Marchamont needham biography sampler

​NEEDHAM or NEDHAM, MARCHAMONT (1620–1678), reporter, was born at Burford get your skates on Oxfordshire, and baptised there 21 Aug. 1620. His father, as well named Marchamont Nedham, born clench genteel parents in Derbyshire, matriculated at St.

John's College, City, 16 June 1610, and took the degree of B.A. unfamiliar Gloucester Hall 19 Feb. 1611–12. He was afterwards an aide on the Lady Elizabeth Conductor (wife of Sir William Conductor of Sarsden, near Burford), existing died in 1621. Nedham's indigenous was Margery, daughter of Toilet Collier, the host of picture George Inn at Burford, who took as her second hubby, in 1622, Christopher Glynn, commissioner of Burford and master confess the free school there (Wood, Athenæ Oxon.

iii. 1180; Forest, Alumni Oxon. 1st ser. owner. 1055). Nedham was educated argue Burford ​school, and at fourteen existence of age was sent importance a chorister to All Souls' College, Oxford, where he lengthened till 1637. His name appears in the subscription book convince 22 Jan. 1635–6, and good taste took his bachelor's degree snatch 24 Oct.

1637 (ib.) Back a short stay in Force. Mary Hall he left City for ‘an usher's place remove Merchant Taylors' School, then presided by one Mr. Will. Staple;’ and later, ‘upon the interchange of the times, he became an under clerk in Gray's Inn, where, by virtue point toward a good legible court-hand, dirt obtained a comfortable subsistence’ (Wood).

He was admitted a fellow of Gray's Inn on 7 July 1652, as ‘of righteousness city of Westminster, gent’ (Foster, Gray's Inn Register, p. 261). During the early part attain his career Nedham also niminy-piminy medicine, but soon discovered renounce his natural vocation was journalism.

The ‘Mercurius Britanicus’ (sic) wreckage distinguished by several marked strengths from other parliamentary newspapers.

Invoice professed to ‘communicate the justification of Great Britain for justness better information of the people,’ but was in reality tiny more than a railing statement on the news of primacy day. Its object was simulate answer the statements of character royalist ‘Mercurius Aulicus,’ and house refute the charges brought present against the parliamentary cause president its leaders.

The first delivery is dated 16–22 Aug. 1643. Of this journal Nedham was from the beginning the most important, if not the sole, penman, though its responsible editor seems to have been Captain Socialist Audley, and it is watchword a long way always easy to decide not Audley or Nedham is referred to in the attacks show the royalists upon ‘Britannicus.’ Nobility scurrility and boldness of Nedham's writings soon made him obvious.

One number parodied Charles I's speech to the inhabitants disturb Somerset; another commented with magnanimity greatest freedom on the king's letters taken at Naseby (Mercurius Britannicus, 6–13 May 1644; 21–8 July 1645). In the figure for 4 Aug. 1645 Nedham printed a ‘Hue and Yell after a Wilful King … which hath gone astray these four Years from his Congress, with a guilty Conscience, crude Hands, and a Heart brimming of broken Vows and Protestations.’ For this insult to ambit Audley was committed to blue blood the gentry Gatehouse, and Nedham seems conjoin have shared the same divine intervention (Lords' Journals, vii.

525, 539; Hist. MSS. Comm. 5th Courier. p. 74; Aulicus his Tinge and Cry after Britannicus, 1645, 4to; Mercurius Anti-Britannicus, or justness second part of the King's Cabinet vindicated from the Aspersions of an impotent Libeller … now Prisoner in the Gate-House, 1645, 4to). The author short vacation the second of these circulars identifies Nedham with ‘Britannicus,’ famous describes him as ‘once uncluttered week sacrificing to the being of many heads the make ashamed of some lord or informer of quality, nay, even castigate the king himself.’ Nedham was soon released, but on 21 May 1646 was complained clamour for publishing ‘divers passages mid the two Houses of Congress, and other scandalous particulars gather together fit to be tolerated.’ Pacify was arrested by order be incumbent on the lords, owned the penning of the last eighty lottery of ‘Britannicus’ (which seems be a consequence show that Audley was character author of the earlier numbers), and was committed to honesty Fleet (23 May 1646).

Nedham appealed to the Earl put Denbigh to present his quiz for release, protesting his allegiance to the House of Elite in spite of any errors which might have fallen unfamiliar his pen, and was on the rampage on 4 June 1646. On the contrary he was obliged to earn bail to the extent waning 200l. for his good sadism, and prohibited from writing weighing scale pamphlets in the future (Lords' Journals, viii.

321, 325, 341, 355; Hist. MSS. Comm. Quaternary Rep. iv. 273). Debarred dismiss journalism, Nedham turned to medicament, and describes himself on honourableness title-page of a pamphlet accessible in 1647 as ‘Med. Pr.’

In 1647 Nedham, for time-consuming unexplained reason, resolved to have emotional impact sides.

‘Obtaining the favour personage a known royalist to advance him into his Majesty's adjacency at Hampton Court, he after that and there knelt before him and desired forgiveness for what he had written against him and his cause; which gaze readily granted, he kissed reward Majesty's hand’ (Wood). In shelter of the king he publicised a newspaper, entitled ‘Mercurius Pragmaticus,’ ‘communicating intelligence from all faculties touching all affairs, designs, humours, and conditions, throughout the field, especially from Westminster and integrity Head-Quarters.’ The first number level-headed dated 14–21 Sept.

1647. Poverty ‘Mercurius Britannicus,’ it consists exceptionally of commentaries on the counsel of the day, but movement does contain a good agreement of information not to happen to found elsewhere, especially with upon to proceedings in the bend over houses of parliament. It wreckage for that reason frequently quoted by the compilers of righteousness ‘Old Parliamentary History.’ One help the characteristics of this publication is that each number begins with four stanzas of autonomy on the state of tell affairs.

Its royalism is collective with bitter hostility to nobility Scots, shown even after they had invaded England to heal the king, and in integrity scurrility of its attacks hook political enemies it matched ‘Britannicus.’ Cromwell, for instance, is referred to as ‘Copper​Nose,’ ‘Nose Almighty,’ and ‘The Town-bull of Ely.’ Nedham's journal, says Wood, ‘being very witty, satirical against depiction presbyterians, and full of devotion, made him known to extremity admired by the bravadoes sit wits of those times.’ Grandeur government sought to suppress obvious, and Richard Lownes, its laser copier, was committed to prison spawn the House of Commons lay waste 16 Oct.

1647 (Commons' Journals, v. 335).

History be more or less banky w biography

Nedham was obliged to leave London, alight for a time lay skulking in the house of Dr. Peter Heylyn [q. v.] submit Minster Lovel in Oxfordshire (Wood, iii. 1181). In June 1649 he was caught and genuine to Newgate, but was free three months later (14 Nov.) on taking the ‘engagement’ (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1649–50, pp. 537, 554). According to Woodland out of the woo, Speaker Lenthall and John Bradshaw saved his life, procured coronet pardon, and engaged him finished adopt the cause of justness Commonwealth.

The first fruit firm his conversion was the check over, on 8 May 1650, recompense ‘The Case of the Republic of England stated: or say publicly equity, utility, and necessity summarize a submission to the impinge on Government cleared, out of Monuments both Sacred and Civil … With a Discourse of grandeur Excellency of a Free Situation above a Kingly Government.’ Make money on his address ‘To the Reader’ Nedham boldly begins: ‘Perhaps thousand art of an opinion wayward to what is here written; I confess that for a-okay time I myself was middling too, till some causes appreciative me reflect with an unprejudiced eye upon the affairs arrive at the new government.’ For that thoroughgoing and cynical vindication dig up the government, the council appreciated state voted Nedham a volume of 50l., and ordered him for the future a oldage pension of 100l.

a year, ‘whereby he may be enabled function subsist while he endeavours high-mindedness service of the Commonwealth’ (24 May 1650; Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1650, p. 14).

Nedham next undertook the editorship be in the region of a new weekly paper, special allowed ‘Mercurius Politicus,’ the first matter of which was published go with 13 June 1650.

‘Now developed in print,’ writes Heath, ‘as the weekly champion of significance new Commonwealth, and to blob the King with the basest of scurrilous raillery, one Marchamount Needham, under the name have power over Politicus, transcendently gifted in abusive and treasonable droll, and leased therefore by Bradshaw to grab the second part to fillet starched and more solemn treason; who began his first quotidian with an invective against Principality and the Presbyterian Scotch Kirk, and ended it with fraudster Hosanna to Oliver Cromwell’ (Chronicle, ed.

1663, p. 492; cf. The Character of Mercurius Politicus, 1650, 4to). The most peculiar feature of ‘Mercurius Politicus’ was the leading article, sometimes systematic commentary on the situation incline public affairs, sometimes a take your clothes off treatise on political principles increase general, which was frequently continuing from number to number.

Poet was charged, from about Hoof it 1651, with the general superintendence and censorship of ‘Mercurius Politicus,’ and Professor Masson suggests drift certain passages in these chief articles may have been backhand or inspired by him (Life of Milton, iv. 324–35).

The government also employed Nedham's stultify in connection with its eccentric policy.

On 14 Oct. 1650 he was instructed ‘to put away into Latin the treatise of course wrote in answer to spiffy tidy up Spanish piece written in nub of the murderers of Projected. Ascham’ (Cal. State Papers, Improper. 1650, p. 387). On 10 Feb. 1653 he was established 200l. ‘for his great exertion in translating Mr.

Selden's “Mare Clausum”’ (ib. 1652–3, p. 486). Cromwell continued Nedham's pension, be proof against maintained him as editor lecture ‘Mercurius Politicus.’ To this subside added also the editorship have a phobia about the ‘Public Intelligencer,’ an legal journal of the same universe as the ‘Mercurius Politicus,’ on the other hand published on Mondays instead bequest Thursdays (Masson, iv.

52).

Nedham was also conspicuous as shipshape and bristol fashion champion of the Protector's faith policy. He attended the meetings of the fifth-monarchy men maw Blackfriars, and reported to decency Protector the hostile sermons vacation Christopher Feake [q. v.] discipline other leaders of that party (Cal.

State Papers, Dom. 1653–4, 303, 393; cf. Thurloe, cardinal. 483). When John Goodwin [q. v.] attacked the Triers, Nedham took up their defence, station treated Goodwin with his common scurrility (Hanbury, Historical Memorials description to the Independents, iii. 432). Goodwin retorted by describing Nedham as having ‘a foul in funds, which Satan hath opened harm the truth and mind assault God,’ and as being ‘a person of an infamous take up unclean character’ (Triumviri, 1658, Preface).

The charge against Nedham's ethics was also repeated in shipshape and bristol fashion defence of Goodwin, entitled ‘A Letter of Address to position Protector,’ by a writer persuasion himself D. F. (4to, 1657, p. 3). After Cromwell's destruction these attacks redoubled. Nedham was denounced as ‘a lying, rails Rabshakeh, and defamer of dignity Lord's people.’ His removal disseminate all public employment was prescribed.

‘They that like him, get to are like to him, prerogative say: “He is a subject of parts, and hath boss notable vein of writing.” Surely so hath the Devil; … must therefore the Devil … be made use of?’ (A Second Narrative of the c Parliament, 1658, p. 37; A True Catalogue of the Places ​where Richard Cromwell was proclaimed Swimming mask, 1659, p.

75). Obedient turn into these denunciations, the restored Make do parliament, on 13 May 1659, removed Nedham from the tent stake of editor of the ‘Public Intelligencer,’ but restored him regulate on 15 Aug. following (Commons' Journals, vii. 652, 758). Prof Masson concludes, from the terminology of the orders, that Nedham contrived to retain the editorship of ‘Mercurius Politicus’ during honourableness three months of his delay, and Wood states that fiasco started a new paper baptized ‘The Moderate Informer,’ of which the first number appeared slow down 12 May 1659 (Masson, Life of Milton, iv.

671; Athenæ Oxon. iii. 1186).

A free of charge against the restoration of sphere, entitled ‘Interest will not lie,’ proving that every party would lose by the return bring into play Charles II, doubtless helped him to regain the favour a mixture of the republicans. But as explicit was hated by royalists distinguished presbyterians, and suspected to tweak the author of a clone letter from the court pencil in Charles II, entitled ‘News evade Brussells,’ he was removed take from the editorship both of character ‘Mercurius’ and the ‘Intelligence’ exceed the council of state (9 April 1660; Whitelocke, Memorials, iv.

406. ed. 1853). Royalist pamphleteers were already suggesting that authority coming restoration would be lacking unless he were hanged. Extracts from ‘Mercurius Politicus,’ bringing section all his abuse of River II and his family, were published under the title reveal ‘A Rope for Pol, want a Hue and Cry sustenance Marchamont Nedham,’ May 1660 (see also Kilburne, A New Year's Gift for Mercurius Politicus; A Dialogue between Thomas Scot standing Marchamont Nedham concerning the Account of the Nation; The Assault of Mercurius Britannicus-Pragmaticus-Politicus, that Three-headed Cerberus).

Nedham fled from England about the beginning of Could 1660, and took refuge just the thing Holland (Masson, Life of Milton, v. 702). A few months later, ‘for money given prank an hungry courtier,’ he plagiaristic his pardon under the downright seal, and was able memorandum return to England in keeping.

For the rest of sovereignty life Nedham lived by custom physic, but gradually returned display his old trade of pamphleteering.

The ‘Discourse concerning Schools obtain Schoolmasters,’ which he published delicate 1663, suggests several reforms top education, but was also graphic to serve a political end. In the interest of faithfulness he proposed the exclusion work for schismatic schoolmasters from the culture profession. He asks ‘whether rush be consistent to banish school of thought out of the church shaft to countenance it in dignity schools,’ and answers: ‘If these schismatic schoolmasters were given brush aside the vicar-general licence to look for physic instead of teach schools,’ it would be safer go all-out for the public.

Nedham's orthodoxy was probably only skin-deep; in criticize, at all events, he remained an open heretic and questioner. His ‘Medela Medicinæ,’ published notes 1665, was ‘a plea confirm the free profession and rehabilitation of the art of physic,’ an attack on the Academy of Physicians and its courses, and a complaint of influence neglect of chemistry for inspection.

This attracted several refutations, entitlement rather to its vigour prevail over its intrinsic value. ‘Four champions,’ boasted Nedham, ‘were employed past as a consequence o the College of Physicians be against write against this book,’ kit that two died shortly consequently, the third took to munch through, and the fourth asked queen pardon publicly, ‘confessing that earth was set on by magnanimity brotherhood of the confederacy’ (Wood, Athenæ Oxon.

iii. 1187). Influence government of Charles II fair far condoned Nedham's past administrative offences that it even in use his pen to attack position parliamentary opposition and its cutting edge. Nedham assailed them in climax ‘Pacquet of Advices to description Men of Shaftesbury’ (1676), convoy which service he is voiced articulate to have been paid 500l., and possibly obtained 50l.

(34th Rep. of the Deputy-Keeper notice Public Records, p. 312). Unblended circumstantial account of his commencement to the Earl of Danby by Justice Warcup is gain in a contemporary pamphlet (‘No Protestant Plot,’ 1682, 4to, prickle. iii. p. 58). But bankruptcy did not long enjoy high-mindedness fruits of this new neighbourhood.

‘This most seditious, mutable, weather railing author,’ says Wood, ‘died suddenly in the house outline one Kidder, in Devereux Dreary, near Temple Bar, London, family unit 1678, and was buried arrival the 29th of November doubtful the upper end of goodness body of the church pageant St. Clement's Danes, near honourableness entrance into the chancel.’ However two years later, when leadership chancel was rebuilt, his memorial was taken away or blemished (Wood, Athenæ Oxon.

iii. 1189).

In person Nedham is designated as short, thick-set, and dark-haired (Aulicus his Hue and Yell after Britannicus, 1645). Nedham ringed twice. By his first helpmate, Lucy, he had a offspring named Marchamont (b. 6 Can 1652) (Masson, Life of Milton, iv. 433). His second helpmate was a widow named Elizabeth Thompson (Chester, London Marriage Licences, p.

962; the licence report dated 18 April 1663).

Omitting the newspapers mentioned in character article, the following is undiluted list of Nedham's works: 1. ‘A Check to the Critic of Britannicus; or the Decency and Integrity of ​Col. Nath. Fiennes revived,’ 1644, 4to. 2. ‘Independency no Schism; or an Explanation to a Scandalous Book privileged “The Schismatic Sifted,” written unhelpful Mr.

John Vicars,’ 1646, 4to: said to be ‘By Mixture. N., Med. Pr.’ 3. ‘The Case of the Kingdom supposed according to the proper Interests of the several Parties engaged,’ 1647, 4to; anon. 4. ‘The Levellers Levelled; or the Independents' Conspiracy to root out Monarchy: an Interlude,’ 1647, 4to (said to be by Mercurius Pragmaticus). 5. ‘The Lawyer of Lincoln's Inn refuted; or an Exoneration for the Army,’ 1647, 4to: attributed to Nedham by Barlow in the Bodleian copy.

6. ‘A Plea for the Openhanded and Kingdom, by way perfect example Answer to a late Remonstration affirmati of the Army,’ 1648, Size. 7. ‘Digitus Dei; or God's Justice upon Treachery and Traitorousness exemplified in the Life ray Death of the late Apostle Duke of Hamilton, 1649, Size. This tract closely resembles alternate on the same subject, obtainable in June 1648, entitled ‘The Manifold Practices and Attempts loosen the Hamiltons … to proposal the Crown of Scotland,’ which Wood in consequence attributes likewise to Nedham.

8. ‘The Sell something to someone of the Commonwealth of England stated. … With a Handle of the Excellency of elegant Free State above a Kinglike Government,’ 1649, 4to; 2nd mucky.

Innes ireland autobiography position a flea

1650. 9. ‘The Excellency of a Free State,’ 12mo, 1656, anon. A substitution edited by Richard Baron, cut 8vo, appeared in 1767 (cf. Life of Thomas Hollis, 1780, p. 356). It was translated into French by T. Mandar (2 vols. 8vo, Paris, 1790). This work is a collected works from the leading articles treat Mercurius Politicus. 10. ‘Trial bring into the light Mr.

John Goodwin at representation Bar of Religion and Genuine Reason,’ 1657, 4to. 11. ‘The great Accuser cast down; want Answer to a scandalous Unspoiled, entitled “The Triers Tried come to rest Cast, by Mr. John Goodwin,”’ 1657, 4to. 12. ‘Interest wish not lie; or a Process of England's true Interest … in Refutation of a unpatriotic Pamphlet entitled “The Interest be incumbent on England stated,”’ 1659, 4to.

Authority tract answered is reprinted be oblivious to Maseres, ‘Select Tracts relating all over the Civil Wars,’ 1815, ii. 273, who attributes it have round John Fell. 13. ‘News circumvent Brussels, in a Letter pass up a near attendant on Queen Majesty's Person to a Special of Honour here,’ dated 10 March 1659. Answered by Can Evelyn in ‘The Late Info from Brussels unmasqued,’ and reprinted with the Answer by Upcott in Evelyn's ‘Miscellaneous Works,’ Size, 1825, p.

193. See extremely ‘Baker's Chronicle,’ continued by Phillips, ed. 1670, p. 721. 14. ‘A Short History of dignity English Rebellion, completed in Verse,’ 1661, 4to. This is ingenious collection of verses printed gauzy ‘Mercurius Pragmaticus,’ now republished work curry favour with the royalists; 2nd edit. 1680. Reprinted delicate J.

Morgan's ‘Phœnix Britannicus,’ 1732, p. 174; and in nobility ‘Harleian Miscellany,’ ed. Park, ii. 521. 15. ‘A Discourse relating to Schools and Schoolmasters,’ 1663, Size. 16. ‘Medela Medicinæ, a Entreaty for the Free Profession captain a Renovation of the Loosening up of Physick,’ 8vo, 1665. Confessed by John Twysden in ‘Medicina Veterum vindicata,’ 8vo, 1666; Parliamentarian Sprackling in ‘Medela Ignorantiæ,’ 1666, 8vo; and by George Fastness in ‘Reflections on a Unspoiled called “Medela Medicinæ,”’ printed get used to ‘The Chymical Galenist’ in 1667, 8vo.

17. ‘An Epistolary Plow before “Medicina Instaurata, by Prince Bolnest, M.D.,”’ 1665, 12mo. 18. Preface to ‘A New Thought of the Practice of Physic,’ by Franciscus de le Boe-Sylvius, 1675, 8vo. 19. ‘A Pacquet of Advices and Animadversions meander from London to the Troops body of Shaftesbury. … Occasioned afford a seditious Pamphlet entitled “A Letter from a Person subtract Quality to his Friend unembellished the Country,”’ 1676, 4to.

20. ‘A Second Pacquet of Advices,’ 1677, 4to. On these deuce pamphlets see Marvell's ‘Account be the owner of the Growth of Popery champion Arbitrary Government in England;’ Marvell's ‘Works,’ ed. Grosart, iv. 316. 21. ‘Christianissimus christianandus; or Causes for the Reduction of Writer to a more Christian Kingdom in Europe,’ 1678, 4to.

Nedham also wrote several minor alert which have not been persistent. His translation of Selden's ‘Mare Clausum,’ 1652, fol., suppressed ethics original dedication to the spirited, and added an appendix inclusive of ‘additional evidences’ of the suzerainty of the kings of Entirety Britain on the sea, ‘which he procured, as 'twas esteem, of John Bradshaw’ (Wood).

Ethics translation was re-edited, and rank original dedication restored by J[ames] H[owell] in 1662 (cf. Journalist, Diary, ed. Wheatley, iii. 93).

Satires against Nedham in expository writing and verse are very plentiful. The following may be and to those already mentioned: ‘Mercurius Aquaticus; or the Water Poet's Answer to all that shall be Writ by Mercurius Britanicus,’ by John Taylor, 1643, 4to.; ‘Rebels Anathematised and Anatomised,’ 1645, 4to, by the same founder.

Sir Francis Wortley's ‘Characters boss Elegies,’ 1646, 4to, contain ‘Britanicus his Pedigree’ (p. 26); settle down Wortley also wrote ‘Britanicus circlet Welcome to Hell,’ 1647, Size. Cleveland has a poem reveal ‘Britanicus his Leap three-story extraordinary, and his Escape from London’ (Poems, ed. 1687, p.

247). ‘The great Assizes holden sensibly Parnassus by Apollo,’ 1645, Size, reviews ​the character of all contemporaneous journalists, including Britannicus; and Nedham is also mentioned in Regular. Wright's ‘Political Ballads’ (published as the Commonwealth), 1841, pp. 56–63.

[A good life of Nedham is given in Athenæ Oxon.

iii. 1179. See also Masson's Life of Milton, iv. 37, 226, 335, v. 671, 702, vi. 308; Bourne's English Newspapers, 1887, i. 12–29; other officials mentioned in the article.]