THE FORERUNNERS OF NEWSPAPERS ' 409
of the theory of the divine right of kings, was written during
this period, it was not printed until 1680. The belief in the
divine right of kings, curiously enough, was supported by no
prominent treatise both written and published within the period
1603-60, On the other hand, the number of printed pamphlets
advocating manhood suffrage and proclaiming that man was
born free runs into hundreds.
When the levellers argued in the army council in 1647 that
the suffrage ought to be the birthright of every Englishman,
the more conservative of the army leaders, like Ireton, countered
that the qualification for the franchise should be the ownership
of property, thus confining the suffrage to those who had a stake
in the country. This thesis found its fullest expression in James
Harrington's ideal commonwealth, Oceana, in which he argued
in favour of a balance of property. He maintained that the
nature of the government should depend on the distribution
of property. The political importance of the possession of land
had long been recognized but had not hitherto been developed
into a theory.1
Many Englishmen, however, were more concerned about
practical politics than about theories of government, and wanted
to read the forerunners of newspapers rather than treatises.
In the proclamation suppressing Cowell's Interpreter, James bit-
terly complained of the insatiable curiosity abroad in the land
and the itching of tongues and pens to leave nothing cun-
searched to the bottom both in talking and writing. . . . Men
in this age do not spare to wade in all the deepest mysteries that
belong to persons or state of kings and princes that are gods
upon earth.'2 Perhaps the curiosity was the keener because it
was difficult to satisfy. The rich might employ the professional
writers of weekly newsletters, who retailed such news of public
events as could be gleaned from the secretary of state's office or
court gossip. Those fortunate enough to have friends with
access to the antechambers of the great might be kept more or
less informed of what was happening, by periodical reports.
Sir Dudley Carleton and others were indebted to one John
Chamberlain for letters throughout the reign of James I. Straf-
ford, when in Ireland, looked to a certain Garrard for know-
ledge of current gossip. The bourgeoisie, however, generally had
1 H. F. Russell-Smith, Harrington and His Oceana (1914), chap. iii.
2 Preface to edition of 1727.