About this time
the news sheets began to assume particular and distinctive titles, under
which they appeared at uncertain intervals. We meet with _The Courant,
or Weekly Newes from Foreign Parts_, 1621; _The certain Newes of this
present Week_, 1622; _The Weekly Newes from Italy, Germany, etc._, 1622,
a title which was shortly after exchanged for that of _Newes from most
Parts of Christendom, London, printed for Nathaniel Butler and William
Sheppard_. These names ought to be preserved, as being those of the
great pioneers of regular journalism. It appears, however, that they did
not always keep the same title for their newspaper, for sometimes it was
called _The Last Newes_; at others, _The Weekly Newes continued_; _More
Newes_; _Our Last Newes_, and other various renderings of the same
theme. This great progenitor of a mighty race also adopted a system of
numbering, and, though exposed to many dangers and vicissitudes, did not
finally disappear until 1640. Butler and his contemporaries had to
struggle with many obstacles, and to contend against many and powerful
foes. In 1637, Archbishop Laud procured the passing of an ordinance
limiting the number of master printers to twenty, and punishing with
whipping and the pillory all such as should print without a license.
Butler's name does not occur in this list; so we may conclude that he
was particularly obnoxious to the haughty prelate and his party.
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