Mercurius Aulicus was one of the "most important early newspapers" in England, famous during the English Civil War for its role in Royalist propaganda.
Peter Heylin, one of the key writers behind the Mercurius Aulicus.
The Mercurius Aulicus newspaper originated during the English Civil War from a suggestion by George Digby, a key advisor to King Charles I, that the Royalist faction needed a method for promoting their views in Parliament-held London.[1] As a result, the publication was established in January 1643 - it is variously termed either a newspaper or a newsbook - the latter being an alternative term for this form of weekly news publication in a quarto format.[2]
John Birkenhead, a Fellow of All Souls College in Oxford, was appointed editor of the newspaper, receiving updates on events around the country from Digby's contacts,[3] although his colleague Peter Heylin appears to have done much of the practical editing himself.[4] The Mercurius Aulicus was printed in Oxford, which was at this time during the war the Royalist capital, for a penny a copy, then smuggled into London where it was sold on by local women, often at heavily inflated prices.[5] It was also reprinted on occasion - albeit not necessarily accurately - by local sympathisers in London itself.[6] When logistics made it impossible to print a copy for several weeks, Birkenhead would resort to including gaps in page numbers and issues to give the impression that the reader had merely missed a specific copy that had no doubt been delivered elsewhere across the country satisfactorily.[7]
Impact on the industry
The Mercurius Aulicus has been considered one of the 'most important early newspapers'[8] in England. The newspaper revolutionised the industry in England, initiating the idea of popular journalism as a political tool for dividing and mobilising popular opinion.[9] Prior to the Mercurius, newspapers had purported to portray facts, avoiding commentary on current events[10] - by contrast, the Mercurius represented the Laudian, or more extreme, end of Royalist opinion, openly smearing and mocking its opponents in a way that was quite novel for the period.[11]
Final days
The publication began to go downhill from 1644 onwards. As the Royalist defeats on the battlefield continued, the Oxford publication found it harder and harder to obtain current news and issues became badly delayed.[12] The Mercurius Aulicus finally closed in 1645.[13]
Clarke, Bob (2004). From Grub Street to Fleet Street: an Illustrated History of English Newspapers to 1899. Aldershot: Ashate.
Peacey, Jason (2004). Politicians and Pamphleteers: Propaganda during the English Civil Wars and Interregnum. Aldershot: Ashgate.
Sommerville, Charles John (1996). The news revolution in England: cultural dynamics of daily information. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Thomas, Peter William (1969). Sir John Berkenhead, 1617-1679: a Royalist career in politics and polemics. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Wedgwood, C.V. (1970). The King's War: 1641-1647. London: Fontana.
Wilcher, Robert (2001). The Writing of Royalism, 1628-1660. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Further reading
Williams, J.B. (1907–1921). "XV: The Beginnings of English Journalism § 3. Berkenhead, Dillingham, Audley, Nedham, Smith, Rushworth and Border". In Ward, A.W.; Waller, A.R. (eds.). The Cambridge History of English and American Literature. Vol. VII: Cavalier and Puritan (XVIII volumes ed.). New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
August 22, 2023
mercurius, aulicus, most, important, early, newspapers, england, famous, during, english, civil, role, royalist, propaganda, peter, heylin, writers, behind, contents, creation, impact, industry, final, days, references, bibliography, further, readingcreation, . Mercurius Aulicus was one of the most important early newspapers in England famous during the English Civil War for its role in Royalist propaganda Peter Heylin one of the key writers behind the Mercurius Aulicus Contents 1 Creation 2 Impact on the industry 3 Final days 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 Further readingCreation EditThe Mercurius Aulicus newspaper originated during the English Civil War from a suggestion by George Digby a key advisor to King Charles I that the Royalist faction needed a method for promoting their views in Parliament held London 1 As a result the publication was established in January 1643 it is variously termed either a newspaper or a newsbook the latter being an alternative term for this form of weekly news publication in a quarto format 2 John Birkenhead a Fellow of All Souls College in Oxford was appointed editor of the newspaper receiving updates on events around the country from Digby s contacts 3 although his colleague Peter Heylin appears to have done much of the practical editing himself 4 The Mercurius Aulicus was printed in Oxford which was at this time during the war the Royalist capital for a penny a copy then smuggled into London where it was sold on by local women often at heavily inflated prices 5 It was also reprinted on occasion albeit not necessarily accurately by local sympathisers in London itself 6 When logistics made it impossible to print a copy for several weeks Birkenhead would resort to including gaps in page numbers and issues to give the impression that the reader had merely missed a specific copy that had no doubt been delivered elsewhere across the country satisfactorily 7 Impact on the industry EditThe Mercurius Aulicus has been considered one of the most important early newspapers 8 in England The newspaper revolutionised the industry in England initiating the idea of popular journalism as a political tool for dividing and mobilising popular opinion 9 Prior to the Mercurius newspapers had purported to portray facts avoiding commentary on current events 10 by contrast the Mercurius represented the Laudian or more extreme end of Royalist opinion openly smearing and mocking its opponents in a way that was quite novel for the period 11 Final days EditThe publication began to go downhill from 1644 onwards As the Royalist defeats on the battlefield continued the Oxford publication found it harder and harder to obtain current news and issues became badly delayed 12 The Mercurius Aulicus finally closed in 1645 13 References Edit Wedgwood 1970 p 153 Wedgwood 1970 p 153 Wedgwood 1970 p 154 Thomas 1969 p 31 Wedgwood 1970 p 153 Wedgwood 1970 p 154 Sommerville 1996 p 38 Peacey 2004 p 189 Sommerville 1996 p 38 Clarke 2004 p 20 Peacey 2004 p 189 Wilcher 2001 p 219 Sommerville 1996 p 39 Bibliography EditClarke Bob 2004 From Grub Street to Fleet Street an Illustrated History of English Newspapers to 1899 Aldershot Ashate Peacey Jason 2004 Politicians and Pamphleteers Propaganda during the English Civil Wars and Interregnum Aldershot Ashgate Sommerville Charles John 1996 The news revolution in England cultural dynamics of daily information Oxford Oxford University Press Thomas Peter William 1969 Sir John Berkenhead 1617 1679 a Royalist career in politics and polemics Oxford Clarendon Press Wedgwood C V 1970 The King s War 1641 1647 London Fontana Wilcher Robert 2001 The Writing of Royalism 1628 1660 Cambridge Cambridge University Press Further reading EditWilliams J B 1907 1921 XV The Beginnings of English Journalism 3 Berkenhead Dillingham Audley Nedham Smith Rushworth and Border In Ward A W Waller A R eds The Cambridge History of English and American Literature Vol VII Cavalier and Puritan XVIII volumes ed New York G P Putnam s Sons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mercurius Aulicus amp oldid 1171373579, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
