L'Estrange, whose only recommendation to the post was that he was an adherent of the Royal party and had suffered for his loyalty. He knew nothing about printing or bookselling, but he was a sycophant and time-server, and carried out his duties with unnecessary cruelty. The Warrant creating Sir R. L'Estrange Surveyor of the Press is here given as it appears in the State Papers:—
CHARLES R.
Whereas in contempt of our laws and authority many treasonous, seditious, and unlicenc'd Pamphlets, Libells, and Papers, are dayly printed vented and dispersed by the obstinate and implacable Enemies of Our Royall person and Government, for redresse and remedy hereof, Our Will and Pleasure is that you prepare a Grant for our Royall signature for the erecting and constituting of an Office for the surveying of the Imprimery, and Printing Presses, and for the preventing of the inconveniences aforesd. And it is Our Will and Pleasure that you prepare a grant for Our Royall signature of ye said Office unto Roger L'Estrange, Esqr, of whose Loyalty and abilities Wee are well assured, and him to authorize and appoint to bee Our Surveyor of all the Imprimery and Printed Pictures and allsoe of all Books and Papers whatsoever hereafter to bee imprinted or reprinted, except Books concerning the Common-Laws of this Realme or Books of History concerning the State of this Realme or any other Books concerning Affairs of State, or concerning Heraldry Titles of Honor and Armes, or the Office of Earl Marshall, or Books of Divinity Phisick Philosophy Arts and Sciences and such other books and Papers as are granted by Our Letters Patents to Our proper and peculiar Printers and usually claimed and imprinted by them by virtue of the sd Letters Patents. To have and to hold the sd Office or Offices of Our sd Surveyor and Licencer for and during the terme of his naturall life to bee excersized by himselfe or his sufficient Deputie or Deputies which said Deputy or Deputies are from time to time to bee approved by the late Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Lord Bp of London or one of them and by Our Principall Secretaries of State or either of them with a sole Priviledge of
