ALBEMARLE Street. HANDY EDITIONS. "Books that you may carry to the fire, and hold readily in your hand, are the most useful after all. A man will often look at them, and be tempted to go on, when he would have been frightened at books of a larger size and of a more erudite appearance."-DR. JOHNSON. BENEDICITE; or, Song of the Three Children: | JESSE'S GLEANINGS IN NATURAL HIS being Illustrations of the Power, Beneficence, and Design in the Works of Creation. By DR. CHAPLIN CHILD. Post 8vo. 68. BYRON'S (LORD) POETICAL WORKS. Plates. 10 vcls. Feap. 8vo. 30s. CHOICE TRAVELS. Volumes. Post 8vo. 78. 6d. each. TORY. Woodcuts. Feap. 8vo. 68. LIVINGSTONE'S (DR.) POPULAR AC COUNT OF HIS MISSIONARY TRAVELS IN SOUTH A Series of Illustrated LESLIE'S HANDBOOK FOR YOUNG GIFFARD'S DEEDS OF NAVAL DARING; PARIS'S (DR.) PHILOSOPHY IN SPORT, or, ANECDOTES OF THE BRITISHI NAVY. Feap. 8vo. 38. 6d. GLEIG'S STORY OF THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. Post 8vo. 2s. 6d. HALLAM'S HISTORICAL WORKS, with the Author's latest Corrections and Additions. Complete in 10 vols. I. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 3 vols. II. HISTORY OF EUROPE DURING THE MIDDLE AGES. 3 vols. III. LITERARY HISTORY OF EUROPE. 4 vols. HANDBOOK OF FAMILIAR QUOTATIONS, chiefly from English Authors. Feap. 8vo. 58. HEBER'S (BISHOP) POETICAL WORKS. Portrait. Fcap. 8vo. 68. JAMESON'S (MRS.) MEMOIRS OF THE EARLY ITALIAN PAINTERS,--CIMABUE to BASSANO. With 50 l'ortraits. Post 8vo. 128. MADE SCIENCE IN EARNEST; or, the First Principles of SMILES' POPULAR AND INDUSTRIAL BIOGRAPHIES. Post 8vo. 6s. each. JOIN MURRAY, Albemarle Street. LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1868. CONTENTS.-N° 52. NOTES: -Christmas Tracts, 597-Old Christmas Carol, &c., 599- Bridget Cromwell, 600-Poem by Leigh Hunt, 601 Temple of Jupiter Feretrius at San Leo, Ib.- Ben Jonson's Plays, Ib.- New Edition of Archbishop Leighton's Works, 604-London in 1605 Epigrams - Strange Names-The Brothers Percy-A New Cheer - Funeral Custom, 604. QUERIES: Admire: "to Wonder at "- Plurality of Altars Apple-drains: Wasps - Carlisle-Cromwell and Milton- Copyright before Printing: Chaucer and Adam Scrivener-Differencing Coat Armour Eglantine J. Fesdon Halantow: Rumbelow - Helstone: Harpstone -A Tragedy of Lemierre, not Tremierre-Parisian Tones - Poem Quotations wanted-Martin Luther's Wedding-ring Pope's "Eastern Priests" - Serjeants "Talleyrand Perigord," 605. QUERIES WITH ANSWERS: -"Unfortunate Miss Bailey -Green Joseph - List of Graduates - The Ballot - Foxe's "Book of Martyrs" Sir Peter Warren Domesday Survey Proper Colour for Liveries, 608. REPLIES:-"Ossa inferre licebit," 610- Parish Registers, 611 The Term "Galilee," 612- Shakesperian Pronunciation-Vulcan Dancy-History of Cutlery-Confederate Flag Skelp - Caroline Matilda, Queen of Denmark Hymn: "Praise the Lord" - The Younger Pliny's Epistle page and its reverse, which is blank. It is supposed to be written by Christmas himself, and after referring to the former celebration of the feast, and the pitiful quandary he has been in any time these twelve years, he proceeds: "I was in good hope that so long a misery would have made them glad to bid a merry Christmas welcome. But, welcome or not.welcome, I am come; and at my coming (a little before day) I heard the cock crow merrily, which I took for a good omen, or preface of a most free and jovial accommodation, which rejoyced me much, for I was as hungry as a hawk and as cold as a snowball: the sable curtains of the night being drawn, I gazed to and fro to make choice of the best houses, and housekeepers, to take up my quarters amongst them. But alas! the comfort that I found was colder than the weather; indeed, I saw many stately buildings, but very little smoak from the chimnies, for most of the owners did carry their kitchins in boxes, and the best and dearest part of their roast meat in pipes." Old Christmas then gives an account of his visiting a "fair house in London, that had bin an fox-fur'd Mammonist," who receives him with alderman's, but was then possest with a grave scant courtesy, and in fact turns him out of the house, after admitting that he, together with Sir to Trajan-Threshold - Capture of Judæa, &c.-"Legends of Devon"- Modern Latinity-"Original and Miscellaneous Essays," by a Virginian -"Crom a Boo" - Dr. John Donne - Unpublished Poem of Burns Newt The Syracusan Bride-Gallic Nomenclature of the pre- Achitophel Pinchgut and M. Miser, had got on sent Day Egyptian Papyri: Moses St. Stephen Slyces-Fettle, &c., 612. Notes on Books, &c. Notes. Then follows on the same page a rude woodcut, with three figures; one apparently a Cavalier with a label issuing from his mouth, saying"Keep out, you come not here"; the next is Old Father Christmas himself, saying "O, Sir, I bring good cheere"; the next a countryman, saying "Old Christmas welcome; do not fear." Below this woodcut comes, "Imprinted at London for G. Horton, 1653." The tract itself comprises only eight pages quarto, including the above title in the world by being Timists. He then proceeds to say, that his best welcome with some kinde of country farmers was in Devonshire, although both armies had been with them; the Cavaliers having taken their horses, and the other party made bold with their oxen. Well, he appears to have found good entertainment with them; as he would still do there and further west, and he finishes thus (which has been quoted elsewhere, but shows some of the country customs of the time): — "After Dinner we arose from the boord, and sate by the fire, where the Harth was imbrodered all over with roasted Apples, piping hot, expecting a bole of Ale for a cooler, which immediately was transformed into warm Lamb-wool.* After which we discoursed merrily, without either profaneness or obscenity; some went to cards, others sung carols and pleasant songs (suitable to the times), then the poor labouring Hinds, and Maid-servants, with the plow-boys, went nimbly to dancing; the poor toyling wretches being glad of my company, because they had little or no sport at all till I came amongst them; and therefore they skipped and leaped for joy, singing a Carol to the Tune of, hey "Let's dance and sing, and make good chear, The Title 'gainst a King. "Thus at active Games, and Gambols of Hotcockles, shooing the wild Mare, and the like harmless sports, some part of the tedious night was spent, and early in the morning I took my leave of them, promising they should *Mr. Editor, did you ever drink genuine Lamb'swool? if not, I will not say, as Punch did to those about to marry, "Don't,"-but I will say, "Do." have my presence again the next 25 of December, 1653; in the interim, I left this Christian Exhortation, to all people in general: "Love one another, as my Master lov'd you, relieve the oppressed, call home Exiles, help the Fatherless, cherish the Widow, and restore to every man his due. Vale, for Twelve Moneths." 66 The next tract does not require much notice: including the title-page and the blank reverse, it contains sixteen pages quarto. The following is the title-page "The Exaltation of Christmas Pye, As it was De liver'd in a Preachment in Lime-Street, on these Words, And they did eat their PLUMB PYES and rejoiced exceed It is written in the form of a sermon, the text at the head of it being "Brewerton, chap. xix. ver. 31: And they did eat their Plumb Pyes, and rejoiced exceedingly."" There is not much wit or humour in the work, and several passages are gross and obscene. The last tract of the three comprises 31 pages 8vo, including the title-page and blank reverse. The title-page is : "The Tryal of Old Father Christmas, For Encouraging his MAJESTY'S Subjects in Idleness, Gluttony, Drunkenness, Gaming, Swearing, Rioting, and all Manner of Extravagance and Debauchery. At the Assizes held in the CITY of PROFUSION, Before The Lord Chief Justice CHURCHMAN, Mr. Justice FEAST, Mr. Justice GAMBOL, and several other his Majesty's Justices of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol Delivery. By JOSIAH KING. LONDON. Printed and sold by T. Boreman near Child's CoffeeHouse, in St. Paul's Church-yard, and Sold likewise at his Shop at the Cock on Ludgate Hill. MDCCXXXV." Father Christmas is placed at the bar, and pleads "Not Guilty," when the following jurymen are called: Lawrence Idle, Barnaby Tosspot, Peter Starve-mouse. He is challenged by Christmas as a man of no soul, and a friend of no creature living, and endeavouring to ruin not only the company of cooks, but even the very mousetrap makers, so that not even a cat would live with him. Then Patrick Pinch, Jeffery Grudge, and Henry Hoard, who are all challenged, as being related to Peter Starve-mouse: "And if they make a Feast, they club their three Farthings a-piece for a Joint of Carion at Rag-fair, or a stale Bullock's Liver, stuff'd with Garlick and Chews of Tobacco, and larded with an Ounce of rusty Bacon." The Clerk of the Court then calls Henry Plump, Martin Merryman, John Jolly, Timothy Tunbelly, Solomon Save-all-who is challenged as being one who never eats a full meal but "when sprats are Two-pence a Peck, and then he boils 'em for the sake of the Broth." Next are called William Holiday, Jonathan Open-house, Gregory Chine, Toby Turkey, and Simon Scrape, who is challenged as not having been made free of the City of Profusion, and therefore had no right to be a juryman. He was also a mumper and kennel-raker. The list is then completed with John Free-body and Robin Goodfellow. 66 The jury being sworn, and old Christmas being charged with enticing, on the 25th of December last, and several days following, divers of his Majesty's peaceable subjects to idleness, drunkenness, gluttony, gaming, cursing, swearing, rioting, and all manner of debauchery, to the great corruption of their manners, the consumption of their fortunes, and the utter ruin of their constitutions, the witnesses are called against the prisoner, and first, Sauney Scarecrow, who declares him to be a mickle spandthrift, and ane that consumes mare in ane day than aw the mairkats in Scoatland can furnish in a week, and had drawn the witness into immoralities, having first made him as drunk as a bagpiper." Then come-Francis Frugal, who calls him an extravagant old fellow; Susanna Quiet, a great lover of silence, who denounces him as a common disturber; Mary Prudence, who complains of the rude conduct to herself and her three daughters, Patience, Temperance, and Modesty (whose virtues she dilates on) by the prisoner and three of his companions, Next comes Gamester, Guzzle, and Brazen. David ap Jones, who proceeds to state that his name is Taffy ap Chones, ap Chenkin, ap Morgan, ap Rice, ap Griffith, ap Lloyd, ap Williams, ap when he is stopped by the Court. He then gives an account of an assault made by the prisoner and others on himself and three Montgomery-shire gentlemen when they were at dinner on "a tish of ret herrinks, a tish of leek porrich, and a tish of roasted cheece." Caleb Carefull complains of the prisoner as the greatest epicure living. He has known him to eat 1000 hams, 1200 dozen of fowls, 1500 chines, 2000 turkeys, 2500 sirloins of beef, 3000 gallons of plum porridge, 17,000 minced pies, with bread in proportion, with strong beer, Geneva, brandy, punch, and wine, beyond all proportion; and all this in one day. Roger Workall, Marmaduke Meanwell, Captain Twang, Crispin a Cobler, Captain Dray, Mr. Blindzeal, Captain Capons-face, and Mrs. Alltongue, all speak against the prisoner's character in different ways. The prisoner then in his defence says, that he is above 1700 years old, and never was questioned at sizes or sessions before; and proceeds at some length to speak his own merits, and comment on some of the evidence. He calls as his witnesses Simon Servant, Peter Poor, and Nicholas Neighbourhood, and afterwards Sir Peaceful Plenty, Sir Charles Cheerup, and Doctor Holiday, a divine; all of whom, as may be guessed from their names, testify highly in his favour. Two more witnesses are then called against him-Sir Musty Make-bate, and Squire Flant, of Mock-beggars' Hall, of whom the former says that the prisoner is a counterfeit, for pretending the 25th of December to be his day, when it should be about the latter end of September, or beginning of October. The jury, without retiring, find the prisoner Not guilty, which verdict is welcomed "with the loud shouts and applauses of the joyful crowd." The judge then gives his sentence and directions to Father Christmas, to temper his hospitality with pruThe tract dence, avoiding gluttony and excess. ends with these two lines: "And Christmas straight was courted far and near, To each good house to taste their plenteous chear." WM. SANDYS. OLD CHRISTMAS CAROL SUNG BY THE CHILDREN AT BECKINGTON, SOMERSET. The enclosed curious carol has been recently brought under my notice, and seems to be quite in season for the readers of "N. & Q." The friend who gave it me heard it sung in the streets the year before last. The only one like it that has appeared in "N. & Q." is in 1st S. iv. 325. The numerals, however, in that are differently appropriated, and some of them are, with our present light, perfectly unintelligible-e. g. : "Nine is nine so bright to shine Eight is the gable angels Six is the six bold traiters Five is the flamboys under the bough The only special difficulty in the carol before us is the reference to "our Lady's hen." Can this have any connection with the proverb "As nice as a nun's hen"? and if any, what? Kildare Gardens. "Sing! sing! what shall us sing? Sing all over one. One! what is one? One they do call the righteous man. Save poor souls to rest, Amen. "Sing! sing! what shall us sing? Sing all over two. Two! what is two? Two is the Jewry. One is God they do call the righteous man. Save poor souls to rest, Amen. Sing! sing! what shall us sing? Sing all over three. Three! what is three? Three the Trinity. J. PAYNE. Chorus.-Two is the Jewry. One they do call, &c. "Sing! sing! what shall us sing? Chorus.-Four is the open door, &c. Chorus.-Five is the man alive, &c. Seven! what is seven? Seven is the 'bread of leaven.'* Chorus. Six is the crucifix, &c. "Sing! sing! what shall us sing? Eight is the crooked straight. Chorus.-Seven is the bread, &c. Sing! sing! what shall us sing? Sing all over nine. Nine! what is nine? Nine is the water wine.' Chorus.-Eight is, &c. 'Sing! sing! what shall us sing? Ten is Our Lady's hen.' Chorus.-Nine is, &c. "Sing! sing! what shall us sing? Sing all over eleven. Eleven! what is eleven? Eleven is the gate of heaven. Chorus.-Ten is, &c. "Sing! sing! what shall us sing? OLD LATIN RELIGIOUS SONG (4th S. ii. 557.)— The following similar hymn is said in Hebrew by the Rabbinical Jews on the first two nights of Passover Hagadah (Echod me yode'ah), generally x who knows? x I know; x is, &c. :"x 1 is our God in heaven and earth. 2 are the tables of the covenant (Decalogue). 5 are the books of the Pentateuch. 6 are the sections of the Mishnah. 7 are the days of the week. 8 are the days before circumcision. 9 are the months of pregnancy. 10 are the commandments. 11 are the stars (Joseph's dream). 13 are the attributes of God (Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7)." This hymn is followed by an Aranean one of the purchase of a kid-eaten by the cat, who was bitten by the dog, &c., in the style of "The House that Jack built." The said hymn was supposed to be an allegory on Joseph's and Israel's tribulation in Egypt, and their subsequent redemption; borrowed from a German prototype (Delitzsch, Judisch Poesie, sect. 17, published in the seventeenth century). A Mr. Green of Kensington has allegorised the "House that Jack built" as the conflict between the Anglican Church and the Papacy. S. M. DRACH. [The subject of these communications is closely connected. They all obviously refer to some legend or story common, we believe, to the folk lore of every country, which circumstance points to some common origin. Is it the Rabbinical hymn ?-ED. “ N. & Q.”] BRIDGET CROMWELL. The tradition that Bridget Ireton-Fleetwood, née Cromwell, eldest daughter of the Protector Oliver, was buried at Stoke Newington, must be abandoned. It was based on an entry in the parish register, which states that Bridget Fleetwood was buried on the 5th of Sept. 1681, and on the fact that the family of Fleetwood was connected for a considerable period with that parish. That a Bridget Fleetwood was there buried at that date there can be no doubt; but it is equally certain that she was not the Protector's daughter and wife of the Parliamentary general. Noble and all other writers on the subject appear to have accepted that entry in the register as conclusive, without troubling themselves with further investigations. The first discovery that led me to doubt the correctness of the tradition was a marriage allegation in the Faculty Office, dated August 24th, 1669, in substance as follows: "Thomas Bendish of Gray's Inn, gentleman, aged about twenty-four, was to marry Bridget Ireton, spinster, aged about nineteen, whose parents were dead, and she living with and at the disposal of her father-in-law, Charles Fleetwood, Esq., of Stoke Newington, whose consent was alleged. They were to marry at Stoke Newington, Islington, or St. Leonard's, Shoreditch." 66 There was still a doubt whether the word parents" in the allegation might not have been a clerical error, but this doubt was subsequently removed by discovering in the Bishop of London's registry another allegation to the following effect: "Richard Lloyd of St. James's, Duke's Place, London, widower, aged about thirty, was to marry Jane Ireton of Newington, Middlesex, spinster, aged about twenty, whose parents were dead, with the consent of her father-in-law, Charles Fleetwood, Esq. They were to marry at Cheshunt, Herts, St. James's, Duke's Place, or Newington aforesaid." The date of this latter allegation was January 22, 1667-8, and it was impossible longer to doubt in the face of these two independent records in different offices and at different periods, that Bridget Cromwell was dead more than thirteen years before the date given as that of her burial at Stoke Newington. On referring to Robinson's History of Stoke Newington (edit. 1842, p. 77, note i.), I found the following quoted from Strype's edition of Stow's Survey, as the inscription on a monument in Bunhill Fields:: "Charles Fleetwood, Esq., and Dame Mary Hartopp his wife. He departed October 4, 1692, aged 74: she December 17, 1684." Robinson very decisively adds: "This was the Lord General, but must be a mistake in styling Dame Mary Hartopp his wife; she may very probably have been his son-in-law's mother." But it was not a mistake, for I subsequently found, also at the Faculty Office, another allegation to this effect : "Charles Fleetwood, Esq. of Feltwell, in the co. of Norfolk, widower, aged about fifty, was to marry Dame Mary Hartopp of Newington, Middlesex, widow, aged about forty. They were to marry at St. Ann, Blackfriars: St. Mary Colechurch, London, or Newington aforesaid." |