John Streater
Encyclopedia
John Streater was an English soldier, political writer and printer. An opponent of Oliver Cromwell
, Streater was a "key republican critic of the regime" He was a leading example of the “commonwealthmen”, one division among the English republicans of the period, along with James Harrington, Edmund Ludlow
, and Henry Nevile.
and Battle of Newbury
. He served in the Parliamentary army in Ireland, as a quarter-master and engineer.
He made a direct reply in 1653, "Christ must come before Christmas, or else he will come too late", to Cromwell's supporter Thomas Harrison, who said that Cromwell sought not for himself but that "King Jesus might take the sceptre". This comes from James Heath
, Flagellum: or, the Life and death, birth and burial of Oliver Cromwell (1663), and is considered "rather dubious" by Austin Woolrych.
In 1654 he started a serial publication, Observations Historical, Political. and Philosophical. It ran for 11 issues, from 4 April to 4 July. It argued for annual elections. Taking the form of commentary on the Politics
of Aristotle
, it broached many topics such as censorship
, free speech and right of assembly, with views on the family
and criticism of the paternalist theories of divine right
.
Streater has been seen as taking radical ideas, such as those suppressed with the Levellers
, onto a new plane:
He fell into considerable trouble for his opposition to Cromwell, but found a protector in John Desborough
. He was arrested under a writ of Parliament, and argued a habeas corpus
case, unsuccessfully, but using Sir Edward Coke's approach. A pamphleteer publicised the case (1654). His eventual release in early 1654 was because Parliament was dissolved.
In the political confusion of 1659, he argued once more a republican line: against tweaking the Protectorate, against single-person rule, against forms of Senate or "standing council". He also was commissioned as a Colonel by Parliament.
in 1656.
With John Macock he styled himself a printer to Parliament in 1659 and 1660. After the Restoration he became a successful commercial printer, in particular with titles by Nicholas Culpeper
from the backlist of Peter Cole who committed suicide in 1665. He had a specific exemption from the 1662 Act regulating publishers.
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, Streater was a "key republican critic of the regime" He was a leading example of the “commonwealthmen”, one division among the English republicans of the period, along with James Harrington, Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow was an English parliamentarian, best known for his involvement in the execution of Charles I, and for his Memoirs, which were published posthumously in a rewritten form and which have become a major source for historians of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. After service in the English...
, and Henry Nevile.
Republican
He was in the Parliamentary forces from 1642, seeing action at the Battle of EdgehillBattle of Edgehill
The Battle of Edgehill was the first pitched battle of the First English Civil War. It was fought near Edge Hill and Kineton in southern Warwickshire on Sunday, 23 October 1642....
and Battle of Newbury
Battle of Newbury
Battle of Newbury may refer to:*First Battle of Newbury, 20 September 1643*Second Battle of Newbury, 27 October 1644*Third Battle of Newbury...
. He served in the Parliamentary army in Ireland, as a quarter-master and engineer.
He made a direct reply in 1653, "Christ must come before Christmas, or else he will come too late", to Cromwell's supporter Thomas Harrison, who said that Cromwell sought not for himself but that "King Jesus might take the sceptre". This comes from James Heath
James Heath (historian)
-Life:He was a Student of Christ Church, Oxford, but deprived by Parliament. He went into exile with the future Charles II of England. On the Restoration of 1660 he was prevented from returning to his Christ Church studentship by his status as a married man, and he became a professional...
, Flagellum: or, the Life and death, birth and burial of Oliver Cromwell (1663), and is considered "rather dubious" by Austin Woolrych.
In 1654 he started a serial publication, Observations Historical, Political. and Philosophical. It ran for 11 issues, from 4 April to 4 July. It argued for annual elections. Taking the form of commentary on the Politics
Politics (Aristotle)
Aristotle's Politics is a work of political philosophy. The end of the Nicomachean Ethics declared that the inquiry into ethics necessarily follows into politics, and the two works are frequently considered to be parts of a larger treatise, or perhaps connected lectures, dealing with the...
of Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
, it broached many topics such as censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
, free speech and right of assembly, with views on the family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
and criticism of the paternalist theories of divine right
Divine Right
Divine Right may refer to:* The Divine right of kings, the doctrine that a monarch derives his or her power directly from God* Episcopal polity, the doctrine that is required in the church jure divino, i.e...
.
Streater has been seen as taking radical ideas, such as those suppressed with the Levellers
Levellers
The Levellers were a political movement during the English Civil Wars which emphasised popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, equality before the law, and religious tolerance, all of which were expressed in the manifesto "Agreement of the People". They came to prominence at the end of the First...
, onto a new plane:
He fell into considerable trouble for his opposition to Cromwell, but found a protector in John Desborough
John Desborough
John Desborough was an English soldier and politician who supported the parliamentary cause during the English Civil War.-Life:He was the son of James Desborough of Eltisley, Cambridgeshire, and of Elizabeth Hatley of Over in the same county, was baptized on 13 November 1608. He was educated for...
. He was arrested under a writ of Parliament, and argued a habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
case, unsuccessfully, but using Sir Edward Coke's approach. A pamphleteer publicised the case (1654). His eventual release in early 1654 was because Parliament was dissolved.
In the political confusion of 1659, he argued once more a republican line: against tweaking the Protectorate, against single-person rule, against forms of Senate or "standing council". He also was commissioned as a Colonel by Parliament.
Printer
He published The Commonwealth of OceanaThe Commonwealth of Oceana
The Commonwealth of Oceana, published 1656, is a composition of political philosophy written by the English politician and essayist, James Harrington . When first attempted to be published, it was officially censored by Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell...
in 1656.
With John Macock he styled himself a printer to Parliament in 1659 and 1660. After the Restoration he became a successful commercial printer, in particular with titles by Nicholas Culpeper
Nicholas Culpeper
Nicholas Culpeper was an English botanist, herbalist, physician, and astrologer. His published books include The English Physician and the Complete Herbal , which contain a rich store of pharmaceutical and herbal knowledge, and Astrological Judgement of Diseases from the Decumbiture of the Sick ,...
from the backlist of Peter Cole who committed suicide in 1665. He had a specific exemption from the 1662 Act regulating publishers.
Works
- A Glympse of that Jewel (1653)
- Perfect and Impartial Intelligence (1654)
- A Seasonable Advertisement to the People of England (1659)
- A Shield against the Parthian Dart (1659)
- Secret Reasons of State (1659)
Further reading
- Joad Raymond, John Streater and the Grand Politick Informer, The Historical Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 (Jun., 1998), pp. 567–574.