Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/517

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HISTORY OF PRINTING.

Captain Betban was appointed provost marshal, "with power to seize upon all ballad singers, and to suppress stage-plays." This was to enforce Cromwell's ordinance enacted February 13.

1648. The KetUiih Fayre, or the parliament sold to their best worth. 4to.

Good OUver lend me thy nose, Tis darke, nil lights are oat , For now I mean to write in prose, But gnided by thy snout.

Black Tom already's at the f «>«, And in his coach is carried ; His men meanwhile biowne in the Ayrtf And to the fiends are married.

Some Citizem they say shall ride To buy knacks for their wives. Let Skippm Skipp on as their gnid. He may protect their lives.

At Rochater the faiie is held,

By bU good tokens know it,

A thonsaod SamU late there were feld

As yet the bridge can shew it.

Printed at Rochester, and are to be sold to all those that dare to buy them. This is the earliest specimen of printing from that city.

1648. Mittris Parliament her Gostipping. Full of Mirth, merry Tales, chat, and other pleasant Discourse, between

( Statute,"! ( Parliament,

Mrs. < Justice, > and Mrs. < Ordinance, (Truth, S (Synod.

Mistris ParUament that late lay in.

Invites you now unto her gosgippitif ;

And as the order is unto the day,

For what you eate she'll make you roundly pay.

Pray commons eate, heres cliat and laughter.

And committee /rui< in dishes after.

Fall too and welcome, I have still in store.

Her tryalls post i shce is condemned to die.

Her execution day drawes nie ;

Come help to guard her to the Gallow-tree,

England is freed of all her miMerie.

Mrs. England being moderator.

By Mercurius Melancholicus. Printed in the year of the downfall of the Sectaries. 1648.

1648, Dec. 23. Richard Royston, the royal bookseller, at the Angel, in Iry-lane, receives the manuscript copy of Eikon Basilike; the Pour- traicture of his Sacred Majesty in his Solitude and Sufterings, for the press. The book was in circulation on the " martyrdom." Royston made such haste with the work, that it was

Srinted before the 30th of January, on which ay his majesty died. On the first publication of this work, the instantaneous effect produced on the nation was such, fifty editions, it is said, ap- pearing in one year. Mr. Malcolm Laing ob- serves, " that had this book," a sacred volume to those who considered the sovereign as a mar- tyr, " appeared a week sooner, it might have pre- served the king," and possibly have produced a change of popular feeling.

The Exkon Basilike was written by Charles . during his confinement at Holmsby ; the work has, however, been attributed to Dr. Gaudon, bishop (tfWorcester,who was incapable of writing the book, but not of disowning it. Dr. Gaudon died September 20, 1662, buried at Worcester.

1648. Craftie Cromwell, or Oliver ordering our New State. A Tragi-Comedie. Wherein is discovered the trayterous Undertakings and Proceedings of the said Nol and his levelling Crew. Written by Mercurius Melancholicns.

Shall Cromwell not be famous made

Unto the aiter-times, Who durst a throne for to invade,

And act the wotst of crimes ?

Shall not his nose dominlcall

In verse be celebrated i Shall famous Harry Martin fall.

And not be nominated t

Shall Pride the drayman, Joice the taylor.

And all the holy crew. With Hammond, and K. Charies his Jaylor,

And Stains that holy Jew,

Be read hereafter } sure they shall !

And if my muse give aid. This shaU be their memoriall,

These rogues their king betrayd.

1648,^011.1. Mercurius Melancholicus, No. 1.

1648, Jan. 5. The Kingdom's Weekly Post.

1648, Jon. 26. The Army's modest Intelligencer

1648, Feb. 7. Mercurius Elencticus : commu- nicating the unparalleled proceedings at West- minster, the head-quarters, and other places, discovering their designs, reproving their crimes, and advising the kingdome, No. 1.

■ Ridentem dicere vemm,

Quid vetat ! To kill the King eight yeares agon

Was counted Highest Treason : But now 'tis deemed just, and done

As consonant to Reason.

The Temple was esteemed then

Sacred and Venerable : Adom'd with grave and godly Men,

But now *tis made a Stable.

'Twas Criminall to violate

The wholesome Lawes o' th' Natloo :

Bat (now we have a lawlesse State,) 'Tis done by Proclamation.

Both Prince and People liv'd in Peace ;

The Land with Wealth abounded : Bat now those Blessings fade and cease,

Thankes to the cursed Round-head.*

1648, Feb. 2. The Kingdom's faithful Scout.

1648, April 13. Jf*rc«rttM Criticus, No. 1.

1648, April 16. Mercurius Academieus,1fo. 1.

1648, April 21. Mercurius Veridicus, No. 1.

1648, May 9. Mercurius Urbanicus.

1648, May 13. Mercurius Poeticus, No. 1.

1648, May 16. Mercurius Britannicus again alive. No. 1.

1648, May 19. Mercurius Hanestus ; or, news from Westminster, No. 1.

1648, June 1. Mercurius Censorius; or, news from the Isle of Wight, No. 1.

1648, June 16. The Parliament KiU ; or, the tell-tale Bird, No. 6.

1648, June 21. Mercurius Psitacu*.

1648, Jun« 22. The Parliament Vulture; or, neujs from all parts of the kingdom. No. 1. 4to.*

They commenced generally with some verses and the specimens here inserted will give the rhyming powers of their editors.
 * Most of these papers were In Itmo., and

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