Cover of Mercurius Britanicus, 1643

Transcript

‘Mercurius Britanicus (The British Mercury):

Communicating the affaires of great

BRITAINE:

For the Better Information of the People’

From Thursday the 3rd of November to Thursday the 7 of December 1643.

Aulicus this week takes notice of Sunday, because it is, sayes he The Anniversary of our most gracious Soveraigne Lord the King; This is pure Court-Divinity, he doth not observe it you see, because it is the Lords-Day, but our Soveraigne Lord the Kings Day: Good Reader helpe me against this blasphemy, and profanation (disrespect to God) from Oxford, against this Sabbath Treason; for like an insolent Subject, he entitles his sacred Majestie to the violation; Are these the Royalists the good Subjects? Hath his Majestie Royallized them with his presence so long, till he hath almost ruined his Kingdomes, and is this the recompense? The service? The loyalty? The Allegiance?

The King’s deeds and sufferings

He tells us the King hath done and suffered more than all his predecessors since the Conquest; Aulicus, we acknowledge it with sad hearts and hands, he hath done more than any of his Predecessors; What do you mean? He hath deserted his Grad-Council more than ever his Predecessors have done; Proclaimed his Parliament Traitors, suffered them to call them to be called Pretended Houses, more than ever his Predecessors; Protected Delinquents against Law and Justice; Set up a Standard for Papists, and Foreigners; tolerated Priests and Jesuits at his Court; Left a Kingdome of Ireland to the mercy of bloody Rebells; Broken his Protestations, his Declarations, his promises to his people, more than ever his Predecessors: Aulicus, this is your meaning…