SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
527
trade, and won the aflections of the people by his upright administration, followed the example of Richard, and lived in privacy in England. He died in 1674, aged forty-seven years.
During the civil wars the calm delights of literature gave way for the angry discussion of politics; and the disputations of puritanical bit- terness passed for religion among the great mass of the people. The minds of philosophical men were natualW directed to the subject of civil government, in which it seemed desirable that some fixed truths might be arrived at, as a means of preventing future contests of the same kind ; neither at that time nor since has it been found possible to lay down a theory of government to which all manlrind might subscribe ; but the period of the commonwealth produced some political works of merit. The Leviathan of Hobbes was the most distinguished work on the monarchical side of the question ; while the Oceana of sir James Harrington, published soon after the accession of Cromwell to supreme power, and some of the treatises of Milton, are the best works in favour of the republican doctrines.
1638. Wine, Beer, Ale, and Tobacco, eon- tending for Superiority. A Dialogue.
Hont. Siccis omnia dura Deui propoinit.
London. Printed by I. B. for John Grove, and are to be sold at his shop betwixt St. Katha- rine's Stairs and the Mill, next door to the sign of the Ship.
The following are the Dramatis Persons.
Wine A Gentleman.
Sngtx Bis Page.
Beer A Citizen.
Matmeg His Prentice.
Ale ACountrrman. •
Tost One of bis rurall Servants.
Water. A Panon.
Tobacco A awanering Gentleman.
The following whimsical medley is introduced by way of song.
Wime. I, jovial wine, exhilarate the heart. Seer. March beer is drinlc for a liinr. Ale. Bat ale, boanj ale, with spice and a teat. CAenif. Then let ns be merrjr, wash sorrow away. Wine, l>ecr and ale shall be drunk to-dajr. Wine. J, generoos wine am foi the ooort. Beer. The dtie calls tor beer.
Ak. Bnt ale, bonnjr ale, like a lord of the soyl. In the county shall domineer.
Ckona. Then let ns be merry, wash sorrow away. Wine, beer and ale shall be drank to-day.
1658, July 17. Mercurim Meretrix ; or, the Venereal Spy. Entered at stationers' htdl of this date.
1659. John Sweeting, if uot the founder, was at least the confirmer and augmenter of the annual venison dinner. By will, dated May 8, 16A9, and proved Feb. 6, 1661, he gave his
fourtcore pound ihare of Uie English stock; a fee-farm rent of £10 a year from the tithes of Dodington in Northumberland, and another fee- taim rent of £10 a year, from the tithes of
Chutton in the same county, purchased in 1657 {mm the trustees for the sale of fee-farm rents, and then payable by the Lord Grey of Wark, possessor of the premises. Out of the first year's receipt, Mr. Sweeting directs that j£lO be laid out in something to preserve " his memorial in the company," and that his brother, who was a merchant in London, should be advised with on that subject. He also desires that £6 should be expended cm two dinners (£3 for each dinner) for all the bachelors that are booksellers free of the company of stationers, shopkeepers them- selves in tue city of London. After the first year, the annual sum to be thus applied : to the master lOt. for a pair of gloves ; and 20(. to a godly minister, for a sermon to be preached on the 10th of August, or some day near it ; and with the residue a dinner is to be provided for the master, warden^, assistants, clerk, and such of the livery as should atteud at the church to hear the sermon. On the 3d of August, 1663, the company invited Mr. Sweeting's brother to a dinner of four thillings, when it was agreed that the £10 given by his brother's will, should be bestowed on a silver cup, college fashion, for the preservation of his memory. At the same time four bachelor booksellers were appointed stewards for the first dinner.
1659, Feb. 21. A perfect Diurnal of every Day'i Proceedings in Parliament, No. 1.
1659, March. A teatonable Speech made by a worthy Member of Parliament in the House of Common!, concerning the other House.
1659, April 23. The faithful Scout, No. 1.
1659, Aoril 21—28. Mercurius Democritut, No. 1. Tnis title was used at different periods ; and it seems doubtful if several of the other Mercuries had not temporary revival, recom- menced the numerical number for each volume. Dr. Johnson says, " that when any title grew popular, it was stolen by the antagonist ; who, by this stratagem, conveyed his notions to those wno would not have received him, had he worn the appearance of a friend."
1689, May 3. Mecurius Democritut, No. 2.
1659, Jfoy 10. The Weekly Intelligencer, No. 1 .
1669, May 10. The Wedtl^ Pott, No. 1.— Upon the meeting of the parliament restored to freedom, after the death of Cromwell.
1659, May 12. The moderate Informer of all Occurrences at home and abroad.
1659, May 25. ITu Wedtly Account, on the ettabliihment of a Free State, No. 1.
1659, June 20, Mercuriut Pragmaticut.
1659, June 30. A particular Advice, from the office of Intelligence near the Old Exchange, and also Weekly Occurrences from Foreign Parts, No. I . for J . Macock. It was immediately en- titled Oceurrtncet from Foreign Parts, &c. published by authority, and printed under both these titles.
1659,/u/y 19. Ocewrtttcesfrom Foreign Parts.
1669, Idem, in 4to. with the Prince's arms, by Marsh in Chancery lane.
1659, July 26. The Weekly Intdligencer of the Contmotueealth, No. I.
VjOOQ IC
