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diff --git a/39284.txt b/39284.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eba554b --- /dev/null +++ b/39284.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9951 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature, by +Charles W. Bardsley + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature + +Author: Charles W. Bardsley + +Release Date: March 28, 2012 [EBook #39284] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CURIOSITIES OF PURITAN NOMENCLATURE *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive.) + + + + + + + + + +CURIOSITIES OF PURITAN NOMENCLATURE + + + + +BY THE SAME AUTHOR. + +_Crown 8vo, cloth extra, 7s. 6d._ + +OUR ENGLISH SURNAMES: their Sources and Significations. + +"Mr. Bardsley has faithfully consulted the original mediaeval documents and +works from which the origin and development of surnames can alone be +satisfactorily traced. He has furnished a valuable contribution to the +literature of surnames, and we hope to hear more of him in this +field."--_Times._ + +_CHATTO AND WINDUS, PICCADILLY, W._ + + + + + CURIOSITIES OF + PURITAN NOMENCLATURE + + + BY CHARLES W. BARDSLEY + + AUTHOR OF "ENGLISH SURNAMES, THEIR SOURCES AND SIGNIFICATIONS" + + + "O my lord, + The times and titles now are alter'd strangely" + KING HENRY VIII. + + + London + CHATTO AND WINDUS, PICCADILLY + 1880 + + [_The right of translation is reserved_] + + + + +_Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Limited, London and Beccles._ + + + + +DEDICATED TO HIS FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE HARLEIAN SOCIETY. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +I will not be so ill-natured as to quote the names of all the writers who +have denied the existence of Puritan eccentricities at the font. One, at +least, ought to have known better, for he has edited more books of the +Puritan epoch than any other man in England. The mistake of all is that, +misled perhaps by Walter Scott and Macaulay, they have looked solely to +the Commonwealth period. The custom was then in its decay. + +I have to thank several clergymen for giving me extracts from the +registers and records under their care. A stranger to them, I felt some +diffidence in making my requests. In every case the assistance I asked for +was readily extended. These gentlemen are the Rev. W. Sparrow Simpson, St. +Matthew, Friday Street, London; the Rev. W. Wodehouse, Elham, Canterbury; +the Rev. J. B. Waytes, Markington, Yorks.; the Rev. William Tebbs, +Caterham Valley; the Rev. Canon Howell, Drayton, Norwich; the Rev. J. O. +Lord, Northiam, Staplehurst; and the Rev. G. E. Haviland, Warbleton, +Sussex. The last-named gentleman copied no less than 120 names, all of +Puritan origin, from the Warbleton records. I beg to thank him most +warmly, and to congratulate him on possessing the most remarkable register +of its kind in England. Certain circumstances led me to suspect that +Warbleton was a kind of head-quarters of these eccentricities; I wrote to +the rector, and we soon found that we had "struck ile." That Mr. Heley, +the Puritan incumbent, should have baptized his own children by such names +as Fear-not and Much-mercy, was not strange, but that he should have +persuaded the majority of his parishioners to follow his example proves +wonderful personal influence. + +Amongst the laity, I owe gratitude to Mr. Chaloner Smith, Richmond, +Surrey; Mr. R. R. Lloyd, St. Albans; Mr. J. E. Bailey, F.S.A., Manchester; +Mr. J. L. Beardsley, Cleveland, U.S.A.; Mr. Tarbutts, Cranbrook, Kent; and +Mr. Speed, Ulverston. + +Of publications, I must needs mention _Notes and Queries_, a +treasure-house to all antiquaries; the Sussex Archaeological Society's +works, and the _Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Journal_. The +"Wappentagium de Strafford" of the latter is the best document yet +published for students of nomenclature. Out of it alone a complete history +of English surnames and baptismal names might be written. Though inscribed +with clerkly formality, it contained more _pet forms_ than any other +record I have yet seen; and this alone must stamp it as a most important +document. The Harleian Society, by publishing church registers, have set a +good example, and I have made much use of those that have been issued. +They contain few instances of Puritan extravagance, but that is owing to +the fact that no leading Puritan was minister of any of the three churches +whose records they have so far printed. I sincerely hope the list of +subscribers to this society may become enlarged. + +For the rest--the result of twelve years' research--I am alone +responsible. Heavy clerical responsibilities have often been lightened by +a holiday spent among the yellow parchments of churches in town and +country, from north to south of England. As it is possible I have seen as +many registers as any other man in the country, I will add one +statement--a very serious one: there are thousands of entries, at this +moment faintly legible, which in another generation will be wholly +illegible. What is to be done? + +Should this little work meet the eye of any of the clergy in Sussex, Kent, +and, I may add, Surrey, I would like to state that if they will search the +baptismal records of the churches under their charge, say from 1580 to +1620, and furnish me with the result, I shall be very much obliged. + + VICARAGE, ULVERSTON, + _March, 1880_. + + + + +NOTE. + +W. D. S. in the Prologue = "Wappentagium de Strafford." + +C. S. P. = "Calendar of State Papers." + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PROLOGUE. + + THE PET-NAME EPOCH IN ENGLAND. + + PAGE + + I. THE PAUCITY OF NAMES AFTER THE CONQUEST 1 + + II. PET FORMS 9 + (_a._) Kin 9 + (_b._) Cock 13 + (_c._) On or In 17 + (_d._) Ot or Et 21 + (_e._) Double Terminatives. 30 + + III. SCRIPTURE NAMES ALREADY IN USE AT THE REFORMATION 34 + (_a._) Mystery Names 34 + (_b._) Crusade Names 35 + (_c._) The Saints' Calendar 36 + (_d._) Festival Names 36 + + + CHAPTER I. + + THE HEBREW INVASION. + + I. THE MARCH OF THE ARMY 38 + + II. POPULARITY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT 59 + + III. OBJECTIONABLE SCRIPTURE NAMES 70 + + IV. LOSSES 76 + (_a._) The Destruction of Pet Forms 76 + (_b._) The Decrease of Nick Forms 82 + (_c._) The Decay of Saint and Festival Names 92 + (_d._) The Last of some Old Favourites 99 + + V. THE GENERAL CONFUSION 109 + + + CHAPTER II. + + PURITAN ECCENTRICITIES. + + I. INTRODUCTORY 117 + + II. ORIGINATED BY THE PRESBYTERIAN CLERGY 121 + + III. CURIOUS NAMES NOT PURITAN 128 + + IV. INSTANCES 134 + (_a._) Latin Names 134 + (_b._) Grace Names 138 + (_c._) Exhortatory Names 155 + (_d._) Accidents of Birth 166 + (_e._) General 176 + + V. A SCOFFING WORLD 179 + (_a._) The Playwrights 182 + (_b._) The Sussex Jury 191 + (_c._) Royalists with Puritan Names 194 + + VI. BUNYAN'S DEBT TO THE PURITANS 198 + + VII. THE INFLUENCE OF PURITANISM ON AMERICAN NOMENCLATURE 201 + + + EPILOGUE. + + DOUBLE CHRISTIAN NAMES: THEIR RISE AND PROGRESS. + + I. ROYAL DOUBLE NAMES 213 + + II. CONJOINED NAMES 222 + + III. HYPHENED NAMES 224 + + IV. THE DECAY OF SINGLE PATRONYMICS IN BAPTISM 228 + + V. THE INFLUENCE OF FOUNDLING NAMES UPON DOUBLE BAPTISMAL + NAMES 233 + + + INDEX 239 + + + + +CURIOSITIES OF PURITAN NOMENCLATURE. + + + + +PROLOGUE. + +THE PET-NAME EPOCH IN ENGLAND. + + "One grows too fat, another too lean: modest Matilda, pretty pleasing + Peg, sweet-singing Susan, mincing merry Moll, dainty dancing Doll, + neat Nancy, jolly Joan, nimble Nell, kissing Kate, bouncing Bess with + black eyes, fair Phillis with fine white hands, fiddling Frank, tall + Tib, slender Sib, will quickly lose their grace, grow fulsome, stale, + sad, heavy, dull, sour, and all at last out of fashion."--_Anatomy of + Melancholy._ + + "Be the jacks fair within, the jills fair without, the carpets laid, + and everything in order?"--_The Taming of the Shrew._ + + +I. THE PAUCITY OF NAMES AFTER THE CONQUEST. + +There were no Scripture names in England when the Conqueror took +possession; even in Normandy they had appeared but a generation or two +before William came over. If any are found in the old English period, we +may feel assured they were ecclesiastic titles, adopted at ordination. +Greek and Latin saints were equally unnoticed. + +It is hard to believe the statement I have made. Before many generations +had passed, Bartholomew, Simon, Peter, Philip, Thomas, Nicholas, John, and +Elias, had engrossed a third of the male population; yet Domesday Book has +no Philip, no Thomas, only one Nicholas, and but a sprinkling of Johns. It +was not long before Jack and Jill took the place of Godric and Godgivu as +representative of the English sexes, yet Jack was from the Bible, and Jill +from the saintly Calendar. + +Without entering into a deep discussion, we may say that the great mass of +the old English names had gone down before the year 1200 had been reached. +Those that survived only held on for bare existence. From the moment of +William's advent, the names of the Norman began to prevail. He brought in +Bible names, Saint names, and his own Teutonic names. The old English +names bowed to them, and disappeared. + +A curious result followed. From the year 1150 to 1550, four hundred years +in round numbers, there was a very much smaller dictionary of English +personal names than there had been for four hundred years before, and than +there has been in the four hundred years since. The Norman list was +really a small one, and yet it took possession of the whole of England. + +A consequence of this was the Pet-name Epoch. In every community of one +hundred Englishmen about the year 1300, there would be an average of +twenty Johns and fifteen Williams; then would follow Thomas, Bartholomew, +Nicholas, Philip, Simon, Peter, and Isaac from the Scriptures, and +Richard, Robert, Walter, Henry, Guy, Roger, and Baldwin from the Teutonic +list. Of female names, Matilda, Isabella, and Emma were first favourites, +and Cecilia, Catharine, Margaret, and Gillian came closely upon their +heels. Behind these, again, followed a fairly familiar number of names of +either sex, some from the Teuton, some from the Hebrew, some from the +Greek and Latin Church, but, when all told, not a large category. + +It was, of course, impossible for Englishmen and Englishwomen to maintain +their individuality on these terms. Various methods to secure a +personality arose. The surname was adopted, and there were John Atte-wood, +John the Wheelwright, John the Bigg, and John Richard's son, in every +community. Among the middle and lower classes these did not become +_hereditary_ till so late as 1450 or 1500.[1] This was not enough, for in +common parlance it was not likely the full name would be used. Besides, +there might be two, or even three, Johns in the same family. So late as +March, 1545, the will of John Parnell de Gyrton runs: + + "Alice, my wife, and Old John, my son, to occupy my farm together, + till Olde John marries; Young John, my son, shall have Brenlay's land, + plowed and sowed at Old John's cost." + +The register of Raby, Leicestershire, has this entry: + + "1559. Item: 29th day of August was John, and John Picke, the children + of Xtopher and Anne, baptized. + + "Item: the 31st of August the same John and John were buried." + +Mr. Burns, who quotes these instances in his "History of Parish +Registers," adds that at this same time "one John Barker had three sons +named John Barker, and two daughters named Margaret Barker."[2] + +If the same family had but one name for the household, we may imagine the +difficulty when this one name was also popular throughout the village. The +difficulty was naturally solved by, _firstly_, the adoption of _nick_ +forms; _secondly_, the addition of _pet_ desinences. Thus Emma became by +the one practice simple _Emm_, by the other _Emmott_; and any number of +boys in a small community might be entered in a register as Bartholomew, +and yet preserve their individuality in work-a-day life by bearing such +names as Bat, Bate, Batty, Bartle, Bartelot, Batcock, Batkin, and Tolly, +or Tholy. In a word, these several forms of Bartholomew were treated as so +many separate proper names. + +No one would think of describing Wat Tyler's--we should now say Walter +Tyler's--insurrection as Gowen does: + + "_Watte_ vocat, cui _Thoma_ venit, neque _Symme_ retardat, + _Bat_--que _Gibbe_ simul, _Hykke_ venire subent: + _Colle_ furit, quem _Bobbe_ juvat, nocumenta parantes, + Cum quibus, ad damnum _Wille_ coire volat-- + _Crigge_ rapit, dum _Davie_ strepit, comes est quibus _Hobbe_, + _Larkin_ et in medio non minor esse putat: + _Hudde_ ferit, quem _Judde_ terit, dum _Tibbe_ juvatur + _Jacke_ domosque viros vellit, en ense necat." + +These names, taken in order, are Walter, Thomas, Simon, Bartholomew, +Gilbert, Isaac, Nicholas, Robert, William, Gregory, David, Robert (2), +Lawrence, Hugh, Jordan (or George), Theobald, and John. + +Another instance will be evidence enough. The author of "Piers Plowman" +says-- + + "Then goeth Glutton in, and grete other after, + _Cesse_, the sonteresse, sat on the bench: + _Watte_, the warner, and his wife bothe: + _Tymme_, the tynkere, and twayne of his prentices: + _Hikke_, the hackney man, and _Hugh_, the pedlere, + _Clarice_, of Cokkeslane, and the clerke of the churche: + _Dawe_, the dykere, and a dozen othere." + +Taken in their order, these nick forms represent Cecilia, Walter, Timothy, +Isaac, Clarice, and David. It will be seen at a glance that such +appellatives are rare, by comparison, in the present day. Tricks of this +kind were not to be played with Bible names at the Reformation, and the +new names from that time were pronounced, with such exceptions as will be +detailed hereafter, in their fulness. + +To speak of William and John is to speak of a race and rivalry 800 years +old. In Domesday there were 68 Williams, 48 Roberts, 28 Walters, to 10 +Johns. Robert Montensis asserts that in 1173, at a court feast of Henry +II., Sir William St. John and Sir William Fitz-Hamon bade none but those +who bore the name of William to appear. There were present 120 Williams, +all knights. In Edward I.'s reign John came forward. In a Wiltshire +document containing 588 names, 92 are William, 88 John, 55 Richard, 48 +Robert, 23 Roger, Geoffrey, Ralph, and Peter 16. A century later John was +first. In 1347, out of 133 common councilmen for London, first convened, +35 were John, 17 William, 15 Thomas, (St. Thomas of Canterbury was now an +institution), 10 Richard, 8 Henry, 8 Robert. In 1385 the Guild of St. +George at Norwich contained 377 names. Of these, John engrossed no less +than 128, William 47, Thomas 41. The Reformation and the Puritan +Commonwealth for a time darkened the fortunes of John and William, but the +Protestant accession befriended the latter, and now, as 800 years ago, +William is first and John second. + +But when we come to realize that nearly one-third of Englishmen were known +either by the name of William or John about the year 1300, it will be seen +that the _pet name_ and _nick form_ were no freak, but a necessity. We +dare not attempt a category, but the surnames of to-day tell us much. Will +was quite a distinct youth from Willot, Willot from Wilmot, Wilmot from +Wilkin, and Wilkin from Wilcock. There might be half a dozen Johns about +the farmstead, but it mattered little so long as one was called Jack, +another Jenning, a third Jenkin, a fourth Jackcock (now Jacox as a +surname), a fifth Brownjohn, and a sixth Micklejohn, or Littlejohn, or +Properjohn (_i.e._ well built or handsome). + +The _nick_ forms are still familiar in many instances, though almost +entirely confined to such names as have descended from that day to the +present. We still talk of Bob, and Tom, and Dick, and Jack. The +introduction of Bible names at the Reformation did them much harm. But the +Reformation, and the English Bible combined, utterly overwhelmed the _pet_ +desinences, and they succumbed. Emmot and Hamlet lived till the close of +the seventeenth century, but only because they had ceased to be looked +upon as altered forms of old favourite names, and were entered in vestry +books on their own account as orthodox proper names. + + +II. PET FORMS. + +These pet desinences were of four kinds. + + +(_a_) _Kin._ + +The primary sense of _kin_ seems to have been relationship: from thence +family, or offspring. The phrases "from generation to generation," or +"from father to son," in "Cursor Mundi" find a briefer expression: + + "This writte was gett fra kin to kin, + That best it cuth to haf in min." + +The next meaning acquired by _kin_ was child, or "young one." We still +speak in a diminutive sense of a manikin, kilderkin, pipkin, lambkin, +jerkin, minikin (little minion), or doitkin. Appended to baptismal names +it became very familiar. "A litul soth Sermun" says-- + + "Nor those prude yongemen + That loveth Malekyn, + And those prude maydenes + That loveth Janekyn: + + * * * + + Masses and matins + Ne kepeth they nouht, + For Wilekyn and Watekyn + Be in their thouht." + +Unquestionably the incomers from Brabant and Flanders, whether as +troopers or artisans, gave a great impulse to the desinence. They tacked +it on to everything: + + "_Rutterkin_ can speke no Englyssh, + His tongue runneth all on buttyred fyssh, + Besmeared with grece abowte his dysshe + Like a rutter hoyda." + +They brought in Hankin, and Han-cock, from Johannes; not to say Baudkin, +or Bodkin, from Baldwin. _Baudechon le Bocher_ in the Hundred Rolls, and +_Simmerquin Waller_, lieutenant of the Castle of Harcourt in "Wars of the +English in France," look delightfully Flemish. + +Hankin is found late: + + "Thus for her love and loss poor Hankin dies, + His amorous soul down flies." + "Musarum Deliciae," 1655. + +To furnish a list of English names ending in _kin_ would be impossible. +The great favourites were Hopkin (Robert),[3] Lampkin and Lambkin +(Lambert), Larkin (Lawrence), Tonkin (Antony), Dickin, Stepkin +(Stephen),[4] Dawkin (David), Adkin,[5] now Atkin (Adam, not Arthur), +Jeffkin (Jeffrey), Pipkin and Potkin (Philip), Simkin, Tipkin (Theobald), +Tomkin, Wilkin, Watkin (Walter), Jenkin, Silkin (Sybil),[6] Malkin (Mary), +Perkin (Peter), Hankin (Hans), and Halkin or Hawkin (Henry). Pashkin or +Paskin reminds us of Pask or Pash, the old baptismal name for children +born at Easter. Judkin (now as a surname also Juckin) was the +representative of Judd, that is, Jordan. George afterwards usurped the +place. All these names would be entered in their orthodox baptismal style +in all formal records. But here and there we get free and easy entries, as +for instance: + + "Agnes Hobkin-wyf, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + + "Henry, son of Halekyn, for 17-1/2 acres of land."--"De Lacy + Inquisition," 1311. + + "Emma Watkyn-doghter, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + + "Thi beste cote, Hankyn, + Hath manye moles and spottes, + It moste ben y-wasshe." + "Piers Plowman." + +_Malkin_ was one of the few English female names with this appendage. Some +relics of this form of Mary still remain. Malkin in Shakespeare is the +coarse scullery wench: + + "The kitchen malkin pins + Her richest lockram 'bout her reechy neck, + Clambering the walls to eye him." + "Coriolanus," Act ii. sc. 1. + +While the author of the "Anatomy of Melancholy" is still more unkind, for +he says-- + + "A filthy knave, a deformed quean, a crooked carcass, a maukin, a + witch, a rotten post, a hedge-stake may be so set out and tricked up, + that it shall make a fair show, as much enamour as the rest."--Part + iii. sect. 2, mem. 2, sub-sect. 3. + +From a drab Malkin became a scarecrow. Hence Chaucer talks of +"malkin-trash." As if this were not enough, malkin became the baker's +clout to clean ovens with. Thus, as Jack took the name of the implements +Jack used, as in boot-jack, so by easy transitions Malkin. The last hit +was when Grimalkin (that is, grey-malkin) came to be the cant term for an +old worn-out quean cat. Hence the witch's name in "Macbeth." + +It will be seen at a glance why Malkin is the only name of this class that +has no place among our surnames.[7] She had lost character. I have +suggested, in "English Surnames," that Makin, Meakin, and Makinson owe +their origin to either Mary or Maud. I would retract that supposition. +There can be little doubt these are patronymics of Matthew, just as is +Maycock or Meacock. Maykinus Lappyng occurs in "Materials for a History of +Henry VII.," and the Maykina Parmunter of the Hundred Rolls is probably +but a feminine form. The masculine name was often turned into a feminine, +but I have never seen an instance of the reverse order. + +Terminations in _kin_ were slightly going down in popular estimation, when +the Hebrew invasion made a clean sweep of them. They found shelter in +Wales, however, and our directories preserve in their list of surnames +their memorial for ever.[8] + + +(_b_) _Cock._ + +The term "cock" implied _pertness_: especially the pertness of lusty and +swaggering youth. To cock up the eye, or the hat, or the tail, a haycock +in a field, a cock-robin in the wood, and a cock-horse in the nursery, all +had the same relationship of meaning--brisk action, pert +demonstrativeness. The barn-door cockerel was not more cockapert than the +boy in the scullery that opened upon the yard where both strutted. Hence +any lusty lad was "Cock," while such fuller titles as Jeff-cock, or +Sim-cock, or Bat-cock gave him a preciser individuality. The story of +"Cocke Lorelle" is a relic of this; while the prentice lad in "Gammer +Gurton's Needle," acted at Christ College, Cambridge, in 1566, goes by the +only name of "Cock." Tib the servant wench says to Hodge, after the needle +is gone-- + + "My Gammer is so out of course, and frantic all at once, + That Cock our boy, and I, poor wench, have felt it on our bones." + +By-and-by Gammer calls the lad to search: + + "Come hither, Cock: what, Cock, I say. + _Cock._ How, Gammer? + _Gammer._ Go, hie thee soon: and grope behind the old brass pan." + +Such terms as nescock, meacock, dawcock, pillicock, or lobcock may be +compounds--unless they owe their origin to "cockeney," a spoiled, +home-cherished lad. In "Wit without Money" Valentine says-- + + "For then you are meacocks, fools, and miserable." + +In "Appius and Virginia" (1563) Mausipula says (Act i. sc. 1)-- + + "My lady's great business belike is at end, + When you, goodman dawcock, lust for to wend." + +In "King Lear" + + "Pillicock sat on pillicock-hill" + +seems an earlier rendering of the nursery rhyme-- + + "Pillicock, Pillicock sate on a hill, + If he's not gone, he sits there still." + +In "Wily Beguiled" Will Cricket says to Churms-- + + "Why, since you were bumbasted that your lubberly legs would not carry + your lobcock body." + +These words have their value in proving how familiarly the term _cock_ was +employed in forming nicknames. That it should similarly be appended to +baptismal names, especially the nick form of Sim, Will, or Jeff, can +therefore present no difficulty. + +_Cock_ was almost as common as "_kin_" as a desinence. _Sim-cock_ was +_Simcock_ to the end of his days, of course, if his individuality had come +to be known by the name. + + "Hamme, son of Adecock, held 29 acres of land. + + "Mokock de la Lowe, for 10 acres. + + "Mokock dal Moreclough, for six acres. + + "Dik, son of Mocock, of Breercroft, for 20 acres."--"The De Lacy + Inquisition," 1311. + +Adecock is Adam, and Mocock or Mokock is Matthew. In the same way +Sander-cock is a diminutive of Sander, Lay-cock of Lawrence, Luccock of +Luke, Pidcock and Peacock of Peter, Maycock and Mycock of Matthew, +Jeff-cock of Jeffrey, Johncock of John, Hitch-cock or Hiscock or Heacock +of Higg or Hick (Isaac), Elcock of Ellis, Hancock or Handcock of Han or +Hand (Dutch John), Drocock or Drewcock of Drew, Wilcock of William, +Badcock or Batcock of Bartholomew, and Bawcock of Baldwin, Adcock or +Atcock of Adam, Silcock of Silas, and Palcock of Paul: + + "Johannes Palcock, et Beatrix uxor ejus, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + + "Ricardus Sylkok, et Matilda uxor ejus, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +The difficulty of identification was manifestly lessened in a village or +town where _Bate_ could be distinguished from _Batkin_, and _Batkin_ from +_Batcock_. Hence, again, the common occurrence of such a component as +_cock_. This diminutive is never seen in the seventeenth century; and yet +we have many evidences of its use in the beginning of the sixteenth. The +English Bible, with its tendency to require the full name as a matter of +reverence, while it supplied new names in the place of the old ones that +were accustomed to the desinence, caused this. It may be, too, that the +new regulation of Cromwell in 1538, requiring the careful registration of +all baptized children, caused parents to lay greater stress on the name as +it was entered in the vestry-book. + +Any way, the sixteenth century saw the end of names terminating in "cock." + + +(_c._) _On or In._ + +A dictionary instance is "violin," that is, a little viol, a fiddle of +four strings, instead of six. This diminutive, to judge from the Paris +Directory, must have been enormously popular with our neighbours. Our +connection with Normandy and France generally brought the fashion to the +English Court, and in habits of this kind the English folk quickly copied +their superiors. Terminations in _kin_ and _cock_ were confined to the +lower orders first and last. Terminations in _on_ or _in_, and _ot_ or +_et_, were the introduction of fashion, and being under patronage of the +highest families in the land, naturally obtained a much wider popularity. + +Our formal registers, again, are of little assistance. Beton is coldly and +orthodoxly Beatrice or Beatrix in the Hundred Rolls. Only here and there +can we gather that Beatrice was never so called in work-a-day life. In +"Piers Plowman" it is said-- + + "_Beton_ the Brewestere + Bade him good morrow." + +And again, later on: + + "And bade Bette cut a bough, + And beat _Betoun_ therewith." + +If Alice is Alice in the registrar's hands, not so in homely Chaucer: + + "This _Alison_ answered: Who is there + That knocketh so? I warrant him a thefe." + +Or take an old Yorkshire will: + + "Item: to Symkyn, and Watkyn, and Alison Meek, servandes of John of + Bolton, to ilk one of yaim, 26{s}. 8{d}."--"Test. Ebor." iii. 21. + Surtees Society. + +Hugh, too, gets his name familiarly entered occasionally: + + "_Hugyn_ held of the said earl an oxgang of land, and paid yearly + iii{s}. vi{d}."--"The De Lacy Inquisition," 1311. + +Huggins in our directories is the memorial of this. But in the north of +England Hutchin was a more popular form. In the "Wappentagium de +Strafford" occurs-- + + "Willelmus Huchon, & Matilda uxor ejus, iiii{d}." + +Also-- + + "Elena Houchon-servant, iiii{d}." + +that is, Ellen the servant of Houchon. Our Hutchinsons are all north of +Trent folk. Thus, too, Peter (Pier) became Perrin: + + "The wife of Peryn."--"Manor of Ashton-under-Lyne," Chetham Society, + p. 87. + +Marion, from Mary, is the only familiar instance that has descended to us, +and no doubt we owe this fact to Maid Marion, the May-lady. Many a Mary +Ann, in these days of double baptismal names, perpetuates the impression +that Marion or Marian was compounded of Mary and Ann. + +Of familiar occurrence were such names as _Perrin_, from Pierre, Peter; +_Robin_ and _Dobbin_, from Rob and Dob, Robert; _Colin_, from Col, +Nicholas; _Diccon_, from Dick, Richard; _Huggin_, from Hugh; _Higgin_, +from Hick or Higg, Isaac; _Figgin_, from Figg, Fulke;[9] _Phippin_, from +Phip and Philip; and _Gibbin_, or _Gibbon_, or _Gilpin_, from Gilbert. +Every instance proves the debt our surnames have incurred by this +practice. + +Several cases are obscured by time and bad pronunciation. Our Tippings +should more rightly be Tippins, originally Tibbins, from Tibbe (Theobald); +our Collinges and Collings, Collins; and our Gibbings, Gibbins. Our +Jennings should be Jennins; _Jennin_ Caervil was barber to the Earl of +Suffolk in the French wars ("Wars of England in France," Henry VI.). +Robing had early taken the place of Robin: + + "Johanne Robyng-doghter, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +Such entries as Raoulin Meriel and Raoul Partrer (this Raoul was private +secretary to Henry VI.) remind us of the former popularity of Ralph and of +the origin of our surnames Rawlins and Rawlinson: + + "Dionisia Rawlyn-wyf, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +Here again, however, the "_in_" has become "_ing_," for Rawlings is even +more common than Rawlins. Deccon and Dickin have got mixed, and both are +now Dickens, although Dicconson exists as distinct from Dickinson. Spenser +knew the name well: + + "Diggon Davie, I bid her 'good-day;' + Or Diggon her is, or I missay." + + "Matilda Dicon-wyf, webester, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +The London Directory contains Lamming and Laming. Alongside are Lampin, +Lamin, and Lammin. These again are more correct, all being surnames formed +from Lambin, a pet form of Lambert: + + "Willelmus Lambyn, et Alicia uxor ejus, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +Lambyn Clay played before Edward at Westminster at the great festival in +1306 (Chappell's "Popular Music of ye Olden Time," i. 29). The French +forms are Lambin, Lamblin, and Lamberton, all to be met with in the Paris +Directory. + +All these names are relics of a custom that is obsolete in England, though +not with our neighbours. + + +(_d._) _Ot and Et._ + +These are the terminations that ran first in favour for many generations. + +This diminutive _ot_ or _et_ is found in our language in such words as +_poppet_, _jacket_, _lancet_, _ballot_, _gibbet_, _target_, _gigot_, +_chariot_, _latchet_, _pocket_, _ballet_. In the same way a little page +became a _paget_, and hence among our surnames Smallpage, Littlepage, and +Paget. + +Coming to baptism, we find scarcely a single name of any pretensions to +popularity that did not take to itself this desinence. The two favourite +girl-names in Yorkshire previous to the Reformation were Matilda and Emma. +Two of the commonest surnames there to-day are Emmott and Tillot, with +such variations as Emmett and Tillett, Emmotson and Tillotson. The +archbishop came from Yorkshire. _Tyllot_ Thompson occurs under date 1414 +in the "Fabric Rolls of York Minster" (Surtees Society). + + "Rome, April 27, Eugenius IV. (1433). Dispensation from Selow for + Richard de Akerode and Emmotte de Greenwood to marry, they being + related in the fourth degree."--"Test. Ebor.," iii. 317. + + "Licence to the Vicar of Bradford to marry Roger Prestwick and Emmote + Crossley. Bannes thrice in one day" (1466).--"Test. Ebor.," iii. 338. + +Isabella was also popular in Yorkshire: hence our Ibbots and Ibbotsons, +our Ibbetts and Ibbetsons. Registrations such as "Ibbota filia Adam," or +"Robert filius Ibote," are of frequent occurrence in the county archives. +The "Wappentagium de Strafford" has: + + "Johanna Ibot-doghter, iiii{d}. + + "Willelmus Kene, et Ibota uxor ejus, iiii{d}. + + "Thomas Gaylyour, et Ebbot sa femme, iiii{d}." + +Cecilia became Sissot or Cissot: + + "Willelmus Crake, & Cissot sa femme, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +In the "Manor of Ashton-under-Lyne" (Chetham Society), penned fortunately +for our purpose in every-day style, we have such entries as-- + + "Syssot, wife of Patrick. + + "Syssot, wife of Diccon Wilson. + + "Syssot, wife of Thomas the Cook. + + "Syssot, wife of Jak of Barsley." + +Four wives named Cecilia in a community of some twenty-five families will +be evidence enough of the popularity of that name. All, however, were +known in every-day converse as Sissot. + +Of other girl-names we may mention Mabel, which from Mab became Mabbott; +Douce became Dowcett and Dowsett; Gillian or Julian, from Gill or Jill +(whence Jack and Jill), became Gillot, Juliet, and Jowett; Margaret became +Margett and Margott, and in the north Magot. Hence such entries from the +Yorkshire parchments, already quoted, as-- + + "Thomas de Balme, et Magota uxor ejus, chapman, iiii{d}. + + "Hugo Farrowe, et Magota uxor ejus, smyth, iiii{d}. + + "Johannes Magotson, iiii{d}." + +Custance became Cussot, from Cuss or Cust, the nick form. The Hundred +Rolls contain a "Cussot Colling"--a rare place to find one of these +diminutives, for they are set down with great clerkly formality. + +From Lettice, Lesot was obtained: + + "Johan Chapman, & Lesot sa femme, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +And Dionisia was very popular as Diot: + + "Johannes Chetel, & Diot uxor ejus, iiii{d}. + + "Willelmus Wege, & Diot uxor ejus, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +Of course, it became a surname: + + "Robertus Diot, & Mariona uxor ejus, iiii{d}. + + "Willelmus Diotson, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +It is curious to observe that Annot, which now as Annette represents Anne, +in Richard II.'s day was extremely familiar as the diminutive of Annora or +Alianora. So common was Annot in North England that the common sea-gull +came to be so known. It is a mistake to suppose that Annot had any +connection with Anna. One out of every eight or ten girls was Annot in +Yorkshire at a time when Anna is never found to be in use at all: + + "Stephanus Webester, & Anota uxor ejus, iiii{d}. + + "Richard Annotson, wryght, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +As Alianora and Eleanora are the same, so were Enot and Anot: + + "Henricus filius Johannis Enotson, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +Again, Eleanor became Elena, and this Lina and Linot. Hence in the Hundred +Rolls we find "Linota atte Field." In fact, the early forms of Eleanor are +innumerable. The favourite Sibilla became Sibot: + + "Johannes de Estwode, et Sibota uxor ejus, iiii{d}. + + "Willelmus Howeson, et Sibbota uxor ejus, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +Mary not merely became Marion, but Mariot, and from our surnames it would +appear the latter was the favourite: + + "Isabella serviens Mariota Gulle, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + + "Mariota in le Lane."--Hundred Rolls. + +Eve became Evot, Adam and Eve being popular names. In the will of William +de Kirkby, dated 1391, are bequests to "Evae uxori Johannes Parvying" and +"Willielmo de Rowlay," and later on he refers to them again as the +aforementioned "Evotam et dictum Willielmum Rowlay" ("Test. Ebor.," i. +145. Surtees Society). + +But the girl-name that made most mark was originally a boy's name, +Theobald. Tibbe was the nick form, and Tibbot the pet name. Very speedily +it became the property of the female sex, such entries as Tibot Fitz-piers +ending in favour of Tibota Foliot. After the year 1300 Tib, or Tibet, is +invariably feminine. In "Gammer Gurton's Needle," Gammer says to her +maid-- + + "How now, Tib? quick! let's hear what news thou hast brought + hither."--Act. i. sc. 5. + +In "Ralph Roister Doister," the pet name is used in the song, evidently +older than the play: + + "Pipe, merry Annot, etc., + Trilla, Trilla, Trillary. + Work, Tibet; work, Annot; work, Margery; + Sew, Tibet; knit, Annot; spin, Margery; + Let us see who will win the victory." + +Gib, from Gilbert, and Tib became the common name for a male and female +cat. Scarcely any other terms were employed from 1350 to 1550: + + "For right no more than Gibbe, our cat, + That awaiteth mice and rattes to killen, + Ne entend I but to beguilen." + +Hence both Tibet and Gibbet were also used for the same; as in the old +phrase "flitter-gibbett," for one of wanton character. Tom in tom-cat came +into ordinary parlance later. All our modern Tibbots, Tibbetts, Tibbitts, +Tippitts, Tebbutts, and their endless other forms, are descended from +Tibbe. + +Coming to boys' names, all our Wyatts in the Directory hail from +Guiot,[10] the diminutive of Guy, just as Wilmot from William: + + "Adam, son of Wyot, held an oxgang of land."--"De Lacy Inquisition." + + "Ibbote Wylymot, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +_Payn_ is met in the form of Paynot and Paynet, _Warin_ as Warinot, _Drew_ +as Drewet, _Philip_ as Philpot, though this is feminine sometimes: + + "Johannes Schikyn, et Philipot uxor ejus, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +_Thomas_ is found as Thomaset, _Higg_ (Isaac) as Higgot, _Jack_ as +Jackett, _Hal_ (Henry) as Hallet (Harriot or Harriet is now feminine), and +Hugh or Hew as Hewet: + + "Dionisia Howet-doghter, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +The most interesting, perhaps, of these examples is Hamnet, or Hamlet. +Hamon, or Hamond, was introduced from Normandy: + + "Hamme, son of Adcock, held 29 acres of land."--"De Lacy Inquisition," + 1311. + +It became a favourite among high and low, and took to itself the forms of +Hamonet and Hamelot: + + "The wife of Richard, son of Hamelot."--"De Lacy Inquisition," 1311. + +These were quickly abbreviated into Hamnet and Hamlet. They ran side by +side for several centuries, and at last, like Emmot, defied the English +Bible, the Reformation, and even the Puritan period, and lived unto the +eighteenth century. Hamlet Winstanley, the painter, was born in 1700, at +Warrington, and died in 1756. In Kent's London Directory for 1736 several +Hamnets occur as baptismal names. Shakespeare's little son was Hamnet, or +Hamlet, after his godfather Hamnet Sadler. I find several instances where +both forms are entered as the name of the same boy: + + "Nov. 13, 1502. Item: the same day to Hamlet Clegge, for money by him + layed out ... to the keper of Dachet Ferrey in rewarde for conveying + the Quenes grace over Thamys there, iii{s}. iiii{d}." + +Compare this with-- + + "June 13, 1502. Item: the same day to Hampnet Clegge, for mone by him + delivered to the Quene for hir offring to Saint Edward at Westm., + vi{s}. viii{d}."--"Privy Purse Expenses, Eliz. of York," pp. 21 and + 62. + +Speaking of Hamelot, we must not forget that _ot_ and _et_ sometimes +became _elot_ or _elet_. As a diminutive it is found in such dictionary +words as bracelet, tartlet, gimblet, poplet (for poppet). The old ruff or +high collar worn alike by men and women was styled a _partlet_: + + "Jan. 1544. Item: from Mr. Braye ii. high collar partletts, iii{s}. + ix{d}."--"Privy Purse Expenses, Princess Mary." + +Hence partlet, a hen, on account of the ruffled feathers, a term used +alike by Chaucer and Shakespeare. + +In our nomenclature we have but few traces of it. In France it was very +commonly used. But Hughelot or Huelot, from Hugh, was popular, as our +Hewletts can testify. Richelot for Richard, Hobelot and Robelot for +Robert, Crestolot for Christopher, Cesselot for Cecilia, and Barbelot for +Barbara, are found also, and prove that the desinence had made its mark. + +Returning, however, to _ot_ and _et_: Eliot or Elliot, from Ellis (Elias), +had a great run. In the north it is sometimes found as Aliot: + + "Alyott de Symondeston held half an oxgang of land, xix{d}."--"De Lacy + Inquisition," 1311. + +The feminine form was Elisot or Elicot, although this was used also for +boys. The will of William de Aldeburgh, written in 1319, runs-- + + "Item: do et lego Elisotae domicellae meae 40{s}."--"Test. Ebor.," i. + 151. + +The will of Patrick de Barton, administered in the same year, says-- + + "Item: lego Elisotae, uxori Ricardi Bustard unam vaccam, et + 10{s}."--"Test. Ebor.," i. 155. + + "Eliseus Carpenter, cartwyth, et Elesot uxor ejus, vi{d}."--W. D. S. + +As Ellis became Ellisot, so Ellice became Ellicot, whence the present +surname. Bartholomew became Bartelot, now Bartlett, and from the pet form +Toll, or Tolly, came Tollett and Tollitt. + +It is curious to notice why Emmot and Hamlet, or Hamnet, survived the +crises that overwhelmed the others. Both became baptismal names in their +own right. People forgot in course of time that they were diminutives of +Emma and Hamond, and separated them from their parents. This did not come +about till the close of Elizabeth's reign, so they have still the credit +of having won a victory against terrible odds, the Hebrew army. Hamnet +Shakespeare was so baptized. Hamon or Hamond would have been the regular +form. + +Looking back, it is hard to realize that a custom equally affected by +prince and peasant, as popular in country as town, as familiar in +Yorkshire and Lancashire as in London and Winchester, should have been so +completely uprooted, that ninety-nine out of the hundred are now unaware +that it ever existed. This was unmistakably the result of some disturbing +element of English social life. At the commencement of the sixteenth +century there was no appearance of this confusion. In France the practice +went on without let or hindrance. We can again but attribute it to the +Reformation, and the English Bible, which swept away a large batch of the +old names, and pronounced the new without addition or diminution. When +some of the old names were restored, it was too late to fall back upon the +familiarities that had been taken with them in the earlier period. + + +(_e._) _Double Terminatives._ + +In spite of the enormous popularity in England of _ot_ and _et_, they bear +no proportion to the number in France. In England our _local_ surnames are +two-fifths of the whole. In France _patronymic_ surnames are almost +two-fifths of the whole. Terminatives in _on_ or _in_, and _ot_ and _et_, +have done this. We in England only adopted double diminutives in two +cases, those of _Colinet_ and _Robinet_, or _Dobinet_, and both were +rarely used. Robinet has come down to us as a surname; and Dobinet so +existed till the middle of the fifteenth century, for one John Dobynette +is mentioned in an inventory of goods, 1463 (Mun. Acad. Oxon.). This +Dobinet seems to have been somewhat familiarly used, for Dobinet Doughty +is Ralph's servant in "Ralph Roister Doister." Matthew Merrygreek says-- + + "I know where she is: Dobinet hath wrought some wile. + _Tibet Talkapace._ He brought a ring and token, which he said was + sent + From our dame's husband."--Act. iii. sc. 2. + +Colin is turned into Colinet in Spenser's "Shepherd's Calendar," where +Colin beseeches Pan: + + "Hearken awhile from thy green cabinet, + The laurel song of careful Colinet?" + +Jannet is found as Janniting (Jannetin) once on English soil, for in the +"London Chanticleers," a comedy written about 1636, Janniting is the +apple-wench. _Welcome_ says-- + + "Who are they which they're enamoured so with? + + _Bung._ The one's Nancy Curds, and the other Hanna Jenniting: Ditty + and Jenniting are agreed already ... the wedding will be kept at our + house."--Scene xiii. + +But the use of double diminutives was of every-day practice in Normandy +and France, and increased their total greatly. I take at random the +following _surnames_ (originally, of course, christian names) from the +Paris Directory:--Margotin, Marioton, Lambinet (Lambert), Perrinot, +Perrotin, Philiponet, Jannotin, Hugonet, Huguenin, Jacquinot, and +Fauconnet (English Fulke). Huguenin (little wee Hugh) repeats the same +diminutive; Perrinot and Perrotin (little wee Peter) simply reverse the +order of the two diminutives. The "marionettes" in the puppet-show take +the same liberty with Mariotin (little wee Mary) above mentioned. Hugonet, +of course, is the same as Huguenot; and had English, not to say French, +writers remembered this old custom, they would have found no difficulty in +reducing the origin of the religious sect of that name to an _individual_ +as a starting-point. _Guillotin_ (little wee William) belongs to the same +class, and descended from a baptismal name to become the surname of the +famous doctor who invented the deadly machine that bears his title. I have +discovered one instance of this as a baptismal name, viz. Gillotyne +Hansake ("Wars of English in France: Henry VI.," vol. ii. p. 531). + +Returning to England, we find these pet forms in use well up to the +Reformation: + + "Nov., 1543. Item: geven to Fylpot, my Lady of Suffolk's lackaye, + vii{s}. vi{d}. + + "June, 1537. Item: payed to Typkyn for cherys, xx{d}."--"Privy Purse + Expenses, Princess Mary." + + "1548, July 22. Alson, d. of Jenkin Rowse."--St. Columb Major. + + "1545, Oct. 3. Baptized Alison, d. of John James."--Ditto.[11] + +"Ralph Roister Doister," written not earlier than 1545, and not later than +1550, by Nicholas Udall, contains three characters styled Annot Alyface, +Tibet Talkapace, and Dobinet Doughty. Christian Custance, Sim Suresby, +Madge Mumblecheek, and Gawyn Goodluck are other characters, all well-known +contemporary names. + +In "Thersites," an interlude written in 1537, there is mention of + + "_Simkin_ Sydnam, Sumnor, + That killed a cat at Cumnor." + +_Jenkin_ Jacon is introduced, also _Robin_ Rover. In a book entitled +"Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic" (Henry VIII.), we find a +document (numbered 1939, and dated 1526) containing a list of the +household attendants and retinue of the king. Even here, although so +formal a record, there occurs the name of "Hamynet Harrington, gentleman +usher." + +We may assert with the utmost certainty that, on the eve of the Hebrew +invasion, there was not a baptismal name in England of average popularity +that had not attached to it in _daily converse_ one or other of these +diminutives--_kin_, _cock_, _in_, _on_, _ot_, and _et_; not a name, too, +that, before it had thus attached them, had not been shorn of all its +fulness, and curtailed to a monosyllabic nick form. Bartholomew must +first become Bat before it becomes Batcock, Peter must become Pierre +before Perrot can be formed, Nicholas must be abbreviated to Col or Cole +before Col or Cole can be styled Colin, and Thomas must be reduced to Tom +before Tomkin can make his appearance. + +Several names had attached to themselves all these enclytics. For +instance, Peter is met with, up to the crisis we are about to consider, in +the several shapes of Perkin or Parkin, Peacock, Perrot, and Perrin; and +William as Willin (now Willing and Willan in our directories), Wilcock, +Wilkin, and Wilmot, was familiar to every district in the country. + + +III. SCRIPTURE NAMES ALREADY IN USE AT THE REFORMATION. + +It now remains simply to consider the state of nomenclature in England at +the eve of the Reformation in relation to the Bible. _Four_ classes may be +mentioned. + + +(_a._) _Mystery Names._ + +The leading incidents of Bible narrative were familiarized to the English +lower orders by the performance of sacred plays, or mysteries, rendered +under the supervision of the Church. To these plays we owe the early +popularity of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Sara, +Daniel, Sampson, Susanna, Judith, Hanna or Anna, and Hester. But the +Apocryphal names were not frequently used till about 1500. Scarcely any +diminutives are found of them. On the other hand, Adam became Adcock and +Adkin; Eve, Evott and Evett; Isaac, Hickin, and Higgin, and Higgot, and +Higget; Joseph, Joskin; and Daniel, Dankin and Dannet. + + +(_b._) _Crusade Names._ + +The Crusaders gave us several prominent names. To them we are indebted for +_Baptist_, _Ellis_, and _Jordan_: and _John_ received a great stimulus. +The sacred water brought in the leathern bottle was used for baptismal +purposes. The Jordan commemorated John the Baptist, the second Elias, the +forerunner and baptizer of Jesus Christ. Children were styled by these +incidents. _Jordan_ became popular through Western Europe. In England he +gave us, as already observed, Judd, Judkin, Judson, Jordan, and Jordanson. +Elias, as Ellis, took about the eighth place of frequency, and John, for a +while, the first. + + +(_c._) _The Saints' Calendar._ + +The legends of the saints were carefully taught by the priesthood, and the +day as religiously observed. All children born on these holy days received +the name of the saint commemorated: St. James's Day, or St. Nicholas's +Day, or St. Thomas's Day, saw a small batch of Jameses, Nicholases, and +Thomases received into the fold of the Church. In other cases the gossip +had some favourite saint, and placed the child under his or her +protection. Of course, it bore the patron's name. A large number of these +hagiological names were extra-Biblical--such as Cecilia, Catharine, or +Theobald. Of these I make no mention here. All the Apostles, save Judas, +became household names, John, Simon, Peter, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, +Thomas, and Philip being the favourites. Paul and Timothy were also +utilized, the former being always found as Pol. + + +(_d._) _Festival Names._ + +If a child was born at Whitsuntide or Easter, Christmas or Epiphany, like +Robinson Crusoe's man Friday, or Thursday October Christian of the +Pitcairn islanders, he received the name of the day. Hence our once +familiar names of Noel or Nowell, Pask or Pascal, Easter, Pentecost, and +Epiphany or Tiffany. + +It will be observed that all these imply no direct or personal +acquaintance with the Scriptures. All came through the Church. All, too, +were in the full tide of prosperity--with the single exception of Jordan, +which was nearly obsolete--when the Bible, printed into English and set up +in our churches, became an institution. The immediate result was that the +old Scripture names of Bartholomew, Peter, Philip, and Nicholas received a +blow much deadlier than that received by such Teutonic names as Robert, +Richard, Roger, and Ralph. But that will be brought out as we progress. + +The subject of the influence of an English Bible upon English nomenclature +is not uninteresting. It may be said of the "Vulgar Tongue" Bible that it +revolutionized our nomenclature within the space of forty years, or little +over a generation. No such crisis, surely, ever visited a nation's +register before, nor can such possibly happen again. Every home felt the +effect. It was like the massacre of the innocents in Egyptian days: "There +was not one house where there was not one dead." But in Pharoah's day they +did not replace the dead with the living. At the Reformation such a locust +army of new names burst upon the land that we may well style it the Hebrew +Invasion. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE HEBREW INVASION. + + "With what face can they object to the king the bringing in of + forraigners, when themselves entertaine such an army of Hebrewes?" + _The Character of a London Diurnall_ (Dec. 1644). + + "Albeit in our late Reformation some of good consideration have + brought in Zachary, Malachy, Josias, etc., as better agreeing with our + faith, but without contempt of Country names (as I hope) which have + both good and gracious significations, as shall appeare + hereafter."--CAMDEN, _Remaines_. 1614. + + +I. _The March of the Army._ + +The strongest impress of the English Reformation to-day is to be seen in +our font-names. The majority date from 1560, the year when the Genevan +Bible was published. This version ran through unnumbered editions, and for +sixty, if not seventy, years was the household Bible of the nation. The +Genevan Bible was not only written in the vulgar tongue, but was printed +for vulgar hands. A moderate quarto was its size; all preceding versions, +such as Coverdale's, Matthew's, and of course the Great Bible, being the +ponderous folio, specimens of which the reader will at some time or other +have seen. The Genevan Bible, too, was the Puritan's Bible, and was none +the less admired by him on account of its Calvinistic annotations. + +But although the rage for Bible names dates from the decade 1560-1570, +which decade marks the rise of Puritanism, there had been symptoms of the +coming revolution as early as 1543. Richard Hilles, one of the Reformers, +despatching a letter from Strasburg, November 15, 1543, writes: + + "My wife says she has no doubt but that God helped her the sooner in + her confinement by reason of your good prayers. On the second of this + month she brought forth to the Church of Christ a son, who, as the + women say, is quite large enough for a mother of tall stature, and + whom I immediately named _Gershom_."--"Original Letters," 1537-1558, + No. cxii. Parker Society. + +We take up our Bibles, and find that of Zipporah it is said-- + + "And she bare him (Moses) a son, and he called his name Gershom: for + he said, _I have been a stranger in a strange land_."--Exod. ii. 22. + +The margin says, "a desolate stranger." At this time Moses was fled from +Pharaoh, who would kill him. The parallel to Richard Hilles's mind was +complete. This was in 1643.[12] + +In Mr. Tennyson's drama "Mary," we have the following scene between +Gardiner and a yokel: + + "_Gardiner._ I distrust thee, + There is a half voice, and a lean assent: + What is thy name? + _Man._ Sanders! + _Gardiner._ What else? + _Man._ Zerrubabel." + +The Laureate was right to select for this rebellious Protestant a name +that was to be popular throughout Elizabeth's reign; but poetic license +runs rather far in giving this title to a _full-grown man_ in any year of +Mary's rule. Sanders might have had a young child at home so styled, but +for himself it was practically impossible. So clearly defined is the +epoch that saw, if not one batch of names go out, at least a new batch +come in. Equally marked are the names from the Bible which at this date +were in use, and those which were not. Of this latter category Zerrubabel +was one. + +In the single quotation from Hilles's letter of 1543 we see the origin of +the great Hebrew invasion explained. The English Bible had become a fact, +and the knowledge of its personages and narratives was becoming _directly_ +acquired. In every community up and down the country it was as if a fresh +spring of clear water had been found, and every neighbour could come with +jug or pail, and fill it when and how they would. One of the first +impressions made seems to have been this: children in the olden time +received as a name a term that was immediately significant of the +circumstances of their birth. Often God personally, through His prophets +or angelic messenger, acted as godparent indeed, and gave the name, as in +Isaiah viii. 1, 3, 4: + + "Moreover the Lord said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in + it with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. + + "And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. + Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz. + + "For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my + mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken + away before the king of Assyria." + +Here was a name palpably significant. Even before they knew its exact +meaning the name was enrolled in English church registers, and by-and-by +zealot Puritans employed it as applicable to English Church politics. + +All the patriarchs, down to the twelve sons of Jacob, had names of direct +significance given them. Above all, a peculiar emphasis was laid upon all +the titles of Jesus Christ, as in Isaiah vii. 14: + + "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his + name Immanuel." + +At the same time that this new revelation came, a crisis was going on of +religion. The old Romish Church was being uprooted, or, rather, a new +system was being grafted upon its stock, for the links have never been +broken. The saints were shortly to be tabooed by the large mass of English +folk; the festivals were already at a discount. Simultaneously with the +prejudice against the very names of their saints and saintly festivals, +arose the discovery of a mine of new names as novel as it was +unexhaustible. They not merely met the new religious instinct, but +supplied what would have been a very serious vacuum. + +But we must at once draw a line between the Reformation and Puritanism. +Previous to the Reformation, so far as the Church was concerned, there had +been to a certain extent a _system_ of nomenclature. The Reformation +abrogated that system, but did not intentionally adopt a new one. +Puritanism deliberately supplied a well-weighed and revised scheme, beyond +which no adopted child of God must dare to trespass. Previous to the +Reformation, the priest, with the assent of the gossip, gave the babe the +name of the saint who was to be its patron, or on whose day the birth or +baptism occurred. If the saint was a male, and the infant a female, the +difficulty was overcome by giving the name a feminine form. Thus Theobald +become Theobalda; and hence Tib and Tibot became so common among girls, +that finally they ceased to represent boys at all. If it were one of the +great holy days, the day or season itself furnished the name. Thus it was +Simon, or Nicholas, or Cecilia, or Austen, or Pentecost, or Ursula, or +Dorothy, became so familiar. From the reign of Elizabeth the clergy, and +Englishmen generally, gave up this practice. Saints who could not boast +apostolic honours were rejected, and holy men of lesser prestige, together +with a large batch of virgins and martyrs of the Agnes, Catharine, and +Ursula type, who belonged to Church history, received but scant +attention. As a matter of course their names lapsed. But the nation stood +by the old English names not thus popishly tainted. Against Geoffrey, +Richard, Robert, and William, they had no prejudice: nay, they clung to +them. The Puritan rejected both classes. He was ever trotting out his two +big "P's,"--Pagan and Popish. Under the first he placed every name that +could not be found in the Scriptures, and under the latter every title in +the same Scriptures, and the Church system founded on them, that had been +employed previous, say, to the coronation day of Edward VI. Of this there +is the clearest proof. In a "Directory of Church Government," found among +the papers of Cartwright, and written as early as 1565, there is the +following order regarding and regulating baptism:-- + + "They which present unto baptism, ought to be persuaded not to give + those that are baptized the names of God, or of Christ, or of angels, + or of holy offices, as of baptist, evangelist, etc., nor such as + savour of paganism or popery: but chiefly such whereof there are + examples, in the Holy Scriptures, in the names of those who are + reported in them to have been godly and virtuous."--Neale, vol. v. + Appendix, p. 15. + +Nothing can be more precise than this. To the strict Puritan to reject the +Richards, Mileses, and Henrys of the Teutonic, and the Bartholomews, +Simons, Peters, and Nicholases of the ecclesiastic class, was to remove +the Canaanite out of the land. + +How early this "article of religion" was obeyed, one or two quotations +will show. Take the first four baptismal entries in the Canterbury +Cathedral register: + + "1564, Dec. 3. Abdias, the sonne of Robert Pownoll. + + "1567, April 26. Barnabas, the sonne of Robert Pownoll. + + "1569, June 1. Ezeckiell, the sonne of Robert Pownoll. + + "1572, Feb. 10. Posthumus, the sonne of Robert Pownoll." + +Another son seems to have been Philemon: + + "1623, April 27. John, the sonne of Philemon Pownoll." + +A daughter "Repentance" must be added: + + "1583, Dec. 8. Married William Arnolde and Repentance Pownoll." + +Take another instance, a little later, from the baptisms of St. Peter's, +Cornhill: + + "1589, Nov. 2. Bezaleell, sonne of Michaell Nichollson, cordwayner. + + "1599, Sep. 23. Aholiab, sonne of Michaell Nicholson, cordwainer. + + "1595, May 18. Sara, daughter of Michaell Nichollson, cobler. + + "1599, Nov. 1. Buried Rebecca, daughter of Michaell Nicholson, + cordwainer, 13 yeares." + +Rebecca, therefore, would be baptized in 1586. Sara and Aholiab died of +the plague in 1603. Both old Robert Pownoll and the cobler must have been +Puritans of a pronounced type. + +The Presbyterian clergy were careful to set an example of right +name-giving: + + "1613, July 28. Baptized Jaell, daughter of Roger Mainwaring, + preacher."--St. Helen, Bishopsgate. + + "1617, Jan. 25. Baptized Ezekyell, sonne of Mr. Richard Culverwell, + minister."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + + "1582, ----. Buried Zachary, sonne of Thomas Newton, + minister."--Barking, Essex. + +A still more interesting proof comes from Northampton. As an example of +bigotry it is truly marvellous. On July 16, 1590, Archbishop Whitgift +furnished the Lord Treasurer with the following, amongst many articles +against Edmond Snape, curate of St. Peter's, in that town: + + "Item: Christopher Hodgekinson obteyned a promise of the said Snape + that he would baptize his child; but Snape added, saying, 'You must + then give it a christian name allowed in the Scriptures.' Then + Hodgekinson told him that his wife's father, whose name was Richard, + desired to have the giving of that name." + +At the time of service Snape proceeded till they came to the place of +naming: they said "Richard;" + + "But hearing them calling it Richard, and that they would not give it + any other name, he stayed there, and would not in any case baptize the + child. And so it was carried away thence, and was baptized the week + following at Allhallows Churche, and called Richard."--Strype's + "Whitgift," ii. 9. + +This may be an extreme case, but I doubt not the majority of the +Presbyterian clergy did their best to uproot the old English names, so far +as their power of persuasion could go. + +Even the pulpit was used in behalf of the new doctrine. William Jenkin, +the afterwards ejected minister, in his "Expositions of Jude," delivered +in Christ Church, London, said, while commenting on the first verse, "Our +baptismal names ought to be such as may prove remembrances of duty." He +then instances Leah, Alpheus, and Hannah as aware of parental obligations +in this respect, and adds-- + + "'Tis good to impose such names as expresse our baptismal promise. A + good name is as a thread tyed about the finger, to make us mindful of + the errand we came into the world to do for our Master."--Edition + 1652, p. 7. + +As a general rule, the New Testament names spread the most rapidly, +especially girl-names of the Priscilla, Dorcas, Tabitha, and Martha type. +They were the property of the Reformation. Damaris bothered the clerks +much, and is found indifferently as Tamaris, Damris, Dammeris, Dampris, +and Dameris. By James I.'s day it had become a fashionable name: + + "1617, April 13. Christened Damaris, d. of Doctor Masters. + + "----, May 29. Christened Damaris, d. of Doctor Kingsley."--Canterbury + Cathedral. + +Martha, which sprang into instant popularity, is registered at the outset: + + "1563, July 25. Christened Martha Wattam."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + +Phebe had a great run. The first I have seen is-- + + "1568, Oct. 24. Christened Phebe, d. of Harry Cut."--St. Peter, + Cornhill. + +Dorcas was, perhaps, the prime favourite, often styled and entered Darcas. +Every register has it, and every page. A political ballad says-- + + "Come, Dorcas and Cloe, + With Lois and Zoe, + Young Lettice, and Beterice, and Jane; + Phill, Dorothy, Maud, + Come troop it abroad, + For now is our time to reign." + +Persis, Tryphena, and Tryphosa were also largely used. The earliest Persis +I know is-- + + "1579, Maye 3. Christened Persis, d. of William Hopkinson, minister + heare."--Salehurst. + +Some of these names--as, for instance, Priscilla, Damaris, Dorcas, and +Phebe--stood in James's reign almost at the head of girls' names in +England. Indeed, alike in London and the provinces, the list of girl-names +at Elizabeth's death was a perfect contrast to that when she ascended the +throne. Then the great national names of Isabella, Matilda, Emma, and +Cecilia ruled supreme. Then the four heroines Anna, Judith, Susan, and +Hester, one or two of whom were in the Apocryphal narrative, had stamped +themselves on our registers in what appeared indelible lines, although +they were of much more recent popularity than the others. They lost +prestige, but did not die out. Many Puritans had a sneaking fondness for +them, finding in their histories a parallel to their own troubles, and +perchance they had a private and more godly rendering of the popular +ballad of their day: + + "In Ninivie old Toby dwelt, + An aged man, and blind was he: + And much affliction he had felt, + Which brought him unto poverty: + He had by Anna, his true wife, + One only sonne, and eke no more." + +Esther[13] is still popular in our villages, so is Susan. Hannah has her +admirers, and only Judith may be said to be forgotten. But their glory was +from 1450 to 1550. After that they became secondary personages. Throughout +the south of England, especially in the counties that surrounded London, +the Bible had been ransacked from nook to corner. The zealots early dived +into the innermost recesses of Scripture. They made themselves as familiar +with chapters devoted solely to genealogical tables, as to those which +they quoted to defend their doctrinal creed. The eighth chapter of Romans +was not more studied by them than the thirty-sixth of Genesis, and the +dukes of Edom classified in the one were laid under frequent contribution +to witness to the adoption treated of in the other. Thus names unheard of +in 1558 were "household words" in 1603. + +The slowest to take up the new custom were the northern counties. They +were out of the current; and Lancashire, besides being inaccessible, had +stuck to the old faith. Names lingered on in the Palatinate that had been +dead nearly a hundred years in the south. Gawin figures in all northern +registers till a century ago, and Thurston[14] was yet popular in the +Fylde district, when it had become forgotten in the Fens. Scotland was +never touched at all. The General Assembly of 1645 makes no hint on the +subject, although it dwelt on nearly every other topic. Nothing +demonstrates the clannish feeling of North Britain as this does. At this +moment Scotland has scarcely any Bible names. + +In Yorkshire, however, Puritanism made early stand, though its effects on +nomenclature were not immediately visible. It was like the fire that +smoulders among the underwood before it catches flame; it spreads the more +rapidly afterwards. The Genevan Bible crept into the dales and farmsteads, +and their own primitive life seemed to be but reflected in its pages. The +patriarchs lived as graziers, and so did they. There was a good deal about +sheep and kine in its chapters, and their own lives were spent among the +milk-pails and wool shears. The women of the Old Testament baked cakes, +and knew what good butter was. So did the dales' folk. By slow degrees +Cecilia, Isabella, and Emma lapsed from their pedestal, and the little +babes were turned into Sarahs, Rebeccas, and Deborahs. As the seventeenth +century progressed the state of things became still more changed. There +had been villages in Sussex and Kent previous to Elizabeth's death, where +the Presbyterian rector, by his personal influence at the time of baptism, +had turned the new generation into a Hebrew colony. The same thing +occurred in Yorkshire only half a century later. As nonconformity gained +ground, Guy, and Miles, and Peter, and Philip became forgotten. The lads +were no sooner ushered into existence than they were transformed into +duplicates of Joel, and Amos, and Obediah. The measles still ran through +the family, but it was Phineas and Caleb, not Robert and Roger, that +underwent the infliction. Chosen leaders of Israel passed through the +critical stages of teething. As for the twelve sons of Jacob, they could +all have answered to their names in the dames' schools, through their +little apple-cheeked representatives, who lined the rude benches. On the +village green, every prophet from Isaiah to Malachi might be seen of an +evening playing leap-frog: unless, indeed, Zephaniah was stealing apples +in the garth. + +From Yorkshire, about the close of the seventeenth century, the rage for +Scripture names passed into Lancashire. Nonconformity was making progress; +the new industries were already turning villages into small centres of +population, and the Church of England not providing for the increase, +chapels were built. If we look over the pages of the directories of West +Yorkshire and East Lancashire, and strike out the surnames, we could +imagine we were consulting anciently inscribed registers of Joppa or +Jericho. It would seem as if Canaan and the West Riding had got +inextricably mixed. + +What a spectacle meets our eye! Within the limits of ten leaves we have +three Pharoahs, while as many Hephzibahs are to be found on one single +page. Adah and Zillah Pickles, sisters, are milliners. Jehoiada Rhodes +makes saws--not Solomon's sort--and Hariph Crawshaw keeps a farm. Vashni, +from somewhere in the Chronicles, is rescued from oblivion by Vashni +Wilkinson, coal merchant, who very likely goes to Barzillai Williamson, on +the same page, for his joints, Barzillai being a butcher. Jachin, known to +but a few as situated in the Book of Kings, is in the person of Jachin +Firth, a beer retailer, familiar to all his neighbours. Heber Holdsworth +on one page is faced by Er Illingworth on the other. Asa and Joab are +extremely popular, while Abner, Adna, Ashael, Erastus, Eunice, Benaiah, +Aquila, Elihu, and Philemon enjoy a fair amount of patronage. Shadrach, +Meshach, and Abednego, having been rescued from Chaldaean fire, have been +deluged with baptismal water. How curious it is to contemplate such +entries as Lemuel Wilson, Kelita Wilkinson, Shelah Haggas, Shadrach +Newbold, Neriah Pearce, Jeduthan Jempson, Azariah Griffiths, Naphtali +Matson, Philemon Jakes, Hameth Fell, Eleph Bisat, Malachi Ford, or Shallum +Richardson. As to other parts of the Scriptures, I have lighted upon name +after name that I did not know existed in the Bible at all till I looked +into the Lancashire and Yorkshire directories. + +The Bible has decided the nomenclature of the north of England. In towns +like Oldham, Bolton, Ashton, and Blackburn, the clergyman's baptismal +register is but a record of Bible names. A clerical friend of mine +christened twins Cain and Abel, only the other day, much against his own +wishes. Another parson on the Derbyshire border was gravely informed, at +the proper moment, that the name of baptism was Ramoth-Gilead. "Boy or +girl, eh?" he asked in a somewhat agitated voice. The parents had opened +the Bible hap-hazard, according to the village tradition, and selected the +first name the eye fell on. It was but a year ago a little child was +christened Tellno in a town within six miles of Manchester, at the +suggestion of a cotton-spinner, the father, a workman of the name of Lees, +having asked his advice. "I suppose it must be a Scripture name," said his +master. "Oh yes! that's of course." "Suppose you choose _Tellno_," said +his employer. "That'll do," replied the other, who had never heard it +before, and liked it the better on that account. The child is now Tell-no +Lees, the father, too late, finding that he had been hoaxed.[15] "_Sirs_," +was the answer given to a bewildered curate, after the usual demand to +name the child. He objected, but was informed that it was a Scripture +name, and the verse "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" was triumphantly +appealed to. This reminds one of the Puritan who styled his dog +"_Moreover_" after the dog in the Gospel: "_Moreover_ the dog came and +licked his sores." + +There is, again, a story of a clergyman making the customary demand as to +name from a knot of women round the font. "Ax her," said one. Turning to +the woman who appeared to be indicated, he again asked, "What name?" "Ax +her," she replied. The third woman, being questioned, gave the same reply. +At last he discovered the name to be the Scriptural Achsah, Caleb's +daughter--a name, by the way, which was somewhat popular with our +forefathers. No wonder this mistake arose, when Achsah used to be entered +in some such manner as this: + + "1743-4, Jan. 3. Baptized Axar Starrs (a woman of ripe years), of + Stockport. + + "1743-4, Jan. 3. Married Warren Davenport, of Stockport, Esq., and + Axar Starrs, aforesaid, spinster."--Marple, Cheshire. + +Axar's father was Caleb Starrs. The scriptural relationship was thus +preserved. Achsah crossed the Atlantic with the Pilgrim Fathers, and has +prospered there ever since. It is still popular in Devonshire and the +south-west of England. All these stories serve to show the quarry whence +modern names are hewn. + +I have mentioned the north because I have studied its Post-Office +Directories carefully. But if any one will visit the shires of Dorset, and +Devon, and Hampshire, he will find the same result. The Hebrew has won the +day. Just as in England, north of Trent, we can still measure off the +ravages of the Dane by striking a line through all local names lying +westward ending in "by," so we have but to count up the baptismal names of +the peasantry of these southern counties to see that they have become the +bondsmen of an Eastern despot. In fact, go where and when we will from the +reign of Elizabeth, we find the same influence at work. Take a few places +and people at random. + +Looking at our testamentary records, we find the will of Kerenhappuch +Benett proved in 1762, while Kerenhappuch Horrocks figures in the +Manchester Directory for 1877. Onesiphorus Luffe appears on a halfpenny +token of 1666; Habakkuk Leyman, 1650; Euodias Inman, 1650; Melchisedek +Fritter, 1650; Elnathan Brock, 1654; and Abdiah Martin, 1664 ("Tokens of +Seventeenth Century"). Shallum Stent was married in 1681 (Racton, +Sussex); Gershom Baylie was constable of Lewes in 1619, Araunah Verrall +fulfilling the same office in 1784. Captain Epenetus Crosse presented a +petition to Privy Council in 1660 (C. S. P. Colonial); Erastus Johnson was +defendant in 1724, and Cressens Boote twenty years earlier. Barjonah Dove +was Vicar of Croxton in 1694. Tryphena Monger was buried in Putney +Churchyard in 1702, and Tryphosa Saunders at St. Peter's, Worcester, in +1770. Mahaliel Payne, Azarias Phesant, and Pelatiah Barnard are recorded +in State Papers, 1650-1663 (C. S. P.), and Aminadab Henley was dwelling in +Kent in 1640 ("Proceedings in Kent." Camden Society). Shadrack Pride is a +collector of hearth-money in 1699, and Gamaliel Chase is communicated with +in 1635 (C. S. P.). Onesiphorus Albin proposes a better plan of collecting +the alien duty in 1692 (C. S. P.), while Mordecai Abbott is appointed +deputy-paymaster of the forces in 1697 (C. S. P.). Eliakim Palmer is +married at Somerset House Chapel in 1740; Dalilah White is buried at +Cowley in 1791, and Keziah Simmons is christened there in 1850. Selah +Collins is baptized at Dyrham, Gloucestershire, in 1752, and Keturah Jones +is interred at Clifton in 1778. Eli-lama-Sabachthani Pressnail was +existing in 1862 (_Notes and Queries_), and the _Times_ recorded a +Talitha-Cumi People about the same time. The will of Mahershalalhashbaz +Christmas was proved not very long ago. Mrs. Mahershalalhashbaz Bradford +was dwelling in Ringwood, Hampshire, in 1863; and on January 31, 1802, the +register of Beccles Church received the entry, "Mahershalalhashbaz, son of +Henry and Sarah Clarke, baptized," the same being followed, October 14, +1804, by the baptismal entry of "Zaphnaphpaaneah," another son of the same +couple. A grant of administration in the estate of Acts-Apostles Pegden +was made in 1865. His four brothers, older than himself, were of course +the four Evangelists, and had there been a sixth I dare say his name would +have been "Romans." An older member of this family, many years one of the +kennel-keepers of Tickham fox-hounds, was Pontius Pilate Pegden. At a +confirmation at Faversham in 1847, the incumbent of Dunkirk presented to +the amazed archbishop a boy named "Acts-Apostles." These are, of course, +mere eccentricities, but eccentricities follow a beaten path, and have +their use in calculations of the nature we are considering. Eccentricities +in dress are proverbially but exaggerations of the prevailing fashion. + + +II. POPULARITY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. + +The affection felt by the Puritans for the Old Testament has been observed +by all writers upon the period, and of the period. Cleveland's remark, +quoted by Hume, is, of course, an exaggeration. + + "Cromwell," he says, "hath beat up his drums cleane through the Old + Testament--you may learne the genealogy of our Saviour by the names in + his regiment. The muster-master uses no other list than the first + chapter of Matthew." + +Lord Macaulay puts it much more faithfully in his first chapter, speaking, +too, of an earlier period than the Commonwealth: + + "In such a history (_i.e._ Old Testament) it was not difficult for + fierce and gloomy spirits to find much that might be distorted to suit + their wishes. The extreme Puritans, therefore, began to feel for the + Old Testament a preference which, perhaps, they did not distinctly + avow even to themselves, but which showed itself in all their + sentiments and habits. They paid to the Hebrew language a respect + which they refused to that tongue in which the discourses of Jesus and + the Epistles of Paul have come down to us. They baptized their + children by the names, not of Christian saints, but of Hebrew + patriarchs and warriors." + +The Presbyterian clergy had another objection to the New Testament names. +The possessors were all saints, and in the saints' calendar. The apostolic +title was as a red rag to his blood-shot eye. + + "Upon Saint Peter, Paul, John, Jude, and James, + They will not put the 'saint' unto their names," + +says the Water-poet in execrable verse. Its _local_ use was still more +trying, as no man could pass through a single quarter of London without +seeing half a dozen churches, or lanes, or taverns dedicated to Saint +somebody or other. + + "Others to make all things recant + The christian and surname of saint, + Would force all churches, streets, and towns + The holy title to renounce." + +To avoid any saintly taint, the Puritan avoided the saints themselves. + +But the discontented party in the Church had, as Macaulay says, a decided +hankering after the Old Testament on other grounds than this. They paid +the Hebrew language an almost superstitious reverence.[16] Ananias, the +deacon, in the "Alchemist," published in 1610, says-- + + "Heathen Greek, I take it. + _Subtle._ How! heathen Greek? + _Ananias._ All's heathen but the Hebrew."[17] + +Bishop Corbet, in his "Distracted Puritan," has a lance to point at the +same weakness: + + "In the holy tongue of Canaan + I placed my chiefest pleasure, + Till I pricked my foot + With an Hebrew root, + That I bled beyond all measure." + +In the "City Match," written by Mayne in 1639, Bannsright says-- + + "Mistress Dorcas, + If you'll be usher to that holy, learned woman, + That can heal broken shins, scald heads, and th' itch, + Your schoolmistress: that can expound, and teaches + To knit in Chaldee, and work Hebrew samplers, + I'll help you back again." + +The Puritan was ever nicknamed after some Old Testament worthy. I could +quote many instances, but let two from the author of the "London Diurnall" +suffice. Addressing Prince Rupert, he says-- + + "Let the zeal-twanging nose, that wants a ridge, + Snuffling devoutly, drop his silver bridge: + Yes, and the gossip's spoon augment the summe, + Altho' poor _Caleb_ lose his christendome." + +More racy is his attack on Pembroke, as a member of the Mixed Assembly: + + "Forbeare, good Pembroke, be not over-daring: + Such company may chance to spoil thy swearing; + And these drum-major oaths of bulk unruly + May dwindle to a feeble 'by my truly.' + He that the noble Percy's blood inherits, + Will he strike up a Hotspur of the spirits? + He'll fright the _Obediahs_ out of tune, + With his uncircumcis-ed Algernoon: + A name so stubborne, 'tis not to be scanned + By him in Gath with the six fingered hand." + +If a Bible quotation was put into the zealot's mouth, his cynical foe took +care that it should come from the older Scriptures. In George Chapman's +"An Humorous Day's Work," after Lemot has suggested a "full test of +experiment" to prove her virtue, Florilla the Puritan cries-- + + "O husband, this is perfect trial indeed." + +To which the gruff Labervele replies-- + + "And you will try all this now, will you not? + + _Florilla._ Yes, my good head: for it is written, we must pass to + perfection through all temptation: Abacuk the fourth. + + _Labervele._ Abacuk! cuck me no cucks: in a-doors, I say: thieves, + Puritans, murderers! in a-doors, I say!" + +In the same facetious strain, Taylor, the Water-poet, addresses a child +thus: + + "To learne thy duty reade no more than this: + Paul's nineteenth chapter unto Genesis." + +This certainly tallies with the charge in "Hudibras," that they + + "Corrupted the Old Testament + To serve the New as precedent." + +This affection for the older Scriptures had its effect upon our +nomenclature. No book, no story, especially if gloomy in its outline and +melancholy in its issues, escaped the more morbid Puritan's notice. Every +minister of the Lord's vengeance, every stern witness against natural +abomination, the prophet that prophesied ill--these were the names that +were in favour. And he that was least bitter in his maledictions was most +at a discount. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in every-day request, +Shadrach and Abednego being the favourites. Mordecai, too, was daily +commemorated; while Jeremiah attained a popularity, as Jeremy, he can +never altogether lose. "Lamentations" was so melancholy, that it must +needs be personified, don a Puritanical habit, and stand at the font as +godfather--I mean witness--to some wretched infant who had done nothing to +merit such a fate. "Lamentations Chapman" appeared as defendant in a suit +in Chancery about 1590. The exact date is not to be found, but the case +was tried towards the close of Elizabeth's reign ("Chancery Suits, +Elizabeth"). + +It is really hard to say why names of melancholy import became so common. +Perhaps it was a spirit morbidly brooding on the religious oppressions of +the times; perhaps it was bile. Any way, Camden says "Dust" and "Ashes" +were names in use in the days of Elizabeth and James. These, no doubt, +were translations of the Hebrew "Aphrah" into the "vulgar tongue," the +name having become exceedingly common. Micah, in one of the most mournful +prophecies of the Old Testament, says-- + + "Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah + roll thyself in the dust." + +Literally: "in the house of dust roll thyself in the dust." The name was +quickly seized upon: + + "Sept., 1599. Baptized Affray, d. of Richard Manne of + Lymehus."--Stepney. + + "May 15, 1576. Wedding of William Brickhead and Affera Lawrence."--St. + Peter's, Cornhill. + +This last entry proves how early the name had arisen. In Kent it had +become very common. The registers of Canterbury Cathedral teem with it: + + "1601, June 5. Christened Afra, the daughter of William Warriner. + + "1614, Oct. 30. Christened Aphora, the daughter of Mr. Merrewether. + + "1635, July 20. Robert Fuller maryed Apherie Pitt." + +In these instances we see at a glance the origin of the licentious Aphra +Behn's name, which looks so like a _nom-de-plume_, and has puzzled many. +She was born at Canterbury, with the surname of Johnson, baptized Aphra, +and married a Dutch merchant named Behn. When acting as a Government spy +at Antwerp in 1666, she signs a letter "Aphara Behn" (C. S. P.), which is +nearer the Biblical form than many others. It is just possible her father +might have rolled himself several times in the dust had he lived to read +some of his daughter's writings. Their tone is not Puritanic. The name +has become obsolete; indeed, it scarcely survived the seventeenth century, +dying out within a hundred years of its rise. But it was very popular in +its day. + +Rachel, in her dying pains, had styled, under deep depression, her babe +Benoni ("son of my sorrow"); but his father turned it into the more +cheerful Benjamin ("son of the right hand"). Of course, Puritanism sided +with the mother, and the Benonis flourished at a ratio of six to one over +the Benjamins: + + "1607. Christened Benony, sonne of Beniamyn Ruthin, + mariner."--Stepney. + + "1661, Dec. 20. Christened Margrett, d. of Bennoni Wallington, + goldsmith."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + + "1637, May 6. Order to transmit Benoni Bucke to England from + Virginia."--"C. S. P. Colonial." + + "1656, March 25. Petition of Benoni Honeywood."--"C. S. P. Colonial." + +I don't think, however, all these mothers died in childbed. It would speak +badly for the chirurgic skill of the seventeenth century if they did. It +was the Church of Christ that was in travail. + +_Ichabod_ was equally common. There was something hard and unrelenting in +Jael (already mentioned) that naturally suited the temper of every +fanatic: + + "1613, July 28. Christened Jaell, d. of Roger Manwaryng, + preacher."--St. Helen, Bishopsgate. + +Mehetabell had something in it, probably its length, that made it popular +among the Puritan faction. It lasted well, too: + + "1680, March 24. Married Philip Penn and Mehittabela Hilder."--Cant. + Cath. + + "1693, May 21. Baptized Mehetabell, d. of Jeremiah Hart, + apothecary."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +But while Deborah, an especial pet of the fanatics, Sara, Rebecca, Rachel, +Zipporah, and Leah were in high favour as Old Testament heroines, none had +such a run as Abigail: + + "1573, Oct. Abigoll Cumberford, christened."--Stepney. + + "1617, Oct. 15. Christened Abbigale, d. of John Webb, shoemaker."--St. + Peter, Cornhill. + + "1635, Jan. 19. Married Jarrett Birkhead and Abigaile + Whitehead."--Ditto. + + "May 30, 1721. Married Robert Elles and Abigail Six."--Cant. Cath. + +Few Scripture names made themselves so popular as this. At the conclusion +of the sixteenth century it was beginning its career, and by Queen Anne's +day had reached its zenith. When the Cavalier was drinking at the +alehouse, he would waggishly chant through his nose, with eye upturned-- + + "Come, sisters, and sing + An hymne to our king, + Who sitteth on high degree. + The men at Whitehall, + And the wicked, shall fall, + And hey, then, up go we! + 'A match,' quoth my sister Joice, + 'Contented,' quoth Rachel, too; + Quoth Abigaile, 'Yea,' and Faith, 'Verily,' + And Charity, 'Let it be so.'" + +A curious error has been propagated by writers who ought to have known +better. It is customarily asserted that abigail, as a cant term for a +waiting-maid, only arose after Abigail Hill, the Duchess of Marlborough's +cousin, became waiting-woman to the queen, and supplanted her kinswoman. +Certainly we find both Swift and Fielding using the term after this event. +But there is good reason for believing that the sobriquet is as old as +Charles I.'s reign. Indeed, there can be no reasonable doubt but that we +owe the term to the enormous popularity of Beaumont's comedy, "The +Scornful Ladie," written about 1613, and played in 1616. The chief part +falls to the lot of "Abigal, a waiting-gentlewoman," as the _dramatis +personae_ styles her, the playwright associating the name and employment +after the scriptural narrative. But Beaumont knew his Bible well. + +That Abigail at once became a cant term is proved by "The Parson's +Wedding," written by Killigrew some time between 1645 and 1650. Wanton +addresses the Parson: + + "Was she deaf to your report? + _Parson._ Yes, yes. + _Wanton._ And Ugly, her abigail, she had her say, too? + _Parson._ Yes, yes." + +That this sentence would never have been written but for Beaumont's play, +there can be no reasonable doubt. It was performed so late as 1783. In +1673, after yearly performances, it was published as a droll, and entitled +"The False Heir." In 1742 it appears again under the title of "The Feigned +Shipwreck." Samuel Pepys, in his Diary, records his visits to the +playhouse to see "The Scornful Lady" at least four times, viz. 1661, 1662, +1665, and 1667. Writing December 27, 1665, he says-- + + "By coach to the King's Playhouse, and there saw 'The Scornful Lady' + well acted: Doll Common doing Abigail most excellently." + +Abigail passed out of favour about the middle of the last century, but +Mrs. Masham's artifices had little to do with it. The comedy had done its +work, and Abigail coming into use, like Malkin two centuries before, as +the cant term for a kitchen drab, or common serving wench, as is +sufficiently proved by the literature of the day, the name lost caste with +all classes, and was compelled to bid adieu to public favour. + +This affection for the Old Testament has never died out among the +Nonconformists. The large batch of names I have already quoted from modern +directories is almost wholly from the earlier Testament. Wherever Dissent +is strong, there will be found a large proportion of these names. Amongst +the passengers who went out to New England in James and Charles's reigns +will be found such names as Ebed-meleck Gastrell, Oziell Lane, Ephraim +Howe, Ezechell Clement, Jeremy Clement, Zachary Cripps, Noah Fletcher, +Enoch Gould, Zebulon Cunninghame, Seth Smith, Peleg Bucke, Gercyon Bucke +(Gershom), Rachell Saunders, Lea Saunders, Calebb Carr, Jonathan Franklin, +Boaz Sharpe, Esau del a Ware, Pharaoh Flinton, Othniell Haggat, Mordecay +Knight, Obediah Hawes, Gamaliell Ellis, Esaias Raughton, Azarias Pinney, +Elisha Mallowes, Malachi Mallock, Jonadab Illett, Joshua Long, Enecha +Fitch (seemingly a feminine of Enoch), and Job Perridge. Occasionally an +Epenetus Olney, or Nathaniell Patient, or Epaphroditus Haughton, or +Cornelius Conway, or Feleaman Dickerson (Philemon), or Theophilus Lucas, +or Annanias Mann is met with; but these are few, and were evidently +selected for their size, the temptation to poach on apostolic preserves +being too great when such big game was to be obtained. Besides, they were +not in the calendar! These names went to Virginia, and they are not +forgotten. + + +III. OBJECTIONABLE SCRIPTURE NAMES. + +Camden says-- + + "In times of Christianity, the names of most holy and vertuous + persons, and of their most worthy progenitors, were given to stirre up + men to the imitation of them, whose names they bare. But succeeding + ages, little regarding St. Chrysostome's admonition to the contrary, + have recalled prophane names, so as now Diana, Cassandra, Hyppolitus, + Venus, Lais, names of unhappy disastre, are as rife somewhere, as ever + they were in Paganisme."--"Remaines," p. 43. + +The most cursory survey of our registers proves this. Captain Hercules +Huncks and Ensign Neptune Howard fought under the Earl of Northumberland +in 1640 (Peacock's "Army List of Roundheads and Cavaliers"). Both were +Royalists. + + "1643, Feb. 6. Buried Paris, son of William and Margaret Lee."--St. + Michael, Spurriergate, York. + + "1670, March 13. Baptized Cassandra, d. of James Smyth."--Banbury. + + "1679, July 2. Buried Cassandra, ye wife of Edward Williams."--St. + Michael, Barbados, (Hotten). + + "1631, May 26. Married John Cotton and Venus[18] Levat."--St. Peter, + Cornhill. + +Cartwright, the great Puritan, attacked these names in 1575, as "savouring +of paganism" (Neal, v. p. xv. Appendix). It was a pity he did not include +some names in the list of his co-religionists, for surely Tamar and Dinah +were just as objectionable as Venus or Lais. The doctrine of a fallen +nature could be upheld, and the blessed state of self-abasement +maintained, without a daily reminder in the shape of a Bible name of evil +repute. Bishop Corbett brought it as a distinct charge against the +Puritans, that they loved to select the most unsavoury stories of Old +Testament history for their converse. In the "Maypole" he makes a zealot +minister say-- + + "To challenge liberty and recreation, + Let it be done in holy contemplation. + Brothers and sisters in the fields may walk, + Beginning of the Holy Word to talk: + Of David and Uria's lovely wife, + Of Tamar and her lustful brother's strife." + +One thing is certain, these names became popular: + + "1610, March. Baptized Bathsheba, d. of John Hamond, of + Ratcliffe."--Stepney. + + "1672, Feb. 23. Buried Bathsheba, wife of Richard Brinley, + hosier."--St. Denis Backchurch. + +The alternate form of Bath-shua (1 Chron. iii. 5) was used, although the +clerks did not always know how to spell it: + + "1609, July 1. Baptized Bathshira and Tabitha, daughters of Sir + Antonie Dering, Knight. + + "1609, July 5. Buried Bathshira and Tabitha, ds. of Sir Antonie + Dering, Knight, being twines."--Pluckley, Kent. + + "1601, Jan. Baptized Thamar, d. of Henry Reynold."--Stepney. + + "1691, Nov. 20. Baptized Tamar, d. of Francis and Tamar Lee."--St. + Dionis Backchurch. + + "1698, April 10. Buried Tamar, wife of Richard Robinson, of + Fell-foot."--Cartmel. + +As for Dinah, she became a great favourite from her first introduction; +every register contains her name before Elizabeth's death: + + "1585, Aug. 15. Christening of Dina, d. of John Lister, barbor. + + "1591, Aug. 21. Buried Mrs. Dina Walthall, a vertuous yong woman, 30 + years."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + +Crossing the Atlantic with the Pilgrim Fathers, she settled down at length +as the typical negress; yet Puritan writers admitted that when she "went +out to see the daughters of the land," she meant to be seen of the sons +also! + +Taylor, the Water-poet, seems to imply that Goliath was registered at +baptism by the Puritan: + + "Quoth he, 'what might the child baptized be? + Was it a male She, or a female He?'-- + 'I know not what, but 'tis a Son,' she said.-- + 'Nay then,' quoth he, 'a wager may be laid + It had some Scripture name.'--'Yes, so it had,' + Said she: 'but my weak memory's so bad, + I have forgot it: 'twas a godly name, + Tho' out of my remembrance be the same: + 'Twas one of the small prophets verily: + 'Twas not Esaias, nor yet Jeremy, + Ezekiel, Daniel, nor good Obadiah, + Ah, now I do remember, 'twas Goliah!'" + +Pharaoh occurs, and went out to Virginia, where it has ever since +remained. It is, as already shown, familiar enough in Yorkshire. + +Of New Testament names, whose associations are of evil repute, we may +mention Ananias, Sapphira, and Antipas. Ananias had become so closely +connected with Puritanism, that not only did Dryden poke fun at the +relationship in the "Alchemist," but _Ananias Dulman_ became the cant term +for a long-winded zealot preacher. So says Neal. + + "1603, Sep. 12. Buried Ananias, sonne of George Warren, 17 + years."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + + "1621, Sep. Baptized Ananias, son of Ananias Jarratt, + glassmaker."--Stepney. + +_Sapphira_ occurs in Bunhill Fields: + + "Here lyeth the body of Mrs. Sapphira Lightmaker, wife of Mr. Edward + Lightmaker, of Broadhurst, in Sussex, gent. She died in the Lorde, + Dec. 20, 1704, aged 81 years." + +She was therefore born in 1633. Her brother (they were brought up +Presbyterians) was Robert Leighton, who died Archbishop of Glasgow. + +_Drusilla_, again, was objectionable, but perchance her character was less +historically known then: + + "1622. Baptized Drusilla, d. of Thomas Davis."--Ludlow. + +_Antipas_, curiously enough, was almost popular, although a murderer and +an adulterer: + + "1633, Feb. 28. Baptized Antipas, sonne of Robert Barnes, of + Shadwell."--Stepney. + + "1662. Petition of Antipas Charrington."--"Cal. St. P. Dom." + + "1650. Antipas Swinnerton, Tedbury, wollman."--"Tokens of Seventeenth + Century." + +Dr. Increase Mather, the eminent Puritan, in his work entitled "Remarkable +Providences," published at Boston, U.S.A., in 1684, has a story of an +interposition in behalf of his friend Antipas Newman. + +Of other instances, somewhat later, _Sehon_ Stace, who lived in Warding in +1707 ("Suss. Arch. Coll.," xii. 254), commemorates the King of the +Amorites, _Milcom_ Groat ("Cal. St. P.," 1660) representing on English +soil "the abomination of the children of Ammon." Dr. Pusey and Mr. +Spurgeon might be excused a little astonishment at such a conversion by +baptism. + +_Barrabas_ cannot be considered a happy choice: + + "Buried, 1713, Oct. 18, Barabas, sonne of Barabas + Bowen."--All-Hallows, Barking. + +Mr. Maskell draws attention to the name in his history of that church. +There is something so emphatic about "now Barrabas was a robber," that +thoughts of theft seem proper to the very name. We should have locked up +the spoons, we feel sure, had father or son called upon us. The father who +called his son "Judas-not-Iscariot" scarcely cleared the name of its evil +associations, nor would it quite meet the difficulty suggested by the +remark in "Tristram Shandy:" + + "Your Billy, sir--would you for the world have called him Judas?... + Would you, sir, if a Jew of a godfather had proposed the name of your + child, and offered you his purse along with it--would you have + consented to such a desecration of him?" + +We have all heard the story of Beelzebub. If the child had been +inadvertently so baptized, a remedy might have been found in former days +by changing the name at confirmation. Until 1552, the bishop confirmed by +name. Archbishop Peccham laid down a rule: + + "The minister shall take care not to permit wanton names, which being + pronounced do sound to lasciviousness, to be given to children + baptized, especially of the female sex: and if otherwise it be done, + the same shall be changed by the bishop at confirmation." + +That this law had been carelessly followed after the Reformation is clear, +else Venus Levat, already quoted, would not have been married in 1631 +under that name. Certainly Dinah and Tamar come under the ban of this +injunction. + +Curiously enough, the change of name was sanctioned in the case of +orthodox names, for Lord Coke says-- + + "If a man be baptized by the name of Thomas, and after, at his + confirmation by the Bishop, he is named John, his name of confirmation + shall stand." + +He then quotes the case of Sir Francis Gawdie, Chief Justice of the Court +of Common Pleas, whose name by baptism was Thomas, Thomas being changed to +Francis at confirmation. He holds that Francis shall stand ("Institutes," +1. iii.). This practice manifestly arose out of Peccham's rule, but it is +strange that wanton instances should be left unchanged, and the orthodox +allowed to be altered. + +Arising out of the Puritan error of permitting names like Tamar and Dinah +to stand, modern eccentricity has gone very far, and it would be +satisfactory to see many names in use at present forbidden. I need not +quote the Venuses of our directories. Emanuel is of an opposite character, +and should be considered blasphemy. We have not adopted Christ yet, as Dr. +Doran reminded us they have done in Germany, but my copy of the London +Directory shows at least one German, bearing the baptismal name of Christ, +at present dwelling in the metropolis. Puritan eccentricity is a trifle to +this. + + +IV. LOSSES. + +(_a._) _The Destruction of Pet Forms._ + +But let us now notice some of the more disastrous effects of the great +Hebrew invasion. The most important were the partial destruction of the +nick forms, and the suppression of diminutives. The English pet names +disappeared, never more to return. Desinences in "cock," "kin," "elot," +"ot," "et," "in," and "on," are no more found in current literature, nor +in the clerk's register. Why should this be so? An important reason +strikes us at once. The ecclesiastic names on which the enclytics had +grown had become unpopular well-nigh throughout England. It was an +English, not a Puritan prejudice. With the suppression of the names proper +went the desinences attached to them. The tree being felled, the parasite +decayed. Another reason was this: the names introduced from the Scriptures +did not seem to compound comfortably with these terminatives. The Hebrew +name would first have to be turned into a nick form before the diminutive +was appended. The English peasantry had added "_in_," "_ot_," "_kin_," and +"_cock_" only to the _nickname_, never to the baptismal form. It was +Wat-kin, not Walterkin; Bat-kin, not Bartholomewkin; Wilcock, not +Williamcock; Colin, not Nicholas-in; Philpot, not Philipot. But the +popular feeling for a century was against turning the new Scripture names +into curt nick forms. As it would have been an absurdity to have appended +diminutives to sesquipedalian names, national wit, rather than deliberate +plan, prevented it. If it was irreverent, too, to curtail Scripture names, +it was equally irreverent to give them the diminutive dress. To prove the +absolute truth of my statement, I have only to remind the reader that, +saving "Nat-kin," not one single Bible name introduced by the Reformation +and the English Bible has become conjoined with a diminutive.[19] + +The immediate consequence was this; the diminutive forms became obsolete. +Emmott lingered on till the end of the seventeenth century; nay, got into +the eighteenth: + + "Emmit, d. of Edward and Ann Buck, died 24 April, 1726, aged 6 + years."--Hawling, Gloucester. + +But it was only where it was not known as a form of Emma, and possibly +both might exist in the same household. I have already furnished instances +of Hamlet. Here is another: + + "The Rev. Hamlet Marshall, D.D., died in the Close, Lincoln, in 1652. + With him dwelt his nephew, Hamlet Joyce. He bequeaths legacies in his + will to Hamlet Pickerin and Hamlet Duncalf, and his executor was his + son, Hamlet Marshall."--_Notes and Queries_, February 14, 1880. + +It lasted till the eighteenth century. But nobody knew by that time that +it was a pet name of Hamon, or Hamond; nay, few knew that the surname of +Hammond had ever been a baptismal name at all: + + "1620, Jan. 3. Buried Hamlet Rigby, Mr. Askew's man."--St. Peter, + Cornhill. + + "1620. Petition of Hamond Franklin."--"Cal. S. P. Dom.," 1619-1623. + +It is curious to notice that Mr. Hovenden, in his "Canterbury Register," +published 1878, for the Harleian Society, has the following entries:-- + + "1627, Aprill 3. Christened Ham'on, the sonn of Richard Struggle." + + "1634. Jan. 18. Christened Damaris, daughter of Mr. Ham'on Leucknor." + +Turning to the index, the editor has styled them _Hamilton_ Struggle and +_Hamilton_ Leucknor. Ham'on, of course, is Hammon, or Hammond. I may add +that some ecclesiastic, a critic of my book on "English Surnames," in the +_Guardian_, rebuked me for supposing that Emmot could be from Emma, and +calmly put it down as a form of Aymot! What can prove the effect of the +Reformation on old English names as do such incidents as these? + +An English monarch styled his favourite Peter Gaveston as "Piers," a form +that was sufficiently familiar to readers of history; but when an +antiquary, some few years ago, found this same Gaveston described as +"Perot," it became a difficulty to not a few. The Perrots or Parratts of +our London Directory might have told them of the old-fashioned diminutive +that had been knocked on the head with a Hebrew Bible. + +Collet, from Nicholas, used as a feminine name, died out also. The last +instance I know of is-- + + "1629, Jan. 15. Married Thomas Woollard and Collatt Hargrave."--St. + Peter, Cornhill. + +Colin, the other pet form, having got into our pastoral poetry, lingered +longer, and may be said to be still alive: + + "1728. Married Colin Foster and Beulah Digby."--Somerset House Chapel. + +The last Wilmot I have discovered is a certain Wilmote Adams, a defendant +in a Chancery suit at the end of Elizabeth's reign ("Chancery Suits: +Elizabeth"), and the last Philpot is dated 1575: + + "1575, Aug. 26. Christened Philpott, a chylde that was laide at Mr + Alderman Osberne's gatt."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +All the others perished by the time James I. was king. Guy, or Wyatt, +succumbed entirely, and the same may be said of the rest. Did we require +further confirmation of this, I need only inquire: Would any Yorkshireman +now, as he reads over shop-fronts in towns like Leeds or Bradford, or in +the secluded villages of Wensleydale or Swaledale, the surnames of Tillot +and Tillotson, Emmett and Emmotson, Ibbott, Ibbet, Ibbs, and Ibbotson, +know that, twenty years before the introduction of our English Bible, +these were not merely the familiar pet names of Matilda, Emma, and +Isabella, but that as a trio they stood absolutely first in the scale of +frequency? Nay, they comprised more than forty-five per cent. of the +female population. + +The last registered Ibbot or Issot I have seen is in the Chancery suits at +the close of Queen Bess's reign, wherein Ibote Babyngton and Izott Barne +figure in some legal squabbles ("Chancery Suits: Elizabeth," vol. ii.). As +for Sissot, or Drewet, or Doucet, or Fawcett, or Hewet, or Philcock, or +Jeffcock, or Batkin, or Phippin, or Lambin, or Perrin, they have passed +away--their place knoweth them no more. What a remarkable revolution is +this, and so speedy! + +Failing our registers, the question may arise whether or not in familiar +converse the old pet forms were still used. Our ballads and plays preserve +many of the nick forms, but scarcely a pet form is to be seen later than +1590. In 1550 Nicholas Udall wrote "Ralph Roister Doister," in the very +commencement of which Matthew Merrygreek "says or sings"-- + + "Sometime Lewis Loiterer biddeth me come near: + Somewhiles _Watkin_ Waster maketh us good cheer." + +Amongst the _dramatis personae_ are _Dobinet_ Doughty, Sim Suresby, Madge +Mumblecrust, _Tibet_ Talkapace, and _Annot_ Aliface. A few years later +came "Gammer Gurton's Needle." Both _Diccon_ and Hodge figure in it: two +rustics of the most bucolic type. Hodge, after relating how Gib the cat +had licked the milk-pan clean, adds-- + + "Gog's souls, _Diccon_, Gib our cat had eat the bacon too." + +Immediately after this, again, in 1568 was printed "Like will to Like." +The chief characters are Tom Tosspot, _Hankin_ Hangman, Pierce Pickpurse, +and Nichol Newfangle. Wat Waghalter is also introduced. But here may be +said to end this homely and contemporary class of play-names. 'Tis true, +in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Beggar's Bush," Higgen (_Higgin_) is one of +the "three knavish beggars," but the scene is laid in Flanders. + +Judging by our songs and comedies, the diminutive forms went down with +terrible rapidity, and were practically obsolete before Elizabeth's death. +But this result was more the work of the Reformation at large than +Puritanism. + + +(_b._) _The Decrease of Nick Forms._ + +This was not all. The nick forms saw themselves reduced to straits. The +new godly names, I have said, were not to be turned into irreverent cant +terms. From the earliest day of the Reformation every man who gave his +child a Bible name stuck to it unaltered. Ebenezer at baptism was Ebenezer +among the turnips, Ebenezer with the milk-pail, and Ebenezer in courtship; +while Deborah, who did not become Deb till Charles I.'s reign, would +Ebenezer him till the last day she had done scolding him, and put +"Ebenezer" carefully on his grave, to prove how happily they had lived +together! + +As for the zealot who gradually forged his way to the front, he gave his +brother and sister in the Lord the full benefit of his or her title, +whether it was five syllables or seven. There can be no doubt that these +Hebrew names did not readily adapt themselves to ordinary converse with +the world. Melchisedek and Ebedmelech were all right elbowing their way +into the conventicle, but Melchisedek dispensing half-pounds of butter +over the counter, or Ebedmelech carrying milk-pails from door to door, +gave people a kind of shock. These grand assumptions suggested knavery. +One feels certain that our great-grandmothers had a suspicion of tallow in +the butter, and Jupiter Pluvius in the pail. + +Nor did these excavated names harmonize with the surnames to which they +were yoked. Adoniram was quaint enough without Byfield, but both (as +Butler, in "Hudibras," knew) suggested something slightly ludicrous. Byron +took a mean advantage of this when he attacked poor Cottle, the bookseller +and would-be writer: + + "O Amos Cottle! Phoebus! what a name + To fill the speaking trump of future fame! + O Amos Cottle! for a moment think + What meagre profits spring from pen and ink." + +Amos is odd, but Amos united to Cottle makes a smile irresistible. + +Who does not agree with Wilkes, who, when speaking to Johnson of Dryden's +would-be rival, the city poet, says-- + + "Elkanah Settle sounds so queer, who can expect much from that name? + We should have no hesitation to give it for John Dryden, in preference + to Elkanah Settle, from the names only, without knowing their + different merits"? + +And Sterne, as the elder Disraeli reminds us, in one of his multitudinous +digressions from the life of "Tristram Shandy," makes the progenitor of +that young gentleman turn absolutely melancholy, as he conjures up a +vision of all the men who + + "might have done exceeding well in the world, had not their characters + and spirits been totally depressed, and Nicodemas'd into nothing." + +Even Oliver Goldsmith cannot resist styling the knavish seller of green +spectacles by a conjunction of Hebrew and English titles as Ephraim +Jenkinson; and his servant, who acts the part of a Job Trotter (another +Old Testament worthy, again) to his master, is, of course, Abraham! + +But, oddly as such combinations strike upon the modern tympanum, what must +not the effect have been in a day when a nickname was popular according as +it was curt? How would men rub their eyes in sheer amazement, when such +conjunctions as Ebedmelech Gastrell, or Epaphroditus Haughton, or +Onesiphorus Dixey, were introduced to their notice, pronounced with all +sesquipedalian fulness, following upon the very heels of a long epoch of +traditional one-syllabled Ralphs, Hodges, Hicks, Wats, Phips, Bates, and +Balls (Baldwin). Conceive the amazement at such registrations as these: + + "1599, Sep. 23. Christened Aholiab, sonne of Michaell Nicolson, + cordwainer."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + + "1569, June 1. Christened Ezekiell, sonne of Robert Pownall."--Cant. + Cath. + + "1582, April 1. Christened Melchisadeck, sonne of Melchizadeck Bennet, + poulter."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + + "1590, Dec. 20. Christened Abacucke, sonne of John Tailer."--Ditto. + + "1595, Nov. Christened Zabulon, sonne of John Griffin."--Stepney. + + "1603, Sep. 15. Buried Melchesideck King."--Cant. Cath. + + "1645, July 19. Buried Edward, sonne of Mephibosheth Robins."--St. + Peter, Cornhill. + + "1660, Nov. 5. Buried Jehostiaphat (_sic_) Star."--Cant. Cath. + + "1611, Oct. 21. Baptized Zipporah, d. of Richard Beere, of + Wapping."--Stepney. + +The "Chancery Suits" of Elizabeth contain a large batch of such names; and +I have already enumerated a list of "Pilgrim Fathers" of James's reign, +whose baptisms would be recorded in the previous century. + +But compare this with the fact that the leading men in England at this +very time were recognized only by the curtest of abbreviated names. In +that very quaint poem of Heywood's, "The Hierarchie of Blessed Angels," +the author actually makes it the ground of an affected remonstrance: + + "Marlowe, renowned for his rare art and wit, + Could ne'er attain beyond the name of _Kit_, + Although his _Hero and Leander_ did + Merit addition rather. Famous Kid + Was called but _Tom_. _Tom_ Watson, though he wrote + Able to make Apollo's self to dote + Upon his muse, for all that he could strive, + Yet never could to his full name arrive. + _Tom_ Nash, in his time of no small esteem, + Could not a second syllable redeem. + + * * * * * + + Mellifluous Shakespeare, whose enchanting quill + Commanded mirth or passion, was but _Will_: + And famous Jonson, though his learned pen + Be dipped in Castaly, is still but _Ben_." + +However, in the end, he attributes the familiarity to the right cause: + + "I, for my part, + Think others what they please, accept that heart + That courts my love in most familiar phrase; + And that it takes not from my pains or praise, + If any one to me so bluntly come: + I hold he loves me best that calls me _Tom_." + +It is Sir Christopher, the curate, who, in "The Ordinary," rebels against +"Kit:" + + "_Andrew._ What may I call your name, most reverend sir? + _Bagshot._ His name's Sir Kit. + _Christopher._ My name is not so short: + 'Tis a trisyllable, an't please your worship; + But vulgar tongues have made bold to profane it + With the short sound of that unhallowed idol + They call a kit. Boy, learn more reverence! + _Bagshot._ Yes, to my betters." + +We need not wonder, therefore, that the comedists took their fun out of +the new custom, especially in relation to their length and pronunciation +in full. In Cowley's "Cutter of Colman Street," Cutter turns Puritan, and +thus addresses the colonel's widow, Tabitha: + + "Sister Barebottle, I must not be called Cutter any more: that is a + name of Cavalier's darkness; the Devil was a Cutter from the + beginning: my name is now Abednego: I had a vision which whispered to + me through a key-hole, 'Go, call thyself Abednego.'" + +In his epilogue to this same comedy, Cutter is supposed to address the +audience as a "congregation of the elect," the playhouse is a conventicle, +and he is a "pious cushion-thumper." Gazing about the theatre, he +says--through his nose, no doubt-- + + "But yet I wonder much not to espy a + Brother in all this court called Zephaniah." + +This is a better rhyme even than Butler's + + "Their dispensations had been stifled + But for our Adoniram Byfield." + +In Brome's "Covent Garden Weeded," the arrival at the vintner's door is +thus described: + + "_Rooksbill._ Sure you mistake him, sir. + + _Vintner._ You are welcome, gentlemen: Will, Harry, Zachary! + + _Gabriel._ Zachary is a good name. + + _Vintner._ Where are you? Shew up into the Phoenix."--Act. ii. sc. 2. + +The contrast between Will or Harry, the nick forms, and Zachary,[20] the +full name, is intentionally drawn, and Gabriel instantly rails at it. + +In "Bartholomew Fair," half the laughter that convulsed Charles II., his +courtiers, and courtezans, was at the mention of _Ezekiel_, the cut-purse, +or _Zeal-of-the-land_, the baker, who saw visions; while the veriest +noodle in the pit saw the point of Squire Cokes' perpetually addressing +his body-man Humphrey in some such style as this: + + "O, Numps! are you here, Numps? Look where I am, Numps, and Mistress + Grace, too! Nay, do not look so angrily, Numps: my sister is here and + all, I do not come without her." + +How the audience would laugh and cheer at a sally that was simply +manufactured of a repetition of the good old-fashioned name for Humphrey; +and thus a passage that reads as very dull fun indeed to the ears of the +nineteenth century, would seem to be brimful of sarcastic allusion to the +popular audience of the seventeenth, especially when spoken by such lips +as Wintersels. + +The same effect was attempted and attained in the "Alchemist." Subtle +addresses the deacon: + + "What's your name? + _Ananias._ My name is Ananias. + _Subtle._ Out, the varlet + That cozened the Apostles! Hence away! + Flee, mischief! had your holy consistory + No name to send me, of another sound, + Than wicked Ananias? Send your elders + Hither, to make atonement for you, quickly, + And give me satisfaction: or out goes + The fire ... + If they stay threescore minutes; the aqueity, + Terreity, and sulphureity + Shall run together again, and all be annulled, + Thou wicked Ananias!" + +Exit Ananias, and no wonder. Of course, the pit would roar at the expense +of Ananias. But Abel, the tobacco-man, who immediately appears in his +place, is addressed familiarly as "Nab:" + + "_Face._ Abel, thou art made. + _Abel._ Sir, I do thank his worship. + _Face._ Six o' thy legs more will not do it, Nab. + He has brought you a pipe of tobacco, doctor. + _Abel._ Yes, sir; I have another thing I would impart---- + _Face._ Out with it, Nab. + _Abel._ Sir, there is lodged hard by me + A rich young widow." + +To some readers there will be little point in this. They will say "Abel," +as an Old Testament name, should neither have been given to an +un-puritanic character, nor ought it to have been turned into a nickname. +This would never have occurred to the audience. Abel, or Nab, had been one +of the most popular of English names for at least three centuries before +the Reformation. Hence it was _never_ used by the Puritans, and was, as a +matter of course, the undisturbed property of their enemies. Three +centuries of bad company had ruined Nab's morals. The zealot would none of +it.[21] + +But from all this it will be seen that a much better fight was made in +behalf of the old nick forms than of the diminutives. By a timely rally, +Tom, Jack, Dick, and Harry were carried, against all hindrances, into the +Restoration period, and from that time they were safe. Wat, Phip, Hodge, +Bat or Bate, and Cole lost their position, but so had the fuller Philip, +Roger, Bartholomew, and Nicholas, But the opponents of Puritanism carried +the war into the enemy's camp in revenge for this, and Priscilla, Deborah, +Jeremiah, and Nathaniel, although they were rather of the Reformation than +Puritanic introductions, were turned by the time of Charles I. into the +familiar nick forms of Pris, Deb, Jerry, and Nat. The licentious Richard +Brome, in "The New Academy," even attempts a curtailment of Nehemiah: + + "_Lady Nestlecock._ Negh, Negh! + _Nehemiah._ Hark! my mother comes. + _Lady N._ Where are you, childe? Negh! + _Nehemiah._ I hear her _neighing_ after me." + Act iv. sc. 1. (1658). + +It was never tried out of doors, however, and the experiment was not +repeated. Brome was still more scant in reverence to Damaris. In "Covent +Garden Weeded" Madge begins "the dismal story:" + + "This gentlewoman whose name is Damaris---- + + _Nich._ Damyris, stay: her nickname then is Dammy: so we may call her + when we grow familiar; and to begin that familiarity--Dammy, here's to + you. (_Drinks._)" + +After this she is Dammy in the mouth of Nicholas throughout the play. +This, too, was a failure. Indeed, it demonstrates a remarkable reverence +for their Bible on the part of the English race, that every attempt to +turn one of its names into a nick form (saving in some three or four +instances) has ignominiously failed. We mean, of course, since the +Reformation. + +The Restoration was a great restoration of nick forms. Such names as had +survived were again for a while in full favour, and the reader has only +to turn to the often coarse ballads and songs contained in such +collections as Tom d'Urfey's "Pills to Purge Melancholy" to see how Nan, +Sis, Sib, Kate, and Doll had been brought back to popular favour. It was +but a spurt, however, in the main. As the lascivious reaction from the +Puritanic strait-lacedness in some degree spent itself, so did the newly +restored fashion, and when the eighteenth century brought in a fresh +innovation, viz. the _classic_ forms, such as Beatrix, Maria, Laetitia, +Carolina, Louisa, Amelia, Georgina, Dorothea, Prudentia, Honora--an +innovation that for forty years ran like an epidemic through every class +of society, and was sarcastically alluded to by Goldsmith in Miss Carolina +Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs, and the sisters Olivia and Sophia--the old nick +forms once more bade adieu to English society, and now enjoy but a partial +favour. But Bill, Tom, Dick, and Harry still hold on like grim death. Long +may they continue to do so! + + +(_c._) _The Decay of Saint and Festival Names._ + +There were some serious losses in hagiology. Names that had figured in the +calendar for centuries fared badly; Simon, Peter, Nicholas, Bartholomew, +Philip, and Matthew, from being first favourites, lapsed into comparative +oblivion. Some virgins and martyrs of extra-Biblical repute, like Agnes, +Ursula, Catharine, Cecilia, or Blaze, crept into the registers of +Charles's reign, but they had then become but shadows of their former +selves. + +'Sis' is often found in D'Urfey's ballads, but it only proves the songs +themselves were old ones, or at any rate the choruses, for Cecilia was +practically obsolete: + + "1574, Oct. 8. Buried Cisly Weanewright, ye carter's wife."--St. + Peter, Cornhill. + + "1578, June 1. Buried Cissellye, wife of Gilles Lambe."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + + "1547, Dec. 26. Married Thomas Bodnam and Urcylaye Watsworth."--Ditto. + + "1654, Sep. 20. Buried Ursley, d. of John Fife."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + +It was now that Awdry gave way: + + "1576, Sept. 7. Buryed Awdry, the widow of -- Seward."--St. Peter, + Cornhill. + + "1610, May 27. Baptized Awdrey, d. of John Cooke, butcher."--St. + Dionis Backchurch. + +St. Blaze,[22] the patron saint of wool-combers and the _nom-de-plume_ of +Gil Blas, has only a church or two to recall his memory to us now. But he +lived into Charles's reign: + + "Blaze Winter was master of Stodmarsh Hospital, when it was + surrendered to Queen Elizabeth, 1575."--Hasted's "History of Kent." + + "1550, May 23. Baptized Blaze, daughter of -- Goodwinne."--St. Peter, + Cornhill. + + "1555, Julie 21. Wedding of Blase Sawlter and Collis Smith."--Ditto. + + "1662, May 6. Blase Whyte, one of ye minor cannons, to Mrs. Susanna + Wright, widow."--Cant. Cath. + +This is the last instance I have seen. Hillary shared the same fate: + + "1547, Jan. 30. Married Hillarye Finch and Jane Whyte."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + + "1557, June 27. Wedding of Hillary Wapolle and Jane Garret."--St. + Peter, Cornhill. + + "1593, Jan. 20. Christening of Hillary, sonne of Hillary Turner, + draper."--Ditto. + +Bride is rarely found in England now: + + "1556, May 22. Baptized Bryde, daughter of -- Stoakes. + + "1553, Nov. 27. Baptized Bryde, daughter of -- Faunt."--St. Peter, + Cornhill. + +Benedict, which for three hundred years had been known as Bennet, as +several London churches can testify, became well-nigh extinct; but the +feminine Benedicta, with Bennet for its shortened form, suddenly arose on +its ashes, and flourished for a time: + + "1517, Jan. 28. Wedding of William Stiche and Bennet Bennet, + widow."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + + "1653, Sep. 29. Married Richard Moone to Benedicta Rolfe."--Cant. + Cath. + + "1575, Jan. 25. Baptized Bennett, son of John Langdon."--St. Columb + Major. + +These feminines are sometimes bothering. Look, for instance, at this: + + "1596, Feb. 6. Wedding of William Bromley and Mathew Barnet, maiden, + of this parish."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + + "1655, Sep. 24. Married Thomas Budd, miller, and Mathew Larkin, + spinster."--Ditto. + +The true spelling should have been Mathea, which, previous to the +Reformation, had been given to girls born on St. Matthew's Day.[23] The +nick form _Mat_ changed sexes. In "Englishmen for my Money" Walgrave +says-- + + "Nay, stare not, look you here: no monster I, But even plain Ned, and + here stands Mat my wife." + +Appoline, all of whose teeth were extracted at her martyrdom with pincers, +was a favourite saint for appeal against toothache. In the Homily "Against +the Perils of Idolatry," it is said-- + + "All diseases have their special saints, as gods, the curers of them: + the toothache, St. Appoline."[24] + +Scarcely any name for girls was more common than this for a time; up to +the Commonwealth period it contrived to exist. Take St. Peter, Cornhill, +alone: + + "1593, Jan. 13. Christened Apeline, d. of John Moris, clothworker. + + "1609, M{ch}. 11. Christened Apoline, d. of Will{m}. Burton, marchant. + + "1617, June 29. Buried Appelyna, d. of Thomas Church." + +Names from the great Church festivals fared as badly as those from the +hagiology. The high day of the ecclesiastical calendar is Easter. We have +more relics of this festival than any other. Pasche Oland or Pascoe Kerne +figure in the Chancery suits of Elizabeth. Long before this the Hundred +Rolls had given us a _Huge fil. Pasche_, and a contemporary record +contained an _Antony Pascheson_. The different forms lingered till the +Commonwealth: + + "1553, M{ch}. 23. Baptized Pascall, son of John Davye."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + + "1651, M{ch}. 18. Married Thomas Strato and Paskey Prideaux."--St. + Peter's, Cornhill. + + "1747, May 4. Baptized Rebekah, d. of Pasko and Sarah Crocker."--St. + Dionis Backchurch. + + "1582, June 14. Baptized Pascow, son-in-law of Pascowe John."--St. + Columb Major. + +Pascha Turner, widow, was sister of Henry Parr, Bishop of Worcester. + +The more English "Easter" had a longer survival, but this arose from its +having become confounded with Esther. To this mistake it owes the fact +that it lived till the commencement of the present century: + + "April, 1505. Christened Easter, daughter of Thomas Coxe, of + Wapping."--Stepney. + + "May 27, 1764. Buried Easter Lewis, aged 56 years."--Lidney, Glouc. + + "July 27, 1654. Married Thomas Burton, marriner, and Easter + Taylor."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + +_Epiphany_, or _Theophania_ (shortened to Tiffany), was popular with both +sexes, but the ladies got the chief hold of it. + + "Megge Merrywedyr, and Sabyn Sprynge, + Tiffany Twynkeler, fayle for no thynge," + +says one of our old mysteries. This form succumbed at the Reformation. +Tyffanie Seamor appears as defendant about 1590, however ("Chancery Suits: +Eliz."), and in Cornwall the name reached the seventeenth century: + + "1594, Nov. 7. Baptized Typhenie, daughter of Sampson Bray. + + "1600, June 21. Baptized Tiffeny, daughter of Harry Hake."--St. Columb + Major. + +The following is from Banbury register: + + "1586, Jan. 9. Baptized Epiphane, ye sonne of Ambrose Bentley."[25] + +Epiphany Howarth records his name also about 1590 ("Chancery Suits: +Eliz."), and a few years later he is once more met with in a State paper +(C. S. P. 1623-25): + + "1623, June. Account of monies paid by Epiphan Haworth, of + Herefordshire, recusant, since Nov. 11, 1611, L6 10 0." + +This Epiphan is valuable as showing the transition state between Epiphania +and Ephin, the latter being the form that ousted all others: + + "1563, March 14. Christening of Ephin King, d. of -- King. + + "1564, June 30. Christening of Effam, d. of John Adlington. + + "1620, March 30. Frauncis, sonne of Alexander Brounescome, and Effym, + his wife, brought a bead at Mr. Vowell's house. + + "1635, Jan. 28. Buried Epham Vowell, widow."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + +But Ephin was not a long liver, and by the time of the Restoration had +wholly succumbed. The last entry I have seen is in the Westminster Abbey +register: + + "1692, Jan. 25. Buried Eppifania Cakewood, an almsman's wife." + +Pentecost was more sparely used. In the "Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum in +Turri Londonensi" occur both Pentecost de London (1221) and Pentecost +Servicus, and a servitor of Henry III. bore the only name of "Pentecost" +("Inquis., 13 Edw. I.," No. 13). This name was all but obsolete soon after +the Reformation set in, but it lingered on till the end of the seventeenth +century. + + "1577, May 25. Baptized Pentecost, daughter of Robert Rosegan."--St. + Columb Major. + + "1610, May 27. Baptized Pentecost, d. of William Tremain."--Ditto. + + "August 7, 1696. Pentecost, daughter of Mr. Ezekel and Pentecost Hall, + merchant, born and baptized."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +Noel shared the same fate. The Hundred Rolls furnish a Noel de Aubianis, +while the "Materials for a History of Henry VII." (p. 503) mentions a +Nowell Harper: + + "1486, July 16. General pardon to Nowell Harper, late of Boyleston, + co. Derby, gent." + + "1545, Dec. 20. Baptized Nowell, son of William Mayhowe."--St. Columb + Major. + + "1580, March 1. Baptized James, son of Nowell Mathew."--Ditto. + + "1627. Petition of Nowell Warner."--"C. S. P. Domestic," 1627-8. + +Noel still struggled gamely, and died hard, seeing the eighteenth century +well in: + + "1706, April 23. Noell Whiteing, son of Noell and Ann Whiteing, + linendraper, baptized."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +Again the Reformation, apart from Puritanism, had much to do with the +decay of these names. + + +(_d._) _The Last of some Old Favourites._ + +There were some old English favourites that the Reformation and the +English Bible did not immediately crush. Thousands of men were youths when +the Hebrew invasion set in, and lived unto James's reign. Their names crop +up, of course, in the burial registers. Others were inclined to be +tenacious over family favourites. We must be content, in the records of +Elizabeth's and even James's reign, to find some old friends standing side +by side with the new. The majority of them were extra-Biblical, and +therefore did not meet with the same opposition as those that savoured of +the old ecclesiasticism. Nevertheless, this new fashion was telling on +them, and of most we may say, "Their places know them no more." + +Looking from now back to then, we see this the more clearly. We turn to +the "Calendar of State Papers," and we find a grant, dated November 5, +1607, to _Fulk_ Reade to travel four years. Shortly afterwards (July 15, +1609), we come across a warrant to John Carse, of the benefit of the +recusancy of _Drew_ Lovett, of the county of Middlesex. Casting our eye +backwards we speedily reach a grant or warrant in 1603, wherein +_Gavin_[26] Harvey is mentioned. In 1604 comes _Ingram_ Fyser. One after +another these names occur within the space of five years--names then, +although it was well in James's reign, known of all men, and borne +reputably by many. But who will say that Drew, or Fulk, or Gavin, or +Ingram are alive now? How they were to be elbowed out of existence these +very same records tell us; for within the same half-decade we may see +warrants or grants relating to _Matathias_ Mason (April 7, 1610) or +_Gersome_ Holmes (January 23, 1608). _Jethro_ Forstall obtains licence, +November 12, 1604, to dwell in one of the alms-rooms of Canterbury +Cathedral; while _Melchizedec_ Bradwood receives sole privilege, February +18, 1608, of printing Jewel's "Defence of the Apology of the English +Church." The enemy was already within the bastion, and the call for +surrender was about to be made. + +Take another specimen a few years earlier. In the Chancery suits at the +close of Elizabeth's reign, we find a plaintiff named Goddard Freeman, +another styled Anketill Brasbridge, a defendant bearing the good old title +of Frideswide Heysham, while a fourth endeavours to secure his title to +some property under the signature of Avery Howlatt. Hamlett Holcrofte and +Hammett Hyde are to be met with (but we have spoken of them), and such +other personages as Ellice Heye, Morrice Cowles, and Gervase Hatfield. +Within a few pages' limit we come across Dogory Garry, Digory Greenfield, +Digory Harrit, and Degory Hollman. These names of Goddard, Anketill, +Frideswide, Avery, Hamlet, Ellice, Morrice, Gervase, and Digory were on +everybody's lips when Henry VIII. was king. Who can say that they exist +now? Only Maurice and Gervase enjoy a precarious existence. A breath of +popular disregard would blow them out. Avery held out, but in vain: + + "Avery Terrill, cooke at ye Falcon, Lothbury, 1650."--"Tokens of + Seventeenth Century." + +But what else do we see in these same registers? We are confronted with +pages bearing such names as Esaye Freeman (Isaiah), or Elizar Audly +(Eliezer), or Seth Awcocke, or Urias Babington, or Ezekias Brent,--and +this not forty years after the Reformation. These men must have been +baptized in the very throes of the great contest. + +Another "Calendar of State Papers," bearing dates between 1590 and 1605, +contains the names of Colet Carey (1580) and Amice Carteret (1599), +alongside of whom stands Aquila Wyke (1603). Here once more we are +reminded of two pretty baptismal names that have gone the way of the +others. It makes one quite sad to think of these national losses. Amice, +previous to the Reformation, was a household favourite, and Colet a +perfect pet. Won't somebody come to the rescue? Why on earth should the +fact that the Bible has been translated out of Latin into English strip us +of these treasures? + +Turn once more to our church registers. Few will recognize Thurstan as a +baptismal name: + + "1544, May 11. Married Thryston Hogkyn and Letyce Knight."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + + "1573, Nov. 15. Wedding of Thrustone Bufford and Annes Agnes + Dyckson."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + +Drew and Fulk are again found: + + "1583, April 16. Buried Drew Hewat, sonne of Nicholas Hewat. + + "1583, March 8. Buried Foulke Phillip, sonne of Thomas Phillip, + grocer."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + +Take the following, dropped upon hap-hazard as I turn the pages of St. +Dionis Backchurch: + + "1540, Oct. 25. Buried Jacomyn Swallowe. + + "1543, Aug. 3. Buried Awdrye Hykman. + + "1543, June 12. Married Bonyface Meorys and Jackamyn Kelderly. + + "1546, Nov. 23. Christened Grizill, daughter of--Deyne. + + "1557, Nov. 8. Buried Austin Clarke. + + "1567, April 22. Married Richard Staper and Dennis Hewyt. + + "1573, Sep. 25. Married John Carrington and Gyllian Lovelake. + + "1574, Oct. 23. Buried Joyce, d. of John Bray. + + "1594, Nov. 1. Married Gawyn Browne and Sibbell Halfhed." + +So they run. How quaint and pretty they sound to modern ears! Amongst the +above I have mentioned some girl-names. The change is strongly marked +here. It was Elizabeth's reign saw the end of Joan. Jane Grey set the +fashionable Jane going; Joan was relegated to the milkmaid, and very soon +even the kitchen wench would none of it. Joan is obsolete; Jane is showing +signs of dissolution.[27] + +It was Elizabeth's reign saw the end of Jill, or Gill, which had been the +pet name of Juliana for three centuries: + + "1586, Feb. 5. Christening of Gillian Jones, daughter of Thomas Jones, + grocer."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + + "1573, Sep. 25. Married John Carrington, Cheape, and Gillian + Lovelake."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +In one of our earlier mysteries Noah's wife had refused to enter the ark. +To Noah she had said-- + + "Sir, for Jak nor for Gille + Wille I turne my face, + Tille I have on this hille + Spun a space." + +It lingered on till the close of James's reign. In 1619 we find in +"Satyricall Epigrams"-- + + "Wille squabbled in a tavern very sore, + Because one brought a _gill_ of wine--no more: + 'Fill me a quart,' quoth he, 'I'm called Will; + The proverb is, each _Jacke_ shall have his _Gill_.'" + +But Jill had become a term for a common street jade, like Parnel and Nan. +All these disappeared at this period, and must have sunk into disuse, +Bible or no Bible. A nanny-house, or simple "nanny," was well known to the +loose and dissolute of either sex at the close of the sixteenth century. +Hence, in the ballad "The Two Angrie Women of Abington," Nan Lawson is a +wanton; while, in "Slippery Will," the hero's inclination for Nan is +anything but complimentary: + + "Long have I lived a bachelor's life, + And had no mind to marry; + But now I faine would have a wife, + Either Doll, Kate, Sis, or Mary. + These four did love me very well, + I had my choice of Mary; + But one did all the rest excell, + And that was pretty Nanny. + + "Sweet Nan did love me deare indeed," etc. + +Respectable people, still liking the name, changed it to Nancy, and in +that form it still lives. + +Parnel, the once favourite Petronilla, fell under the same blight as +Peter, and shared his fate; but her character also ruined her. In the +registers of St. Peter, Cornhill, we find the following entries:-- + + "1539, May 20. Christened Petronilla, ignoti cognominis." + + "1594, Sep. 15. Christening of Parnell Griphin, d. of John Griphin, + felt-maker." + + "1586, April 17. Christening of Parnell Averell, d. of William + Averell, merchant tailor." + +Two other examples may be furnished:-- + + "1553, Nov. 15. Peternoll, daughter of William Agar, baptized."--St. + Columb Major. + + "1590, April. Pernell, d. of Antony Barton, of Poplar."--Stepney, + London. + +The Restoration did not restore Parnel, and the name is gone. + +Sibyl had a tremendous run in her day, and narrowly escaped a second epoch +of favour in the second Charles's reign. Tib and Sib were always placed +side by side. Burton, speaking of "love melancholy," says-- + + "One grows too fat, another too lean: modest Matilda, pretty pleasing + Peg, sweet singing Susan, mincing merry Moll, dainty dancing Doll, + neat Nancy, jolly Joan, nimble Nell, kissing Kate, bouncing Bess with + black eyes, fair Phillis with fine white hands, fiddling Frank, tall + Tib, slender Sib, will quickly lose their grace, grow fulsome, stale, + sad, heavy, dull, sour, and all at last out of fashion." + +The "Psalm of Mercie," too, has it: + + "'So, so,' quoth my sister Bab, + And 'Kill 'um,' quoth Margerie; + 'Spare none,' cry's old Tib; 'No quarter,' says Sib, + 'And, hey, for our monachie.'" + +In "Cocke Lorelle's Bote," one of the personages introduced is-- + + "Sibby Sole, mylke wyfe of Islynton." + + "Sibb Smith, near Westgate, Canterbury, 1650."--"Half-penny Tokens of + Seventeenth Century." + + "1590, Aug. 30. Christening of Cibell Overton, d. of Lawrence Overton, + bowyer." + +Three names practically disappeared in this same century--Olive, Jacomyn +or Jacolin, and Grissel: + + "1581, Feb. 17. Baptized Olyff, daughter of Degorie Stubbs."--St. + Columb Major. + + "1550, Dec. 11. Christning of Grysell, daughter of -- Plummer."--St. + Peter, Cornhill. + + "1598, March 15. Buried Jacolyn Backley, widow."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + +Olive was a great favourite in the west of England, and was restored by a +caprice of fashion as Olivia in the eighteenth century. It was the +property of both sexes, and is often found in the dress of "Olliph," +"Olyffe," and "Olif." From being a household pet, Dorothy, as Doll, almost +disappeared for a while. Doll and Dolly came back in the eighteenth +century, under the patronage of the royal and stately Dorothea. What a run +it again had! Dolly is one of the few instances of a really double +existence. It was the rage from 1450 to 1570; it was overwhelmed with +favour from 1750 to 1820. Dr. Syntax in his travels meets with three +Dollys. Napoleon is besought in the rhymes of the day to + + "quit his folly, + Settle in England, and marry Dolly." + +Once more Dolly, saving for Dora, has made her bow and exit. I suppose she +may turn up again about 1990, and all the little girls will be wearing +Dolly Vardens. + +_Barbara_, with its pet Bab, is now of rarest use. _Dowse_, the pretty +Douce of earlier days, is defunct, and with it the fuller Dowsabel: + + "1565, Sep. 9. Buried Dowse, wife of John Thomas."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + +_Joyce_ fought hard, but it was useless: + + "1563, Sep. 8. Buried Joyce, wife of Thomas Armstrong."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + + "1575, April 5. Baptized Joyes, daughter of John Lyttacott."--St. + Columb Major. + + "1652, Aug. 18. Married Joseph Sumner and Joyce Stallowhace."--St. + Peter, Cornhill. + +_Lettice_ disappeared, to come back as Laetitia in the eighteenth century: + + "1587, June 19. Married Richard Evannes and Lettis Warren."--St. + Peter, Cornhill. + +_Amery_, or _Emery_, the property of either sex, lost place: + + "1584, April 9. Buried Amery Martin, widow, of Wilsdon."--St. Peter, + Cornhill. + + "1668. Emerre Bradley, baker, Hartford."--"Tokens of Seventeenth + Century." + +_Avice_ shared the same fate: + + "Avis Kingston and Amary Clerke, widow, applied for arrears of pay due + to their husbands, May 13, 1656."--C. S. P. + + "1590-1, Jan. Christened Avis, d. of Philip Cliff."--Stepney. + + "1600, Feb. 6. Baptized Avice, daughter of Thomas Bennett."--St. + Columb Major. + + "1623, August 5. Christened Thomas, the sonne of James Jennets, and + Avice his wife."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + +Thomasine requires a brief notice. Coming into use as a fancy name about +1450, it seems to have met with no opposition, and for a century and a +half was a decided success. It became familiar to every district in +England, north or south, and is found in the registers of out-of-the-way +villages in Derbyshire, as plentifully as in those of the metropolitan +churches: + + "1538, Nov. 30. Married Edward Bashe and Thomeson Agar."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + + "1582, Nov. 1. Baptized Tamson, daughter of Richard Hodge."--St. + Columb Major. + + "1622, Jan. 19. Christened Thomas, the sonne of Henery Thomson, + haberdasher, and of Thomazine his wife."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + + "1620, Jan. 21. Baptized Johanna, fil. Tamsin Smith, + adulterina."--Minster. + + "1640, Jan. 31. Buried Thomasing, filia William Sympson."--Wirksworth, + Derbyshire. + +In other registers such forms as Thomasena, Thomesin, Thomazin, Tomasin, +and Thomasin occur. In Cowley's "Chronicle," too, the name is found: + + "Then Jone and Jane and Audria, + And then a pretty Thomasine, + And then another Katharine, + And then a long et caetera." + + +V. THE GENERAL CONFUSION. + +But what a state of confusion does all this reveal! By the time of the +Commonwealth, there was the choice of three methods of selection open to +the English householder in this matter of names. He might copy the zealot +faction, and select his names from the Scriptures or the category of +Christian graces; he might rally by the old English gentleman, who at this +time was generally a Cavalier, and Dick, Tom, Harry, or Dolly, his +children; or he might be careless about the whole matter, and mix the two, +according to his caprice or fancy. That Royalist had no bad conception of +the state of society in 1648, when he turned off verses such as these: + + "And Greenwich shall be for tenements free + For saints to possess Pell-Mell, + And where all the sport is at Hampton Court + Shall be for ourselves to dwell. + _Chorus._ ''Tis blessed,' quoth Bathsheba, + And Clemence, 'We're all agreed.' + ''Tis right,' quoth Gertrude, 'And fit,' says sweet Jude, + And Thomasine, 'Yea, indeed.' + + "What though the king proclaims + Our meetings no more shall be; + In private we may hold forth the right way, + And be, as we should be, free. + _Chorus._ 'O very well said,' quoth Con; + 'And so will I do,' says Franck; + And Mercy cries, 'Aye,' and Mat, 'Really,' + 'And I'm o' that mind,' quoth Thank." + +As we shall show in our next chapter, "Thank" was no imaginary name, +coined to meet the exigencies of rhyme. Thanks, however, to the good sense +of the nation, an effort was made in behalf of such old favourites as +John, William, Richard, Robert, and Thomas. So early as 1643, Thomas +Adams, Puritan as he was, had delivered himself in a London pulpit to the +effect that "he knew 'Williams' and 'Richards' who, though they bore names +not found in sacred story, but familiar to the country, were as gracious +saints" as any who bore names found in it ("Meditations upon the Creed"). +The Cavalier, we know, had deliberately stuck by the old names. A +political skit, already referred to, after running through a list of all +the new-fangled names introduced by the fanatics, concludes: + + "They're just like the Gadaren's swine, + Which the devils did drive and bewitch: + An herd set on evill + Will run to the de-vill + And his dam when their tailes do itch. + 'Then let 'em run on!' + Says Ned, Tom, and John. + 'Ay, let 'um be hanged!' quoth Mun: + 'They're mine,' quoth old Nick, + 'And take 'um,' says Dick, + 'And welcome!' quoth worshipful Dun. + 'And God blesse King Charles!' quoth George, + 'And save him,' says Simon and Sill; + 'Aye, aye,' quoth old Cole and each loyall soul, + 'And Amen, and Amen!' cries Will." + +Another ballad, lively and free as the other, published in 1648, and +styled "The Anarchie, or the Blest Reformation," after railing at the +confusion of things in general, and names in particular, concludes with +the customary jolly old English flourish: + + "'A health to King Charles!' says Tom; + 'Up with it,' says Ralph like a man; + 'God bless him,' says Moll, 'And raise him,' says Doll, + 'And send him his owne,' says Nan." + +The Restoration practically ended the conflict, but it was a truce; for +both sides, so far as nomenclature is concerned, retained trophies of +victory, and, on the whole, the Hebrew was the gainer. At the start he had +little to lose, and he has filled the land with titles that had lain in +abeyance for four thousand years. The old English yeoman has lost many of +his most honoured cognomens, but he can still, at least, boast one thing. +The two names that were foremost before the middle of the twelfth century +stand at this moment in the same position. Out of every hundred children +baptized in England, thirteen are entered in the register as John or +William. The Cavalier, too, can boast that "Charles,"[28] although there +were not more of that name throughout the length and breadth of England at +the beginning of Elizabeth's reign than could be counted on the fingers of +one hand, now occupies the sixth place among male baptismal names. + +Several names, now predominant, were for various reasons lifted above the +contest. George holds the fourth position among boys; Mary and Elizabeth, +the first and second among girls. George dates all his popularity from the +last century, and Mary was in danger of becoming obsolete at the close of +Elizabeth's reign, so hateful had it become to Englishmen, whether +Churchmen or Presbyterians. It was at this time Philip, too, lost a place +it can never recover. But the fates came to the rescue of Mary, when the +Prince of Orange landed at Torbay, and sate with James's daughter on +England's throne. It has been first favourite ever since. As for +Elizabeth, a chapter might be written upon it. Just known, and no more, at +the beginning of the sixteenth century, it was speedily popularized in the +"daughter of the Reformation." The Puritans, in spite of persecution and +other provocations, were ever true to "Good Queen Bess." The name, too, +was scriptural, and had not been mixed up with centuries of Romish +superstition. Elizabeth ruled supreme, and was contorted and twisted into +every conceivable shape that ingenuity could devise. It narrowly escaped +the diminutive desinence, for Ezot and Ezota occur to my knowledge four +times in records between 1500 and 1530. But Bess and Bessie took up the +running, and, a century later, Bett and Betty. It will surprise almost all +my readers, I suspect, to know that the "Lady Bettys" of the early part of +last century were never, or rarely ever, christened Elizabeth. Queen +Anne's reign, even William and Mary's reign, saw the fashionable rage for +Latinized forms, already referred to, setting in. Elizabeth was turned +into Bethia and Betha: + + "1707, Jan. 2. Married Will{m}. Simonds and Bethia Ligbourne."--St. + Dionis Backchurch. + + "1721. Married Charles Bawden to Bethia Thornton."--Somerset House + Chapel. + + "1748. Married Adam Allyn to Bethia Lee."[29]--Ditto. + +The familiar form of this was Betty: + + "Betty Trevor, wife of the Hon. John Trevor, eldest d. of Sir Thomas + Frankland, of Thirkleby, in the county of York, Baronet, ob. Dec. 28, + 1742, aetat. 25."--"Suss. Arch. Coll.," xvii. 148. + +Bess was forgotten, and it was not till the present century that, Betty +having become the property of the lower orders, who had soon learnt to +copy their betters, the higher classes fell back once more on the Bessie +of Reformation days. + +Meanwhile other freaks of fancy had a turn. Bessie and Betty were dropped +into a mill, and ground out as Betsy. This, after a while, was relegated +to the peasantry and artisans north of Trent. Then Tetty and Tetsy had an +innings. Dr. Johnson always called his wife Tetty. Writing March 28, 1753, +he says-- + + "I kept this day as the anniversary of my Tetty's death, with prayer + and tears in the morning." + +Eliza arose before Elizabeth died; was popular in the seventeenth, much +resorted to in the eighteenth, and is still familiar in the nineteenth +century. Thomas Nash, in "Summer's Last Will and Testament," has the +audacity to speak of the queen as-- + + "that Eliza, England's beauteous queen, + On whom all seasons prosperously attend." + +Dr. Johnson, in an epigram anent Colley Cibber and George II., says-- + + "Augustus still survives in Maro's strain, + And Spenser's verse prolongs Eliza's reign." + +But by the lexicographer's day, the poorer classes had ceased to +recognize that Eliza and Betty were parts of one single name. They took up +each on her own account, as a separate name, and thus Betty and Eliza were +commonly met with in the same household. This is still frequently seen. +The _Spectator_, the other day, furnished a list of our commonest font +names, wherein Elizabeth is placed fourth, with 4610 representatives in +every 100,000 of the population. Looking lower down, we find "Eliza" +ranked in the twenty-first place with 1507. This is scarcely fair. The two +ought to be added together; at least, it perpetuates a misconception. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +PURITAN ECCENTRICITIES. + + "And we have known Williams and Richards, names not found in sacred + story, but familiar to our country, prove as gracious saints as any + Safe-deliverance, Fight-the-good-fight-of-faith, or such like, which + have been rather descriptions than names."--THOMAS ADAMS, _Meditations + upon the Creed_, 1629. + + "In giving names to children, it was their opinion that _heathenish + names_ should be avoided, as not so fit for Christians; and also the + names of God, and Christ, and angels, and the peculiar offices of the + Mediator,"--NEAL, _History of the Puritans_, vol. 1, ch. v. 1565. + + +I. INTRODUCTORY. + +There are still many people who are sceptical about the stories told +against the Puritans in the matter of name-giving. Of these some are +Nonconformists, who do not like the slights thus cast upon their spiritual +ancestry; unaware that while this curious phase was at its climax, +Puritanism was yet within the pale of the Church of England. Others, +having searched through the lists of the Protector's Parliaments, +Commissioners, and army officers, and having found but a handful of odd +baptismal names, declare, without hesitation, that these stories are +wicked calumnies. Mr. Peacock, whose book on the "Army Lists of Roundheads +and Cavaliers" is well worth study, says, in one of the numbers of _Notes +and Queries_-- + + "I know modern writers have repeated the same thing over and over + again; but I do not remember any trustworthy evidence of the + Commonwealth time, or that of Charles II., that would lead us to + believe that strange christian names were more common in those days + than now. What passages have we on this subject in the works of the + Restoration playwrights?" + +This is an old mistake. If Mr. Peacock had looked at our registers from +1580 to 1640, instead of from 1640 to 1680, he would never have written +the above. There is the most distinct evidence that during the latter +portion of Elizabeth's reign, the whole of James's reign, and great part +of Charles's reign, in a district roughly comprising England south of the +Trent, and having, say, Banbury for its centre, there prevailed, amongst a +certain class of English religionists, a practice of baptizing children by +scriptural phrases, pious ejaculations, or godly admonitions. It was a +practice instituted of deliberate purpose, as conducive to vital religion, +and as intending to separate the truly godly and renewed portion of the +community from the world at large. The Reformation epoch had seen the +English middle and lower classes generally adopting the proper names of +Scripture. Thus, the sterner Puritan had found a list of Bible names that +he would gladly have monopolized, shared in by half the English +population. That a father should style his child Nehemiah, or Abacuck, or +Tabitha, or Dorcas, he discovered with dismay, did not prove that that +particular parent was under any deep conviction of sin. This began to +trouble the minds and consciences of the elect. Fresh limits must be +created. As Richard and Roger had given way to Nathaniel and Zerrubabel, +so Nathaniel and Zerrubabel must now give way to _Learn-wisdom_ and +_Hate-evil_. Who inaugurated the movement, with what success, and how it +slowly waned, this chapter will show. + +There can be no doubt that it is entirely owing to Praise-God Barebone, +and the Parliament that went by his name,[30] the impression got abroad in +after days that the Commonwealth period was the heyday of these +eccentricities, and that these remarkable names were merely adopted after +conversion, and were not entered in the vestry-books as baptismal names at +all. + +The existence of these names could not escape the attention of Lord +Macaulay and Sir Walter Scott. The Whig historian has referred to +Tribulation Wholesome and Zeal-of-the-land Busy almost as frequently as to +that fourth-form boy for whose average (!) abilities to the very end of +his literary life he entertained such a profound respect. Two quotations +will suffice. In his "Comic Dramatists of the Restoration" he says, +speaking of the Commonwealth-- + + "To know whether a man was really godly was impossible. But it was + easy to know whether he had a plain dress, lank hair, no starch in his + linen, no gay furniture in his house; whether he talked through his + nose, and showed the whites of his eyes; whether he named his children + _Assurance_, _Tribulation_, and _Maher-shalal-hash-baz_." + +Again, in his Essay on Croker's "Boswell's Life of Johnson," he declares-- + + "Johnson could easily see that a Roundhead who named all his children + after Solomon's singers, and talked in the House of Commons about + seeking the Lord, might be an unprincipled villain, whose religious + mummeries only aggravated his fault." + +In "Woodstock," Scott has such characters as _Zerrubabel_ Robins and +_Merciful_ Strickalthrow, both soldiers of Oliver Cromwell; while the +zealot ranter is one _Nehemiah_ Holdenough. Mr. Peacock most certainly has +grounds for complaint here, but not as to facts, only dates. + + +II. ORIGINATED BY THE PRESBYTERIAN CLERGY. + +In Strype's "Life of Whitgift" (i. 255) we find the following statement:-- + + "I find yet again another company of these fault-finders with the Book + of Common Prayer, in another diocese, namely, that of Chichester, + whose names and livings were these: William Hopkinson, vicar of + Salehurst; Samuel Norden, parson of Hamsey; Antony Hobson, vicar of + Leominster; Thomas Underdown, parson of St. Mary's in Lewes; John + Bingham, preacher of Hodeleigh; Thomas Heley, preacher of Warbleton; + John German, vicar of Burienam; and Richard Whiteaker, vicar of + Ambreley." + +I follow up the history of but two of these ministers, Hopkinson of +Salehurst, and Heley of Warbleton. Suspended by the commissary, they were +summoned to Canterbury, December 6, 1583, and subscribed. Both being +married men, with young families, we may note their action in regard to +name-giving. The following are to be found in the register at Salehurst: + + "Maye 3, 1579, was baptized Persis (Rom. xvi. 12), the daughter of + William Hopkinson, minister heare. + + "June 18, 1587, was baptized Stedfast, the sonne of Mr. William Bell, + minister. + + "Nov. 3, 1588, was baptized Renewed, the doughter of William + Hopkinson, minister. + + "Feb. 28, 1591, was baptized Safe-on-Highe, the sonne of Will{m}. + Hopkinson, minister of the Lord's Worde there.[31] + + "Oct. 29, 1596. Constant, filia Thomae Lorde, baptisata fuit. + + "March, 1621. Rejoyce, filia Thomae Lorde, baptisata fuit die 10, et + sepulta die 23. + + "November, 1646. Bethshua, doughter of Mr. John Lorde, minister of + Salehurst, bapt. 22 die." + +These entries are of the utmost importance; they begin at the very date +when the new custom arose, and are patronized by three ministers in +succession--possibly four, if Thomas Lorde was also a clergyman. + +Heley's case is yet more curious. He had been prescribing grace-names for +his flock shortly before the birth of his first child. He thus practises +upon his own offspring: + + "Nov. 7, 1585. Muche-merceye, the sonne of Thomas Hellye, minyster. + + "March 26, 1587. Increased, the dather of Thomas Helly, minister. + + "Maye 5, 1588. Sin-denie, the dather of Thomas Helly, minister. + + "Maye 25, 1589. Fear-not, the sonne of Thomas Helly, minister." + +Under rectorial pressure the villagers followed suit; and for half a +century Warbleton was, in the names of its parishioners, a complete +exegesis of justification by faith without the deeds of the law. +_Sorry-for-sin_ Coupard was a peripatetic exhortation to repentance, and +_No-merit_ Vynall was a standing denunciation of works. No register in +England is better worth a pilgrimage to-day than Warbleton.[32] + +Still confining our attention to Sussex and Kent, we come to Berwick: + + "1594, Dec. 22. Baptized Continent, daughter of Hugh Walker, vicar. + + "1602, Dec. 12. Baptized Christophilus, son of Hugh Walker."--Berwick, + Sussex. + +I think the father ought to be whipped most incontinently in the open +market who would inflict such a name on an infant daughter. They did not +think so then. The point, however, is that the father was incumbent of the +parish. + +A more historic instance may be given. John Frewen, Puritan rector of +Northiam, Sussex, from 1583 to 1628, and author of "Grounds and Principles +of the Christian Religion," had two sons, at least, baptized in his +church. The dates tally exactly with the new custom: + + "1588, May 26. Baptized Accepted, sonne of John Frewen. + + "1591, Sep. 5. Baptized Thankful, sonne of John Frewen."--Northiam, + Sussex. + +_Accepted_[33] died Archbishop of York, being prebend designate of +Canterbury so early as 1620: + + "1620, Sep. 8. Grant in reversion to Accepted Frewen of a prebend in + Canterbury Cathedral."--"C. S. P. Dom." + +One more instance before we pass on. In two separate wills, dated 1602 +and 1604 (folio 25, Montagu, "Prerog. Ct. of Cant.," and folio 25, Harte, +ditto), will be found references to "More-fruite and Faint-not, children +of Dudley Fenner, minister of the Word of God" at Marden, in Kent. + +Now, this Dudley Fenner was a thoroughly worthy man, but a fanatic of most +intolerant type. In 1583 we find him at Cranbrook, in Kent. An account of +his sayings and doings was forwarded, says Strype, to Lord Burghley, who +himself marked the following passage:-- + + "Ye shall pray also that God would strike through the sides of all + such as go about to take away from the ministers of the Gospel the + liberty which is granted them by the Word of God." + +But a curious note occurs alongside this passage in Lord Burghley's hand: + + "Names given in baptism by Dudley Fenner: Joy-againe, From-above, + More-fruit, Dust."--Whitgift, i. p. 247. + +Two of these names were given to his own children, as Cranbrook register +shows to this day: + + "1583, Dec. 22. Baptized More-fruit, son of Mr. Dudley Fenner." + + "1585, June 6. Baptized Faint-not, fil. Mr. Dudley Fenner, concional + digniss." + +Soon after this Dudley Fenner again got into trouble through his sturdy +spirit of nonconformity. After an imprisonment of twelve months, he fled +to Middleborough, in Holland, and died there about 1589. + +The above incident from Strype is interesting, for here manifestly is the +source whence Camden derived his information upon the subject. In his +quaint "Remaines," published thirty years later (1614), after alluding to +the Latin names then in vogue, he adds: + + "As little will be thought of the new names, Free-Gift, Reformation, + Earth, Dust, Ashes, Delivery, More-fruit, Tribulation, + The-Lord-is-near, More-triale, Discipline, Joy-againe, From-above, + which have lately been given by some to their children, with no evill + meaning, but upon some singular and precise conceite." + +Very likely Lord Burghley gave Fenner's selection to the great antiquary. + +Coming into London, the following case occurs. John Press was incumbent of +St. Matthew, Friday Street, from 1573 to 1612: + + "1584. Baptized Purifie, son of Mr. John Presse, parson." + +John Bunyan's great character name of _Hopeful_ is to be seen in Banbury +Church register. But such an eccentricity is to be expected in the parish +over which Wheatley presided, the head-quarters, too, of extravagant +Puritanism. We all remember drunken Barnaby: + + "To Banbury came I, O prophane one! + Where I saw a Puritane one, + Hanging of his cat on Monday + For killing of a mouse on Sunday." + +But the point I want to emphasize is that this _Hopeful_ was Wheatley's +own daughter: + + "1604, Dec. 21. Baptized Hope-full, daughter of William Wheatlye." + +Take a run from Banbury into Leicestershire. A stern Puritan was Antony +Grey, "parson and patron" of Burbach; and he continued "a constant and +faithfull preacher of the Gospell of Jesus Christ, even to his extreame +old age, and for some yeares after he was Earle of Kent," as his tombstone +tells us. He had twelve children, and their baptismal entries are worth +recording: + + "1593, April 29. Grace, daughter of Mr. Anthonie Grey. + + "1594, Nov. 28. Henry, son of ditto. + + "1596, Nov. 16. Magdalen, daughter of ditto. + + "1598, May 8. Christian, daughter of ditto. + + "1600, Feb. 2. Faith-my-joy, daughter of ditto.[34] + + "1603, April 3. John, son of ditto. + + "1604, Feb. 23. Patience, daughter of Myster Anthonie Grey, preacher. + + "1606, Oct. 5. Jobe, son of ditto. + + "1608, May 1. Theophilus, son of ditto. + + "1609, March 14. Priscilla, daughter of ditto (died). + + "1613, Sept. 19. Nathaniel, son of ditto. + + "1615, May 7. Presela, daughter of ditto." + +Why old Antony was persuaded of the devil to christen his second child by +the ungodly agnomen of Henry, we are not informed. It must have given him +many a twinge of conscience afterwards. + +Had the Puritan clergy confined these vagaries to their own nurseries, it +would not have mattered much. But there can be no doubt they used their +influence to bias the minds of godparents and witnesses in the same +direction. We have only to pitch upon a minister who came under the +archbishop's or Lord Treasurer's notice as disaffected, seek out the +church over which he presided, scan the register of baptisms during the +years of his incumbency, and a batch of extravagant names will at once be +unearthed. In the villages of Sussex and Kent, where the personal +influence of the recalcitrant clergy seems to have been greatest, the +parochial records teem with them. + +Thus was the final stage of fanaticism reached, the year 1580 being as +nearly as possible the exact date of its development. Thus were English +people being prepared for the influx of a large batch of names which had +never been seen before, nor will be again. The purely Biblical names, +those that commemorated Bible worthies, swept over the whole country, and +left ineffaceable impressions. The second stage of Puritan excess, names +that savour of eccentricity and fanaticism combined, scarcely reached +England north of Trent, and, for lack of volume, have left but the +faintest traces. They lasted long enough to cover what may be fairly +called an epoch, and extended just far enough to embrace a province. The +epoch was a hundred years, and the province was from Kent to Hereford, +making a small arc northwards, so as to take in Bedfordshire, +Leicestershire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire. The practice, so far as +the bolder examples is concerned, was a _deliberate scheme_ on the part of +the Presbyterian clergy. On this point the evidence is in all respects +conclusive. + + +III. CURIOUS NAMES NOT PURITAN. + +Several names found in the registers at this time, though commonly +ascribed to the zealots, must be placed under a different category. For +instance, original sin and the Ninth Article would seem to be commemorated +in such a name as Original. We may reject Camden's theory: + + "Originall may seem to be deducted from the Greek _origines_, that is, + borne in good time," + +inasmuch as he does not appear to have believed in it himself. The name, +as a matter of fact, was given in the early part of the sixteenth century, +in certain families of position, to the eldest son and heir, denoting that +in him was carried on the original stock. The Bellamys of Lambcote Grange, +Stainton, are a case in point. The eldest son for three generations bore +the name; viz. _Original_ Bellamy, buried at Stainton, September 12, +1619, aged 80; _Original_, his son and heir, the record of whose death I +cannot find; and _Original_, his son and heir, who was baptized December +29, 1606. The first of these must have been born in 1539, far too early a +date for the name to be fathered upon the Puritans. _Original_ was in use +in the family of Babington, of Rampton. Original Babington, son and heir +of John Babington, was a contemporary of the first Original Bellamy +(Nicholl's "Gen. et Top.," viii.). + +Another instance occurs later on: + + "1635, May 21. These under-written names are to be transported to St. + Christopher's, imbarqued in the _Matthew_ of London, Richard Goodladd, + master, per warrant from ye Earle of Carlisle: + + "Originall Lowis, 28 yeres," etc.--Hotten's "Emigrants," p. 81. + +_Sense_, a common name in Elizabeth and James's reigns, looks closely +connected with some of the abstract virtues, such as Prudence and +Temperance. The learned compiler of the "Calendar of State Papers" +(1637-38) seems to have been much bothered with the name: + + "1638, April 23. Petition of Seuce Whitley, widow of Thomas Whitley, + citizen, and grocer." + +The suggestion from the editorial pen is that this Seuce (as he prints it) +is a bewildered spelling of Susey, from Susan! The fact is, Seuce is a +bewildered misreading on the compiler's part of Sense, and Sense is an +English dress of the foreign Senchia, or Sancho, still familiar to us in +Sancho Panza. Several of the following entries will prove that Sense was +too early an inmate of our registers to be a Puritan agnomen: + + "1564, Oct. 15. Baptized Saints, d. of Francis Muschamp. + + "1565, Nov. 25. Buried Sence, d. of ditto. + + "1559, June 13. Married Matthew Draper and Sence Blackwell. + + "1570-1, Jan. 15. Baptized Sence, d. of John Bowyer."--Camberwell + Church. + + "1651. Zanchy Harvyn, Grocer's Arms, Abbey Milton."--"Tokens of + Seventeenth Century." + + "1661, June. Petition of Mrs. Zanchy Mark."--C. S. P. + +That it was familiar to Camden in 1614 is clear: + + "Sanchia, from Sancta, that is, Holy."--"Remaines," p. 88. + +The name became obsolete by the close of the seventeenth century, and, +being a saintly title, was sufficiently odious to the Presbyterians to be +carefully rejected by them in the sixteenth century. Men who refused the +Apostles their saintly title were not likely to stamp the same for life on +weak flesh.[35] + +Nor can _Emanuel_, or _Angel_, be brought as charges against the Puritans. +Both flatly contradicted Cartwright's canon; yet both, and especially the +former, have been attributed to the zealots. No names could have been +more offensive to them than these. Even Adams, in his "Meditations upon +the Creed," while attacking his friends on their eccentricity in +preferring "Safe-deliverance" to "Richard," takes care to rebuke those on +the other side, who would introduce _Emanuel_, or even _Gabriel_ or +_Michael_, into their nurseries: + + "Some call their sons _Emanuel_: this is too bold. The name is proper + to Christ, therefore not to be communicated to any creature." + +_Emanuel_ was imported from the Continent about 1500: + + "1545, March 19. Baptized Humphrey, son of Emanuell Roger."--St. + Columb Major. + +The same conclusion must be drawn regarding _Angel_. Adams continues: + + "Yea, it seems to me not fit for Christian humility to call a man + _Gabriel_ or _Michael_, giving the names of angels to the sons of + mortality." + +If the Puritans objected, as they did to a man, to the use of Gabriel and +Michael as angelic names, the generic term itself would be still more +objectionable: + + "1645, Nov. 13. Buried Miss Angela Boyce."--Cant. Cath. + + "1682, April 11. Baptized Angel, d. of Sir Nicholas Butler, + K{nt}."--St. Helen, Bishopgate. + + "Weymouth, March 20, 1635. Embarked for New England: Angell Holland, + aged 21 years."--Hotten's "Emigrants," p. 285. + +In this case we may presume the son, and not the father, had turned +Puritan. + +A curious custom, which terminated soon after Protestantism was +established in England, gave rise to several names which read oddly enough +to modern eyes. These were titles like Vitalis or Creature--names +applicable to either sex. Mr. Maskell, without furnishing instances, says +Creature occurs in the registers of All-Hallows, Barking ("Hist. +All-Hallows," p. 62). In the vestry-books of Staplehurst, Kent, are +registered: + + "1 Edward VI. Apryle xxvii., there were borne ii. childre of Alex'nder + Beeryl: the one christened at home, and so deceased, called Creature; + the other christened at church, called John."--Burns, "History of + Parish Registers," p. 81. + + "1550, Nov. 5. Buried Creature, daughter of Agnes Mathews, syngle + woman, the seconde childe. + + "1579, July 19. Married John Haffynden and Creature Cheseman, yong + folke."--Staplehurst, Kent. + +One instance of _Vitalis_ may be given: + + "Vitalis, son of Richard Engaine, and Sara his wife, released his + manor of Dagworth in 1217 to Margery de Cressi."--Blomefield's + "Norfolk," vi. 382, 383. + +These are not Puritan names. The dates are against the theory. They belong +to a pre-Reformation practice, being names given to _quick children before +birth_, in cases when it was feared, from the condition of the mother, +they might not be delivered alive. Being christened before the sex could +be known, it was necessary to affix a neutral name, and Vitalis or +Creature answered the purpose. The old Romish rubric ran thus: + + "Nemo in utero matris clausus baptizari debet, sed si infans caput + emiserit, et periculum mortis immineat, baptizetur in capite, nec + postea si vivus evaserit, erit iterum baptizandus. At si aliud membrum + emiserit, quod vitalem indicet motum in illo, si periculum pendeat + baptizetur," etc. + +Vitalis Engaine and Creature Cheeseman, in the above instances, both +lived, but, by the law just quoted, retained the names given to them, and +underwent no second baptism. If the sex of the yet breathing child was +discovered, but death certain, the name of baptism ran thus: + + "1563, July 17. Baptizata fuit in aedibus Mri Humfrey filia ejus quae + nominata fuit Creatura Christi."--St. Peter in the East, Oxford. + + "1563, July 17. Creatura Christi, filia Laurentii Humfredi + sepulta."--Ditto. + +An English form occurs earlier: + + "1561, June 30. The Chylde-of-God, filius Ric. Stacey."--Ditto. + +Without entering into controversy, I will only say that if the clergy, up +to the time of the alteration in our Article on Baptism, truly believed +that "insomuch as infants, and children dying in their infancy, shall +undoubtedly be saved thereby (_i.e._ baptism), _and else not_," it was +natural that such a delicate ceremonial as I have hinted at should have +suggested itself to their minds. After the Reformation, the practice as to +unborn children fell into desuetude, and the names with it. + + +IV. INSTANCES. + +(_a._) _Latin Names._ + +The elder Disraeli reminded us, in his "Curiosities of Literature," that +in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries it was common for our more +learned pundits to re-style themselves in their own studies by Greek and +Latin names. Some of these--as, for instance, Erasmus[36] and +Melancthon--are only known to the world at large by their adopted titles. + +The Reformation had not become an accomplished fact before this custom +began to prevail in England, only it was transferred from the study to the +font, and from scholars to babies. Renovata, Renatus, Donatus, and Beata +began to grow common. Camden, writing in 1614, speaks of still stranger +names-- + + "If that any among us have named their children Remedium, Amoris, + 'Imago-saeculi,' or with such-like names, I know some will think it + more than a vanity."--"Remaines," p. 44. + +While, however, the Presbyterian clergy did not object to some of these +Latin sobriquets, as being identical with the names of early believers of +the Primitive Church, stamped in not a few instances with the honours of +martyrdom, they preferred to translate them into English. Many of my +examples of eccentricity will be found to be nothing more than literal +translations of names that had been in common vogue among Christians +twelve and thirteen hundred years before. To the majority of the Puritan +clergy, to change the Latin dress for an English equivalent would be as +natural and imperative as the adoption of Tyndale's or the Genevan Bible +in the place of the Latin Vulgate. + +A curious, though somewhat later, proof of this statement is met with in a +will from the Probate Court of Peterborough. The testator was one Theodore +Closland, senior fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. The date is June +24, 1665: + + "Item: to What-God-will Crosland, forty shillings, and tenn shillings + to his wife. And to his sonne What-God-will, six pound, thirteen + shillings, fourpence." + +This is a manifest translation of the early Christian "Quod-vult-deus." +Grainger, in his "History of England" (iii. 360, fifth edition), says-- + + "In Montfaucon's 'Diarium Italicum' (p. 270), is a sepulchral + inscription of the year 396, upon Quod-vult-deus, a Christian, to + which is a note: 'Hoc aevo non pauci erant qui piis sententiolis nomina + propria concinnarent, _v.g._ Quod-vult-deus, Deogratias, Habet-deum, + Adeodatus.'" + +Closland, or Crosland, the grandfather, was evidently a Puritan, with a +horror of the Latin Vulgate, Latin Pope, and Latin everything. Hence the +translation. + +Nevertheless, the Puritans seem to have favoured Latin names at first. It +was a break between the familiar sound of the old and the oddity of the +new. Redemptus was less grotesque than Redeemed, and Renata than Renewed. +The English equivalents soon ruled supreme, but for a generation or two, +and in some cases for a century, the Latin names went side by side with +them. + +Take Renatus, for instance: + + "1616, Sep. 29. Baptized Renatus, son of Renatus Byllett, gent."--St. + Columb Major. + + "1637-8, Jan. 12. Order of Council to Renatus Edwards, girdler, to + shut up his shop in Lombard Street, because he is not a goldsmith. + + "1690, April 10. Petition of Renatus Palmer, who prays to be appointed + surveyor in the port of Dartmouth."--C. S. P. + + "1659, Nov. 11. Baptized Renovata, the daughter of John + Durance."--Cant. Cath. + +It was Renatus Harris who built the organ in All-Hallows, Barking, in 1675 +("Hist. All-Hallows, Barking," Maskell). Renatus and Rediviva occur in St. +Matthew, Friday Street, circa 1590. Rediviva lingered into the eighteenth +century: + + "1735, ----. Buried Rediviva Mathews."--Banbury. + +Desiderata and Desiderius were being used at the close of Elizabeth's +reign, and survived the restoration of Charles II.: + + "1671, May 26. Baptized Desiderius Dionys, a poor child found in Lyme + Street."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +Donatus and Deodatus, also, were Latin names on English soil before the +seventeenth century came in: + + "1616, Jan. 29. Baptized Donate, vel Deonata, daughter of Martyn + Donnacombe."--St. Columb Major. + +Desire and Given,[37] the equivalents, both crossed the Atlantic with the +Pilgrim Fathers. + +_Love_ was popular. Side by side with it went _Amor_. George Fox, in his +"Journal," writing in 1670, says-- + + "When I was come to Enfield, I went first to visit Amor Stoddart, who + lay very weak and almost speechless. Within a few days Amor + died."--Ed. 1836, ii. 129. + +In Ripon Cathedral may be seen: + + "Amor Oxley, died Nov. 23, 1773, aged 74." + +The name still exists in Yorkshire, but no other county, I imagine. + +Other instances could be mentioned.[38] I place a few in order: + + "1594, Aug. 3. Baptized Relictus Dunstane, a childe found in this + parisshe."--St. Dunstan. + + "1613, Nov. 7. Baptized Beata, d. of Mr. John Briggs, + minister."--Witherley, Leic. + + "1653, Sep. 29. Married Richard Moone to Benedicta Rolfe."--Cant. + Cath. + + "1661, May 25. Married Edward Clayton and Melior[39] Billinge."--St. + Dionis, Backchurch. + + "1706. Beata Meetkirke, born Nov. 2, 1705; died Sep. 10, + 1706."--Rushden, Hereford. + + +(_b._) _Grace Names._ + +In furnishing instances, we naturally begin with those grace names, in all +cases culled from the registers of the period, which belong to what we may +style the first stage. They were, one by one, but taken from the lists +found in the New Testament, and were probably suggested at the outset by +the moralities or interludes. The morality went between the old +miracle-play, or mystery, and the regular drama. In "Every Man," written +in the reign of Henry VIII., it is made a vehicle for retaining the love +of the people for the old ways, the old worship, and the old +superstitions. From the time of Edward VI. to the middle of Elizabeth's +reign, there issued a cluster of interludes of this same moral type and +cast; only all breathed of the new religion, and more or less assaulted +the dogmas of Rome. + +These moralities were popular, and were frequently rendered in public, +until the Elizabethan drama was well established. All were allegorical, +and required personal representatives of the abstract graces, and +doctrines of which they treated. The _dramatis personae_ in "Hickscorner" +are Freewill, Perseverance, Pity, Contemplation, and Imagination, and in +"The Interlude of Youth," Humility, Pride, Charity, and Lechery. + +It is just possible, therefore, that several of these grace names were +originated under the shadow of the pre-Reformation Church. The following +are early, considering they are found in Cornwall, the county most likely +to be the last to take up a new custom: + + "1549, July 1. Baptized Patience, d. of Will{m}. Haygar."-- + + "1553, May 29. Baptized Honour, d. of Robert Sexton."--St. Columb + Major. + +However this may be, we only find the cardinal virtues at the beginning of +the movement--those which are popular in some places to this day, and +still maintain a firm hold in America, borne thither by the Puritan +emigrants. + +The three Graces, and Grace itself, took root almost immediately as +favourites. Shakespeare seems to have been aware of it, for Hermione +says-- + + "My last good deed was to entreat his stay: + What was my first? It has an elder sister, + Or I mistake you--O would her name were Grace!" + "Winter's Tale," Act i. sc. 2. + + "1565, March 19. Christening of Grace, daughter of -- Hilles."--St. + Peter, Cornhill. + + "1574, Jan. 29. Baptized Grace, daughter of John Russell."--St. Columb + Major. + + "1588, Aug. 1. Married Thomas Wood and Faythe Wilson."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + + "1565, ----. Baptized Faith, daughter of Thomas and Agnes + Blomefield."--Rushall, Norfolk. + + "1567, Aprill 17. Christening of Charity, daughter of Randoll + Burchenshaw."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + + "1571, ----. Baptized Charity, daughter of Thomas + Blomefield."--Rushall, Norfolk. + + "1598, Nov. 19. Baptized Hope, d. of John Mainwaringe."--Cant. Cath. + + "1636, Nov. 25. Buried Hope, d. of Thomas Alford, aged 23."--Drayton, + Leicester. + +The registers of the sixteenth and seventeenth century teem with these; +sometimes boys received them. The Rev. Hope Sherhard was a minister in +Providence Isle in 1632 ("Cal. S. P. Colonial," 1632). + +We may note that the still common custom of christening trine-born +children by these names dates from the period of their rise:[40] + + "1639, Sep. 7. Baptized Faith, Hope, and Charity, daughters of George + Lamb, and Alice his wife."--Hillingdon. + + "1666, Feb. 22. -- Finch, wife of -- Finch, being delivered of three + children, two of them were baptized, one called Faith, and the other + Hope; and the third was intended to be called Charity, but died + unbaptized."--Cranford. _Vide_ Lyson's "Middlesex," p. 30. + +Mr. Lower says ("Essays on English Surnames," ii. 159)-- + + "At Charlton, Kent, three female children produced at one birth + received the names of Faith, Hope, and Charity." + +Thomas Adams, in his sermon on the "Three Divine Sisters," says-- + + "They shall not want prosperity, + That keep faith, hope, and charity." + +Perhaps some of these parents remembered this. + +Faith and Charity are both mentioned as distinctly Puritan sobriquets in +the "Psalm of Mercie," a political poem: + + "'A match,' quoth my sister Joyce, + 'Contented,' quoth Rachel, too: + Quoth Abigaile, 'Yea,' and Faith, 'Verily,' + And Charity, 'Let it be so.'" + +_Love_, as the synonym of Charity, was also a favourite. Love Atkinson +went out to Virginia with the early refugees (Hotten, "Emigrants," p. 68). + + "1631-2, Jan. 31. Buried Love, daughter of William Ballard."--Berwick, + Sussex. + + "1740, April 30. Buried Love Arundell."--Racton, Sussex. + + "1749, May 31. Love Luckett admitted a freeman by + birthright."--"History of Town and Port of Rye," p. 237. + + "1662, May 7. Baptized Love, d. of Mr. Richard Appletree."--Banbury. + +Besides Love and Charity, other variations were Humanity and Clemency: + + "1637, March 8. Bond of William Shaw, junior, and Thomas Snelling, + citizens and turners, to Humanity Mayo, of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, + in L100 0 0."--C. S. P. + + "1625, Aug. 27. Buried Clemency Chawncey."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +Clemency was pretty, and deserved to live; but Mercy seems to have +monopolized the honours, and, by the aid of John Bunyan's heroine in the +"Pilgrim's Progress," still has her admirers. Instances are needless, but +I furnish one or two for form's sake. They shall be late ones: + + "1702, Sep. 28. Married Matthias Wallraven and Mercy Waymarke."--St. + Dionis Backchurch. + + "1716, May 25. Married Thomas Day and Mercy Parsons, of + Staplehurst."--Cant. Cath. + +But there were plenty of virtues left. Prudence had such a run, that she +became Pru in the sixteenth, and Prudentia in the seventeenth century: + + "1574, June 30. Buried Prudence, d. of John Mayhew. + + "1612, Aug. 2. Married Robert Browne and Prudence Coxe."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + +Justice is hard to separate from the legal title; but here is an instance: + + "1660, July 16. Richard Bickley and Justice Willington reported guilty + of embezzling late king's goods."--"Cal. St. P. Dom." + +Truth, Constancy, Honour, and Temperance were frequently personified at +the font. Temperance had the shortest life; but, if short, it was merry. +There is scarcely a register, from Gretna Green to St. Michael's, without +it: + + "1615, Feb. 25. Baptized Temperance, d. of -- Osberne."--Hawnes, + Bedford. + + "1610, Aug. 14. Baptized Temperance, d. of John Goodyer."--Banbury. + + "1611, Nov. --. Baptized Temperance, d. of Robert + Carpinter."--Stepney. + + "1619, July 22. Married Gyles Rolles to Temperance Blinco."--St. + Peter, Cornhill. + +Constance,[41] Constancy, and Constant were common, it will be seen, to +both sexes: + + "1593, Sep. 29. Buried Constancy, servant with Mr. Coussin."--St. + Dionis Backchurch. + + "1629, Dec. Petition of Captain Constance Ferrar, for losses at Cape + Breton."--"C. S. P. Colonial." + + "1665, May 25. Communication from Constance Pley to the Commissioners + in relation to the arrival of a convoy."--C. S. P. + + "1665, May 31. Grant to Edward Halshall of L225 0 0, forfeited by + Connistant Cant, of Lynn Regis, for embarking wool to Guernsey not + entered in the Custom House."--Ditto. + + "1671, Sep. 2. Buried Constant Sylvester, Esquire."--Brampton, Hunts. + +Patience, too, was male as well as female. Sir Patience Warde was Lord +Mayor of London in 1681. Thus the weaker vessels were not allowed to +monopolize the graces. How familiar some of these abstract names had +become, the Cavalier shall tell us in his parody of the sanctimonious +Roundheads' style: + + "'Ay, marry,' quoth Agatha, + And Temperance, eke, also: + Quoth Hannah, 'It's just,' and Mary, 'It must,' + 'And shall be,' quoth Grace, 'I trow.'" + +Several "Truths" occur in the "Chancery Suits" of Elizabeth, and the Greek +Alathea arose with it: + + "1595, June 27. Faith and Truth, gemini, -- John Johnson, + bapt."--Wath, Ripon. + +Alathea lasted till the eighteenth century was well-nigh out: + + "1701, Dec. 4. Francis Milles to Alathea Wilton."--West. Abbey. + + "1720, Sep. 18. Buried Alydea, wife of Will{m}. Gough, aged 42 + years."--Harnhill, Glouc. + + "1786, Oct. 6. Died Althea, wife of Thomas Heberden, + prebendary."--Exeter Cath.[42] + +Honour, of course, became Honora, in the eighteenth century, and has +retained that form: + + "1583, Aug. 24. Baptized Honor, daughter of Thomas Teage."--St. Columb + Major. + + "1614, July 4. Baptized Honour, d. of John Baylye, of + Radcliffe."--Stepney. + + "1667, Oct. 9. Christened Mary, d. of Sir John and Lady Honour + Huxley."--Hammersmith. + + "1722, Oct. 4. Christened Martha, d. of John and Honoria Hart."--St. + Dionis Backchurch. + +Sir Thomas Carew, Speaker of the Commons in James's and Charles's reign, +had a wife Temperance, and four daughters, Patience, Temperance, Silence, +and Prudence (Lodge's "Illust.," iii. 37). Possibly, as Speaker, he had +had better opportunity to observe that these were the four cardinal +parliamentary virtues, especially Silence. This last was somewhat popular, +and seems to have got curtailed to "Sill," as Prudence to "Pru," and +Constance to "Con." In the Calendar of "State Papers" (June 21, 1666), a +man named Taylor, writing to another named Williamson, wishes "his brother +Sill would come and reap the sweets of Harwich." Writing again, five days +later, he asks "after his brother, Silence Taylor." + +This was one of the names that crossed the Atlantic and became a fixture +in America (Bowditch). It is not, however, to be confounded with Sill, +that is, Sybil, in the old Cavalier chorus: + + "'And God blesse King Charles,' quoth George, + 'And save him,' says Simon and Sill." + +Silence is one of the few Puritan names that found its way into the north +of England: + + "1741, Dec. 9. Married Robert Thyer to Silence Leigh."--St. Ann, + Manchester. + +The mother of Silence Leigh, who was a widow when she married, was Silence +Beswicke ("Memorials of St. Ann, Manchester," p. 55).[43] The name is +found again in the register of Youlgreave Church, Derbyshire (_Notes and +Queries_, Feb. 17, 1877). Curiously enough, we find Camden omitting +Silence as a female name of his day, but inserting Tace. In his list of +feminine baptismal names, compiled in 1614 ("Remaines," p. 89), he has + + "Tace--Be silent--a fit name to admonish that sex of silence." + +Here, then, is another instance of a Latin name translated into English. I +have lighted on a case proving the antiquary's veracity: + + "Here lieth the body of Tacey, the wife of George Can, of Brockwear, + who departed this life 22 day of Feb., An. Dom. 1715, aged 32 + years."--Hewelsfield, Glouc. + +Tace must have lasted a century, therefore. Silence may be set down to +some old Puritan stickler for the admonition of Saint Paul: "Let the woman +learn in silence, with all subjection" (1 Tim. ii. 11). + +The Epistle to the Romans was a never-failing well-spring to the earnest +Puritan, and one passage was much applied to his present condition: + + "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through + our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith unto this + grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And + not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that + tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and + experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed."--v. 1-5. + +There is scarcely a word in this passage that is not inscribed on our +registers between 1575 and 1595. Faith, Grace, and Hope have already been +mentioned;[44] Camden testified to the existence of Tribulation in 1614; +Rejoice was very familiar; Patience, of course, was common: + + "1592, July 7. Buried Patience Birche."--Cant. Cath. + + "1596, Oct. 3. Baptized Pacience, daughter of Martin Tome."--St. + Columb Major. + + "1599, April 23. Baptized Patience, d. of John Harmer."--Warbleton. + +Even _Experience_ is found--a strange title for an infant. + + "The Rev. Experience Mayhew, A.M., born Feb. 5, 1673; died of an + apoplexy, Nov. 9, 1758." + +So ran the epitaph of a missionary (_vide_ _Pulpit_, Dec. 6, 1827) to the +Vineyard Island. It had been handed on to him, no doubt, from some +grandfather or grandmother of Elizabeth's closing days. + +A late instance of _Diligence_ occurs in St. Peter, Cornhill: + + "1724, Nov. 1. Buried Diligence Constant." + +Obedience had a good run, and began very early: + + "1573, Sep. 20. Bapt. Obedience, dather of Thomas Garding. + + "1586, Aug. 28. Bapt. Obedyence, dather of Richard Ellis."--Warbleton. + + "1697, April 30. Bapt. Robert, son of James and Obedience Clark."--St. + James, Picadilly. + +Obedience Robins is the name of a testator in 1709 (Wills: Archdeaconry of +London), while the following epitaph speaks for itself: + + "Obedience Newitt, wife of Thomas Newitt, died in 1617, aged 32. + + "Her name and nature did accord, + Obedient was she to her Lord."--Burwash, Sussex. + +"Add to your faith, virtue," says the Apostle. As a name this grace was +late in the field: + + "1687, May 25. Married Virtue Radford and Susannah Wright."--West. + Abbey. + + "1704, Oct. 20. Buried Virtue, wife of John Higgison."--Marshfield, + Glouc. + + "1709, May 6. Buried Vertue Page."--Finchley. + +Confidence and Victory were evidently favourites: + + "1587, Jan. 8. Baptized Confydence, d. of Roger Elliard."--Warbleton. + + "1770, Nov. 17, died Confidence, wife of John Thomas, aged 61 + years."--Bulley, Glouc. + + "1587, Feb. 8. Buryed Vyctorye Buttres."--Elham, Kent. + + "1618, Dec. 9. Buryed Victorye Lussendine."--Ditto. + + "1696, May 17. Bapt. Victory, d. of Joseph Gibbs."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + +_Perseverance_ went out with the emigrants to New England, but I do not +find any instance in the home registers. _Felicity_ appeared in one of our +law courts last year, so it cannot be said to be extinct; but there is a +touch of irony in the first of the following examples:-- + + "1604-5, March 15. Baptized Felicity, d. of John Barnes, + vagarant."--Stepney. + + "1590, July 5. Baptized Felycyte Harris."--Cranbrook. + +_Comfort_ has a pleasant atmosphere about it, and many a parent was +tempted to the use of it. It lingered longer than many of its rivals. +Comfort Farren's epitaph may be seen on the floor of Tewkesbury Abbey: + + "Comfort, wife of Abraham Farren, gent., of this Corporation, died + August 24, 1720." + +Again, in Dymock Church we find: + + "_Comfort_, wife to William Davis, died 14 June, 1775, aged 78 years. + + "_Comfort_, their daughter, died 9 Feb., 1760, aged 24 years." + +Nearly 150 years before this, however, Comfort Starr was a name not +unknown to the more heated zealots of the Puritan party. He was a native +of Ashford, in Kent, and after various restless shiftings as a minister, +Carlisle being his head-quarters for a time, went to New Plymouth in the +_Mayflower_, in 1620. There he became fellow of Harvard College, but +returned to England eventually, and died at Lewes in his eighty-seventh +year. + +Perhaps the most interesting and popular of the grace names was +"Repentance." In a "new interlude" of the Reformation, entitled the "Life +and Repentance of Marie Magdalene," and published in 1567, one of the +chief characters was "Repentance." At the same time Repentance came into +font use, and, odd as it may sound, bade fair to become a permanently +recognized name in England: + + "1583, Dec. 8. Married William Arnolde and Repentance Pownoll."--Cant. + Cath. + + "1587, Oct. 22. Baptized Repentance, dather of George + Aysherst."--Warbleton. + + "1588, June 30. Baptized Repentance Water."--Cranbrook. + + "1597, Aug. 4. Baptized Repentance, daughter of Robert Benham, of + Lymhouse."--Stepney. + + "1612, March 26. Baptized Repentance Wrathe."--Elham, Kent. + + "1688, Dec. 23. Bapt. Repentance, son of Thomas and Mercy + Tompson."--St. James, Piccadilly. + +In the "Sussex Archaeological Collections" (xvii. 148) is found recorded +the case of Repentance Hastings, deputy portreeve of Seaford, who in 1643 +was convicted of hiding some wreckage: + + "Repentance Hastings, 1 load, 1 cask, 2 pieces of royals." + +Evidently his repentance began too early in life to be lasting; but infant +piety could not be expected to resist the hardening influence of such a +name as this.[45] + +_Humiliation_ was a big word, and that alone must have been in its favour: + + "1629, Jan. 24. Married Humiliation Hinde and Elizabeth Phillips by + banes."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + +Humiliation, being proud of his name, determined to retain it in the +family--for he had one--but as he had began to worship at St. Dionis +Backchurch, the entries of baptism lie there, the spelling of his surname +being slightly altered: + + "1630, Nov. 18. Baptized Humiliation, son of Humiliation Hyne." + +This son died March 11, 1631-2. Humiliation _pere_, however, did not +sorrow without hope, for in a few years he again brings a son to the +parson: + + "1637-8, Jan. 21. Baptized Humiliation, son of Humiliation Hinde." + +Humility is preferable to Humiliation. Humility Cooper was one of a +freight of passengers in the _Mayflower_, who, in 1620, sought a home in +the West. A few years afterwards Humility Hobbs followed him (Hotten, +"Emigrants," p. 426): + + "1596, March 13. Baptized Humilitye, sonne of Wylliam + Jones."--Warbleton. + + "1688, May 5. Buried Humility, wife of Humphey Paget."--Peckleton, + Leic. + +Had it not been for Charles Dickens, Humble would not have appeared +objectionable: + + "1666-1667, Jan. 29. Petition of Dame Frances, wife of Humble Ward, + Lord Ward, Baron, of Birmingham."[46]--C. S. P. + +All Saints, Leicester, records another saintly grace: + + "Here lieth the body of Abstinence Pougher, Esq., who died Sept. 5, + 1741, aged 62 years." + +In some cases we find the infant represented, not by a grace-name, but as +in a state of grace. Every register contains one or two Godlies: + + "1579, July 24. Baptized Godlye, d. of Richard Fauterell."--Warbleton. + + "1611, May 1. Baptized Godly, d. of Henry Gray, and Joane his wife. + Joane Standmer and Godly Gotherd, sureties."--South Bersted, Sussex. + + "1619, Nov. Baptized Godly, d. of Thomas Edwardes, of + Poplar."--Stepney. + + "1632, Oct. 30. Married John Wafforde to Godly Spicer."--Cant. Cath. + +Gracious is as objectionable as Godly. Gracious Owen was President of St. +John's College, Oxford, during the decade 1650-1660. + + "Oct. 24, 1661. Examination of Gracious Franklin: Joshua Jones, + minister at the Red Lion, Fleet Street, told him that he heard there + were 3000 men about the city maintained by Presbyterian + ministers."--C. S. P. + +_Lively_, we may presume, referred to spiritual manifestations. A curious +combination of font name and patronymic is obtained in Lively Moody, D.D., +of St. John's College, Cambridge, 1682 (Wood's "Fasti Oxonienses"). +Exactly one hundred years later the name is met with again: + + "1782, July 3. Lively Clarke of this town, sadler, aged + 60."--Berkeley, Gloucester. + +At Warbleton, where the Puritan Heley ministered, it seems to have been +found wearisome to be continually christening children by the names of +Repent and Repentance, so a variation was made in the form of +"Sorry-for-sin:" + + "1589, Jan 25. Baptized Sory-for-sine, the dather of John Coupard." + +The following is curious: + + "Thomas Luxford, of Windmill Hill, died Feb. 24, 1739, aged 72 years. + He was grandson of Thomas Luxford, of Windmill Hill, by _Changed_ + Collins, his wife, daughter of Thomas Collins, of Socknash in this + county, Esq., and eldest son of Richard Luxford, of + Billinghurst."--Wartling Church. + +Faithful[47] may close this list: + + "1640, Oct. 18. Baptized Benjamin, son of Faithful Bishop."--St. + Columb Major. + +Faithful Rouse settled in New England in 1644 (Bowditch). The following +despatch mentions another: + + "1666, July 18. Major Beversham and Lieut. Faithful Fortescue are sent + from Ireland to raise men."--C. S. P. + +Bunyan evidently liked it, and gave the name to the martyr of Vanity Fair: + + "Sing, Faithful, sing, and let thy name survive; + For though they killed thee, thou art yet alive." + +Speaking from a nomenclatural point of view, the name did not survive, for +the last instance I have met with is that of Faithful Meakin, curate of +Mobberley, Cheshire, in 1729 (Earwaker, "East Cheshire," p. 99, _n._). It +had had a run of more than a century, however. + +The reader will have observed that the majority of these names have become +obsolete. The religious apathy of the early eighteenth century was against +them. They seem to have made their way slowly westward. Certainly their +latest representatives are to be found in the more retired villages of +Gloucestershire and Devonshire. A few like Mercy, Faith, Hope, Charity, +Grace, and Prudence, still survive, and will probably for ever command a +certain amount of patronage; but they are much more popular in our +religious story-books than the church registers. The absence of the rest +is no great loss, I imagine. + + +(_c._) _Exhortatory Names._ + +The zealots of Elizabeth's later days began to weary of names that merely +made household words of the apostolic virtues. Many of these sobriquets +had become popular among the unthinking and careless. They began to stamp +their offspring with exhortatory sentences, pious ejaculations, brief +professions of godly sorrow for sin, or exclamations of praise for mercies +received. I am bound to confess, however, that the prevailing tone of +these names is rather contradictory of the picture of gloomy sourness +drawn by the facile pens of Macaulay and Walter Scott. 'Tis true, Anger +and Wrath existed: + + "1654. Wroth Rogers to be placed on the Commission of Scandalous + Ministers."--Scobell's "Acts and Ord. Parl.," 1658. + + "1680, Dec. 22. Buried Anger Bull, packer."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +I dare say he was familiarly termed Angry Bull, like "Savage Bear," a +gentleman of Kent who was living at the same time, mentioned elsewhere in +these pages. Nevertheless, in the exhortatory names there is a general air +of cheerful assurance. + +The most celebrated name of this class is Praise-God Barebone. I cannot +find his baptismal entry. A collection of verses was compiled by one +Fear-God Barbon, of Daventry (Harleian M.S. 7332). This cannot have been +his father, as we have evidence that the leatherseller was born about +1596, and, allowing his parent to be anything over twenty, the date would +be too early for exhortatory names like Fear-God. We may presume, +therefore, he was a brother. Two other brothers are said to have been +entitled respectively, "Jesus-Christ-came-into-the-world-to-save +Barebone," and "If-Christ-had-not-died-for-thee-thou-hadst-been-damned +Barebone." I say "entitled," for I doubt whether either received such a +long string of words in baptism. Brook, in his "History of the Puritans," +implies they were; Hume says that both were _adopted_ names, and adds, in +regard to the latter, that his acquaintance were so wearied with its +length, that they styled him by the last word as "Damned Barebone." The +editor of _Notes and Queries_ (March 15, 1862) says that, "as his morals +were not of the best," this abbreviated form "appeared to suit him better +than his entire baptismal prefix." Whether the title was given at the font +or adopted, there is no doubt that he was familiarly known as Dr. Damned +Barebone. This was more curt than courteous. + +Of Praise-God's history little items have leaked out. He began life as a +leatherseller in Fleet Street, and owned a house under the sign of the +"Lock and Key," in the parish of St. Dunstan-in-the-West. He was admitted +a freeman of the Leathersellers' Company, January 20, 1623. He was a Fifth +Monarchy man, if a tract printed in 1654, entitled "A Declaration of +several of the Churches of Christ, and Godly People, in and about the City +of London," etc., which mentions "the Church which walks with Mr. +Barebone," refers to him. This, however, may be Fear-God Barebone. +Praise-God was imprisoned after the Restoration, but after a while +released, and died, at the age of eighty or above, in obscurity. His life, +which was not without its excitements, was spent in London, and possibly +his baptismal entry will be found there. + +A word or two about his surname. The elder Disraeli says ("Curiosities of +Literature")-- + + "There are unfortunate names, which are very injurious to the cause in + which they are engaged; for instance, the long Parliament in + Cromwell's time, called by derision the Rump, was headed by one + Barebones, a leatherseller." + +Isaac Disraeli has here perpetuated a mistake. Barebone's Parliament was +the Parliament of Barebone, not Barebones. Peck, in his "Desiderata +Curiosa," speaking of a member of the family who died in 1646, styles him +Mr. Barborne; while Echard writes the name Barbon, when referring to Dr. +Barbon, one of the chief rebuilders of the city of London after the Fire. +Between Barebones and Barbon is a wide gap, and Barbon's Parliament +suggests nothing ludicrous whatsoever. Yet (if we set aside the baptismal +name) what an amount of ridicule has been cast over this same Parliament +on account of a surname which in reality has been made to meet the +occasion. No historian has heaped more sarcasm on the "Rump" than Hume, +but he never styles the leatherseller as anything but "Barebone." + +But while _Praise-God_ has obtained exceptional notoriety, not so +_Faint-not_, and yet there was a day when Faint-not bade fair to take its +place as a regular and recognized name. I should weary the reader did I +furnish a full list of instances. Here are a few: + + "1585, March 6. Baptized Faynt-not, d. of James Browne."--Warbleton. + + "1590, Jan. 17. Baptized Faynt-not Wood."--Cranbrook. + + "1631, ----. Thomas Perse married Faint-not Kennarde."--Chiddingly. + + "1642, Aug. 2. Married John Pierce and Faint-not Polhill, + widow."--Burwash, Sussex. + +This Faint-not Polhill was mother of Edward Polhill, a somewhat celebrated +writer of his day. She married her first husband December 11, 1616. + + "1678, Feb. 12. Buried Faint-not Blatcher, a poor old + widdow."--Warbleton. + +The rents of certain houses which provided an exhibition for the boys of +Lewes Grammar School were paid in 1692 as usual. One item is set down as +follows: + + "Faint-not Batchelor's house, per annum, L6 0 0."--"Hist. and Ant. + Lewes," i. 311. + +_Faint-not_ occurs in Maresfield Church ("Suss. Arch. Coll.," xiv. 151). +We have already referred to Faint-not, the daughter of "Dudley Fenner, +minister of the Word of God" at Marden, Kent. + +Fear-not was also in use. The Rector of Warbleton baptized one of his own +children by the name; some of his parishioners copied him: + + "1594, Nov. 10. Baptized Fear-not, sonne of Richard Maye. + + "1589, Oct. 19. Baptized Fear-not, sonne of Will{m}. Browne." + +Decidedly cheerful were such names as Hope-still or Hopeful. Both occur in +Banbury Church. Hopeful Wheatley has already been mentioned. + + "1611, June 16. Baptized Hope-still, d. to Edward Peedle. + + "1697, Dec. 30. Buried Hope-still Faxon, a olde mayde." + +Whether or no her matrimonial expectations were still high to the end, we +are not told. + +One of the earliest Pilgrim Fathers was Hope-still Foster (Hotten, p. 68). +He went out to New England about 1620. His name became a common one out +there. Two bearers of the name at home lived so long that it reached the +Georges: + + "Near this place is interred the body of John Warden, of Butler's + Green in this parish, Esq., who died April 30, 1730, aged 79 years; + and also of _Hope-still_, his wife, who died July 22, 1749, aged + 92."--Cuckfield Church, Sussex. + + "Dec. 1, 1714. Administration of goods of Michael Watkins, granted to + Hope-still Watkins, his widow."--C. S. P. + +In the list of incumbents of Lydney, Gloucestershire, will be found the +name of _Help-on-high_ Foxe, who was presented to the living by the Dean +and Chapter of Hereford in 1660. For some reason or other, possibly to +curtail the length, he styled himself in general as Hope-well, and this +was retained on his tomb: + + "Hic in Cristo quiescit Hope-wel Foxe, in artibus magister, hujus + ecclesiae vicarius vigilantissimus qui obiit 2 die Aprilis, + 1662."--Bigland's "Monuments of Gloucester." + +How quickly such names were caught up by parishioners from their clergy +may again be seen in the case of Hope-well Voicings, of Tetbury, who left +a rentcharge of L1 for the charity schools at Cirencester in 1720. +Probably he was christened by the vicar himself at Lydney. + +We have already mentioned Rejoice Lord, of Salehurst. The name had a +tremendous run: + + "1647, June 22. Buried Rejoice, daughter of John Harvey. + + "1679, Oct. 18. Baptized Rejoice, daughter of Nicholas + Wratten."--Warbleton. + +_Rejoice_ reached the eighteenth century: + + "1713, Sep. 29. Married John Pimm, of St. Dunstan's, Cant., to + _Rejoice_ Epps, of the precincts of this church."--Cant. Cath. + +_Magnify_ and _Give-thanks_ frequently occur in Warbleton register: + + "1595, Dec. 7. Buried Gyve-thanks Bentham, a child. + + "1593, M{ch}. 11. Baptized Give-thanks, the dather of Thomas Elliard. + + "1591, Feb. 6. Baptized Magnyfy, sonne of William Freeland. + + "1587, Sep. 17. Baptized Magnyfye, sonne of Thomas Beard. + + "1587, April 2. Baptized Give-thankes, sonne of Thomas Cunsted." + +It is from the same register we obtain examples of an exhortatory name +known to have existed at this time, viz. "Be-thankful." A dozen cases +might be cited: + + "1586, Feb. 6. Baptized Be-thankfull, the dather of Abell Tyerston. + + "1601, Nov. 8. Baptized Be-thankfull, d. of James Gyles. + + "1617, Nov. 27. Married Thomas Flatt and Be-thankefull Baker. + + "1662, May 9. Buried Be-thankeful Giles." + +Thus Miss Giles bore her full name for over sixty years: and, I dare say, +was very proud of it.[48] + +Besides Be-thankful, there was "Be-strong:" + + "1592, Nov. 26. Baptized Be-strong Philpott."--Cranbrook. + +Many of the exhortatory names related to the fallen nature of man. One +great favourite at Warbleton was "Sin-deny." It was coined first by Heley, +the Puritan rector, in 1588, for one of his own daughters. Afterwards the +entries are numerous. Two occur in one week: + + "1592, April 23. Baptized Sin-denye, d. of Richard Tebb. + + " " 29. Baptized Sin-denye, d. of William Durant. + + "1594, March 9. Baptized Sin-denye, d. of Edward Outtered." + +This name seems to have been monopolized by the girls. One instance only +to the contrary can I find: + + "1588, Feb. 9. Baptized Sin-dynye, sonne of Andrew Champneye." + +Still keeping to the same register, we find of this class: + + "1669, Jan. 21. Buried Refrayne Benny, a widdow. + + "1586, May 15. Baptized Refrayne, dather of John Celeb. + + "1586, April 24. Baptized Repent, sonne of William Durant. + + "1587, July 16. Baptized Returne, sonne of Rychard Farret. + + "1587, Aug. 6. Baptized Obey, sonne of Rychard Larkford. + + "1587, Dec. 24. Baptized Depend, sonne of Edward Outtered. + + "1588, Ap. 7. Baptized Feare-God, sonne of John Couper. + + "1608, Aug. 14. Baptized Repent Champney, a basterd. + + "1595. Maye 18. Baptized Refrayne, d. of John Wykes." + +Many registers contain "Repent." Cranbrook has an early one: + + "1586, Jan. 1. Baptized Repent Boorman." + +_Abuse-not_ is quaint: + + "1592, Sep. 17. Baptized Abuse-not, d. of Rychard Ellis. + + "1592, Dec. 3. Baptized Abus-not, d. of John Collier."--Warbleton. + +The last retained her name: + + "1603, Maye 20. Buried Abuse-not Collyer." + +Here, again, are two curious entries: + + "1636, March 19. Baptized Be-steadfast, sonne of Thomas Elliard. + + "1589, Nov. 9. Baptized Learn-wysdome, d. of Rychard Ellis." + +These also are extracts from the Warbleton registers. None of them, +however, can be more strongly exhortatory than this: + + "1660, April 15. Baptized Hate-evill, d. of Antony + Greenhill."--Banbury. + +Doubtless she was related to William Greenhill, born 1581, the great +Puritan commentator on Ezekiel. This cannot be the earliest instance of +the name, for one Hate-evill Nutter was a settler in New England twenty +years before her baptism (Bowditch). I suspect its origin can be traced to +the following:-- + + "1580, June 25. Baptized Hatill (Hate-ill), sonne of Will{m}. Wood. + + "1608, Nov. 17. Baptized Hatill, sonne to Antony + Robinson."--Middleton-Cheney. + +As Middleton-Cheney is a mere outlying parish from Banbury, I think we may +see whence Hate-evil Greenhill's name was derived. + +Returning once more to Warbleton, _Lament_ is so common there, as in other +places, that it would be absurd to suppose the mother had died in +childbirth in every instance. A glance at the register of deaths disproves +the idea. The fact is _Lament_ was used, like Repent, as a serious call to +godly sorrow for sin: + + "1594, July 22. Baptized Lament, d. of Antony Foxe. + + "1598, May 14. Baptized Lament, d. of John Fauterell. + + "1600, M{ch} 29. Baptized Lament, d. of Anne Willard." + +But we must not linger too much at Warbleton. + +_Live-well_ commanded much attention. Neither sex could claim the monopoly +of it, as my examples prove. At the beginning of Charles II.'s reign, a +warrant was abroad for the capture of one Live-well Chapman, a seditious +printer. In such a charge it is possible he fulfilled the pious injunction +of his god-parent: + + "1662-3, March 9. Warrant to apprehend Live-well Chapman,[49] with all + his printing instruments and materials."--C. S. P. + +He is mentioned again: + + "1663, Nov. 24. Warrant to Sir Edward Broughton to receive Live-well + Chapman, and keep him close prisoner for seditious practices."--C. S. + P. + +This is no unique case. Live-well Sherwood, an alderman of Norwich, was +put on a commission for sequestering papists in 1643 (Scobell's "Orders of +Parl.," p. 38). + +Again the name occurs: + + "1702, Oct. 15. Thomas Halsey, of Shadwell, widower, to Live-well + Prisienden, of Stepney."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +_Love-God_ is found twice, at least, for letters of administration in the +case of one Love-God Gregory were granted in 1654. Also is found: + + "1596, March 6. Baptized Love-God, daughter of Hugh Walker, + vicar."--Berwick, Sussex. + +_Do-good_ is exhortatory enough, but it rather smacks of works; hence, +possibly, the reason why I have only seen it once. A list of the trained +bands under Lord Zouch, Lord Warden of Hastings, 1619, includes-- + + "_Musketts_, James Knight, Doo-good Fuller, Thomas Pilcher."--"Arch. + Soc. Coll." (Sussex), xiv. 102. + +_Fare-well_ seems a shade more worldly than Live-well, but was common +enough: + + "1589, July 16, Baptized Fare-well, son of Thomas Hamlen, gent."--St. + Dunstan-in-the-West, London. + + "1723, Sep. 5. Buried Mr. Fare-well Perry, rector of St. + Peter's."--Marlborough. + +A writer in _Notes and Queries_, September 9, 1865 (Mr. Lloyd of +Thurstonville), says-- + + "A man named Sykes, resident in this locality, had four sons whom he + named respectively Love-well, Do-well, Die-well, and Fare-well. Sad to + say, Fare-well Sykes met an untimely end by drowning, and was buried + this week (eleventh Sunday after Trinity) in Lockwood churchyard. The + brothers Live-well, Do-well, and Die-well were the chief mourners on + the occasion." + +It seems almost impossible that the father should have restored three of +the Puritan names accidentally. Probably he had seen or heard of these +names in some Yorkshire church register. One of these names, Farewell, is +still used in the county, as the directories show. I see Fare-well +Wardley, in Sheffield, in the West Riding Directory for 1867. + +This closes the exhortatory class. It is both numerous and interesting, +and some of its instances grew very familiar, and looked as if they might +find a permanent place in our registers. The eighteenth century saw them +all succumb, however. + + +(_d._) _Accidents of Birth._ + +Evidently it was a Puritan notion that a quiverful of children was a +matter for thanksgiving. There is a pleasant ring in some of the names +selected by religious gossips at this time, or witnesses, as I should +rather term them. _Free-gift_ was one such, and was on the point of +becoming an accepted English name, when the Restoration stepped in, and it +had to follow the way of the others. It began with the Presbyterian +clergy, judging by the date of its rise:[50] + + "1616, ----. Buried Mary, wiffe of Free-gift Mabbe."--Chiddingly, + Sussex. + + "1621, ----. Baptized John, son of Free-gift Bishopp."--Ditto. + + "1591, Jan. 14. Baptized Fre-gift, sonne of Abraham + Bayley."--Warbleton. + +The will of Free-gift Stacey was proved in 1656 in London; while a +subsidy obtained by an unpopular tax on fires, hearths, and stoves in +1670, rates a resident in Chichester thus: + + "Free-gift Collins, two hearths."--"Suss. Arch. Coll.," xxiv. 81. + +The last instance I have seen is: + + "Dec. 4, 1700. The petition of Free-gift Pilkington, wife of Richard + Pilkington, late port-master of Ipswich, county Suffolk."--C. S. P. + +_Good-gift_ was rarer: + + "1618, March 28. Bapt. John, sonne of Goodgift Gynninges."--Warbleton. + +One of the earliest Puritan eccentricities was _From-above_, mentioned by +Camden as existing in 1614: + + "1582, March 10. Baptized From-above Hendley."--Cranbrook. + +A subsidy collected within the rape of Lewes in 1621 records: + + "From-above Hendle, gent, in landes, 30 4 0."--"Suss. Arch. Coll.," + lx. 71. + +Many of these names suggest thanksgiving for an "addition to the family." +_More-fruit_ is one such: + + "1587, June 6. Baptized More-fruite Stone, of Steven."--Berwick, + Sussex. + + "1592, Oct. 1. Baptized More-fruite Starre."[51]--Cranbrook. + + "1599, Nov. 4. Baptized More-fruite, d. of Richard + Barnet."--Warbleton. + + "1608, Aug. 28. Baptized More-frute, d. of Rychard Curtes."--Ditto. + +We have already referred to More-fruit Fenner, christened about the same +time. + +The great command to Adam and Eve was, "Multiply, and replenish the +earth." Some successor of Thomas Heley thought it no harm to emphasize +this at the font: + + "1677, May 14. Buried Replenish, ye wife of Robert French." + +But "Increase" or "Increased" was the representative of this class of +thanksgiving names, in palpable allusion to Psa. cxv. 14: + + "The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children." + +I could easily furnish the reader with half a hundred instances. It is +probable Thomas Heley was the inventor of it. The earliest example I can +find is that of his own child: + + "1587, March 26. Baptized Increased, dather of Thomas Helley, + minister. + + "1637, Sep. 15. Buried Increase, wife of Robard Barden. + + "1589, Apr. 13. Baptized Increased, d. of John Gynninges."--Warbleton. + +One or two instances from other quarters may be noted: + + "1660, June. Petition of Increased Collins, for restoration to the + keepership of Mote's Bulwark, Dover."--C. S. P. + +Dr. Increase Mather, of the Liverpool family of that name, will be a +familiar figure to every student of Puritan history. In 1685 he returned +from America to thank King James for the Toleration Act. Through him it +became a popular name in New England, although Increase Nowell, who +obtained a charter of appropriation of Massachusetts Bay, March 4, 1628, +and emigrated from London, may have helped in the matter (Neal's "New +England," p. 124). + +The perils of childbirth are marked in the thanksgiving name of +Deliverance. So early as 1627 the will of Deliverance Wilton was proved in +London. Camden, too, writing in 1614, says "Delivery" was known to him; +while Adams, whose Puritan proclivities I have previously hinted at, +preaching in London in 1626, asserts that Safe-deliverance existed to his +knowledge ("Meditations upon the Creed"). Deliverance crossed the Atlantic +with the Pilgrim Fathers (Bowditch), and I see one instance, at least, in +Hotten's "Emigrants:" + + "1670, Feb. 18. Buried Deliverance Addison."--Christ Church, Barbados. + + "Deliverance Hobbs and Deliverance Dane were both examined in the + great trial for witchcraft at Salem, June 2, 1692."--Neal, "New + England," pp. 533, 506. + +The last instance, probably, at home is-- + + "1757, Jan. 7. Buried Deliverance Branan."--Donnybrook, Dublin (_Notes + and Queries_). + +This "Deliverance" must have been especially common. One more instance: in +the will of Anne Allport, sen., of Cannock, Stafford, dated March 25, +1637, mention is made of "my son-in-law Deliverance Fennyhouse" (_vide_ +_Notes and Queries_, Dec. 8, 1860, W. A. Leighton). + +Much-mercy is characteristic: + + "1598, May 22. Baptized Much-mercie Harmer, a child."--Warbleton. + +This is but one more proof of Heley's influence, for he had baptized one +of his own sons "Much-mercy" in 1585. + +Perhaps a sense of undeserved mercies caused the following: + + "1589, Sep. 28. Baptized No-merit, dather of Stephen + Vynall."--Warbleton. + +That babes are cherubs, if not seraphs, every mother knows; but it is not +often the fact is recorded in our church registers. Peculiar thankfulness +must have been felt here: + + "On Dec. 11, 1865, aged seventy-eight years, died Cherubin + Diball."--_Notes and Queries_, 4th Series, ii. 130. + +And two hundred years previously, _i.e._ 1678, _Seraphim_ Marketman is +referred to in the last testament of John Kirk. But was it gratitude, +after all? We have all heard of the wretched father who would persist in +having the twins his wife presented to him christened by the names of +Cherubin and Seraphim, on the ground that "they continually do cry." +Perhaps Cherubin Diball and Seraphim Marketman made noise enough for two! + +But if the father of the twins was not as thankful for his privilege as he +ought to have been, others were. _Thanks_ and _Thankful_ were not unknown +to our forefathers. One of the earliest instances I can find is the +marriage lines of Thankful Hepden: + + "1646, July 16. Thankfull Hepden and Fraunces Bruer."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + +In Peck's "Desiderata Curiosa" (p. 537) we read: + + "Dec. M.D.CLVI. Mr. Thankful Frewen's corps carried through London, to + be interred in Sussex." + +Thankful's father was John Frewen, Rector of Northiam, the eminent Puritan +already referred to. _Accepted_, the elder son's name, belongs to this +same class. _Thankful_ seems to have become a favourite in that part of +the country, and to have lingered for a considerable time. In the "History +of the Town and Port of Rye" we find (p. 466): + + "Christmas, 1723. Assessment for repairs of highways: Mr. Thankful + Bishop paid 7{s} 6{d}." + +Again, so late as 1749 we find the death of another Thankful Frewen +recorded, who had been Rector of Northiam for sixteen years, christened, +no doubt, in memory of his predecessor of a century gone by.[52] Thankful +Owen was brother to Gracious Owen, president of St. John's, Oxford, +1650-1660. + +One more instance will suffice. The will of Thanks Tilden was proved in +1698. No wonder the name was sufficiently familiar to be embodied in one +of the political skits of the Commonwealth period: + + "'O, very well said,' quoth Con; + 'And so will I do,' says Frank; + And Mercy cries 'Aye,' and Mat, 'Really,' + 'And I'm o' that mind,' quoth _Thank_." + +Possibly the sentence "unfeignedly thankful" suggested the other word +also; any way, it existed: + + "1586, April 1. Baptized Unfeigned, sonne of Roger + Elliard."--Warbleton. + +The estate of Unfeigned Panckhurst was administered upon in 1656. + +From every side we see traces of the popularity of Thankful. During the +restoration of Hawkhurst Church, a small tombstone was discovered below +the floor, with an inscription to the "memory of Elizabeth, daughter of +_Thankful_ Bishop, of Hawkhurst, gent., who died January 2, 1680" ("Arch. +Cant.," iv. 108). In the churchwarden's book of the same place occurs this +curious item: + + "1675. Received by Thankfull Thorpe, churchwarden in the year 1675, of + Richard Sharpe of Bennenden, the summe of one pound for shouting of a + hare."--"Arch. Cant.," v. 75. + +Several names seem to breathe assurance and trust in imminent peril. +Perhaps both mother and child were in danger. _Preserved_ is distinctly of +this class: + + "Here lieth the body of Preserved, the daughter of Thomas Preserved + Emms, who departed this life in the 18th year of her age, on the 17th + of November, MDCCXII."--St. Nicholas, Yarmouth. + + "1588, Aug. 1. Baptized Preserved, sonne of Thomas Holman. + + "1594, Nov. 17. Baptized Preserved, sonne of Roger Caffe."--Warbleton. + +Preserved Fish, whose name appeared for many years in the New York +Directory, did not get his name this way. A friend of his informs me that, +about eighty-five years ago, a vessel was wrecked on the New Jersey coast, +and when washed ashore, a little child was discovered secured in one of +the berths, the only living thing left. The finder named the boy +"Preserved Fish," and he bore it through a long and honoured life to the +grave, having made for himself a good position in society. + +_Beloved_ would naturally suggest itself to grateful parents: + + "1672, July 10. Buried Anne, wife of Beeloved King."--Warbleton. + +This name is also found in St. Matthew, Friday Street, London. + +_Joy-in-Sorrow_ is the story of Rachel and Benoni over again: + + "1595. On the last daye of August the daughter of Edward Godman was + baptized and named Joye-in-Sorrow."--Isfield, Sussex. + +_Lamentation_ tells its own tale, unless taken from the title of one of +the Old Testament books: + + "Plaintiff, Lamentation Chapman: Bill to stay proceedings on a bond + relating to a tenement and lands in the parish of Borden, + Kent."--"Proc. in Chancery, Eliz.," i. 149. + +We have already mentioned _Safe-on-high_ Hopkinson, christened at +Salehurst in 1591, and _Help-on-high_ Foxe, incumbent of Lydney, +Gloucester, in 1661. The former died a few days after baptism, and the +event seems to have been anticipated in the name selected. + +The termination _on-high_ was popular. _Stand-fast-on-high_ Stringer dwelt +at Crowhurst, in Sussex, about the year 1635, as will be proved shortly, +and _Aid-on-high_ is twice met with: + + "1646, June 6. Letters of administration taken out in the estate of + Margery Maddock, of Ross, Hereford, by Aid-on-high Maddock, her + husband." + + "1596, July 19. Stephen Vynall had a sonne baptized, and was named + Aid-on-hye."--Isfield, Sussex.[53] + +The three following are precatory, and we may infer that the life of +either mother or child was endangered: + + "1618, ----. Married Restore Weekes to Constant Semar."--Chiddingly. + + "1613, ----. Baptized Have-mercie, d. of Thomas Stone."--Berwick, + Sussex. + +A monument at Cobham, Surrey, commemorates the third: + + "Hereunder lies interred the body of Aminadab Cooper, citizen and + merchaunt taylor of London, who left behind him God-helpe, their only + sonne. Hee departed this life the 23{d} June, 1618." + +Still less hopeful of augury was the following: + + "1697, July 6. Weakly Ekins, citizen and grocer, London."--"Inquisit. + of Lunacy," Rec. Office MSS. + +What about him? His friends brought him forward as a case for the +Commissioners of Lunacy to take in hand, on the ground that he was weak of +intellect, and unfit to manage his business. It might be asked whether +such a name was not likely to drive him to the state specified in the +petition. + +While on the subject of birth, we may notice that the Presbyterian clergy +were determined to visit the sins of the parents on the children in cases +of illegitimacy. A few instances must suffice: + + "1589, Aug. 3. Baptized Helpless Henley, a bastard."--Berwick, Sussex. + + "1608, Aug. 14. Baptized Repent Champney, a bastard."--Warbleton. + + "1599, May 13. Baptized Repentance, d. of Martha Henley, a + bastard."--Warbleton. + + "1600, M{ch}. 26. Baptized Lament, d. of Anne Willard, a + bastard."--Ditto. + + "1600, April 13. Baptized Repentance Gilbert, a bastard."--Cranbrook. + + "1598, Jan. 27. Baptized Forsaken, filius meretricis Agnetis + Walton."--Sedgefield. + + "1609, Dec. 17. Baptized Flie-fornication, the bace son of Catren + Andrewes."--Waldron. + +This is more kindly, but an exceptional case: + + "1609, Nov. 25. Baptized Fortune, daughter of Dennis Judie, and in sin + begoten."--Middleton-Cheney. + + +(_e._) _General._ + +There is a batch of names which was especially common, and which hardly +appears to be of Puritan origin; I mean names presaging good fortune. +Doubtless, however, they were at first used, in a purely spiritual sense, +of the soul's prosperity; and afterwards, by more worldly minds, were +referred to the good things of this life. + +_Fortune_ became a great favourite: + + "1607, Oct. 4. Baptized Fortune Gardyner."--St. Giles, Camberwell. + + "1642, ----. Baptized Fortune, daughter of Thomas Patchett."--Ludlow, + Shropshire. + + "1652-3, M{ch}. 10. Married Mr. John Barrington and Mrs. Fortune + Smith."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + + "1723, April 8. Buried Fortune Symons, aged 111 years."--Hammersmith. + +If Fortune meant fulness of years, it was attained in this last example. + +_Wealthy_ is equally curious: + + "1665 [no date]. Petition of Wealthy, lawful wife of Henry Halley, and + one of the Duke of York's guards."--C. S. P. + + "1714, April 25. Buried Wealthy Whathing."--Donnybrook, Dublin.[54] + + "1704, Aug. 18, died Riches Browne, gent., aged 62."--Scarning, + Norfolk. + +The father of this Riches was also Riches, and was married to the daughter +of John Nabs! (_vide_ Blomefield, vi. 5). + +Several names may be set in higgledy-piggledy fashion, for they belong to +no class, and are _sui generis_. + +Pleasant[55] is found several times: + + "1681, Nov. 8. Christened Pleasant, daughter of Robert Tarlton."--St. + Dionis Backchurch. + + "1725, Dec. 18. William Whiteing, of Chislett, to Pleasant Burt, of + Reculver."--Cant. Cath. + + "1728, Nov. 3. Buried Pleasant Smith, late wife of Mr. John + Smith."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +The following, no doubt, had a political as well as spiritual allusion. It +occurs several times in the New York Directory of the present year: + + "1689, March 4. Petition of Freeman Howes, controller of Chichester + port."--"C. S. P. Treasury." + + "1691, Sep. 21. Petition of Freeman Collins."--Ditto. + + "1661. Petition of Freeman Sonds."--"C. S. P. Domestic."[56] + +What a freak of fancy is commemorated in the following: + + "1698, June 23. Examination of Isaac Cooper, Thomas Abraham, and + Centurian Lucas."--C. S. P. + + "1660, June. Petition of Handmaid, wife of Aaron Johnson."--C. S. P. + + "1661, August 29. Baptized Miracle, son of George Lessa."--New + Buckenham. + + "1728. Married John Foster to Beulah Digby."--Somerset House Chapel. + +The Trinity in Unity were not held in proper reverence; for _Trinity_ +Langley fought in the army of Cromwell, while _Unity_ Thornton (St. James, +Piccadilly, 1680) and _Unity_ Awdley ("Top. et. Gen.," viii. 201) appear a +little later: + + "1694, Jan. 8. James Commelin to Mrs. Unitie Awdrey."--Market + Lavington. + + "1668, Feb. 15. Baptized Unity, son of John Brooks."--Banbury. + +_Providence_ Hillershand died August 14, 1749, aged 72 (Bicknor, +Gloucester). Providence was a _he_. + + "1752, Nov. 5. Buried Selah, d. of Ric. and Diana Collins."--Dyrham, + Gloucestershire. + + "1586, April 10. Baptized My-sake Hallam."--Cranbrook. + +Biblical localities were much resorted to: + + "1616, Nov. 26. Baptized Bethsaida, d. of Humphrey Trenouth."--St. + Columb Major. + + "1700, June 6. Buried Canaan, wife of John Hatton, 55 + years."--Forthampton, Gloucestershire. + + "1706, April 27. Married Eden Hardy to Esther Pantall."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + + "1695, Dec. 15. Baptized Richard, son of Richard and Nazareth + Rudde."--St. James, Piccadilly. + +_Nazareth_ Godden's will was administrated upon in 1662. _Battalion_ +Shotbolt was defendant in a suit in the eleventh year of Queen Anne +(Decree Rolls, Record Office). The following is odd: + + "1683, Oct. 11. Buried Mr. _Inward_ Ansloe."--Cant. Cath. + + +V. A SCOFFING WORLD. + +While these strange pranks were being played, the world was not asleep. +Calamy seems to have discovered a source of melancholy satisfaction in the +fact that the quaint names of his brethren were subjected to the raillery +of a wicked world. One of the ejected ministers was Sabbath Clark, +minister of Tarvin, Cheshire. Of him he writes: + + "He had been constant minister of the parish for nigh upon sixty + years. He carried Puritanism in his very name, by which his good + father intended he should bear the memorial of God's Holy Day. This + was a course that some in those times affected, baptizing their + children Reformation, Discipline, etc., as the affections of their + parents stood engaged. For this they have sufficiently suffered from + Profane Wits, and this worthy person did so in particular. Yet his + name was not a greater offence to such persons than his holy life." + +Probably Calamy was referring to the "profane wit" Dr. Cosin, Bishop of +Chester, who, in a visitation held at Warrington about the year 1643, is +said to have acted as follows:-- + + "A minister, called Sabbaith Clerke, the Doctor re-baptized, took's + marke, and call'd him Saturday." + +That this was a deliberate insult, and not a pleasantry, Calamy, of +course, would stoutly maintain. Hence the above sample of holy ire. + +Many of the names in the list I have recorded must have met with the +good-humoured raillery of the every-day folk the strangely stigmatized +bearer might meet. I suppose in good time, however, the owner, and the +people he was accustomed to mix with, got used to it. It is true they must +have resorted, not unfrequently, to curter forms, much after the fashion +of the now almost forgotten nick forms of the Plantagenet days. +Fight-the-good-fight-of-faith is a very large mouthful, if you come to try +it, and I dare say Mr. White or Brown, whoever he might be, did not so +strongly urge as he ought to have done the gross impropriety of his +friends recognizing him by the simple style of "Faith" or "Fight." Fancy +at a dinner, in a day that had not invented the convenient practice of +calling a man by his surname, having to address a friend across the table, +"Please, Fight-the-good-fight-of-faith, pass the pepper!" The thing was +impossible. Even Help-on-high was found cumbersome, and, as we have seen, +the Rector of Lydney curtailed it. + +A curious instance of waggery anent this matter of length will be found in +the register of St. Helen, Bishopgate. The entry is dated 1611, just the +time when the dramatists were making fun of this Puritanic innovation, and +when the custom was most popular: + + "Sept. 1, 1611. Job-rakt-out-of-the-asshes, being borne the last of + August in the lane going to Sir John Spencer's back-gate, and there + laide in a heape of seacole asshes, was baptized the ffirst day of + September following, and dyed the next day after." + +This is confirmed by the burial records: + + "Sept. 2, 1611. Job-rakt-out-of-the-asshes, as is mentioned in the + register of christenings." + +The reference, of course, is to Job ii. 8: + + "And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down + among the ashes." + +This was somewhat grim fun, though. Probably _Job-rakt-out-of-the-asshes_, +during his brief life, would be styled by the curter title of "Ashes." It +is somewhat curious to notice that Camden, writing three years later, says +Ashes existed. Perhaps this was the instance. + +A similar instance of waggery is found in the parish church of Old +Swinford, where the following entry occurs:-- + + "1676, Jan. 18. Baptized + Dancell-Dallphebo-Marke-Antony-Dallery-Gallery-Cesar, sonn of + Dancell-Dallphebo-Marke-Antony-Dallery-Gallery-Cesar Williams." + +Allowing the father to be thirty years of age, the paternal christening +would take place in 1646, which would be a likely time in the political +history of England for a mimical hit at Puritan eccentricity. + + +(_a._) _The Playwrights._ + +There is a capital scene in "The Ordinary" (1634), where Andrew Credulous, +after trolling out a verse of nonsensical rhyme against the Puritan names, +says to his friends Hearsay and Slicer, in allusion to these new long and +uncouth names: + + "Andrew the Great Turk? + I would I were a peppercorn, if that + It sounds not well. Doe'st not? + _Slicer._ Yes, very well. + _Credulous._ I'll make it else great Andrew Mahomet, + _Imperious Andrew Mahomet Credulous_. + Tell me which name sounds best. + _Hearsay._ That's as you speak 'em. + _Credulous._ Oatmealman Andrew! Andrew Oatmealman! + _Hearsay._ Ottoman, sir, you mean. + _Credulous._ Yes, Ottoman." + +"Oatmealman Andrew! Andrew Oatmealman!" seems to have suggested to +Thomson that unfortunate line: + + "O Sophonisba, Sophonisba O," + +so unkindly parodied into-- + + "O Jemmy Thomson, Jemmy Thomson O." + +From this quotation it will be seen that it is not to the church register +alone we must turn, to discover the manner in which these new names were +being received by the public. Calamy might wax wroth over the "profane +wits" of the day, but one of the severest blows administered to the men he +has undertaken to defend, came from his own side; for Thomas Adams, Rector +of St. Benet, Paul's Wharf, must unquestionably be placed, even by +Calamy's own testimony, among the Puritan clergy of his day. His name does +not appear in the list of silenced clergy, and his works are dedicated to +pronounced friends of the Noncomformist cause. In his "Meditations upon +the Creed" (vol. iii. p. 213, edit. 1872), first published in 1629, he +says-- + + "Some call their sons _Emanuel_: this is too bold. The name is proper + to Christ, therefore not to be communicated to any creature. It is no + less than presumption to give a subject's son the style of his prince. + Yea, it seems to me not fit for Christian humility to call a man + _Gabriel_ or _Michael_, giving the names of angels to the sons of + mortality. + + "On the other side, it is a petulant absurdity to give them ridiculous + names, the very rehearsing whereof causeth laughter. There be certain + affectate names which mistaken zeal chooseth for honour, but the event + discovers a proud singularity. It was the speech of a famous prophet, + _Non sum melior patribus meis_--'I am no better than my fathers;' but + such a man will be _sapientior patribus suis_--'Wiser than his + fathers.' As if they would tie the goodness of the person to the + signification of the name. But still a man is what he is, not what he + is called; he were the same, with or without that title or that name. + And we have known _Williams_ and _Richards_, names not found in sacred + story, but familiar to our country, prove as gracious saints as any + _Safe-deliverance_, _Fight-the-good-fight-of-faith_, or such like, + which have been rather descriptions than names." + +I have quoted portions of this before. I have now given it in full, for it +is trenchant, and full of common sense. Coming from the quarter it did, we +cannot doubt it had its effect in throwing the practice into disfavour +among the better orders. But there had been a continued battery going on +from a foe by whose side Adams would have rather faced death than fight. +Years before he wrote his own sentiments, the Puritan nomenclature had +been roughly handled on the stage, and by such ruthless pens as Ben +Jonson, Cowley, and Beaumont and Fletcher. A year before little +Job-rakt-out-of-the-asshes was laid to rest, the sharp and unsparing +sarcasm of "The Alchemist" and "Bartholomew Fair" had been levelled at +these doings. The first of these two dramas Ben Jonson saw acted in 1610. +By that time the custom was a generation old, and men who bore the godly +but uncouth sobriquets were walking the streets, keeping shops, driving +bargains, known, if not avoided, of all men. In 1610 Increase Brown, your +apprentice, might be demanding an advance upon his wages, Help-on-high +Jones might be imploring your patronage, while Search-the-Scriptures +Robinson might be diligently studying his ledger to see how he could swell +his total against you for tobacco and groceries. In 1610 society would be +really awake to the fact that such things existed, and proceed to discuss +this serio-comic matter in a comico-serious manner. The time was exactly +ripe for the playwright, and it was the fate of the Presbyterians that the +playwright was "rare Ben." + +In "The Alchemist" appears _Ananias_, a deacon, who is thus questioned by +Subtle: + + "What are you, sir? + _Ananias._ Please you, a servant of the exiled brethren, + That deal with widows' and with orphans' goods, + And make a just account unto the saints: + A deacon. + _Subtle._ O, you are sent from Master Wholesome, + Your teacher? + _Ananias._ From Tribulation Wholesome, + Our very zealous pastor." + +After accusing Ananias of being related to the "varlet that cozened the +Apostles," Subtle meets Tribulation himself, the Amsterdam pastor, whom he +treats with scant courtesy: + + "Nor shall you need to libel 'gainst the prelates, + And shorten so your ears against the hearing + Of the next wire-drawn grace. Nor of necessity + Rail against plays, to please the alderman + Whose daily custard you devour; nor lie + With zealous rage till you are hoarse. Not one + Of these so singular arts. Nor call yourselves + By name of _Tribulation_, _Persecution_, + _Restraint_, _Long-patience_, and such like, affected + By the whole family or wood of you, + Only for glory, and to catch the ear + Of your disciple." + +To which hard thrust Tribulation meekly makes response: + + "Truly, sir, they are + Ways that the godly brethren have invented + For propagation of the glorious cause." + +Every word of this harangue of Subtle's would tell upon a sympathetic +audience. So popular was the play itself, that a common street song was +made out of it, the first verse of which we find Credulous singing in "The +Ordinary:" + + "My name's not Tribulation, + Nor holy Ananias; + I was baptized in fashion, + Our vicar did hold bias."[57] + Act iv. sc. 1. + +This comedy appeared twenty years after "The Alchemist," and yet the song +was still popular. Many a lad with a Puritan name must have had these +rhymes flung into his teeth. _Tribulation_, by the way, is one of the +names given in Camden's list, written four years later than Ben Jonson's +play. This name, which has been the object of an antiquary's, a +playwright's, a ballad-monger's and an historian's ridicule (for Macaulay +had his fling at it), curiously enough I have not found in the registers. +But its equivalent, _Lamentation_, occurs, as we have seen, in the +"Chancery Suits" (1590-1600), in the case of _Lamentation Chapman_. +_Restraint_ is met by _Abstinence_ Pougher, and _Persecution_ by _Trial_ +Travis (C. S. P. 1619, June 7). + +Still more severe, again, is this same dramatist in "Bartholomew Fair," +which was performed in London, October, 1614, by the retinue of Lady +Elizabeth, James's daughter. Pouring ridicule upon the butt of the day, +whose name of "Puritan" was by-and-by to be anagrammatized into "a +turnip," from the cropped roundness of his head, this drama became the +play-goers' favourite. It was suppressed during the Commonwealth, and one +of the first to be revived at the Restoration.[58] The king is said to +have given special orders for its performance. Whether his grandfather +liked it as much may be doubted, for it once or twice touches on doctrinal +points, and James thought he had a special gift for theology. + +Zeal-of-the-land Busy is a Banbury man, which town was then even more +celebrated for Puritans than cakes. _Caster_, in "The Ordinary," says-- + + "I'll send some forty thousand unto Paul's: + Build a cathedral next in Banbury: + Give organs to each parish in the kingdom." + +Zeal-of-the-land is thus inquired of by Winwife: + + "What call you the reverend elder you told me of, your Banbury man? + + _Littlewit._ Rabbi Busy, sir: he is more than an elder, he is a + prophet, sir. + + _Quarlous._ O, I know him! a baker, is he not? + + _Littlewit._ He was a baker, sir, but he does dream now, and see + visions: he has given over his trade. + + _Quarlous._ I remember that, too: out of a scruple that he took, in + spiced conscience, those cakes he made were served to bridales, + maypoles, morrices, and such profane feasts and meetings. His + christian name is Zeal-of-the-land? + + _Littlewit._ Yes, sir; Zeal-of-the-land Busy. + + _Winwife._ How! what a name's there! + + _Littlewit._ O, they all have such names, sir: he was witness for Win + here--they will not be called godfathers--and named her Win-the-fight: + you thought her name had been Winnifred, did you not? + + _Winwife._ I did indeed. + + _Littlewit._ He would have thought himself a stark reprobate if it + had." + +All this would be caviare to the Cavalier, and it is doubtful whether he +did not enjoy it more than his grandparents, who could but laugh at it as +a hit religious, rather than political. The allusion to _witnesses_ +reminds us of Corporal Oath, who in "The Puritan," published in 1607 (Act +ii. sc. 3), rails at the zealots for the mild character of their +ejaculations. The expression "Oh!" was the most terrible expletive they +permitted themselves to indulge in, and some even shook their heads at a +brother who had thus far committed himself: + + "Why! has the devil possessed you, that you swear no better, + You half-christened c----s, you un-godmothered varlets?" + +The terms godfather and godmother were rejected by the disaffected clergy, +and they would have the answer made in the name of the sponsors, not the +child. Hence they styled them witnesses. + +In "Women Pleased," a tragi-comedy, written, as is generally concluded, by +Fletcher alone about the year 1616, we find the customary foe of maypoles +addressing the hobby: + + "I renounce it, + And put the beast off thus, the beast polluted. + And now no more shall _Hope-on-high_ Bomby + Follow the painted pipes of worldly pleasures, + And with the wicked dance the Devil's measures: + Away, thou pampered jade of vanity!" + +Here, again, is no exaggeration of name, for we have Help-on-high Foxe to +face Hope-on-high Bomby. The Rector of Lydney would be about twenty-five +when this play was written, and may have suggested himself the sobriquet. +The names are all but identical. + +From "Women Pleased" and Fletcher to "Cutter of Coleman Street" and Cowley +is a wide jump, but we must make it to complete our quotations from the +playwrights. Although brought out after the Restoration, the fun about +names was not yet played out. The scene is laid in London in 1658. This +comedy was sorely resented by the zealots, and led the author to defend +himself in his preface. He says that he has been accused of +"prophaneness:" + + "There is some imitation of Scripture phrases: God forbid! There is no + representation of the true face of Scripture, but only of that vizard + which these hypocrites draw upon it." + +This must have been more trying to bear even than Cutter himself. Under a +thin disguise, Colonel _Fear-the-Lord_ Barebottle is none other than +Praise-God Barebone, of then most recent notoriety. Cowley's allusion to +him through the medium of Jolly is not pleasant: + + "_Jolly._ My good neighbour, I thank him, Colonel Fear-the-Lord + Barebottle, a Saint and a Soap-boiler, brought it. But he's dead, and + boiling now himself, that's the best of 't; there's a Cavalier's + comfort." + +Cutter turns zealot, and wears a most puritanical habit. To the colonel's +widow, Mistress Tabitha Barebottle, he says-- + + "Sister Barebottle, I must not be called Cutter any more: that is a + name of Cavalier's darkness; the Devil was a Cutter from the + beginning: my name is now _Abednego_. I had a vision which whispered + to me through a keyhole, 'Go, call thyself _Abednego_.'"[59] + +But Cutter--we beg his pardon, Abednego--was but a sorry convert. Having +lapsed into a worldly mind again, he thus addresses Tabitha: + + "Shall I, who am to ride the purple dromedary, go dressed like + _Revelation_ Fats, the basket-maker?--Give me the peruke, boy!" + +I fancy the reader will agree with me that Cowley needed all the arguments +he could urge in his preface to meet the charge of irreverence. + + +(_b._) _The Sussex Jury._ + +One of the strongest indictments to be found against this phase of +Puritanic eccentricity is to be found in Hume's well-known quotation from +Brome's "Travels into England"--a quotation which has caused much angry +contention. The book quoted by the historian is entitled "Travels over +England, Scotland, and Wales, by James Brome, M.A., Rector of Cheriton, in +Kent." Writing soon after the Restoration, Mr. Brome says (p. 279)-- + + "Before I leave this county (Sussex), I shall subjoin a copy of a Jury + returned here in the late rebellious troublesome times, given me by + the same worthy hand which the Huntingdon Jury was: and by the + christian names then in fashion we may still discover the + superstitious vanity of the Puritanical Precisians of that age." + +A second list in the British Museum Mr. Lower considers to be of a +somewhat earlier date. We will set them side by side: + + Accepted Trevor, of Norsham. | Approved Frewen, of Northiam. + Redeemed Compton, of Battle. | Be-thankful Maynard, of Brightling. + Faint-not Hewit, of Heathfield. | Be-courteous Cole, of Pevensey. + Make-peace Heaton, of Hare. | Safety-on-high Snat, of Uckfield. + God-reward Smart, of Fivehurst. | Search-the-Scriptures Moreton, + Stand-fast-on-high Stringer, of | of Salehurst. + Crowhurst. | More-fruit Fowler, of East Hothley. + Earth Adams, of Warbleton. | Free-gift Mabbs, of Chiddingly. + Called Lower, of the same. | Increase Weeks, of Cuckfield. + Kill-sin Pimple, of Witham. | Restore Weeks, of the same. + Return Spelman, of Watling. | Kill-sin Pemble, of Westham. + Be faithful Joiner, of Britling. | Elected Mitchell, of Heathfield. + Fly-debate Roberts, of the same. | Faint-not Hurst, of the same. + Fight-the-good-fight-of-faith | Renewed Wisberry, of Hailsham. + White, of Emer. | Return Milward, of Hellingly. + More-fruit Fowler, of East Hodley. | Fly-debate Smart, of Waldron. + Hope-for Bending, of the same. | Fly-fornication Richardson, of + Graceful Harding, of Lewes. | the same. + Weep-not Billing, of the same. | Seek-wisdom Wood, of the same. + Meek Brewer, of Okeham. | Much-mercy Cryer, of the same. + | Fight-the-good-fight-of-faith + | White, of Ewhurst. + | Small-hope Biggs, of Rye. + | Earth Adams, of Warbleton. + | Repentance Avis, of Shoreham. + | The-peace-of-God Knight, of + | Burwash. + +I dare say ninety-five per cent. of readers of Hume's "History of England" +have thought this list of Sussex jurors a silly and extravagant hoax. +They are "either a forgery or a joke," says an indignant writer in _Notes +and Queries_. Hume himself speaks of them as names adopted by converts, +evidently unaware that these sobriquets were all but invariably affixed at +the font. The truth of the matter is this. The names are real enough; the +panel is not necessarily so. They are a collection of names existing in +several Sussex villages at one and the same time. Everything vouches for +their authenticity. The list was printed by Brome while the majority must +be supposed still to be living; the villages in which they resided are +given, the very villages whose registers we now turn to for Puritanic +examples, with the certainty of unearthing them; above all, some of the +names can be "run down" even now. _Accepted_ or Approved Frewen, of +_Northiam_, we have already referred to. _Free-gift_ Mabbs, of +_Chiddingly_, is met by the following entry from Chiddingly Church: + + "1616, ----. Buried Mary, wife of Free-gift Mabbs." + +The will of _Redeemed_ Compton, of Battle, was proved in London in 1641. +_Restore_ Weeks, of Cuckfield, is, no doubt, the individual who got +married not far away, in Chiddingly Church: + + "1618, ----. Restore Weeks espoused Constant Semer." + +"Increase Weeks, of Cuckfield," may therefore be accepted as proven, +especially as I have shown _Increase_ to be a favourite Puritan name. +These two would be brothers, or perchance father and son. As for the other +names, the majority have already figured in this chapter. Fly-fornication +is still found in Waldron register, though the surname is a different one. +Return, Faint-not, Much-mercy, Be-thankful, Repentance, Safe-on-high, +Renewed, and More-fruit, all have had their duplicates in the pages +preceding. "_Fight-the-good-fight-of-faith_ White, of Emer," is the only +unlikely sobriquet left to be dealt with. Thomas Adams, in his +"Meditations upon the Creed," in a passage already quoted, testified to +its existence in 1629. The conclusion is irresistible: the names are +authentic, and the panel may have been. + + +(_c._) _Royalists with Puritan Names._ + +It may be asked whether or not the world went beyond scoffing. Was the +stigma of a Puritan name a hindrance to the worldly advancement of the +bearer? It is pleasant, in contradiction of any such theory, to quote the +following:-- + + "1663, Aug. Petition of _Arise_ Evans to the King for an order that he + may receive L20 in completion of the L70 given him by the King."--C. + S. P. + +In a second appeal made March, 1664 (C. S. P.), _Arise_ reminds Charles of +many "noble acts" done for him as a personal attendant during his exile. + + "1660, June. Petition of Handmaid, wife of Aaron Johnson, + cabinet-maker, for the place for her husband of Warden in the Tower, + he being eminently loyal. + + "1660, June. Petition of Increased Collins, His Majesty's servant, for + _restoration_ to the keepership of Mote's Bulwark, near Dover, + appointed January, 1629, and dismissed in 1642, as not trustworthy, + imprisoned and sequestered, and in 1645 tried for his life. + + "1660, Oct. Petition of Noah Bridges, and his son Japhet Bridges, for + office of clerk to the House of Commons."--C. S. P. + +Thus it will be seen that, in the general rush for places of preferment at +the Restoration, there were men and women bearing names of the most marked +Puritanism, who did not hesitate to forward their appeals with the +Williams and Richards of the world at large. They manifestly did not +suppose their sobriquets would be any bar to preferment. One of them, too, +had been body-man to Charles in his exile, and another had suffered in +person and estate as a devoted adherent of royalty. We may hope and trust, +therefore, that all this scoffing was of a good-humoured character. + +It was, doubtless, the prejudice against Puritan eccentricity that +introduced civil titles as font names into England--a class specially +condemned by Cartwright and his friends. At any rate, they are +contemporary with the excesses of fanatic nomenclature, and are found +just in the districts where the latter predominated. _Squire_ must have +arisen before Elizabeth died: + + "1626, March 21. Petition of Squire Bence."--C. S. P. + + "1662, Oct. 30. Baptized Jane, d. of Squire Brockhall."--Hornby, York. + + "1722, July 28. Baptized Squire, son of John Pysing and Bennet, his + wife."--Cant. Cath. + +_Duke_ was the christian name of Captain Wyvill, a fervent loyalist, and +grandson of Sir Marmaduke Wyvill, Bart., of Constable Burton, Yorkshire: + + "1681, Feb. 12. Baptized Duke, son of Robert Fance, K{nt}."--Cant. + Cath. + +_Squire_ passed over the Atlantic, and is frequently to be seen in the +States; so that if men may not squire themselves at the end of their names +in the great republic, they may at the beginning. + +Yorkshire and Lancashire are the great centres for this class of names on +English soil. _Squire_ is found on every page of the West Riding +Directory, such entries as Squire Jagger, Squire Whitley, Squire Hind, +Squire Hardy, or Squire Chapman being of the commonest occurrence. _Duke_ +is also a favourite, Duke Redmayne and Duke Oldroyd meeting my eye after +turning but half a dozen pages. But the great rival of _Squire_ is +_Major_. There is a kind of martial, if not braggadocio, air about the +very sound, which has taken the ear of the Yorkshire folk. Close together +I light upon Major Pullen, farmer; Major Wold, farmer; Major Smith, +sexton; Major Marshall, ironmonger. Other illustrations are _Prince_ +Jewitt, _Earl_ Moore, _Marshall_ Stewart, and _Admiral_ Fletcher. This +custom has led to awkwardnesses. There was living at Burley, near Leeds, a +short time ago, a "_Sir Robert_ Peel." In the same way "Earl Grey" is +found. Sir Isaac Newton was living not long ago in the parish of Soho, +London. Robinson Cruso still survives, hale and hearty, at King's Lynn, +and Dean Swift is far from dead, as the West Riding Directory proves. + +It was an odd idea that suggested "Shorter." I have five instances of it, +two from the Westminster Abbey registers: + + "1689, March 3. Buried Shorter Norris." + + "1690, July 9. Baptized Shorter, son of Robert and Ann Tanner." + +_Junior_ is found so early as 1657: + + "1657, ----. Christened Junior, sonne of Robert Naze."--Cant. Cath. + +Little is similarly used. Little Midgley in the West Riding Directory is +scarcely a happy conjunction. In the same town are to be seen John Berry, +side by side with "Young John Berry," and Allen Mawson, with Young Allen +Mawson. + + +VI. BUNYAN'S DEBT TO THE PURITANS. + +But if the Sussex jury was not visionary, except for the panel, neither +was that at Mansoul! What a text is this for the next biographer of +Bunyan, if he have the courage to enter upon it! To suggest that the great +dreamer was not a reprobate in his youth, and thus spoil the contrast +between his converted and unconverted life, was a perilous act on Lord +Macaulay's part. To insinuate that he had a not altogether unpleasant time +of it in the Bedford gaol, that he could have his friends to visit him, +and, on the face of it, ink, paper, and quills to set down his +meditations, even this is enough to set a section of political and +religious society about our ears. But to hint that his character names +were not wholly the offspring of his imagination, not thought out in the +isolation of his dreary captivity, and not pictured in his brain, while +his brain-pan was lying upon a hard and comfortless pallet--this, I know, +not very long ago would have brought a mob about me! In the present day, I +shall only be smiled upon with contempt, and condemned to a righteous +ignominy by the superior judgment of the worshippers of John Bunyan! + +Nevertheless I ask, were the great mass of Bunyan's character names the +creation of his own brain, or were they suggested by the nomenclature of +his friends or neighbours in the days of his youth? It is the peculiarity +of the names in the "Pilgrim's Progress" and "Siege of Mansoul," that they +suggest the incidents of which the bearers are the heroes. But, in a large +proportion of cases, these names already existed. Born in 1628, Bunyan saw +Puritan character names at their climax. Living at Elstow, he was within +the limits of the district most addicted to the practice. He had seen +Christian and Hopeful, Christiana and Mercy, of necessity long before he +was "haled to prison" at Bedford. The four fair damsels, Discretion, +Piety, Charity, and Prudence, may and must have in part been his +companions in his boyish rambles years before he met them in the Valley of +Humiliation; and if afterwards, in the Siege of Mansoul, he turned Charity +into a man, he was only doing what godfathers and godmothers had been +doing for thirty years previously. The name and sweet character of +_Faithful_ might be a personal reminiscence, good Father _Honest_ a +quondam host on one of his preaching expeditions, and _Standfast_, "that +right good pilgrim," an old Paedo-Baptist of his acquaintance. The +shepherds _Watchful_, _Sincere_, and _Experience_, if not _Knowledge_, +were known of all men, in less pastoral avocations. And as for the men +that were panelled in the trial of the Diabolonians, we might set them +side by side with the Sussex jury, and certainly the contrast for oddity +would be in favour of the cricketing county. Messrs. Belief, True-heart, +Upright, Hate-bad, Love-God, See-truth, Heavenly-mind, Thankful, +Good-work, Zeal-for-God, and Humble have all, or well-nigh all, been +quoted in this chapter, as registered by the church clerk a generation +before Do-right, the town-clerk of Mansoul, called them over in court. +"Do-right" himself is met by "Do-good," and the witness "Search-truth" by +"Search-the-Scriptures." Even "Giant Despair" may have suffered +convulsions in teething in the world of fact, before his fits took him in +the world of dreams; and his wife "Diffidence" will be found, I doubt not, +to have been at large before Bunyan "laid him down in a den." Where names +of evil repute come--and they are many--we do not expect to see their +duplicates in the flesh. _Graceless_, _Love-lust_, _Live-loose_, +_Hold-the-world_, and _Talkative_ were not names for the Puritan, but +their contraries were. _Grace_ meets the case of _Grace-less_, _Love-lust_ +may be set by "Fly-fornication," and _Live-loose_ by "Live-well" or +"Continent." _Hold-the-world_ is directly suggested by the favourite +"Safe-on-high;" _Talkative_, by "Silence." + +That John Bunyan is under debt to the Puritans for many of his characters +must be unquestionable; and were he living now, or could we interview him +where he is, I do not doubt we could extract from him, good honest man, +the ready admission that in the names of the personages that flit before +us in his unapproachable allegory, and which have charmed the fancy of old +and young for so many generations, he was merely stereotyping the +recollections of childhood, and commemorating, so far as sobriquets were +concerned, the companionships of earlier years. + + +VII. THE INFLUENCE OF PURITANISM ON AMERICAN NOMENCLATURE. + +Baptismal nomenclature to-day in the United States, especially in the old +settlements, bears stronger impressions of the Puritan epoch than the +English. Their ancestors were Puritans, who had fled England for +conscience' sake. Their life, too, in the West was for generations +primitive, almost patriarchal, in its simplicity. There was no bantering +scorn of a wicked world to face; there was no deliberate effort made by +any part of the community to restore the old names. To this day the +impress remains. Take up a story of backwood life, such as American female +writers affect so much, and it will be inscribed "Faith Gartney's +Girlhood," or "Prudence Palfrey." All the children that figure in these +tales are "Truth," or "Patience," or "Charity," or "Hope." The true +descendants of the early settlers are, to a man, woman, and child, even +now bearers of names either from the abstract Christian graces or the +narratives of Holy Scripture. Of course, the constant tide of immigration +that has set in has been gradually telling against Puritan traditions. The +grotesque in name selection, too, has gone further in some of the more +retired and inaccessible districts of the States than the eastern border, +or in England generally, where social restraints and the demands of custom +are still respected. If we are to believe American authorities, there are +localities where humour has certainly become grim, and the solemn rite of +baptism somewhat burlesqued by a selection of names which throw into the +shade even Puritan eccentricity. + +Look at the names of some of the earliest settlers of whom we have any +authentic knowledge. We may mention the _Mayflower_ first. In 1620 the +emigrants by this vessel founded New Plymouth. This led to the planting of +other colonies. Among the passengers were a girl named _Desire_ Minter, a +direct translation of Desiderata, which had just become popular in +England; William Brewster, the ruling elder; his son _Love_ Brewster, who +married, settled, and died there in 1650, leaving four children; and a +younger son, _Wrestling_ Brewster. The daughters had evidently been left +in England till a comfortable home could be found for them, for next year +there arrived at New Plymouth, in the _Ann_ and _Little James_, _Fear_ +Brewster and _Patience_ Brewster. Patience very soon married Thomas +Prince, one of the first governors. On this same memorable journey of the +_Mayflower_ came also _Remember_, daughter of Isaac Allerton, first +assistant to the new governor; _Resolved_ White, who married and left five +children in the colony; and _Humility_ Cooper, who by-and-by returned to +England. + +A little later on, in the _Ann_ and _Little James_, again came Manasseh +Faunce and _Experience_ Mitchell. In a "List of Living" in Virginia, made +February 16, 1623, is _Peaceable_ Sherwood. In a "muster" taken January +30, 1624, occur _Revolt_ Morcock and _Amity_ Waine. + +There is a conversation in "The Ordinary"--a drama written in 1634 or +1635, by Cartwright, the man whose "body was as handsome as his soul," as +Langbaine has it--which may be quoted here. _Hearsay_ says-- + + "London air, + Methinks, begins to be too hot for us. + _Slicer._ There is no longer tarrying here: let's swear + Fidelity to one another, and + So resolve for New England. + _Hearsay._ 'Tis but getting + A little pigeon-hole reformed ruff---- + _Slicer._ Forcing our beards into th' orthodox bent---- + _Shape._ Nosing a little treason 'gainst the king, + Bark something at the bishops, and we shall + Be easily received." + Act iv. sc. 5. + +It is interesting to remember that 1635, when this was written, saw the +high tide of Puritan emigration. The list of passengers that have come +down to us prove it. After that date the names cease to represent the +sterner spirit of revolt against episcopacy and the Star Chamber. + +In the ship _Francis_, from Ipswich, April 30, 1634, came _Just_ Houlding. +In the _Elizabeth_, landed April 17, 1635, _Hope-still_ Foster and +_Patience_ Foster. From the good barque _James_, July 13, 1635, set foot +on shore _Remembrance_ Tybbott. In the _Hercules_ sailed hither, in 1634, +_Comfort_ Starre, "chirurgeon." In 1635 settled _Patient_ White. In a book +of entry, dated April 12, 1632, is registered _Perseverance_ Greene, as +one who is to be passed on to New England. + +Such names as Constant Wood, Temperance Hall, Charity Hickman, Fayth +Clearke, or Grace Newell, I simply record and pass on. That these names +were perpetuated is clear. The older States teem with them now; American +story-books for girls are full of them. _Humility_ Cooper, of 1620, is met +by an entry of burial in St. Michael's, Barbados: + + "1678, May 16. _Humility_ Hobbs, from ye almshous." + +The churchwardens of St. James' Barbados, have entered an account of +lands, December 20, 1679, wherein is set down + + "Madam _Joye_ Sparks, 12 servants, 150 negroes." + +_Increase_ Mather is a familiar name to students of American history. His +father, Richard Mather, was born at Liverpool in 1596. Richard left for +New England in 1635, with his four sons, Samuel, Nathaniel, Eleazar, and +Increase. Cotton Mather was a grandson. About the same time, Charles +Chauncey (of a Hertfordshire family), late Vicar of Ware, who had been +imprisoned for refusing to rail in his communion table, settled in New +England. Dying there in 1671, as president of Harvard College, he +bequeathed, through his children, the following names to the land of his +adoption:--Isaac, Ichabod, Sarah, Barnabas, Elnathan, and Nathaniel. Both +the Mathers and the Chaunceys, therefore, sent out a Nathaniel. Adding +these to the large number of Nathaniels found in the lists of emigrants +published by Mr. Hotten, no wonder Nathaniel became for a time the first +name on American soil, and that "Nat" should have got instituted into a +pet name. Jonathan was not to be compared to it for a moment. + +But we have not done with the Chaunceys. One of the most singular +accidents that ever befell nomenclature has befallen them. What has +happened to Sidney in England, has happened to Chauncey in America, only +"more so." The younger Chaunceys married and begot children. A grandson of +Isaac Chauncey died at Boston, in 1787, aged eighty-three. He was a great +patriot, preacher, and philanthropist at a critical time in his country's +history. The name had spread, too, and no wonder that it suggested itself +to the authoress of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as a character name. She, however, +placed it in its proper position as a surname. It may be that Mrs. Stowe +has given the use of this patronymic as a baptismal name an impulse, but +it had been so used long before she herself was born. It was a memorial of +Charles Chauncey, of Boston. It has now an average place throughout all +the eastern border and the older settlements. I take up the New York +Directory for 1878, and at once light upon Chauncey Clark, Chauncey Peck, +and Chauncey Quintard; while, to distinguish the great Smith family, +there are Chauncey Smith, lawyer, Chauncey Smith, milk-dealer, Chauncey +Smith, meat-seller, and Chauncey Smith, junior, likewise engaged in the +meat market. Thus, it is popular with all classes. In my London Directory +for 1870, there are six Sidney Smiths and one Sydney Smith. Chauncey and +Sidney seem likely to run a race in the two countries, but Chauncey has +much the best of it at present. + +Another circumstance contributed to the formation of Americanisms in +nomenclature. The further the Puritan emigrants drew away from the old +familiar shores, the more predominant the spirit of liberty grew. It was +displayed, amongst other ways, in the names given to children born on +board vessel.[60] It was an outlet for their pent-up enthusiasm. +Shakespeare puts into the mouth of Pericles-- + + "We cannot but obey + The powers above us. Could I rage and roar + As doth the sea she lies on, yet the end + Must be as 'tis. My gentle babe, _Marina_ (whom, + For she was born at sea, I've named so) here + I charge your charity withal, leaving her + The infant of your care." + Act iii. sc. 3. + +The Puritan did the same. _Oceanus_ Hopkins was born on the high seas in +the _Mayflower_, 1620; _Peregrine_ White came into the world as the same +vessel touched at Cape Cod; _Sea-born_ Egginton, whose birth "happened in +his berth," as Hood would say, is set down as owner of some land and a +batch of negroes later on (Hotten, p. 453); while the marriage of +_Sea-mercy_ Adams with Mary Brett is recorded, in 1686, in Philadelphia +(Watson's "Annals of Philadelphia," 1. 503). Again, we find the +following:-- + + "1626, Nov. 6. Grant of denization to Bonaventure Browne, born beyond + sea, but of English parents."--C. S. P. + +No doubt his parents went over the Atlantic on board the _Bonaventure_, +which was plying then betwixt England and the colonies (_vide_ list of +ships in Hotten's "Emigrants," pp. vii. and 35). + +We have another instance in the "baptismes" of St. George's, Barbados: + + "1678, Oct. 13. Samuel, ye son of Bonaventure Jellfes." + +Allowing the father to be forty years old, _his_ parents would be crossing +the water about the time the good ship _Bonaventure_ was plying. + +Again, we find the following (Hotten, p. 245):-- + + "Muster of John Laydon: + + "John Laydon, aged 44, in the _Swan_, 1606. + + "Anne Laydon, aged 30, in the _Mary Margett_, 1608. + + "Virginia Laydon (daughter), borne in Virginia." + +All this, as will be readily conceived, has tended to give a marked +character to New England nomenclature. The very names of the children born +to these religious refugees are one of the most significant tokens to us +in the nineteenth century of the sense of liberty they felt in the +present, and of the oppression they had undergone in the past. + +If we turn from these lists of passengers, found in the archives of +English ports, not to mention "musters" already quoted, to records +preserved by our Transatlantic cousins, we readily trace the effect of +Puritanism on the first generation of native-born Americans. + +From Mr. Bowditch's interesting book on "Suffolk Surnames," published in +the United States, we find the following baptismal names to have been in +circulation there: Standfast, Life, Increase, Supply, Donation, Deodat, +Given, Free-grace, Experience, Temperance, Prudence, Mercy, Dependance, +Deliverance, Hope, Reliance, Hopestill, Fearing, Welcome, Desire, Amity, +Comfort, Rejoice, Pardon, Remember, Wealthy, and Consider. Nothing can be +more interesting than the analysis of this list. With two exceptions, +every name can be proved, from my own collection alone, to have been +introduced from the mother country. In many instances, no doubt, Mr. +Bowditch was referring to the same individual; in others to their +children. The mention of _Wealthy_ reminds us of Wealthy, Riches, and +Fortune, already demonstrated to be popular English names. _Fortune_ went +out to New England in the person of Fortune Taylor, who appears in a roll +of Virginian immigrants, 1623. Settling down there as a name of happy +augury for the colonists' future, both spiritual and material, she +reappears, in the person of Fortune the spinster, in the popular New +England story entitled "The Wide, Wide World." Even "_Preserved_," known +in England in 1640, was to be seen in the New York Directory in 1860; and +_Consider_, which crossed the Atlantic two hundred and fifty years ago, so +grew and multiplied as to be represented at this moment in the directory +just mentioned, in the form of + + "Consider Parish, merchant, Clinton, Brooklyn." + +Mr. Bowditch adds "_Search-the-Scriptures_" to his list of names that +crossed the Atlantic. This tallies with Search-the-Scriptures Moreton, of +Salehurst, one of the supposed sham jury already treated of. He quotes +also _Hate-evil_ Nutter from a colonial record of 1649.[61] Here again we +are reminded of Bunyan's Diabolonian jury, one of whom was _Hate-bad_. It +is all but certain from the date that Hate-evil went out from the old +country. The name might be perfectly familiar to the great dreamer, +therefore. _Faint-not_ Wines, Mr. Bowditch says, became a freeman in 1644, +so that the popularity of that great Puritan name was not allowed to be +limited by the English coast. In this same year settled _Faithful_ +Rouse--one more memorial of English nonconformity. + +English Puritanism must stand the guilty cause of much modern humour, not +to say extravagance, in American name-giving. Puns compounded of baptismal +name and surname are more popular there than with us. Robert New has his +sons christened Nothing and Something. Price becomes Sterling Price; +Carrol, Christmas Carrol; Mixer, Pepper Mixer; Hopper, Opportunity Hopper; +Ware, China Ware; Peel, Lemon Peel; Codd, Salt Codd; and Gentle, Always +Gentle. It used to be said of the English House of Commons that there were +in it two Lemons, with only one Peel, and the Register-General not long +since called attention in one of his reports to the existence of Christmas +Day. We have, too, Cannon Ball, Dunn Brown, Friend Bottle (London +Directory), and River Jordan, not to mention two brothers named Jolly +Death and Sudden Death, the former of whom figured in a trial lately as +witness. The _Times_ of December 7, 1878, announced the death of Mr. +Emperor Adrian, a Local Government Board member. Nevertheless, the +practice prevails much more extensively across the water, and the reason +is not far to seek. + +Mr. Bowditch seems to imagine, we notice, America to be a modern girl's +name. He says administration upon the estate of America Sparrow was +granted in 1855, while in 1857 America C. Tabb was sued at law. America +and Americus were in use in England four hundred years ago (_vide_ +"English Surnames," 2nd edit., p. 29), and two centuries ago we meet with + + "America Baguley, 1669, his halfpeny," + +on a token. _Amery_ was the ordinary English dress. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + +DOUBLE CHRISTIAN NAMES: THEIR RISE AND PROGRESS. + + +I. ROYAL DOUBLE NAMES. + + "But two christian names are rare in England, and I only remember now + his Majesty, who was named Charles James, as the Prince his sonne + Henry Frederic: and among private men, Thomas Maria Wingfield and Sir + Thomas Posthumus Hobby."--Camden. + +If we take this sentence literally, the great antiquary, who knew more of +the families and pedigrees of the English aristocracy than any other man +of his day, could only recall to his mind four cases of double Christian +names. This was in 1614. + +At the outset, therefore, there is significance in this statement. Mr. +Blunt, in his "Annotated Prayer-Book," says of "N. or M." in the +Catechism-- + + "N. was anciently used as the initial of Nomen, and 'Nomen vel Nomina' + was expressed by 'N. vel NN.,' the double N being afterwards corrupted + into M." + +If this be a correct explanation, "M." must refer to cases where more than +one child was brought to the priest, N. standing for an occasion where +only one infant was presented. In a word, "N. or M." could not stand for +"Thomas or Thomas Henry," but for "Thomas or Thomas and Henry." If this be +unsatisfactory, then Mr. Blunt's explanation is unsatisfactory. + +Camden's sentence may be set side by side with Lord Coke's decision. In +his "First Institute" (Coke upon Littleton) he says-- + + "And regularly it is requisite that the purchaser be named by the name + of baptism, and his surname, and that special heed be taken to the + name of baptism; for that a man cannot have two names of baptism, as + he may have divers surnames." + +Again, he adds-- + + "If a man be baptized by the name of Thomas, and after, at his + confirmation by the bishop, he is named John, he may purchase by the + name of his confirmation.... And this doth agree with our ancient + books, where it is holden that a man may have divers names at divers + times, but not divers christian names." + +This is all very plain. Even in James I.'s days thousands of our +countrymen had no fixed surnames, and changed them according to caprice or +fancy. But the christian name was a fixture, saving in the one case of +confirmation. Lord Coke is referring to an old rule laid down by +Archbishop Peckham, wherein any child whose baptismal name, by accident or +evil thought, had a bad significance is advised, if not compelled, to +change it for one of more Christian import. + +The chief point of interest, however, in this decision of Lord Coke's, is +the patent fact that no thought of a double christian name is present in +his mind. Had it been otherwise, he would never have worded it as he has +done. Archbishop Peckham's rule had evidently been infringed, and Lord +Coke upholds the infringement. A child with such an orthodox name as +Thomas (a name with no immoral significance) might, he lays it down, +become John at confirmation. Even in such a case as this, however, John is +not to be added to Thomas; it must take its place, and Thomas cease to be +recognized. + +Lord Coke, of course, was aware that Charles I.'s queen was Henrietta +Maria, the late king Charles James, and his son Henry Frederic. It is +possible, nay probable, that he was not ignorant of Thomas Maria +Wingfield's existence, or that of Thomas Posthumus Hobby. But that these +double baptismal names should ever become an every-day custom, that the +lower and middle classes should ever adopt them, that even the higher +orders should ever go beyond the use of "Maria" and "Posthumus," seems +never to have suggested itself to his imagination. + +There is no doubt the custom came from France in the first instance. +There, as in England, it was confined to the royal and aristocratic +circles. The second son of Catharine de' Medici was baptized Edward +Alexander in 1551. Mary Stuart followed the new fashion in the names of +her son Charles James. The higher nobility of England slowly copied the +practice, but within most carefully prescribed limits. + +One limitation was, the double name must be one already patronized by +royalty. + +Henrietta Maria found her title repeated in Henrietta Maria Stanley, +daughter of the ill-fated James, Earl of Derby, who for his determined +loyalty was beheaded at Bolton, in Lancashire, in 1651. She was born on +the 17th of November, 1630, and was buried in York Minster on the 13th of +January, 1685. Sir Peter Ball, attorney to the queen of Charles I., +baptized his seventeenth child by the name of his royal mistress, +Henrietta Maria. He followed her fortunes after as before the king's +execution (Polwhel's "Devon," p. 157). These must both have been +considered remarkable cases in their day. The loyalty of the act would be +its sanction in the eyes of their friends. + +But while some copied the double name of the queen (also the name of the +queen's mother), other nobles who had boys to christen mimicked the royal +nursery of James I. Henry Frederick, Earl of Arundel, was born in 1608, +and Henry Frederick Thynne, brother of Lord Weymouth, was created a +baronet in 1641. No one need doubt the origin of these double forms. Again +loyalty would be their answer against objections. + +But side by side with these went "Maria" (used for either sex) and +"Posthumus," or Posthuma--the only two instances recalled by Camden as in +use among "private men." There seems good reason to believe that, for two +or three generations at least, these were deemed, by some unwritten code, +the only permissible second names outside the royal list. + +The case of Wingfield is curious. Three generations, at least, bore a +second name "Maria," all males. The first was Edward Maria, of Kimbolton, +who received the female title in honour of, and from, the Princess Mary, +daughter of Henry VIII., his godmother; the second was Thomas Maria, +adduced by Camden; and the third is referred to in the following document: + + "1639, April. Bill of complaint relative to the sale of the manor of + Keyston, Hunts, by Edward Maria Wingfield."--C. S. P., 1639. + +Maria had long been common in Italy, France, and Spain, as a second name, +and still is, whether for a boy or girl, the child being thereby specially +committed to the protection of the Virgin. The earliest instances in +England, however, were directly given in honour of two royal godmothers, +who happened to be Mary in one case, and Henrietta Maria in the other. +Hence the seeming transference of the foreign second name Maria to our own +shores. Thus introduced, Maria began to circulate in society generally as +an allowed second name: + + "1610, July 10. Baptized Charles Maria, sonne of Charles Chute, + Esquire."--St. Dunstan-in-the-West. + + "1640, ----. Died Gulielma Maria Posthuma Springett."--Tablet, + Ringmer, Lewes, Sussex. + +This last was a bold procedure, three names being an unheard-of event. But +the sponsor might reply that he was only placing together the two +recognized second names, Maria and Posthuma. Later on, Maria is again +found in the same family. In the year 1672, William Penn, the Quaker, +married Gulielma Maria, daughter of Sir William Springett. + +Posthuma (as in the above instance), or Posthumus, is still more +remarkable. The idea of styling a child by this name, thus connecting its +birth with the father's antecedent death, seems to have touched a +sympathetic chord, and the practice began widely to prevail. The first +example I have seen stands as a single name. Thus, in the Canterbury +Cathedral register, is recorded: + + "1572, Feb. 10. Christened Posthumus, the sonne of Robert Pownoll." + +The following is the father's entry of burial: + + "1571, June 8. Buried Robert Pownoll." + +This is the earliest instance I have seen. Very soon it was deemed right +to make it a second name: + + "1632, Sept. 18. Baptized Henry Postumus, son of James + Gamble."--Doncaster. + +Sir Thomas Posthumus Hoby, Knight, lord of the manor of Hackness, died in +1641. He bequeathed the greater portion of his estates to "his dearly +beloved and esteemed cozen John Sydenham," of Brimpton, Somerset, who, +being baroneted in July, 1641, died in 1642, and was succeeded by his son +Sir John Posthumus Sydenham. Posthumus, possibly, in this case was +commemorative of Sir Thomas, and not of Sir John. William Ball, son of Sir +Peter Ball, already mentioned, married Maria Posthuma Hussey. This must +have occurred before the Commonwealth, but I have not the exact date. + +The character of all these names is sufficient proof of their rarity. All +belong, with one exception, to the higher ranks of society. All were +called after the children in the royal nursery, or Maria or Posthuma was +the second component. Several formed the double name with both. It seems +certain that at first it was expected that, if people in high life were to +give encouragement to the new fashion, they must do so within certain +carefully defined limits. As for any lower class, it was never imagined +that they would dream of aspiring to such a daring innovation. The +earliest instance of this class, I find, still has Mary for its second +component, and commemorates two English queens: + + "1667, Jan. 12. Baptized Elizabeth Mary, being of the age of 18 and + upwards, daughter to John Allen, and Emm his wife, both of them being + pro-baptists."--Cant. Cath. + +Even to the close of the seventeenth century, if a middle-class man gave +his child a double name, it must be to commemorate royalty: + + "1696, June 4. Baptized William Henry, son of Mr. Jacob Janeway, and + Francis his wife."--Cant. Cath. + +William III. was christened William Henry. + +Speaking of Mary's husband, we may add that two of the most familiar +conjunctions of the present day among the middle and lower classes, that +of Anna Maria or Mary Ann, arose similarly. In Italy and France the two +went together a hundred years earlier, in connection with the Virgin and +her mother. In England they are only found since 1700, being used as +commemorative of the sisters Anne and Mary, both queens. Like William +Henry, the combination has been popular ever since: + + "1717, Feb. 15. Christened Anne-Mary, d. of James Hebert, mercer. + + "1729, March 30. Christened Anna-Maria, d. of Thomas and Mary Hoare, + pewterer."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +The clerk of Finchley Church could not understand this conjunction--not to +add that his education seems to have been slightly neglected: + + "1715, Feb. 26. Baptized Anammeriah, d. of Thomas and Eliz. Biby. + + "1716, M{ch}. 17. Baptized Anameriah, d. of Richard and Sarah Bell." + +These are the first double names to be found in this register. + +The Latin form represents the then prevailing fashion. There was not a +girl's name in use that was not Latinized. Goldsmith took off the custom +in his "Vicar of Wakefield," in the names of Sophia, Olivia, and Carolina +Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs. The latter hit at the new rage for double and +treble baptismal names also; for the day came when two names were not +enough. In 1738 George III. was christened George William Frederic. Gilly +Williams, writing to George Selwyn, December 12, 1764, says-- + + "Lord Downe's child is to be christened this evening. The sponsors I + know not, but his three names made me laugh not a little--John + Christopher Burton. I wish to God, when he arrives at the years of + puberty, he may marry Mary Josephina Antonietta Bentley."--"Memoirs of + George Selwyn," by Jesse, quoted by Mr. Waters in "Parish Registers," + p. 31. + +I need scarcely add that three do not nearly satisfy the craving of many +people in the nineteenth century, nor did they everybody in the +eighteenth: + + "1781, April 29. Bapt. Charles Caractacus Ostorius Maximilian Gustavus + Adolphus, son of Charles Stone, tailor."--Burbage, Wilts. + +In Beccles Church occurs the following: + + "1804, Oct. 14. Bapt. Zaphnaphpaaneah Isaiah Obededom Nicodemus + Francis Edward, son of Henry and Sarah Clarke." + +Only Francis Edward could be got in the ordinary place, so the rest had to +be furnished in a note at the foot of the page. + + "On Oct. 8th, 1876, in the revision of the parliamentary list at + Preston, a claimant appeared bearing the name of Thomas Hill Joseph + Napoleon Horatio Bonaparte Swindlehurst Nelson. The vote was allowed, + and the revising barrister ordered the full name to be inserted on the + register."--_Manchester Evening News_, October 11, 1876. + + +II. CONJOINED NAMES. + +Returning to the first half of the seventeenth century, we find strong +testimony of the rarity of these double names, and a feeling that there +was something akin to illegality in their use, from our registers, +wherein an attempt was made to glue two names together as one, without a +hyphen or a second capital letter. Take the following, all registered +within a generation or two of Camden's remark: + + "1602, May 24. Baptized Fannasibilla, d. of Thomas + Temple."--Sibbesdon, Leicestershire. + +Here is a palpable attempt to unite Francis (Fanny) and Sybil. + + "1648, Jan. 25. Baptized Aberycusgentylis, son of Richard Balthropp, + gent."--Iver, Buckingham. + +Here the father has been anxious to commemorate the great Oxford +professor, the father of international law, Dr. Abericus Gentilis. He has +avoided a breach of supposed national law by writing the two names in one. + + "1614, Aprill 16. Buried Jockaminshaw Butler, wife of James Butler, + potter, in Bishopsgate Street."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + +The surname of "Shaw" has done service hundreds of times since then as a +second baptismal name. + + "1640, May 7. Baptized Johnamaria, ye son of Frances Ansloe, and Clare + his wife."--Cant. Cath. + +Here again is the inevitable Maria, but so inwoven with John, that Lord +Coke's legal maxim could not touch the case. It is the same in the +following example:-- + + "1632, ----. Married John Pell to Ithamaria, d. of Henry Reynolles, of + London."--Lower, "Worthies of Sussex," p. 178. + +One of the most strange samples of conjoined names is this: + + "1595, April 3. Joane, whome we maye call Yorkkooppe, because she was + ye basterd daughter, as yt is comonlye reported, of one John York and + Anne Cooper."--Landbeach. + +Here is a double conjunction; John and Anne forming Jo-ane, and York and +Cooper, Yorkkooppe. The first is neat, the second clumsy: but, doubtless, +the clerk who wielded the goose-quill deemed both a masterpiece of +ingenuity. + +The following is interesting:-- + + "1616, July 13, being Satterday, about half an hour before 10 of the + clocke in the forenoon, was born the Lady Georgi-Anna, daughter to the + Right Hon. Lady Frances, Countess of Exeter; and the same Ladie + Georgi-Anna was baptized 30th July, 1616, being Tuesday, Queen Anne + and the Earl of Worcester, Lord Privie Seal, being witnesses: and the + Lorde Bishop of London administered the baptism."--_Vide_ R. E. C. + Waters, "Parish Registers." 1870. + + +III. HYPHENED NAMES. + +It will be noticed that so far the two names were both (saving in the case +of Aberycusgentylis and Jockaminshaw) from the recognized list of +baptismal names. About the reign of Anne the idea of a patronymic for a +second name seems to have occurred. To meet the supposed legal exigencies +the two names were simply hyphened. We will confine our instances to the +register of Canterbury Cathedral: + + "1721, Jan. 20. Baptized Howe-Lee, son of Lee Warner, Esquire, and + Mary his wife. + + "1728, July 4. Baptized Francis-Gunsby, son of Dr. William Ayerst, + prebendary of this church. + + "1746, Sep. 28. Baptized James-Smith, son of James Horne, and Mary his + wife." + +I need not say that at first these children bore the name in common +parlance of Howe-Lee, or Francis-Gunsby, or James-Smith. The two were +never separated, but treated as one name. To this day traces of this +eighteenth-century habit are to be found. I know an old gentleman and his +wife, people of the old school, dwelling somewhat out of the world, who +address a child invariably by all its baptismal titles. The effect is very +quaint. In all formal and legal processes the two or three names have to +be employed, and clergymen who only recite the first in the marriage +service, as I have heard some do, are in reality guilty of misdemeanour. + +How odd all these contrivances to modern eyes! We take up a directory, and +every other registration we look on is made up of three names. The poorer +classes are even more particular than the aristocracy upon the point. The +lady-help, describing her own superior merit, says-- + + "Do not think that we resemble + Betsy Jane or Mary Ann, + Women born in lowly cottage, + Bred for broom or frying-pan." + +And yet, in forty-nine church registers out of fifty, throughout the +length and breadth of England, there will not be found a single instance +of a double christian name previous to the year 1700. Mr. Maskell has +failed to find any instance in the register of All-Hallows, Barking, and +the Harleian Society's publication of the registers of St. Peter, +Cornhill, and St. Dionis Backchurch only confirms the assertion I have +made. + +Many stories have arisen upon these double names. A Mr. Gray, bearing the +once familiar Christian name of Anketil, wanted the certificate of his +baptism. The register was carefully searched--in vain; the neighbouring +registers were as thoroughly scanned--in vain. Again the first register +was referred to, and upon a closer investigation he was found entered as +Ann Kettle Gray. + +Not very long ago a child was brought to the font for baptism. "What +name?" asked the parson. "John," was the reply. "Anything else?" "John +_h_only," said the godparent, putting in an "h" where it was not needed. +"John Honly, I baptize thee," etc., continued the clergyman, thus thrown +off his guard. The child was entered with the double name. + +In Gutch's "Geste of Robin Hode" (vol. i. p. 342) there is a curious note +anent Maid Marian, wherein some French writers are rebuked for supposing +Marian to be composed of Mary and Ann, and the statement is made that it +is from Mariamne, the wife of Herod! Marian or Marion, of course, is the +diminutive of Mary, the other pet form being Mariot. Nevertheless the +great commonness of the double christian name Mary Ann is consequent on +the idea that Marian is compounded of both. + +In the registers of marriages at Halifax parish church (December 1, 1878) +is the name of a witness, Charity H----. He--it was a _he_--is the third +child of his parents, two sisters, Faith and Hope, having preceded him. +His full baptismal name is "And Charity," and in his own marriage +certificate his name is so written. In ordinary affairs he is content with +Charity alone (_Notes and Queries_, August 16, 1879). This could not have +happened previous to Queen Anne's reign. Acts-Apostles Pegden's will was +administered upon in 1865. His four elder brothers bore the four +Evangelists' names. This, again, could not well have occurred before the +eighteenth century was in. In Yorkshire directories one may see such +entries as John Berry, and immediately below, Young John Berry. This +represents a common pleasantry at the font among the "tykes," but is +necessarily modern. Nor could "Sir Isaac" or "Sir Robert," as praenomens +to "Newton" or "Peel," have been originated at any distant period. + + +IV. THE DECAY OF SINGLE PATRONYMICS IN BAPTISM. + +The introduction of double baptismal names produced a revolution as +immediate as it was unintentional. It put a stop to what bade fair to +become a universal adoption of patronymics as single baptismal names. This +practice took its rise about the year 1580. It became customary in highly +placed families to christen the eldest son by the name of the landed +estate to which he was heir. Especially was it common when the son +succeeded to property through his mother; then the mother's surname was +his Christian name. With the introduction of second baptismal names, this +custom ceased, and the boy or girl, as the case might be, after a first +orthodox name of Robert or Cecilia, received as a second the patronymic +that before was given alone. Instead of Neville Clarke the name would be +Charles Neville Clarke. From the year 1700, say, this has been a growing +custom, and half our present list of treble names are thus formed.[62] + +The custom of giving patronymic names was, for a century at least, +peculiar to England, and is still rare on the Continent. Camden notices +the institution of the practice: + + "Whereas in late yeares sirnames have beene given for christian names + among us, and no where else in Christendome: although many dislike it, + for that great inconvenience will ensue: neverthelesse it seemeth to + procede from hearty goodwill and affection of the godfathers, to shew + their love, or from a desire to continue and propagate their owne + names to succeeding ages. And is in no wise to bee disliked, but + rather approoved in those which, matching with heires generall of + worshipfull ancient families, have given those names to their heires, + with a mindefull and thankfull regard of them, as we have now + Pickering, Wotton, Grevill, Varney, Bassingburne, Gawdy, Calthorpe, + Parker, Pecsal, Brocas, Fitz-Raulfe, Chamberlanie, who are the heires + of Pickering, etc."--"Remaines," 1614. + +Fuller says-- + + "Reader, I am confident an instance can hardly be produced of a + surname made christian in England, save since the Reformation.... + Since it hath been common."--"Worthies," i. 159, 160. + +For two hundred years this custom had the widest popularity among the +higher classes, and from some of our registers there are traces that the +lower orders were about to adopt the practice. In the case of female +heiresses the effect is odd. However, this was got over sometimes by +giving a feminine termination: + + "1660, Aug. 28. John Hendon, Knight, of Biddenden in Kent, and + Northamtonia Haward, of Tandridge in Surrey, married."--Streatham, + Surrey. + + "1711, Jan. 3. Buried Jermyna, d. of Mr. Edward Tyson, gent."--St. + Dionis Backchurch. + + "1699, March 7. Nathaniel Parkhurst and Althamia Smith, of Kensington, + married." + +Althamia was daughter of Altham Smyth, barrister, son of Sir Thomas Smyth, +of Hill Hall, Essex (Chester's "Westminster Abbey," p. 173). + +But more often they were without the feminine desinence: + + "1639, Oct. 18. Buried Essex, daughter of Lord Paget."--Drayton + (Lyson's "Middlesex," p. 42). + +Will of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, 1680 (Doctors' Commons): + + "Item: To my daughter _Mallet_, when shee shall have attained the like + age of sixteen, the summe of foure thousand pounds." + +The Countess of Rochester was Elizabeth, daughter and heir of John Mallet, +Esq., of Enmore, Somerset. + + "1699. Petition of Windebank Coote, widow, to the Lords of the + Treasury, showing that her husband Lambert Coote was a favourite + servant of King Charles II., and left her with a great charge of + children."--"C. Treas. P.," 1697-1702. + + "Tamworth, daughter of Sir Roger Martin, of Long Melford, married + Thomas Rookwood (who was born Aug. 18, 1658)."--"Collect. et Top.," + vol. ii. p. 145. + + "1596, Nov. 21. Baptized Cartwright, daughter of Nicholas + Porter."--Aston-sub-Edge, Gloucester. + + "1634, April 18. Baptized Steward, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley, + Knight."--Stepney, London. + + "1656, March 24. Douglas Sheffield, daughter of Sir John + Sheffield."--"Lunacy Commissions and Inquisitions," Record Office. + + "1709, Feb. 3. Tankerville Chamberlyne, spinster, daughter of Edward + C."--Ditto. + + "1601, Feb. Buryed Handforth, d. Thomas Davenport, a soldier in + Ireland."--Stockport Parish Church. + + "1610, July 24. Baptized Kenburrow, ye daughter of Dr. Masters, one of + the worshipfull prebendaries."--Cant. Cath. + + "1688, March 29. Baptized Tufton, daughter of the Rev. Dr. James + Jefferys, one of the prebendarys of this church."--Cant. Cath. + +Even down to the middle of last century the custom was not uncommonly +practised: + + "1763, Sep. 15. Thomas Steady, of Chartham, to Chesterton Harnett, of + the precincts of this church, spinster, by licence."--Cant. Cath. + + "1759, June 12. Honourable Chatwynd Trumbull, widow."--"Lunacy + Commissions and Inquisitions." + +As to the male heirs, we need not furnish illustrations; they would +require too much room: + + "Sir Humphry Winch, Solicitor-General to Queen Elizabeth, married + Cicely Onslowe. His eldest son was Onslowe Winch."--"Collect. et + Top.," vol. iii. p. 86. + + "Woodrove Foljambe, born Jan. 25, 1648, son of Peter Foljambe. His + mother was Jane Woodrove, of Hope, Derbyshire."--Ditto, p. 88. + +How common the practice was becoming among the better-class families the +Canterbury register shall show: + + "1601, April 16. Baptized Nevile, the sonne of Edwarde Whitegrave. + + "1614, Nov. 28. Baptized Tunstall, sonn of Mr. William Scott, the + sonn-in-lawe to the worshipful Mr. Tunstall, prebendary of this + church. + + "1615, May 15. Baptized Dudly, sonn of Mr. Doctor Jacksonn. + + "1619, Dec. 16. Baptized Dudley, sonne of Sir John Wiles. + + "1624, July 26. Baptized Sydney, sonne of Sirre William Barnes, K{t}." + +Dudley was, perhaps, the first surname that obtained a place among +ordinary baptismal names: + + "1614, Aug. 17. Christened Dudley, son of Thomas Styles. + + "1684, April 17. Christened Dudley, son of Francis and Sarah + Dylate."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +The introduction of surnames at the font permitted private predilections +full play. At Canterbury we naturally find: + + "1727, Feb. 22. Buried Cranmer Herris, gent., in ye cloisters."--Cant. + Cath. + + "1626, Oct. Baptized Bradford, sonne of Christopher Wilson, of + Limehouse."--Stepney. + +Hanover Stirling was a scholar of Trinity College, Dublin, in 1729. A +Scotch Jacobite in London showed some skill in the heat of the great +crisis of 1715: + + "1715, June 10. Christened Margaret Jacobina, d. of Mr. Archiball + Johnson, merchant."--St. Dionis Backchurch.[63] + +This will be sufficient. The custom is by no means extinct; but, through +the introduction of second baptismal names, the practice is now rare, and +all but entirely confined to boys. Two hundred and fifty years ago, it was +quite as popular with the other sex. + +Both Dudley and Sydney, mentioned above, have been used so frequently that +they have now taken a place in our ordinary list of baptismal names. So +far as Sydney is concerned, the reason is easily explained. The Smith +family have been so fond of commemorating the great Sydney, that it has +spread to other families. Chauncey and Washington occupy the same position +in the United States. + + +V. THE INFLUENCE OF FOUNDLING NAMES UPON DOUBLE BAPTISMAL NAMES. + +One circumstance that contributed to the adoption of two baptismal names +was the christening of foundlings. Having no father or mother to attest +their parentage, being literally anonymous, there sprang up a custom, +about the year 1500, of baptizing these children with a double title; only +the second one was supposed to be the surname, and not a baptismal name at +all. This second name was always a local name, betokening the precise +spot, street, or parish where the child was found. Every old register has +its numerous instances. The foundlings of St. Lawrence Jewry got the +baptismal surname of Lawrence. At All-Hallows, Barking, the entries run: + + "A child, out of Priest's Alley, christened Thomas Barkin. + + "Christened a child out of Seething Lane, named Charles Parish. + + "A child found in Mark Lane, and christened Mark Lane."--Maskell, + "All-Hallows, Barking," p. 62. + +At St. Dunstan-in-the-West they are still more diversified: + + "1597, M{ch}. 1. Renold Falcon, a childe borne in Falcon Court, bapt. + + "1611, May 11. Harbotles Harte, a poor childe found at Hart's dore in + Fewter Lane, bapt. + + "1614, March 26. Moses Dunstan, a foundlinge in St. Dunstan's hall, + bapt. + + "1618, Jan. 18. Mary Porch, a foundeling, bapt. + + "1625, Aug. 7. Roger Middlesex was baptized. + + "1627, May 19. Katherine Whitefryers was baptized." + + "1610, Nov. Bapt. Elizabeth Christabell, d. of Alice Pennye, begotten + in fornacacion."--Stepney, London. + + "1586, May 21. Christening of Peter Grace, sonne of Katherine Davis, + an harlot."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + + "1592, Aug. 2. Christening of Roger Peeter, so named of our church; + the mother a rogue, the childe was born the 22{d} July at Mr. + Lecroft's dore."--Ditto. + +The baptismal register of St. Dionis Backchurch teems with Dennis, or +Dionys, as the name is entered: + + "1623, Aug. 6. Joane Dennis, being laid at Mr. John Parke's doore in + Fanchurch Streete. + + "1627, June 3. Denis the Bastard, who was laid in the parish. + + "1691, Nov. 19. Ingram Dionis, a fondling taken up in Ingram's + Court."[64] + +We see in these registers the origin of the phrase, "It can't be laid at +my door." Doubtless it was not always pleasant to have a little babe, +however helpless, discovered on the doorstep. The gossips would have +their "nods, and becks, and wreathed smiles," if they said nothing upon +the subject. It was a common dodge to leave it on a well-known man's +premises: + + "1585, April 23. A man child was laid at Sir Edward Osbourne gate, and + was named Dennis Philpot, and so brought to Christes Ospitall." + +The same practice prevails in America. A New York correspondent wrote to +me the other day as follows:-- + + "One babe, who was found in the vestibule of the City Hall, in this + city (New York), was called John City Hall; another, Thomas Fulton, + was found in Fulton Street in an ash-box; and a third, a fine boy of + about four months, was left in the porch of Christ Church Rectory in + Brooklyn. He was baptized by the name of Parish Church, by the Rev. + Dr. Canfeild, the then rector." + +The baptisms of "blackamoors" gave a double christian name, although the +second was counted as a surname: + + "Baptized, 1695, M{ch}. 27, John Wearmouth, a Tawny, taken captive, + aged 20."--Bishop Wearmouth (Burns). + + "Baptized, 1602-3, March, Christian Ethiopia, borne a + Blackmore."--Stepney. + + "Baptized, 1603, July, Charity Lucanoa, a Blackamor from + Ratcliff."--Ditto. + + "1744, Sep. 27. Rum John Pritchard, a Indian and Mahomitan, baptized + this day by self at Mr. Pritchard's."--Fleet Registers (Burns). + + "1717, ----. Baptized Charles Mustava, a black boy, servant to The + Honble. Lord Hartford."--Preshute, Wilts. + +Our forefathers did not seem to perceive it, but in all these cases double +baptismal names were given. It must, however, have had its unfelt +influence in leading up to the new custom, and especially to patronymics +as second names. We are all now familiarized to these double and treble +names. The poorest and the most abject creatures that bring a child to the +font will have their string of grand and high-sounding titles; sometimes +such a mouthful, that the parson's wonder is excited whence they +accumulated them, till wonder is lost in apprehension lest he should fail +to deliver himself of them correctly. The difficulty is increased when the +name is pronounced as the fancy or education of the sponsor dictates. When +one of three names is "Hugginy," the minister may be excused if he fails +to understand all at once that "Eugenie" is intended. Such an incident +occurred about six years ago, and the flustered parson, on a second +inquiry, was not helped by the woman's rejoinder: "Yes, Hugginy; the way +ladies does their 'air, you know." + +We must confess we are not anxious to see the new custom--for new it is in +reality--spread; but we fear much it will do so. We have reached the stage +when three baptismal names are almost as common as two; and we cannot but +foresee, if this goes on, that, before the century is out, our present +vestry-books will be compelled to have the space allotted to the font +names enlarged. As it is, the parson is often at his wits' end how to set +it down. + + + + +INDEX. + + + A + + Abacuck, 62, 85, 119 + + Abdiah, 56 + + Abdias, 45 + + Abednego, 53, 63, 87, 190, 191 + + Abel, 54, 89, 90 + + Abelot, 90 + + Abericusgentylis, 223, 224 + + Abigail, 66, 67, 68, 141 + + Abner, 53 + + Abraham, 35, 85 + + Abstinence, 152, 187 + + Abuse-not, 162 + + Accepted, 123, 152, 171, 193 + + Achsah, 55 + + Acts-Apostles 58, 227 + + Adah, 53 + + Adam, 35 + + Adcock, 16, 35 + + Adecock, 15 + + Adkin, 10, 35 + + Admiral, 197 + + Adna, 53 + + Adoniram, 84, 88 + + Agatha, 144 + + Agnes, 43, 93 + + Aholiab, 45, 85 + + Aid-on-high, 174 + + Alathea, 144 + + Alianora, 23 + + Alice, 18 + + Aliot, 28 + + Alison, 18 + + Alpheus, 47 + + Altham, 230 + + Althamia, 230 + + Althea, 144 + + Always, 211 + + Alydea, 144 + + Amalasiontha, 60 + + Amelia, 92 + + America, 212 + + Americus, 212 + + Amery, 108, 212 + + Amice, 102 + + Aminadab, 57 + + Amity, 203, 209 + + Amor, 137 + + Amos, 51, 84 + + Anammeriah, 221 + + Ananias, 69, 73, 89, 185 + + And Charity, 227 + + Angel, 130, 131 + + Angela, 131 + + Anger, 155 + + Anketill, 101, 226 + + Anna, 23, 35, 48 + + Anna Maria, 220, 221 + + Anne, 23, 208 + + Anne-Mary, 221 + + Annette, 23 + + Annora, 23 + + Annot, 23, 25, 33, 82 + + Anot, 24 + + Antipas, 73, 74 + + Antony, 96 + + Aphora, 64 + + Aphra, 64 + + Aphrah, 63 + + Appoline, 95 + + Aquila, 53, 102 + + Araunah, 57 + + Arise, 194, 195 + + Asa, 53 + + Ashael, 53 + + Ashes, 63, 181 + + Assurance, 120 + + Atcock, 16 + + Atkin, 10 + + Atkinson, 13 + + Audria, 106 + + Austen, 43 + + Austin, 103 + + Avery, 101, 102 + + Avice, 108 + + Awdry, 93, 103 + + Axar, 55 + + Aymot, 79 + + Azariah, 53 + + Azarias, 57, 69 + + + B + + Bab, 106, 107 + + Badcock, 16 + + Baldwin, 3, 85 + + Baptist, 35 + + Barbara, 28, 107 + + Barbelot, 28 + + Barijirehah, 60 + + Barjonah, 57 + + Barnabas, 45, 205 + + Barrabas, 74 + + Bartholomew, 2, 3, 29, 34, 36, 44, 90, 92 + + Bartelot, 5, 29 + + Bartle, 5 + + Bartlett, 29 + + Barzillai, 53 + + Bat, 5, 6, 34, 90 + + Batcock, 5, 14, 16, 34 + + Bate, 5, 16, 85, 90 + + Bathsheba, 71, 110 + + Bathshira, 71 + + Bathshua, 71 + + Batkin, 5, 16, 77, 81 + + Battalion, 179 + + Batty, 5 + + Bawcock, 16 + + Beata, 134, 137, 138 + + Beatrice, 17 + + Beatrix, 17, 92 + + Beelzebub, 75 + + Belief, 200 + + Beloved, 173 + + Ben, 86 + + Benaiah, 53 + + Benedict, 94 + + Benedicta, 94, 138 + + Bennet, 94 + + Benjamin, 65 + + Benoni, 65 + + Bess, 106, 114, 116 + + Bessie, 114, 115 + + Be-steadfast, 163 + + Be-strong, 161 + + Betha, 114 + + Be-thankful, 161, 194 + + Bethia, 114 + + Bethsaida, 179 + + Bethshua, 122 + + Beton, 17 + + Betsy, 115 + + Bett, 114 + + Betty, 114, 115, 116 + + Beulah, 178 + + Bezaleel, 45 + + Bill, 92 + + Blaze, 93, 94 + + Boaz, 69 + + Bob, 6, 8 + + Bodkin, 10 + + Bonaventure, 208 + + Bradford, 232 + + Bride, 94 + + Brownjohn, 8 + + + C + + Cain, 54 + + Caleb, 52, 55, 61, 69 + + Canaan, 179 + + Cannon, 211 + + Caroletta, 112 + + Carolina, 92, 112 + + Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia, 92, 221 + + Caroline, 112 + + Cartwright, 230 + + Cassandra, 70 + + Catharine, 3, 36, 43, 93 + + Cecilia, 3, 6, 22, 28, 36, 43, 48, 51, 93, 228 + + Centurian, 178 + + Cess, 6 + + Cesselot, 28 + + Changed, 153 + + Charity, 67, 140, 141, 154, 199, 202, 204, 227, 234 + + Charity Lucanoa, 235 + + Charles, 112, 206 + + Charles Caractacus Ostorius Maximilian Gustavus Adolphus, 222 + + Charles James, 215, 216 + + Charles Maria, 218 + + Charles Mustava, 235 + + Charles Neville, 228 + + Charles Parish, 233 + + Charlotte, 112 + + Chatwynd, 231 + + Chauncey, 206, 207, 233 + + Cherubin, 170 + + Chesterton, 231 + + China, 211 + + Christ, 76 + + Christian, 33, 126, 199 + + Christiana, 199 + + Christian Ethiopia, 235 + + Christmas, 211 + + Christopher, 28 + + Christophilus, 123 + + Church-reform, 232 + + Chylde-of-God, 133 + + Cibell, 106 + + Cissot, 22 + + Clarice, 6 + + Clemence, 110 + + Clemency, 142 + + Cloe, 48 + + Cock, 14 + + Col, 34 + + Cole, 34, 90, 111 + + Colet, 102 + + Colin, 19, 31, 80 + + Colinet, 30, 31 + + Coll, 6 + + Collet, 80 + + Collin, 19 + + Colling, 19 + + Collinge, 19 + + Comfort, 149, 167, 204, 209 + + Con, 110, 143, 145 + + Confidence, 149 + + Consider, 209, 210 + + Constance, 143 + + Constancy, 142, 143 + + Constant, 121, 143, 193, 204 + + Continent, 123, 200 + + Cornelius, 69 + + Cotton, 205 + + Cranmer, 232 + + Creatura Christi, 133 + + Creature, 132, 133 + + Cressens, 57 + + Crestolot, 28 + + Cuss, 23 + + Cussot, 23, 143 + + Cust, 23, 143 + + Custance, 23, 143 + + + D + + Dalilah, 57 + + Damaris, 47, 48, 91 + + Dameris, 47, 48 + + Dammeris, 47 + + Dammy, 91 + + Dampris, 47 + + Damris, 47 + + Dancell-Dallphebo-Marke-Antony-Dallery-Gallery-Cesar, 182 + + Daniel, 35, 72 + + Dankin, 35 + + Dannet, 35 + + Darcas, 48 + + David, 6 + + Daw, 6 + + Dawkin, 10 + + Dawks, 13 + + Dean, 197 + + Deb, 83, 91 + + Deborah, 51, 66, 83, 90 + + Deccon, 20 + + Degory, 101 + + Deliverance, 169, 170, 209 + + Delivery, 169 + + Dennis, 103, 234 + + Dennis Philpot, 235 + + Deodat, 209 + + Deodatus, 137 + + Deonata, 137 + + Depend, 162 + + Dependance, 209 + + Desiderata, 137, 202 + + Desiderius, 137 + + Desire, 137, 202, 209 + + Diccon, 19, 82 + + Dicconson, 20 + + Dick, 8, 90, 92, 109, 111 + + Dickens, 13, 20 + + Dickenson, 13, 20 + + Dickin, 10, 20 + + Die-well, 165 + + Diffidence, 200 + + Diggon, 20 + + Digory, 101 + + Diligence, 148 + + Dinah, 71, 72, 75, 76 + + Dionisia, 20, 23 + + Dionys, 234 + + Diot, 23 + + Discipline, 179 + + Discretion, 199 + + Dobbin, 19 + + Dobinet, 30, 33, 82 + + Do-good, 165, 200 + + Dogory, 101 + + Doll, 92, 105, 106, 107, 111 + + Dolly, 107, 109 + + Donate, 137 + + Donation, 209 + + Donatus, 134, 137 + + Dora, 107 + + Dorcas, 47, 48, 61, 119 + + Do-right, 200 + + Dorothea, 92, 107 + + Dorothy, 43, 48, 107 + + Douce, 22, 107 + + Doucet, 81 + + Douglas, 230 + + Dowcett, 22 + + Do-well, 165 + + Dowsabel, 107 + + Dowse, 107 + + Dowsett, 22 + + Drew, 26, 100, 102 + + Drewcock, 16 + + Drewet, 26, 81 + + Drocock, 16 + + Drusilla, 73 + + Dudley, 231, 232 + + Duke, 196 + + Dun, 111 + + Dunn, 211 + + Dust, 63, 124 + + + E + + Earl, 197 + + Easter, 36, 96 + + Ebbot, 22 + + Ebed-meleck, 69, 83, 85 + + Ebenezer, 83 + + Eden, 179 + + Edward Alexander, 216 + + Edward Maria, 217 + + Elcock, 16 + + Eleanor, 24 + + Eleanora, 24 + + Eleazar, 205 + + Elena, 18, 24 + + Eleph, 53 + + Eliakim, 57 + + Elias, 2, 28, 35 + + Elicot, 28 + + Elihu, 53 + + Eli-lama-Sabachthani, 57 + + Eliot, 28 + + Elisha, 69 + + Elisot, 28 + + Eliza, 115, 116 + + Elizabeth, 113, 116 + + Elizabeth Christabell, 234 + + Elizabeth Mary, 220 + + Elizar, 102 + + Elkanah, 84 + + Ellice, 29, 101 + + Ellicot, 29 + + Elliot, 28 + + Ellis, 28, 29, 35 + + Ellisot, 29 + + Elnathan, 56, 205 + + Emanuel, 76, 130, 131, 183 + + Emery, 108 + + Emm, 5, 220 + + Emma, 3, 21, 29, 48, 51, 78, 79, 81 + + Emmett, 21 + + Emmot, 5, 8, 21, 27, 29, 78, 79 + + Emmotson, 21 + + Emperor, 212 + + Enecha, 69 + + Enoch, 69 + + Enot, 24 + + Epaphroditus, 69, 85 + + Epenetus, 57, 69 + + Ephin, 98 + + Ephraim, 69, 85 + + Epiphany, 36, 97 + + Er, 53 + + Erasmus, 134 + + Erastus, 53, 57 + + Esaias, 69, 72 + + Esau, 69 + + Esaye, 102 + + Essex, 230 + + Esther, 49, 96 + + Eugenie, 236 + + Eunice, 53 + + Euodias, 56 + + Eve, 24, 35 + + Evett, 35 + + Evot, 24 + + Evott, 35 + + Experience, 147, 148, 199, 203, 209 + + Ezechell, 69 + + Ezeckiell, 45 + + Ezekias, 102 + + Ezekiel, 72, 85, 88 + + Ezekyell, 46 + + Ezot, 113 + + Ezota, 113 + + + F + + Faint-not, 124, 158, 159, 194, 211 + + Faith, 67, 140, 141, 147, 154, 201, 204, 227 + + Faithful, 154, 199, 211 + + Faith-my-joy, 126 + + Fannasibilla, 223 + + Fare-well, 165, 166 + + Fauconnet, 31 + + Fawcett, 81 + + Fear, 203 + + Fear-God, 156, 157, 162 + + Fearing, 209 + + Fear-not, 122, 159 + + Fear-the-Lord, 190 + + Feleaman, 69 + + Felicity, 149 + + Fick, 19 + + Ficken, 19 + + Figg, 19 + + Figgess, 19 + + Figgin, 19 + + Figgins, 19 + + Figgs, 19 + + Fight-the-good-fight-of-faith, 180, 184, 194 + + Flie-fornication, 176, 194, 200 + + Forsaken, 176 + + Fortune, 176, 210 + + Francis, 75 + + Francis-Gunsby, 225 + + Frank, 106, 110 + + Free-gift, 166, 167, 193 + + Free-grace, 209 + + Free-man, 177, 178 + + Frideswide, 101 + + Friend, 211 + + From-above, 124, 167 + + Fulk, 100, 103 + + Fulke, 31 + + + G + + Gabriel, 131, 140, 183 + + Gamaliel, 57, 69 + + Gavin, 100 + + Gawain, 100 + + Gawen, 100 + + Gawin, 50, 100 + + Gawyn, 33, 103 + + Geoffrey, 44 + + George, 11, 111, 113 + + George William Frederic, 221 + + Georgi-Anna, 224 + + Georgina, 92 + + Gercyon, 69 + + Gershom, 39, 57, 69 + + Gersome, 101 + + Gertrude, 110 + + Gervase, 101 + + Gib, 25 + + Gibb, 6 + + Gibbet, 25 + + Gibbin, 19 + + Gibbing, 19 + + Gibbon, 19 + + Gilbert, 25 + + Gill, 22, 104 + + Gillian, 3, 22 + + Gillot, 22 + + Gillotyne, 32 + + Gilpin, 19 + + Given, 137, 209 + + Give-thanks, 161 + + Goddard, 101 + + Godgivu, 2 + + God-help, 175 + + Godly, 152, 153 + + Godric, 2 + + Goliath, 72 + + Good-gift, 167 + + Good-work, 200 + + Grace, 126, 140, 144, 147, 154, 200, 204 + + Graceless, 200 + + Gracious, 153, 172 + + Grigg, 6 + + Grissel, 106 + + Grizill, 103 + + Guion, 26 + + Guiot, 26 + + Guillotin, 32 + + Gulielma Maria, 218 + + Gulielma Maria Posthuma, 218 + + Guy, 3, 26, 51, 80 + + Gyllian, 103 + + + H + + Habakkuk, 56 + + Hadassah, 49 + + Hal, 26 + + Halkin, 11 + + Hallet, 26 + + Hamelot, 27 + + Hameth, 53 + + Hamilton, 79 + + Hamlet, 8, 26, 27, 29, 78, 79, 101 + + Hammett, 101 + + Hamnet, 26, 27, 29 + + Hamon, 26, 29, 78 + + Hamond, 26, 29, 78, 79 + + Hamonet, 27 + + Hamynet, 33 + + Han-cock, 10, 16 + + Handcock, 16 + + Handforth, 231 + + Handmaid, 178, 195 + + Hankin, 10, 11, 82 + + Hanna, 35 + + Hannah, 47, 49, 144 + + Hanover, 232 + + Harbotles Harte, 234 + + Hariph, 53 + + Harriet, 26 + + Harriot, 26 + + Harry, 88, 90, 92, 109 + + Hate-bad, 200, 211 + + Hate-evil, 119, 163, 210, 211 + + Hatill, 163 + + Have-mercie, 175 + + Hawkes, 13 + + Hawkin, 11 + + Hawkins, 13 + + Hawks, 13 + + Heacock, 16 + + Heavenly-mind, 200 + + Heber, 53 + + Helpless, 175 + + Help-on-high, 160, 174, 181, 189 + + Henrietta Maria, 215, 216, 218 + + Henry, 3, 26, 44, 126 + + Henry Frederick, 215, 217 + + Henry Postumus, 219 + + Hephzibah, 53 + + Hercules, 70 + + Hester, 35, 48 + + Hew, 26 + + Hewet, 26, 81 + + Hewlett, 28 + + Hick, 6, 85 + + Hickin, 35 + + Higg, 26 + + Higget, 35 + + Higgin, 19, 35, 82 + + Higgot, 26, 35 + + Hillary, 94 + + Hiscock, 16 + + Hitch-cock, 16 + + Hobb, 6 + + Hobelot, 28 + + Hodge, 82, 85, 90 + + Hold-the-world, 200 + + Honest, 199 + + Honora, 92, 145 + + Honour, 139, 142, 145 + + Hope, 140, 147, 154, 202, 209, 227 + + Hopeful, 125, 159, 199 + + Hope-on-high, 189 + + Hope-still, 159, 160, 204, 209 + + Hope-well, 160 + + Hopkin, 10 + + Hopkins, 13 + + Howe-Lee, 225 + + Hud, 6 + + Huelot, 28 + + Huggin, 19 + + Huggins, 18 + + Hugginy, 236 + + Hugh, 6, 18, 19, 26, 28 + + Hughelot, 28 + + Hugonet, 31, 32 + + Huguenin, 31 + + Huguenot, 32 + + Hugyn, 18 + + Humanity, 142 + + Humble, 152, 200 + + Humiliation, 151 + + Humility, 152, 203, 205 + + Humphrey, 88 + + Hutchin, 18 + + Hutchinson, 18 + + Hyppolitus, 70 + + + I + + Ibbetson, 22 + + Ibbett, 22 + + Ibbot, 22, 81 + + Ibbotson, 22 + + Ichabod, 65, 205 + + If-Christ-had-not-died-for-thee-thou-hadst-been-damned, 156 + + Immanuel, 42 + + Increase, 168, 169, 194, 205, 209 + + Increased, 122, 168, 195 + + Ingram, 100 + + Ingram Dionis, 234 + + Inward, 179 + + Isaac, 3, 26, 35, 203, 205, 206 + + Isabella, 3, 22, 48, 51, 81 + + Isaiah, 52 + + Issott, 81 + + Ithamaria, 223 + + + J + + Jabez, 40 + + Jachin, 53 + + Jack, 2, 6, 8, 26, 90 + + Jackcock, 8 + + Jackett, 26 + + Jacob, 35 + + Jacolin, 106 + + Jacomyn, 103, 106 + + Jacquinot, 31 + + Jaell, 46, 65 + + James, 36 + + James-Smith, 225 + + Jane, 48, 103, 106 + + Jannet, 31 + + Jannetin, 31 + + Janniting, 31 + + Jannotin, 31 + + Japhet, 195 + + Jeduthan, 53 + + Jeffcock, 14, 16, 81 + + Jeffkin, 10 + + Jehoiada, 53 + + Jehostiaphat, 85 + + Jenkin, 8, 11, 33 + + Jenkinson, 13 + + Jenks, 13 + + Jennin, 19 + + Jenning, 8, 19 + + Jeremiah, 63, 88, 90 + + Jeremy, 63, 69, 72, 88 + + Jermyna, 230 + + Jerry, 91 + + Jesus-Christ-came-into-the-world-to-save, 156 + + Jethro, 101 + + Jill, 2, 22, 104 + + Joab, 53 + + Joan, 103, 106 + + Joane Dennis, 234 + + Joane Yorkkoope, 224 + + Job, 69, 84, 126 + + Job-rakt-out-of-the-asshes, 181, 184 + + Joel, 51 + + Jockaminshaw, 223, 224 + + John, 2, 3, 7, 35, 36, 110, 111, 112, 126, 197, 208, 215, 226 + + Johnamaria, 223 + + John Christopher Burton, 222 + + John City Hall, 235 + + Johncock, 16 + + John Posthumus, 219 + + John Wearmouth, 235 + + Jolly, 211 + + Jonadab, 69 + + Jonathan, 69, 206 + + Jordan, 11, 35, 37 + + Jordanson, 35 + + Joseph, 35 + + Joshua, 69 + + Joskin, 35 + + Jowett, 22 + + Joy-againe, 124 + + Joyce, 67, 103, 107, 114 + + Joye, 205 + + Joy-in-sorrow, 174 + + Juckes, 13 + + Juckin, 11 + + Judas, 36 + + Judas-not-Iscariot, 74 + + Judd, 6, 11, 35 + + Jude, 110 + + Judith, 35, 48, 49 + + Judkin, 11, 35 + + Judson, 35 + + Jukes, 13 + + Julian, 22 + + Juliana, 104 + + Juliet, 22 + + Junior, 197 + + Just, 204 + + Justice, 142 + + + K + + Kate, 92, 105, 106 + + Katherine Whitefryers, 234 + + Kelita, 53 + + Kenburrow, 231 + + Kerenhappuch, 56 + + Keturah, 57 + + Keziah, 57 + + Kit, 86, 87 + + Knowledge, 199 + + + L + + Laetitia, 92, 108 + + Lais, 70, 71 + + Lambert, 31 + + Lamberton, 20 + + Lambin, 20, 81 + + Lambinet, 31 + + Lambkin, 10 + + Lamblin, 20 + + Lament, 163, 164, 176 + + Lamentation, 174, 187 + + Lamentations, 63 + + Lamin, 20 + + Laming, 20 + + Lammin, 20 + + Lamming, 20 + + Lampin, 20 + + Lampkin, 10 + + Larkin, 6, 10 + + Lawrence, 233 + + Laycock, 15 + + Leah, 47, 66, 69 + + Learn-wisdom, 119 + + Learn-wysdome, 163 + + Lemon, 211 + + Lemuel, 53 + + Lesot, 23 + + Lettice, 23, 48, 108 + + Life, 209 + + Lina, 24 + + Linot, 24 + + Little, 197 + + Littlejohn, 8 + + Live-loose, 200 + + Lively, 153 + + Live-well, 164, 200 + + Living, 170 + + Louisa, 92 + + Love, 137, 141, 203 + + Love-God, 164, 165, 200 + + Love-lust, 200 + + Love Venus, 70 + + Love-well, 165 + + Luccock, 15 + + + M + + Mab, 22 + + Mabbott, 22 + + Mabel, 22 + + Madge, 33, 82 + + Magdalen, 126 + + Magnify, 161 + + Magot, 23 + + Mahaliel, 57 + + Mahershalalhashbaz, 41, 58, 120 + + Major, 196 + + Makin, 12 + + Makinson, 12 + + Malachi, 52, 53, 69 + + Malkin, 9, 11, 12 + + Malkynson, 12 + + Mallet, 230 + + Manasseh, 40, 203 + + Margaret, 3, 22 + + Margaret Jacobina, 232 + + Margerie, 25, 106 + + Margett, 22 + + Margotin, 31 + + Margott, 23 + + Maria, 92, 215, 217, 220 223 + + Marian, 19, 227 + + Maria Posthuma, 219 + + Marion, 18, 24 + + Mariot, 24 + + Mariotin, 32 + + Marioton, 31 + + Mark Lane, 233 + + Marshall, 197 + + Martha, 47 + + Mary, 12, 24, 105, 113, 218, 220 + + Mary Ann, 220, 227 + + Mary Given, 137 + + Mary Josephina Antonietta, 222 + + Mary Porch, 234 + + Mat, 95, 110 + + Matathias, 100 + + Mathea, 95 + + Matilda, 3, 21, 48, 81, 106 + + Matthew, 13, 36, 92 + + Maud, 12, 48 + + Maurice, 101 + + Maycock, 13, 16 + + Meacock, 13 + + Meakin, 12 + + Mehetabell, 66 + + Melchisedek, 56, 83, 85, 101 + + Melior, 138 + + Mephibosheth, 85 + + Mercy, 110, 142, 154, 199, 209 + + Meshach, 53, 63 + + Michael, 131, 183 + + Michalaliel, 60 + + Micklejohn, 8 + + Milcom, 74 + + Miles, 44, 51 + + Miracle, 178 + + Mocock, 15 + + Mokock, 15 + + Moll, 106, 111 + + Mordecai, 57, 63 + + Mordecay, 69 + + More-fruite, 124, 167, 168, 194 + + Morrice, 101 + + Moses Dunstan, 234 + + Much-mercy, 122, 170, 194 + + Mun, 111 + + Mycock, 16 + + My-sake, 178 + + + N + + Nab, 89, 90 + + Nan, 92, 104, 105, 111 + + Nancy, 105, 106 + + Naphtali, 53 + + Nat, 91, 206 + + Nathaniel, 69, 78, 90, 119, 126, 205, 206 + + Natkin, 78 + + Nazareth, 179 + + Ned, 111 + + Nehemiah, 119, 120 + + Nell, 106 + + Neptune, 70 + + Neriah, 53 + + Neville, 228, 231 + + Nichol, 82 + + Nicholas, 2, 3, 34, 36, 37, 43, 45, 80, 90, 91, 92 + + Nick, 111 + + Noah, 35, 69, 195 + + Noel, 36, 98, 99 + + No-merit, 122, 170, 174 + + Northamtonia, 229 + + Nothing, 211 + + Nowell, 36, 99 + + + O + + Obadiah, 72 + + Obediah, 51, 61, 69 + + Obedience, 148 + + Obey, 162 + + Oceanus, 208 + + Olive, 106 + + Olivia, 92, 106, 221 + + Onesiphorus, 56, 57, 85 + + Onslowe, 231 + + Opportunity, 211 + + Original, 128, 129 + + Othniell, 69 + + Oziell, 69 + + + P + + Palcock, 16 + + Pardon, 209 + + Paris, 70 + + Parish Church, 235 + + Parkin, 34 + + Parnel, 104 + + Parratt, 79 + + Pascal, 36 + + Pasche, 96 + + Pascoe, 96 + + Pash, 11 + + Pashkin, 11 + + Pask, 11, 36 + + Paskin, 11 + + Patience, 120, 139, 143, 145, 147, 202, 203, 204 + + Patient, 204 + + Paul, 36 + + Payn, 26 + + Paynet, 26 + + Paynot, 26 + + Peaceable, 203 + + Peacock, 15, 34 + + Peg, 106 + + Pelatiah, 57 + + Peleg, 69 + + Pentecost, 36, 43, 98 + + Pepper, 211 + + Peregrine, 208 + + Perkin, 11, 34 + + Perks, 13 + + Perot, 79 + + Perrin, 18, 19, 34, 81 + + Perrinot, 31 + + Perrot, 34, 79 + + Perrotin, 31 + + Perseverance, 149, 187, 204 + + Persis, 48, 121 + + Peter, 2, 3, 18, 34, 36, 37, 45, 51, 79, 92, 105 + + Peter Grace, 234 + + Petronilla, 105 + + Pharaoh, 52, 69, 72 + + Phebe, 48 + + Philadelphia, 144 + + Philcock, 81 + + Philemon, 45, 53, 69 + + Philip, 2, 3, 26, 36, 37, 51, 90, 92, 95, 113 + + Philiponet, 31 + + Phillis, 106 + + Philpot, 26, 77, 80 + + Phineas, 52 + + Phippin, 19, 81 + + Phip, 85, 90 + + Pidcock, 15 + + Pierce, 82 + + Pierre, 34 + + Piers, 79 + + Piety, 199 + + Pipkin, 11 + + Pleasant, 177 + + Pol, 36 + + Pontius Pilate, 58 + + Posthuma, 217, 218 + + Posthumus, 45, 215, 217, 218, 219 + + Potkin, 11 + + Praise-God, 119, 156, 157, 158 + + Presela, 126 + + Preserved, 173, 210 + + Prince, 197 + + Pris, 91 + + Priscilla, 47, 48, 90, 126 + + Properjohn, 8 + + Providence, 178 + + Pru, 142, 145 + + Prudence, 129, 142, 145, 155, 199, 202, 209 + + Prudentia, 92, 142 + + Purifie, 125 + + Purkiss, 13 + + + Q + + Quod-vult-Deus, 135 + + + R + + Rachel, 66, 67, 69, 141 + + Ralph, 20, 37, 85, 111 + + Ramoth-Gilead, 54 + + Raoul, 20 + + Raoulin, 20 + + Rawlings, 20 + + Rawlins, 20 + + Rawlinson, 20 + + Rebecca, 45, 51, 66 + + Redeemed, 136, 193 + + Redemptus, 136 + + Rediviva, 136 + + Reformation, 179 + + Refrayne, 162 + + Rejoice, 147, 160, 161, 209 + + Rejoyce, 122 + + Reliance, 209 + + Relictus, 137 + + Remember, 203, 209 + + Remembrance, 204 + + Renata, 136 + + Renatus, 134, 136 + + Renewed, 121, 136, 194 + + Renold Falcon, 234 + + Renovata, 134, 136 + + Repent, 153, 162, 175 + + Repentance, 45, 150, 151, 153, 176, 194 + + Replenish, 168 + + Resolved, 203 + + Restore, 175, 193 + + Restraint, 187 + + Returne, 162, 194 + + Revelation, 191 + + Revolt, 203 + + Richard, 3, 28, 37, 44, 46, 103, 110, 119, 131, 184, 195, 205 + + Richelot, 28 + + Riches, 177, 210 + + River, 211 + + Robelot, 28 + + Robert, 3, 28, 37, 44, 52, 110, 211, 228 + + Robbin, 19 + + Robin, 19, 33 + + Robinet, 30 + + Robing, 19 + + Robinson, 197 + + Roger, 3, 37, 52, 90, 119 + + Roger Middlesex, 234 + + Roger Peeter, 234 + + Rum John Pritchard, 235 + + Rutterkin, 10 + + + S + + Sabbath, 179 + + Safe-deliverance, 131, 169 + + Safe-on-high, 121, 174, 194, 200 + + Salt, 211 + + Sampson, 35 + + Samuel, 205 + + Sancho, 130 + + Sander, 15 + + Sandercock, 15 + + Sapphira, 73 + + Sara, 35, 45, 66 + + Sarah, 51, 205 + + Saturday, 180 + + Sea-born, 208 + + Sea-mercy, 208 + + Search-the-Scriptures, 200, 210 + + Search-truth, 200 + + See-truth, 200 + + Sehon, 74 + + Selah, 57, 178 + + Senchia, 130 + + Sense, 129, 130 + + Seraphim, 170 + + Seth, 69, 102 + + Seuce, 129 + + Shadrach, 53, 63 + + Shadrack, 57 + + Shallum, 53, 56 + + Shelah, 53 + + Shorter, 197 + + Sib, 92, 105, 106 + + Sibb, 106 + + Sibby, 106 + + Sibilla, 24 + + Sibot, 24 + + Sibyl, 105 + + Sidney, 207 + + Silcock, 16 + + Silence, 11, 145, 147, 200 + + Silkin, 11 + + Sill, 11, 111, 145, 146 + + Sim, 6, 33, 82 + + Simcock, 14, 15 + + Simkin, 11 + + Simon, 2, 3, 36, 43, 45, 92, 111 + + Simpkinson, 13 + + Sincere, 199 + + Sin-denie, 122 + + Sin-deny, 162 + + Sir Isaac, 197, 227 + + Sir Robert, 197, 227 + + Sirs, 54 + + Sis, 92, 93, 105 + + Sissot, 22, 81 + + Something, 211 + + Sophia, 92, 144, 221 + + Sorry-for-sin, 122, 153 + + Sou'wester, 207 + + Squire, 196 + + Standfast, 199, 209 + + Stand-fast-on-high, 174 + + Stedfast, 121 + + Stepkin, 10 + + Sterling, 211 + + Steward, 230 + + Subpena, 137 + + Sudden, 212 + + Supply, 209 + + Susan, 48, 49, 106, 129 + + Susanna, 35 + + Susey, 129 + + Sybil, 11, 145 + + Sydney, 207, 231, 232, 233 + + Syssot, 22 + + + T + + Tabitha, 47, 119 + + Tace, 146, 147 + + Tacey, 147 + + Talitha-Cumi, 57 + + Talkative, 200 + + Tamar, 71, 72, 75, 76 + + Tamaris, 47 + + Tamsin, 109 + + Tamson, 108 + + Tamworth, 230 + + Tankerville, 230 + + Tebbutt, 26 + + Tellno, 54 + + Temperance, 129, 142, 143, 144, 145, 204, 209 + + Tetsy, 115 + + Tetty, 115 + + Thank, 109 + + Thankful, 123, 171, 172, 173, 200 + + Thanks, 171, 172 + + Theobald, 25, 36, 43 + + Theobalda, 43 + + Theophania, 97 + + Theophilus, 69, 126 + + Tholy, 5 + + Thomas, 2, 3, 26, 34, 36, 75, 108, 203, 215 + + Thomas Barkin, 233 + + Thomasena, 109 + + Thomaset, 26 + + Thomas Fulton, 235 + + Thomas Hill Joseph Napoleon Horatio Bonaparte Swindlehurst Nelson, 222 + + Thomasin, 109 + + Thomasine, 108, 110 + + Thomas Maria, 215 + + Thomas Posthumus, 215, 219 + + Thomazin, 109 + + Thomesin, 109 + + Thurstan, 102 + + Thurston, 50 + + Tib, 6, 25, 43, 104, 106 + + Tibbe, 25, 26 + + Tibbett, 25 + + Tibbin, 19 + + Tibbitt, 25 + + Tibet, 25, 33, 82 + + Tibbot, 25 + + Tibot, 25, 43 + + Tiffanie, 97 + + Tiffany, 36, 97 + + Tiffeny, 97 + + Tillett, 21 + + Tillot, 21 + + Tillotson, 21 + + Tim, 6 + + Timothy, 36 + + Tipkin, 11 + + Tippin, 19 + + Tipping, 19 + + Tippitt, 25 + + Tobel, 40 + + Toll, 29 + + Tollett, 20 + + Tollitt, 29 + + Tolly, 5, 29 + + Tom, 8, 34, 82, 86, 87, 90, 92, 109, 111, 122 + + Tomasin, 109 + + Tomkin, 11, 34 + + Tonkin, 10 + + Trial, 187 + + Tribulation, 120, 147, 185, 186 + + Trinity, 178 + + True-heart, 200 + + Truth, 142, 144, 202 + + Tryphena, 48, 57 + + Tryphosa, 48, 57 + + Tufton, 231 + + Tunstall, 231 + + Tyffanie, 97 + + Tyllot, 21 + + Typhenie, 97 + + + U + + Unfeigned, 172 + + Unity, 178 + + Upright, 200 + + Urias, 102 + + Ursula, 43, 93 + + + V + + Vashni, 53 + + Venus, 70, 71, 75, 76 + + Victory, 149 + + Virginia, 208 + + Virtue, 148 + + Vitalis, 132, 133 + + + W + + Walter, 3 + + Warin, 26 + + Warinot, 26 + + Washington, 232 + + Wat, 82, 85, 90 + + Watchful, 199 + + Watkin, 9, 11, 77, 81 + + Watkins, 13 + + Watt, 6 + + Weakly, 175 + + Wealthy, 177, 209, 210 + + Welcome, 209 + + What-God-will, 135 + + Wilcock, 8, 16, 34, 77 + + Wilkin, 8, 9, 11, 34 + + Will, 6, 86, 88, 111 + + Willan, 34 + + William, 3, 7, 26, 34, 44, 110, 112, 184, 195, 203 + + William Henry, 220 + + Willin, 34 + + Willing, 34 + + Willot, 8 + + Wilmot, 8, 26, 34, 80 + + Windebank, 230 + + Woodrove, 231 + + Wrath, 155 + + Wrestling, 203 + + Wyatt, 26, 80 + + Wyon, 26 + + + Y + + Young Allen, 197 + + Young John, 197, 227 + + + Z + + Zabulon, 85 + + Zachary, 46, 69, 88 + + Zanchy, 130 + + Zaphnaphpaaneah, 58 + + Zaphnaphpaaneah Isaiah Obededom Nicodemus Francis Edward, 222 + + Zeal-for-God, 200 + + Zeal-of-the-land, 88, 120, 187, 188 + + Zebulon, 69 + + Zephaniah, 52, 87 + + Zerrubabel, 40, 41, 119, 120 + + Zillah, 53 + + Zipporah, 66, 86 + + + + +_Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Limited, London and Beccles._ + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] This is easily proved. In the wardrobe accounts for Edward IV., 1480, +occur the following items:-- + + "John Poyntmaker, for pointing of xl. dozen points of silk pointed + with agelettes of laton. + + "John Carter, for cariage away of a grete loode of robeux that was + left in the strete. + + "To a laborer called Rychard Gardyner working in the gardyne. + + "To Alice Shapster for making and washing of xxiiii. sherts, and + xxiiii. stomachers." + +Shapster is a feminine form of Shapper or Shaper--one who shaped or cut +out cloths for garments. All these several individuals, having no +particular surname, took or received one from the occupation they +temporarily followed.--"Privy Purse Expenses, Eliz. of York," p. 122. + +[2] Any number of such instances might be recorded. Mr. W. C. Leighton, in +_Notes and Queries_, February 23, 1861, notices a deed dated 1347, wherein +two John de Leightons, brothers, occur. Mr. Waters, in his interesting +pamphlet, "Parish Registers" (p. 30), says that Protector Somerset had +three sons christened Edward, born respectively 1529, 1539, and 1548. All +were _living_ at the same time. He adds that John Leland, the antiquary, +had a brother John, and that John White, Bishop of Winchester 1556-1560, +was brother to Sir John White, Knight, Lord Mayor in 1563. + +[3] "I also give to the said Robert ... that land which Hobbekin de Bothum +held of me."--Ext. deed of Sir Robert de Stokeport, Knight, 1189-1199: +Earwaker's "East Cheshire," p. 334. + +[4] I have seen Stepkin as a surname but once. Lieutenant Charles Stepkin +served under the Duke of Northumberland, in 1640.--Peacock's "Army List of +Roundheads and Cavaliers," p. 78. + +[5] _Adekyn_ was the simple and only title of the harper to Prince Edward +in 1306, who attended the _cour pleniere_ held by King Edward at the feast +of Whitsuntide at Westminster.--Chappell, "Popular Music of ye Olden +Time," p. 29. + +[6] Sill was the nick form of Sybil and Silas till the seventeenth +century, when the Puritan Silence seized it. I have only seen one instance +of the surname, "John Silkin" being set down as dwelling in Tattenhall, +Cheshire, in 1531 (Earwaker's "East Cheshire," p. 56). + +[7] Nevertheless the surname did exist in Yorkshire in Richard II.'s +reign: + + "Willelmus Malkynson, and Dionisia uxor ejus, iiii{d}."--W. D. S. + +[8] I need not quote, in proof of the popularity of _kin_, our surnames of +Simpkinson, Hopkins, Dickens, Dickenson, Watkins, Hawkins, Jenkinson, +Atkinson, and the rest. I merely mention that the patronymics ending in +_kins_ got abbreviated into _kiss_, and _kes_, and _ks_. Hence the origin +of our Perkes, Purkiss, Hawkes, and Hawks, Dawks, Jenks, Juckes, and Jukes +(Judkins). + +[9] In this class we must assuredly place Figgins. In the Hundred Rolls +appears "Ralph, son of Fulchon." Here, of course, is the diminutive of the +once common Fulke. Fick and Figg were the nick forms: + + "1 Henry VIII. To Fygge the taborer, 6{d}."--Churchwarden's Books of + Kingston-on-Thames, Brand's "Pop. Ant.," i. 147. + +The London Directory has all the forms and corruptions as surnames, +including Fick, Ficken, Figg, Figgs, Figgess, and Figgins. + +[10] Guion was not half so popular in England as Guiot. There are +fifty-five Wyatts to three Wyons in the London Directory (1870). If +Spenser had written of Guyon two centuries earlier, this might have been +altered. Guy Fawkes ruined Guy. He can never be so popular again. + +[11] Cornwall would naturally be last to be touched by the Reformation. +Hence these old forms were still used to the close of Elizabeth's reign, +as for instance: + + "1576, March 24. Baptized Ibbett, d. of Kateryne Collys, bastard. + + "1576, July 30. Baptized Isott, d. of Richard Moyle."--St. Columb + Major. + +[12] This connection of Scripture name with present circumstance ran out +its full period. In the diary of Samuel Jeake, a well-known Puritan of +Rye, occurs this reference to his son, born August 13, 1688: "At 49 +minutes past 11 p.m. exactly (allowing 10' that the sun sets at Rye before +he comes to the level of the horizon, for the watch was set by the +sun-setting), my wife was safely delivered of a son, whom I named +Manasseh, hoping that God had now made me _forget_ all my +toils."--"History of Town and Port of Rye," p. 576. Manasseh = +forgetfulness. + +A bishop may be instanced. Aylmer, who succeeded Sandys in the see of +London, was for many years a favourer of Puritanism, and had been one of +the exiles. His sixth son was _Tobel_ (_i.e._ God is good), of Writtle, in +Essex. Archbishop Whitgift was his godfather, and the reason for his +singular appellation was his mother's being overturned in a coach without +injury when she was pregnant (Cooper's "Ath. Cant." ii. 172). + +Again: "At Dr. Whitaker's death, his wife is described as being 'partui +vicina,' and a week afterwards her child was christened by the name of +_Jabez_, doubtless for the scriptural reason 'because, she said, I bare +him with sorrow.'"--Cooper's "Ath. Cant." ii. 197. + +[13] Esther's other name of Hadassah had a share of favour. So late as +William and Mary's reign we find the name in use: + + "1691, May 24. Christened Hadasa, daughter of Arthur Richardson. + + "1693, Sep. 4. Christened John, son of Nicholas and Hadassah + Davis."--St. Dionis Backchurch. + +[14] In the Lancashire "Church Surveys," 1649-1655, being the first volume +of the Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society's publications, edited by +Colonel Fishwick, occur Thurston Brown, Thurston Brere, Thurston Brich, on +one single page of the index. + +[15] To tell a lie is to tell a _lee_ in Lancashire. + +[16] Several names seem to have been taken directly from the Hebrew +tongue. "Amalasioutha" occurs as a baptismal name in the will of a man +named Corbye, 1594 (Rochester Wills); Barijirehah in that of J. Allen, +1651, and Michalaliel among the Pilgrim Fathers (Hotten). + +[17] Colonel Cunningham, in his annotations of the "Alchemist," says, +speaking of the New Englanders bearing the Puritan prejudices with them: +"So deeply was it rooted, that in the rebellion of the colonies a member +of that State seriously proposed to Congress the putting down of the +English language by law, and decreeing the universal adoption of the +Hebrew in its stead."--Vol. ii. p. 33, Jonson's Works. + +[18] The following entry is a curiosity: + + "1756, May 24. Buried Love Venus Rivers."--St. Peter, Cornhill. + +[19] Even Nathaniel may have been a pre-Reformation name, for Grumio says, +"Call forth Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Philip, Walter, Sugarsop, and the +rest; let their heads be sleekly combed" ("Taming of the Shrew," Act iv. +sc. 1.), where he is manifestly using the old names. + +[20] Zachary was the then form of Zachariah, as Jeremy of Jeremiah. +Neither is a nickname. + +[21] The story of Cain and Abel would be popularized in the "mysteries." +Abelot was a favourite early pet form (_vide_ "English Surnames," index; +also p. 82). + +[22] "Jan, 1537. Item: payed to Blaze for brawdering a payre of sleves for +my lady's grace, xx{s}."--"Privy Purse Expenses, Princess Mary." + +[23] Philip is found just as frequently for girls as boys: + + "1588, March 15. Baptized Phillip, daughter of John Younge. + + "1587, Feb. 7. Baptized Phillip, daughter of James Laurence."--St. + Columb Major. + +[24] In the Oxford edition, 1859, is a foot-note: "Appoline was the usual +name in England, as Appoline in France, for Apollonia, a martyr at +Alexandria, who, among other tortures, had all her teeth beaten out." + +[25] Mr. Beesley, in his "History of Banbury" (p. 456), curiously enough +speaks of this _Epiphany_ as a Puritan example. I need not say that a +Banbury zealot would have as soon gone to the block as impose such a title +on his child. + +[26] Gawain, Gawen, or Gavin lingered till last century in Cumberland and +the Furrness district. The surname of Gunson in the same parts shows that +"Gun" was a popular form. Hence, in the Hundred Rolls, Matilda fil. Gunne +or Eustace Gunnson. The London Directory forms are Gowan, Gowen, and +Gowing: + + "1593, Nov. 7. Buried Sarra Bone, wife of Gawen Bone."--St. Dionis + Backchurch. + +[27] A good instance of the position in society of Jane and Joan is seen +in Rowley's "A Woman never Vexed," where, in the _dramatis personae_, +_Jane_ is daughter to the London Alderman, and _Joan_ servant-wench to the +Widow. The play was written about 1630. + +[28] There seems to have been some difficulty in forming the feminines of +Charles, all of which are modern. Charlotte was known in England before +the queen of George III. made it popular, through the brave Charlet la +Tremouille, Lady Derby; but it was rarely used: + + "1670, Oct. 26. Sir Sam{l}. Morland to Carola Harsnet."--Westminster + Abbey. + + "1703. Charlotte Eliza, d. of Mr. John Harmand, a French + minister."--Hammersmith. + + "9 Will. III. June 29. Caroletta Hasting, defendant."--Decree Rolls, + MSS. Record Office. + +Carolina, Englished into Caroline, became for a while the favourite, but +Charlotte ran away with the honours after the beloved princess of that +name died. + +[29] Bethia still lingers in certain families, but its origin has +manifestly been forgotten. In _Notes and Queries_, February 23, 1861, Mr. +W. A. Leighton deems the name an incorrect version of the scriptural +Bithiah (1 Chron. iv. 18); while "G.," writing March 9, 1861, evidently +agrees with this conclusion, for after saying that his aunt, a sister, and +two cousins bear it, he adds, "They spell it Bethia and Bathia, instead of +Bithiah, which is the accurate form"! Miss Yonge also is at fault: "The +old name of Bethia, to be found in various English families, probably came +from an ancestral Beth on either Welsh, Scots, or Irish sides." She makes +it Keltic. + +The latest instance of Bethia I have seen is the following, on a mural +tablet in Kirkthorpe Church, York:-- + + "Bethia Atkins, ob. Ap. 16th, 1851, aged 74." + +[30] "But the ridicule which falls on this mode of naming children belongs +not to these times only, for the practice was in use long +before."--Harris, "Life of Oliver Cromwell," p. 342. + +[31] This child was buried a few days later. From the name given the +father seems to have expected the event. + +[32] From 1585 to 1600, that is, in fifteen years, Warbleton register +records more than a hundred examples of eccentric Puritanism. + +[33] This name crept into Yorkshire after Accepted Frewen became +archbishop. "Thornton Church is a little episcopal chapel-of-ease, rich in +Nonconformist monuments, as of Accepted Lister, and his friend Dr. +Hale."--Mrs. Gaskell's "Charlotte Bronte," p. 37. + +[34] Faith-my-joy was buried June 12, 1602. While the name was Puritan in +the sense that it would never have been given but for the zealots, it was +merely a translation of the Purefoy motto, "Pure Foi ma Joi." Antony +turned it into a spiritual allusion. + +[35] "On Jan. 28, 17 James I., William Foster ... together with Sir Henry +Burton, Susan Mowne, and James Bynde, and Sanctia or Sence his wife, +joined in conveying to Robert Raunce and Edward Thurland ... a house and +land in Carshalton on trust to sell."--"Bray's Surrey," ii. 513. + +[36] Erasmus became a popular baptismal name, and still exists: + + "1541, Jan. 3. Baptized Erasmus, sonne of John Lynsey."--St. Peter, + Cornhill. + + "1593, Sep. 16. Baptized Erasmus, sonne of John Record, merchaunt + tailor."--Ditto. + + "1611, July 18. Buried Erasmus Finche, captaine, of Dover + Castle."--Cant. Cath. + +[37] "April 6, 1879, at St. Peter's Thanet, entered into rest, Mary Given +Clarke, aged 71 years."--_Church Times_, April 10, 1879. + +[38] The following is curious, although it does not properly belong to +this class: + + "1629, July 11. Baptized Subpena, a man childe found at the Subpena + office in Chancery Lane."--St. Dunstan. + +[39] _Melior_ was a favourite:-- + + "1675, April 15. Baptized Melior, d. of Thomas and Melior + Richardson."--Westminster Abbey. + + "1664-5, Feb. 22. William Skutt seeks renewal of a wine licence, which + he holds in behalf of his mother-in-law, Melior Allen, of Sarum, at + L10 a year."--"C. S. P. Dom." + + "1552, July 11. Baptized Mellior, d. of John James."--St. Columb + Major. + +[40] "1661, Sep. 6. Baptized Faith Dionis, Charity Dionis, Grace Dionis, +three foundlings."--St. Dionis, Backchurch. + +The _Manchester Evening Mail_, March 22, 1878, says, "At Stanton, near +Ipswich, three girls, having been born at one birth, were baptized Faith, +Hope, and Charity." + +[41] Constance had been an old English favourite, its nick and pet forms +being Cust, or Custance, or Cussot (_vide_ "English Surnames," p. 67, 2nd +edition). The Puritan dropped these, but adopted "Constant" and +"Constancy." The more worldly, in the mean time, curtailed it to "Con." + +[42] Sophia did not come into England for a century after this. But, while +speaking of Greek names, the most popular was Philadelphia: + + "1639, May 3. Buried the Lady Philadelphia Carr."--Hillingdon, + Middlesex. + + "1720, Aug. 6. Married William Adams and Philadelphia Saffery."--Cant. + Cath. + + "1776, Jan. 5. Buried Philadelphia, wife of John Read."--Blockley, + Glouc. + +Whether Penn styled the city he founded after the Church mentioned in the +Apocalypse, or after a friend or kinswoman, or because, interpreted, it +was a Quaker sentiment, I cannot say. But Philadelphia, in James I.'s +reign, had become such a favourite that I have before me over a hundred +instances, after no very careful research. None was needed; it appears in +every register, and lingered on into the present century. + +[43] "1658. Mr. Charles Beswicke, minister of the parish ch. of Stockport, +and Sylance Symonds, d. of Mr. Robert Symonds, of Daubever, co. Derby, +published March 28, April 4 and 11, 1658."--Banns, Parish Church, +Stockport. + +This Silence was either mother or grandmother to Silence Thyer, but I am +not sure which is the relationship. If grandmother, then there must have +been three generations of "Silences." + +[44] "I myself have known some persons in London, and other parts of this +kingdom, who have been christened by the names of Faith, Hope, Charity, +Mercy, Grace, Obedience, Endure, Rejoice, etc."--Brome's "Travels in +England," p. 279. + +[45] Repentance lingered longer than I thought. In the churchyard of +Mappowder, Dorset, is a tombstone to the memory of "Repentance, wife of," +etc. She died within the last twenty years. There is no doubt that these +names found their latest home in Devon and Dorset. The names in Mr. +Blackmore's novels corroborate this. + +[46] This is another case of a Puritan name that got into high society. +Accepted Frewen died an archbishop; Humble Ward became first Baron Ward. +His daughter Theodosia married Sir Thomas Brereton, Bart. + +[47] "Faithful Teate was minister at Sudbury, Suffolk, at the time Richard +Sibbes, who was born close by, was growing up."--Sibbes' Works, 1. xxvi. +Nichol, 1862. + +[48] Antony a Wood says Robert Abbott, minister at Cranbrook, Kent, +published a quarto sermon in 1626, entitled "Be-thankful London and her +Sisters." When we remember that Warbleton in 1626 had at least a dozen +Be-Thankfuls among its inhabitants, and that Cranbrook was within walking +distance, we see where the title of this discourse was got. + +[49] Live-well Chapman was a Fifth Monarchy man. There is still extant a +pamphlet headed "A Declaration of several of the Churches of Christ, and +Godly People, in and about the City of London, concerning the Kingly +Interest of Christ, and the Present Sufferings of His Cause, and Saints in +England. Printed for Live-well Chapman, 1654." + +[50] These two were twins: + + "1589, Oct. 12. Baptized Fre-gyft and Fear-not, ye children of John + Lulham."--Warbleton. + +[51] This, no doubt, will be a relative of the well-known Puritan, Comfort +Starr, born in the adjacent hamlet of Ashford. + +[52] A tablet in Northiam Church says-- + + "In memory of Thankfull Frewen, Esq., patron of, and a generous + benefactor to, this Church: who was many years purse-bearer and + afterwards secretary to Lord Keeper Coventry, in the reign of Charles + the First." + +A flat stone in the chancel commemorates the second Thankful: + + "Hic situs est vir reverendus Thankfull Frewen hujus ecclesiae per + quinquaginta sex annos rector sanctissimus & doctissimus ... obiit + 2{do} Septembris, 1749, anno aetatis 81{mo}." + +[53] We have already seen that Stephen Vynall had a daughter baptized +No-merit at Warbleton, September 28, 1589. Heley's influence followed him +to Isfield, as this entry proves. + +[54] "1723.--Welthiana Bryan."--Nicholl's "Coll. Top. et Gen.," iii. 250. + +[55] Pleasant lasted for some time: + + "1757, Jan. 11. Married Thomas Dunn and Pleasant Dadd."--Cant. Cath. + +[56] A dozen Freemans may be seen within the limits of half that number of +pages in the Finchley registers. Here is one: + + "1603, Feb. 26. Baptized Freeman, filius Freeman Page." + +[57] That is, he held him crosswise in his arms. + +[58] "And here was 'Bartholomew Fayre' acted to-day, which had not been +these forty years, it being so satyricall against Puritanism, they durst +not till now."--Pepys, Sept. 7, 1661. + +[59] That some changed their names for titles of more godly import need +not be doubted. William Jenkin says, "I deny not, but in some cases it may +be lawfull to change our names, or forbear to mention them, either by +tongue or pen: but then we should not be put upon such straits by the +badnesse of our actions (as the most are) which we are ashamed to own, +_but by the consideration of God's glory_, or _the Churches good_, or our +own necessary preservation in time of persecution."--"Exposition of Jude," +1652, p. 7. + +[60] A child was baptized, January 10, 1880, in the parish church of +Stone, near Dartford, by the name of Sou'wester. He was named after an +uncle who was born at sea in a south-westerly gale, who received the same +name (_Notes and Queries_, February 7, 1880). + +[61] We have already recorded Hate-evil as existing in the Banbury Church +register. + +[62] The practice of hyphening names, as a condition of accepting +property, etc., is of recent origin. By this means not a double baptismal, +but a double patronymic, name is formed. But though manifestly increasing, +the number of such double surnames is not yet a large one. + +[63] "At Faversham a tradesman in 1847 had a son baptized Church-reform, +and wished for another, to style him No-tithes, but wished in vain."--P. +S. in _Notes and Queries_, February 3, 1866. + +[64] Sometimes, however, one was deemed enough, as, for instance, +"Charitye, daughter of the Lord knows who!" This is from Youlgreave, +Derbyshire, but the correspondent of _Notes and Queries_ does not give the +date. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Passages in italics are indicated by _italics_. + +Superscripted characters are indicated by {superscript}. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature, by +Charles W. 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