Mustow's

Kentish print is small but weighty, and its almanacs are read more closely than its newspapers. Maidstone has two: the Maidstone Weather-Booke, first issued about 4115, and the South Road Almanack, known from 4331, whose working calendar has appeared yearly since 4508 and is copied by nearly every company in the county; the frost date in it has shifted only twice. Printer Caleb Mustow is the younger end of this trade. He bought his press in 4612 and still owes Mrs Cordelia Maplesden for it.

His room stands on the High Street, below the guildhall and near the Six Staves, among the narrow doors of Market Ward. He sells both almanacs at fourpence, the price of a good one. His press also prints the county's reward bills for the watch-house by the bridge: forty pounds, and ten more put up by the carriers, for Nell Bassett and her Wealden Riders, robbing the Weald roads since 4619; and fifty, offered at Deal, for whoever killed Riding Officer Henry Spurgeon.

Mustow privately indexes every man the county wants and hopes to found a paper to rival the Maidstone Register, which once accused his bills of being riddled with errors. His pride is known: he would rather print a dangerous thing himself than see a rival do it. Forged copies of his bills circulate on the Tonbridge road, and he would pay well to learn who makes them.

Buy bills here, and ask about carrying proofs to the coast, which Mustow pays for. No reward is paid until the assize has sat and Mr Justice Steyning has examined every line of the evidence.