Marchamont needham biography of martin

​NEEDHAM or NEDHAM, MARCHAMONT (1620–1678), reporter, was born at Burford hinder Oxfordshire, and baptised there 21 Aug. 1620. His father, additionally named Marchamont Nedham, born rob genteel parents in Derbyshire, matriculated at St.

John's College, City, 16 June 1610, and took the degree of B.A. exaggerate Gloucester Hall 19 Feb. 1611–12. He was afterwards an resultant on the Lady Elizabeth Conductor (wife of Sir William Director of Sarsden, near Burford), take died in 1621. Nedham's inactivity was Margery, daughter of Toilet Collier, the host of say publicly George Inn at Burford, who took as her second hoard, in 1622, Christopher Glynn, delegate of Burford and master give an account of the free school there (Wood, Athenæ Oxon.

iii. 1180; In the clear, Alumni Oxon. 1st ser. holder. 1055). Nedham was educated sharpen up Burford ​school, and at fourteen lifetime of age was sent owing to a chorister to All Souls' College, Oxford, where he lengthened till 1637. His name appears in the subscription book access 22 Jan. 1635–6, and unquestionable took his bachelor's degree command 24 Oct.

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

He was admitted a participator of Gray's Inn on 7 July 1652, as ‘of say publicly city of Westminster, gent’ (Foster, Gray's Inn Register, p. 261). During the early part inducing his career Nedham also artificial medicine, but soon discovered prowl his natural vocation was journalism.

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

Ensue professed to ‘communicate the assignment of Great Britain for honourableness better information of the people,’ but was in reality various more than a railing analysis on the news of greatness day. Its object was practice answer the statements of probity royalist ‘Mercurius Aulicus,’ and run into refute the charges brought anent against the parliamentary cause extremity its leaders.

The first count is dated 16–22 Aug. 1643. Of this journal Nedham was from the beginning the most important, if not the sole, columnist, though its responsible editor seems to have been Captain Poet Audley, and it is pule always easy to decide like it Audley or Nedham is referred to in the attacks get on to the royalists upon ‘Britannicus.’ Grandeur scurrility and boldness of Nedham's writings soon made him amous.

One number parodied Charles I's speech to the inhabitants illustrate Somerset; another commented with probity greatest freedom on the king's letters taken at Naseby (Mercurius Britannicus, 6–13 May 1644; 21–8 July 1645). In the installment for 4 Aug. 1645 Nedham printed a ‘Hue and Howl after a Wilful King … which hath gone astray these four Years from his Mother of parliaments, with a guilty Conscience, crude Hands, and a Heart jampacked of broken Vows and Protestations.’ For this insult to domain Audley was committed to authority Gatehouse, and Nedham seems foresee have shared the same destiny (Lords' Journals, vii.

525, 539; Hist. MSS. Comm. 5th Textile. p. 74; Aulicus his Rinse and Cry after Britannicus, 1645, 4to; Mercurius Anti-Britannicus, or honourableness 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 befit the second of these circulars identifies Nedham with ‘Britannicus,’ endure describes him as ‘once straight week sacrificing to the being of many heads the make selfconscious of some lord or exclusive of quality, nay, even rule the king himself.’ Nedham was soon released, but on 21 May 1646 was complained familiar for publishing ‘divers passages in the middle of the two Houses of Senate, and other scandalous particulars arrange fit to be tolerated.’ Sharptasting was arrested by order summarize the lords, owned the composition of the last eighty statistics of ‘Britannicus’ (which seems be acquainted with show that Audley was birth author of the earlier numbers), and was committed to magnanimity Fleet (23 May 1646).

Nedham appealed to the Earl time off Denbigh to present his appeal for release, protesting his allegiance to the House of Ruling class in spite of any errors which might have fallen devour his pen, and was on the rampage on 4 June 1646. On the other hand he was obliged to fair exchange bail to the extent pleasant 200l. for his good actions, and prohibited from writing crass pamphlets in the future (Lords' Journals, viii.

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

In 1647 Nedham, for intensely unexplained reason, resolved to fight sides. ‘Obtaining the favour designate a known royalist to erupt him into his Majesty's commanding at Hampton Court, he commit fraud and there knelt before him and desired forgiveness for what he had written against him and his cause; which yield readily granted, he kissed queen Majesty's hand’ (Wood).

In exculpation of the king he publicised a newspaper, entitled ‘Mercurius Pragmaticus,’ ‘communicating intelligence from all calibre touching all affairs, designs, humours, and conditions, throughout the realm, especially from Westminster and leadership Head-Quarters.’ The first number crack dated 14–21 Sept. 1647.

Become visible ‘Mercurius Britannicus,’ it consists especially of commentaries on the material of the day, but skill does contain a good pose of information not to tweak found elsewhere, especially with on to proceedings in the bend over houses of parliament. It enquiry for that reason frequently quoted by the compilers of depiction ‘Old Parliamentary History.’ One treat the characteristics of this production is that each number begins with four stanzas of lapse on the state of polite society affairs.

Its royalism is united with bitter hostility to authority Scots, shown even after they had invaded England to extort the king, and in authority scurrility of its attacks finance 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 greatness presbyterians, and full of patriotism, made him known to enjoin admired by the bravadoes illustrious wits of those times.’ Honesty government sought to suppress breath of air, and Richard Lownes, its machine, was committed to prison spawn the House of Commons wear 16 Oct.

1647 (Commons' Journals, v. 335). Nedham was appreciative to leave London, and endow with a time lay concealed awarding the house of Dr. Prick Heylyn [q. v.] at Minster Lovel in Oxfordshire (Wood, trio. 1181). In June 1649 sharp-tasting was caught and committed bump Newgate, but was discharged team a few months later (14 Nov.) attach a label to taking the ‘engagement’ (Cal.

Submit Papers, Dom. 1649–50, pp. 537, 554). According to Wood, Spieler Lenthall and John Bradshaw rescued his life, procured his postpone or remit the p, and engaged him to on the cause of the Federation. The first fruit of diadem conversion was the publication, assemble 8 May 1650, of ‘The Case of the Commonwealth break into England stated: or the fair play, utility, and necessity of regular submission to the present Authority cleared, out of Monuments both Sacred and Civil … Chart a Discourse of the Personage of a Free State heavens a Kingly Government.’ In top address ‘To the Reader’ Nedham boldly begins: ‘Perhaps thou midpoint of an opinion contrary union what is here written; Mad confess that for a sicken I myself was so as well, till some causes made superb reflect with an impartial optic upon the affairs of birth new government.’ For this double-dyed and cynical vindication of representation government, the council of set down voted Nedham a gift dressingdown 50l., and ordered him tabloid the future a pension work out 100l.

a year, ‘whereby bankruptcy may be enabled to exist while he endeavours the come together of the Commonwealth’ (24 Haw 1650; Cal. State Papers, Judiciousness. 1650, p.

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14).

Nedham next undertook the editorship chuck out a new weekly paper, powerful ‘Mercurius Politicus,’ the first crowd of which was published matrimony 13 June 1650. ‘Now developed in print,’ writes Heath, ‘as the weekly champion of probity new Commonwealth, and to fleck the King with the basest of scurrilous raillery, one Marchamount Needham, under the name firm Politicus, transcendently gifted in inglorious and treasonable droll, and chartered therefore by Bradshaw to abuse the second part to consummate starched and more solemn treason; who began his first circadian with an invective against Power 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 distinctive feature of ‘Mercurius Politicus’ was the leading article, sometimes clean up commentary on the situation publicize public affairs, sometimes a hence treatise on political principles clear general, which was frequently spread from number to number.

Poet was charged, from about Go on foot 1651, with the general inspection and censorship of ‘Mercurius Politicus,’ and Professor Masson suggests make certain certain passages in these cardinal articles may have been inevitable or inspired by him (Life of Milton, iv. 324–35).

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

On 14 Oct. 1650 he was instructed ‘to support into Latin the treatise oversight wrote in answer to dexterous Spanish piece written in explosive of the murderers of Segment. Ascham’ (Cal. State Papers, Express. 1650, p. 387). On 10 Feb. 1653 he was favored 200l. ‘for his great employment in translating Mr. Selden's “Mare Clausum”’ (ib.

1652–3, p. 486). Cromwell continued Nedham's pension, snowball maintained him as editor method ‘Mercurius Politicus.’ To this of course added also the editorship neat as a new pin the ‘Public Intelligencer,’ an legal journal of the same humanitarian as the ‘Mercurius Politicus,’ nevertheless published on Mondays instead be totally convinced by Thursdays (Masson, iv.

52).

Nedham was also conspicuous as dexterous champion of the Protector's ecclesiastic policy. He attended the meetings of the fifth-monarchy men kid Blackfriars, and reported to greatness Protector the hostile sermons emblematic Christopher Feake [q. v.] near other leaders of that division (Cal. State Papers, Dom.

1653–4, 303, 393; cf. Thurloe, triad. 483). When John Goodwin [q. v.] attacked the Triers, Nedham took up their defence, good turn treated Goodwin with his familiar scurrility (Hanbury, Historical Memorials recital to the Independents, iii. 432). Goodwin retorted by describing Nedham as having ‘a foul jaws, which Satan hath opened encroach upon the truth and mind behoove God,’ and as being ‘a person of an infamous tolerate unclean character’ (Triumviri, 1658, Preface).

The charge against Nedham's motivation was also repeated in fine defence of Goodwin, entitled ‘A Letter of Address to honourableness Protector,’ by a writer terming himself D. F. (4to, 1657, p. 3). After Cromwell's humanity these attacks redoubled. Nedham was denounced as ‘a lying, rails Rabshakeh, and defamer of decency Lord's people.’ His removal suffer the loss of all public employment was necessary.

‘They that like him, represent are like to him, wish say: “He is a male of parts, and hath a- notable vein of writing.” Beyond a shadow of dou so hath the Devil; … must therefore the Devil … be made use of?’ (A Second Narrative of the Provide somewhere to stay Parliament, 1658, p. 37; A True Catalogue of the Places ​where Richard Cromwell was proclaimed Inspector, 1659, p.

75). Obedient preserve these denunciations, the restored Great parliament, on 13 May 1659, removed Nedham from the proclaim of editor of the ‘Public Intelligencer,’ but restored him regulate on 15 Aug. following (Commons' Journals, vii. 652, 758). Academic Masson concludes, from the expressiveness of the orders, that Nedham contrived to retain the editorship of ‘Mercurius Politicus’ during leadership three months of his elimination, and Wood states that do something started a new paper baptized ‘The Moderate Informer,’ of which the first number appeared classification 12 May 1659 (Masson, Life of Milton, iv.

671; Athenæ Oxon. iii. 1186).

A treatise against the restoration of kingdom, entitled ‘Interest will not lie,’ proving that every party would lose by the return company Charles II, doubtless helped him to regain the favour attain the republicans. But as pacify was hated by royalists extort presbyterians, and suspected to fix the author of a make a copy letter from the court long-awaited Charles II, entitled ‘News be different Brussells,’ he was removed break the editorship both of birth ‘Mercurius’ and the ‘Intelligence’ tough the council of state (9 April 1660; Whitelocke, Memorials, iv.

406. ed. 1853). Royalist pamphleteers were already suggesting that description coming restoration would be missing unless he were hanged. Extracts from ‘Mercurius Politicus,’ bringing align all his abuse of River II and his family, were published under the title strain ‘A Rope for Pol, if not a Hue and Cry funds Marchamont Nedham,’ May 1660 (see also Kilburne, A New Year's Gift for Mercurius Politicus; A Dialogue between Thomas Scot contemporary Marchamont Nedham concerning the Commission of the Nation; The Undoing of Mercurius Britannicus-Pragmaticus-Politicus, that Three-headed Cerberus).

Nedham fled from England about the beginning of Could 1660, and took refuge critical Holland (Masson, Life of Milton, v. 702). A few months later, ‘for money given tender an hungry courtier,’ he transmitted copied his pardon under the undistinguished seal, and was able tot up return to England in protection.

For the rest of monarch life Nedham lived by practice physic, but gradually returned connected with his old trade of pamphleteering. The ‘Discourse concerning Schools settle down Schoolmasters,’ which he published bed 1663, suggests several reforms pretend education, but was also graphic to serve a political determined.

In the interest of conventionality he proposed the exclusion go in for schismatic schoolmasters from the tutoring profession. He asks ‘whether strike be consistent to banish school out of the church person in charge to countenance it in rank schools,’ and answers: ‘If these schismatic schoolmasters were given brush aside the vicar-general licence to exercise physic instead of teach schools,’ it would be safer transport the public.

Nedham's orthodoxy was probably only skin-deep; in criticize, at all events, he remained an open heretic and agnostic. His ‘Medela Medicinæ,’ published foundation 1665, was ‘a plea bring about the free profession and redevelopment of the art of physic,’ an attack on the Faculty of Physicians and its customs, and a complaint of honesty neglect of chemistry for figure.

This attracted several refutations, unfair rather to its vigour by its intrinsic value. ‘Four champions,’ boasted Nedham, ‘were employed by way of the College of Physicians nigh write against this book,’ reckoning that two died shortly after, the third took to toast 2, and the fourth asked fillet pardon publicly, ‘confessing that elegance was set on by blue blood the gentry brotherhood of the confederacy’ (Wood, Athenæ Oxon.

iii. 1187). Excellence government of Charles II middling far condoned Nedham's past administrative offences that it even tied up his pen to attack honesty parliamentary opposition and its stupendous. Nedham assailed them in empress ‘Pacquet of Advices to nobleness Men of Shaftesbury’ (1676), be conscious of which service he is articulated to have been paid 500l., and possibly obtained 50l.

(34th Rep. of the Deputy-Keeper have a high opinion of Public Records, p. 312). Trig circumstantial account of his curtain-raiser to the Earl of Danby by Justice Warcup is vulnerable alive to in a contemporary pamphlet (‘No Protestant Plot,’ 1682, 4to, piece together. iii. p. 58). But forbidden did not long enjoy prestige fruits of this new duty.

‘This most seditious, mutable, swallow railing author,’ says Wood, ‘died suddenly in the house show signs of one Kidder, in Devereux Deadly, near Temple Bar, London, clear up 1678, and was buried reservation the 29th of November ready the upper end of probity body of the church friendly St. Clement's Danes, near description entrance into the chancel.’ However two years later, when rectitude chancel was rebuilt, his commemoration was taken away or blemished (Wood, Athenæ Oxon.

iii. 1189).

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

962; the licence quite good dated 18 April 1663).

Omitting the newspapers mentioned in high-mindedness article, the following is copperplate list of Nedham's works: 1. ‘A Check to the Draw of Britannicus; or the Name and Integrity of ​Col. Nath. Fiennes revived,’ 1644, 4to. 2. ‘Independency no Schism; or an Rejoinder to a Scandalous Book favoured “The Schismatic Sifted,” written harsh Mr.

John Vicars,’ 1646, 4to: said to be ‘By Batch. N., Med. Pr.’ 3. ‘The Case of the Kingdom conjectural 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 Smart and Kingdom, by way medium Answer to a late Expostulation of the Army,’ 1648, Size. 7. ‘Digitus Dei; or God's Justice upon Treachery and Sedition exemplified in the Life additional Death of the late Book Duke of Hamilton, 1649, Size.

This tract closely resembles preference on the same subject, available in June 1648, entitled ‘The Manifold Practices and Attempts end the Hamiltons … to pretence the Crown of Scotland,’ which Wood in consequence attributes likewise to Nedham. 8. ‘The Occurrence of the Commonwealth of England stated. … With a Cover of the Excellency of unblended Free State above a Kinglike Government,’ 1649, 4to; 2nd rephrase.

1650. 9. ‘The Excellency dig up a Free State,’ 12mo, 1656, anon. A reprint edited contempt Richard Baron, in 8vo, developed in 1767 (cf. Life hold Thomas Hollis, 1780, p. 356). It was translated into Gallic by T. Mandar (2 vols. 8vo, Paris, 1790). This outmoded is a compilation from birth leading articles of Mercurius Politicus.

10. ‘Trial of Mr. Toilet Goodwin at the Bar work at Religion and Right Reason,’ 1657, 4to. 11. ‘The great Accuser cast down; an Answer longing a scandalous Book, entitled “The Triers Tried and Cast, toddler Mr. John Goodwin,”’ 1657, Size. 12. ‘Interest will not lie; or a View of England's true Interest … in Answer of a treasonable Pamphlet indulged “The Interest of England stated,”’ 1659, 4to.

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Interpretation tract answered is reprinted past as a consequence o Maseres, ‘Select Tracts relating essay the Civil Wars,’ 1815, ii. 273, who attributes it survey John Fell. 13. ‘News breakout Brussels, in a Letter bring forth a near attendant on Ruler Majesty's Person to a Grass of Honour here,’ dated 10 March 1659. Answered by Ablutions Evelyn in ‘The Late Talk from Brussels unmasqued,’ and reprinted with the Answer by Upcott in Evelyn's ‘Miscellaneous Works,’ Size, 1825, p.

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

Morgan's ‘Phœnix Britannicus,’ 1732, p. 174; and in representation ‘Harleian Miscellany,’ ed. Park, ii. 521. 15. ‘A Discourse relative Schools and Schoolmasters,’ 1663, Size. 16. ‘Medela Medicinæ, a Answer for the Free Profession promote a Renovation of the Rip open of Physick,’ 8vo, 1665. Accepted by John Twysden in ‘Medicina Veterum vindicata,’ 8vo, 1666; Parliamentarian Sprackling in ‘Medela Ignorantiæ,’ 1666, 8vo; and by George Fortress in ‘Reflections on a Paperback called “Medela Medicinæ,”’ printed second-hand goods ‘The Chymical Galenist’ in 1667, 8vo.

17. ‘An Epistolary Speech before “Medicina Instaurata, by Prince Bolnest, M.D.,”’ 1665, 12mo. 18. Preface to ‘A New Entire of the Practice of Physic,’ by Franciscus de le Boe-Sylvius, 1675, 8vo. 19. ‘A Pacquet of Advices and Animadversions transmitted from London to the General public of Shaftesbury. … Occasioned stomachturning a seditious Pamphlet entitled “A Letter from a Person tip Quality to his Friend entertain the Country,”’ 1676, 4to.

20. ‘A Second Pacquet of Advices,’ 1677, 4to. On these unite pamphlets see Marvell's ‘Account atlas the Growth of Popery spell Arbitrary Government in England;’ Marvell's ‘Works,’ ed. Grosart, iv. 316. 21. ‘Christianissimus christianandus; or Basis for the Reduction of Author to a more Christian Make in Europe,’ 1678, 4to.

Nedham also wrote several minor get flustered which have not been precise.

His translation of Selden's ‘Mare Clausum,’ 1652, fol., suppressed primacy original dedication to the persistent, and added an appendix with ‘additional evidences’ of the rule of the kings of Very great Britain on the sea, ‘which he procured, as 'twas esteem, of John Bradshaw’ (Wood). Illustriousness translation was re-edited, and ethics original dedication restored by J[ames] H[owell] in 1662 (cf.

Diarist, Diary, ed. Wheatley, iii. 93).

Satires against Nedham in language and verse are very several. The following may be foster 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 penny-a-liner.

Sir Francis Wortley's ‘Characters roost Elegies,’ 1646, 4to, contain ‘Britanicus his Pedigree’ (p. 26); keep from Wortley also wrote ‘Britanicus climax Welcome to Hell,’ 1647, Size. Cleveland has a poem hire ‘Britanicus his Leap three-story soaring, and his Escape from London’ (Poems, ed. 1687, p. 247). ‘The great Assizes holden innocent person Parnassus by Apollo,’ 1645, Size, reviews ​the character of all of the time journalists, including Britannicus; and Nedham is also mentioned in Planned.

Wright's ‘Political Ballads’ (published textile 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 government mentioned in the article.]