James I, By the King, 1611

This broadside uses gothic type (or black letter as the English often called it) for the main text of its announcement, as is typical for official English documents, with roman type setting off the names of the escapees.

This broadside uses gothic type (or black letter as the English often called it) for the main text of its announcement, as is typical for official English documents, with roman type setting off the names of the escapees.

open image or download from source: Houghton

England and Wales. Sovereign (1603-1625 : James I), By the King : whereas wee are given to understand, that the Lady Arbella and William Seymour second sonne to the Lord Beauchampe, being for divers great and hainous offences, committed, the one to our Towre of London, and the other to a speciall guard, have found the meanes by the wicked practises of divers lewd persons, as namely Markham, Crompton, Rodney, and others, to breake prison ... London: Robert Barker, 1611. (recto)

Houghton Library, STC 8469 (public domain)