Text recycling in England during the 17th century– The transfer of ideas and debates in the English Civil War and the republic (1638-1661)

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Since the first Bishop War in Scotland 1638 and the collapse of censorship in 1640/41 in England, the number of pamphlets in England increased highly. In these so called ‘pamphlet wars’, a range of reprints of older pamphlets and texts were published. Some were published in their original form, several as excerpts as well as compilations and others had been rather transformed.The reprinting of older pamphlets and texts as part of the debates in the English Civil War and the republic has not yet been studied by historians. The research project asks for the political meaning and impact of these reprints and questions the effective and intended aims of the reprints’ initiators: Which incidents, authorities, debates, ideas and statements were updated? When and by whom? In which constellation were the updates made and why?So the study aims for dual contextualisation: On the one hand it deals with the reprints’ contexts. In which debate did the initiator of the reprint want to participate? On the other hand it deals with the original contexts of the reprinted pamphlets. In which contexts did the ideas and debates originally emerge? The focus is on four issues: 1. The conflict between the king’s authority and the parliament; 2. The controversy about the English church; 3. England’s mission in the history of salvation and in the eschaton; 4. Religious practice and conduct.The search for scientific understanding directs towards five subjects:1. Rediviva: Whilst considering formal aspects it is asked which debates were adapted by reprinting pamphlets.2. Contextualisation: When and in which contemporary debate the intervention did proceed? Which incidents were ‘commented’, whereupon the reference was made?3. Intentions: Which political intentions were pursued by reprinting pamphlets? Was it capable of influencing specific incidents or even a fundamental political or religious discourse?4. Disguised opinions: The reprint could enable introducing opinions in a debate which couldn’t be mentioned openly (or didn’t wish to be mentioned openly). Which arguments and opinions were disguised hereby and why?5. Conceptions of history and time: What can be mentioned about the conceptions of history and time of the reprints‘ initiators? Did they see themselves in a historical continuity or was discontinuity firmly stressed?Thus, the study aims to consider well established research assumptions in political and religious persistence and change in England between 1638 and 1661 carefully while analyzing the update of older debate positions by reprinting pamphlets. Therefore, it will modify the current understanding of the debates at that time, if required.