The English Mercurie
Encyclopedia
The English Mercurie is a literary hoax purporting to be the first English newspaper
. It is apparently an account of the English battle with the Spanish Armada
of 1588, but was in fact written by the second Earl of Hardwicke
, Philip Yorke, in the 18th century as a literary game with some friends. Although the hoax was debunked in 1839, copies of the Mercurie are still mistakenly referred to as factual accounts in the modern era.
nameplate
, faded typeface
and Early Modern English
spelling, The English Mercurie has many of the hallmarks of an early English newsbook
. It contains the dateline of Whitehall
, July 23, 1588 and the claim that it is 'published by AUTHORITIE', 'For the Prevention of false Reportes'.
The four pages start with the spotting of the Spanish Armada
by a Captain Fleming near Plymouth
, and go on to describe the actions of Sir Francis Drake and Rear Admirals "Hawkins" (a reference to Sir John Hawkins) and "Forbisher" (a misspelling of Sir Martin Frobisher).
The newsbook gives a vivid account of the Spanish fleet's actions, saying
The Mercurie estimates the size of the Spanish fleet at 150 ships, and provides information about ships captured by the English fleet.
The second section carries the dateline of Ostend
, July 27, which contains a report of the organisation of the Spanish invasion force that was to follow the Armada, with "thirty thousand Foote and eighteen hundred Horse".
The newsbook then closes with a third report, dated London, July 23, and describes how Queen Elizabeth I held an audience with dignitaries from the city of London
, including the "Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Common-Council and Lieutenancie".
, along with his friend Dr Thomas Birch
, and possibly Yorke's brother Charles. They produced five issues of which three were printed and two were manuscript newsletters.
Dr Birch bequeathed the manuscript and printed copies of the English Mercurie to the British Museum
in 1766, without any explanation of their origin.
, a Scottish antiquarian and political writer, in his 1794 book The Life of Thomas Ruddiman
It predated the Mercurius Gallobelgicus
which is widely accepted in studies of the history of journalism
to be the true first newspaper, which was written in Latin and appeared in 1594 in Cologne, Germany, and distributed across Europe.
Chalmers adduced the Mercurie as evidence of English invention, saying
uncovered the existence of the original manuscript in the archives of the British Museum in 1839. He identified the handwriting on the manuscript as being identical to that used in a letter from Yorke as part of Dr Birch's collection.
There were other inconsistencies, including the typeface and some spellings and Watts also found corrections on the manuscript in Dr Birch's handwriting The motivation of the authors in creating the English Mercurie is unknown, although it has been speculated that it was not an intentional attempt to mislead, but rather a literary game.
contains a reference to The English Mercurie as "a newspaper report of Drake's role in the Spanish Armada" in a website for its series Elizabeth's Pirates.
The National Library of Australia
includes The English Mercurie in its catalogue, among other apparently genuine historical documents from the Tudor and Stuart periods. The Wikipedia page for the Spanish Armada cites The English Mercurie as evidence that 30,000 troops were waiting in the Spanish Netherlands for the fleet so they could mount their invasion
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. It is apparently an account of the English battle with the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
of 1588, but was in fact written by the second Earl of Hardwicke
Earl of Hardwicke
Earl of Hardwicke is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1754 for Philip Yorke, 1st Baron Hardwicke, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain from 1737 to 1756. He had already been created Baron Hardwicke, of Hardwicke in the County of Gloucester, in 1733, and was made Viscount...
, Philip Yorke, in the 18th century as a literary game with some friends. Although the hoax was debunked in 1839, copies of the Mercurie are still mistakenly referred to as factual accounts in the modern era.
The contents of the English Mercurie
With its gothicBlackletter
Blackletter, also known as Gothic script, Gothic minuscule, or Textura, was a script used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 to well into the 17th century. It continued to be used for the German language until the 20th century. Fraktur is a notable script of this type, and sometimes...
nameplate
Nameplate (publishing)
In publishing, a nameplate is the title of a newspaper or other periodical in the type style and treatment in which it appears on the front page or cover of the periodical...
, faded typeface
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
and Early Modern English
Early Modern English
Early Modern English is the stage of the English language used from about the end of the Middle English period to 1650. Thus, the first edition of the King James Bible and the works of William Shakespeare both belong to the late phase of Early Modern English...
spelling, The English Mercurie has many of the hallmarks of an early English newsbook
Newsbook
Newsbooks, also called news-books, were more sophisticated than posters. They were the 16th-century precursors to today's newspapers. They covered a single big story, such as a battle, a disaster or a sensational trial....
. It contains the dateline of Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
, July 23, 1588 and the claim that it is 'published by AUTHORITIE', 'For the Prevention of false Reportes'.
The four pages start with the spotting of the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
by a Captain Fleming near Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, and go on to describe the actions of Sir Francis Drake and Rear Admirals "Hawkins" (a reference to Sir John Hawkins) and "Forbisher" (a misspelling of Sir Martin Frobisher).
The newsbook gives a vivid account of the Spanish fleet's actions, saying
But about one in the Afternoone, they came in Sighte of the Spanish Armado two Leagues to the Westward of the Eddistone, sailing in the Form of a half-Moon, the Points whereof were seven Leagues asunder.
The Mercurie estimates the size of the Spanish fleet at 150 ships, and provides information about ships captured by the English fleet.
The second section carries the dateline of Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
, July 27, which contains a report of the organisation of the Spanish invasion force that was to follow the Armada, with "thirty thousand Foote and eighteen hundred Horse".
The newsbook then closes with a third report, dated London, July 23, and describes how Queen Elizabeth I held an audience with dignitaries from the city of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, including the "Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Common-Council and Lieutenancie".
Hardwicke's literary game
The orchestrator of the hoax was Philip Yorke, 2nd Earl of HardwickePhilip Yorke, 2nd Earl of Hardwicke
Philip Yorke, 2nd Earl of Hardwicke FRS , and eldest son of the 1st earl, was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.In 1741 he became a fellow of the Royal Society...
, along with his friend Dr Thomas Birch
Thomas Birch
Thomas Birch was an English historian.-Life:He was the son of Joseph Birch, a coffee-mill maker, and was born at Clerkenwell....
, and possibly Yorke's brother Charles. They produced five issues of which three were printed and two were manuscript newsletters.
Dr Birch bequeathed the manuscript and printed copies of the English Mercurie to the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in 1766, without any explanation of their origin.
Acceptance as historical fact
The English Mercurie was referred to by George ChalmersGeorge Chalmers
George Chalmers was a Scottish antiquarian and political writer.-Biography:Chalmers was born at Fochabers, Moray, in 1742. His father, James Chalmers, was a grandson of George Chalmers of Pittensear, a small estate in the parish of Lhanbryde, now St Andrews-Lhanbryde, in Moray, owned by the family...
, a Scottish antiquarian and political writer, in his 1794 book The Life of Thomas Ruddiman
It predated the Mercurius Gallobelgicus
Mercurius Gallobelgicus
The Mercurius Gallobelgicus was an early printed periodical. Published semi-annually and written in Latin, it appeared in 1594 in Cologne, now Germany, and was distributed widely, even finding its way to readers in England....
which is widely accepted in studies of the history of journalism
History of journalism
The history of journalism, or the development of the gathering and transmitting of news, spans the growth of technology and trade, marked by the advent of specialized techniques for gathering and disseminating information on a regular basis that has caused, as one history of journalism surmises,...
to be the true first newspaper, which was written in Latin and appeared in 1594 in Cologne, Germany, and distributed across Europe.
Chalmers adduced the Mercurie as evidence of English invention, saying
It may gratify our national pride to be told, that mankind are indebted to the wisdom of Elizabeth, and the prudence of Burleigh, for the first newspaper.
The uncovering of the hoax
Chalmers's assertion was unchallenged for 45 years until Thomas WattsThomas Watts
Thomas Watts may refer to:* Thomas E. Watt aka Twatt* Thomas H. Watts , Democratic Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama from 1863 to 1865, during the Civil War...
uncovered the existence of the original manuscript in the archives of the British Museum in 1839. He identified the handwriting on the manuscript as being identical to that used in a letter from Yorke as part of Dr Birch's collection.
There were other inconsistencies, including the typeface and some spellings and Watts also found corrections on the manuscript in Dr Birch's handwriting The motivation of the authors in creating the English Mercurie is unknown, although it has been speculated that it was not an intentional attempt to mislead, but rather a literary game.
Modern uses of the English Mercurie
British television network Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
contains a reference to The English Mercurie as "a newspaper report of Drake's role in the Spanish Armada" in a website for its series Elizabeth's Pirates.
The National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
includes The English Mercurie in its catalogue, among other apparently genuine historical documents from the Tudor and Stuart periods. The Wikipedia page for the Spanish Armada cites The English Mercurie as evidence that 30,000 troops were waiting in the Spanish Netherlands for the fleet so they could mount their invasion