Many households had an almanac. Books tried to reconcile religion
and science and religion and passion or sensuality. Walter
Ralegh's "History of the World", written while he was in prison,
was popular. Ben Johnson wrote poetry and satiric comedies.
Gentlemen read books of manners such as James Cleland's
"Institution of a Young Noble Man (1607). In 1622, the first
regular weekly newspaper was started.
Although there was a large advance in the quality of boys'
education and in literacy, the great majority of the people were
unable to read fluently. Since writing was taught after one could
read fluently, literacy was indicated by the ability to sign one's
name. Almost all gentlemen and professional men were literate.
About half the yeomen and tradesmen and craftsmen were. Only about
15% of husbandmen, laborers, servants, and women were literate.
The royal postal system carried private as well as royal letters,
to increase income to the Crown. Postmasters got regular pay for
handling without charge the mail of letters that came from or went
to the letter office in London. The postmaster kept horses which
he let, with horn and guide, to persons riding "in post" at 3d.
per mile. The post was to travel 7 mph in summer and 5 mph in
winter and sound his horn four times in every mile or whenever he
met travelers.
Wool and animals for butchering were sold in London with the
sellers' agent in London taking the proceeds and paying out to
their order, the origin of check writing.
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