The Impartial Protestant Mercury. From Tuesday October 4 to Friday October 7, 1681. No 48.
For publishing this newspaper, a copy of which is preserved in the British Museum Library, a prosecution was instituted against Janeway the printer.
The information charges that the defendant described as of London, yeoman, being a pernicious and seditious man, contriving and maliciously intending to disturb the peace and tranquillity of this kingdom, and to create, move, and excite discord between the king and his subjects, and to bring the king's government into contempt, did falsely, maliciously, and seditiously, with intent to persuade and induce the king's subjects to believe that this kingdom of England was governed by the advice of the king of France, and that the secrets of the government of this kingdom were notified to the king of France, and that to fulfil his most wicked intentions, on the twentieth day of October in the thirty-third year of the reign of King Charles the Second, in the parish of St. Michael, Cornhill, London, falsely, unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously, scandalously, and seditiously cause to be printed, sold, and published a certain, false, scandalous, and defamatory libel, intituled The Impartial Protestant Mercury, containing among other things as follows:—There has been a fresh rumour of a Parliament like to be called to meet on the twenty-eighth of the next month, but we cannot find any foundation for that report, more than that a Person of Quality lately arrived from France relates, that he was told of such a thing at Paris.[240]
On April 5, 1682, Janeway was called before the Council for printing and publishing false and seditious news, and he was thereupon ordered to give good security, to appear personally at the King's Bench Bar the first day of the next term, to answer such matters as should be exhibited against him on his majesty's behalf, and in the mean time to be of good behaviour; and he accordingly entered into recognizances for that purpose.[241]
289.
The Protestant Domestick Intelligence; or, News both from City and Country. Published to prevent false reports. Friday, March 12th, 1679/80. No. 72.
For publishing this newspaper, a copy of which is preserved in the British Museum Library, a prosecution was instituted against Nathaniel Crouch.
The information charges that the defendant, who is described as of the parish of St. Margaret, Lothbury, London, gentleman, being a pernicious person, and contriving and maliciously intending to incite and move discord and scandal between the king and his people, and the magnates of this kingdom, did on the twelfth day of March, in the thirty-second year of the reign of King Charles the Second, at the parish of St. Margaret, Lothbury, publish and cause to be published a certain false, scandalous, and malicious libel entituled The Protestant Domestick Intelligence; or, News both from City and Country, containing (among other things) as follows:—Yesterday we are informed that Mrs. Le-Mair, alias Loveland, the mother of Philip Le-Mair was taken into custody, and that she has declared there is a Person of Honour, as well as one of the Lords in the Tower, concerned with her in the conspiracy against the Life of the Duke of Buckingham.[242]
290.
Mercurius Civicus; or, a true account of affairs both foreign and domestick. Monday, 29 March, 1680. No 3.