drink it. The man of the house was unwilling;
but, by their importunate desire, he
went; and so soon as he came, they fell
upon him, telling him they were satisfied he
had much money, which they would have
before they went. So, binding all the family,
they rifled the house, and took away with
them, in linen and silk, to the value of three-
score pound."

What follows fills the mouth again with
crumbs of Popish plot.

"We have an account that a person of
quality lately received a pacquet from Flanders,
by the post, from an unknown person,
with a blank cover, and two books enclosed
therein, the contents whereof were very
scandalous and treasonable, vindicating the
innocency of the five Jesuites that were
lately executed, to the dishonour of his
Majesties government, and the justice of the
nation, who are fully satisfied of their guilt;
and they particularly inveighed against the
king's evidence, especially Dr. Oates and Mr.
Bedlow."

The two next paragraphs are devoted, the
one to the "Duchess" of Portsmouth, the
other to the Duke of Monmouth. His scape-
Grace is evidently under a cloud, and has
just had the post of Master of the Horse (the
last he held) taken from him; "but we know
not who shall succeed him; and the Earl of
Feversham is made Master of the Horse to
the Queen." The Duke of Monmouth's case
appeared to have reminded Mercurius of this
circumstance, which is thrown in "permiscus."

The Duchess of Portsmouth's popish
servants, we learn also, are all discharged,
"in pursuance of his Majesties strict order
for the removal of papists." The fair Louise
troubled his sacred Majesty with more than
a little of her mind, with which nothing but
the pressure of the Popish Plot, or the
conviction he expressed that one day he
should be accused of participating in it himself,
could have urged him into perilous collision.

Mercury gives all the rest of his paper to
advertisements. They are nine in number,
and all printed in Italics, except that first
one, wherein John Dryden offers fifty pounds
for the discovery of the ruffians by whom he
was assaulted, "which is deposited in the
hands of Mr. Blanchard, goldsmith, next
door to Temple Bar. And if the discoverer
be himself one of the actors, he shall have
the fifty pounds without letting his name be
known, or receiving the least trouble by any
persecution." Dryden kept his money; for,
the actors' names never were discovered.

Then, between Dryden's mishap and
another of a similar nature, we find a hue
and cry for a small white and fallow
greyhound: the description given rivalling, in
accuracy and style, some well-known Irish
advertisements; and a nautical idea being
raised, towards the middle of the paragraph,
by the statement that "her stearn is small
and partly white."

The knocking down and evil entreating of
passengers would seem to have been a favourite
diversion of the period. But, by the
comparatively short and careless mention of "the
young man who, on Friday night last, was
assaulted in Leadenhall Street, when he was
much abused, and lost his hat, &c.," it is
evident that he considers himself nobody. No
stated sum of money is forthcoming to tempt
confession, "the persons who were spectators
of the wrongs done him" being simply
requested to "repare to the Black Bear, in
Cannon Street, where they will be requited
for their trouble."

The next advertisement relates to some
Flemish tapestry, "full of silk and lively
colours, neer eight feet deep, and not the
worse for using. To be offered a great
pennyworth." This is a bait held out to
"persons about to marry;" and it is followed by
an announcement that "the milleners' goods
that was to be sold at the Naked Boy, neer
Strand Bridge, are sold at Mr. Van den
Anker, in Lime Street." The boldness of
the grammar, and the oddity, to ears of
today, of the place at which milliners' goods
were kept, are remarkable. Orthography,
etymology, and syntax are all defied together
in the following:

"Whereas one Jones Wiltington, Aged
about 20 years. Deaf and Dum, by Trade a
Painter hath lately gone away from his
lodging at the 3 Kings without Ludgate,
Intending for the Countrey, but is returned
back to London, with a little black Mare 14
Hands high, with a Blaze on her Face,
whoever can give Information of the said Mare
to Mr. John Fisher at the 3 Kings aforesaid
shall have Ten Shillings reward."

The literary department begins with an
announcement on behalf of another man, who
is still living: a "Treatise of the fear of
God," by John Bunyan. The Treatise is
announced to show "what it (the fear of God)
is, and how distinguished from that which is
not so. Also, whence it comes. Who has it.
What are the effects. And what the privileges
of those that have it in their hearts."

Lighter reading is provided next, by
Randal Taylor, who has published an
incomparable pack of cards, containing "the history
of all the Popish Plots that have been in
England, excellently engraven on copperplates,
with large descriptions under each
card." With this light treatment of Popery
—a touch of butter on the solid lump of
bread—we swallow the last morsel of the
sandwich of Mercurius. Only, together with
the dig into the Popish plots, we have a
reference to garden plots, and diggings that
pertain to them.

A decree has gone forth, from the "Right
Honourable the Lord Maior and Councillors
that Samuel Potts and Robert Davies, citizens,
shall henceforth be Rakers of the City
and liberties thereof, and do keep their office
in Red Lyon Court, where such as desire to