WHO WAS "OLD MOORE"?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14383, 28 November 1908, Page 10

WHO WAS "OLD MOORE"?

x "01d Mooro" was born at Bridgenorth, in 1656, went to London, and became an assistant to Partridge, the almanac-maker, who di<Ht in 17M. Swift drove him io the very confines of madness by his bitter satire. There wore several almanacs published by the Stationers' Company early in .the seventeenth century, copies of which may be seen in the ■ Britisjj Museum Library. They were all, I believe, offering prognostics from the sun and moon, and also from thunderstorms and from dreanls.. One day was favourable for the lotting of blood, another for sowing seed, another.for the commencement of a now business. All this went on within my memory. But to return to "Old Moore." As 1 have eaid already, he became assistant to Partridge, and ■ lived in Lambeth . High '• street. In , 1693,' having obtained a licehso to" practise physic, he- set up on his own account as physician,' astrologer, and schoolmaster. It appears to have been with the object of, advertising some wonderful pills (still popular remedies) of his own compoundinß that iii 1699 ho published his first almanac—" Kalendarium I'Jcclesiastieum," a new twofold calendar. In this compilation his prophecies arc confined to the weather. Next year .he published the first edition of 'his "Vox Stelkrum." in which tho''"Astrological. Observations" are a prominent' feature. He died in 17H. "Moore's Almanao" was carried on after his death by Andrews, astrological calculator to the Board .of Lctigitudc, and he is said to have increased the sale from 10,000 Ito 500,000. For his services ho received £23 per annum, The largest improisiono of _any single book before the days of penny literature were these of "Moorcs' Almanac." JACK KETCH. By-tho-byo, a contemporary of ■'"Old' Moore " was .Tack Ketch. This man was the executioner who beheaded the Duke of Monmouth (16SS). He struck again and again, but tho body continued to : move. Yells rose from the orowd. At length Ketch, flung down the axe with, a curse.' "I cannot do it," he said; "my hear! fails me." " Fling him over the rails,'! roa.red the mob. By-the-bye, the axe was taken up. Two more blows extinguished the last remains of life, but a knife was used to separate the head from the'shoulders, 'In 1686 Ketch was turned out of his office for insulting one of the sheriffs, and was succeeded by one Rose, a butcher. But in- four months Roso himself was hanged, and Ketch was reinstated. Ho beheaded Lord Russell.—Old Moore's Monthly Messenger, ;