Underground Verse and the Transformation of Early Stuart Political Culture

Abstract

TW ^That do you think will become of me, Archbishop Laud asked earl of Strafford in 1637, when I am thus used? From usually self-possessed archbishop, such anxiety was odd enough, but odder still was source of his fears. Rather than royal vacillations or aristocratic cabals, what had shaken him was series of manuscript libels. Equally striking was rapidity with which his confidence had eroded. Only few months earlier the libels which fly abroad in all places had merely disconcerted prelate; if nothing was done about them, archbishop understood that he could only expect be subject of God knowes how many more. But apostle of Thorough had no intention of suffering in silence: a little more Quickness in Government, he assured Strafford, would cure this Itch of Libelling. The archbishop's prescription certainly left Prynne, Burton, and Bastwicke smarting.' Yet these exemplary punishments, far from calming situation, only inflamed it. Hitherto, archbishop's worries had centered on printed pamphlets, which had comparatively limited distribution. After mutilations, however, opposition to him became more ominous, as short manuscript libels began to appear around City-some in prose, others in verse, and few set to music. Hence, prelate had to endure public ridicule as Arch-Wolf of Cant[erbury], who held lease for St. Paul's from Satan himself and who led Devil's army to overthrow Reformed Church.2 The new liberty every where taken to utter slight speeches of authority understandably transformed archbishop's concern into alarm. Stung by one