SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
633
- What a happiness is it, that without all
offence of necromancy, I may here call up any of the ancient worthies of learning, whether human or divine, and confer wiUi them of all xny doubts ! That I can at pleasure summon whole tmiods of reverend fiohers, and acute doctors from all the coasts of the earth, to give their well-studied judgments in all points of question which I propose ! Neither can I cast my eye casually upon any of these-silent masters, but I must learn somewhat ; it is a wantonness to complain of choice. No law binds me to read all ; but the more we can take in and digest, the better ; blessed be Ood that hath set up so many clear lamps in his church.
" Now none but the wilfully blind can plead darkness; and blessed be the memory of those his faithful servants, that have left their blood, their spirits, their lives, in these precious papers ; and have willingly wasted themselves into these during monuments, to give light unto others."
1656. There seems to have been in this jaa few or no additional newspapers set up. The PtAlie Intelligencer, and Mercuriui Politicut, were the two chief papers in the years 1656, 1656, 1657, 1668, and 1669, and were both published bv order of parliament In the year 1657 the collector of the king's tracts ceased, as he says himself, from his great puns and labour ; as the publications became less numerous and interesting. — Chalmers.
1657, Jitae 26. Oliver Cromwell solemnly inaugurated lord protector, in Westminster Hall. " The speaker invested his highness with a purple mantle, lined with ermine ; presented him with a bible, superbly gilt and embossed ; girt a sword by his side, and placed a sceptre of mas- sive gold in his hand. On the right of the chair, at some distance, sate the French, on the left, the Dutch ambassador : on one side stood the earl of Warwick, with the sword of the com- monwealth; on the other, the lord mayor, with that of the city."
In this year appeared a pamphlet, entitled Killing no murder, written against the protector by colonel Silas Titus, under the assumed name of William Allen. This is one of the most smgular controversial pieces the political litern- ture of our country has to boast; one of those happy productions which are perpetually valu- able ; which whenever a usurper reigns, appears as if written at the moment, and points with equal force at a protector or consul.* " Shall we," said this popular declaimer, " who would not suffer the lion to invade us, tamely stand to be devoured by the wolf." On reading this book Cromwell was never seen to smile again.
1667, July 7. This day was the election feast kept by the master and wardens of the stationers' company, with garlands, music, Sec, according to former practice, but for several late years discontinued.
- It was reprinted entira, »t the eoil of the Revolution,
org Ptuiareh, eMhMHng the di^inguUhei charaeten, lUe- nrf, mUUary, and pMtical, in ikt annaU of the French npvhtic.
We again refer to Moxon* for the following
girticulais of the very curious celebration of the rinters' May Festival, and which is remarkable as being a description of the old mode of the festivous enjoyment amongst the fraternity.
" The printers of London,master8 and journey- men, have every year a general feast, which, since the re-building of stationers'-hall, is com- monly kept there. This feast is made by four stewards, viz. two masters and two journeymen; which stewards, with the collection of half-a- crown a-piece of every guest, defray the charges of the whole feast ; ana as they collect the huf- crowns, they deliver every guest a ticket, where- in is specified the time and place they are to meet at, and the church they are to go to, to which ticket is affixed the name and seals of each steward.
It b commonly kept on or about May-Day ; when, about ten o'clock in the morning, they meet at stationeis'-hall, and from thence go to some church thereabouts ; four whifflersf ^ servitures) by two and two walking before with white staves in their hands, and red and blue ribbons bung beltwise upon their left shoulders; these go berore to make way for the company ; then walks the beadle of the company of station- ers, with the company's staff in his hand, aud ribbons, as the whimers, and after him the divine (whom the stewards before engaged to preach them a sermon) and his reader; uen the stew- ards walk by two and two, with long white wands in their bands, and all the rest of the company follows till they enter the church ; then divine service begins, anthems are sung, and a sermon preached to suitthe solemnity, which ended, they in the same order walk back again to stationers- hall, where they are immediately entertained with the city waits and other music ; and as every guest enters he delivers his ticket, which gives him admittance, to a person appointed by the stewards to receive it.
The master, wardens, and grandees of the company (although perhaps no printers) are yet commonly invited, imd take their seats at the upper table, and the rest of the company where it pleases them best, the tables being furnished with variety of dishes of the best cheer; and to make the entertainment more splendid, is usherd
- See also Raodle Holme's Storehouu or Armarf, IfiSS.
t Whiffler, Mr. Douce »ay», {Ilhutrationt 0/ Shak^eare, Tol. 1. p. S07,) is a term undoubtedlj boirowed from wMf- fie, another name for a life or imall flute; for wbUBen were originally those who preceded armies or processions, as flfeis or pipers : in process of time the term whiffier, which had been always used in the sense of a /S/er, came to signify any person who went before to a procession. Mioshew defines him to be a club or staff-bearer, and that it appears, whifflers carried white staves, as In the annual feast of the printers, founders, and ink-makers, described by Handle Holme. Archdeacon Nares, In his QUtnary, cites Grose's mention of whifllers at Norwich, wh* make way for the corporation by flomiahing their swords. Aicb- deacon Kares also remarks, that In the dty of London, yonnf; fireemen, who march at the head of their proper companies on. the lord mayor's day, sometimes with flags, were o^ed whifflers, not because they cleared the way, but becaose they went first as whifflers did ; and be quotes a character in the old play of the City Match, saying, * I look'd the next lord mayor's day to sec you o' the livery, or one of the bachelor whifflers.'
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