The Loyal Protestant and The Domestick Intelligence newspaper
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Archival Material
Date: April 2, 1681
Medium: paper; ink
Dimensions: Height x Width: 12 × 7 1/4 in. (30.48 × 18.42 cm)
Description: The Loyal Protestant and True Domestick Intelligence newspaper, issue number 8, April 2, 1681, with illustrated "Advertisement from the Undertakers of the Penny Post" shows the original Dockwra markings.
March 31. This day was apprehended one Thomas Fulham, and Edward Johnson the Butter-man, both for the High-way; and upon examination, they were committed to Newgate.
March 31. One Benjamin Arnold was apprehended for killing one William Dellow on the High-way in Hartfordshire, about 5 or 6 years since, and was also committed to Newgate.
On the 29. of March last, a Gentleman was found dead in the Road about 5 miles on this side Nottingham, having been shot through the Body, supposed to be done by some High-way-men, whom setting upon him to rob him, he resisted; the which is the rather believed, because his Boots and Spurs denote him to have been a Horseman; But what is become of his Horse, is not yet known; Hue and Cry has been sent after the Murderers, but we have no account of their being taken.
ADVERTISEMENT, From the Undertakers of the PENNY-POST.
They taking Notice of frequent Complaints spread much about Town, that Letters are delay'd in the Delivery; upon diligent enquiry do find, that it seldom proceeds from neglect in their Messengers, but for the most part through the carelessness of Servants, and others, who receive them in due time when the Parties to whom they are directed are abroad, but forget to deliver them at their return home, keeping them several hours, and sometimes till next day, and to excuse their own faults, do unjustly charge the Penny Post.
For Remedy of this Inconvenience which hath prov'd very mischievous to the progress of a Design so generally approv'd of for a publick good; The Undertakers have caused Stamps like those in the Margin, to mark the Hour of the day on every Letter when sent out of the Office for delivery, whereby any Person may perceive whether the fault will lie for the future in the Office, or in the forgetfulness of such as take them in from the Messengers in the absence of the Parties to whom they are directed; Not doubting, if Persons will strictly enquire when Letters were really left, (which these Stamps will put them in mind to do,) and will have regard to the distance of Places, and the time that may be lost if Letters be put into the Receiving Houses after the Messenger is gone, which must there lie till his next return, they will soon find the dispatch of the Penny Post to be such as will answer the reasonable expectations of all Ingenious Persons.
And the Undertakers do farther hope, that all lovers of Publick and useful Inventions (which are at first both Difficult and Chargeable,) will so far encourage this Design, as on Post-nights to employ Them before others in the carriage of Letters to the General Post-Office in Lombard-street, such as they do not convey thither by Themselves or Servants.
Having made Provision for this purpose, that the Messengers shall call at every Receiving-house to take Letters until Ten of the Clock at least, excepting the most remote parts, which cannot be so late.
Further desiring that every one may reap the great Benefit of this Undertaking; and that the Office may be the more justified, the more the Practice thereof is truly understood, They do refer themselves to a larger account of this Design, which they will in a few days publish in a sheet of Paper, recommending it to the serious perusal of all Persons for their better Information therein.
Note, That on Monday and Tuesday in Easter and Whitson-week no Letters are received or carried by the Penny Post; but on the Wednesday morning they proceed as at other times.
An Account of the Bill of mortality for the City of London, Westminster, and the other Parishes adjacent for this week, runs thus.
  Crisis, Males 130 Buried, Males 216 Pl. 00   Females 132 Females 166   In all 262 In all 422 
Increased in the Burials this Week, 60. Parishes clear of the Plague, 132. Parishes Infected, 0.
The Assize of Bread set forth by Order of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen. A Penny wheaten Loaf to contain 9 Ounces and an half; and Three half penny white Loaf the like weight. And Howshould Bread made of Wheat, to contain double the weight of White Bread.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
A Brief Account of the Proceedings between Mr. David Fitz-Gerald and William Hetherington, before His Majesty in Council, on Friday the 11th. of February 1681. Where the Attorney General was ordered to prosecute the said Hetherington and one Bryan Mac-Donogh, who calls himself Bernard Dennis. a Dominican Fryer, who came out of Ireland in October last and who belonged to a Convent at Sleigoe in Ireland, Also the Articles of the said Hetherington against Mr. Fitz-Gerald; with Mr. Fitz-Geralds Answer to each Article. with Six High and Transcendent Articles preserved by Mr. Fitz-Gerald against the said Hetherington, fully proved before His Majesty in Council.
An Answer to a late Pamphlet, Entitled, The Character of a Popish Successor, and what England must expect under such a One. Humbly offered to the Consideration of both Houses of Parliament to meet at Oxford, the 21th of March, 1681. Both Printed by Nathaniel Thompson, and are to be sold at his House next the Cross-Keys in Fetter-lane near Fleet street.
*** Lost on Wednesday night last, between Salisbury Court and the Temple Lane, a Glove lin'd with Silk, with a Scarlet & Silver Fringe; Whoever hath found it, and brings it to Mr. Markham at the Seven Stars over against S. Dunstans Church in Fleet-street, shall be satisfy'd for their pains
IN the High street over against the Church in Islington is to be Lett a fair House, containing above Twenty Rooms, One whereof is 45 Foot long, with Out-houses for a Wash-house, Coal-house, &c. With a Convenient Court-Yard before the said House, and behind it a fair Garden opening into the best Field for Air about the Town; Also Two pleasant Summer-houses in the said Garden. The Person who will lett this House hath 16 Years to come in his Lease, which he is willing to dispose of for a moderate Fine, without any Rent, or otherwise by the Year for an easie Rent, (under 20 l. per annum,) without any Fine, notwithstanding He has laid out in Improving the Premises 400 l.
Enquire at Mr. Playford's Shop near the Temple-Church, or at Mr. John Hall's a Goldsmith near the Nags-head-Tavern in Leaden-hall street; Or at the said Mr. Hall's Country-house over against Islington Church aforesaid.
NEXT door to the Popes Head Tavern in Moor-fields, is to be seen that much admired Rarity, by the name of the Indian Water-works; being with much cost and industry brought at length to perfection. This Piece of Rarity has been seen by most Ingenious Artists, and approved of. It will begin on Easter Monday at two of the clock in the afternoon; and so to continue daily.
en So re be th re P ti
their being taken.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T, From the Undertakers of the P E N N Y - P O S T.
They taking Notice of frequent Complaints spread much about Town, that Letters are delaid in the
The Loyal Protestant,  AND  True Domestick Intelligence,  OR,  NEWS both from City and Countrey.
Published to prevent False, Scandalous and Seditious Reports.
Saturday, April 2. 1681.
April 1. 1681.
His Majesties Guards are returned from Oxford, and the Forces that were Quarter'd about that City during His Majesties abode there, will suddenly return to their former Quarters which they had before.
It is very credibly reported, that His Majesty, with the whole Court designs speedily for Hampton Court, and that all things are preparing for their Reception; And that His Majesty intends to reside there for some considerable time.
From Leicester we have a certain account that at the late Election of Burgesses for that place, there was an Address presented by a Gentleman in the name of the Gentlemen, Burghers and Free-holders of that place, to the same purpose as was Printed for, and put upon divers Loyal Cities, Corporations and Boroughs, to the great abuse of His Majesty, and many of his most Loyal Subjects; Several of which places have already protested against such practices, as Byston, Narwich, Colchester, Malden in Essex, &c. when indeed it was all done contrary to their will or knowledge, as was testified by a worthy Gentleman then present. And at the last Assizes the said Gentleman was Presented by the Grand Jury, and was found Guilty for dispersing false and scandalous Libels.
On Thursday night last, being the 27th of this instant March, a Ship lying in the River of Thames over against Black-wall was Robbed by ten Fellows, who came in two Boats, and finding only two Men and a Boy on board, gag'd, and bound them, and took thence Goods to the value of Fifty Pounds, and then made towards London.
Edinburgh March 10. Yesterday his Royal Highness was somewhat indisposed, but is now pretty well recovered; so that in a short time their Royal Highnesses intend to take a Journey Northwards. The Council (upon some Letters lately received) have been in a deep consult; but what the occasion is we know not. It is said that the Council have agreed to receive the Students who were banished this City for the late Disorders by them committed, into their former places, upon condition that they will give security for their good Behaviour for the future.
Rome March 6. There did appear here about the middle of December last, a strange and a wonderful Comet near the Ecliptick in the Sign of Libra, and in the Body of the Virgin; At the same time a Prodigious Egge was laid by a Young Pullet (which had never laid before,) with a perfect Comet in it, and as many Stars, and in the same Form as the inclosed Figure shews. All the great Ones of Rome have seen it, even the Queen and the Pope; What you see in the inclosed Paper is within the Egge most clearly express'd, and not upon the Shell. The Romane wits are now very busie in guessing at what this Comet and Egge may portend.
The true Form of a Prodigious Egg brought forth at Rome the 11th of December last in the Year 1680. in which the Comet here Printed, does continue to appear.
The aforesaid 11th of December, about 8 of the Clock in the Morning, a Hen Chicken, with a great Noise, crying extraordinarily, that never had laid an Egge before this day, brought forth an Egge of an extraordinary greatness, with all these several Forms as you see here express'd, to the great amazement of all those that have seen it.
This is an exact draught, of the Egge as it was Printed in Italy; But all Persons are left to their own choice whether they will believe either his, or any of our own late home-bred Miracles or Visions.
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