Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-23
ANCIENT NEWS.


A Collection OF curious and Inter-
estfug Papers.
Mr.. John Murphy, of Compton, has
shown the HERALD file OF as interest
ing old papers as can be found in the
State. The oldest is the English Mercurie,
dated Whitehall, July 20, 1888. This
paper, as will DO seen, is over three hun
dred years old, and was published in the
time of Shakespeare. 1t contains an
account of the arrival off the English
coast of the Spanish Armada, and the
gallant attack upon the invaders by Sir
Francis Drake and the other English
admirals. The next in interest is the
"Weekeh Newes, London: Printed for
Jeffrey Chorlton, and are to be sold at
his shop at the great north door Of
st. Paul's, 1906. Munday, 3lst jan
uary, 1906" This little four-page sheet
contains an interesting account of the
discovery of the famous Gunpowder
Plot, and the execution Of the con-
spirators. The details of the execution
are very fully given, and the seventeenth
century reporter did not differ as much
as might be expected from his nineteenth
century successor. The actions of the
condemned men on the scaffold are de-
scribed in the quaint language Of two
centuries ago, and the reporter men,
toned the Joy with which the assembled
population of London saw the "traytors"
first hung, then disemboweled, drawn
and quartered. The description of the
execution ends as follows: "Last of all
came the great devil of all, Guy Fawkes,
alias johnson, who should have put fire
to the powder. His body being weak
with the torture and sickness he was
scarce able to 60 up the ladder. Yet,
with much ado, by the help of the hang
man, went high enough to break his
neck by the fall. He made no speech,
but with his crosses and idle ceremonies
made his end upon the gallows and the
block, to the great joy of all beholders,
that the land was ended of so wicked q
villain"
The next paper OF great interest is
The Intelhgencer, dated London, ''Fm
Munday, the goth of Janu., till Munday,
the 9th of Feb, 164S." This contains
an account of the execution of King
Charles the First. The Kings appear
ance and conduct is infinitely
described and his final speech was re-
ported in full. The closing scene is
given as follows: "But then gentle
man comming near the AK the King
said, Take heed of the ak; pray take
heed of the AK Then the King, speak
ing to the executioner, said: 81 shall say
but short prayers and then thrust out
my hands, Then the King called to
DR.. Juxton for his nightcap, and, having
put it on, he said to the executioner,
Does my hair trouble your who desired
him to put it under his cap, which the
King did accordingly, by the help of the
executioner and the Bishop. Then the
King took off his cloak and his George
giving his George to DR.. Juxton, saying:
Remember Git is thought for the
Prince and some other small ceremonies
past, after which the King, STOPPING
down, laid his necke on the blocke, and
after very little pause, stretching forth
his hands, the executioner at one blow
severed his head from the body. Then
his body was put in coffin covered
with black velvet and removed to his
lodging chamber at Whitehall.
The next paper of this remarkable file
is the Gazette, published in London, Sep
tember 9, 1858. This contains full
account of the death and funeral cere-
monies of Oliver Cromwell. News from
various European countries also appears.
Among the few advertisements of this
issue are the following: "That excellent
and by all physicians approved China
Drink called by the Chineans Toka, by
other nations Tay, alias Tee, is sold at
the Sultaness Head, a cophee house in
Sweeting's Rents, by the Royal Ex-
change, London"
cat the sign of the Bore's Head, over
against the Naked Boy, at the lower end
Of Bread street, are to be had usual med
icines, prepared by the art OF Pyroteckny
according to the Doctrine of Psracelful
and Helment by which is speedily
cured all distempers incidental to HUI
name Nature"
An account Of the dreadful plague
which devastated London in the seven
teenth century fills the columns OF the
London NeaOes of July 6, 1865. The quar-
autine regulations of the city authorities
are also given, and seem remarkably
sensible for that early period.
The London Gazette of September 10,
1866, gives an account OF the great fire Of
London. The description is brief but
very readable. The writer sums up the
work of destruction as follows: "Thir-
teen thousand two hundred houses,
eighty.seven churches, six chapels, the
Royal Exchange, the Custom House, jail
at Newgate, three city gates, the Guild
hall and four bridges we're entirely de-
stroyed."
The last two papers Of Mr.. Murphy's
collection are the London Times Of jan
nary 10, 1906, and August Is, 1921. The
first contains an account of the obsequies
of Lord Nelson, the last the funeral cere-
monies held at the death Of Queen Caro-
Aine.
These ancient journals give closer
insight into the real lives of the people
two or three centuries ago than the ablest
of our modern histories, and this review
of them necessarily omits much that is
of interest.