Paper Bullets: Print and Kingship under Charles II

306 Pages·1995·19.148 MB·English

by  Harold M. Weber

Paper Bullets

Paper Bullets
Print and Kingship under Charles II
Harold Weber
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY
Copyright © 1996 by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine College, Berea College, Centre
College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University,
The Filson Club, Georgetown College, Kentucky
Historical Society, Kentucky State University,
Morehead State University, Murray State University,
Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University,
University of Kentucky, University of Louisville,
and Western Kentucky University
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Weber, Harold.
Paper bullets : print and kingship under Charles II / Harold
Weber.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8131-1929-4 (alk. paper)
1. Great Britain—History—Charles II, 1660-1685—Historiography.
2. Journalism—Political aspects—Great Britain—History—17th
century. 3. English literature—Early modern, 1500-1700—History
and criticism. 4- Printing—Political aspects—Great Britain—
History—17th century. 5. Politics and literature—Great Britain
—History—17th century. 6. Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685
—In literature. 7. Censorship—Great Britain—History—17th
century. 8. Monarchy—Great Britain—History—17th century.
9. Kings and rulers in literature. I. Title.
DA445.W43 1996
941.06'6—dc20 95-14184
This book is printed on acid-free recycled paper meeting the requirements of the
American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Contents
List of Illustrations vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
Part One. Representations of the King
1. Restoration and Escape: The Incognito King and
Providential History 25
2. The Monarch's Sacred Body: The King's Evil and the
Politics of Royal Healing 50
3. The Monarch's Profane Body: "His scepter and his
prick are of a length" 88
Part Two. The Language of Censorship
4. "The feminine part of every rebellion": The Public,
Royal Power, and the Mysteries of Printing 131
5. "The very Oracles of the Vulgar": Stephen College and
the Author on Trial 172
Conclusion 209
Notes 214
Bibliography 260
Index 284

Illustrations
"The Loyal Subjects hearty Wishes To King Charles the
Second"(1660) 55
Engraving from John Browne's Charisma Basilicon, Or,
The Royal Gift of Healing (1684 ) 62
Frontispiece to Richard Atkyns's The Original and Growth
of Printing (1664 ) 149
Stephen College's "A Ra-ree Show" (1681) 192