Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1609-1699 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
10 items
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
L’Estrange was born into landed gentry in Norfolk in 1616. He proceeded to Sidney Sussex College (1634) and thereafter Gray’s Inn (1637). Having fought on the Royalist side in the English Civil War, L'Estrange was arrested by the Commonwealth in 1644 and sentenced to death. This sentence was commuted to imprisonment in Newgate, from where he absconded in 1648. Following his involvement in the abortive Kentish uprising of May that year, he fled to Holland. In August 1653 he took advantage of an amnesty offered by Cromwell and returned to England. Cromwell's death in 1658 allowed L'Estrange to establish himself as a political pamphleteer for the Royalist cause. The Stuart Restoration of 1660 brought increased surveillance of the press, in the form of the 1662 Licensing Act, and in 1663 L'Estrange was appointed Royal Surveyor and Licenser. When the Act lapsed in 1679, he returned to political journalism. The changing political climate prompted him to flee England again that year, first for Edinburgh and then for the Hague. He returned in 1681, at a time when the Stuart dynasty was enjoying a brief respite from Whig opposition. L’Estrange experienced renewed royal favour under James II and was elected MP for Winchester and knighted in 1685. However, after the revolution of 1688, he was removed from government service, and his last years were blighted by poverty and failing health.
Repository
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Item viii was presented to the Company by Charles Robert Rivington, 1 Dec 1892.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
i: 'Monmouth Routed, and taken Prisoner, With his Pimp the Lord Gray. A Song to the Tune of King James's Jigg', ballad lyrics printed for bookseller James Dean, with a handwritten note by Dean on the back, 11 Jul 1685.
ii: signed enformation of James Dean giving testimony before Roger L'Estrange regarding the ballad 'Monmouth Routed', 11 Jul 1685.
iii: signed oath of Alice Moody and Elizabeth Watson regarding the ballad 'Monmouth Routed', 11 Jul 1685.
iv: Roger L'Estrange, 'Considerations and Proposals in order to the Regulation of the Press: Together with Diverse Instances of Treasonous, and Seditious Pamphlets, Proving the Necessity thereof', [1663].
v: Roger L'Estrange, 'A Seasonable Memorial in some Historical Notes upon the Liberties of the Presse and Pulpit: With the Effects of Popular Petitions, Tumults, Associations, Impostures, and Disaffected Common Councils', 1680.
vi: 'Philopatris' [Charles Blount], 'A Justi Vindication of Learning: Or, An Humble Address to the High Court of Parliament In behalf of the Liberty of the Press', 1679.
vii: [Charles Blount], 'Reasons Humbly offered for the Liberty of Unlicens'd Printing, To which is Subjoin'd, The Just and True Character of Edmund Bohun, The Licenser of the Press', 1693.
viii: 'The Speech of the Lord Chancellor of England, in the Exchequer Chamber, touching the Post-nati', printed for the Stationers' Company 1609. John Rowe of Middle Temple has signed the titlepage.
ix: 'A Letter to a Member of Parliament; Shewing The Necessity of Regulating the Press: Chiefly From Necessity of Publick Establishments in Religion. From the Rights and Immunities of a National Church. And the Trust reposed in the Christian Magistrate to protect and Defend them. With A Particular Answer to the Objections that of late have been Advanced against it', 1699. (cf 'A Letter To a Member of Parliament, Shewing, that a Restraint On the Press Is inconsistent with the Protestant Religion, and dangerous to te Liberties of the Nation, 1698' - anonymously authored tract, now variously attributed to Daniel Defoe and Matthew Tindal, in TSC/A/01/03/03.
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Language of material
English
Script of material
Latin
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Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
A microfilm copy is on reel 97, 'Records of the Stationers' Company 1554-1920: 115 Reels of Microfilm with Printed Guide', published by Chadwyck-Healy Ltd (1989)
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