His Maiesties answer to the XIX propositions of both houses of Parliament
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
His Maiesties answer to the XIX propositions of both houses of Parliament, published in London in 1642, exemplifies the role of post-1500s books in popular culture. The text, just 16 pages long, records King Charles I’s reply to the Parliament after they had sent a list of grievances and demands to him. His Majesty could have sent a letter straight back, but he wanted to try to rally the people as well the Parliament to his side. His advisors, Sir John Colepeper and Viscount Lucius Cary, wrote the Answer, because they hoped that their moderate stance might reconcile the outraged Parliament with their indignant King. Then, to make his appeal to the public at large, His Majesty went to the royal printer.
This printer, likely named Robert Barker, read over the handwritten response and got to work. He composed the pages, selected the type pieces, and pressed ink to paper. He would have had help too. Barker might have been the composer in charge of securing the type, a printman maneuvered the press, and a printer’s devil— often a young man—removed the inked paper and replaced it with a fresh sheet. Repeating the steps, Barker and his fellow printmen produced a batch of pamphlets that could be sold throughout London—and sell they did. In total, “His Maiesties’ Answer” went through eight editions or ‘batches’, and its contents were certainly the talk of Parliament floors and dinner tables across the city.
Looking beyond the text, one can find traces of these printmen, publishers, and readers preserved in the ink and paper.
Looking beyond the text,
one can find traces of these printmen, publishers, and readers preserved in the ink and paper.
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