between Strafford and
Charon, of which the following is a specimen:--
'_Charon._--In the name of Rhodomont what ayles me? I have tugged and
tugged above these two hours, yet can hardly steere one foot forward;
either my dried nerves deceive my arme, or my vexed Barke carries an
unwonted burden. From whence comest thou, Passenger?
'_Strafford._--From England.
'_Charon._--From England! Ha! I was counsailed to prepare myselfe, and
trim up my boat. I should have work enough they sayd ere be long from
England, but trust me thy burden alone outweighs many transported
armies, were all the expected numbers of thy weight poor Charon well
might sweat.
[Illustration: STRAFFORD CROSSING THE STYX, 1641.]
'_Strafford._--I bear them all in one.
'_Charon._--How? Bear them all in one, and thou shalt pay for them all
in one, by the just soul of Rhodomont; this was a fine plot indeed, sure
this was some notable fellow being alive, that hath a trick to cosen the
devil being dead. What is thy name?
'(Strafford sighs.)
'_Charon._--Sigh not so deep. Take some of this Lethaean water into thine
hand, and soope it up; it will make thee forget thy sorrows.
'_Strafford._--My name is Wentworth, Strafford's late Earle.
'_Charon._--Wentworth! O ho! Thou art hee who hath been so long expected
by William Noy. He hath been any time these two months on the other side
of the banke, expecting thy coming daily.'
Strafford gives Charon but one halfpenny for his fare, whereat the
ferryman grumbles. Then ensues a conversation between Strafford and
William Noy, part of which is in blank verse. The tract is illustrated
with a woodcut, representing Strafford in the ferryman's boat with
William Noy waiting his arrival on the opposite bank.
[Illustration: A BURLESQUE PLAY ABOUT ARCHBISHOP LAUD. ACT I. 1641.]
No man of his time appears to have excited the hostile notice of the
press more than Archbishop Laud. The Archbishops of Canterbury had long
been considered censors of the press by right of their dignity and
office; and Laud exercised this power with unusual tyranny. The
ferocious cruelty with which he carried out his prosecutions in the Star
Chamber and Court of High Commission made his name odious, and his
apparent preference for ceremonial religion contributed to render him
still more unpopular. Men were put in the pillory, had their ears cut
off, their noses slit, and were branded on the cheeks with S. S. (Sower
of Sedition), and S. L. (Schismatical Libeller). They were heavily
fined, were whipped through the streets, were thrown into prison; and
all for printing and publishing opinions and sentiments unpleasing to
Archbishop Laud, under whose rule this despotic cruelty became so
prevalent that it was a common thing for men to speak of So-and-so as
having been 'Star-Chambered.' No wonder, when the tide turned, that the
long-pent-up indignation found a vent through the printing-press.
Amongst the numerous tracts that were published after the suppression of
the Star Chamber were many which held up Laud to public execration. He
was reviled for his ambition, reproached for his cruelty, and
caricatured for his Romish sympathies. During the four years between his
fall and his execution, portraits of him and other illustrations
relating to his career may be found in many pamphlets. I propose to
introduce the reader to some of these, as examples of the kind of
feeling that was excited by a man whose character and actions must have
contributed not a little to bring about a convulsion which shook both
the Church and the throne to their foundations. It must have been with a
peculiar satisfaction that Prynne, one of the chief sufferers under
Laud's rule, found himself armed with the authority of the House of
Commons to despoil his old enemy. Probably a similar feeling caused many
others to chuckle and rub their hands when they read, '_A New Play
called Canterburie's Change of Diet_, printed in 1641.' This is a small
tract illustrated with woodcuts, and is written in the form of a play.
The persons represented are the Archbishop of Canterbury, a doctor of
physic, a lawyer, a divine, a Jesuit, a carpenter and his wife. The
doctor of physic is intended for either Dr. Alexander Leighton, or Dr.
John Bastwick, both of whom had their ears cut off; the lawyer is
Prynne; and the divine is meant for the Rev. Henry Burton, a London
clergyman, who also suffered under Laud's administration. In the first
act enter the Archbishop, the doctor, the lawyer, and the divine. Being
seated, a variety of dishes are brought to the table, but Laud expresses
himself dissatisfied with the fare placed before him and demands a more
racy diet. He then calls in certain bishops, who enter armed with
muskets, bandoleers, and swords. He cuts off the ears of the doctor, the
lawyer, and the divine, and tells them he makes them an example that
others may be more careful to please his palate. On the previous page is
a copy of the cut which illustrates the first act.
[Illustration: A BURLESQUE PLAY ABOUT ARCHBISHOP LAUD. ACT II.]
[Illustration: A BURLESQUE PLAY ABOUT ARCHBISHOP LAUD. ACT III.]
In the second act the Archbishop of Canterbury enters a carpenter's yard
by the waterside, and seeing a grindstone he is about to sharpen his
knife upon it, when he is interrupted by the carpenter who refuses to
let him sharpen his knife upon his grindstone, lest he should treat him
(the carpenter) as he had treated the others. The carpenter then holds
the Archbishop's nose to the grindstone, and orders his apprentice to
turn with a will. The bishop cries out, 'Hold! hold! such turning will
soon deform my face. O, I bleed, I bleed, and am extremely sore.' The
carpenter, however, rejoins, 'But who regarded "hold" before? Remember
the cruelty you have used to others, whose bloud crieth out for
vengeance. Were not their ears to them as pretious as your nostrils can
be to you? If such dishes must be your fare, let me be your Cooke, I'll
invent you rare sippets.' Then enters a Jesuit Confessor who washes the
bishop's wounded face and binds it up with a cloth. There is also an
illustration to this act which is here copied.
[Illustration: ASSAULT ON LAMBETH PALACE, 1642.]
In the third act the Archbishop and the Jesuit are represented in a
great Cage (the Tower) while the carpenter and his wife, conversing
together, agree that the two caged birds will sing very well together.
The woodcut to this act represents a fool laughing at the prisoners.
There is a fourth act in which the King and his Jester hold a
conversation about the Bishop and the confessor in the cage. There is no
printer's or publisher's name to this play, only the date, 1641.
The pamphlet previously referred to as containing a picture of
Strafford's execution, has also an engraving showing how the tide of
public feeling had set against Archbishop Laud. The powerful Churchman
had been impeached for high treason; he was deprived of all the profits
of his high office and was imprisoned in the Tower. All his goods in
Lambeth Palace, including his books, were seized, and even his Diary and
private papers were taken from him by Prynne, who acted under a warrant
from the House of Commons. The engraving under notice is entitled 'The
rising of Prentices and Sea-men on Southwark side to assault the
Archbishops of Canterburys House at Lambeth.'
In a tract entitled '_A Prophecie of the Life, Reigne, and Death of
William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury_,' there is a caricature of Laud
seated on a throne or chair of state. A pair of horns grow out of his
forehead, and in front the devil offers him a Cardinal's Hat. This
business of the Cardinal's Hat is alluded to by Laud himself, who says,
'At Greenwich there came one to me seriously, and that avowed ability to
perform it, and offered me to be a Cardinal. I went presently to the
king, and acquainted him both with the thing and the person.' This offer
was afterwards renewed: 'But,' says he, 'my answer again was, that
something dwelt within me which would not suffer that till Rome were
other than it is.' It would thus appear that the Archbishop did not give
a very decided refusal at first or the offer would not have been
repeated; and that circumstance, if it were known at the time, must have
strengthened the opinion that he was favourably inclined towards the
Church of Rome. At all events, the offer must have been made public, as
this caricature shows.
Though Laud behaved with dignity and courage when he came to bid
farewell to the world, if we are to believe the publications of the
time, he was not above petitioning for mercy, while any hope of life
remained. In 1643 a pamphlet was published with the following title,
'_The Copy of the Petition presented to the Honourable Houses of
Parliament by the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, wherein the said
Archbishop desires that he may not be transported beyond the Seas into
New England with Master Peters in regard to his extraordinary age and
weaknesse_.' The petition is dated 'From the Tower of London this 6th of
May 1643,' and in it the petitioner sets forth that out of a 'fervent
zeal to Christianity' he endeavoured to reconcile the principles of the
Protestant and Roman Catholic religions, hoping that if he could effect
this he might more easily draw the Queen into an adherence to the
Protestant faith. He deplores that his endeavours were not successful,
and he begs the honourable Parliament to pardon his errors, and to
'looke upon him in mercy, and not permit or suffer your Petitioner to be
transported, to endure the hazard of the Seas, and the long tediousnesse
of Voyage into those trans-marine parts, and cold Countries, which would
soon bring your Petitioners life to a period; but rather that your
Petitioner may abide in his native country, untill your Petitioner shall
pay the debt which is due from him to Nature, and so your Petitioner
doth submit himselfe to your Honourable and grave Wisdoms for your
Petitioners request and desire therein. And your Petitioner shall humbly
pray &c.'
[Illustration: CARICATURE OF THE DEVIL OFFERING LAUD A CARDINAL'S HAT,
1644.]
If Archbishop Laud was really the author of this petition he appears to
have expected that his long imprisonment would end in banishment rather
than death. He was beheaded on Tower Hill, January 10, 1645. There is a
woodcut portrait of the Archbishop printed on the title-page of the
petition.
[Illustration: ARCHBISHOP LAUD.]
FOOTNOTE:
[1] _Life of Gustavus Adolphus_. Family Library.