The printing-presses that are said to have been carried by both armies during the Civil War must have been used solely for the printing of Proclamations, General Orders, and suchlike documents. It seems to be an ascertained fact that Cromwell's soldiers set up a printing-press in Scotland, and printed a newspaper; but it is not so certain that the armies of Charles I. and of the Parliament issued printed 'news' from whatever town they chanced to occupy at the time. It does not follow that because a tract is entitled _News from Hull_ it was actually printed at that place. On the contrary, I have found nearly all the tracts I have examined bear the imprints of London printers. _The News from the North, The Last printed News from Chichester_, &c., were all sent up to London, and there printed and published. [Illustration: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, 1642.] In the words of Hume, 'The open signal of discord and civil war throughout the kingdom' was made at Nottingham on August 22, 1642, when the King erected his Royal standard and appealed to the loyalty of his subjects to support his authority by arms. Historians differ as to the precise day when this formal declaration of hostilities took place. Clarendon and Hume both fix it on the _25th_ of August, while Rushworth gives the _22nd_ as the date. The latter view is confirmed by a contemporary pamphlet, which gives an account of the raising of the Standard, and is illustrated with a woodcut representing the event. This pamphlet was written in the interest of the Parliament and against the King's party; but his Majesty is referred to in the most respectful language, as is generally the case in the pamphlets of the time. At the beginning of the struggle frequent hopes were expressed that the King would consent to be guided by the Parliament, while his Cavalier adherents were represented as his real enemies. The pamphlet referred to has the following title:-- '_A true and exact Relation of the manner of his Majesties setting up of His Standard at_ Nottingham _on Munday the 22 of August, 1642_. '_First, the forme of the Standard, as it is here figured, and who were present at the advancing of it._ '_Secondly, the danger of setting up of former standards, and the damage which ensued thereon._ '_Thirdly, a relation of all the Standards that ever were set up by any King._ '_Fourthly, the names of those knights who are appointed to be the King's Standard-bearers, with the forces that are appointed to guard it._ '_Fifthly, the manner of the Kings comming first to Coventry._ '_Sixthly, the Cavalieres resolution and dangerous threats which they have uttered, if the King concludes a peace without them, or hearkens unto his great Councill the Parliament; moreover how they have shared and divided London amongst themselves already. London, printed for T. Coles, 1642._' [Illustration: RAISING THE ROYAL STANDARD AT NOTTINGHAM, 1642.]