It is hardly worth while to give an exhaustive list of the almanacs then in vogue. One advertisement[525] will be ample for the purpose: 'On Thursday next (15 Nov.) will be published the following Almanacks for the year 1706. viz. Andrews, Chapman, Coley, Dove, Gadbury, Ladies Diary, Moor, Partridge, Pond, Poor Robin, Salmon, Saunders, Tanner, Wing, Colepepper, Dade, Fly, Fowl, Perkins, Rose, Swallow, Trigge, Turner, White, Wood-house.'

Out of which, that by Francis Moore, physician, the 'Vox Stellarum,' is still published. Doubts have been thrown on the reality of this gentleman, but it is certain that he did live, and Lysons speaks of him as having lived in Calcotts Alley, High Street (then called Back Lane), Lambeth, where he practised the combined professions of astrologer, physician, and schoolmaster. He also lived in Southwark and in Westminster. There is an engraving of him extant, evidently done in Queen Anne's reign, by Drapentier, who also engraved the portrait of Dr. Burgess. Moore is represented as a fat-faced man in a full-bottomed wig. The legend is 'Francis Moore, born in Bridgenorth, in the County of Salop, the 29th of January 1656/7.' His almanac was first published in 1698.

The Ladies' Diary, which commenced in 1704, was only suspended in 1841, when it was incorporated in the Gentleman's Diary.

'Poor Robin, an Almanack of the Old and New Fashion; or an Ephemeris of the best and newest Edition; wherein the Reader may find (that is to say if he reads over the Almanack) many most excellent remarkable things worthy his and others choicest Observation. Containing a Two-fold Calendar, viz., The Old, Honest, Julian, or English Account, and the Round head's, Whimzey heads, Maggot heads, Paper-scull'd, Slender-witted, Muggletonian, or Fanatick Account, with their several Saints Days, and Observations upon every Month. Being the Bissextile or Leap Year. Written by Poor Robin Knight of the Burnt Island, a Well-wisher to the Mathematicks.'

The Two and Fortieth Impression.

Reader, this is the two and Fortieth Year,
Since first our Book did to the World appear:
And we do think 'tis stored with more knacks
Than may be found in other Almanacks.
Laugh if you will, but yet this always mind,
If you your Eyes laugh out, you will be blind.

London: Printed by W. Bowyer for the Company of Stationers, 1704.

Such is a title-page of this almanac, which, when first started, is thought to have been written by Herrick. It only ceased its publication in 1828. As this was a genuinely humorous book, in a time when pure fun was hardly understood, a very brief description may be permitted. It had a comic chronology, such as:—

Years since
Geese without or Hose or Shoes went bare.5603
Maids did Plackets in their Coats first wear.4805
Plumbs were first put into Christmas Pies.1472
The Hangman did the riding Knot devise.3999
Coffee came first to be us'd in London.0049
By Rebellion many a Man was undone.0050
Women did at Billingsgate first scold.0973
Summer was hot Weather, Winter cold.5782&c. &c.

And every month had its appropriate poem, thus:—