5: The Athenian Oracle: A Selection (1892), John Underhill, Walter Besant

This is a fantastic selection of excerpts from the world's first newspaper (depending on your definition, etc.), the 17th century London-based Athenian Oracle run by John Dunton. The paper's most interesting feature was The Athenian Oracle, a Q&A column that was part Ann Landers, part Straight Dope. Questioners covered courtship, science, religion, folklore, law, and many other aspects of 17th century life in England and, occasionally, the colonies: there are two tobacco-related questions from Virginia.

Amusing bit from the introduction:

The truth is, Dunton was intensely interested in love-making and in politics--pursuits which take up considerably more time than the young man who wishes to succeed in the world can well afford to spare.

The chapter on popular seventeenth century science is particularly good, including an (accurate) explanation of rainbows and (a most inaccurate) one of "[why children are] oftener like the father than the mother". Bitchin' readin', y'all!

There's an appendix with ads from The Athenian Mercury. Cool, cool, cool!