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gress in advance of the "Shepherds' Kalen- | henceforward, in addition to the hawker's dar" printed by Wynkyn de Worde in licence aiready required for his general

1493.

trade, every book offered by him for sale should be provided with a special stamp of authorization! Books came pouring in with a rapidity which those will best understand who have seen, under any of the arbitrary governments abroad, how the habitually tardy operations of individual enterprise are quickened by the impulse of an order from the higher powers. M. Nisard (who, indeed, maintains a studied reserve on many very

It would be a highly interesting study to trace, as has already been done for several of these countries separately, the general analogies of the "People's Books" of the various pations, eastern and western; and to determine how far each has influenced or been influenced by the other. But M. Nisard's plan, which was directed towards one specific object, did not include any such inquiry. He confines himself to the popular books of important particulars) does not state the France, and indeed chiefly to their actual condition and character as they are in circulation at the present day.

It is

exact number; but we learn from a very interesting lecture "On the Home Education of the Poor," delivered some time since at St. Martin's Hall, by Cardinal Wiseman (to whom M. Nisard had supplied this and other details), that, before the date of that lecture, no less than 7500 books had been submitted to the judgment of the Commission!

Of course, M. Nisard's analysis extends but to a small proportion of this enormous collection; bnt, as he has reduced them all to classes, and has selected out of each class the most popular and the most characteristic, his account may be regarded as a sufficiently satisfactory sample. Indeed, the number of books actually described by him, amounts to no less than 460; comprising every variety of form, from the old-fashioned 4tos of the sixteenth century, down to the almost microscopic one sous volumes in 64mo, which the necessities of modern competition have forced into circulation.

With that superior energy and decision which, whatever be its other characteristics, have marked the administration of the present Emperor of the French, a commission was issued (on the 30th November, 1852), by M. Maupas, the Minister of Police, with power to call in and examine all the books that form part of that body of cheap literature which is circulated by colportage. hardly necessary to say, that by colportage is meant the system of licensed hawking or pedling, by which, in France, as in other countries, the secluded districts are supplied with the various commodities which form the object of this primitive species of locomotive trade. Among these the little books already referred to constitute a very notable item; and their production is a special branch of the book-trade in France. The publishing for colportage is carried on not so much in The number and variety of almanacs which Paris, as in three or four great provincial jostle each other in the hawkers' book-market centres, Troyes, Chatillon-sur-Seine, Nancy, is almost beyond belief. M. Nisard enumerMontpellier and Epinal; between these vari-ates no less than one hundred,* the names ous establishments an active rivalry has been of which alone would form a study in themmaintained, marked by all the same features selves-almanacs of every variety of form; which characterise a higher book-trade,-large almanacs and small almanacs; single, piracies, injunctions, questions of copyright, and angry suits at law. In two of these great depôts at Troyes, some of the publications were supplied to customers not by number but by weight;-almanacs being actually sold by the kilogramme!

The reader may imaging the excitement and alarm produced in these primitive regions by the first injunction issued under the Imperial Commission, requiring that all books designed for sale through the colportage should be forthwith sent in for examination; accompanied by a notification that,

double, and triple almanacs-almanacs, again, of every political hue, as the National, Imperial, Constitutional, Republican, and Red; and almanacs of no political hue at all, as M. Pagnerre's "National, qui ne contient rien de politique ; " almanacs for every class and profession; as pocket almanacs and fireside almanacs; almanacs for town, and almanacs for country; shepherds' almanacs, soldiers'

*Of these, fully nine-tenths are issued from the provincial publishing establishments at Troyes, Epinal, Nancy, Chatillon-sur-Seine-only ten be ing published in Paris.

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almanacs, traders' almanacs, farmers' alma- | pretations of dreams, anecdotes, tales, culinacs, lovers' almanacs ;-almanacs of the nary recipes, medical prescriptions,-odds most opposite character; as the "Anabap- and ends, in a word, of the most motley tiste" and the "St. Vincent de Paul," the character,"Almanach du Crime," and the "Almanach des Bons Conseils; " the "Bon Ermite," and the "Bon Vivant!"

souche." It is found in a multitude of various forms, the "Petit Liégeois," the "Double

"Beginning with the laws that keep The radiant planets in their courses; And ending with some precept deep For dressing eels or shoeing horses." Among the locally designated almanacs, the "Liégeois" is the most ancient, as it is which chiefly interests us, as illustrating the The portion of their contents, however, also the basis of most of the others. Many, moral and intellectual condition of the pubindeed, of those enumerated by M. Nisard lic among under very different designations, are in phetical or astrological department. How which they circulate, is the proreality but varieties of the "Almanach-phetical or astrological department. How far the faith of the purchasers responds to the pretensions of the prophet, it is, of course, difficult to pronounce. Many readers, no doubt, regard the predictions simply in doubt, too, that a large amount of credit stil the light of a jest, but there can be no clings to them among the rural population. tion of these prophetical almanacs far exceeds M. Nisard reports, not only that the circulathat of the non-prophetical class, but also site principle, and designed to counteract that one publication conducted on the oppotheir evil tendency and to discredit their absurd pretensions, has proved a complete failure. As regards the views of the com

Liégeois," ""Très Double Liégeois," "Véritable Double Liégois," "Triple Liégeois," and "Véritable Triple Liégois." Of these the first, or "Petit Liégeois," is by far the most extensively circulated. The earliest edition of which any trace can be found, is that of 1636, and the name of its compiler, the venerable Matthew Laensberg (who may be regarded as the Moore of French almanacs), still figures upon the title-page of each successive yearly issue. The "Liégeois" almanacs, however variously designated, are all 24mo; the variety of name, double, triple, &c., arising solely from the number of their pilers themselves, several of them, it is true, pages. In part, the contents of all are, of put forward their predictions in a light and playful spirit, and, indeed, without the least course, the same; consisting of the ordinary topics which, in all countries, constitute the attempt to conceal their own consciousness essentials of an almanac,-as the calendar, of the absurdity. But the majority of them, the church festivals, solar and lunar tables, they desire to be seriously understood and on the other hand, make it equally plain that lists of fairs and markets, public offices, &c. But, besides this, they all contain, according lated of Nostradamus (the great prophet of implicitly believed. It is still seriously reto their various dimensions, a greater or less amount of miscellaneous information,-as-foretold, long before either event, the death one class, of the almanacs) that he distinctly trological predictions, weather table, horoscopes, agricultural precepts, riddles, inter- tholomew, although the latter did not occur of Henry II. and the massacre of St. Bar + M. Nisard, not finding, among the Liégeois till six years after the death of the prophet. almanacs submitted to the Commission, nor in the collections which he had the opportunity of ex- The well-known anecdote of Madame Du amining, any edition printed at Liége itself, ex-barry's downfall is still appealed to in conpresses an opinion (which he afterwards modifies) that this almanac never was printed at Liége at firmation of the veracity of Matthew Laens all. This, if true, would be not the least singular berg, the Liegeois oracle. circumstance in the history of these curious little serials. But it is not true. It had been regularly printed at Liége for a long series of years, by a family named Bourguignon, the widow of one of whom sold the proprietorship of it to the present proprietor, P. J. Collardin; and the edition now before us (1848) contains a formal declaration, signed by Vre. C. Bourguignon, attesting that she has transferred to him the copyright, together with "the precious documents which secure to this publication the success that it has constantly enjoyed since its first appearance at the commencement of the 17th century."

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One of the most curious circumstances of

In the "Liégeois" for 1774, under the predictions for April, one was to the effect that "une dame des plus favorisées jouera son dernier rôle." Mme. Dubarry did her best to have the almanac suppressed, and frequently expressed an uneasy wish that ce vilain mois d'avril" was past. In the beginning of May Louis XV. took the small por and died after a very brief illness; and the conse quent ruin of the "Dame Favorisée's" fortunes established those of the Liégeois oracle more, firmly than ever.

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these predictions is, that, by a strange fiction,
they are all ascribed to one of three mys-
terious individuals, whom popular tradition
believes to

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Another very curious branch of information assiduously cultivated in the more ancient of these publications, is the science of astrological influences, or of the control which the "Have learned the art which none may name, planets exercise over the destinies of man, In Padua, far beyond the sea; and the means by which their evil tendencies Michael Nostradamus, Matthew Laensberg, may be counteracted, and their salutary acand Joseph Moult; and even now the pre- tion usefully turned to account. With this dictions of each successive year profess to be view a set of very singular diagrams (one of printed from certain "precious documents" which bears a striking resemblance to the which were left behind by these worthies, and picture of Gulliver tied down by the Lillipuwhich are still declared to be in the posses- tians) has been devised, representing by lines sion of the fortunate almanac-makers. Now, and figures the various planetary influences of these three reputed prophets, although the which rule the several organs of the human first, Nostradamus, is a historical character, frame. Thus Aries rules the head and face, the existence of the second, Laensberg, is Taurus the throat and neck, Gemini the arms much more than problematical, and the third, and hands, and so on for the rest. The obMoult, is certainly a myth. Nostradamus ject of these strange diagrams, therefore, is was a crazy physician of St. Rémi, who pub- to point out at a glance," the several parts of lished, during his lifetime, a collection of the human frame with which the planets are wild and fantastic "Predictions" which se- respectively related and over which they rule, cured for him a brilliant reception in the in order to guard us against touching with superstitious court of Catherine de Medici, the iron, or opening with the lance, the veins and have been the foundation of the very which proceed therefrom, at a time when the questionable celebrity which he has since en- planets severally related to these parts may joyed. Laensberg's admirers describe him be in conjunction with another malignant learned canon of St. Bartholomew's at planet, and not rather waiting for a good Liége, about the beginning of the seventeenth planet which may serve to countervail its century;" but, unluckily for the pretension, malignity." (Vol. i. p. 128.) no such name is found in the list of canons of St. Bartholomew, either then or at any other period. And (most unhappy fate of all) the redoubted "Joseph Moult," when his claims are tried by the test of history, dwindles down, from a mighty enchanter,— "Who, when in Salamanca's cave,

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The almanac which deals most largely in this branch of science is the lineal descendant of the earliest known representative of this species of literature-the "Shepherds" Almanac ; one edition of which, with the date 1493, is still preserved, but which is believed to have been in existence long before Him listed his magic wand to wave, that year. The "Shepherds' Almanac The bells would ring in Notre Dame,”will be best imagined if the reader picinto an obsolete French adverb! An ignorant ture to himself an almanac which was copyist transformed the original title of the originally designed for a non-reading pubalmanac: "Prophéties de Thomas 1. (Illyric) lic, and in which the simple and primitive MOULT utiles" ("the very useful Prophecies information is mainly conveyed, not by words of Thomas Illyricus," from which, originally or letters, but by symbols and pictorial repin Italian, the so-called "Moult" is a trans-resentations. The symbols are in part arbilation), into the "Prophéties de THOMAS trary, but they are generally derived from JOSEPH MOULT, utiles," ("the useful Prophesome resemblance to the object which they cies of Thomas Joseph MOULT!")† are meant to represent. The days of the Thus the "Liégeois," year after year, pro-month are represented by the symbol or the fesses in its title-page to be "supporté pour le méridiende Liége par Matthieu Laensberg, portrait of the Saint of the day; and the inmathématicien" (though he is said to have lived formation regarding each day is communicated in the beginning of the 17th century); and the deed of transfer of the copyright of this almanac (which when we recollect that the learned and sagacious is printed on the reverse title) includes the "docu- Dr. Dibdin him of transforms the obsolete adverb ments précieux qui assurent à cet annuaire le "jouxte" (from he Latin juxta) into the name of succès dont il a constamment joui," and which a printer, and cautions his readers against the ediprofess to be the MSS. of Matthew Laensberg! tion of Bassompierre's Mémoires by Jouxte!" (Library Companion, p. 513.)

† We need hardly wonder at this transformation,

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in the form of some natural or conventional of the two. The principal books in this deemblem. Thus the phases of the moon are in- partment circulated by the colporteurs, are dicated by circles, crescents, reversed crescents, the "Grand Grimoire ; the Enchiridion oblique crescents, &c. Sundays are marked Leonis Papæ ; "the "Triangle des Pactes; " "the "Seby a cross; working-days by a triangle. the "Secrets du Grand Albert; Days favorable for the operation of bleeding crets du Petit Albert;" and the "Monde are registered by a star; days favorable for Enchante." cupping, by a rude cupping-glass; days when we may safely take pills, by a circle with diameters intersecting at right angles. If the hair may be cut, you see a pair of scissors;.if the nails may be pared, a hand. Safe days for operating on the eyes are shown by an eye; days for agricultural labor, by a hoe; for cutting trees, by a hatchet; and so on for the other prescriptions or rep⚫esentations.

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The name Grimoire seems to be a corrup tion of the title of the analogous Italian collection called Rimario; a collection of rhymes (rime) or spells, from which it is in great part compiled. M. Nisard gives a full analysis of the contents of this Grimoire. Perhaps it will be enough for our purpose to extract an entry from what we may call the "Red Book" of the world below, containing an enumeration of the Grand Staff of This singular calendar appears to be no the Satanic army. From this we learn that longer published separately; but it is still it consists of three superior spirits,-Empe preserved as a part of some of the other ror Lucifer, Prince Belzebub, and Grand Almanacs. The "Messagers Boiteux" re- Duke Astaroth; together with five inferior print it regularly, year after year. M. Ni- officials,-Lucifuge, prime minister; Satanasard says that the Liégeois have begun to chia, general-in-chief; Fleuretty, lieutenantomit it; but this can only be true of the general; Sargatanus, brigadier; and Neb Liégeois published in France. The "Lié-iros, field-marshal. We shall not trouble the geois "almanacs of Liege, now before us, all reproduce at full length, not only this part of the ancient Shepherds' Almanac, but all the other characteristics of that most primitive publication.

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Turning to M. Nisard's second head, sciences and Arts, under which one naturally expects to find information as to the state of scientific knowledge among the patrons of the littérature du colportage, it is amusing to find that the "sciences" to which M. Nisard refers are those of magic, astrology, divination, chiromancy, oneiromancy, and the minor departments of supernatural study, such as the oracle, the art of cup-tossing, &c., nor is there any branch of this entire literature which enjoys a wider and more steady popularity.

Magic is divided into two kinds, Magie Blanche and Magie Noire. M. Nisard does not explain the distinction; but we trust we shall not trespass on the privileges of the initiated, if we venture a conjecture that by the former is meant the science founded the hidden, but yet lawful use of the secrets of nature, whereas the latter necessarily involves an unlawful commerce with the world below. The latter science, we regret to say, is by far the more popular

upon

Lieu

reader with the names of eighteen subordi-
nates who are under the command of those
already enumerated; but, as it may interest
him to know the special departments in-
trusted to each of the great officers, we shall
briefly say, that the Prime Minister Lucifuge
has power over the wealth and treasures of
the world; General Satanachia is the special
ruler of the fair sex, old and
tenant-General Fleuretty "has power to do
whatever one wishes at night, and can cause
hail to fall wherever he pleases;" Briga
dier Sargatanas "can render men invisible,
can transport them to distant places, open
locks, &c.; " and Marshall Nebiros" can cause
evil to befal any one he pleases, enable us to
find the Hand of Glory, predict future events,
and teach us all secrets, whether of the min-
eral, the vegetable, or the animal world."
(Vol. i. p. 165.) It is plain that, under the
patronage of one or other of these great
powers, almost every conceivable magical
operation may be successfully conducted.
The manner of conducting each successfully
is detailed in other smaller publications,
which describe the process to be followed in
executing the several spells; the most pow
erful of which are known under the name of
the "Red Dragon," the "Black Hen," the

"Write upon two separate billets in your own blood as follows: on the first, Ranuc, Malior; on the second, Hora consummatum est, in te confedo (sic.) Satana. You must swallow one of these, and wear the other round your neck."

"Hand of Glory," and the " Thundering | être dur, "in order to become hard." We Wand." Should the reader feel disposed to have seen it suggested that dur means try his hand upon any one of these, or upon "bullet-proof." At all events here it is :— any one of the varieties of compacts enumerated in the "Triangle des Pactes,"* he will find in M. Nisard's book full details not alone of the marvellous virtues which they possess, but of the whole form to be observed in order to avoid danger and to insure success; the form of compact to be entered into; the terms on which the spirit is to be compelled to the will of the operator; the devises by which his malignant schemes may be evaded; and the incantation by which he may be safely "laid," when he shall have fulfilled the operator's behests.

Another popular book with the colportage is the "Monde Enchanté," chiefly compiled from Bekker's well-known but prolix treatise on Demonology, or rather from the French translation of it. The "Monde Enchanté," although but a summary of the subject, yet enters into details which no doubt will asThe "Grand Grimoire," the "Triangle des tonish the reader unlearned in supernatural Pactes," and the “Véritable Dragon Rouge," lore. It reviews minutely all the different are all avowedly systems of Black or unlaw-classes of demons; discriminates their charful magic. On the contrary, the "Enchiri- acters, functions, and habits; and describes dion Leonis (III.) Papæ," and the "Manual particularly their great festival, well known of Pope Honorius" (the former translated by the name of the Witches' Sabbath; and from the Latin,) two little volumes absurdly although the author confesses that the numattributed to the Popes whose names they ber of devils is so large as to render it at bear, are a singular mixture of magic and first sight impossible to be accurately ascerreligion; consisting, for the most part, of tained, yet he assures us that "a man who the strangest of travesties of church prayers had specially applied himself to the inquiand other sacred formularies. The formula-ry, at last succeeded in determining it with ries thus travestied are in the main a mere precision; " having discovered their number jargon of unmeaning words; but they are with as perfect accuracy as though he had commended as infallible talismans against all counted them over one by one, and passed imaginable evils. One of them, for instance, them in review before him. "The writer," consists of a long string of so-called names he adds, "assures us that he has ascertained (many of them utter nonsense) of our Lord; their number to be (errors excepted) seven another, of similar names of the Blessed million, four hundred and four thousand, Virgin, the wearing of which is declared to nine hundred and twenty-six ! " be an infallible safeguard for the bearer, whether by sea or land. Then come charms against various evils. Thus against the falling sickness: "Whisper into the ear of the patient these words,-Gaspar fert myrrham, thus Melchoir, Balthasar aurum; and he will rise up instantly. In order to cure him radically, you must get three iron nails, the length of his little finger. Bury them deeply in the place of his first fall, and over each of them name the patient's name."

A set-off against all these demoralizing extravagancies was attempted in a caricature of their absurdity, entitled "Histoire de M. Oufle, ou l'Incrédulité et la Mécérance aux sortiléges aux diables, magiciens, &c,, convaincue par éles crits des anciens cabalistes et démonographes." But M. Nisard is obliged to confess, that it is less popular and less extensively circulated than the "Petit Albert," the "Grand Grimoire," and its other rivals of "the dusty art."

M. Nisard professes himself unable to di- The jest-books, books of anecdotes, and vine what is the object of a charm which is facetiæ of the colportage, do not appear to prescribed (vol. i. p. 189.) to be used pour be specially characteristic. They seem closeThis work deserves to be more popular than ly to resemble our own collections of the any of its competitors, as it comes into the field same character. The great heroes of these armed with a solemn authentication, confirmed by anecdotes, though in very different ways, are the autograph of "Lucifuge Rofocale himself." See this curious autograph in fac-simile, vol. 1. p. the Duc de Roquelaure, a kind of French

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