'That the kingdom's expectation may be satisfied in relation to
intelligence till a firm peace be settled, considering the
mischiefs that will happen by the poisonous writings of evil men
sent abroad daily to abuse and deceive the people, that if the
House shall see it fit, some two or three sheets may be permitted
to come forth weekly, which may be licensed, and have some stamp of
authoritie with them, and in respect of the former licenser, Mr.
Mabbot, hath approved himself faithful in that service of
licensing, and likewise in the service of the House and of this
army, I humbly desire that he may be restored and continued in the
same place of licenser.'

The result of this letter--which is remarkable, by the way, for its
mention of the licenser--was that the House of Lords issued an edict to
forbid any such publications except with the license of one or both
Houses of Parliament, and with the name of the author, printer, and
licenser attached. The penalties for any evasion of this enactment were,
for the writer, a fine of forty shillings or imprisonment for forty
days; for the printer, half that punishment, and the destruction of his
press and plant as well, and for the vendor a sound whipping and the
confiscation of his wares. A second instance of parliamentary
interference took place in the same year, when a committee was appointed
for the purpose of discovering and punishing every one connected with
the publication of certain _Mercuries_. The licensing system continued
in force, but was not made much use of, although the scurrilities of the
press roused the Parliament every now and then into spasmodic efforts of
repression. In addition to measures of this kind, Nedham's paper, from
its official character, was doubtless looked upon by the legislature as
a sort of antidote to the poison diffused by other journalists. This