A word concerning libels and libellers: Roger L'Estrange and regulation of the later seventeenth century press

Abstract

Roger L'Estrange played an important role in determining the course and the products of the Press between 1660-1681. As the Court protege he exerted considerable influence on the Press through his activities as a polemicist, Surveyor of the Press, Chief Licenser, journalist and Justice of the Peace. His works displayed highly conservative political beliefs founded upon an unshakeable faith in absolute monarchy, and the rights and privileges associated with this ideal. As a court official he actively participated in attempting to silence the activities of the dissident press which queried both the rights of kings and the administration of the church. During the periods of relative press freedom L'Estrange turned his considerable polemical skills to wage war upon the writings of the dissidents and persuade the reading public of the dangers which these works promulgated. Such noted luminaries as John Milton, Richard Baxter, Charles Blount and Andrew Marvell were challenged by L'Estrange for their expressions against the manipulation of power by the Church and Crown. This study explores aspects of L'Estrange's activities against those writers, booksellers, printers and binders who chose to circumvent the prevailing Press regulations and who continued to taunt the restored powers of King and Church. Through L'Estrange's writings we are able to chart his quick response to the major political issues of the day and his continued warnings against those works he labelled 'libellous', 'trayterous' and 'seditious'. Of notable interest are L'Estrange's proposals for controlling all aspects of the London Booktrade. His clearest and most detailed work on press control, Considerations and Proposals in Order to the Regulation of the Press, is of central interest to this study. I have attempted to provide an historical context for the work and explore some of the reasons why it is considered one of the most valuable documents on the Seventeenth Century press. When the press was able to operate with comparative freedom in the early months of 1660 and between 1679 and 1681 L'Estrange played an important part in discrediting the arguments of the 'Good Old Cause' and exposing various discrepancies in the evidence behind the Popish Plot. In this study I hope to suggest L'Estrange's effect upon the interdependence which existed between authors, printers, publishers and public. Finally it will be suggested that L'Estrange's various activities contributed to an emerging age that was largely self censoring.