English Civil War Broadsides (2018)

Creating English Civil War Broadsides, a pop-up exhibition at the Folger, took place on June 29th, 2018 from 2:30-4:15pm. It was curated by Brittney Washington, the 2017-2018 Nadia Sophie Seiler Cataloging Resident.

The pop-up exhibition took place following Brittney Washington's talk on her residency, during which she focused on cataloging items in the Wing collection. Her presentation, Cataloging English Civl War Broadsides, examined the challenges and interesting questions generated by working with broadsides produced during the English Civil Wars (approximately 1642-1651), and making them more accessible to researchers through the application of expert description.

In her presentation, she writes:

The resources in this collection are historically interesting for the perspective they provide on how the everyday person learned about current events and how the printed word was used to disseminate and control information flow. I am going to focus today specifically on broadsides, which is defined by the Art & Architectural Thesaurus as “a sizeable single-sheet notices or advertisements printed on one or both sides, often chiefly textual rather than pictorial, and printed to be read unfolded.” Broadsides were issued for a variety of reasons: to let the masses know of a change in the laws, or new orders or acts or decrees and also sometimes just as a way for the King to update the people on what he’s been up to...Challenges in cataloging these resources lies primarily in understanding the way laws were enacted traditionally, and how they were evolving in the time leading up to and during the English Civil Wars and there are also some physical descriptive elements that differ from a book or pamphlet that are brought out in the catalog record here. Going through this collection chronologically, as I have done (and heartily recommend to anyone else who may work on this project), highlights this change and provides the cataloger with insight and the ability to cross reference previously published related works more easily and track ongoing issues.

Be sure to click through to the Hamnet record for each item, where Brittney's meticulous work as a cataloger really shines. Please note that some bibliographic information has been reduced or summarized here for the below items--for full information, please click through to the Hamnet records.

For more information on Brittney's work cataloging Wing titles at Folger, see her Collation post, "A Pamphlet War in England: 1641-1643".

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  STC 8621, 1r. High resolution image here.

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  STC 8621, 2r. High resolution image here.

Although none of the broadsides in this pop-up have been added to our digital collections, this is an example of an earlier broadside proclamation published in 1619 during the reign of James I.

Items Included

1). England and Wales. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I), issuing body.
By the King. A proclamation for the authorizing an vniformitie of the Booke of common prayer to bee vsed throughout the realme.
London: [s.n.], 1642 i.e. [1643]
Call Number: 226- 787b
This item has not yet been added to our digital collections.
Notes
At foot of text: "Given at our Court the 5. day of March". Dates appearing on the resource are given according to Lady Day dating, that is, accounting March 25 the first day of the new year. Annotation on Thomason copy: "March 16". First issued under James I in 1604 (STC 8344). It was reprinted as a bifolium in STC 16326; reissued as a broadside here and in 1660 (Wing, 2nd ed. C3316a) under King Charles II-- See STC. Eleven-line factotum initial. The last word of the first line of text is ’Our’; first word of the last line to the right of the initial is ’affirmations’; the last word of the last full line of text is ’contemptible :’

Summary
"At the King’s first entry, being importuned by sundry ministers concerning the doctrine and discipline of the Church, he summoned an assembly by Proclamation in October last, which was held at Hampton Court in January. These complaints were found baseless, nevertheless he commissioned the Archbishop of Canterbury under Great Seal to make necessary explanations, and to publish the Book of Common Prayer with these explanations. This being now done, every parish must procure one of the said books, as no further change in the order will be made" -- Crawford.

2). England and Wales. Parliament, issuing body.
The Lords and Commons do declare that they intend a due and necessary reformation of the government and liturgie of the church ...
London : Robert Barker, 1642
Call Number: 231- 949f
This item has not yet been added to our digital collections.
Notes
Title from caption and opening words of text. First sentence continues ... "and to take away nothing in the one or the other, but what shall be evil, and justly offensive, or at least unnecessary and burthensome." Signed at end: "H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com." H. Elsynge is Henry Elsynge, clerk of Commons. At least two settings of type, possibly three, are known. Distinguishing characteristic of the setting described here: Headband. Black letter. 5-line decorated initial. The last word of the first line of text is ’Declare’; first word of the last line to the right of the initial is ’away’; the last word of the last full line of text is ’and’. Imprint is preceded by a pilcrow and has spelling "John." Other setting[s] may have no headpiece or pilcrow, "Iohn" in the imprint, and Crawford notation: De- to necessary.

Summary
"Parliament intends a reformation of the government and liturgy of the church after consultation with divines. It will establish learned and preaching ministers throughout the whole kingdom." -- Crawford

3). England and Wales. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I), issuing body.
His Majesties letter to both Houses of Parliament : 20. Ianuarii 1641.
London : F.C and T.B., 1641 [i.e. 1642]
265- 628b
This item has not yet been added to our digital collections.
Notes
F.C. and T.B. are probably Francis Coles and Thomas Bates, who published similar documents together. Date appears at head of caption title. Dates appearing on the resource are calculated according to Lady Day dating, that is, accounting March 25 as the first day of the new year. Roman type. Coat of arms=Crawford arms 19. The last word of the first line of text is ’which’; the word at the lower right-hand corner of the initial is ’His’; the last word of the last full line of text is ’his’. Roman type. Coat of arms is Crawford arms 19. The last word of the first line of text is ’which’; the word at the lower right-hand corner of the initial is ’His’; the last word of the last full line of text is ’his’.

Summary
In which the King requests the Parliament “with all speed fall into a serious consideration” of the various problems plaguing the country as “he might justly expect (as most proper for the duty of subjects) that Propositions for the remedies of these evils, ought rather to come to him, then from him." He refers again to this letter in Folger 165- 886b, His Majesties message to both Houses of Parliament upon his removal to the city of York.

4). England and Wales. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I), issuing body.
His Majesties message to both Houses of Parliament, upon his removall to the city of York.
London: Francis Coules and Thomas Banks, [1642]
Call Number: 165- 886b
This item has not yet been added to our digital collections.
Notes
Publication date from Wing. Dates appearing on the resource are given according to Lady Day dating, that is, accounting March 25 the first day of the new year. Royal arms on title page: approximately 10 cm. Crawford arms 19. Gothic type. 5-line decorated initial. The last word of the first line of text is ’intends’; first word of the last line to the right of the initial is ’in’; the last word of the last full line of text is ’and’.

Summary
"The King on his way to York, sends this message to Parliament. He hopes they will expedite the business of Ireland. Expects obedience to the laws. Subjects not to obey any Order, Ordinance, concerning the Militia or otherwise, but by his command. Again recommends the substance of his message of Jan. 20, No. 1946." -- Crawford – Crawford

5). England and Wales. Parliament.
The severall votes and resolutions agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament...
London: John Thomas, 1641 [i.e. 1642]
Call Number: 152- 704q
This item has not yet been added to our digital collections.
Summary
Parliament votes “in the case of extreme danger ordinances of Parliament are binding even if the King refuses his consent.” This is a huge movement forward in the start of English Civil War.

6). Unknown
A question answered. How laws are to be understood and obedience yeelded : necessary for the present state of things, touching the militia.
[London]: [1642]
Call Number: 217- 453f
This item has not yet been added to our digital collections.
Notes
Published anonymously; author unknown. Sometimes attributed to Henry Parker. See: Mendle, Michael. Henry Parker and the English Civil War (Cambridge, 1995), p. 194, and Mendle. Michael. Dangerous positions (U. of Alabama Press, 1985), pp. 179, 187-8, 224 nn. 29, 30. Date and place of publication from Wing. 2-line initial. Roman letter. The last word of the first line of text is ’a’; first word of the last line to the right of the initial is ’malignant’; the last word of the last full line of text is ’foresaid’.

Summary
"The King claims the disposing of the militia by law: the Parliament says- rebus sic stantibus, and nolenti Rege, the ordering of it is in them, in presence of foreign invasion and a Popish party at home. The Answer distinguishes between the equitable and literal sense of law. The equitable sense need not be expressed but is always understood, otherwise those that rule by law would have tyranny conferred on them. The letter is always to receive qualification from the equity."--Crawford

7). England and Wales. Parliament, issuing body.
A declaration of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that the sheriffes of London shall be saved and kept harmelesse by the authority of both Houses for not publishing some late messages and proclamations lately sent them in His Majesties name...
[London]: John Wright, 1642 [i.e. 1643]
Call Number: 226- 777f
This item has not yet been added to our digital collections.
Notes
Official date of proceeding from Steele. Dates appearing on the resource are given according to Lady Day dating, that is, accounting March 25 the first day of the new year. Gothic type. 8-line decorated initial. The last word of the first line of text is ’and’; first word of the last line to the right of the initial is ’iesties’; the last word of the last full line of text is ’in’.

Summary
"Divers proclamations, writs, and messages under Great or Privy Seal have been delivered to Alderman Langham and Andrewes, Sheriffs, who have been forbidden by Parliament to execute them. They are approved and held harmless by Parliament. Ordered that this be printed and published." --Crawford

8). England and Wales. Parliament. House of Commons, issuing body.
Die Lunae 27. Martii 1643. It is this day ordered by the Commons in Parliament assembled that if any person, tenant or other, after notice hereof given by the publication in print ...
[London] : [s.n.], [1643]
Call Number: 226- 778f
This item has not yet been added to our digital collections.
Notes
Title from caption and opening words of text. Publication information from Wing E2594. "Ordered by the Commons in Parliament, that this order be forthwith printed and published. Hen. Elsynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com." Two different settings of type are known. Distinguishing characteristics of the edition described here: Roman type. Type headpiece formed by three rows of type ornaments with a colon in the middle of the top row. 5-line factotum initial. The last word of the first line of text is ’Parliament’; first word of the last line indented by initial is ’bishop’; the last word of the last full line of text is ’Au-’. [Crawford erroneously has ’An’] The other edition (ESTC R215477; Wing E2594) has a decorated initial and Crawford notation is: Parliament bishop shall. Not in Wing, D.G. Short-title catalogue of books printed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and British America, and of English books printed in other countries, 1641-1700 (2nd ed.)

Summary
"No person is to pay any rents, profits, fees, &c., to any of the following, on pain of its being counted non-payment : - William Archbishop of Canterbury, John Archbishop of York, Thomas Bp. of Duresme, Robert Bp. of Coventry and Lichfield, Joseph Bp. of Norwich, John Bp. of Asaph, Robert Bp. of Oxon., William Bp. of Bath and Wells, George Bp. of Hereford, Mathew Bp. of Peterborough, Morgan Bp. of Landaffe, Iohn Bp. of Worcester, or any Bishops, Deans and Chapters, Prebends, Archdeacons, or any persons ecclesiastical or temporal who have borne arms against Parliament or contributed towards it (not being under the power of the King's army at the time). This to be printed, &c." -- Crawford

9). England and Wales. Parliament, issuing body.
An order made by both houses of Parliament to prevent the going over of Popish commanders into Ireland...
London: Joseph Hunscott, 1641 [i.e. 1642]
Call Number: 157- 827b
This item has not yet been added to our digital collections.
Notes
Roman. Headband. 3-line decorated initial. The last word of the first line of text is ’been’; first word of the last line to the right of the initial is ’have’; the last word of the last full line of text is ’in’. Royal arms on title page: approximately 3 cm. Crawford arms 34a. Signed at end: H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com.

Summary
"Many papists having estates in England have gone to Ireland to help the rebels, and others are preparing to do so. Arms, &c., have been sent, and are being prepared to aid them. All sheriffs, &c., are to apprehend suspected papists going to Ireland, stay all arms, &c., for their aid, and give notice to Parliament. The Irish beggars in Cornwall, Devon, &c., are to be sent home forthwith. The consent of the Lords was obtained by Mr. Carew." -- Crawford

10). England and Wales. Parliament.
Whereas information hath been given to the Parliament, that the Lord Digbie (son to the Earle of Bristol) and Colonel Lunsford, with others, have gathered troops of horse, ...
London: Robert Barker, 1641 [i.e. 1642]
Call Number: 253085
This item has not yet been added to our digital collections.

Sources

Wing, Donald J. Short Title Catalogue of Books Printed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and British America, and of English Books Printed in Other Countries, 1641-1700. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1972-1998.
Z2002 .W5 1982.

Crawford, J.L.L. Bibliography of Royal Proclamations of the Tudor and Stuart Sovereigns and of Others Published Under Authority, 1485-1714. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1910.
DA310 .C725.