Ben Jonson's Ridicule of the Early Newspapers--Fondness of the Old
News-Writers for the Marvellous--The Smithfield Ghost--The Wonderful
Whale--The Newbury Witch--Satirical Tracts and Caricatures at the
Commencement of the Civil War--Religion Tossed in a
Blanket--Caricatures of the Pope and the Bishops--Pluralists and
Patentees--Taylor, the Water Poet--_Mercurius Aulicus_--Activity of
the Pamphleteers--Welshmen Satirised--Satires on Prince Rupert--On the
King and Queen--The Ladies' Parliament--Illustrated Tracts relating to
Social and Political Subjects--Sir Kenelm Digby's Duel--The King
entertained by the City of London, 1641--Executions in 1641--The
Liquor Traffic and Sunday Closing in 1641--Abuses of the
Ecclesiastical Courts--Ritualism and Nunneries in 1641--Truths
enforced by Lieing--Stage Players and the Plague in 1641--Bartholomew
Fair in 1641--Destruction of Charing Cross and Cheapside
Cross--Strange Apparition--Method of Enforcing their Views adopted by
the Puritan Pamphleteers--Parodies of Roundhead Sermons--Matthew
Hopkins the Witch-finder--_The Welsh Post_ of 1643--William Lilly the
Astrologer--Three Suns seen in London on the King's Birthday.
When Ben Jonson called the newspaper 'a weekly cheat to draw money,' and
ridiculed the growing taste for news, he had some reason for satirising
the journalism of the period. To satisfy the craving for news all kinds
of impositions were freely circulated. Nothing was too wonderful for the
credulity of the age, and people eagerly accepted what was placed before
them, fully believing that whatever was in print must be true. It was
not, however, till many years after Ben Jonson's death that the
so-called newspapers put forward their full powers as purveyors of the
marvellous. _Mercurius Democritus_ was the _Punch_ of that day. While he
satirised men and things he laboured to satisfy the popular taste for
the wonderful, as in the following account of a ghost that was said to
haunt the neighbourhood of Smithfield:--'There is a great report of a
ghoast that walks every Night amongst the Butchers at _Smithfield
Barrs_, the _Shambles_, White-_Chappell_, and _Eastcheape_, in the habit
of _Mallet_, the Lawyer, pulling the meat off the Butchers Tainters;
many have adventured to strike at him with Cleavers and Chopping-knives,
but cannot feel anything but Aire, every Saturday at night between 9 and
12, he walks his stations, in this very habit as you see, doing more
mischiefe to the _Butchers_ than ever _Robin Goodfellow_ did to the
Country Hindes.'
[Illustration: THE SMITHFIELD GHOST. FROM 'MERCURIUS DEMOCRITUS,' 1654.]
Another example of the marvellous occurs in a tract entitled, '_The Sea
Wonder: a true and wonderful relation of a Whale pursued in the Sea, and
incountered by multitudes of other Fishes as it was certified by divers
Mariners of Weymouth, who, comming from France in the good ship called
the_ Bonaventure, _did shoote the said Whale, which making to Land did
strike upon the Shore, within three miles of Weymouth, where being
opened there was found in the belly of it a Romish Priest, with Pardon
for divers Papists in England and Ireland, whose names are here
inserted_.' Great pains appear to have been taken to give an air of
truth to the narrative, which begins thus:--'On the 19th of October
being the Lord's Day the good Ship called the _Bonaventure_ of
_Weymouth_ being bound for _England_ was bringing home her Merchandise
from _France_ which was wines, linning cloth, and abundance of
Wall-nuts, the day was very fair and no wind stirring, so that the ship
for above three hours space lay hulling upon the Seas, being not able to
move either one way nor other for want of wind, although she was full
sayled and prepared to take the advantage of every gale.' The author
gravely explains that the excitement of the fishes and their attacks on
the whale were caused by their instinctively feeling the presence of the
Popish Priest. Annexed is a copy of the woodcut on the title-page of
this curious tract.
[Illustration: THE WONDERFUL WHALE, 1645.]
'_Newes, True Newes, Laudable Newes, Citie Newes, Country Newes; The
World is Mad, or it is a Mad World my Masters especially now when in the
Antipodes these things are come to pass._' Such is the lengthy title of
a pamphlet containing an imaginary account of things at the Antipodes,
and illustrated with a fanciful woodcut on the title-page. Then we have
news from Boston in New England of a strange and prodigious birth of a
child with two heads, also illustrated. _Mercurius Democritus_, besides
such waggeries as giving an account of 'a sight seen in the air by a
blind philosopher,' communicates '_Many strange wonders out of the
World, in the Moon, the Antipodes, Maggy Land, Tenebris, Fary-Land,
Greenland, and other adjacent countries_. _Published for the right
understanding of all the Mad-merry-people of Great Bedlam._' Another
example of the wonderful stories put forth to entertain the multitude
relates to the discovery and punishment of a witch during the civil war.
It occurs in a pamphlet entitled '_A most Certain, Strange and true
Discovery of a Witch, being taken by some of the Parliament Forces, as
she was standing on a small planck-board and sayling on it over the
River of Newbury_.' The illustration is of the rudest description, and
the story is told in a breathless sort of way, without a full stop in
the whole narrative:--
'A part of the Army marching through Newbury, some of the Souldiers
being scattered by the reason of their loytering by the way, in
gathering Nuts, Apples, Plummes, Blackberries, and the like, one of them
by chance in clambring up a tree, being pursued by his fellow or comrade
in waggish merriment, jesting one with another, espied on the river
being there adjacent, a tall, lean, slender woman, as he supposed, to
his amazement, and great terrour, treading of the water with her feet,
with as much ease and firmnesse as if one should walk or trample on the
earth, wherewith he softly calls, and beckoned to his fellows to behold
it, and with all possible speed that could be to obscure them from her
sight, who as conveniently as they could they did observe, this could be
no little amazement unto them you may think to see a woman dance upon
the water, nor could all their sights be deluded, though perhaps one
might, but coming nearer to the shore, they could perceive there was a
planke or deale overshadowed with a little shallow water that she stood
upon, the which did beare her up, anon rode by some of the commanders
who were eye witnesses, as well as they, and were as much astonished as
they could be, still too and fro she fleeted on the water, the boord
standing firm boult upright, indeed I have both heard and read of many
that in tempests and on rivers by casualty have become shipwracked, or
cast overboard, where catching empty barrells, rudders, boards, or
planks have made good shift by the assisting Providence of God to get on
shore, but not in this womans kind to stand upon the board, turning and
winding it which way she pleased, making it pastime to her, as little
thinking who perceived her tricks, or that she did imagine that they
were the last she ever should show, as we have heard the swan sing
before her death, so did this devilish woman, as after plainly it
appeared make sport before her death, at last having sufficiently been
upon the water, he that deceived her alway did so then, blinding her
that she could not, at her landing see the ambush that was laid for her,
coming upon the shore, she gave the board a push, which they plainly
perceived, and crossed the river, they searched after her but could not
find her she being landed the Commanders beholding her, gave orders to
lay hold on her, and bring her to them straight, the which some were
fearful, but one being more venturous than other some, boldly went to
her and seized on her by the arms, demanding what she was? but the woman
no whit replying any words unto them, they brought her to the
Commanders, to whom though mightily she was urged she did reply as
little; so consulting with themselves what should be done with her,
being it so apparently appeared she was a _witch_, being loth to let her
goe & as loth to carry her with them, so they resolved with themselves,
to make a shot at her, and gave order to a couple of their souldiers
that were approved good marksmen, to charge and shoot her straight,
which they prepared to doe; so setting her boult upright against a mud
bank or wall; two of the souldiers according to their command made
themselves ready, where having taken aime gave fire and shot at her,
but with a deriding and loud laughter at them she caught their bullets
in her hands and chew'd them, which was a stronger testimony than the
water, that she was the same that their imaginations thought her for to
be, so resolving with themselves if either fire or sword or halter were
sufficient for to make an end of her, one set his Carbine close unto her
brest; where discharging, the bullet back rebounded like a ball, and
narrowly he mist it in his face that was the shooter; this so enraged
the Gentleman, that one drew out his sword and manfully run at her with
all the force his strength had power to make, but it prevailed no more
than did the shot, the woman still though speechless, yet in a most
contemptible way of scorn, still laughing at them, which did the more
exhaust their furie against her life, yet one amongst the rest had heard
that piercing or drawing bloud from forth the veins that crosse the
temples of the head, it would prevail against the strongest sorcery, and
quell the force of Witchcraft, which was allowed for triall; the woman
hearing this knew then the Devill had left her and her power was gone,
wherefore she began alowd to cry, and roare, tearing her haire, and
making pitious moan, which in these words expressed were: And is it
come to passe that I must die indeed? Why then his Excellency the Earle
of Essex shall be fortunate and win the field, after which no more words
could be got from her; wherewith they immediately discharged a Pistoll
underneath her ear, at which she straight sunk down and died, leaving
her legacy of a detested carcasse to the wormes, her soul we ought not
to judge of, though the evils of her wicked life and death can scape no
censure.'
[Illustration: THE NEWBURY WITCH, 1643.]
On the outbreak of the great Civil War an immense number of tracts and
pamphlets were published relating to social and political questions,
many of which were illustrated. Satire was a weapon freely used, and
many hard hits were made, the point and bitterness of which cannot now
be understood. Caricatures, which are generally supposed to have made
their appearance in England at a much later date, are of frequent
occurrence. The wonderful and supernatural were freely dealt in, and
many tracts were published which were not strictly news, yet had some
reference to public men and passing events. The woodcuts in the tracts
and pamphlets of this period were frequently repeated, being sometimes
used where they had no relation to the subject treated.
[Illustration: RELIGION TOSSED IN A BLANKET, 1641.]
The minds of men being much exercised on questions of religion at this
time, it was to be expected that the subject would not escape the notice
of the satirist. Accordingly, many tracts were published relating to
religious matters, some of which are illustrated with woodcut
caricatures. There is one of the date of 1641 containing a woodcut of
four men tossing Religion (represented by a Bible) in a blanket. The
writer condemns the numberless sects which were perplexing men's minds
and tearing the Church asunder:--
'Religion is made a Hotch potch, and as it were tossed in a Blanquet,
and too many places of England too much _Amsterdamnified_ by several
opinions. Religion is now become the common discourse and Table-talke in
every Taverne and Ale-house, where a man shall hardly find five
together in one minde, and yet every one presumes hee is in the right.
The Booke of Common prayer which was established by Act of Parliament by
that good and Godly King Edward the sixth, and after reestablished by
another Parliament by that unparaled and peerlesse princesse Queen
Elizabeth, and continued since in the happy Raignes of two gracious
kings in the church of England for the service of God these ninetie
yeares; yet one would have it to be cast out now, holding it to be a
false worship; another is angrie at the vestments and habits of the
Ministry; one will not kneel, another will not stand, one will sit
downe, one will not bowe, another will not be uncovered, one holds all
good manners to be popery, another that all decencie is superstitious,
another that railes are Romish (which is false for the papists have no
railes in their churches, nor anything so convenient). One foolishly
assumes and presumes to save himselfe and some of his Neighbours too, by
his good workes; another will be saved by a bare and lazie Faith that
will do no work at all, and thus religion is puft and blowne to and fro
with every wind of doctrine, and as it were tost in a Blanquet; but of
this more largely hereafter in another part which will suddenly be
printed, till when and ever it shall be my hearty prayers that as there
is but one Shepheard, that is God in his gracious goodnesse and mercie
would make us all one sheepfold.'
[Illustration: CARICATURE OF THE POPE, 1643.]
The shafts of satire were frequently aimed at the Pope and the Bishops.
One caricature represents the Pope seated, while a unicorn tumbles the
triple crown from his head. The same woodcut illustrates a '_Letter from
the Devil to the Pope of Rome_.' Another tract has a representation of
the Pope riding upon a seven-headed monster and holding in his hand a
scroll on which are the words 'Estote proditores'--'Betraye your
Country.' This advice he is giving to a cavalier, a bishop, and a monk,
and at the same time three devils are represented as leaving him and
entering into them. This cut, which is repeated in other pamphlets, is
curious as an early specimen of caricature, but its meaning is now lost.
[Illustration: CARICATURE OF THE BISHOPS, 1642.]
The Bishops were treated with as little ceremony as the Pope. In one
caricature four of them are represented as falling to the earth, with
the following lines underneath the woodcut:--
'The tottering prelates, with their trumpery all,
Shall moulder downe, like elder from the wall.'
In a pamphlet called _The Decoy Duck_, printed in 1642, there is a
quaint woodcut caricature and a satirical account of how the Bishops of
Durham, Lichfield, Norwich, Asaph, Bath, Hereford, Oxford, Ely,
Gloucester, Peterborough, and Llandaff were decoyed and deceived by the
Bishop of Lincoln (Bishop Williams). I have copied the woodcut, but no
quotation from the pamphlet would be understood unless given at great
length. It doubtless refers to the charge of high treason against the
twelve Bishops.
The abuses of the Established Church in an age when the spirit of
dissent was strong were pretty sure to attract the notice of the
satirical writer and the caricaturist. Accordingly, we find
representations of the pluralist holding a church in each hand and one
on each shoulder; while the non-resident clergyman was compared to the
locust:--'The Locust is given to spoile and devoure greene things; it
was one of the plagues of Egypt. Non-residents devoure the tithes of
many parishes in this kingdome; and they are not to be numbered amongst
the least of those plagues that God inflicts upon us for our sins. The
Locusts caused Pharaoh and his servants to cry unto Moses that he would
entreat the Lord to take them away; and our Non-Residents cause all good
people to cry mightily unto God, to the King's Majesty, and to the
Honourable House of Parliament, to reform them or remove them; that
there may not be any carelesse Non-Resident in all the coasts of
England.... Some of our carelesse Non-Residents have a cure of soules in
one place and live in another, like fugitive Captaines forsake their
Ensigne and Company at Barwick, and flee to Dover; who being with Jonah
commanded for Nineveh, flee to Tarshish; being placed in the Country
they run to the Cathedrals, they leave their charge as the Ostrich doth
her eggs in the earth and sands, forgetting that either the foot may
crush them or that the wild beast may break them, or at the best they
leave their Congregations, as the Cuckoo doth her eggs to be hatched of
a sparrow or some other bird.'
The following woodcut is copied from a pamphlet entitled '_A Purge for
Pluralities, showing the unlawfulnesse of men to have two Livings, or
the Downefall of Double Benifices_.'
[Illustration: THE PLURALIST, 1642.]
The abuse of the Crown's prerogative in the granting of patents and
monopolies was very frequent in the reigns of Elizabeth and James, and
was not diminished under Charles the First. The practice did not fail to
attract the notice of the satirical writers of the day, and caricature
laid hold on the 'Projectors and Patentees,' and held them up to
ridicule. '_A Dialogue or accidental discourse betwixt Mr. Alderman
Abell, and Richard Kilvert, the two maine Projectors for Wine_, 1641,
contains a woodcut showing 'The manner and forme how Projectors and
Patentees have rode a Tylting in a Parliament time.' The wit of the
illustration is a little obscure to the modern reader, but at the time
of its publication it was no doubt understood, and relished accordingly.
The pamphlet describes how Messrs. Abell and Kilvert laid their heads
together to obtain the patent for wine; how they put the patent in
force, and how, after the tide turned against them, they reviled one
another.
As the excitement of the Civil War increased, political animosity rose
to a red heat. Cavaliers and Roundheads belaboured each other in many a
merciless pamphlet, to which they often endeavoured to give additional
bitterness by woodcut caricatures. Prominent individuals, such as Prince
Rupert, became marks for the satirist's wit. Even the throne itself did
not escape, and it was broadly hinted that the Protestant king was
unduly influenced by the Roman Catholic queen. The curious subject of
the growth of caricature might be illustrated by numerous examples from
the publications of this period, but it will be sufficient to refer to
two or three more woodcut satires of this date.
The distractions of the times were epitomised by John Taylor, the Water
Poet, in an illustrated rhyming pamphlet, published in 1642. It is
entitled, '_Mad Fashions, Od Fashions, all out of Fashion, or the
Emblems of these distracted Times_.'
[Illustration: EMBLEMS OF THE DISTRACTED TIMES, 1642.]
The author compares England to the engraving on his title-page, where
everything is represented upside down:--
'The Picture that is printed on the front
Is like this Kingdome if you look upon 't;
For if you well doe note it as it is,
It is a Transform'd Metamorphasis.
This Monstrous Picture plainly doth declare
This land (quite out of order) out of square.
His Breeches on his shoulders doe appeare,
His doublet on his lower parts doth weare.
His Boots and Spurs upon his Armes and Hands,
His Gloves upon his feet (whereon he stands)
The church o'erturned (a lamentable show)
The Candlestick above, the light below,
The Coney hunts the Dogge, the Rat the Cat,
The Horse doth whip the Cart (I pray marke that)
The Wheelbarrow doth drive the man (Oh Base)
And Eeles and Gudgeons flie a mighty pace.
And sure this is a Monster of strange fashion
That doth surpasse all Ovids transformation.
And this is England's case this very day,
All things are turned the clean contrary way;
For now, as when a Royall Parliament,
(With King, and Peers, and Commons whole consent)
Have almost sate two years, with paines and Cares,
And charge, to free us from our Griefes and fears,
For when many a worthy Lord and Knight,
And good Esquire (for King and Countrey's Right)
Have spent so much time with great Toyle and Heede
All England's vicious garden how to weed,
So like a wildernesse 'twas over run,
That though much better hath been done; All is not done.'
The Water Poet sided with the Cavalier party, and verse and prose flowed
plentifully from his pen in favour of the Royal cause. His effusions
provoked many replies, one of which is entitled, '_No Mercurius
Aquaticus, but a Cable-Rope, double twisted for John Tayler, the Water
Poet; who escaping drowning in a Paper-Wherry-Voyage, is reserved for
another day, as followeth, viz._'
Then follows the subjoined woodcut, with verses underneath. The hint
that the poet was born to be hanged because he had escaped from drowning
refers to his having undertaken to sail from London to Queenborough in a
boat made of brown paper. In this foolhardy exploit Taylor and a friend
who was with him nearly lost their lives. The tract under notice affords
a good specimen of the sort of language used by the partisans of each
faction against their opponents: 'I should be loathe to foule my fingers
with any base Pamphlets that comes from Oxford, if the venom of their
malicious spleens were darted against my particular self: But when
through my sides they wound the honour of the Parliament and our Armies
abroad, I cannot but set Pen to paper, and pay them back again in their
own kinde. And who d'ye think I should meet abroad for a
_Rogue-in-Print_ but one of our City Water-rats, the doughty John
Taylor, who according to the knavish custom, changes his name upon every
new paper-designe? Sometimes he calls himself _Thorney Ailo, Mercurius
Aquaticus_, and now he entitles himself NO MERCURIUS AULICUS. I thought
I had lately sent _rope_ enough for all the Parrots in Oxford; But I
perceive they will be prattling still; and therefore I must unmaske the
Mysterious Masters of the science of railing. There are three grand
paper conspirators well known by the name of _Mercurius Aulicus, George
Naworth_, and reverend Master _John Tayler_ the water-tankard, by whose
sprinklings in this great dearth of Wit and Honesty the University is
cherished and kept in credit. These three are they which pumpe and Pimpe
about with their Prostitute Noddles in the behalf of Popery, Murder, and
Rebellion against the state; they are Liars in all elements, _Aulicus_
for Land-lies, _Tayler_ for Water, and hungry _George Naworth_ for all
between Heaven and Earth, where I doubt not but to see them all meet
together to take their farewell of the world, where the _Parrots_ will
find _Ropes_ made of stronger Lines than mine, and such as will
_non-plus_ the very primest Wits in the University.'
[Illustration: PREDICTED FATE OF JOHN TAYLOR THE WATER POET, 1644.]
The pamphleteer goes on to give the Water-Poet what he doubtless
considered a thorough drubbing, and at the end he leaves him 'to the
Gallows, the proper cure for such Rebels.' The words 'London' and
'Oxford' on the woodcut have reference to another voyage which the
Water-Poet performed in a sculler's boat between those places.
[Illustration: MERCURIUS AULICUS IN THE PILLORY, 1645.]
_Mercurius Aulicus_ was the organ of the Court party, and was published
at Oxford. A curious satire upon this Court paper was printed in 1645,
entitled, _Newes from Smith the Oxford Jaylor_. It consists of a
dialogue between the author and the 'Oxford Jaylor,' and sets forth that
'Mercurius Aulicus' was sentenced, by a jury of women,' to stand in the
pillory three market-days in Oxford, for his lies, libels, and
deceitful glozings;' to have a written paper over his head announcing
his shame; to beg forgiveness of 'Mercurius Brittanicus;' to be
prevented from writing any more libels for one year. 'That before two
months' expiration he be cut of the simples, and his braines be taken
out, washt in white wine, and put in againe.' 'That for every morning
during the said time he have one mess of stewd broth made of the
interlinings of fower Court Parazites, and the braines of 26 Oxford
Widgins boyld in the water of forgetfulnesse.' 'That he may never
hereafter have so much as one graine of wit left him in his empty
Hogshead (his brains being taken out and washed as before is ordered) to
scandalize those whom if he had any grace he is bound to honour.' There
is a woodcut of _Mercurius Aulicus_ in the pillory, which is supposed to
represent Sir John Birkenhead, who acquired the title of the Loyal
Poet, and suffered several imprisonments. This cut was used on several
other occasions.
The troubles of the times are constantly indicated in the pamphlets of
the period. In one the State is represented as a two-headed serpent,
with these lines underneath the engraving:
'This double-headed serpent is a wonder,
It draws two ways and tears the womb in sunder;
The wofull emblem of a troubled State
Where civill warres doe threat to ruinate.'
[Illustration: SQUARE CAPS TURNED INTO ROUND HEADS, 1642.]
The partisans of the Parliament faction appear to have been much more
active pamphleteers than the Cavaliers. '_Square Caps turned into Round
Heads, or the Bishop's Vindication and the Brownist's conviction, being
a Dialogue between Time and Opinion; showing the folly of the one and
the worthinesse of the other_,' is a tract with an illustration
representing Opinion turning a wheel, on which are five square caps and
five round heads, while Time, with his scythe and hourglass, holds
converse with Opinion. Under the woodcut are the following lines:--
'Time doth Opinion call unto accompt,
Who turns the Bishop's downe and Roundheads mount;
Upon her lofty wheels their Noddles are,
But her Camelion feedeth on his aire.'
'_Cornucopia, or Room for a Ram head, wherein is described the dignity
of the Ram head above the Roundhead or Rattlehead_,' is another tract,
with a woodcut caricature representing a woman attempting to saw the
horns from a man's head. The letterpress consists of a dialogue between
a man and his wife, wherein the man humorously praises horns. It was a
favourite joke to represent the Puritan as a 'cuckoldy Roundhead.'
[Illustration: CARICATURE, 1642.]
Another satirical pamphlet has a woodcut representing Cavaliers and
Roundheads exciting their dogs to fight. It is entitled, '_A Dialogue or
rather a Parly between Prince Rupert's Dogge whose name is Puddle, and
Tobies Dog whose name is Pepper, &c._ _Whereunto is added the challenge
which Prince Griffin's Dog, called Towzer, hath sent to Prince Rupert's
Dog Puddle, in the behalfe of honest Pepper, Tobie's Dog. Moreover, the
said Prince Griffin is newly gone to Oxford to lay the wager, and to
make up the Match._' In this satire, which is very highly flavoured,
both Cavaliers and Roundheads are pelted with very vigorous epithets,
but in the end the Roundhead dog is converted by his opponent, and
seals his recantation in a very striking manner.
There is a tirade against the Jesuits entitled, '_A Peece of ordnance
invented by a Jesuite, for Cowards that fight by Whisperings, and raise
jealousies to overthrow both Church and State, which with the help of a
private Ensign in the Cabbinet Councell, or Westminster Hall is able to
doe more mischiefe at twentie miles distance, than a whole Regiment of
stout Souldiers, at Musket-shot_. _Which grievance is by way of
Remonstrance humbly presented to the consideration of the Parliament._'
This tract has a woodcut of a man firing a cannon formed of the figure
of a man.
[Illustration: CARICATURE, 1643.]
'_Hell's Hurlie-Burlie, or a Fierce contention between the Pope and the
Devill_,' is illustrated; and there is a pamphlet, with a woodcut,
entitled, '_The Devill's White Boyes: A Mixture of Malicious Malignants,
with their much evill and manifold practises against the Kingdome and
Parliament, with a bottomlesse Sack-full of Knavery, Popery, Prelacy,
Policy, Treachery, Malignant Trumpery, Conspiricies, and Cruelties,
filled to the top by the Malignants, laid on the shoulders of Time, and
now by Time emptied forth, and poured out, to show the Truth, and shame
the Devill_. Beneath, the woodcut are the following verses:--
'Malignants are the Divell's Agents still,
The Sack is _England_, which they strive to fill
With misery and mischief, and this Sack
Full stufft is laid upon Times aged back;
_Time_ pours it out now in an angry mood
That all their knaveries may be understood.'
On the cut itself are printed the lines:--
'_Time_ now at the last pours out much knavery,
The Devill holds down fast to hinder the discovery.'
[Illustration: CARICATURE, 1644.]
The Welshman came in for a share of the satirist's wit at the
commencement of the Civil War. He generally figures under the name of
'Ap Shinkin,' and is made to speak English much the same as the Scottish
Highlander does in Scott's novels. '_The Welsh mans Postures, or the
true manner how her doe exercise her company of Souldiers in her own
Country in a warlike manners_,' is a satire of a very broad character,
and is illustrated with a woodcut representing men exercising with the
pike. Shinkin is also ridiculed for the share he took in the battle of
Edgehill, the first important engagement in the Civil War. There is an
illustrated tract with the following title: '_The Welsh mans
Complements: or the true manner how Shinkin wood his Sweetheart Maudlin
after his return from Kenton Battaile_. _Also Fair Maudlin's reply and
answer to all Shinkin's Welch complements, full of merry wit and
pleasant mirth._' The 'merry wit' is certainly not refined, and the
'pleasant mirth' is founded on Shinkin's supposed hasty departure from
the neighbourhood of the fight. The woodcut represents Shinkin and
Maudlin in conversation.
Prince Rupert is often the mark for the satirist's wit. In '_Rupert's
Sumpter, and private Cabinet rifled, and a Discovery of a Pack of his
Jewels, by way of Dialogue between Mercurius Brittanicus and Mercurius
Aulicus_,' there is a discussion as to the Prince's merits and demerits,
and he is charged with aiming at the crown. Both the King and Queen were
brought under the caricaturist's lash. In 1644 there was an illustrated
pamphlet published, representing the King, Queen, and a bishop, with the
following title: '_The Sussex Picture, or an Answer to the Sea-gull_.'
The address to the reader is headed: 'The Sceptre's Submission, the
Distaffs Triumph, and the Crosiers Combination. Reader, If thou hast
view'd that stately Picture, which was lately sent up to the Parliament
by Collonel Morley, and was taken in a Flemish Ship upon the Sussex
Shore; Thou hast beheld therein the weaker sexe triumphing over the
stronger, and by the help of a Miter, thou hast seen a Scepter doing
homage to the Distaffe. If thou hast never seen the Originall, yet here
is to be seen a poore, rude, counterfeit of the chief part in it; use
thy judgement freely, and impartially: let both the Peece itself, and
that which is said by both sides, in judgement thereupon, be put into
one equal ballance. If the Dutch Author be not to undergo censure, as if
he intended an English Storie, yet neither art thou to be censured for
doubting his intention, or for standing amazed at his phancie. Shadows
which are not fashioned by some certain, neer, interposing body present
nothing to the eye, and therefore work nothing upon the understanding.
The language of a picture is to be borrowed from the veritie of the
matter, if that be wanting, neither the Art of the Limner nor the
imagination of the spectator can supply its vocall organs.' This
caricature may have referred to the influence which the Roman Catholic
Queen was supposed to exercise over the Protestant king under clerical
guidance.
[Illustration: THE PARLIAMENT OF LADIES, 1644.]
Charles I. summoned a Parliament at Oxford in 1644, consisting of such
members of both Houses as were devoted to his interests. There exists a
satirical tract ridiculing this Parliament, and, in fact, representing
it as a Parliament of old women. The tract is entitled '_An exact
Diurnall of the Parliament of Laydes_,' and is illustrated with a
woodcut. It sets forth that 'Countesses and other Ladies (on Monday
morning early in a Prosopopia) being met in Mary Maudlins Hall in
Oxford, they first made choyce of their speaker; and it was agreed by
all that the Lady Oboney should have the chaire, the Lady Rivers was
made Chancellor, Nurse Windham High Constable, the Countess of Derby
High Treasurer, and the Countess of Essex High Chamberlain. These Ladies
having all taken their places, Mrs. Powell was appointed cheefe Clerk
to the House, and Mrs. Peele Chaire Lady to the Close Committee, and
Moll Cut-Purse was made Sergeant at Arms.' Prince Rupert and others are
tried and sentenced for various crimes, but the ladies afterwards
relent, and pardon all the prisoners brought before them. I give on the
preceding page a reduced copy of the rough woodcut which illustrates
this curious burlesque.
[Illustration: CARICATURE, 1644.]
A writer of much verbosity satirised the Assembly of Divines at
Westminster in another illustrated pamphlet, printed 'by Martin
Claw-Clergy for Bartholomew Bang-Priest, and sold in Toleration-street,
at the sign of the Subject's Liberty, opposite to Persecuting Court.'
The author states on the title-page that his production displays 'many
witty Synodian Conceits both pleasant and commodious,' and adorns his
work with the above curious engraving, which probably had some reference
to a Papal Bull, but at this distance of time we look in vain for the
point and meaning of many of these old caricatures.
Having glanced at the satirical side of illustrated journalism at the
epoch of the Civil War, I will quote two or three examples relating to
the social and political condition of the country before entering upon
the stirring events of that time.
A great variety of subjects are embraced in this section. There are
accounts of apparitions, signs and portents in the heavens, monstrous
births, duels and murders, criminal trials and executions, besides many
tracts relating to the vices and follies of the age. One of the first
illustrated pamphlets we come to in this division of our subject
describes a duel fought in vindication of the good name of King Charles
I. The pamphlet is entitled, '_Sir Kenelme Digby's Honour maintained by
a most couragious Combat which he fought with the Lord Mount le Ros, who
by base and slanderous words reviled our King_. _Also the true relation
how he went to the King of France, who kindly intreated and sent two
hundred men to guard him so far as Flanders. And now he is returned from
Banishment, and to his eternal honour lives in England._' This is a
tract written by an undoubted Royalist. It begins in praise of valour,
which is divided into three kinds--that which is allied to rashness,
that which is born of the fear of death, and temperate or true valour.
It describes how Sir Kenelme Digby was dining with a French lord, who,
having toasted most of the kings of Christendom, then proposed the
health of the most arrant coward in the world; and on Sir Kenelme
inquiring who that was, he was told, after he had drunk the toast, that
it was meant for the King of England: 'At which the good knight seemed
very much discontent, knowing in what nature his Soveraigne was wronged;
yet very wisely did he seeme to pass it by untill dinner being ended,
then did he desire the same lord the next day to come and dine with him,
who promised him upon his honour that he would.'
[Illustration: SIR KENELM DIGBY's DUEL, 1641.]
The next day the French Lord repaired to Sir Kenelme's lodgings, where
an entertainment befitting his rank was provided: 'Neither did Sir
Kenelme seeme to remember the former daies discontent, but was very
frolic and merry, and in the midst of dinner time desired them all to
be bare, for he would beginne a health to the bravest king in the world.
The French Lord asked whom that was, Sir Kenelme made answer that when
it had gone about he should know; well, about it went and then Sir
Kenelme said that it was the health of the bravest king in the world,
which is the King of England, my royal Master, for although my body be
banished from him, yet is my heart loyally linkt; the French Lord at
those words seemed to laugh repeating the same words before mentioned,
then was Sir Kenelme throughly moved in the behalf of our Soveraigne
King Charles whereupon he whispered the Lord in the eare, telling of him
how that twice he had reviled the best King in the world in the hearing
of me which am his faithful subject, wherefore for satisfaction I
require a single combate of you, where either you shall pay your life
for your sawcinesse, or I will sacrifice mine in the behalfe of my
King. The French Lord being of a resolute spirit condescended to fight,
the place was appointed, dinner being ended, they both arise from table
and privately went together, being in field off they pluckt their
doublets, and out they draw their weapons.
'Mars would have bashful beene to have seene himselfe by Noble Digby
there excelled, long work with the contemptible French Lord, he would
not make, for fear lest any should lye in ambush and so he might hazard
his own life, wherefore in four bouts he run his rapier into the French
Lords brest till it came out of his throat againe, which so soon as he
had done, away he fled to the Court of France, and made all knowne to
the King thereof, who said the proudest Lord in France should not dare
to revile his brother King.
'A guard was presently chosen to conduct Sir Kenelme into Flanders,
which they did, where he tooke shipping for England, where he now is,
where in peace and quietnesse may he still remaine.
'As for the French Lord he was paid according to his desert, and may all
be so rewarded which shall dare to revile the Lords anointed, who
suffers by other Nations, for the clemency he hath shown to his own
Nation, _sed beati sunt pacifici_, but blessed is the peace maker; good
king for thy patience in this world there are Crownes of immortal glory
laid in store for thee in the world to come, there shall not traitors
dare to show their faces, nor shall perplexity proceed from the great
care of ruling of a kingdome, in the meanwhile may more such Noble
Digbies increase to rebuke all cursing _Achitophels_ and reviling
_Rabshakey's_.
'Let God arise and then shall the enemies of our gracious King be sure
to be scattered.
'Now I conclude commanding fame to show
Brave Digby's worthy deed, that all may know
He lov'd his king, may all so loyal prove
And like this Digby to their king show love.'
Many portraits of Charles I. were published in tracts about this time.
One of the best is contained in a poetical welcome to the King on his
return from Scotland. '_King Charles his Entertainment and Londons
Loyaltie_,' 1641, contains a precept issued by the Lord Mayor, directing
how the aldermen and citizens shall meet the King, on his return from
Scotland, at Shoreditch Church, and conduct him to the Guildhall to a
banquet, and afterwards to Westminster. There is also a a very spirited
woodcut of a City trumpeter in this pamphlet, which is copied above.
City entertainments to sovereigns and princes have always been fruitful
occasions for illustrated newspapers.
[Illustration: CITY TRUMPETER, 1641.]
The wholesale executions that used to take place at this period would
astonish the modern newspaper reader. Sometimes as many as twenty-four
persons were executed in one day at Tyburn. '_A Coppy of the Prisoners
judgement condemned to dy, from Nugate on Monday the 13 of December,
1641_,' gives an account of eight Jesuits and several other prisoners
who were executed. A descriptive list is given of the condemned, and
amongst them are the following:--
'Charles James, an handsome gentile young man, was convicted for Robery
and Burglary.
'John Hodskins, a fine Scholler, a pretty fellow, yet wanted grace.
'John Davis, a lusty stout personable man.
'Francis Middlefield, a pretty youth, and a good Scholler, convicted of
felonie.'
Several highwaymen, horse-stealers, and coiners, are also included in
this gloomy list, which is adorned with a woodcut of an execution.
The regulation of the licensed victuallers' trade and the Sunday closing
movement appear to have been as troublesome questions in the seventeenth
century as they are now. As early as 1641 the publican was uttering the
complaints which he still continues to utter. In a pamphlet of that date
there is a dialogue between a tapster and a cook, which sets forth the
grievances of both these worthies. The pamphlet is entitled, '_The
Lamentable Complaints of Nick Froth the Tapster and Rulerost the Cook,
concerning the restraint lately set forth against drinking, potting, and
piping on the Sabbath day, and against selling meate_.' The publican
expresses himself thus:--'I much wonder Master Rulerost why my trade
should be put downe, it being so necessary in a commonwealth; why the
noble art of drinking, it is the soul of all good fellowship, the marrow
of a Poet's Minervs, it makes a man as valiant as Hercules though he
were as cowardly as a Frenchman; besides I could prove it necessary for
any man sometimes to be drunk, for suppose you should kill a man when
you are drunk, you shall never be hanged for it untill you are sober;
therefore I think it good for a man to be always drunk; and besides it
is the kindliest companion, and friendliest sin of all the seven, for
most sins leave a man by some accident or other, before his death, but
this will never forsake him till the breath be out of his body; and
lastly a full bowle of strong beere will drown all sorrows.'
To which master Cook rejoins:--'Master Nick, you are mistaken, your
trade is not put downe as you seem to say; what is done is done to a
good intent; to the end that poor men that worke hard all the weeke for
a little money, should not spend it all on the Sunday while they should
be at some church, and so consequently there will not be so many
Beggars.'
[Illustration: THE COMPLAINT OF THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS, 1641.]
Froth--'Alack you know all my profit doth arise onely on Sundays, let
them but allow me that privilege, and abridge me all the weeke besides;
S'foot, I could have so scowered my young sparks up for a penny a demy
can, or a halfe pint, heapt with froth. I got more by uttering half a
Barrell in time of Divine service, than I could by a whole Barrell at
any other time, for my customers were glad to take anything for money,
and think themselves much ingaged to me; but now the case is altered.'
Cook--'Truly Master Froth you are a man of a light constitution, and not
so much to be blamed as I that am more solid: O what will become of me!
I now think of the lusty Sirloines of roast Beefe which I with much
policy divided into an innumerable company of demy slices, by which,
with my provident wife, I used to make eighteene pence of that which
cost me but a groat (provided that I sold it in service time,) I could
tell you too, how I used my halfe cans and my Bloomsbury Pots, when
occasion served; and my Smoak which I sold dearer than any Apothecary
doth his Physick; but those happy days are now past, and therefore no
more of that.'
This pamphlet is illustrated with a woodcut showing the Cook and Tapster
in confabulation, while in the background joints are roasting, and
guests are seated in boxes, refreshing themselves with 'half-cans and
Bloomsbury pots.'
The abuses of the Ecclesiastical Courts did not escape the notice of the
seventeenth-century pamphleteers. Doctors' Commons and the Proctors were
quizzed in an illustrated pamphlet, wherein 'Sponge, the Proctor,' and
'Hunter, the Parator,' hold a long conversation, and express their
opinion that the only way to make men live in quietness is to beggar
them with long suits and large fees. Other evil-doers were shown up in a
similar manner. A certain Edward Finch, Vicar of Christ-church, London,
gave so much offence to the parishioners by his manner of life that a
petition was presented to Parliament on the subject. The petitioners
said they were offended by their Vicar's 'frequent and unreasonable
bowings' before the altar, and by his 'scandalous life and
conversation.' They set forth in the petition that they are 'troubled in
their church with singing, organs, and other Instruments of Musicke, not
understood by them, whereby they are greatly distracted in the service
of God, the same being altogether unprofitable, and no way tending to
their spirituall edification.' The Vicar is charged with drunkenness and
incontinence--with exacting unreasonable fees--with being a
non-resident; and the evidence in support of the petition shows that on
one occasion he went to Hammersmith in a coach with certain loose
companions and spent the day in a manner unfit for a clergyman. He is
proved to have attempted to administer the Sacrament to a dying woman
while he was in a state of drunkenness, and to have been guilty of many
other disgraceful acts. The House of Commons passed a vote of censure on
this graceless Ritualist; and the petition setting forth his misdeeds
was printed and published, illustrated with a woodcut showing the
journey to Hammersmith in a coach. Notwithstanding the condemnation of
Parliament, the Rev. Edward Finch continued in his evil courses, and
conducted his 'life and conversation' much the same as before.
[Illustration: EVIL DOINGS OF THE REV. EDWARD FINCH, 1641.]
From the 'perambulations' of a Ritualistic clergyman we come to a
nunnery, in a pamphlet published in 1641, entitled, '_The Arminian
Nunnery, or a briefe description and relation of the late erected
Monasticall Place, called the Arminian Nunnery at Little Gidding, in
Huntingdonshire_.' The writer of this pamphlet gives a minute and by no
means 'brief' description of the institution, which he evidently
believes to be Roman Catholic, or a stepping-stone to it, though the
'Deacon' who attended him on his visit assured him to the contrary. He,
however, sets down all the tapers and crosses, the bowings and
prostrations, as so many proofs of idolatry, and marvels that, in a
settled Church government, the Bishops should suffer any such
institutions to exist; particularly that Archbishop Laud, professing to
be such an 'Anti-Papist and enemy to superstition and idolatry, should
permit this innovation and connive at such canting betwixt the barke and
the tree in matter of Religion.' While censuring the prelates for their
criminal slothfulness, the writer gave his countrymen the benefit of his
own acuteness and energy, and published his description, illustrated
with an engraving representing one of the nuns, with a portion of the
nunnery in the background.
[Illustration: NUNNERY AT LITTLE GIDDING, HUNTINGDONSHIRE, 1641.]
The next illustrated pamphlet we come to is a curious attempt on the
part of its author to satirise his literary contemporaries for the
falsehoods contained in their writings, and he burlesques their
productions by relating many things as lies which, however, he means to
be understood as truths. It is called '_The Liar, or a contradiction to
those who in the titles of their Books affirmed them to be true, when
they were false; although mine are all true yet I term them lyes.
Veritas Veritatis_.'
'There was an Englishman which travelled to the Swedish Army, and began
to relate very strange passages which he had seen here in England,
thinking that travellers might lye by authority; for said he in the
County of Berke, at a place called Abingdon, when the Earle of Strafford
lost his head, was such thundering and lightning, and earthquakes, that
it is almost incredible. Surely I think it is incredible indeed, for I
know 'tis no such matter.
'He told too that the very same day that my Lord Archbishop of
Canterbury was committed to the Tower, there was a child born in the
County of Somerset with a Mitre on its head, a marke on his breast like
a Crucifix, and many other strange things which were there seene.'
Having invented the travelling Englishman for a mouth-piece and selected
the Swedish army for an audience, the writer goes on to relate many
other strange things, which, though told as lies, are evidently intended
to be taken as truths.
[Illustration: THE LIAR ON THE RACK, 1641.]
'They heard him with patience till he had made an end of his lying, and
then they asked him whether yea or nay he saw these things he spake of,
he presently swore all the oaths of God that he saw these things with
his own natural eyes, which he had reported, and he would maintaine it,
though he spent his dearest blood in the doeing of it; well, they heard
his protestations, and made a full account that they would prove his
constancie whether he would be a Martyr yea or nay, in the meane time
they horsed him, and this was the manner of it.
'There was a great high thing raised to the height of twelve or fourteen
yards, made of Iron, whereon he was seated, with two great weights on
his toes, and the like on his hands where he sate in great paine, if he
should chance to ease himselfe upwards, there were sharp nailes over his
head which would prick him, thus he sate and thus he suffered, till they
had sufficiently made a laughing stock of him; well, when he had
suffered enough they let him downe.'
There is a woodcut representing the lying traveller on his 'horse,' and
the tract winds up thus:--
'Gentle Reader, I have heere related under the name of lies nothing but
true tales, for if a man doth now speake truth he shall be sure to smart
for it now-a-daies, either here or in other places: read gentlie and buy
willingly.'
When the Plague visited London in 1641 the theatres were closed and the
players were thrown out of employment. This state of things is discussed
in a dialogue between 'Cane of the Fortune and Reed of the Friars,' in a
tract illustrated with a woodcut which was frequently used afterwards in
broadsides. Bartholomew Fair, which was proclaimed for the last time in
1855, was in all its glory in the days of Charles I. A contemporary
tract gives a graphic description of the fair, and is illustrated with a
woodcut representing a man swallowing a serpent. This probably
represented a picture hung outside one of the shows. The title of the
tract is, '_Bartholomew Faire, or Variety of Fancies, where you may find
a faire of wares and all to please your mind; with the several
enormities and misdemeanours which are there seen and acted_.' The fair
is described as beginning 'on the twenty-fourth day of August, and is
then of so vast an extent that it is contained in no lesse than four
several parishes, namely, Christ Church, Great and Little Saint
Bartholomew's, and Saint Sepulchre's. Hither resort people of all sorts,
High and Low, Rich and Poore, from cities, townes, and countreys; of all
sects, Papists, Atheists, Anabaptists, and Brownists, and of all
conditions, good and bad, virtuous and vitious.' It is said to be 'full
of gold and silver-drawers; just as Lent is to the Fishmonger so is
Bartholomew Faire to the Pickpocket; it is his high harvest, which is
never bad but when his cart goes up Holborn.
[Illustration: A BARTHOLOMEW FAIR WONDER, 1641.]
'It is remarkable and worth your observation to behold and hear the
strange sights and confused noise in the Faire. Here a knave in a fool's
coat, with a trumpet sounding, or on a drum beating, invites you and
would fain perswade you to see his puppets; there a rogue like a wild
woodman, or in an Antick shape like an incubus, desires your company, to
view his motion; on the other side Hocus Pocus, with three yards of tape
or ribbin in's hand, shewing his art of Legerdemain, to the admiration
and astonishment of a company of cockoloaches. Amongst these you shall
see a gray goose cap (as wise as the rest), with a what do ye lacke in
his mouth, stand in his boothe, shaking a rattle, or scraping on a
fiddle, with which children are so taken, that they presently cry out
for these fopperies; and all these together make such a distracted noise
that you would think Babell were not comparable to it. Here there are
also your gamesters in action, some turning of a whimsey, others
throwing for pewter, who can quickly dissolve a round shilling into a
three-halfpenny saucer. Long Lane at this time looks very faire, and
puts out her best cloaths, with the wrong side outward, so turned for
their better turning off. And Cloth Faire is now in great request; well
fare the ale-houses therein; yet better may a man fare (but at a dearer
rate) in the pig market, alias Pasty-nooke, or Pye Corner, where pigges
are all hours of the day on the stalls piping hot, and would cry (if
they could speak) come eate me.'
[Illustration: PULLING DOWN CHEAPSIDE CROSS, 1643.]
In 1641 an order of Parliament directed the removal of idolatrous
pictures from churches and the demolition of crosses in the streets. It
must have been on the passing of this order that '_The Doleful
lamentation of Cheapside Cross_,' with a woodcut of the Cross, was
published, 1641. Also, '_A Dialogue between the Crosse in Cheap and
Charing Crosse_,' 1641, which has also a woodcut representing the two
crosses, while a Brownist and an Anabaptist converse about their
demolition. It was not, however, till 1643 that Charing Cross and
Cheapside Cross were demolished. '_The Downfall of Dagon, or the taking
down of Cheapside Crosse this second of May, 1643_,' is a mock
lamentation for the destruction of the Cross on account of its being a
symbol of idolatry. The Cross itself is made to describe its history and
to lament its errors. Divers reasons are given for its demolition, and
the tract concludes in these words: 'And so this Tuesday it is a taking
down with a great deal of judgement and discretion, and foure Companies
of the Traine Bands of the City to guard and defend those that are about
the worke, and to keep others from domineering, and so I leave it to be
made levell with the ground this second day of May 1643.' The tract is
illustrated with a woodcut representing the demolition of the Cross;
and, as the day of publication is the day after the event, the persons
concerned in its production must have been unusually prompt and
energetic. The destruction of Cheapside and Charing Crosses is also
recorded, under the date of 1643, in '_A Sight of the Transactions of
these latter yeares Emblemized with Ingraven Plates, which men may read
without Spectacles_.' This pamphlet contains a reprint of the etched
plates previously mentioned, together with six others, one of which
represents the pulling down of Cheapside Cross, and a summary of the
transactions of the reign of Charles I., in which occurs the following
passage:--'Cheapside Crosse, Charing Crosse, and all other crosses, in
and about London utterly demolished and pulled down, and that abominable
and blasphemous book of tolerating sports and pastimes on the Lord's
daies, voted to be burnt, and shortly after accordingly burnt, together
with many crucifixes and popish trinckets and trumperies in the very
same place where Cheapside Crosse stood.' I have copied the plate
representing the demolition of Cheapside Cross.
The affairs of Turkey would seem to have had an interest for the English
public in the seventeenth century, if we may judge from a pamphlet
printed in 1642, with the following lengthy title:--'_Strange and
Miraculous Newes from Turkie, sent to our English Ambassadour resident
at Constantinople, of a woman which was seen in the Firmament with a
Book in her hand at_ Medina Talnabi, _where Mahomet's Tomb is_. _Also
several visions of armed men appearing in the Ayre for one and twenty
dayes together. With a prophetical interpretation made by a Mahomedan
Priest, who lost his life in the maintenance thereof. London, printed
for Hugh Perry neere Ivy Bridge in the Strand June 13, 1642._' There is
a woodcut of the apparition, and a lengthy description, passages from
which I have extracted:--
'There came newes to Constantinople of a strange Apparition or Vision,
which was seene at _Medina Talnabi_ in Arabia, whereat Mahomet their
great Prophet was buried. To visit whose Tombe the Turkes used to goe in
Pilgrimage, but they must first goe to _Mecha_, which is some few dayes
journey off, and there they take a ticket from the Grand Seigniors
Beglerbeg, else they are not allowed to go to Medina.
'This Vision continued three weeks together, which terrified the whole
country, for that no man could discover the truth thereof.
[Illustration: STRANGE VISION IN THE AIR, 1642.]
'About the 20 of _September_ there fell so great a Tempest and so
fearful a Thunder about midnight, as the Heavens were darkened, and
those that were awake were almost distracted, but the Vapours being
disperst, and the Element cleere, the people might read in Arabian
characters these words in the Firmament, _O Why will you believe in
Lies_. Betweene two and three in the morning there was seen a woman in
white compassed about with the Sun, having a cheerfull countenance,
holding in her hand a Booke, coming from the Northeast, opposite
against her were Armies of _Turkes_, _Persians_, _Arabians_, and other
Mahometans, ranged in order of Battaile, and ready to charge her, but
she kept her standing, and onely opened the Booke, at the sight whereof
the Armies fled, and presently all the lamps about Mahomet's Tombe went
out, for as soon as ever the Vision vanished (which was commonly an hour
before sunne rising) a murmuring Wind was heard, whereunto they imputed
the extinguishing of the lamps. The antient pilgrims of Mahomet's Race,
who after they have visited this place, never use to cut their haire,
were much amazed, for that they could not conceive the meaning of this
vision, only one of the _Dervices_, which is a strict religious order
among the _Turkes_ like unto the Cappuchins amongst the Papists, and
live in contemplation, stepped up very boldly and made a speech unto the
Company which incensed them much against him, so as the poore Priest
for his plain dealing lost his life, as you shall hereafter heare.'
Then follows the speech of the Dervish to the Turks, who became so
incensed that they put him to death, 'the poore man crying to the last
gaspe, O thou woman with the Booke save me, and so he died. At which
time there was a feareful tempest.'
It seems to have been a favourite method amongst the Puritan
pamphleteers of inducing belief in a particular creed or doctrine by
setting forth the awful consequences arising from adherence to an
opposite faith. Thus, in 1645, in the parish of Kirkham, a Popish
gentlewoman was said to have become the mother of a child without a
head, because she wished she might bear a child without a head rather
than her offspring should become a Roundhead. Again, it was related that
in Scotland a woman wished she might become the mother of a monster
rather than her child should receive the rites of the Church of England.
Accordingly, the child was born with two heads, long donkey-like ears,
&c. In all these cases the pamphlets recording these extraordinary
occurrences are illustrated. The apparitions of deceased persons were
also used as a means of enforcing certain views. For example, in 1642,
the ghosts of King James, the Marquis of Hamilton, George Eglisham, and
the Duke of Buckingham, were made to hold a conversation, wherein
Buckingham was charged with having caused the deaths of the others by
poison. Buckingham confesses his guilt and promises to weep repentant
tears. This pamphlet is also illustrated. The sermons of the Roundhead
preachers were sometimes parodied, as in the case of a humorous pamphlet
entitled, '_A Seasonable Lecture, or a most learned Oration;
disburthened from Henry Walker, a most judicious quondam ironmonger,
&c._' There is a woodcut to this pamphlet representing a person holding
forth from a tub to several others who are listening to him. In '_A
Glasse for the Times, 1648_,' there is a woodcut representing the
'Orthodox true Minister' preaching in a church, while the 'Seducer, or
False Prophet,' is holding forth to people in the open air; and the
reader is instructed as to the difference between true ministers and
false teachers.
Amongst the numerous executions that took place about the beginning of
the Civil War, some of the sufferers belonged to the Roman Catholic
Religion, and went to the gallows for conscience sake. In 1643 a certain
Father Bell, a Romish priest, was hanged; and a few days after the
execution a pamphlet was published, entitled '_The Confession,
Obstinacy, and Ignorance of Father Bell, a Romish Priest, wherein is
declared the manner of his Tryall, Condemnation, and Execution on Munday
December 11, 1643_.' There is a woodcut of the execution of Father Bell,
and an account of his behaviour on the occasion, his speech at the
gallows, and his disputatious conversation with the Sheriff.
Though many persons were put to death for witchcraft during the Long
Parliament, I have met with no illustrated record of any such event.
Matthew Hopkins was 'witch-finder general' at this time, and he had a
flourishing trade. He had a regular system for finding out witches; but
it appears that it must have been called in question, for the objections
to his system and his answers thereto were delivered to the Judges of
Assize for the County of Norfolk in 1647. A pamphlet of that date
contains a full account of Hopkins's rules for finding witches, and it
is illustrated with a woodcut representing the interior of a house, with
the witch-finder, two witches seated, and surrounded by their imps in
the shapes of animals.
_The Welsh Post_ of 1643 is a curious illustrated pamphlet which relates
the news of the Civil War in language such as was supposed to be used by
a Welshman speaking English. It begins thus:--'Whereas there hath beene
many Tiurnals and Passages, the truth whereof hath beene much suspected,
so tat her doth not be certaine to heare the true report of her
pretherns proceeding; her hath terefore chosen to herselfe a fery true
Printer (tat do scorne to print lie) to print a weekly Tiurnall for her
dear Countryman of Whales to understand te fery truth marke you me tat
now, for ferily her will not lye truly, but tell her te pare naked
truth.' The news from Oxford is that 'te kings forces are fery weake
there, and that the Countrey are fery glad of it, because of teir
intolerable trouble and charge.' There is also news from
Northamptonshire, Cheshire, Gloucester, Plymouth, Yorkshire, &c, all
related in the same language.
[Illustration: HOPKINS, THE WITCHFINDER, 1647.]
_The Welsh Plunderer_ is another pamphlet, with a woodcut of a Cavalier,
which is probably intended for Prince Rupert. It contains a rambling
protestation from 'Shinkin' of his loyalty, and states what he will do
in case Prince Rupert should visit Wales.
William Lilly, the Astrologer, found a rich field for the exercise of
his gifts during the progress of the Civil War. He was employed by both
Royalists and Roundheads; and it is said he was even consulted by the
King about signing the propositions of the Parliament. His advice was
also sought respecting the King's projected escape from Carisbrook
Castle. He kept his name before the public by publishing various
almanacs and tracts, in one of which, _The Starry Messenger_, 1645, he
gives an account of a strange apparition of three suns seen in London on
the King's birthday. This is preceded by a long list of similar
appearances, from the time of Christ to his own time, and the remarkable
events which followed. In high-flown language, mixed with the jargon of
astrology he vaguely hints at great events impending:--'I am clearly of
opinion, These Sights, as well as many others, were caused by those
tutelary Angels, who, by Gods permission, and under him, have the
Government of the English Commonwealth. They are sensible of those many
impending Miseries now too plentifully amongst us. Their conference with
man now, as in the days of old, very few attain unto, it being a
blessing sought after by many, attained unto by few: And yet there are
some of opinion there lives in the world some, and of those some, a
small Party in England, that know more than they utter, and either by
Vision, or verball Colloquie, have the knowledge of future events, yea,
even from the blessed Angels:'--which is as much as to say, I, William
Lilly, am one of the favoured few! Come to me and I will teach you
wisdom--I will unfold to you the mysterious future! The tract is
illustrated with a woodcut; and a later tract published by Lilly
contains an engraving of the three suns, together with a further
exposition of his views on the subject:--'God many waves in these last
times (though not by prophecy) yet discovers and signifies his
intentions unto us, and especially in and at those times when his heavy
judgments are imminent upon us; witnesse the many and frequent
Appearances of severall Prodigies seen in this Kingdom of England within
these four or five years, the like whereof for number are not recorded
in any, either ancient or modern History, so that I might weary the
reader, should I but mention the severall Letters which from sundry
parts of this Kingdom have come to my hands, some mentioning strange
sights in the ayre; others men fighting therein; others Guns shooting;
others relating of three moons; others the apparition of two suns; some
sending me letters, and including therein some part of that Corn which
was rained down from heaven, &c. I forbear all further discourse hereof,
assuring the kingdom, these Prodigies are the Premonitions, and assumed
infallible Messengers of Gods wrath against the whole Kingdom, for our
wicked transgressions, &c. God give us peace and grace to repent.'
[Illustration: THREE SUNS SEEN IN LONDON ON THE KING'S BIRTHDAY, 1648.]