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+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
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+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #67755 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67755)
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-The Project Gutenberg eBook of Memorabilia, by James Savage
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
-most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you
-will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
-using this eBook.
-
-Title: Memorabilia
- Or Recollections, Historical, Biographical, and Antiquarian
-
-Author: James Savage
-
-Release Date: April 1, 2022 [eBook #67755]
-
-Language: English
-
-Produced by: Charlene Taylor, David King, and the Online Distributed
- Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was
- produced from images generously made available by The
- Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
-
-*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMORABILIA ***
-
-
-
-
-
- MEMORABILIA.
-
-
-
-
- MEMORABILIA;
-
- OR
-
- _RECOLLECTIONS_,
-
- HISTORICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL,
-
- AND
-
- Antiquarian,
-
- BY JAMES SAVAGE.
-
-
- TAUNTON:
-
- PRINTED FOR JAMES SAVAGE,
- AND SOLD BY
- J. POOLE, BOOKSELLER, FORE-STREET, AND
- BY BALDWIN, CRADOCK, & JOY, PATERNOSTER ROW,
- LONDON.
-
- 1820.
-
-
-
-
- TAUNTON:
- PRINTED BY J. POOLE, FORE-STREET.
-
-
-
-
- ADVERTISEMENT.
-
-
-The following pages have been compiled from various sources, and from an
-extensive course of reading. The Editor has in some instances placed his
-authorities in the notes at the bottom of the page; and, where he has
-copied from former writers, he has inserted the names of those from whom
-he has borrowed his materials. His chief object has been to confine
-himself to facts; he has therefore carefully avoided giving opinions
-upon, or drawing conclusions from, the various subjects of which he has
-treated. He has endeavoured to place many points of history in a new
-light, and in every part to illustrate, in some degree, the several
-matters which have occupied his attention. It has been his desire to
-present the reader with a volume, from which he hopes both instruction
-and amusement may be drawn, and he submits it with confidence, to the
-perusal of young persons in particular, as a collection of biographical
-and historical Miscellanea, calculated to beguile the tedium of an hour,
-without inculcating a single idea that may sully the purest mind.
-
-_Taunton, May 31st, 1820._
-
-
-
-
- CONTENTS.
-
-
-Anecdotes of Dr. Kennicott, 1
-
-Remarkable Historical Coincidences, 4
-
-Charles XII. of Sweden, 6
-
-British Pearls, 8
-
-Pillars of Commemoration, 9
-
-Mason, the Poet, 13
-
-Bishops of Sodor and Man, 17
-
-The Table, 19
-
-Clocks, 20
-
-Aldus Manutius, 22
-
-Bottles of Skin, 24
-
-English Slave Trade, 25
-
-Oliver Cromwell’s Wife, 26
-
-Shakespeare, 28
-
-University Degrees, 31
-
-Guy Carleton, Lord Dorchester, 33
-
-Figs, 35
-
-Fruits cultivated at Rome in the time of Pliny, that are now grown in
-our English gardens, 37
-
-Peacocks, 51
-
-Ancient Libraries, 52
-
-King Charles the First, 58
-
-The Fair Geraldine and the Earl of Surrey, 60
-
-Jews in England, 66
-
-The English Bible, 67
-
-Luxury of Ancient Rome, 68
-
-Rhyme, 70
-
-Mr. Coquebert de Montbret, 72
-
-Dr. Thomas Pierce, 73
-
-Writing among the Greeks, 74
-
-Account of the Scriptoria, or Writing Rooms in the Monasteries of
-England, 76
-
-Torture in England, 105
-
-Dr. Johnson’s Conversation with the late King, 114
-
-Dr. Beattie’s Conversation with the late King & Queen, 121
-
-Sacred Gardens, 128
-
-Sir Thomas Wyat, 129
-
-The Hand, a Symbol of Power, 132
-
-Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I, 135
-
-Last Moments of Philip Melancthon, 142
-
-House of Commons, 145
-
-Mosaic Painting, 165
-
-King Egbert, 168
-
-The Latin Language, 171
-
-Dr. Herschel, 174
-
-Parodies, 177
-
-Mourning for the Dead, 178
-
-Garrick, 179
-
-Lemons, 181
-
-Origin of the Point of Honour, 182
-
-Geoffrey of Monmouth, 185
-
-Lifting up the Hand in Swearing, 205
-
-Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, 207
-
-King Arthur, 210
-
-Alchemy, 213
-
-Account of several Noble Families, in England, who owe their elevation
-to the Peerage to their Ancestors having been engaged in Trade, 214
-
-Last Moments of Queen Caroline, 220
-
-The Britons, according to the Greek and Latin Classics, 221
-
-The Seven Sleepers, 227
-
-John Ray, the Naturalist, 230
-
-London Bankers and their Origin, 233
-
-Elucidation of the Ornaments with which the Greeks and Romans adorned
-the Human Head on Coins & Medals, 237
-
-The Tradescants, 243
-
-Orange Trees, 249
-
-Articles of Use and Luxury introduced into Europe by the Romans, 251
-
-Account of the Escape of the Earl of Nithsdale from the Tower, in 1716,
-255
-
-Account of the first rise of Fairs in England, and the Manner of Living,
-in the 16th and 17th Centuries, 269
-
-Sir Richard Clough, 277
-
-Royal Clemency, 279
-
-Lotteries, 280
-
-Herculaneum Manuscripts, 283
-
-Wolves in England, 286
-
-Professor Porson, 288
-
-History of Sepulchral Monuments, 297
-
-
-
-
- Dr. KENNICOTT.
-
-
-Dr. Kennicott was the son of the parish clerk of Totness, once master of
-a charity school in that town. At an early age young Kennicott took the
-care of the school, and in that situation wrote some verses, addressed
-to the Hon. Mrs. Courtenay, which recommended him to her notice, and to
-that of many neighbouring gentlemen, who laudably opened a subscription
-to send him to Oxford.
-
- _The following inscription, written by Dr. Kennicott, is engraven on
- the tomb of his parents_:
-
- As Virtue should be of good Report,
- Sacred be this humble Monument to the Memory of
- BENJAMIN KENNICOTT,
- Parish Clerk of Totness,
- and ELIZABETH his Wife;
- The latter an example of every Christian Duty,
- The former animated with the warmest zeal, regulated by the
- best good sense, and both constantly exerted
- for the salvation of himself and others.
- Reader! soon shalt thou die also;
- And as a Candidate for Immortality, strike thy breast and say,
- “Let me live the life of the righteous,that my
- latter end may be like his.”
- Trifling are the dates of Time, where the subject is Eternity.
- Erected by their Son, B. Kennicott, D. D.
- Canon of Christ Church, Oxford.
-
-It is said that when Dr. Kennicott took orders, he came to officiate in
-his clerical capacity in his native town,—when his father, as parish
-clerk, proceeded to place the surplice on his shoulders, a struggle
-ensued between the modesty of the son and the honest pride of the
-parent, who insisted on paying that respect to his son which he had been
-accustomed to shew to other clergymen; to this filial obedience he was
-obliged to submit. A circumstance is added, that his mother had often
-declared she should never be able to support the joy of hearing her son
-preach; and that on her attendance at the church, for the first time,
-she was so overcome as to be taken out in a state of temporary
-insensibility.
-
- * * * * *
-
- _The following Letter from Dr. Kennicott to the Rev. William Daddo
- has been preserved_:
-
- “_To the Rev. Mr. Daddo, in Tiverton, Devon._
-
- “_Wadh. Coll. Mar. 30, 1744._
-
- “Rev. and Hon. Sir,
-
- “Gratitude to benefactors is the great law of nature, and lest I
- should violate what was ever sacred, I presume to lay the following
- before you.
-
- “There are, Sir, in the world, gentlemen who confine their regards
- to self, or the circle of their own acquaintance, and there are
- (happy experience convinces me) who command their influence to
- enlarge and exert itself on persons remotely situate, both by
- fortune and education. To you, Sir, belongs the honour of this
- encomium,—to me the pleasure of the obligation, and as I am now
- first at leisure in the place whither your goodness has transplanted
- me, I lay this acknowledgment before you, as one of the movers in
- this system of exalted generosity; for when I consider myself as
- surrounded with benefactors, there seems a bright resemblance of the
- now exploded system of Ptolemy, in which, Sir, (you know) the
- heavenly bodies revolved around the central earth which was thus
- rendered completely blest by the contribution of their cheering and
- benign influence.
-
- “And now, Sir, the sentiments of duty rise so warm within me, that
- every expression of thanks seems faint, and I am lost in endeavours
- after a suitable acknowledgment of my obligations.
-
- “But I know, Sir, whom I am now addressing; I know those who most
- deserve can least bear praise, and that your goodness is so great,
- as even to reject the very thanks of the grateful; like the sun in
- its splendour, which forbids the eye that offers to admire it.
-
- “That Heaven may reward yourself and Mrs. Daddo with its best
- favours, and console you under your parental sorrows, is my daily
- and fervent prayer; and I shall esteem it one of the great honours
- of my life to be favoured at your leisure with any commands or
- advices you shall condescend to bestow on
-
- Rev. Sir,
-
- Your dutiful and obliged Servant,
-
- BENJAMIN KENNICOTT.”
-
- * * * * *
-
-The Rev. William Daddo was for many years head-master of Blundell’s Free
-School, in Tiverton, where young Kennicott received the rudiments of his
-classical education. Mr. Daddo having acquired a considerable fortune
-from the emoluments of his school, quitted Tiverton, and retired to
-Bow-hill House, in the neighbourhood of Exeter, and there died many
-years ago, leaving a daughter, an only child, afterwards married to the
-Rev. Mr. Terry.
-
-
-
-
- REMARKABLE HISTORICAL COINCIDENCES.
-
-
-Among the curiosities in the British Museum are shewn two helmets; the
-one Roman, found in the ground on which the battle of Cannæ was fought,
-216 years before Christ, and the other made of feathers, brought from
-one of the South Sea Islands, by Captain Cook. On comparing these
-helmets, the shape will be found exactly similar, though the latter was
-made by an uncivilized people living at the distance of more than 2000
-years since the battle of Cannæ was fought, and who had never even heard
-of the Roman name.
-
-A second coincidence is found in the same collection. Two breast-plates
-are shewn to the visitors, exactly corresponding in uniformity of shape,
-though made of different materials, the one taken from the bosom of an
-Egyptian Mummy, which had been dissected, if I may be allowed to use the
-term, in the Museum, and the other brought by Captain Cook, among
-various other curiosities, from the South Sea Islands.
-
-A third coincidence is the mode of cookery practised by the South Sea
-Islanders as described by Captain Cook, especially in roasting their
-hogs. This is by means of hot stones placed in a hole dug in the ground.
-In Ossian’s Poems the reader will find that the Caledonians of that time
-made use of the same method in cooking their hogs for the table.
-
-The extinction of the Roman Empire in the West, about the year 476, by
-Odoacer, King of Italy, was attended by one of the most memorable
-coincidences in the history of mankind. The patrician Orestes had
-married the daughter of Count _Romulus_, of Petovio in Noricum; the name
-of _Augustus_, notwithstanding the jealousy of power, was known at
-Aquileia as a familial surname; and the appellations of the two great
-founders, the first of the city of Rome, and the second of the Roman
-monarchy, were strangely united in the last of their successors. The son
-of Orestes succeeded to the throne of the Western Empire, and assumed
-and disgraced the names of ROMULUS AUGUSTUS; the first was corrupted
-into Momyllus by the Greeks, and the second has been changed by the
-Latins into the contemptible diminutive Augustulus. The life of this
-inoffensive youth, the last Sovereign of the Roman Empire in the West,
-was spared by the generous clemency of Odoacer, who dismissed him, with
-his whole family, from the imperial palace, fixed his annual allowance
-at 6000 pieces of Gold, and assigned the castle of Lucullus, in
-Campania, for the place of his exile or retirement.
-
-
-
-
- CHARLES XII. OF SWEDEN.
-
-
-That Charles the twelfth did not fall by a shot from the walls of
-Fredericshall, as is commonly supposed, but met his death from a nearer
-and more secret hand, has been fully ascertained; and M. Megret, a
-French Engineer, who accompanied him, was, no doubt, concerned in the
-murder. Many years afterwards, one Cronsted, an officer, on his death
-bed, confessed that he had himself, at the instigation of the Prince of
-Hesse, brother-in-law of Charles, and whose wife was declared Queen of
-Sweden, fired the shot that killed the unfortunate monarch.
-
-In the arsenal at Stockholm, the Swedes preserve, with great care, the
-clothes he was habited in at the time he fell. The coat is a plain blue
-cloth regimental one, such as every common soldier wore. Round the waist
-he had a broad buff leathern belt, in which hung his sword. The hat is
-torn only about an inch square, in that part of it which lies over the
-temple, and certainly would have been much more injured by a large shot.
-His gloves are of very fine leather, and as the left one is perfectly
-clean and unsoiled could only have been newly put on. Voltaire says that
-the instant the King received the shot, he had the force and courage to
-put his hand to his sword, and lay in that posture. The right hand glove
-is covered in the inside with blood, and the belt at that part where the
-hilt of his sword lay, is likewise bloody, so that it seems clear, he
-had previously put his hand to his head, on receiving the shot, before
-he attempted to draw his sword and make resistance.
-
-In the same case that contains his clothes is preserved the cap he wore
-on the terrible day at Bender, when he so desperately defended himself
-against the Turks. It is of fur; and has one tremendous cut on the side,
-which must have been within a hair’s breadth of there ending the career
-of this wonderful man.
-
-
-
-
- BRITISH PEARLS.
-
-
-The River Conway in North Wales was of considerable importance, even
-before the Roman invasion, for the Pearl muscle, (the _Mya
-Margaritifera_ of Linnæus) and Suetonius acknowledged, that one of his
-inducements for undertaking the subjugation of Wales, was the Pearl
-Fishery carried forwards in that river. According to Pliny, the muscles,
-called by the natives _Kregindilin_, were sought for with avidity by the
-Romans, and the pearls found within them were highly valued; in proof of
-which it is asserted, that Julius Cæsar, dedicated a breastplate set
-with British Pearls to Venus Genetrix, and placed it in her temple at
-Rome. A fine specimen from the Conway is said to have been presented to
-Catherine, consort of Charles II. by Sir Richard Wynne of Gwydir; and it
-is further said that it has since contributed to adorn the regal crown
-of England. Lady Newborough possessed a good collection of the Conway
-pearls, which she purchased of those who were fortunate enough to find
-them, as there is no regular fishery at present. The late Sir Robert
-Vaughan had obtained a sufficient number to appear at Court, with a
-button and loop to his hat, formed of these beautiful productions, about
-the year 1780.
-
-
-
-
- PILLARS OF COMMEMORATION.
-
-
-The erection of a column or pillar, on the highest point of that ridge
-of hills, called Blackdown, which separates the county of Somerset from
-that of Devon, in commemoration of the great victories obtained by the
-Duke of Wellington, is an inducement to look into history, to see how
-the nations of antiquity, particularly those of Greece and Rome,
-rewarded their heroes who signalized themselves by the performance of
-feats of military courage, valour, and skill.
-
-Among the Grecians it was usual to confer honours and rewards upon those
-who distinguished themselves in battle by valiant and courageous
-conduct. The ordinary rewards presented to conquerors in all the states
-of Greece, were crowns, which were sometimes inscribed with the person’s
-name and actions that had merited them, as appears from the inscription
-upon the crown presented by the Athenians to Conon. The Athenians
-sometimes honoured those who had performed great actions with permission
-to raise pillars, or erect statues to the gods, with inscriptions
-declaring their victories. Plutarch, however, supposes this to have been
-a grant rarely yielded to the greatest commanders. Cimon, who commanded
-the Athenian fleet against the Persians, became master of the city of
-Eion, in Thrace, and was, on account of his not imitating former
-commanders, by standing upon the defensive, but repulsing the enemy, and
-carrying the war into their own country, highly respected and admired by
-his countrymen, who allowed him, in honour of his success over the
-enemy, to erect three pillars of stone or marble, each surmounted with
-the head of Mercury; but though they bore an inscription, Cimon was not
-permitted to inscribe his name upon them. These pillars were considered
-by his contemporaries as the highest honour which had then been
-conferred upon any commander.
-
-Various Pillars were erected at Rome in honour of great men, and to
-commemorate illustrious actions. Thus there were the _Columna Ænea_, a
-pillar of Brass, on which a league with the Latins was written. The
-_Columna Rostrata_, the Rostral Column, erected in the Forum, in honour
-of Duillius, was adorned with figures of ships, and was constructed of
-white marble. This column is still remaining with its inscription. It
-was built in honour of a great victory gained by Duillius over the
-Carthaginian fleet near Lipara, in the first Punic war. Another Pillar
-was erected by M. Fulvius, the Consul, consisting of one stone of
-Numidian marble, nearly 20 feet high.
-
-But the most remarkable columns were those of _Trajan_ and _Antoninus
-Pius_.
-
-Trajan’s Pillar was erected in the middle of his Forum, and was composed
-of twenty-four great pieces of marble, but so curiously cemented as to
-seem but one. Its height is 128 feet. It is about 12 feet in diameter at
-the bottom, and 10 at the top. It has in the inside 185 steps for
-ascending to the top, and forty windows for the admission of light. The
-whole pillar is incrusted with marble, on which are represented the
-warlike exploits of that Emperor and his army, particularly in Dacia. On
-the top was a Colossal figure of Trajan, holding in his left hand a
-sceptre, and in his right a hollow globe of gold, in which his ashes
-were put, but Eutropius affirms that his ashes were put under the
-pillar.
-
-The pillar of Antoninus was erected after his death, by the Senate, in
-honour of his memory. It is 176 feet high, the steps of ascent 106, and
-the windows 56. The sculpture and other ornaments are much of the same
-kind with those of Trajan’s pillar, but the work is greatly inferior.
-
-Both these pillars are still standing, and justly reckoned among the
-most precious remains of antiquity. Pope Sixtus V. instead of the
-statues of the Emperors, caused the statue of St. Peter to be erected on
-Trajan’s pillar, and of St. Paul on that of Antoninus.
-
-Pompey’s Pillar, as it is commonly called, in the city of Alexandria in
-Egypt, is equally celebrated with the two just mentioned. It is composed
-of red granite. The base is a square of about 15 feet on each side; this
-block of marble, 60 feet in circumference, rests on two layers of stone
-bound together with lead. The shaft and the upper member of the base are
-of one piece of 90 feet long, and nine in diameter. The capital is
-corinthian, with palm leaves, and not indented; it is 9 feet high. The
-whole column is 114 feet in height. It is perfectly well polished, and
-only a little shivered on the eastern side. Nothing can equal the
-majesty of this column; seen from a distance it overtops the town, and
-serves as a signal for vessels. Approaching it nearer, it produces
-astonishment mixed with awe. The eye can never be tired with admiring
-the beauty of the capital, the length of the shaft, nor the
-extraordinary simplicity of the pedestal.
-
-Among the first inhabitants of the world after the flood there were
-pillars erected sacred to the Pythonic god, Apollo, or the Sun. These
-pillars had curious hieroglyphical inscriptions; they were very lofty
-and narrow in comparison of their length; hence among the Greeks, who
-copied from the Egyptians, every thing gradually tapering to a point was
-stiled an Obelisk.
-
-
-
-
- MASON THE POET.
-
-
-The merit of this gentleman as a poet is well known. However he was not
-satisfied with the applause he received in that character; he was
-desirous also of being esteemed a good musician and a good painter. In
-music he succeeded better than in painting. He performed decently on the
-harpsichord, and by desire, I undertook, says Dr. Miller, in the History
-of Doncaster, to teach him the principles of composition; but that I
-never could effect. Indeed, others before me had failed in the attempt,
-nevertheless he fancied himself qualified to compose; for a short Anthem
-of his, beginning “LORD of all power and might,” was performed at the
-Chapel Royal, of which only the melody was his own; the bass was
-composed by another person. The same may be said of two more Anthems,
-sung in the Cathedral of York. In painting he never arrived even to a
-degree of mediocrity; so true is Pope’s observation:
-
- “One science only will one genius fit,
- ”So vast is art, so narrow human wit.”
-
-Fond, however, of being considered as a patron both of music and
-painting, he contributed to the advancement of several young men by his
-recommendation: yet I never knew him patronize but one, in either of
-these arts, whom he did not desert afterwards, without his former
-favourite ever knowing in what he had offended him.
-
-“When young,” says Dr. Miller, “I was one of those he took under his
-protection. He permitted me to dedicate the music of some elegies to
-him, and also gave me pieces of his own writing to set to music,
-particularly the ‘Ode to Death’ in Caractacus. However, at the end of a
-few years, I found myself involved in the disgrace of others, though I
-never knew the cause of my dismissal; most probably our disgrace
-proceeded from the envy of some officious tale-bearer. On recollection,
-I have often observed him listen attentively to these characters; and
-his favourite servant had it in his power to lead him which way he
-pleased, even to the changing a former acquaintance as easily as he
-would change his coat. Rather late in life he married Miss Sharman, of
-Hull, which was his native place. The reason he assigned for making her
-an offer of marriage was, that he had been a whole evening in her
-company with others, and observed, that during all that time she never
-spoke a single word. This lady lived about a year after their marriage.
-She died at Bristol, where, in the Cathedral, he placed a handsome
-monument to her memory, on which are inscribed some beautiful and
-much-admired lines as an epitaph. During the short time this lady lived
-with him, he appeared more animated and agreeable in his conversation;
-but after her decease, his former phlegm returned, and he became silent,
-sullen, and reserved.
-
-“Though he had a good income, and was by no means extravagant, yet he
-frequently fancied himself poor, to that degree, that he once asked an
-acquaintance to lend him a hundred pounds, though at that very time he
-had considerable sums of money in the public funds, for which he
-neglected taking the interest. A great attachment appeared to exist
-between him and a very hospitable family in the neighbourhood of
-Doncaster, to whom he was nearly related, and with whom he used to pass
-some months in the summer. At length he fancied they expected to receive
-a good legacy at his decease, but resolving to disappoint them, he did
-not even mention them in his will, but left the greater part of his
-property to a person who had formerly been his curate.”
-
- * * * * *
-
- _The following Letter from Mason to Dr. Beattie, is preserved in Sir
- William Forbes’s Life of the latter_:
-
- _York, 17th October, 1771._
-
- “In my late melancholy employment of reviewing and arranging the
- papers, which dear Mr. Gray’s friendship bequeathed to my care, I
- have found nine letters of yours, which I meant to have returned ere
- this, had I found a safe opportunity by a private hand; but as no
- such opportunity has yet occurred, I take the liberty of troubling
- you with this, to enquire how I may best convey them to you. I shall
- continue here till the 12th of next month, and hope in that interval
- to be favoured with a line from you upon this subject.
-
- “I should deprive myself of a very sincere gratification, if I
- finished this letter, with the business that occasions it. You must
- suffer me to thank you for the very high degree of poetical pleasure
- which the first book of your ‘Minstrel’ gave my imagination, and
- that equal degree of rational conviction which your ‘Essay on the
- Immutability of Truth’ impressed on my understanding. I will freely
- own to you, that the very idea of a Scotsman’s attacking Mr. Hume,
- prejudiced me so much in favour of the latter piece, that I should
- have approved it, if, instead of a masterly, it had been only a
- moderate performance.
-
- “I shall be happy to know, that the remaining books of your
- ‘Minstrel’ are likely to be published soon. The next best thing,
- after instructing the world profitably, is to amuse it innocently.
- England has lost that man, (Mr. Gray) who, of all others in it, was
- best qualified for both these purposes; but who, from early chagrin
- and disappointment, had imbibed a disinclination to employ his
- talents beyond the sphere of self-satisfaction and improvement. May
- Scotland long possess, in you, a person both qualified and willing
- to exert his, for the pleasure and benefit of society.”
-
-
-
-
- BISHOPS OF SODOR AND MAN.
-
-
-The Bishopric of Sodor and Man was first erected by Pope Gregory IV,
-about the year 840, and had for its diocese the Isle of Man and all the
-Hebrides or Western Islands of Scotland; but when the Isle of Man became
-dependent upon the kingdom of England, the Western Islands withdrew
-themselves from the obedience of their Bishop, and had Bishops of their
-own, whom they entitled _Episcopi Sodorenses_, but commonly Bishops of
-the Isles. The Prelates of the diocese of the Isles had three places of
-residence, namely, the Isle of Icolumkill, Man, and Bute; and in ancient
-writs, are promiscuously styled _Episcopi Manniæ et Insularum_,
-_Episcopi Æbudarum_, and _Episcopi Sodorenses_, which last title is
-still retained by the Bishops of the Isle of Man; and the reason of this
-style is as follows: The Island of Ily, or I, or Ionah, was in former
-ages a place famous for sanctity and learning, and very early became the
-seat of a Bishop. This little Island was likewise denominated
-Icolumkill, from St. Columba (the companion of St. Patrick) founding a
-monastery here in the sixth century, which was the mother of above one
-hundred other monasteries situated in different parts of Britain and
-Ireland. From the many learned men who came to study here, the Picts and
-English Saxons of the North owe their conversion to Christianity. The
-Scots used long ago to commit the education of the presumptive heir of
-the crown to the care of the Bishops of this see; and so holy was the
-Island of Icolumkill reckoned, that most of the Scottish monarchs were
-interred there. The Cathedral church was dedicated to our Saviour, for
-whom the Greek word is _Soter_, hence _Soterensis_, now corrupted to
-_Sodorensis_; and it seems probable that this is the reason why the
-Danes called these Islands _Sodoroe_. The civil wars that raged among
-the Scots enabled the Danes and Norwegians to seize the Isle of Man; and
-about the year 1097 or 1098, Donald Bane, an usurper, who then sat on
-the throne of Scotland, treacherously put the Norwegians in possession
-of the Western Isles, for the assistance they had given him. It is
-probable that these foreigners were the cause that the see was
-translated entirely to the Isle of Man. They were at length however,
-expelled from all their usurped dominions. During the great contest
-between the houses of Bruce and Baliol for the throne of Scotland, King
-Edward III., of England, made himself master of the Isle of Man, and it
-has remained an appendage of the crown of England ever since. The Lords
-of the Isle of Man sat up Bishops of their own, and the Scottish
-monarchs continued their Bishops of the Isles. The patronage of the
-Bishopric of Man was given, together with the Island, to the Stanleys,
-by King Edward IV. and they came by an heir-female to the Duke of Athol,
-who still keeps it; and on a vacancy thereof, he nominates the intended
-Bishop to the King, who sends him to the Archbishop of York for
-consecration. This is the reason why the Bishop of Sodor and Man is not
-a Lord of Parliament, as none can have suffrage in the house of Peers
-who do not hold immediately of the King himself.
-
-
-
-
- THE TABLE.
-
-
-The form of a half-moon for a table is of very ancient date; the Romans
-called it the _Sigma_, from its resemblance to the Greek letter so
-called, which was in the time of the Roman Emperors like the letter C.
-Martial tells us this sort of table admitted but of seven persons,
-_septem sigma capit_. And Lampridius, in his life of Heliogabalus,
-mentions it very frequently, and says it was for seven only; he tells us
-the Emperor once invited eight, on purpose to raise a laugh against the
-person for whom there would be no seat. The same form of a table
-continued in after ages. The authors of the life of St. Martin say, that
-the Emperor Maximus invited him to a repast, where the table had the
-form of a sigma; and again in the lower ages, Sidonius Apollinaris
-speaks of the same thing in the life of the Emperor Majorianus; and it
-is likewise represented in a manuscript of the fifth or sixth century.
-The seat itself was only a common bench or form; the sigma was the
-principal piece of furniture, and most ornamented. In the time of Homer
-the guests sat round the table, as we do now, but afterwards some
-nations adopted the custom of a reclining position at their meals.
-
-
-
-
- CLOCKS.
-
-
-The first Clock we know of in this Country was put up in an old tower of
-Westminster Hall, in the year 1288, and in 1292, there was one in the
-Cathedral of Canterbury. These were probably of foreign workmanship; and
-it may be doubted, if there was at that time any person who followed the
-business of making clocks. There was, however, one very ingenious
-artist, Richard of Wallingford, Abbot of St. Albans, who constructed a
-clock which represented the motions of the sun, moon, and stars, and the
-ebbing and flowing of the sea. That this wonderful piece of mechanism
-might be of permanent utility to his Abbey, he composed a book of
-directions for the management of it. And Leland who appears to have seen
-it, says, that in his opinion all Europe could not produce such another.
-
-There is a fine specimen of ancient Clock-making in Wells Cathedral. It
-is a clock constructed by Peter Lightfoot, one of the monks of
-Glastonbury, about the year 1325, of complicated design and ingenious
-execution. It was originally put up in that celebrated Monastery, and
-was placed in the south transept, and by means of a communication tolled
-the hours on the great bell of the central tower, whilst the quarters
-were struck by automata on two small bells in the transept. The dial
-plate shews the hours, and also the changes of the moon, the solar and
-other astronomical motions; on its summit there is an horizontal frame
-work, which exhibits by the aid of machinery, eight knights on horseback
-armed for a tournament, and pursuing each other with a rapid rotatory
-motion. At the Reformation this clock was removed from Glastonbury Abbey
-to its present situation in Wells Cathedral.
-
-The Clock in Exeter Cathedral was erected by Bishop Courtenay in the
-year 1480. It is on the Ptolemaic system of Astronomy and of a curious
-construction for the age in which it was put up. The earth is
-represented by a globe in the centre; the sun by a fleur-de-lys; and the
-moon by a ball painted half black and half white, which turns on its
-axis, and shews the different phases of that luminary.
-
-
-
-
- ALDUS MANUTIUS.
- [DIED 1516.]
-
-
-It would be difficult to say whether the exertions of any individual,
-however splendid his talents, or even the labours of any particular
-association, or academy, however celebrated, ever shed so much lustre on
-the place of their residence as that which Venice derives from the
-reputation of a stranger, who voluntarily selected it for his abode. I
-allude to ALDUS MANUTIUS. This extraordinary person combined the lights
-of the scholar, with the industry of the mechanic; and to his labours,
-carried on without interruption till the conclusion of a long life, the
-world owes the first or _principes editiones_ of twenty eight Greek
-Classics. Among these we find Pindar, Æschylus, Sophocles, Euripides,
-Herodotus, Thucydides, Demosthenes, Plato, and Aristotle. Besides these,
-there are few ancient authors of any note, of whom this indefatigable
-editor has not published editions of acknowledged accuracy, and as far
-as the means of the art of printing, then in its infancy, permitted, of
-great beauty. In order to appreciate the merit of Aldus, we must
-consider the difficulties under which he must have laboured at a time
-when there were few public libraries; when there was no regular
-communication between distant cities; when the price of manuscripts put
-them out of the reach of persons of ordinary incomes; and when the
-existence of many since discovered, was utterly unknown. The man who
-could surmount these obstacles, and publish so many authors till then
-inedited; who could find means and time to give new and more accurate
-editions of so many others already published, and accompany them all
-with prefaces mostly of his own composition; who could extend his
-attention still farther and by his labours secure the fame, by
-immortalizing the compositions of the most distinguished scholars of his
-own age and country, must have been endowed in a very high degree, not
-only with industry and perseverance, but with judgment, learning, and
-discrimination. One virtue more, Aldus possessed in common with many of
-the great literary characters of that period, I mean, a sincere and
-manly piety, a virtue which gives consistency, vigour, and permanency to
-every good quality, and never fails to communicate a certain grace and
-dignity to the whole character.
-
-
-
-
- BOTTLES OF SKIN.
-
-
-The Ancients made use of bottles of skin to hold their wine, as is usual
-in many countries to this day. Thus Homer mentions wine being _brought
-in a goat’s skin_. (Il. II. iii. line 247. Odys. VI. line 78, IX. line
-196, 212) Herodotus (ii. 121,) mentions _skins_ being filled with wine.
-And Maundrell in his Travels to Jerusalem, speaking of the Greek Convent
-at Bellmount, near Tripoli, in Syria, says, “The same person whom we saw
-officiating at the altar in his embroidered sacerdotal robe, brought us
-the next day on his own back, a kid, and a _goat’s skin of wine_ as a
-present from the Convent.”
-
-
-
-
- ENGLISH SLAVE TRADE.
-
-
-A great article of exportation among the Anglo-Saxons was Slaves, in
-which kind of traffic, the Northumbrians in particular, were very
-famous, amongst whom this trade continued, according to William of
-Malmesbury, for some time after the conquest. The people of Bristol were
-also very much employed in the Slave Trade, which they pursued with such
-eagerness, that they frequently spared not their nearest relations; but
-at length they were prevailed upon by the preaching and exhortation of
-Wulstan, Bishop of Worcester, who possessed that See at the time of the
-Conquest, to quit such a barbarous and inhuman traffic.
-
-In the history of the Saxon period there is frequent mention of living
-money, in contradistinction to coins of gold, silver, &c. This living
-money consisted of slaves and cattle of all sorts, which according to
-the value fixed upon them by law, were equally current with gold or
-silver in the payment of debts.
-
-In Domesday Book it is said that in the Borough of Lewes, four-pence was
-to be paid to the Portreeve for every man sold within that borough.
-
-The Monks were forbid by an ancient Canon to manumit their slaves, and
-this unhappy race of men seems to have been longer perpetuated on the
-estates of the Monasteries than elsewhere, for in the survey of
-Glastonbury Abbey taken after the dissolution, there is mention of “271
-bondmen, whose bodies and goods were at the King’s Highness’s pleasure.”
-
-
-
-
- OLIVER CROMWELL’S WIFE.
-
-
-The two following notable instances of this Lady’s niggardliness are
-taken from a very scarce little book intitled “The Court and Kitchen of
-Elizabeth Cromwell,” &c. printed in 1664.
-
-“The first, was the very next summer after Oliver’s coming to the
-Protectorate in 1654. In June, at the very first season of green pease,
-where a poor country woman living some where about London, having a very
-early but small quantity in her garden, was advised to gather them and
-carry them to the Lady Protectress; her counsellors conceiving she would
-be very liberal in her reward, they being the first of that year;
-accordingly the poor woman came to the _Strand_; and having her pease
-amounting to a peck and a half, in a basket, a cook by the _Savoy_ as
-she passed, either seeing or guessing at them, demanded the price, and
-upon her silence offered her an angel (a coin so called) for them, but
-the woman expecting some greater matter, went on her way to _Whitehall_,
-where after much ado, she was directed to her chamber, and one of her
-maids came out, and understanding it was a present and a rarity, carried
-it in to the Protectress, who out of her princely munificence sent her a
-crown, which the maid told into her hand; the woman seeing this
-baseness, and the frustration of her hopes, and remembering withal what
-the cook had proffered her, _threw back the money into the maid’s hands,
-and desired her to fetch her back her pease, for that she was offered
-five shillings more for them before she brought them thither, and could
-go fetch it presently_; and so half slightingly and half ashamedly, this
-great lady returned her present, putting it off with a censure upon the
-unsatisfactory daintiness of luxurious and prodigal epicurism. The very
-same pease were afterwards sold by the woman to the said cook, who is
-yet alive (that is in 1664) to justify the truth of this relation.
-
-“The other is of a later date. Upon Oliver’s rupture with the Spaniards,
-the commodities of Spain grew very scarce, and the prices of them raised
-by such as could procure them under-hand. Among the rest of these goods,
-the fruits of the growth of that country were very rare and dear,
-especially oranges and lemons. One day as the Protector was private at
-dinner he called for an orange to a loin of veal, to which he used no
-other sauce, and urging the same command, was answered by his wife, that
-_Oranges were oranges now; that crab oranges would cost a groat, and for
-her part she never intended to give it_; and it was presently whispered
-that sure her Highness was never the adviser of the Spanish war: and
-that his Highness would have done well to have consulted his digestion,
-before his lusty and inordinate appetite of dominion and riches in the
-West Indies.”
-
-
-
-
- SHAKESPEARE.
-
-
-The following ingenious reasons are assigned by Mr. Charles Butler, in
-his “Memoirs of the English Catholics,” as grounds for a belief that
-Shakespeare was a Roman Catholic.
-
-“May the Writer premise a suspicion, which from internal evidence, he
-has long entertained, that Shakespeare was a Roman Catholic. Not one of
-his works contains the slightest reflections on Popery, or any of its
-practices; or any eulogy of the Reformation. His panegyric on Queen
-Elizabeth is cautiously expressed; whilst Queen Catherine is placed in a
-state of veneration; and nothing can exceed the skill with which
-Griffith draws the panegyric of Wolsey. The Ecclesiastic is never
-presented by Shakespeare in a degrading point of view. The jolly Monk,
-the irregular Nun, never appear in his Drama. Is it not natural to
-suppose, that the topics, on which at that time, those who criminated
-Popery loved so much to dwell, must have often solicited his notice, and
-invited him to employ his muse upon them, as subjects likely to engage
-the favourable attention both of the Sovereign and the subject? Does not
-his abstinence from these justify a suspicion, that _a Popish feeling_
-with-held him from them. Milton made the Gunpowder Conspiracy the theme
-of a regular Poem. _Shakespeare is altogether silent on it._”
-
- * * * * *
-
-The Editor of the Morning Chronicle has given a short comment on the
-above Paragraph: “We will only oppose” says he, “a single observation to
-Mr. Butler’s suspicion. Shakespeare was buried _at his own desire in a
-Protestant Church_, with this rather curious Inscription, which we
-recommend to Mr. Butler’s perusal:
-
- _Good Friend for Jesu’s sake forbear_
- To dig the dust inclosed here.
- Blest be the man that spares these stones,
- And curst be he that moves my bones.”
-
-The Editor of the Morning Chronicle does not give his authority for
-stating that Shakespeare was buried _by his own desire_ in a Protestant
-Church. The poet, in his will, does not express any _desire_ about being
-buried in any particular place, and being buried in a Protestant Church,
-neither proves one thing nor another respecting his religion. It is no
-proof that he was a Protestant because he was buried in a Protestant
-Church, even if it were clearly shewn that it was by his own desire;
-neither is it any proof that he was not a Roman Catholic because he was
-buried in a Protestant Church. Let us ask the Editor of the M. C. where
-the Catholics of Shakespeare’s time could bury their dead but in
-Protestant Churches, or in consecrated ground belonging to Protestant
-Churches?
-
-The inscription which the Editor of the M. C. mentions to have been
-placed upon Shakespeare’s tomb, certainly does not prove any more
-respecting his religion than does his being buried in a Protestant
-Church. It has been observed with a high degree of probability that the
-inscription in question alludes to the custom which was then in use of
-removing skeletons after a certain time, and depositing them in Charnel
-Houses. Similar execrations are found in many ancient Latin Epitaphs.
-
-It is one of the observations of Mr. Butler, in proof of his suspicion,
-that Shakespeare was a Roman Catholic, that the poet has not eulogized
-the Reformation. In the speech (play of Henry VIII. scene the last)
-which Archbishop Cranmer makes at the christening of the Princess
-Elizabeth, Shakespeare puts into the Prelate’s mouth these prophetic
-words—
-
- “In her days ...
-
- “GOD shall be truly known” ...
-
-which appear evidently to infer that in the Roman Catholic times GOD was
-not truly known, but that the Reformation, so eminently promoted by
-Queen Elizabeth, had brought forth light and truth. Mr. Butler seems to
-have overlooked these lines, and the inference that may be drawn from
-them, namely, that Shakespeare was _not_ a Roman Catholic.
-
-The author of a Tragedy, recently published, entitled “Moscow,” says (p.
-67.) that “he has discovered that Shakespeare was a Free-Mason. Let
-every brother of the _third degree_, therefore SEARCH the works of the
-immortal bard, and he will find the TRUTH of the above assertion.”
-
-
-
-
- UNIVERSITY DEGREES.
-
-
-It does not appear that there were any degrees in either the Greek or
-Roman academies; the only distinction was that of masters and scholars.
-The first seminaries of learning among christians were the cathedral
-churches and monasteries, but in process of time the schools belonging
-to them were regulated, and men of learning opened others in places
-where they could find protection and encouragement. Hence the origin of
-universities, which at first were merely a collection of those schools,
-to which Princes and great men gave liberal endowments, and granted
-particular immunities and privileges. Degrees were not conferred till
-the universities were incorporated; a circumstance extremely probable,
-when we recollect that all civil honours must be derived from the
-supreme magistrate.
-
-The most ancient degrees were those of Bachelor and Master of Arts.
-Before the existence of a certain statute, which obliged the theologists
-to be regents in arts previously to their ascending the chair of Doctor,
-they were only students, and bachelors, or masters of divinity, without
-reading the arts. At that time the degrees in arts were held in such
-estimation, as to be thought superior to that of doctor in any other
-faculty.
-
-The degree of Doctor was not known in England till the time of Henry II.
-It afterwards became common, and was taken not only by Professors of
-Divinity, Law, and Medicine, but by those of Grammar, Music, Philosophy,
-Arts, &c. As the Doctors of those professions, however, seldom obtained
-great honour or riches, this degree declined and fell into neglect. That
-of Music is the only one which has survived.
-
-
-
-
- GUY CARLETON,
- LORD DORCHESTER.
-
-
-When General Wolfe was appointed to the Command of the Land Forces
-destined to act against Canada, in 1759, Mr. Pitt, then Secretary of
-State, told him, that as he could not give him so many troops as he
-wanted for the Expedition, he would make it up to him in the best
-manner he could, by allowing him the appointment of all his
-Officers. Accordingly the General sent in a list, in which was the
-name of Lieutenant-Colonel Carleton, whom he had put down as
-Quarter-Master-General. This Officer, who had been Aide-de-Camp to
-the Duke of Cumberland during the campaign in Germany, in 1757, had
-unfortunately made himself obnoxious to George the Second, by some
-unguarded expressions relating to the Hanoverian Troops, and which
-had by some officious person been reported to the King. Lord
-Ligonier, then Commander in Chief of the Forces, took General
-Wolfe’s list to his Majesty for his approbation, when the King
-having looked over it, made some objections in pointed terms, to
-Colonel Carleton’s name, and refused to sign his commission. Lord
-Ligonier reported the King’s objections and refusal to Mr. Pitt, who
-immediately sent his Lordship a second time to his Majesty with no
-better success. Mr. Pitt then suggested that his Lordship should go
-again, which he refused, on which Mr. Pitt told him, that unless he
-went to the King and got Colonel Carleton’s commission signed he
-should lose his place. Lord Ligonier then went a third time to the
-King, and represented to him the peculiar state of the expedition,
-and that in order to make the General completely responsible for
-every part of his conduct, it was necessary that the officers
-employed under him should be those who enjoyed his entire and
-perfect confidence, so that, if he did not succeed, he might not
-accuse the Government at home with putting under him officers who,
-either by incapacity, want of energy, or inactivity, should thwart
-his commands, and thus paralyse the most skilful arrangements. The
-King listened to his Lordship’s reasons with a favourable ear, and
-his resentment against Colonel Carleton, was so completely disarmed,
-that he immediately signed the commission under which that Officer
-accompanied General Wolfe as Quarter-Master-General of his army.
-
-
-
-
- FIGS.
-
-
-Figs have from the earliest times been reckoned among the delights of
-the palate.
-
-Moses, in the Pentateuch, enumerates among the praises of the promised
-land, (Deut. viii. 8.) that it was a “Land of Fig Trees”.
-
-The Athenians valued figs at least as highly as the Jews. Alexis (in the
-Deipnosophists) calls figs “Food for the Gods.” Pausanias says that the
-Athenian, Phytalus, was rewarded by Ceres for his hospitality, with the
-gift of the first fig-tree. Some foreign guest, no doubt, transmitted to
-him the plant, which he introduced into Attica. It succeeded so well
-there, that Athensæus brings forward Lynceus and Antiphanes vaunting the
-figs of Attica as the best on the earth. Horapollo, or rather his
-commentator Bolzair, says that when the master of a house is going a
-journey he hangs out a broom of fig-boughs for good luck.
-
-By one of the laws of Solon all the products of the earth were forbidden
-to be exported from Athens; under this law the exportation of figs was
-prohibited, and it is from this circumstance we have the word
-_sycophant_ from the Greek; those who violated this law were subject to
-a heavy penalty, and the informer against the delinquents was called a
-sycophant from the original word literally meaning an “exhibiter of
-figs,” as thereby substantiating his charge. The name was afterward more
-extensively applied, and is now associated with the ideas of meanness,
-servility, and calumny.
-
-A taste for figs marked the progress of refinement in the Roman Empire.
-In Cato’s time but six sorts of figs were known; in Pliny’s twenty-nine.
-The sexual system of plants seems first to have been observed in the fig
-tree. Pliny in his Natural History alludes to this under the term
-_caprification_.
-
-In modern times the esteem for figs has been more widely diffused; when
-Charles the 5th visited Holland in 1540, a Dutch merchant sent him, as
-the greatest delicacy which Zuricksee could offer, a plate of figs. The
-gracious Emperor dispelled for a moment the fogs of the climate by
-declaring, that he had never eaten figs in Spain with more pleasure.
-Carter praises the figs of Malaga; Tournefort those of Marseilles; Ray
-those of Italy; Brydone those of Sicily; Dumont those of Malta; Browne
-those of Thessaly; Pocock those of Mycone; De la Mourtraye those of
-Tenedos and Mitylene; Chandler those of Smyrna; Maillet those of Cairo;
-and Lady Mary Wortley Montague those of Tunis. What less can be inferred
-from this conspiring testimony than that wherever there is a fig there
-is a feast?
-
-It remains for Jamaica, and the contiguous Islands, to acquire that
-celebrity for the growth of figs, which yet attaches to the Eastern
-Archipelago; to learn to dry them as in the Levant, and to supply the
-desserts of the English tables.
-
-
-
-
- FRUITS,
- CULTIVATED AT ROME IN THE TIME OF PLINY, THAT ARE NOW GROWN IN OUR
- ENGLISH GARDENS.
-
-
-APPLES.—The Romans had twenty-two sorts of Apples. Sweet Apples
-(_melimala_) for eating, and others for cookery. They had one sort
-without kernels.
-
-[Eugene Aram, in his collections for a dictionary of the Celtic
-language, says that the name of the Apple Tree is a corruption of
-“Apollo’s Tree.”—“And that this is its original, will be easily
-deducible from a little reflection on the proofs in support of it. The
-prizes in the sacred games were the Olive Crown, Apples, Parsleys and
-the Pine. Lucian, in his Book of Games, affirms that Apples were the
-reward in the Sacred Games of Apollo; and Curtius asserts the same
-thing. It appears also that the Apple Tree was consecrated to Apollo
-before the Laurel; for both Pindar and Callimachus observe that Apollo
-did not put on the Laurel until after his conquest of the Python, and
-that he appropriated it to himself on account of his passion for Daphne,
-to whom the laurel was sacred. The Victor’s wreath at first was a bough
-with its apples hanging upon it, sometimes with a branch of laurel; and
-antiquity united these together as the reward of the Victor in the
-Pythian games.”]
-
-APRICOTS.—Pliny says of the Apricot (Armeniaca) _quæ sola et odore
-commendantur_. He arranges them among his plums.—Martial valued them but
-little, as appears by his epigram, xiii. 46.
-
-[The Apricot, we are told came originally from Armenia, whence its name
-_Armeniaca_. Wolfe, gardener to King Henry the 8th, first introduced
-Apricots into England. Tusser mentions the Apricot in his list of fruits
-cultivated here in 1573.]
-
-ALMONDS—were abundant, both bitter and sweet. [The Almond was introduced
-into England in 1570; it is not, however, in Tusser’s list of fruits
-cultivated here in 1573.]
-
-CHERRIES—were introduced into Rome in the year of the city 680, B. C.
-73, and were carried thence to Britain 120 years after, A. D. 48. The
-Romans had eight kinds, a red one, a black one, a kind so tender as
-scarce to bear any carriage, a hard fleshed one (_duracina_) like our
-bigarreau, a small one with a bitterish flavour (_laurea_) like our
-little wild black, also a dwarf one, the tree bearing which did not
-exceed three feet in height.
-
-[Cherries are said to have come originally from Cerasus, a city of
-Pontus, from which Lucullus brought them into Italy, after the
-Mithridatic War. They so generally pleased at Rome, and were so easily
-propagated in all climates into which the Romans extended their arms,
-that within the space of a hundred years, they had become common. It has
-been erroneously supposed that Cherries were first introduced into this
-country by Richard Haynes, fruiterer to King Henry the eighth, who
-planted them at Teynham, in Kent, whence they had the name of Kentish
-cherries; but Lydgate who wrote his poem called “Lickpenny” before the
-middle of the fifteenth century, or probably before the year 1415,
-mentions them in the following lines, as being commonly sold at that
-time by the hawkers in the streets of London:
-
- “Hot pescode oon began to cry,
- ”Straberys rype, and cherreys in the ryse.”
-
-Ryce, rice, or ris, properly means a long-branch; and the word is still
-used in that sense in the West of England.
-
-Dr. Bulleyn shews there were plenty of good native cherries at
-Ketteringham, near Norwich; pears, called the Blackfriars, in and about
-that city; and excellent grapes at Blaxhall in Suffolk, where he was
-rector from 1550 to 1554.]
-
-CHESNUTS.—The Romans had six sorts, some more easily separated from the
-skin than others, and one with a red skin. They roasted them as we do.
-
-[The chesnut, _castanea_, is a native of the South of Europe, and is
-said to take its name from Castanea, a city of Thessaly, where anciently
-it grew in great plenty. Gerard says that in his time there were several
-woods of chesnuts in England, particularly one near Feversham, in Kent;
-and Fitz-Stephen, in a description of London, written by him in Henry
-the second’s time, speaks of a very noble forest which grew on the north
-side of it. This tree grows sometimes to an amazing size. There is one
-at Lord Ducie’s at Tortworth, in the county of Gloucester, which
-measures 19 yards in circumference, and is mentioned by Sir Robert
-Atkyns, in his History of that County, as a famous tree in King John’s
-time; and by Mr. Evelyn in his Sylva, to have been so remarkable for its
-magnitude in the reign of King Stephen, as then to be called the great
-chesnut of Tortworth; from which it may be reasonably supposed to have
-been standing before the conquest. Lord Ducie had a drawing of it taken
-and engraved in 1772. Formerly a great part of London was built with
-chesnut and walnut timber.]
-
-The Horse Chesnut was brought from the northern parts of Asia into
-Europe, about the year 1550, and was sent to Vienna, about the year
-1558. From Vienna it migrated into Italy and France: but it comes to us
-from the Levant immediately. Gerard in his Herbal, printed in 1597,
-speaks of it only as a foreign Tree. In Johnson’s edition of the same
-Work printed in 1633, it is said, “Horse Chesnut groweth in Italy, and
-in sundry places of the East Country; it is now growing with Mr.
-Tradescant at South Lambeth.” Parkinson says “our Christian World had
-first the knowledge of it from Constantinople.”—The same Author places
-the Horse Chesnut in his Orchard, as a fruit tree between the Walnut and
-the Mulberry. How little it was then known, 1629, may be inferred from
-his saying not only that it is of a greater and more pleasant aspect,
-for the fair leaves, but also of a good use for the fruit, which is of a
-sweet taste, roasted and eaten as the ordinary sort.—This tree does not
-seem to have been so common a hundred years ago as it is now. Mr.
-Houghton (1700) mentions some at Sir William Ashhurst’s at Highgate, and
-especially at the Bishop of London’s at Fulham. Those now standing at
-Chelsea College were then very young. There was also a very fine one in
-the Pest-house garden near Old-Street, and another not far from the
-Ice-house under the shadow of the Observatory in Greenwich Park.
-
-FIGS.—The Romans had many sorts of figs, black and white, large and
-small; one as large as a pear, another no larger than an olive.
-
-[The fig has been cultivated in England ever since 1562. It is omitted
-by Tusser in his list of fruits cultivated in our gardens. Cardinal Pole
-is said to have imported from Italy that tree, which is still growing in
-the garden of the Archbishop’s palace at Lambeth. It is the oldest fig
-tree that is known in this kingdom. In the Percy Household-book, the
-person who had the charge of providing for the consumption and use of
-the Earl of Northumberland’s numerous family, was ordered to purchase
-four coppets of figs, for which he was to pay twenty pence for each
-coppet. This quantity was to serve for one year.]
-
-MEDLARS.—The Romans had two kinds of medlars, the one larger, and the
-other smaller.
-
-MULBERRIES.—The Romans had two kinds of the black sort, a larger and a
-smaller. Pliny speaks also of a mulberry growing on a briar: _Nascuntur
-et in rubis_, (1. xv. sect. 27) but whether this means the raspberry, or
-the common blackberry, does not appear.
-
-[The mulberry, _Morus_, is a native of Persia, whence it was introduced
-into the southern parts of Europe, and is commonly cultivated in
-England, Germany, and other countries where the winters are not very
-severe. “We are informed,” says Forsyth in his treatise on fruit trees,
-“that mulberries were first introduced into this country in 1596; but I
-have reason to believe that they were brought hither previous to that
-period, as many old trees are to be seen standing at this day about the
-sites of ancient abbeys and monasteries, from which it is at least
-probable that they had been introduced before the dissolution of
-religious houses. Four large mulberry trees are still standing on the
-site of an old kitchen garden, now part of the pleasure-ground, at Sion
-House, which, perhaps may have stood there ever since that house was a
-monastery. The first Duke of Northumberland has been heard to say, that
-these trees were above 300 years old. At the Priory near Stanmore,
-Middlesex, (the seat of the Marquis of Abercorn) there are also some
-ancient Mulberry trees. The Priory was formerly a religious house.”
-
-Gerard in his description of the mulberry tree has the following curious
-paragraph: “Hexander in Athenæus affirmeth, that the mulberry trees in
-his time did not bring forth fruit in twenty years together; and that so
-great a plague of the gout reigned and raged so generally, as not only
-men, but boys, and women were troubled with that disease.”
-
-Tusser, in his list of fruits cultivated in England in 1573 enumerates
-the Mulberry.—Gerard, who published his history of plants in 1597, says
-in that book, that Mulberry Trees then grew in sundry gardens in
-England.]
-
-NUTS.—The Romans had Hazel Nuts and Filberds. They roasted these Nuts.
-
-PEARS.—Of these the Romans had many sorts, both Summer and Winter Fruit,
-melting and hard; they had more than thirty six kinds, some were called
-_Libralia_. We have our Pound Pear.
-
-[Pliny mentions twenty kinds of this fruit, and Virgil five or six.
-
-Ælian describing the most ancient food of several nations, reports that
-at Argos they fed chiefly upon Pears.
-
-Tusser, states that “Pears of all sorts” were cultivated here in his
-time.
-
-The Arms of Wardon Abbey, in Bedfordshire, as given by Tanner, are
-Argent, Three Pears, Or.—Quere, if these are the species called Wardons,
-or if they are peculiar to that part of England.
-
-The Wardon Pear is common in Yorkshire.]
-
-PLUMS.—The Romans had a multiplicity of sorts (_ingens turba prunorum_)
-black, white, and variegated; one sort was called _asinia_, from its
-cheapness; another _damascena_; this had much stone and little flesh:
-from Martial’s Epigram, xiii. 29, we may conclude that it was what we
-now call prunes.
-
-[The Plum is generally supposed to be a native of Asia, and the
-Damascene (Damson) to take its name from Damascus, a city of Syria.
-
-Tusser enumerates in his list of fruits “Grene or Grass Plums, and Peer
-Plums, black and yellow.”
-
-Lord Cromwell introduced the Perdrigon Plum in the Reign of Henry the
-seventh.]
-
-QUINCES.—The Romans had three sorts, one was called _Chrysomela_, from
-its yellow flesh. They boiled them with honey as we make marmalade. See
-Martial, xiii. 24.
-
-[The Quince is called Cydonia, from Cydon, a town of Crete, famous for
-this fruit.—Tusser mentions it among his fruit-trees, and Gerard says it
-was cultivated here in his time.]
-
-SERVICES.—They had the Apple-shaped, the Pear-shaped, and a small kind,
-probably the same that we gather wild, the Azarole.
-
-[There are three sorts of the Service Tree cultivated in England, namely
-the cultivated Service; the Wild Service or Mountain Ash; and the Maple
-leaved Service. The first is a native of the warmer climes of Europe;
-and the other two grow wild in different parts of England.]
-
-STRAWBERRIES.—The Romans had Strawberries, but do not appear to have
-prized them. The climate is too warm to produce this fruit in perfection
-unless in the hills.
-
-[Tusser enumerates Strawberries, red and white, as being cultivated when
-he wrote.]
-
-VINES.—The Romans had a multiplicity of Vines, both thick-skinned,
-(_duracina_,) and thin-skinned: one Vine growing at Rome produced 12
-Amphoræ of juice, equal to 84 gallons. They had round-berried, and
-long-berried sorts, one so long that it was called _dactilydes_, the
-grapes being like the fingers on the hand. Martial (xiii. 22.) speaks
-favourably of the hard-skinned grape for eating.
-
-[In Domesday Book, (1. p. 8. col 1.) there are said to be in the Bishop
-of Bayeux’s Manor of _Chert_, in the county of Kent, three arpents of
-_Vineyard_, and in the Manor of Leeds (1. p. 7. col. 4.) belonging to
-the same Bishop, two Arpents of _Vineyard_.
-
-In several Charters in the “Registrum Roffensis” mention is made of _the
-Vineyard_ belonging to the Monks of Rochester, wherein grew great
-quantities of grapes; and which is also, in much later days, said by
-Worlidge, to have produced excellent wines. Bishop Hamon presented some
-of the wine and grapes of his own growth, at Halling, near Rochester, to
-Edward the second, when at Bockinfold; and in some old leases of the
-bishoprick, mention has been found made, of considerable quantities of
-_Blackberries_ being delivered to the Bishop of Rochester, by sundry of
-his Tenants, for the purpose of _colouring the wine_ growing in his
-Vineyard. This gives us some idea of what sort the wine was, and also
-deserves well to be compared with that ancient usage of making wines in
-this country, the remembrance whereof is preserved by means of some
-records of the reign of Henry the third; amongst which are two precepts,
-the one (Claus. An. 34. Hen. III.) to the keepers of the king’s wines at
-York, to deliver out to one Robert (de Monte Pessulano) such wines, and
-as much as he pleased to make _for the king’s use, against the feast of
-Christmas, (Claret) such drink, as he used to make in preceding years_.
-The first record says, _ad potus regis pretiosos delicatos inde
-faciendos_. The second says, _ad Claretum inde faciend.—Ad opus regis
-sicut annis preteritis facere consuevit._ And both may be seen at length
-in Walpole’s Anecdotes of Painting, vol. i. p. 11. Perhaps it may not be
-undeserving notice, that even to the beginning of the eighteenth
-Century, almost all red wine was, in this country, called Claret.
-
-Honey and Mead, constituted a part of the mixture of the royal Norman
-Claret, and for several ages Claret was considered as belonging to the
-Materia Medica; and formed a part of the old English Apothecaries store
-of Medicines, preserved in white glazed earthern pitchers, with labelled
-inscriptions burnt in large blue letters in the ware; several of which
-are still preserved.
-
-Several other Monasteries and Abbeys, had remarkable Vineyards, as well
-as Rochester; particularly that of St. Edmund’s Bury; that at Ely; that
-at Peterborough; and even that at Darley Abbey, in Derbyshire; And
-indeed most of the original Vineyards mentioned are found to have
-belonged to Abbeys. It is a curious circumstance, and elucidating the
-_prices_ of the age, that in the time of Henry the third, a _Dolium_. or
-cask of the best wine, sold for forty shillings, and sometimes even for
-twenty.
-
-For an enlarged account of Vineyards in England see Archæologia, vol. i.
-p. 821.; and vol. iii. p. 53. and 67.]
-
-WALNUTS.—The Romans had soft shelled, and hard shelled, as we have. In
-the golden age, when men lived upon acorns, the gods lived upon Walnuts,
-hence the name _Juglans_, that is _Jovis glans_.[1]
-
- * * * * *
-
-As a matter of curiosity, it has been deemed expedient, to add a list of
-the fruits cultivated in our English Gardens in the year 1573. This list
-is taken from Tusser’s _Five hundred points of good Husbandry_.
-
-Thomas Tusser, who had received a liberal education at Eton school, and
-at Trinity hall, Cambridge, lived many years as a farmer in Suffolk and
-Norfolk. He afterwards removed to London, where he published in 1557,
-the first edition of his work, under the title of “One hundred points of
-good husbandry.”
-
-In his fourth edition, from which this list is taken, he first
-introduced the subject of Gardening, and has given us not only a list of
-the fruits, but also of all the plants then cultivated in our gardens,
-either for pleasure or profit, under the following heads:—
-
-“Seedes and herbes for the kychen, herbes and roots for sallets and
-sauce, herbes and rootes to boyle or to butter, strewing herbes of all
-sorts, herbes, branches, and flowers for windowes and pots, herbs to
-still in summer, necessarie herbes to grow in the gardens for physick
-not reherst before.”
-
-This list consists of more than 150 species besides the following
-fruits:—
-
-Apple Trees of all sorts—Apricots
-
-Barberries—Bullass, black and white
-
-Cherries, red and black—Chesnuts—Cornet Plums[2]
-
-Damsons, white and black
-
-Filberds, red and white
-
-Gooseberries—Grapes, white and red—Green or Grass Plums.
-
-Hurtle Berries.[3]
-
-Medlars or Merles—Mulberries.
-
-Peaches, white and red[4]—Pears of all sorts. Pear Plums, black and
-yellow.
-
-Quince Trees.
-
-Rasps—Raisins.[5]
-
-Small Nuts—Strawberries, red and white—Service Trees.
-
-Wardons, white and red—Walnuts—Wheat Plums.
-
-Footnote 1:
-
- This article is taken from the first volume of the Transactions of the
- Horticultural Society, and was communicated by the Right Hon. Sir
- Joseph Banks, Bart.—The additions, within brackets, are by the Editor.
-
-Footnote 2:
-
- Probably the fruit of _Cornus Mascula_, commonly called Cornelian
- Cherry.
-
-Footnote 3:
-
- _Hurtleberries_, the fruit of _Vaccinium vitis idea_, though no longer
- cultivated in our gardens, are still esteemed and served up at the
- tables of opulent people in the counties that produce them naturally.
- They are every year brought to London from the rocky country, near
- Leath Tower in Surrey, where they meet with so ready a sale among the
- middle classes of the people, that the richer classes scarcely know
- that they are to be bought.—They also grow very plentifully on some of
- the hills and heaths in the counties of Somerset and Devon.
-
-Footnote 4:
-
- The _Yellow fleshed Peach_, now uncommon in our gardens, but which was
- frequent 40 years ago, under the name of the Orange Peach, was called
- by our ancestors _Melicoton_.
-
-Footnote 5:
-
- By _Raisins_ it is probable that Currants are meant; the imported
- fruit of that name of which we make puddings and pies was called by
- our ancestors _Raisin de Corance_.—In the Percy Household Book it is
- said that 200 pounds _of Raisins de Corance_ should be purchased for
- the use of the Earl of Northumberland’s family, which were to serve
- one year.
-
-
-
-
- PEACOCKS.
-
-
-India, says Mr. Pennant, gave us Peacocks, and we are assured by Knox,
-in his History of Ceylon, that they are still found in the wild state,
-in vast flocks, in that island and in Java. So beautiful a bird could
-not be permitted to be a stranger in the more distant parts; for so
-early as the days of Solomon (1 Kings, x. 22.) we find among the
-articles imported in his Tarshish navies, Apes and Peacocks. A monarch
-so conversant in all branches of natural history, would certainly not
-neglect furnishing his officers with instructions for collecting every
-curiosity in the country to which they made voyages, which gave him a
-knowledge that distinguished him from all the princes of his time. Ælian
-relates that they were brought into Greece from some barbarous country,
-and that they were held in such high estimation, that a male and female
-were valued at Athens at 1000 _drachmæ_, or £32. 5_s._ 10_d._ Their next
-step might be to Samos; where they were preserved about the temple of
-Juno, being the birds sacred to that goddess; and Gellius in his _Noctes
-Allicæ_ commends the excellency of the Samian Peacocks. It is therefore
-probable that they were brought there originally for the purposes of
-superstition, and afterwards cultivated for the uses of luxury. We are
-also told, when Alexander was in India, he found vast numbers of wild
-ones on the banks of the Hyarotis, and was so struck with their beauty,
-as to appoint a severe punishment on any person that killed them.
-
-Peacocks’ crests, in ancient times were among the ornaments of the kings
-of England. Ernald de Aclent (Acland) paid a fine to king John in a
-hundred and forty palfries, with sackbuts, _lorains_, gilt spurs and
-peacock’s crests, such as would be for his credit.—Some of our regiments
-of cavalry bear on their helmets, at present, the figure of a peacock.
-
-
-
-
- ANCIENT LIBRARIES.
-
-
-Many events have contributed to deprive us of a great part of the
-literary treasures of antiquity. A very fatal blow was given to
-literature by the destruction of the Phœnician temples and the Egyptian
-colleges, when those kingdoms and the countries adjacent, were conquered
-by the Persians, about 350 years before Christ. The Persians had a great
-dislike to the religion of the Phœnicians and the Egyptians, and this
-was one reason for destroying their books, of which Eusebius says they
-had a great number.
-
-The first celebrated library of antiquity was at Alexandria, and called
-from thence the Alexandrian library; it owed its foundation to Ptolemy
-Soter, king of Egypt, though his Son Ptolemy Philadelphus enjoys the
-reputation of being its founder. This was about 284 years before the
-Christian æra.
-
-The palace of Ptolemy Philadelphus was the asylum of learned men whom he
-admired and patronized. He paid particular attention to Euclid,
-Theocritus, Callimachus, and Lycophron, and by increasing the library,
-of which his father had laid the foundation, he shewed his taste for
-learning and wish to encourage genius. This celebrated library at his
-death contained 200,000 volumes of the best and choicest books, and it
-was afterwards increased to 700,000 volumes. The method adopted for
-making this collection was the seizing of all the books that were
-brought by the Greeks or other foreigners into Egypt, and sending them
-to Ptolemy, who had them transcribed by persons employed for that
-purpose. The transcripts were then delivered to the proprietors, and the
-originals laid up in the library. Ptolemy Euergetes, for instance,
-borrowed of the Athenians the works of Sophocles, Euripides, and
-Æschylus, and only returned them the copies, which he caused to be
-transcribed in as beautiful a manner as possible; the originals he
-retained for his own library, presenting the Athenians with fifteen
-talents for the exchange, that is, with upwards of £3,000 sterling. As
-the Alexandrian academy was at first in the quarter of the city called
-_Bruchion_, the library was placed there, but when the number of books
-amounted to 400,000 volumes, another library within the _Serapeum_ was
-erected, by way of supplement to it, and on that account called the
-daughter of the former. The books lodged in the Serapeum increased to
-the number of 300,000, and these two made up the number of 700,000
-volumes, of which the royal libraries of the Ptolemys were said to
-consist.
-
-In the war which Julius Cæsar waged with the inhabitants of Alexandria,
-the library of Bruchion was accidentally, but unfortunately, burned; but
-the library in the Serapeum still remained. The whole was magnificently
-repaired by Cleopatra, who deposited there the 200,000 volumes, forming
-the library of the kings of Pergamus, with which she had been presented
-by Antony. These, and others added to them from time to time, rendered
-the new library of Alexandria more numerous and considerable than the
-former, and though it was plundered more than once during the
-revolutions which happened in the Roman empire, yet it was as frequently
-supplied with the same number of books, and continued for many ages to
-be of great fame and use, until it was burnt by the Saracens, in the
-year 642 of the Christian æra.
-
-There was a building adjoining to this library, called the Museum, for
-the accommodation of a college or society of learned men, who were
-supported there at the public expense, and where there were covered
-walks and seats where they might carry on disputations.
-
-The next library of antiquity was that founded at Pergamus, by Eumenes,
-and considerably increased by the literary taste of his wealthy and
-learned successors, at whose court merit and virtue were always sure of
-finding an honorable patronage. This library which consisted of 200,000
-volumes, was given by Antony to Cleopatra, as has been already
-mentioned.—Parchment was first invented and made use of at Pergamus to
-transcribe books upon, as Ptolemy had forbidden the exportation of
-Papyrus from Egypt, in order to prevent Eumenes from making a library as
-valuable and choice as that of Alexandria.
-
-The first public library at Rome, and in the world, as Pliny observes,
-was erected by Asinius Pollio, in the Atrium of the Temple of Liberty on
-Mount Aventine. Augustus founded a Greek and Latin library in the Temple
-of Apollo on the Palatine Hill, and another in the name of his sister
-Octavia, adjoining to the Theatre of Marcellus.
-
-Among the ancient libraries that of Lucullus is mentioned by Plutarch in
-terms of the highest praise. The number of volumes was immense, and they
-were written in elegant hands. The use he made of them was still more
-honorable to him than the possession of so much literary treasure. The
-library of Lucullus was open to all; the Greeks who were at Rome
-repaired with pleasure to his galleries and porticos, as to the retreat
-of the muses, and there spent whole days in conversation upon subjects
-of literature, delighted to retire to such a scene from other pursuits.
-Lucullus himself, who was a perfect master of the Greek language often
-joined and conferred with these learned men in their walks.
-
-There were several other libraries at Rome, the chief of which was the
-Ulpian library, instituted by Trajan, which Dioclesian annexed as an
-ornament to his baths. One of the most elegant was that of Serenus
-Samonicus, preceptor of the Emperor Gordian. It is said to have
-contained not less than 60,000 volumes, and that the room in which they
-were deposited was paved with gilded marble. The walls were ornamented
-with glass and ivory; and the shelves, cases, presses, and desks, made
-of ebony and silver. There were libraries in the capital, in the Temple
-of Peace, and in the house of Tiberius. Many private persons had good
-libraries particularly in their country villas. The Roman libraries were
-in general adorned with statues and pictures, particularly of ingenious
-and learned men.
-
-Learning and the arts received a fatal blow by the destruction of the
-heathen temples, in the reign of Constantine. The devastations then
-committed, are depicted in the strongest and most lively colours by Mr.
-Gibbon, in his History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
-
-Many valuable libraries perished by the Barbarians of the north, who
-invaded Italy in the fourth and fifth centuries. By these rude hands
-perished the library of Perseus, king of Macedon, which Paulus Æmilius
-brought to Rome with its captive owner; as did also that noble library,
-just mentioned, established for the use of the public by Asinius Pollio,
-which was collected from the spoils of all the enemies he had subdued,
-and was much enriched by him at a great expense. The libraries of Cicero
-and Lucullus met with the same fate, and those of Julius Cæsar, of
-Augustus, Vespasian, and Trajan also perished, together with that of the
-Emperor Gordian.
-
-
-
-
- KING CHARLES THE FIRST.
-
-
-The Journey of Prince Charles (afterwards Charles the First) and the
-Duke of Buckingham to Spain, was considered at the time to be such a
-piece of knight-errantry as scarcely any age could parallel. Spanheim in
-his history of Louisa-Juliana, Electress Palatine, mother of the king of
-Bohemia, says “that never Prince was more obliged to a sister, than king
-Charles I. was to the queen of Bohemia; since it was only the
-consideration of _her_ and _her children_, who were then the _next
-heirs_ after _him_ to the Crown of England, that prevailed with the
-Court of Spain _to permit him ever to see England again_.”
-
-Charles the First, though of abstemious habits kept a splendid and
-hospitable table, at the beginning of his reign. Of this trait in his
-character, hitherto unnoticed, the following account affords a
-sufficient proof.
-
-There were daily in his court eighty six tables, well furnished each
-meal, whereof the king’s table had twenty-eight dishes; the queen’s
-twenty-four; four other tables sixteen dishes each; three other ten
-dishes each; twelve other had seven dishes each; seventeen other tables
-had each of them five dishes; three other had four each; thirty-two
-other tables had each three dishes; and thirteen other had each two
-dishes; in all about five hundred dishes each meal, with bread, beer,
-wine, and all other things necessary. All which was provided, mostly by
-the several purveyors, who, by commission, legally and regularly
-authorized, did receive those provisions at a moderate price, such as
-had been formerly agreed upon in the several counties of England, which
-price, (by reason of the value of money much altered) was become low,
-yet a very inconsiderable burthen to the kingdom in general, but thereby
-was greatly supported the royal dignity in the eyes of strangers as well
-as subjects.
-
-The English nobility and gentry, according to the king’s example, were
-excited to keep a proportionable hospitality in their several country
-mansions, the husbandmen encouraged to breed cattle, all tradesmen to a
-cheerful industry; and there was then a free circulation of money
-throughout the whole body of the kingdom. There was spent yearly in the
-king’s house of gross meat fifteen hundred oxen, seven thousand sheep,
-twelve hundred veals, three hundred porkers, four hundred storks or
-young beefs, six thousand eight hundred lambs, three hundred flitches of
-bacon, and twenty-six hams; also one hundred and forty dozen of geese,
-two hundred and fifty dozen of capons, four hundred and seventy dozen of
-hens, seven hundred and fifty dozen of pullets, one thousand four
-hundred and seventy dozen of chickens; for bread three thousand six
-hundred bushels of wheat: and for drink six hundred tuns of wine, and
-one thousand seven hundred tuns of beer; moreover of butter forty six
-thousand six hundred and forty pounds, together with fish and fowl,
-venison, fruit and spice proportionably.
-
-
-
-
- THE FAIR GERALDINE AND THE EARL OF SURREY.
-
-
-The “Fair Geraldine” the general object of Lord Surrey’s empassioned
-sonnets, is commonly said to have lived at Florence, and to have been of
-the family of the _Geraldi_, of that city. This is however, a
-misapprehension of an expression in one of our poet’s Odes, and of a
-passage in Drayton’s Heroic Epistles. This lady was Elizabeth, third
-daughter of Gerald Fitzgerald, ninth Earl of Kildare. She appears to
-have received her education at Hunsdon House, with the Princesses Mary
-and Elizabeth. It was here she was first seen by the Earl of Surrey, and
-she immediately became the object of his fervent but fruitless devotion.
-She was married first to Sir Anthony Browne, Lord Chief Justice of the
-Common Pleas, and secondly to Edward Clinton, Earl of Lincoln, surviving
-by many years her noble and unfortunate admirer. There is a Portrait of
-the “Fair Geraldine” in the Woburn collection.
-
-It is not precisely known at what period the Earl of Surrey began his
-travels. They have the air of a romance. He made the tour of Europe in
-the true spirit of chivalry, and with the ideas of an Amadis; he
-proclaimed the unparalleled charms of his Mistress, and prepared to
-defend the cause of her beauty with the weapons of Knight-errantry; nor
-was this adventurous journey performed without the intervention of an
-enchanter. The first city in Italy which he proposed to visit was
-Florence, the capital of Tuscany, and the original seat of the ancestors
-of his Geraldine.
-
-In his way thither he passed a few days at the Emperor’s court; where he
-became acquainted with Cornelius Agrippa, a celebrated adept in natural
-magic. This visionary Philosopher shewed our hero in a mirror of glass,
-a representation of Geraldine, reclining on a couch, sick, and reading
-one of his most tender sonnets by a waxen taper. His imagination, which
-wanted not the flattering representations and artificial incentives of
-illusion, was heated anew by this interesting and affecting spectacle.
-Inflamed with every enthusiasm of the most romantic passion, he hastened
-to Florence; and on his arrival, immediately published a defiance
-against any person who could handle a lance and was in love, whether
-Christian, Jew, Turk, Saracen, or Cannibal, who should presume to
-dispute the superiority of Geraldine’s beauty. As the lady was pretended
-to be of Tuscan extraction, the pride of the Florentines was flattered
-on this occasion; and the Grand Duke of Tuscany permitted a general and
-unmolested ingress into his dominions of the combatants of all
-countries, until this important trial should be decided. The challenge
-was accepted, and the Earl proved victorious. The shield which was
-presented to him by the Duke of Tuscany before the tournament began, is
-exhibited in Vertue’s valuable print of the Arundel family, and was
-actually in the possession of one of the late Dukes of Norfolk.
-
-These heroic vanities did not, however, so totally engross the time
-which the Earl of Surrey spent in Italy, as to alienate his mind from
-letters; he studied with the greatest success a critical knowledge of
-the Italian tongue; and that he might give new lustre to the name of
-Geraldine, attained a just taste for the peculiar graces of the Italian
-poetry.
-
-He was recalled to England for some idle reason by the king, much sooner
-than he expected; and he returned home the most elegant traveller, the
-most polite lover, the most learned nobleman, and the most accomplished
-gentleman of his age. Dexterity in tilting and gracefulness in managing
-a horse under arms, were excellencies now viewed with a critical eye,
-and practised with a high degree of emulation. In 1540 at a tournament
-held in the presence of the Court at Westminster, and in which some of
-the principal nobility were engaged, Surrey was distinguished above the
-rest for his address in the use and exercise of arms.
-
-But all these accomplishments, and the popularity that attended them,
-laid the foundation of a fatal death for this illustrious nobleman. They
-excited the jealousy of his capricious monarch Henry VIII. Lord Orford
-says “The unwieldy king growing distempered and froward, and
-apprehensive for the tranquillity of his boy-successor, easily conceived
-or admitted jealousies infused into him by the Earl of Hertford and the
-Protestant party, though one of the last acts of his fickle life was to
-found a convent.” Treason was therefore objected to the Earl of Surrey
-upon the most frivolous pretences; of which the principal was, his
-quartering the arms of Edward the Confessor with those of Howard, though
-even this insignificant fact had been justified by the practice of his
-family, and the sanction of the heralds. He was arraigned in the
-Guildhall, London, found guilty by a jury, and judgment of death being
-given, he was beheaded on Tower Hill, in January, 1547.
-
-The Earl of Surrey was professedly a man of gallantry and pleasure,
-possessing a highly cultivated mind, and excelling in all the polite and
-elegant accomplishments of the age in which he lived. The flattery which
-has been bestowed upon his character by Poets, Heralds, and
-Genealogists, has not ceased to flow from his death to the present hour.
-A recent genealogical writer has been superlatively lavish of his
-panegyrics upon the excellencies and even upon the morals of the gallant
-Earl. There is, however, one extraordinary circumstance in the life of
-this nobleman which has been entirely overlooked by all his encomiasts.
-This is, that while his father urged him to connect himself in marriage
-with one lady; while the king was jealous of his designs upon a second;
-and while he himself as may be collected from his poem “To a Lady who
-refused to dance with him,” made proposals of marriage to a third, he
-was during all this time married to the lady Frances,[6] daughter of
-John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, by whom he had five children, namely, two
-sons and three daughters. The sons were Thomas, afterwards fourth Duke
-of Norfolk, and Henry, created Earl of Northampton, by king James the
-First. To this lady the Earl of Surrey was united at the age of fifteen,
-and several years after his premature death, we find her bearing the
-title of Countess of Surrey, and possessing the guardianship of his
-children, therefore it is apparent they were never divorced. Can it be
-supposed that the example of a lustful king had instructed his
-courtiers, among their other accomplishments, to find pretexts for the
-dissolution of the marriage tie, whenever interest or their guilty
-passions prompted them to such baseness? Yet this is the man whose
-moral, as well as poetical and literary character, we are told “it is
-delightful to contemplate.”
-
-The Earl of Surrey had one sister, Mary, who was married to Henry
-Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset, natural son of Henry VIII. who
-died in 1536 at the age of seventeen without issue. There is a most
-beautiful portrait of this lady in Chamberlaine’s collection of the
-Holbein Heads. Mr. Lodge exclaims pathetically “Would that her story had
-died with her; and that we might have been at liberty to fancy the
-character of so fair a creature as fair as her countenance. But the
-truth must be told. At the iniquitous trial of her brother in 1547, this
-lady was called on as a witness and brought forward a body of evidence
-against him so keenly pointed, and so full of secrets, which from their
-nature must have been voluntarily disclosed by her, that we cannot but
-suspect her conduct of a degree of rancour, unpardonable in any case,
-but in this unnatural.”
-
-Footnote 6:
-
- There is a portrait of this lady among the Holbein Heads, published by
- Mr. Chamberlaine.
-
-
-
-
- JEWS IN ENGLAND.
-
-
-William the Conqueror permitted great numbers of Jews to come over from
-Rouen, and to settle in England in the last year of his reign. Their
-number soon increased, and they spread themselves throughout most of the
-cities and capital towns in England where they built synagogues. There
-were fifteen hundred at York about the year 1189. At Bury, in Suffolk,
-is a very complete remain of a Jewish synagogue of stone in the Norman
-style, large and magnificent. Hence it was that many of the learned
-English Ecclesiastics of those times became acquainted with their books
-and language. In the reign of William Rufus, the Jews were remarkably
-numerous at Oxford, and had acquired considerable property; and some of
-their Rabbis were permitted to open a school in the university, where
-they instructed not only their own people, but many Christian students,
-in Hebrew literature, about the year 1094. Within 200 years after their
-admission or establishment by the Conqueror, they were banished the
-kingdom. This circumstance was highly favourable to the circulation of
-their learning in England. The suddenness of their dismission obliged
-them for present subsistence, and other reasons, to sell their moveable
-goods of all kinds, among which were large quantities of of Rabbinical
-books. The monks in various parts availed themselves of the distribution
-of these treasures. At Huntingdon and Stamford there was a prodigious
-sale of their effects, containing immense stores of Hebrew manuscripts,
-which were immediately purchased by Gregory of Huntingdon, prior of the
-abbey of Ramsey. Gregory speedily became an adept in the Hebrew, by
-means of these valuable acquisitions, which he bequeathed to his
-monastery about the year 1250. Other members of the same convent, in
-consequence of these advantages, are said to have been equal proficients
-in the same language, soon after the death of Prior Gregory, among whom
-were Robert Dodford, Librarian of Ramsey, and Laurence Holbech, who
-compiled a Hebrew Lexicon. At Oxford a great number of their books fell
-into the hands of Roger Bacon, or were bought by his brethren the
-Franciscan friars of that university.
-
-
-
-
- THE ENGLISH BIBLE.
-
-
-The first translation of any part of the Holy Scriptures into English
-that was committed to the press, was _The New Testament_, translated
-from the Greek, by William Tyndale, with the assistance of John Foye and
-William Roye, and printed first in 1526, in octavo.
-
-Tyndale published afterwards, in 1530, a translation of the _Five Books
-of Moses_, and of _Jonah_, in 1531, in octavo. An English translation of
-the _Psalter_, done from the Latin of Martin Bucer, was also published
-at Strasburgh in 1530, by Francis Foye, octavo. And the same book
-together with _Jeremiah_, and the _Song of Moses_, were likewise
-published in 1534, in duodecimo, by George Joye, sometime fellow of
-Peter-House in Cambridge.
-
-The first time _the whole Bible_ appeared in English, was in the year
-1535 in folio. The translator and publisher was Miles Coverdale,
-afterwards Bishop of Exeter, who revised Tyndale’s version, compared it
-with the original, and supplied what had been left untranslated by
-Tyndale. It was printed at Zurich, and dedicated to King Henry the
-Eighth. This was the Bible, which by Cromwell’s injunction of September,
-1536, _was ordered to be laid in Churches_.
-
-
-
-
- LUXURY OF ANCIENT ROME.
-
-
-The most remote countries of the ancient world were ransacked to supply
-the pomp and delicacy of Rome. The forests of Scythia afforded some
-valuable furs. Amber was brought overland from the shores of the Baltic
-to the Danube; and the Barbarians were astonished at the price which
-they received in exchange for so useless a commodity. Pliny has observed
-with some humour that even fashion had not found out the use of amber.
-Nero sent a Roman knight to purchase great quantities on the spot where
-it was produced. There was a considerable demand for Babylonian carpets
-and other manufactures of the East; but the most important and unpopular
-branch of foreign trade was carried on with Arabia and India. Every year
-about the time of the summer solstice, a fleet of a hundred and twenty
-vessels sailed from Myoshormos, a port of Egypt on the Red Sea. By the
-periodical assistance of the monsoons, they traversed the ocean in about
-forty days. The coast of Malabar, or the island of Ceylon, was the usual
-limit of their navigation, and it was in those markets that the
-merchants from the more remote countries of Asia expected their arrival.
-The return of the fleet of Egypt was fixed to the months of December or
-January; and as soon as their rich cargo had been transported on the
-backs of camels, from the Red Sea to the Nile, and had descended that
-river as far as Alexandria, it was poured without delay, into the
-capital of the empire. The objects of oriental traffic were splendid and
-trifling; silk, a pound of which was esteemed not inferior in value to a
-pound of gold; precious stones, among which the pearl claimed the first
-rank after the diamond: and a variety of aromatics, that were consumed
-in religious worship and the pomp of funerals. The labour and risk of
-the voyage was rewarded with almost incredible profit; but the profit
-was made upon Roman subjects, and a few individuals were enriched at the
-expense of the public. As the natives of Arabia and India were contented
-with the productions and manufactures of their own country, silver, on
-the side of the Romans, was the principal, if not the only instrument of
-commerce. It was a complaint worthy of the gravity of the senate, that
-in the pursuit of female ornaments, the wealth of the state was
-irrecoverably given away to foreign and hostile nations. The annual loss
-is computed by a writer of an inquisitive, but censorious temper, at
-upwards of eight hundred thousand pounds sterling.[7]
-
-Footnote 7:
-
- Pliny, Hist. Nat. xii. 18.
-
-
-
-
- RHYME.
-
-
-Every language has powers, and graces, and music peculiar to itself; and
-what is becoming in one, would be ridiculous in another. Rhyme was
-barbarous in Latin and Greek verse, because these languages by the
-sonorousness of their words, by their liberty of transposition and
-inversion, by their fixed quantities and musical pronunciation, could
-carry on the melody of verse without its aid; and an attempt to
-construct English verses after the form of hexameters, and pentameters,
-and sapphics, is as barbarous among us. It is not true that rhyme is
-merely a monkish invention. On the contrary, it has obtained under
-different forms in the versification of most known nations. It is found
-in the ancient poetry of the northern nations of Europe; it is said to
-be found among the Arabs, the Persians, the Indians, and the Americans.
-This shews that there is something in the return of similar sounds,
-which is grateful to the ears of most part of mankind.
-
-The present form of our English heroic rhyme in couplets, is a modern
-species of versification. The measure generally used in the days of
-queen Elizabeth, king James, and king Charles I. was the stanza of eight
-lines, such as Spenser employs, borrowed from the Italian, a measure
-very constrained and artificial. Waller was the first who brought
-couplets into vogue;[8] and Dryden afterwards established the usage.
-Waller first smoothed our verse; Dryden perfected it. Pope’s
-versification has a peculiar character. It is flowing and smooth in the
-highest degree; far more laboured and correct than that of any who went
-before him. He introduced one considerable change into heroic verse, by
-almost throwing aside the triplets, or three lines rhyming together, in
-which Dryden abounded. Dryden’s versification, however, has very great
-merit; and like all his productions, has much spirit, mixed with
-carelessness. If not so smooth and correct as Pope’s, it is however more
-varied and easy. He subjects himself less to the rule of closing the
-sense with the couplet; and frequently takes the liberty of making his
-couplets run into one another, with somewhat of the freedom of blank
-verse.
-
-Footnote 8:
-
- Shakespeare, occasionally, in his plays, uses couplets.
-
-
-
-
- M. COQUEBERT DE MONTBRET.
-
-
-This gentleman was one of the commercial commissioners from France to
-England during the short peace which took place after the treaty of
-Amiens. In March, 1803, I was in company with M. de Montbret, who
-expressed his dissatisfaction in very angry terms, because he was not
-able to procure specimens of the different clays made use of by Mr.
-Wedgwood in his manufacture of earthen ware in Staffordshire. He urged
-with much vehemence the politeness and attention that were shewn to Mr.
-Thomas Wedgwood in France the preceding summer, when on a visit to that
-country, and who it appeared had made something like a promise that he
-would send to France specimens of the various clays made use of in the
-potteries. In answer to Monsieur de Montbret it was observed, that Mr.
-Thomas Wedgwood had no concern whatever in the potteries, and that his
-brother, Mr. Josiah Wedgwood, who was the proprietor, would never give
-his consent that specimens of the clays should be sent to France, but on
-the contrary always strongly resisted every application for that
-purpose. M. de Montbret replied, that as clay was a natural production,
-if there was not that particular sort in France, it would be impossible
-to form it by any artificial means—besides, he only wished to have those
-things as specimens of English earths, merely with a view of forming a
-collection of the earths and minerals of this country.
-
-
-
-
- DR. THOMAS PIERCE.
-
-
-Dr. Pierce, Dean of Sarum, a perpetual controversialist, and to whom it
-was dangerous to refuse a request, lest it might raise a controversy,
-asked Dr. Ward, bishop of Salisbury, for a Prebend for his son. He was
-refused; and studying revenge, he opened a controversy with the bishop,
-maintaining that the king had the right of bestowing every dignity in
-all the Cathedral Churches of the kingdom, and not the bishops. This
-required a reply from the bishop, who had formerly been an active
-controversialist himself. Dean Pierce renewed his attack with a folio
-volume, entitled “A vindication of the king’s sovereign right, &c.” Thus
-it proceeded, and the web thickened round the bishop in replies and
-rejoinders. It cost him many tedious journeys to London, through bad
-roads, fretting at “the king’s sovereign right” all the way; and in the
-words of a witness, “in unseasonable times and weather, that by degrees
-his spirits were exhausted, his memory quite gone, and he was totally
-unfitted for business.” Such was the fatal disturbance occasioned by
-Dean Pierce’s folio of “The king’s sovereign right.”
-
-
-
-
- WRITING AMONG THE GREEKS.
-
-
-As a proof of the simplicity of the times described by Homer, it is a
-great doubt if his kings and heroes could write or read; at least when
-the Grecian leaders cast lots who should engage Hector in single combat,
-in the seventh Iliad, they only made their marks, for when the lot
-signed by Ajax fell out of the helmet, and was carried round by the
-herald, none of the chiefs knew to whom it belonged till it was brought
-to Ajax himself.
-
-The learned Mr. Wood in his Essay on the original genius and writings of
-Homer, after observing that neither in the Iliad nor Odyssey is there
-any thing that conveys the idea of letters or reading, nor any allusion
-to literal writing, adds, “As to symbolical, hieroglyphical, or
-picture-like description, something of that kind was, no doubt, known to
-Homer, of which the letter (as it is called) which Bellerophon carried
-to the king of Lycia is a proof.” This letter was sent from Prœtus;
-(_Iliad_, vi. line, 168, &c.)
-
- “To Lycia the devoted youth he sent,
- With _marks_, expressive of his dire intent
- GRAV’D on a tablet, that the Prince should die.”
-
-The probability that Homer lived much nearer the times he described than
-is usually supposed, has been shewn by Mr. Mitford (_Hist. of Greece,
-Appx. to ch. 4._) with all the clearness of which so distant an event is
-capable.
-
-To this account of the ignorance of the Greeks in literal writing may be
-added that the Mexicans, though a civilized people, had no alphabet; the
-art of writing was no farther advanced among them than the using of
-figures composed of painted feathers, by which they made a shift to
-communicate some simple thoughts; and in that manner was the Emperor
-Montezuma informed of the landing of the Spaniards in his territories.
-
-
-
-
- ACCOUNT OF THE SCRIPTORIA, OR WRITING ROOMS IN THE MONASTERIES OF
- ENGLAND.
-
-
-It would be in vain to attempt to trace the state of learning among the
-Anglo-Saxons before their conversion to Christianity, sometime after
-which event, schools and seminaries of learning were established in the
-kingdom of Kent, and soon after the year 635, in that of the East
-Angles. Previously to this period of our history, the two principal
-scholars of the Britons were Gildas and Nennius, the first of whom
-flourished towards the latter end of the sixth century, and the latter
-in the beginning of the seventh. To Gildas we owe the first lights which
-are cast upon the troublesome times of the Britons, and of the miseries
-those wretched people suffered by the invasion and conquests of the
-Saxons. He has left a short history of Britain and an epistle, in which
-he heavily accuses the British princes and clergy who were contemporary
-with him.[9]
-
-To Nennius we owe also a short history of the Britons, and their wars
-with the Saxons, but the whole is so concise, and so many miracles are
-crowded into it, that it is no easy matter to separate truth from
-fiction.
-
-Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, who came into Britain at the latter
-end of the seventh century, contributed greatly to the improvement of
-learning. About the same time flourished Aldhelm, a near relation of
-Ina, king of the West Saxons; he was Abbot of Malmesbury, which
-monastery himself had founded, and he was afterwards Bishop of
-Sherborne, where he died in the year 709. Besides other works he left a
-book on the prosody of the Latin tongue in which he was very expert,
-being the first Anglo-Saxon that ever wrote in that language both in
-prose and verse.
-
-On the establishment of Monasteries and Religious Houses in this
-kingdom, there was a room called the _Scriptorium_, allotted in all the
-greater Abbeys, or else some portion of the cloister was appropriately
-fitted up for the same purpose, where their music and missals, the works
-of the fathers and other religious books, the latin classics, and such
-literary works as the monks could obtain, were copied. In the old
-library in Worcester Cathedral, and in the remaining libraries of some
-other Cathedral churches, may still be seen the manner of writing music,
-before the invention of the present notes, and some of the old copies of
-books.
-
-By means of these _Scriptoria_, or writing rooms, the monks compiled and
-preserved, the first annals of Saxon History; without which, however
-strange the composition of some of them may appear at this time, this
-would now have been a land of darkness, as to any account of what passed
-therein, during former ages.
-
-The custom of making this one good use of monasteries and of christian
-societies, was derived from very early days. About the year 220,
-Alexander, bishop of Jerusalem, built a library there, for preserving
-the epistles of learned ecclesiastical persons, written one to another;
-and their commentaries on the holy scriptures. And in what manner Origen
-was aided to write his admirable works, we learn from Eusebius, who
-tells us that he had more than seven notaries appointed for him, who,
-every one in his turn, wrote that which he uttered; and as many more
-scriveners, together with _maidens_, well exercised and practised in
-penmanship, who were to write copies. (_Eccl. Hist. of Eusebius
-Pamphilus, lib. 6. cap. 20 and 21._)
-
-The preservation and progress of science by means of monasteries, is a
-very curious fact, and the precious estimation in which books were held,
-when few could read them, is still more so. Some few learned men existed
-in different parts of Europe throughout those times of darkness and
-ignorance. Our countryman the Venerable Bede was well versed both in
-sacred and profane history, as his numerous works testify.
-
-St. Egbert, Archbishop of York, was a disciple of Venerable Bede; he was
-a man of great learning, and founded a noble library at York about 735,
-which was casually burnt in the reign of king Stephen, with the
-cathedral, the monastery of St. Mary, and several other religious
-houses.
-
-Alcuin, called also Albinus Flaccus, was born in Northumberland; he was
-the disciple of Archbishop Egbert, whom he succeeded in the charge of
-the famous school, which that prelate had opened at York. Alcuin was in
-all respects the most learned man of the age in which he lived; he was
-an orator, historian, poet, mathematician, and divine. The fame of his
-learning induced Charlemagne to invite him to his court; and by his
-assistance that Emperor, founded, enriched, and instructed, the
-universities of Tours and Paris. In 794 Alcuin was one of the fathers of
-the synod of Frankfort, and died at his abbey at Tours, in 804. In his
-epistle to Charlemagne he mentions with great respect his master Egbert,
-and the noble library which he had founded at York. Towards the latter
-end of the same century flourished our great king Alfred, who engaged
-the learned Grimbald, and other foreigners of distinguished abilities in
-his service.
-
-Eadfrid, who was bishop of Lindisfarne in the year 698, was one of the
-most learned men of his time. He translated the gospels into latin,
-which work after his death was highly decorated by his successor with
-gold and jewels. Bilfrid, a hermit, illuminated it with various
-paintings and rich devices; and Adred a priest, interlined it with a
-Saxon version. Before each gospel is prefixed a painting of the
-evangelist who wrote it, and the opposite page is full of beautiful
-ornaments, enriched with various colours; then follows the commencement
-of the gospel, the first page of which is most elaborately ornamented
-with letters of a peculiar form, and very large, which displays at once
-the zeal of the writer, and the taste of the age in which the book was
-written.[10] This curious work is now among the Cottonian manuscripts in
-the British Museum. It was lost in the sea during the removal of the
-body of St. Cuthbert in those troublesome times, about the year 876,
-when the Danes were laying waste the whole country, but it was
-afterwards found washed up on the shore without suffering any injury.
-(_Hutchinson’s History of Durham_, 1. p. 57.) It was under the patronage
-of the same learned prelate Eadfrid, that the Venerable Bede[11] wrote
-the life of St. Cuthbert.
-
-The books which Fergus the second, king of Scotland, who assisted Alaric
-the Goth, had brought with him as a part of the plunder from Rome, had
-been deposited in the monastery in the island of Iona. From thence they
-were, by degrees, copied for the use of other monasteries; and besides
-these, other books were obtained afterwards by means of various journeys
-to Rome. Benedict Biscop, the founder of the monastery of Weremouth, and
-the friend of Archbishop Wilfrid, made no fewer than five journeys to
-Rome to purchase copies of books. These books became deposited in
-various monasteries. Some such were at Canterbury, where also were books
-that had been brought from Rome, both by Augustine and Theodore. And the
-letter of Aldhelm, the very person who founded the monastery of
-Malmesbury, containing an account of his studies, and progress at
-Canterbury by the help of such books, is one of the most curious
-fragments of antiquity. (_Angl. Sacra. tom. 2. p. 6._)
-
-The price of these books was at various times enormous. Aldfred, king of
-Northumberland, gave _eight hides of land_, that is, as much as eight
-ploughs could till, for one volume of cosmography; and on this occasion
-it perhaps ought not to be forgotten, that there is still preserved in
-the library of Hereford cathedral, an ancient map on parchment, for the
-illustration of cosmography as known at the period of its being drawn.
-In the reign of William the Conqueror books were extremely scarce.
-Grace, Countess of Anjou, paid for a collection of homilies, two hundred
-sheep, a quarter of wheat, another of rye, and a third of millet,
-besides a number of martin skins. (_Kaimes’s Sketches_, 1. 136.)
-
-In these conventual _Scriptoria_ were copied the writings of the fathers
-and the abstruse works of the first schoolmen; here also were copied
-little works of genius, sometimes the effusion of fancy and imagination.
-The fables of Æsop were so much in repute, that we are told king Alfred
-himself made a translation of them from the Greek. The fanciful devices
-on the friezes and mouldings of some of our ecclesiastical structures,
-which have an allusion to Æsop’s Fables, had their first origin amongst
-pious and ingenious persons, in the peaceful retirement of their
-conventual retreats. This remark is much confirmed by a curious
-observation which has been lately made, that even many of the fables
-themselves that now pass for Æsop’s, seem to have had their real
-invention and origin in the abodes of the religious. In a very curious
-memoir concerning the works of Mary, an Anglo-Norman poetess, born in
-France, who wrote in the French language in the reign of king Henry the
-third of England, and who among other things translated the fables of
-Æsop, it is made to appear that there were indeed but few of Æsop’s
-original fables in her collection, and even those she had borrowed
-entirely from England, and the greater part, from several allusions in
-them, evidently shew, that they must have been composed in monasteries,
-before her time. (_See Hume’s Hist. of Eng. vol. 1. 4to. p. 68.—King’s
-Munimenta Ant. vol. 4. p. 113.—and Archæologia, vol. 13. p. 36-67._)
-
-It is an interesting circumstance, deserving to be mentioned on this
-occasion, that before the time of Venerable Bede, there lived an
-Anglo-Saxon poet, of the name of _Cædman_, or _Kedman_, of the wondrous
-powers of whose mind Bede speaks in the highest terms, (_Bede’s Eccles.
-Hist. book 4. ch. 24._) and says he sung of the creation of the world,
-of the origin of mankind, and of the whole history of the book of
-Genesis. He died about the year 680, and therefore must have been
-contemporary with Etheldreda, who founded the monastery of Ely. And it
-is a very curious fact, little known, that Lye, the author of the
-Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, translated this poem, and that therein it was
-found had been introduced, almost exactly, the same idea of the fallen
-angels, and even the peculiarity of the nine days falling, and of
-Satan’s assembling his _Thanes_, on their rousing themselves, which was
-afterwards introduced by Milton into his Paradise Lost. This account,
-Mr. King says, he received from Dr. Percy, bishop of Dromore, who had
-several manuscripts of Lye’s bequeathed to him; and who was well
-qualified to investigate such curious matters of ancient literature.
-
-It should not be forgotten with regard to manuscripts, the productions
-of these industrious penmen in their _Scriptoria_, that king Alfred is
-said by the Saxon writers, to have first received his eagerness for
-erudition, in an age when he himself complained of the general ignorance
-even of the clergy, from his mother’s shewing him a book of Saxon poems,
-beautifully written, and illuminated, and promising to give it to which
-ever of her sons should soonest learn to read it.
-
-Until the eleventh century, musical notes were expressed only by letters
-of the alphabet; and till the fourteenth century they were expressed
-only by large lozenge-shaped black dots or points, placed on different
-lines, one above another, and then first named _ut_, _re_, _mi_, _fa_,
-_sol_, _la_, to which _si_ was afterwards added; and they were all
-expressed without any distinction as to length of time; and without any
-such things as breves, semi-breves, minims, crotchets, or quavers, &c.
-The old psalters in many cathedral churches are found thus written; and
-in consequence of this it was, that the _Scriptoria_ in some other
-places, as well as at Gloucester, are found so contrived, as to have
-long ranges of seats, or benches, one beyond another, for the copyists;
-so that a master or person standing at one end, and naming each note, it
-might quickly be copied out by all, naming it in succession from one end
-to the other. Hence the psalters were more easily copied than any other
-books, and it is not a little remarkable that in the library at
-Worcester, there is a copy of St. Matthew’s gospel, set to music
-throughout, with these sort of notes.
-
-In foreign monasteries, the boys and novices were chiefly occupied in
-these labours, but the missals and bibles were ordered to be written by
-monks of mature age and discretion. The _Scriptorium_ of St. Albans’s
-abbey was built by Abbot Paulin, a Norman, who ordered many volumes to
-be written there, about the year 1080. Archbishop Lanfranc furnished the
-copies. Estates were often granted for the support of the _Scriptorium_;
-that at St. Edmundsbury was endowed with two mills, and in the year
-1171, the tithes of a rectory were appropriated to the cathedral convent
-of St. Swithin at Winchester, _ad Libros transcribendos_. Many instances
-of this species of benefaction occur from the tenth century. Nigel, in
-the year 1160, gave the monks of Ely two churches, _ad libros
-faciendos_.
-
-This employment of copying manuscripts appears to have been diligently
-practised at Croyland; for Ingulphus relates, that when the library of
-that convent was burned in the year 1091, seven hundred volumes were
-consumed. Fifty-eight volumes were transcribed at Glastonbury, during
-the government of one abbot, about the year 1300. And in the library of
-this monastery, the richest in England, there were upwards of four
-hundred volumes in the year 1248. More than eighty books were thus
-transcribed for St. Alban’s abbey, by Abbot Whethamstede, who died about
-1400. At the foundation of Winchester college, by William of Wykeham,
-about 1393, one or more transcribers were hired and employed by the
-founder to _make books_ for the library. They transcribed and took their
-commons within the college, as appears by computations of expenses on
-their account now remaining.
-
-In the monastery of Ely, the Precentor, or Chantor, was the chief
-librarian, and had within his Office, the _Scriptorium_, where writers
-were employed in transcribing books for the library, and missals and
-other books used in divine service. This officer furnished the vellum,
-parchment, paper, ink, colours, gums, and other necessaries for limners,
-used in illuminating their books; and leather, and other implements for
-binding, and keeping them in repair.
-
-Some of the Roman classics were copied in the English monasteries at a
-very early period. Henry, a Benedictine monk of Hyde abbey, near
-Winchester, transcribed in the year 1178, Terence, Boethius, Suetonius,
-and Claudian. Of these he formed one volume, illuminating the initials,
-and forming the brazen bosses of the covers with his own hands; but this
-abbot had more devotion than taste, for he exchanged this manuscript a
-few years afterwards for four missals, the legend of St. Christopher,
-and St. Gregory’s PASTORAL CARE, with the Prior of the neighbouring
-cathedral convent. Benedict, abbot of Peterborough, author of the latin
-chronicle of king Henry the second, amongst a great variety of
-scholastic and theological treatises, transcribed Seneca’s epistles and
-tragedies, Terence, Martial, and Claudian, to which may be added GESTA
-ALEXANDRI, about the year 1180.
-
-In a catalogue of the books of the library of Glastonbury, we find Livy,
-Sallust, Seneca, Tully de SENECTUTE and AMICITIA, Virgil, Persius, and
-Claudian, in the year 1248. Among the royal manuscripts of the British
-Museum, is one of the twelve books of Statius’s Thebaid, supposed to
-have been written in the tenth century, which once belonged to the
-cathedral convent of Rochester. And another of Virgil’s Æneid, written
-in the thirteenth, which came from the library of St. Austin’s,
-Canterbury. Wallingford, abbot of St. Alban’s, gave or sold from the
-library of that monastery to Richard de Bury, bishop of Durham, author
-of the “PHILOBIBLION,” and a great collector of books, Terence, Virgil,
-Quintilian, and Jerome against Rufinus, together with thirty-two other
-volumes, valued at fifty pounds of silver. The scarcity of parchment
-undoubtedly prevented the transcription of many other books in these
-societies. About the year 1120, one Master Hugh, being appointed by the
-convent of St. Edmundsbury in Suffolk, to write and illuminate a grand
-copy of the bible for their library, could procure no parchment for this
-purpose in England. It is to this scarcity of parchment that we owe the
-loss and destruction of many valuable manuscripts of the ancients, which
-otherwise might have been preserved to us. The venerable fathers who
-employed themselves in erasing the writing of some of the best works of
-the most eminent Greek or Latin authors for the purpose of transcribing
-upon the obliterated parchment or vellum the lives of saints, or
-legendary tales, possibly mistook these lamentable depredations for
-works of piety. The ancient fragment of the 91st book of Livy,
-discovered by Mr. Burns in the Vatican, in 1772, was found to be much
-defaced in this respect by the pious labours of some well-intentioned
-monk.
-
-The monks of Durham having begun to build a college for their novices at
-Oxford, about the year 1290, Richard de Bury, bishop of Durham, not only
-assisted, but also partly endowed it. At his decease, in 1345, he left
-to this college, then called Durham, and since Trinity, college, all his
-books, which were more in number than all the bishops in England then
-possessed, in order that the students of that college, and of the
-University, might, under certain conditions make use of them. After the
-college came into possession of these books, they were, for many years,
-kept in chests, under the custody of several scholars deputed for that
-purpose, and a library being built in the reign of king Henry the
-fourth, these books were put into pews or studies, and chained to them.
-They continued in this manner till the college was dissolved by king
-Henry the eighth, when they were conveyed away, some to Duke Humphrey’s
-library, where they remained till the reign of king Edward the sixth,
-and others to the library of Baliol college. Some which remained came
-into the hands of Dr. George Owen, a physician of Godstow, who purchased
-Trinity college of Edward the sixth.
-
-The bishop of Durham wrote a treatise containing rules for the
-management of the library above-mentioned, describing how the books were
-to be preserved, and upon what conditions they were to be lent out to
-scholars, and appointed five keepers, to whom he granted yearly
-salaries. This treatise he called “_Philobiblion_,” from whence he
-himself came to be called by the same name, “a lover of books,” and this
-very justly, if, as he says himself in the preface to it, his love of
-them was so violent that it put him into a kind of rapture, and made him
-neglect all his other affairs. He finished it at Auckland, the 24th of
-January, 1345, being then just 63 years of age. It was printed at Spires
-in 1483; at Paris, by Badius Ascensius, in 1500; by the learned Thomas
-James, at Oxford, in 1599, in quarto; and at Leipsic, in 1674, at the
-end of _Philologicarum Epistolarum Centuria una, ex Bibliotheca Melch.
-Hamingfeldii_. It appears also in manuscript in the Cottonian library,
-in the royal library, and in other libraries in Oxford and Cambridge.
-
-The “_Philobiblion_,” is written in very indifferent Latin, and in a
-declamatory style. It is divided into twenty chapters. In chapter 1. the
-author praises wisdom, and books in which it is contained. 2. That books
-are to be preferred to riches and pleasure. 3. That they ought to be
-always bought. 4. How much good arises from books, and that they are
-misused only by ignorant people. 5. That good monks write books, but the
-bad ones are otherwise employed. 6. The praise of the ancient begging
-friars, with a reproof of the modern ones. 7. He bewails the loss of
-books by fire and wars. 8. He shews what fine opportunities he had had
-of collecting books, whilst he was chancellor and treasurer, as well as
-during his embassies. 9. That the ancients outdid the moderns in hard
-studying. 10. That learning is by degrees arrived at perfection, and
-that he had procured a Greek and Hebrew grammar. 11. That the law and
-law books are not properly learning. 12. The usefulness and necessity of
-grammar. 13. An apology for poetry, and the usefulness of it. 14. Who
-ought to love books. 15. The manifold advantages of learning. 16. Of
-writing new books and mending the old. 17. Of using books well, and how
-to place them. 18. An answer to his calumniators. 19. Upon what
-conditions books are to be lent to strangers. 20. Conclusion.
-
-In the “_Philobiblion_” the bishop apologizes for admitting the poets
-into his collection; _quare non negleximus Fabulas Poetarum_. But he is
-more complaisant to the prejudices of his age, where he says, that the
-laity are unworthy to be admitted to any commerce with books: _Laici
-omnium librorum communione sunt indigni_. He prefers books of the
-liberal arts to treatises of the law. He laments that good literature
-had entirely ceased in the university of Paris. He admits _Panfletos
-exiguos_ into his library. He employed _Stationarios_ and _Librarios_,
-not only in England, but in France, Italy, and Germany. He regrets the
-total ignorance of the greek language; but adds that he has provided for
-the students of his library both Greek and Hebrew grammars. He calls
-Paris the “paradise of the world,” and says that he purchased there a
-variety of invaluable volumes in all sciences, which yet were neglected
-and perishing. While he was Chancellor and Treasurer of England, instead
-of the usual presents and new year’s gifts appendant to his office, he
-chose to receive those perquisites in books. By the favour of king
-Edward the third, he gained access to the libraries of the principal
-monasteries, where he shook off the dust from various volumes preserved
-in chests and presses, which had not been opened for many ages.
-
-There were several collections of manuscripts in England before the
-general restoration of science in Europe, which had at different times
-been brought hither by those who had travelled into foreign countries;
-these were chiefly preserved in the two Universities, in the cathedral
-churches, and in religious houses, but in the fifteenth and sixteenth
-century several valuable libraries were formed in England.
-
-In the reign of king Henry the sixth, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester,
-fourth and youngest son of king Henry the fourth, was a singular
-promoter of literature, just at the dawning of science and learning.
-However unqualified this eminent personage was for political intrigue,
-and to contend with his malicious and powerful enemies, among whom the
-Cardinal Beaufort was the principal, he was nevertheless the common
-friend and patron of all the scholars of his time. A sketch of his
-character and pursuits, as being closely connected with the progress of
-English literature, cannot fail of proving interesting, more especially
-as they are peculiarly associated with the subject of the present
-inquiry.
-
-About the year 1440, the Duke gave to the University of Oxford a
-library, containing six hundred volumes, one hundred and twenty only of
-which were valued at more than one thousand pounds of the money of that
-day. These books, it need not be observed, were all in manuscript, the
-art of printing not having then been discovered; they are called _Novi
-Tractatus_, or New Treatises, in the University Register, and are said
-to be _admirandi apparatus_. They were the most splendid and costly
-copies that could be procured, finely written on vellum, and elegantly
-embellished with miniatures and illuminations. Among the rest was a
-translation into French of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Only a single specimen
-of these valuable volumes was suffered to remain; it is a beautiful
-manuscript, in folio, of Valerius Maximus, enriched with the most
-elegant decorations, and written in Duke Humphrey’s age, evidently with
-a design of being placed in this sumptuous collection. All the rest of
-the books, which, like this, being highly ornamented, looked like
-missals, were destroyed or removed by the pious visitors of the
-University, in the reign of king Edward the sixth, whose zeal was
-equalled only by their ignorance, or perhaps by their avarice. A great
-number of classics, in this grand work of reformation, were condemned as
-anti-christian, and some of the books, in this library, had even been
-before this, either stolen or mutilated. In the library of Oriel
-College, at Oxford, we find a manuscript _Commentary on Genesis_,
-written by John Capgrave, a monk, belonging to the monastery of St.
-Austin, at Canterbury, a learned theologist of the fifteenth century. In
-it is the author’s autograph, and the work is dedicated to Humphrey,
-Duke of Gloucester. In the superb initial letter of the dedicatory
-epistle, is a curious illumination of the author Capgrave, humbly
-presenting his book to his patron, the Duke, who is seated, and covered
-with a sort of hat. At the end of the volume is this entry, in the
-hand-writing of Duke Humphrey “C’est Livre est a moy Humfrey, Duc de
-Gloucestre, du don de Frere Jehan Capgrave, quy le me fist presenter a
-mon manoyr de Pensherst le jour ... de l’an MCCCCXXXVIII.” This is one
-of the books which Humphrey gave to his new library at Oxford, destroyed
-or dispersed by the active reformers of the young Edward. He also gave
-to the same library Capgrave _Super Exodum et Regum Libros_.
-
-John Whethamstede, a learned abbot of St. Alban’s, and a lover of
-scholars, but accused by his monks of neglecting their affairs, while he
-was too deeply engaged in studious employments, and in procuring
-transcripts of useful books, notwithstanding his unwearied assiduity in
-beautifying and enriching their monastery, was in high favour with this
-munificent prince. The Duke was fond of visiting this monastery, and
-employed Abbot Whethamstede to collect valuable books for him. Some of
-Whethamstede’s tracts, manuscript copies of which often occur in our
-libraries, are dedicated to the Duke, who presented many of them,
-particularly a fine copy of Whethamstede’s _Granarium_, an immense work,
-which Leland calls _ingens volumen_ to the new library. The copy of
-Valerius Maximus, mentioned before, has a curious table or index, made
-by Whethamstede. Many other Abbots paid their court to the Duke, by
-sending him presents of books, the margins of which were adorned with
-the most exquisite paintings.
-
-Gilbert Kymer, physician to king Henry the sixth, and holding, among
-other ecclesiastical preferments, the Deanery of Salisbury and
-Chancellorship of the University of Oxford; the latter dignity by the
-recommendatory letters of the Duke, inscribed to the Duke of Gloucester
-his famous medical system—_Diætarium de Sanitatis Custodia_—in the year
-1424.
-
-Lydgate,[12] one of the early English poets, translated Boccacio’s book,
-_De Casibus Virorum illustrium_, at the recommendation and command, and
-under the protection and superintendance, of Duke Humphrey, whose
-condescension in conversing with learned ecclesiastics, and diligence in
-study, the translator displays at large, and in the strongest
-expressions of panegyric. He compares the Duke to Julius Cæsar, who,
-amidst the weightier cares of state, was not ashamed to enter the
-rhetorical school of Cicero at Rome. Nor was his patronage confined only
-to English scholars. His favour was solicited by the most celebrated
-writers of France and Italy, many of whom he bountifully rewarded.
-Leonard Aretin,[13] one of the first restorers of the Greek tongue in
-Italy, (which language he learned of Emanuel Chrysoloras,[14]) and of
-polite literature in general, dedicates to this universal patron his
-elegant Latin translation of Aristotle’s _Politics_. The copy presented
-to the Duke by the translator, most elegantly illuminated, is now in the
-Bodleian library.
-
-To the same noble encourager of learning, Petrus Candidus, the friend of
-Laurentius Valla,[15] and secretary to the great Cosmo, Duke of Milan,
-inscribed by the advice of the Archbishop of Milan, a Latin version of
-Plato’s _Republic_. An illuminated manuscript of this translation is in
-the British Museum, perhaps the copy presented, with two epistles from
-the Duke to Petrus Candidus.
-
-Petrus de Monte, another learned Italian of Venice, in the dedication of
-his treatise—_De Virtutum et Vitiorum differentia_—to the Duke of
-Gloucester, mentions the latter’s ardent attachment to books of all
-kinds, and the singular avidity with which he pursued every species of
-literature.
-
-A tract entitled _Comparatio Studiorum et Rei Militaris_, written by
-Lopus de Castellione, a Florentine civilian, and a great translator into
-Latin of the Greek classics, is also inscribed to the Duke at the desire
-of Zeno, archbishop of Bayeux. It must not be forgotten that our
-illustrious Duke invited into England the learned Tito Livio of
-Foro-Juli, whom he naturalized and constituted his poet and orator. He
-also retained learned foreigners in his service, for the purpose of
-transcribing, and of translating from Greek into Latin. One of these was
-Antonio de Beccaria, a Veronese, who translated into Latin prose the
-Greek poem of _Dionysius Afer de Situ Orbis_; whom the Duke also
-employed to translate into Latin six tracts of Athanasius. This
-translation, inscribed to the Duke, is now among the royal manuscripts
-in the British Museum, and at the end, in his own hand-writing, is the
-following insertion:—“C’est Livre est a moi Homphrey Duc le Gloucestre:
-le quel je fis translater de grec en latin par un de mes secretaires
-Antoyne de Beccara ne de Verone.”
-
-An astronomical tract, entitled, by Leland, _Fabulæ Directionum_, is
-erroneously supposed to have been written by Duke Humphrey. But it was
-compiled at the Duke’s instance, and according to tables which he had
-himself constructed, called by the anonymous author in his preface,
-_Tabulas illustrissimi principis et nobilissimi Domini mei, Humfredi,
-&c._ In the library of Gresham College, however, there is a scheme of
-calculations in astronomy, which bears his name. Astronomy was then a
-favourite science; nor is it to be doubted that he was intimately
-acquainted with the politer branches of knowledge which now began to
-acquire estimation, and which his liberal and judicious attention
-greatly contributed to restore.
-
- * * * * *
-
-King Edward the fourth and Henry the seventh greatly assisted the cause
-of learning, by the encouragement they gave to the art of printing in
-England, and by purchasing such books as were printed in other
-countries. William Warham, archbishop of Canterbury, purchased many
-valuable Greek manuscripts which had been brought hither by the prelates
-and others after the taking of Constantinople by the Turks.
-
-King Henry the eighth may justly be called the founder of the royal
-library, which was enriched with the manuscripts selected from the
-_scriptoria_ and libraries of the principal monasteries, by that
-indefatigable antiquary John Leland.
-
-Matthew Parker, archbishop of Canterbury, enriched the library of the
-college of Corpus Christi, with a great number of ancient and curious
-manuscripts.
-
-In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Thomas Bodley greatly increased the
-public library at Oxford, which is now called by his name. This great
-benefactor to the literature of his country, quitted the court, and
-applied himself wholly to the purchasing of books and manuscripts both
-at home and abroad. By these means he had the satisfaction of furnishing
-that library with 1294 manuscripts, which by the subsequent liberality
-of many great and illustrious persons, has been since increased to more
-than eight thousand volumes, including the manuscripts given by Tanner,
-Bishop of Norwich, and the valuable library bequeathed by the will of
-Dr. Richard Rawlinson.
-
-Considerable augmentations were made to the libraries of the several
-colleges in the two universities, as also to those of our cathedral
-churches, the palace at Lambeth, the Inns of Court, the College of Arms,
-and others; catalogues of which were published at Oxford in 1697 under
-the title of _Catalogus Manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ_.
-
-Bodley’s great contemporary, Sir Robert Cotton, is also entitled to the
-gratitude of posterity for his diligence in collecting the Cottonian
-library; he was engaged in the pursuit of manuscripts and records
-upwards of forty years, during which time he spared neither trouble nor
-expense.
-
-The noble manuscript library founded by Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford,
-and greatly enriched by his son Edward, who inherited his father’s love
-of science, claims a distinguished place in every account which may be
-given of the literary treasures of antiquity in general, and of this
-country in particular. Posterity will ever be indebted to her grace the
-Duchess Dowager of Portland, for securing this inestimable treasure of
-learning to the public, by authority of Parliament, under the
-guardianship of the most distinguished persons of the realm, both for
-rank and abilities, whose excellent regulations have made this library,
-as also the Royal, Cottonian, Sloanian, and others, now deposited in the
-British Museum, easy of access, and consequently of real use to the
-philosopher, the statesman, the historian, the scholar, and the
-artist.[16]
-
-Footnote 9:
-
- Gildas, called _Badonicus_, because said to be born at Bath, was, for
- his singular prudence and the severity of his morals, surnamed the
- WISE; he was a monk of Bangor, and his “Description of the state of
- Britain,” above alluded to, is the only one of his writings extant, as
- we are assured by Archbishop Usher. Gildas wrote this work in Latin,
- in a style, according to that age, harsh and perplexed enough. The
- first printed edition of it was published by Polydore Virgil, in
- octavo, London, 1525, and dedicated to Cuthbert Tunstal, Bishop of
- Durham, which, however, was from an incorrect copy. It was reprinted
- at Basil, in 12mo, in 1541; and at London, 1548, though Bishop
- Nicolson says 1568. It was again printed at London, in 12mo, in 1638,
- translated by Thomas Habingdon, of Henlip, in Worcestershire. John
- Josseline, secretary to Archbishop Parker, reprinted Gildas more
- correctly from two new manuscripts, Basil, 1568, 12mo; and Paris 1576;
- but these are little more perfect than the first.—The latest and best
- copy of Gildas is in Dr. Gale’s collection of Ancient English
- Historians, 2 vols. folio, Oxford, 1687 and 1691; who had the
- advantage of a more ancient and better copy, as Bishop Nicolson
- observes. Besides Habingdons’s translation above mentioned, there was
- another printed during the Cromwell rebellion, in 1652, for the mere
- purpose, it has been said, of retailing Gildas’s sharp reproofs of
- Kings and Priests.—For an account of this edition, see Oldys’s British
- Librarian, and Savage’s Librarian, vol. 1. p. 117.
-
-Footnote 10:
-
- Strutt, in his “Chronicle of England” has given a plate representing a
- page of this manuscript, and in Astle’s “History of Writing,” there is
- a plate of the same page, coloured, in imitation of the original.
-
-Footnote 11:
-
- Bede, commonly called the Venerable Bede, was the most learned man of
- the age in which he lived; he was born at Weremouth, in
- Northumberland, in the year 672. Both ancient and modern authors have
- bestowed the highest encomiums upon the learning of this extraordinary
- man. His works are many, making eight large volumes, in folio, the
- principal of which is his Ecclesiastical History of the Anglo-Saxons,
- consisting of five books, from whence the more perfect part of our
- early history is formed; his other works are the Lives of Saints,
- Treatises on the Holy Scriptures, and Philosophical Tracts. This great
- man died at his cell at Jarrow, in the year 735, aged 63.
-
-Footnote 12:
-
- Lydgate was commonly called the Monk of Bury, because born at that
- place, about the year 1380. After some time spent in the English
- Universities, he travelled through France and Italy, in which
- countries he greatly improved himself. In addition to his poetical
- talents, he is described as being an eloquent rhetorician, an expert
- mathematician, an acute philosopher, and no mean divine. He is said to
- have been so much admired by his contemporaries, that they said of
- him, that his wit was fashioned by the Muses themselves. After his
- return from France and Italy, he became tutor to the sons of several
- of the nobility, and for his excellent endowments, was much esteemed
- and reverenced by them. He wrote a poem, called _The Life and Death of
- Hector_, some satires, eulogies, and odes, and other learned works in
- prose. He died in 1440, aged sixty, and was buried in his own convent
- at Bury. Lydgate is said to have been a disciple of Chaucer.
-
-Footnote 13:
-
- Leonard Aretin, the disciple of Chrysoloras, was a linguist, an
- orator, and an historian; the secretary of four successive Popes; and
- Chancellor of the Republic of Florence, where he died in 1444, aged
- seventy-five. He added a Supplement to Livy on the Punic War, and
- wrote the History of Italy, with other valuable works.
-
-Footnote 14:
-
- Emanuel Chrysoloras was one of the envoys sent by the Greek Emperor
- Manuel, at the end of the fourteenth century, to implore the
- compassion of the Western Princes. He was not only conspicuous for the
- nobleness of his birth but also for the extent of his learning. After
- visiting the courts of France and England, in furtherance of his
- mission, he was invited to assume the office of a Professor, and
- Florence had the honour of this invitation, as it had had a few years
- previously that of the first Greek Professor Leo Pilatus, whose mind
- was stored with a treasure of Greek learning, with whom history and
- fable, philosophy and grammar, were alike familiar, and who first read
- the Poems of Homer in the Schools of Florence. Chrysoloras may be
- considered as the founder of the Greek language in Italy, and his
- knowledge not only of the Greek, but of the Latin tongue, surpassed
- the expectation of the Florentine republic. At the same time and
- place, the Latin classics were explained by John of Ravenna, the
- domestic pupil of the celebrated Petrarch. The Italians, who
- illustrated their age and country, were formed in this double school,
- and Florence became the fruitful seminary of Greek and Roman
- erudition. Chrysoloras was recalled by the Emperor from the college to
- the court, but he afterwards taught at Pavia and Rome with equal
- industry and applause. He died at Constance on a public mission from
- the Emperor to the council. _Gibbon’s Hist._ vol. 12. p. 126.
-
-Footnote 15:
-
- Laurentius Valla, was a native of Placenza, where he was born in 1415;
- he revived the Latin language from gothic barbarity, but he was a
- rigorous critic. He fell under the displeasure of the Church of Rome,
- for the freedom with which he hazarded his opinions respecting some of
- its doctrines, and he was condemned to be burnt, but was saved by
- Alphonsus, king of Naples. Pope Nicholas the fifth, who was himself
- one of the greatest encouragers of learning of his time, and who
- highly respected the talents of Valla, invited him to Rome, and gave
- him a pension.—This Pope, whose pursuits were in direct association
- with our present subject, from a plebeian origin, raised himself by
- his virtue and his learning to the highest honours of the Church. The
- character of the man prevailed over the interest of the Pontiff, and
- he sharpened those weapons which were soon pointed against the
- religion of Rome. He had been the friend of the most eminent scholars
- of the age, and after his elevation to the chair of St. Peter, he
- became their patron. Under Pope Nicholas, the influence of the Holy
- See pervaded Christendom, and he exerted that influence in the search,
- not of benefices, but of books. From the ruins of the Byzantine
- libraries, from the darkest monasteries of Germany and Britain, he
- collected the dusty manuscripts of the writers of antiquity; and
- whenever the original could not be removed, a faithful copy was
- transcribed and transmitted for his use. The Vatican was daily
- replenished with precious furniture, and such was his industry, that
- in a reign of eight years, he formed a library of five thousand
- volumes. To his munificence the Latin world was indebted for the
- versions of Xenophon, Diodorus, Polybius, Thucydides, Herodotus, and
- Appian; of Strabo’s Geography, of the Iliad, of the more valuable
- works of Plato and Aristotle, of Ptolemy, and Theophrastus, and of the
- Fathers of the Greek Church.
-
-Footnote 16:
-
- For an account of the following Manuscript Libraries in England, see
- Savage’s Librarian, 3 vols. London, 1808-1810—namely, that of the
- British Museum, in vol. 1. p. 26; of the Royal Society, p. 71; of the
- Heralds Office, p. 73; of the Society of Antiquaries, p. 129; of the
- Archbishop of Canterbury’s at Lambeth Palace, p. 133; of Lincoln’s
- Inn, p. 183, 225; of the Middle Temple, p. 273; of the Inner Temple,
- vol. 2. p. 131; of the Lansdown Collection of Manuscripts, vol. 1. p.
- 34, and vol. 3. p. 27, and of the Cottonian Manuscripts, vol. 3. p.
- 31.
-
- The curious reader who is interested in the history of the public
- records of his country, will find in the same volumes, the Report of
- the Committee of the House of Commons on the State of the Records, in
- vol. 1. p. 17, &c.—an account of the Records in the Tower of London,
- vol. 2. p. 34, &c. of those in the Rolls Chapel, ibid. p. 185, &c. and
- of those in the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey, vol. 3. p. 41, &c.
-
-
-
-
- TORTURE IN ENGLAND.[17]
-
-
-In the reign of King Henry the Sixth, the RACK or BRAKE, was placed in
-the Tower of London, by the Duke of Exeter, when he and the Earl of
-Suffolk had formed the design of introducing the Civil Law into England.
-It was called “Exeter’s daughter,” and remained afterwards in the Tower,
-“where it was occasionally used as an _Engine of State_, more than once
-in the _reign of Elizabeth_.”
-
-Though the use of the Rack does not appear to have been known in this
-country until the 26th year of Henry the Sixth, and though it was never
-authorized by the law, yet to borrow the expression of Mr. Justice
-Blackstone, it was occasionally used as an “Engine of State,” to extort
-confession from State Prisoners confined in the Tower, from the time of
-its introduction, until finally laid aside in consequence of the
-decision of the judges in Felton’s case. One Hawkins was tortured[18] in
-the reign of Henry the Sixth; and the case of Anne Askew,[19] in that of
-Henry the Eighth,[20] cannot escape the recollection of every reader of
-English history. The Lord Chancellor Wriothesely (I blush for the honour
-and humanity of an English Judge while I write his name) went to the
-Tower to take her examination, and upon the Lieutenant’s refusing to
-draw the cords tighter, _drew them himself_ till every limb was
-dislocated, and her body nearly torn asunder. In Mary’s reign several
-persons were racked in order to extort confessions, which was upon
-account of Sir Thomas Wyat’s rebellion. And Barrington mentions that in
-Oldmixon’s History of England (p. 284,) one Simpson is said to have been
-tortured in 1558, and a confession extorted.
-
-In the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth,[21] the Rack was used upon
-offenders against the State, and among others, upon Francis Throgmorton;
-in 1571, upon Charles Baillie an attendant upon the Bishop of Ross,
-Mary’s ambassador, and upon Banastre, one of the Duke of Norfolk’s
-servants; and Barker, another of his servants was brought to confess by
-extreme fear of it. In 1581, Campion, the Jesuit, was put upon the
-rack,[22] and in 1585, Thomas Morgan writes to the Queen of Scots, that
-he has heard D. Atslow was racked in the Tower, twice about the Earl of
-Arundel. This is the last instance of the actual application of torture
-to extort confession.
-
-For the greater part of this reign the application of torture in the
-examination of State offenders seems to have been in common use, and its
-legality not disputed. Mr. Daines Barrington says,[23] that among the
-manuscript papers of Lord Ellesmere, is a copy of instructions to him,
-as Lord President of the Marches, to use the torture on the taking of
-some examinations at Ludlow; and Sir Edward Coke himself,[24] in the
-year 1600, (the 43d of Elizabeth’s reign) then being Attorney General,
-at the trials of the Earls of Essex and Southampton, boasted of the
-clemency of the Queen, because, though the rebellious attempts were so
-exceedingly heinous, yet out of her princely mercy “no person was
-racked, tortured, or pressed to speak any thing further than of their
-own accord.” And in the Countess of Shrewsbury’s case (10 James 1st)
-when Sir Edward was Chief Justice, in enumerating the privileges of the
-nobility, he mentions as one, that their bodies were not subject to
-torture _in causa criminis læsæ majestatis_. Barrington justly
-observes[25] there was a regular establishment for torture, for at his
-trial,[26] in the first year of James the first, Sir Walter Raleigh
-stated that Kemish had been threatened with the rack, and the keeper of
-the instrument sent for. Sir William Wade, who, with the Solicitor
-General had taken his examination, denied it, but admitted they had told
-him he deserved it, and Lord Howard declared, “Kemish was never on the
-rack, _the king gave charge that no rigour should be used_.”
-
-Barrington mentions[27] that Sir John Hayward, the historian, was
-threatened with the rack, which Dr. Granger confirms; and the former
-also remarks that it is stated in King James’s works, that the rack was
-shewn to Guy Faukes when under examination.
-
-Down to this period we do not find the legality of the practice
-questioned, though it has been said by high authority, as will be stated
-presently, that some doubts had been suggested to Queen Elizabeth. State
-Prisoners were confined usually in the Tower, and commissioners,
-attended by the law officers of the crown, were sent to examine them,
-who applied the rack at their own discretion, or according to the order
-of the privy council, or the king’s, without any objection being made to
-their authority.
-
-In the third year of King Charles the first, Felton was threatened with
-the rack by the Earl of Dorset in the Tower, and Laud, then bishop of
-London, repeated the threats in council, but the king insisted upon the
-judges being consulted as to the legality of the application, and they
-being unanimously of opinion that it was illegal, it was never attempted
-afterwards. The answer which Felton made to Laud’s threats, is well
-worthy of attention; when Laud told him “if he would not confess he must
-go to the rack,” he replied “if it must be so, he could not tell whom he
-might nominate in the extremity of torture, and if what he should say
-then was to go for truth, he could not tell whether his Lordship
-(meaning the bishop of London) or which of their Lordships he might
-name, for torture might draw unexpected things from him.”
-
-In the year 1680 (32 Charles 2d) Elizabeth Collier was tried at the Old
-Bailey,[28] before Mr. Baron Weston, for the publication of a libel, in
-which many circumstances were related for the purpose of inducing a
-belief that Prance, when a prisoner in Newgate, had been tortured there,
-and he was produced to prove the falsehood of the publication. The
-learned judge in summing up the evidence to the jury said, “But you must
-first know the laws of the land do not admit a torture, and since Queen
-Elizabeth’s time there hath been nothing of that kind ever done. The
-truth is indeed, in the twentieth year of her reign, Campion was just
-stretched upon the rack, but yet not so but he could walk; but when she
-was told it was against the law of the land to have any of her subjects
-racked (though that was an extraordinary case, a world of seminaries
-being sent over to contrive her death, and she lived in continual
-danger) yet it was never done after to any one, neither in her reign,
-who reigned twenty-five years, nor in king James’s reign, who reigned
-twenty-two years after, nor in king Charles the first’s reign, who
-reigned twenty-four years after; and GOD in Heaven knows there hath been
-no such thing offered in this king’s reign; for I think we may say we
-have lived under as lawful and merciful a government as any people
-whatsoever, and have as little blood shed, and sanguinary executions as
-any nation under heaven.”
-
-The learned judge may have been mistaken when stating Campion to be the
-last person racked, for in Murden’s state papers, one Atslow, as before
-observed, is mentioned to have been tortured four years afterwards. Mr.
-Baron Weston states that upon a suggestion made to Queen Elizabeth of
-the illegality of the practice, it was discontinued in her reign, and
-thus we may account for Campion being racked with so little severity, as
-to be able to walk afterwards, and to manage the conferences with
-protestant doctors during his confinement in prison.
-
-In the Jurisprudence of the Romans the deceitful and dangerous
-experiment of the criminal _quæstion_, as it is emphatically styled, was
-admitted, rather than approved. The Roman government applied this
-sanguinary mode of examination only to servile bodies, whose sufferings
-were seldom weighed by those haughty Republicans in the scale of justice
-or humanity; but they would never consent to violate the sacred person
-of a citizen, till they possessed the clearest evidence of his
-guilt.[29] The annals of tyranny, from the reign of Tiberius to that of
-Domitian, circumstantially relate the executions of many innocent
-victims; but as long as the faintest remembrance was kept alive of the
-national freedom and honour, the last hours of a Roman were secure from
-the danger of ignominious torture. The conduct of the provincial
-magistrates was not, however, regulated by the practice of the city, or
-the strict maxims of the Civilians. They found the use of torture
-established not only among the slaves of oriental despotism, but among
-the Macedonians, who obeyed a limited monarch; among the Rhodians, who
-flourished by the liberty of commerce; and even among the sage
-Athenians, who had asserted and adorned the dignity of human nature.[30]
-The acquiescence of the people in the provinces encouraged their
-governors to acquire or perhaps to usurp, a discretionary power of
-employing the Rack, to extort from vagrants or plebeian criminals the
-confession of their guilt, till they insensibly proceeded to confound
-the distinctions of rank, and to disregard the privileges of Roman
-citizens. The apprehensions of the subjects urged them to solicit, and
-the interest of the Sovereign engaged him to grant, a variety of special
-exemptions, which tacitly allowed, and even authorized, the general use
-of torture. They protected all persons of illustrious or honourable
-rank, bishops and their presbyters, professors of the liberal arts,
-soldiers and their families, municipal officers, and their posterity to
-the third generation, and all children under the age of puberty. But a
-fatal maxim was introduced into the new jurisprudence of the Empire,
-that in the case of treason, which included every offence that the
-subtlety of lawyers could derive from an _hostile intention_ towards the
-prince or republic, all privileges were suspended and all conditions
-were reduced to the same ignominious level. As the safety of the Emperor
-was avowedly preferred to every consideration of justice or humanity,
-the dignity of age, and the tenderness of youth were alike exposed to
-the most cruel tortures; and the terrors of a malicious information,
-which might select them as the accomplices, or even as the witnesses,
-perhaps, of an imaginary crime, perpetually hung over the heads of the
-principal citizens of the Roman world.[31]
-
-Footnote 17:
-
- _Vide_ Serjeant Heywood’s Vindication of Mr. Fox’s History of James
- the Second, p. 397.
-
-Footnote 18:
-
- Fuller’s Worthies, p. 317.
-
-Footnote 19:
-
- There is a small book, printed in black letter, containing an account
- of the treatment and trial of Anne Askew, which contains many curious
- particulars.—She was the daughter of Sir William Askew, of Kelsay, in
- the county of Lincoln, where she was born about 1520. She had a
- learned education, and while young was married to a person of the name
- of Kyme, much against her inclination. On account of some harsh
- treatment from her husband, she went to the Court of Henry the Eighth
- to sue for a separation, where she was greatly taken notice of by
- those ladies who were attached to the Reformation; in consequence of
- which, she was arrested, and having confessed her religious
- principles, was committed to Newgate. She was first racked with savage
- cruelty in the Tower, and then burnt in Smithfield, in 1546, in
- company with her tutor, and two other persons of the same faith. From
- her letters and other pieces in Fox and Strype, it appears she was an
- accomplished, as well as a pious, woman.
-
-Footnote 20:
-
- Burnet’s Reformation, vol. 1. p. 325; vol. 2. p. 382.
-
-Footnote 21:
-
- Collier’s Eccl. Hist. vol. 2. p. 591.—Murden’s State Papers, p. 9,
- 101.
-
-Footnote 22:
-
- Collier’s Eccl. Hist. vol. 2. p. 139.—Murden’s State Papers, p. 452.
-
-Footnote 23:
-
- Observations on Ancient Statutes, p. 496, _note_.
-
-Footnote 24:
-
- State Trials, vol. 1. p. 199.
-
-Footnote 25:
-
- Observations on Statutes, p. 495.
-
-Footnote 26:
-
- State Trials, vol. 1. p. 221.
-
-Footnote 27:
-
- Observations on Statutes, p. 92.
-
-Footnote 28:
-
- State Trials, vol. 3. p. 99.
-
-Footnote 29:
-
- The Pandects (1. xlviii. tit. xviii.) contain the sentiments of the
- most celebrated civilians on the subject of torture. They strictly
- confine it to slaves.
-
-Footnote 30:
-
- The Citizens of Athens could not be put to the rack, unless it was for
- high treason. The torture was used within thirty days after
- condemnation. There was no preparatory torture. In regard to the
- Romans, the third and fourth law _de Majestate_, by Julius Cæsar,
- shews that birth, dignity, and the military profession exempted people
- from the rack, except in cases of high treason.—_Montesquieu’s Spirit
- of Laws_, vol. 1. p. 132.
-
-Footnote 31:
-
- Archadius Charisius is the oldest lawyer quoted in the Pandects to
- justify the universal practice of torture in all cases of treason; but
- this maxim of tyranny, which is admitted by Ammianus with the most
- respectful terror, is enforced by several laws of the successors of
- Constantine.—_Gibbon’s Rom. Hist._ vol. 3. p. 81.
-
-
-
-
- DR. JOHNSON’S CONVERSATION WITH THE LATE KING.
-
-
-In February, 1767, there happened one of the most remarkable incidents
-of Johnson’s life, which gratified his monarchical enthusiasm, and which
-he loved to relate with all its circumstances, when requested by his
-friends. This was his being honoured by a private conversation with his
-late Majesty, in the Library at the Queen’s house. He had frequently
-visited those splendid rooms, and noble collection of books, which he
-used to say was more numerous and curious than he supposed any person
-could have made in the time which the king had employed. Mr. Barnard the
-Librarian, took care that he should have every accommodation that could
-contribute to his ease and convenience, while indulging his literary
-taste in that place, so that he had here a very agreeable resource at
-leisure hours.
-
-His Majesty having been informed of his occasional visits, was pleased
-to signify a desire that he should be told when Dr. Johnson came next to
-the library. Accordingly the next time that Johnson did come, as soon as
-he was fairly engaged with a book, on which, while he sat by the fire he
-seemed quite intent, Mr. Barnard stole round to the apartment where the
-king was, and, in obedience to his Majesty’s commands, mentioned that
-Dr. Johnson was then in the library. His Majesty said he was at leisure
-and would go to him; upon which Mr. Barnard took one of the candles that
-stood on the king’s table, and lighted his Majesty through a suite of
-rooms till they came to a private door into the library, of which his
-Majesty had the key. Being entered, Mr. Barnard stepped forward hastily
-to Dr. Johnson, who was still in a profound study, and whispered him,
-“Sir, here is the king.” Johnson started up, and stood still. His
-Majesty approached him, and at once was courteously easy.
-
-His Majesty began by observing, that he understood he came sometimes to
-the library; and then mentioned his having heard that the Doctor had
-been lately at Oxford, asked him if he was not fond of going thither. To
-which Johnson answered, that he was indeed fond of going to Oxford
-sometimes, but was likewise glad to come back again. The king then asked
-him what they were doing at Oxford. Johnson answered he could not much
-commend their diligence, but that in some respects they were mended, for
-they had put their press under better regulations, and were at that time
-printing Polybius. He was then asked whether there were better libraries
-at Oxford or Cambridge; he answered, he believed the Bodleian was larger
-than any they had at Cambridge; at the same time adding, “I hope whether
-we have more books or not than they have at Cambridge, we shall make as
-good use of them as they do.” Being asked whether All-Souls or Christ
-Church library was the largest, he answered, “All-Souls library is the
-largest we have except the Bodleian.” “Aye, (said the king) that is the
-public library.”
-
-His Majesty enquired if he was then writing any thing, he answered, he
-was not, for he had pretty well told the world what he knew, and must
-now read to acquire more knowledge. The king as it should seem with a
-view to urge him to rely on his own stores as an original writer, and to
-continue his labours, then said, “I do not think you borrow much from
-any body.” Johnson said he thought he had already done his part as a
-writer. “I should have thought so too,” said the king, “if you had not
-written so well.”—Johnson observed to me, says Boswell, that “No man
-could have paid a handsomer compliment; and it was fit for a king to
-pay. It was decisive.” When asked by another friend at Sir Joshua
-Reynolds’s, whether he made any reply to this high compliment, he
-answered, “No, Sir. When the king had said it, it was to be so. It was
-not for me to bandy civilities with my Sovereign.” Perhaps no man who
-had spent his whole life in courts could have shewn a more nice and
-dignified sense of true politeness than Johnson did in this instance.
-
-“His Majesty having observed to him, that he supposed he must have read
-a great deal, Johnson answered, that he thought more than he read; that
-he had read a great deal in the early part of his life, but having
-fallen into ill health, he had not been able to read much compared with
-others; for instance he said he had not read much, compared with Dr.
-Warburton. Upon which the king said, that he heard Dr. Warburton was a
-man of such general knowledge, that you could scarce talk with him on
-any subject on which he was not qualified to speak, and that his
-learning resembled Garrick’s acting in its universality. The king
-observed that Pope made Warburton a bishop; ‘True, Sir,’ said Johnson,
-‘but Warburton did more for Pope, he made him a Christian;’ alluding no
-doubt, to his ingenious comments on the ‘Essay on Man.’ His Majesty then
-talked of the controversy between Warburton and Lowth, which he seemed
-to have read, and asked Johnson what he thought of it. Johnson answered,
-‘Warburton has most general, most scholastic learning; Lowth is the more
-correct scholar. I do not know which of them calls names best.’ The king
-was pleased to say he was of the same opinion; adding, ‘You do not think
-then, Dr. Johnson, that there was much argument in the case.’ Johnson
-said he did not think there was. ‘Why, truly,’ said the king, ‘when once
-it comes to calling names, argument is pretty well at an end.’“
-
-His Majesty then asked him what he thought of Lord Lyttelton’s history,
-which was just then published. Johnson said, he thought his style pretty
-good, but that he had blamed Henry the Second rather too much. “Why,
-said the king, they seldom do these things by halves.” “No, Sir,
-answered Johnson, not to kings.” But fearing to be misunderstood, he
-proceeded to explain himself, and immediately subjoined, “That for those
-who spoke worse of kings than they deserved, he could find no excuse;
-but that he could more easily conceive how some might speak better of
-them than they deserved, without any ill intention; for, as kings had
-much in their power to give, those who were favoured by them would
-frequently, from gratitude, exaggerate their praises; and as this
-proceeded from a good motive, it was certainty excusable, as far as
-error could be excusable.”
-
-The king then asked him what he thought of Dr. Hill. Johnson answered,
-that he was an ingenious man, but had no veracity; and immediately
-mentioned, as an instance of it, an assertion of that writer, that he
-had seen objects magnified to a much greater degree by using three or
-four microscopes at a time than by using one. “Now,” added Johnson,
-“every one acquainted with microscopes knows, that the more of them he
-looks through, the less the object will appear.” “Why,” replied the
-king, “this is not only telling an untruth, but telling it clumsily;
-for, if that be the case, every one who can look through a microscope
-will be able to detect him.”
-
-I now, (said Johnson to his friends, when relating what had passed)
-began to consider that I was depreciating this man in the estimation of
-his Sovereign, and thought it was time for me to say something that
-might be more favourable. He added, therefore, that Dr. Hill was,
-notwithstanding, a very curious observer; and if he would have been
-contented to tell the world no more than he knew, he might have been a
-very considerable man, and needed not to have recourse to such mean
-expedients to raise his reputation.
-
-The king then talked of Literary Journals, mentioned particularly the
-_Journal des Savans_, and asked Johnson if it was well done. Johnson
-said it was formerly very well done, and gave some account of the
-persons who began it, and carried it on for some years; enlarging at the
-same time, on the nature and use of such works. The king asked him if it
-was well done now. Johnson answered, he had no reason to think that it
-was. The king then asked him if there were any other Literary Journals
-published in this kingdom, except the Monthly and Critical Reviews; and
-on being answered there were no other, his Majesty asked which of them
-was the best; Johnson answered, that the Monthly Review was done with
-most care, the Critical upon the best principles; adding that the
-authors of the Monthly Review were enemies to the church. This the king
-said he was sorry to hear.
-
-The conversation next turned on the Philosophical Transactions, when
-Johnson observed that they had now a better method of arranging their
-materials than formerly. “Aye, said the king, they are obliged to Dr.
-Johnson for that”; for his Majesty had heard and remembered the
-circumstance, which Johnson himself had forgot.
-
-His Majesty expressed a desire to have the literary biography of this
-country ably executed, and proposed to Dr. Johnson to undertake it.
-Johnson signified his readiness to comply with his Majesty’s wishes.
-
-During the whole of this interview, Johnson talked to his Majesty with
-profound respect, but still in his firm manly manner, with a sonorous
-voice, and never in that subdued tone which is commonly used at the
-levee and in the drawing-room. After the king withdrew, Johnson shewed
-himself highly pleased with his Majesty’s conversation, and gracious
-behaviour. He said to Mr. Barnard, “Sir, they may talk of the king as
-they will; but he is the finest gentleman I have ever seen.” And he
-afterwards observed to Mr. Langton, “Sir, his manners are those of as
-fine a gentleman as we may suppose Lewis the fourteenth, or Charles the
-second.”
-
-
-
-
- DR. BEATTIE’S CONVERSATION WITH THE LATE KING AND QUEEN.
-
-
-Dr. Beattie had been informed by Dr. Majendie, who lived at Kew, and was
-often at the palace, that the king having asked some questions of the
-doctor respecting him, and being told that he sometimes visited Dr.
-Majendie there, his Majesty had desired to be informed the next time Dr.
-Beattie was to be at Kew. What his Majesty’s intentions were, Dr.
-Majendie said he did not know; but supposed the king intended to admit
-him to a private audience. A day was therefore fixed, on which Dr.
-Beattie was to be at Dr. Majendie’s house early in the morning, of which
-the Doctor was to give notice to his Majesty. Of this interesting event,
-so honourable to Dr. Beattie, I shall transcribe in his own words, says
-Sir William Forbes, the account he has given in his diary:—
-
-“Tuesday, 24th August, (1773) set out for Dr. Majendie’s at Kew Green.
-The Doctor told me that he had not seen the king yesterday, but had left
-a note in writing, to intimate, that I was to be at his house to-day;
-and that one of the king’s pages had come to him this morning, to say,
-‘that his Majesty would see me a little after twelve.’ At twelve, the
-Doctor and I went to the king’s house at Kew. We had been only a few
-minutes in the hall, when the king and queen came in from an airing; and
-as they passed through the hall, the king called to me by name, and
-asked how long it was since I came from town? I answered about an hour.
-‘I shall see you,’ says he, ‘in a little.’ The Doctor and I waited a
-considerable time, for the king was busy, and then we were called into a
-large room, furnished as a library, where the king was walking about,
-and the queen sitting in a chair. We were received in the most gracious
-manner possible, by both their Majesties. I had the honour of a
-conversation with them, nobody else being present but Dr. Majendie, for
-upwards of an hour on a great variety of topics; in which both the king
-and queen joined, with a degree of cheerfulness, affability, and ease,
-that was to me surprising, and soon dissipated the embarrassment which I
-felt at the beginning of the conference. They both complimented me in
-the highest terms on my ‘Essay,’ which they said was a book they always
-kept by them; and the king said he had one copy of it at Kew, and
-another in town, and immediately went and took it down from a shelf. I
-found it was the second edition. ‘I never stole a book, but one,’ said
-his Majesty, ‘and that was your’s (speaking to me) I stole it from the
-queen, to give it to Lord Hertford to read.’ He had heard that the sale
-of Hume’s ‘Essays’ had failed, since my book was published; and I told
-him what Mr. Strahan had told me, in regard to that matter. He had even
-heard of my being in Edinburgh last summer, and how Mr. Hume was
-offended on the score of my book. He asked many questions about the
-second part of the ‘Essay,’ and when it would be ready for the press. I
-gave him, in a short speech, an account of the plan of it; and said my
-health was so precarious, I could not tell when it might be ready, as I
-had many books to consult before I could finish it; but, that if my
-health were good, I thought I might bring it to a conclusion in two or
-three years. He asked how long I had been in composing my Essay? praised
-the caution with which it was written; and said he did not wonder that
-it had employed me five or six years. He asked, about my Poems. I said
-there was only one poem of my own, on which I set any value (meaning the
-‘Minstrel’) and that it was first published about the same time with the
-‘Essay.’ My other poems, I said were incorrect, being but juvenile
-pieces, and of little consequence, even in my own opinion. We had much
-conversation on moral subjects; from which both their Majesties let it
-appear, that they were warm friends to Christianity; and so little
-inclined to infidelity, that they could hardly believe that any thinking
-man could really be an Atheist, unless he could bring himself to
-believe, that he made himself; a thought which pleased the king
-exceedingly; and he repeated it several times to the queen. He asked
-whether any thing had been written against me. I spoke of the late
-pamphlet, of which I gave an account, telling him, that I had never met
-with any man who had read it, except one quaker. This brought on some
-discourse about the quakers, whose moderation, and mild behaviour the
-king and queen commended. I was asked many questions about the Scots
-Universities: the revenues of the Scots Clergy; their mode of praying
-and preaching; the medical college of Edinburgh; Dr. Gregory, of whom I
-gave a particular character, and Dr. Cullen; the length of our vacation
-at Aberdeen, and the closeness of our attendance during the winter; the
-number of students that attend my lectures; my mode of lecturing,
-whether from notes, or completely written lectures; about Mr. Hume, and
-Dr. Robertson, and Lord Kinnoul, and the Archbishop of York, &c. &c.
-
-His Majesty asked what I thought of my new acquaintance, Lord Dartmouth?
-I said there was something in his air and manner, which I thought not
-only agreeable, but enchanting, and that he seemed to me to be one of
-the best of men; a sentiment in which both their Majesties heartily
-joined. “They say that Lord Dartmouth is an enthusiast,” said the king,
-“but surely he says nothing on the subject of religion, but what every
-Christian may, and ought to say.” He asked whether I did not think the
-English language on the decline at present; I answered in the
-affirmative; and the king agreed, and named the “Spectator” as one of
-the best standards of the language. When I told him that the Scots
-clergy sometimes prayed a quarter, or even half an hour at a time, he
-asked, whether that did not lead them into repetitions? I said it often
-did. “That” said he, “I don’t like in prayers; and excellent as our
-liturgy is, I think it somewhat faulty in that respect.” “Your Majesty
-knows,” said I, “that three services are joined in one, in the ordinary
-church service, which is one cause of those repetitions.” “True,” he
-replied, “and that circumstance also makes the service too long.” From
-this he took occasion to speak of the composition of the church liturgy;
-on which he very justly bestowed the highest commendation. “Observe,”
-his Majesty said, “how flat those occasional prayers are, that are now
-composed, in comparison with the old ones.” When I mentioned the
-smallness of the church livings in Scotland, he said, “he wondered how
-men of liberal education would chuse to become clergymen there,” and
-asked, “whether in the remote parts of the country, the clergy, in
-general were not very ignorant?” I answered, no, for that education was
-very cheap in Scotland, and that the clergy, in general, were men of
-good sense, and competent learning. He asked whether we had any good
-preachers at Aberdeen? I said, yes, and named Campbell and Gerard, with
-whose names, however, I did not find that he was acquainted. Dr.
-Majendie mentioned Dr. Oswald’s “Appeal,” with commendation; I praised
-it too and the queen took down the name, with a view to send for it. I
-was asked, whether I knew Dr. Oswald? I answered, I did not; and said
-that my book was published before I read his; that Dr. Oswald was well
-known to Lord Kinnoul, who had often proposed to make us acquainted. We
-discussed a great many other topics; for the conversation, as before
-observed, lasted for upwards of an hour, without any intermission. The
-queen bore a large share in it. Both the king and her Majesty showed a
-great deal of good sense, acuteness, and knowledge, as well as of good
-nature and affability. At last, the king took out his watch (for it was
-now almost three o’clock, his hour of dinner) which Dr. Majendie and I
-took as a signal to withdraw. We accordingly bowed to their Majesties,
-and I addressed the king in these words: “I hope, Sir, your Majesty will
-pardon me, if I take this opportunity to return you my humble and most
-grateful acknowledgments for the honour you have been pleased to confer
-upon me.” He immediately answered, “I think I could do no less for a
-man, who has done so much service to the cause of Christianity. I shall
-always be glad of an opportunity to show the good opinion I have of
-you.” The queen sate all the while, and the king stood, sometimes
-walking about a little. Her Majesty speaks the English language with
-surprising elegance, and little or nothing of a foreign accent. There is
-something wonderfully captivating in her manner; so that if she were
-only of the rank of a private gentlewoman, one could not help taking
-notice of her as one of the most agreeable women in the world. Her face
-is much more pleasing than any of her pictures; and in the expression of
-her eyes, and in her smile, there is something peculiarly engaging.
-
-When the Doctor and I came out, “Pray,” said I, “how did I behave? Tell
-me honestly, for I am not accustomed to conversations of this kind.”
-“Why perfectly well,” answered he, “and just as you ought to do.”—“Are
-you sure of that?” said I.—“As sure,” he replied, “as of my own
-existence; and you may be assured of it too, when I tell you, that if
-there had been any thing in your manner or conversation, which was not
-perfectly agreeable, your conference would have been at an end in eight
-or ten minutes at most.” The Doctor afterwards told me that it was a
-most uncommon thing for a private man, and a commoner, to be honoured
-with so long an audience. I dined with Dr. and Mrs. Majendie and their
-family, and returned to town in the evening, very much pleased with the
-occurrences of the day.
-
-
-
-
- SACRED GARDENS.
-
-
-The origin of sacred gardens among the heathen nations may be traced up
-to the garden of Eden. The gardens of the Hesperides, of Adonis, of
-Flora, were famous among the Greeks and Romans. “The garden of Flora,”
-says Mr. Spence, (Polymetis, p. 251) “I take to have been the Paradise
-in the Roman Mythology. The traditions and traces of Paradise among the
-ancients must be expected to have grown fainter and fainter in every
-transfusion from one people to another. The Romans probably derived
-their notions of it from the Greeks, among whom this idea seems to have
-been shadowed out under the stories of the gardens of Alcinous. In
-Africa they had the gardens of the Hesperides, and in the East those of
-Adonis, or the _Horti Adonis_, as Pliny calls them. The term _Horti
-Adonides_ was used by the ancients to signify _gardens of pleasure_,
-which answers to the very name of Paradise, or the garden of Eden, as
-_Horti Adonis_ does to the _garden of the LORD_.”
-
-
-
-
- SIR THOMAS WYAT.
- [DIED 1541.]
-
-
-The story of this eminent person, probably one of the principal
-ornaments of an age unable to discern his merits, or unwilling to record
-them, has been very imperfectly related. He was born at Allington
-Castle, in Kent, the ancient seat of his family, in 1503, and was the
-son of Sir Henry Wyat. He may be said to have finished his education in
-the society of that eminent character Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, with
-whom he travelled abroad, and with whom he “tasted in Italy,” says Wood,
-“the sweet and stately measures of the Italian poesy.” These, as far as
-the rude state of our language, and the still ruder taste of the times,
-would allow, he applied to English verse. His poems were printed at
-London in 1565, and have since been frequently republished, in
-conjunction with those of his noble friend; but here, as in other points
-of view, we have but glimpses of him; for through the ignorance or
-carelessness of the original editor, his pieces are so confusedly
-blended with the Earl’s, that not many of them can be positively
-ascertained.[32]
-
-Having been introduced at Court, where his endowments both of body and
-mind, recommended him to the favour of king Henry the Eighth, he was
-employed in several foreign embassies, which he discharged with great
-ability. His influence with the king was proverbial. Lloyd tells us that
-“when a man was newly preferred, they said he had been in Sir Thomas
-Wyat’s closet.”
-
-We are informed by Wood (_Athen. Oxon._) that Sir Thomas was sent by the
-king to Falmouth, for the purpose of conducting a Spanish Minister from
-thence to London. Being desirous of making great expedition, he fatigued
-himself so much that he was thrown into a fever, and was obliged to stop
-at Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, where he died a few days after, in the
-38th year of his age, “to the great reluctancy,” says Wood, “of the
-king, kingdom, his friends, and all that knew the great worth and
-virtues of the person.” He was buried in Sherborne Church.[33]
-
-He left behind him a son of the same name, who lost his head for
-exciting a rebellion in the reign of queen Mary, from whom our poet is
-commonly distinguished by the appellation of Sir Thomas Wyat the elder.
-
-Footnote 32:
-
- There is an engraving of Sir Thomas in the collection of Holbein
- Heads, published by Mr. Chamberlaine.
-
- An original picture of him, which has been frequently copied, is in
- the collection of the Earl of Romney. It is nearly a profile, and
- bears a strong resemblance to Holbein’s drawing.
-
- There is a print of Sir Thomas Wyat, from an engraving on wood, after
- a painting by Holbein; it is the frontispiece to the book of verses,
- written on his death, by Leland, entitled “Næniæ in Mortem Thomæ Viati
- Equitis incomparabilis,” an Elegy on the death of Sir Thomas Wyat,
- Knt. London, 1542, _quarto_. This book was reprinted by Hearne, at the
- beginning of the second volume of Leland’s Itinerary. Under the head
- is the following inscription:—
-
- “Holbenus nitida pingendi maximus arte,
- ”Effigiem expressit graphice, sed nullus Apelles
- “Exprimet ingenium felix, animumque Viati.”
-
- This print has been copied by Michael Burghers and Mr. Tyson.
- _Granger_ i. 110.
-
-Footnote 33:
-
- The first printed Poetical Miscellany, in the English language, is the
- Collection of Poems, edited and published by Tottel, entitled “Songes
- and Sonnettes of Surrey, Wyat, and of uncertain Auctors, London,
- 1557.”—Another edition, 1565—others in 1574, 1585, 1587. The last
- edition was edited by Dr. George Sewell, in 1717.—This Dr. Sewell was
- a physician in London; he received his early education at Eton, which
- he afterwards completed at Cambridge, where he took the degree of
- Bachelor of Physic in 1709. From thence he went to Leyden, where he
- studied under the celebrated Boerhaave. Not being successful in the
- metropolis, he removed to Hampstead, where he died on the 8th of
- February, 1726. As an author he possessed a considerable share of
- genius, and wrote in concert with several of his contemporaries,
- particularly in the Spectator and Tatler; he was principally concerned
- in the ninth volume of the former, and in the fifth of the latter, as
- he was also in a translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and an edition
- of Shakespeare’s Poems. He was the author of a Tragedy, entitled “Sir
- Walter Raleigh,” published at London in 1719, and also of another,
- which he left unfinished, entitled “King Richard the First,” the
- fragments of which were printed in 1728.
-
-
-
-
- THE HAND A SYMBOL OF POWER.
-
-
-In Parkhurst’s Hebrew Lexicon we have the following remarks on the Hand
-as an emblem of strength and power. “The hand was used by the Jews, as a
-trophy or monument of victory, and placed on the top of a pillar. Thus
-Saul, after smiting the Amalekites, in the pride of his heart erected to
-or for himself (not for Jehovah) a hand, 1 Samuel xv. 12. And David
-smote Hadadezer, king of Zobah, when he was going to erect his hand or
-trophy, by the river Euphrates, 2 Sam. viii. 3, and 1 Chronicles, xviii.
-3.—And this appears to be the most ancient use of these memorial hands;
-whence Absalom seems to have taken the hint of erecting one, merely to
-keep his name in remembrance, 2 Sam. xviii. 18, where it may be observed
-that this monument is expressly called not only a _hand_, but _a
-pillar_, which shews that the hand was wont to be put on a pillar.
-
-“Neibuhr (Voyage in Arabia, tom. 2. p. 211. French edition) speaking of
-Ali’s mosque at Mesched Ali, says, that ‘at the top of the dome’ where
-one generally sees on the Turkish mosques a crescent, or only a pole,
-there is here _a hand stretched out_, to represent that of Ali.” And
-another writer informs us, that at the Alhambra, or red palace of the
-Moorish kings in Granada, “on the key-stone of the outward arch [of the
-present principal entrance] is sculptured the figure of an _arm_, the
-symbol of strength and dominion.”
-
-“It may not be amiss to observe, that to this day in the East Indies the
-picture of a _hand_ is the emblem of power or authority. Thus I am
-assured, says Parkhurst, by a gentleman of undoubted veracity, who
-resided many years on the coast of Coromandel, that when the Nabob of
-Arcot, who in his time was governor of _five provinces_, appeared on
-public occasions, several small flags, with each _a hand_ painted upon
-them, and one of a large size with _five hands_, were solemnly carried
-before him.”
-
-The hand was used as an ensign of royalty by the kings of France and
-England. In Sandford’s Genealogical History, there is the following note
-on the counter-seal of king Edward the third: “In the margin of this
-counter-seal, near the point of the king’s sword, is represented the
-_hand of justice_, being an ensign of royalty peculiar only to the kings
-of France, for though they in common with other princes carry in their
-right hand a sceptre of gold, yet in the other they bear the _hand of
-justice_, being a short rod, and having on the top of it a _left hand_,
-wide open, made of ivory, on account of the elephant being the only
-quadruped observable for his devotion, love of his governors, and for
-his equity. The left hand it is said, is preferred to the right for this
-purpose, because not being employed in working so many wicked actions as
-the right, it became more proper than the other to represent the symbol
-of justice. This hand is also placed in the counter-seals of his
-successors Richard the second, and Henry the fourth; king Henry the
-fifth omitted it in his seal, and conquering France both placed that
-crown on the head, and the French sceptre and _hand of justice_ in the
-hands of his son, king Henry the sixth.”
-
-Queen Elizabeth used the hand as one of her mint marks.
-
-
-
-
- HENRIETTA MARIA,
- QUEEN OF CHARLES THE FIRST.
-
-
-“Our royal martyr,” says Dr. Kennet, “by taking a consort from the
-Bourbon family, did apparently bring over some evils and mischiefs that
-disturbed his whole reign. For within less than one year, the French
-servants of that queen grew so imperious and insolent, that the king was
-forced to discharge them, and to humble them by a return into their own
-country.”
-
-“A very sad doom it was certainly to the French,” says L’Estrange in his
-annals of king Charles, “but as the animadversion was extremely severe,
-so their offences were in like degree heinous. The bishop of Mende, the
-queen’s almoner, stood charged for putting intolerable scorn upon, and
-making religion itself do penance, by enjoining her Majesty, under the
-notion of penance, to go barefoot, to spin, and to wait upon her family
-servants at their ordinary repasts, to walk on foot in the mire on a
-rainy morning, from Somerset House to St. James’s; her confessor, mean
-while, like Lucifer himself, riding by her in his coach; but, which is
-worst of all, to make a progress to Tyburn, there to present her
-devotions for the departed souls of the Papists, who had been executed
-at that place, on account of the Gunpowder Treason, and other enormous
-crimes. A most impious piaculary, whereof the king said acutely, that
-the action can have no greater invective than the relation. The other
-sex were accused of crimes of another nature, whereof Madam St. George
-was, as in dignity of office, so in guilt, the principal; culpable she
-was in many particulars, but her most notorious and unpardonable fault
-was, her being an accursed instrument of some unkindness between the
-king and queen. These incendiaries were cashiered, the queen, who
-formerly shewed so much waspish protervity, soon fell into a mode of
-loving compliance. But though this renvoy of her Majesty’s servants,
-imported domestic peace, yet was it attended with an ill aspect from
-France, though our king, studying to preserve fair correspondence with
-his brother, sent the Lord Carleton with instructions to represent a
-true account of the action, with all the motives to it; but his
-reception was very coarse, being never admitted to audience. Louis
-despatched Monsieur the Marshal de Bassompierre, as Extraordinary
-Ambassador to our king, to demand the restitution of the queen’s
-domesticks: which he at last obtained for most of them.”
-
-“It was this match,” adds Dr. Kennet, “that began to corrupt our nation
-with French modes and vanities; which gave occasion to Mr. Prynne to
-write that severe invective, called Histriomastix, against stage plays;
-to betray our councils to the French court; to weaken the poor
-Protestants in France, by rendering ineffectual the relief of Rochelle;
-nay, and to lessen our own trade and navigation. These ill effects,
-beyond the king’s intention, raised such a jealousy, and spread such a
-damp upon the English subjects, that it was unhappily turned into one of
-the unjust occasions of civil war, which indeed began more out of hatred
-to that party, than out of any disaffection to the king. The people
-thought themselves too much under French counsels, and a French
-ministry, or else, they could never have been drawn aside into that
-great rebellion. This interest when suspected to prevail, brought the
-king into urgent difficulties; and in the midst of them the aid and
-assistance, which that interest offered him, did but the more
-effectually weaken him. On this side the water the French services
-betrayed him; and on the other side, the French policies were at work to
-betray him.”
-
-And, indeed, as queen Henrietta had a mighty, if not a supreme sway over
-King Charles’s councils, so did her mother, Mary de Medicis, who came
-over by her invitation, administer great cause of jealousy to this
-nation. “The people,” says L’Estrange, “were generally malecontent at
-her coming, and wished her farther off. For they did not like her train
-and followers, which had often been observed to be the sword of
-pestilence, so that she was beheld as some meteor of evil signification.
-Nor was one of these calamities thought more the effect of her fortune
-than inclination; for her restless and unconstant spirit was prone to
-embroil all wheresoever she came. And besides, as queen Henrietta was
-extraordinary active in raising money among the Roman Catholics of this
-kingdom, to enable King Charles to make war against his subjects of
-Scotland, so was she extreme busy in fomenting the unhappy differences
-between his Majesty and his English Parliament.”
-
-Sir John Reresby, in his Memoirs, asserts that queen Henrietta Maria was
-married after the king’s death to Lord St. Alban’s. “The abbess of an
-English college in Paris, whither the queen used to retire, would tell
-me,” says Sir John, “that Lord Jermyn, since St. Alban’s, had the queen
-greatly in awe of him, and indeed it was obvious that he had great
-interest with her concerns; but that he was married to her, or _had
-children by her, as some have reported_, I did not then believe, _though
-the thing was certainly so_.”
-
-Madame Baviere, in her letters, says, “Charles the First’s widow made a
-clandestine marriage, with her _Chevalier d’ Honneur_, Lord St. Alban’s,
-who treated her extremely ill, so that whilst she had not a faggot to
-warm herself, he had in his apartment a good fire, and a sumptuous
-table. He never gave the queen a kind word, and when she spoke to him,
-he used to say, _Que me veut cette femme?_”
-
-To what a miserable state the queen was reduced may be seen in the
-following extract from De Retz’s Memoirs, (vol. 1. p. 261.) “Four or
-five days before the king removed from Paris, I went to visit the queen
-of England, whom I found in her daughter’s chamber, who hath been since
-Duchess of Orleans. At my coming in she said, ‘You see I am come to keep
-Henrietta company. The poor child could not rise to-day for want of a
-fire.’ The truth is, that the cardinal for six months together had not
-ordered her any money towards her pension; that no trades-people would
-trust her for any thing; and that there was not at her lodgings in the
-Louvre one single billet. You will do me the justice to suppose that the
-princess of England did not keep her bed the next day for want of a
-faggot; but it was not this which the Princess of Conde meant in her
-letter. What she spoke about was, that some days after my visiting the
-queen of England, I remembered the condition I had found her in, and had
-strongly represented the shame of abandoning her in that manner, which
-caused the Parliament to send 40,000 livres to her Majesty. Posterity
-will hardly believe that a Princess of England, grand-daughter of Henry
-the Great, hath wanted a faggot in the month of January, to get out of
-bed in the Louvre, and in the eyes of a French court. We read in
-histories, with horror, of baseness less monstrous than this; and the
-little concern I have met with about it in most people’s minds, has
-obliged me to make, I believe, a thousand times this reflection—that
-examples of times past move men beyond comparison more than those of
-their own times. We accustom ourselves to what we see; and I have
-sometimes told you, that I doubted whether Caligula’s horse being made a
-consul would have surprized us so much as we imagine.”
-
-As for the relative situations of the king (Charles II.) and Lord
-Jermyn, (afterwards St. Alban’s) Lord Clarendon (Hist. of the Rebellion,
-vol. 3. p. 2) says that the “Marquis of Ormond was compelled to put
-himself in prison, with other gentlemen, at a pistole a week for his
-diet, and to walk the streets a-foot, which was no honourable custom in
-Paris, whilst the Lord Jermyn kept an excellent table for those who
-courted him, and had a coach of his own, and all other accommodations
-incident to the most full fortune; and if the king had the most urgent
-occasion for the use but of twenty pistoles, as sometimes he had, he
-could not find credit to borrow it, which he often had experiment of.”
-
-The Lord St. Alban’s above mentioned was Henry Jermyn, second son of
-Thomas Jermyn, of Rushbrooke, near Bury St. Edmund’s, in Suffolk. In
-1644 he was created Lord Jermyn, with limitation of the honour to the
-heirs male of his elder brother Thomas. In 1660 he was further advanced
-to the dignity of Earl of St. Alban’s, and Baron of St. Edmund’s Bury,
-but on his death in 1683, the earldom became extinct. The barony of
-Jermyn devolved on Thomas (son of his elder brother Thomas) who became
-second Lord Jermyn: he died unmarried in 1703.—Lord St. Alban’s was
-master of the horse to Queen Henrietta Maria, and one of the privy
-council to Charles the second. In July 1660 he was sent ambassador to
-the court of France, and in 1671 was made Lord Chamberlain of his
-majesty’s household.—“He was a man of no great genius,” says Grammont,
-“he raised himself a considerable fortune from nothing, and by losing at
-play, and keeping a great table, made it appear greater than it was.”
-“It is well known what a table the good man kept at Paris, while the
-king his master was starving at Brussels, and the queen dowager his
-mistress, lived not over well in France.”
-
-This earl lived in London at _Jermyn house_, which stood at the head of
-St. Alban’s-street, Pallmall, which street and Jermyn-street had their
-names from him.
-
-
-
-
- LAST MOMENTS OF PHILIP MELANCTHON.[34]
-
-
-The nineteenth of April, 1560, was the last day of the mortal existence
-of this great reformer and pious christian. After the usual medical
-inquiries of the morning, he adverted to the calamitous state of the
-church of Christ, but intimated his hope that the genuine doctrine of
-the gospel would ultimately prevail, exclaiming, “If GOD be for us who
-can be against us.” After this he presented fervent supplications to
-heaven for the welfare of the church, and in the intervals of sleep
-conversed principally upon this subject with several of his visiting
-friends.
-
-Soon after eight in the morning awaking from a tranquil sleep, he
-distinctly, though with a feeble voice, repeated a form of prayer which
-he had written for his own daily use. An interval of repose having
-elapsed after repeating this prayer, he lifted up his eyes to heaven,
-and turning to his son-in-law, he said, “I have been in the power of
-death, but the LORD has graciously delivered me.” This was supposed to
-refer to some deep conflicts of mind, as he repeated the expression to
-others. When one of the persons who visited him said, “There is now no
-condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus,” he soon added, “Christ
-is made to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”
-“Let him that glorieth glory in the LORD.”
-
-The coldness of death was now creeping over him, but his mental
-faculties continued unimpaired to the very last breath of mortal
-existence. Having expressed a wish to hear some passages from the Old
-and New Testaments, his ministerial attendants read the 24th, 25th and
-26th Psalms: the 53d chapter of Isaiah; the 7th chapter of John, the 5th
-of the Romans, and many other passages. The saying of John respecting
-the son of God, he said was perpetually in his mind, “the world knew him
-not ... but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
-sons of GOD, even to them that believe on his name.”
-
-Upon being asked by his son-in-law if he would have any thing else, he
-replied in these emphatic Words, “NOTHING ELSE—BUT HEAVEN!” and
-requested that he might not be any further interrupted. Soon afterwards
-he made a similar request, begging those around him, who were
-endeavouring with officious kindness to adjust his clothes, “not to
-disturb his delightful repose.” After some time his friends united with
-the Minister present in solemn prayer, and several passages of
-scripture, in which he was known always to have expressed peculiar
-pleasure were read, such as “Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe
-in GOD, believe also in me.”—“In my Father’s house are many
-mansions.”—“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow
-me;” particularly the fifth chapter of Romans, and the triumphant close
-of the eighth chapter, commencing “If GOD be for us, who can be against
-us?” Many other parts of scripture were recited, and the last word he
-uttered was the German particle of affirmation, _Ia_, in reply to one of
-his friends, who had inquired if he understood him while reading. The
-last motion which his friends who surrounded him to the number of at
-least twenty, could discern, was a slight motion of the countenance
-which was peculiar to him when deeply affected with religious joy!—“Mark
-the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is
-peace!”
-
-At length, “in the midst of solemn vows and supplications,” at a quarter
-before seven, in the evening, at the age of sixty-three, he gently
-breathed his last. No distractions of mind, no foreboding terrors of
-conscience agitated this attractive scene. His chamber was “privileged
-beyond the common walks of virtuous life—quite in the verge of
-heaven”—and he expired, like a wave scarcely undulating to the evening
-zephyr of an unclouded summer sky. It was a “DEPARTURE”—a “SLEEP”—“the
-earthly house of this tabernacle was dissolved.”
-
-Footnote 34:
-
- Melancthon was born at Brette, a village of the Palatinate, on the
- 16th of February, 1497. In his childhood he made an astonishing
- progress in the acquisition of languages. Luther, and his doctrines,
- appeared about this time, and Melancthon stood forward as one of their
- most strenuous supporters; indeed the Lutheran system was in a great
- measure planned by him, and the famous instrument by which it was
- publicly declared, called the Confession of Augsburg, was the
- production of his pen. Melancthon was the intimate friend of Erasmus,
- and Erasmus the patron of Holbein. This connection will account for
- his appearance in a Collection of Portraits, drawn by Holbein, of the
- principal personages in the Court of Henry the Eighth, though
- Melancthon never was in this country. An engraving of him is among the
- Holbein Heads, published by Mr. Chamberlaine, and there is a
- full-length portrait of this great Reformer, with a fac-simile of his
- writing, in his Life, published by the Rev. F. A. Cox, London, 1815,
- 8vo.
-
-
-
-
- HOUSE OF COMMONS.
-
-
-A considerable number of treatises were written in the middle and latter
-end of the seventeenth century, and a few in the beginning of the
-eighteenth, respecting the period at which the House of Commons asserted
-that independence which it is so material to the security and happiness
-of the country it should possess, and obtained that share in the
-legislature it now enjoys; but the writers on both sides,[35] eager in
-the maintenance of the cause they espoused, and taking advantage of the
-scanty means the public had of knowing what was contained in the early
-Rolls of Parliament[36] and other ancient records, suppressed from
-partiality and interested zeal, much of the information themselves
-possessed, which rendered of little use to the public an inquiry that
-might otherwise have been attended with considerable advantage.
-
-It might be supposed indeed, that when men so remarkable for diligence
-and learning, as Prynne and Petyt, (who were both keepers of the records
-in the Tower, among which are most of the Rolls of Parliament, and all
-the Claus Rolls) took opposite sides of the controversy, about the time
-when the Commons first formed a part of the legislature, whatever could
-have made for or against either side of the question would have been
-produced. And yet with all their opportunities and their eagerness for
-research, those who have attentively looked through the Rolls of
-Parliament, will find amongst them much matter of importance respecting
-the questions those writers discussed at different periods, to which
-neither of them referred, either in support of his own, or in
-contradiction to his opponent’s argument. Rymer was equally zealous in
-supporting the side he took, in the beginning of the last century. Any
-thing therefore having been brought to light by the publication of the
-Rolls of Parliament, which appears to have escaped the industry and
-research of such men, is a strong proof of the utility of printing those
-valuable documents.
-
-As early as the 46th of Edward the third, a statute was made, ordaining
-that all persons should be entitled to search for, and have
-exemplifications of records, as well such as proved contrary to the
-interest of the king, as such as were favourable to it.
-
-Great and eminent men, however, not more distinguished by their high
-stations, than for their talents and research, stated opinions, some on
-points of magnitude, in the pursuit of mere legal investigations,
-different from those which are probably entertained by such as have
-carefully perused the Parliamentary Records, which were printed during
-the reign of his late Majesty.
-
-In corroboration of this assertion, it may be sufficient to mention two
-opinions of Lord Coke’s.
-
-The first that the Lords and Commons sat together late in the reign of
-king Edward the third[37] and until the Commons had a perpetual Speaker.
-The direct contrary of this opinion it is thought is evident from the
-Rolls of Parliament. It does not appear from any Records that the two
-Houses ever sat for deliberation in the same assembly, from the time the
-Commons were regularly summoned in their representative capacity to
-Parliament.
-
-On the contrary, so early as the 18th of Edward the first,[38] (Rolls of
-Par. vol. 1. p. 25, a. the earliest Roll extant) there is a Grant[39] to
-the king for the marriage of his eldest daughter, by several Peers
-named, “et cæteri Magnates et Proceres tunc in Parliamento existentes,
-pro se et Communitate totius Regni Angliæ quantum in ipsis est;” that
-is, “and other Lords and Nobles for themselves and the Community of the
-whole kingdom of England, as much as they were able.” In the 19th of
-Edward the second (p. 351. a.) there is a grant to the king for carrying
-on the war with Scotland, by the Citizens, Burgesses, and Knights for
-counties, of a fifteenth of the moveables of the Citizens, Burgesses,
-and men of the counties, cities, and towns.
-
-In the 14th of Edward the second (p. 371.) complaint was made by the
-Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of felonies for which they besought a
-remedy: and the Record concludes “Et Concordatum est per Dominum Regem
-de Consilio Prelatorum, Comitum, Baronum, et aliorum Peritorum, in dicto
-Parliamento existentium quod,” &c. that is, “and it was agreed between
-our Lord the king and the council of Prelates, Earls, Barons, and other
-great men in the said Parliament assembled, &c.”
-
-The Entries in the sixth of Edward the third, 1331, (to the Parliament
-Rolls of which year Lord Coke particularly refers for proof of the Lords
-and Commons then sitting together) which appear to bear on the point in
-question, are in vol. ii. p. 66. At the first meeting at Westminster,
-the Prelates by themselves, and the Knights for counties by themselves,
-deliberated on the business opened to them at the beginning of the
-Parliament, and answered by advising the king not to go in person to
-Ireland to quell the rebellion there. And in the third meeting in that
-year at York, when a statement was made by Geoffrey le Scroop, in the
-presence of the king, and “de touz les Grantz en plein Parlement,” of
-all the Lords in full Parliament; and afterwards it was agreed by the
-king and the whole in full Parliament, that certain Bishops and Peers
-named, should meet on the business in discussion by themselves, the
-other Prelates, Earls and Barons, and the Proxies by themselves; and the
-Knights of the shire and Commons by themselves. The business was
-discussed accordingly during some days; after which the Commons had
-leave to return to their counties, and the Prelates, Earls, and Barons,
-were to remain till the day following.
-
-In the 13th of Edward the third (vol. 2. p. 104.) a grant was made to
-the king, “par les Grantz,” of a tenth of the grain of their demesne
-lands, and of their fleeces, with certain reservations. The Commons,
-however, after representing their having heard the statement of the
-king’s necessities, the extent of which they were aware of, and were
-willing to relieve as they had always done; said, that as the aid must
-be a great one they dared not assent to it without consulting with “les
-Communes de leur Pais,” the Commons of their counties. And they desired
-another Parliament to be summoned. At which subsequent meeting, in the
-same year, (p. 107. b.) the occasion of summoning the Parliament was
-explained to the Commons, on which they said they would deliberate. They
-afterwards proposed to grant 30,000 sacks of wool on certain conditions,
-which if not agreed to by the king, the aid was to be withheld. The
-Earls and Barons the same day granted for themselves and the Peers of
-the land who held by Barony, the tenth sheaf, the tenth fleece, and the
-tenth lamb.
-
-In the 14th of Edward the third, (p. 112, a.) grants were made by the
-Prelates, Earls, and Barons, for themselves and all their tenants, and
-by the Knights of shires for themselves, and for the commons of the
-land, of the ninth sheaf, the ninth fleece, and the ninth lamb; and by
-the Citizens and Burgesses of a real ninth of their property; and
-merchants not inhabiting cities and towns, and other people who reside
-in forests and wastes, and who do not live by their gains or their
-flocks, a fifteenth of all their property according to the true value.
-
-In the 15th of Edward the third (p. 127, a.) on occasion of a Grant made
-to the king in a former Parliament, to enable him to purchase friends
-and allies for the recovery of his rights, having not been as available
-as it ought to have been, it was proposed that consideration should be
-had, “par touz les Grantz et Communes,” “by all the Lords and Commons,”
-how the grant should be made most profitable to the king, and least
-burthensome to the people, “les Grantz de par eux, et les Chivalers des
-Counteez, Citeyens, et Burgeys de par eux,” that is, “the Lords by
-themselves, and the Knights for counties, Citizens and Burgesses by
-themselves.”
-
-In the 17th of Edward the third, (p. 136, a.) “les ditz Prelatz et
-Grantz assemblez en la Chambre Blanche (the court of requests)
-responderent,” &c. (p. 136, 6.) “Et pour vindrent les Chivalers des
-Counteez et les Communes et responderent par Monsieur William Trussell
-en la dite Chambre Blanche qi’ en Presence de nostre Signeur le Roi et
-les ditz Prelates,” &c. that is, “on which day the said Prelates and
-Lords assembled in the _Chambre Blanche_, answered,” &c. “And then came
-the Knights for counties, and the Commons, and answered by Monsieur
-William Trussell in the said _Chambre Blanche_, and in the presence of
-our Lord the king, and the said Prelates,” &c.
-
-There can be little doubt but that this William Trussell was Speaker of
-the House of Commons. He is styled by Higden, who wrote in the reign of
-Edward the third, in his “Polychronicon,” “Procurator of the
-Parliament,” when he, in the name of all the men in the land of England,
-renounced allegiance to king Edward the second, in the last year of that
-king’s reign.
-
-The Speaker of the Commons was indeed styled “Parlour and Procurator,”
-so late as the first of Henry the fourth. (Rolls of Parl. vol. 3. p.
-424, b.)
-
-In the 18th of Edward the third, when the king was going-to France for
-the recovery of his rights, the grants by the Lords and Commons were
-quite distinct; the former to accompany him in the war, “les ditz grantz
-granterent de passer et lour aventurer ovesque lui;” the Commons
-granted, for the same cause, two fifteenths of the commonalty, and two
-tenths of the cities and boroughs. (Rolls of Parl. vol. 2. p. 150, b.)
-
-There are other grants in this reign by the Commons; 20th of Edward the
-third, (p. 159, b.) and 21st of Edward the third, (p. 166.) In the 22d
-of Edward the third, (p. 200.) the Commons grant an aid, after several
-days consideration, but under certain conditions. In the 29th of Edward
-the third, (p. 265, b.) there is a separate grant by the Commons.
-
-In the 40th of Edward the third, after the occasion of summoning the
-Parliament had been explained, the Lords and Commons were directed to
-depart, and to meet again on the day following, the Lords “en la Chambre
-Blanche,” and the Commons in the painted Chamber. (Vol. 2. p. 289.)
-
-In the 42d of Edward the third (p. 227, a.) a Petition of the Commons,
-and the answers thereto, were read in the Court of Requests, in the
-presence of the King, Lords, and Commons; and a statement was made to
-the king in this Parliament “par les Grantz et Communes,” by the Lords
-and Commons, all the former and many of the latter having dined with the
-king; after which John de la Lee was put on his defence before them in
-the said place.
-
-In the 50th of Edward the third, (p. 283.) the Commons profess the
-utmost loyalty and goodwill to the king; but add, that if he had
-faithful ministers about him, he must be rich enough to do without
-subsidies, especially considering the sums of money brought into the
-kingdom by the ransoms of the king of France, the king of Scotland, &c.
-They then proceed to the impeachment of a considerable number of
-persons.
-
-And in the 51st of Edward the third, (p. 363.) on the opening of the
-Parliament, the Commons were directed by the king to retire to their
-ancient place of meeting, in the Chapter House of the abbey of
-Westminster. To this record Lord Coke himself refers.
-
-It will be seen in the note p. 146, that Sir Thomas Hungerford is
-mentioned as Speaker of the House of Commons; and in the first of
-Richard the second, that Peter de la Mare was Speaker of the Commons.
-
-The second opinion of Lord Coke’s to which allusion has already been
-made, is, that if an act mentions only that the king enacts, and the
-Lords assent, without naming the Commons, the omission cannot be
-supplied by any intendment. Lord Coke expressly says, if an act be
-penned, that “the king with the assent of the Lords,” or “with the
-assent of the Commons,” it is no act of Parliament, for three ought to
-assent to it, the King, the Lords, and the Commons; or otherwise it is
-not an act of Parliament; and by the record of the act it is expressed
-which of them gave their assent; and that excludes all other intendments
-that any other gave their assent. (Lord Coke, 8th Report, p. 20, b.)
-
-How dangerous it would be to decide on the validity of our statutes, on
-such ground, will be seen by a single instance.
-
-The act of the first of Edward the sixth against exporting horses
-without a licence, after the recital in the preamble, runs thus; “For
-remedy whereof, be it therefore enacted by our sovereign lord the king,
-and by the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the
-authority of the same,”—the Lords being not once mentioned in the
-statute, which is accurately printed from the original act.
-
-Now it appears by the Lords’ Journals, (vol. 1. p. 303, a,) that this
-act had not only the assent of the House of Lords, but that it had its
-origin in that House, where it passed unanimously, (p. 306, a.) was
-returned from the Commons with a proviso, which was agreed to by the
-Lords, (p. 312, a.) and is in the Journals among the acts passed that
-session. (p. 313, a.)
-
-There has not been found in the Records, the slightest foundation for an
-opinion, that there was any election of representatives of the Commons
-earlier than the 49th of Henry the third, 1265, except in the entry
-respecting the borough of St. Alban’s, so often referred to by different
-writers. It is, however, certain that those who held _in capite_ of the
-king, were a necessary part of the great council, as early as king
-John’s time, when aids and escuage were to be granted to the sovereign.
-
-In the 52d of Henry the third, 1268, a parliament, or more properly a
-great council, of Barons only, was held at Marlborough, where the great
-charter was confirmed. The members of this parliament or council were
-such of the great Barons and Tenants _in capite_, as the king pleased to
-summon thereto.
-
-King Edward the first, at Easter, 1276, held a parliament at
-Westminster, of Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons, and
-_Commons_, wherein many excellent laws were made, called the Statutes of
-Westminster the first. It is proper to mention that the _Commons_ here
-spoken of, were not Knights of shires, or Burgesses, but the smaller
-Tenants who held in chief of the king, or Tenants _in capite_.
-
-It is generally said by our Historians, that the first time that any
-Citizens, or Burgesses were summoned to parliament by the king’s
-authority, was in the 23d year of king Edward the first, 1294, but the
-editors of the Parliamentary History (vol. 1. p. 87,) have shewn that
-the same king, in the eleventh year of his reign, 1283, called a
-parliament to be holden at Shrewsbury, on occasion of taking prisoner,
-David, brother of Llewellyn, prince of Wales, the latter having lately
-been killed in battle.
-
-The king in summoning this Parliament was more explicit than he had ever
-been before. The writs of summons are still extant. The first is
-directed to the Barons to meet the king at Shrewsbury, on the 30th of
-September. The second writ is directed to the sheriffs of every county
-in England, to cause to be chosen two Knights for the commonalty of the
-county, as also a third directed to the several cities and boroughs
-mentioned, and a fourth writ to the Judges.
-
-Mr. Tyrrell observes, that “neither Prynne nor Dr. Brady, with all their
-diligence, have taken any notice of these writs to summon this
-Parliament.
-
-“The writs were directed to all the Earls and Barons by name, to the
-number of 110; but the writs to the cities and boroughs are more
-remarkable, especially as they are the first upon record, requiring the
-attendance of the Knights of the shire, Citizens, and Burgesses, except
-those issued in the name of the late king Henry the third.”
-
-The cities and boroughs to which these writs were directed were the
-following:—Bristol, Canterbury, Carlisle, Colchester, Chester, Exeter,
-Grimsby, Hereford, Lynn, Lincoln, Newcastle (Tyne,) Norwich,
-Northampton, Nottingham, Scarborough, Shrewsbury, Winchester, Worcester,
-Yarmouth, (Norfolk) and York.
-
-In the 23d of Edward the third, 1294, a Parliament was summoned to meet
-at Westminster, and writs were sent to the several sheriffs of England
-to cause to be elected two Knights for each county, two Citizens for
-each city, and two Burgesses for each borough, to be at the said
-Parliament, to consent and agree to such things, as the Earls, Barons,
-and Peers of the Realm should ordain; and from this year is to be dated
-the first regular general summons of Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses to
-Parliament. It is proper to observe that in this Parliament, the Earls,
-Barons, and Knights of the several counties, sat, treated, and consulted
-altogether, and gave the king an eleventh part of all their moveable
-goods; the Citizens and Burgesses acted separately, and granted a
-seventh part of all their moveables.
-
-In the more early period of the history of the House of Commons, when
-the Parliament frequently sat only for a single day, the whole business
-being to grant the king a subsidy, it is probable that the Speaker might
-with more propriety be called the chairman, for sometimes one of the
-members was appointed to the chair, and sometimes another; some
-resolutions were ordered to be made by one member, and others to be
-reported by another.
-
-In the 19th of Edward the second, 1325, William Trussell was in the
-chair, when Hugh Spenser the younger was accused of Treason, in
-Parliament.
-
-In the 6th of Edward the First, the Commons made answer to the king by
-Sir Geoffrey le Scroop, and it was agreed by the king, and the whole in
-full Parliament, that certain Bishops and Peers named, should meet on
-the business in discussion by themselves; the other Prelates, Earls, and
-Barons, and the Proxies[40] by themselves; and the Knights of the shires
-and Commons by themselves. In the fifty first of the same king Sir
-Thomas Hungerfore was Speaker of the Commons.
-
-In the first of Richard the Second, 1377, Sir Peter de la Mare, knight
-of the shire for the county of Hereford, was Speaker of the Commons, as
-he had been in the last Parliament but one of Edward the Third. In the
-fifth of the former king, 1382, Sir Richard Waldegrave was chosen by the
-Commons to be their Speaker, who made an excuse, and desired to be
-discharged. He is the first Speaker that appears upon record to have
-made an excuse, but the king commanded him, upon his allegiance, to
-accept the office, seeing he had been chosen by the Commons.
-
-In the fifth of Henry the fourth, 1404, Sir Arnold Savage being chosen
-Speaker, after making an excuse, requested the king, in the name of the
-Commons, that they might freely make complaint of any thing amiss in the
-government, and that the king would not by the sinister information of
-any person take offence at that of which they should complain, which
-petition was granted by the king.
-
-In the seventh year of the same king, 1406, Sir John Tiptoft being
-chosen Speaker, made an excuse on account of his youth, which not being
-accepted, he requested that if any writing was delivered by the Commons,
-and they should desire to have it again, to amend or alter any thing
-therein, it might be restored to them, which was granted. Whilst he was
-Speaker, he signed and sealed in the name of the Commons the deed which
-entailed the crown upon Henry the fourth. This _young_ Speaker is said
-to have taken more upon him, and to have spoken more boldly and freely
-to the King and the Lords, than any before him, insomuch that his
-example being followed, the king gave a check to it, when Thomas
-Chaucer, Esq. was chosen Speaker in his room.
-
-In the 20th of Henry the sixth, 1450, the Commons presented Sir John
-Popham to the king as their Speaker, who making an excuse, it was
-received, and he was discharged, on which the Commons presented William
-Tresham, who had twice before been Speaker, who was accepted.
-
-In the 31st of the same king, 1453, Thomas Thorpe, Esq. Speaker of the
-House of Commons was arrested in execution at the suit of the Duke of
-York during the vacation between two sessions, and the opinion of the
-judges being demanded by the Lords, they refused to judge of the
-liberties of Parliament as not belonging to their jurisdiction,
-whereupon the Lords without their advice adjudged that the Speaker was
-not entitled to any privilege, which, on being-signified to the Commons,
-and also the king’s pleasure being made known to them that they should
-choose another Speaker, they chose Sir Thomas Charleton.
-
-In the 15th of Henry the eighth, 1523, Sir Thomas More, Chancellor of
-the Duchy of Lancaster, was chosen Speaker of the House of Commons. He
-made the usual protestation for himself, and prayed that if any member
-should in debate speak more largely than he ought, that he might be
-pardoned by the king, which was granted.
-
-In the first year of queen Elizabeth, 1559, Sir Thomas Gargrave was
-chosen Speaker; in his speech to the queen he made four requests, namely
-first, free access to her majesty; secondly, for liberty of speech;
-thirdly, privilege from arrests; and fourthly, that his mistakes might
-not prejudice the house.
-
-In Scotland the system of representation was not adopted till the reign
-of James the first, of that kingdom, in 1427. By an act of that year it
-was enacted, that “the king with consent of the whole council generally
-has statute and ordained that the small Barons and free Tenants need not
-to come to Parliaments nor general councils, so that of each sheriffdom
-there be sent, chosen at the head court of the sheriffdom, two or more
-wise men after the largeness of the sheriffdom, &c.”—Scottish Acts
-printed in 1682, p. 30.
-
-In Scotland the Lords and Commons unquestionably sat in the same House
-till the Union of the two kingdoms, and the Commissioner who represented
-the sovereign, debated with them from the throne, although he had the
-power, which he sometimes used, of adjourning the assembly when he
-pleased.
-
-Footnote 35:
-
- Several of these were men remarkable for their talents and learning:
- among whom were Petyt, Tyrrel, Sir Robert Filmer, Dr. Brady, Prynne,
- Rymer, &c. &c.
-
- Petyt and Prynne were keepers of the Records in the Tower; and Rymer,
- who was the king’s Historiographer, had a warrant not only to search
- the Records in every office in the kingdom, but to make copies of such
- as he should select for publication. How diligent he was in using this
- authority is evident from the invaluable collection of Records, &c.
- published by him, and from a large collection of others in manuscript,
- now in the Museum.
-
- Petyt makes a direct charge, and not unfounded, against Prynne, for an
- intended omission of a reference to the Rolls of Parliament (2d Hen.
- V. p. 2. No. 10.) in the Abridgment of the Rolls made by Sir Robert
- Cotton, and printed by Prynne.
-
- Even Sir Robert Atkyns, a man eminently distinguished for his
- integrity and learning, as well as for his deep research into the
- ancient History of Parliament, who had been a Judge of the Common
- Pleas, and was afterwards Chief Baron of the Exchequer and Speaker of
- the House of Lords, in his learned and elaborate argument in the year
- 1680, in the case of an information by the Attorney General against
- Williams, Speaker of the House of Commons, in asserting the antiquity
- of that House, fell into some mistakes, from not having resorted to
- the original records. He states, and insists much on it, that the
- Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Thomas Hungerford, 51 Edward III.
- was Speaker _of the Parliament_; whereas the words in the Record are,
- “Monsieur Thomas de Hungerford, Chivaler, q’i avoit les Paroles pur
- les Communes d’ Engleterre.” Rolls of Parl. vol. ii. p. 374, a. In the
- first of Richard the Second, the Speaker, Sir Robert says again, was
- termed the Speaker _of the Parliament_; the words in the Record are,
- “Mons. Pere de la Mare Chivaler q’avoit les Paroles de Par la
- Commune.”—Vol. iii. p. 5, 6.
-
- The same with respect to Sir John Bussey, 20 Richard II. The words in
- the Record are, “les Communes presenterent Mons. John Bussey pour leur
- Parlour.”—Page 338, a.—339, b.
-
-Footnote 36:
-
- In 1766, the late Thomas Astle, Esq. was consulted by the
- Sub-Committee of the House of Lords, concerning the printing of the
- Rolls of Parliament, and in 1768, on the death of Mr. Blyke, Mr. Astle
- introduced his father-in-law, the Rev. Philip Morant, author of the
- History of Essex, to succeed that gentleman in preparing the Rolls for
- the press. Mr. Morant died in November, 1770, after proceeding in them
- as far as the 16th of Henry the fourth, when Mr. Astle was appointed
- by the House of Lords to carry on the work, which he completed in
- 1775. They are printed in six volumes, _folio_.
-
-Footnote 37:
-
- Some reliance was placed by his Lordship on the Treatise “de Modo
- tenendi Parliamentum;” the authority of which, if not entirely
- destroyed by Prynne, will not at least in future have much
- weight.—Prynne’s Animadversions on 4 Inst. p. 1. to p. 8. and p. 331.
-
-Footnote 38:
-
- In the Parliament of the 18th of Edward the first there were no
- Citizens or Burgesses. There is a bundle of writs yet extant, by which
- this Parliament was summoned. They are directed to the sheriffs of
- several or most of the counties of England, by which two or three
- Knights were directed to be chosen for each county, and accordingly
- the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge and Huntingdon, and
- Cumberland returned each of them _three_ Knights, and the other
- counties two each. This Parliament gave the King a fifteenth of all
- their moveables as appears by the account of the same which is entered
- upon the Great Roll of the 23d of that king, in which account we have
- the style of this Parliament, namely, “The account of the fifteenth,
- granted to the king in his 18th year, by the Archbishops, Bishops,
- Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons, and _all others of the kingdom_,
- assessed, collected, and levied,” &c.
-
- We may here observe that the two or three Knights, chosen by the
- several counties, did represent those counties, and according to the
- form of the writ, consulted upon and consented to this grant of a
- fifteenth.
-
- So also in the 22d Edward the First there were neither Citizens nor
- Burgesses summoned to the Parliament of that year. On the 8th of
- October the king issued writs directed to every sheriff in England to
- cause two discreet Knights to be chosen for each county, with full
- powers, “so that for defect of such powers, the business might not
- remain undone.” And on the following day the king issued other writs
- to the sheriffs to cause to be elected two knights more, to be added
- to the former two, making four for each county, and these four Knights
- for each county, and the Earls, Barons, and Great Men, on the day of
- their meeting gave the king a tenth part of all their goods.
-
-Footnote 39:
-
- This was only a grant of forty shillings for every Knight’s fee.—See
- Rolls of Parliament, vol. 2, p. 112, a. hereinafter referred to in 14
- of Edward III.
-
-Footnote 40:
-
- Proxies in Parliament is a privilege appropriated to the Lords only;
- the first instance of a Proxy that occurs in the History of the
- English Parliament, is in the reign of Edward the first.
-
- In a Parliament at Westminster in the reign of Edward the second, the
- bishops of Durham and Carlisle were allowed to send their Proxies to
- Parliament.
-
- In the early period of the History of Parliament, the Lords were not
- obliged to make Barons only their Proxies as the custom now is; the
- Bishops and Parliamentary Abbots usually gave their letters of proxy
- to Prebendaries, Parsons, and Canons; but since the first year of king
- Henry the eighth, there appear in the journals no Proxies but such as
- were Lords of Parliament.
-
- In the 35th of king Edward the third, 1360, the following Peeres were
- summoned by writ to Parliament, to appear there by their Proxies,
- namely, Mary, Countess of Norfolk; Eleanor, Countess of Ormond; Anna,
- Baroness Despenser; Philippa, Countess of March; Joanna, Baroness
- Fitzwalter; Agneta, Countess of Pembroke; Mary de St. Paul, Countess
- of Pembroke; Margaret, Baroness de Roos; Matilda, Countess of Oxford;
- Catherine, Countess of Athol. These ladies were called _ad colloquium
- et tractatum_ by their Proxies.
-
-
-
-
- MOSAIC PAINTING.
-
-
-Mosaic is a representation of painting by means of small pebbles, or
-shells of sundry colours, and, of late years, with pieces of glass
-coloured at pleasure; it is an ornament of much beauty, and lasts for
-ages, and is mostly used in pavements and floors.
-
-The term _Mosaic_ is derived from the latin _musivum_, and ought to be
-pronounced _musaic_. It is odd enough that many persons have really
-fancied they could trace the etymology of this word to the name of the
-great Jewish legislator. It is well observed by Wotton that Mosaic has
-“long life;” and we have much to lament that, the art was not practised
-in ancient Rome with the perfection it has attained in modern Rome. Had
-Mosaic been applied to exact imitations of the pictures of Apelles,
-Zeuxis, and the great artists of ancient times, we should still have
-been the contemporaries of every fine genius, and a new polish had
-renewed their fading beauties, and restored them to immortal youth.
-
-Pliny has proved that the Greeks first practised Mosaic, and notices a
-curious work of the kind which was called “the unswept piece.” This
-singular performance exhibited to the eye, crumbs of bread and other
-things which fall from a table, so naturally imitated, that the eye was
-perfectly deceived, and it looked as if the pavement had never been
-swept; it was formed of small shells, painted of different colours.
-
-There were several pieces of Mosaic found in Herculaneum; one much
-resembled a Turkey carpet. The ancients probably gave in Mosaic some
-historical subjects, for there was also discovered the Rape of Europa,
-composed of small flints.
-
-Mosaic has been practised in Italy two thousand years; the manner of
-working it in that country is by copying in very small pieces of marble
-of different colours, every thing which a picture can be expected to
-imitate. Instead of common stones, too difficult to collect for so great
-a work, or which would require too much time to prepare and polish, the
-Italian artists sometimes have recourse to paste, that is to a
-composition of glass and enamel, which after passing through a crucible
-takes a brilliant colour. All these pieces are inlaid, and very thin,
-and their length is proportioned to their slenderness. They sometimes
-inlay a piece not thicker than a hair, and the artist afterwards
-arranges these pieces according to the colours and design of the picture
-before him. They are easily fixed in the stucco or plaster of Paris
-placed to receive them which soon hardens and dries. Such works are so
-solid that they are capable of resisting the assaults of time through
-ages. The Mosaic of St. Mark at Venice has existed above 900 years in
-perfect splendour and beauty.
-
-Several fine pieces of Roman Mosaic work have been discovered in England
-in the last and preceding centuries, particularly at Woodchester in
-Gloucestershire, and at Horkstow, in Lincolnshire, both of which have
-been elaborately described and engraved by the late Samuel Lysons, Esq.
-Others have been found at Winterton, Roxby, Scampton, and Denton, in the
-county of Lincoln; in Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire,
-Northamptonshire, &c. &c.
-
-Sir Christopher Wren intended to have beautified the inside of the
-Cupola of St. Paul’s Cathedral, instead of painting it in the manner in
-which it now appears, with the more durable ornament of Mosaic work, as
-is nobly executed in the Cupola of St. Peter’s at Rome. For this purpose
-he intended to have procured from Italy four of the most eminent artists
-in that profession; but as this art was a great novelty in England, and
-not generally understood, the plan did not receive the encouragement it
-deserved. It was thought also that the expense would prove too great,
-and the time very long in the execution; but though these and all other
-objections were fully answered, yet this excellent design was no further
-pursued.
-
-
-
-
- KING EGBERT.
-
-
-It is a generally received opinion, sanctioned by nearly every modern
-historian, that Egbert king of the West Saxons, having dissolved the
-Heptarchy, about the year 828, became the first sole monarch of England.
-This is, however, one of those historical points which it is more easy
-to assert than to confirm. There were undoubtedly many chief monarchs of
-the heptarchy, both before and after the time of Egbert, that sovereign
-himself having been one of those chief monarchs, but some of those petty
-kingdoms subsisted for nearly one hundred and twenty years after
-Egbert’s death. That this was the fact is proved both by their coins and
-their laws. Several of their coins are still to be found in the cabinets
-of the curious. Thus we find that in the kingdom of the East Angles,
-king Edmund, called the Saint, and Ethelstan, (Guthrun the Danish
-general being so named by Alfred at his baptism,) coined money, the
-first in 857, and the latter in 878. The kings of Mercia coined money
-until A. D. 874, and the kings of Northumberland till A. D. 950. In the
-last mentioned year, the kingdom of Northumberland, which included all
-the country north of the Humber, terminated, and England became one
-kingdom. It was again divided by Edwy, who began to reign in 959, so
-that Edgar may more justly be regarded as commencing the series of kings
-of all England. It may be proper here to remark that two kingdoms of the
-Heptarchy never coined any money; these were the kingdoms of the East
-Saxons and the South Saxons.
-
-Alfred was the first king that made a code of laws which was common to
-the whole kingdom. There were very few legislators among the Saxon
-Monarchs. The laws of Ethelbert, who died in 617, are the most ancient
-that we have. The next are those of Lothaire, 673; Edric, 684; and
-Wightred, 694; all of them kings of Kent. Ina, king of the West Saxons,
-688, and Offa king of the Mercians, 757, were the only other kings of
-the Heptarchy who formed any laws which have been preserved by
-historians. If it be objected that the people of the other kingdoms
-could not subsist without laws suited to the situation of their affairs,
-we may observe that the monarchs of those kingdoms received into their
-states and adopted the laws of the kings already mentioned. The laws of
-Ina were received by the other kings of the Heptarchy, and in one of the
-great councils held by Offa, king of Mercia, there were present the king
-of the East Saxons, the king of the West Saxons, the king of Kent, the
-king of Northumberland, and three kings of Wales.
-
-Alfred having conquered the Danes at Edington, and Guthrun their general
-and his principal officers having been baptized in the church of Aller,
-near Langport, in Somersetshire, Alfred concluded a treaty of peace with
-Guthrun, and gave him the kingdoms of East Anglia and Northumberland for
-himself and his Danes, appointing the boundaries of his dominions and
-giving him laws which were agreed to and confirmed by Alfred’s and
-Guthrun’s nobles. In all cases which were not provided for by this
-treaty, Guthrun consented that the Danes should observe the general laws
-of Alfred. This treaty was afterwards confirmed and enlarged by Edward
-the Elder, Alfred’s son, with the consent and approbation of his and
-Guthrun’s nobles.
-
-
-
-
- THE LATIN LANGUAGE.
-
-
-So sensible were the Romans of the influence of language over national
-manners, that it was their most serious care to extend, with the
-progress of their arms, the use of the latin tongue. The ancient
-dialects of Italy, the Sabine, the Etruscan, and the Venetian, sunk into
-oblivion; but the eastern were less docile than the western provinces to
-the voice of its victorious preceptors. This obvious difference marked
-the two portions of the empire with a distinction of character, which,
-though it was in some degree concealed during the meridian splendour of
-prosperity, became gradually more visible, as the shades of night
-descended upon the Roman world. The western countries were civilized by
-the same hands which subdued them. As soon as the barbarians were
-reconciled to obedience, their minds were opened to any new impressions
-of knowledge and politeness. The language of Virgil and Cicero, though
-with some inevitable mixture of corruption, was so universally adopted
-in Africa, Spain, Gaul, Britain and Pannonia, that the faint traces of
-the Punic or Celtic idioms were preserved only in the mountains or among
-the peasants. The Celtic was indeed preserved in the mountains of Wales,
-Cornwall, and Armorica; and it may here be observed that Apuleius
-reproaches an African youth, who lived among the populace, with the use
-of the Punic, whilst he had almost forgot Greek, and neither could nor
-would speak Latin. The greater part of St. Austin’s congregations were
-strangers to the Punic. Education and study insensibly inspired the
-natives of the countries just mentioned with the sentiments of Romans;
-and Italy gave fashions, as well as laws, to her latin provincials. They
-solicited with more ardour, and obtained with more facility, the freedom
-and honours of the state; supported the national dignity in letters and
-in arms; and at length in the person of Trajan, produced an Emperor whom
-the Scipios would not have disowned for their countryman. Spain alone
-produced Columella, the Senecas, Lucan, Martial, and Quinctilian.
-
-The situation of the Greeks was very different from that of the
-barbarians. The former had been long since civilized and corrupted. They
-had too much taste to relinquish their language, and too much vanity to
-adopt any foreign institutions. Still preserving the prejudices, after
-they had lost the virtues of their ancestors, they affected to despise
-the unpolished manners of the Roman conquerors, whilst they were
-compelled to respect their superior wisdom and power. The Greeks seemed
-to be entirely ignorant that the Romans had any good writers; and it is
-believed that there is not a single Greek critic, from Dionysius to
-Libanius, who mentions Virgil or Horace. Nor was the influence of the
-Grecian language and sentiments confined to the narrow limits of that
-once celebrated country. Their empire, by the progress of colonies and
-conquests, had been diffused from the Adriatic to the Euphrates and the
-Nile. Asia was covered with Greek cities, and the long reign of the
-Macedonian kings, had introduced a silent revolution into Syria and
-Egypt. In their pompous courts, those princes united the elegance of
-Athens with the luxury of the East, and the example of the court was
-imitated, at an humble distance, by the higher ranks of their subjects.
-Such was the general division of the Roman empire into the Latin and
-Greek languages.
-
-To these we may add a third distinction for the body of the natives in
-Syria, and especially in Egypt. The use of their ancient dialects, by
-secluding them from the commerce of mankind, checked the improvements of
-those barbarians. The slothful effeminacy of the former, exposed them to
-the contempt; the sullen ferociousness of the latter, excited the
-aversion of the conquerors. Those nations had submitted to the Roman
-power, but they seldom desired or deserved the freedom of the city; and
-it was remarked, that more than two hundred and thirty years elapsed
-after the ruin of the Ptolemys, before an Egyptian was admitted into the
-Senate of Rome, the first instance of which happened under the reign of
-Septimius Severus.
-
-
-
-
- Dr. HERSCHEL.
-
-
-In the History of Doncaster, written by Dr. Miller, we find the
-following account of the early years of this eminent astronomer:—
-
-“It will ever be a gratifying reflection to me,” says Dr. Miller, “that
-I was the first person by whose means this extraordinary genius was
-drawn from a state of obscurity. About the year 1760, as I was dining
-with the officers of the Durham militia, at Pontefract, one of them
-informed me, that they had a young German in their band, as a performer
-on the hautboy, who had been only a few months in this country, and yet
-spoke English almost as well as a native; that exclusively of the
-hautboy, he was an excellent performer on the violin, and if I chose to
-repair to another room, he should entertain me with a solo. I did so,
-and Mr. Herschel executed a solo of Giordani’s in a manner that
-surprised me. Afterwards I took an opportunity to have a little private
-conversation with him, and requested to know if he had engaged himself
-to the Durham militia for any long period? he answered, ‘No, only from
-month to month.’ Leave them then, said I, and come and live with me; I
-am a single man, and think we shall be happy together; doubtless your
-merit will soon entitle you to a more eligible situation. He consented
-to my request, and came to Doncaster. It is true, at that time, my
-humble mansion consisted but of two rooms; however, poor as I was, my
-cottage contained a small library of well chosen books; and it must
-appear singular, that a young German, who had been so short a time in
-England, should understand even the peculiarities of our language so
-well, as to adopt Dean Swift for his favourite author. I took an early
-opportunity of introducing him at Mr. Copley’s concert; and he presently
-began
-
- “Untwisting all the charms that tie
- ”The hidden soul of harmony.”
-
-For never before had we heard the concertos of Corelli, Geminiani, and
-Avison, or the overtures of Handel, performed more chastely, or more
-according to the original intention of the composers, than by Mr.
-Herschel. I soon lost my companion; his fame was presently spread
-abroad, he had the offer of scholars, and was solicited to lead the
-public concerts at Wakefield and Halifax.
-
-“About this time a new organ, for the parish church of Halifax, was
-built by Snetzler; which was opened with an oratorio, by the late
-well-known Joah Bates. Mr. Herschel, and six others, were candidates for
-the organist’s place. They drew lots how they were to perform in
-rotation. Herschel drew the third lot—the second performer was Mr.
-(afterwards Dr.) Wainwright, of Manchester, whose finger was so rapid,
-that old Snetzler, the organ builder, ran about the church
-exclaiming:—‘Te tevil, te tevil, he run over te keys like one cat, he
-will not give my pipes room for to shpeak!’ During Mr. Wainwright’s
-performance, I was standing in the middle aile with Herschel;—What
-chance have you, said I, to follow this man? He replied, ‘I do not know,
-I am sure fingers will not do.’ On which he ascended the loft, and
-produced from the organ such an uncommon fullness, such a volume of
-slow, solemn harmony, that I could by no means account for the effect.
-After this short extemporary effusion, he finished with the old
-hundredth psalm, which he played better than his opponent. ‘Aye, aye,’
-cried old Snetzler, ‘tish is very goot, very goot inteet; I will luf
-tish man, for he gives my pipes room for to shpeak!’ Having afterwards
-asked Herschel by what means, in the beginning of his performance he
-produced such an uncommon effect? he replied, ‘I told you fingers would
-not do,’ and producing two pieces of lead from his pocket, ‘one of
-these,’ said he, ‘I placed on the lowest key of the organ, and the other
-upon the octave above; thus by accommodating the harmony, I produced the
-effect of four hands instead of two. However, as my leading the concert
-on the violin, is their principal object, they will give me the place in
-preference to a better performer on the organ; but I shall not stay long
-here, for I have the offer of a superior situation at Bath, which offer
-I shall accept.’“
-
-
-
-
- PARODIES.
-
-
-The present use of this word is strictly consonant with that of the
-ancients, who applied it to the giving a ridiculous turn to passages in
-Homer and the tragic Poets. There are many in Aristophanes. One of the
-happiest modern instances is the parody of the speech of Sarpedon to
-Glaucus in the Rape of the Lock. The genealogy of Agamemnon’s sceptre is
-also parodied in the same poem, canto 5, v. 87.
-
-
-
-
- MOURNING FOR THE DEAD.
-
-
-In the Mosaic law the Israelites were commanded _not to cut themselves
-for the dead_. The original Hebrew has, however a more extensive meaning
-than cutting, and includes all assaults on their own persons, arising
-from immoderate grief, such as beating the breasts, tearing the hair,
-&c. which were commonly practised by the heathen, who had no hope of a
-resurrection, particularly by the Egyptians, which might afford a
-particular reason for the Mosaic prohibition. We may also observe, that
-among the Romans, it was ordained by one of the laws of the twelve
-tables, “Let not women tear their faces, or make lamentations at
-funerals,” which proves that this was the custom with the Romans,
-previously to making this law. No doubt the law itself was immediately
-borrowed from the Athenian code, of which it is a literal translation.
-
-The Priests of Baal, (1 Kings, ch. 18, v. 28.) assaulted themselves with
-knives and lances, which was indeed equivalent to cutting themselves.
-Nor was this frantic custom confined to the Priests of Baal; the
-_Galli_, and other devotees of the Syrian goddess, cut their arms, and
-scourged each others backs, according to Lucian. “Baal’s Priests”, says
-Dr. Leland, “were wont to cut and slash themselves with knives and
-lances. The same thing was practised in the worship of Isis, according
-to Herodotus, and of Bellona, as Lucan mentions. Many authors take
-notice of the solemnities of Cybele, the mother of the gods, whose
-priests in their sacred processions, made hideous noises and howlings,
-cutting themselves till the blood gushed out, as they went along.”
-
-
-
-
- GARRICK.
-
-
-The genius of Garrick seems to have been particularly calculated to
-introduce Shakespeare on the stage. He knew how to alter him so as to
-fit him for the audience of the present day, without divesting him of
-any of his excellencies, and the few additions he has ventured are in
-the spirit of the original. These Plays, so altered, are likely to keep
-possession of the theatre, while every other attempt at change or
-improvement are forgotten, except Cibber’s Richard the Third, and Tate’s
-Lear, which, with some correction of Garrick’s, are still acted, though
-the alteration of the last is directly in opposition to the precepts of
-Aristotle and Mr. Addison.
-
-Cibber, though versed in the province of the drama, which is perhaps
-essential to make a good dramatic writer, since the knowledge of stage
-effect is of great consequence, possessed a genius not above mediocrity;
-and Tate was a very indifferent poet. Yet there is a line in Cibber’s
-Richard, written by himself, so characteristic of the manner of his
-archetype, that it has often been cited as one of Shakespeare’s
-beauties. I mean the exclamation of Richard, on Buckingham’s being
-taken,
-
- “Off with his head! so much for Buckingham.”
-
-And I heard, says Mr. Pye, (Comment. on Aristotle,) Mr. Pitt, afterwards
-Lord Chatham, quote the following verse of Tate’s, in the House of
-Commons, undoubtedly taking it for Shakespeare’s,
-
- “Where the gor’d battle bleeds in every vein.”
-
-The tragedy of Hamlet was, by order of Mrs. Garrick, thrown into
-Garrick’s grave. Though he was undoubtedly great in that character, he
-was equally so in many of Shakespeare’s characters, and superior in
-Lear. The comic characters it is presumed were thought too light for so
-solemn an occasion. If by burying that tragedy with Garrick it was meant
-to infer that it was lost to the stage with him, a complete edition of
-Shakespeare might, with the utmost propriety have been interred with
-that inimitable actor.
-
-
-
-
- LEMONS.
-
-
-Theophrastus, who studied under Plato and Aristotle, says of lemons,
-that they were cultivated for their fragrance, not for their taste; that
-the peel was laid up with garments, to preserve them from moths; and
-that the juice was administered by physicians medicinally.
-
-Virgil in his second Georgic, describes agreeably the Lemon-tree. Pliny
-mentions the lemon-juice as an antidote; but says that the fruit, from
-its austere taste, was not eaten.
-
-Plutarch, who nourished within a generation of Pliny, witnessed the
-introduction of lemons at the Roman tables. Juba, king of Mauritania,
-was the first who exhibited them at his dinners. And Athenæus introduces
-Democritus as not wondering that old people made wry mouths at the taste
-of lemons; for, adds he, in my grandfather’s time, they were never set
-upon the table. And to this day the Chinese, who grow the fruit, do not
-apply it to culinary purposes.
-
-The great use of lemons began with the introduction of sugar, which is
-said to have resulted from the conquest of Sicily, by the Arabs, in the
-ninth century. Sestini, in his letters from Sicily and Turkey, thinks
-that the best sorts of lemons, and the best sorts of sherbet, were
-derived from Florence, by the Sicilians. Probably Rome continued, even
-in the dark ages, to be the chief seat of luxury and refinement; and had
-domesticated the art of making lemonade, before either Messina or
-Florence.
-
-In Madagascar slices of lemon are boiled, and eaten with salt.
-
-Pomet, in his History of Drugs, gives the preference over all others to
-the lemons of Madeira; but according to Ferrarius, there grows at the
-Cape a sweet lemon, to which he gives the name _incomparabilis_.
-
-
-
-
- ORIGIN OF THE POINT OF HONOUR.
-
-
-We meet with inexplicable enigmas in the codes of the laws of the
-barbarians. The law of the Frisians allowed only about the value of a
-farthing, by way of compensation, to a person who had been beaten with a
-stick; and yet for ever such a small wound it allows more. By the Salic
-law, if a freeman gave three blows with a stick to another freeman, he
-paid about three halfpence; if he drew blood, he was punished as if he
-had wounded him with steel, and he paid about seven-pence halfpenny;
-thus the punishment was proportioned to the greatness of the wound. The
-law of the Lombards established different compensations for one, two,
-three, four blows, and so on. At present a single blow is equivalent to
-a hundred thousand.
-
-The constitution of Charlemagne, inserted in the law of the Lombards,
-ordains, that those who were allowed the trial by combat, should fight
-with clubs. Perhaps this was out of regard to the clergy; or, probably,
-as the usage of legal duels gained ground, they wanted to render them
-less sanguinary. The capitulary of Louis the Pious, added to the Salic
-law in 819, allows the liberty of chusing to fight either with the sword
-or club. In process of time none but bondmen or slaves fought with the
-club.
-
-Here may be seen the first rise and formation of the particular articles
-of our point of honour. The accuser began with declaring, in the
-presence of the judge, that such a person had committed such an action,
-and the accused made answer that, _he lied_; upon which the judge gave
-orders for the duel. It became then an established rule, that whenever a
-person had the lie given him, it was incumbent on him to fight.
-
-Upon a man’s declaring he would fight, he could not afterwards depart
-from his word; if he did, he was condemned to a penalty. Hence this rule
-followed, that whenever a person had engaged his word, honour forbade
-him to recal it.
-
-Gentlemen fought one another on horseback, armed at all points; villans
-fought on foot, and with clubs.[41] Hence it followed, that the club was
-looked upon as the instrument of insults and affronts,[42] because to
-strike a man with it, was treating him like a villan.
-
-No one but villans fought with their faces uncovered;[43] so that none
-but they could receive a blow on the face. Therefore a box on the ear,
-became an injury that must be expiated with blood, because the person
-who received it, had been treated as a villan.
-
-The several people of Germany were not less sensible of the point of
-honour. The most distant relations took a very considerable share to
-themselves in every affront, and on this all their codes are founded.
-The law of the Lombards ordains, that whoever goes attended with
-servants to beat a man by surprize, in order to load him thereby with
-shame, and to render him ridiculous, should pay half the compensation,
-which he would owe if he had killed him; and if through the same motive
-he tied or bound him, he should pay three fourths of the same
-compensation.
-
-Footnote 41:
-
- The club was in use at the Norman Conquest, and in the succeeding
- ages. St. Louis had a band of Guards armed with clubs, and was himself
- very dextrous in the use of it.
-
- Pennant, in describing the customs of the ancient Bards and Minstrels
- of Wales, says, that the lowest of the musical tribe was the
- _Datceiniad pen pastwn_, or he that sung to the sound of his club,
- being ignorant of every other kind of instrument. When he was
- permitted to be introduced, he was obliged to stand in the middle of
- the hall, and sing his _cowydd_ or _awdl_, beating time, and playing
- the symphony with his _pastwn_ or club; but if there was a professor
- of music present, his leave must be first obtained before he presumed
- to entertain the company with this species of melody. Wherever he came
- he must act as a menial servant to the bard or minstrel.
-
-Footnote 42:
-
- Among the Romans it was not infamous to be beaten with a stick.
-
-Footnote 43:
-
- They had only the club and buckler.
-
-
-
-
- GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH.
-
-
-Geoffrey of Monmouth was the first person, after the conquest, who
-attempted to write any thing concerning the ancient history of Britain.
-Although the century, in which he lived, is known, yet neither his
-family, the time of his birth, nor the place of his education has been
-ascertained. We are only informed that he was born at Monmouth, and
-became archdeacon of that place, and that he was consecrated bishop of
-St. Asaph, in 1152, which he resigned to live in the monastery of
-Abingdon. By some writers he is called a monk of the Dominican order,
-but, according to Leland, without sufficient authority. Warton says that
-he was a Benedictine monk.
-
-The history which has made his name celebrated, is entitled _Chronicon
-sive Historia Britonum_. This history, written in the British or
-Armorican language, was brought into England by Walter Mapes, otherwise
-Calenius, archdeacon of Oxford, a learned man, and a diligent collector
-of histories. Travelling through France, about the year 1100, he
-procured in Armorica, this ancient chronicle, and, on his return,
-communicated it to Geoffrey, who, according to Warton, (History of
-English Poetry,) was an elegant Latin writer, and admirably skilled in
-the British tongue. Geoffrey, at the request and recommendation of
-Walter, translated this British chronicle into Latin, executing the
-translation with some degree of purity, and fidelity, insomuch that
-Matthew Paris speaking of him with reference to this history, says that
-he approved himself _Interpres verus_. With whatever fidelity the
-translation might be made, Geoffrey, however, was guilty of several
-interpolations, for he confesses that he took some part of his account
-of king Arthur’s achievements, from the mouth of his friend Walter, the
-archdeacon. He also owns that the account of Merlin’s prophecies was not
-in the Armorican original. The speeches and letters were his own
-forgeries, and in the description of battles, he has not scrupled to
-make frequent variations and additions.
-
-Geoffrey dedicated his translation to Robert, Earl of Gloucester,
-natural son of king Henry the first; this, however, did not protect him
-from the lash even of his contemporaries, for his fables, it appears,
-were soon discovered, and William Neubrigensis, who lived about the same
-time, in the beginning of the history which he wrote, thus speaks of
-him; “In these days a certain writer is risen, who has devised many
-foolish fictions of the Britons; he is named _Geoffrey_, and with what
-little shame, and great confidence does he frame his falsehoods.”
-William himself, however, did not escape censure for thus animadverting
-upon Geoffrey.
-
-It is difficult to ascertain at what period the original of Geoffrey’s
-history was compiled. The subject of it, when divested of its romantic
-embellishments, is a deduction of the Welsh princes, from the Trojan
-Brutus to Cadwallader, who reigned in the seventh century; and this
-notion of their extraction from the Trojans, had so infatuated the
-Welsh, that even so late as the year 1284, archbishop Peckham, in his
-injunctions to the diocese of St. Asaph, orders the people to abstain
-from giving credit to idle dreams and visions, a superstition which they
-had contracted from their belief in the dream of their founder Brutus,
-in the temple of Diana, concerning his arrival in Britain. The
-archbishop very seriously, advises them to boast no more of their
-relation to the conquered and fugitive Trojans, but to glory in the
-victorious cross of CHRIST.
-
-The Welsh were not singular in being desirous of tracing their descent
-from the Trojans, for several European nations were anciently fond of
-being considered as the offspring of that people. A French historian of
-the sixth century ascribes the origin of his countrymen to Francio, a
-son of Priam, and so universal was this humour, and to such an absurd
-excess of extravagance was it carried, that under the reign of
-Justinian, even the Greeks themselves were ambitious of being thought to
-be descended from their ancient enemies the Trojans. The most rational
-mode of accounting for this predilection, is to suppose, that the
-revival of Virgil’s Æneid, about the sixth or seventh century, which
-represents the Trojans as the founders of Rome, the capital of the
-supreme Pontiff, and a city on various other accounts in the early ages
-of christianity, highly reverenced and distinguished, occasioned an
-emulation in many other European nations of claiming an alliance to the
-same celebrated original. In the mean time it is not quite improbable,
-that as most of the European nations had become provinces of the Roman
-empire, those who fancied themselves to be of Trojan extraction might
-have imbibed this notion, or at least have acquired a general knowledge
-of the Trojan story from their conquerors, more especially the Britons,
-who continued so long under the Roman Government.
-
-Geoffrey produces Homer in attestation of a fact asserted in his
-history; but in such a manner as shews that he knew little more than
-Homer’s name, and was but imperfectly acquainted with Homer’s subject.
-Geoffrey says that Brutus having ravaged the province of Aquitaine with
-fire and sword, came to a place where the city of Tours now stands, _as
-Homer testifies_.
-
-This fable of the descent of the Britons from the Trojans was solemnly
-alleged as an authentic and undeniable proof in a controversy of great
-national importance by king Edward the first, and his nobility, without
-the least objection from the opposite party. It was in the famous
-dispute concerning the subjection of the crown of Scotland to that of
-England, about the year 1301. The allegations are contained in a letter
-to Pope Boniface, signed and sealed by the king and his lords. This is a
-curious instance of the implicit faith with which this tradition
-continued to be believed, even in a more enlightened age; and an
-evidence that it was equally credited in Scotland.
-
-As to the story of Brutus in particular, Geoffrey’s hero, it may be
-presumed, that his legend was not contrived, nor the history of his
-successors invented, until after the ninth century; for Nennius,[44] who
-lived about the middle of that century, not only speaks of Brutus with
-great obscurity and inconsistency, but seems totally uninformed as to
-every circumstance of the British affairs which preceded Cæsar’s
-invasion. There are other proofs that this piece could not have existed
-before the ninth century. Alfred’s Saxon translation of the Mercian law
-is mentioned; and Charlemagne’s twelve peers, by an anachronism not
-uncommon in romance, are said to be present at king Arthur’s magnificent
-coronation, in the city of Caerleon. It were easy to produce instances,
-that Geoffrey’s chronicle was, undoubtedly, framed after the legend of
-St. Ursula, the acts of St. Lucius, and the historical writings of
-Venerable Bede, had procured a considerable circulation in the
-neighbouring countries. At the same time it contains many passages which
-incline us to determine, that some parts of it, at least, were written
-after or about the eleventh century.
-
-Warton, (Hist. of Eng. Poetry, Dis. 1.) in order to prove these
-positions, says, that he will not insist on that passage, in which the
-title of legate of the apostolic see is attributed to Dubricius, in the
-character of the primate of Britain, as it appears for obvious reasons,
-to have been an artful interpolation of Geoffrey, who, it will be
-remembered, was an ecclesiastic. Other arguments present themselves,
-possessing more efficiency; Canute’s forest, or Cannock Wood, in
-Staffordshire, occurs, and Canute died in the year 1036.
-
-At the ideal coronation of king Arthur, just mentioned, a tournament is
-described, as exhibited in its highest splendour. “Many knights,” says
-this Armoric chronicler, “famous for feats of chivalry, were present,
-with apparel and arms of the same colour and fashion. They formed a
-species of diversion, in imitation of a fight on horseback, and the
-ladies being placed on the walls of the castles, darted amorous glances
-on the combatants. None of these ladies esteemed any knight worthy of
-her love, but such as had given proof of his gallantry, in three several
-encounters.” Here is the practice of chivalry, under the combined ideas
-of love and military prowess, as they seem to have subsisted after the
-feudal constitution had acquired greater degrees, not only of stability,
-but of splendour and refinement. And, although a species of tournament
-was exhibited in France, at the reconciliation of the sons of Lewis the
-Feeble, at the close of the ninth century, and at the beginning of the
-tenth, the coronation of the emperor Henry, was solemnized with martial
-entertainments, in which many parties were introduced fighting on
-horseback, yet it was long afterwards that these games were accompanied
-with the peculiar formalities, and ceremonious usages here described. In
-the mean time, we cannot answer for the innovations of a translator, in
-such a description. The burial of Hengist, the Saxon chief, who is said
-to have been interred not after the _Pagan_ fashion, as Geoffrey renders
-the words of the original, but after the _manner of the Soldans_, is
-partly an argument, that our romance was composed about the time of the
-Crusades. It was not till those memorable campaigns of mistaken
-devotion, had infatuated the western world, that the Soldans, or sultans
-of Babylon, of Egypt, of Iconium, and other eastern kingdoms, became
-familiar in Europe. Not that the notion of this piece, being written so
-late as the crusades, in the least invalidates the doctrine here
-delivered. Not even if we suppose that Geoffrey was its original
-composer. That notion rather tends to confirm, and establish this
-system.
-
-On the whole it may be affirmed, that Geoffrey’s chronicle, which is
-supposed to contain the ideas of the Welsh bards, entirely consists of
-Arabian inventions. And in this view no difference is made, whether it
-was compiled about the tenth century, at which time, if not before, the
-Arabians, from their settlements in Spain, must have communicated their
-romantic fables to other parts of Europe, especially to the French; or
-whether it first appeared in the eleventh century, after the crusades
-had multiplied these fables to an excessive degree, and made them
-universally popular. And although the general cast of the inventions,
-contained in this romance, is alone sufficient to point out the source
-from whence they were derived, yet it is thought proper to prove to a
-demonstration what is here advanced, by producing and examining some
-particular passages.
-
-The books of the Arabians and Persians abound with extravagant
-traditions about the giants Gog and Magog. These they call Jagiouge and
-Magiouge; and the Caucasian Wall, said to be built by Alexander the
-Great from the Caspian to the Black Sea, in order to cover the frontiers
-of his dominion, and to prevent the incursions of the Scythians, is
-called by the orientals the WALL OF GOG AND MAGOG. One of the most
-formidable giants, according to our Armorican Romance, who opposed the
-landing of Brutus in Britain, was Goemagot. He was twelve cubits high,
-and would uproot an oak as easily as a hazel wand; but after a most
-obstinate encounter with Corinæus, he was tumbled into the sea from the
-summit of a steep cliff on the rocky shores of Cornwall, and dashed in
-pieces against the huge crags of the declivity. The place where he fell,
-adds our historian, taking its name from the giants fall, is called SAM
-GOEMAGOT, or GOEMAGOT’S LEAP to this day. A no less monstrous giant,
-whom king Arthur slew on St. Michael’s mount in Cornwall, is said by
-this fabler to have come from Spain. Here the origin of these stories is
-evidently betrayed. The Arabians, or Saracens, as has been before
-hinted, had conquered Spain, and were settled there. Arthur having
-killed this redoubted giant, declares, that he had combated with none of
-equal strength and prowess, since he overcame the mighty giant, Rytho,
-on the mountain Arabius, who had made himself a robe of the beards of
-the kings whom he had killed. A magician brought from Spain is called to
-the assistance of Edwin a prince of Northumberland, educated under
-Solomon king of the Armoricans. In the prophecy of Merlin, delivered to
-Vortigern, after the battle of the Dragons, forged perhaps by the
-translator Geoffrey, yet apparently in the spirit and manner of the
-rest, we have the Arabians named, and their situations in Spain and
-Africa. “From Conan shall come forth a wild boar, whose tusks shall
-destroy the oaks of the forests of France. The ARABIANS and AFRICANS
-shall dread him; and he shall continue his rapid course into the most
-distant parts of Spain.” This is king Arthur. In the same prophecy,
-mention is made of the “Woods of Africa.” In another place Gormund, king
-of the Africans occurs. In a battle which Arthur fights against the
-Romans, some of the principal leaders in the Roman army are Alifantinam,
-king of Spain; Pandrasus, king of Egypt; Broccus, king of the Medes;
-Evander, king of Syria; Micipsa, king of Babylon; and a Duke of Phrygia.
-
-The old fictions about Stonehenge were derived from the same
-inexhaustible source of extravagant imagination. We are told in this
-Romance, that the giants conveyed the stones which compose this
-miraculous monument from the farthest coasts of Africa. Every one of
-these stones is supposed to be mystical, and to maintain a medicinal
-virtue; an idea drawn from the medical skill of the Arabians, and more
-particularly from the Arabian doctrine of attributing healing qualities,
-and other occult properties to stones. Merlin’s transformation of Uther
-into Gorlois, and of Ulfin into Bricel, by the power of some medical
-preparation is a species of Arabian magic, which professed to work the
-most wonderful deceptions of this kind. The attributing of prophetical
-language to birds was common among the Orientals, and an eagle is
-supposed to speak at building the walls of the city of Paladur, now
-Shaftesbury.
-
-The Arabians cultivated the study of Philosophy, particularly Astronomy,
-with amazing ardour. Hence arose the tradition, reported by our
-historian, that in king Arthur’s reign, there subsisted at Carleon in
-Glamorganshire, a college of two hundred philosophers, who studied
-astronomy and other sciences; and who were particularly employed in
-watching the courses of the stars, and predicting events to the king
-from their observations. Edwin’s Spanish magician above mentioned, by
-his knowledge of the flight of birds, and the courses of the stars, is
-said to fortel future disasters. In the same strain, Merlin
-prognosticates Uther’s success in battle by the appearance of a comet.
-The same Enchanter’s _wonderful skill in mechanical powers_, by which he
-removes the Giant’s Dance, or Stonehenge, from Ireland into England, and
-the notion that this stupendous structure was raised by a PROFOUND
-PHILOSOPHICAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE MECHANICAL ARTS, are founded on the
-Arabian literature. To which we may add king Bladud’s magical
-operations. Dragons are a sure mark of orientalism. One of these in our
-Romance is a “terrible dragon flying from the west, breathing fire, and
-illuminating all the country with the brightness of his eyes.” In
-another place we have a giant mounted on a winged dragon; the dragon
-erects his scaly tail, and wafts his rider to the clouds with great
-rapidity.
-
-Arthur and Charlemagne are the first and original heroes of Romance. And
-as Geoffrey’s history is the grand repository of the acts of Arthur, so
-a fabulous history ascribed to Turpin is the ground work of all the
-chimerical legends which have been related concerning the conquests of
-Charlemagne and his twelve Peers. In these two fabulous chronicles the
-foundations of romance seem to be laid. The principal characters, the
-leading subjects, and the fundamental fictions which have supplied such
-ample matter to this singular species of composition, are here first
-displayed. And although the long continuance of the Crusades imported
-innumerable inventions of a similar complexion, and substituted the
-achievements of new champions, and the wonders of other countries, yet
-the tales of Arthur and Charlemagne, diversified indeed, or enlarged
-with additional embellishments, still continued to prevail, and to be
-the favourite topics; and this, partly from their early popularity,
-partly from the quantity and the beauty of the fictions with which they
-were at first supported, and especially because the design of the
-Crusades had made those subjects so fashionable in which Christians
-fought with Infidels. In a word these volumes are the first specimens
-extant in this mode of writing. No European history before these has
-mentioned giants, enchanters, dragons, and the like monstrous and
-arbitrary fictions. And the reason is obvious; they were written at a
-time when a new and unnatural mode of thinking took place in Europe,
-introduced by our communication with the East.
-
-Geoffrey, in his chronicle, gives a genealogy of the kings of Britain,
-from the days of Brutus, including a list of seventy monarchs, who
-governed this island, previously to the invasion of Julius Cæsar. This
-list is very distinct and plain, but bears so many marks of invention,
-either of himself, or of the author, from whom he translated his
-chronicle, that it has long since been treated as a mere fiction. With
-respect to the story of Brutus, the bishop of St. Asaph is of opinion,
-that this forgery was intended to pass off the English kings, as being
-as nobly descended as the kings of other nations, by drawing their
-descent from the Trojans, according to the belief of the age in which
-the author lived. Sir William Temple, in his introduction to the History
-of England, (p. 19.) accounts the story of Brutus, as a fabulous
-invention.
-
-Bishop Nicolson (Hist. Libr. p. 37.) says, that the best defence that
-can be made for Geoffrey’s history, is that which was written by Sir
-John Price, and published at London, in quarto, in 1573, under the title
-of _Historiæ Britannicæ Defensio_. This was dedicated by the author, to
-Lord Burleigh. (See Herbert’s Ames, vol. 2. p. 935, 1056.)
-
-The chronicle of Geoffrey of Monmouth, has occasioned a long
-controversy, and divided the learned world as much as any other work
-given to the public. By some it has been treated as a forgery imposed
-upon the world by Geoffrey himself, whilst by others the ground work is
-considered as true, although the history, like most monkish writings, is
-mixed with childish fables and legendary tales.
-
-The controversy has now been some time finally decided, and the best
-Welsh critics allow that Geoffrey’s work was a vitiated translation of
-the history of the British kings, written by Tyssilio, or St. Telian,
-bishop of St. Asaph, who flourished in the seventh century. Geoffrey in
-his work omitted many parts, made considerable alterations, additions,
-and interpolations, latinised many of the British appellations, and in
-the opinion of a learned Welshman,[45] (Lewis Morris) metaphorically
-murdered Tyssillio. We may therefore conclude that Geoffrey ought not to
-be cited as historical authority any more than Amadis de Gaul, or the
-Seven Champions of Christendom.
-
-Geoffrey’s historical Romance, however, has not only been versified by
-monkish writers, but has supplied some of our best poets with materials
-for their sublime compositions. Spenser in the second book of his
-“Fairie Queene” has given
-
- “A Chronicle of Briton kings
- ”From Brute to Arthur’s rayne;“
-
-in which he has adorned the genealogy with poetical images, and
-introduces it with a sublime address to queen Elizabeth, who was proud
-of tracing her descent from the British line.
-
-In this historical romance is also to be found, the affecting history of
-Leir, king of Britain, the eleventh in succession after Brutus, who
-divided his kingdom between Goneriller and Regan, his two elder
-daughters, and disinherited his younger daughter, Cordeilla. Being
-ungratefully treated by his elder daughters, he was restored to the
-crown by Cordeilla, who espoused Aganippus, king of the Franks. From
-this account Shakespeare selected his incomparable tragedy of king Lear;
-but improved the pathos by making the death of Cordeilla, which name he
-softened after the example of Spenser into Cordelia, precede that of
-Lear, whilst in the original story, the aged father is restored to his
-kingdom, and survived by Cordeilla.
-
-Milton seems to have been particularly fond of Geoffrey’s tales,[46] to
-which he was indebted for the beautiful fiction of Sabrina in the mask
-of Comus. In his youth he even formed the design of making the early
-period of the British history, from Brutus to Arthur, the subject of an
-Epic Poem. The poetical language of Milton was peculiarly suited to this
-species of romance; he would have exalted the legends of Geoffrey, and
-enriched with the finest imagery the incantations and prophecies of
-Merlin, the heroic deeds of Vortimer, Aurelius, and Uther Pendragon.
-
-The fables of Geoffrey have been clothed in rhyme by Robert of
-Gloucester, a monk of the abbey of Gloucester. He has left a poem of
-considerable length, which is a history of England in verse, from Brutus
-to the reign of Edward the first. His rhyming chronicle is, however,
-destitute either of art or imagination, and Geoffrey’s prose, frequently
-has a more poetical air than this author’s verses. It was evidently
-written after the year 1278, as the poet mentions king Arthur’s
-sumptuous tomb, erected in that year, before the high altar of
-Glastonbury abbey, and he declares himself a living witness of the
-remarkably dismal weather which distinguished the day on which the
-battle of Evesham was fought in the year 1265. From these and other
-circumstances this piece appears to have been composed about the year
-1280. It is full of Saxonisms, which indeed abound more or less, in
-every writer before Gower and Chaucer.
-
-Geoffrey was also copied by an old French poet, called Maister Wace, or
-Gasse, from which Robert de Brunne in his metrical chronicle of England
-translated that part which extends from Æneas to the death of
-Cadwallader. Wace’s poem is commonly called Roman de Rois d’Angleterre,
-and is esteemed one of the oldest of the French Romances.
-
-With respect to the materials this chronicle has afforded to other
-writers, I will here give an instance or two.
-
-Tyrrel, in his history of England, acknowledges that his first book is
-an epitome of Geoffrey’s pretended history; but at the same time says
-that if it had not been more for the diversion of the younger sort of
-readers, and that the work would have been thought to be imperfect
-without it, he should have been much better satisfied in wholly omitting
-it.
-
-In the preface to Stow’s chronicle, (folio, 1631) the editor observes
-that Neubrigensis had written several invectives against Geoffrey, but
-more out of spleen than judgment. He charges that writer with
-maliciously endeavouring to destroy the credit of Geoffrey, because he
-himself having been a supplicant for the bishoprick of St. Asaph, had
-been rejected by the Prince of Wales, and had thus become the opponent
-of the Welsh history. His observations, Stow says, have been confuted by
-Sir John Price, Dr. Powel, and also by Lambard, in his perambulations of
-Kent. Stow then mentions John of Whethamsted, Polydore Virgil, and
-others, who have written against Geoffrey, and afterwards enumerates a
-long list of writers, as having uniformly supported him, or in other
-words, who have copied his history into their own chronicles.—Hume
-occasionally refers to Geoffrey, as an authority for some matters
-respecting the Saxon period of his history.
-
-The History of Geoffrey was printed at Paris, in quarto, in 1508, and
-again in the same size, by Ascensius, in 1517. It was also printed with
-five other British historians, in folio, at Leyden, in 1587. Ponticus
-Virunnius, an Italian author, made an abridgment of it, in six books,
-which was printed at London, by Powel, in 1585, and also in the edition
-just mentioned.
-
-A translation of Geoffrey’s chronicle was made by Aaron Thompson, and
-published at London in 1718, to which was prefixed a long preface,
-relating to the authority of the history. Thompson’s vindication of his
-author is elaborately written, and he defends him with great skill and
-learning; but after refuting the charge of forgery, he has failed in his
-attempt to establish Geoffrey’s work as an historical performance, for
-he himself invalidates its authority, by acknowledging that it was only
-such an irregular account, as the Britons were able to preserve in those
-times of destruction and confusion, with the addition of some romantic
-tales, which indeed might be traditions among the Welsh, and such as
-Geoffrey might think entertaining stories for the credulity of the
-times.
-
-Thompson, in his preface, says that in making his translation, he used
-two editions of Geoffrey. The first was the Paris edition of Ascensius,
-1517, which abounds with abbreviations of words, sometimes rendering
-their reading ambiguous. The other was the edition of Commeline, printed
-in the year 1587, which is much the most correct. These two were printed
-from different manuscripts, and there is a considerable variation
-between them, especially in the orthography of persons and places. This
-observation extends to the several ancient abridgments of Geoffrey, by
-Alfred of Beverley, Ralph Diceto, Matthew of Westminster, Ralph Higden,
-and Ponticus Virunnius.
-
-Footnote 44:
-
- Nennius lived in the ninth century, and is said to have left behind
- him several treatises, of which all that has been published is the
- history, which was printed for the first time in Dr. Gale’s Collection
- of British Historians, published at Oxford in 1687 and 1691, in 2
- vols. folio. Leland mentions an ancient copy of Nennius’s history,
- which he says he borrowed from Thomas Solme, Secretary for the French
- language to king Henry the eighth, in the margin of which were the
- additions of _Sam. Beaulanius_, or _Britannus_. He has transcribed
- several of these marginal annotations, which as it appears, were
- afterwards inserted in the body of the history, and were printed in
- that manner by Dr. Gale. The Doctor in his notes, mentions Beaulanius
- as the Scholiast on the copy which he used, but Leland has a great
- many other things, as extracts out of Beaulanius, which Dr. Gale does
- not mention to be only in the Scholion. There is also in the Bodleian
- Library a manuscript of Nennius apparently nearly 600 years old, in
- which the prefaces and all the interpolations, which Leland says are
- by Beaulanius, are wanting.
-
- Professor Bertram, of Copenhagen, published in the year 1757,
- “Britannicarum gentium Historiæ Antiquæ Scriptores tres; Ricardus
- Corinensis, Gildas Badonicus, Nennius Banchorensis: recensuit,
- notisque et indice auxit Carolus Bertramus, S. A. Lond. Soc. &c.
- Havniæ, 1757.” 8vo. The Professor followed Dr. Gale’s edition of
- Gildas and Nennius, but in the latter he has distinguished the
- interpolations of Beaulanius from the genuine text. Mr. Gough, (Brit.
- Topogr. vol. 1. p. 15.) mentions Mr. Evan Evans having been long
- preparing a new edition of Nennius, from the Bodleian and other
- manuscripts.
-
-Footnote 45:
-
- Cambrian Register, 1795, p. 947.
-
-Footnote 46:
-
- In 1670, Milton published his History of England, comprising the whole
- fable of Geoffrey, and continued to the Norman Invasion. Why he should
- have given the first part, which he seems not to have believed, and
- which is universally rejected, it is difficult to conjecture. The
- style is harsh, but it has something of rough vigour, which perhaps
- may often strike, though it cannot please. On this history, the
- licenser fixed his claws, and before he would transmit it to the
- press, tore out several parts. Some censures of the Saxon Monks were
- taken away, lest they should be applied to the modern Clergy; and a
- character of the Long Parliament and Assembly of Divines, was
- excluded; of which the Author gave a copy to the Earl of Anglesea, and
- which being afterwards published, has been since inserted in its
- proper place.—_Johnson’s Lives of the Poets, Art. Milton._
-
-
-
-
- LIFTING UP THE HAND IN SWEARING.
-
-
-We find this significant ceremony of lifting up the hand in swearing,
-practised by the Greeks and Trojans. Thus Agamemnon swears in Homer,
-(Iliad, 7, 412)
-
- “To all the gods his sceptre he uplifts.”
-
-And Dolon requiring an oath of Hector, (Iliad, 10, 321)
-
- “But first exalt thy sceptre to the skies,
- ”And swear——“
-
-So in Virgil, (Æn. 12, 196) we find Latinus, when swearing, looking up
-to heaven, and stretching his right hand to the stars.
-
-And we even meet with traditionary traces of their gods swearing in like
-manner. Thus Apollo, in Pindar, orders Lachesis, one of the Fates, to
-lift up her hands and not violate the great oath of the gods.
-
-Giving one’s hand _under_, or to another was a token of submission. It
-was acknowledging his own power subject to that of the other. In this
-manner all the princes submitted to Solomon, (1 Chron. 29, 24) and
-Hezekiah commands the children of Israel, (2 Chron. 30, 8) to give the
-hand to JEHOVAH, that is to submit themselves and ascribe the power and
-the glory to him.
-
-Homage is still performed in many places by the homager’s kneeling down
-and putting his hands between those of his lord, then taking an oath of
-fealty to him; after which they kiss each other’s cheek, in token of
-friendship and fidelity.
-
-Giving the hand, was also a token of promising; it was a kind of staking
-their active powers for the performance of some promise or engagement.
-(See Ezra, 10, 19.)
-
-The joining or taking of hands, among the ancients, betokened
-confederacy, or confirmation of some promise. This is illustrated by
-Homer’s expression, (Iliad, 21, 286) where Neptune and Minerva appear to
-Achilles, in a human shape, and confirm their promise, by taking his
-hand in their’s. So (Iliad, 6, 233) Glaucus and Diomed took hold of each
-other’s hands, and plighted their faith. On which line, Eustathius
-remarks, they plighted their faith to each other, by the accustomed
-ceremony of joining their right hands.[47]
-
-We observe the same mode of joining hands in our marriage ceremony; and
-the custom of shaking hands, has also reference to some engagement for
-the future, as well as being a token of friendship and amity.
-
-Footnote 47:
-
- Parkhurst’s Heb. Lex. 271.
-
-
-
-
- VILLIERS, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.
-
-
-A treaty of marriage between Charles, prince of Wales, (afterwards
-Charles I.) and the Infanta of Spain, having been a long time in
-agitation, Buckingham, in 1623, persuaded Prince Charles to make a
-journey into Spain, and to fetch home his mistress, the Infanta, by
-representing to him, how brave and gallant an action it would be, and
-how soon it would put an end to those formalities, which, though all
-substantial matters were already agreed upon, might yet retard her
-voyage to England many months. It is suggested by Lord Clarendon, that
-Buckingham’s motive for this journey, was an unwillingness that the Earl
-of Bristol, the ambassador in Spain, should have the sole honour of
-concluding the treaty of marriage. However, the king was vehemently
-against this journey, and indeed with good reason; but the solicitations
-of the prince, and the impetuosity of Buckingham, prevailed.
-
-It appears that Buckingham, during his stay in Spain, behaved with great
-insolence to the Earl of Bristol, the English ambassador at that court.
-In a letter, written by the Earl to king James, we have the following
-particulars:—“Let your Majesty call some certain men unto you, and sift
-out of them the opinion of the more moderate parliament-men; and enquire
-of those that come out of Spain, who did give the first cause of falling
-out? Whether the Duke of Buckingham did not many things against the
-authority and reverence due to the Prince? Whether he was not wont to be
-sitting, whilst the Prince stood, and was in presence; and also to have
-his feet resting upon another seat, after an indecent manner? Whether,
-when the Prince was uncovered whilst the Queen and Infanta looked out at
-the window, he uncovered his head or not? Whether, sitting; at table
-with the prince, he did not behave himself unreverently? Whether he were
-not wont to come into the prince’s chamber, with his clothes half on, so
-that the doors could not be opened to them that came to visit the prince
-from the king of Spain, the door-keepers refusing to go in for modesty
-sake? Whether he did not call the prince by ridiculous names? Whether he
-did not dishonour and profane the king’s palace with base and
-contemptible women? Whether he did not divers obscene things, and used
-not immodest gesticulations, and wanton tricks with players in the
-presence of the prince? Whether he did not violate his faith to the Duke
-d’Olivarez, the Spanish prime minister? Whether he did not presently
-communicate his discontents, offences, and complaints, to the
-ambassadors of other princes? Whether in doing of his business, he did
-not use frequent threatenings unto the catholic king’s ministers, and to
-apostolical nuncios? Whether he did not affect to sit at plays presented
-in the king’s palace, after the manner and example of the king and
-prince, being not contented with the honour that is ordinarily given to
-the high steward or major-domo of the king’s house?”
-
-There is sufficient reason for believing, that most of these queries may
-be answered in the affirmative.
-
-
-
-
- KING ARTHUR.
-
-
-In a century (A.D. 400 to A.D. 500) of perpetual, or at least implacable
-war, much courage, and some skill, must have been exerted for the
-defence of Britain, on the departure of the Roman legions, against the
-Saxon invaders. Yet if the memory of its champions is almost buried in
-oblivion, we need not repine; since every age, however destitute of
-science or virtue, sufficiently abounds with acts of blood and military
-renown. The tomb of Vortimer, the son of Vortigern, was erected on the
-margin of the sea-shore, as a landmark formidable to the Saxons, whom he
-had thrice vanquished in the fields of Kent. Ambrosius Aurelian was
-descended from a noble family of Romans, his modesty was equal to his
-valour, and his valour, till the last fatal action, was crowned with
-splendid success. But every British name is effaced by the illustrious
-name of ARTHUR, the hereditary prince of the Silures, who inhabited
-South Wales, and the elective king or general of the nation. According
-to the most rational accounts, he defeated, in twelve successive
-battles, the Angles of the North, and the Saxons of the West; but the
-declining age of the hero was embittered by popular ingratitude and
-domestic misfortunes. The events of his life are less interesting, than
-the singular revolutions of his fame. During a period of five hundred
-years the tradition of his exploits was preserved, and rudely
-embellished, by the obscure bards of Wales and Armorica, who were odious
-to the Saxons, and unknown to the rest of mankind. The pride and
-curiosity of the Norman conquerors, prompted them to enquire into the
-ancient history of Britain; they listened with fond credulity to the
-tale of Arthur, and eagerly applauded the merit of a prince, who had
-triumphed over the Saxons, their common enemies. His romance,
-transcribed in the latin of Geoffrey of Monmouth, and afterwards
-translated into the fashionable idiom of the times, was enriched with
-the various, though incoherent ornaments, which were familiar to the
-experience, the learning, or the fancy of the twelfth century. The
-progress of a Phrygian colony from the Tyber to the Thames, was easily
-engrafted on the fable of the Æneid; and the royal ancestors of Arthur
-derived their origin from Troy, and claimed their alliance with the
-Cæsars, His trophies were decorated with captive provinces and imperial
-titles; and his Danish victories avenged the recent injuries of his
-country. The gallantry and superstition of the British hero, his feasts
-and tournaments, and the memorable institution of his knights of the
-_round table_, were faithfully copied from the reigning manners of
-chivalry, and the fabulous exploits of Uther’s son, appear less
-incredible than the adventures which were achieved by the enterprising
-valour of the Normans. Pilgrimage and the holy wars, introduced into
-Europe the specious miracles of Arabian magic. Fairies and giants,
-flying dragons, and enchanted palaces, were blended with the more simple
-fictions of the west; and the fate of Britain depended on the art, or
-the predictions of Merlin. Every nation embraced and adorned the popular
-romance of Arthur and the knights of the round table: their names were
-celebrated in Greece and Italy; and the voluminous tales of Sir Lancelot
-and Sir Tristram were devoutly studied by the princes and nobles, who
-disregarded the genuine heroes and historians of antiquity. At length
-the light of science and reason was rekindled; the talisman was broken;
-the visionary fabric melted into air, and by a natural, though unjust
-reverse of the public opinion, the severity of the present age is
-inclined to question even the _existence_ of Arthur.
-
-
-
-
- ALCHEMY.
-
-
-About the year 296, the Emperor Diocletian published a very remarkable
-edict which instead of being condemned as the effect of jealous tyranny,
-deserves to be applauded as an act of prudence and humanity. He caused a
-diligent enquiry to be made for all the ancient books which treated of
-the art of making gold and silver, and without pity committed them to
-the flames; apprehensive, it is remarked, lest the opulence of the
-Egyptians should inspire them with confidence to rebel against the
-empire. But if Diocletian had been convinced of the reality of that
-valuable art, far from extinguishing the memoirs, he would have
-converted the operation of it to the benefit of the public revenue. It
-is much more likely, that his good sense discovered to him the folly of
-such magnificent pretensions, and that he was desirous of preserving the
-reason and fortunes of his subjects from the mischievous pursuit. It may
-be remarked that these ancient books, so liberally ascribed to
-Pythagoras, to Solomon, or to Hermes, were the pious frauds of more
-recent adepts. The Greeks were inattentive either to the use or to the
-abuse of chemistry. In that immense register, where Pliny has deposited
-the discoveries, the arts, and the errors of mankind, there is not the
-least mention of the transmutation of metals, and the persecution of
-Diocletian is the first authentic event in the history of Alchemy. The
-conquest of Egypt by the Arabs diffused that vain science over the
-globe. Congenial to the avarice of the human heart, it was studied in
-China as in Europe, with equal eagerness, and with equal success. The
-darkness of the middle ages ensured a favourable reception to every tale
-of wonder, and the revival of learning gave new vigour to hope, and
-suggested more specious arts of deception. Philosophy, with the aid of
-experience, has at length banished the study of alchemy; and the present
-age, however desirous of riches, is content to seek them by the humbler
-means of commerce and industry.
-
-
-
-
-ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL NOBLE FAMILIES IN ENGLAND WHO OWE THEIR ELEVATION TO
- THE PEERAGE TO THEIR ANCESTORS HAVING BEEN ENGAGED IN TRADE.
-
-
-It is a striking and peculiar feature in the constitution of England,
-that men who render themselves eminent in the liberal sciences, in the
-arts, or in commerce, frequently find their pursuits conduct them to a
-high degree of rank and estimation in the state; and the sovereign has,
-in numerous instances, conferred the honour of the Peerage on certain
-individuals, who have contributed by their abilities to enlarge and
-promote the manufactures and commerce of the nation. Among the families
-whose ancestors have deserved well of their country, and who owe their
-elevation to the Peerage to their forefathers having been engaged in
-trade, the following are honourable instances.
-
-The EARLS OF COVENTRY are descended from John Coventry, son of William
-Coventry, of the city of that name. The former was an opulent mercer,
-and resided in London, of which city he was Lord Mayor in 1425, and one
-of the executors of the celebrated Whittington. He was a resolute and
-determined magistrate, and was highly commended for his spirited
-interference in the dreadful quarrel between Humphrey Duke of
-Gloucester, and the insolent Cardinal Beaufort, which he successfully
-quelled.
-
-The family of RICH, Earls of Warwick and Holland, arose from Richard
-Rich, an opulent mercer, sheriff of London in the year 1441. His
-descendant, Richard, was distinguished by his knowledge of the law;
-became Solicitor General in the reign of king Henry the eighth, and
-treacherously effected the ruin of Sir Thomas More; was created a baron
-of the realm in the reign of Edward the sixth, and became Lord
-Chancellor by the favour of the same monarch.
-
-The HOLLES’S, Earls of Clare, and afterwards Dukes of Newcastle, sprung
-from Sir William Holles, Lord Mayor of London in 1540, son of William
-Holles, citizen and baker. His great-grandson was the first who was
-called to the House of Peers, in the reign of James the first, by the
-title of Lord Haughton, and soon after was advanced to the dignity of
-Earl of Clare. The fourth peer of that title was created by king
-William, Duke of Newcastle; but the title became extinct in his name in
-1711.
-
-Sir THOMAS LEIGH, Lord Mayor of London, in 1558, furnished the Peerage
-with the addition of two. He was the son of Roger Leigh, of Wellington,
-in Shropshire. Sir Thomas’s grandson, Francis, was created by Charles
-the first, Lord Dunsmore, and afterwards Earl of Chichester; and Sir
-Thomas’s second son, Sir Thomas Leigh, of Stoneleigh, had the honour of
-being called to the House of Peers by the title of Lord Leigh, of
-Stoneleigh.
-
-The PLEYDELL-BOUVERIES, Earls of Radnor, descend from Edward De
-Bouverie, an opulent Turkey merchant, who died in 1694.
-
-DUCIE, Lord Ducie, is descended from Sir Robert Ducie, who belonged to
-the company of merchant tailors, and was sheriff of London in 1621, and
-Lord Mayor in 1631. He was immensely rich, and was made banker to king
-Charles the first, and on the breaking out of the rebellion, lost
-£80,000, owing to him by his Majesty. Nevertheless he is said to have
-left at the time of his death, property in land, money, &c. to his four
-sons, to the amount of £400,000.
-
-PAUL BAYNING, sheriff of London in 1593, had a son of the same name, who
-was first created a baronet, and in the third of Charles the first, a
-baron of the realm, by the title of Baron Bayning, and soon after a
-viscount, by the title of Viscount Bayning of Sudbury. He was buried in
-the paternal tomb, in the church of St. Olave’s. His house was in
-Mark-lane. After the fire of London, the business of the custom house
-was transacted in that which went under the name of Lord Bayning’s.
-
-The CRANFIELDS, Earls of Middlesex, rose from Lionel Cranfield, a
-citizen of London, bred up in the custom house. He became, in 1620, Lord
-Treasurer of England. The Duke of Dorset is descended from Frances,
-sister and heir of the third Earl of Middlesex, married to Richard, Earl
-of Dorset.
-
-The noble family of INGRAM, Viscount Irwin, was raised in the reign of
-queen Elizabeth, by Hugh Irwin, citizen, merchant, and tallow-chandler,
-who died in 1612. He left a large fortune between two sons; of whom Sir
-Arthur, the younger, settled in Yorkshire, and purchased a considerable
-estate, the foundation of the good fortune afterwards enjoyed by the
-family. The present Marchioness of Hertford is the representative of the
-Ingrams, being the daughter and co-heir of the last Viscount Irwin.
-
-Sir STEPHEN BROWN, son of John Brown, of Newcastle, Lord Mayor of
-London, in 1438, and again in 1448, was a grocer, and added another
-peer, in the person of Sir Anthony Brown, created Viscount Montagu, by
-Philip and Mary, in 1554.
-
-The LEGGES rose to be Earls of Dartmouth.—The first who was raised to
-the peerage was that loyal and gallant naval officer, George Legge,
-created Baron of Dartmouth in 1682. He was descended from an ancestor
-who filled the Pretorian Chair of London in the years 1347 and 1354,
-having by his industry in the trade of a skinner, attained great wealth.
-
-Sir GEOFFREY BULLEN, Lord Mayor in 1458, was grandfather of Thomas, Earl
-of Wiltshire, father of Anna Bullen, and grandfather of queen Elizabeth,
-the highest genealogical honour the city of London ever possessed.
-
-Sir BAPTIST HICKS was a great mercer at the accession of James the
-first, and made a large fortune, by supplying the court with silks. He
-was first knighted, and afterwards created Viscount Campden. It is said
-he left his two daughters one hundred thousand pounds each. He built a
-large house in St. John’s street, for the justices of Middlesex to hold
-their sessions in, which (till its demolition a few years ago, upon the
-erection of a new sessions house on Clerkenwell Green,) retained the
-name of Hicks’ Hall.
-
-The CAPELS, Earls of Essex, are descended from Sir William Capel,
-draper, Lord Mayor in 1503. He first set up a cage in every ward of
-London, for the punishment of idle people. It is probable that he had
-his mansion on the site of the present Stock Exchange, in Capel Court,
-so called after him.
-
-MICHAEL DORMER, mercer, Mayor in 1542, was the ancestor of the Lords
-Dormer.
-
-EDWARD OSBORNE, was apprentice to Sir William Hewet, clothworker. About
-the year 1536, when his master lived in one of those tremendous houses
-on London bridge, a servant maid was playing with his only daughter in
-her arms, in a window over the water, and accidentally dropped the
-child. Young Osborne, who was witness to the misfortune, instantly
-sprung into the river, and beyond all expectations brought her safe to
-her terrified family. When she was marriageable, several persons of rank
-paid their addresses to her, and among others the Earl of Shrewsbury;
-but Sir William gratefully declined in favour of Osborne.—“OSBORNE
-_saved her_,” said he, “_and_ OSBORNE _shall enjoy her_.” In her right
-he possessed a most ample fortune. He became sheriff of London in 1575,
-and Lord Mayor in 1583, and from his loins sprung the Dukes of Leeds.
-
-From Sir WILLIAM CRAVEN, merchant tailor, Mayor in 1611, sprung the
-gallant Earl Craven, who was his eldest son, and was greatly
-distinguished by his actions in the service of the unfortunate Elector
-Palatine, by his attachment to the Dowager, and his marriage with that
-illustrious Princess.
-
-Lord Viscount DUDLEY AND WARD is descended from William Ward, a wealthy
-goldsmith in London, and jeweller to Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles
-the first. His son Humble Ward, married Frances, grand-daughter of
-Edward Sutton, Lord Dudley; who, on the death of her grand-father,
-became Baroness Dudley; and he himself was created in 1643, Lord Ward of
-Birmingham.
-
-
-
-
- LAST MOMENTS OF QUEEN CAROLINE.
-
-
-A little before the Queen died she asked the physician who was in
-attendance, “How long can this last?” And on his answering “Your majesty
-will soon be eased of your pains;” she replied “The sooner the better!”
-The queen then repeated a prayer of her own composing, in which there
-was such a flow of natural eloquence, as demonstrated the vigour of a
-great and good mind. When her speech began to falter, and she seemed
-expiring, she desired to be raised up in her bed, and fearing that
-nature would not hold out long enough without artificial support she
-called to have water sprinkled upon her, and a little after desired it
-might be repeated. She then with the greatest composure and presence of
-mind, requested her weeping relations to kneel down and pray for her.
-Whilst they were reading some prayers, she exclaimed “Pray aloud, that I
-may hear,” and after the Lord’s prayer was concluded, in which she
-joined as well as she was able, said “So,” and waving her hand, lay down
-and expired.
-
-
-
-
- THE BRITONS, ACCORDING TO THE GREEK AND LATIN CLASSICS.
-
-
-Strabo observes in his Geography, that “the woods are their towns; for
-having fenced round a wide circular space with trees hewn down, they
-there place their huts, and fix stalls for their cattle; but not of long
-duration. They have dwellings of a round form, constructed of poles and
-wattled work, with very high pointed coverings of beams united at a
-point.”
-
-Diodorus Siculus asserts, that “they inhabit very wretched dwellings,
-composed for the most part of reeds (or straw) and wood.”
-
-Cæsar thus describes, not Londinium, but the capital of Cassivellaunus:
-“The Britons call a place, a town, when they have fortified thick
-impassable woods, by means of a _vallum_ and fosse, or a high bank and a
-ditch; in which sort of a place they are accustomed to assemble
-together, to avoid the invasion of enemies.”
-
-Tacitus describing the strong holds, to which Caractacus resorted,
-observes: “They then fortified themselves on steep mountains; and,
-where-ever there was any possibility of access in any part, he
-constructed a great bank of stones, like a _vallum_.”
-
-The curious reader is referred to the first volume of King’s Munimenta
-Antiqua, for prints and plans, both of the Welsh houses and fortresses,
-_of which some are yet entire_ and others in ruins, in every part of
-England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. No book, either in our tongue, or
-in any of the European languages, is so complete and satisfactory on
-this interesting and domestic subject: the prints are excellent.
-
-Diodorus Siculus also notices that the Britons laid up their corn in
-subterranean repositories, whence they used to take a portion every day;
-and having bruised and dried the grain, made a kind of food from it of
-immediate use. Martin in his description of the Western Isles, (p. 204.)
-describes this sort of diet, and the quick mode of preparing it, as yet
-continued. King, in the 48th and following pages of his first volume,
-_has detected, and delineated these rude monuments of our ancestors_.
-
-It is highly curious to trace the appearance of the persons of our
-forefathers and their manners. Cæsar remarks that they painted
-themselves with vitrum, or woad; and Herodian, that some of them on the
-sea-coast punctured or _tattooed_[48] their bodies with figures
-resembling various kinds of animals; in consequence of which they also
-went without garments, that they might not cover, nor conceal, these
-marks. The other natives were, in _general_, clad with skins. They had
-long lank hair, but were shorn in every part of the body, except the
-head and upper lip.
-
-A wretched substitute for salt was obtained merely by pouring sea-water
-on the embers of burning wood.
-
-The Irish drank the blood of animals and even of their enemies.
-
-King, in the latter half of the first volume, (_Munim. Ant._) gives
-prints of the altars, or _Cromlechs_, yet entire, in many situations in
-Ireland, the Highlands, and England, on which human victims were cruelly
-murdered.
-
-The Druids were richly clad; some of them even wore golden chains, or
-collars, about their necks and arms; and had their garments dyed with
-various colours, and adorned with gold. Chains also both of iron and
-gold, were worn by some of the chieftains and nobler ranks. These facts
-will appear so incredible, that the reader must be informed, that in
-most of the tumuli, or old British graves, described by King, these
-ornaments are found in our days. It is a remarkable omission in Mr.
-King, that he did not quote the three verses from the fourteenth chapter
-of Isaiah so descriptive of the Babylonian regal tumuli, similar to the
-British: “All the kings of the nations lie down in glory, each in his
-own sepulchre: To meet thee, O Sennacherib, Hades rouseth his mighty
-dead: he maketh them rise up from their thrones. All of them shall
-accost thee, and shall say unto thee, Art thou become weak as we? Art
-thou made like unto us? Is then thy pride brought down to the grave? Is
-the vermin become thy couch, and the earth-worm thy covering?”
-
-Strabo, at the end of his third book, says, that “the Cassiterides, or
-Islands of Tin, were inhabited by men dressed in black garments, in
-tunics descending to the feet, a girdle around their breast; walking
-erect with a staff in their hand; and permitting the beard to grow like
-that of a goat. They subsist on their cattle, in general spending an
-erratic pastoral life.”
-
-Some of the common order of Britons wore, instead of the skins of
-beasts, very thick coarse wrappers made of wool; a sort of blanket or
-rug, fastened about the neck with a piece of sharp pointed stick. They
-used also a coarse, slit, short vest, with sleeves; it barely reached
-down to the knees.
-
-As armour, the Britons had a long two-handed sword, hanging by a chain
-on the right hand side; a great long wooden shield as tall as a man;
-long spears; and a sort of missile wooden instrument, like a javelin,
-longer than an arrow, which they darted merely by the hand: modern
-writers call these two last mentioned, _Celts_, fixed on the end of
-staves and sticks. Some of them used slings for stones, others had
-breast plates, made of plates of iron, with hooks, or with wreathed
-chains: some had helmets of different forms. Many went to battle nearly
-naked, and some wound chains of iron around their necks and loins.
-
-They generally lay and reposed themselves on the bare ground, yet most
-of them ate their food sitting on seats. A very beautiful print is given
-by Mr. King of their various dresses. The plaid seems to be derived from
-them. The coins of the old British, which are engraven in Speed, in
-Borlase’s Cornwall, in Gough’s edition of Camden’s Britannia, and in
-Plot’s History of Oxfordshire, will explain these descriptions of the
-classics. Even Julius Cæsar had noticed that the Britons used either
-brass money, or iron circular coins reduced to a standard weight. In the
-scale of civilization, therefore, the ancient Britons were as advanced
-in the era of Cæsar, as the Romans themselves at the expulsion of their
-kings; as the Grecians in the age of Homer; as the Mexicans at the
-Spanish conquest; and as the modern Tartars.[49]
-
-Footnote 48:
-
- The practice of tattooing is of great antiquity, and has been common
- to numerous nations in Turkey, Asia, the Southern parts of Europe, and
- perhaps to a great portion of the inhabitants of the earth. It is
- still retained among some of the Moorish tribes, who are, probably,
- descendants of those who, formerly, were subjected to the Christians
- of Africa, and who to avoid paying taxes, like the Moors, thus
- imprinted crosses upon their skins, that they might pass for
- Christians. This custom, which originally might serve to distinguish
- tribes by their religion, or from each other, became afterwards a mode
- of decoration that was habitually retained, when all remembrance of
- its origin was effaced.
-
- It may be inferred that the Canaanites and the other nations of the
- East, were in the habit of tattooing their skins, because Moses,
- (Levit. xix, 28.) expressly enjoins the Israelites not to imprint any
- marks upon their bodies, in imitation of the heathens.
-
- The ancient inhabitants of the British Islands, painted their skins in
- various grotesque figures, with the juice of woad. This custom of
- tattooing was in use both by the Britons and their first invaders, the
- Belgæ, and I believe it will be found, that the warriors of all those
- nations which practised tattooing, invariably threw off their garments
- in the hour of battle. The name of Picts, is said, though erroneously,
- to have been given by the Romans to the Caledonians, who possessed the
- East coast of Scotland, from their painting their bodies. This
- circumstance has made some imagine that the Picts were of British
- extraction, and a different race of men from the Scots. That more of
- the Britons who fled northward, from the oppression and tyranny of the
- Romans, settled in the low lands of Scotland, than among the Scots of
- the mountains, may be easily imagined, from the very nature of the
- country. It was these people who introduced painting among the Picts,
- From this circumstance, some antiquaries affirm, proceeded the name of
- the latter, to distinguish them from the Scots, who never had that art
- among them, and from the Britons, who discontinued the practice of
- tattooing after the Roman conquest.
-
- The inhabitants of the South Sea Islands, at this day, paint upon
- their bodies various grotesque figures, for the purpose of striking
- terror into their enemies, in the day of battle. J. S.
-
-Footnote 49:
-
- From the Classical Journal.
-
-
-
-
- THE SEVEN SLEEPERS.
-
-
-Among the insipid legends of ecclesiastical history, one of the most
-memorable is that of the Seven Sleepers, whose imaginary date
-corresponds with the reign of the younger Theodosius and the conquest of
-Africa by the Vandals, or sometime about the year 440. When the Emperor
-Decius persecuted the Christians, seven noble youths of Ephesus
-concealed themselves in a spacious cavern in the side of an adjacent
-mountain; where they were doomed to perish by the tyrant, who gave
-orders that the entrance should be firmly secured with a pile of huge
-stones. They immediately fell into a deep slumber, which was
-miraculously prolonged, without injuring the powers of life, during a
-period of one hundred and eighty seven years. At the end of that time,
-the slaves of Adolius, to whom the inheritance of the mountain had
-descended, removed the stones to supply materials for some rustic
-edifice; the light of the sun darted into the cavern, and the Seven
-Sleepers were permitted to awake. After a slumber, as they thought of a
-few hours, they were pressed by the calls of hunger; and resolved that
-Jamblichus, one of their number, should secretly return to the city, to
-purchase bread for the use of his companions. The youth, if we may still
-employ that appellation, could no longer recognise the once familiar
-aspect of his native country; and his surprize was increased by the
-appearance of a large cross triumphantly erected over the principal gate
-of Ephesus. His singular dress and obsolete language, confounded the
-baker, to whom he offered an ancient medal of Decius as the current coin
-of the empire; and Jamblichus, on the suspicion of a secret treasure,
-was dragged before the judge. Their mutual enquiries produced the
-amazing discovery that two centuries were almost elapsed since
-Jamblichus and his friends had escaped from the rage of a Pagan tyrant.
-The Bishop of Ephesus, the clergy, the magistrates, the people, and as
-it is said, the Emperor Theodosius himself, hastened to visit the cavern
-of the Seven Sleepers, who bestowed their benediction, related their
-story, and at the same instant peaceably expired. The origin of this
-marvellous fable cannot be ascribed to the pious fraud and credulity of
-the _modern_ Greeks, since the authentic tradition may be traced within
-half a century of the supposed miracle. James of Sarug, a Syrian bishop,
-who was born only two years after the death of the younger Theodosius,
-has devoted one of his two hundred and thirty homilies to the praise of
-the young men of Ephesus. Their legend, before the end of the sixth
-century, was translated from the Syriac into the Latin language, by the
-care of Gregory of Tours. The hostile communions of the East preserve
-their memory with equal reverence; and their names are honourably
-inscribed in the Roman, the Abyssinian, and the Russian Calendar. Nor
-has their reputation been confined to the Christian world. This popular
-tale, which Mahomet might learn when he drove his camels to the fairs of
-Syria, is introduced as a divine revelation, into the Koran. The story
-of the Seven Sleepers has been adopted, and adorned, by the nations,
-from Bengal to Africa, who profess the Mahometan religion; and some
-vestiges of a similar tradition have been discovered in the remote
-extremities of Scandinavia.
-
-
-
-
- JOHN RAY, THE NATURALIST.
-
-
-Ray was the son of a blacksmith, at Black Notley, in Essex, where he was
-born in 1628. He received his education at Braintree school, at
-Catharine Hall, and afterwards at Trinity College, Cambridge. His
-intense studies, requiring country air and exercise, occasioned his
-predilection for botany; his first rambles in search of plants were
-confined in extent, but subsequently diverged throughout England and
-Wales; and at length passing the channel he visited many parts of
-Europe. His books of instruction were the works of Johnson and
-Parkinson, and the Phytologia Britannica. His friend and companion,
-Francis Willoughby,[50] was a gentleman as amiable as scientific, their
-souls seeming to be blended together. Ray having been ordained, did not
-chuse to accept of the emoluments of the church, with which he did not
-entirely unite; but just before his death, when it was too late to gain,
-he became reconciled to it. Mr. Willoughby, who died in 1672, left him
-an annuity of sixty pounds, but it does not appear what other property
-he possessed, except his fellowship of Trinity. Though the generations
-which have followed him have produced a Linnæus, a Buffon, and a
-Pennant, yet Ray’s fame is too well established ever to be supplanted.
-He was a wise, a learned, as well as a pious and modest man, and ever
-ready to impart that knowledge which he had taken so much pains to
-acquire. He died in 1705 with a devout humility that had ever
-distinguished him, wishing that he had spent much more of his life in
-the immediate service of his Creator. There was no task too arduous for
-Ray; if Lister, a contemporary naturalist, would have gone to the bottom
-of the ocean for a shell, Ray would have climbed to the extreme point of
-the Alps for a new plant. In the church-yard of Black Notley, his native
-place, there is a long and elegant inscription to the memory of this
-great man, and in the library of Trinity College, there is a fine marble
-bust of him, in company with Bacon and other splendid ornaments of that
-magnificent foundation.
-
-Footnote 50:
-
- This eminent naturalist and excellent man, was justly admired both at
- home and abroad for his virtues and knowledge in every branch of human
- learning, more particularly in natural history. He was the son of Sir
- Francis Willoughby, Knt. of Wollaton Hall in the county of Nottingham.
- Observing in the busy and inquisitive age in which he lived, that the
- history of animated nature had in a great measure been neglected, he
- made the study and illustration thereof his unceasing object. For the
- promotion of this branch of science he went abroad with Mr. Ray, for
- the purpose of searching out and describing the several species and
- productions of nature. He travelled over most parts of France, Spain,
- Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands, in all which countries he was so
- diligent and successful, that not many sorts of animals described by
- others escaped his observation. He drew them with a pencil, and they
- were afterwards engraven on copper-plates, at the expense of his
- widow. His labours were printed in latin under the title of
- “_Ornithologiæ libri tres, &c._ London, 1676,“ folio. This work was
- afterwards translated into English by Mr. Ray, with an appendix, and
- printed at London, in 1678. Mr. Willoughby also wrote the “History of
- Fishes,” which was published by Mr. Ray, at London, in 1686, in folio.
- He likewise printed several papers in the Philosophical Transactions.
- Mr. Willoughby died on the third of July, 1672, leaving issue by his
- wife, Emma, daughter and co-heir of Sir Henry Bernard, Knt. two Sons,
- Francis and Thomas, and one daughter Cassandra, married to the Duke of
- Chandos. The second son Thomas was in 1712 created Lord Middleton,
- from whom is descended the present peer of that title.
-
-
-
-
- LONDON BANKERS, AND THEIR ORIGIN.
-
-
-The company of Goldsmiths, in London, appeared as a fraternity, as early
-as 1180, but it was in the reign of Edward the third, that they were
-first incorporated. They became, in time, the bankers of the capital.
-The _Lombards_ were the first and greatest, and most of the money
-contracts, in old times, passed through their hands. Many of our
-monarchs were obliged to them for money.—The three blue balls, now used
-by pawnbrokers, but converted by them into golden ones, are, in reality,
-the arms of the Lombards.
-
-Lombard-street, in the metropolis, took its name from being the
-residence of the Lombards, the great money-changers and usurers of early
-times. They came out of Italy into this kingdom before the year 1274; at
-length their extortions became so great, that Edward the third seized on
-their estates; perhaps the necessity of furnishing himself with money
-for his Flemish expedition, might have urged him to this step. They seem
-quickly to have repaired their loss; for complaint was soon after made
-against them, for persisting in their practices. They were so opulent in
-the days of Henry the fourth, as to be able to furnish him with money,
-but they took care to get the customs mortgaged to them, by way of
-security.
-
-They continued in Lombard-street till the reign of queen Elizabeth, and
-to this day it is filled with the shops of eminent bankers. The shop of
-the great Sir Thomas Gresham stood in Lombard-street; it is now occupied
-by Messrs. Martin and Stone, bankers, who are still in possession of the
-original sign of that illustrious person, the _Grasshopper_.
-
-The business of goldsmiths was confined to the buying and selling of
-plate, and foreign coins of gold and silver, melting them, and coining
-others at the mint. The banking was accidental and foreign to their
-institution.
-
-Regular banking by private persons resulted in 1643 from the calamity of
-the times, when a seditious spirit was incited by the acts of the
-parliamentary leaders. The merchants and tradesmen who before trusted
-their cash to their servants and apprentices found that mode no longer
-safe; neither did they dare to leave it in the mint at the tower, by
-reason of the distresses of majesty itself, which before was a place of
-public deposit. In the year 1645, they first placed their cash in the
-hands of goldsmiths, who then began publicly to exercise the two
-professions of goldsmiths and bankers. Even of late years there were
-several very eminent bankers who kept the goldsmith’s shop; but they
-were more frequently separated.
-
-The first regular banker was Mr. Francis Child, goldsmith, who began
-business after the restoration. He was the father of the profession, a
-person of large fortune, of most respectable character, and he was
-knighted by the king. He lived in Fleet-street, in the house adjoining
-Temple-bar, where the banking business is still carried on in the same
-firm, though by different persons. Granger, in his Biographical History,
-mentions that Mr. Child succeeded Mr. Backwell,[51] a banker in the time
-of Charles the second, noted for his integrity, abilities, and industry;
-who was ruined by the shutting up of the Exchequer in 1672.[52] His
-books were placed in the hands of Mr. Child, and still remain in the
-family.
-
-The next ancient shop was that possessed at present by Messrs. Snow and
-Co. in the Strand, a few doors westward of Mr. Child’s, who were
-goldsmiths of consequence in the latter part of the same reign. Mr. Gay
-celebrates the predecessor of these gentlemen, for his sagacity in
-escaping the ruin of the fatal year 1720, in his epistle to Mr. Thomas
-Snow, goldsmith, near Temple-bar:—
-
- O thou whose penetrative wisdom found
- The _South Sea_ rocks and shelves where thousands drown’d,
- When credit sunk and commerce gasping lay,
- Thou stoodst; nor sent’st one bill unpaid away.
-
-To the westward of Temple-bar the only other house was that of Messrs.
-Middleton and Campbell, goldsmiths, who flourished in 1692, and is now
-continued with great credit by Mr. Coutts. From thence to the extremity
-of the west end of the town there were none till the year 1756, when the
-respectable name of Backwell rose again, conjoined with those of Darel,
-Hart, and Croft, who with great reputation opened their shop (afterwards
-the house of Devaynes, Noble, and Co.) in Pallmall.
-
-Footnote 51:
-
- He was an alderman of London, and after the Exchequer was shut retired
- to Holland, where he died, and was brought over to be interred in the
- church of Tyringham, in Buckinghamshire, where he lies embalmed. A
- glass is placed over his face, so that it is likely he may even be
- seen at this time. There is a small portrait of him at Tyringham
- House, in which he is represented in long hair and a flowered gown,
- with a table by him.
-
-Footnote 52:
-
- A part of the national debt, amounting to £664,263, is as old as this
- iniquitous transaction of Charles the second and his ministers. This
- sum was all that those persons received, who had placed their property
- and their confidence in that monarch, for the loss of £1,328,526, and
- 26 years interest thereon at 6 per cent. about £2,100,000 more.
-
-
-
-
- ELUCIDATION OF THE ORNAMENTS WITH WHICH THE GREEKS AND ROMANS ADORNED
- THE HUMAN HEAD ON COINS AND MEDALS.
-
-
- THE DIADEM.
-
-
-The chief of these ornaments is the diadem, or vitta, which was a
-ribband worn about the head, and tied in a floating knot behind. This
-was anciently the simple, but superlative badge of kingly power. It is
-observable upon the Greek monarchical medals, from the earliest ages, to
-the last, without any other ornament, and is almost an infallible sign
-of kingly power, and that the portrait, if there be no other
-characteristic, is that of a prince. In the Roman coins it is seen on
-the Consular ones with Numa and Ancus; but never afterwards till the
-time of Licinius. So great an aversion had the Romans to this kingly
-distinction, that their emperors had for more than two centuries worn
-the radiated crown, peculiar to the gods, before they dared to assume
-the diadem, which was considered as the symbol of tyranny. In the family
-of Constantine, the diadem becomes common, though not with the ancient
-simplicity, being ornamented on either edge with a row of pearls, and
-various other decorations.
-
-The Greek queens used the diadem, but the Roman empresses never appear
-with it; however, the variety of their head dresses more than
-compensates for the want of this ornament.
-
-
- THE RADIATED CROWN.
-
-
-The radiated crown was, at first, as on the posthumous coins of
-Augustus, a mark of deification, and in little more than a century
-after, was put upon most of the emperors’ heads on their several medals.
-
-
- THE CROWN OF LAUREL.
-
-
-The crown of laurel was at first the honorary prize of conquerors, but
-was afterwards commonly worn, at least on their medals, by all the Roman
-emperors, from JULIUS CÆSAR, who was permitted by the senate to wear it
-always, to hide the baldness of his forehead. This perhaps gave rise to
-the first emperors always appearing with it on their coins, a
-circumstance continued even to our times, and looking at its origin is
-now a little laughable. The laurel employed by the ancients in forming
-their crowns, is apparently what we term the Alexandrian laurel, a most
-beautiful evergreen, of a fine tender verdure. In the lower empire the
-laurel is often held by a hand above the head as a mark of piety.
-
-
- THE ROSTRAL CROWN.
-
-
-Agrippa appears on his coins with the rostral crown, a sign of naval
-victory or command, being made of gold, in resemblance of prows of
-ships, tied together.
-
-
- THE MURAL CROWN.
-
-
-Agrippa is likewise seen with the mural or turretted crown, the prize of
-first ascending the walls of an enemy’s city.
-
-
- THE CIVIC CROWN.
-
-
-The oaken or civic crown is frequent on reverses, as of Galba and
-others; and was the badge of having saved the life of a citizen, or of
-many citizens.
-
-
- THE HELMET.
-
-
-The helmet appears on coins; as in those of Macedon under the Romans,
-which have a head of Alexander, sometimes covered with a helmet. Probus
-also has often the helmet on his coins; and Constantine the first, has
-helmets of different forms curiously ornamented.
-
-
- THE NIMBUS OR GLORY.
-
-
-The nimbus or glory, now peculiar to the saints, was formerly applied to
-emperors. A nimbus appears round the head of Constantine the second, in
-a gold coin of that prince; and of Flavia Maxima Fausta, in a gold
-medallion; and of Justinian in another. But the idea is as ancient as
-the reign of Augustus, and is found in Roman authors, before it appeared
-on coins. Oiselius gives a coin of Antoninus Pius, with the _nimbus_,
-but this however is doubtful, and may have been some flaw in the coin
-from which he engraved his representation.
-
-
- OTHER ORNAMENTS OF THE HEAD.
-
-
-Besides the diadem, the Greek princes sometimes appear with the laurel
-crown. The Arsacidæ, or kings of Parthia, wear a kind of sash round the
-head, with their hair in rows of curls like a wig. Tigranes and the
-kings of Armenia, wear the _tiara_, a singular kind of cap, but the well
-known badge of imperial power in the ancient eastern world. Xerxes, a
-petty prince of Armenia, appears in a coin extant of him in a conical
-cap, with a diadem around it. Juba, the father, has a singular crown,
-like a conical cap, all hung with pearls.
-
-The successors of Alexander assumed by way of distinction, different
-symbols of the Deity, to be observed on the busts of their medals, such
-as the lion’s skin of Hercules, which surrounds the head of the first
-Seleucus; the horn placed behind the ear, an image of their strength and
-power, or of their being the successors of Alexander, called the son of
-Jupiter Ammon; the wing placed in like manner behind the ear, symbolic
-of the rapidity of their conquests, or of their being descendants from
-the god Mercury.
-
-Some authors, however, have doubted if all these heads be not of gods,
-except those with the horn. Eckhel observes, that even the horn and
-diadem belong to Bacchus, as on a coin of Nuceria Alfaterna. Bacchus,
-according to Diodorus Siculus, invented the diadem, to cure his
-head-aches, and was horned like his father Jupiter Ammon. The only king
-who appears on coins, according to Eckhel, with the horn, is Lysimachus.
-Pyrrhus had a crest of goats’ horns to his helmet, as we are informed by
-Plutarch, in his life, and the goat was the symbol of Macedon. It is
-likely that the successors of Alexander took this badge of the horn in
-consequence.
-
-Besides the distinctions of supreme power, or honorary reward, there are
-other symbolic ornaments of the head, observable on some Roman coins.
-Such is the veil, or, more properly, the _toga_ drawn over the head, to
-be seen on the busts of Julius Cæsar, when Pontifex Maximus, and others.
-This shews that the person bore the pontificate or the augurship; the
-augurs having a particular gown, called _laena_, with which they covered
-their heads, when employed in observing omens. Latterly the veil is only
-a mark of consecration, and is common in coins of empresses, as
-Faustina, Mariniana, and others. In the coins of Claudius Gothicus we
-first find it as a mark of the consecration of an emperor; and it
-continued in those of Constantius the first, Maximian the first, and
-Constantine the first.
-
-The remarkable part of the Roman head dress among the ladies, was the
-_sphendona_, or sling, on the crown of the head; answering to the modern
-hair cushion. But it was of gold, and so prominent as to be even
-remarkable in a coin. The hair appears in many fashions, as now.
-Sometimes the bust of an empress is supported by a crescent, to imply
-that she was the moon, as her husband was the sun of the state.
-
-Generally, only the bust is given on ancient coins; but sometimes half
-the body or more. In the latter case the hands often appear, with tokens
-of majesty in them. Such is the globe, said to have been introduced by
-Augustus, to express possession of the world. The sceptre, sometimes
-confounded with the consular staff. The roll of parchment, symbolic of
-legislative power; and the handkerchief expressing that of the public
-games, where the emperor gave the signal. Some princes even hold the
-thunderbolt, shewing that their power was equal to that of Jupiter in
-heaven. Others hold an image of victory.
-
-Most queens of Egypt, on their coins, have the sceptre. It appears at
-the top of their head; and would seem part of the dress, were it not
-that in other coins, it passes beneath the neck transversely, so that
-both ends appear.
-
-The victors, at the sacred games among the ancients, had bound round the
-head, an ornament called _anadema_, which has sometimes been confounded
-with the diadem worn by the ancient Persian kings.
-
-
-
-
- THE TRADESCANTS.
-
-
-The Tradescants, father and son, were among the first eminent gardeners,
-and were the very first collectors of natural history in this kingdom.
-John Tradescant the elder was, according to Anthony Wood, a Fleming, or
-a Dutchman. We are informed by Parkinson, that he had travelled into
-most parts of Europe, and into Barbary, and from some emblems remaining
-upon his monument in Lambeth church-yard, it appears that he had visited
-Greece, Egypt, and other Eastern countries.
-
-In his travels, he is supposed to have collected not only plants and
-seeds, but most of those curiosities of every sort which formed his
-collection, which afterwards became celebrated, and is now the Ashmolean
-museum, at Oxford.
-
-When he first settled in this kingdom, cannot at this distance of time,
-be ascertained; perhaps it was towards the latter end of the reign of
-queen Elizabeth, or the beginning of that of king James the first. His
-portrait, engraven by Hollar, before the year 1656, represents him as a
-person very far advanced in years, and seems to countenance this
-opinion.
-
-He lived in a large house at South Lambeth, where, there is reason to
-think, his museum was frequently visited by persons of rank, who became
-benefactors thereto; among these were king Charles the first, to whom he
-was gardener, Henrietta Maria, his queen, Archbishop Laud, George, Duke
-of Buckingham, Robert and William Cecil, Earls of Salisbury, and many
-other persons of distinction.
-
-John Tradescant may, therefore, justly be considered as the earliest
-collector in this kingdom,[53] of every thing that was curious in
-natural history, namely, minerals, birds, fishes, insects, &c. &c. He
-had also a good collection of coins and medals, besides a great variety
-of extraordinary rarities. Some of the plants which grew in his garden
-are, if not totally extinct in this country, at least become very
-uncommon.
-
-This able man, by his great industry, made it manifest, in the very
-infancy of botany, as a science, that there is scarcely any plant
-existing in the known world, that will not, with proper care, thrive in
-this kingdom. The time of his death cannot be ascertained, no mention
-being made of it in the register of Lambeth church.
-
-John Tradescant the son, and his wife, joined in a deed of gift, by
-which their friend Elias Ashmole was entitled to this collection after
-the decease of the former. On that event taking place, in 1662, it was
-accordingly claimed by him, but the widow Tradescant refusing to deliver
-it, was compelled so to do by a decree of the court of Chancery. She
-was, a few years after, found drowned, in a pond, in her own garden.
-
-His house at South Lambeth, then called Tradescant’s Ark,[54] thus
-coming into the possession of Ashmole, he came to reside there in 1674,
-and added a noble room to it, adorning the chimney with his arms,
-impaling those of Sir William Dugdale, whose daughter was his third
-wife. Ashmole was much respected by his contemporaries, and was
-frequently visited at South Lambeth by persons of very exalted rank,
-particularly by the ambassadors of foreign princes, to whom he had
-presented his book on the Order of the Garter.
-
-It is well known that Tradescant’s collection was given by Ashmole to
-the University of Oxford, where it forms the principal part of the
-museum that goes by his name, the house, in which it is contained,
-having been built for its reception.[55]
-
-A monument was erected in the south east part of Lambeth church-yard, in
-1662, by Hester, the relict of John Tradescant, the son, to the memory
-of her husband, and the other members of his family.
-
-This, once beautiful monument has suffered so much by the weather, that
-no just idea can now, on inspection, be formed of the north and south
-sides; but this defect is supplied from very fine drawings[56] in the
-Pepysian library, at Cambridge. On the east side is Tradescant’s arms;
-on the west a hydra, and under it a skull; on the south, broken columns,
-Corinthian capitals, &c. supposed to be ruins in Greece, or some other
-Eastern country; and on the north, a crocodile, shells, &c. and a view
-of some Egyptian buildings; various figures of trees, &c. in relievo,
-adorn the four corners of the monument.
-
-In a visit made by Sir W. Watson and Dr. Mitchell to Tradescant’s
-garden, in 1749, an account of which, is inserted in Philos. Trans. vol.
-xlvi. p. 160, it appears that it had been many years totally neglected,
-and the house belonging to it empty and ruined, but though the garden
-was quite covered with weeds, there remained among them manifest
-footsteps of its founder.[57] They found there the _Borago latifolia
-sempervirens_ of Caspar Bauhine; _Polygonatum vulgare latifolium, C. B_;
-_Aristolochia clematitis recta, C. B._ and _Dracontium_ of Dodoens.
-There were then remaining two trees of the _Arbutus_, which from their
-being so long used to our winters, did not suffer by the severe cold of
-1739-40, when most of their kind were killed in England. In the orchard
-there was a tree of the _Rhamnus catharticus_, about 20 feet high, and
-nearly a foot in diameter. There are at present no traces of this garden
-remaining.
-
-The Tradescants were usually called Tradeskin by their contemporaries,
-and the name is uniformly so spelled in the parish register of Lambeth,
-and by Flatman the painter, who in a poem mentions Tradescant’s
-collection;
-
- “Thus John Tradeskin starves our wond’ring eyes,
- ”By boxing up his new-found rarities.“
-
-The following is a list of the portraits of the Tradescant family now in
-the Ashmolean Museum; both father and son are in these portraits called
-Sir John, though it does not appear that either of them were ever
-knighted.
-
-1. Sir John Tradescant, sen. a three quarters piece, ornamented with
-fruit, flowers, and garden roots.
-
-2. The same, after his decease.
-
-3. The same, a small three-quarters piece, in water colours.
-
-4. A large painting of his wife, son and daughter, quarter-length.
-
-5. Sir John Tradescant, junior, in his garden, with a spade in his hand,
-half length.
-
-6. The same with his wife, half length.
-
-7. The same, with his friend Zythepsa of Lambeth, a collection of
-shells, &c. upon a table before them.
-
-8. A large quarter piece inscribed Sir John Tradescant’s second wife and
-son.
-
-These pictures have neither date nor painter’s name. They are esteemed
-to be good portraits, but who the person was, who is called Zythepsa is
-not known. He is painted as if entering the room, and Sir John is
-shaking him by the hand.
-
-Hollar engraved two portraits of the Tradescants, father and son, which
-are placed as frontispieces to the little volume, mentioned in the
-preceding note.
-
-Granger (2. 370) says he saw a picture at a gentleman’s house in
-Wiltshire, which was not unlike that of the deceased Tradescant, and the
-inscription was applicable to it:—
-
- Mortuus haud alio quam quo pater ore quiesti
- Quam facili frueris nunc quoque nocte doces.
-
-Footnote 53:
-
- Tradescant was the first English collector of curiosities in a private
- rank. Thoresby was the second. _Gough’s Topogr_.
-
-Footnote 54:
-
- The late James West, Esq. told Mr. Bull, that one of the family of
- Roelans, of which there are four or five prints by Hollar, lived a
- long while at Lambeth, in the house that afterwards belonged to
- Tradescant, to whom Roelans sold it. _Granger’s B. II._ 2. 371.
-
-Footnote 55:
-
- In the year 1656 the younger Tradescant, published a small volume,
- entitled “Museum Tradescantianum, or a Collection of Rarities
- preserved at South Lambeth. London, 1656, small octavo.” This book is
- divided into two parts, the first containing a catalogue of the
- museum, and the second an enumeration of the plants, shrubs, and
- trees, growing in the garden at South Lambeth. Among the natural
- curiosities here preserved are “a dragon’s egg—the claw of the bird
- _Rock_, which, as authors report, is able to trusse an elephant,” &c.
- &c.
-
-Footnote 56:
-
- These drawings are engraven in the Philosophical Trans. vol. 63, p.
- 88; and printed from the same plates, in Bibl. Topogr. Brit. vol. 2.
- in Dr. Ducarel’s Hist. of Lambeth.
-
-Footnote 57:
-
- Tradescant’s was the next botanical garden in England after Gerard’s.
-
- Gerard seems to have been the first that cultivated a botanical
- garden. He had a large one near his house in Holborn, London, where he
- raised nearly eleven hundred different trees and plants. He published
- his history of plants in 1597 under the patronage of Lord Burleigh.
- His herbal was republished in 1636 by Johnson.
-
-
-
-
- ORANGE TREES.
-
-
-The first orange trees seen in England, are said to have been planted by
-Sir Francis Carew, at Beddington, in Surrey. Sir Francis died in 1607,
-aged 81. Aubrey says they were brought from Italy by Sir Francis, but
-the editors of the Biographia Britannica speaking from a tradition
-preserved in the family, tell us that they were raised by him from the
-seeds of the first oranges which were imported into England by Sir
-Walter Raleigh, who had married his niece. The trees were planted in the
-open ground, and were preserved in the winter by a moveable shed. They
-flourished about a century and a half, being destroyed by the hard frost
-in 1739-40.
-
-In the transactions of the Linnæan Society there are some notices
-relating to the progress of botany in England, written by the late
-eminent naturalist, Peter Collinson. Speaking of the orange trees at
-Beddington be says—“In the reign of queen Elizabeth the first orange and
-lemon trees were introduced into England by two curious gentlemen, one
-of them Sir Nicholas Carew, at Beddington. They were planted in the
-natural ground, but against every winter an artificial covering was
-raised for their protection. I have seen them some years ago[58] in
-great perfection. But this apparatus going to decay, without due
-consideration a green-house of brick work was built all round them, and
-left on the top uncovered in the summer. I visited them a year or two
-after in their new habitation, and to my great concern found some
-dyeing, and all declining; for although there were windows on the south
-side, they did not thrive in their confinement; but being kept damp,
-with the rains, and wanting a free, airy, full sun, all the growing
-months of summer, they languished, and at last all died.
-
-“A better fate has attended the other fine parcel of orange trees, &c.
-brought over at the same time, by Sir Robert Mansell, at Margam in South
-Wales. My nephew counted 80 trees of citrons, limes, burgamots, Seville
-and China orange-trees, planted in great cases all ranged in a row
-before the green-house. This is the finest sight of its kind in England.
-He had the curiosity to measure one of them. A China orange measured in
-the extent of its branches fourteen feet. A Seville orange-tree was
-fourteen feet high, the case included, and the stem twenty one inches
-round. A China orange-tree twenty two inches and a half in girt.
-
-“I visited the orangery at Margam, in the year 1766, in company with Mr.
-Lewis Thomas, a very sensible and attentive man, who told me that the
-orange-trees, &c. in that garden were intended as a present from the
-king of Spain to the king of Denmark; and that the vessel in which they
-were shipped, being taken in the channel, the trees were made a present
-of to Sir Robert Mansell.”
-
-Footnote 58:
-
- This was written in the year 1754.
-
-
-
-
- ARTICLES OF USE AND LUXURY INTRODUCED INTO EUROPE BY THE ROMANS.
-
-
-Whatever evils either reason or declamation have imputed to extensive
-empire, the power of Rome was attended with some beneficial consequences
-to mankind; and the same freedom of intercourse which extended the
-vices, diffused likewise the improvements of social life. In the more
-remote ages of antiquity, the world was unequally divided. The east was
-in the immemorial possession of arts and luxury; whilst the west was
-inhabited by rude and warlike barbarians, who either disdained
-agriculture, or to whom it was totally unknown. Under the protection of
-an established government, the productions of happier climates, and the
-industry of more civilized nations were gradually introduced into the
-western countries of Europe, and the natives were encouraged, by an open
-and profitable commerce, to multiply the former, as well as to improve
-the latter. It would be almost impossible to enumerate all the articles,
-either of the animal or vegetable kingdoms which were successively
-imported into Europe from Asia and Egypt; it is only intended here to
-touch on a few of the principal heads. It is also not improbable that
-the Greeks and Phœnicians introduced some new arts and productions into
-the neighbourhood of Marseilles and Cadiz.
-
-1. Almost all the flowers, the herbs, and the fruits, that grow in our
-European gardens, are of foreign extraction, which in many cases, is
-betrayed even by their names; the apple was a native of Italy, and when
-the Romans had tasted the richer flavour of the apricot, the peach, the
-pomegranate, the citron, and the orange, they contented themselves with
-applying to all these new fruits the common denomination of apple,
-discriminating them from each other by the additional epithet of their
-country.
-
-2. In the time of Homer, the vine grew wild in the island of Sicily, and
-most probably in the adjacent continent; but it was not improved by the
-skill, nor did it afford a liquor grateful to the taste, of the savage
-inhabitants. A thousand years afterwards, Italy could boast, that of the
-fourscore most generous and celebrated wines, more than two thirds were
-produced from her soil. The blessing was soon communicated to the
-Narbonnese province of Gaul; but so intense was the cold to the north of
-the Cevennes, that in the time of Strabo, it was thought impossible to
-ripen the grapes in those parts of Gaul. The intense cold of a Gallic
-winter was even proverbial among the ancients. This difficulty, however,
-was gradually vanquished; and there is some reason to believe that the
-vineyards of Burgundy are as old as the age of the Antonines. In the
-beginning of the fourth century, the orator Eumenius speaks of the vines
-in the territory of Autun, which were decayed through age, and the first
-plantation of which was totally unknown.
-
-3. The olive, in the western world, followed the progress of peace, of
-which it was considered as the symbol. Two centuries after the
-foundation of Rome, both Italy and Africa were strangers to that useful
-plant; it was naturalized in those countries; and at length carried into
-the heart of Spain and Gaul. The timid errors of the ancients, that it
-required a certain degree of heat, and could only flourish in the
-neighbourhood of the sea, were insensibly exploded by industry and
-experience.
-
-4. The cultivation of flax was transported from Egypt to Gaul, and
-enriched the whole country, however it might impoverish the particular
-lands on which it was sown.
-
-5. The use of artificial grasses became familiar to the farmers both of
-Italy and the provinces, particularly the lucerne, which derived its
-name and origin from Media. The assured supply of wholesome and
-plentiful food for the cattle during winter, multiplied the number of
-the flocks and herds, which, in their turn, contributed to the fertility
-of the soil.
-
-To all these improvements may be added an assiduous attention to mines
-and fisheries, which by employing a multitude of laborious hands, serves
-to increase the pleasures of the rich, and the subsistence of the poor.
-The elegant treatise of Columella describes the advanced state of the
-Spanish husbandry, under the reign of Tiberius; and it may be observed,
-that those famines, which so frequently afflicted the infant republic,
-were seldom or never experienced by the extensive empire of Rome. The
-accidental scarcity, in any single province, was immediately relieved by
-the plenty of its more fortunate neighbours.
-
-
-
-
- ACCOUNT OF THE ESCAPE OF THE EARL OF NITHSDALE, FROM THE TOWER, IN THE
- YEAR, 1716.
-
-
-Lord Nithsdale was one of the Scottish noblemen who were concerned in
-the rebellion headed by the Earl of Mar, in the year 1715. The House of
-Commons preferred articles of impeachment against him, and several
-others, who all, except the Earl of Wintoun, pleaded guilty, and on the
-9th of February, 1716, received judgment of death. The countess of
-Nithsdale and lady Nairne threw themselves at the king’s feet as he
-passed through the apartments of the palace, and implored his mercy in
-behalf of their husbands; but their tears and entreaties were of no
-avail. The countess finding that nothing would appease the king but the
-death of her husband and the other lords, planned the earl’s escape from
-the tower in woman’s apparel, which she safely effected. The letter, of
-which the following is a copy, written by herself and addressed to her
-sister lady Lucy Herbert, abbess of the Augustine nunnery at Bruges,
-giving an account of that transaction is still preserved in the family,
-and was in the possession of the late Marmaduke Constable Maxwell, Esq.
-of Everingham in Yorkshire.
-
-”_Palais Royal de Rome, 18th April, 1718._
-
-“Dear Sister,
-
-“My Lord’s escape is now such an old story, that I have almost forgotten
-it; but since you desire me to give you a circumstantial account of it,
-I will endeavour to recal it to my memory, and be as exact in the
-narration as I possibly can; for I owe you too many obligations to
-refuse you any thing that lies in my power.
-
-“I think I owe myself the justice to set out with the motives which
-influenced me to undertake so hazardous an attempt, which I despaired of
-thoroughly accomplishing, foreseeing a thousand obstacles, which never
-could be surmounted but by the most particular interposition of Divine
-Providence. I confided in the Almighty God, and trusted that he would
-not abandon me, even when all human succours failed me.
-
-“I first came to London upon hearing that my Lord was committed to the
-Tower, I was at the same time informed that he had expressed the
-greatest anxiety to see me, having, as he afterwards told me, nobody to
-console him till I arrived. I rode to Newcastle, and from thence took
-the stage to York. When I arrived there the snow was so deep that the
-stage could not set out for London. The season was so severe, and the
-roads so extremely bad, that the post itself was stopt; however, I took
-horses, and rode to London through the snow, which was generally above
-the horse’s girth, and arrived safe and sound without any accident.
-
-“On my arrival I went immediately to make what interest I could amongst
-those who were in place. No one gave me any hopes; but all to the
-contrary, assured me, that although some of the prisoners were to be
-pardoned, yet my lord would certainly not be of the number. When I
-enquired into the reason of this distinction, I could obtain no other
-answer, than that they would not flatter me; but I soon perceived the
-reasons which they declined alleging to me. A roman catholic, upon the
-frontiers of Scotland, who headed a very considerable party—a man whose
-family had always signalized itself by its loyalty to the royal house of
-Stuart, and who was the only support of the catholics against the
-inveteracy of the Whigs, who were very numerous in that part of
-Scotland, would become an agreeable sacrifice to the opposite party.
-They still retained a lively remembrance of his grandfather, who
-defended his own castle of Carlaverock to the very last extremity, and
-surrendered it up only by the express command of his royal master. Now
-having his grandson in their power, they were determined not to let him
-escape from their hands.
-
-“Upon this I formed the resolution to attempt his escape, but opened my
-intentions to nobody but my dear Evans. In order to concert measures I
-strongly solicited to be permitted to see my lord, which they refused to
-grant me, unless I would remain confined with him in the Tower. This I
-would not submit to, and alleged for excuse, that my health would not
-permit me to undergo the confinement. The real reason of my refusal was,
-not to put it out of my power to accomplish my design; however, by
-bribing the guards, I often contrived to see my lord, till the day upon
-which the prisoners were condemned; after that we were allowed for the
-last week to see and take our leave of them.
-
-“By the help of Evans, I had prepared every thing necessary to disguise
-my lord, but had the utmost difficulty to prevail upon him to make use
-of them; however, I at length succeeded by the help of ALMIGHTY GOD.
-
-“On the 22d of February, which fell on a Thursday, our petition was to
-be presented to the House of Lords, the purport of which was to intreat
-the lords to intercede with his majesty to pardon the prisoners. We
-were, however, disappointed the day before the petition was to be
-presented; for the Duke of St. Alban’s, who had promised my Lady
-Derwentwater to present it, when it came to the point, failed in his
-word: however, as she was the only English countess concerned, it was
-incumbent upon her to have it presented. We had one day left before the
-execution, and the duke still promised to present the petition; but, for
-fear he should fail, I engaged the Duke of Montrose to secure its being
-done by the one or the other. I then went in company of most of the
-ladies of quality who were then in town, to solicit the interest of the
-lords, as they were going to the house. They all behaved to me with
-great civility, but particularly my Lord Pembroke, who, though he
-desired me not to speak to him, yet promised to employ his interest in
-our favour, and honourably kept his word; for he spoke in the house very
-strongly in our behalf. The subject of the debate was, whether the king
-had the power to pardon those who had been condemned by parliament? And
-it was chiefly owing to Lord Pembroke’s speech, that it passed in the
-affirmative: however, one of the lords stood up and said, that the house
-would only intercede for those of the prisoners who should approve
-themselves worthy of their intercession, but not for all of them
-indiscriminately. This salvo quite blasted all my hopes; for I was
-assured it aimed at the exclusion of those who should refuse to
-subscribe to the petition, which was a thing I knew my lord would never
-submit to; nor, in fact, could I wish to preserve his life on such
-terms.
-
-“As the motion had passed generally, I thought I could draw some
-advantage in favour of my design. Accordingly, I immediately left the
-House of Lords, and hastened to the Tower, where, affecting an air of
-joy and satisfaction, I told all the guards I passed by, that I came to
-bring joyful tidings to the prisoners. I desired them to lay aside their
-fears, for the petition had passed the house in their favour. I then
-gave them some money to drink to the lords and his majesty, though it
-was but trifling; for I thought that if I were too liberal on the
-occasion, they might suspect my designs, and that giving them something
-would gain their good humour and services for the next day, which was
-the eve of the execution.
-
-“The next morning I could not go to the Tower, having so many things in
-my hands to put in readiness; but in the evening when all was ready, I
-sent for Mrs. Mills, with whom I lodged, and acquainted her with my
-design of attempting my lord’s escape, as there was no prospect of his
-being pardoned; and this was the last night before the execution. I told
-her that I had every thing in readiness, and I trusted that she would
-not refuse to accompany me, that my lord might pass for her. I pressed
-her to come immediately, as we had no time to lose. At the same time I
-sent for Mrs. Morgan, then usually known by the name of Hilton, to whose
-acquaintance my dear Evans had introduced me, which I looked upon as a
-very singular happiness. I immediately communicated my resolution to
-her. She was of a very tall and slender make, so I begged her to put
-under her own riding-hood, one that I had prepared for Mrs. Mills, as
-she was to lend her’s to my Lord, that in coming out he might be taken
-for her. Mrs. Mills was then with child; so that she was not only of the
-same height, but nearly of the same size as my lord. When they were in
-the coach, I never ceased talking, that they might have no leisure to
-reflect. Their surprise and astonishment, when I first opened my design
-to them, had made them consent, without ever thinking of the
-consequences. On our arrival at the Tower, the first I introduced was
-Mrs. Morgan; for I was only allowed to take in one at a time. She
-brought in the clothes that were to serve Mrs. Mills, when she left her
-own behind her. When Mrs. Morgan had taken off what she had brought for
-my purpose, I conducted her back to the staircase; and in going I begged
-her to send me in my maid to dress me; that I was afraid of being too
-late to present my last petition that night, if she did not come
-immediately. I despatched her safe, and went partly down stairs to meet
-Mrs. Mills, who had the precaution to hold her handkerchief to her face,
-as was very natural for a woman to do when she was going to bid her last
-farewell to a friend on the eve of his execution. I had indeed desired
-her to do it, that my lord might go out in the same manner. Her eyebrows
-were rather inclined to be sandy, and my lords were dark and very thick;
-however, I had prepared some paint of the colour of her’s, to disguise
-his with. I also brought an artificial head-dress of the same coloured
-hair as her’s; and I painted his face with white and his cheeks with
-rouge, to hide his long beard, as he had not time to shave. All this
-provision I had before left in the Tower.
-
-The poor guards, whom my slight liberality the day before had endeared
-to me, let me go quietly with my company, and were not so strictly on
-the watch as they usually had been; and the more so, as they were
-persuaded, from what I had told them the day before, that the prisoners
-would obtain their pardon. I made Mrs. Mills take off her own hood, and
-put on that which I had brought for her; I then took her by the hand and
-led her out of my lord’s chamber; and in passing through the next room,
-in which there were several people, with all the concern imaginable, I
-said, “My dear Mrs. Catherines, go in all haste, and send me my waiting
-maid; she certainly cannot reflect how late it is; she forgets that I am
-to present a petition to-night, and if I let slip this opportunity I am
-undone, for to-morrow will be too late. Hasten her as much as possible,
-for I shall be on thorns till she comes.” Every body in the room, who
-were chiefly the guards’ wives and daughters, seemed to compassionate me
-exceedingly, and the sentinel very officiously opened the door to me.
-When I had seen her out I returned back to my lord, and finished
-dressing him. I had taken care that Mrs. Mills did not go out crying as
-she came in, that my lord might the better pass for the lady who came in
-crying and afflicted, and the more so, because he had the same dress she
-wore. When I had almost finished dressing my lord in all my petticoats
-excepting one, I perceived that it was growing dark, and was afraid that
-the light of the candles might betray us, so I resolved to set off; I
-went out leading him by the hand, and he held his handkerchief to his
-eyes; I spoke to him in the most piteous and afflicted tone of voice,
-bewailing bitterly the negligence of Evans, who had ruined me by her
-delay. Then, said I, “My dear Mrs. Betty, for the love of GOD run
-quickly, and bring her with you; you know my lodging, and if ever you
-made despatch in your life, do it at present, I am almost distracted
-with this disappointment.” The guards opened the doors, and I went down
-stairs with him, still conjuring him to make all possible despatch. As
-soon as he had cleared the door I made him walk before me, for fear the
-sentinel should take notice of his walk, but I still continued to press
-him to make all the despatch he possibly could. At the bottom of the
-stairs I met my dear Evans, into whose hands I confided him. I had
-before engaged Mr. Mills to be in readiness, before the Tower, to
-conduct him to some place of safety, in case we succeeded. He looked
-upon the affair so very improbable to succeed, that his astonishment,
-when he saw us, threw him into such consternation, that he was almost
-out of himself, which Evans perceiving, with the greatest presence of
-mind, without telling him any thing, lest he should mistrust them,
-conducted him to some of her own friends, on whom she could rely, and so
-secured him, without which we should have been undone. When she had
-conducted him, and left him with them, she returned to find Mr. Mills,
-who, by this time, had recovered himself from his astonishment. They
-went home together, and having found a place of security, they conducted
-him to it.
-
-In the mean while, as I had pretended to have sent the young lady on a
-message, I was obliged to return up stairs and go back to my lord’s
-room, in the same feigned anxiety of being too late, so that every body
-seemed sincerely to sympathize with my distress. When I was in the room,
-I talked to him, as if he had been really present, and answered my own
-questions in my lord’s voice, as nearly as I could imitate it. I walked
-up and down, as if we were conversing together, till I thought they had
-time enough thoroughly to clear themselves of the guards. I then thought
-proper to make off also. I opened the door, and stood half in it, that
-those in the outward chamber might hear what I said, but held it so
-close, that they could not look in. I bid my lord a formal farewell, for
-that night, and added that something more than usual must have happened
-to make Evans negligent on this important occasion, who had always been
-so punctual in the smallest trifles; that I saw no other remedy than to
-go in person; that if the Tower were still open when I finished my
-business, I would return that night; but that he might be assured I
-would be with him as early in the morning as I could gain admittance
-into the Tower, and I flattered myself I should bring favourable news.
-Then, before I shut the door, I pulled through the string of the latch,
-so that it could only be opened on the inside. I then shut it with some
-degree of force, that I might be sure of its being well shut. I said to
-the servant as I passed by, that he need not carry in candles to his
-master till my lord sent for him, as he desired to finish some prayers
-first. I went down stairs, and called a coach. As there were several on
-the stand, I drove home to my lodgings, where poor Mr. Mackenzie had
-been waiting to carry the petition, in case my attempt had failed. I
-told him there was no need of any petition, as my lord was safe out of
-the Tower, and out of the hands of his enemies, as I hoped; but that I
-did not know where he was.
-
-I discharged the coach, and sent for a sedan chair, and went to the
-Duchess of Buccleugh, who expected me about that time, as I had begged
-of her to present the petition for me, having taken my precautions
-against all events, and asked if she was at home; and they answered,
-that she expected me, and had another duchess with her. I refused to go
-up stairs, as she had company with her, and I was not in a condition to
-see any other company. I begged to be shewn into a chamber below stairs,
-and that they would have the goodness to send her grace’s maid to me,
-having something to say to her. I had discharged the chair, lest I might
-be pursued and watched. When the maid came in, I desired her to present
-my most humble respects to her grace, who they told me had company with
-her, and to acquaint her that this was my only reason for not coming up
-stairs. I also charged her with my sincerest thanks for the kind offer
-to accompany me when I went to present my petition. I added, that she
-might spare herself any further trouble, as it was now judged more
-advisable to present one general petition in the name of all; however,
-that I should never be unmindful of my particular obligations to her
-grace, which I would return very soon to acknowledge in person.
-
-I then desired one of the servants to call a chair, and I went to the
-duchess of Montrose, who had always borne a part in my distress. When I
-arrived, she left her company to deny herself, not being able to see me
-under the affliction which she judged me to be in. By mistake I was,
-however admitted; so there was no remedy. She came to me; and as my
-heart was in extasy of joy, I expressed it in my countenance as she
-entered the room. I ran up to her in a transport of joy. She appeared to
-be extremely shocked and frightened; and has since confessed to me that
-she apprehended my trouble had thrown me out of myself, till I
-communicated my happiness to her. She then advised me to retire to some
-place of security; for that the king was highly displeased, and even
-enraged at the petition that I had presented to him, and had complained
-of it severely. I sent for another chair, for I always discharged them
-immediately, lest I might be pursued. Her grace said she would go to
-court to see how the news of my lord’s escape was received. When the
-news was brought to the king he flew into an excess of passion, and said
-he was betrayed; for it could not have been done without some
-confederacy. He instantly despatched two persons to the Tower to see
-that the other prisoners were well secured, lest they should follow the
-example. Some threw the blame upon one, some upon another. The duchess
-was the only one at court who knew it.
-
-When I left the duchess I went to a house which Evans had found out for
-me, and where she promised to acquaint me where my lord was; she got
-thither some few minutes after me, and told me that when she had seen
-him secure, she went in search of Mr. Mills, who, by this time, had
-recovered himself from his astonishment; that he had returned to her
-house, where she found him, and that he had removed my lord from the
-first place, where she had desired him to wait, to the house of a poor
-woman, directly opposite to the guard-house; she had but one small room
-up one pair of stairs, and a very small bed in it.—We threw ourselves
-upon the bed, that we might not be heard walking up and down. She left
-us a bottle of wine and some bread; and Mrs. Mills brought us some more
-in her pocket the next day. We subsisted on this provision from Thursday
-till Saturday night, when Mrs. Mills came and conducted my lord to the
-Venetian ambassador’s.
-
-We did not communicate the affair to his excellency; but one of his
-servants concealed him in his own room till Wednesday, on which day the
-ambassador’s coach and six was to go down to Dover to meet his brother.
-My lord put on a livery, and went down in the retinue, without the least
-suspicion, to Dover, where Mr. Mitchell (which was the name of the
-ambassador’s servant) hired a small vessel, and immediately set sail for
-Calais. The passage was so remarkably short, that the captain threw out
-this reflection, that the wind could not have served better if his
-passengers had been flying for their lives, little thinking it to be
-really the case. Mr. Mitchell might have easily returned without being
-suspected of being concerned in my lord’s escape; but my lord seemed
-inclined to have him continue with him, which he did, and has at present
-a good place under our young master.
-
-This is as exact and full an account of this affair, and of the persons
-concerned in it, as I could possibly give you, to the best of my memory,
-and you may rely on the truth of it. I am, with the strongest
-attachment, my dear sister, your’s most affectionately,
-
-WINIFRED NITHSDALE.
-
-
-
-
-ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST RISE OF FAIRS IN ENGLAND, AND THE MANNER OF LIVING
- IN THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES.
-
-
-Before the necessaries or ornaments of life from the convenience of
-communication and the increase of provincial intercourse could be
-procured in towns, through the medium of shops, goods and commodities of
-every kind were chiefly sold at fairs, to which, as to one universal
-mart, the people resorted periodically, and supplied most of their wants
-for the ensuing year.
-
-Fairs and markets were at first held near the castles of the great
-barons, and near the cathedrals and principal churches in the cities and
-great towns, not only to prevent frauds in the king’s duties or customs,
-but also as they were esteemed places where the laws of the land were
-observed, and as such had a very particular privilege.
-
-The display of merchandize and the conflux of customers at these
-principal and only emporia of domestic commerce were prodigious, and
-they were, therefore, often held on open and extensive plains.
-
-It appears from a curious record containing the establishment and
-expenses of the Earl of Northumberland in the year 1512, that the stores
-of his lordship’s house at Wressle, for the whole year were laid in from
-fairs; “He that stands charged with my lord’s house for the whole year,
-if he may possible, shall be at all fairs, where the gross emptions
-(that is the principal articles) shall be bought for the house for the
-whole year, as wine, wax, beeves, muttons, wheat and malt.”
-
-This quotation is a proof that fairs were at that time the principal
-marts for purchasing necessaries in large quantities, which now are
-supplied by trading towns, and the mention of buying beeves and muttons,
-(oxen and sheep) shews that at so late a period they knew but little of
-breeding cattle.
-
-The great increase of shops in the retail trade in all the towns and
-villages through the kingdom since the commencement of the eighteenth
-century, by means of which the inhabitants are supplied with every
-article necessary for subsistence as well as for luxury, has in a great
-measure rendered useless the purposes for which fairs were originally
-established. This change in the domestic trade of the country may be
-attributed partly to the facility of payment given by the notes of the
-bank of England and inland bills of exchange, and partly to the more
-speedy and certain intercourse which has been produced by the regularity
-of the post office. The latter may be looked upon as the cause and the
-former the effect of this change which has so completely altered the
-state of fairs throughout the kingdom.
-
-Connected with fairs as furnishing the necessaries of life may be given
-an account of the living of the people in England in the sixteenth and
-seventeenth centuries.
-
-From the household book of the Earl of Northumberland above-mentioned it
-appears, that his family, during winter, lived mostly on salted meat and
-salt fish, and on that account there was an order for providing 180
-gallons of mustard. On flesh days through the year, breakfast for the
-earl and his lady was a loaf of bread, two manchets, a quart of beer, a
-quart of wine, half a chine of mutton, or a chine of beef boiled. On
-meagre days, a loaf of bread, two manchets, a quart of beer, a quart of
-wine, a dish of butter, a piece of salt fish, or a dish of buttered
-eggs. During Lent, a loaf of bread, two manchets, a quart of beer, a
-quart of wine, two pieces of salt fish, six baconed herrings, or a dish
-of sprats. The other meals had as little variety, except on festival
-days.
-
-At that time capons, chickens, hens, pigeons, rabbits, plovers,
-woodcocks, quails, snipes, partridges, and pheasants, were accounted
-such delicacies as to be prohibited except at the earl’s table.
-
-From the same book it appears that the earl had only two cooks for
-dressing victuals for his household which consisted of 229 persons.
-
-Hollinshed, who wrote about 1577, observes that white meats, i. e. milk,
-butter and cheese, formerly the chief food of the English people, were
-in his time degraded to be the food of the lowest sort, and that the
-wealthy fed upon flesh and fish.
-
-Feasts in those times were carried beyond all bounds of moderation.
-There is preserved an account of a feast given by Archbishop Nevill at
-his installation, 1466, in which are mentioned, among a great variety of
-others, the following articles, viz. wheat 300 quarters, ale 300 tuns,
-80 oxen, 6 wild bulls, 1000 sheep, 300 calves, 300 swine called porks,
-2000 pigs, 200 kids, 4000 rabbits, upwards of 400 harts, bucks and roes,
-3000 geese, 2300 capons, 2000 chickens, 4000 pigeons, 100 peacocks, 200
-cranes, 4000 mallards and teals, 500 partridges, 400 woodcocks; 1500
-hot, and 4000 cold venison pasties, 2000 hot custards, and 4000 cold
-ones. On the tables at this feast it is mentioned there were 4 porpoises
-and 8 seals.
-
-There were 62 cooks and 515 servants to assist them, and not less than
-3000 persons in all were at this feast.
-
-At the above period there was not discovered in society, any pleasure
-but that of crouding together in hunting and feasting. The delicate
-pleasures of conversation, in communicating opinions, sentiments and
-desires, were wholly unknown.
-
-About the year 1512 the breakfast hour was eight, and at ten they sat
-down to dinner; at three in the afternoon they had a drinking, and four
-was the hour for supper. The gates of the Earl of Northumberland’s
-castles were shut at nine in the evening throughout the year, “to the
-intent that no servant shall come in at the said gate, that ought to be
-within, who are out of the house at that hour.”
-
-By a household establishment of Lord Fairfax’s, about 1650, it appears
-that eleven had then become the hour of dining, and towards the end of
-that century the hour was twelve, but from the beginning of the last
-century it has gradually grown later to the present times, when seven
-has become the fashionable hour in noblemen’s houses.
-
-In the country, and in moderate families in the metropolis, one and two
-are the more general hours for dining.
-
-From the Percy household book it may be observed, that several dishes
-were then in use which have been long banished from our tables; among
-these may be reckoned cranes, herons, sea-gulls, bitterns and kirlews,
-and at archbishop Nevill’s feast, porpoises and seals were served up.
-
-After the accession of Henry the seventh to the throne, the nation began
-to rest from the scenes of war and blood which for several years had
-subsisted between the Houses of York and Lancaster, and in the next
-reign the people turned their attention more to trade and the arts of
-peace, so that we find the mode of living considerably changed, for
-luxury being ever the attendant of extended commerce, this brought us
-acquainted with the produce of foreign countries till then unknown in
-England.
-
-Previously to 1509 the principal vegetables used at the tables of the
-great were imported from the Netherlands, so that when Catherine, queen
-of Henry the eighth wanted a sallad, she was obliged to despatch a
-messenger to Flanders. Asparagus and artichokes were introduced into
-England about 1578, and cauliflowers somewhat later. Celery was not
-introduced into England till after 1709, when Marshal Tallard being made
-prisoner at the battle of Malplaquet, and brought into England, first
-introduced this plant on the English tables.
-
-There is an article in the Percy household book which says, “That from
-henceforth there be no herbs bought, seeing that the cooks may have
-herbs enough in my lord’s gardens.”
-
-Since the introduction of tea into England at the close of the
-seventeenth century the living of all classes of the people has
-experienced a total change, but it was not till about 1740 that tea came
-to be generally used in the country, for previously to that time those
-who made use of it got it by stealth, each being afraid of being known
-to be in possession of what was then termed a great luxury.
-
-Waller has a poem addressed to the queen Maria d’Este, wife of James the
-second in 1683, “On Tea commended by her Majesty,” whereby it seems it
-was even then a new thing, though Mr. Hanway in his Essay on Tea says
-that Lord Arlington and Lord Ossory introduced it into England in 1666,
-and that it was then admired as a new thing. Their ladies introduced it
-among the women of quality, and its price was then £3 per pound, and
-continued the same till 1707. In 1715 green tea began to be used, and
-the practice of drinking tea descended to the middling classes of the
-people.
-
-In the Tatler (No. 86, Oct. 27, 1709) the author mentions inviting his
-friends, seemingly as though tea was common, to drink a dish of tea,
-which they refused, saying they never drank tea in the morning.
-
-The same author observes, that dinner had in his memory, crept by
-degrees from twelve o’clock to three, and in the Spectator it is said
-that coffee houses were frequented by shopkeepers from six in the
-morning, and that the students at law made their appearance in them in
-their night gowns about eight. A lady who sends her journal to the
-Spectator represents herself as taking chocolate in bed, and sleeping
-after it till ten, and drinking her Bohea from that hour till eleven.
-Her dinner hour was from three to four, and she did not sit up later at
-a card party than twelve. A citizen out of trade, in the same work,
-describes himself as rising at eight, dining at two, and going to bed at
-ten if not kept up at the club he frequented.
-
-The history of Taverns in this country may be traced back to the time of
-king Henry the fourth, for so ancient is that of the Boar’s Head in East
-Cheap, London, the rendezvous of prince Henry and his riotous
-companions. Of little less antiquity is the White Hart without
-Bishopsgate, which now bears in the front of it, the date of its
-erection, 1480.
-
-
-
-
- SIR RICHARD CLOUGH.
-
-
-Sir Richard Clough was a man of distinguished character, who raised
-himself by his merit, from a poor boy at Denbigh to be one of the
-greatest merchants of his time. He was first a chorister at Chester,
-then had the good fortune to become apprentice to the famous Sir Thomas
-Gresham, and afterwards his partner, with whom he may be considered as
-joint founder of the Royal Exchange, having contributed several thousand
-pounds towards that noble design. His residence was chiefly at Antwerp,
-where after his death his body was interred; his heart at Whitchurch, in
-the vicinity of Denbigh. He is said to have made a pilgrimage to
-Jerusalem, and to have been a knight of the holy sepulchre; and he
-accordingly assumed the five crosses, the badge of that order, for his
-arms. His wealth was so great, that his name became proverbial, and the
-Welsh have a saying, on any person’s attaining great riches, that he _is
-become a CLOUGH_. Sir Richard left two daughters, but it is probable
-that they enjoyed but an inconsiderable part of his wealth, which is
-said to have gone to Sir Thomas Gresham, according to an agreement in
-case of survivorship. Sir Richard died first, but the time is unknown.
-Sir Thomas survived till the year 1579.
-
-The original hint of the Royal Exchange was given to Sir Thomas Gresham
-by Sir Richard Clough, who in the year 1561, had been advanced by the
-former, to be his correspondent and agent in the then emporium of the
-world, Antwerp. Clough wrote to his master, to blame the citizens of
-London for neglecting so necessary a thing; bluntly saying that “they
-studied nothing else but their own private profit; that they were
-content to walk about in the rain, more like pedlars than merchants, and
-that there was no kind of people but had their place to transact
-business in, in other countries.” Thus stimulated, Sir Thomas, in 1566,
-laid the foundation, and the next year completed what was then called
-the _Bourse_, which three years after on being visited by queen
-Elizabeth, was dignified by her with the title of _Royal Exchange_.
-
-An original picture of Sir Richard Clough is preserved at Llanywern, the
-seat of Sir Thomas Salusbury, Bart. It is a half length extremely well
-painted on board, his hair is very short, and of a dark brown. He is
-dressed in a short close jacket, black, striped with white, and great
-white breeches. In his right hand a glove; his left on his sword; on his
-right side is a dagger. The arms of the holy sepulchre, which he had
-assumed, are on one side of the picture. It was probably painted at
-Antwerp, which at this period abounded with artists of the first merit.
-
-
-
-
- ROYAL CLEMENCY.
-
-
-Lewis the thirteenth of France being desirous to sit as judge at the
-trial of the Duke de la Vallette, assembled, in his cabinet, some
-members of the Parliament, together with some counsellors of state, to
-consult on the propriety of such a step. Upon their being compelled by
-the king to give their opinions concerning the decree for his arrest,
-the president, De Believre, said, “That he found it very strange that a
-prince should pass sentence upon one of his subjects; that kings had
-reserved to themselves the power of pardoning, and left that of
-condemning to their officers; that his majesty wanted to see before him
-at the bar, a person, who by his decision was to be hurried away in an
-hour’s time into another world. That this is what a prince’s
-countenance, from whence favours flow, should never bear; that his
-presence alone removed ecclesiastical censures; and that subjects ought
-not to go away dissatisfied from their prince.” When sentence was
-passed, the same president said, “This is an unprecedented judgment, and
-contrary to the example of past ages, to see a king of France, in the
-quality of a judge, condemning a gentleman to death.”—It may be proper
-to add, that the sentence was afterwards revoked.
-
-It has always been urged against king James the second, as a proof of
-the inveterate cruelty of his disposition, that he should have ordered
-the Duke of Monmouth into his presence, and not pardoned him. Welwood,
-in his Memoirs, says, that James, in this instance, made an exception to
-a general rule observed inviolably by kings, “never to allow a criminal,
-under sentence of death, the sight of his prince’s face, without a
-design to pardon him.”
-
-The custom of pardoning criminals, by admitting them into the presence
-of the sovereign, is of very ancient date. When Agag, king of the
-Amalekites, had been taken prisoner by Saul (1 Sam., xv. 20-33) and his
-life spared by that monarch, contrary to the divine command, and was
-afterwards brought into the presence of Samuel, he exclaimed “Surely the
-bitterness of death is past,” evidently in allusion to this custom. But
-Samuel executed the command of GOD, by putting Agag to death, which
-ought to have been done by Saul, on taking him prisoner.
-
-
-
-
- LOTTERIES.
-
-
-As a source of revenue, this is only a modern invention; and it is
-evident, were it not for the monopoly of this species of gambling, which
-the government insists on enjoying, that it could not possibly prove of
-any material advantage; for individuals would soon set up private
-lotteries, could afford to carry them on with less profit, and would
-soon draw all the benefit of such speculations to themselves.
-
-The Romans had lotteries, particularly whilst they were under the
-government of the emperors. The tickets were distributed gratis among
-those guests who attended their entertainments, and all of them gained
-some prize. Heliogabalus took pleasure in making the prizes of very
-disproportionate value. Some of the prizes were ten camels, others ten
-flies, some ten pounds of gold, ten eggs, and the like. The plays which
-Nero gave, were concluded by lotteries, consisting of prizes of wheat,
-wine, stuffs, gold, silver, slaves, ships, houses, and lands.
-
-In England, lotteries certainly took place in the reign of queen
-Elizabeth. According to Raynal, the two American companies in her reign,
-were favoured with the first lottery that ever was drawn in her
-dominions. The first however, of which we have any regular account was
-drawn in the year 1569. It consisted of 400,000 lots, at ten shillings
-each; the prizes were plate, and the profits were to go towards
-repairing the havens of this kingdom. It was drawn at the west door of
-St. Paul’s Cathedral. The drawing began on the 11th of January, 1569,
-and continued incessantly, day and night, until the sixth of May,
-following. There were then only three lottery offices in London. It was
-at first intended to have been drawn at the house of Mr. Derricke, the
-queen’s jeweller, but was afterwards drawn as above mentioned.
-
-The proposals for this lottery were published in the years 1567 and
-1568. Dr. Rawlinson shewed the Society of Antiquaries in 1748, “A
-proposal for a very rich lottery, general, without any blanks,
-containing a great number of good prizes, as well of ready money as of
-plate and certain sorts of merchandizes, having been valued and prized
-by the commandment of the queen’s most excellent majesty’s order, to the
-intent that such commodities as may chance to arise thereof, after the
-charges borne, may be converted towards the reparations of the havens,
-and strength of the realm, and towards such other public good works. The
-number of lots shall be 400,000 and no more, and every lot shall be the
-sum of ten shillings sterling and no more. To be filled by the feast of
-St. Bartholomew. The shew of prizes are to be seen in Cheapside, at the
-sign of the Queen’s Arms, the house of Mr. Derricke, goldsmith, servant
-to the queen.”
-
-In the year 1612, king James in special favour for the plantation of
-English colonies in Virginia, granted a lottery to be held at the west
-end of St. Paul’s, whereof one Thomas Sharplys, a tailor of London, had
-the chief prize, which was 4000 crowns in plate.
-
-Lotteries were revived in the reign of William the third, and as all our
-evils were then attributed to Dutch counsels, the blame of lotteries,
-those banes of industry, frugality, and virtue, was ascribed to an
-imitation of the example of Holland, and a wish in the natives of that
-country to ruin our morals, as well as to cramp our trade.
-
-In the reign of queen Anne it was thought necessary to suppress
-lotteries as nuisances to the public. They have, however, been revived
-of late years, and are now carried forward in a more extensive manner
-than at any former period.
-
-
-
-
- HERCULANEUM MANUSCRIPTS.
-
-
-The following account of the ancient rolls of Papyrus, discovered at
-Herculaneum, and the method employed to unroll them, is extracted from a
-letter written in 1802, by the Hon. Henry Grey Bennett, addressed to the
-late Rev. Samuel Henley, D. D.
-
-“The _papyrus_ of the Greeks and Romans was the inside coating of a
-plant of the same name; which was formerly common in various parts of
-Sicily; a small river now choaked up near Palermo was called the
-_Papyrus_, probably from the number of that species of plant which grew
-in its bed; the same name was also given to various rivulets in the
-island. It is however most common in the neighbourhood of Syracuse,
-where a Sicilian a few years ago established a manufactory of that
-article, more indeed to gratify the wishes of the curious, than to reap
-any immediate profit. The texture is not so fine as in the Egyptian or
-eastern manuscripts, which exist in the libraries of Paris. This may be
-owing probably to the method of preparation, and not to any difference
-in the plant.
-
-“The _papyri_ are joined together, and form one roll, on each sheet of
-which, the characters are painted, standing out in a species of _bas
-relief_, and singly to be read with the greatest ease. As there are no
-stops, a difficulty is found in joining the letters, in making out the
-words, and in discovering the sense of the phrase. The manuscripts were
-found in a chamber of an excavated house, in the ancient Herculaneum, to
-the number of about 1800, a considerable part of which were in a state
-to be unrolled. That city was buried for the most part under a shower of
-hot ashes, and the manuscripts were reduced by the heat to a state of
-tinder, or to speak more properly, resembled paper which has been burnt.
-Where the baking has not been complete, and where any part of the
-vegetable juice has remained it is almost impossible to unroll them, the
-sheets towards the centre, being so closely united. In the others as you
-approach to the centre, or conclusion, the manuscripts become smoother,
-and the work proceeds with greater rapidity. A manuscript, by Epicurus,
-was unrolled in March, 1802, twenty seven sheets of which were taken
-off, not indeed so well as could have been hoped, but a great part
-sufficiently intelligible, to judge of the style of the author, and the
-nature of its contents. It unfortunately fell to the lot of a young
-beginner, who in his hurry to conclude, spoiled much more than he saved.
-
-“The _papyri_ are very rough on the outside, and in some there are great
-holes. All the inequalities are made smooth, previous to unrolling them,
-with facility; in consequence much must inevitably be lost. Great care,
-however, is taken to preserve all the pieces, and when broken off, they
-are placed in the same sheet, preserving their original position.
-
-“When first Mr. Hayter began this process, there was one man tolerably
-expert, and three only who had ever seen the manner of it; consequently,
-all were to be taught. This may serve as a reason why, as yet, so little
-has been done. One Latin manuscript was found, but it was in too bad a
-state to promise any chance of success. They are of different sizes,
-some containing only a few sheets, as a single play, others some
-hundreds, and a few, perhaps, two thousand. We may hope from the first,
-Menander, and from the others, the histories of Livy and Diodorus
-Siculus, perhaps the Doric poetry of the Sicilian muse, or the
-philosophy of the schools of Agrigentum and of Syracuse. We are led from
-the nature of the manuscripts to trust, that the indefatigable labours,
-the attention, and industry of Mr. Hayter will not be thrown away, and
-that the assistance to be derived from the English minister, Mr.
-Drummond, as well on account of his classical knowledge, and his love of
-literature, as the advantages arising from his situation, may command
-ultimate success, and secure to those who are engaged in this business,
-the protection of the Neapolitan government, and the thanks of the
-literary world.”
-
-
-
-
- WOLVES IN ENGLAND.
-
-
-King Edward the first commissioned Peter Corbet to destroy the wolves in
-the counties of Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, Salop, and Stafford,
-and ordered John Gilford to hunt them in all the forests of England.
-
-The forest of Chiltern was infested by wolves and wild bulls in the time
-of Edward the Confessor. William the Conqueror granted the lordship of
-Riddesdale, in Northumberland, to Robert de Umfraville, on condition of
-defending that part of the country against enemies and wolves. King John
-gave a premium of ten shillings for catching two wolves.
-
-In the reign of king Henry the third Vitalis de Engaine held the manors
-of Laxton and Pitchley, in the county of Northampton, by the service of
-hunting the wolf, whenever the king should command him. In the reign of
-Edward the first, it was found by inquisition that John de Engaine, held
-the manor of Great Gidding in the county of Huntingdon by the service of
-hunting the hare, fox, wild cat, and wolf, within the counties of
-Huntingdon, Northampton, Buckingham, Oxford, and Rutland. In the reign
-of Edward the third, Thomas de Engaine, held certain manors by the
-service of finding at his own proper cost, certain dogs for the
-destruction of wolves, foxes, martins, and wild cats, in the counties of
-Northampton, Rutland, Oxford, Essex, and Buckingham.
-
-
-
-
- PROFESSOR PORSON.
-
-
-This eminent scholar and acute critic was born at East Ruston, in the
-county of Norfolk, on the 25th of December, 1759. At a very early period
-he displayed talents which gave promise of future excellence, and some
-gentlemen who admired his acquirements in learning, sent him to Eton,
-from whence he was afterwards entered of Trinity College, Cambridge. The
-following account of Mr. Porson, when an Eton boy, is extracted from the
-evidence of Dr. Goodall, the present Provost of Eton, given before the
-Education Committee of the House of Commons.
-
-Dr. Goodall being asked if he was acquainted with what happened to the
-late Professor Porson to prevent his election to King’s College, replied
-as follows:—
-
- “Every account that I have read about him, in relation to that
- circumstance is incorrect. When he came to the school he was placed
- rather higher by the reputation of his abilities, than perhaps he
- ought to have been, in consequence of his actual attainments; and I
- can only say that many of the statements in the life of Porson are
- not founded in truth. With respect to prosody, he knew but little,
- and as to Greek he had made comparatively but little progress when
- he came to Eton. The very ingenious and learned editor of one
- account of him, has been misinformed in most particulars; and many
- of the incidents which he relates, I can venture from my own
- knowledge to assert, are distorted or exaggerated. Even Person’s
- compositions, at an early period, though eminently correct, fell far
- short of excellence; still we all looked up to him in consequence of
- his great abilities and variety of information, though much of that
- information was confined to the knowledge of his schoolfellows, and
- could not easily fall under the notice of his instructors. He always
- undervalued school exercises, and generally wrote his exercises fair
- at once, without study. I should be sorry to detract from the merit
- of an individual whom I loved, esteemed, and admired; but I speak of
- him when he had only given the promise of his future excellence; and
- in point of school exercises, I think he was very inferior to more
- than one of his contemporaries; I would name the present Marquis
- Wellesley as infinitely superior to him in composition.
-
- “On being asked whether he wrote the same beautiful hand as he did
- afterwards, Dr. Goodall replied he did, nor was there any doubt of
- his general scholarship.
-
- “To a question whether he made great progress during the time he was
- at Eton, or after he left? Dr. Goodall said he was advanced as far
- as he could be with propriety, but there were certainly some there
- who would not have been afraid to challenge Porson as a school-boy,
- though they would have shunned all idea of competition with him at
- Cambridge. The first book that Porson ever studied, as he often told
- me, was Chambers’s Cyclopædia; he read the whole of that dictionary
- through, and in a great degree made himself master of the algebraic
- part of that work entirely by the force of his understanding.
-
- “Dr. Goodall was then asked if he considered there was any ground
- for complaint on the part of Porson, in not having been sent to
- Cambridge, to which he answered no; he was placed as high in the
- school as he well could be; as a proof however of his merits, when
- he left Eton, contributions were readily supplied by Etonians in aid
- of Sir George Baker’s proposal, to secure the funds for his
- maintenance at the university.”
-
-In the year 1793, Mr. Porson was elected professor of Greek in the
-University of Cambridge, that office being then vacant by the death of
-professor Cooke. The following letter relating to this election from Mr.
-Porson to the Rev. Dr. Postlethwayte, master of Trinity College, is now
-first printed:—
-
- “_Essex Court, Temple, 6th October, 1792._
-
- “Sir,—When I first received the favour of your letter I must own
- that I felt rather vexation and chagrin than hope and satisfaction.
- I had looked upon myself so completely in the light of an outcast
- from Alma Mater, that I had made up my mind to have no farther
- connection with the place. The prospect you held out to me gave me
- more uneasiness than pleasure. When I was younger than I now am, and
- my disposition more sanguine than it is at present, I was in daily
- expectation of Mr. Cooke’s resignation, and I flattered myself with
- the hope of succeeding to the honour he was going to quit. As hope
- and ambition are great castle-builders, I had laid a scheme, partly
- as I was willing to think, for the joint credit, partly for the
- mutual advantage, of myself and the university. I had projected a
- plan of reading lectures, and I persuaded myself that I should
- easily obtain a grace, permitting me to exact a certain sum from
- every person who attended. But seven years’ waiting will tire out
- the most patient temper, and all my ambition of this sort was long
- ago laid asleep. The sudden news of the vacant professorship put me
- in mind of poor Jacob, who having served seven years in hopes of
- being rewarded with Rachel, awoke, and behold it was Leah.
-
- “Such, sir, I confess were the first ideas that took possession of
- my mind. But after a little reflection, I resolved to refer a matter
- of this importance to my friends. This circumstance has caused the
- delay, for which I ought before now to have apologized. My friends
- unanimously exhorted me to embrace the good fortune which they
- conceived to be within my grasp. Their advice, therefore, joined to
- the expectation I had entertained of doing some small good by my
- exertions in the employment, together with the pardonable vanity
- which the honour annexed to the office inspired, determined me; and
- I was on the point of troubling you, sir, and the other electors
- with notice of my intentions to profess myself a candidate, when an
- objection which had escaped me in the hurry of my thoughts, now
- occurred to my recollection.
-
- “The same reason which hindered me from keeping my fellowship by the
- method you obligingly pointed out to me, would, I am greatly afraid,
- prevent me from being Greek professor. Whatever concern this may
- give me for myself, it gives me none for the public. I trust there
- are at least twenty or thirty in the university, equally able and
- willing to undertake the office; possessed, many of talents superior
- to mine, and all of a more complying conscience. This I speak upon
- the supposition that the next Greek professor will be compelled to
- read lectures; but if the place remains a sinecure, the number of
- qualified persons will be greatly increased. And though it was even
- granted that my industry and attention might possibly produce some
- benefit to the interests of learning and the credit of the
- university, that trifling gain would be as much exceeded by keeping
- the professorship a sinecure, and bestowing it on a sound believer,
- as temporal considerations are outweighed by spiritual. Having only
- a strong persuasion, not an absolute certainty, that such a
- subscription is required of the professor elect; if I am mistaken, I
- hereby offer myself as a candidate, but if I am right in my opinion,
- I shall beg of you to order my name to be erased from the boards,
- and I shall esteem it a favour conferred on, Sir,
-
- Your obliged humble servant,
-
- R. PORSON.”
-
- * * * * *
-
- _Letter from the Rev. Joseph Goodall, D. D. Upper Master (now
- Provost) of Eton College, to Mr. Porson._
-
- “_Eton, Nov. 16th, 1806._
-
- “Dear Porson,—The bishop of Rochester [Dr. Dampier] has written to
- me requesting my assistance on the following subject. ‘On summing up
- matters the Oxford people find no account of the Eton MS of Strabo,
- of which use has been made, and want one for their preface.’ Now the
- said bishop, urged by his brother of Oxford [Dr. Randolph] at the
- same time he hints that you have examined the MS in question, and
- advises me to enter upon the subject with you, which I most gladly
- do, praying for such information as you may be disposed to give me,
- being fully persuaded that you are not likely to forget what you
- have once seen.
-
- “I write to the bishop by this post to acknowledge my incompetence.
- How glad should Mrs. Goodall and myself be, if you would take the
- trouble of once more inspecting the MS and dating your kind
- communication from the Eton library. Should you be a prisoner
- in——street will you suffer me to bring the MS to town about the
- middle of December, and then give me your opinion of its value, age,
- &c. The master of the Charter-House, [Dr. Raine] whom I hope soon to
- greet by some other title, will I am sure, have the goodness to
- forward this petition to you.
-
- “Charles Hayes, who, with his wife is now on a visit to us, desires
- his kindest remembrance. Mrs. Goodall is fatigued to death with
- nursing a sick nephew and niece, and I am sorry to add that I am on
- the invalid list myself, but we hope to be all well in the course of
- a few days. She unites in every good wish with
-
- Dear Porson,
-
- Yours most faithfully,
-
- J. GOODALL.”
-
- * * * * *
-
-_From Mr. William Laing of Edinburgh to Mr. Porson._
-
- “_Edinburgh, 3d of Jan. 1807._
-
- “Sir,—The edition of Herodotus being now compleated after the plan
- you proceeded on, I have taken the liberty of dedicating to you,
- which I hope will meet your approbation. Mr. Dunbar who has
- succeeded poor Mr. Dalzel has paid the utmost attention to it. I
- shall order Cuthell to forward a copy for your use. A selection has
- been made of the best notes from Wesseling; which with his Index
- Rerum, will make it very compleat. I return you my best thanks for
- the trouble you voluntarily undertook in promoting this speculation.
- I hope soon to see you in town, and shall personally repeat my
- obligations.
-
- “I am about to print a new and elegant edition of Pindar in two
- volumes from Heyne’s—You see there is still some spirit for
- enterprize existing here.
-
- “I hope all my little editions will possess beauty and correctness.
- I believe you have still a volume of Herodotus which belongs to a
- person here who wants it. Please deliver it to my son who will call
- for it.
-
- I remain with the highest respect,
-
- Sir, your very obedient servant,
-
- WILLIAM LAING.”
-
- * * * * *
-
-_From Dr. Charles Burney to Mr. Porson._
-
- “_Greenwich, June 20th, 1808._
-
- “My dear Porson,—My friends at Cambridge direct me to request you
- will go down as speedily as may be, to vote, and collect votes, for
- a degree of M. A. to be conferred on me. Now though I know your
- objections to expeditions of such a nature, yet I cannot help
- intreating you, if you have not sound reasons against it to go down
- and aid my cause.
-
- “Kaye tells me that no time is to be lost. So if you can, pack up a
- small portion of wardrobe and visit _alma mater_, so will you
- greatly oblige and favor
-
- C. BURNEY.”
-
- * * * * *
-
-_From Dr. Davy, Master of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, to Mr.
-Porson._
-
- “_Caius Coll. Tuesday 21st June, 1808._
-
- “My dear Porson—I take the liberty of telling you, in case it should
- affect any of your movements, that Dr. Burney’s mandamus will be
- voted for on Friday next, at 2 o’clock precisely. Every thing seems
- in his favour.
-
- Your’s most truly,
-
- M. DAVY.”
-
- * * * * *
-
-_From Thomas Tyrwhitt, Esq. to Mr. James Perry, Morning Chronicle
-office, Strand._
-
- “_Carlton House, Feb. 12th, 1805._
-
- “Dear Sir,—Do pray at your convenience inform me of the address of
- Mr. Porson, as some papers have been found in the collection of the
- late Sir William Hamilton respecting the Papiri, which are very
- interesting; and several MSS so clearly written out, as to be ready
- for the opinion of Mr. Porson, the only person in my opinion fit to
- inspect them in the whole kingdom.
-
- Your very faithful and obedient servant,
-
- THOMAS TYRWHITT.”
-
-
-
-
- HISTORY OF SEPULCHRAL MONUMENTS.
-
-
-In the early ages of Christianity the honour of being deposited within
-the walls of the church was reserved to martyrs; and it was the request
-of the emperor Constantine in imitation of this holy mode of interment,
-that after his death, his remains might be allowed to lie in the porch
-of the basilica of the Apostles, which he himself had erected in
-Constantinople. Hence the eloquent Chrysostom, when speaking of the
-triumphs of Christianity, exultingly observes, in allusion to this
-circumstance, that the Cæsars, subdued by the humble fishermen whom they
-had persecuted, now appeared as suppliants before them, and gloried in
-occupying the place of porters at the doors of their sepulchres. Bishops
-and priests distinguished by their learning, zeal, and sanctity, were
-gradually permitted to share the honours of the martyrs, and to repose
-with them within the sanctuary itself. A pious wish in some to be
-deposited in the neighbourhood of such holy persons, and to rest under
-the shadow of the altars; in others an absurd love of distinction even
-beyond the grave; to which may be added, that the clergy, by making such
-a distinction expensive, rendered it enviable; so that by degrees, all
-the wholesome restrictions of antiquity were broken through, and at
-length the noblest public edifices, the temples of the ETERNAL, the
-seats of holiness and purity, were converted into so many dormitories of
-the dead.
-
-Our present business is to investigate the antiquity and variety of
-sepulchral monuments, which have been erected as memorials of the
-illustrious dead, in the cathedral, conventual, and parish churches of
-this island. During the time of our Saxon ancestors, it is probable,
-that few or no monuments of this kind were erected; at least, being
-usually placed in the churches belonging to the greater abbeys, they
-felt the stroke of the general dissolution, and it is believed there are
-now scarcely any extant. Those we meet with for the kings of that race,
-such as Ina at Wells;[59] Osric, at Gloucester; Sebba and Ethelbert,
-which were in Old St. Paul’s, or where-ever else they may occur, are
-undoubtedly cenotaphs, erected in later ages by the several abbeys and
-convents of which these royal personages were the founders, in gratitude
-to such generous benefactors.
-
-The period immediately after the conquest was not a time for people to
-think of such memorials for themselves, or friends. Few could then tell
-how long the lands they enjoyed would remain their own; and most indeed
-were put into the hands of new possessors, who, frequently, as we find
-in Domesday Book, held thirty or forty manors, or more, at a time. All
-_then_ above the degree of servants, were soldiers, the sword alone made
-the gentleman, and accordingly on a strict inquiry, we shall meet with
-few or no monuments of that age, except for the kings, royal family, or
-some few of the chief nobility and leaders, among which, those for the
-Veres, Earls of Oxford, at Earl’s Colne, in Essex, are some of the most
-ancient. It is probable that this state of things, so far as regards
-sepulchral monuments, continued through the troublesome reign of
-Stephen, and during the confusion which prevailed while the barons’ wars
-subsisted, and until the ninth year of king Henry the third, 1224.
-
-In that year Magna Charta being confirmed, and every man’s security
-better established, property became more dispersed, manors were in more
-divided hands, and the lords of them began to settle on their
-possessions in the country. In that age many parish churches were built,
-and it is not improbable that the care of a resting-place for their
-bodies, and monuments to preserve their memories, became more general
-and diffused.
-
-In country parish churches, the ancient monuments are usually found
-either in the chancel, or in small chapels, or side aisles, which have
-been built by the lords of manors, and patrons of the churches, (which
-for the most part went together,) and being designed for burying places
-for their families, were frequently endowed with chantries, in which
-priests officiated, and offered up prayers for the souls of their
-founder and his progenitors.
-
-The tracing out, therefore, of such founders, will frequently help us to
-the knowledge of an ancient tomb which is found placed near the altar of
-such chantries. If there are more than one, they are, probably, for
-succeeding lords, and where there have been found ancient monuments in
-the church, also, besides what are in such chapels or aisles, they may
-be supposed to have been erected in memory of lords, prior to the
-foundation of the buildings.
-
-
- CROSS-LEGGED MONUMENTS.
-
-
-The first species of monument, of which I propose to give the history,
-is that denominated _cross-legged_, from its having the recumbent effigy
-of the deceased upon it, represented in armour, with the legs crossed.
-During the Norman period of our history, the holy war, and vows of
-pilgrimage to Palestine, were esteemed highly meritorious. The religious
-order of laymen, the knights templars, were received, cherished, and
-enriched throughout Europe, and the individuals of that community, after
-death, being usually buried cross-legged, in token of the banner under
-which they fought, and completely armed in regard to their being
-soldiers, this sort of monument grew much in fashion, and though all the
-effigies with which we meet in that shape are commonly called knights
-templars, yet it is certain that many of them do not represent persons
-of that order; and Mr. Lethieullier says (_Archæologia, vol. 2. p. 292_)
-that he had rarely found any of these monuments which he could with
-certainty say had been erected to the memory of persons who had belonged
-to that community.
-
-The order of knights templars had its rise but in the year 1118, and
-in 1134, we find Robert duke of Normandy, son of William the
-conqueror, represented in this manner on his tomb in Gloucester
-cathedral.[60]—Henry Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, was represented thus on
-his fine tomb, which was in St. Paul’s cathedral, before the fire of
-London. And in the Temple church there still remain the cross-legged
-effigies of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, who died in 1219;
-William his son, who died in 1231; and Gilbert, another son, who died
-in 1241; none of whom it is believed were of the order of Templars.
-
-If these monuments were designed to denote at least, that the
-persons, to whose memory they were erected, had been in the Holy
-Land, yet all who had been there did not follow this fashion, for
-Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster, second son of king Henry the
-third, had been there, and yet, as appears by his monument, still in
-being in Westminster-abbey, he is not represented cross-legged.[61]
-However, it seems to have been a prevailing fashion till the sixth
-year of Edward the second, 1312, when the order of Templars coming
-to destruction, and into the highest contempt, their fashions of all
-kinds seem to have been totally abolished.
-
-By this it may be determined that all those effigies, either of wood or
-stone, which we find in country churches, whether in niches in the walls
-or on table tombs, and represented in complete armour, with a shield on
-the left arm, and the right hand grasping the sword, cross-legged, and a
-lion, talbot, or some animal couchant at the feet, have been set up
-between the ninth of Henry the third, 1224, and the seventh of Edward
-the second, 1313, and what corroborates this opinion is, that whenever
-any such figures are certainly known, either by the arms on the shield,
-or by uninterrupted tradition, they have always been found to fall
-within that period, and whenever, says Mr. Lethieullier in the before
-mentioned paper, I have met with such monument, totally forgotten, I
-have, on searching for the owners of the church and manor, found some
-person or other, of especial note, who lived in that age, and left
-little room to doubt but it was his memory which was intended to be
-preserved.
-
-It must, however, be acknowledged that this sort of monument did not
-entirely cease after the year 1312, for there is one in the church of
-Leekhampton, in Gloucestershire, which, by tradition, is said to be for
-Sir John Gifford, who died possessed of that manor, in the third of king
-Edward the third, 1328.
-
-The Rev. Dr. Nash, in his History of Worcester, has the following
-observations on this sort of monument:—“It is an opinion which
-universally prevails, with regard to the cross-legged monuments, that
-they were all erected to the memory of knights templars; now, to me, it
-is very evident that not one of them belonged to that order, but as Mr.
-Habingdon, in describing those at Alvechurch, hath justly expressed it,
-to ‘Knights of the Holy Voyage,’ for the order of knights templars
-followed the rule of the canons regular of St. Augustin, and as such
-were under a vow of celibacy. Now there is scarcely any one of these
-monuments which is certainly known for whom it was erected, but it is as
-certain that the person it represents was a married man.
-
-“The knights templars always wore a white habit, with a red cross on the
-left shoulder. I believe not a single instance can be produced of either
-the mantle or cross being carved on any of these monuments, which surely
-would not have been omitted, as by it they were distinguished from all
-other orders, had these been really designed to represent knights
-templars.
-
-“Lastly, this order was not confined to England only, but dispersed
-itself all over Europe, yet it will be very difficult to find one
-cross-legged monument any where out of England; whereas no doubt they
-would have abounded in France, Italy, and elsewhere, had it been a
-fashion peculiar to that famous order.
-
-“But though for these reasons I cannot allow the cross-legged monuments
-to have been erected for knights templars, yet they have some relation
-to them; being memorials of those zealous devotees, who had either been
-in Palestine, personally engaged in what is called the Holy War, or had
-laid themselves under a vow to go thither, though perhaps they were
-prevented from it by death; some few indeed might possibly be erected to
-the memory of persons who had made pilgrimages thither, merely out of
-devotion; among the latter probably was the lady of the family of
-Metham, of Metham in Yorkshire, to whose memory a cross-legged monument
-was placed in a chapel adjoining the once collegiate church of Howden,
-in Yorkshire, and is at this day remaining, together with that of her
-husband on the same tomb.
-
-“As this religious madness lasted no longer than the reign of our Henry
-the third, (the seventh and last crusade being published in the year
-1268) and the whole order of knights templars dissolved in the seventh
-of Edward the second; military expeditions to the Holy Land, as well as
-devout pilgrimages thither had their period by the year 1312,
-consequently none of those cross-legged monuments are of a later date
-than the reign of Edward the second, or the beginning of Edward the
-third, nor of an earlier than that of king Stephen, when those
-expeditions first took place in this kingdom.”
-
-
- THE FOLLOWING RULES WERE OBSERVED BY ANCIENT SCULPTORS IN ERECTING
- SEPULCHRAL MONUMENTS.[62]
-
-
-Kings and princes, in what part, or by what means soever, they died,
-were represented upon their tombs clothed with their coats of arms,
-their shield, bourlet or pad, crown, crest, supporters, lambrequins or
-_mantlings_, orders, and devices, upon their effigies, and round about
-their tombs.
-
-Knights and gentlemen might not be represented with their coats of arms,
-unless they had lost their lives in some battle, single combat or
-rencontre with the prince himself, or in his service, unless they died
-and were buried within their own manors and lordships; and then to shew
-they died a natural death in their beds, they were represented with
-their coat of armour, ungirded, without a helmet, bareheaded, their eyes
-closed, their feet resting against the back of a greyhound, and without
-any sword.
-
-Those who died on the day of battle, or in any mortal conflict on the
-side of the victorious party, were to be represented with a drawn sword
-in their right hand, the shield in their left, their helmet on their
-head, (which some think ought to be closed and the vizor let down, as a
-sign that they fell fighting against their enemies) having their coats
-of arms girded over their armour, and their feet resting on a lion.
-
-Those who died in captivity, or before they had paid their ransom, were
-figured on their tombs without spurs or helmets, without coats of arms,
-and without swords, the scabbard thereof only girded to, and hanging at
-their side.
-
-Those who fell on the side of the vanquished in a rencontre or battle
-were to be represented without coats of arms, the sword at their side
-and in the scabbard, the vizor raised and open, their hands joined
-before their breasts, and their feet resting against the back of a dead
-and overthrown lion.
-
-Those who had been vanquished and slain in the lists in a combat of
-honour were to be placed on their tomb armed at all points, their
-battle-axe lying by them, the left arm crossed over the right.
-
-Those who were victorious in the lists were exhibited on their tombs
-armed at all points, their battle-axe in their arms, the right arm
-crossed over the left.
-
-It was customary to represent ecclesiastical persons on their tombs
-clothed in their respective sacerdotal habits. The canons with the
-surplice, square cap, and aumasse or amice, that is the undermost part
-of the priest’s habit.
-
-The abbots were represented with their mitres and crosiers turned to the
-left.
-
-The bishops, with their great copes, their gloves in their hands,
-holding their crosiers with their left hands and seeming to give their
-benediction with the right, their mitres on their heads and their
-armorial bearings round their tombs supported by angels.
-
-The popes, cardinals, patriarchs, and archbishops were likewise all
-represented in their official habits.
-
-The editors of the Antiquarian Repertory (vol. 2. p. 226.) have given
-the following additional particulars relating to these monuments:—
-
-“Although the figures represented on tombs with their legs crossed, are
-commonly stiled Knights Templars, there are divers circumstances which
-intitled other persons to be so represented. The first, having served
-personally, though for hire in the Holy Land. Secondly, having made a
-vow to go thither, though prevented by sickness or death. Thirdly, the
-having contributed to the fitting out of soldiers or ships for that
-service. Fourthly, having been born with the army in Palestine. And
-lastly, by having been considerable benefactors to the order of Knights
-Templars, persons were rendered partakers of the merits and honours of
-that fraternity, and buried with their distinctions, an idea which has
-been more recently adopted abroad by many great personages, who have
-been interred in the habits of Capuchins. Indeed the admission of laymen
-to the fraternity of a religious order was no uncommon circumstance in
-former days.
-
-“So long as the Knights Templars remained in estimation it is probable
-that persons availed themselves of that privileged distinction, but as
-at its dissolution the Knights were accused of divers enormous crimes,
-it is not likely any one would chuse to claim brotherhood with them, or
-hand themselves or friends to posterity as members of a society held in
-detestation all over Europe, so that cross-legged figures, or monuments,
-may pretty safely be estimated as _prior_ to the year 1312, when that
-dissolution took place, or at most they cannot exceed it by above sixty
-or seventy years, as persons of sufficient age to be benefactors before
-that event, would not, according to the common age of man, outlive them
-more than that term.”
-
-
- CROSS-LEGGED MONUMENTS IN THE TEMPLE CHURCH.[63]
-
-
-_Geoffrey de Magnaville, first Earl of Essex._
-
-(1148.)
-
-He is represented in mail with a surcoat, and round helmet flatted on
-the top, with a nose piece, which was of iron to defend the nose from
-swords. His head rests on a cushion placed lozenge fashion, his right
-hand on his breast, a long sword at his right side, and on his left arm
-a long pointed shield, charged with an escarbuncle on a diapered field.
-This is the first instance in England of arms on a sepulchral figure.
-
-This Earl, driven to despair by the confiscation of his estates by king
-Stephen, indulged in every act of violence, and making an attack on the
-castle of Burwell, was there mortally wounded, and was carried off by
-the Templars, who as he died under sentence of excommunication, declined
-giving him Christian burial, but wrapping his body up in lead, hung it
-on a crooked tree in the orchard of the Old Temple, London. William,
-prior of Walden, having obtained absolution for him of the Pope, made
-application for his body, for the purpose of burying it at Walden, upon
-which the Templars took it down, and deposited it in the cemetery of the
-New Temple.
-
-
-_William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke._
-
-This monument represents a knight in mail with a surcoat, his helmet
-more completely rounded than the adjoining one, and the cushion as in
-all the rest laid straiter under his head. He is drawing his short
-dagger or broken sword with his right hand, and on his left arm has a
-short pointed shield, on which are his arms, per pale, _or_ and _vert_,
-a lion rampant, _gules_, armed and langued, _gules_, below his knees are
-bands or garters, as if to separate the cuisses from the greaves; his
-legs are crossed, and under his feet is a lion couchant.
-
-The first account of this William is in the 28th of Henry the second,
-when Henry son of that prince, who had behaved himself rebelliously
-against his father, lying on his death bed, with great penitence
-delivered to him, as to his most intimate friend, his cross to carry to
-Jerusalem. He obtained from Richard the first on his first coming to
-England after his father’s death, Isabel, daughter and heiress of
-Richard, Earl of Pembroke, in marriage, and with her that earldom. He
-died advanced in years at his manor of Caversham, near Reading, in 1219.
-His body was carried first to Reading abbey, then to Westminster, and
-last to the Temple church, where it was solemnly interred.
-
-
-_Robert Lord Ros of Hamlake._
-
-The most elegant of all the figures in the Temple church represents a
-comely young knight, in mail, and a flowing mantle, with a kind of cowl;
-his hair neatly curled at the sides, and his crown appearing to be
-shaven. His hands are elevated in a praying posture, and on his left arm
-is a short pointed shield, charged with three water-bougets, the arms of
-the family of Ros. He has at his left side a long sword, and the armour
-of his legs, which are crossed, has a ridge or seam up the front,
-continued over the knee, and forming a kind of garter below the knee: at
-his feet a lion.
-
-This Robert Lord Ros was surnamed _Fursan_, and incurred the displeasure
-of king Richard the first, but for what offence is not said. He was one
-of the chief barons who undertook to compel king John’s observance of
-the great charter. At the close of his life he took upon him the order
-of the Templars, and died in their habit. He was buried in this church
-in 1227.
-
-
-_William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke._
-
-The next figure but one to that of the Earl of Pembroke, may be for
-William Marshall, eldest son of that Earl. It is a cross-legged knight
-in mail, with a surcoat, his helmet round, surmounted with a kind of
-round cap, and the mouth piece up, his hands folded on his breast, his
-shield long and pointed, and now plain: a very long sword at his right
-side; the belt from which his shield hangs studded with quatre-foils,
-and that of his sword with lozenges.
-
-This William Marshall died without issue in 1231, and was buried in this
-church near the grave of his father.
-
-
-_Uncertain Monuments in the Temple Church._
-
-The five figures in the north group of this church are not ascertained
-absolutely to whom they belong. Camden and Weever ascribe one of them to
-Gilbert Marshall, third son of the first William, who on the death of
-his brother succeeded to the whole of the paternal inheritance, and lost
-his life at a tournament at Ware in 1241. His bowels were buried before
-the high altar of the church of our Lady at Hertford, and his body in
-the Temple Church, London, near his father and brother.
-
-In the present state of these monuments it is almost impossible to
-ascertain the property of more than one of the Marshall family. The two
-effigies whose belts have the same ornaments were it is probable of one
-family.
-
-It may be observed that Magnaville, William Marshall, jun. and the last
-figure in the north groupe have their legs crossed in an unusual manner.
-They lie on their backs and yet cross their legs as if they lay on their
-sides. So were those of Henry Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, 1312, in old St.
-Paul’s.
-
-The spurs of all are remarkably short, and seem rather straps with
-rowels. Not above two or three have the long pointed shoe, and two have
-their surcoats exactly reaching to the knee, whereas the others are of
-different lengths and fall more easily.
-
-Weever informs us that sepulture in this church was much affected by
-Henry the third and his nobility. Stowe has determined that four of the
-cross-legged figures belong to the three earls of Pembroke and Robert
-Ros: “and these are all,” says he, “that I can remember to have read
-of.”
-
-Mr. Gough relates, (he says from good authority,) that a Hertfordshire
-baronet applied for some of these cross-legged knights to grace his
-newly erected parochial chapel, but the society of Benchers, discovered
-their good sense, as well as regard to antiquity, by refusing their
-compliance.
-
-
- TABLE TOMB.
-
-
-To the cross-legged monument it is highly probable, says Mr.
-Lethieullier, succeeded the table tomb, with figures recumbent upon it,
-with their hands joined in a praying posture, sometimes with a rich
-canopy of stone over them, sometimes without such canopy, and again,
-some very plain without any figures. Round the edge of these for the
-most part were inscriptions on brass plates, which are now too
-frequently destroyed.
-
-The table monument, however, came in more early than Mr. L. supposes.
-
-The most ancient monument of this kind that is extant, in England at
-least, of the sovereigns of this kingdom, is that of king John, in the
-choir of Worcester Cathedral.[64] His effigy lies on the tomb, crowned;
-in his right hand he holds the sceptre, in his left a sword, the point
-of which is received into the mouth of a lion couchant at his feet. The
-figure is as large as life. On each side of the head are cumbent images,
-in small, of the bishops St. Oswald and St. Wulstan, represented as
-censing him.—This monarch died in the year 1216. His bowels were buried
-in Croxton abbey, and his body, which was conveyed to Worcester from
-Newark, was according to his desire, buried in that Cathedral.
-
-
- GRAVE STONES.
-
-
-At the same time came in common use the humble grave stone laid flat
-with the pavement, sometimes with an inscription cut round the border of
-the stone, sometimes enriched with costly plates of brass, as every
-person who has examined our cathedral and parish churches cannot fail to
-have observed. But either avarice, or an over zealous aversion to some
-words in the inscription, has robbed most of these stones of the brass
-which adorned them, and left the less room for certainty when this
-fashion began. Earlier than the fourteenth century very few have been
-met with, and even towards the beginning of that century it is thought
-they were but rare. Mr. Lethieullier says that one was produced at a
-meeting of the Society of Antiquaries, dated 1300.[65] Weever mentions
-one in St. Paul’s for Richard Newport, anno 1317, and gives another at
-Berkhampstead in Hertfordshire, which he by mistake dates 1306, the true
-date being 1356. Upon the whole, where we have not a positive date, it
-is hardly probable that any brass plate met with on grave stones can be
-older than 1350, and few so old, but from about 1380 they grew into
-common use and remained so even to the time of king James the first.
-Only after the reign of Edward the sixth we find the old gothic square
-letter changed into the roman round hand and the phrase _Orate pro
-anima_ universally omitted.
-
-Towards the latter end of the fourteenth century a custom prevailed
-likewise of putting the inscription in French and not in Latin. These
-inscriptions are generally from 1350 to 1400, and very rarely
-afterwards. John Stow has indeed preserved two, which were in St.
-Martin’s in the Vintry, dated 1310, and 1311.
-
-The late editor of the Antiquities of Westminster affirms (from what
-authority he does not say) that stone coffins were never or rarely used
-after the thirteenth century.[66] If this assertion had been correct we
-should have had an æra from whence to go upwards in search of any of
-those monuments where the stone coffin appears, as it frequently does,
-but there is reason to doubt the accuracy of this author’s statement.
-
-As Grecian architecture had a little dawning in Edward the sixth’s time,
-and made a further progress in the three succeeding reigns, we find, in
-the great number of monuments which were then erected, the small column
-introduced with its base and capital, sometimes supporting an arch,
-sometimes an architrave, but every where mixed with them, may be
-observed a great deal of the Gothic ornaments retained, as small spires,
-ill carved images, small square roses and other foliage, painted and
-gilt, which sufficiently denote the age which made them, though no
-inscriptions are left.
-
-
- HERALDIC SYMBOLS.
-
-
-Some knowledge of heraldry is very necessary in monumental researches, a
-coat of arms, device, or rebus, very often remains where not the least
-word of an inscription appears, and where indeed very probably there
-never was any.
-
-Armorial bearings seem to have taken their rise in this kingdom in the
-reign of king Richard the first, and by little and little to have become
-hereditary; it was accounted most honourable to carry those arms which
-the bearers had displayed in the Holy Land, against the professed
-enemies of Christianity, but they were not fully established until the
-latter end of the reign of king Henry the third.
-
-King Richard the first after his return from his captivity in Austria,
-had a new great seal made, on which seal he first bore three lions
-passant guardant for his arms, which from this time became the
-hereditary arms of the kings of England.
-
-The arms assigned or attributed to the kings of the Norman dynasty,
-namely _gules_, two lions passant guardant, _or_, Mr. Sandford, in his
-Genealogical History of England, says he could not find had ever been
-used by those Princes, either on monuments, coins, or seals, but that
-historians had assigned or fixed them upon the Norman line to
-distinguish it from that of their successors the Plantagenets, who bore
-_gules_, three lions passant guardant, _or_.[67] According to the
-opinion of modern genealogists, king Henry the second, who bore two
-lions for his arms, in the manner before mentioned, added, on his
-marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine, the arms of that dutchy, namely
-_gules_, a lion, _or_, to his own, and so was the first king of England
-who bore three lions; but for this there is no better proof than for
-those assigned to the Norman dynasty, for the arms of king Henry the
-second upon his monument at Fontevraud in Normandy, are on a shield of a
-modern form, and on the same monument are escutcheons with both
-impalements and quarterings which were not used till a hundred years
-after his death.
-
-King Edward the first was the first son of a king of England that
-differenced his arms with a file, and the first king of England that
-bore his arms on the caparisons of his horse.
-
-Margaret of France, second wife of king Edward the first, was the first
-queen of England that bore her arms _dimidiated_ with her husband’s in
-one escutcheon, that is, both escutcheons being parted by a
-perpendicular line, or _per pale_, the dexter side of the husband’s
-shield, is joined to the sinister side of the wife’s, which kind of
-bearing is more ancient than the impaling of the entire coats of arms.
-
-King Edward the third, in the year 1339, having taken upon him the title
-of king of France, was the first of our kings who quartered arms,
-bearing those of France and England, quarterly, and so careful were the
-kings, his successors, in marshalling the arms of both kingdoms in the
-same shield, that when Charles the sixth, king of France, changed the
-semée of fleurs de lys into three, our king Henry the fifth did the
-like,[68] and so it continued till the union of Great Britain with
-Ireland in 1801, when the arms of France were relinquished.
-
-The first example of the quartering of arms, is found in Spain, when the
-kingdoms of Castile and Leon were united under Ferdinand the third, and
-was afterwards imitated, as above described, by king Edward the third.
-Eleanor of Castile, his queen, introduced this mode of bearing arms into
-England, in which she was followed by the king, her husband.
-
-Until the time of king Edward the third, we find no coronets round the
-heads of peers. The figure upon the monument of John of Eltham, second
-son of king Edward the third, who died in 1334, and is buried in
-Westminster abbey, is adorned with a diadem, composed of a circle of
-greater and less leaves or flowers, and is the most ancient portraiture
-of an earl, says Sandford, that has a coronet. For the effigies of Henry
-Lacy, earl of Lincoln, on his tomb in Old St. Paul’s, had the head
-encompassed with a circle only, and that of William de Valence, earl of
-Pembroke, half brother of king John, who died in 1304, and is buried in
-St. Edmund’s chapel, in Westminster abbey, has only a circle, enriched
-and embellished with stones of several colours, but without either
-points, rays, or leaves.
-
-John Hastings, earl of Pembroke, who died in 1375, was the first subject
-who bore two coats quarterly.
-
-Richard the second was the first of the English kings, who used
-supporters to his arms.
-
-Henry the sixth was the first of our kings who wore an arched crown,
-which has been ever since continued by his successors.[69]
-
-Henry the eighth was the first king of England that added to his shield,
-the garter and the crown, in imitation of which, the knights of the
-garter, in the latter end of his reign, caused their escutcheons on
-their stalls at Windsor, to be encompassed with the garter, and those
-who were dukes, marquesses, or earls, had their coronets placed on their
-shields, which has been so practised ever since.
-
-Queen Elizabeth was the first sovereign who used in her arms, a harp
-crowned, as an ensign for the kingdom of Ireland.
-
-King James the first was the first of our monarchs, who quartered the
-arms of England, Scotland, and Ireland in one shield.
-
-The number of princes of the blood royal of the houses of York and
-Lancaster, may easily be distinguished, by the labels on their coats of
-arms, which are different for each, and very often their devices are
-added.
-
-Where the figure of a woman is found with arms both on her kirtle and
-mantle, those on the kirtle are always her own family’s, and those on
-the mantle, her husband’s.
-
-The first instance of arms on sepulchral monuments, in England, are
-those on the tomb of Geoffrey de Magnaville, first Earl of Essex, (so
-created in 1148,) in the Temple church, in London. Armorial bearings
-were used in France, on monuments, forty years before we find them in
-England.
-
-Very intimately connected with the ornaments and devices upon sepulchral
-monuments are the figures and dresses of our early monarchs found on
-their great seals, and of the principal nobility of those times on their
-seals. King Henry the third was the first English sovereign who wore
-upon his helmet a crown, and he is also the first king who is depicted
-upon his great seal as wearing rowels in his spurs in the manner in
-which they are now used, all the former kings using spurs with a single
-point or spike from the heel.
-
-Sandford, in his Genealogical History of England, says, that the arms
-upon the seal of John, Earl of Morton, (afterwards king John,) namely,
-two lions passant, are the first which he had seen upon any seal of the
-royal family. This was in the reign of king Henry the second.
-
-
- MONUMENTS FOR ECCLESIASTICS.
-
-
-As to monuments for the several degrees of churchmen, as bishops,
-abbots, priors, monks, &c. or of religious women, they are easily to be
-distinguished from other persons, but equally difficult to assign to
-their true owners. Among these, as among the before-mentioned monuments,
-for the most part the stone effigies are the oldest, with the mitre,
-crosier, and other proper insignia, and very often wider at the head
-than feet, having, indeed, been the cover to the stone coffins in which
-the body was deposited.
-
-When brass plates came in fashion they were likewise much used by
-bishops, &c. many of whose grave stones remain at this day, very richly
-adorned, and in many, the indented marble shews that they have been so.
-In Salisbury cathedral, says Mr. Lethieullier, I found two very ancient
-stone figures of bishops, which were brought from Old Sarum, and are
-consequently older than the time of king Henry the third. In that
-church, likewise, the pompous marble which lies over Nicholas Longespee,
-bishop of that see, and son of the, Earl of Salisbury, who died in the
-year 1297, appears to have been richly plated, though the brass is now
-quite gone, and is one of the most early of that kind which has been met
-with. Frequently, where there are no effigies, crosiers or crosses
-denote an ecclesiastic. The latter have been met with, but with little
-difference in their form, for every order from a bishop to a parish
-priest.
-
-
- THE SKELETON MONUMENT.
-
-
-One sort of monument more may be mentioned, which is somewhat peculiar;
-this is the representation of a skeleton in a shroud, lying either under
-or upon, but generally under a table tomb. A monument of this kind is to
-be met with in almost all the cathedral and conventual churches
-throughout England, and scarcely ever more than one, but to what age the
-unknown ones are to be attributed, we have no clue to guide us, since
-there is one in York cathedral for Robert Claget, treasurer of that
-church, as ancient as 1241, and in Bristol cathedral, Paul Bush, the
-first bishop of that see, who died so late as 1558, is represented in
-the same manner, and some of these figures may be found in every age
-between.
-
-These skeleton monuments represent the figure of a man emaciated by
-extreme sickness, or taken immediately after death; they are usually of
-ecclesiastics, and placed with another figure of the same prelate, as a
-contrast to his pride, in pontificals. The art of the sculptor is more
-apparent in the first mentioned, because much anatomical accuracy was
-required.
-
-One of the earliest monuments of a warrior so contrasted is that of John
-de Arundel, slain in the French wars, under the Duke of Bedford. It
-remains in the sepulchral chapel of that noble family at Arundel, and is
-finely sculptured in white marble. The dead figure, is indeed a masterly
-performance, and has every appearance of having been originally modelled
-from nature.
-
-In Exeter Cathedral there is an altar tomb, upon which lies the effigy
-of bishop Marshall, who died in 1203, dressed in his episcopal robes,
-with a mitre on his head, his right hand lying upon his breast, with the
-palm upwards, the fore finger, ring finger, and thumb extended, and the
-other fingers closed. Near this monument in a low niche, lies the figure
-of a skeleton, cut in free stone, with the following inscription over
-it:—“Ista figura docet nos omnes premeditari qualiter ipsa nocet mors
-quando venit dominari.”
-
-The tomb of bishop Beckington in Wells Cathedral, who died in 1464, has
-his effigy in alabaster, habited in his episcopal robes; and underneath
-is a representation of his skeleton.
-
-Footnote 59:
-
- In the centre of the nave of Wells Cathedral there is a large stone
- that had formerly upon it an effigy in brass, which was generally
- ascribed to king Ina, the founder of that church.
-
-Footnote 60:
-
- This is one of the earliest specimens we have of the cross-legged
- monument. It is made of Irish oak, as well the table part, as the
- effigy. On the pannels are the arms of several of the worthies, and at
- the foot the arms of France and England, quarterly, which shews these
- escutcheons to have been painted since the reign of king Henry the
- fourth. This monument stood entire until the parliamentary army,
- during the Cromwell usurpation, having garrisoned the city of
- Gloucester against the king, the soldiers tore it to pieces, which
- being about to be burned, were bought of them by Sir Humphrey Tracy,
- of Stanway, and privately laid up until the Restoration, when the
- pieces were put together, repaired, and ornamented, and again placed
- in their former situation by Sir Humphrey, who also added a wire
- screen for their future preservation. There is an engraving of this
- monument in Sandford’s Genealogical History, page 16, which Rudder,
- (_History of Gloucester_, p. 126.) calls a noble representation of it.
-
- Gibbon has left us the following account of this prince, (Rom. Hist.
- vol. 11. p. 32)—“Robert, Duke of Normandy, one of the chiefs of the
- first crusade, on his father’s death was deprived of the kingdom of
- England, by his own indolence and the activity of his brother Rufus.
- The worth of Robert was degraded by an excessive levity and easiness
- of temper; his cheerfulness seduced him to the indulgence of pleasure,
- his profuse liberality impoverished the prince and people; his
- indiscriminate clemency multiplied the number of offenders; and the
- amiable qualities of a private man, became the essential defects of a
- sovereign. For the trifling sum of ten thousand marks (the one
- hundredth part of its present yearly revenue) he mortgaged Normandy
- during his absence in the first crusade, to the English usurper; but
- his behaviour in the Holy War, announced in Robert, a reformation of
- manners, and restored him in some degree to the public esteem.”
-
- There is an engraving of Robert, Duke of Normandy, in Ducarel’s
- Anglo-Norman Antiq. Plate 5.
-
- The monument of William, Earl of Flanders, son of Robert, Duke of
- Normandy, as also two of his seals, are engraven in Sandford’s
- Genealogical Hist. p. 17.
-
-Footnote 61:
-
- The monument of Edmund Crouchback has been very lofty; it was painted,
- gilt, and inlaid with stained glass. The inside of the canopy has
- represented the sky with stars, but, by age, is changed into a dull
- red. On the base, towards the area are the remains of ten knights,
- armed, with banners, surcoats of armour, and cross-belted,
- representing, undoubtedly, his expedition to the Holy Land, the number
- exactly corresponding with what Matthew Paris reports, namely, Edmund
- and his elder brother, four earls and four knights, of whom some are
- still discoverable, particularly the Lord Roger Clifford, as were
- formerly in Waverly’s time, William de Valence and Thomas de Clare.
-
-Footnote 62:
-
- These rules are extracted from the Antiquarian Repertory, vol. ii. p.
- 124; and from the Introduction to Gough’s “History of Sepulchral
- Monuments,” p. 115.
-
-Footnote 63:
-
- This account of these monuments is extracted from Gough’s “History of
- Sepulchral Monuments.”
-
-Footnote 64:
-
- This monument was asserted by Green, in his History of Worcester, to
- have been a cenotaph, and accordingly the Dean and Chapter had
- determined on its removal, intending to place it over the supposed
- remains of the king in the lady chapel. But on opening the tomb on
- Monday, July the 17th, 1797, the royal remains were found therein in a
- stone coffin, the internal measure of which from the feet to the top
- of the excavation hollowed out for the head, was 5 feet 6 inches and a
- half. The body was doubtless originally placed in the coffin, nearly
- in the same form, and arrayed in such a robe as the figure on the
- tomb, with his sword in his left hand, and booted, but it was so much
- deranged as evidently to shew that it had been disturbed, and that
- perhaps at its removal from the place of its first interment in the
- lady chapel, if ever that event had taken place, which seems to have
- been a controverted point with historians. The most perfect part of
- the body seemed to be the toes, on some of which the nails were still
- distinguishable, but of what the dress had originally been composed,
- could be only matter of conjecture. The influx of people, eager to see
- the royal remains after an interment of nearly 600 years, was so great
- as to be the cause of the tomb being closed on the following day.
-
-Footnote 65:
-
- The monument of Walter de Langton, Dean of York, who died in 1279, was
- the first in that Cathedral that had an inscription upon it. It was
- destroyed by the Puritans during the Cromwell Usurpation.
-
-Footnote 66:
-
- Coffins formed of a single stone, hollowed with a chissel, are an
- improvement which has been attributed to the Romans. Sometimes they
- were of marble. Some contained two or more bodies, others only one, in
- which case, it was not unusual for them to be made to fit the body,
- with cavities for the reception of the head and arms, and other
- protuberances.
-
- The solid stone or marble coffin, often curiously wrought, was in use
- among the first christians in England, who, in all probability, copied
- the customs of the Romans, after those conquerors had quitted our
- island.—Stone coffins were disused in the fifteenth century. None but
- opulent persons were interred in coffins of this description; the body
- was wrapped in fine linen, attired in the most honourable vestments,
- and laid in spices. The coffin was placed no deeper in the ground,
- than the thickness of a marble slab, or stone to be laid over it, even
- with the surface of the pavement. The coffin shaped stones which are
- frequently seen in churches at the present day, have, in general, been
- the covers of stone coffins.
-
- The leaden coffin was also in use among the Romans, not only for the
- reception of the body, but in many instances, for the ashes and bones.
- It was adopted by the christians, and continues in frequent use to the
- present time, among the more opulent.
-
- Alexander was buried in a golden coffin, by his successor Ptolemy; and
- glass coffins have been found in England.
-
- The oldest instance, on record, among us, of a coffin made of wood, is
- that of king Arthur, who was buried in an entire trunk of oak.
-
- It was not till the latter end of the seventeenth or the beginning of
- the eighteenth century, that coffins became in general use in England.
- Before that time, there was, in every parish church, a common coffin,
- in which the corpse was placed and conveyed on a bier, from the
- residence of the deceased, to the grave; it was then taken out of the
- coffin and interred. Some of these common coffins yet remain in
- country churches.
-
-Footnote 67:
-
- The gold noble, or half mark, struck by king Edward the third, in the
- seventeenth year of his reign, is the first money on which the arms of
- England appear, namely, three lions passant guardant.
-
-Footnote 68:
-
- The _three_ fleurs de lys were used, on some occasions, much earlier
- than this, both in France and England. There is an angel of Philip de
- Valois, coined in 1340, with the _three_ fleurs de lys, which was
- probably done for the sake of variation, king Edward having then
- lately taken the arms _semée_ de lys. Le Blanc mentions a charter of
- Philip, in 1355, with a seal of the arms in like manner. There is also
- a groat of king John of France, with only _three_ fleurs de lys,
- though he used them likewise _semée_. But Charles the sixth, who began
- his reign in 1380, constantly bore the _three_ lys for the arms of
- France, as they have been continued ever since. As the English kings
- altered the arms of France, in imitation of the French king, it is
- most likely that our Henry the fourth who was contemporary with
- Charles the sixth, began this practice. He did indeed bear the fleurs
- de lys _semée_, upon his great seal, because it was his predecessor’s,
- but that he bore the _three_ lys upon other occasions is most likely,
- for so they are seen at the head of his monument, at Canterbury, and
- his son Henry, afterwards Henry the fifth, in like manner, bore the
- _three_ fleurs de lys upon his seal, annexed to an indenture, so early
- as the sixth year of his father’s reign.
-
-Footnote 69:
-
- The coins of king Henry the sixth, both gold and silver, are supposed
- to be distinguished from his father’s, by the arched crown, surmounted
- with the orb and cross, being the first of our kings who appears with
- an arched crown upon his coins; but upon his great seal he has an open
- crown, _fleuri_, with small pearls, upon points, between. This is
- likewise the first time we see the orb with the cross upon the money,
- though it had been used upon other occasions, by almost all our kings,
- down from Edward the Confessor. The arched, or close crown, is not of
- ancient use, except in the empire, and thence, perhaps, called
- imperial. Some think Edward the third first used it, because he was
- vicar-general of the empire, and it is said that Henry the fifth had
- an imperial crown made, but Henry the sixth had certainly the best
- pretence to it, of any prince in Europe, of his time, being crowned
- king both of France and England. But why he did not bear it upon his
- great seal, as well as upon his coin, is not easily resolved any more
- than that his successor should bear it upon his great seal, and not
- upon his coins.
-
-FINIS.
-
-
-
-
- ● Transcriber’s Notes:
- ○ Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).
- ○ Footnotes have been moved to follow the articles in which they are
- referenced.
-
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-<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Memorabilia, by James Savage</p>
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
-most other parts of the world 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you
-are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the
-country where you are located before using this eBook.
-</div>
-
-<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Memorabilia</p>
-<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>Or Recollections, Historical, Biographical, and Antiquarian</p>
-<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: James Savage</p>
-<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: April 1, 2022 [eBook #67755]</p>
-<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p>
- <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Charlene Taylor, David King, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)</p>
-<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMORABILIA ***</div>
-
-<div class='figcenter id001'>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_on'>on</span>
-<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' />
-</div>
-<div class='pbb'>
- <hr class='pb c000' />
-</div>
-<div>
- <h1 class='c001'>MEMORABILIA.</h1>
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c1'>
-<div class='nf-center c002'>
- <div><span class='xxlarge'><b>MEMORABILIA;</b></span></div>
- <div class='c000'><span class='xlarge'><b>OR</b></span></div>
- <div class='c000'><span class='xxlarge'><b><i>RECOLLECTIONS</i>,</b></span></div>
- <div class='c000'><span class='xxlarge'><b>HISTORICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL,</b></span></div>
- <div class='c000'><span class='xxlarge'><b>AND</b></span></div>
- <div class='c000'><span class='xxlarge'><b>Antiquarian,</b></span></div>
- <div class='c000'><span class='sc'>By</span> <span class='xxlarge'><b>JAMES SAVAGE.</b></span></div>
- <div class='c003'>TAUNTON:</div>
- <div class='c000'>PRINTED FOR JAMES SAVAGE,</div>
- <div>AND SOLD BY</div>
- <div>J. POOLE, BOOKSELLER, FORE-STREET, <span class='fss'>AND</span></div>
- <div>BY BALDWIN, CRADOCK, &amp; JOY, PATERNOSTER ROW,</div>
- <div>LONDON.</div>
- <div class='c000'>1820.</div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c1'>
-<div class='nf-center c002'>
- <div>TAUNTON:</div>
- <div>PRINTED BY J. POOLE, FORE-STREET.</div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 class='c004'>ADVERTISEMENT.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The following pages have been compiled from various
-sources, and from an extensive course of reading. The
-Editor has in some instances placed his authorities in the
-notes at the bottom of the page; and, where he has copied
-from former writers, he has inserted the names of those from
-whom he has borrowed his materials. His chief object has
-been to confine himself to facts; he has therefore carefully
-avoided giving opinions upon, or drawing conclusions from, the
-various subjects of which he has treated. He has endeavoured
-to place many points of history in a new light, and in every
-part to illustrate, in some degree, the several matters which
-have occupied his attention. It has been his desire to present
-the reader with a volume, from which he hopes both instruction
-and amusement may be drawn, and he submits it with
-confidence, to the perusal of young persons in particular,
-as a collection of biographical and historical Miscellanea,
-calculated to beguile the tedium of an hour, without inculcating
-a single idea that may sully the purest mind.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><i>Taunton, May 31st, 1820.</i></p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 class='c004'>CONTENTS.</h2>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c005'><a href='#art01'>Anecdotes of Dr. Kennicott</a>, <a href='#Page_1'>1</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art02'>Remarkable Historical Coincidences</a>, <a href='#Page_4'>4</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art03'>Charles <abbr title='12'>XII.</abbr> of Sweden</a>, <a href='#Page_6'>6</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art04'>British Pearls</a>, <a href='#Page_8'>8</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art05'>Pillars of Commemoration</a>, <a href='#Page_9'>9</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art06'>Mason, the Poet</a>, <a href='#Page_13'>13</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art07'>Bishops of Sodor and Man</a>, <a href='#Page_17'>17</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art08'>The Table</a>, <a href='#Page_19'>19</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art09'>Clocks</a>, <a href='#Page_20'>20</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art10'>Aldus Manutius</a>, <a href='#Page_22'>22</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art11'>Bottles of Skin</a>, <a href='#Page_24'>24</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art12'>English Slave Trade</a>, <a href='#Page_25'>25</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art13'>Oliver Cromwell’s Wife</a>, <a href='#Page_26'>26</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art14'>Shakespeare</a>, <a href='#Page_28'>28</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art15'>University Degrees</a>, <a href='#Page_31'>31</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art16'>Guy Carleton, Lord Dorchester</a>, <a href='#Page_33'>33</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art17'>Figs</a>, <a href='#Page_35'>35</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art18'>Fruits cultivated at Rome in the time of Pliny, that are now grown in our English gardens</a>, <a href='#Page_37'>37</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art19'>Peacocks</a>, <a href='#Page_51'>51</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art20'>Ancient Libraries</a>, <a href='#Page_52'>52</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art21'>King Charles the First</a>, <a href='#Page_58'>58</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art22'>The Fair Geraldine and the Earl of Surrey</a>, <a href='#Page_60'>60</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art23'>Jews in England</a>, <a href='#Page_66'>66</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art24'>The English Bible</a>, <a href='#Page_67'>67</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art25'>Luxury of Ancient Rome</a>, <a href='#Page_68'>68</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art26'>Rhyme</a>, <a href='#Page_70'>70</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art27'>Mr. Coquebert de Montbret</a>, <a href='#Page_72'>72</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art28'>Dr. Thomas Pierce</a>, <a href='#Page_73'>73</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art29'>Writing among the Greeks</a>, <a href='#Page_74'>74</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art30'>Account of the Scriptoria, or Writing Rooms in the Monasteries of England</a>, <a href='#Page_76'>76</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art34'>Torture in England</a>, <a href='#Page_105'>105</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art35'>Dr. Johnson’s Conversation with the late King</a>, <a href='#Page_114'>114</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art36'>Dr. Beattie’s Conversation with the late King &amp; Queen</a>, <a href='#Page_121'>121</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art37'>Sacred Gardens</a>, <a href='#Page_128'>128</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art38'>Sir Thomas Wyat</a>, <a href='#Page_129'>129</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art39'>The Hand, a Symbol of Power</a>, <a href='#Page_132'>132</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art40'>Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I</a>, <a href='#Page_135'>135</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art41'>Last Moments of Philip Melancthon</a>, <a href='#Page_142'>142</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art42'>House of Commons</a>, <a href='#Page_145'>145</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art43'>Mosaic Painting</a>, <a href='#Page_165'>165</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art44'>King Egbert</a>, <a href='#Page_168'>168</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art45'>The Latin Language</a>, <a href='#Page_171'>171</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art46'>Dr. Herschel</a>, <a href='#Page_174'>174</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art47'>Parodies</a>, <a href='#Page_177'>177</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art48'>Mourning for the Dead</a>, <a href='#Page_178'>178</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art49'>Garrick</a>, <a href='#Page_179'>179</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art50'>Lemons</a>, <a href='#Page_181'>181</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art51'>Origin of the Point of Honour</a>, <a href='#Page_182'>182</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art52'>Geoffrey of Monmouth</a>, <a href='#Page_185'>185</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art54'>Lifting up the Hand in Swearing</a>, <a href='#Page_205'>205</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art55'>Villiers, Duke of Buckingham</a>, <a href='#Page_207'>207</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art56'>King Arthur</a>, <a href='#Page_210'>210</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art57'>Alchemy</a>, <a href='#Page_213'>213</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art58'>Account of several Noble Families, in England, who owe their elevation to the Peerage to their Ancestors having been engaged in Trade</a>, <a href='#Page_214'>214</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art59'>Last Moments of Queen Caroline</a>, <a href='#Page_220'>220</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art60'>The Britons, according to the Greek and Latin Classics</a>, <a href='#Page_221'>221</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art62'>The Seven Sleepers</a>, <a href='#Page_227'>227</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art63'>John Ray, the Naturalist</a>, <a href='#Page_230'>230</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art65'>London Bankers and their Origin</a>, <a href='#Page_233'>233</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art66'>Elucidation of the Ornaments with which the Greeks and Romans adorned the Human Head on Coins &amp; Medals</a>, <a href='#Page_237'>237</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art67'>The Tradescants</a>, <a href='#Page_243'>243</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art68'>Orange Trees</a>, <a href='#Page_249'>249</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art69'>Articles of Use and Luxury introduced into Europe by the Romans</a>, <a href='#Page_251'>251</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art70'>Account of the Escape of the Earl of Nithsdale from the Tower, in 1716</a>, <a href='#Page_255'>255</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art71'>Account of the first rise of Fairs in England, and the Manner of Living, in the <abbr title='sixteenth'>16th</abbr> and <abbr title='seventeenth'>17th</abbr> Centuries</a>, <a href='#Page_269'>269</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art72'>Sir Richard Clough</a>, <a href='#Page_277'>277</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art73'>Royal Clemency</a>, <a href='#Page_279'>279</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art74'>Lotteries</a>, <a href='#Page_280'>280</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art75'>Herculaneum Manuscripts</a>, <a href='#Page_283'>283</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art76'>Wolves in England</a>, <a href='#Page_286'>286</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art77'>Professor Porson</a>, <a href='#Page_288'>288</a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><a href='#art78'>History of Sepulchral Monuments</a>, <a href='#Page_297'>297</a></p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_1'>1</span>
- <h2 id='art01' class='c004'>Dr. KENNICOTT.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Dr. Kennicott was the son of the parish
-clerk of Totness, once master of a charity school
-in that town. At an early age young Kennicott
-took the care of the school, and in that situation
-wrote some verses, addressed to the <abbr title='honourable'>Hon.</abbr> Mrs.
-Courtenay, which recommended him to her
-notice, and to that of many neighbouring gentlemen,
-who laudably opened a subscription to send
-him to Oxford.</p>
-
-<p class='c007'><i>The following inscription, written by Dr. Kennicott, is
-engraven on the tomb of his parents</i>:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>As Virtue should be of good Report,</div>
- <div class='line'>Sacred be this humble Monument to the Memory of</div>
- <div class='line'>BENJAMIN KENNICOTT,</div>
- <div class='line'>Parish Clerk of Totness,</div>
- <div class='line'>and ELIZABETH his Wife;</div>
- <div class='line'>The latter an example of every Christian Duty,</div>
- <div class='line'>The former animated with the warmest zeal, regulated by the</div>
- <div class='line'>best good sense, and both constantly exerted</div>
- <div class='line'>for the salvation of himself and others.</div>
- <div class='line'>Reader! soon shalt thou die also;</div>
- <div class='line'>And as a Candidate for Immortality, strike thy breast and say,</div>
- <div class='line'>“Let me live the life of the righteous,that my</div>
- <div class='line'>latter end may be like his.”</div>
- <div class='line'>Trifling are the dates of Time, where the subject is Eternity.</div>
- <div class='line'>Erected by their Son, <abbr class='spell'>B.</abbr> Kennicott, <abbr class='spell'>D. D.</abbr></div>
- <div class='line'>Canon of Christ Church, Oxford.</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'><span class='pageno' id='Page_2'>2</span>It is said that when Dr. Kennicott took orders,
-he came to officiate in his clerical capacity in his
-native town,—when his father, as parish clerk,
-proceeded to place the surplice on his shoulders,
-a struggle ensued between the modesty of the
-son and the honest pride of the parent, who insisted
-on paying that respect to his son which he had
-been accustomed to shew to other clergymen; to
-this filial obedience he was obliged to submit.
-A circumstance is added, that his mother had
-often declared she should never be able to support
-the joy of hearing her son preach; and that
-on her attendance at the church, for the first time,
-she was so overcome as to be taken out in a state
-of temporary insensibility.</p>
-
-<hr class='c010' />
-
-<p class='c007'><i>The following Letter from Dr. Kennicott to the Rev. William
-Daddo has been preserved</i>:</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“<i>To the Rev. Mr. Daddo, in Tiverton, Devon.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“<i>Wadh. Coll. <abbr title='march'>Mar.</abbr> 30, 1744.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“<abbr title='Reverend'>Rev.</abbr> and <abbr title='honourable'>Hon.</abbr> Sir,</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“Gratitude to benefactors is the great law of
-nature, and lest I should violate what was ever
-sacred, I presume to lay the following before you.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“There are, Sir, in the world, gentlemen who
-confine their regards to self, or the circle of their
-own acquaintance, and there are (happy experience
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span>convinces me) who command their influence
-to enlarge and exert itself on persons remotely
-situate, both by fortune and education. To you,
-Sir, belongs the honour of this encomium,—to
-me the pleasure of the obligation, and as I am
-now first at leisure in the place whither your
-goodness has transplanted me, I lay this acknowledgment
-before you, as one of the movers in this
-system of exalted generosity; for when I consider
-myself as surrounded with benefactors, there
-seems a bright resemblance of the now exploded
-system of Ptolemy, in which, Sir, (you know)
-the heavenly bodies revolved around the central
-earth which was thus rendered completely blest
-by the contribution of their cheering and benign
-influence.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“And now, Sir, the sentiments of duty rise so
-warm within me, that every expression of thanks
-seems faint, and I am lost in endeavours after a
-suitable acknowledgment of my obligations.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“But I know, Sir, whom I am now addressing;
-I know those who most deserve can least bear
-praise, and that your goodness is so great, as even
-to reject the very thanks of the grateful; like
-the sun in its splendour, which forbids the eye
-that offers to admire it.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“That Heaven may reward yourself and Mrs.
-Daddo with its best favours, and console you
-under your parental sorrows, is my daily and
-fervent prayer; and I shall esteem it one of the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>great honours of my life to be favoured at your
-leisure with any commands or advices you shall
-condescend to bestow on</p>
-
-<p class='c011'><abbr title='Reverend'>Rev.</abbr> Sir,</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>Your dutiful and obliged Servant,</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>BENJAMIN KENNICOTT.”</p>
-
-<hr class='c012' />
-
-<p class='c006'>The <abbr title='Reverend'>Rev.</abbr> William Daddo was for many years
-head-master of Blundell’s Free School, in Tiverton,
-where young Kennicott received the rudiments
-of his classical education. Mr. Daddo
-having acquired a considerable fortune from the
-emoluments of his school, quitted Tiverton, and
-retired to Bow-hill House, in the neighbourhood
-of Exeter, and there died many years ago, leaving
-a daughter, an only child, afterwards married to
-the <abbr title='Reverend'>Rev.</abbr> Mr. Terry.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art02' class='c004'>REMARKABLE HISTORICAL COINCIDENCES.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Among the curiosities in the British Museum
-are shewn two helmets; the one Roman, found
-in the ground on which the battle of Cannæ was
-fought, 216 years before Christ, and the other
-made of feathers, brought from one of the South
-Sea Islands, by Captain Cook. On comparing
-these helmets, the shape will be found exactly
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span>similar, though the latter was made by an uncivilized
-people living at the distance of more
-than 2000 years since the battle of Cannæ was
-fought, and who had never even heard of the
-Roman name.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>A second coincidence is found in the same
-collection. Two breast-plates are shewn to the
-visitors, exactly corresponding in uniformity of
-shape, though made of different materials, the one
-taken from the bosom of an Egyptian Mummy,
-which had been dissected, if I may be allowed
-to use the term, in the Museum, and the other
-brought by Captain Cook, among various other
-curiosities, from the South Sea Islands.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>A third coincidence is the mode of cookery
-practised by the South Sea Islanders as described
-by Captain Cook, especially in roasting their
-hogs. This is by means of hot stones placed in
-a hole dug in the ground. In Ossian’s Poems
-the reader will find that the Caledonians of that
-time made use of the same method in cooking
-their hogs for the table.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The extinction of the Roman Empire in the
-West, about the year 476, by Odoacer, King of
-Italy, was attended by one of the most memorable
-coincidences in the history of mankind.
-The patrician Orestes had married the daughter
-of Count <i>Romulus</i>, of Petovio in Noricum; the
-name of <i>Augustus</i>, notwithstanding the jealousy
-of power, was known at Aquileia as a familial
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>surname; and the appellations of the two great
-founders, the first of the city of Rome, and the
-second of the Roman monarchy, were strangely
-united in the last of their successors. The son of
-Orestes succeeded to the throne of the Western
-Empire, and assumed and disgraced the names
-of <span class='sc'>Romulus Augustus</span>; the first was corrupted
-into Momyllus by the Greeks, and the second
-has been changed by the Latins into the contemptible
-diminutive Augustulus. The life of this
-inoffensive youth, the last Sovereign of the Roman
-Empire in the West, was spared by the generous
-clemency of Odoacer, who dismissed him, with
-his whole family, from the imperial palace, fixed
-his annual allowance at 6000 pieces of Gold, and
-assigned the castle of Lucullus, in Campania, for
-the place of his exile or retirement.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art03' class='c004'>CHARLES <abbr title='twelve'>XII.</abbr> OF SWEDEN.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>That Charles the twelfth did not fall by a
-shot from the walls of Fredericshall, as is commonly
-supposed, but met his death from a nearer
-and more secret hand, has been fully ascertained;
-and <abbr class='spell'>M.</abbr> Megret, a French Engineer, who accompanied
-him, was, no doubt, concerned in the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>murder. Many years afterwards, one Cronsted,
-an officer, on his death bed, confessed that he had
-himself, at the instigation of the Prince of Hesse,
-brother-in-law of Charles, and whose wife was
-declared Queen of Sweden, fired the shot that
-killed the unfortunate monarch.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the arsenal at Stockholm, the Swedes preserve,
-with great care, the clothes he was habited
-in at the time he fell. The coat is a plain blue
-cloth regimental one, such as every common soldier
-wore. Round the waist he had a broad buff
-leathern belt, in which hung his sword. The hat
-is torn only about an inch square, in that part of
-it which lies over the temple, and certainly would
-have been much more injured by a large shot.
-His gloves are of very fine leather, and as the left
-one is perfectly clean and unsoiled could only
-have been newly put on. Voltaire says that the
-instant the King received the shot, he had the
-force and courage to put his hand to his sword,
-and lay in that posture. The right hand glove
-is covered in the inside with blood, and the belt
-at that part where the hilt of his sword lay, is
-likewise bloody, so that it seems clear, he had
-previously put his hand to his head, on receiving
-the shot, before he attempted to draw his sword
-and make resistance.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the same case that contains his clothes is
-preserved the cap he wore on the terrible day at
-Bender, when he so desperately defended himself
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>against the Turks. It is of fur; and has one tremendous
-cut on the side, which must have been
-within a hair’s breadth of there ending the career
-of this wonderful man.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art04' class='c004'>BRITISH PEARLS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The River Conway in North Wales was of
-considerable importance, even before the Roman
-invasion, for the Pearl muscle, (the <i>Mya Margaritifera</i>
-of Linnæus) and Suetonius acknowledged,
-that one of his inducements for undertaking
-the subjugation of Wales, was the Pearl
-Fishery carried forwards in that river. According
-to Pliny, the muscles, called by the natives
-<i>Kregindilin</i>, were sought for with avidity by the
-Romans, and the pearls found within them were
-highly valued; in proof of which it is asserted,
-that Julius Cæsar, dedicated a breastplate set
-with British Pearls to Venus Genetrix, and placed
-it in her temple at Rome. A fine specimen from
-the Conway is said to have been presented to
-Catherine, consort of Charles <abbr title='the second'>II.</abbr> by Sir Richard
-Wynne of Gwydir; and it is further said that it
-has since contributed to adorn the regal crown
-of England. Lady Newborough possessed a
-good collection of the Conway pearls, which she
-purchased of those who were fortunate enough to
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>find them, as there is no regular fishery at present.
-The late Sir Robert Vaughan had obtained a
-sufficient number to appear at Court, with a
-button and loop to his hat, formed of these beautiful
-productions, about the year 1780.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art05' class='c004'>PILLARS OF COMMEMORATION.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The erection of a column or pillar, on the
-highest point of that ridge of hills, called Blackdown,
-which separates the county of Somerset
-from that of Devon, in commemoration of the great
-victories obtained by the Duke of Wellington,
-is an inducement to look into history, to see how
-the nations of antiquity, particularly those of
-Greece and Rome, rewarded their heroes who
-signalized themselves by the performance of feats
-of military courage, valour, and skill.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Among the Grecians it was usual to confer
-honours and rewards upon those who distinguished
-themselves in battle by valiant and courageous
-conduct. The ordinary rewards presented to conquerors
-in all the states of Greece, were crowns,
-which were sometimes inscribed with the person’s
-name and actions that had merited them, as appears
-from the inscription upon the crown presented
-by the Athenians to Conon. The Athenians
-sometimes honoured those who had performed
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>great actions with permission to raise pillars, or
-erect statues to the gods, with inscriptions declaring
-their victories. Plutarch, however, supposes
-this to have been a grant rarely yielded to the
-greatest commanders. Cimon, who commanded
-the Athenian fleet against the Persians, became
-master of the city of Eion, in Thrace, and was,
-on account of his not imitating former commanders,
-by standing upon the defensive, but
-repulsing the enemy, and carrying the war into
-their own country, highly respected and admired
-by his countrymen, who allowed him, in honour
-of his success over the enemy, to erect three
-pillars of stone or marble, each surmounted with
-the head of Mercury; but though they bore an
-inscription, Cimon was not permitted to inscribe
-his name upon them. These pillars were considered
-by his contemporaries as the highest honour
-which had then been conferred upon any commander.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Various Pillars were erected at Rome in honour
-of great men, and to commemorate illustrious
-actions. Thus there were the <i>Columna Ænea</i>, a
-pillar of Brass, on which a league with the Latins
-was written. The <i>Columna Rostrata</i>, the Rostral
-Column, erected in the Forum, in honour of
-Duillius, was adorned with figures of ships, and
-was constructed of white marble. This column
-is still remaining with its inscription. It was
-built in honour of a great victory gained by
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>Duillius over the Carthaginian fleet near Lipara,
-in the first Punic war. Another Pillar was
-erected by M. Fulvius, the Consul, consisting of
-one stone of Numidian marble, nearly 20 feet
-high.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>But the most remarkable columns were those
-of <i>Trajan</i> and <i>Antoninus Pius</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Trajan’s Pillar was erected in the middle of his
-Forum, and was composed of twenty-four great
-pieces of marble, but so curiously cemented as to
-seem but one. Its height is 128 feet. It is
-about 12 feet in diameter at the bottom, and 10
-at the top. It has in the inside 185 steps for ascending
-to the top, and forty windows for the
-admission of light. The whole pillar is incrusted
-with marble, on which are represented the warlike
-exploits of that Emperor and his army, particularly
-in Dacia. On the top was a Colossal figure of
-Trajan, holding in his left hand a sceptre, and in
-his right a hollow globe of gold, in which his
-ashes were put, but Eutropius affirms that his
-ashes were put under the pillar.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The pillar of Antoninus was erected after his
-death, by the Senate, in honour of his memory.
-It is 176 feet high, the steps of ascent 106, and
-the windows 56. The sculpture and other ornaments
-are much of the same kind with those of
-Trajan’s pillar, but the work is greatly inferior.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Both these pillars are still standing, and justly
-reckoned among the most precious remains of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>antiquity. Pope Sixtus <abbr title='the fifth'>V.</abbr> instead of the statues
-of the Emperors, caused the statue of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Peter
-to be erected on Trajan’s pillar, and of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Paul
-on that of Antoninus.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Pompey’s Pillar, as it is commonly called,
-in the city of Alexandria in Egypt, is equally
-celebrated with the two just mentioned. It is
-composed of red granite. The base is a square
-of about 15 feet on each side; this block of
-marble, 60 feet in circumference, rests on two
-layers of stone bound together with lead. The
-shaft and the upper member of the base are of
-one piece of 90 feet long, and nine in diameter.
-The capital is corinthian, with palm leaves, and
-not indented; it is 9 feet high. The whole
-column is 114 feet in height. It is perfectly
-well polished, and only a little shivered on the
-eastern side. Nothing can equal the majesty of
-this column; seen from a distance it overtops the
-town, and serves as a signal for vessels. Approaching
-it nearer, it produces astonishment
-mixed with awe. The eye can never be tired
-with admiring the beauty of the capital, the
-length of the shaft, nor the extraordinary simplicity
-of the pedestal.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Among the first inhabitants of the world after
-the flood there were pillars erected sacred to the
-Pythonic god, Apollo, or the Sun. These pillars
-had curious hieroglyphical inscriptions; they
-were very lofty and narrow in comparison of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>their length; hence among the Greeks, who
-copied from the Egyptians, every thing gradually
-tapering to a point was stiled an Obelisk.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art06' class='c004'>MASON THE POET.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The merit of this gentleman as a poet is well
-known. However he was not satisfied with the
-applause he received in that character; he was
-desirous also of being esteemed a good musician
-and a good painter. In music he succeeded
-better than in painting. He performed decently
-on the harpsichord, and by desire, I undertook,
-says Dr. Miller, in the History of Doncaster, to
-teach him the principles of composition; but
-that I never could effect. Indeed, others before
-me had failed in the attempt, nevertheless he
-fancied himself qualified to compose; for a short
-Anthem of his, beginning “<span class='sc'>Lord</span> of all power
-and might,” was performed at the Chapel Royal,
-of which only the melody was his own; the bass
-was composed by another person. The same
-may be said of two more Anthems, sung in the
-Cathedral of York. In painting he never arrived
-even to a degree of mediocrity; so true is
-Pope’s observation:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“One science only will one genius fit,</div>
- <div class='line'>”So vast is art, so narrow human wit.”</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'><span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>Fond, however, of being considered as a patron
-both of music and painting, he contributed to the
-advancement of several young men by his recommendation:
-yet I never knew him patronize
-but one, in either of these arts, whom he did not
-desert afterwards, without his former favourite
-ever knowing in what he had offended him.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“When young,” says Dr. Miller, “I was
-one of those he took under his protection. He
-permitted me to dedicate the music of some
-elegies to him, and also gave me pieces of his
-own writing to set to music, particularly the
-‘Ode to Death’ in Caractacus. However, at
-the end of a few years, I found myself involved
-in the disgrace of others, though I never knew
-the cause of my dismissal; most probably our
-disgrace proceeded from the envy of some officious
-tale-bearer. On recollection, I have often
-observed him listen attentively to these characters;
-and his favourite servant had it in his power
-to lead him which way he pleased, even to the
-changing a former acquaintance as easily as he
-would change his coat. Rather late in life he
-married Miss Sharman, of Hull, which was his
-native place. The reason he assigned for making
-her an offer of marriage was, that he had been a
-whole evening in her company with others, and
-observed, that during all that time she never
-spoke a single word. This lady lived about a
-year after their marriage. She died at Bristol,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>where, in the Cathedral, he placed a handsome
-monument to her memory, on which are inscribed
-some beautiful and much-admired lines as an
-epitaph. During the short time this lady lived
-with him, he appeared more animated and agreeable
-in his conversation; but after her decease,
-his former phlegm returned, and he became
-silent, sullen, and reserved.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“Though he had a good income, and was by
-no means extravagant, yet he frequently fancied
-himself poor, to that degree, that he once asked
-an acquaintance to lend him a hundred pounds,
-though at that very time he had considerable
-sums of money in the public funds, for which he
-neglected taking the interest. A great attachment
-appeared to exist between him and a very
-hospitable family in the neighbourhood of Doncaster,
-to whom he was nearly related, and with
-whom he used to pass some months in the
-summer. At length he fancied they expected to
-receive a good legacy at his decease, but resolving
-to disappoint them, he did not even mention
-them in his will, but left the greater part of his
-property to a person who had formerly been his
-curate.”</p>
-
-<hr class='c010' />
-
-<p class='c007'><i>The following Letter from Mason to Dr. Beattie, is preserved
-in Sir William Forbes’s Life of the latter</i>:</p>
-
-<p class='c011'><i>York, <abbr title='seventeenth'>17th</abbr> October, 1771.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“In my late melancholy employment of reviewing
-and arranging the papers, which dear
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>Mr. Gray’s friendship bequeathed to my care, I
-have found nine letters of yours, which I meant
-to have returned ere this, had I found a safe opportunity
-by a private hand; but as no such opportunity
-has yet occurred, I take the liberty of
-troubling you with this, to enquire how I may
-best convey them to you. I shall continue here
-till the <abbr title='twelfth'>12th</abbr> of next month, and hope in that
-interval to be favoured with a line from you upon
-this subject.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“I should deprive myself of a very sincere
-gratification, if I finished this letter, with the
-business that occasions it. You must suffer me to
-thank you for the very high degree of poetical
-pleasure which the first book of your ‘Minstrel’
-gave my imagination, and that equal degree of
-rational conviction which your ‘Essay on the
-Immutability of Truth’ impressed on my understanding.
-I will freely own to you, that the
-very idea of a Scotsman’s attacking Mr. Hume,
-prejudiced me so much in favour of the latter
-piece, that I should have approved it, if, instead
-of a masterly, it had been only a moderate performance.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“I shall be happy to know, that the remaining
-books of your ‘Minstrel’ are likely to be
-published soon. The next best thing, after instructing
-the world profitably, is to amuse it
-innocently. England has lost that man, (Mr.
-Gray) who, of all others in it, was best qualified
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>for both these purposes; but who, from early
-chagrin and disappointment, had imbibed a disinclination
-to employ his talents beyond the
-sphere of self-satisfaction and improvement.
-May Scotland long possess, in you, a person both
-qualified and willing to exert his, for the pleasure
-and benefit of society.”</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art07' class='c004'>BISHOPS OF SODOR AND MAN.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The Bishopric of Sodor and Man was first
-erected by Pope Gregory <abbr title='the fourth'>IV</abbr>, about the year 840,
-and had for its diocese the Isle of Man and all
-the Hebrides or Western Islands of Scotland;
-but when the Isle of Man became dependent
-upon the kingdom of England, the Western
-Islands withdrew themselves from the obedience
-of their Bishop, and had Bishops of their own,
-whom they entitled <i>Episcopi Sodorenses</i>, but commonly
-Bishops of the Isles. The Prelates of the
-diocese of the Isles had three places of residence,
-namely, the Isle of Icolumkill, Man, and Bute;
-and in ancient writs, are promiscuously styled
-<i>Episcopi Manniæ et Insularum</i>, <i>Episcopi Æbudarum</i>,
-and <i>Episcopi Sodorenses</i>, which last title
-is still retained by the Bishops of the Isle of Man;
-and the reason of this style is as follows: The
-Island of Ily, or I, or Ionah, was in former ages
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>a place famous for sanctity and learning, and
-very early became the seat of a Bishop. This
-little Island was likewise denominated Icolumkill,
-from <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Columba (the companion of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-Patrick) founding a monastery here in the sixth
-century, which was the mother of above one hundred
-other monasteries situated in different parts
-of Britain and Ireland. From the many learned
-men who came to study here, the Picts and English
-Saxons of the North owe their conversion to
-Christianity. The Scots used long ago to commit
-the education of the presumptive heir of the
-crown to the care of the Bishops of this see; and
-so holy was the Island of Icolumkill reckoned,
-that most of the Scottish monarchs were interred
-there. The Cathedral church was dedicated to
-our Saviour, for whom the Greek word is <i>Soter</i>,
-hence <i>Soterensis</i>, now corrupted to <i>Sodorensis</i>;
-and it seems probable that this is the reason why
-the Danes called these Islands <i>Sodoroe</i>. The
-civil wars that raged among the Scots enabled
-the Danes and Norwegians to seize the Isle of
-Man; and about the year 1097 or 1098, Donald
-Bane, an usurper, who then sat on the throne of
-Scotland, treacherously put the Norwegians in
-possession of the Western Isles, for the assistance
-they had given him. It is probable that these
-foreigners were the cause that the see was translated
-entirely to the Isle of Man. They were
-at length however, expelled from all their usurped
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>dominions. During the great contest between
-the houses of Bruce and Baliol for the throne of
-Scotland, King Edward <abbr title='the third'>III.</abbr>, of England, made
-himself master of the Isle of Man, and it has remained
-an appendage of the crown of England
-ever since. The Lords of the Isle of Man sat up
-Bishops of their own, and the Scottish monarchs
-continued their Bishops of the Isles. The patronage
-of the Bishopric of Man was given, together
-with the Island, to the Stanleys, by King
-Edward <abbr title='4'>IV.</abbr> and they came by an heir-female to
-the Duke of Athol, who still keeps it; and on
-a vacancy thereof, he nominates the intended
-Bishop to the King, who sends him to the Archbishop
-of York for consecration. This is the
-reason why the Bishop of Sodor and Man is not
-a Lord of Parliament, as none can have suffrage
-in the house of Peers who do not hold immediately
-of the King himself.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art08' class='c004'>THE TABLE.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The form of a half-moon for a table is of very
-ancient date; the Romans called it the <i>Sigma</i>,
-from its resemblance to the Greek letter so called,
-which was in the time of the Roman Emperors
-like the letter <abbr class='spell'>C.</abbr> Martial tells us this sort of
-table admitted but of seven persons, <i>septem sigma
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>capit</i>. And Lampridius, in his life of Heliogabalus,
-mentions it very frequently, and says it was
-for seven only; he tells us the Emperor once invited
-eight, on purpose to raise a laugh against
-the person for whom there would be no seat.
-The same form of a table continued in after ages.
-The authors of the life of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Martin say, that
-the Emperor Maximus invited him to a repast,
-where the table had the form of a sigma; and
-again in the lower ages, Sidonius Apollinaris
-speaks of the same thing in the life of the
-Emperor Majorianus; and it is likewise represented
-in a manuscript of the fifth or sixth century.
-The seat itself was only a common bench
-or form; the sigma was the principal piece of
-furniture, and most ornamented. In the time of
-Homer the guests sat round the table, as we do
-now, but afterwards some nations adopted the
-custom of a reclining position at their meals.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art09' class='c004'>CLOCKS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The first Clock we know of in this Country
-was put up in an old tower of Westminster Hall,
-in the year 1288, and in 1292, there was one
-in the Cathedral of Canterbury. These were
-probably of foreign workmanship; and it may
-be doubted, if there was at that time any person
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>who followed the business of making clocks.
-There was, however, one very ingenious artist,
-Richard of Wallingford, Abbot of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Albans,
-who constructed a clock which represented the
-motions of the sun, moon, and stars, and the
-ebbing and flowing of the sea. That this wonderful
-piece of mechanism might be of permanent
-utility to his Abbey, he composed a book of
-directions for the management of it. And Leland
-who appears to have seen it, says, that in his
-opinion all Europe could not produce such
-another.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There is a fine specimen of ancient Clock-making
-in Wells Cathedral. It is a clock constructed
-by Peter Lightfoot, one of the monks of
-Glastonbury, about the year 1325, of complicated
-design and ingenious execution. It was originally
-put up in that celebrated Monastery, and
-was placed in the south transept, and by means
-of a communication tolled the hours on the great
-bell of the central tower, whilst the quarters
-were struck by automata on two small bells in
-the transept. The dial plate shews the hours,
-and also the changes of the moon, the solar and
-other astronomical motions; on its summit there
-is an horizontal frame work, which exhibits by
-the aid of machinery, eight knights on horseback
-armed for a tournament, and pursuing each other
-with a rapid rotatory motion. At the Reformation
-this clock was removed from Glastonbury
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>Abbey to its present situation in Wells Cathedral.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Clock in Exeter Cathedral was erected
-by Bishop Courtenay in the year 1480. It is on
-the Ptolemaic system of Astronomy and of a
-curious construction for the age in which it was
-put up. The earth is represented by a globe in
-the centre; the sun by a fleur-de-lys; and the
-moon by a ball painted half black and half white,
-which turns on its axis, and shews the different
-phases of that luminary.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art10' class='c004'>ALDUS MANUTIUS. <br /> [DIED 1516.]</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>It would be difficult to say whether the exertions
-of any individual, however splendid his
-talents, or even the labours of any particular
-association, or academy, however celebrated,
-ever shed so much lustre on the place of their
-residence as that which Venice derives from the
-reputation of a stranger, who voluntarily selected
-it for his abode. I allude to <span class='sc'>Aldus Manutius</span>.
-This extraordinary person combined the
-lights of the scholar, with the industry of the
-mechanic; and to his labours, carried on without
-interruption till the conclusion of a long life,
-the world owes the first or <i>principes editiones</i> of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>twenty eight Greek Classics. Among these we
-find Pindar, Æschylus, Sophocles, Euripides,
-Herodotus, Thucydides, Demosthenes, Plato,
-and Aristotle. Besides these, there are few
-ancient authors of any note, of whom this indefatigable
-editor has not published editions of
-acknowledged accuracy, and as far as the means of
-the art of printing, then in its infancy, permitted,
-of great beauty. In order to appreciate the merit
-of Aldus, we must consider the difficulties under
-which he must have laboured at a time when
-there were few public libraries; when there was
-no regular communication between distant cities;
-when the price of manuscripts put them out of
-the reach of persons of ordinary incomes; and
-when the existence of many since discovered,
-was utterly unknown. The man who could surmount
-these obstacles, and publish so many
-authors till then inedited; who could find means
-and time to give new and more accurate editions
-of so many others already published, and accompany
-them all with prefaces mostly of his own
-composition; who could extend his attention
-still farther and by his labours secure the fame,
-by immortalizing the compositions of the most
-distinguished scholars of his own age and country,
-must have been endowed in a very high degree,
-not only with industry and perseverance, but
-with judgment, learning, and discrimination.
-One virtue more, Aldus possessed in common
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>with many of the great literary characters of
-that period, I mean, a sincere and manly piety,
-a virtue which gives consistency, vigour, and
-permanency to every good quality, and never
-fails to communicate a certain grace and dignity
-to the whole character.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art11' class='c004'>BOTTLES OF SKIN.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The Ancients made use of bottles of skin to
-hold their wine, as is usual in many countries to
-this day. Thus Homer mentions wine being
-<i>brought in a goat’s skin</i>. (<abbr title='Iliad'>Il.</abbr> <abbr title='two'>II.</abbr> <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> line 247.
-<abbr title='Odyssey'>Odys.</abbr> <abbr title='six'>VI.</abbr> line 78, <abbr title='nine'>IX.</abbr> line 196, 212) Herodotus
-(<abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr> 121,) mentions <i>skins</i> being filled with wine.
-And Maundrell in his Travels to Jerusalem, speaking
-of the Greek Convent at Bellmount, near
-Tripoli, in Syria, says, “The same person whom
-we saw officiating at the altar in his embroidered
-sacerdotal robe, brought us the next day on his
-own back, a kid, and a <i>goat’s skin of wine</i> as a
-present from the Convent.”</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>
- <h2 id='art12' class='c004'>ENGLISH SLAVE TRADE.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>A great article of exportation among the
-Anglo-Saxons was Slaves, in which kind of
-traffic, the Northumbrians in particular, were
-very famous, amongst whom this trade continued,
-according to William of Malmesbury, for some
-time after the conquest. The people of Bristol
-were also very much employed in the Slave
-Trade, which they pursued with such eagerness,
-that they frequently spared not their nearest relations;
-but at length they were prevailed upon
-by the preaching and exhortation of Wulstan,
-Bishop of Worcester, who possessed that See at
-the time of the Conquest, to quit such a barbarous
-and inhuman traffic.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the history of the Saxon period there is
-frequent mention of living money, in contradistinction
-to coins of gold, silver, &amp;c. This living
-money consisted of slaves and cattle of all
-sorts, which according to the value fixed upon
-them by law, were equally current with gold or
-silver in the payment of debts.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In Domesday Book it is said that in the
-Borough of Lewes, four-pence was to be paid to
-the Portreeve for every man sold within that
-borough.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>The Monks were forbid by an ancient Canon
-to manumit their slaves, and this unhappy race
-of men seems to have been longer perpetuated on
-the estates of the Monasteries than elsewhere, for
-in the survey of Glastonbury Abbey taken after
-the dissolution, there is mention of “271 bondmen,
-whose bodies and goods were at the King’s
-Highness’s pleasure.”</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art13' class='c004'>OLIVER CROMWELL’S WIFE.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The two following notable instances of this
-Lady’s niggardliness are taken from a very scarce
-little book intitled “The Court and Kitchen of
-Elizabeth Cromwell,” &amp;c. printed in 1664.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“The first, was the very next summer after
-Oliver’s coming to the Protectorate in 1654. In
-June, at the very first season of green pease,
-where a poor country woman living some where
-about London, having a very early but small
-quantity in her garden, was advised to gather them
-and carry them to the Lady Protectress; her
-counsellors conceiving she would be very liberal
-in her reward, they being the first of that year;
-accordingly the poor woman came to the <i>Strand</i>;
-and having her pease amounting to a peck and a
-half, in a basket, a cook by the <i>Savoy</i> as she
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>passed, either seeing or guessing at them, demanded
-the price, and upon her silence offered her an
-angel (a coin so called) for them, but the woman
-expecting some greater matter, went on her way
-to <i>Whitehall</i>, where after much ado, she was
-directed to her chamber, and one of her maids
-came out, and understanding it was a present and
-a rarity, carried it in to the Protectress, who out
-of her princely munificence sent her a crown,
-which the maid told into her hand; the woman
-seeing this baseness, and the frustration of her
-hopes, and remembering withal what the cook
-had proffered her, <i>threw back the money into the
-maid’s hands, and desired her to fetch her back
-her pease, for that she was offered five shillings
-more for them before she brought them thither,
-and could go fetch it presently</i>; and so half slightingly
-and half ashamedly, this great lady returned
-her present, putting it off with a censure upon
-the unsatisfactory daintiness of luxurious and
-prodigal epicurism. The very same pease were
-afterwards sold by the woman to the said cook,
-who is yet alive (that is in 1664) to justify the
-truth of this relation.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“The other is of a later date. Upon Oliver’s
-rupture with the Spaniards, the commodities of
-Spain grew very scarce, and the prices of
-them raised by such as could procure them under-hand.
-Among the rest of these goods, the fruits
-of the growth of that country were very rare
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>and dear, especially oranges and lemons. One
-day as the Protector was private at dinner he
-called for an orange to a loin of veal, to which
-he used no other sauce, and urging the same command,
-was answered by his wife, that <i>Oranges
-were oranges now; that crab oranges would cost
-a groat, and for her part she never intended to
-give it</i>; and it was presently whispered that sure
-her Highness was never the adviser of the Spanish
-war: and that his Highness would have done well
-to have consulted his digestion, before his lusty
-and inordinate appetite of dominion and riches
-in the West Indies.”</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art14' class='c004'>SHAKESPEARE.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The following ingenious reasons are assigned
-by Mr. Charles Butler, in his “Memoirs of the
-English Catholics,” as grounds for a belief that
-Shakespeare was a Roman Catholic.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“May the Writer premise a suspicion, which
-from internal evidence, he has long entertained,
-that Shakespeare was a Roman Catholic. Not
-one of his works contains the slightest reflections
-on Popery, or any of its practices; or any eulogy
-of the Reformation. His panegyric on Queen
-Elizabeth is cautiously expressed; whilst Queen
-Catherine is placed in a state of veneration; and
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>nothing can exceed the skill with which Griffith
-draws the panegyric of Wolsey. The Ecclesiastic
-is never presented by Shakespeare in a
-degrading point of view. The jolly Monk, the
-irregular Nun, never appear in his Drama. Is it
-not natural to suppose, that the topics, on which
-at that time, those who criminated Popery loved
-so much to dwell, must have often solicited his
-notice, and invited him to employ his muse upon
-them, as subjects likely to engage the favourable
-attention both of the Sovereign and the subject?
-Does not his abstinence from these justify a suspicion,
-that <i>a Popish feeling</i> with-held him from
-them. Milton made the Gunpowder Conspiracy
-the theme of a regular Poem. <i>Shakespeare is
-altogether silent on it.</i>”</p>
-
-<hr class='c010' />
-
-<p class='c006'>The Editor of the Morning Chronicle has
-given a short comment on the above Paragraph:
-“We will only oppose” says he, “a
-single observation to Mr. Butler’s suspicion.
-Shakespeare was buried <i>at his own desire in a
-Protestant Church</i>, with this rather curious Inscription,
-which we recommend to Mr. Butler’s
-perusal:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'><i>Good Friend for Jesu’s sake forbear</i></div>
- <div class='line'>To dig the dust inclosed here.</div>
- <div class='line'>Blest be the man that spares these stones,</div>
- <div class='line'>And curst be he that moves my bones.”</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'><span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>The Editor of the Morning Chronicle does
-not give his authority for stating that Shakespeare
-was buried <i>by his own desire</i> in a Protestant
-Church. The poet, in his will, does not express
-any <i>desire</i> about being buried in any particular
-place, and being buried in a Protestant Church,
-neither proves one thing nor another respecting
-his religion. It is no proof that he was a Protestant
-because he was buried in a Protestant
-Church, even if it were clearly shewn that it was
-by his own desire; neither is it any proof that
-he was not a Roman Catholic because he was
-buried in a Protestant Church. Let us ask the
-Editor of the <abbr class='spell'>M. C.</abbr> where the Catholics of
-Shakespeare’s time could bury their dead but in
-Protestant Churches, or in consecrated ground
-belonging to Protestant Churches?</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The inscription which the Editor of the <abbr class='spell'>M. C.</abbr>
-mentions to have been placed upon Shakespeare’s
-tomb, certainly does not prove any more respecting
-his religion than does his being buried in a
-Protestant Church. It has been observed with
-a high degree of probability that the inscription
-in question alludes to the custom which was then
-in use of removing skeletons after a certain time,
-and depositing them in Charnel Houses. Similar
-execrations are found in many ancient Latin
-Epitaphs.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It is one of the observations of Mr. Butler, in
-proof of his suspicion, that Shakespeare was a
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>Roman Catholic, that the poet has not eulogized
-the Reformation. In the speech (play of Henry
-<abbr title='the eighth'>VIII.</abbr> scene the last) which Archbishop Cranmer
-makes at the christening of the Princess
-Elizabeth, Shakespeare puts into the Prelate’s
-mouth these prophetic words—</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“In her days ...</div>
- </div>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“<span class='sc'>God</span> shall be truly known” ...</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>which appear evidently to infer that in the Roman
-Catholic times <span class='sc'>God</span> was not truly known, but
-that the Reformation, so eminently promoted by
-Queen Elizabeth, had brought forth light and
-truth. Mr. Butler seems to have overlooked
-these lines, and the inference that may be
-drawn from them, namely, that Shakespeare was
-<i>not</i> a Roman Catholic.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The author of a Tragedy, recently published,
-entitled “Moscow,” says (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 67.) that “he has
-discovered that Shakespeare was a Free-Mason.
-Let every brother of the <i>third degree</i>, therefore
-<span class='fss'>SEARCH</span> the works of the immortal bard, and he
-will find the <span class='fss'>TRUTH</span> of the above assertion.”</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art15' class='c004'>UNIVERSITY DEGREES.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>It does not appear that there were any degrees
-in either the Greek or Roman academies; the
-only distinction was that of masters and scholars.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>The first seminaries of learning among christians
-were the cathedral churches and monasteries,
-but in process of time the schools belonging to
-them were regulated, and men of learning
-opened others in places where they could find
-protection and encouragement. Hence the origin
-of universities, which at first were merely a
-collection of those schools, to which Princes and
-great men gave liberal endowments, and granted
-particular immunities and privileges. Degrees
-were not conferred till the universities were incorporated;
-a circumstance extremely probable,
-when we recollect that all civil honours must be
-derived from the supreme magistrate.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The most ancient degrees were those of Bachelor
-and Master of Arts. Before the existence
-of a certain statute, which obliged the theologists
-to be regents in arts previously to their ascending
-the chair of Doctor, they were only students, and
-bachelors, or masters of divinity, without reading
-the arts. At that time the degrees in arts were
-held in such estimation, as to be thought superior
-to that of doctor in any other faculty.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The degree of Doctor was not known in
-England till the time of Henry <abbr title='the second'>II</abbr>. It afterwards
-became common, and was taken not only
-by Professors of Divinity, Law, and Medicine,
-but by those of Grammar, Music, Philosophy,
-Arts, &amp;c. As the Doctors of those professions,
-however, seldom obtained great honour or
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>riches, this degree declined and fell into neglect.
-That of Music is the only one which has
-survived.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art16' class='c004'>GUY CARLETON, <br /> LORD DORCHESTER.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>When General Wolfe was appointed to the
-Command of the Land Forces destined to act
-against Canada, in 1759, Mr. Pitt, then Secretary
-of State, told him, that as he could not give
-him so many troops as he wanted for the Expedition,
-he would make it up to him in the best
-manner he could, by allowing him the appointment
-of all his Officers. Accordingly the
-General sent in a list, in which was the name of
-Lieutenant-Colonel Carleton, whom he had put
-down as Quarter-Master-General. This Officer,
-who had been Aide-de-Camp to the Duke of
-Cumberland during the campaign in Germany,
-in 1757, had unfortunately made himself obnoxious
-to George the Second, by some unguarded
-expressions relating to the Hanoverian Troops,
-and which had by some officious person been reported
-to the King. Lord Ligonier, then Commander
-in Chief of the Forces, took General
-Wolfe’s list to his Majesty for his approbation,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>when the King having looked over it, made some
-objections in pointed terms, to Colonel Carleton’s
-name, and refused to sign his commission.
-Lord Ligonier reported the King’s objections
-and refusal to Mr. Pitt, who immediately sent his
-Lordship a second time to his Majesty with no
-better success. Mr. Pitt then suggested that his
-Lordship should go again, which he refused,
-on which Mr. Pitt told him, that unless he went
-to the King and got Colonel Carleton’s commission
-signed he should lose his place. Lord
-Ligonier then went a third time to the King, and
-represented to him the peculiar state of the expedition,
-and that in order to make the General
-completely responsible for every part of his conduct,
-it was necessary that the officers employed
-under him should be those who enjoyed his entire
-and perfect confidence, so that, if he did not succeed,
-he might not accuse the Government at
-home with putting under him officers who, either
-by incapacity, want of energy, or inactivity,
-should thwart his commands, and thus paralyse
-the most skilful arrangements. The King listened
-to his Lordship’s reasons with a favourable
-ear, and his resentment against Colonel Carleton,
-was so completely disarmed, that he immediately
-signed the commission under which that Officer
-accompanied General Wolfe as Quarter-Master-General
-of his army.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>
- <h2 id='art17' class='c004'>FIGS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Figs have from the earliest times been reckoned
-among the delights of the palate.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Moses, in the Pentateuch, enumerates among
-the praises of the promised land, (<abbr title='Deuteronomy'>Deut.</abbr> <abbr title='eight'>viii.</abbr> 8.)
-that it was a “Land of Fig Trees”.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Athenians valued figs at least as highly as
-the Jews. Alexis (in the Deipnosophists) calls
-figs “Food for the Gods.” Pausanias says that
-the Athenian, Phytalus, was rewarded by Ceres
-for his hospitality, with the gift of the first fig-tree.
-Some foreign guest, no doubt, transmitted
-to him the plant, which he introduced into Attica.
-It succeeded so well there, that Athensæus brings
-forward Lynceus and Antiphanes vaunting the
-figs of Attica as the best on the earth. Horapollo,
-or rather his commentator Bolzair, says that
-when the master of a house is going a journey he
-hangs out a broom of fig-boughs for good luck.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>By one of the laws of Solon all the products
-of the earth were forbidden to be exported from
-Athens; under this law the exportation of figs
-was prohibited, and it is from this circumstance
-we have the word <i>sycophant</i> from the Greek;
-those who violated this law were subject to a
-heavy penalty, and the informer against the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>delinquents was called a sycophant from the original
-word literally meaning an “exhibiter of
-figs,” as thereby substantiating his charge. The
-name was afterward more extensively applied,
-and is now associated with the ideas of meanness,
-servility, and calumny.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>A taste for figs marked the progress of refinement
-in the Roman Empire. In Cato’s time
-but six sorts of figs were known; in Pliny’s
-twenty-nine. The sexual system of plants seems
-first to have been observed in the fig tree. Pliny
-in his Natural History alludes to this under the
-term <i>caprification</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In modern times the esteem for figs has been
-more widely diffused; when Charles the <abbr title='fifth'>5th</abbr>
-visited Holland in 1540, a Dutch merchant sent
-him, as the greatest delicacy which Zuricksee
-could offer, a plate of figs. The gracious Emperor
-dispelled for a moment the fogs of the climate
-by declaring, that he had never eaten figs in Spain
-with more pleasure. Carter praises the figs of
-Malaga; Tournefort those of Marseilles; Ray
-those of Italy; Brydone those of Sicily; Dumont
-those of Malta; Browne those of Thessaly;
-Pocock those of Mycone; De la Mourtraye
-those of Tenedos and Mitylene; Chandler those of
-Smyrna; Maillet those of Cairo; and Lady Mary
-Wortley Montague those of Tunis. What less
-can be inferred from this conspiring testimony
-than that wherever there is a fig there is a feast?</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>It remains for Jamaica, and the contiguous
-Islands, to acquire that celebrity for the growth
-of figs, which yet attaches to the Eastern Archipelago;
-to learn to dry them as in the Levant,
-and to supply the desserts of the English tables.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art18' class='c004'>FRUITS, <br /> CULTIVATED AT ROME IN THE TIME OF PLINY, THAT ARE NOW GROWN IN OUR ENGLISH GARDENS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'><span class='sc'>Apples.</span>—The Romans had twenty-two
-sorts of Apples. Sweet Apples (<i>melimala</i>) for
-eating, and others for cookery. They had one
-sort without kernels.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[Eugene Aram, in his collections for a dictionary
-of the Celtic language, says that the name of
-the Apple Tree is a corruption of “Apollo’s
-Tree.”—“And that this is its original, will be
-easily deducible from a little reflection on the
-proofs in support of it. The prizes in the sacred
-games were the Olive Crown, Apples, Parsleys
-and the Pine. Lucian, in his Book of Games,
-affirms that Apples were the reward in the Sacred
-Games of Apollo; and Curtius asserts the same
-thing. It appears also that the Apple Tree was
-consecrated to Apollo before the Laurel; for
-both Pindar and Callimachus observe that Apollo
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>did not put on the Laurel until after his conquest
-of the Python, and that he appropriated it to
-himself on account of his passion for Daphne, to
-whom the laurel was sacred. The Victor’s wreath
-at first was a bough with its apples hanging upon
-it, sometimes with a branch of laurel; and antiquity
-united these together as the reward of the
-Victor in the Pythian games.”]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Apricots.</span>—Pliny says of the Apricot
-(Armeniaca) <i>quæ sola et odore commendantur</i>.
-He arranges them among his plums.—Martial
-valued them but little, as appears by his epigram,
-<abbr title='thirteen'>xiii.</abbr> 46.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[The Apricot, we are told came originally from
-Armenia, whence its name <i>Armeniaca</i>. Wolfe,
-gardener to King Henry the <abbr title='eighth'>8th</abbr>, first introduced
-Apricots into England. Tusser mentions the
-Apricot in his list of fruits cultivated here in
-1573.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Almonds</span>—were abundant, both bitter and
-sweet. [The Almond was introduced into England
-in 1570; it is not, however, in Tusser’s list
-of fruits cultivated here in 1573.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Cherries</span>—were introduced into Rome in
-the year of the city 680, <abbr class='spell'>B. C.</abbr> 73, and were
-carried thence to Britain 120 years after, <abbr class='spell'>A. D.</abbr>
-48. The Romans had eight kinds, a red one, a
-black one, a kind so tender as scarce to bear any
-carriage, a hard fleshed one (<i>duracina</i>) like our
-bigarreau, a small one with a bitterish flavour
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>(<i>laurea</i>) like our little wild black, also a dwarf
-one, the tree bearing which did not exceed three
-feet in height.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[Cherries are said to have come originally from
-Cerasus, a city of Pontus, from which Lucullus
-brought them into Italy, after the Mithridatic
-War. They so generally pleased at Rome, and
-were so easily propagated in all climates into
-which the Romans extended their arms, that
-within the space of a hundred years, they had
-become common. It has been erroneously supposed
-that Cherries were first introduced into
-this country by Richard Haynes, fruiterer to King
-Henry the eighth, who planted them at Teynham,
-in Kent, whence they had the name of Kentish
-cherries; but Lydgate who wrote his poem
-called “Lickpenny” before the middle of the
-fifteenth century, or probably before the year
-1415, mentions them in the following lines, as
-being commonly sold at that time by the hawkers
-in the streets of London:</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“Hot pescode oon began to cry,</div>
- <div class='line'>”Straberys rype, and cherreys in the ryse.”</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>Ryce, rice, or ris, properly means a long-branch;
-and the word is still used in that sense
-in the West of England.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Dr. Bulleyn shews there were plenty of good
-native cherries at Ketteringham, near Norwich;
-pears, called the Blackfriars, in and about that
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>city; and excellent grapes at Blaxhall in Suffolk,
-where he was rector from 1550 to 1554.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Chesnuts.</span>—The Romans had six sorts, some
-more easily separated from the skin than others,
-and one with a red skin. They roasted them
-as we do.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[The chesnut, <i>castanea</i>, is a native of the South
-of Europe, and is said to take its name from
-Castanea, a city of Thessaly, where anciently it
-grew in great plenty. Gerard says that in his
-time there were several woods of chesnuts in
-England, particularly one near Feversham, in
-Kent; and Fitz-Stephen, in a description of
-London, written by him in Henry the second’s
-time, speaks of a very noble forest which grew
-on the north side of it. This tree grows sometimes
-to an amazing size. There is one at Lord
-Ducie’s at Tortworth, in the county of Gloucester,
-which measures 19 yards in circumference, and
-is mentioned by Sir Robert Atkyns, in his History
-of that County, as a famous tree in King
-John’s time; and by Mr. Evelyn in his Sylva,
-to have been so remarkable for its magnitude
-in the reign of King Stephen, as then to be
-called the great chesnut of Tortworth; from
-which it may be reasonably supposed to have
-been standing before the conquest. Lord Ducie
-had a drawing of it taken and engraved in 1772.
-Formerly a great part of London was built with
-chesnut and walnut timber.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>The Horse Chesnut was brought from the
-northern parts of Asia into Europe, about the
-year 1550, and was sent to Vienna, about the
-year 1558. From Vienna it migrated into Italy
-and France: but it comes to us from the Levant
-immediately. Gerard in his Herbal, printed in
-1597, speaks of it only as a foreign Tree. In
-Johnson’s edition of the same Work printed in
-1633, it is said, “Horse Chesnut groweth in
-Italy, and in sundry places of the East Country;
-it is now growing with Mr. Tradescant at South
-Lambeth.” Parkinson says “our Christian
-World had first the knowledge of it from Constantinople.”—The
-same Author places the
-Horse Chesnut in his Orchard, as a fruit tree
-between the Walnut and the Mulberry. How
-little it was then known, 1629, may be inferred
-from his saying not only that it is of a greater and
-more pleasant aspect, for the fair leaves, but also
-of a good use for the fruit, which is of a sweet
-taste, roasted and eaten as the ordinary sort.—This
-tree does not seem to have been so common
-a hundred years ago as it is now. Mr. Houghton
-(1700) mentions some at Sir William
-Ashhurst’s at Highgate, and especially at the
-Bishop of London’s at Fulham. Those now
-standing at Chelsea College were then very
-young. There was also a very fine one in the
-Pest-house garden near Old-Street, and another
-not far from the Ice-house under the shadow of
-the Observatory in Greenwich Park.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span><span class='sc'>Figs.</span>—The Romans had many sorts of figs,
-black and white, large and small; one as large
-as a pear, another no larger than an olive.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[The fig has been cultivated in England ever
-since 1562. It is omitted by Tusser in his list of
-fruits cultivated in our gardens. Cardinal Pole
-is said to have imported from Italy that tree,
-which is still growing in the garden of the Archbishop’s
-palace at Lambeth. It is the oldest fig
-tree that is known in this kingdom. In the Percy
-Household-book, the person who had the charge
-of providing for the consumption and use of the
-Earl of Northumberland’s numerous family, was
-ordered to purchase four coppets of figs, for which
-he was to pay twenty pence for each coppet.
-This quantity was to serve for one year.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Medlars.</span>—The Romans had two kinds of
-medlars, the one larger, and the other smaller.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Mulberries.</span>—The Romans had two kinds
-of the black sort, a larger and a smaller. Pliny
-speaks also of a mulberry growing on a briar:
-<i>Nascuntur et in rubis</i>, (1. <abbr title='fifteen'>xv.</abbr> <abbr title='section'>sect.</abbr> 27) but whether
-this means the raspberry, or the common
-blackberry, does not appear.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[The mulberry, <i>Morus</i>, is a native of Persia,
-whence it was introduced into the southern parts
-of Europe, and is commonly cultivated in England,
-Germany, and other countries where the winters
-are not very severe. “We are informed,” says
-Forsyth in his treatise on fruit trees, “that mulberries
-were first introduced into this country in
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>1596; but I have reason to believe that they
-were brought hither previous to that period, as
-many old trees are to be seen standing at this day
-about the sites of ancient abbeys and monasteries,
-from which it is at least probable that they
-had been introduced before the dissolution of
-religious houses. Four large mulberry trees are
-still standing on the site of an old kitchen garden,
-now part of the pleasure-ground, at Sion House,
-which, perhaps may have stood there ever since
-that house was a monastery. The first Duke of
-Northumberland has been heard to say, that these
-trees were above 300 years old. At the Priory
-near Stanmore, Middlesex, (the seat of the Marquis
-of Abercorn) there are also some ancient
-Mulberry trees. The Priory was formerly a
-religious house.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Gerard in his description of the mulberry tree
-has the following curious paragraph: “Hexander
-in Athenæus affirmeth, that the mulberry trees
-in his time did not bring forth fruit in twenty
-years together; and that so great a plague of the
-gout reigned and raged so generally, as not only
-men, but boys, and women were troubled with
-that disease.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Tusser, in his list of fruits cultivated in England
-in 1573 enumerates the Mulberry.—Gerard,
-who published his history of plants in 1597,
-says in that book, that Mulberry Trees then
-grew in sundry gardens in England.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span><span class='sc'>Nuts.</span>—The Romans had Hazel Nuts and
-Filberds. They roasted these Nuts.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Pears.</span>—Of these the Romans had many
-sorts, both Summer and Winter Fruit, melting
-and hard; they had more than thirty six kinds,
-some were called <i>Libralia</i>. We have our Pound
-Pear.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[Pliny mentions twenty kinds of this fruit, and
-Virgil five or six.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Ælian describing the most ancient food of
-several nations, reports that at Argos they fed
-chiefly upon Pears.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Tusser, states that “Pears of all sorts” were
-cultivated here in his time.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Arms of Wardon Abbey, in Bedfordshire,
-as given by Tanner, are Argent, Three Pears,
-Or.—Quere, if these are the species called
-Wardons, or if they are peculiar to that part of
-England.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Wardon Pear is common in Yorkshire.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Plums.</span>—The Romans had a multiplicity of
-sorts (<i>ingens turba prunorum</i>) black, white, and
-variegated; one sort was called <i>asinia</i>, from its
-cheapness; another <i>damascena</i>; this had much
-stone and little flesh: from Martial’s Epigram,
-<abbr title='thirteen'>xiii.</abbr> 29, we may conclude that it was what we
-now call prunes.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[The Plum is generally supposed to be a native
-of Asia, and the Damascene (Damson) to take
-its name from Damascus, a city of Syria.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>Tusser enumerates in his list of fruits “Grene
-or Grass Plums, and Peer Plums, black and
-yellow.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Lord Cromwell introduced the Perdrigon
-Plum in the Reign of Henry the seventh.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Quinces.</span>—The Romans had three sorts, one
-was called <i>Chrysomela</i>, from its yellow flesh.
-They boiled them with honey as we make marmalade.
-See Martial, <abbr title='thirteen'>xiii.</abbr> 24.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[The Quince is called Cydonia, from Cydon, a
-town of Crete, famous for this fruit.—Tusser
-mentions it among his fruit-trees, and Gerard
-says it was cultivated here in his time.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Services.</span>—They had the Apple-shaped,
-the Pear-shaped, and a small kind, probably the
-same that we gather wild, the Azarole.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[There are three sorts of the Service Tree cultivated
-in England, namely the cultivated Service;
-the Wild Service or Mountain Ash; and
-the Maple leaved Service. The first is a native
-of the warmer climes of Europe; and the other
-two grow wild in different parts of England.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Strawberries.</span>—The Romans had Strawberries,
-but do not appear to have prized them.
-The climate is too warm to produce this fruit in
-perfection unless in the hills.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[Tusser enumerates Strawberries, red and
-white, as being cultivated when he wrote.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Vines.</span>—The Romans had a multiplicity of
-Vines, both thick-skinned, (<i>duracina</i>,) and thin-skinned:
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>one Vine growing at Rome produced
-12 Amphoræ of juice, equal to 84 gallons. They
-had round-berried, and long-berried sorts, one
-so long that it was called <i>dactilydes</i>, the grapes
-being like the fingers on the hand. Martial
-(<abbr title='thirteen'>xiii.</abbr> 22.) speaks favourably of the hard-skinned
-grape for eating.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>[In Domesday Book, (1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 8. <abbr title='column'>col</abbr> 1.) there are
-said to be in the Bishop of Bayeux’s Manor of
-<i>Chert</i>, in the county of Kent, three arpents of
-<i>Vineyard</i>, and in the Manor of Leeds (1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 7.
-<abbr title='column'>col.</abbr> 4.) belonging to the same Bishop, two Arpents
-of <i>Vineyard</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In several Charters in the “Registrum Roffensis”
-mention is made of <i>the Vineyard</i> belonging
-to the Monks of Rochester, wherein grew great
-quantities of grapes; and which is also, in much
-later days, said by Worlidge, to have produced
-excellent wines. Bishop Hamon presented some
-of the wine and grapes of his own growth, at
-Halling, near Rochester, to Edward the second,
-when at Bockinfold; and in some old leases of
-the bishoprick, mention has been found made, of
-considerable quantities of <i>Blackberries</i> being
-delivered to the Bishop of Rochester, by sundry
-of his Tenants, for the purpose of <i>colouring the
-wine</i> growing in his Vineyard. This gives us
-some idea of what sort the wine was, and also
-deserves well to be compared with that ancient
-usage of making wines in this country, the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>remembrance whereof is preserved by means of
-some records of the reign of Henry the third;
-amongst which are two precepts, the one (Claus.
-An. 34. <abbr title='Henry'>Hen.</abbr> <abbr title='three'>III.</abbr>) to the keepers of the king’s
-wines at York, to deliver out to one Robert (de
-Monte Pessulano) such wines, and as much as he
-pleased to make <i>for the king’s use, against the feast
-of Christmas, (Claret) such drink, as he used to
-make in preceding years</i>. The first record says,
-<i>ad potus regis pretiosos delicatos inde faciendos</i>.
-The second says, <i>ad Claretum inde faciend.—Ad
-opus regis sicut annis preteritis facere consuevit.</i>
-And both may be seen at length in Walpole’s
-Anecdotes of Painting, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> i. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 11. Perhaps it
-may not be undeserving notice, that even to the
-beginning of the eighteenth Century, almost all
-red wine was, in this country, called Claret.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Honey and Mead, constituted a part of the
-mixture of the royal Norman Claret, and for
-several ages Claret was considered as belonging
-to the Materia Medica; and formed a part of the
-old English Apothecaries store of Medicines,
-preserved in white glazed earthern pitchers, with
-labelled inscriptions burnt in large blue letters in
-the ware; several of which are still preserved.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Several other Monasteries and Abbeys, had
-remarkable Vineyards, as well as Rochester;
-particularly that of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Edmund’s Bury; that at
-Ely; that at Peterborough; and even that at
-Darley Abbey, in Derbyshire; And indeed most
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>of the original Vineyards mentioned are found to
-have belonged to Abbeys. It is a curious circumstance,
-and elucidating the <i>prices</i> of the age,
-that in the time of Henry the third, a <i>Dolium</i>.
-or cask of the best wine, sold for forty shillings,
-and sometimes even for twenty.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>For an enlarged account of Vineyards in England
-see Archæologia, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> <abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 821.; and <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr>
-<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 53. and 67.]</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Walnuts.</span>—The Romans had soft shelled,
-and hard shelled, as we have. In the golden age,
-when men lived upon acorns, the gods lived
-upon Walnuts, hence the name <i>Juglans</i>, that is
-<i>Jovis glans</i>.<a id='r1' /><a href='#f1' class='c013'><sup>[1]</sup></a></p>
-
-<hr class='c010' />
-
-<p class='c006'>As a matter of curiosity, it has been deemed
-expedient, to add a list of the fruits cultivated in
-our English Gardens in the year 1573. This list
-is taken from Tusser’s <i>Five hundred points of good
-Husbandry</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Thomas Tusser, who had received a liberal
-education at Eton school, and at Trinity hall,
-Cambridge, lived many years as a farmer in
-Suffolk and Norfolk. He afterwards removed
-to London, where he published in 1557, the first
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>edition of his work, under the title of “One hundred
-points of good husbandry.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In his fourth edition, from which this list is
-taken, he first introduced the subject of Gardening,
-and has given us not only a list of the fruits,
-but also of all the plants then cultivated in our
-gardens, either for pleasure or profit, under the
-following heads:—</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“Seedes and herbes for the kychen, herbes and
-roots for sallets and sauce, herbes and rootes to
-boyle or to butter, strewing herbes of all sorts,
-herbes, branches, and flowers for windowes and
-pots, herbs to still in summer, necessarie herbes
-to grow in the gardens for physick not reherst
-before.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This list consists of more than 150 species
-besides the following fruits:—</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Apple Trees of all sorts—Apricots</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Barberries—Bullass, black and white</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Cherries, red and black—Chesnuts—Cornet
-Plums<a id='r2' /><a href='#f2' class='c013'><sup>[2]</sup></a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Damsons, white and black</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Filberds, red and white</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Gooseberries—Grapes, white and red—Green
-or Grass Plums.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Hurtle Berries.<a id='r3' /><a href='#f3' class='c013'><sup>[3]</sup></a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>Medlars or Merles—Mulberries.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Peaches, white and red<a id='r4' /><a href='#f4' class='c013'><sup>[4]</sup></a>—Pears of all sorts.
-Pear Plums, black and yellow.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Quince Trees.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Rasps—Raisins.<a id='r5' /><a href='#f5' class='c013'><sup>[5]</sup></a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Small Nuts—Strawberries, red and white—Service
-Trees.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Wardons, white and red—Walnuts—Wheat
-Plums.</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>
- <h2 id='art19' class='c004'>PEACOCKS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>India, says Mr. Pennant, gave us Peacocks,
-and we are assured by Knox, in his History of
-Ceylon, that they are still found in the wild state,
-in vast flocks, in that island and in Java. So
-beautiful a bird could not be permitted to be a
-stranger in the more distant parts; for so early
-as the days of Solomon (1 Kings, <abbr title='ten'>x.</abbr> 22.) we
-find among the articles imported in his Tarshish
-navies, Apes and Peacocks. A monarch so conversant
-in all branches of natural history, would
-certainly not neglect furnishing his officers with
-instructions for collecting every curiosity in the
-country to which they made voyages, which
-gave him a knowledge that distinguished him
-from all the princes of his time. Ælian relates
-that they were brought into Greece from some
-barbarous country, and that they were held in
-such high estimation, that a male and female
-were valued at Athens at 1000 <i>drachmæ</i>, or £32.
-5<i>s.</i> 10<i>d.</i> Their next step might be to Samos;
-where they were preserved about the temple of
-Juno, being the birds sacred to that goddess; and
-Gellius in his <i>Noctes Allicæ</i> commends the excellency
-of the Samian Peacocks. It is therefore
-probable that they were brought there originally
-for the purposes of superstition, and afterwards
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>cultivated for the uses of luxury. We are also
-told, when Alexander was in India, he found
-vast numbers of wild ones on the banks of the
-Hyarotis, and was so struck with their beauty,
-as to appoint a severe punishment on any person
-that killed them.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Peacocks’ crests, in ancient times were among
-the ornaments of the kings of England. Ernald
-de Aclent (Acland) paid a fine to king John
-in a hundred and forty palfries, with sackbuts,
-<i>lorains</i>, gilt spurs and peacock’s crests, such as
-would be for his credit.—Some of our regiments
-of cavalry bear on their helmets, at present, the
-figure of a peacock.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art20' class='c004'>ANCIENT LIBRARIES.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Many events have contributed to deprive us
-of a great part of the literary treasures of antiquity.
-A very fatal blow was given to literature
-by the destruction of the Phœnician temples and
-the Egyptian colleges, when those kingdoms and
-the countries adjacent, were conquered by the
-Persians, about 350 years before Christ. The
-Persians had a great dislike to the religion of
-the Phœnicians and the Egyptians, and this was
-one reason for destroying their books, of which
-Eusebius says they had a great number.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>The first celebrated library of antiquity
-was at Alexandria, and called from thence the
-Alexandrian library; it owed its foundation to
-Ptolemy Soter, king of Egypt, though his Son
-Ptolemy Philadelphus enjoys the reputation of
-being its founder. This was about 284 years
-before the Christian æra.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The palace of Ptolemy Philadelphus was the
-asylum of learned men whom he admired and
-patronized. He paid particular attention to
-Euclid, Theocritus, Callimachus, and Lycophron,
-and by increasing the library, of which his father
-had laid the foundation, he shewed his taste for
-learning and wish to encourage genius. This
-celebrated library at his death contained 200,000
-volumes of the best and choicest books, and it
-was afterwards increased to 700,000 volumes.
-The method adopted for making this collection
-was the seizing of all the books that were
-brought by the Greeks or other foreigners into
-Egypt, and sending them to Ptolemy, who
-had them transcribed by persons employed for
-that purpose. The transcripts were then delivered
-to the proprietors, and the originals laid
-up in the library. Ptolemy Euergetes, for
-instance, borrowed of the Athenians the works
-of Sophocles, Euripides, and Æschylus, and only
-returned them the copies, which he caused to be
-transcribed in as beautiful a manner as possible;
-the originals he retained for his own library,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>presenting the Athenians with fifteen talents for
-the exchange, that is, with upwards of £3,000
-sterling. As the Alexandrian academy was at
-first in the quarter of the city called <i>Bruchion</i>,
-the library was placed there, but when the
-number of books amounted to 400,000 volumes,
-another library within the <i>Serapeum</i> was erected,
-by way of supplement to it, and on that account
-called the daughter of the former. The books
-lodged in the Serapeum increased to the number
-of 300,000, and these two made up the number
-of 700,000 volumes, of which the royal libraries
-of the Ptolemys were said to consist.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the war which Julius Cæsar waged with
-the inhabitants of Alexandria, the library of
-Bruchion was accidentally, but unfortunately,
-burned; but the library in the Serapeum still
-remained. The whole was magnificently repaired
-by Cleopatra, who deposited there the 200,000
-volumes, forming the library of the kings of
-Pergamus, with which she had been presented
-by Antony. These, and others added to them
-from time to time, rendered the new library of
-Alexandria more numerous and considerable than
-the former, and though it was plundered more
-than once during the revolutions which happened
-in the Roman empire, yet it was as frequently
-supplied with the same number of books, and
-continued for many ages to be of great fame and
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>use, until it was burnt by the Saracens, in the
-year 642 of the Christian æra.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There was a building adjoining to this
-library, called the Museum, for the accommodation
-of a college or society of learned men, who
-were supported there at the public expense, and
-where there were covered walks and seats where
-they might carry on disputations.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The next library of antiquity was that founded
-at Pergamus, by Eumenes, and considerably increased
-by the literary taste of his wealthy and
-learned successors, at whose court merit and
-virtue were always sure of finding an honorable
-patronage. This library which consisted of
-200,000 volumes, was given by Antony to
-Cleopatra, as has been already mentioned.—Parchment
-was first invented and made use of
-at Pergamus to transcribe books upon, as
-Ptolemy had forbidden the exportation of Papyrus
-from Egypt, in order to prevent Eumenes
-from making a library as valuable and choice
-as that of Alexandria.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The first public library at Rome, and in the
-world, as Pliny observes, was erected by Asinius
-Pollio, in the Atrium of the Temple of Liberty
-on Mount Aventine. Augustus founded a
-Greek and Latin library in the Temple of
-Apollo on the Palatine Hill, and another in the
-name of his sister Octavia, adjoining to the
-Theatre of Marcellus.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>Among the ancient libraries that of Lucullus
-is mentioned by Plutarch in terms of the highest
-praise. The number of volumes was immense,
-and they were written in elegant hands. The
-use he made of them was still more honorable
-to him than the possession of so much literary
-treasure. The library of Lucullus was open to
-all; the Greeks who were at Rome repaired
-with pleasure to his galleries and porticos, as to
-the retreat of the muses, and there spent whole
-days in conversation upon subjects of literature,
-delighted to retire to such a scene from other
-pursuits. Lucullus himself, who was a perfect
-master of the Greek language often joined and
-conferred with these learned men in their walks.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There were several other libraries at Rome,
-the chief of which was the Ulpian library, instituted
-by Trajan, which Dioclesian annexed as an
-ornament to his baths. One of the most elegant
-was that of Serenus Samonicus, preceptor of
-the Emperor Gordian. It is said to have contained
-not less than 60,000 volumes, and that the
-room in which they were deposited was paved
-with gilded marble. The walls were ornamented
-with glass and ivory; and the shelves, cases,
-presses, and desks, made of ebony and silver.
-There were libraries in the capital, in the
-Temple of Peace, and in the house of Tiberius.
-Many private persons had good libraries particularly
-in their country villas. The Roman
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>libraries were in general adorned with statues
-and pictures, particularly of ingenious and
-learned men.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Learning and the arts received a fatal blow by
-the destruction of the heathen temples, in the
-reign of Constantine. The devastations then
-committed, are depicted in the strongest and
-most lively colours by Mr. Gibbon, in his History
-of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Many valuable libraries perished by the Barbarians
-of the north, who invaded Italy in the
-fourth and fifth centuries. By these rude hands
-perished the library of Perseus, king of Macedon,
-which Paulus Æmilius brought to Rome with
-its captive owner; as did also that noble library,
-just mentioned, established for the use of the
-public by Asinius Pollio, which was collected
-from the spoils of all the enemies he had subdued,
-and was much enriched by him at a great expense.
-The libraries of Cicero and Lucullus
-met with the same fate, and those of Julius
-Cæsar, of Augustus, Vespasian, and Trajan also
-perished, together with that of the Emperor
-Gordian.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>
- <h2 id='art21' class='c004'>KING CHARLES THE FIRST.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The Journey of Prince Charles (afterwards
-Charles the First) and the Duke of Buckingham
-to Spain, was considered at the time to be such a
-piece of knight-errantry as scarcely any age
-could parallel. Spanheim in his history of
-Louisa-Juliana, Electress Palatine, mother of
-the king of Bohemia, says “that never Prince
-was more obliged to a sister, than king Charles <abbr title='one'>I.</abbr>
-was to the queen of Bohemia; since it was only
-the consideration of <i>her</i> and <i>her children</i>, who
-were then the <i>next heirs</i> after <i>him</i> to the Crown
-of England, that prevailed with the Court of
-Spain <i>to permit him ever to see England again</i>.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Charles the First, though of abstemious habits
-kept a splendid and hospitable table, at the
-beginning of his reign. Of this trait in his character,
-hitherto unnoticed, the following account
-affords a sufficient proof.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There were daily in his court eighty six tables,
-well furnished each meal, whereof the king’s table
-had twenty-eight dishes; the queen’s twenty-four;
-four other tables sixteen dishes each;
-three other ten dishes each; twelve other had
-seven dishes each; seventeen other tables had
-each of them five dishes; three other had four
-each; thirty-two other tables had each three
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>dishes; and thirteen other had each two dishes;
-in all about five hundred dishes each meal, with
-bread, beer, wine, and all other things necessary.
-All which was provided, mostly by the several
-purveyors, who, by commission, legally and regularly
-authorized, did receive those provisions
-at a moderate price, such as had been formerly
-agreed upon in the several counties of England,
-which price, (by reason of the value of money
-much altered) was become low, yet a very inconsiderable
-burthen to the kingdom in general,
-but thereby was greatly supported the royal
-dignity in the eyes of strangers as well as subjects.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The English nobility and gentry, according to
-the king’s example, were excited to keep a proportionable
-hospitality in their several country
-mansions, the husbandmen encouraged to breed
-cattle, all tradesmen to a cheerful industry; and
-there was then a free circulation of money throughout
-the whole body of the kingdom. There was
-spent yearly in the king’s house of gross meat
-fifteen hundred oxen, seven thousand sheep, twelve
-hundred veals, three hundred porkers, four hundred
-storks or young beefs, six thousand eight
-hundred lambs, three hundred flitches of bacon,
-and twenty-six hams; also one hundred and
-forty dozen of geese, two hundred and fifty dozen
-of capons, four hundred and seventy dozen of
-hens, seven hundred and fifty dozen of pullets,
-one thousand four hundred and seventy dozen of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>chickens; for bread three thousand six hundred
-bushels of wheat: and for drink six hundred
-tuns of wine, and one thousand seven hundred
-tuns of beer; moreover of butter forty six thousand
-six hundred and forty pounds, together
-with fish and fowl, venison, fruit and spice proportionably.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art22' class='c004'>THE FAIR GERALDINE AND THE EARL OF SURREY.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The “Fair Geraldine” the general object of
-Lord Surrey’s empassioned sonnets, is commonly
-said to have lived at Florence, and to have been
-of the family of the <i>Geraldi</i>, of that city. This
-is however, a misapprehension of an expression
-in one of our poet’s Odes, and of a passage in
-Drayton’s Heroic Epistles. This lady was Elizabeth,
-third daughter of Gerald Fitzgerald, ninth
-Earl of Kildare. She appears to have received
-her education at Hunsdon House, with the
-Princesses Mary and Elizabeth. It was here she
-was first seen by the Earl of Surrey, and she
-immediately became the object of his fervent but
-fruitless devotion. She was married first to Sir
-Anthony Browne, Lord Chief Justice of the Common
-Pleas, and secondly to Edward Clinton, Earl
-of Lincoln, surviving by many years her noble and
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>unfortunate admirer. There is a Portrait of the
-“Fair Geraldine” in the Woburn collection.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It is not precisely known at what period the
-Earl of Surrey began his travels. They have
-the air of a romance. He made the tour of
-Europe in the true spirit of chivalry, and with
-the ideas of an Amadis; he proclaimed the unparalleled
-charms of his Mistress, and prepared to
-defend the cause of her beauty with the weapons
-of Knight-errantry; nor was this adventurous
-journey performed without the intervention of an
-enchanter. The first city in Italy which he proposed
-to visit was Florence, the capital of Tuscany,
-and the original seat of the ancestors of his
-Geraldine.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In his way thither he passed a few days at the
-Emperor’s court; where he became acquainted
-with Cornelius Agrippa, a celebrated adept
-in natural magic. This visionary Philosopher
-shewed our hero in a mirror of glass, a representation
-of Geraldine, reclining on a couch, sick,
-and reading one of his most tender sonnets by a
-waxen taper. His imagination, which wanted
-not the flattering representations and artificial
-incentives of illusion, was heated anew by this
-interesting and affecting spectacle. Inflamed
-with every enthusiasm of the most romantic passion,
-he hastened to Florence; and on his arrival,
-immediately published a defiance against any
-person who could handle a lance and was in love,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>whether Christian, Jew, Turk, Saracen, or Cannibal,
-who should presume to dispute the superiority
-of Geraldine’s beauty. As the lady was pretended
-to be of Tuscan extraction, the pride of
-the Florentines was flattered on this occasion;
-and the Grand Duke of Tuscany permitted a
-general and unmolested ingress into his dominions
-of the combatants of all countries, until this important
-trial should be decided. The challenge
-was accepted, and the Earl proved victorious.
-The shield which was presented to him by the
-Duke of Tuscany before the tournament began,
-is exhibited in Vertue’s valuable print of the
-Arundel family, and was actually in the possession
-of one of the late Dukes of Norfolk.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>These heroic vanities did not, however, so
-totally engross the time which the Earl of Surrey
-spent in Italy, as to alienate his mind from
-letters; he studied with the greatest success a
-critical knowledge of the Italian tongue; and
-that he might give new lustre to the name of
-Geraldine, attained a just taste for the peculiar
-graces of the Italian poetry.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>He was recalled to England for some idle
-reason by the king, much sooner than he expected;
-and he returned home the most elegant
-traveller, the most polite lover, the most learned
-nobleman, and the most accomplished gentleman
-of his age. Dexterity in tilting and gracefulness
-in managing a horse under arms, were
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>excellencies now viewed with a critical eye, and
-practised with a high degree of emulation. In
-1540 at a tournament held in the presence of
-the Court at Westminster, and in which some of
-the principal nobility were engaged, Surrey was
-distinguished above the rest for his address in the
-use and exercise of arms.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>But all these accomplishments, and the popularity
-that attended them, laid the foundation of
-a fatal death for this illustrious nobleman. They
-excited the jealousy of his capricious monarch
-Henry <abbr title='the eighth'>VIII</abbr>. Lord Orford says “The unwieldy
-king growing distempered and froward, and apprehensive
-for the tranquillity of his boy-successor,
-easily conceived or admitted jealousies
-infused into him by the Earl of Hertford and the
-Protestant party, though one of the last acts of
-his fickle life was to found a convent.” Treason
-was therefore objected to the Earl of Surrey
-upon the most frivolous pretences; of which the
-principal was, his quartering the arms of Edward
-the Confessor with those of Howard, though even
-this insignificant fact had been justified by the
-practice of his family, and the sanction of the
-heralds. He was arraigned in the Guildhall,
-London, found guilty by a jury, and judgment
-of death being given, he was beheaded on
-Tower Hill, in January, 1547.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Earl of Surrey was professedly a man of
-gallantry and pleasure, possessing a highly
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>cultivated mind, and excelling in all the polite and
-elegant accomplishments of the age in which he
-lived. The flattery which has been bestowed
-upon his character by Poets, Heralds, and Genealogists,
-has not ceased to flow from his death to
-the present hour. A recent genealogical writer
-has been superlatively lavish of his panegyrics
-upon the excellencies and even upon the morals
-of the gallant Earl. There is, however, one
-extraordinary circumstance in the life of this
-nobleman which has been entirely overlooked by
-all his encomiasts. This is, that while his father
-urged him to connect himself in marriage with
-one lady; while the king was jealous of his
-designs upon a second; and while he himself as
-may be collected from his poem “To a Lady
-who refused to dance with him,” made proposals
-of marriage to a third, he was during all this time
-married to the lady Frances,<a id='r6' /><a href='#f6' class='c013'><sup>[6]</sup></a> daughter of John
-de Vere, Earl of Oxford, by whom he had five
-children, namely, two sons and three daughters.
-The sons were Thomas, afterwards fourth Duke
-of Norfolk, and Henry, created Earl of Northampton,
-by king James the First. To this lady
-the Earl of Surrey was united at the age of
-fifteen, and several years after his premature
-death, we find her bearing the title of Countess of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>Surrey, and possessing the guardianship of his
-children, therefore it is apparent they were never
-divorced. Can it be supposed that the example
-of a lustful king had instructed his courtiers,
-among their other accomplishments, to find pretexts
-for the dissolution of the marriage tie, whenever
-interest or their guilty passions prompted
-them to such baseness? Yet this is the man
-whose moral, as well as poetical and literary
-character, we are told “it is delightful to contemplate.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Earl of Surrey had one sister, Mary,
-who was married to Henry Fitzroy, Duke of
-Richmond and Somerset, natural son of Henry
-<abbr title='the eighth'>VIII</abbr>. who died in 1536 at the age of seventeen
-without issue. There is a most beautiful
-portrait of this lady in Chamberlaine’s collection
-of the Holbein Heads. Mr. Lodge exclaims
-pathetically “Would that her story had died with
-her; and that we might have been at liberty to
-fancy the character of so fair a creature as fair as
-her countenance. But the truth must be told.
-At the iniquitous trial of her brother in 1547,
-this lady was called on as a witness and brought
-forward a body of evidence against him so
-keenly pointed, and so full of secrets, which
-from their nature must have been voluntarily
-disclosed by her, that we cannot but suspect her
-conduct of a degree of rancour, unpardonable in
-any case, but in this unnatural.”</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>
- <h2 id='art23' class='c004'>JEWS IN ENGLAND.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>William the Conqueror permitted great
-numbers of Jews to come over from Rouen,
-and to settle in England in the last year of his
-reign. Their number soon increased, and they
-spread themselves throughout most of the cities
-and capital towns in England where they built
-synagogues. There were fifteen hundred at York
-about the year 1189. At Bury, in Suffolk, is a very
-complete remain of a Jewish synagogue of stone in
-the Norman style, large and magnificent. Hence
-it was that many of the learned English Ecclesiastics
-of those times became acquainted with
-their books and language. In the reign of
-William Rufus, the Jews were remarkably numerous
-at Oxford, and had acquired considerable
-property; and some of their Rabbis were permitted
-to open a school in the university, where
-they instructed not only their own people, but
-many Christian students, in Hebrew literature,
-about the year 1094. Within 200 years after their
-admission or establishment by the Conqueror,
-they were banished the kingdom. This circumstance
-was highly favourable to the circulation
-of their learning in England. The suddenness
-of their dismission obliged them for present subsistence,
-and other reasons, to sell their moveable
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>goods of all kinds, among which were large
-quantities of of Rabbinical books. The monks
-in various parts availed themselves of the distribution
-of these treasures. At Huntingdon and
-Stamford there was a prodigious sale of their
-effects, containing immense stores of Hebrew
-manuscripts, which were immediately purchased
-by Gregory of Huntingdon, prior of the abbey of
-Ramsey. Gregory speedily became an adept in
-the Hebrew, by means of these valuable acquisitions,
-which he bequeathed to his monastery
-about the year 1250. Other members of the
-same convent, in consequence of these advantages,
-are said to have been equal proficients in the same
-language, soon after the death of Prior Gregory,
-among whom were Robert Dodford, Librarian
-of Ramsey, and Laurence Holbech, who compiled
-a Hebrew Lexicon. At Oxford a great number
-of their books fell into the hands of Roger Bacon,
-or were bought by his brethren the Franciscan
-friars of that university.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art24' class='c004'>THE ENGLISH BIBLE.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The first translation of any part of the Holy
-Scriptures into English that was committed to
-the press, was <i>The New Testament</i>, translated
-from the Greek, by William Tyndale, with the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>assistance of John Foye and William Roye, and
-printed first in 1526, in octavo.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Tyndale published afterwards, in 1530, a
-translation of the <i>Five Books of Moses</i>, and of
-<i>Jonah</i>, in 1531, in octavo. An English translation
-of the <i>Psalter</i>, done from the Latin of Martin
-Bucer, was also published at Strasburgh in 1530,
-by Francis Foye, octavo. And the same book
-together with <i>Jeremiah</i>, and the <i>Song of Moses</i>,
-were likewise published in 1534, in duodecimo,
-by George Joye, sometime fellow of Peter-House
-in Cambridge.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The first time <i>the whole Bible</i> appeared in
-English, was in the year 1535 in folio. The
-translator and publisher was Miles Coverdale,
-afterwards Bishop of Exeter, who revised Tyndale’s
-version, compared it with the original, and
-supplied what had been left untranslated by
-Tyndale. It was printed at Zurich, and dedicated
-to King Henry the Eighth. This was the
-Bible, which by Cromwell’s injunction of September,
-1536, <i>was ordered to be laid in Churches</i>.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art25' class='c004'>LUXURY OF ANCIENT ROME.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The most remote countries of the ancient
-world were ransacked to supply the pomp and
-delicacy of Rome. The forests of Scythia
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>afforded some valuable furs. Amber was brought
-overland from the shores of the Baltic to the
-Danube; and the Barbarians were astonished at
-the price which they received in exchange for so
-useless a commodity. Pliny has observed with
-some humour that even fashion had not found out
-the use of amber. Nero sent a Roman knight to
-purchase great quantities on the spot where it
-was produced. There was a considerable demand
-for Babylonian carpets and other manufactures
-of the East; but the most important and unpopular
-branch of foreign trade was carried on with
-Arabia and India. Every year about the time of
-the summer solstice, a fleet of a hundred and
-twenty vessels sailed from Myoshormos, a port of
-Egypt on the Red Sea. By the periodical assistance
-of the monsoons, they traversed the ocean in
-about forty days. The coast of Malabar, or the
-island of Ceylon, was the usual limit of their navigation,
-and it was in those markets that the merchants
-from the more remote countries of Asia
-expected their arrival. The return of the fleet of
-Egypt was fixed to the months of December or
-January; and as soon as their rich cargo had been
-transported on the backs of camels, from the Red
-Sea to the Nile, and had descended that river as
-far as Alexandria, it was poured without delay, into
-the capital of the empire. The objects of oriental
-traffic were splendid and trifling; silk, a pound
-of which was esteemed not inferior in value to a
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>pound of gold; precious stones, among which the
-pearl claimed the first rank after the diamond:
-and a variety of aromatics, that were consumed
-in religious worship and the pomp of funerals.
-The labour and risk of the voyage was rewarded
-with almost incredible profit; but the profit
-was made upon Roman subjects, and a few individuals
-were enriched at the expense of the public.
-As the natives of Arabia and India were contented
-with the productions and manufactures
-of their own country, silver, on the side of the
-Romans, was the principal, if not the only instrument
-of commerce. It was a complaint worthy
-of the gravity of the senate, that in the pursuit of
-female ornaments, the wealth of the state was
-irrecoverably given away to foreign and hostile
-nations. The annual loss is computed by a writer
-of an inquisitive, but censorious temper, at
-upwards of eight hundred thousand pounds
-sterling.<a id='r7' /><a href='#f7' class='c013'><sup>[7]</sup></a></p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art26' class='c004'>RHYME.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Every language has powers, and graces, and
-music peculiar to itself; and what is becoming
-in one, would be ridiculous in another. Rhyme
-was barbarous in Latin and Greek verse, because
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>these languages by the sonorousness of their
-words, by their liberty of transposition and inversion,
-by their fixed quantities and musical
-pronunciation, could carry on the melody of verse
-without its aid; and an attempt to construct
-English verses after the form of hexameters, and
-pentameters, and sapphics, is as barbarous among
-us. It is not true that rhyme is merely a
-monkish invention. On the contrary, it has
-obtained under different forms in the versification
-of most known nations. It is found in the
-ancient poetry of the northern nations of Europe;
-it is said to be found among the Arabs, the Persians,
-the Indians, and the Americans. This
-shews that there is something in the return of
-similar sounds, which is grateful to the ears of
-most part of mankind.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The present form of our English heroic
-rhyme in couplets, is a modern species of versification.
-The measure generally used in the days
-of queen Elizabeth, king James, and king
-Charles <abbr title='one'>I.</abbr> was the stanza of eight lines, such as
-Spenser employs, borrowed from the Italian, a
-measure very constrained and artificial. Waller
-was the first who brought couplets into vogue;<a id='r8' /><a href='#f8' class='c013'><sup>[8]</sup></a>
-and Dryden afterwards established the usage.
-Waller first smoothed our verse; Dryden perfected
-it. Pope’s versification has a peculiar
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>character. It is flowing and smooth in the highest
-degree; far more laboured and correct than
-that of any who went before him. He introduced
-one considerable change into heroic
-verse, by almost throwing aside the triplets,
-or three lines rhyming together, in which
-Dryden abounded. Dryden’s versification, however,
-has very great merit; and like all his productions,
-has much spirit, mixed with carelessness.
-If not so smooth and correct as Pope’s,
-it is however more varied and easy. He subjects
-himself less to the rule of closing the sense with
-the couplet; and frequently takes the liberty of
-making his couplets run into one another, with
-somewhat of the freedom of blank verse.</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art27' class='c004'>M. COQUEBERT DE MONTBRET.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>This gentleman was one of the commercial
-commissioners from France to England during
-the short peace which took place after the treaty
-of Amiens. In March, 1803, I was in company
-with <abbr class='spell'>M.</abbr> de Montbret, who expressed his dissatisfaction
-in very angry terms, because he was not
-able to procure specimens of the different clays
-made use of by Mr. Wedgwood in his manufacture
-of earthen ware in Staffordshire. He urged
-with much vehemence the politeness and attention
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>that were shewn to Mr. Thomas Wedgwood in
-France the preceding summer, when on a visit to
-that country, and who it appeared had made
-something like a promise that he would send to
-France specimens of the various clays made use
-of in the potteries. In answer to Monsieur de
-Montbret it was observed, that Mr. Thomas
-Wedgwood had no concern whatever in the
-potteries, and that his brother, Mr. Josiah
-Wedgwood, who was the proprietor, would never
-give his consent that specimens of the clays
-should be sent to France, but on the contrary
-always strongly resisted every application for
-that purpose. <abbr class='spell'>M.</abbr> de Montbret replied, that as
-clay was a natural production, if there was not
-that particular sort in France, it would be impossible
-to form it by any artificial means—besides, he
-only wished to have those things as specimens of
-English earths, merely with a view of forming
-a collection of the earths and minerals of this
-country.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art28' class='c004'><span class='sc'>Dr.</span> THOMAS PIERCE.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Dr. Pierce, Dean of Sarum, a perpetual
-controversialist, and to whom it was dangerous to
-refuse a request, lest it might raise a controversy,
-asked Dr. Ward, bishop of Salisbury, for a
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>Prebend for his son. He was refused; and
-studying revenge, he opened a controversy with
-the bishop, maintaining that the king had the
-right of bestowing every dignity in all the
-Cathedral Churches of the kingdom, and not the
-bishops. This required a reply from the bishop,
-who had formerly been an active controversialist
-himself. Dean Pierce renewed his attack with
-a folio volume, entitled “A vindication of the
-king’s sovereign right, &amp;c.” Thus it proceeded,
-and the web thickened round the bishop in replies
-and rejoinders. It cost him many tedious
-journeys to London, through bad roads, fretting
-at “the king’s sovereign right” all the way;
-and in the words of a witness, “in unseasonable
-times and weather, that by degrees his spirits
-were exhausted, his memory quite gone, and he
-was totally unfitted for business.” Such was
-the fatal disturbance occasioned by Dean
-Pierce’s folio of “The king’s sovereign right.”</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art29' class='c004'>WRITING AMONG THE GREEKS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>As a proof of the simplicity of the times described
-by Homer, it is a great doubt if his
-kings and heroes could write or read; at least
-when the Grecian leaders cast lots who should
-engage Hector in single combat, in the seventh
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>Iliad, they only made their marks, for when the
-lot signed by Ajax fell out of the helmet, and
-was carried round by the herald, none of the
-chiefs knew to whom it belonged till it was
-brought to Ajax himself.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The learned Mr. Wood in his Essay on the
-original genius and writings of Homer, after
-observing that neither in the Iliad nor Odyssey
-is there any thing that conveys the idea of letters
-or reading, nor any allusion to literal writing,
-adds, “As to symbolical, hieroglyphical, or
-picture-like description, something of that kind
-was, no doubt, known to Homer, of which the
-letter (as it is called) which Bellerophon carried
-to the king of Lycia is a proof.” This letter was
-sent from Prœtus; (<i>Iliad</i>, <abbr title='six'>vi.</abbr> line, 168, &amp;c.)</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“To Lycia the devoted youth he sent,</div>
- <div class='line'>With <i>marks</i>, expressive of his dire intent</div>
- <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Grav’d</span> on a tablet, that the Prince should die.”</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>The probability that Homer lived much
-nearer the times he described than is usually
-supposed, has been shewn by Mr. Mitford (<i>Hist.
-of Greece, Appx. to <abbr title='chapter'>ch.</abbr> 4.</i>) with all the clearness
-of which so distant an event is capable.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>To this account of the ignorance of the Greeks
-in literal writing may be added that the Mexicans,
-though a civilized people, had no alphabet;
-the art of writing was no farther advanced among
-them than the using of figures composed of painted
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>feathers, by which they made a shift to communicate
-some simple thoughts; and in that manner
-was the Emperor Montezuma informed of the
-landing of the Spaniards in his territories.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art30' class='c004'>ACCOUNT OF THE SCRIPTORIA, OR WRITING ROOMS IN THE MONASTERIES OF ENGLAND.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>It would be in vain to attempt to trace the
-state of learning among the Anglo-Saxons before
-their conversion to Christianity, sometime after
-which event, schools and seminaries of learning
-were established in the kingdom of Kent, and soon
-after the year 635, in that of the East Angles.
-Previously to this period of our history, the two
-principal scholars of the Britons were Gildas and
-Nennius, the first of whom flourished towards the
-latter end of the sixth century, and the latter in
-the beginning of the seventh. To Gildas we owe
-the first lights which are cast upon the troublesome
-times of the Britons, and of the miseries
-those wretched people suffered by the invasion
-and conquests of the Saxons. He has left a short
-history of Britain and an epistle, in which he
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>heavily accuses the British princes and clergy
-who were contemporary with him.<a id='r9' /><a href='#f9' class='c013'><sup>[9]</sup></a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>To Nennius we owe also a short history of the
-Britons, and their wars with the Saxons, but the
-whole is so concise, and so many miracles are
-crowded into it, that it is no easy matter to separate
-truth from fiction.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, who came
-into Britain at the latter end of the seventh century,
-contributed greatly to the improvement of
-learning. About the same time flourished Aldhelm,
-a near relation of Ina, king of the West
-Saxons; he was Abbot of Malmesbury, which
-monastery himself had founded, and he was afterwards
-Bishop of Sherborne, where he died in
-the year 709. Besides other works he left a book
-on the prosody of the Latin tongue in which he
-was very expert, being the first Anglo-Saxon that
-ever wrote in that language both in prose and
-verse.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>On the establishment of Monasteries and Religious
-Houses in this kingdom, there was a room
-called the <i>Scriptorium</i>, allotted in all the greater
-Abbeys, or else some portion of the cloister was
-appropriately fitted up for the same purpose,
-where their music and missals, the works of the
-fathers and other religious books, the latin classics,
-and such literary works as the monks could obtain,
-were copied. In the old library in Worcester
-Cathedral, and in the remaining libraries
-of some other Cathedral churches, may still be
-seen the manner of writing music, before the invention
-of the present notes, and some of the old
-copies of books.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>By means of these <i>Scriptoria</i>, or writing
-rooms, the monks compiled and preserved, the
-first annals of Saxon History; without which,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>however strange the composition of some of them
-may appear at this time, this would now have
-been a land of darkness, as to any account of
-what passed therein, during former ages.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The custom of making this one good use of
-monasteries and of christian societies, was derived
-from very early days. About the year 220,
-Alexander, bishop of Jerusalem, built a library
-there, for preserving the epistles of learned
-ecclesiastical persons, written one to another;
-and their commentaries on the holy scriptures.
-And in what manner Origen was aided to write
-his admirable works, we learn from Eusebius,
-who tells us that he had more than seven notaries
-appointed for him, who, every one in his turn,
-wrote that which he uttered; and as many more
-scriveners, together with <i>maidens</i>, well exercised
-and practised in penmanship, who were to write
-copies. (<i>Eccl. Hist. of Eusebius Pamphilus, lib.
-6. cap. 20 and 21.</i>)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The preservation and progress of science by
-means of monasteries, is a very curious fact, and
-the precious estimation in which books were
-held, when few could read them, is still more so.
-Some few learned men existed in different parts
-of Europe throughout those times of darkness and
-ignorance. Our countryman the Venerable Bede
-was well versed both in sacred and profane history,
-as his numerous works testify.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Egbert, Archbishop of York, was a disciple
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>of Venerable Bede; he was a man of great learning,
-and founded a noble library at York about
-735, which was casually burnt in the reign of king
-Stephen, with the cathedral, the monastery of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-Mary, and several other religious houses.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Alcuin, called also Albinus Flaccus, was born
-in Northumberland; he was the disciple of
-Archbishop Egbert, whom he succeeded in the
-charge of the famous school, which that prelate
-had opened at York. Alcuin was in all respects
-the most learned man of the age in which he
-lived; he was an orator, historian, poet, mathematician,
-and divine. The fame of his learning
-induced Charlemagne to invite him to his
-court; and by his assistance that Emperor,
-founded, enriched, and instructed, the universities
-of Tours and Paris. In 794 Alcuin was
-one of the fathers of the synod of Frankfort, and
-died at his abbey at Tours, in 804. In his epistle
-to Charlemagne he mentions with great respect
-his master Egbert, and the noble library which he
-had founded at York. Towards the latter end of
-the same century flourished our great king Alfred,
-who engaged the learned Grimbald, and other
-foreigners of distinguished abilities in his service.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Eadfrid, who was bishop of Lindisfarne in the
-year 698, was one of the most learned men of his
-time. He translated the gospels into latin, which
-work after his death was highly decorated by his
-successor with gold and jewels. Bilfrid, a hermit,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>illuminated it with various paintings and rich devices;
-and Adred a priest, interlined it with a
-Saxon version. Before each gospel is prefixed a
-painting of the evangelist who wrote it, and the
-opposite page is full of beautiful ornaments,
-enriched with various colours; then follows the
-commencement of the gospel, the first page of
-which is most elaborately ornamented with letters
-of a peculiar form, and very large, which displays
-at once the zeal of the writer, and the taste of the
-age in which the book was written.<a id='r10' /><a href='#f10' class='c013'><sup>[10]</sup></a> This curious
-work is now among the Cottonian manuscripts
-in the British Museum. It was lost in the sea
-during the removal of the body of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Cuthbert
-in those troublesome times, about the year 876,
-when the Danes were laying waste the whole
-country, but it was afterwards found washed up
-on the shore without suffering any injury.
-(<i>Hutchinson’s History of Durham</i>, 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 57.)
-It was under the patronage of the same learned
-prelate Eadfrid, that the Venerable Bede<a id='r11' /><a href='#f11' class='c013'><sup>[11]</sup></a> wrote
-the life of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Cuthbert.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>The books which Fergus the second, king of
-Scotland, who assisted Alaric the Goth, had
-brought with him as a part of the plunder from
-Rome, had been deposited in the monastery in
-the island of Iona. From thence they were, by
-degrees, copied for the use of other monasteries;
-and besides these, other books were obtained
-afterwards by means of various journeys to
-Rome. Benedict Biscop, the founder of the
-monastery of Weremouth, and the friend of
-Archbishop Wilfrid, made no fewer than five
-journeys to Rome to purchase copies of books.
-These books became deposited in various monasteries.
-Some such were at Canterbury, where
-also were books that had been brought from
-Rome, both by Augustine and Theodore. And
-the letter of Aldhelm, the very person who founded
-the monastery of Malmesbury, containing an
-account of his studies, and progress at Canterbury
-by the help of such books, is one of the most
-curious fragments of antiquity. (<i>Angl. Sacra.
-tom. 2. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 6.</i>)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>The price of these books was at various times
-enormous. Aldfred, king of Northumberland,
-gave <i>eight hides of land</i>, that is, as much as eight
-ploughs could till, for one volume of cosmography;
-and on this occasion it perhaps ought not
-to be forgotten, that there is still preserved in
-the library of Hereford cathedral, an ancient
-map on parchment, for the illustration of cosmography
-as known at the period of its being
-drawn. In the reign of William the Conqueror
-books were extremely scarce. Grace, Countess
-of Anjou, paid for a collection of homilies, two
-hundred sheep, a quarter of wheat, another of
-rye, and a third of millet, besides a number of
-martin skins. (<i>Kaimes’s Sketches</i>, 1. 136.)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In these conventual <i>Scriptoria</i> were copied the
-writings of the fathers and the abstruse works of
-the first schoolmen; here also were copied little
-works of genius, sometimes the effusion of
-fancy and imagination. The fables of Æsop
-were so much in repute, that we are told king
-Alfred himself made a translation of them from the
-Greek. The fanciful devices on the friezes and
-mouldings of some of our ecclesiastical structures,
-which have an allusion to Æsop’s Fables,
-had their first origin amongst pious and ingenious
-persons, in the peaceful retirement of their conventual
-retreats. This remark is much confirmed
-by a curious observation which has been lately
-made, that even many of the fables themselves
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>that now pass for Æsop’s, seem to have had their
-real invention and origin in the abodes of the
-religious. In a very curious memoir concerning
-the works of Mary, an Anglo-Norman poetess,
-born in France, who wrote in the French language
-in the reign of king Henry the third of
-England, and who among other things translated
-the fables of Æsop, it is made to appear that
-there were indeed but few of Æsop’s original
-fables in her collection, and even those she had
-borrowed entirely from England, and the greater
-part, from several allusions in them, evidently
-shew, that they must have been composed in
-monasteries, before her time. (<i>See Hume’s
-Hist. of Eng. <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. 4to. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 68.—King’s Munimenta
-Ant. <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 4. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 113.—and Archæologia,
-<abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 13. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 36-67.</i>)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It is an interesting circumstance, deserving to
-be mentioned on this occasion, that before the
-time of Venerable Bede, there lived an Anglo-Saxon
-poet, of the name of <i>Cædman</i>, or <i>Kedman</i>,
-of the wondrous powers of whose mind Bede
-speaks in the highest terms, (<i>Bede’s Eccles.
-Hist. book 4. <abbr title='chapter'>ch.</abbr> 24.</i>) and says he sung of the
-creation of the world, of the origin of mankind,
-and of the whole history of the book of Genesis.
-He died about the year 680, and therefore must
-have been contemporary with Etheldreda, who
-founded the monastery of Ely. And it is a very
-curious fact, little known, that Lye, the author
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>of the Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, translated this
-poem, and that therein it was found had been
-introduced, almost exactly, the same idea of the
-fallen angels, and even the peculiarity of the
-nine days falling, and of Satan’s assembling his
-<i>Thanes</i>, on their rousing themselves, which was
-afterwards introduced by Milton into his Paradise
-Lost. This account, Mr. King says, he received
-from Dr. Percy, bishop of Dromore,
-who had several manuscripts of Lye’s bequeathed
-to him; and who was well qualified to investigate
-such curious matters of ancient literature.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It should not be forgotten with regard to
-manuscripts, the productions of these industrious
-penmen in their <i>Scriptoria</i>, that king Alfred is
-said by the Saxon writers, to have first received
-his eagerness for erudition, in an age when he
-himself complained of the general ignorance
-even of the clergy, from his mother’s shewing
-him a book of Saxon poems, beautifully written,
-and illuminated, and promising to give it to
-which ever of her sons should soonest learn to
-read it.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Until the eleventh century, musical notes were
-expressed only by letters of the alphabet; and
-till the fourteenth century they were expressed
-only by large lozenge-shaped black dots or points,
-placed on different lines, one above another,
-and then first named <i>ut</i>, <i>re</i>, <i>mi</i>, <i>fa</i>, <i>sol</i>, <i>la</i>, to which
-<i>si</i> was afterwards added; and they were all
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>expressed without any distinction as to length of
-time; and without any such things as breves,
-semi-breves, minims, crotchets, or quavers, &amp;c.
-The old psalters in many cathedral churches are
-found thus written; and in consequence of this
-it was, that the <i>Scriptoria</i> in some other places, as
-well as at Gloucester, are found so contrived, as to
-have long ranges of seats, or benches, one beyond
-another, for the copyists; so that a master or person
-standing at one end, and naming each note, it
-might quickly be copied out by all, naming it in
-succession from one end to the other. Hence the
-psalters were more easily copied than any other
-books, and it is not a little remarkable that in
-the library at Worcester, there is a copy of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-Matthew’s gospel, set to music throughout, with
-these sort of notes.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In foreign monasteries, the boys and novices
-were chiefly occupied in these labours, but the
-missals and bibles were ordered to be written by
-monks of mature age and discretion. The <i>Scriptorium</i>
-of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Albans’s abbey was built by Abbot
-Paulin, a Norman, who ordered many volumes
-to be written there, about the year 1080. Archbishop
-Lanfranc furnished the copies. Estates
-were often granted for the support of the <i>Scriptorium</i>;
-that at <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Edmundsbury was endowed
-with two mills, and in the year 1171, the tithes
-of a rectory were appropriated to the cathedral
-convent of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Swithin at Winchester, <i>ad Libros
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>transcribendos</i>. Many instances of this species
-of benefaction occur from the tenth century.
-Nigel, in the year 1160, gave the monks of Ely
-two churches, <i>ad libros faciendos</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This employment of copying manuscripts appears
-to have been diligently practised at Croyland;
-for Ingulphus relates, that when the library
-of that convent was burned in the year 1091,
-seven hundred volumes were consumed. Fifty-eight
-volumes were transcribed at Glastonbury,
-during the government of one abbot, about the
-year 1300. And in the library of this monastery,
-the richest in England, there were upwards of
-four hundred volumes in the year 1248. More
-than eighty books were thus transcribed for <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-Alban’s abbey, by Abbot Whethamstede, who
-died about 1400. At the foundation of Winchester
-college, by William of Wykeham, about 1393,
-one or more transcribers were hired and employed
-by the founder to <i>make books</i> for the library. They
-transcribed and took their commons within the
-college, as appears by computations of expenses
-on their account now remaining.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the monastery of Ely, the Precentor, or
-Chantor, was the chief librarian, and had within
-his Office, the <i>Scriptorium</i>, where writers were
-employed in transcribing books for the library,
-and missals and other books used in divine service.
-This officer furnished the vellum, parchment,
-paper, ink, colours, gums, and other necessaries
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>for limners, used in illuminating their books; and
-leather, and other implements for binding, and
-keeping them in repair.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Some of the Roman classics were copied in the
-English monasteries at a very early period.
-Henry, a Benedictine monk of Hyde abbey, near
-Winchester, transcribed in the year 1178, Terence,
-Boethius, Suetonius, and Claudian. Of these he
-formed one volume, illuminating the initials, and
-forming the brazen bosses of the covers with his
-own hands; but this abbot had more devotion
-than taste, for he exchanged this manuscript a
-few years afterwards for four missals, the legend
-of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Christopher, and <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Gregory’s <span class='sc'>Pastoral
-Care</span>, with the Prior of the neighbouring
-cathedral convent. Benedict, abbot of Peterborough,
-author of the latin chronicle of king
-Henry the second, amongst a great variety of
-scholastic and theological treatises, transcribed
-Seneca’s epistles and tragedies, Terence, Martial,
-and Claudian, to which may be added
-<span class='sc'>Gesta Alexandri</span>, about the year 1180.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In a catalogue of the books of the library of
-Glastonbury, we find Livy, Sallust, Seneca,
-Tully de <span class='sc'>Senectute</span> and <span class='sc'>Amicitia</span>, Virgil,
-Persius, and Claudian, in the year 1248. Among
-the royal manuscripts of the British Museum, is
-one of the twelve books of Statius’s Thebaid,
-supposed to have been written in the tenth century,
-which once belonged to the cathedral
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>convent of Rochester. And another of Virgil’s
-Æneid, written in the thirteenth, which came
-from the library of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Austin’s, Canterbury.
-Wallingford, abbot of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Alban’s, gave or
-sold from the library of that monastery to
-Richard de Bury, bishop of Durham, author of
-the “<span class='sc'>Philobiblion</span>,” and a great collector
-of books, Terence, Virgil, Quintilian, and
-Jerome against Rufinus, together with thirty-two
-other volumes, valued at fifty pounds of silver.
-The scarcity of parchment undoubtedly prevented
-the transcription of many other books in these
-societies. About the year 1120, one Master
-Hugh, being appointed by the convent of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-Edmundsbury in Suffolk, to write and illuminate
-a grand copy of the bible for their library, could
-procure no parchment for this purpose in England.
-It is to this scarcity of parchment that
-we owe the loss and destruction of many valuable
-manuscripts of the ancients, which otherwise
-might have been preserved to us. The venerable
-fathers who employed themselves in erasing the
-writing of some of the best works of the most
-eminent Greek or Latin authors for the purpose of
-transcribing upon the obliterated parchment or
-vellum the lives of saints, or legendary tales,
-possibly mistook these lamentable depredations
-for works of piety. The ancient fragment of the
-91st book of Livy, discovered by Mr. Burns in
-the Vatican, in 1772, was found to be much
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>defaced in this respect by the pious labours of
-some well-intentioned monk.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The monks of Durham having begun to build
-a college for their novices at Oxford, about the
-year 1290, Richard de Bury, bishop of Durham,
-not only assisted, but also partly endowed it. At
-his decease, in 1345, he left to this college, then
-called Durham, and since Trinity, college, all his
-books, which were more in number than all the
-bishops in England then possessed, in order
-that the students of that college, and of the University,
-might, under certain conditions make use
-of them. After the college came into possession
-of these books, they were, for many years, kept
-in chests, under the custody of several scholars
-deputed for that purpose, and a library being
-built in the reign of king Henry the fourth,
-these books were put into pews or studies, and
-chained to them. They continued in this manner
-till the college was dissolved by king Henry
-the eighth, when they were conveyed away,
-some to Duke Humphrey’s library, where they
-remained till the reign of king Edward the
-sixth, and others to the library of Baliol college.
-Some which remained came into the hands of
-Dr. George Owen, a physician of Godstow, who
-purchased Trinity college of Edward the sixth.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The bishop of Durham wrote a treatise containing
-rules for the management of the library
-above-mentioned, describing how the books were
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>to be preserved, and upon what conditions they
-were to be lent out to scholars, and appointed
-five keepers, to whom he granted yearly salaries.
-This treatise he called “<i>Philobiblion</i>,” from
-whence he himself came to be called by the
-same name, “a lover of books,” and this very
-justly, if, as he says himself in the preface to it,
-his love of them was so violent that it put him
-into a kind of rapture, and made him neglect all
-his other affairs. He finished it at Auckland, the
-<abbr title='twenty-fourth'>24th</abbr> of January, 1345, being then just 63 years
-of age. It was printed at Spires in 1483; at
-Paris, by Badius Ascensius, in 1500; by the
-learned Thomas James, at Oxford, in 1599, in
-quarto; and at Leipsic, in 1674, at the end
-of <i>Philologicarum Epistolarum Centuria una, ex
-Bibliotheca Melch. Hamingfeldii</i>. It appears also in
-manuscript in the Cottonian library, in the royal
-library, and in other libraries in Oxford and
-Cambridge.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The “<i>Philobiblion</i>,” is written in very indifferent
-Latin, and in a declamatory style. It is divided
-into twenty chapters. In chapter 1. the
-author praises wisdom, and books in which it is
-contained. 2. That books are to be preferred to
-riches and pleasure. 3. That they ought to be
-always bought. 4. How much good arises from
-books, and that they are misused only by ignorant
-people. 5. That good monks write books,
-but the bad ones are otherwise employed.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>6. The praise of the ancient begging friars, with
-a reproof of the modern ones. 7. He bewails
-the loss of books by fire and wars. 8. He shews
-what fine opportunities he had had of collecting
-books, whilst he was chancellor and treasurer, as
-well as during his embassies. 9. That the
-ancients outdid the moderns in hard studying.
-10. That learning is by degrees arrived at perfection,
-and that he had procured a Greek and
-Hebrew grammar. 11. That the law and law
-books are not properly learning. 12. The usefulness
-and necessity of grammar. 13. An
-apology for poetry, and the usefulness of it.
-14. Who ought to love books. 15. The manifold
-advantages of learning. 16. Of writing
-new books and mending the old. 17. Of using
-books well, and how to place them. 18. An
-answer to his calumniators. 19. Upon what
-conditions books are to be lent to strangers.
-20. Conclusion.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the “<i>Philobiblion</i>” the bishop apologizes
-for admitting the poets into his collection;
-<i>quare non negleximus Fabulas Poetarum</i>. But he
-is more complaisant to the prejudices of his age,
-where he says, that the laity are unworthy to be
-admitted to any commerce with books: <i>Laici
-omnium librorum communione sunt indigni</i>. He
-prefers books of the liberal arts to treatises of the
-law. He laments that good literature had entirely
-ceased in the university of Paris. He
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>admits <i>Panfletos exiguos</i> into his library. He
-employed <i>Stationarios</i> and <i>Librarios</i>, not only in
-England, but in France, Italy, and Germany.
-He regrets the total ignorance of the greek
-language; but adds that he has provided for the
-students of his library both Greek and Hebrew
-grammars. He calls Paris the “paradise of the
-world,” and says that he purchased there a
-variety of invaluable volumes in all sciences,
-which yet were neglected and perishing. While
-he was Chancellor and Treasurer of England,
-instead of the usual presents and new year’s
-gifts appendant to his office, he chose to receive
-those perquisites in books. By the favour of
-king Edward the third, he gained access to the
-libraries of the principal monasteries, where
-he shook off the dust from various volumes preserved
-in chests and presses, which had not been
-opened for many ages.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There were several collections of manuscripts
-in England before the general restoration of
-science in Europe, which had at different times
-been brought hither by those who had travelled
-into foreign countries; these were chiefly preserved
-in the two Universities, in the cathedral
-churches, and in religious houses, but in the
-fifteenth and sixteenth century several valuable
-libraries were formed in England.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the reign of king Henry the sixth, Humphrey,
-Duke of Gloucester, fourth and youngest
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>son of king Henry the fourth, was a singular
-promoter of literature, just at the dawning of
-science and learning. However unqualified this
-eminent personage was for political intrigue, and
-to contend with his malicious and powerful enemies,
-among whom the Cardinal Beaufort was
-the principal, he was nevertheless the common
-friend and patron of all the scholars of his time.
-A sketch of his character and pursuits, as being
-closely connected with the progress of English
-literature, cannot fail of proving interesting,
-more especially as they are peculiarly associated
-with the subject of the present inquiry.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>About the year 1440, the Duke gave to the
-University of Oxford a library, containing six
-hundred volumes, one hundred and twenty only
-of which were valued at more than one thousand
-pounds of the money of that day. These books,
-it need not be observed, were all in manuscript,
-the art of printing not having then been discovered;
-they are called <i>Novi Tractatus</i>, or New
-Treatises, in the University Register, and are
-said to be <i>admirandi apparatus</i>. They were the
-most splendid and costly copies that could be
-procured, finely written on vellum, and elegantly
-embellished with miniatures and illuminations.
-Among the rest was a translation into French of
-Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Only a single specimen
-of these valuable volumes was suffered to remain;
-it is a beautiful manuscript, in folio, of Valerius
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>Maximus, enriched with the most elegant decorations,
-and written in Duke Humphrey’s age,
-evidently with a design of being placed in this
-sumptuous collection. All the rest of the books,
-which, like this, being highly ornamented, looked
-like missals, were destroyed or removed by the
-pious visitors of the University, in the reign of
-king Edward the sixth, whose zeal was equalled
-only by their ignorance, or perhaps by their
-avarice. A great number of classics, in this
-grand work of reformation, were condemned as
-anti-christian, and some of the books, in this
-library, had even been before this, either stolen
-or mutilated. In the library of Oriel College, at
-Oxford, we find a manuscript <i>Commentary on
-Genesis</i>, written by John Capgrave, a monk,
-belonging to the monastery of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Austin, at
-Canterbury, a learned theologist of the fifteenth
-century. In it is the author’s autograph, and
-the work is dedicated to Humphrey, Duke of
-Gloucester. In the superb initial letter of the
-dedicatory epistle, is a curious illumination of the
-author Capgrave, humbly presenting his book to
-his patron, the Duke, who is seated, and covered
-with a sort of hat. At the end of the volume is
-this entry, in the hand-writing of Duke Humphrey
-“C’est Livre est a moy Humfrey,
-Duc de Gloucestre, du don de Frere Jehan Capgrave,
-quy le me fist presenter a mon manoyr de
-Pensherst le jour ... de l’an <span class='fss'>MCCCCXXXVIII.</span>”
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>This is one of the books which Humphrey gave
-to his new library at Oxford, destroyed or dispersed
-by the active reformers of the young
-Edward. He also gave to the same library
-Capgrave <i>Super Exodum et Regum Libros</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>John Whethamstede, a learned abbot of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-Alban’s, and a lover of scholars, but accused by
-his monks of neglecting their affairs, while he
-was too deeply engaged in studious employments,
-and in procuring transcripts of useful books, notwithstanding
-his unwearied assiduity in beautifying
-and enriching their monastery, was in high
-favour with this munificent prince. The Duke
-was fond of visiting this monastery, and employed
-Abbot Whethamstede to collect valuable books
-for him. Some of Whethamstede’s tracts, manuscript
-copies of which often occur in our libraries,
-are dedicated to the Duke, who presented many
-of them, particularly a fine copy of Whethamstede’s
-<i>Granarium</i>, an immense work, which
-Leland calls <i>ingens volumen</i> to the new library.
-The copy of Valerius Maximus, mentioned before,
-has a curious table or index, made by Whethamstede.
-Many other Abbots paid their court to
-the Duke, by sending him presents of books, the
-margins of which were adorned with the most
-exquisite paintings.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Gilbert Kymer, physician to king Henry the
-sixth, and holding, among other ecclesiastical
-preferments, the Deanery of Salisbury and
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>Chancellorship of the University of Oxford; the
-latter dignity by the recommendatory letters of
-the Duke, inscribed to the Duke of Gloucester his
-famous medical system—<i>Diætarium de Sanitatis
-Custodia</i>—in the year 1424.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Lydgate,<a id='r12' /><a href='#f12' class='c013'><sup>[12]</sup></a> one of the early English poets, translated
-Boccacio’s book, <i>De Casibus Virorum
-illustrium</i>, at the recommendation and command,
-and under the protection and superintendance,
-of Duke Humphrey, whose condescension in
-conversing with learned ecclesiastics, and diligence
-in study, the translator displays at large,
-and in the strongest expressions of panegyric.
-He compares the Duke to Julius Cæsar, who,
-amidst the weightier cares of state, was not
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>ashamed to enter the rhetorical school of Cicero
-at Rome. Nor was his patronage confined only
-to English scholars. His favour was solicited
-by the most celebrated writers of France and
-Italy, many of whom he bountifully rewarded.
-Leonard Aretin,<a id='r13' /><a href='#f13' class='c013'><sup>[13]</sup></a> one of the first restorers of the
-Greek tongue in Italy, (which language he
-learned of Emanuel Chrysoloras,<a id='r14' /><a href='#f14' class='c013'><sup>[14]</sup></a>) and of polite
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>literature in general, dedicates to this universal
-patron his elegant Latin translation of Aristotle’s
-<i>Politics</i>. The copy presented to the Duke by
-the translator, most elegantly illuminated, is now
-in the Bodleian library.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>To the same noble encourager of learning,
-Petrus Candidus, the friend of Laurentius Valla,<a id='r15' /><a href='#f15' class='c013'><sup>[15]</sup></a>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>and secretary to the great Cosmo, Duke of Milan,
-inscribed by the advice of the Archbishop of
-Milan, a Latin version of Plato’s <i>Republic</i>. An
-illuminated manuscript of this translation is in
-the British Museum, perhaps the copy presented,
-with two epistles from the Duke to Petrus
-Candidus.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Petrus de Monte, another learned Italian of
-Venice, in the dedication of his treatise—<i>De
-Virtutum et Vitiorum differentia</i>—to the Duke of
-Gloucester, mentions the latter’s ardent attachment
-to books of all kinds, and the singular
-avidity with which he pursued every species of
-literature.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>A tract entitled <i>Comparatio Studiorum et Rei
-Militaris</i>, written by Lopus de Castellione, a
-Florentine civilian, and a great translator into
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>Latin of the Greek classics, is also inscribed to
-the Duke at the desire of Zeno, archbishop of
-Bayeux. It must not be forgotten that our
-illustrious Duke invited into England the learned
-Tito Livio of Foro-Juli, whom he naturalized
-and constituted his poet and orator. He also
-retained learned foreigners in his service, for the
-purpose of transcribing, and of translating from
-Greek into Latin. One of these was Antonio de
-Beccaria, a Veronese, who translated into Latin
-prose the Greek poem of <i>Dionysius Afer de Situ
-Orbis</i>; whom the Duke also employed to translate
-into Latin six tracts of Athanasius. This
-translation, inscribed to the Duke, is now among
-the royal manuscripts in the British Museum,
-and at the end, in his own hand-writing, is the
-following insertion:—“C’est Livre est a moi
-Homphrey Duc le Gloucestre: le quel je fis
-translater de grec en latin par un de mes secretaires
-Antoyne de Beccara ne de Verone.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>An astronomical tract, entitled, by Leland,
-<i>Fabulæ Directionum</i>, is erroneously supposed to
-have been written by Duke Humphrey. But it
-was compiled at the Duke’s instance, and according
-to tables which he had himself constructed,
-called by the anonymous author in his preface,
-<i>Tabulas illustrissimi principis et nobilissimi Domini
-mei, Humfredi, &amp;c.</i> In the library of Gresham
-College, however, there is a scheme of calculations
-in astronomy, which bears his name.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>Astronomy was then a favourite science; nor is
-it to be doubted that he was intimately acquainted
-with the politer branches of knowledge which
-now began to acquire estimation, and which his
-liberal and judicious attention greatly contributed
-to restore.</p>
-
-<hr class='c010' />
-
-<p class='c006'>King Edward the fourth and Henry the seventh
-greatly assisted the cause of learning, by the
-encouragement they gave to the art of printing
-in England, and by purchasing such books as
-were printed in other countries. William Warham,
-archbishop of Canterbury, purchased many
-valuable Greek manuscripts which had been
-brought hither by the prelates and others after the
-taking of Constantinople by the Turks.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>King Henry the eighth may justly be called
-the founder of the royal library, which was enriched
-with the manuscripts selected from the
-<i>scriptoria</i> and libraries of the principal monasteries,
-by that indefatigable antiquary John
-Leland.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Matthew Parker, archbishop of Canterbury,
-enriched the library of the college of Corpus
-Christi, with a great number of ancient and curious
-manuscripts.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Sir Thomas
-Bodley greatly increased the public library at
-Oxford, which is now called by his name. This
-great benefactor to the literature of his country,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>quitted the court, and applied himself wholly to
-the purchasing of books and manuscripts both at
-home and abroad. By these means he had the
-satisfaction of furnishing that library with 1294
-manuscripts, which by the subsequent liberality
-of many great and illustrious persons, has been
-since increased to more than eight thousand
-volumes, including the manuscripts given by
-Tanner, Bishop of Norwich, and the valuable
-library bequeathed by the will of Dr. Richard
-Rawlinson.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Considerable augmentations were made to the
-libraries of the several colleges in the two universities,
-as also to those of our cathedral churches,
-the palace at Lambeth, the Inns of Court, the
-College of Arms, and others; catalogues of which
-were published at Oxford in 1697 under the title
-of <i>Catalogus Manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Bodley’s great contemporary, Sir Robert
-Cotton, is also entitled to the gratitude of posterity
-for his diligence in collecting the Cottonian
-library; he was engaged in the pursuit of manuscripts
-and records upwards of forty years,
-during which time he spared neither trouble nor
-expense.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The noble manuscript library founded by
-Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, and greatly enriched
-by his son Edward, who inherited his
-father’s love of science, claims a distinguished
-place in every account which may be given of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>the literary treasures of antiquity in general, and
-of this country in particular. Posterity will ever
-be indebted to her grace the Duchess Dowager
-of Portland, for securing this inestimable treasure
-of learning to the public, by authority of Parliament,
-under the guardianship of the most distinguished
-persons of the realm, both for rank and
-abilities, whose excellent regulations have made
-this library, as also the Royal, Cottonian, Sloanian,
-and others, now deposited in the British Museum,
-easy of access, and consequently of real use to the
-philosopher, the statesman, the historian, the
-scholar, and the artist.<a id='r16' /><a href='#f16' class='c013'><sup>[16]</sup></a></p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>
- <h2 id='art34' class='c004'>TORTURE IN ENGLAND.<a id='r17' /><a href='#f17' class='c013'><sup>[17]</sup></a></h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>In the reign of King Henry the Sixth, the
-<span class='sc'>Rack</span> or <span class='sc'>Brake</span>, was placed in the Tower of
-London, by the Duke of Exeter, when he and
-the Earl of Suffolk had formed the design of introducing
-the Civil Law into England. It was
-called “Exeter’s daughter,” and remained afterwards
-in the Tower, “where it was occasionally
-used as an <i>Engine of State</i>, more than once in
-the <i>reign of Elizabeth</i>.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Though the use of the Rack does not appear
-to have been known in this country until the
-<abbr title='twenty-sixth'>26th</abbr> year of Henry the Sixth, and though it was
-never authorized by the law, yet to borrow the
-expression of Mr. Justice Blackstone, it was
-occasionally used as an “Engine of State,” to
-extort confession from State Prisoners confined in
-the Tower, from the time of its introduction,
-until finally laid aside in consequence of the
-decision of the judges in Felton’s case. One
-Hawkins was tortured<a id='r18' /><a href='#f18' class='c013'><sup>[18]</sup></a> in the reign of Henry the
-Sixth; and the case of Anne Askew,<a id='r19' /><a href='#f19' class='c013'><sup>[19]</sup></a> in that of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>Henry the Eighth,<a id='r20' /><a href='#f20' class='c013'><sup>[20]</sup></a> cannot escape the recollection
-of every reader of English history. The Lord
-Chancellor Wriothesely (I blush for the honour
-and humanity of an English Judge while I
-write his name) went to the Tower to take her
-examination, and upon the Lieutenant’s refusing
-to draw the cords tighter, <i>drew them himself</i>
-till every limb was dislocated, and her body
-nearly torn asunder. In Mary’s reign several
-persons were racked in order to extort confessions,
-which was upon account of Sir Thomas
-Wyat’s rebellion. And Barrington mentions
-that in Oldmixon’s History of England (p. 284,)
-one Simpson is said to have been tortured in
-1558, and a confession extorted.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth,<a id='r21' /><a href='#f21' class='c013'><sup>[21]</sup></a> the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>Rack was used upon offenders against the State,
-and among others, upon Francis Throgmorton;
-in 1571, upon Charles Baillie an attendant upon
-the Bishop of Ross, Mary’s ambassador, and upon
-Banastre, one of the Duke of Norfolk’s servants;
-and Barker, another of his servants was brought
-to confess by extreme fear of it. In 1581,
-Campion, the Jesuit, was put upon the rack,<a id='r22' /><a href='#f22' class='c013'><sup>[22]</sup></a>
-and in 1585, Thomas Morgan writes to the
-Queen of Scots, that he has heard D. Atslow was
-racked in the Tower, twice about the Earl of
-Arundel. This is the last instance of the actual
-application of torture to extort confession.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>For the greater part of this reign the application
-of torture in the examination of State offenders
-seems to have been in common use, and its
-legality not disputed. Mr. Daines Barrington
-says,<a id='r23' /><a href='#f23' class='c013'><sup>[23]</sup></a> that among the manuscript papers of Lord
-Ellesmere, is a copy of instructions to him, as
-Lord President of the Marches, to use the torture
-on the taking of some examinations at Ludlow;
-and Sir Edward Coke himself,<a id='r24' /><a href='#f24' class='c013'><sup>[24]</sup></a> in the year 1600,
-(the <abbr title='fourth-third'>43d</abbr> of Elizabeth’s reign) then being Attorney
-General, at the trials of the Earls of Essex and
-Southampton, boasted of the clemency of the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>Queen, because, though the rebellious attempts
-were so exceedingly heinous, yet out of her
-princely mercy “no person was racked, tortured,
-or pressed to speak any thing further than of their
-own accord.” And in the Countess of Shrewsbury’s
-case (10 James <abbr title='first'>1st</abbr>) when Sir Edward was
-Chief Justice, in enumerating the privileges of the
-nobility, he mentions as one, that their bodies were
-not subject to torture <span lang="la" xml:lang="la"><i>in causa criminis læsæ majestatis</i></span>.
-Barrington justly observes<a id='r25' /><a href='#f25' class='c013'><sup>[25]</sup></a> there was a regular
-establishment for torture, for at his trial,<a id='r26' /><a href='#f26' class='c013'><sup>[26]</sup></a> in
-the first year of James the first, Sir Walter Raleigh
-stated that Kemish had been threatened with the
-rack, and the keeper of the instrument sent for.
-Sir William Wade, who, with the Solicitor General
-had taken his examination, denied it, but admitted
-they had told him he deserved it, and
-Lord Howard declared, “Kemish was never on
-the rack, <i>the king gave charge that no rigour should
-be used</i>.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Barrington mentions<a id='r27' /><a href='#f27' class='c013'><sup>[27]</sup></a> that Sir John Hayward,
-the historian, was threatened with the rack, which
-Dr. Granger confirms; and the former also remarks
-that it is stated in King James’s works, that
-the rack was shewn to Guy Faukes when under
-examination.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>Down to this period we do not find the legality
-of the practice questioned, though it has been said
-by high authority, as will be stated presently,
-that some doubts had been suggested to Queen
-Elizabeth. State Prisoners were confined usually
-in the Tower, and commissioners, attended by
-the law officers of the crown, were sent to examine
-them, who applied the rack at their own discretion,
-or according to the order of the privy council, or
-the king’s, without any objection being made to
-their authority.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the third year of King Charles the first,
-Felton was threatened with the rack by the Earl
-of Dorset in the Tower, and Laud, then bishop of
-London, repeated the threats in council, but the
-king insisted upon the judges being consulted as
-to the legality of the application, and they being
-unanimously of opinion that it was illegal, it was
-never attempted afterwards. The answer which
-Felton made to Laud’s threats, is well worthy of
-attention; when Laud told him “if he would not
-confess he must go to the rack,” he replied “if it
-must be so, he could not tell whom he might nominate
-in the extremity of torture, and if what
-he should say then was to go for truth, he could
-not tell whether his Lordship (meaning the
-bishop of London) or which of their Lordships
-he might name, for torture might draw unexpected
-things from him.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the year 1680 (32 Charles <abbr title='second'>2d</abbr>) Elizabeth
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>Collier was tried at the Old Bailey,<a id='r28' /><a href='#f28' class='c013'><sup>[28]</sup></a> before Mr.
-Baron Weston, for the publication of a libel, in
-which many circumstances were related for the
-purpose of inducing a belief that Prance, when a
-prisoner in Newgate, had been tortured there,
-and he was produced to prove the falsehood of the
-publication. The learned judge in summing up
-the evidence to the jury said, “But you must
-first know the laws of the land do not admit a
-torture, and since Queen Elizabeth’s time there
-hath been nothing of that kind ever done. The
-truth is indeed, in the twentieth year of her reign,
-Campion was just stretched upon the rack, but
-yet not so but he could walk; but when she was
-told it was against the law of the land to have any
-of her subjects racked (though that was an extraordinary
-case, a world of seminaries being
-sent over to contrive her death, and she lived in
-continual danger) yet it was never done after
-to any one, neither in her reign, who reigned
-twenty-five years, nor in king James’s reign, who
-reigned twenty-two years after, nor in king
-Charles the first’s reign, who reigned twenty-four
-years after; and <span class='sc'>God</span> in Heaven knows there
-hath been no such thing offered in this king’s
-reign; for I think we may say we have lived
-under as lawful and merciful a government as any
-people whatsoever, and have as little blood shed,
-and sanguinary executions as any nation under
-heaven.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>The learned judge may have been mistaken
-when stating Campion to be the last person racked,
-for in Murden’s state papers, one Atslow, as before
-observed, is mentioned to have been tortured four
-years afterwards. Mr. Baron Weston states that
-upon a suggestion made to Queen Elizabeth of
-the illegality of the practice, it was discontinued
-in her reign, and thus we may account for
-Campion being racked with so little severity, as
-to be able to walk afterwards, and to manage the
-conferences with protestant doctors during his
-confinement in prison.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the Jurisprudence of the Romans the
-deceitful and dangerous experiment of the criminal
-<i>quæstion</i>, as it is emphatically styled, was admitted,
-rather than approved. The Roman
-government applied this sanguinary mode of
-examination only to servile bodies, whose sufferings
-were seldom weighed by those haughty Republicans
-in the scale of justice or humanity;
-but they would never consent to violate the
-sacred person of a citizen, till they possessed the
-clearest evidence of his guilt.<a id='r29' /><a href='#f29' class='c013'><sup>[29]</sup></a> The annals of
-tyranny, from the reign of Tiberius to that of
-Domitian, circumstantially relate the executions
-of many innocent victims; but as long as the
-faintest remembrance was kept alive of the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>national freedom and honour, the last hours of a
-Roman were secure from the danger of ignominious
-torture. The conduct of the provincial
-magistrates was not, however, regulated by the
-practice of the city, or the strict maxims of the
-Civilians. They found the use of torture established
-not only among the slaves of oriental
-despotism, but among the Macedonians, who
-obeyed a limited monarch; among the Rhodians,
-who flourished by the liberty of commerce; and
-even among the sage Athenians, who had asserted
-and adorned the dignity of human nature.<a id='r30' /><a href='#f30' class='c013'><sup>[30]</sup></a>
-The acquiescence of the people in the provinces
-encouraged their governors to acquire or perhaps
-to usurp, a discretionary power of employing the
-Rack, to extort from vagrants or plebeian criminals
-the confession of their guilt, till they insensibly
-proceeded to confound the distinctions
-of rank, and to disregard the privileges of
-Roman citizens. The apprehensions of the
-subjects urged them to solicit, and the interest
-of the Sovereign engaged him to grant, a
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>variety of special exemptions, which tacitly
-allowed, and even authorized, the general use of
-torture. They protected all persons of illustrious
-or honourable rank, bishops and their presbyters,
-professors of the liberal arts, soldiers and
-their families, municipal officers, and their posterity
-to the third generation, and all children
-under the age of puberty. But a fatal maxim
-was introduced into the new jurisprudence of the
-Empire, that in the case of treason, which included
-every offence that the subtlety of lawyers
-could derive from an <i>hostile intention</i> towards the
-prince or republic, all privileges were suspended
-and all conditions were reduced to the same ignominious
-level. As the safety of the Emperor
-was avowedly preferred to every consideration
-of justice or humanity, the dignity of age, and
-the tenderness of youth were alike exposed to
-the most cruel tortures; and the terrors of a
-malicious information, which might select them
-as the accomplices, or even as the witnesses,
-perhaps, of an imaginary crime, perpetually hung
-over the heads of the principal citizens of the
-Roman world.<a id='r31' /><a href='#f31' class='c013'><sup>[31]</sup></a></p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>
- <h2 id='art35' class='c004'><span class='sc'>Dr.</span> JOHNSON’S CONVERSATION WITH THE LATE KING.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>In February, 1767, there happened one of the
-most remarkable incidents of Johnson’s life,
-which gratified his monarchical enthusiasm, and
-which he loved to relate with all its circumstances,
-when requested by his friends. This was
-his being honoured by a private conversation
-with his late Majesty, in the Library at the
-Queen’s house. He had frequently visited those
-splendid rooms, and noble collection of books,
-which he used to say was more numerous and curious
-than he supposed any person could have
-made in the time which the king had employed.
-Mr. Barnard the Librarian, took care that he
-should have every accommodation that could
-contribute to his ease and convenience, while indulging
-his literary taste in that place, so that he
-had here a very agreeable resource at leisure
-hours.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>His Majesty having been informed of his
-occasional visits, was pleased to signify a desire
-that he should be told when Dr. Johnson came
-next to the library. Accordingly the next time
-that Johnson did come, as soon as he was fairly
-engaged with a book, on which, while he sat by
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>the fire he seemed quite intent, Mr. Barnard
-stole round to the apartment where the king was,
-and, in obedience to his Majesty’s commands,
-mentioned that Dr. Johnson was then in the
-library. His Majesty said he was at leisure and
-would go to him; upon which Mr. Barnard
-took one of the candles that stood on the king’s
-table, and lighted his Majesty through a suite of
-rooms till they came to a private door into the
-library, of which his Majesty had the key.
-Being entered, Mr. Barnard stepped forward
-hastily to Dr. Johnson, who was still in a profound
-study, and whispered him, “Sir, here is
-the king.” Johnson started up, and stood still.
-His Majesty approached him, and at once was
-courteously easy.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>His Majesty began by observing, that he
-understood he came sometimes to the library;
-and then mentioned his having heard that the
-Doctor had been lately at Oxford, asked him if
-he was not fond of going thither. To which
-Johnson answered, that he was indeed fond of
-going to Oxford sometimes, but was likewise
-glad to come back again. The king then asked
-him what they were doing at Oxford. Johnson
-answered he could not much commend their
-diligence, but that in some respects they were
-mended, for they had put their press under better
-regulations, and were at that time printing
-Polybius. He was then asked whether there
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>were better libraries at Oxford or Cambridge;
-he answered, he believed the Bodleian was
-larger than any they had at Cambridge; at the
-same time adding, “I hope whether we have
-more books or not than they have at Cambridge,
-we shall make as good use of them as they do.”
-Being asked whether All-Souls or Christ Church
-library was the largest, he answered, “All-Souls
-library is the largest we have except the Bodleian.”
-“Aye, (said the king) that is the public library.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>His Majesty enquired if he was then writing
-any thing, he answered, he was not, for he had
-pretty well told the world what he knew, and
-must now read to acquire more knowledge. The
-king as it should seem with a view to urge him
-to rely on his own stores as an original writer,
-and to continue his labours, then said, “I do not
-think you borrow much from any body.” Johnson
-said he thought he had already done his part as a
-writer. “I should have thought so too,” said
-the king, “if you had not written so well.”—Johnson
-observed to me, says Boswell, that “No
-man could have paid a handsomer compliment;
-and it was fit for a king to pay. It was decisive.”
-When asked by another friend at Sir Joshua
-Reynolds’s, whether he made any reply to this
-high compliment, he answered, “No, Sir.
-When the king had said it, it was to be so. It
-was not for me to bandy civilities with my
-Sovereign.” Perhaps no man who had spent
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>his whole life in courts could have shewn a more
-nice and dignified sense of true politeness than
-Johnson did in this instance.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“His Majesty having observed to him, that
-he supposed he must have read a great deal,
-Johnson answered, that he thought more than he
-read; that he had read a great deal in the early
-part of his life, but having fallen into ill health, he
-had not been able to read much compared with
-others; for instance he said he had not read
-much, compared with Dr. Warburton. Upon
-which the king said, that he heard Dr. Warburton
-was a man of such general knowledge, that
-you could scarce talk with him on any subject on
-which he was not qualified to speak, and that his
-learning resembled Garrick’s acting in its universality.
-The king observed that Pope made
-Warburton a bishop; ‘True, Sir,’ said Johnson,
-‘but Warburton did more for Pope, he made him
-a Christian;’ alluding no doubt, to his ingenious
-comments on the ‘Essay on Man.’ His
-Majesty then talked of the controversy between
-Warburton and Lowth, which he seemed to have
-read, and asked Johnson what he thought of it.
-Johnson answered, ‘Warburton has most general,
-most scholastic learning; Lowth is the more
-correct scholar. I do not know which of them
-calls names best.’ The king was pleased to
-say he was of the same opinion; adding, ‘You
-do not think then, Dr. Johnson, that there was
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>much argument in the case.’ Johnson said he
-did not think there was. ‘Why, truly,’ said
-the king, ‘when once it comes to calling names,
-argument is pretty well at an end.’“</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>His Majesty then asked him what he thought
-of Lord Lyttelton’s history, which was just then
-published. Johnson said, he thought his style
-pretty good, but that he had blamed Henry the
-Second rather too much. “Why, said the king,
-they seldom do these things by halves.” “No, Sir,
-answered Johnson, not to kings.” But fearing
-to be misunderstood, he proceeded to explain
-himself, and immediately subjoined, “That for
-those who spoke worse of kings than they
-deserved, he could find no excuse; but that he
-could more easily conceive how some might speak
-better of them than they deserved, without any
-ill intention; for, as kings had much in their
-power to give, those who were favoured by them
-would frequently, from gratitude, exaggerate
-their praises; and as this proceeded from a good
-motive, it was certainty excusable, as far as error
-could be excusable.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The king then asked him what he thought of
-Dr. Hill. Johnson answered, that he was an
-ingenious man, but had no veracity; and immediately
-mentioned, as an instance of it, an assertion
-of that writer, that he had seen objects
-magnified to a much greater degree by using
-three or four microscopes at a time than by using
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>one. “Now,” added Johnson, “every one acquainted
-with microscopes knows, that the more
-of them he looks through, the less the object will
-appear.” “Why,” replied the king, “this is
-not only telling an untruth, but telling it clumsily;
-for, if that be the case, every one who can look
-through a microscope will be able to detect
-him.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>I now, (said Johnson to his friends, when relating
-what had passed) began to consider that
-I was depreciating this man in the estimation of
-his Sovereign, and thought it was time for me to
-say something that might be more favourable.
-He added, therefore, that Dr. Hill was, notwithstanding,
-a very curious observer; and if he would
-have been contented to tell the world no more
-than he knew, he might have been a very considerable
-man, and needed not to have recourse to
-such mean expedients to raise his reputation.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The king then talked of Literary Journals, mentioned
-particularly the <i>Journal des Savans</i>, and
-asked Johnson if it was well done. Johnson said
-it was formerly very well done, and gave some
-account of the persons who began it, and carried
-it on for some years; enlarging at the same time,
-on the nature and use of such works. The king
-asked him if it was well done now. Johnson
-answered, he had no reason to think that it was.
-The king then asked him if there were any other
-Literary Journals published in this kingdom,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>except the Monthly and Critical Reviews; and on
-being answered there were no other, his Majesty
-asked which of them was the best; Johnson
-answered, that the Monthly Review was done with
-most care, the Critical upon the best principles;
-adding that the authors of the Monthly Review
-were enemies to the church. This the king said
-he was sorry to hear.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The conversation next turned on the Philosophical
-Transactions, when Johnson observed that
-they had now a better method of arranging their
-materials than formerly. “Aye, said the king,
-they are obliged to Dr. Johnson for that”; for
-his Majesty had heard and remembered the circumstance,
-which Johnson himself had forgot.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>His Majesty expressed a desire to have the
-literary biography of this country ably executed,
-and proposed to Dr. Johnson to undertake it.
-Johnson signified his readiness to comply with
-his Majesty’s wishes.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>During the whole of this interview, Johnson
-talked to his Majesty with profound respect, but
-still in his firm manly manner, with a sonorous
-voice, and never in that subdued tone which is
-commonly used at the levee and in the drawing-room.
-After the king withdrew, Johnson shewed
-himself highly pleased with his Majesty’s conversation,
-and gracious behaviour. He said to Mr.
-Barnard, “Sir, they may talk of the king as
-they will; but he is the finest gentleman I have
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>ever seen.” And he afterwards observed to Mr.
-Langton, “Sir, his manners are those of as fine a
-gentleman as we may suppose Lewis the fourteenth,
-or Charles the second.”</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art36' class='c004'><span class='sc'>Dr.</span> BEATTIE’S CONVERSATION WITH THE LATE KING AND QUEEN.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Dr. Beattie had been informed by Dr.
-Majendie, who lived at Kew, and was often at the
-palace, that the king having asked some questions
-of the doctor respecting him, and being told
-that he sometimes visited Dr. Majendie there, his
-Majesty had desired to be informed the next time
-Dr. Beattie was to be at Kew. What his
-Majesty’s intentions were, Dr. Majendie said he
-did not know; but supposed the king intended to
-admit him to a private audience. A day was
-therefore fixed, on which Dr. Beattie was to be
-at Dr. Majendie’s house early in the morning, of
-which the Doctor was to give notice to his Majesty.
-Of this interesting event, so honourable
-to Dr. Beattie, I shall transcribe in his own words,
-says Sir William Forbes, the account he has given
-in his diary:—</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“Tuesday, <abbr title='twenty-fourth'>24th</abbr> August, (1773) set out for
-Dr. Majendie’s at Kew Green. The Doctor
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>told me that he had not seen the king yesterday,
-but had left a note in writing, to intimate, that
-I was to be at his house to-day; and that one of
-the king’s pages had come to him this morning,
-to say, ‘that his Majesty would see me a little
-after twelve.’ At twelve, the Doctor and I went
-to the king’s house at Kew. We had been only
-a few minutes in the hall, when the king and
-queen came in from an airing; and as they
-passed through the hall, the king called to me by
-name, and asked how long it was since I came
-from town? I answered about an hour. ‘I
-shall see you,’ says he, ‘in a little.’ The
-Doctor and I waited a considerable time, for the
-king was busy, and then we were called into a
-large room, furnished as a library, where the king
-was walking about, and the queen sitting in a
-chair. We were received in the most gracious
-manner possible, by both their Majesties.
-I had the honour of a conversation with them,
-nobody else being present but Dr. Majendie, for
-upwards of an hour on a great variety of topics;
-in which both the king and queen joined, with a
-degree of cheerfulness, affability, and ease, that
-was to me surprising, and soon dissipated the
-embarrassment which I felt at the beginning of
-the conference. They both complimented me in
-the highest terms on my ‘Essay,’ which they
-said was a book they always kept by them; and
-the king said he had one copy of it at Kew, and
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>another in town, and immediately went and
-took it down from a shelf. I found it was the
-second edition. ‘I never stole a book, but one,’
-said his Majesty, ‘and that was your’s (speaking
-to me) I stole it from the queen, to give it to
-Lord Hertford to read.’ He had heard that the
-sale of Hume’s ‘Essays’ had failed, since my
-book was published; and I told him what Mr.
-Strahan had told me, in regard to that matter.
-He had even heard of my being in Edinburgh
-last summer, and how Mr. Hume was offended
-on the score of my book. He asked many questions
-about the second part of the ‘Essay,’ and
-when it would be ready for the press. I gave
-him, in a short speech, an account of the plan of
-it; and said my health was so precarious, I could
-not tell when it might be ready, as I had many
-books to consult before I could finish it; but,
-that if my health were good, I thought I might
-bring it to a conclusion in two or three years.
-He asked how long I had been in composing my
-Essay? praised the caution with which it was
-written; and said he did not wonder that it had
-employed me five or six years. He asked, about
-my Poems. I said there was only one poem of my
-own, on which I set any value (meaning the
-‘Minstrel’) and that it was first published about
-the same time with the ‘Essay.’ My other
-poems, I said were incorrect, being but juvenile
-pieces, and of little consequence, even in my own
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>opinion. We had much conversation on moral
-subjects; from which both their Majesties let
-it appear, that they were warm friends to Christianity;
-and so little inclined to infidelity, that
-they could hardly believe that any thinking man
-could really be an Atheist, unless he could bring
-himself to believe, that he made himself; a
-thought which pleased the king exceedingly;
-and he repeated it several times to the queen.
-He asked whether any thing had been written
-against me. I spoke of the late pamphlet, of
-which I gave an account, telling him, that I had
-never met with any man who had read it, except
-one quaker. This brought on some discourse
-about the quakers, whose moderation, and mild
-behaviour the king and queen commended.
-I was asked many questions about the Scots
-Universities: the revenues of the Scots Clergy;
-their mode of praying and preaching; the medical
-college of Edinburgh; Dr. Gregory, of
-whom I gave a particular character, and Dr.
-Cullen; the length of our vacation at Aberdeen,
-and the closeness of our attendance during the
-winter; the number of students that attend my
-lectures; my mode of lecturing, whether from
-notes, or completely written lectures; about
-Mr. Hume, and Dr. Robertson, and Lord Kinnoul,
-and the Archbishop of York, &amp;c. &amp;c.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>His Majesty asked what I thought of my new
-acquaintance, Lord Dartmouth? I said there
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>was something in his air and manner, which I
-thought not only agreeable, but enchanting, and
-that he seemed to me to be one of the best of men;
-a sentiment in which both their Majesties heartily
-joined. “They say that Lord Dartmouth is an
-enthusiast,” said the king, “but surely he says
-nothing on the subject of religion, but what every
-Christian may, and ought to say.” He asked
-whether I did not think the English language
-on the decline at present; I answered in the affirmative;
-and the king agreed, and named the
-“Spectator” as one of the best standards of the
-language. When I told him that the Scots
-clergy sometimes prayed a quarter, or even half
-an hour at a time, he asked, whether that did not
-lead them into repetitions? I said it often did.
-“That” said he, “I don’t like in prayers; and
-excellent as our liturgy is, I think it somewhat
-faulty in that respect.” “Your Majesty knows,”
-said I, “that three services are joined in one, in
-the ordinary church service, which is one cause
-of those repetitions.” “True,” he replied, “and
-that circumstance also makes the service too
-long.” From this he took occasion to speak of the
-composition of the church liturgy; on which he
-very justly bestowed the highest commendation.
-“Observe,” his Majesty said, “how flat those
-occasional prayers are, that are now composed, in
-comparison with the old ones.” When I mentioned
-the smallness of the church livings in Scotland,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>he said, “he wondered how men of liberal education
-would chuse to become clergymen there,”
-and asked, “whether in the remote parts of the
-country, the clergy, in general were not very
-ignorant?” I answered, no, for that education
-was very cheap in Scotland, and that the clergy,
-in general, were men of good sense, and competent
-learning. He asked whether we had
-any good preachers at Aberdeen? I said, yes,
-and named Campbell and Gerard, with whose
-names, however, I did not find that he was acquainted.
-Dr. Majendie mentioned Dr. Oswald’s
-“Appeal,” with commendation; I praised it too
-and the queen took down the name, with a view
-to send for it. I was asked, whether I knew Dr.
-Oswald? I answered, I did not; and said that
-my book was published before I read his; that
-Dr. Oswald was well known to Lord Kinnoul,
-who had often proposed to make us acquainted.
-We discussed a great many other topics; for the
-conversation, as before observed, lasted for upwards
-of an hour, without any intermission.
-The queen bore a large share in it. Both the
-king and her Majesty showed a great deal of
-good sense, acuteness, and knowledge, as well as
-of good nature and affability. At last, the king
-took out his watch (for it was now almost three
-o’clock, his hour of dinner) which Dr. Majendie
-and I took as a signal to withdraw. We accordingly
-bowed to their Majesties, and I addressed
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>the king in these words: “I hope, Sir, your
-Majesty will pardon me, if I take this opportunity
-to return you my humble and most grateful
-acknowledgments for the honour you have been
-pleased to confer upon me.” He immediately
-answered, “I think I could do no less for a man,
-who has done so much service to the cause of
-Christianity. I shall always be glad of an
-opportunity to show the good opinion I have of
-you.” The queen sate all the while, and the
-king stood, sometimes walking about a little.
-Her Majesty speaks the English language with
-surprising elegance, and little or nothing of a
-foreign accent. There is something wonderfully
-captivating in her manner; so that if she were
-only of the rank of a private gentlewoman, one
-could not help taking notice of her as one of the
-most agreeable women in the world. Her face
-is much more pleasing than any of her pictures;
-and in the expression of her eyes, and in her
-smile, there is something peculiarly engaging.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>When the Doctor and I came out, “Pray,”
-said I, “how did I behave? Tell me honestly,
-for I am not accustomed to conversations of this
-kind.” “Why perfectly well,” answered he,
-“and just as you ought to do.”—“Are you sure
-of that?” said I.—“As sure,” he replied, “as of
-my own existence; and you may be assured of
-it too, when I tell you, that if there had been any
-thing in your manner or conversation, which was
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>not perfectly agreeable, your conference would
-have been at an end in eight or ten minutes at
-most.” The Doctor afterwards told me that it
-was a most uncommon thing for a private man,
-and a commoner, to be honoured with so long an
-audience. I dined with Dr. and Mrs. Majendie
-and their family, and returned to town in the
-evening, very much pleased with the occurrences
-of the day.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art37' class='c004'>SACRED GARDENS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The origin of sacred gardens among the
-heathen nations may be traced up to the garden
-of Eden. The gardens of the Hesperides, of
-Adonis, of Flora, were famous among the Greeks
-and Romans. “The garden of Flora,” says Mr.
-Spence, (Polymetis, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 251) “I take to have
-been the Paradise in the Roman Mythology.
-The traditions and traces of Paradise among the
-ancients must be expected to have grown fainter
-and fainter in every transfusion from one people
-to another. The Romans probably derived their
-notions of it from the Greeks, among whom this
-idea seems to have been shadowed out under the
-stories of the gardens of Alcinous. In Africa
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>they had the gardens of the Hesperides, and in
-the East those of Adonis, or the <i>Horti Adonis</i>,
-as Pliny calls them. The term <i>Horti Adonides</i>
-was used by the ancients to signify <i>gardens of
-pleasure</i>, which answers to the very name of
-Paradise, or the garden of Eden, as <i>Horti Adonis</i>
-does to the <i>garden of the <span class='sc'>Lord</span></i>.”</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art38' class='c004'>SIR THOMAS WYAT. <br /> [DIED 1541.]</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The story of this eminent person, probably
-one of the principal ornaments of an age unable
-to discern his merits, or unwilling to record them,
-has been very imperfectly related. He was born
-at Allington Castle, in Kent, the ancient seat of
-his family, in 1503, and was the son of Sir
-Henry Wyat. He may be said to have finished
-his education in the society of that eminent
-character Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, with
-whom he travelled abroad, and with whom he
-“tasted in Italy,” says Wood, “the sweet and
-stately measures of the Italian poesy.” These,
-as far as the rude state of our language, and the
-still ruder taste of the times, would allow, he
-applied to English verse. His poems were
-printed at London in 1565, and have since been
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>frequently republished, in conjunction with those
-of his noble friend; but here, as in other points
-of view, we have but glimpses of him; for
-through the ignorance or carelessness of the
-original editor, his pieces are so confusedly
-blended with the Earl’s, that not many of them
-can be positively ascertained.<a id='r32' /><a href='#f32' class='c013'><sup>[32]</sup></a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Having been introduced at Court, where his
-endowments both of body and mind, recommended
-him to the favour of king Henry the
-Eighth, he was employed in several foreign
-embassies, which he discharged with great
-ability. His influence with the king was proverbial.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>Lloyd tells us that “when a man was
-newly preferred, they said he had been in Sir
-Thomas Wyat’s closet.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>We are informed by Wood (<i>Athen. Oxon.</i>)
-that Sir Thomas was sent by the king to
-Falmouth, for the purpose of conducting a
-Spanish Minister from thence to London. Being
-desirous of making great expedition, he fatigued
-himself so much that he was thrown into a fever,
-and was obliged to stop at Sherborne, in Dorsetshire,
-where he died a few days after, in the
-38th year of his age, “to the great reluctancy,”
-says Wood, “of the king, kingdom, his friends,
-and all that knew the great worth and virtues of
-the person.” He was buried in Sherborne
-Church.<a id='r33' /><a href='#f33' class='c013'><sup>[33]</sup></a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>He left behind him a son of the same name,
-who lost his head for exciting a rebellion in the
-reign of queen Mary, from whom our poet is
-commonly distinguished by the appellation of
-Sir Thomas Wyat the elder.</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art39' class='c004'>THE HAND A SYMBOL OF POWER.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>In Parkhurst’s Hebrew Lexicon we have the
-following remarks on the Hand as an emblem of
-strength and power. “The hand was used by
-the Jews, as a trophy or monument of victory,
-and placed on the top of a pillar. Thus Saul,
-after smiting the Amalekites, in the pride of his
-heart erected to or for himself (not for Jehovah)
-a hand, 1 Samuel <abbr title='fifteen'>xv.</abbr> 12. And David smote
-Hadadezer, king of Zobah, when he was going to
-erect his hand or trophy, by the river Euphrates,
-2 <abbr title='samuel'>Sam.</abbr> <abbr title='eight'>viii.</abbr> 3, and 1 Chronicles, <abbr title='18'>xviii.</abbr> 3.—And
-this appears to be the most ancient use of these
-memorial hands; whence Absalom seems to have
-taken the hint of erecting one, merely to keep his
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>name in remembrance, 2 <abbr title='samuel'>Sam.</abbr> <abbr title='18'>xviii.</abbr> 18, where
-it may be observed that this monument is expressly
-called not only a <i>hand</i>, but <i>a pillar</i>, which
-shews that the hand was wont to be put on a
-pillar.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“Neibuhr (Voyage in Arabia, tom. 2. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 211.
-French edition) speaking of Ali’s mosque at
-Mesched Ali, says, that ‘at the top of the dome’
-where one generally sees on the Turkish mosques
-a crescent, or only a pole, there is here <i>a hand
-stretched out</i>, to represent that of Ali.” And
-another writer informs us, that at the Alhambra,
-or red palace of the Moorish kings in Granada,
-“on the key-stone of the outward arch [of the
-present principal entrance] is sculptured the
-figure of an <i>arm</i>, the symbol of strength and
-dominion.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“It may not be amiss to observe, that to this
-day in the East Indies the picture of a <i>hand</i> is
-the emblem of power or authority. Thus I am
-assured, says Parkhurst, by a gentleman of undoubted
-veracity, who resided many years on the
-coast of Coromandel, that when the Nabob of
-Arcot, who in his time was governor of <i>five provinces</i>,
-appeared on public occasions, several
-small flags, with each <i>a hand</i> painted upon them,
-and one of a large size with <i>five hands</i>, were
-solemnly carried before him.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The hand was used as an ensign of royalty by
-the kings of France and England. In Sandford’s
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>Genealogical History, there is the following note
-on the counter-seal of king Edward the third:
-“In the margin of this counter-seal, near the
-point of the king’s sword, is represented the <i>hand
-of justice</i>, being an ensign of royalty peculiar only
-to the kings of France, for though they in common
-with other princes carry in their right hand
-a sceptre of gold, yet in the other they bear the
-<i>hand of justice</i>, being a short rod, and having on
-the top of it a <i>left hand</i>, wide open, made of ivory,
-on account of the elephant being the only quadruped
-observable for his devotion, love of his
-governors, and for his equity. The left hand it
-is said, is preferred to the right for this purpose,
-because not being employed in working so many
-wicked actions as the right, it became more proper
-than the other to represent the symbol of
-justice. This hand is also placed in the counter-seals
-of his successors Richard the second, and
-Henry the fourth; king Henry the fifth omitted
-it in his seal, and conquering France both placed
-that crown on the head, and the French sceptre
-and <i>hand of justice</i> in the hands of his son, king
-Henry the sixth.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Queen Elizabeth used the hand as one of her
-mint marks.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>
- <h2 id='art40' class='c004'>HENRIETTA MARIA, <br /> QUEEN OF CHARLES THE FIRST.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>“Our royal martyr,” says Dr. Kennet, “by
-taking a consort from the Bourbon family, did
-apparently bring over some evils and mischiefs
-that disturbed his whole reign. For within less
-than one year, the French servants of that queen
-grew so imperious and insolent, that the king was
-forced to discharge them, and to humble them by
-a return into their own country.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“A very sad doom it was certainly to the
-French,” says L’Estrange in his annals of king
-Charles, “but as the animadversion was extremely
-severe, so their offences were in like
-degree heinous. The bishop of Mende, the
-queen’s almoner, stood charged for putting intolerable
-scorn upon, and making religion itself
-do penance, by enjoining her Majesty, under the
-notion of penance, to go barefoot, to spin, and
-to wait upon her family servants at their ordinary
-repasts, to walk on foot in the mire on a
-rainy morning, from Somerset House to <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-James’s; her confessor, mean while, like Lucifer
-himself, riding by her in his coach; but, which
-is worst of all, to make a progress to Tyburn,
-there to present her devotions for the departed
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>souls of the Papists, who had been executed at
-that place, on account of the Gunpowder Treason,
-and other enormous crimes. A most impious
-piaculary, whereof the king said acutely, that
-the action can have no greater invective than the
-relation. The other sex were accused of crimes
-of another nature, whereof Madam <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> George
-was, as in dignity of office, so in guilt, the principal;
-culpable she was in many particulars, but
-her most notorious and unpardonable fault was,
-her being an accursed instrument of some unkindness
-between the king and queen. These incendiaries
-were cashiered, the queen, who formerly
-shewed so much waspish protervity, soon fell
-into a mode of loving compliance. But though
-this renvoy of her Majesty’s servants, imported
-domestic peace, yet was it attended with an ill
-aspect from France, though our king, studying
-to preserve fair correspondence with his brother,
-sent the Lord Carleton with instructions to represent
-a true account of the action, with all the
-motives to it; but his reception was very coarse,
-being never admitted to audience. Louis despatched
-Monsieur the Marshal de Bassompierre,
-as Extraordinary Ambassador to our king, to demand
-the restitution of the queen’s domesticks:
-which he at last obtained for most of them.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“It was this match,” adds Dr. Kennet, “that
-began to corrupt our nation with French modes
-and vanities; which gave occasion to Mr. Prynne
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span>to write that severe invective, called Histriomastix,
-against stage plays; to betray our
-councils to the French court; to weaken the
-poor Protestants in France, by rendering ineffectual
-the relief of Rochelle; nay, and to lessen
-our own trade and navigation. These ill effects,
-beyond the king’s intention, raised such a jealousy,
-and spread such a damp upon the English subjects,
-that it was unhappily turned into one of
-the unjust occasions of civil war, which indeed
-began more out of hatred to that party, than out
-of any disaffection to the king. The people
-thought themselves too much under French counsels,
-and a French ministry, or else, they could
-never have been drawn aside into that great
-rebellion. This interest when suspected to prevail,
-brought the king into urgent difficulties;
-and in the midst of them the aid and assistance,
-which that interest offered him, did but the more
-effectually weaken him. On this side the water
-the French services betrayed him; and on the
-other side, the French policies were at work to
-betray him.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>And, indeed, as queen Henrietta had a mighty,
-if not a supreme sway over King Charles’s councils,
-so did her mother, Mary de Medicis, who
-came over by her invitation, administer great
-cause of jealousy to this nation. “The people,”
-says L’Estrange, “were generally malecontent at
-her coming, and wished her farther off. For
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>they did not like her train and followers, which
-had often been observed to be the sword of
-pestilence, so that she was beheld as some meteor
-of evil signification. Nor was one of these
-calamities thought more the effect of her fortune
-than inclination; for her restless and unconstant
-spirit was prone to embroil all wheresoever she
-came. And besides, as queen Henrietta was
-extraordinary active in raising money among the
-Roman Catholics of this kingdom, to enable
-King Charles to make war against his subjects
-of Scotland, so was she extreme busy in fomenting
-the unhappy differences between his Majesty
-and his English Parliament.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Sir John Reresby, in his Memoirs, asserts that
-queen Henrietta Maria was married after the
-king’s death to Lord <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Alban’s. “The abbess
-of an English college in Paris, whither the queen
-used to retire, would tell me,” says Sir John,
-“that Lord Jermyn, since <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Alban’s, had the
-queen greatly in awe of him, and indeed it was
-obvious that he had great interest with her concerns;
-but that he was married to her, or <i>had
-children by her, as some have reported</i>, I did not
-then believe, <i>though the thing was certainly so</i>.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Madame Baviere, in her letters, says, “Charles
-the First’s widow made a clandestine marriage,
-with her <i>Chevalier d’ Honneur</i>, Lord <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Alban’s,
-who treated her extremely ill, so that whilst she
-had not a faggot to warm herself, he had in his
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>apartment a good fire, and a sumptuous table.
-He never gave the queen a kind word, and when
-she spoke to him, he used to say, <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr"><i>Que me veut
-cette femme?</i></span>”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>To what a miserable state the queen was reduced
-may be seen in the following extract from
-De Retz’s Memoirs, (<abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 261.) “Four or
-five days before the king removed from Paris,
-I went to visit the queen of England, whom I
-found in her daughter’s chamber, who hath been
-since Duchess of Orleans. At my coming in she
-said, ‘You see I am come to keep Henrietta
-company. The poor child could not rise to-day
-for want of a fire.’ The truth is, that the cardinal
-for six months together had not ordered her
-any money towards her pension; that no trades-people
-would trust her for any thing; and that
-there was not at her lodgings in the Louvre one
-single billet. You will do me the justice to suppose
-that the princess of England did not keep
-her bed the next day for want of a faggot; but
-it was not this which the Princess of Conde meant
-in her letter. What she spoke about was, that
-some days after my visiting the queen of England,
-I remembered the condition I had found her in,
-and had strongly represented the shame of abandoning
-her in that manner, which caused the
-Parliament to send 40,000 livres to her Majesty.
-Posterity will hardly believe that a Princess of
-England, grand-daughter of Henry the Great,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>hath wanted a faggot in the month of January,
-to get out of bed in the Louvre, and in the eyes
-of a French court. We read in histories, with
-horror, of baseness less monstrous than this; and
-the little concern I have met with about it in
-most people’s minds, has obliged me to make, I
-believe, a thousand times this reflection—that
-examples of times past move men beyond comparison
-more than those of their own times. We
-accustom ourselves to what we see; and I have
-sometimes told you, that I doubted whether
-Caligula’s horse being made a consul would have
-surprized us so much as we imagine.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>As for the relative situations of the king
-(Charles <abbr title='the second'>II.</abbr>) and Lord Jermyn, (afterwards <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-Alban’s) Lord Clarendon (Hist. of the Rebellion,
-<abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 3. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 2) says that the “Marquis of Ormond
-was compelled to put himself in prison, with
-other gentlemen, at a pistole a week for his diet,
-and to walk the streets a-foot, which was no
-honourable custom in Paris, whilst the Lord
-Jermyn kept an excellent table for those who
-courted him, and had a coach of his own, and all
-other accommodations incident to the most full
-fortune; and if the king had the most urgent
-occasion for the use but of twenty pistoles, as
-sometimes he had, he could not find credit to
-borrow it, which he often had experiment of.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Lord <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Alban’s above mentioned was
-Henry Jermyn, second son of Thomas Jermyn,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>of Rushbrooke, near Bury <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Edmund’s, in
-Suffolk. In 1644 he was created Lord Jermyn,
-with limitation of the honour to the heirs male
-of his elder brother Thomas. In 1660 he was
-further advanced to the dignity of Earl of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-Alban’s, and Baron of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Edmund’s Bury,
-but on his death in 1683, the earldom became
-extinct. The barony of Jermyn devolved on
-Thomas (son of his elder brother Thomas) who
-became second Lord Jermyn: he died unmarried
-in 1703.—Lord <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Alban’s was master of the
-horse to Queen Henrietta Maria, and one of the
-privy council to Charles the second. In July
-1660 he was sent ambassador to the court of
-France, and in 1671 was made Lord Chamberlain
-of his majesty’s household.—“He was a man
-of no great genius,” says Grammont, “he raised
-himself a considerable fortune from nothing, and
-by losing at play, and keeping a great table,
-made it appear greater than it was.” “It is
-well known what a table the good man kept at
-Paris, while the king his master was starving at
-Brussels, and the queen dowager his mistress,
-lived not over well in France.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This earl lived in London at <i>Jermyn house</i>,
-which stood at the head of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Alban’s-street,
-Pallmall, which street and Jermyn-street had
-their names from him.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>
- <h2 id='art41' class='c004'>LAST MOMENTS OF PHILIP MELANCTHON.<a id='r34' /><a href='#f34' class='c013'><sup>[34]</sup></a></h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The nineteenth of April, 1560, was the last
-day of the mortal existence of this great reformer
-and pious christian. After the usual medical
-inquiries of the morning, he adverted to the calamitous
-state of the church of Christ, but intimated
-his hope that the genuine doctrine of the gospel
-would ultimately prevail, exclaiming, “If <span class='sc'>God</span>
-be for us who can be against us.” After this he
-presented fervent supplications to heaven for the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>welfare of the church, and in the intervals of sleep
-conversed principally upon this subject with
-several of his visiting friends.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Soon after eight in the morning awaking from
-a tranquil sleep, he distinctly, though with a
-feeble voice, repeated a form of prayer which he
-had written for his own daily use. An interval
-of repose having elapsed after repeating this
-prayer, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and turning
-to his son-in-law, he said, “I have been in
-the power of death, but the <span class='sc'>Lord</span> has graciously
-delivered me.” This was supposed to refer to
-some deep conflicts of mind, as he repeated the
-expression to others. When one of the persons
-who visited him said, “There is now no condemnation
-to them that are in Christ Jesus,”
-he soon added, “Christ is made to us wisdom,
-righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”
-“Let him that glorieth glory in the <span class='sc'>Lord</span>.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The coldness of death was now creeping over
-him, but his mental faculties continued unimpaired
-to the very last breath of mortal existence.
-Having expressed a wish to hear some passages
-from the Old and New Testaments, his ministerial
-attendants read the <abbr title='twenty-fourth'>24th</abbr>, <abbr title='twenty-fifth'>25th</abbr> and <abbr title='twenty-sixth'>26th</abbr> Psalms:
-the <abbr title='fifty-third'>53d</abbr> chapter of Isaiah; the <abbr title='seventh'>7th</abbr> chapter of
-John, the <abbr title='fifth'>5th</abbr> of the Romans, and many other
-passages. The saying of John respecting the
-son of God, he said was perpetually in his mind,
-“the world knew him not ... but as many as
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>received him, to them gave he power to become
-the sons of <span class='sc'>God</span>, even to them that believe on
-his name.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Upon being asked by his son-in-law if he would
-have any thing else, he replied in these emphatic
-Words, “<span class='fss'>NOTHING ELSE—BUT HEAVEN!</span>” and
-requested that he might not be any further interrupted.
-Soon afterwards he made a similar
-request, begging those around him, who were
-endeavouring with officious kindness to adjust
-his clothes, “not to disturb his delightful repose.”
-After some time his friends united with the
-Minister present in solemn prayer, and several
-passages of scripture, in which he was known
-always to have expressed peculiar pleasure were
-read, such as “Let not your heart be troubled,
-ye believe in <span class='sc'>God</span>, believe also in me.”—“In
-my Father’s house are many mansions.”—“My
-sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they
-follow me;” particularly the fifth chapter of
-Romans, and the triumphant close of the eighth
-chapter, commencing “If <span class='sc'>God</span> be for us, who
-can be against us?” Many other parts of scripture
-were recited, and the last word he uttered
-was the German particle of affirmation, <i>Ia</i>, in
-reply to one of his friends, who had inquired if
-he understood him while reading. The last
-motion which his friends who surrounded him to
-the number of at least twenty, could discern, was
-a slight motion of the countenance which was
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>peculiar to him when deeply affected with religious
-joy!—“Mark the perfect man and behold
-the upright, for the end of that man is peace!”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>At length, “in the midst of solemn vows and
-supplications,” at a quarter before seven, in the
-evening, at the age of sixty-three, he gently
-breathed his last. No distractions of mind, no
-foreboding terrors of conscience agitated this
-attractive scene. His chamber was “privileged
-beyond the common walks of virtuous life—quite
-in the verge of heaven”—and he expired, like a
-wave scarcely undulating to the evening zephyr
-of an unclouded summer sky. It was a “<span class='fss'>DEPARTURE</span>”—a
-“<span class='fss'>SLEEP</span>”—“the earthly house of this
-tabernacle was dissolved.”</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art42' class='c004'>HOUSE OF COMMONS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>A considerable number of treatises
-were written in the middle and latter end of the
-seventeenth century, and a few in the beginning
-of the eighteenth, respecting the period at which
-the House of Commons asserted that independence
-which it is so material to the security and
-happiness of the country it should possess, and
-obtained that share in the legislature it now
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>enjoys; but the writers on both sides,<a id='r35' /><a href='#f35' class='c013'><sup>[35]</sup></a> eager in
-the maintenance of the cause they espoused, and
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>taking advantage of the scanty means the public
-had of knowing what was contained in the early
-Rolls of Parliament<a id='r36' /><a href='#f36' class='c013'><sup>[36]</sup></a> and other ancient records,
-suppressed from partiality and interested zeal,
-much of the information themselves possessed,
-which rendered of little use to the public an inquiry
-that might otherwise have been attended
-with considerable advantage.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It might be supposed indeed, that when men
-so remarkable for diligence and learning, as
-Prynne and Petyt, (who were both keepers of the
-records in the Tower, among which are most of
-the Rolls of Parliament, and all the Claus Rolls)
-took opposite sides of the controversy, about the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>time when the Commons first formed a part of
-the legislature, whatever could have made for or
-against either side of the question would have
-been produced. And yet with all their opportunities
-and their eagerness for research, those who
-have attentively looked through the Rolls of
-Parliament, will find amongst them much matter
-of importance respecting the questions those
-writers discussed at different periods, to which
-neither of them referred, either in support of his
-own, or in contradiction to his opponent’s argument.
-Rymer was equally zealous in supporting
-the side he took, in the beginning of the last
-century. Any thing therefore having been
-brought to light by the publication of the Rolls
-of Parliament, which appears to have escaped
-the industry and research of such men, is a strong
-proof of the utility of printing those valuable
-documents.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>As early as the <abbr title='forty-sixth'>46th</abbr> of Edward the third, a
-statute was made, ordaining that all persons
-should be entitled to search for, and have exemplifications
-of records, as well such as proved
-contrary to the interest of the king, as such as
-were favourable to it.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Great and eminent men, however, not more
-distinguished by their high stations, than for their
-talents and research, stated opinions, some on
-points of magnitude, in the pursuit of mere legal
-investigations, different from those which are
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>probably entertained by such as have carefully
-perused the Parliamentary Records, which were
-printed during the reign of his late Majesty.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In corroboration of this assertion, it may be
-sufficient to mention two opinions of Lord Coke’s.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The first that the Lords and Commons sat
-together late in the reign of king Edward the
-third<a id='r37' /><a href='#f37' class='c013'><sup>[37]</sup></a> and until the Commons had a perpetual
-Speaker. The direct contrary of this opinion it
-is thought is evident from the Rolls of Parliament.
-It does not appear from any Records
-that the two Houses ever sat for deliberation in
-the same assembly, from the time the Commons
-were regularly summoned in their representative
-capacity to Parliament.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>On the contrary, so early as the <abbr title='eighteenth'>18th</abbr> of Edward
-the first,<a id='r38' /><a href='#f38' class='c013'><sup>[38]</sup></a> (Rolls of Par. <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 25, <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>the earliest Roll extant) there is a Grant<a id='r39' /><a href='#f39' class='c013'><sup>[39]</sup></a> to the
-king for the marriage of his eldest daughter, by
-several Peers named, <span lang="la" xml:lang="la">“et cæteri Magnates et
-Proceres tunc in Parliamento existentes, pro se
-et Communitate totius Regni Angliæ quantum
-in ipsis est;”</span> that is, “and other Lords and
-Nobles for themselves and the Community of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>the whole kingdom of England, as much as they
-were able.” In the <abbr title='nineteenth'>19th</abbr> of Edward the second
-(<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 351. <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>) there is a grant to the king for carrying
-on the war with Scotland, by the Citizens,
-Burgesses, and Knights for counties, of a
-fifteenth of the moveables of the Citizens, Burgesses,
-and men of the counties, cities, and
-towns.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='fourteenth'>14th</abbr> of Edward the second (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 371.)
-complaint was made by the Knights, Citizens
-and Burgesses of felonies for which they besought
-a remedy: and the Record concludes <span lang="la" xml:lang="la">“Et Concordatum
-est per Dominum Regem de Consilio
-Prelatorum, Comitum, Baronum, et aliorum
-Peritorum, in dicto Parliamento existentium
-quod,”</span> &amp;c. that is, “and it was agreed between
-our Lord the king and the council of Prelates,
-Earls, Barons, and other great men in the
-said Parliament assembled, &amp;c.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Entries in the sixth of Edward the third,
-1331, (to the Parliament Rolls of which year Lord
-Coke particularly refers for proof of the Lords and
-Commons then sitting together) which appear to
-bear on the point in question, are in <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> <abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 66.
-At the first meeting at Westminster, the Prelates
-by themselves, and the Knights for counties by
-themselves, deliberated on the business opened
-to them at the beginning of the Parliament, and
-answered by advising the king not to go in
-person to Ireland to quell the rebellion there.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>And in the third meeting in that year at York,
-when a statement was made by Geoffrey le
-Scroop, in the presence of the king, and “de
-touz les Grantz en plein Parlement,” of all the
-Lords in full Parliament; and afterwards it was
-agreed by the king and the whole in full Parliament,
-that certain Bishops and Peers named,
-should meet on the business in discussion by
-themselves, the other Prelates, Earls and Barons,
-and the Proxies by themselves; and the Knights
-of the shire and Commons by themselves. The
-business was discussed accordingly during some
-days; after which the Commons had leave to
-return to their counties, and the Prelates, Earls,
-and Barons, were to remain till the day following.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='thirteenth'>13th</abbr> of Edward the third (<abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2.
-<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 104.) a grant was made to the king, “par les
-Grantz,” of a tenth of the grain of their demesne
-lands, and of their fleeces, with certain reservations.
-The Commons, however, after representing
-their having heard the statement of the king’s
-necessities, the extent of which they were aware
-of, and were willing to relieve as they had always
-done; said, that as the aid must be a great one
-they dared not assent to it without consulting
-with “les Communes de leur Pais,” the Commons
-of their counties. And they desired
-another Parliament to be summoned. At which
-subsequent meeting, in the same year, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 107.
-<abbr class='spell'>b.</abbr>) the occasion of summoning the Parliament
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>was explained to the Commons, on which they
-said they would deliberate. They afterwards
-proposed to grant 30,000 sacks of wool on certain
-conditions, which if not agreed to by the king,
-the aid was to be withheld. The Earls and
-Barons the same day granted for themselves and
-the Peers of the land who held by Barony, the
-tenth sheaf, the tenth fleece, and the tenth lamb.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='fourteenth'>14th</abbr> of Edward the third, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 112, <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>)
-grants were made by the Prelates, Earls, and
-Barons, for themselves and all their tenants,
-and by the Knights of shires for themselves, and
-for the commons of the land, of the ninth sheaf,
-the ninth fleece, and the ninth lamb; and by the
-Citizens and Burgesses of a real ninth of their
-property; and merchants not inhabiting cities
-and towns, and other people who reside in
-forests and wastes, and who do not live by their
-gains or their flocks, a fifteenth of all their property
-according to the true value.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='fifteenth'>15th</abbr> of Edward the third (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 127, <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>)
-on occasion of a Grant made to the king in a
-former Parliament, to enable him to purchase
-friends and allies for the recovery of his rights,
-having not been as available as it ought to have
-been, it was proposed that consideration should
-be had, “par touz les Grantz et Communes,” “by
-all the Lords and Commons,” how the grant
-should be made most profitable to the king, and
-least burthensome to the people, “les Grantz de
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>par eux, et les Chivalers des Counteez, Citeyens,
-et Burgeys de par eux,” that is, “the Lords by
-themselves, and the Knights for counties, Citizens
-and Burgesses by themselves.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='seventeenth'>17th</abbr> of Edward the third, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 136, <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>) “les
-ditz Prelatz et Grantz assemblez en la Chambre
-Blanche (the court of requests) responderent,” &amp;c.
-(<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 136, 6.) “Et pour vindrent les Chivalers
-des Counteez et les Communes et responderent par
-Monsieur William Trussell en la dite Chambre
-Blanche qi’ en Presence de nostre Signeur le Roi et
-les ditz Prelates,” &amp;c. that is, “on which day the
-said Prelates and Lords assembled in the <i>Chambre
-Blanche</i>, answered,” &amp;c. “And then came the
-Knights for counties, and the Commons, and
-answered by Monsieur William Trussell in the
-said <i>Chambre Blanche</i>, and in the presence of our
-Lord the king, and the said Prelates,” &amp;c.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There can be little doubt but that this William
-Trussell was Speaker of the House of Commons.
-He is styled by Higden, who wrote in the reign
-of Edward the third, in his “Polychronicon,”
-“Procurator of the Parliament,” when he, in
-the name of all the men in the land of England,
-renounced allegiance to king Edward the second,
-in the last year of that king’s reign.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Speaker of the Commons was indeed
-styled “Parlour and Procurator,” so late as the
-first of Henry the fourth. (Rolls of Parl. <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 3.
-<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 424, <abbr class='spell'>b.</abbr>)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>In the <abbr title='eighteenth'>18th</abbr> of Edward the third, when the
-king was going-to France for the recovery of
-his rights, the grants by the Lords and Commons
-were quite distinct; the former to accompany
-him in the war, “les ditz grantz granterent
-de passer et lour aventurer ovesque lui;” the
-Commons granted, for the same cause, two fifteenths
-of the commonalty, and two tenths of the
-cities and boroughs. (Rolls of Parl. <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2.
-<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 150, <abbr class='spell'>b.</abbr>)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There are other grants in this reign by the
-Commons; <abbr title='twentieth'>20th</abbr> of Edward the third, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 159, <abbr class='spell'>b.</abbr>)
-and <abbr title='twenty-first'>21st</abbr> of Edward the third, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 166.) In the
-<abbr title='twenty-second'>22d</abbr> of Edward the third, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 200.) the Commons
-grant an aid, after several days consideration,
-but under certain conditions. In the <abbr title='twenty-ninth'>29th</abbr>
-of Edward the third, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 265, <abbr class='spell'>b.</abbr>) there is a
-separate grant by the Commons.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='fourtieth'>40th</abbr> of Edward the third, after the
-occasion of summoning the Parliament had been
-explained, the Lords and Commons were directed
-to depart, and to meet again on the day following,
-the Lords “en la Chambre Blanche,” and
-the Commons in the painted Chamber. (<abbr title='volume'>Vol.</abbr> 2.
-<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 289.)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='forty-second'>42d</abbr> of Edward the third (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 227, <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>) a
-Petition of the Commons, and the answers thereto,
-were read in the Court of Requests, in the
-presence of the King, Lords, and Commons; and
-a statement was made to the king in this Parliament
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>“par les Grantz et Communes,” by the
-Lords and Commons, all the former and many
-of the latter having dined with the king; after
-which John de la Lee was put on his defence
-before them in the said place.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='fiftieth'>50th</abbr> of Edward the third, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 283.)
-the Commons profess the utmost loyalty and
-goodwill to the king; but add, that if he had
-faithful ministers about him, he must be rich
-enough to do without subsidies, especially considering
-the sums of money brought into the
-kingdom by the ransoms of the king of France,
-the king of Scotland, &amp;c. They then proceed
-to the impeachment of a considerable number of
-persons.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>And in the <abbr title='fifty-first'>51st</abbr> of Edward the third, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 363.)
-on the opening of the Parliament, the Commons
-were directed by the king to retire to their
-ancient place of meeting, in the Chapter House
-of the abbey of Westminster. To this record
-Lord Coke himself refers.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It will be seen in the note <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 146, that Sir
-Thomas Hungerford is mentioned as Speaker of
-the House of Commons; and in the first of
-Richard the second, that Peter de la Mare was
-Speaker of the Commons.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The second opinion of Lord Coke’s to which
-allusion has already been made, is, that if an act
-mentions only that the king enacts, and the Lords
-assent, without naming the Commons, the omission
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>cannot be supplied by any intendment.
-Lord Coke expressly says, if an act be penned,
-that “the king with the assent of the Lords,” or
-“with the assent of the Commons,” it is no act
-of Parliament, for three ought to assent to it, the
-King, the Lords, and the Commons; or otherwise
-it is not an act of Parliament; and by the record
-of the act it is expressed which of them gave their
-assent; and that excludes all other intendments
-that any other gave their assent. (Lord Coke,
-<abbr title='eighth'>8th</abbr> Report, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 20, <abbr class='spell'>b.</abbr>)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>How dangerous it would be to decide on the
-validity of our statutes, on such ground, will be
-seen by a single instance.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The act of the first of Edward the sixth against
-exporting horses without a licence, after the recital
-in the preamble, runs thus; “For remedy
-whereof, be it therefore enacted by our sovereign
-lord the king, and by the Commons in this
-present Parliament assembled, and by the authority
-of the same,”—the Lords being not once
-mentioned in the statute, which is accurately
-printed from the original act.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Now it appears by the Lords’ Journals, (<abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1.
-<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 303, <abbr class='spell'>a,</abbr>) that this act had not only the assent
-of the House of Lords, but that it had its origin
-in that House, where it passed unanimously,
-(<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 306, <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>) was returned from the Commons
-with a proviso, which was agreed to by the
-Lords, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 312, <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>) and is in the Journals among
-the acts passed that session. (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 313, <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>There has not been found in the Records, the
-slightest foundation for an opinion, that there was
-any election of representatives of the Commons
-earlier than the <abbr title='forty-ninth'>49th</abbr> of Henry the third, 1265,
-except in the entry respecting the borough of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-Alban’s, so often referred to by different writers.
-It is, however, certain that those who held <i>in
-capite</i> of the king, were a necessary part of the
-great council, as early as king John’s time, when
-aids and escuage were to be granted to the
-sovereign.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='fifty-second'>52d</abbr> of Henry the third, 1268, a parliament,
-or more properly a great council, of Barons
-only, was held at Marlborough, where the great
-charter was confirmed. The members of this
-parliament or council were such of the great
-Barons and Tenants <i>in capite</i>, as the king pleased
-to summon thereto.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>King Edward the first, at Easter, 1276, held
-a parliament at Westminster, of Archbishops,
-Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons, and
-<i>Commons</i>, wherein many excellent laws were
-made, called the Statutes of Westminster the first.
-It is proper to mention that the <i>Commons</i> here
-spoken of, were not Knights of shires, or Burgesses,
-but the smaller Tenants who held in chief
-of the king, or Tenants <i>in capite</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It is generally said by our Historians, that the
-first time that any Citizens, or Burgesses were
-summoned to parliament by the king’s authority,
-was in the 23d year of king Edward the first,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>1294, but the editors of the Parliamentary History
-(<abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 87,) have shewn that the same king,
-in the eleventh year of his reign, 1283, called a
-parliament to be holden at Shrewsbury, on occasion
-of taking prisoner, David, brother of Llewellyn,
-prince of Wales, the latter having lately
-been killed in battle.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The king in summoning this Parliament was
-more explicit than he had ever been before.
-The writs of summons are still extant. The first
-is directed to the Barons to meet the king at
-Shrewsbury, on the <abbr title='thirtieth'>30th</abbr> of September. The
-second writ is directed to the sheriffs of every
-county in England, to cause to be chosen two
-Knights for the commonalty of the county, as
-also a third directed to the several cities and
-boroughs mentioned, and a fourth writ to the
-Judges.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Mr. Tyrrell observes, that “neither Prynne
-nor Dr. Brady, with all their diligence, have
-taken any notice of these writs to summon this
-Parliament.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“The writs were directed to all the Earls and
-Barons by name, to the number of 110; but the
-writs to the cities and boroughs are more remarkable,
-especially as they are the first upon record,
-requiring the attendance of the Knights of the
-shire, Citizens, and Burgesses, except those
-issued in the name of the late king Henry the
-third.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>The cities and boroughs to which these writs
-were directed were the following:—Bristol,
-Canterbury, Carlisle, Colchester, Chester,
-Exeter, Grimsby, Hereford, Lynn, Lincoln,
-Newcastle (Tyne,) Norwich, Northampton,
-Nottingham, Scarborough, Shrewsbury, Winchester,
-Worcester, Yarmouth, (Norfolk) and
-York.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='twenty-third'>23d</abbr> of Edward the third, 1294, a Parliament
-was summoned to meet at Westminster,
-and writs were sent to the several sheriffs of
-England to cause to be elected two Knights for
-each county, two Citizens for each city, and two
-Burgesses for each borough, to be at the said
-Parliament, to consent and agree to such things,
-as the Earls, Barons, and Peers of the Realm
-should ordain; and from this year is to be dated
-the first regular general summons of Knights,
-Citizens, and Burgesses to Parliament. It is
-proper to observe that in this Parliament, the
-Earls, Barons, and Knights of the several counties,
-sat, treated, and consulted altogether, and
-gave the king an eleventh part of all their moveable
-goods; the Citizens and Burgesses acted
-separately, and granted a seventh part of all their
-moveables.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the more early period of the history of the
-House of Commons, when the Parliament frequently
-sat only for a single day, the whole
-business being to grant the king a subsidy, it is
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>probable that the Speaker might with more propriety
-be called the chairman, for sometimes one
-of the members was appointed to the chair, and
-sometimes another; some resolutions were ordered
-to be made by one member, and others to
-be reported by another.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='nineteenth'>19th</abbr> of Edward the second, 1325,
-William Trussell was in the chair, when Hugh
-Spenser the younger was accused of Treason, in
-Parliament.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='sixth'>6th</abbr> of Edward the First, the Commons
-made answer to the king by Sir Geoffrey
-le Scroop, and it was agreed by the king,
-and the whole in full Parliament, that certain
-Bishops and Peers named, should meet on
-the business in discussion by themselves; the
-other Prelates, Earls, and Barons, and the
-Proxies<a id='r40' /><a href='#f40' class='c013'><sup>[40]</sup></a> by themselves; and the Knights of the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>shires and Commons by themselves. In the
-fifty first of the same king Sir Thomas Hungerfore
-was Speaker of the Commons.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the first of Richard the Second, 1377, Sir
-Peter de la Mare, knight of the shire for the
-county of Hereford, was Speaker of the Commons,
-as he had been in the last Parliament
-but one of Edward the Third. In the fifth of
-the former king, 1382, Sir Richard Waldegrave
-was chosen by the Commons to be their Speaker,
-who made an excuse, and desired to be discharged.
-He is the first Speaker that appears upon
-record to have made an excuse, but the king
-commanded him, upon his allegiance, to accept
-the office, seeing he had been chosen by the
-Commons.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the fifth of Henry the fourth, 1404, Sir
-Arnold Savage being chosen Speaker, after
-making an excuse, requested the king, in the
-name of the Commons, that they might freely
-make complaint of any thing amiss in the government,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>and that the king would not by the sinister
-information of any person take offence at
-that of which they should complain, which
-petition was granted by the king.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the seventh year of the same king, 1406,
-Sir John Tiptoft being chosen Speaker, made an
-excuse on account of his youth, which not being
-accepted, he requested that if any writing was
-delivered by the Commons, and they should desire
-to have it again, to amend or alter any thing
-therein, it might be restored to them, which was
-granted. Whilst he was Speaker, he signed and
-sealed in the name of the Commons the deed
-which entailed the crown upon Henry the
-fourth. This <i>young</i> Speaker is said to have
-taken more upon him, and to have spoken more
-boldly and freely to the King and the Lords, than
-any before him, insomuch that his example being
-followed, the king gave a check to it, when
-Thomas Chaucer, <abbr title='Esquire'>Esq.</abbr> was chosen Speaker in
-his room.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='twentieth'>20th</abbr> of Henry the sixth, 1450, the
-Commons presented Sir John Popham to the
-king as their Speaker, who making an excuse, it
-was received, and he was discharged, on which
-the Commons presented William Tresham, who
-had twice before been Speaker, who was accepted.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='thirty-first'>31st</abbr> of the same king, 1453, Thomas
-Thorpe, <abbr title='Esquire'>Esq.</abbr> Speaker of the House of Commons
-was arrested in execution at the suit of the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>Duke of York during the vacation between two
-sessions, and the opinion of the judges being demanded
-by the Lords, they refused to judge of the
-liberties of Parliament as not belonging to their
-jurisdiction, whereupon the Lords without their
-advice adjudged that the Speaker was not entitled
-to any privilege, which, on being-signified to the
-Commons, and also the king’s pleasure being
-made known to them that they should choose
-another Speaker, they chose Sir Thomas Charleton.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='fifteenth'>15th</abbr> of Henry the eighth, 1523, Sir
-Thomas More, Chancellor of the Duchy of
-Lancaster, was chosen Speaker of the House
-of Commons. He made the usual protestation
-for himself, and prayed that if any member
-should in debate speak more largely than he
-ought, that he might be pardoned by the king,
-which was granted.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the first year of queen Elizabeth, 1559, Sir
-Thomas Gargrave was chosen Speaker; in his
-speech to the queen he made four requests,
-namely first, free access to her majesty; secondly,
-for liberty of speech; thirdly, privilege from
-arrests; and fourthly, that his mistakes might
-not prejudice the house.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In Scotland the system of representation was
-not adopted till the reign of James the first, of
-that kingdom, in 1427. By an act of that year
-it was enacted, that “the king with consent of the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>whole council generally has statute and ordained
-that the small Barons and free Tenants need not to
-come to Parliaments nor general councils, so that
-of each sheriffdom there be sent, chosen at the
-head court of the sheriffdom, two or more wise
-men after the largeness of the sheriffdom, &amp;c.”—Scottish
-Acts printed in 1682, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 30.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In Scotland the Lords and Commons unquestionably
-sat in the same House till the Union of
-the two kingdoms, and the Commissioner who
-represented the sovereign, debated with them
-from the throne, although he had the power,
-which he sometimes used, of adjourning the
-assembly when he pleased.</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art43' class='c004'>MOSAIC PAINTING.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Mosaic is a representation of painting by
-means of small pebbles, or shells of sundry colours,
-and, of late years, with pieces of glass coloured
-at pleasure; it is an ornament of much beauty,
-and lasts for ages, and is mostly used in pavements
-and floors.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The term <i>Mosaic</i> is derived from the latin
-<span lang="la" xml:lang="la"><i>musivum</i></span>, and ought to be pronounced <i>musaic</i>.
-It is odd enough that many persons have really
-fancied they could trace the etymology of this
-word to the name of the great Jewish legislator.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>It is well observed by Wotton that Mosaic has
-“long life;” and we have much to lament that,
-the art was not practised in ancient Rome with
-the perfection it has attained in modern Rome.
-Had Mosaic been applied to exact imitations of
-the pictures of Apelles, Zeuxis, and the great
-artists of ancient times, we should still have been
-the contemporaries of every fine genius, and a
-new polish had renewed their fading beauties,
-and restored them to immortal youth.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Pliny has proved that the Greeks first practised
-Mosaic, and notices a curious work of the
-kind which was called “the unswept piece.”
-This singular performance exhibited to the eye,
-crumbs of bread and other things which fall from
-a table, so naturally imitated, that the eye was
-perfectly deceived, and it looked as if the pavement
-had never been swept; it was formed of
-small shells, painted of different colours.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There were several pieces of Mosaic found in
-Herculaneum; one much resembled a Turkey
-carpet. The ancients probably gave in Mosaic
-some historical subjects, for there was also discovered
-the Rape of Europa, composed of small
-flints.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Mosaic has been practised in Italy two thousand
-years; the manner of working it in that
-country is by copying in very small pieces of
-marble of different colours, every thing which a
-picture can be expected to imitate. Instead of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>common stones, too difficult to collect for so
-great a work, or which would require too much
-time to prepare and polish, the Italian artists
-sometimes have recourse to paste, that is to a
-composition of glass and enamel, which after
-passing through a crucible takes a brilliant
-colour. All these pieces are inlaid, and very
-thin, and their length is proportioned to their
-slenderness. They sometimes inlay a piece not
-thicker than a hair, and the artist afterwards
-arranges these pieces according to the colours
-and design of the picture before him. They are
-easily fixed in the stucco or plaster of Paris
-placed to receive them which soon hardens and
-dries. Such works are so solid that they are
-capable of resisting the assaults of time through
-ages. The Mosaic of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Mark at Venice has
-existed above 900 years in perfect splendour and
-beauty.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Several fine pieces of Roman Mosaic work
-have been discovered in England in the last and
-preceding centuries, particularly at Woodchester
-in Gloucestershire, and at Horkstow, in Lincolnshire,
-both of which have been elaborately described
-and engraved by the late Samuel Lysons, <abbr title='Esquire'>Esq.</abbr>
-Others have been found at Winterton, Roxby,
-Scampton, and Denton, in the county of Lincoln;
-in Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire,
-Northamptonshire, &amp;c. &amp;c.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Sir Christopher Wren intended to have beautified
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>the inside of the Cupola of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Paul’s
-Cathedral, instead of painting it in the manner
-in which it now appears, with the more durable
-ornament of Mosaic work, as is nobly executed in
-the Cupola of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Peter’s at Rome. For this
-purpose he intended to have procured from
-Italy four of the most eminent artists in that
-profession; but as this art was a great novelty in
-England, and not generally understood, the plan
-did not receive the encouragement it deserved.
-It was thought also that the expense would prove
-too great, and the time very long in the execution;
-but though these and all other objections
-were fully answered, yet this excellent design
-was no further pursued.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art44' class='c004'>KING EGBERT.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>It is a generally received opinion, sanctioned
-by nearly every modern historian, that Egbert
-king of the West Saxons, having dissolved the
-Heptarchy, about the year 828, became the first
-sole monarch of England. This is, however, one of
-those historical points which it is more easy to
-assert than to confirm. There were undoubtedly
-many chief monarchs of the heptarchy,
-both before and after the time of Egbert, that
-sovereign himself having been one of those chief
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>monarchs, but some of those petty kingdoms
-subsisted for nearly one hundred and twenty
-years after Egbert’s death. That this was the
-fact is proved both by their coins and their laws.
-Several of their coins are still to be found in the
-cabinets of the curious. Thus we find that in
-the kingdom of the East Angles, king Edmund,
-called the Saint, and Ethelstan, (Guthrun the
-Danish general being so named by Alfred at
-his baptism,) coined money, the first in 857, and
-the latter in 878. The kings of Mercia coined
-money until <abbr class='spell'>A. D.</abbr> 874, and the kings of Northumberland
-till <abbr class='spell'>A. D.</abbr> 950. In the last
-mentioned year, the kingdom of Northumberland,
-which included all the country north of the
-Humber, terminated, and England became one
-kingdom. It was again divided by Edwy, who
-began to reign in 959, so that Edgar may more
-justly be regarded as commencing the series of
-kings of all England. It may be proper here to
-remark that two kingdoms of the Heptarchy
-never coined any money; these were the kingdoms
-of the East Saxons and the South Saxons.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Alfred was the first king that made a code of
-laws which was common to the whole kingdom.
-There were very few legislators among the
-Saxon Monarchs. The laws of Ethelbert, who
-died in 617, are the most ancient that we have.
-The next are those of Lothaire, 673; Edric, 684;
-and Wightred, 694; all of them kings of Kent.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>Ina, king of the West Saxons, 688, and Offa
-king of the Mercians, 757, were the only other
-kings of the Heptarchy who formed any laws
-which have been preserved by historians. If it
-be objected that the people of the other kingdoms
-could not subsist without laws suited to
-the situation of their affairs, we may observe that
-the monarchs of those kingdoms received into
-their states and adopted the laws of the kings
-already mentioned. The laws of Ina were
-received by the other kings of the Heptarchy,
-and in one of the great councils held by Offa,
-king of Mercia, there were present the king of
-the East Saxons, the king of the West Saxons,
-the king of Kent, the king of Northumberland,
-and three kings of Wales.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Alfred having conquered the Danes at Edington,
-and Guthrun their general and his principal
-officers having been baptized in the church
-of Aller, near Langport, in Somersetshire,
-Alfred concluded a treaty of peace with Guthrun,
-and gave him the kingdoms of East Anglia
-and Northumberland for himself and his Danes,
-appointing the boundaries of his dominions and
-giving him laws which were agreed to and confirmed
-by Alfred’s and Guthrun’s nobles. In all
-cases which were not provided for by this treaty,
-Guthrun consented that the Danes should observe
-the general laws of Alfred. This treaty
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>was afterwards confirmed and enlarged by
-Edward the Elder, Alfred’s son, with the consent
-and approbation of his and Guthrun’s nobles.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art45' class='c004'>THE LATIN LANGUAGE.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>So sensible were the Romans of the influence
-of language over national manners, that it was
-their most serious care to extend, with the progress
-of their arms, the use of the latin tongue.
-The ancient dialects of Italy, the Sabine, the
-Etruscan, and the Venetian, sunk into oblivion;
-but the eastern were less docile than the western
-provinces to the voice of its victorious preceptors.
-This obvious difference marked the two portions
-of the empire with a distinction of character,
-which, though it was in some degree concealed
-during the meridian splendour of prosperity, became
-gradually more visible, as the shades of
-night descended upon the Roman world. The
-western countries were civilized by the same
-hands which subdued them. As soon as the
-barbarians were reconciled to obedience, their
-minds were opened to any new impressions of
-knowledge and politeness. The language of
-Virgil and Cicero, though with some inevitable
-mixture of corruption, was so universally adopted
-in Africa, Spain, Gaul, Britain and
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>Pannonia, that the faint traces of the Punic or
-Celtic idioms were preserved only in the mountains
-or among the peasants. The Celtic was
-indeed preserved in the mountains of Wales,
-Cornwall, and Armorica; and it may here be
-observed that Apuleius reproaches an African
-youth, who lived among the populace, with the
-use of the Punic, whilst he had almost forgot
-Greek, and neither could nor would speak Latin.
-The greater part of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Austin’s congregations
-were strangers to the Punic. Education and
-study insensibly inspired the natives of the countries
-just mentioned with the sentiments of
-Romans; and Italy gave fashions, as well as
-laws, to her latin provincials. They solicited with
-more ardour, and obtained with more facility,
-the freedom and honours of the state; supported
-the national dignity in letters and in arms; and at
-length in the person of Trajan, produced an
-Emperor whom the Scipios would not have disowned
-for their countryman. Spain alone produced
-Columella, the Senecas, Lucan, Martial,
-and Quinctilian.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The situation of the Greeks was very different
-from that of the barbarians. The former had
-been long since civilized and corrupted. They
-had too much taste to relinquish their language,
-and too much vanity to adopt any foreign institutions.
-Still preserving the prejudices, after
-they had lost the virtues of their ancestors, they
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>affected to despise the unpolished manners of the
-Roman conquerors, whilst they were compelled
-to respect their superior wisdom and power.
-The Greeks seemed to be entirely ignorant that
-the Romans had any good writers; and it is
-believed that there is not a single Greek critic,
-from Dionysius to Libanius, who mentions Virgil
-or Horace. Nor was the influence of the
-Grecian language and sentiments confined to the
-narrow limits of that once celebrated country.
-Their empire, by the progress of colonies and
-conquests, had been diffused from the Adriatic
-to the Euphrates and the Nile. Asia was
-covered with Greek cities, and the long reign of
-the Macedonian kings, had introduced a silent
-revolution into Syria and Egypt. In their
-pompous courts, those princes united the
-elegance of Athens with the luxury of the East,
-and the example of the court was imitated, at an
-humble distance, by the higher ranks of their
-subjects. Such was the general division of the
-Roman empire into the Latin and Greek
-languages.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>To these we may add a third distinction for
-the body of the natives in Syria, and especially
-in Egypt. The use of their ancient dialects,
-by secluding them from the commerce of mankind,
-checked the improvements of those barbarians.
-The slothful effeminacy of the former,
-exposed them to the contempt; the sullen ferociousness
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>of the latter, excited the aversion of the
-conquerors. Those nations had submitted to
-the Roman power, but they seldom desired or
-deserved the freedom of the city; and it was
-remarked, that more than two hundred and
-thirty years elapsed after the ruin of the Ptolemys,
-before an Egyptian was admitted into the
-Senate of Rome, the first instance of which
-happened under the reign of Septimius Severus.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art46' class='c004'>Dr. HERSCHEL.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>In the History of Doncaster, written by Dr.
-Miller, we find the following account of the
-early years of this eminent astronomer:—</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“It will ever be a gratifying reflection to me,”
-says Dr. Miller, “that I was the first person by
-whose means this extraordinary genius was drawn
-from a state of obscurity. About the year 1760,
-as I was dining with the officers of the Durham
-militia, at Pontefract, one of them informed me,
-that they had a young German in their band, as
-a performer on the hautboy, who had been only
-a few months in this country, and yet spoke
-English almost as well as a native; that exclusively
-of the hautboy, he was an excellent performer
-on the violin, and if I chose to repair to
-another room, he should entertain me with a solo.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>I did so, and Mr. Herschel executed a solo of
-Giordani’s in a manner that surprised me. Afterwards
-I took an opportunity to have a little
-private conversation with him, and requested to
-know if he had engaged himself to the Durham
-militia for any long period? he answered, ‘No,
-only from month to month.’ Leave them then,
-said I, and come and live with me; I am a
-single man, and think we shall be happy together;
-doubtless your merit will soon entitle
-you to a more eligible situation. He consented
-to my request, and came to Doncaster. It is
-true, at that time, my humble mansion consisted
-but of two rooms; however, poor as I was, my
-cottage contained a small library of well chosen
-books; and it must appear singular, that a young
-German, who had been so short a time in England,
-should understand even the peculiarities of
-our language so well, as to adopt Dean Swift for
-his favourite author. I took an early opportunity
-of introducing him at Mr. Copley’s concert; and
-he presently began</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“Untwisting all the charms that tie</div>
- <div class='line'>”The hidden soul of harmony.”</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>For never before had we heard the concertos of
-Corelli, Geminiani, and Avison, or the overtures
-of Handel, performed more chastely, or more
-according to the original intention of the composers,
-than by Mr. Herschel. I soon lost my
-companion; his fame was presently spread abroad,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span>he had the offer of scholars, and was solicited to
-lead the public concerts at Wakefield and Halifax.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“About this time a new organ, for the parish
-church of Halifax, was built by Snetzler; which
-was opened with an oratorio, by the late well-known
-Joah Bates. Mr. Herschel, and six others,
-were candidates for the organist’s place. They
-drew lots how they were to perform in rotation.
-Herschel drew the third lot—the second performer
-was Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Wainwright, of
-Manchester, whose finger was so rapid, that old
-Snetzler, the organ builder, ran about the church
-exclaiming:—‘Te tevil, te tevil, he run over te
-keys like one cat, he will not give my pipes room
-for to shpeak!’ During Mr. Wainwright’s performance,
-I was standing in the middle aile
-with Herschel;—What chance have you, said I,
-to follow this man? He replied, ‘I do not know,
-I am sure fingers will not do.’ On which he
-ascended the loft, and produced from the organ
-such an uncommon fullness, such a volume of
-slow, solemn harmony, that I could by no means
-account for the effect. After this short extemporary
-effusion, he finished with the old hundredth
-psalm, which he played better than his opponent.
-‘Aye, aye,’ cried old Snetzler, ‘tish is very
-goot, very goot inteet; I will luf tish man, for
-he gives my pipes room for to shpeak!’ Having
-afterwards asked Herschel by what means,
-in the beginning of his performance he produced
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span>such an uncommon effect? he replied, ‘I told
-you fingers would not do,’ and producing two
-pieces of lead from his pocket, ‘one of these,’
-said he, ‘I placed on the lowest key of the organ,
-and the other upon the octave above; thus by
-accommodating the harmony, I produced the
-effect of four hands instead of two. However,
-as my leading the concert on the violin, is their
-principal object, they will give me the place in
-preference to a better performer on the organ;
-but I shall not stay long here, for I have the offer
-of a superior situation at Bath, which offer I shall
-accept.’“</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art47' class='c004'>PARODIES.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The present use of this word is strictly consonant
-with that of the ancients, who applied it
-to the giving a ridiculous turn to passages in
-Homer and the tragic Poets. There are many
-in Aristophanes. One of the happiest modern
-instances is the parody of the speech of Sarpedon
-to Glaucus in the Rape of the Lock. The
-genealogy of Agamemnon’s sceptre is also
-parodied in the same poem, canto 5, v. 87.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>
- <h2 id='art48' class='c004'>MOURNING FOR THE DEAD.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>In the Mosaic law the Israelites were commanded
-<i>not to cut themselves for the dead</i>. The
-original Hebrew has, however a more extensive
-meaning than cutting, and includes all assaults
-on their own persons, arising from immoderate
-grief, such as beating the breasts, tearing the
-hair, &amp;c. which were commonly practised by
-the heathen, who had no hope of a resurrection,
-particularly by the Egyptians, which might
-afford a particular reason for the Mosaic prohibition.
-We may also observe, that among the
-Romans, it was ordained by one of the laws of
-the twelve tables, “Let not women tear their
-faces, or make lamentations at funerals,” which
-proves that this was the custom with the
-Romans, previously to making this law. No
-doubt the law itself was immediately borrowed
-from the Athenian code, of which it is a literal
-translation.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Priests of Baal, (1 Kings, <abbr title='chapter'>ch.</abbr> 18, <abbr title='verse'>v.</abbr> 28.)
-assaulted themselves with knives and lances,
-which was indeed equivalent to cutting themselves.
-Nor was this frantic custom confined to
-the Priests of Baal; the <i>Galli</i>, and other
-devotees of the Syrian goddess, cut their arms,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>and scourged each others backs, according to
-Lucian. “Baal’s Priests”, says Dr. Leland,
-“were wont to cut and slash themselves with
-knives and lances. The same thing was practised
-in the worship of Isis, according to Herodotus,
-and of Bellona, as Lucan mentions.
-Many authors take notice of the solemnities
-of Cybele, the mother of the gods, whose priests
-in their sacred processions, made hideous noises
-and howlings, cutting themselves till the blood
-gushed out, as they went along.”</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art49' class='c004'>GARRICK.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The genius of Garrick seems to have been
-particularly calculated to introduce Shakespeare
-on the stage. He knew how to alter him so as
-to fit him for the audience of the present day,
-without divesting him of any of his excellencies,
-and the few additions he has ventured are in the
-spirit of the original. These Plays, so altered,
-are likely to keep possession of the theatre, while
-every other attempt at change or improvement
-are forgotten, except Cibber’s Richard the
-Third, and Tate’s Lear, which, with some
-correction of Garrick’s, are still acted, though
-the alteration of the last is directly in opposition
-to the precepts of Aristotle and Mr. Addison.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>Cibber, though versed in the province of the
-drama, which is perhaps essential to make a
-good dramatic writer, since the knowledge of
-stage effect is of great consequence, possessed a
-genius not above mediocrity; and Tate was a
-very indifferent poet. Yet there is a line in
-Cibber’s Richard, written by himself, so characteristic
-of the manner of his archetype, that it
-has often been cited as one of Shakespeare’s
-beauties. I mean the exclamation of Richard,
-on Buckingham’s being taken,</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“Off with his head! so much for Buckingham.”</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>And I heard, says Mr. Pye, (Comment. on
-Aristotle,) Mr. Pitt, afterwards Lord Chatham,
-quote the following verse of Tate’s, in the House
-of Commons, undoubtedly taking it for Shakespeare’s,</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“Where the gor’d battle bleeds in every vein.”</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>The tragedy of Hamlet was, by order of Mrs.
-Garrick, thrown into Garrick’s grave. Though
-he was undoubtedly great in that character, he
-was equally so in many of Shakespeare’s characters,
-and superior in Lear. The comic characters
-it is presumed were thought too light for so
-solemn an occasion. If by burying that tragedy
-with Garrick it was meant to infer that it was
-lost to the stage with him, a complete edition of
-Shakespeare might, with the utmost propriety
-have been interred with that inimitable actor.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>
- <h2 id='art50' class='c004'>LEMONS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Theophrastus, who studied under Plato
-and Aristotle, says of lemons, that they were cultivated
-for their fragrance, not for their taste;
-that the peel was laid up with garments, to
-preserve them from moths; and that the juice
-was administered by physicians medicinally.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Virgil in his second Georgic, describes agreeably
-the Lemon-tree. Pliny mentions the lemon-juice
-as an antidote; but says that the fruit, from
-its austere taste, was not eaten.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Plutarch, who nourished within a generation
-of Pliny, witnessed the introduction of lemons at
-the Roman tables. Juba, king of Mauritania,
-was the first who exhibited them at his dinners.
-And Athenæus introduces Democritus as not
-wondering that old people made wry mouths at
-the taste of lemons; for, adds he, in my grandfather’s
-time, they were never set upon the table.
-And to this day the Chinese, who grow the fruit,
-do not apply it to culinary purposes.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The great use of lemons began with the introduction
-of sugar, which is said to have resulted
-from the conquest of Sicily, by the Arabs, in the
-ninth century. Sestini, in his letters from Sicily
-and Turkey, thinks that the best sorts of lemons,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span>and the best sorts of sherbet, were derived from
-Florence, by the Sicilians. Probably Rome
-continued, even in the dark ages, to be the chief
-seat of luxury and refinement; and had domesticated
-the art of making lemonade, before either
-Messina or Florence.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In Madagascar slices of lemon are boiled, and
-eaten with salt.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Pomet, in his History of Drugs, gives the preference
-over all others to the lemons of Madeira;
-but according to Ferrarius, there grows at the
-Cape a sweet lemon, to which he gives the name
-<i>incomparabilis</i>.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art51' class='c004'>ORIGIN OF THE POINT OF HONOUR.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>We meet with inexplicable enigmas in the
-codes of the laws of the barbarians. The law
-of the Frisians allowed only about the value of a
-farthing, by way of compensation, to a person
-who had been beaten with a stick; and yet for
-ever such a small wound it allows more. By the
-Salic law, if a freeman gave three blows with a
-stick to another freeman, he paid about three
-halfpence; if he drew blood, he was punished as
-if he had wounded him with steel, and he paid
-about seven-pence halfpenny; thus the punishment
-was proportioned to the greatness of the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>wound. The law of the Lombards established
-different compensations for one, two, three, four
-blows, and so on. At present a single blow is
-equivalent to a hundred thousand.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The constitution of Charlemagne, inserted in
-the law of the Lombards, ordains, that those who
-were allowed the trial by combat, should fight
-with clubs. Perhaps this was out of regard to
-the clergy; or, probably, as the usage of legal
-duels gained ground, they wanted to render them
-less sanguinary. The capitulary of Louis the
-Pious, added to the Salic law in 819, allows the
-liberty of chusing to fight either with the sword
-or club. In process of time none but bondmen
-or slaves fought with the club.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Here may be seen the first rise and formation
-of the particular articles of our point of honour.
-The accuser began with declaring, in the presence
-of the judge, that such a person had
-committed such an action, and the accused made
-answer that, <i>he lied</i>; upon which the judge gave
-orders for the duel. It became then an established
-rule, that whenever a person had the lie given
-him, it was incumbent on him to fight.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Upon a man’s declaring he would fight, he
-could not afterwards depart from his word; if he
-did, he was condemned to a penalty. Hence
-this rule followed, that whenever a person had
-engaged his word, honour forbade him to recal it.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Gentlemen fought one another on horseback,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>armed at all points; villans fought on foot, and
-with clubs.<a id='r41' /><a href='#f41' class='c013'><sup>[41]</sup></a> Hence it followed, that the club
-was looked upon as the instrument of insults and
-affronts,<a id='r42' /><a href='#f42' class='c013'><sup>[42]</sup></a> because to strike a man with it, was
-treating him like a villan.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>No one but villans fought with their faces uncovered;<a id='r43' /><a href='#f43' class='c013'><sup>[43]</sup></a>
-so that none but they could receive a
-blow on the face. Therefore a box on the ear,
-became an injury that must be expiated with
-blood, because the person who received it, had
-been treated as a villan.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The several people of Germany were not less
-sensible of the point of honour. The most
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>distant relations took a very considerable share to
-themselves in every affront, and on this all their
-codes are founded. The law of the Lombards
-ordains, that whoever goes attended with servants
-to beat a man by surprize, in order to load him
-thereby with shame, and to render him ridiculous,
-should pay half the compensation, which
-he would owe if he had killed him; and if
-through the same motive he tied or bound him,
-he should pay three fourths of the same compensation.</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art52' class='c004'>GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Geoffrey of Monmouth was the first
-person, after the conquest, who attempted to
-write any thing concerning the ancient history of
-Britain. Although the century, in which he lived,
-is known, yet neither his family, the time of his
-birth, nor the place of his education has been
-ascertained. We are only informed that he was
-born at Monmouth, and became archdeacon of
-that place, and that he was consecrated bishop
-of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Asaph, in 1152, which he resigned to live
-in the monastery of Abingdon. By some writers
-he is called a monk of the Dominican order, but,
-according to Leland, without sufficient authority.
-Warton says that he was a Benedictine monk.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>The history which has made his name celebrated,
-is entitled <i>Chronicon sive Historia Britonum</i>.
-This history, written in the British or
-Armorican language, was brought into England
-by Walter Mapes, otherwise Calenius, archdeacon
-of Oxford, a learned man, and a diligent
-collector of histories. Travelling through France,
-about the year 1100, he procured in Armorica,
-this ancient chronicle, and, on his return, communicated
-it to Geoffrey, who, according to
-Warton, (History of English Poetry,) was an
-elegant Latin writer, and admirably skilled in
-the British tongue. Geoffrey, at the request and
-recommendation of Walter, translated this British
-chronicle into Latin, executing the translation
-with some degree of purity, and fidelity, insomuch
-that Matthew Paris speaking of him with
-reference to this history, says that he approved
-himself <i>Interpres verus</i>. With whatever fidelity
-the translation might be made, Geoffrey, however,
-was guilty of several interpolations, for he confesses
-that he took some part of his account of
-king Arthur’s achievements, from the mouth of
-his friend Walter, the archdeacon. He also
-owns that the account of Merlin’s prophecies was
-not in the Armorican original. The speeches
-and letters were his own forgeries, and in the
-description of battles, he has not scrupled to
-make frequent variations and additions.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Geoffrey dedicated his translation to Robert,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>Earl of Gloucester, natural son of king Henry
-the first; this, however, did not protect him from
-the lash even of his contemporaries, for his fables,
-it appears, were soon discovered, and William
-Neubrigensis, who lived about the same time, in
-the beginning of the history which he wrote,
-thus speaks of him; “In these days a certain
-writer is risen, who has devised many foolish
-fictions of the Britons; he is named <i>Geoffrey</i>,
-and with what little shame, and great confidence
-does he frame his falsehoods.” William himself,
-however, did not escape censure for thus animadverting
-upon Geoffrey.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It is difficult to ascertain at what period the
-original of Geoffrey’s history was compiled.
-The subject of it, when divested of its romantic
-embellishments, is a deduction of the Welsh
-princes, from the Trojan Brutus to Cadwallader,
-who reigned in the seventh century; and this
-notion of their extraction from the Trojans, had
-so infatuated the Welsh, that even so late as the
-year 1284, archbishop Peckham, in his injunctions
-to the diocese of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Asaph, orders the
-people to abstain from giving credit to idle
-dreams and visions, a superstition which they
-had contracted from their belief in the dream of
-their founder Brutus, in the temple of Diana,
-concerning his arrival in Britain. The archbishop
-very seriously, advises them to boast no more of
-their relation to the conquered and fugitive
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>Trojans, but to glory in the victorious cross of
-<span class='sc'>Christ</span>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Welsh were not singular in being desirous
-of tracing their descent from the Trojans, for
-several European nations were anciently fond of
-being considered as the offspring of that people.
-A French historian of the sixth century ascribes
-the origin of his countrymen to Francio, a
-son of Priam, and so universal was this humour,
-and to such an absurd excess of extravagance
-was it carried, that under the reign of Justinian,
-even the Greeks themselves were ambitious of
-being thought to be descended from their ancient
-enemies the Trojans. The most rational mode
-of accounting for this predilection, is to suppose,
-that the revival of Virgil’s Æneid, about the
-sixth or seventh century, which represents the
-Trojans as the founders of Rome, the capital of
-the supreme Pontiff, and a city on various other
-accounts in the early ages of christianity, highly
-reverenced and distinguished, occasioned an emulation
-in many other European nations of claiming
-an alliance to the same celebrated original.
-In the mean time it is not quite improbable,
-that as most of the European nations had become
-provinces of the Roman empire, those who
-fancied themselves to be of Trojan extraction
-might have imbibed this notion, or at least have
-acquired a general knowledge of the Trojan
-story from their conquerors, more especially the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>Britons, who continued so long under the Roman
-Government.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Geoffrey produces Homer in attestation of a
-fact asserted in his history; but in such a manner
-as shews that he knew little more than
-Homer’s name, and was but imperfectly acquainted
-with Homer’s subject. Geoffrey says
-that Brutus having ravaged the province of
-Aquitaine with fire and sword, came to a place
-where the city of Tours now stands, <i>as Homer
-testifies</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This fable of the descent of the Britons from
-the Trojans was solemnly alleged as an authentic
-and undeniable proof in a controversy of
-great national importance by king Edward the
-first, and his nobility, without the least objection
-from the opposite party. It was in the famous
-dispute concerning the subjection of the crown
-of Scotland to that of England, about the year
-1301. The allegations are contained in a letter
-to Pope Boniface, signed and sealed by the king
-and his lords. This is a curious instance of the
-implicit faith with which this tradition continued
-to be believed, even in a more enlightened age;
-and an evidence that it was equally credited in
-Scotland.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>As to the story of Brutus in particular,
-Geoffrey’s hero, it may be presumed, that his
-legend was not contrived, nor the history of his
-successors invented, until after the ninth century;
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span>for Nennius,<a id='r44' /><a href='#f44' class='c013'><sup>[44]</sup></a> who lived about the middle of that
-century, not only speaks of Brutus with great
-obscurity and inconsistency, but seems totally
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>uninformed as to every circumstance of the
-British affairs which preceded Cæsar’s invasion.
-There are other proofs that this piece could not
-have existed before the ninth century. Alfred’s
-Saxon translation of the Mercian law is mentioned;
-and Charlemagne’s twelve peers, by an anachronism
-not uncommon in romance, are said to be
-present at king Arthur’s magnificent coronation,
-in the city of Caerleon. It were easy to produce
-instances, that Geoffrey’s chronicle was, undoubtedly,
-framed after the legend of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Ursula, the
-acts of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Lucius, and the historical writings of
-Venerable Bede, had procured a considerable
-circulation in the neighbouring countries. At
-the same time it contains many passages which
-incline us to determine, that some parts of it, at
-least, were written after or about the eleventh
-century.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Warton, (Hist. of Eng. Poetry, Dis. 1.) in
-order to prove these positions, says, that he will
-not insist on that passage, in which the title of
-legate of the apostolic see is attributed to Dubricius,
-in the character of the primate of Britain,
-as it appears for obvious reasons, to have been
-an artful interpolation of Geoffrey, who, it will
-be remembered, was an ecclesiastic. Other arguments
-present themselves, possessing more efficiency;
-Canute’s forest, or Cannock Wood, in
-Staffordshire, occurs, and Canute died in the
-year 1036.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>At the ideal coronation of king Arthur, just
-mentioned, a tournament is described, as exhibited
-in its highest splendour. “Many
-knights,” says this Armoric chronicler, “famous
-for feats of chivalry, were present, with apparel
-and arms of the same colour and fashion. They
-formed a species of diversion, in imitation of a
-fight on horseback, and the ladies being placed
-on the walls of the castles, darted amorous glances
-on the combatants. None of these ladies esteemed
-any knight worthy of her love, but such as had
-given proof of his gallantry, in three several
-encounters.” Here is the practice of chivalry,
-under the combined ideas of love and military
-prowess, as they seem to have subsisted after the
-feudal constitution had acquired greater degrees,
-not only of stability, but of splendour and refinement.
-And, although a species of tournament
-was exhibited in France, at the reconciliation of
-the sons of Lewis the Feeble, at the close of the
-ninth century, and at the beginning of the tenth,
-the coronation of the emperor Henry, was solemnized
-with martial entertainments, in which many
-parties were introduced fighting on horseback,
-yet it was long afterwards that these games were
-accompanied with the peculiar formalities, and
-ceremonious usages here described. In the mean
-time, we cannot answer for the innovations of a
-translator, in such a description. The burial of
-Hengist, the Saxon chief, who is said to have
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>been interred not after the <i>Pagan</i> fashion, as
-Geoffrey renders the words of the original, but
-after the <i>manner of the Soldans</i>, is partly an argument,
-that our romance was composed about
-the time of the Crusades. It was not till those
-memorable campaigns of mistaken devotion, had
-infatuated the western world, that the Soldans, or
-sultans of Babylon, of Egypt, of Iconium, and
-other eastern kingdoms, became familiar in
-Europe. Not that the notion of this piece, being
-written so late as the crusades, in the least invalidates
-the doctrine here delivered. Not even if
-we suppose that Geoffrey was its original composer.
-That notion rather tends to confirm, and
-establish this system.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>On the whole it may be affirmed, that Geoffrey’s
-chronicle, which is supposed to contain the ideas
-of the Welsh bards, entirely consists of Arabian
-inventions. And in this view no difference is
-made, whether it was compiled about the tenth
-century, at which time, if not before, the Arabians,
-from their settlements in Spain, must have communicated
-their romantic fables to other parts of
-Europe, especially to the French; or whether it
-first appeared in the eleventh century, after the
-crusades had multiplied these fables to an excessive
-degree, and made them universally popular.
-And although the general cast of the inventions,
-contained in this romance, is alone sufficient to
-point out the source from whence they were
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>derived, yet it is thought proper to prove to a
-demonstration what is here advanced, by producing
-and examining some particular passages.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The books of the Arabians and Persians
-abound with extravagant traditions about the
-giants Gog and Magog. These they call Jagiouge
-and Magiouge; and the Caucasian Wall,
-said to be built by Alexander the Great from the
-Caspian to the Black Sea, in order to cover the
-frontiers of his dominion, and to prevent the incursions
-of the Scythians, is called by the orientals
-the <span class='sc'>Wall of Gog and Magog</span>. One
-of the most formidable giants, according to our
-Armorican Romance, who opposed the landing of
-Brutus in Britain, was Goemagot. He was twelve
-cubits high, and would uproot an oak as easily as
-a hazel wand; but after a most obstinate encounter
-with Corinæus, he was tumbled into the
-sea from the summit of a steep cliff on the rocky
-shores of Cornwall, and dashed in pieces against
-the huge crags of the declivity. The place
-where he fell, adds our historian, taking its name
-from the giants fall, is called <span class='sc'>Sam Goemagot</span>,
-or <span class='sc'>Goemagot’s leap</span> to this day. A no less
-monstrous giant, whom king Arthur slew on
-<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Michael’s mount in Cornwall, is said by this
-fabler to have come from Spain. Here the
-origin of these stories is evidently betrayed.
-The Arabians, or Saracens, as has been before
-hinted, had conquered Spain, and were settled
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>there. Arthur having killed this redoubted
-giant, declares, that he had combated with none
-of equal strength and prowess, since he overcame
-the mighty giant, Rytho, on the mountain
-Arabius, who had made himself a robe of the
-beards of the kings whom he had killed. A
-magician brought from Spain is called to the
-assistance of Edwin a prince of Northumberland,
-educated under Solomon king of the Armoricans.
-In the prophecy of Merlin, delivered to Vortigern,
-after the battle of the Dragons, forged perhaps
-by the translator Geoffrey, yet apparently in the
-spirit and manner of the rest, we have the
-Arabians named, and their situations in Spain
-and Africa. “From Conan shall come forth a
-wild boar, whose tusks shall destroy the oaks of
-the forests of France. The <span class='sc'>Arabians</span> and
-<span class='sc'>Africans</span> shall dread him; and he shall continue
-his rapid course into the most distant parts
-of Spain.” This is king Arthur. In the same
-prophecy, mention is made of the “Woods of
-Africa.” In another place Gormund, king of
-the Africans occurs. In a battle which Arthur
-fights against the Romans, some of the principal
-leaders in the Roman army are Alifantinam,
-king of Spain; Pandrasus, king of Egypt;
-Broccus, king of the Medes; Evander, king of
-Syria; Micipsa, king of Babylon; and a Duke
-of Phrygia.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The old fictions about Stonehenge were
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>derived from the same inexhaustible source of
-extravagant imagination. We are told in this
-Romance, that the giants conveyed the stones
-which compose this miraculous monument from
-the farthest coasts of Africa. Every one of these
-stones is supposed to be mystical, and to maintain
-a medicinal virtue; an idea drawn from the
-medical skill of the Arabians, and more particularly
-from the Arabian doctrine of attributing
-healing qualities, and other occult properties to
-stones. Merlin’s transformation of Uther into
-Gorlois, and of Ulfin into Bricel, by the power
-of some medical preparation is a species of
-Arabian magic, which professed to work the
-most wonderful deceptions of this kind. The
-attributing of prophetical language to birds was
-common among the Orientals, and an eagle is
-supposed to speak at building the walls of the
-city of Paladur, now Shaftesbury.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Arabians cultivated the study of Philosophy,
-particularly Astronomy, with amazing
-ardour. Hence arose the tradition, reported by
-our historian, that in king Arthur’s reign, there
-subsisted at Carleon in Glamorganshire, a
-college of two hundred philosophers, who studied
-astronomy and other sciences; and who were
-particularly employed in watching the courses
-of the stars, and predicting events to the king
-from their observations. Edwin’s Spanish
-magician above mentioned, by his knowledge of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>the flight of birds, and the courses of the stars,
-is said to fortel future disasters. In the same
-strain, Merlin prognosticates Uther’s success in
-battle by the appearance of a comet. The same
-Enchanter’s <i>wonderful skill in mechanical powers</i>,
-by which he removes the Giant’s Dance, or
-Stonehenge, from Ireland into England, and the
-notion that this stupendous structure was raised
-by a <span class='fss'>PROFOUND PHILOSOPHICAL KNOWLEDGE
-OF THE MECHANICAL ARTS</span>, are
-founded on the Arabian literature. To which
-we may add king Bladud’s magical operations.
-Dragons are a sure mark of orientalism. One
-of these in our Romance is a “terrible dragon
-flying from the west, breathing fire, and illuminating
-all the country with the brightness of
-his eyes.” In another place we have a giant
-mounted on a winged dragon; the dragon erects
-his scaly tail, and wafts his rider to the clouds
-with great rapidity.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Arthur and Charlemagne are the first and
-original heroes of Romance. And as Geoffrey’s
-history is the grand repository of the acts of
-Arthur, so a fabulous history ascribed to Turpin
-is the ground work of all the chimerical legends
-which have been related concerning the conquests
-of Charlemagne and his twelve Peers.
-In these two fabulous chronicles the foundations
-of romance seem to be laid. The principal
-characters, the leading subjects, and the fundamental
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>fictions which have supplied such ample
-matter to this singular species of composition,
-are here first displayed. And although the long
-continuance of the Crusades imported innumerable
-inventions of a similar complexion, and
-substituted the achievements of new champions,
-and the wonders of other countries, yet the tales
-of Arthur and Charlemagne, diversified indeed,
-or enlarged with additional embellishments, still
-continued to prevail, and to be the favourite
-topics; and this, partly from their early popularity,
-partly from the quantity and the beauty
-of the fictions with which they were at first supported,
-and especially because the design of the
-Crusades had made those subjects so fashionable
-in which Christians fought with Infidels. In a
-word these volumes are the first specimens extant
-in this mode of writing. No European history
-before these has mentioned giants, enchanters,
-dragons, and the like monstrous and arbitrary
-fictions. And the reason is obvious; they were
-written at a time when a new and unnatural
-mode of thinking took place in Europe, introduced
-by our communication with the East.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Geoffrey, in his chronicle, gives a genealogy
-of the kings of Britain, from the days of Brutus,
-including a list of seventy monarchs, who
-governed this island, previously to the invasion
-of Julius Cæsar. This list is very distinct and
-plain, but bears so many marks of invention,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span>either of himself, or of the author, from whom he
-translated his chronicle, that it has long since
-been treated as a mere fiction. With respect to
-the story of Brutus, the bishop of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Asaph is
-of opinion, that this forgery was intended to pass
-off the English kings, as being as nobly descended
-as the kings of other nations, by drawing their
-descent from the Trojans, according to the belief
-of the age in which the author lived. Sir
-William Temple, in his introduction to the
-History of England, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 19.) accounts the story
-of Brutus, as a fabulous invention.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Bishop Nicolson (Hist. Libr. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 37.) says,
-that the best defence that can be made for
-Geoffrey’s history, is that which was written by
-Sir John Price, and published at London, in
-quarto, in 1573, under the title of <i>Historiæ
-Britannicæ Defensio</i>. This was dedicated by the
-author, to Lord Burleigh. (See Herbert’s
-Ames, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 935, 1056.)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The chronicle of Geoffrey of Monmouth, has
-occasioned a long controversy, and divided the
-learned world as much as any other work given
-to the public. By some it has been treated as a
-forgery imposed upon the world by Geoffrey
-himself, whilst by others the ground work is considered
-as true, although the history, like most
-monkish writings, is mixed with childish fables
-and legendary tales.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The controversy has now been some time
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>finally decided, and the best Welsh critics allow
-that Geoffrey’s work was a vitiated translation
-of the history of the British kings, written by
-Tyssilio, or <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Telian, bishop of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Asaph,
-who flourished in the seventh century. Geoffrey
-in his work omitted many parts, made considerable
-alterations, additions, and interpolations,
-latinised many of the British appellations, and in
-the opinion of a learned Welshman,<a id='r45' /><a href='#f45' class='c013'><sup>[45]</sup></a> (Lewis
-Morris) metaphorically murdered Tyssillio. We
-may therefore conclude that Geoffrey ought
-not to be cited as historical authority any more
-than Amadis de Gaul, or the Seven Champions of
-Christendom.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Geoffrey’s historical Romance, however, has
-not only been versified by monkish writers, but
-has supplied some of our best poets with materials
-for their sublime compositions. Spenser in
-the second book of his “Fairie Queene” has
-given</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“A Chronicle of Briton kings</div>
- <div class='line'>”From Brute to Arthur’s rayne;“</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>in which he has adorned the genealogy with
-poetical images, and introduces it with a sublime
-address to queen Elizabeth, who was proud of
-tracing her descent from the British line.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In this historical romance is also to be found,
-the affecting history of Leir, king of Britain, the
-eleventh in succession after Brutus, who divided
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>his kingdom between Goneriller and Regan, his
-two elder daughters, and disinherited his younger
-daughter, Cordeilla. Being ungratefully treated
-by his elder daughters, he was restored to the
-crown by Cordeilla, who espoused Aganippus,
-king of the Franks. From this account Shakespeare
-selected his incomparable tragedy of king
-Lear; but improved the pathos by making the
-death of Cordeilla, which name he softened after
-the example of Spenser into Cordelia, precede
-that of Lear, whilst in the original story, the
-aged father is restored to his kingdom, and survived
-by Cordeilla.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Milton seems to have been particularly fond of
-Geoffrey’s tales,<a id='r46' /><a href='#f46' class='c013'><sup>[46]</sup></a> to which he was indebted for
-the beautiful fiction of Sabrina in the mask of
-Comus. In his youth he even formed the design
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>of making the early period of the British history,
-from Brutus to Arthur, the subject of an Epic
-Poem. The poetical language of Milton was
-peculiarly suited to this species of romance; he
-would have exalted the legends of Geoffrey, and
-enriched with the finest imagery the incantations
-and prophecies of Merlin, the heroic deeds
-of Vortimer, Aurelius, and Uther Pendragon.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The fables of Geoffrey have been clothed in
-rhyme by Robert of Gloucester, a monk of the
-abbey of Gloucester. He has left a poem of
-considerable length, which is a history of England
-in verse, from Brutus to the reign of
-Edward the first. His rhyming chronicle is,
-however, destitute either of art or imagination,
-and Geoffrey’s prose, frequently has a more
-poetical air than this author’s verses. It was
-evidently written after the year 1278, as the poet
-mentions king Arthur’s sumptuous tomb, erected
-in that year, before the high altar of Glastonbury
-abbey, and he declares himself a living
-witness of the remarkably dismal weather which
-distinguished the day on which the battle of
-Evesham was fought in the year 1265. From
-these and other circumstances this piece appears
-to have been composed about the year 1280. It
-is full of Saxonisms, which indeed abound more
-or less, in every writer before Gower and
-Chaucer.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Geoffrey was also copied by an old French
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span>poet, called Maister Wace, or Gasse, from which
-Robert de Brunne in his metrical chronicle of
-England translated that part which extends from
-Æneas to the death of Cadwallader. Wace’s
-poem is commonly called Roman de Rois
-d’Angleterre, and is esteemed one of the oldest
-of the French Romances.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>With respect to the materials this chronicle
-has afforded to other writers, I will here give an
-instance or two.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Tyrrel, in his history of England, acknowledges
-that his first book is an epitome of
-Geoffrey’s pretended history; but at the same
-time says that if it had not been more for the diversion
-of the younger sort of readers, and that the
-work would have been thought to be imperfect
-without it, he should have been much better
-satisfied in wholly omitting it.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the preface to Stow’s chronicle, (folio, 1631)
-the editor observes that Neubrigensis had written
-several invectives against Geoffrey, but more out
-of spleen than judgment. He charges that writer
-with maliciously endeavouring to destroy the
-credit of Geoffrey, because he himself having
-been a supplicant for the bishoprick of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Asaph,
-had been rejected by the Prince of Wales, and
-had thus become the opponent of the Welsh history.
-His observations, Stow says, have been
-confuted by Sir John Price, Dr. Powel, and
-also by Lambard, in his perambulations of Kent.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>Stow then mentions John of Whethamsted,
-Polydore Virgil, and others, who have written
-against Geoffrey, and afterwards enumerates a
-long list of writers, as having uniformly supported
-him, or in other words, who have copied his
-history into their own chronicles.—Hume occasionally
-refers to Geoffrey, as an authority for
-some matters respecting the Saxon period of
-his history.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The History of Geoffrey was printed at Paris,
-in quarto, in 1508, and again in the same size,
-by Ascensius, in 1517. It was also printed with
-five other British historians, in folio, at Leyden,
-in 1587. Ponticus Virunnius, an Italian author,
-made an abridgment of it, in six books, which
-was printed at London, by Powel, in 1585, and
-also in the edition just mentioned.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>A translation of Geoffrey’s chronicle was made
-by Aaron Thompson, and published at London
-in 1718, to which was prefixed a long preface,
-relating to the authority of the history. Thompson’s
-vindication of his author is elaborately
-written, and he defends him with great skill and
-learning; but after refuting the charge of forgery,
-he has failed in his attempt to establish Geoffrey’s
-work as an historical performance, for he himself
-invalidates its authority, by acknowledging
-that it was only such an irregular account, as
-the Britons were able to preserve in those times
-of destruction and confusion, with the addition
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span>of some romantic tales, which indeed might be
-traditions among the Welsh, and such as Geoffrey
-might think entertaining stories for the credulity
-of the times.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Thompson, in his preface, says that in making
-his translation, he used two editions of Geoffrey.
-The first was the Paris edition of Ascensius, 1517,
-which abounds with abbreviations of words,
-sometimes rendering their reading ambiguous.
-The other was the edition of Commeline, printed
-in the year 1587, which is much the most correct.
-These two were printed from different manuscripts,
-and there is a considerable variation
-between them, especially in the orthography of
-persons and places. This observation extends to
-the several ancient abridgments of Geoffrey, by
-Alfred of Beverley, Ralph Diceto, Matthew of
-Westminster, Ralph Higden, and Ponticus
-Virunnius.</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art54' class='c004'>LIFTING UP THE HAND IN SWEARING.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>We find this significant ceremony of lifting up
-the hand in swearing, practised by the Greeks
-and Trojans. Thus Agamemnon swears in
-Homer, (Iliad, 7, 412)</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“To all the gods his sceptre he uplifts.”</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'><span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span>And Dolon requiring an oath of Hector, (Iliad,
-10, 321)</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“But first exalt thy sceptre to the skies,</div>
- <div class='line'>”And swear——“</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>So in Virgil, (Æn. 12, 196) we find Latinus,
-when swearing, looking up to heaven, and
-stretching his right hand to the stars.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>And we even meet with traditionary traces of
-their gods swearing in like manner. Thus
-Apollo, in Pindar, orders Lachesis, one of the
-Fates, to lift up her hands and not violate the
-great oath of the gods.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Giving one’s hand <i>under</i>, or to another was
-a token of submission. It was acknowledging
-his own power subject to that of the other. In
-this manner all the princes submitted to Solomon,
-(1 Chron. 29, 24) and Hezekiah commands
-the children of Israel, (2 Chron. 30, 8) to give
-the hand to <span class='sc'>Jehovah</span>, that is to submit themselves
-and ascribe the power and the glory to him.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Homage is still performed in many places by
-the homager’s kneeling down and putting his
-hands between those of his lord, then taking an
-oath of fealty to him; after which they kiss each
-other’s cheek, in token of friendship and fidelity.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Giving the hand, was also a token of promising;
-it was a kind of staking their active powers
-for the performance of some promise or engagement.
-(See Ezra, 10, 19.)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The joining or taking of hands, among the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>ancients, betokened confederacy, or confirmation
-of some promise. This is illustrated by Homer’s
-expression, (Iliad, 21, 286) where Neptune and
-Minerva appear to Achilles, in a human shape,
-and confirm their promise, by taking his hand in
-their’s. So (Iliad, 6, 233) Glaucus and Diomed
-took hold of each other’s hands, and plighted
-their faith. On which line, Eustathius remarks,
-they plighted their faith to each other, by the
-accustomed ceremony of joining their right
-hands.<a id='r47' /><a href='#f47' class='c013'><sup>[47]</sup></a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>We observe the same mode of joining hands in
-our marriage ceremony; and the custom of shaking
-hands, has also reference to some engagement
-for the future, as well as being a token of friendship
-and amity.</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art55' class='c004'>VILLIERS, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>A treaty of marriage between Charles,
-prince of Wales, (afterwards Charles <abbr title='one'>I.</abbr>) and
-the Infanta of Spain, having been a long time
-in agitation, Buckingham, in 1623, persuaded
-Prince Charles to make a journey into Spain,
-and to fetch home his mistress, the Infanta, by
-representing to him, how brave and gallant an
-action it would be, and how soon it would put
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span>an end to those formalities, which, though all
-substantial matters were already agreed upon,
-might yet retard her voyage to England many
-months. It is suggested by Lord Clarendon,
-that Buckingham’s motive for this journey, was
-an unwillingness that the Earl of Bristol, the
-ambassador in Spain, should have the sole honour
-of concluding the treaty of marriage. However,
-the king was vehemently against this
-journey, and indeed with good reason; but the
-solicitations of the prince, and the impetuosity
-of Buckingham, prevailed.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It appears that Buckingham, during his stay
-in Spain, behaved with great insolence to the
-Earl of Bristol, the English ambassador at that
-court. In a letter, written by the Earl to king
-James, we have the following particulars:—“Let
-your Majesty call some certain men unto
-you, and sift out of them the opinion of the more
-moderate parliament-men; and enquire of those
-that come out of Spain, who did give the first
-cause of falling out? Whether the Duke of
-Buckingham did not many things against the
-authority and reverence due to the Prince?
-Whether he was not wont to be sitting, whilst
-the Prince stood, and was in presence; and also
-to have his feet resting upon another seat, after
-an indecent manner? Whether, when the Prince
-was uncovered whilst the Queen and Infanta
-looked out at the window, he uncovered his head
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>or not? Whether, sitting; at table with the
-prince, he did not behave himself unreverently?
-Whether he were not wont to come into the
-prince’s chamber, with his clothes half on, so
-that the doors could not be opened to them that
-came to visit the prince from the king of Spain,
-the door-keepers refusing to go in for modesty
-sake? Whether he did not call the prince by
-ridiculous names? Whether he did not dishonour
-and profane the king’s palace with base and contemptible
-women? Whether he did not divers
-obscene things, and used not immodest gesticulations,
-and wanton tricks with players in the
-presence of the prince? Whether he did not
-violate his faith to the Duke d’Olivarez, the
-Spanish prime minister? Whether he did not
-presently communicate his discontents, offences,
-and complaints, to the ambassadors of other
-princes? Whether in doing of his business, he did
-not use frequent threatenings unto the catholic
-king’s ministers, and to apostolical nuncios?
-Whether he did not affect to sit at plays presented
-in the king’s palace, after the manner and example
-of the king and prince, being not contented
-with the honour that is ordinarily given to the
-high steward or major-domo of the king’s
-house?”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There is sufficient reason for believing, that
-most of these queries may be answered in the
-affirmative.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>
- <h2 id='art56' class='c004'>KING ARTHUR.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>In a century (<abbr class='spell'>A.D.</abbr> 400 to <abbr class='spell'>A.D.</abbr> 500) of
-perpetual, or at least implacable war, much
-courage, and some skill, must have been exerted
-for the defence of Britain, on the departure of
-the Roman legions, against the Saxon invaders.
-Yet if the memory of its champions is almost
-buried in oblivion, we need not repine; since
-every age, however destitute of science or virtue,
-sufficiently abounds with acts of blood and military
-renown. The tomb of Vortimer, the son of
-Vortigern, was erected on the margin of the sea-shore,
-as a landmark formidable to the Saxons,
-whom he had thrice vanquished in the fields of
-Kent. Ambrosius Aurelian was descended from
-a noble family of Romans, his modesty was equal
-to his valour, and his valour, till the last fatal
-action, was crowned with splendid success. But
-every British name is effaced by the illustrious
-name of <span class='sc'>Arthur</span>, the hereditary prince of the
-Silures, who inhabited South Wales, and the
-elective king or general of the nation. According
-to the most rational accounts, he defeated, in
-twelve successive battles, the Angles of the
-North, and the Saxons of the West; but the
-declining age of the hero was embittered by
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>popular ingratitude and domestic misfortunes.
-The events of his life are less interesting, than
-the singular revolutions of his fame. During a
-period of five hundred years the tradition of his
-exploits was preserved, and rudely embellished,
-by the obscure bards of Wales and Armorica,
-who were odious to the Saxons, and unknown
-to the rest of mankind. The pride and curiosity
-of the Norman conquerors, prompted them to
-enquire into the ancient history of Britain; they
-listened with fond credulity to the tale of Arthur,
-and eagerly applauded the merit of a prince, who
-had triumphed over the Saxons, their common
-enemies. His romance, transcribed in the latin
-of Geoffrey of Monmouth, and afterwards translated
-into the fashionable idiom of the times, was
-enriched with the various, though incoherent
-ornaments, which were familiar to the experience,
-the learning, or the fancy of the twelfth century.
-The progress of a Phrygian colony from the
-Tyber to the Thames, was easily engrafted on
-the fable of the Æneid; and the royal ancestors
-of Arthur derived their origin from Troy, and
-claimed their alliance with the Cæsars, His
-trophies were decorated with captive provinces
-and imperial titles; and his Danish victories
-avenged the recent injuries of his country. The
-gallantry and superstition of the British hero,
-his feasts and tournaments, and the memorable
-institution of his knights of the <i>round table</i>, were
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>faithfully copied from the reigning manners of
-chivalry, and the fabulous exploits of Uther’s
-son, appear less incredible than the adventures
-which were achieved by the enterprising valour
-of the Normans. Pilgrimage and the holy wars,
-introduced into Europe the specious miracles of
-Arabian magic. Fairies and giants, flying
-dragons, and enchanted palaces, were blended
-with the more simple fictions of the west; and
-the fate of Britain depended on the art, or the
-predictions of Merlin. Every nation embraced
-and adorned the popular romance of Arthur and
-the knights of the round table: their names were
-celebrated in Greece and Italy; and the voluminous
-tales of Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram were
-devoutly studied by the princes and nobles, who
-disregarded the genuine heroes and historians of
-antiquity. At length the light of science and
-reason was rekindled; the talisman was broken;
-the visionary fabric melted into air, and by a
-natural, though unjust reverse of the public
-opinion, the severity of the present age is inclined
-to question even the <i>existence</i> of Arthur.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>
- <h2 id='art57' class='c004'>ALCHEMY.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>About the year 296, the Emperor Diocletian
-published a very remarkable edict which instead of
-being condemned as the effect of jealous tyranny,
-deserves to be applauded as an act of prudence
-and humanity. He caused a diligent enquiry to
-be made for all the ancient books which treated
-of the art of making gold and silver, and without
-pity committed them to the flames; apprehensive,
-it is remarked, lest the opulence of the Egyptians
-should inspire them with confidence to rebel
-against the empire. But if Diocletian had been
-convinced of the reality of that valuable art, far
-from extinguishing the memoirs, he would have
-converted the operation of it to the benefit of the
-public revenue. It is much more likely, that his
-good sense discovered to him the folly of such
-magnificent pretensions, and that he was desirous
-of preserving the reason and fortunes of his subjects
-from the mischievous pursuit. It may be
-remarked that these ancient books, so liberally
-ascribed to Pythagoras, to Solomon, or to
-Hermes, were the pious frauds of more recent
-adepts. The Greeks were inattentive either to
-the use or to the abuse of chemistry. In that
-immense register, where Pliny has deposited the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>discoveries, the arts, and the errors of mankind,
-there is not the least mention of the transmutation
-of metals, and the persecution of Diocletian
-is the first authentic event in the history of
-Alchemy. The conquest of Egypt by the Arabs
-diffused that vain science over the globe. Congenial
-to the avarice of the human heart, it was
-studied in China as in Europe, with equal eagerness,
-and with equal success. The darkness of
-the middle ages ensured a favourable reception
-to every tale of wonder, and the revival of learning
-gave new vigour to hope, and suggested
-more specious arts of deception. Philosophy,
-with the aid of experience, has at length banished
-the study of alchemy; and the present age,
-however desirous of riches, is content to seek
-them by the humbler means of commerce and
-industry.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art58' class='c004'>ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL NOBLE FAMILIES IN ENGLAND WHO OWE THEIR ELEVATION TO THE PEERAGE TO THEIR ANCESTORS HAVING BEEN ENGAGED IN TRADE.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>It is a striking and peculiar feature in the
-constitution of England, that men who render
-themselves eminent in the liberal sciences, in the
-arts, or in commerce, frequently find their pursuits
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span>conduct them to a high degree of rank and
-estimation in the state; and the sovereign has, in
-numerous instances, conferred the honour of the
-Peerage on certain individuals, who have contributed
-by their abilities to enlarge and promote
-the manufactures and commerce of the nation.
-Among the families whose ancestors have
-deserved well of their country, and who owe
-their elevation to the Peerage to their forefathers
-having been engaged in trade, the following are
-honourable instances.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The <span class='sc'>Earls of Coventry</span> are descended
-from John Coventry, son of William Coventry,
-of the city of that name. The former was an
-opulent mercer, and resided in London, of which
-city he was Lord Mayor in 1425, and one of the
-executors of the celebrated Whittington. He
-was a resolute and determined magistrate, and
-was highly commended for his spirited interference
-in the dreadful quarrel between Humphrey
-Duke of Gloucester, and the insolent
-Cardinal Beaufort, which he successfully quelled.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The family of <span class='sc'>Rich</span>, Earls of Warwick and
-Holland, arose from Richard Rich, an opulent
-mercer, sheriff of London in the year 1441.
-His descendant, Richard, was distinguished by
-his knowledge of the law; became Solicitor
-General in the reign of king Henry the eighth,
-and treacherously effected the ruin of Sir Thomas
-More; was created a baron of the realm in the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>reign of Edward the sixth, and became Lord
-Chancellor by the favour of the same monarch.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The <span class='sc'>Holles’s</span>, Earls of Clare, and afterwards
-Dukes of Newcastle, sprung from Sir William
-Holles, Lord Mayor of London in 1540, son of
-William Holles, citizen and baker. His great-grandson
-was the first who was called to the
-House of Peers, in the reign of James the first,
-by the title of Lord Haughton, and soon after
-was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Clare.
-The fourth peer of that title was created by king
-William, Duke of Newcastle; but the title
-became extinct in his name in 1711.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Sir <span class='sc'>Thomas Leigh</span>, Lord Mayor of London,
-in 1558, furnished the Peerage with the addition
-of two. He was the son of Roger Leigh, of
-Wellington, in Shropshire. Sir Thomas’s grandson,
-Francis, was created by Charles the first,
-Lord Dunsmore, and afterwards Earl of Chichester;
-and Sir Thomas’s second son, Sir Thomas
-Leigh, of Stoneleigh, had the honour of being
-called to the House of Peers by the title of Lord
-Leigh, of Stoneleigh.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The <span class='sc'>Pleydell-Bouveries</span>, Earls of Radnor,
-descend from Edward De Bouverie, an
-opulent Turkey merchant, who died in 1694.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Ducie</span>, Lord Ducie, is descended from Sir
-Robert Ducie, who belonged to the company of
-merchant tailors, and was sheriff of London in
-1621, and Lord Mayor in 1631. He was
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>immensely rich, and was made banker to king
-Charles the first, and on the breaking out of the
-rebellion, lost £80,000, owing to him by his
-Majesty. Nevertheless he is said to have left at
-the time of his death, property in land, money,
-&amp;c. to his four sons, to the amount of £400,000.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Paul Bayning</span>, sheriff of London in 1593,
-had a son of the same name, who was first
-created a baronet, and in the third of Charles
-the first, a baron of the realm, by the title of
-Baron Bayning, and soon after a viscount, by
-the title of Viscount Bayning of Sudbury. He
-was buried in the paternal tomb, in the church
-of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Olave’s. His house was in Mark-lane.
-After the fire of London, the business of the
-custom house was transacted in that which went
-under the name of Lord Bayning’s.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The <span class='sc'>Cranfields</span>, Earls of Middlesex, rose
-from Lionel Cranfield, a citizen of London, bred
-up in the custom house. He became, in 1620,
-Lord Treasurer of England. The Duke of
-Dorset is descended from Frances, sister and
-heir of the third Earl of Middlesex, married to
-Richard, Earl of Dorset.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The noble family of <span class='sc'>Ingram</span>, Viscount Irwin,
-was raised in the reign of queen Elizabeth, by
-Hugh Irwin, citizen, merchant, and tallow-chandler,
-who died in 1612. He left a large
-fortune between two sons; of whom Sir Arthur,
-the younger, settled in Yorkshire, and purchased
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span>a considerable estate, the foundation of the good
-fortune afterwards enjoyed by the family. The
-present Marchioness of Hertford is the representative
-of the Ingrams, being the daughter and
-co-heir of the last Viscount Irwin.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Sir <span class='sc'>Stephen Brown</span>, son of John Brown,
-of Newcastle, Lord Mayor of London, in 1438,
-and again in 1448, was a grocer, and added
-another peer, in the person of Sir Anthony
-Brown, created Viscount Montagu, by Philip
-and Mary, in 1554.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The <span class='sc'>Legges</span> rose to be Earls of Dartmouth.—The
-first who was raised to the peerage was that
-loyal and gallant naval officer, George Legge,
-created Baron of Dartmouth in 1682. He was
-descended from an ancestor who filled the Pretorian
-Chair of London in the years 1347 and
-1354, having by his industry in the trade of a
-skinner, attained great wealth.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Sir <span class='sc'>Geoffrey Bullen</span>, Lord Mayor in
-1458, was grandfather of Thomas, Earl of
-Wiltshire, father of Anna Bullen, and grandfather
-of queen Elizabeth, the highest genealogical
-honour the city of London ever possessed.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Sir <span class='sc'>Baptist Hicks</span> was a great mercer at
-the accession of James the first, and made a
-large fortune, by supplying the court with silks.
-He was first knighted, and afterwards created
-Viscount Campden. It is said he left his two
-daughters one hundred thousand pounds each.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>He built a large house in <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> John’s street, for
-the justices of Middlesex to hold their sessions in,
-which (till its demolition a few years ago, upon
-the erection of a new sessions house on Clerkenwell
-Green,) retained the name of Hicks’ Hall.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The <span class='sc'>Capels</span>, Earls of Essex, are descended
-from Sir William Capel, draper, Lord Mayor
-in 1503. He first set up a cage in every ward
-of London, for the punishment of idle people.
-It is probable that he had his mansion on the
-site of the present Stock Exchange, in Capel
-Court, so called after him.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Michael Dormer</span>, mercer, Mayor in 1542,
-was the ancestor of the Lords Dormer.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Edward Osborne</span>, was apprentice to Sir
-William Hewet, clothworker. About the year
-1536, when his master lived in one of those
-tremendous houses on London bridge, a servant
-maid was playing with his only daughter in her
-arms, in a window over the water, and accidentally
-dropped the child. Young Osborne, who was
-witness to the misfortune, instantly sprung into
-the river, and beyond all expectations brought
-her safe to her terrified family. When she was
-marriageable, several persons of rank paid their
-addresses to her, and among others the Earl of
-Shrewsbury; but Sir William gratefully declined
-in favour of Osborne.—“<span class='sc'>Osborne</span> <i>saved her</i>,”
-said he, “<i>and</i> <span class='sc'>Osborne</span> <i>shall enjoy her</i>.” In
-her right he possessed a most ample fortune.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span>He became sheriff of London in 1575, and Lord
-Mayor in 1583, and from his loins sprung the
-Dukes of Leeds.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>From Sir <span class='sc'>William Craven</span>, merchant
-tailor, Mayor in 1611, sprung the gallant Earl
-Craven, who was his eldest son, and was greatly
-distinguished by his actions in the service of the
-unfortunate Elector Palatine, by his attachment
-to the Dowager, and his marriage with that
-illustrious Princess.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Lord Viscount <span class='sc'>Dudley and Ward</span> is
-descended from William Ward, a wealthy goldsmith
-in London, and jeweller to Henrietta
-Maria, queen of Charles the first. His son
-Humble Ward, married Frances, grand-daughter
-of Edward Sutton, Lord Dudley; who, on the
-death of her grand-father, became Baroness
-Dudley; and he himself was created in 1643,
-Lord Ward of Birmingham.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art59' class='c004'>LAST MOMENTS OF QUEEN CAROLINE.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>A little before the Queen died she asked
-the physician who was in attendance, “How
-long can this last?” And on his answering “Your
-majesty will soon be eased of your pains;” she
-replied “The sooner the better!” The queen
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>then repeated a prayer of her own composing, in
-which there was such a flow of natural eloquence,
-as demonstrated the vigour of a great and good
-mind. When her speech began to falter, and
-she seemed expiring, she desired to be raised up
-in her bed, and fearing that nature would not
-hold out long enough without artificial support
-she called to have water sprinkled upon her, and
-a little after desired it might be repeated. She
-then with the greatest composure and presence
-of mind, requested her weeping relations to kneel
-down and pray for her. Whilst they were reading
-some prayers, she exclaimed “Pray aloud,
-that I may hear,” and after the Lord’s prayer was
-concluded, in which she joined as well as she
-was able, said “So,” and waving her hand, lay
-down and expired.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art60' class='c004'>THE BRITONS, ACCORDING TO THE GREEK AND LATIN CLASSICS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Strabo observes in his Geography, that
-“the woods are their towns; for having fenced
-round a wide circular space with trees hewn
-down, they there place their huts, and fix stalls
-for their cattle; but not of long duration. They
-have dwellings of a round form, constructed of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>poles and wattled work, with very high pointed
-coverings of beams united at a point.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Diodorus Siculus asserts, that “they inhabit
-very wretched dwellings, composed for the most
-part of reeds (or straw) and wood.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Cæsar thus describes, not Londinium, but the
-capital of Cassivellaunus: “The Britons call a
-place, a town, when they have fortified thick
-impassable woods, by means of a <i>vallum</i> and
-fosse, or a high bank and a ditch; in which sort
-of a place they are accustomed to assemble together,
-to avoid the invasion of enemies.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Tacitus describing the strong holds, to which
-Caractacus resorted, observes: “They then
-fortified themselves on steep mountains; and,
-where-ever there was any possibility of access in
-any part, he constructed a great bank of stones,
-like a <i>vallum</i>.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The curious reader is referred to the first
-volume of King’s Munimenta Antiqua, for prints
-and plans, both of the Welsh houses and fortresses,
-<i>of which some are yet entire</i> and others in ruins,
-in every part of England, Scotland, Wales,
-and Ireland. No book, either in our tongue, or
-in any of the European languages, is so complete
-and satisfactory on this interesting and domestic
-subject: the prints are excellent.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Diodorus Siculus also notices that the Britons
-laid up their corn in subterranean repositories,
-whence they used to take a portion every day;
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>and having bruised and dried the grain, made a
-kind of food from it of immediate use. Martin
-in his description of the Western Isles, (<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 204.)
-describes this sort of diet, and the quick mode
-of preparing it, as yet continued. King, in
-the <abbr title='forty-eighth'>48th</abbr> and following pages of his first volume,
-<i>has detected, and delineated these rude monuments
-of our ancestors</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It is highly curious to trace the appearance of
-the persons of our forefathers and their manners.
-Cæsar remarks that they painted themselves with
-vitrum, or woad; and Herodian, that some of
-them on the sea-coast punctured or <i>tattooed</i><a id='r48' /><a href='#f48' class='c013'><sup>[48]</sup></a> their
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span>bodies with figures resembling various kinds of
-animals; in consequence of which they also went
-without garments, that they might not cover, nor
-conceal, these marks. The other natives were,
-in <i>general</i>, clad with skins. They had long lank
-hair, but were shorn in every part of the body,
-except the head and upper lip.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>A wretched substitute for salt was obtained
-merely by pouring sea-water on the embers of
-burning wood.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>The Irish drank the blood of animals and even
-of their enemies.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>King, in the latter half of the first volume,
-(<i>Munim. Ant.</i>) gives prints of the altars, or
-<i>Cromlechs</i>, yet entire, in many situations in
-Ireland, the Highlands, and England, on which
-human victims were cruelly murdered.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Druids were richly clad; some of them
-even wore golden chains, or collars, about their
-necks and arms; and had their garments dyed
-with various colours, and adorned with gold.
-Chains also both of iron and gold, were worn by
-some of the chieftains and nobler ranks. These
-facts will appear so incredible, that the reader
-must be informed, that in most of the tumuli, or
-old British graves, described by King, these ornaments
-are found in our days. It is a remarkable
-omission in Mr. King, that he did not quote the
-three verses from the fourteenth chapter of
-Isaiah so descriptive of the Babylonian regal
-tumuli, similar to the British: “All the kings
-of the nations lie down in glory, each in his own
-sepulchre: To meet thee, O Sennacherib,
-Hades rouseth his mighty dead: he maketh them
-rise up from their thrones. All of them shall
-accost thee, and shall say unto thee, Art thou
-become weak as we? Art thou made like unto
-us? Is then thy pride brought down to the
-grave? Is the vermin become thy couch, and
-the earth-worm thy covering?”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>Strabo, at the end of his third book, says, that
-“the Cassiterides, or Islands of Tin, were inhabited
-by men dressed in black garments, in
-tunics descending to the feet, a girdle around
-their breast; walking erect with a staff in their
-hand; and permitting the beard to grow like
-that of a goat. They subsist on their cattle, in
-general spending an erratic pastoral life.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Some of the common order of Britons wore,
-instead of the skins of beasts, very thick coarse
-wrappers made of wool; a sort of blanket or rug,
-fastened about the neck with a piece of sharp
-pointed stick. They used also a coarse, slit, short
-vest, with sleeves; it barely reached down to the
-knees.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>As armour, the Britons had a long two-handed
-sword, hanging by a chain on the right hand side;
-a great long wooden shield as tall as a man;
-long spears; and a sort of missile wooden instrument,
-like a javelin, longer than an arrow, which
-they darted merely by the hand: modern writers
-call these two last mentioned, <i>Celts</i>, fixed on
-the end of staves and sticks. Some of them used
-slings for stones, others had breast plates, made
-of plates of iron, with hooks, or with wreathed
-chains: some had helmets of different forms.
-Many went to battle nearly naked, and some
-wound chains of iron around their necks and loins.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>They generally lay and reposed themselves on
-the bare ground, yet most of them ate their food
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>sitting on seats. A very beautiful print is given
-by Mr. King of their various dresses. The plaid
-seems to be derived from them. The coins of the
-old British, which are engraven in Speed, in Borlase’s
-Cornwall, in Gough’s edition of Camden’s
-Britannia, and in Plot’s History of Oxfordshire,
-will explain these descriptions of the classics.
-Even Julius Cæsar had noticed that the Britons
-used either brass money, or iron circular coins
-reduced to a standard weight. In the scale of
-civilization, therefore, the ancient Britons were
-as advanced in the era of Cæsar, as the Romans
-themselves at the expulsion of their kings; as
-the Grecians in the age of Homer; as the Mexicans
-at the Spanish conquest; and as the
-modern Tartars.<a id='r49' /><a href='#f49' class='c013'><sup>[49]</sup></a></p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art62' class='c004'>THE SEVEN SLEEPERS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Among the insipid legends of ecclesiastical
-history, one of the most memorable is that of the
-Seven Sleepers, whose imaginary date corresponds
-with the reign of the younger Theodosius and
-the conquest of Africa by the Vandals, or sometime
-about the year 440. When the Emperor
-Decius persecuted the Christians, seven noble
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span>youths of Ephesus concealed themselves in a spacious
-cavern in the side of an adjacent mountain;
-where they were doomed to perish by the tyrant,
-who gave orders that the entrance should be firmly
-secured with a pile of huge stones. They immediately
-fell into a deep slumber, which was
-miraculously prolonged, without injuring the
-powers of life, during a period of one hundred
-and eighty seven years. At the end of that time,
-the slaves of Adolius, to whom the inheritance of
-the mountain had descended, removed the stones
-to supply materials for some rustic edifice; the
-light of the sun darted into the cavern, and the
-Seven Sleepers were permitted to awake. After
-a slumber, as they thought of a few hours, they
-were pressed by the calls of hunger; and resolved
-that Jamblichus, one of their number, should
-secretly return to the city, to purchase bread for the
-use of his companions. The youth, if we may still
-employ that appellation, could no longer recognise
-the once familiar aspect of his native country;
-and his surprize was increased by the appearance of
-a large cross triumphantly erected over the principal
-gate of Ephesus. His singular dress and obsolete
-language, confounded the baker, to whom
-he offered an ancient medal of Decius as the current
-coin of the empire; and Jamblichus, on the
-suspicion of a secret treasure, was dragged before
-the judge. Their mutual enquiries produced
-the amazing discovery that two centuries were
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>almost elapsed since Jamblichus and his friends
-had escaped from the rage of a Pagan tyrant. The
-Bishop of Ephesus, the clergy, the magistrates,
-the people, and as it is said, the Emperor Theodosius
-himself, hastened to visit the cavern of the
-Seven Sleepers, who bestowed their benediction,
-related their story, and at the same instant peaceably
-expired. The origin of this marvellous
-fable cannot be ascribed to the pious fraud and
-credulity of the <i>modern</i> Greeks, since the authentic
-tradition may be traced within half a century
-of the supposed miracle. James of Sarug, a
-Syrian bishop, who was born only two years
-after the death of the younger Theodosius, has devoted
-one of his two hundred and thirty homilies
-to the praise of the young men of Ephesus.
-Their legend, before the end of the sixth century,
-was translated from the Syriac into the
-Latin language, by the care of Gregory of Tours.
-The hostile communions of the East preserve
-their memory with equal reverence; and their
-names are honourably inscribed in the Roman,
-the Abyssinian, and the Russian Calendar.
-Nor has their reputation been confined to the
-Christian world. This popular tale, which
-Mahomet might learn when he drove his camels
-to the fairs of Syria, is introduced as a divine revelation,
-into the Koran. The story of the Seven
-Sleepers has been adopted, and adorned, by
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span>the nations, from Bengal to Africa, who profess
-the Mahometan religion; and some vestiges of a
-similar tradition have been discovered in the remote
-extremities of Scandinavia.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art63' class='c004'>JOHN RAY, THE NATURALIST.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Ray was the son of a blacksmith, at Black
-Notley, in Essex, where he was born in 1628.
-He received his education at Braintree school, at
-Catharine Hall, and afterwards at Trinity
-College, Cambridge. His intense studies, requiring
-country air and exercise, occasioned his
-predilection for botany; his first rambles in
-search of plants were confined in extent, but
-subsequently diverged throughout England and
-Wales; and at length passing the channel he
-visited many parts of Europe. His books of
-instruction were the works of Johnson and
-Parkinson, and the Phytologia Britannica. His
-friend and companion, Francis Willoughby,<a id='r50' /><a href='#f50' class='c013'><sup>[50]</sup></a>
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span>was a gentleman as amiable as scientific, their
-souls seeming to be blended together. Ray
-having been ordained, did not chuse to accept of
-the emoluments of the church, with which he
-did not entirely unite; but just before his death,
-when it was too late to gain, he became reconciled
-to it. Mr. Willoughby, who died in 1672,
-left him an annuity of sixty pounds, but it does
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>not appear what other property he possessed,
-except his fellowship of Trinity. Though the
-generations which have followed him have produced
-a Linnæus, a Buffon, and a Pennant, yet
-Ray’s fame is too well established ever to be supplanted.
-He was a wise, a learned, as well as a
-pious and modest man, and ever ready to impart
-that knowledge which he had taken so much
-pains to acquire. He died in 1705 with a devout
-humility that had ever distinguished him, wishing
-that he had spent much more of his life in the
-immediate service of his Creator. There was
-no task too arduous for Ray; if Lister, a contemporary
-naturalist, would have gone to the
-bottom of the ocean for a shell, Ray would have
-climbed to the extreme point of the Alps for a
-new plant. In the church-yard of Black Notley,
-his native place, there is a long and elegant
-inscription to the memory of this great man, and
-in the library of Trinity College, there is a fine
-marble bust of him, in company with Bacon and
-other splendid ornaments of that magnificent
-foundation.</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>
- <h2 id='art65' class='c004'>LONDON BANKERS, AND THEIR ORIGIN.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The company of Goldsmiths, in London,
-appeared as a fraternity, as early as 1180, but
-it was in the reign of Edward the third, that
-they were first incorporated. They became, in
-time, the bankers of the capital. The <i>Lombards</i>
-were the first and greatest, and most of the
-money contracts, in old times, passed through
-their hands. Many of our monarchs were obliged
-to them for money.—The three blue balls, now
-used by pawnbrokers, but converted by them
-into golden ones, are, in reality, the arms of the
-Lombards.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Lombard-street, in the metropolis, took its name
-from being the residence of the Lombards, the
-great money-changers and usurers of early times.
-They came out of Italy into this kingdom before
-the year 1274; at length their extortions became
-so great, that Edward the third seized on
-their estates; perhaps the necessity of furnishing
-himself with money for his Flemish expedition,
-might have urged him to this step. They
-seem quickly to have repaired their loss; for
-complaint was soon after made against them,
-for persisting in their practices. They were so
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span>opulent in the days of Henry the fourth, as to be
-able to furnish him with money, but they took
-care to get the customs mortgaged to them, by
-way of security.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>They continued in Lombard-street till the reign
-of queen Elizabeth, and to this day it is filled
-with the shops of eminent bankers. The shop of
-the great Sir Thomas Gresham stood in Lombard-street;
-it is now occupied by Messrs. Martin and
-Stone, bankers, who are still in possession of the
-original sign of that illustrious person, the
-<i>Grasshopper</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The business of goldsmiths was confined to
-the buying and selling of plate, and foreign coins
-of gold and silver, melting them, and coining
-others at the mint. The banking was accidental
-and foreign to their institution.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Regular banking by private persons resulted
-in 1643 from the calamity of the times, when a
-seditious spirit was incited by the acts of the
-parliamentary leaders. The merchants and
-tradesmen who before trusted their cash to their
-servants and apprentices found that mode no
-longer safe; neither did they dare to leave it in
-the mint at the tower, by reason of the distresses
-of majesty itself, which before was a place of
-public deposit. In the year 1645, they first
-placed their cash in the hands of goldsmiths,
-who then began publicly to exercise the two
-professions of goldsmiths and bankers. Even of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>late years there were several very eminent bankers
-who kept the goldsmith’s shop; but they
-were more frequently separated.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The first regular banker was Mr. Francis
-Child, goldsmith, who began business after the
-restoration. He was the father of the profession,
-a person of large fortune, of most respectable
-character, and he was knighted by the king. He
-lived in Fleet-street, in the house adjoining
-Temple-bar, where the banking business is still
-carried on in the same firm, though by different
-persons. Granger, in his Biographical History,
-mentions that Mr. Child succeeded Mr. Backwell,<a id='r51' /><a href='#f51' class='c013'><sup>[51]</sup></a>
-a banker in the time of Charles the
-second, noted for his integrity, abilities, and industry;
-who was ruined by the shutting up of
-the Exchequer in 1672.<a id='r52' /><a href='#f52' class='c013'><sup>[52]</sup></a> His books were placed
-in the hands of Mr. Child, and still remain in the
-family.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>The next ancient shop was that possessed at
-present by Messrs. Snow and Co. in the
-Strand, a few doors westward of Mr. Child’s,
-who were goldsmiths of consequence in the
-latter part of the same reign. Mr. Gay celebrates
-the predecessor of these gentlemen, for
-his sagacity in escaping the ruin of the fatal year
-1720, in his epistle to Mr. Thomas Snow, goldsmith,
-near Temple-bar:—</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>O thou whose penetrative wisdom found</div>
- <div class='line'>The <i>South Sea</i> rocks and shelves where thousands drown’d,</div>
- <div class='line'>When credit sunk and commerce gasping lay,</div>
- <div class='line'>Thou stoodst; nor sent’st one bill unpaid away.</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>To the westward of Temple-bar the only other
-house was that of Messrs. Middleton and Campbell,
-goldsmiths, who flourished in 1692, and is
-now continued with great credit by Mr. Coutts.
-From thence to the extremity of the west end of
-the town there were none till the year 1756, when
-the respectable name of Backwell rose again, conjoined
-with those of Darel, Hart, and Croft, who
-with great reputation opened their shop (afterwards
-the house of Devaynes, Noble, and Co.) in
-Pallmall.</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>
- <h2 id='art66' class='c004'>ELUCIDATION OF THE ORNAMENTS WITH WHICH THE GREEKS AND ROMANS ADORNED THE HUMAN HEAD ON COINS AND MEDALS.</h2>
-</div>
-<h3 class='c014'>THE DIADEM.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>The chief of these ornaments is the diadem,
-or vitta, which was a ribband worn about the
-head, and tied in a floating knot behind. This
-was anciently the simple, but superlative badge
-of kingly power. It is observable upon the Greek
-monarchical medals, from the earliest ages, to the
-last, without any other ornament, and is almost
-an infallible sign of kingly power, and that the
-portrait, if there be no other characteristic, is that
-of a prince. In the Roman coins it is seen on the
-Consular ones with Numa and Ancus; but never
-afterwards till the time of Licinius. So great
-an aversion had the Romans to this kingly distinction,
-that their emperors had for more than two
-centuries worn the radiated crown, peculiar to
-the gods, before they dared to assume the
-diadem, which was considered as the symbol of
-tyranny. In the family of Constantine, the
-diadem becomes common, though not with the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>ancient simplicity, being ornamented on either
-edge with a row of pearls, and various other decorations.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Greek queens used the diadem, but the
-Roman empresses never appear with it; however,
-the variety of their head dresses more than compensates
-for the want of this ornament.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>THE RADIATED CROWN.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>The radiated crown was, at first, as on the
-posthumous coins of Augustus, a mark of deification,
-and in little more than a century after,
-was put upon most of the emperors’ heads on
-their several medals.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>THE CROWN OF LAUREL.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>The crown of laurel was at first the honorary
-prize of conquerors, but was afterwards commonly
-worn, at least on their medals, by all the
-Roman emperors, from <span class='sc'>Julius Cæsar</span>, who
-was permitted by the senate to wear it always,
-to hide the baldness of his forehead. This perhaps
-gave rise to the first emperors always appearing
-with it on their coins, a circumstance
-continued even to our times, and looking at its
-origin is now a little laughable. The laurel
-employed by the ancients in forming their crowns,
-is apparently what we term the Alexandrian
-laurel, a most beautiful evergreen, of a fine
-tender verdure. In the lower empire the laurel
-is often held by a hand above the head as a mark
-of piety.</p>
-<div>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>
- <h3 class='c014'>THE ROSTRAL CROWN.</h3>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Agrippa appears on his coins with the rostral
-crown, a sign of naval victory or command,
-being made of gold, in resemblance of prows of
-ships, tied together.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>THE MURAL CROWN.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>Agrippa is likewise seen with the mural or
-turretted crown, the prize of first ascending the
-walls of an enemy’s city.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>THE CIVIC CROWN.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>The oaken or civic crown is frequent on
-reverses, as of Galba and others; and was the
-badge of having saved the life of a citizen, or of
-many citizens.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>THE HELMET.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>The helmet appears on coins; as in those of
-Macedon under the Romans, which have a head
-of Alexander, sometimes covered with a helmet.
-Probus also has often the helmet on his coins;
-and Constantine the first, has helmets of different
-forms curiously ornamented.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>THE NIMBUS OR GLORY.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>The nimbus or glory, now peculiar to the
-saints, was formerly applied to emperors. A
-nimbus appears round the head of Constantine
-the second, in a gold coin of that prince; and of
-Flavia Maxima Fausta, in a gold medallion;
-and of Justinian in another. But the idea is as
-ancient as the reign of Augustus, and is found in
-Roman authors, before it appeared on coins.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>Oiselius gives a coin of Antoninus Pius, with the
-<i>nimbus</i>, but this however is doubtful, and may
-have been some flaw in the coin from which he
-engraved his representation.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>OTHER ORNAMENTS OF THE HEAD.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>Besides the diadem, the Greek princes sometimes
-appear with the laurel crown. The
-Arsacidæ, or kings of Parthia, wear a kind of
-sash round the head, with their hair in rows of
-curls like a wig. Tigranes and the kings of
-Armenia, wear the <i>tiara</i>, a singular kind of cap,
-but the well known badge of imperial power in
-the ancient eastern world. Xerxes, a petty prince
-of Armenia, appears in a coin extant of him in a
-conical cap, with a diadem around it. Juba, the
-father, has a singular crown, like a conical cap, all
-hung with pearls.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The successors of Alexander assumed by way
-of distinction, different symbols of the Deity, to
-be observed on the busts of their medals, such as
-the lion’s skin of Hercules, which surrounds the
-head of the first Seleucus; the horn placed
-behind the ear, an image of their strength and
-power, or of their being the successors of Alexander,
-called the son of Jupiter Ammon; the
-wing placed in like manner behind the ear,
-symbolic of the rapidity of their conquests, or of
-their being descendants from the god Mercury.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Some authors, however, have doubted if all
-these heads be not of gods, except those with
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span>the horn. Eckhel observes, that even the horn
-and diadem belong to Bacchus, as on a coin of
-Nuceria Alfaterna. Bacchus, according to
-Diodorus Siculus, invented the diadem, to cure
-his head-aches, and was horned like his father
-Jupiter Ammon. The only king who appears
-on coins, according to Eckhel, with the horn, is
-Lysimachus. Pyrrhus had a crest of goats’ horns
-to his helmet, as we are informed by Plutarch, in
-his life, and the goat was the symbol of Macedon.
-It is likely that the successors of Alexander took
-this badge of the horn in consequence.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Besides the distinctions of supreme power, or
-honorary reward, there are other symbolic ornaments
-of the head, observable on some Roman
-coins. Such is the veil, or, more properly, the
-<i>toga</i> drawn over the head, to be seen on the
-busts of Julius Cæsar, when Pontifex Maximus,
-and others. This shews that the person bore
-the pontificate or the augurship; the augurs
-having a particular gown, called <i>laena</i>, with
-which they covered their heads, when employed
-in observing omens. Latterly the veil is only a
-mark of consecration, and is common in coins of
-empresses, as Faustina, Mariniana, and others.
-In the coins of Claudius Gothicus we first find it
-as a mark of the consecration of an emperor;
-and it continued in those of Constantius the first,
-Maximian the first, and Constantine the first.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The remarkable part of the Roman head dress
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span>among the ladies, was the <i>sphendona</i>, or sling,
-on the crown of the head; answering to the
-modern hair cushion. But it was of gold, and
-so prominent as to be even remarkable in a coin.
-The hair appears in many fashions, as now. Sometimes
-the bust of an empress is supported by a
-crescent, to imply that she was the moon, as her
-husband was the sun of the state.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Generally, only the bust is given on ancient
-coins; but sometimes half the body or more. In
-the latter case the hands often appear, with tokens
-of majesty in them. Such is the globe, said to
-have been introduced by Augustus, to express
-possession of the world. The sceptre, sometimes
-confounded with the consular staff. The roll of
-parchment, symbolic of legislative power; and
-the handkerchief expressing that of the public
-games, where the emperor gave the signal.
-Some princes even hold the thunderbolt, shewing
-that their power was equal to that of Jupiter in
-heaven. Others hold an image of victory.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Most queens of Egypt, on their coins, have the
-sceptre. It appears at the top of their head;
-and would seem part of the dress, were it not
-that in other coins, it passes beneath the neck
-transversely, so that both ends appear.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The victors, at the sacred games among the
-ancients, had bound round the head, an ornament
-called <i>anadema</i>, which has sometimes
-been confounded with the diadem worn by the
-ancient Persian kings.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span>
- <h2 id='art67' class='c004'>THE TRADESCANTS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The Tradescants, father and son, were among
-the first eminent gardeners, and were the very
-first collectors of natural history in this kingdom.
-John Tradescant the elder was, according to
-Anthony Wood, a Fleming, or a Dutchman.
-We are informed by Parkinson, that he had
-travelled into most parts of Europe, and into
-Barbary, and from some emblems remaining
-upon his monument in Lambeth church-yard, it
-appears that he had visited Greece, Egypt, and
-other Eastern countries.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In his travels, he is supposed to have collected
-not only plants and seeds, but most of those
-curiosities of every sort which formed his collection,
-which afterwards became celebrated, and
-is now the Ashmolean museum, at Oxford.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>When he first settled in this kingdom, cannot
-at this distance of time, be ascertained; perhaps
-it was towards the latter end of the reign of queen
-Elizabeth, or the beginning of that of king James
-the first. His portrait, engraven by Hollar,
-before the year 1656, represents him as a person
-very far advanced in years, and seems to countenance
-this opinion.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>He lived in a large house at South Lambeth,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>where, there is reason to think, his museum was
-frequently visited by persons of rank, who
-became benefactors thereto; among these were
-king Charles the first, to whom he was gardener,
-Henrietta Maria, his queen, Archbishop Laud,
-George, Duke of Buckingham, Robert and
-William Cecil, Earls of Salisbury, and many
-other persons of distinction.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>John Tradescant may, therefore, justly be
-considered as the earliest collector in this kingdom,<a id='r53' /><a href='#f53' class='c013'><sup>[53]</sup></a>
-of every thing that was curious in natural
-history, namely, minerals, birds, fishes, insects,
-&amp;c. &amp;c. He had also a good collection of coins
-and medals, besides a great variety of extraordinary
-rarities. Some of the plants which grew
-in his garden are, if not totally extinct in this
-country, at least become very uncommon.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This able man, by his great industry, made it
-manifest, in the very infancy of botany, as a
-science, that there is scarcely any plant existing
-in the known world, that will not, with proper
-care, thrive in this kingdom. The time of his
-death cannot be ascertained, no mention being
-made of it in the register of Lambeth church.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>John Tradescant the son, and his wife, joined
-in a deed of gift, by which their friend Elias
-Ashmole was entitled to this collection after the
-decease of the former. On that event taking
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>place, in 1662, it was accordingly claimed by
-him, but the widow Tradescant refusing to
-deliver it, was compelled so to do by a decree
-of the court of Chancery. She was, a few years
-after, found drowned, in a pond, in her own
-garden.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>His house at South Lambeth, then called
-Tradescant’s Ark,<a id='r54' /><a href='#f54' class='c013'><sup>[54]</sup></a> thus coming into the possession
-of Ashmole, he came to reside there in
-1674, and added a noble room to it, adorning
-the chimney with his arms, impaling those of
-Sir William Dugdale, whose daughter was his
-third wife. Ashmole was much respected by
-his contemporaries, and was frequently visited
-at South Lambeth by persons of very exalted
-rank, particularly by the ambassadors of foreign
-princes, to whom he had presented his book on
-the Order of the Garter.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It is well known that Tradescant’s collection
-was given by Ashmole to the University of
-Oxford, where it forms the principal part of the
-museum that goes by his name, the house, in
-which it is contained, having been built for its
-reception.<a id='r55' /><a href='#f55' class='c013'><sup>[55]</sup></a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>A monument was erected in the south east
-part of Lambeth church-yard, in 1662, by Hester,
-the relict of John Tradescant, the son, to the
-memory of her husband, and the other members
-of his family.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This, once beautiful monument has suffered
-so much by the weather, that no just idea can
-now, on inspection, be formed of the north and
-south sides; but this defect is supplied from very
-fine drawings<a id='r56' /><a href='#f56' class='c013'><sup>[56]</sup></a> in the Pepysian library, at Cambridge.
-On the east side is Tradescant’s arms;
-on the west a hydra, and under it a skull; on
-the south, broken columns, Corinthian capitals,
-&amp;c. supposed to be ruins in Greece, or some
-other Eastern country; and on the north, a
-crocodile, shells, &amp;c. and a view of some Egyptian
-buildings; various figures of trees, &amp;c. in
-relievo, adorn the four corners of the monument.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In a visit made by Sir <abbr class='spell'>W.</abbr> Watson and Dr.
-Mitchell to Tradescant’s garden, in 1749, an
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span>account of which, is inserted in Philos. Trans.
-<abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> <abbr title='46'>xlvi.</abbr> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 160, it appears that it had been
-many years totally neglected, and the house
-belonging to it empty and ruined, but though the
-garden was quite covered with weeds, there
-remained among them manifest footsteps of its
-founder.<a id='r57' /><a href='#f57' class='c013'><sup>[57]</sup></a> They found there the <i>Borago latifolia
-sempervirens</i> of Caspar Bauhine; <i>Polygonatum
-vulgare latifolium, C. B</i>; <i>Aristolochia clematitis
-recta, C. B.</i> and <i>Dracontium</i> of Dodoens.
-There were then remaining two trees of the
-<i>Arbutus</i>, which from their being so long used to
-our winters, did not suffer by the severe cold of
-1739-40, when most of their kind were killed
-in England. In the orchard there was a tree of
-the <i>Rhamnus catharticus</i>, about 20 feet high, and
-nearly a foot in diameter. There are at present
-no traces of this garden remaining.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Tradescants were usually called Tradeskin
-by their contemporaries, and the name is
-uniformly so spelled in the parish register of
-Lambeth, and by Flatman the painter, who in a
-poem mentions Tradescant’s collection;</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>“Thus John Tradeskin starves our wond’ring eyes,</div>
- <div class='line'>”By boxing up his new-found rarities.“</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>The following is a list of the portraits of the
-Tradescant family now in the Ashmolean Museum;
-both father and son are in these portraits
-called Sir John, though it does not appear that
-either of them were ever knighted.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>1. Sir John Tradescant, sen. a three quarters
-piece, ornamented with fruit, flowers, and
-garden roots.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>2. The same, after his decease.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>3. The same, a small three-quarters piece, in
-water colours.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>4. A large painting of his wife, son and
-daughter, quarter-length.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>5. Sir John Tradescant, junior, in his garden,
-with a spade in his hand, half length.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>6. The same with his wife, half length.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>7. The same, with his friend Zythepsa of
-Lambeth, a collection of shells, &amp;c. upon a table
-before them.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>8. A large quarter piece inscribed Sir John
-Tradescant’s second wife and son.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>These pictures have neither date nor painter’s
-name. They are esteemed to be good portraits,
-but who the person was, who is called Zythepsa
-is not known. He is painted as if entering the
-room, and Sir John is shaking him by the hand.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Hollar engraved two portraits of the Tradescants,
-father and son, which are placed as
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span>frontispieces to the little volume, mentioned in
-the preceding note.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Granger (2. 370) says he saw a picture at a
-gentleman’s house in Wiltshire, which was not
-unlike that of the deceased Tradescant, and the
-inscription was applicable to it:—</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>Mortuus haud alio quam quo pater ore quiesti</div>
- <div class='line'>Quam facili frueris nunc quoque nocte doces.</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art68' class='c004'>ORANGE TREES.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The first orange trees seen in England, are
-said to have been planted by Sir Francis Carew,
-at Beddington, in Surrey. Sir Francis died in
-1607, aged 81. Aubrey says they were brought
-from Italy by Sir Francis, but the editors of the
-Biographia Britannica speaking from a tradition
-preserved in the family, tell us that they were
-raised by him from the seeds of the first oranges
-which were imported into England by Sir
-Walter Raleigh, who had married his niece.
-The trees were planted in the open ground, and
-were preserved in the winter by a moveable shed.
-They flourished about a century and a half, being
-destroyed by the hard frost in 1739-40.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the transactions of the Linnæan Society
-there are some notices relating to the progress of
-botany in England, written by the late eminent
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span>naturalist, Peter Collinson. Speaking of the
-orange trees at Beddington be says—“In the
-reign of queen Elizabeth the first orange and
-lemon trees were introduced into England by
-two curious gentlemen, one of them Sir Nicholas
-Carew, at Beddington. They were planted in
-the natural ground, but against every winter an
-artificial covering was raised for their protection.
-I have seen them some years ago<a id='r58' /><a href='#f58' class='c013'><sup>[58]</sup></a> in great perfection.
-But this apparatus going to decay,
-without due consideration a green-house of brick
-work was built all round them, and left on the
-top uncovered in the summer. I visited them a
-year or two after in their new habitation, and to
-my great concern found some dyeing, and all declining;
-for although there were windows on
-the south side, they did not thrive in their confinement;
-but being kept damp, with the rains,
-and wanting a free, airy, full sun, all the growing
-months of summer, they languished, and at last
-all died.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“A better fate has attended the other fine
-parcel of orange trees, &amp;c. brought over at the
-same time, by Sir Robert Mansell, at Margam
-in South Wales. My nephew counted 80 trees
-of citrons, limes, burgamots, Seville and China
-orange-trees, planted in great cases all ranged in
-a row before the green-house. This is the finest
-sight of its kind in England. He had the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>curiosity to measure one of them. A China
-orange measured in the extent of its branches
-fourteen feet. A Seville orange-tree was fourteen
-feet high, the case included, and the stem
-twenty one inches round. A China orange-tree
-twenty two inches and a half in girt.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“I visited the orangery at Margam, in the year
-1766, in company with Mr. Lewis Thomas, a very
-sensible and attentive man, who told me that the
-orange-trees, &amp;c. in that garden were intended
-as a present from the king of Spain to the king
-of Denmark; and that the vessel in which they
-were shipped, being taken in the channel, the
-trees were made a present of to Sir Robert
-Mansell.”</p>
-
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art69' class='c004'>ARTICLES OF USE AND LUXURY INTRODUCED INTO EUROPE BY THE ROMANS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Whatever evils either reason or declamation
-have imputed to extensive empire, the power
-of Rome was attended with some beneficial consequences
-to mankind; and the same freedom of
-intercourse which extended the vices, diffused
-likewise the improvements of social life. In the
-more remote ages of antiquity, the world was
-unequally divided. The east was in the immemorial
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>possession of arts and luxury; whilst the
-west was inhabited by rude and warlike barbarians,
-who either disdained agriculture, or to whom
-it was totally unknown. Under the protection
-of an established government, the productions of
-happier climates, and the industry of more civilized
-nations were gradually introduced into the
-western countries of Europe, and the natives
-were encouraged, by an open and profitable commerce,
-to multiply the former, as well as to improve
-the latter. It would be almost impossible
-to enumerate all the articles, either of the
-animal or vegetable kingdoms which were successively
-imported into Europe from Asia and
-Egypt; it is only intended here to touch on a
-few of the principal heads. It is also not improbable
-that the Greeks and Phœnicians introduced
-some new arts and productions into the neighbourhood
-of Marseilles and Cadiz.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>1. Almost all the flowers, the herbs, and the
-fruits, that grow in our European gardens, are
-of foreign extraction, which in many cases, is
-betrayed even by their names; the apple was a
-native of Italy, and when the Romans had tasted
-the richer flavour of the apricot, the peach,
-the pomegranate, the citron, and the orange,
-they contented themselves with applying to all
-these new fruits the common denomination of
-apple, discriminating them from each other by
-the additional epithet of their country.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span>2. In the time of Homer, the vine grew wild
-in the island of Sicily, and most probably in the
-adjacent continent; but it was not improved by
-the skill, nor did it afford a liquor grateful to the
-taste, of the savage inhabitants. A thousand
-years afterwards, Italy could boast, that of the
-fourscore most generous and celebrated wines,
-more than two thirds were produced from her
-soil. The blessing was soon communicated to
-the Narbonnese province of Gaul; but so intense
-was the cold to the north of the Cevennes, that
-in the time of Strabo, it was thought impossible
-to ripen the grapes in those parts of Gaul. The
-intense cold of a Gallic winter was even proverbial
-among the ancients. This difficulty, however,
-was gradually vanquished; and there is some
-reason to believe that the vineyards of Burgundy
-are as old as the age of the Antonines. In the
-beginning of the fourth century, the orator Eumenius
-speaks of the vines in the territory of
-Autun, which were decayed through age, and
-the first plantation of which was totally unknown.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>3. The olive, in the western world, followed
-the progress of peace, of which it was considered
-as the symbol. Two centuries after the foundation
-of Rome, both Italy and Africa were
-strangers to that useful plant; it was naturalized
-in those countries; and at length carried into the
-heart of Spain and Gaul. The timid errors of
-the ancients, that it required a certain degree of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_254'>254</span>heat, and could only flourish in the neighbourhood
-of the sea, were insensibly exploded by
-industry and experience.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>4. The cultivation of flax was transported
-from Egypt to Gaul, and enriched the whole
-country, however it might impoverish the particular
-lands on which it was sown.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>5. The use of artificial grasses became familiar
-to the farmers both of Italy and the provinces,
-particularly the lucerne, which derived its name
-and origin from Media. The assured supply of
-wholesome and plentiful food for the cattle during
-winter, multiplied the number of the flocks and
-herds, which, in their turn, contributed to the
-fertility of the soil.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>To all these improvements may be added an
-assiduous attention to mines and fisheries, which
-by employing a multitude of laborious hands,
-serves to increase the pleasures of the rich, and
-the subsistence of the poor. The elegant treatise
-of Columella describes the advanced state of the
-Spanish husbandry, under the reign of Tiberius;
-and it may be observed, that those famines, which
-so frequently afflicted the infant republic, were
-seldom or never experienced by the extensive
-empire of Rome. The accidental scarcity, in
-any single province, was immediately relieved
-by the plenty of its more fortunate neighbours.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span>
- <h2 id='art70' class='c004'>ACCOUNT OF THE ESCAPE OF THE EARL OF NITHSDALE, FROM THE TOWER, IN THE YEAR, 1716.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Lord Nithsdale was one of the Scottish
-noblemen who were concerned in the rebellion
-headed by the Earl of Mar, in the year 1715.
-The House of Commons preferred articles of
-impeachment against him, and several others,
-who all, except the Earl of Wintoun, pleaded
-guilty, and on the <abbr title='ninth'>9th</abbr> of February, 1716,
-received judgment of death. The countess of
-Nithsdale and lady Nairne threw themselves at
-the king’s feet as he passed through the apartments
-of the palace, and implored his mercy in
-behalf of their husbands; but their tears and
-entreaties were of no avail. The countess
-finding that nothing would appease the king
-but the death of her husband and the other
-lords, planned the earl’s escape from the tower in
-woman’s apparel, which she safely effected.
-The letter, of which the following is a copy,
-written by herself and addressed to her sister
-lady Lucy Herbert, abbess of the Augustine
-nunnery at Bruges, giving an account of that
-transaction is still preserved in the family, and
-was in the possession of the late Marmaduke
-Constable Maxwell, <abbr title='Esquire'>Esq.</abbr> of Everingham in
-Yorkshire.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>”<i>Palais Royal de Rome, <abbr title='eighteenth'>18th</abbr> April, 1718.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“Dear Sister,</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“My Lord’s escape is now such an old story,
-that I have almost forgotten it; but since you
-desire me to give you a circumstantial account
-of it, I will endeavour to recal it to my memory,
-and be as exact in the narration as I possibly can;
-for I owe you too many obligations to refuse you
-any thing that lies in my power.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“I think I owe myself the justice to set out
-with the motives which influenced me to undertake
-so hazardous an attempt, which I despaired
-of thoroughly accomplishing, foreseeing a thousand
-obstacles, which never could be surmounted
-but by the most particular interposition of
-Divine Providence. I confided in the Almighty
-God, and trusted that he would not abandon me,
-even when all human succours failed me.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“I first came to London upon hearing that
-my Lord was committed to the Tower, I was at
-the same time informed that he had expressed
-the greatest anxiety to see me, having, as he
-afterwards told me, nobody to console him till I
-arrived. I rode to Newcastle, and from thence
-took the stage to York. When I arrived there
-the snow was so deep that the stage could not
-set out for London. The season was so severe,
-and the roads so extremely bad, that the post
-itself was stopt; however, I took horses, and rode
-to London through the snow, which was generally
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span>above the horse’s girth, and arrived safe and
-sound without any accident.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“On my arrival I went immediately to make
-what interest I could amongst those who were in
-place. No one gave me any hopes; but all to
-the contrary, assured me, that although some of
-the prisoners were to be pardoned, yet my lord
-would certainly not be of the number. When
-I enquired into the reason of this distinction, I
-could obtain no other answer, than that they
-would not flatter me; but I soon perceived the
-reasons which they declined alleging to me.
-A roman catholic, upon the frontiers of Scotland,
-who headed a very considerable party—a man
-whose family had always signalized itself by its
-loyalty to the royal house of Stuart, and who was
-the only support of the catholics against the inveteracy
-of the Whigs, who were very numerous in
-that part of Scotland, would become an agreeable
-sacrifice to the opposite party. They still retained
-a lively remembrance of his grandfather, who defended
-his own castle of Carlaverock to the very
-last extremity, and surrendered it up only by the
-express command of his royal master. Now
-having his grandson in their power, they were determined
-not to let him escape from their hands.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“Upon this I formed the resolution to attempt
-his escape, but opened my intentions to nobody
-but my dear Evans. In order to concert measures
-I strongly solicited to be permitted to see
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span>my lord, which they refused to grant me, unless
-I would remain confined with him in the Tower.
-This I would not submit to, and alleged for
-excuse, that my health would not permit me to
-undergo the confinement. The real reason of
-my refusal was, not to put it out of my power to
-accomplish my design; however, by bribing the
-guards, I often contrived to see my lord, till the
-day upon which the prisoners were condemned;
-after that we were allowed for the last week to
-see and take our leave of them.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“By the help of Evans, I had prepared every
-thing necessary to disguise my lord, but had the
-utmost difficulty to prevail upon him to make
-use of them; however, I at length succeeded by
-the help of <span class='sc'>Almighty God</span>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“On the <abbr title='twenty-second'>22d</abbr> of February, which fell on a
-Thursday, our petition was to be presented to
-the House of Lords, the purport of which was
-to intreat the lords to intercede with his majesty
-to pardon the prisoners. We were, however,
-disappointed the day before the petition was to be
-presented; for the Duke of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Alban’s, who had
-promised my Lady Derwentwater to present it,
-when it came to the point, failed in his word:
-however, as she was the only English countess
-concerned, it was incumbent upon her to have it
-presented. We had one day left before the
-execution, and the duke still promised to present
-the petition; but, for fear he should fail, I
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span>engaged the Duke of Montrose to secure its being
-done by the one or the other. I then went in
-company of most of the ladies of quality who
-were then in town, to solicit the interest of the
-lords, as they were going to the house. They
-all behaved to me with great civility, but particularly
-my Lord Pembroke, who, though he
-desired me not to speak to him, yet promised to
-employ his interest in our favour, and honourably
-kept his word; for he spoke in the house very
-strongly in our behalf. The subject of the debate
-was, whether the king had the power to pardon
-those who had been condemned by parliament?
-And it was chiefly owing to Lord Pembroke’s
-speech, that it passed in the affirmative: however,
-one of the lords stood up and said, that
-the house would only intercede for those of the
-prisoners who should approve themselves worthy
-of their intercession, but not for all of them indiscriminately.
-This salvo quite blasted all my
-hopes; for I was assured it aimed at the exclusion
-of those who should refuse to subscribe to
-the petition, which was a thing I knew my lord
-would never submit to; nor, in fact, could I wish
-to preserve his life on such terms.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“As the motion had passed generally, I thought
-I could draw some advantage in favour of my
-design. Accordingly, I immediately left the
-House of Lords, and hastened to the Tower,
-where, affecting an air of joy and satisfaction, I
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span>told all the guards I passed by, that I came to
-bring joyful tidings to the prisoners. I desired
-them to lay aside their fears, for the petition had
-passed the house in their favour. I then gave
-them some money to drink to the lords and his
-majesty, though it was but trifling; for I thought
-that if I were too liberal on the occasion, they
-might suspect my designs, and that giving them
-something would gain their good humour and
-services for the next day, which was the eve of
-the execution.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“The next morning I could not go to the
-Tower, having so many things in my hands to
-put in readiness; but in the evening when all
-was ready, I sent for Mrs. Mills, with whom I
-lodged, and acquainted her with my design of
-attempting my lord’s escape, as there was no
-prospect of his being pardoned; and this was the
-last night before the execution. I told her that
-I had every thing in readiness, and I trusted that
-she would not refuse to accompany me, that my
-lord might pass for her. I pressed her to come
-immediately, as we had no time to lose. At the
-same time I sent for Mrs. Morgan, then usually
-known by the name of Hilton, to whose acquaintance
-my dear Evans had introduced me, which
-I looked upon as a very singular happiness. I
-immediately communicated my resolution to her.
-She was of a very tall and slender make, so I
-begged her to put under her own riding-hood, one
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span>that I had prepared for Mrs. Mills, as she was to
-lend her’s to my Lord, that in coming out he
-might be taken for her. Mrs. Mills was then
-with child; so that she was not only of the same
-height, but nearly of the same size as my lord.
-When they were in the coach, I never ceased
-talking, that they might have no leisure to reflect.
-Their surprise and astonishment, when I first
-opened my design to them, had made them consent,
-without ever thinking of the consequences.
-On our arrival at the Tower, the first I introduced
-was Mrs. Morgan; for I was only
-allowed to take in one at a time. She brought
-in the clothes that were to serve Mrs. Mills,
-when she left her own behind her. When Mrs.
-Morgan had taken off what she had brought
-for my purpose, I conducted her back to the
-staircase; and in going I begged her to send
-me in my maid to dress me; that I was afraid
-of being too late to present my last petition that
-night, if she did not come immediately. I despatched
-her safe, and went partly down stairs to
-meet Mrs. Mills, who had the precaution to hold
-her handkerchief to her face, as was very natural
-for a woman to do when she was going to bid
-her last farewell to a friend on the eve of his
-execution. I had indeed desired her to do it,
-that my lord might go out in the same manner.
-Her eyebrows were rather inclined to be sandy,
-and my lords were dark and very thick; however,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span>I had prepared some paint of the colour of her’s,
-to disguise his with. I also brought an artificial
-head-dress of the same coloured hair as her’s;
-and I painted his face with white and his cheeks
-with rouge, to hide his long beard, as he had
-not time to shave. All this provision I had before
-left in the Tower.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The poor guards, whom my slight liberality
-the day before had endeared to me, let me go
-quietly with my company, and were not so strictly
-on the watch as they usually had been; and the
-more so, as they were persuaded, from what I
-had told them the day before, that the prisoners
-would obtain their pardon. I made Mrs. Mills
-take off her own hood, and put on that which I
-had brought for her; I then took her by the hand
-and led her out of my lord’s chamber; and in
-passing through the next room, in which there
-were several people, with all the concern imaginable,
-I said, “My dear Mrs. Catherines, go in
-all haste, and send me my waiting maid; she
-certainly cannot reflect how late it is; she forgets
-that I am to present a petition to-night, and if
-I let slip this opportunity I am undone, for to-morrow
-will be too late. Hasten her as much as
-possible, for I shall be on thorns till she comes.”
-Every body in the room, who were chiefly
-the guards’ wives and daughters, seemed to compassionate
-me exceedingly, and the sentinel very
-officiously opened the door to me. When I had
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span>seen her out I returned back to my lord, and
-finished dressing him. I had taken care that
-Mrs. Mills did not go out crying as she came in,
-that my lord might the better pass for the lady
-who came in crying and afflicted, and the more
-so, because he had the same dress she wore.
-When I had almost finished dressing my lord in
-all my petticoats excepting one, I perceived
-that it was growing dark, and was afraid that
-the light of the candles might betray us, so I resolved
-to set off; I went out leading him by the
-hand, and he held his handkerchief to his eyes;
-I spoke to him in the most piteous and afflicted
-tone of voice, bewailing bitterly the negligence
-of Evans, who had ruined me by her delay.
-Then, said I, “My dear Mrs. Betty, for the
-love of <span class='sc'>God</span> run quickly, and bring her with
-you; you know my lodging, and if ever you
-made despatch in your life, do it at present, I am
-almost distracted with this disappointment.”
-The guards opened the doors, and I went down
-stairs with him, still conjuring him to make all
-possible despatch. As soon as he had cleared
-the door I made him walk before me, for fear
-the sentinel should take notice of his walk, but
-I still continued to press him to make all the despatch
-he possibly could. At the bottom of the
-stairs I met my dear Evans, into whose hands I
-confided him. I had before engaged Mr. Mills
-to be in readiness, before the Tower, to conduct
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span>him to some place of safety, in case we succeeded.
-He looked upon the affair so very improbable
-to succeed, that his astonishment, when
-he saw us, threw him into such consternation,
-that he was almost out of himself, which Evans
-perceiving, with the greatest presence of mind,
-without telling him any thing, lest he should
-mistrust them, conducted him to some of her
-own friends, on whom she could rely, and so
-secured him, without which we should have been
-undone. When she had conducted him, and left
-him with them, she returned to find Mr. Mills,
-who, by this time, had recovered himself from his
-astonishment. They went home together, and
-having found a place of security, they conducted
-him to it.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the mean while, as I had pretended to have
-sent the young lady on a message, I was obliged
-to return up stairs and go back to my lord’s
-room, in the same feigned anxiety of being too
-late, so that every body seemed sincerely to
-sympathize with my distress. When I was in
-the room, I talked to him, as if he had been
-really present, and answered my own questions
-in my lord’s voice, as nearly as I could imitate
-it. I walked up and down, as if we were conversing
-together, till I thought they had time
-enough thoroughly to clear themselves of the
-guards. I then thought proper to make off also.
-I opened the door, and stood half in it, that those
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>in the outward chamber might hear what I said,
-but held it so close, that they could not look in.
-I bid my lord a formal farewell, for that night,
-and added that something more than usual must
-have happened to make Evans negligent on this
-important occasion, who had always been so
-punctual in the smallest trifles; that I saw no
-other remedy than to go in person; that if the
-Tower were still open when I finished my business,
-I would return that night; but that he
-might be assured I would be with him as early
-in the morning as I could gain admittance into
-the Tower, and I flattered myself I should bring
-favourable news. Then, before I shut the door,
-I pulled through the string of the latch, so that
-it could only be opened on the inside. I then
-shut it with some degree of force, that I might
-be sure of its being well shut. I said to the
-servant as I passed by, that he need not carry in
-candles to his master till my lord sent for him,
-as he desired to finish some prayers first. I went
-down stairs, and called a coach. As there were
-several on the stand, I drove home to my lodgings,
-where poor Mr. Mackenzie had been
-waiting to carry the petition, in case my attempt
-had failed. I told him there was no need of any
-petition, as my lord was safe out of the Tower,
-and out of the hands of his enemies, as I hoped;
-but that I did not know where he was.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>I discharged the coach, and sent for a sedan
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span>chair, and went to the Duchess of Buccleugh,
-who expected me about that time, as I had begged
-of her to present the petition for me, having
-taken my precautions against all events, and
-asked if she was at home; and they answered,
-that she expected me, and had another duchess
-with her. I refused to go up stairs, as she had
-company with her, and I was not in a condition
-to see any other company. I begged to be shewn
-into a chamber below stairs, and that they would
-have the goodness to send her grace’s maid to
-me, having something to say to her. I had discharged
-the chair, lest I might be pursued and
-watched. When the maid came in, I desired
-her to present my most humble respects to her
-grace, who they told me had company with her,
-and to acquaint her that this was my only reason
-for not coming up stairs. I also charged her
-with my sincerest thanks for the kind offer to
-accompany me when I went to present my petition.
-I added, that she might spare herself any
-further trouble, as it was now judged more
-advisable to present one general petition in the
-name of all; however, that I should never be
-unmindful of my particular obligations to her
-grace, which I would return very soon to acknowledge
-in person.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>I then desired one of the servants to call a chair,
-and I went to the duchess of Montrose, who had
-always borne a part in my distress. When I
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span>arrived, she left her company to deny herself, not
-being able to see me under the affliction which
-she judged me to be in. By mistake I was,
-however admitted; so there was no remedy.
-She came to me; and as my heart was in extasy
-of joy, I expressed it in my countenance as she
-entered the room. I ran up to her in a transport
-of joy. She appeared to be extremely shocked
-and frightened; and has since confessed to me
-that she apprehended my trouble had thrown me
-out of myself, till I communicated my happiness
-to her. She then advised me to retire to some
-place of security; for that the king was highly
-displeased, and even enraged at the petition that
-I had presented to him, and had complained of
-it severely. I sent for another chair, for I always
-discharged them immediately, lest I might be
-pursued. Her grace said she would go to court
-to see how the news of my lord’s escape was
-received. When the news was brought to the
-king he flew into an excess of passion, and said
-he was betrayed; for it could not have been
-done without some confederacy. He instantly
-despatched two persons to the Tower to see that
-the other prisoners were well secured, lest they
-should follow the example. Some threw the
-blame upon one, some upon another. The duchess
-was the only one at court who knew it.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>When I left the duchess I went to a house which
-Evans had found out for me, and where she promised
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span>to acquaint me where my lord was; she got
-thither some few minutes after me, and told me
-that when she had seen him secure, she went in
-search of Mr. Mills, who, by this time, had recovered
-himself from his astonishment; that he had
-returned to her house, where she found him, and
-that he had removed my lord from the first place,
-where she had desired him to wait, to the house
-of a poor woman, directly opposite to the guard-house;
-she had but one small room up one pair
-of stairs, and a very small bed in it.—We threw
-ourselves upon the bed, that we might not be
-heard walking up and down. She left us a
-bottle of wine and some bread; and Mrs. Mills
-brought us some more in her pocket the next
-day. We subsisted on this provision from Thursday
-till Saturday night, when Mrs. Mills came
-and conducted my lord to the Venetian ambassador’s.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>We did not communicate the affair to his
-excellency; but one of his servants concealed
-him in his own room till Wednesday, on which
-day the ambassador’s coach and six was to go
-down to Dover to meet his brother. My lord
-put on a livery, and went down in the retinue,
-without the least suspicion, to Dover, where Mr.
-Mitchell (which was the name of the ambassador’s
-servant) hired a small vessel, and immediately
-set sail for Calais. The passage was so remarkably
-short, that the captain threw out this reflection,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span>that the wind could not have served better
-if his passengers had been flying for their lives,
-little thinking it to be really the case. Mr.
-Mitchell might have easily returned without being
-suspected of being concerned in my lord’s escape;
-but my lord seemed inclined to have him continue
-with him, which he did, and has at present a good
-place under our young master.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This is as exact and full an account of this
-affair, and of the persons concerned in it, as I
-could possibly give you, to the best of my memory,
-and you may rely on the truth of it. I am, with
-the strongest attachment, my dear sister, your’s
-most affectionately,</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>WINIFRED NITHSDALE.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art71' class='c004'>ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST RISE OF FAIRS IN ENGLAND, AND THE MANNER OF LIVING IN THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Before the necessaries or ornaments of life
-from the convenience of communication and the
-increase of provincial intercourse could be procured
-in towns, through the medium of shops,
-goods and commodities of every kind were chiefly
-sold at fairs, to which, as to one universal mart,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span>the people resorted periodically, and supplied
-most of their wants for the ensuing year.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Fairs and markets were at first held near the
-castles of the great barons, and near the cathedrals
-and principal churches in the cities and
-great towns, not only to prevent frauds in the
-king’s duties or customs, but also as they were
-esteemed places where the laws of the land were
-observed, and as such had a very particular
-privilege.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The display of merchandize and the conflux
-of customers at these principal and only emporia
-of domestic commerce were prodigious, and they
-were, therefore, often held on open and extensive
-plains.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It appears from a curious record containing
-the establishment and expenses of the Earl of
-Northumberland in the year 1512, that the stores
-of his lordship’s house at Wressle, for the whole
-year were laid in from fairs; “He that stands
-charged with my lord’s house for the whole year,
-if he may possible, shall be at all fairs, where
-the gross emptions (that is the principal articles)
-shall be bought for the house for the whole year,
-as wine, wax, beeves, muttons, wheat and malt.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This quotation is a proof that fairs were at
-that time the principal marts for purchasing
-necessaries in large quantities, which now are
-supplied by trading towns, and the mention
-of buying beeves and muttons, (oxen and sheep)
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span>shews that at so late a period they knew but little
-of breeding cattle.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The great increase of shops in the retail
-trade in all the towns and villages through the
-kingdom since the commencement of the eighteenth
-century, by means of which the inhabitants
-are supplied with every article necessary
-for subsistence as well as for luxury, has in a
-great measure rendered useless the purposes for
-which fairs were originally established. This
-change in the domestic trade of the country may
-be attributed partly to the facility of payment
-given by the notes of the bank of England and
-inland bills of exchange, and partly to the more
-speedy and certain intercourse which has been
-produced by the regularity of the post office.
-The latter may be looked upon as the cause and
-the former the effect of this change which has
-so completely altered the state of fairs throughout
-the kingdom.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Connected with fairs as furnishing the necessaries
-of life may be given an account of the
-living of the people in England in the sixteenth
-and seventeenth centuries.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>From the household book of the Earl of Northumberland
-above-mentioned it appears, that
-his family, during winter, lived mostly on salted
-meat and salt fish, and on that account there was
-an order for providing 180 gallons of mustard.
-On flesh days through the year, breakfast for the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>earl and his lady was a loaf of bread, two manchets,
-a quart of beer, a quart of wine, half a
-chine of mutton, or a chine of beef boiled. On
-meagre days, a loaf of bread, two manchets, a
-quart of beer, a quart of wine, a dish of butter,
-a piece of salt fish, or a dish of buttered eggs.
-During Lent, a loaf of bread, two manchets, a
-quart of beer, a quart of wine, two pieces of salt
-fish, six baconed herrings, or a dish of sprats.
-The other meals had as little variety, except on
-festival days.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>At that time capons, chickens, hens, pigeons,
-rabbits, plovers, woodcocks, quails, snipes,
-partridges, and pheasants, were accounted such
-delicacies as to be prohibited except at the earl’s
-table.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>From the same book it appears that the earl
-had only two cooks for dressing victuals for
-his household which consisted of 229 persons.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Hollinshed, who wrote about 1577, observes
-that white meats, <abbr class='spell'>i. e.</abbr> milk, butter and cheese,
-formerly the chief food of the English people,
-were in his time degraded to be the food of the
-lowest sort, and that the wealthy fed upon flesh
-and fish.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Feasts in those times were carried beyond all
-bounds of moderation. There is preserved an
-account of a feast given by Archbishop Nevill
-at his installation, 1466, in which are mentioned,
-among a great variety of others, the following
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span>articles, viz. wheat 300 quarters, ale 300 tuns,
-80 oxen, 6 wild bulls, 1000 sheep, 300 calves,
-300 swine called porks, 2000 pigs, 200 kids,
-4000 rabbits, upwards of 400 harts, bucks and
-roes, 3000 geese, 2300 capons, 2000 chickens,
-4000 pigeons, 100 peacocks, 200 cranes, 4000
-mallards and teals, 500 partridges, 400 woodcocks;
-1500 hot, and 4000 cold venison pasties,
-2000 hot custards, and 4000 cold ones. On the
-tables at this feast it is mentioned there were
-4 porpoises and 8 seals.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There were 62 cooks and 515 servants to assist
-them, and not less than 3000 persons in all were at
-this feast.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>At the above period there was not discovered
-in society, any pleasure but that of crouding together
-in hunting and feasting. The delicate
-pleasures of conversation, in communicating
-opinions, sentiments and desires, were wholly
-unknown.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>About the year 1512 the breakfast hour was
-eight, and at ten they sat down to dinner; at
-three in the afternoon they had a drinking, and
-four was the hour for supper. The gates of the
-Earl of Northumberland’s castles were shut at
-nine in the evening throughout the year, “to the
-intent that no servant shall come in at the said
-gate, that ought to be within, who are out of
-the house at that hour.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>By a household establishment of Lord Fairfax’s,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span>about 1650, it appears that eleven had then
-become the hour of dining, and towards the end
-of that century the hour was twelve, but from the
-beginning of the last century it has gradually
-grown later to the present times, when seven has
-become the fashionable hour in noblemen’s houses.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the country, and in moderate families in
-the metropolis, one and two are the more general
-hours for dining.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>From the Percy household book it may be
-observed, that several dishes were then in use
-which have been long banished from our tables;
-among these may be reckoned cranes, herons,
-sea-gulls, bitterns and kirlews, and at archbishop
-Nevill’s feast, porpoises and seals were served up.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>After the accession of Henry the seventh to
-the throne, the nation began to rest from the
-scenes of war and blood which for several years
-had subsisted between the Houses of York and
-Lancaster, and in the next reign the people
-turned their attention more to trade and the arts
-of peace, so that we find the mode of living considerably
-changed, for luxury being ever the
-attendant of extended commerce, this brought us
-acquainted with the produce of foreign countries
-till then unknown in England.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Previously to 1509 the principal vegetables
-used at the tables of the great were imported
-from the Netherlands, so that when Catherine,
-queen of Henry the eighth wanted a sallad, she
-was obliged to despatch a messenger to Flanders.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span>Asparagus and artichokes were introduced into
-England about 1578, and cauliflowers somewhat
-later. Celery was not introduced into England
-till after 1709, when Marshal Tallard being
-made prisoner at the battle of Malplaquet, and
-brought into England, first introduced this plant
-on the English tables.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There is an article in the Percy household
-book which says, “That from henceforth there
-be no herbs bought, seeing that the cooks may
-have herbs enough in my lord’s gardens.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Since the introduction of tea into England at
-the close of the seventeenth century the living of
-all classes of the people has experienced a total
-change, but it was not till about 1740 that tea
-came to be generally used in the country, for
-previously to that time those who made use of it got
-it by stealth, each being afraid of being known to
-be in possession of what was then termed a great
-luxury.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Waller has a poem addressed to the queen
-Maria d’Este, wife of James the second in 1683,
-“On Tea commended by her Majesty,” whereby
-it seems it was even then a new thing, though
-Mr. Hanway in his Essay on Tea says that Lord
-Arlington and Lord Ossory introduced it into
-England in 1666, and that it was then admired
-as a new thing. Their ladies introduced it
-among the women of quality, and its price was
-then £3 per pound, and continued the same till
-1707. In 1715 green tea began to be used, and
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span>the practice of drinking tea descended to the
-middling classes of the people.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the Tatler (<abbr title='number'>No.</abbr> 86, <abbr title='october'>Oct.</abbr> 27, 1709) the author
-mentions inviting his friends, seemingly as though
-tea was common, to drink a dish of tea, which
-they refused, saying they never drank tea in the
-morning.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The same author observes, that dinner had in
-his memory, crept by degrees from twelve o’clock
-to three, and in the Spectator it is said that
-coffee houses were frequented by shopkeepers
-from six in the morning, and that the students at
-law made their appearance in them in their night
-gowns about eight. A lady who sends her journal
-to the Spectator represents herself as taking
-chocolate in bed, and sleeping after it till ten,
-and drinking her Bohea from that hour till eleven.
-Her dinner hour was from three to four, and she
-did not sit up later at a card party than twelve.
-A citizen out of trade, in the same work, describes
-himself as rising at eight, dining at two, and
-going to bed at ten if not kept up at the club he
-frequented.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The history of Taverns in this country may
-be traced back to the time of king Henry the
-fourth, for so ancient is that of the Boar’s Head
-in East Cheap, London, the rendezvous of prince
-Henry and his riotous companions. Of little less
-antiquity is the White Hart without Bishopsgate,
-which now bears in the front of it, the date of
-its erection, 1480.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span>
- <h2 id='art72' class='c004'>SIR RICHARD CLOUGH.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Sir Richard Clough was a man of distinguished
-character, who raised himself by his merit, from
-a poor boy at Denbigh to be one of the greatest
-merchants of his time. He was first a chorister
-at Chester, then had the good fortune to become
-apprentice to the famous Sir Thomas Gresham,
-and afterwards his partner, with whom he may
-be considered as joint founder of the Royal
-Exchange, having contributed several thousand
-pounds towards that noble design. His residence
-was chiefly at Antwerp, where after his death
-his body was interred; his heart at Whitchurch,
-in the vicinity of Denbigh. He is said to have
-made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and to have
-been a knight of the holy sepulchre; and he
-accordingly assumed the five crosses, the badge
-of that order, for his arms. His wealth was so
-great, that his name became proverbial, and the
-Welsh have a saying, on any person’s attaining
-great riches, that he <i>is become a <span class='sc'>Clough</span></i>. Sir
-Richard left two daughters, but it is probable
-that they enjoyed but an inconsiderable part of
-his wealth, which is said to have gone to Sir
-Thomas Gresham, according to an agreement
-in case of survivorship. Sir Richard died first,
-but the time is unknown. Sir Thomas survived
-till the year 1579.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span>The original hint of the Royal Exchange was
-given to Sir Thomas Gresham by Sir Richard
-Clough, who in the year 1561, had been advanced
-by the former, to be his correspondent and agent
-in the then emporium of the world, Antwerp.
-Clough wrote to his master, to blame the
-citizens of London for neglecting so necessary a
-thing; bluntly saying that “they studied nothing
-else but their own private profit; that they were
-content to walk about in the rain, more like pedlars
-than merchants, and that there was no kind of
-people but had their place to transact business in,
-in other countries.” Thus stimulated, Sir Thomas,
-in 1566, laid the foundation, and the next year
-completed what was then called the <i>Bourse</i>, which
-three years after on being visited by queen Elizabeth,
-was dignified by her with the title of <i>Royal
-Exchange</i>.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>An original picture of Sir Richard Clough
-is preserved at Llanywern, the seat of Sir Thomas
-Salusbury, <abbr title='baronet'>Bart</abbr>. It is a half length extremely
-well painted on board, his hair is very short, and
-of a dark brown. He is dressed in a short close
-jacket, black, striped with white, and great white
-breeches. In his right hand a glove; his left
-on his sword; on his right side is a dagger.
-The arms of the holy sepulchre, which he had
-assumed, are on one side of the picture. It was
-probably painted at Antwerp, which at this period
-abounded with artists of the first merit.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span>
- <h2 id='art73' class='c004'>ROYAL CLEMENCY.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>Lewis the thirteenth of France being desirous
-to sit as judge at the trial of the Duke de la
-Vallette, assembled, in his cabinet, some members
-of the Parliament, together with some
-counsellors of state, to consult on the propriety
-of such a step. Upon their being compelled by
-the king to give their opinions concerning the
-decree for his arrest, the president, De Believre,
-said, “That he found it very strange that a prince
-should pass sentence upon one of his subjects;
-that kings had reserved to themselves the power
-of pardoning, and left that of condemning to
-their officers; that his majesty wanted to see
-before him at the bar, a person, who by his
-decision was to be hurried away in an hour’s
-time into another world. That this is what a
-prince’s countenance, from whence favours flow,
-should never bear; that his presence alone removed
-ecclesiastical censures; and that subjects
-ought not to go away dissatisfied from their
-prince.” When sentence was passed, the same
-president said, “This is an unprecedented judgment,
-and contrary to the example of past ages,
-to see a king of France, in the quality of a judge,
-condemning a gentleman to death.”—It may be
-proper to add, that the sentence was afterwards
-revoked.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_280'>280</span>It has always been urged against king James
-the second, as a proof of the inveterate cruelty
-of his disposition, that he should have ordered
-the Duke of Monmouth into his presence, and
-not pardoned him. Welwood, in his Memoirs,
-says, that James, in this instance, made an exception
-to a general rule observed inviolably by
-kings, “never to allow a criminal, under sentence
-of death, the sight of his prince’s face,
-without a design to pardon him.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The custom of pardoning criminals, by admitting
-them into the presence of the sovereign, is of
-very ancient date. When Agag, king of the
-Amalekites, had been taken prisoner by Saul
-(1 <abbr title='Samuel'>Sam.</abbr>, <abbr title='fifteen'>xv.</abbr> 20-33) and his life spared by that
-monarch, contrary to the divine command, and
-was afterwards brought into the presence of
-Samuel, he exclaimed “Surely the bitterness of
-death is past,” evidently in allusion to this custom.
-But Samuel executed the command of <span class='sc'>God</span>, by
-putting Agag to death, which ought to have
-been done by Saul, on taking him prisoner.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art74' class='c004'>LOTTERIES.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>As a source of revenue, this is only a modern
-invention; and it is evident, were it not for the
-monopoly of this species of gambling, which the
-government insists on enjoying, that it could not
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span>possibly prove of any material advantage; for
-individuals would soon set up private lotteries,
-could afford to carry them on with less profit,
-and would soon draw all the benefit of such
-speculations to themselves.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The Romans had lotteries, particularly whilst
-they were under the government of the emperors.
-The tickets were distributed gratis among those
-guests who attended their entertainments, and
-all of them gained some prize. Heliogabalus
-took pleasure in making the prizes of very disproportionate
-value. Some of the prizes were
-ten camels, others ten flies, some ten pounds of
-gold, ten eggs, and the like. The plays which
-Nero gave, were concluded by lotteries, consisting
-of prizes of wheat, wine, stuffs, gold, silver,
-slaves, ships, houses, and lands.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In England, lotteries certainly took place in
-the reign of queen Elizabeth. According to
-Raynal, the two American companies in her
-reign, were favoured with the first lottery that
-ever was drawn in her dominions. The first
-however, of which we have any regular account
-was drawn in the year 1569. It consisted of
-400,000 lots, at ten shillings each; the prizes
-were plate, and the profits were to go towards
-repairing the havens of this kingdom. It was
-drawn at the west door of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Paul’s Cathedral.
-The drawing began on the 11th of January,
-1569, and continued incessantly, day and night,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span>until the sixth of May, following. There were
-then only three lottery offices in London. It
-was at first intended to have been drawn at the
-house of Mr. Derricke, the queen’s jeweller,
-but was afterwards drawn as above mentioned.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The proposals for this lottery were published
-in the years 1567 and 1568. Dr. Rawlinson
-shewed the Society of Antiquaries in 1748, “A
-proposal for a very rich lottery, general, without
-any blanks, containing a great number of good
-prizes, as well of ready money as of plate and
-certain sorts of merchandizes, having been valued
-and prized by the commandment of the queen’s
-most excellent majesty’s order, to the intent that
-such commodities as may chance to arise thereof,
-after the charges borne, may be converted
-towards the reparations of the havens, and
-strength of the realm, and towards such other
-public good works. The number of lots shall
-be 400,000 and no more, and every lot shall be
-the sum of ten shillings sterling and no more.
-To be filled by the feast of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Bartholomew.
-The shew of prizes are to be seen in Cheapside,
-at the sign of the Queen’s Arms, the house
-of Mr. Derricke, goldsmith, servant to the
-queen.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the year 1612, king James in special favour
-for the plantation of English colonies in Virginia,
-granted a lottery to be held at the west end of
-<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Paul’s, whereof one Thomas Sharplys, a
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span>tailor of London, had the chief prize, which
-was 4000 crowns in plate.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Lotteries were revived in the reign of William
-the third, and as all our evils were then attributed
-to Dutch counsels, the blame of lotteries, those
-banes of industry, frugality, and virtue, was ascribed
-to an imitation of the example of Holland,
-and a wish in the natives of that country to ruin
-our morals, as well as to cramp our trade.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the reign of queen Anne it was thought
-necessary to suppress lotteries as nuisances to
-the public. They have, however, been revived
-of late years, and are now carried forward in a
-more extensive manner than at any former period.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art75' class='c004'>HERCULANEUM MANUSCRIPTS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>The following account of the ancient rolls of
-Papyrus, discovered at Herculaneum, and the
-method employed to unroll them, is extracted
-from a letter written in 1802, by the <abbr title='honourable'>Hon.</abbr> Henry
-Grey Bennett, addressed to the late <abbr title='Reverend'>Rev.</abbr> Samuel
-Henley, <abbr class='spell'>D. D.</abbr></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“The <i>papyrus</i> of the Greeks and Romans was
-the inside coating of a plant of the same name;
-which was formerly common in various parts of
-Sicily; a small river now choaked up near
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span>Palermo was called the <i>Papyrus</i>, probably from
-the number of that species of plant which grew
-in its bed; the same name was also given to
-various rivulets in the island. It is however
-most common in the neighbourhood of Syracuse,
-where a Sicilian a few years ago established a
-manufactory of that article, more indeed to
-gratify the wishes of the curious, than to reap
-any immediate profit. The texture is not so
-fine as in the Egyptian or eastern manuscripts,
-which exist in the libraries of Paris. This may
-be owing probably to the method of preparation,
-and not to any difference in the plant.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“The <i>papyri</i> are joined together, and form
-one roll, on each sheet of which, the characters
-are painted, standing out in a species of <i>bas
-relief</i>, and singly to be read with the greatest
-ease. As there are no stops, a difficulty is found
-in joining the letters, in making out the words,
-and in discovering the sense of the phrase. The
-manuscripts were found in a chamber of an excavated
-house, in the ancient Herculaneum, to
-the number of about 1800, a considerable part of
-which were in a state to be unrolled. That city
-was buried for the most part under a shower of
-hot ashes, and the manuscripts were reduced by
-the heat to a state of tinder, or to speak more
-properly, resembled paper which has been burnt.
-Where the baking has not been complete, and
-where any part of the vegetable juice has
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>remained it is almost impossible to unroll them,
-the sheets towards the centre, being so closely
-united. In the others as you approach to the
-centre, or conclusion, the manuscripts become
-smoother, and the work proceeds with greater
-rapidity. A manuscript, by Epicurus, was unrolled
-in March, 1802, twenty seven sheets of
-which were taken off, not indeed so well as
-could have been hoped, but a great part sufficiently
-intelligible, to judge of the style of the
-author, and the nature of its contents. It unfortunately
-fell to the lot of a young beginner, who
-in his hurry to conclude, spoiled much more
-than he saved.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“The <i>papyri</i> are very rough on the outside, and
-in some there are great holes. All the inequalities
-are made smooth, previous to unrolling them,
-with facility; in consequence much must inevitably
-be lost. Great care, however, is taken to
-preserve all the pieces, and when broken off,
-they are placed in the same sheet, preserving
-their original position.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“When first Mr. Hayter began this process,
-there was one man tolerably expert, and three
-only who had ever seen the manner of it; consequently,
-all were to be taught. This may
-serve as a reason why, as yet, so little has been
-done. One Latin manuscript was found, but it
-was in too bad a state to promise any chance of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span>success. They are of different sizes, some containing
-only a few sheets, as a single play, others
-some hundreds, and a few, perhaps, two thousand.
-We may hope from the first, Menander, and
-from the others, the histories of Livy and Diodorus
-Siculus, perhaps the Doric poetry of the
-Sicilian muse, or the philosophy of the schools
-of Agrigentum and of Syracuse. We are led
-from the nature of the manuscripts to trust, that
-the indefatigable labours, the attention, and industry
-of Mr. Hayter will not be thrown away,
-and that the assistance to be derived from the
-English minister, Mr. Drummond, as well on
-account of his classical knowledge, and his love
-of literature, as the advantages arising from his
-situation, may command ultimate success, and
-secure to those who are engaged in this business,
-the protection of the Neapolitan government, and
-the thanks of the literary world.”</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <h2 id='art76' class='c004'>WOLVES IN ENGLAND.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>King Edward the first commissioned Peter
-Corbet to destroy the wolves in the counties of
-Gloucester, Worcester, Hereford, Salop, and
-Stafford, and ordered John Gilford to hunt them
-in all the forests of England.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span>The forest of Chiltern was infested by wolves
-and wild bulls in the time of Edward the Confessor.
-William the Conqueror granted the
-lordship of Riddesdale, in Northumberland, to
-Robert de Umfraville, on condition of defending
-that part of the country against enemies and
-wolves. King John gave a premium of ten
-shillings for catching two wolves.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the reign of king Henry the third Vitalis
-de Engaine held the manors of Laxton and Pitchley,
-in the county of Northampton, by the service
-of hunting the wolf, whenever the king should
-command him. In the reign of Edward the
-first, it was found by inquisition that John de
-Engaine, held the manor of Great Gidding in the
-county of Huntingdon by the service of hunting
-the hare, fox, wild cat, and wolf, within the
-counties of Huntingdon, Northampton, Buckingham,
-Oxford, and Rutland. In the reign of
-Edward the third, Thomas de Engaine, held
-certain manors by the service of finding at his
-own proper cost, certain dogs for the destruction
-of wolves, foxes, martins, and wild cats, in the
-counties of Northampton, Rutland, Oxford,
-Essex, and Buckingham.</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_288'>288</span>
- <h2 id='art77' class='c004'>PROFESSOR PORSON.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>This eminent scholar and acute critic was
-born at East Ruston, in the county of Norfolk,
-on the <abbr title='twenty-fifth'>25th</abbr> of December, 1759. At a very
-early period he displayed talents which gave
-promise of future excellence, and some gentlemen
-who admired his acquirements in learning, sent
-him to Eton, from whence he was afterwards
-entered of Trinity College, Cambridge. The
-following account of Mr. Porson, when an Eton
-boy, is extracted from the evidence of Dr.
-Goodall, the present Provost of Eton, given
-before the Education Committee of the House
-of Commons.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Dr. Goodall being asked if he was acquainted
-with what happened to the late Professor Porson
-to prevent his election to King’s College, replied
-as follows:—</p>
-
-<p class='c007'>“Every account that I have read about him,
-in relation to that circumstance is incorrect.
-When he came to the school he was placed
-rather higher by the reputation of his abilities,
-than perhaps he ought to have been, in consequence
-of his actual attainments; and I can only
-say that many of the statements in the life of
-Porson are not founded in truth. With respect
-to prosody, he knew but little, and as to Greek
-he had made comparatively but little progress
-when he came to Eton. The very ingenious
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_289'>289</span>and learned editor of one account of him, has
-been misinformed in most particulars; and
-many of the incidents which he relates, I can
-venture from my own knowledge to assert, are
-distorted or exaggerated. Even Person’s compositions,
-at an early period, though eminently
-correct, fell far short of excellence; still we all
-looked up to him in consequence of his great
-abilities and variety of information, though much
-of that information was confined to the knowledge
-of his schoolfellows, and could not easily
-fall under the notice of his instructors. He
-always undervalued school exercises, and generally
-wrote his exercises fair at once, without
-study. I should be sorry to detract from the
-merit of an individual whom I loved, esteemed,
-and admired; but I speak of him when he had
-only given the promise of his future excellence;
-and in point of school exercises, I think he was
-very inferior to more than one of his contemporaries;
-I would name the present Marquis
-Wellesley as infinitely superior to him in composition.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“On being asked whether he wrote the same
-beautiful hand as he did afterwards, Dr. Goodall
-replied he did, nor was there any doubt of his
-general scholarship.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“To a question whether he made great progress
-during the time he was at Eton, or after he left?
-Dr. Goodall said he was advanced as far as he
-could be with propriety, but there were certainly
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_290'>290</span>some there who would not have been afraid to
-challenge Porson as a school-boy, though they
-would have shunned all idea of competition with
-him at Cambridge. The first book that Porson
-ever studied, as he often told me, was Chambers’s
-Cyclopædia; he read the whole of that
-dictionary through, and in a great degree made
-himself master of the algebraic part of that work
-entirely by the force of his understanding.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“Dr. Goodall was then asked if he considered
-there was any ground for complaint on the part
-of Porson, in not having been sent to Cambridge,
-to which he answered no; he was placed as
-high in the school as he well could be; as a
-proof however of his merits, when he left Eton,
-contributions were readily supplied by Etonians
-in aid of Sir George Baker’s proposal, to secure
-the funds for his maintenance at the university.”</p>
-
-<p class='c009'>In the year 1793, Mr. Porson was elected
-professor of Greek in the University of Cambridge,
-that office being then vacant by the death
-of professor Cooke. The following letter relating
-to this election from Mr. Porson to the <abbr title='Reverend'>Rev.</abbr>
-Dr. Postlethwayte, master of Trinity College, is
-now first printed:—</p>
-
-<p class='c007'>“<i>Essex Court, Temple, <abbr title='sixth'>6th</abbr> October, 1792.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“Sir,—When I first received the favour of
-your letter I must own that I felt rather vexation
-and chagrin than hope and satisfaction. I had
-looked upon myself so completely in the light
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_291'>291</span>of an outcast from Alma Mater, that I had made
-up my mind to have no farther connection with
-the place. The prospect you held out to me
-gave me more uneasiness than pleasure. When
-I was younger than I now am, and my disposition
-more sanguine than it is at present, I was in daily
-expectation of Mr. Cooke’s resignation, and I
-flattered myself with the hope of succeeding to
-the honour he was going to quit. As hope and
-ambition are great castle-builders, I had laid a
-scheme, partly as I was willing to think, for the
-joint credit, partly for the mutual advantage, of
-myself and the university. I had projected a
-plan of reading lectures, and I persuaded myself
-that I should easily obtain a grace, permitting
-me to exact a certain sum from every person
-who attended. But seven years’ waiting will tire
-out the most patient temper, and all my ambition
-of this sort was long ago laid asleep. The sudden
-news of the vacant professorship put me in
-mind of poor Jacob, who having served seven
-years in hopes of being rewarded with Rachel,
-awoke, and behold it was Leah.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“Such, sir, I confess were the first ideas that
-took possession of my mind. But after a little
-reflection, I resolved to refer a matter of this
-importance to my friends. This circumstance
-has caused the delay, for which I ought before
-now to have apologized. My friends unanimously
-exhorted me to embrace the good fortune which
-they conceived to be within my grasp. Their
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_292'>292</span>advice, therefore, joined to the expectation I had
-entertained of doing some small good by my
-exertions in the employment, together with the
-pardonable vanity which the honour annexed to
-the office inspired, determined me; and I was on
-the point of troubling you, sir, and the other
-electors with notice of my intentions to profess
-myself a candidate, when an objection which
-had escaped me in the hurry of my thoughts,
-now occurred to my recollection.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“The same reason which hindered me from
-keeping my fellowship by the method you
-obligingly pointed out to me, would, I am greatly
-afraid, prevent me from being Greek professor.
-Whatever concern this may give me for myself,
-it gives me none for the public. I trust there
-are at least twenty or thirty in the university,
-equally able and willing to undertake the office;
-possessed, many of talents superior to mine, and
-all of a more complying conscience. This I
-speak upon the supposition that the next Greek
-professor will be compelled to read lectures; but
-if the place remains a sinecure, the number of
-qualified persons will be greatly increased. And
-though it was even granted that my industry
-and attention might possibly produce some benefit
-to the interests of learning and the credit of
-the university, that trifling gain would be as
-much exceeded by keeping the professorship a
-sinecure, and bestowing it on a sound believer,
-as temporal considerations are outweighed by
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_293'>293</span>spiritual. Having only a strong persuasion, not
-an absolute certainty, that such a subscription is
-required of the professor elect; if I am mistaken,
-I hereby offer myself as a candidate, but if I am
-right in my opinion, I shall beg of you to order
-my name to be erased from the boards, and I shall
-esteem it a favour conferred on, Sir,</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>Your obliged humble servant,</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>R. PORSON.”</p>
-
-<hr class='c012' />
-
-<p class='c007'><i>Letter from the <abbr title='Reverend'>Rev.</abbr> Joseph Goodall, <abbr class='spell'>D. D.</abbr>
-Upper Master (now Provost) of Eton College,
-to Mr. Porson.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“<i>Eton, Nov. 16th, 1806.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“Dear Porson,—The bishop of Rochester
-[Dr. Dampier] has written to me requesting my
-assistance on the following subject. ‘On summing
-up matters the Oxford people find no
-account of the Eton <abbr class='spell'>MS</abbr> of Strabo, of which
-use has been made, and want one for their
-preface.’ Now the said bishop, urged by his
-brother of Oxford [Dr. Randolph] at the same
-time he hints that you have examined the MS in
-question, and advises me to enter upon the
-subject with you, which I most gladly do, praying
-for such information as you may be disposed
-to give me, being fully persuaded that you are
-not likely to forget what you have once seen.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“I write to the bishop by this post to acknowledge
-my incompetence. How glad should
-Mrs. Goodall and myself be, if you would take
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_294'>294</span>the trouble of once more inspecting the MS and
-dating your kind communication from the Eton
-library. Should you be a prisoner in——street
-will you suffer me to bring the <abbr class='spell'>MS</abbr> to town
-about the middle of December, and then give me
-your opinion of its value, age, &amp;c. The master
-of the Charter-House, [Dr. Raine] whom I
-hope soon to greet by some other title, will I am
-sure, have the goodness to forward this petition
-to you.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“Charles Hayes, who, with his wife is now on a
-visit to us, desires his kindest remembrance.
-Mrs. Goodall is fatigued to death with nursing a
-sick nephew and niece, and I am sorry to add
-that I am on the invalid list myself, but we hope
-to be all well in the course of a few days. She
-unites in every good wish with</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>Dear Porson,</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>Yours most faithfully,</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>J. GOODALL.”</p>
-
-<hr class='c012' />
-
-<p class='c006'><i>From Mr. William Laing of Edinburgh to
-Mr. Porson.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c007'>“<i>Edinburgh, 3d of Jan. 1807.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“Sir,—The edition of Herodotus being now
-compleated after the plan you proceeded on, I
-have taken the liberty of dedicating to you,
-which I hope will meet your approbation. Mr.
-Dunbar who has succeeded poor Mr. Dalzel has
-paid the utmost attention to it. I shall order
-Cuthell to forward a copy for your use. A
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_295'>295</span>selection has been made of the best notes from
-Wesseling; which with his Index Rerum, will
-make it very compleat. I return you my best thanks
-for the trouble you voluntarily undertook in promoting
-this speculation. I hope soon to see you
-in town, and shall personally repeat my obligations.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“I am about to print a new and elegant edition
-of Pindar in two volumes from Heyne’s—You see
-there is still some spirit for enterprize existing
-here.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“I hope all my little editions will possess
-beauty and correctness. I believe you have still
-a volume of Herodotus which belongs to a person
-here who wants it. Please deliver it to my son
-who will call for it.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>I remain with the highest respect,</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>Sir, your very obedient servant,</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>WILLIAM LAING.”</p>
-
-<hr class='c012' />
-
-<p class='c006'><i>From Dr. Charles Burney to Mr. Porson.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c007'>“<i>Greenwich, June <abbr title='twentieth'>20th</abbr>, 1808.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“My dear Porson,—My friends at Cambridge
-direct me to request you will go down as speedily
-as may be, to vote, and collect votes, for
-a degree of <abbr class='spell'>M. A.</abbr> to be conferred on me. Now
-though I know your objections to expeditions of
-such a nature, yet I cannot help intreating you,
-if you have not sound reasons against it to go
-down and aid my cause.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'><span class='pageno' id='Page_296'>296</span>“Kaye tells me that no time is to be lost. So
-if you can, pack up a small portion of wardrobe
-and visit <i>alma mater</i>, so will you greatly oblige
-and favor</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>C. BURNEY.”</p>
-
-<hr class='c012' />
-
-<p class='c006'><i>From Dr. Davy, Master of Gonville and Caius
-College, Cambridge, to Mr. Porson.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c007'>“<i>Caius Coll. Tuesday 21st June, 1808.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“My dear Porson—I take the liberty of telling
-you, in case it should affect any of your movements,
-that Dr. Burney’s mandamus will be
-voted for on Friday next, at 2 o’clock precisely.
-Every thing seems in his favour.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>Your’s most truly,</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>M. DAVY.”</p>
-
-<hr class='c012' />
-
-<p class='c006'><i>From Thomas Tyrwhitt, <abbr title='Esquire'>Esq.</abbr> to Mr. James Perry,
-Morning Chronicle office, Strand.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c007'>“<i>Carlton House, Feb. 12th, 1805.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c011'>“Dear Sir,—Do pray at your convenience inform
-me of the address of Mr. Porson, as some
-papers have been found in the collection of the
-late Sir William Hamilton respecting the Papiri,
-which are very interesting; and several MSS so
-clearly written out, as to be ready for the opinion
-of Mr. Porson, the only person in my opinion fit
-to inspect them in the whole kingdom.</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>Your very faithful and obedient servant,</p>
-
-<p class='c011'>THOMAS TYRWHITT.”</p>
-<div class='chapter'>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_297'>297</span>
- <h2 id='art78' class='c004'>HISTORY OF SEPULCHRAL MONUMENTS.</h2>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>In the early ages of Christianity the honour of
-being deposited within the walls of the church
-was reserved to martyrs; and it was the request
-of the emperor Constantine in imitation of this
-holy mode of interment, that after his death, his
-remains might be allowed to lie in the porch of the
-basilica of the Apostles, which he himself had
-erected in Constantinople. Hence the eloquent
-Chrysostom, when speaking of the triumphs of
-Christianity, exultingly observes, in allusion to this
-circumstance, that the Cæsars, subdued by the
-humble fishermen whom they had persecuted, now
-appeared as suppliants before them, and gloried
-in occupying the place of porters at the doors of
-their sepulchres. Bishops and priests distinguished
-by their learning, zeal, and sanctity,
-were gradually permitted to share the honours
-of the martyrs, and to repose with them within
-the sanctuary itself. A pious wish in some to be
-deposited in the neighbourhood of such holy
-persons, and to rest under the shadow of the
-altars; in others an absurd love of distinction
-even beyond the grave; to which may be added,
-that the clergy, by making such a distinction
-expensive, rendered it enviable; so that by
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_298'>298</span>degrees, all the wholesome restrictions of antiquity
-were broken through, and at length the noblest
-public edifices, the temples of the <span class='sc'>Eternal</span>, the
-seats of holiness and purity, were converted into
-so many dormitories of the dead.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Our present business is to investigate the
-antiquity and variety of sepulchral monuments,
-which have been erected as memorials of the
-illustrious dead, in the cathedral, conventual,
-and parish churches of this island. During the
-time of our Saxon ancestors, it is probable, that
-few or no monuments of this kind were erected;
-at least, being usually placed in the churches
-belonging to the greater abbeys, they felt the
-stroke of the general dissolution, and it is believed
-there are now scarcely any extant. Those we
-meet with for the kings of that race, such as Ina
-at Wells;<a id='r59' /><a href='#f59' class='c013'><sup>[59]</sup></a> Osric, at Gloucester; Sebba and
-Ethelbert, which were in Old <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Paul’s, or
-where-ever else they may occur, are undoubtedly
-cenotaphs, erected in later ages by the several
-abbeys and convents of which these royal personages
-were the founders, in gratitude to such
-generous benefactors.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The period immediately after the conquest
-was not a time for people to think of such
-memorials for themselves, or friends. Few could
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_299'>299</span>then tell how long the lands they enjoyed would
-remain their own; and most indeed were put
-into the hands of new possessors, who, frequently,
-as we find in Domesday Book, held thirty or
-forty manors, or more, at a time. All <i>then</i> above
-the degree of servants, were soldiers, the sword
-alone made the gentleman, and accordingly on a
-strict inquiry, we shall meet with few or no
-monuments of that age, except for the kings,
-royal family, or some few of the chief nobility
-and leaders, among which, those for the Veres,
-Earls of Oxford, at Earl’s Colne, in Essex, are
-some of the most ancient. It is probable that
-this state of things, so far as regards sepulchral
-monuments, continued through the troublesome
-reign of Stephen, and during the confusion which
-prevailed while the barons’ wars subsisted, and
-until the ninth year of king Henry the third, 1224.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In that year Magna Charta being confirmed,
-and every man’s security better established,
-property became more dispersed, manors were
-in more divided hands, and the lords of them
-began to settle on their possessions in the country.
-In that age many parish churches were built, and
-it is not improbable that the care of a resting-place
-for their bodies, and monuments to preserve
-their memories, became more general and diffused.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In country parish churches, the ancient monuments
-are usually found either in the chancel, or
-in small chapels, or side aisles, which have been
-built by the lords of manors, and patrons of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_300'>300</span>the churches, (which for the most part went
-together,) and being designed for burying places
-for their families, were frequently endowed with
-chantries, in which priests officiated, and offered
-up prayers for the souls of their founder and his
-progenitors.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The tracing out, therefore, of such founders,
-will frequently help us to the knowledge of an
-ancient tomb which is found placed near the
-altar of such chantries. If there are more than
-one, they are, probably, for succeeding lords,
-and where there have been found ancient monuments
-in the church, also, besides what are in
-such chapels or aisles, they may be supposed to
-have been erected in memory of lords, prior to
-the foundation of the buildings.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>CROSS-LEGGED MONUMENTS.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>The first species of monument, of which I propose
-to give the history, is that denominated
-<i>cross-legged</i>, from its having the recumbent effigy
-of the deceased upon it, represented in armour,
-with the legs crossed. During the Norman period
-of our history, the holy war, and vows of
-pilgrimage to Palestine, were esteemed highly
-meritorious. The religious order of laymen, the
-knights templars, were received, cherished, and
-enriched throughout Europe, and the individuals
-of that community, after death, being usually
-buried cross-legged, in token of the banner under
-which they fought, and completely armed in
-regard to their being soldiers, this sort of monument
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_301'>301</span>grew much in fashion, and though all the
-effigies with which we meet in that shape are
-commonly called knights templars, yet it is certain
-that many of them do not represent persons
-of that order; and Mr. Lethieullier says (<i>Archæologia,
-<abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 292</i>) that he had rarely found
-any of these monuments which he could with
-certainty say had been erected to the memory of
-persons who had belonged to that community.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The order of knights templars had its rise but
-in the year 1118, and in 1134, we find Robert
-duke of Normandy, son of William the conqueror,
-represented in this manner on his tomb in
-Gloucester cathedral.<a id='r60' /><a href='#f60' class='c013'><sup>[60]</sup></a>—Henry Lacy, Earl of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_302'>302</span>Lincoln, was represented thus on his fine tomb,
-which was in <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Paul’s cathedral, before the fire
-of London. And in the Temple church there
-still remain the cross-legged effigies of William
-Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, who died in 1219;
-William his son, who died in 1231; and Gilbert,
-another son, who died in 1241; none of whom
-it is believed were of the order of Templars.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>If these monuments were designed to denote
-at least, that the persons, to whose memory they
-were erected, had been in the Holy Land, yet
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_303'>303</span>all who had been there did not follow this fashion,
-for Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster,
-second son of king Henry the third, had been
-there, and yet, as appears by his monument, still
-in being in Westminster-abbey, he is not represented
-cross-legged.<a id='r61' /><a href='#f61' class='c013'><sup>[61]</sup></a> However, it seems to have
-been a prevailing fashion till the sixth year of
-Edward the second, 1312, when the order
-of Templars coming to destruction, and into the
-highest contempt, their fashions of all kinds seem
-to have been totally abolished.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>By this it may be determined that all those
-effigies, either of wood or stone, which we find
-in country churches, whether in niches in the
-walls or on table tombs, and represented in complete
-armour, with a shield on the left arm, and
-the right hand grasping the sword, cross-legged,
-and a lion, talbot, or some animal couchant at
-the feet, have been set up between the ninth of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_304'>304</span>Henry the third, 1224, and the seventh of Edward
-the second, 1313, and what corroborates this
-opinion is, that whenever any such figures are
-certainly known, either by the arms on the shield,
-or by uninterrupted tradition, they have always
-been found to fall within that period, and whenever,
-says Mr. Lethieullier in the before mentioned
-paper, I have met with such monument,
-totally forgotten, I have, on searching for the
-owners of the church and manor, found some
-person or other, of especial note, who lived in that
-age, and left little room to doubt but it was his
-memory which was intended to be preserved.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It must, however, be acknowledged that this
-sort of monument did not entirely cease after the
-year 1312, for there is one in the church of
-Leekhampton, in Gloucestershire, which, by
-tradition, is said to be for Sir John Gifford, who
-died possessed of that manor, in the third of king
-Edward the third, 1328.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The <abbr title='Reverend'>Rev.</abbr> Dr. Nash, in his History of Worcester,
-has the following observations on this sort of
-monument:—“It is an opinion which universally
-prevails, with regard to the cross-legged monuments,
-that they were all erected to the memory
-of knights templars; now, to me, it is very
-evident that not one of them belonged to that
-order, but as Mr. Habingdon, in describing those
-at Alvechurch, hath justly expressed it, to
-‘Knights of the Holy Voyage,’ for the order of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_305'>305</span>knights templars followed the rule of the canons
-regular of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Augustin, and as such were under
-a vow of celibacy. Now there is scarcely any one
-of these monuments which is certainly known for
-whom it was erected, but it is as certain that the
-person it represents was a married man.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“The knights templars always wore a white
-habit, with a red cross on the left shoulder. I
-believe not a single instance can be produced of
-either the mantle or cross being carved on any of
-these monuments, which surely would not have
-been omitted, as by it they were distinguished
-from all other orders, had these been really designed
-to represent knights templars.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“Lastly, this order was not confined to England
-only, but dispersed itself all over Europe,
-yet it will be very difficult to find one cross-legged
-monument any where out of England;
-whereas no doubt they would have abounded in
-France, Italy, and elsewhere, had it been a
-fashion peculiar to that famous order.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“But though for these reasons I cannot allow
-the cross-legged monuments to have been erected
-for knights templars, yet they have some relation
-to them; being memorials of those zealous
-devotees, who had either been in Palestine, personally
-engaged in what is called the Holy War,
-or had laid themselves under a vow to go thither,
-though perhaps they were prevented from it by
-death; some few indeed might possibly be
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_306'>306</span>erected to the memory of persons who had made
-pilgrimages thither, merely out of devotion;
-among the latter probably was the lady of the
-family of Metham, of Metham in Yorkshire, to
-whose memory a cross-legged monument was
-placed in a chapel adjoining the once collegiate
-church of Howden, in Yorkshire, and is at this
-day remaining, together with that of her husband
-on the same tomb.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“As this religious madness lasted no longer
-than the reign of our Henry the third, (the
-seventh and last crusade being published in the
-year 1268) and the whole order of knights
-templars dissolved in the seventh of Edward
-the second; military expeditions to the Holy
-Land, as well as devout pilgrimages thither had
-their period by the year 1312, consequently none
-of those cross-legged monuments are of a later
-date than the reign of Edward the second, or
-the beginning of Edward the third, nor of an
-earlier than that of king Stephen, when those
-expeditions first took place in this kingdom.”</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>THE FOLLOWING RULES WERE OBSERVED BY ANCIENT SCULPTORS IN ERECTING SEPULCHRAL MONUMENTS.<a id='r62' /><a href='#f62' class='c013'><sup>[62]</sup></a></h3>
-<p class='c005'>Kings and princes, in what part, or by what
-means soever, they died, were represented upon
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_307'>307</span>their tombs clothed with their coats of arms,
-their shield, bourlet or pad, crown, crest, supporters,
-lambrequins or <i>mantlings</i>, orders, and
-devices, upon their effigies, and round about
-their tombs.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Knights and gentlemen might not be represented
-with their coats of arms, unless they
-had lost their lives in some battle, single combat
-or rencontre with the prince himself, or in his
-service, unless they died and were buried within
-their own manors and lordships; and then to
-shew they died a natural death in their beds,
-they were represented with their coat of armour,
-ungirded, without a helmet, bareheaded, their
-eyes closed, their feet resting against the back of
-a greyhound, and without any sword.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Those who died on the day of battle, or in
-any mortal conflict on the side of the victorious
-party, were to be represented with a drawn
-sword in their right hand, the shield in their
-left, their helmet on their head, (which some
-think ought to be closed and the vizor let down,
-as a sign that they fell fighting against their
-enemies) having their coats of arms girded over
-their armour, and their feet resting on a lion.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Those who died in captivity, or before they
-had paid their ransom, were figured on their
-tombs without spurs or helmets, without coats
-of arms, and without swords, the scabbard thereof
-only girded to, and hanging at their side.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_308'>308</span>Those who fell on the side of the vanquished
-in a rencontre or battle were to be represented
-without coats of arms, the sword at their side
-and in the scabbard, the vizor raised and open,
-their hands joined before their breasts, and their
-feet resting against the back of a dead and overthrown
-lion.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Those who had been vanquished and slain in
-the lists in a combat of honour were to be placed
-on their tomb armed at all points, their battle-axe
-lying by them, the left arm crossed over the
-right.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Those who were victorious in the lists were
-exhibited on their tombs armed at all points, their
-battle-axe in their arms, the right arm crossed
-over the left.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It was customary to represent ecclesiastical
-persons on their tombs clothed in their respective
-sacerdotal habits. The canons with the surplice,
-square cap, and aumasse or amice, that is the
-undermost part of the priest’s habit.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The abbots were represented with their
-mitres and crosiers turned to the left.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The bishops, with their great copes, their
-gloves in their hands, holding their crosiers with
-their left hands and seeming to give their benediction
-with the right, their mitres on their heads
-and their armorial bearings round their tombs
-supported by angels.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The popes, cardinals, patriarchs, and archbishops
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_309'>309</span>were likewise all represented in their official
-habits.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The editors of the Antiquarian Repertory
-(<abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 226.) have given the following additional
-particulars relating to these monuments:—</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“Although the figures represented on tombs
-with their legs crossed, are commonly stiled
-Knights Templars, there are divers circumstances
-which intitled other persons to be so represented.
-The first, having served personally, though for
-hire in the Holy Land. Secondly, having made a
-vow to go thither, though prevented by sickness
-or death. Thirdly, the having contributed to
-the fitting out of soldiers or ships for that service.
-Fourthly, having been born with the army in
-Palestine. And lastly, by having been considerable
-benefactors to the order of Knights
-Templars, persons were rendered partakers of
-the merits and honours of that fraternity, and
-buried with their distinctions, an idea which
-has been more recently adopted abroad by many
-great personages, who have been interred in the
-habits of Capuchins. Indeed the admission of
-laymen to the fraternity of a religious order was
-no uncommon circumstance in former days.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>“So long as the Knights Templars remained
-in estimation it is probable that persons availed
-themselves of that privileged distinction, but as at
-its dissolution the Knights were accused of divers
-enormous crimes, it is not likely any one would
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_310'>310</span>chuse to claim brotherhood with them, or hand
-themselves or friends to posterity as members of
-a society held in detestation all over Europe, so
-that cross-legged figures, or monuments, may
-pretty safely be estimated as <i>prior</i> to the year
-1312, when that dissolution took place, or at
-most they cannot exceed it by above sixty or
-seventy years, as persons of sufficient age to be
-benefactors before that event, would not, according
-to the common age of man, outlive them
-more than that term.”</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>CROSS-LEGGED MONUMENTS IN THE TEMPLE CHURCH.<a id='r63' /><a href='#f63' class='c013'><sup>[63]</sup></a></h3>
-<p class='c005'><i>Geoffrey de Magnaville, first Earl of Essex.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>(1148.)</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>He is represented in mail with a surcoat, and
-round helmet flatted on the top, with a nose
-piece, which was of iron to defend the nose from
-swords. His head rests on a cushion placed
-lozenge fashion, his right hand on his breast, a
-long sword at his right side, and on his left arm
-a long pointed shield, charged with an escarbuncle
-on a diapered field. This is the first instance
-in England of arms on a sepulchral
-figure.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This Earl, driven to despair by the confiscation
-of his estates by king Stephen, indulged in
-every act of violence, and making an attack on
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_311'>311</span>the castle of Burwell, was there mortally wounded,
-and was carried off by the Templars, who
-as he died under sentence of excommunication,
-declined giving him Christian burial, but wrapping
-his body up in lead, hung it on a crooked
-tree in the orchard of the Old Temple, London.
-William, prior of Walden, having obtained absolution
-for him of the Pope, made application
-for his body, for the purpose of burying it at
-Walden, upon which the Templars took it down,
-and deposited it in the cemetery of the New
-Temple.</p>
-<p class='c005'><i>William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This monument represents a knight in mail
-with a surcoat, his helmet more completely
-rounded than the adjoining one, and the cushion
-as in all the rest laid straiter under his head.
-He is drawing his short dagger or broken sword
-with his right hand, and on his left arm has a
-short pointed shield, on which are his arms, per
-pale, <i>or</i> and <i>vert</i>, a lion rampant, <i>gules</i>, armed
-and langued, <i>gules</i>, below his knees are bands or
-garters, as if to separate the cuisses from the
-greaves; his legs are crossed, and under his feet
-is a lion couchant.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The first account of this William is in the
-<abbr title='twenty-eighth'>28th</abbr> of Henry the second, when Henry son of
-that prince, who had behaved himself rebelliously
-against his father, lying on his death bed, with
-great penitence delivered to him, as to his most
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_312'>312</span>intimate friend, his cross to carry to Jerusalem.
-He obtained from Richard the first on his first
-coming to England after his father’s death,
-Isabel, daughter and heiress of Richard, Earl of
-Pembroke, in marriage, and with her that earldom.
-He died advanced in years at his manor
-of Caversham, near Reading, in 1219. His body
-was carried first to Reading abbey, then to
-Westminster, and last to the Temple church,
-where it was solemnly interred.</p>
-<p class='c005'><i>Robert Lord Ros of Hamlake.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The most elegant of all the figures in the
-Temple church represents a comely young knight,
-in mail, and a flowing mantle, with a kind of
-cowl; his hair neatly curled at the sides, and
-his crown appearing to be shaven. His hands
-are elevated in a praying posture, and on his left
-arm is a short pointed shield, charged with three
-water-bougets, the arms of the family of Ros.
-He has at his left side a long sword, and the
-armour of his legs, which are crossed, has a ridge
-or seam up the front, continued over the knee,
-and forming a kind of garter below the knee: at
-his feet a lion.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This Robert Lord Ros was surnamed <i>Fursan</i>,
-and incurred the displeasure of king Richard the
-first, but for what offence is not said. He was
-one of the chief barons who undertook to compel
-king John’s observance of the great charter.
-At the close of his life he took upon him the
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_313'>313</span>order of the Templars, and died in their habit.
-He was buried in this church in 1227.</p>
-<p class='c005'><i>William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The next figure but one to that of the Earl of
-Pembroke, may be for William Marshall, eldest
-son of that Earl. It is a cross-legged knight in
-mail, with a surcoat, his helmet round, surmounted
-with a kind of round cap, and the mouth piece
-up, his hands folded on his breast, his shield long
-and pointed, and now plain: a very long sword
-at his right side; the belt from which his shield
-hangs studded with quatre-foils, and that of his
-sword with lozenges.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>This William Marshall died without issue in
-1231, and was buried in this church near the
-grave of his father.</p>
-<p class='c005'><i>Uncertain Monuments in the Temple Church.</i></p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The five figures in the north group of this
-church are not ascertained absolutely to whom
-they belong. Camden and Weever ascribe one
-of them to Gilbert Marshall, third son of the first
-William, who on the death of his brother succeeded
-to the whole of the paternal inheritance,
-and lost his life at a tournament at Ware in
-1241. His bowels were buried before the high
-altar of the church of our Lady at Hertford, and
-his body in the Temple Church, London, near
-his father and brother.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the present state of these monuments it is
-almost impossible to ascertain the property of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_314'>314</span>more than one of the Marshall family. The two
-effigies whose belts have the same ornaments
-were it is probable of one family.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It may be observed that Magnaville, William
-Marshall, jun. and the last figure in the north
-groupe have their legs crossed in an unusual manner.
-They lie on their backs and yet cross their
-legs as if they lay on their sides. So were those
-of Henry Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, 1312, in old <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-Paul’s.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The spurs of all are remarkably short, and
-seem rather straps with rowels. Not above two
-or three have the long pointed shoe, and two have
-their surcoats exactly reaching to the knee,
-whereas the others are of different lengths and
-fall more easily.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Weever informs us that sepulture in this
-church was much affected by Henry the third
-and his nobility. Stowe has determined that
-four of the cross-legged figures belong to the
-three earls of Pembroke and Robert Ros: “and
-these are all,” says he, “that I can remember to
-have read of.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Mr. Gough relates, (he says from good
-authority,) that a Hertfordshire baronet applied
-for some of these cross-legged knights to grace
-his newly erected parochial chapel, but the
-society of Benchers, discovered their good sense,
-as well as regard to antiquity, by refusing their
-compliance.</p>
-<div>
- <span class='pageno' id='Page_315'>315</span>
- <h3 class='c014'>TABLE TOMB.</h3>
-</div>
-<p class='c005'>To the cross-legged monument it is highly
-probable, says Mr. Lethieullier, succeeded the
-table tomb, with figures recumbent upon it, with
-their hands joined in a praying posture, sometimes
-with a rich canopy of stone over them,
-sometimes without such canopy, and again, some
-very plain without any figures. Round the edge
-of these for the most part were inscriptions on
-brass plates, which are now too frequently destroyed.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The table monument, however, came in more
-early than Mr. L. supposes.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The most ancient monument of this kind that
-is extant, in England at least, of the sovereigns
-of this kingdom, is that of king John, in the
-choir of Worcester Cathedral.<a id='r64' /><a href='#f64' class='c013'><sup>[64]</sup></a> His effigy lies
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_316'>316</span>on the tomb, crowned; in his right hand he
-holds the sceptre, in his left a sword, the point of
-which is received into the mouth of a lion
-couchant at his feet. The figure is as large as
-life. On each side of the head are cumbent
-images, in small, of the bishops <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Oswald and
-<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Wulstan, represented as censing him.—This
-monarch died in the year 1216. His bowels
-were buried in Croxton abbey, and his body,
-which was conveyed to Worcester from Newark,
-was according to his desire, buried in that
-Cathedral.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>GRAVE STONES.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>At the same time came in common use the
-humble grave stone laid flat with the pavement,
-sometimes with an inscription cut round the
-border of the stone, sometimes enriched with
-costly plates of brass, as every person who has
-examined our cathedral and parish churches
-cannot fail to have observed. But either avarice,
-or an over zealous aversion to some words in the
-inscription, has robbed most of these stones of
-the brass which adorned them, and left the less
-room for certainty when this fashion began.
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_317'>317</span>Earlier than the fourteenth century very few have
-been met with, and even towards the beginning
-of that century it is thought they were but rare.
-Mr. Lethieullier says that one was produced at a
-meeting of the Society of Antiquaries, dated 1300.<a id='r65' /><a href='#f65' class='c013'><sup>[65]</sup></a>
-Weever mentions one in <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Paul’s for Richard
-Newport, anno 1317, and gives another at
-Berkhampstead in Hertfordshire, which he by
-mistake dates 1306, the true date being 1356.
-Upon the whole, where we have not a positive
-date, it is hardly probable that any brass plate
-met with on grave stones can be older than 1350,
-and few so old, but from about 1380 they grew
-into common use and remained so even to the
-time of king James the first. Only after the
-reign of Edward the sixth we find the old gothic
-square letter changed into the roman round hand
-and the phrase <i>Orate pro anima</i> universally
-omitted.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Towards the latter end of the fourteenth
-century a custom prevailed likewise of putting
-the inscription in French and not in Latin. These
-inscriptions are generally from 1350 to 1400,
-and very rarely afterwards. John Stow has
-indeed preserved two, which were in <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Martin’s
-in the Vintry, dated 1310, and 1311.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_318'>318</span>The late editor of the Antiquities of Westminster
-affirms (from what authority he does not
-say) that stone coffins were never or rarely
-used after the thirteenth century.<a id='r66' /><a href='#f66' class='c013'><sup>[66]</sup></a> If this
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_319'>319</span>assertion had been correct we should have had
-an æra from whence to go upwards in search of
-any of those monuments where the stone coffin
-appears, as it frequently does, but there is reason
-to doubt the accuracy of this author’s statement.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>As Grecian architecture had a little dawning
-in Edward the sixth’s time, and made a further
-progress in the three succeeding reigns, we find,
-in the great number of monuments which were
-then erected, the small column introduced with
-its base and capital, sometimes supporting an
-arch, sometimes an architrave, but every where
-mixed with them, may be observed a great deal
-of the Gothic ornaments retained, as small spires,
-ill carved images, small square roses and other
-foliage, painted and gilt, which sufficiently
-denote the age which made them, though no
-inscriptions are left.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>HERALDIC SYMBOLS.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>Some knowledge of heraldry is very necessary
-in monumental researches, a coat of arms,
-device, or rebus, very often remains where not
-the least word of an inscription appears, and
-where indeed very probably there never was any.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_320'>320</span>Armorial bearings seem to have taken their
-rise in this kingdom in the reign of king Richard
-the first, and by little and little to have become
-hereditary; it was accounted most honourable to
-carry those arms which the bearers had displayed
-in the Holy Land, against the professed enemies
-of Christianity, but they were not fully established
-until the latter end of the reign of king Henry
-the third.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>King Richard the first after his return from
-his captivity in Austria, had a new great seal
-made, on which seal he first bore three lions
-passant guardant for his arms, which from this
-time became the hereditary arms of the kings of
-England.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The arms assigned or attributed to the kings
-of the Norman dynasty, namely <i>gules</i>, two lions
-passant guardant, <i>or</i>, Mr. Sandford, in his Genealogical
-History of England, says he could not
-find had ever been used by those Princes, either
-on monuments, coins, or seals, but that historians
-had assigned or fixed them upon the Norman
-line to distinguish it from that of their successors
-the Plantagenets, who bore <i>gules</i>, three lions passant
-guardant, <i>or</i>.<a id='r67' /><a href='#f67' class='c013'><sup>[67]</sup></a> According to the opinion of
-modern genealogists, king Henry the second, who
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_321'>321</span>bore two lions for his arms, in the manner before
-mentioned, added, on his marriage with Eleanor
-of Aquitaine, the arms of that dutchy, namely
-<i>gules</i>, a lion, <i>or</i>, to his own, and so was the first
-king of England who bore three lions; but for
-this there is no better proof than for those assigned
-to the Norman dynasty, for the arms of king
-Henry the second upon his monument at Fontevraud
-in Normandy, are on a shield of a modern
-form, and on the same monument are escutcheons
-with both impalements and quarterings which
-were not used till a hundred years after his death.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>King Edward the first was the first son of a
-king of England that differenced his arms with
-a file, and the first king of England that bore his
-arms on the caparisons of his horse.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Margaret of France, second wife of king
-Edward the first, was the first queen of England
-that bore her arms <i>dimidiated</i> with her husband’s
-in one escutcheon, that is, both escutcheons
-being parted by a perpendicular line, or <i>per pale</i>,
-the dexter side of the husband’s shield, is joined
-to the sinister side of the wife’s, which kind of
-bearing is more ancient than the impaling of the
-entire coats of arms.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>King Edward the third, in the year 1339,
-having taken upon him the title of king of France,
-was the first of our kings who quartered arms,
-bearing those of France and England, quarterly,
-and so careful were the kings, his successors, in
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_322'>322</span>marshalling the arms of both kingdoms in the
-same shield, that when Charles the sixth, king
-of France, changed the semée of fleurs de lys
-into three, our king Henry the fifth did the like,<a id='r68' /><a href='#f68' class='c013'><sup>[68]</sup></a>
-and so it continued till the union of Great Britain
-with Ireland in 1801, when the arms of
-France were relinquished.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The first example of the quartering of arms,
-is found in Spain, when the kingdoms of Castile
-and Leon were united under Ferdinand the third,
-and was afterwards imitated, as above described,
-by king Edward the third. Eleanor of Castile,
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_323'>323</span>his queen, introduced this mode of bearing arms
-into England, in which she was followed by the
-king, her husband.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Until the time of king Edward the third, we
-find no coronets round the heads of peers. The
-figure upon the monument of John of Eltham,
-second son of king Edward the third, who died
-in 1334, and is buried in Westminster abbey, is
-adorned with a diadem, composed of a circle of
-greater and less leaves or flowers, and is the most
-ancient portraiture of an earl, says Sandford,
-that has a coronet. For the effigies of Henry
-Lacy, earl of Lincoln, on his tomb in Old <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr>
-Paul’s, had the head encompassed with a circle
-only, and that of William de Valence, earl of
-Pembroke, half brother of king John, who died
-in 1304, and is buried in <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Edmund’s chapel,
-in Westminster abbey, has only a circle, enriched
-and embellished with stones of several
-colours, but without either points, rays, or leaves.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>John Hastings, earl of Pembroke, who died
-in 1375, was the first subject who bore two coats
-quarterly.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Richard the second was the first of the English
-kings, who used supporters to his arms.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Henry the sixth was the first of our kings who
-wore an arched crown, which has been ever
-since continued by his successors.<a id='r69' /><a href='#f69' class='c013'><sup>[69]</sup></a></p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_324'>324</span>Henry the eighth was the first king of England
-that added to his shield, the garter and the
-crown, in imitation of which, the knights of the
-garter, in the latter end of his reign, caused their
-escutcheons on their stalls at Windsor, to
-be encompassed with the garter, and those who
-were dukes, marquesses, or earls, had their
-coronets placed on their shields, which has been
-so practised ever since.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Queen Elizabeth was the first sovereign who
-used in her arms, a harp crowned, as an ensign
-for the kingdom of Ireland.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>King James the first was the first of our monarchs,
-who quartered the arms of England,
-Scotland, and Ireland in one shield.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_325'>325</span>The number of princes of the blood royal of
-the houses of York and Lancaster, may easily
-be distinguished, by the labels on their coats of
-arms, which are different for each, and very often
-their devices are added.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Where the figure of a woman is found with
-arms both on her kirtle and mantle, those on the
-kirtle are always her own family’s, and those on
-the mantle, her husband’s.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The first instance of arms on sepulchral monuments,
-in England, are those on the tomb of
-Geoffrey de Magnaville, first Earl of Essex, (so
-created in 1148,) in the Temple church, in London.
-Armorial bearings were used in France,
-on monuments, forty years before we find them
-in England.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Very intimately connected with the ornaments
-and devices upon sepulchral monuments are the
-figures and dresses of our early monarchs found
-on their great seals, and of the principal nobility
-of those times on their seals. King Henry the
-third was the first English sovereign who wore
-upon his helmet a crown, and he is also the first
-king who is depicted upon his great seal as wearing
-rowels in his spurs in the manner in which
-they are now used, all the former kings using
-spurs with a single point or spike from the heel.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Sandford, in his Genealogical History of
-England, says, that the arms upon the seal of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_326'>326</span>John, Earl of Morton, (afterwards king John,)
-namely, two lions passant, are the first which he
-had seen upon any seal of the royal family. This
-was in the reign of king Henry the second.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>MONUMENTS FOR ECCLESIASTICS.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>As to monuments for the several degrees of
-churchmen, as bishops, abbots, priors, monks,
-&amp;c. or of religious women, they are easily to be
-distinguished from other persons, but equally
-difficult to assign to their true owners. Among
-these, as among the before-mentioned monuments,
-for the most part the stone effigies are the
-oldest, with the mitre, crosier, and other proper
-insignia, and very often wider at the head than
-feet, having, indeed, been the cover to the stone
-coffins in which the body was deposited.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>When brass plates came in fashion they were
-likewise much used by bishops, &amp;c. many of
-whose grave stones remain at this day, very
-richly adorned, and in many, the indented marble
-shews that they have been so. In Salisbury
-cathedral, says Mr. Lethieullier, I found two
-very ancient stone figures of bishops, which were
-brought from Old Sarum, and are consequently
-older than the time of king Henry the third. In
-that church, likewise, the pompous marble which
-lies over Nicholas Longespee, bishop of that see,
-and son of the, Earl of Salisbury, who died in the
-year 1297, appears to have been richly plated,
-though the brass is now quite gone, and is one of
-<span class='pageno' id='Page_327'>327</span>the most early of that kind which has been met
-with. Frequently, where there are no effigies,
-crosiers or crosses denote an ecclesiastic. The
-latter have been met with, but with little difference
-in their form, for every order from a bishop to a
-parish priest.</p>
-<h3 class='c014'>THE SKELETON MONUMENT.</h3>
-<p class='c005'>One sort of monument more may be mentioned,
-which is somewhat peculiar; this is the representation
-of a skeleton in a shroud, lying either
-under or upon, but generally under a table tomb.
-A monument of this kind is to be met with in
-almost all the cathedral and conventual churches
-throughout England, and scarcely ever more than
-one, but to what age the unknown ones are to be
-attributed, we have no clue to guide us, since
-there is one in York cathedral for Robert Claget,
-treasurer of that church, as ancient as 1241, and
-in Bristol cathedral, Paul Bush, the first bishop
-of that see, who died so late as 1558, is represented
-in the same manner, and some of these
-figures may be found in every age between.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>These skeleton monuments represent the
-figure of a man emaciated by extreme sickness,
-or taken immediately after death; they are
-usually of ecclesiastics, and placed with another
-figure of the same prelate, as a contrast to his
-pride, in pontificals. The art of the sculptor is
-more apparent in the first mentioned, because
-much anatomical accuracy was required.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_328'>328</span>One of the earliest monuments of a warrior so
-contrasted is that of John de Arundel, slain in
-the French wars, under the Duke of Bedford.
-It remains in the sepulchral chapel of that noble
-family at Arundel, and is finely sculptured in
-white marble. The dead figure, is indeed a
-masterly performance, and has every appearance
-of having been originally modelled from nature.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In Exeter Cathedral there is an altar tomb,
-upon which lies the effigy of bishop Marshall, who
-died in 1203, dressed in his episcopal robes, with
-a mitre on his head, his right hand lying upon his
-breast, with the palm upwards, the fore finger,
-ring finger, and thumb extended, and the other
-fingers closed. Near this monument in a low
-niche, lies the figure of a skeleton, cut in free
-stone, with the following inscription over it:—“Ista
-figura docet nos omnes premeditari qualiter
-ipsa nocet mors quando venit dominari.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The tomb of bishop Beckington in Wells
-Cathedral, who died in 1464, has his effigy in
-alabaster, habited in his episcopal robes; and
-underneath is a representation of his skeleton.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>FINIS.</p>
-
-<div class='nf-center-c1'>
-<div class='nf-center c002'>
- <div><span class='large'>Footnotes</span></div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<div class='footnote' id='f1'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r1'>1</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>This article is taken from the first volume of the Transactions
-of the Horticultural Society, and was communicated
-by the Right <abbr title='honourable'>Hon.</abbr> Sir Joseph Banks, Bart.—The additions,
-within brackets, are by the Editor.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f2'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r2'>2</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Probably the fruit of <i>Cornus Mascula</i>, commonly called
-Cornelian Cherry.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f3'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r3'>3</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><i>Hurtleberries</i>, the fruit of <i>Vaccinium vitis idea</i>, though
-no longer cultivated in our gardens, are still esteemed and
-served up at the tables of opulent people in the counties that
-produce them naturally. They are every year brought to
-London from the rocky country, near Leath Tower in
-Surrey, where they meet with so ready a sale among the
-middle classes of the people, that the richer classes scarcely
-know that they are to be bought.—They also grow very
-plentifully on some of the hills and heaths in the counties of
-Somerset and Devon.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f4'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r4'>4</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The <i>Yellow fleshed Peach</i>, now uncommon in our
-gardens, but which was frequent 40 years ago, under the
-name of the Orange Peach, was called by our ancestors
-<i>Melicoton</i>.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f5'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r5'>5</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>By <i>Raisins</i> it is probable that Currants are meant; the
-imported fruit of that name of which we make puddings and
-pies was called by our ancestors <i>Raisin de Corance</i>.—In the
-Percy Household Book it is said that 200 pounds <i>of Raisins
-de Corance</i> should be purchased for the use of the Earl of
-Northumberland’s family, which were to serve one year.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f6'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r6'>6</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>There is a portrait of this lady among the Holbein
-Heads, published by Mr. Chamberlaine.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f7'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r7'>7</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Pliny, Hist. Nat. <abbr title='twelve'>xii.</abbr> 18.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f8'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r8'>8</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Shakespeare, occasionally, in his plays, uses couplets.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f9'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r9'>9</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Gildas, called <i>Badonicus</i>, because said to be born at Bath,
-was, for his singular prudence and the severity of his morals,
-surnamed the <span class='fss'>WISE</span>; he was a monk of Bangor, and his
-“Description of the state of Britain,” above alluded to, is
-the only one of his writings extant, as we are assured by
-Archbishop Usher. Gildas wrote this work in Latin, in a
-style, according to that age, harsh and perplexed enough.
-The first printed edition of it was published by Polydore
-Virgil, in octavo, London, 1525, and dedicated to Cuthbert
-Tunstal, Bishop of Durham, which, however, was from an
-incorrect copy. It was reprinted at Basil, in 12mo, in 1541;
-and at London, 1548, though Bishop Nicolson says 1568.
-It was again printed at London, in 12mo, in 1638, translated
-by Thomas Habingdon, of Henlip, in Worcestershire.
-John Josseline, secretary to Archbishop Parker, reprinted
-Gildas more correctly from two new manuscripts, Basil, 1568,
-12mo; and Paris 1576; but these are little more perfect than
-the first.—The latest and best copy of Gildas is in Dr. Gale’s
-collection of Ancient English Historians, 2 vols. folio, Oxford,
-1687 and 1691; who had the advantage of a more ancient and
-better copy, as Bishop Nicolson observes. Besides Habingdons’s
-translation above mentioned, there was another printed
-during the Cromwell rebellion, in 1652, for the mere purpose,
-it has been said, of retailing Gildas’s sharp reproofs of Kings
-and Priests.—For an account of this edition, see Oldys’s
-British Librarian, and Savage’s Librarian, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 117.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f10'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r10'>10</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Strutt, in his “Chronicle of England” has given a plate
-representing a page of this manuscript, and in Astle’s
-“History of Writing,” there is a plate of the same page,
-coloured, in imitation of the original.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f11'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r11'>11</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Bede, commonly called the Venerable Bede, was the
-most learned man of the age in which he lived; he was born
-at Weremouth, in Northumberland, in the year 672. Both
-ancient and modern authors have bestowed the highest
-encomiums upon the learning of this extraordinary man.
-His works are many, making eight large volumes, in folio,
-the principal of which is his Ecclesiastical History of the
-Anglo-Saxons, consisting of five books, from whence the
-more perfect part of our early history is formed; his other
-works are the Lives of Saints, Treatises on the Holy Scriptures,
-and Philosophical Tracts. This great man died at his
-cell at Jarrow, in the year 735, aged 63.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f12'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r12'>12</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Lydgate was commonly called the Monk of Bury,
-because born at that place, about the year 1380. After
-some time spent in the English Universities, he travelled
-through France and Italy, in which countries he greatly
-improved himself. In addition to his poetical talents, he is
-described as being an eloquent rhetorician, an expert mathematician,
-an acute philosopher, and no mean divine. He is
-said to have been so much admired by his contemporaries,
-that they said of him, that his wit was fashioned by the
-Muses themselves. After his return from France and Italy,
-he became tutor to the sons of several of the nobility, and
-for his excellent endowments, was much esteemed and reverenced
-by them. He wrote a poem, called <i>The Life and
-Death of Hector</i>, some satires, eulogies, and odes, and other
-learned works in prose. He died in 1440, aged sixty, and
-was buried in his own convent at Bury. Lydgate is said to
-have been a disciple of Chaucer.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f13'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r13'>13</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Leonard Aretin, the disciple of Chrysoloras, was a linguist,
-an orator, and an historian; the secretary of four
-successive Popes; and Chancellor of the Republic of Florence,
-where he died in 1444, aged seventy-five. He added
-a Supplement to Livy on the Punic War, and wrote the
-History of Italy, with other valuable works.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f14'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r14'>14</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Emanuel Chrysoloras was one of the envoys sent by
-the Greek Emperor Manuel, at the end of the fourteenth
-century, to implore the compassion of the Western Princes.
-He was not only conspicuous for the nobleness of his birth
-but also for the extent of his learning. After visiting the
-courts of France and England, in furtherance of his mission,
-he was invited to assume the office of a Professor, and
-Florence had the honour of this invitation, as it had had a
-few years previously that of the first Greek Professor Leo
-Pilatus, whose mind was stored with a treasure of Greek
-learning, with whom history and fable, philosophy and
-grammar, were alike familiar, and who first read the Poems
-of Homer in the Schools of Florence. Chrysoloras may be
-considered as the founder of the Greek language in Italy,
-and his knowledge not only of the Greek, but of the Latin
-tongue, surpassed the expectation of the Florentine republic.
-At the same time and place, the Latin classics were explained
-by John of Ravenna, the domestic pupil of the celebrated
-Petrarch. The Italians, who illustrated their age and
-country, were formed in this double school, and Florence
-became the fruitful seminary of Greek and Roman erudition.
-Chrysoloras was recalled by the Emperor from the college to
-the court, but he afterwards taught at Pavia and Rome with
-equal industry and applause. He died at Constance on a
-public mission from the Emperor to the council. <i>Gibbon’s
-Hist.</i> <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 12. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 126.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f15'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r15'>15</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Laurentius Valla, was a native of Placenza, where he
-was born in 1415; he revived the Latin language from
-gothic barbarity, but he was a rigorous critic. He fell
-under the displeasure of the Church of Rome, for the freedom
-with which he hazarded his opinions respecting some of its
-doctrines, and he was condemned to be burnt, but was saved
-by Alphonsus, king of Naples. Pope Nicholas the fifth,
-who was himself one of the greatest encouragers of learning
-of his time, and who highly respected the talents of Valla,
-invited him to Rome, and gave him a pension.—This Pope,
-whose pursuits were in direct association with our present
-subject, from a plebeian origin, raised himself by his virtue
-and his learning to the highest honours of the Church. The
-character of the man prevailed over the interest of the Pontiff,
-and he sharpened those weapons which were soon pointed
-against the religion of Rome. He had been the friend of the
-most eminent scholars of the age, and after his elevation to
-the chair of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Peter, he became their patron. Under Pope
-Nicholas, the influence of the Holy See pervaded Christendom,
-and he exerted that influence in the search, not of benefices,
-but of books. From the ruins of the Byzantine libraries,
-from the darkest monasteries of Germany and Britain, he
-collected the dusty manuscripts of the writers of antiquity;
-and whenever the original could not be removed, a faithful
-copy was transcribed and transmitted for his use. The
-Vatican was daily replenished with precious furniture, and
-such was his industry, that in a reign of eight years, he
-formed a library of five thousand volumes. To his munificence
-the Latin world was indebted for the versions of Xenophon,
-Diodorus, Polybius, Thucydides, Herodotus, and
-Appian; of Strabo’s Geography, of the Iliad, of the more
-valuable works of Plato and Aristotle, of Ptolemy, and
-Theophrastus, and of the Fathers of the Greek Church.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f16'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r16'>16</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>For an account of the following Manuscript Libraries
-in England, see Savage’s Librarian, 3 vols. London, 1808-1810—namely,
-that of the British Museum, in <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 26;
-of the Royal Society, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 71; of the Heralds Office, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 73;
-of the Society of Antiquaries, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 129; of the Archbishop of
-Canterbury’s at Lambeth Palace, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 133; of Lincoln’s Inn,
-p. 183, 225; of the Middle Temple, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 273; of the Inner
-Temple, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 131; of the Lansdown Collection of
-Manuscripts, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 34, and <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 3. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 27, and of the
-Cottonian Manuscripts, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 3. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 31.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The curious reader who is interested in the history of the
-public records of his country, will find in the same volumes,
-the Report of the Committee of the House of Commons on
-the State of the Records, in <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 17, &amp;c.—an account
-of the Records in the Tower of London, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 34, &amp;c. of
-those in the Rolls Chapel, ibid. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 185, &amp;c. and of those in
-the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 3. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 41, &amp;c.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f17'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r17'>17</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><i>Vide</i> Serjeant Heywood’s Vindication of Mr. Fox’s
-History of James the Second, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 397.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f18'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r18'>18</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Fuller’s Worthies, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 317.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f19'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r19'>19</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>There is a small book, printed in black letter, containing
-an account of the treatment and trial of Anne Askew,
-which contains many curious particulars.—She was the
-daughter of Sir William Askew, of Kelsay, in the county of
-Lincoln, where she was born about 1520. She had a learned
-education, and while young was married to a person of the
-name of Kyme, much against her inclination. On account
-of some harsh treatment from her husband, she went to the
-Court of Henry the Eighth to sue for a separation, where she
-was greatly taken notice of by those ladies who were attached
-to the Reformation; in consequence of which, she was arrested,
-and having confessed her religious principles, was committed
-to Newgate. She was first racked with savage cruelty in the
-Tower, and then burnt in Smithfield, in 1546, in company
-with her tutor, and two other persons of the same faith. From
-her letters and other pieces in Fox and Strype, it appears she
-was an accomplished, as well as a pious, woman.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f20'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r20'>20</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Burnet’s Reformation, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 325; <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 382.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f21'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r21'>21</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Collier’s Eccl. Hist. <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 591.—Murden’s State
-Papers, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 9, 101.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f22'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r22'>22</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Collier’s Eccl. Hist. <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 139.—Murden’s State
-Papers, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 452.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f23'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r23'>23</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Observations on Ancient Statutes, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 496, <i>note</i>.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f24'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r24'>24</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>State Trials, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 199.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f25'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r25'>25</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Observations on Statutes, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 495.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f26'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r26'>26</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>State Trials, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 221.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f27'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r27'>27</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Observations on Statutes, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 92.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f28'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r28'>28</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>State Trials, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 3. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 99.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f29'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r29'>29</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The Pandects (1. <abbr title='48'>xlviii</abbr>. <abbr title='title'>tit.</abbr> <abbr title='18'>xviii</abbr>.) contain the sentiments
-of the most celebrated civilians on the subject of
-torture. They strictly confine it to slaves.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f30'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r30'>30</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The Citizens of Athens could not be put to the rack,
-unless it was for high treason. The torture was used within
-thirty days after condemnation. There was no preparatory
-torture. In regard to the Romans, the third and fourth law
-<i>de Majestate</i>, by Julius Cæsar, shews that birth, dignity,
-and the military profession exempted people from the rack,
-except in cases of high treason.—<i>Montesquieu’s Spirit of
-Laws</i>, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 132.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f31'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r31'>31</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Archadius Charisius is the oldest lawyer quoted in the
-Pandects to justify the universal practice of torture in all
-cases of treason; but this maxim of tyranny, which is admitted
-by Ammianus with the most respectful terror, is
-enforced by several laws of the successors of Constantine.—<i>Gibbon’s
-Rom. Hist.</i> <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 3. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 81.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f32'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r32'>32</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>There is an engraving of Sir Thomas in the collection of
-Holbein Heads, published by Mr. Chamberlaine.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>An original picture of him, which has been frequently
-copied, is in the collection of the Earl of Romney. It is
-nearly a profile, and bears a strong resemblance to Holbein’s
-drawing.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There is a print of Sir Thomas Wyat, from an engraving
-on wood, after a painting by Holbein; it is the frontispiece
-to the book of verses, written on his death, by Leland,
-entitled “Næniæ in Mortem Thomæ Viati Equitis incomparabilis,”
-an Elegy on the death of Sir Thomas Wyat, <abbr title='Knight'>Knt.</abbr>
-London, 1542, <i>quarto</i>. This book was reprinted by Hearne,
-at the beginning of the second volume of Leland’s Itinerary.
-Under the head is the following inscription:—</p>
-
-<div class='lg-container-b c008'>
- <div class='linegroup'>
- <div class='group'>
- <div class='line'>“Holbenus nitida pingendi maximus arte,</div>
- <div class='line'>”Effigiem expressit graphice, sed nullus Apelles</div>
- <div class='line'>“Exprimet ingenium felix, animumque Viati.”</div>
- </div>
- </div>
-</div>
-
-<p class='c009'>This print has been copied by Michael Burghers and
-Mr. Tyson. <i>Granger</i> <abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> 110.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f33'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r33'>33</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The first printed Poetical Miscellany, in the English
-language, is the Collection of Poems, edited and published by
-Tottel, entitled “Songes and Sonnettes of Surrey, Wyat,
-and of uncertain Auctors, London, 1557.”—Another edition,
-1565—others in 1574, 1585, 1587. The last edition was
-edited by Dr. George Sewell, in 1717.—This Dr. Sewell was a
-physician in London; he received his early education at Eton,
-which he afterwards completed at Cambridge, where he took
-the degree of Bachelor of Physic in 1709. From thence he
-went to Leyden, where he studied under the celebrated
-Boerhaave. Not being successful in the metropolis, he
-removed to Hampstead, where he died on the <abbr title='eighth'>8th</abbr> of February,
-1726. As an author he possessed a considerable share of
-genius, and wrote in concert with several of his contemporaries,
-particularly in the Spectator and Tatler; he was
-principally concerned in the ninth volume of the former, and in
-the fifth of the latter, as he was also in a translation of Ovid’s
-Metamorphoses, and an edition of Shakespeare’s Poems.
-He was the author of a Tragedy, entitled “Sir Walter
-Raleigh,” published at London in 1719, and also of another,
-which he left unfinished, entitled “King Richard the First,”
-the fragments of which were printed in 1728.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f34'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r34'>34</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Melancthon was born at Brette, a village of the Palatinate,
-on the <abbr title='sixteenth'>16th</abbr> of February, 1497. In his childhood he
-made an astonishing progress in the acquisition of languages.
-Luther, and his doctrines, appeared about this time, and
-Melancthon stood forward as one of their most strenuous
-supporters; indeed the Lutheran system was in a great
-measure planned by him, and the famous instrument by
-which it was publicly declared, called the Confession of
-Augsburg, was the production of his pen. Melancthon was
-the intimate friend of Erasmus, and Erasmus the patron of
-Holbein. This connection will account for his appearance
-in a Collection of Portraits, drawn by Holbein, of the principal
-personages in the Court of Henry the Eighth, though
-Melancthon never was in this country. An engraving of him is
-among the Holbein Heads, published by Mr. Chamberlaine,
-and there is a full-length portrait of this great Reformer,
-with a fac-simile of his writing, in his Life, published by the
-<abbr title='Reverend'>Rev.</abbr> <abbr class='spell'>F. A.</abbr> Cox, London, 1815, 8vo.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f35'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r35'>35</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Several of these were men remarkable for their talents
-and learning: among whom were Petyt, Tyrrel, Sir Robert
-Filmer, Dr. Brady, Prynne, Rymer, &amp;c. &amp;c.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Petyt and Prynne were keepers of the Records in the
-Tower; and Rymer, who was the king’s Historiographer,
-had a warrant not only to search the Records in every office
-in the kingdom, but to make copies of such as he should
-select for publication. How diligent he was in using this
-authority is evident from the invaluable collection of Records,
-&amp;c. published by him, and from a large collection of others
-in manuscript, now in the Museum.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Petyt makes a direct charge, and not unfounded, against
-Prynne, for an intended omission of a reference to the Rolls
-of Parliament (<abbr title='second'>2d</abbr> <abbr title='Henry'>Hen.</abbr> <abbr title='the fifth'>V.</abbr> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 2. <abbr title='number'>No.</abbr> 10.) in the Abridgment
-of the Rolls made by Sir Robert Cotton, and printed by
-Prynne.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Even Sir Robert Atkyns, a man eminently distinguished
-for his integrity and learning, as well as for his deep research
-into the ancient History of Parliament, who had been a Judge
-of the Common Pleas, and was afterwards Chief Baron of
-the Exchequer and Speaker of the House of Lords, in his
-learned and elaborate argument in the year 1680, in the case
-of an information by the Attorney General against Williams,
-Speaker of the House of Commons, in asserting the antiquity
-of that House, fell into some mistakes, from not having resorted
-to the original records. He states, and insists much
-on it, that the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Thomas
-Hungerford, 51 Edward <abbr title='the third'>III.</abbr> was Speaker <i>of the Parliament</i>;
-whereas the words in the Record are, <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">“Monsieur
-Thomas de Hungerford, Chivaler, q’i avoit les Paroles pur
-les Communes d’ Engleterre.”</span> Rolls of Parl. <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> ii. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 374, <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>
-In the first of Richard the Second, the Speaker, Sir Robert
-says again, was termed the Speaker <i>of the Parliament</i>; the
-words in the Record are, “Mons. Pere de la Mare Chivaler
-q’avoit les Paroles de Par la Commune.”—<abbr title='volume'>Vol.</abbr> <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 5, 6.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The same with respect to Sir John Bussey, 20 Richard <abbr title='the second'>II.</abbr>
-The words in the Record are, <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">“les Communes presenterent
-Mons. John Bussey pour leur Parlour.”</span>—Page 338, <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>—339,
-<abbr class='spell'>b.</abbr></p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f36'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r36'>36</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>In 1766, the late Thomas Astle, <abbr title='Esquire'>Esq.</abbr> was consulted by
-the Sub-Committee of the House of Lords, concerning the
-printing of the Rolls of Parliament, and in 1768, on the
-death of Mr. Blyke, Mr. Astle introduced his father-in-law,
-the <abbr title='Reverend'>Rev.</abbr> Philip Morant, author of the History of Essex, to
-succeed that gentleman in preparing the Rolls for the press.
-Mr. Morant died in November, 1770, after proceeding in
-them as far as the <abbr title='sixteenth'>16th</abbr> of Henry the fourth, when Mr.
-Astle was appointed by the House of Lords to carry on the
-work, which he completed in 1775. They are printed in six
-volumes, <i>folio</i>.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f37'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r37'>37</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Some reliance was placed by his Lordship on the Treatise
-<span lang="la" xml:lang="la">“de Modo tenendi Parliamentum;”</span> the authority of
-which, if not entirely destroyed by Prynne, will not at least
-in future have much weight.—Prynne’s Animadversions on
-4 Inst. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 1. to <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 8. and <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 331.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f38'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r38'>38</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>In the Parliament of the <abbr title='eighteenth'>18th</abbr> of Edward the first there
-were no Citizens or Burgesses. There is a bundle of writs
-yet extant, by which this Parliament was summoned.
-They are directed to the sheriffs of several or most of the
-counties of England, by which two or three Knights were
-directed to be chosen for each county, and accordingly the
-counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge and Huntingdon,
-and Cumberland returned each of them <i>three</i> Knights, and the
-other counties two each. This Parliament gave the King a
-fifteenth of all their moveables as appears by the account of the
-same which is entered upon the Great Roll of the <abbr title='twenty-third'>23d</abbr> of that
-king, in which account we have the style of this Parliament,
-namely, “The account of the fifteenth, granted to the king
-in his <abbr title='eighteenth'>18th</abbr> year, by the Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots,
-Priors, Earls, Barons, and <i>all others of the kingdom</i>, assessed,
-collected, and levied,” &amp;c.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>We may here observe that the two or three Knights,
-chosen by the several counties, did represent those counties,
-and according to the form of the writ, consulted upon and
-consented to this grant of a fifteenth.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>So also in the <abbr title='twenty-second'>22d</abbr> Edward the First there were neither
-Citizens nor Burgesses summoned to the Parliament of that
-year. On the <abbr title='eighth'>8th</abbr> of October the king issued writs directed
-to every sheriff in England to cause two discreet Knights to be
-chosen for each county, with full powers, “so that for defect
-of such powers, the business might not remain undone.”
-And on the following day the king issued other writs to the
-sheriffs to cause to be elected two knights more, to be added
-to the former two, making four for each county, and these
-four Knights for each county, and the Earls, Barons, and
-Great Men, on the day of their meeting gave the king a
-tenth part of all their goods.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f39'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r39'>39</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>This was only a grant of forty shillings for every
-Knight’s fee.—See Rolls of Parliament, <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 112, <abbr class='spell'>a.</abbr>
-hereinafter referred to in 14 of Edward <abbr title='three'>III.</abbr></p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f40'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r40'>40</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Proxies in Parliament is a privilege appropriated to the
-Lords only; the first instance of a Proxy that occurs in the
-History of the English Parliament, is in the reign of Edward
-the first.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In a Parliament at Westminster in the reign of Edward the
-second, the bishops of Durham and Carlisle were allowed to
-send their Proxies to Parliament.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the early period of the History of Parliament, the Lords
-were not obliged to make Barons only their Proxies as the
-custom now is; the Bishops and Parliamentary Abbots
-usually gave their letters of proxy to Prebendaries, Parsons,
-and Canons; but since the first year of king Henry the
-eighth, there appear in the journals no Proxies but such as
-were Lords of Parliament.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>In the <abbr title='thirty-fifth'>35th</abbr> of king Edward the third, 1360, the following
-Peeres were summoned by writ to Parliament, to appear
-there by their Proxies, namely, Mary, Countess of
-Norfolk; Eleanor, Countess of Ormond; Anna, Baroness
-Despenser; Philippa, Countess of March; Joanna, Baroness
-Fitzwalter; Agneta, Countess of Pembroke; Mary de
-<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Paul, Countess of Pembroke; Margaret, Baroness de
-Roos; Matilda, Countess of Oxford; Catherine, Countess
-of Athol. These ladies were called <i>ad colloquium et tractatum</i>
-by their Proxies.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f41'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r41'>41</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The club was in use at the Norman Conquest, and in
-the succeeding ages. <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Louis had a band of Guards
-armed with clubs, and was himself very dextrous in the use
-of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Pennant, in describing the customs of the ancient Bards
-and Minstrels of Wales, says, that the lowest of the musical
-tribe was the <i>Datceiniad pen pastwn</i>, or he that sung to the
-sound of his club, being ignorant of every other kind of
-instrument. When he was permitted to be introduced, he
-was obliged to stand in the middle of the hall, and sing his
-<i>cowydd</i> or <i>awdl</i>, beating time, and playing the symphony
-with his <i>pastwn</i> or club; but if there was a professor of
-music present, his leave must be first obtained before he presumed
-to entertain the company with this species of melody.
-Wherever he came he must act as a menial servant to the
-bard or minstrel.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f42'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r42'>42</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Among the Romans it was not infamous to be beaten
-with a stick.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f43'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r43'>43</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>They had only the club and buckler.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f44'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r44'>44</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Nennius lived in the ninth century, and is said to have
-left behind him several treatises, of which all that has been
-published is the history, which was printed for the first time
-in Dr. Gale’s Collection of British Historians, published at
-Oxford in 1687 and 1691, in 2 <abbr title='volumes'>vols.</abbr> folio. Leland mentions
-an ancient copy of Nennius’s history, which he says he borrowed
-from Thomas Solme, Secretary for the French
-language to king Henry the eighth, in the margin of which
-were the additions of <i>Sam. Beaulanius</i>, or <i>Britannus</i>. He
-has transcribed several of these marginal annotations, which
-as it appears, were afterwards inserted in the body of the
-history, and were printed in that manner by Dr. Gale.
-The Doctor in his notes, mentions Beaulanius as the Scholiast
-on the copy which he used, but Leland has a great many
-other things, as extracts out of Beaulanius, which Dr. Gale
-does not mention to be only in the Scholion. There is also
-in the Bodleian Library a manuscript of Nennius apparently
-nearly 600 years old, in which the prefaces and all the
-interpolations, which Leland says are by Beaulanius, are
-wanting.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Professor Bertram, of Copenhagen, published in the year
-1757, “Britannicarum gentium Historiæ Antiquæ Scriptores
-tres; Ricardus Corinensis, Gildas Badonicus, Nennius
-Banchorensis: recensuit, notisque et indice auxit Carolus
-Bertramus, S. A. Lond. Soc. &amp;c. Havniæ, 1757.” 8vo.
-The Professor followed Dr. Gale’s edition of Gildas and
-Nennius, but in the latter he has distinguished the interpolations
-of Beaulanius from the genuine text. Mr. Gough,
-(Brit. Topogr. <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 1. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 15.) mentions Mr. Evan Evans
-having been long preparing a new edition of Nennius, from
-the Bodleian and other manuscripts.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f45'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r45'>45</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Cambrian Register, 1795, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 947.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f46'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r46'>46</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>In 1670, Milton published his History of England,
-comprising the whole fable of Geoffrey, and continued to
-the Norman Invasion. Why he should have given the first
-part, which he seems not to have believed, and which is
-universally rejected, it is difficult to conjecture. The style
-is harsh, but it has something of rough vigour, which perhaps
-may often strike, though it cannot please. On this
-history, the licenser fixed his claws, and before he would
-transmit it to the press, tore out several parts. Some censures
-of the Saxon Monks were taken away, lest they should be
-applied to the modern Clergy; and a character of the Long
-Parliament and Assembly of Divines, was excluded; of
-which the Author gave a copy to the Earl of Anglesea, and
-which being afterwards published, has been since inserted in
-its proper place.—<i>Johnson’s Lives of the Poets, Art. Milton.</i></p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f47'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r47'>47</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Parkhurst’s Heb. Lex. 271.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f48'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r48'>48</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The practice of tattooing is of great antiquity, and has
-been common to numerous nations in Turkey, Asia, the
-Southern parts of Europe, and perhaps to a great portion of
-the inhabitants of the earth. It is still retained among some
-of the Moorish tribes, who are, probably, descendants of
-those who, formerly, were subjected to the Christians of
-Africa, and who to avoid paying taxes, like the Moors,
-thus imprinted crosses upon their skins, that they might pass
-for Christians. This custom, which originally might serve
-to distinguish tribes by their religion, or from each other,
-became afterwards a mode of decoration that was habitually
-retained, when all remembrance of its origin was effaced.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It may be inferred that the Canaanites and the other
-nations of the East, were in the habit of tattooing their skins,
-because Moses, (Levit. <abbr title='nineteen'>xix</abbr>, 28.) expressly enjoins the Israelites
-not to imprint any marks upon their bodies, in imitation
-of the heathens.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The ancient inhabitants of the British Islands, painted
-their skins in various grotesque figures, with the juice of
-woad. This custom of tattooing was in use both by the
-Britons and their first invaders, the Belgæ, and I believe it
-will be found, that the warriors of all those nations which
-practised tattooing, invariably threw off their garments in the
-hour of battle. The name of Picts, is said, though erroneously,
-to have been given by the Romans to the Caledonians, who
-possessed the East coast of Scotland, from their painting their
-bodies. This circumstance has made some imagine that the
-Picts were of British extraction, and a different race of men
-from the Scots. That more of the Britons who fled northward,
-from the oppression and tyranny of the Romans,
-settled in the low lands of Scotland, than among the Scots
-of the mountains, may be easily imagined, from the very
-nature of the country. It was these people who introduced
-painting among the Picts, From this circumstance, some
-antiquaries affirm, proceeded the name of the latter, to distinguish
-them from the Scots, who never had that art among
-them, and from the Britons, who discontinued the practice of
-tattooing after the Roman conquest.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The inhabitants of the South Sea Islands, at this day,
-paint upon their bodies various grotesque figures, for the
-purpose of striking terror into their enemies, in the day
-of battle. <abbr class='spell'>J. S.</abbr></p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f49'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r49'>49</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>From the Classical Journal.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f50'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r50'>50</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>This eminent naturalist and excellent man, was justly
-admired both at home and abroad for his virtues and knowledge
-in every branch of human learning, more particularly
-in natural history. He was the son of Sir Francis Willoughby,
-Knt. of Wollaton Hall in the county of Nottingham. Observing
-in the busy and inquisitive age in which he lived, that
-the history of animated nature had in a great measure been
-neglected, he made the study and illustration thereof his
-unceasing object. For the promotion of this branch of
-science he went abroad with Mr. Ray, for the purpose of
-searching out and describing the several species and productions
-of nature. He travelled over most parts of France,
-Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands, in all which
-countries he was so diligent and successful, that not many
-sorts of animals described by others escaped his observation.
-He drew them with a pencil, and they were afterwards engraven
-on copper-plates, at the expense of his widow. His
-labours were printed in latin under the title of “<i>Ornithologiæ
-libri tres, &amp;c.</i> London, 1676,“ folio. This work was afterwards
-translated into English by Mr. Ray, with an appendix,
-and printed at London, in 1678. Mr. Willoughby
-also wrote the “History of Fishes,” which was published by
-Mr. Ray, at London, in 1686, in folio. He likewise printed
-several papers in the Philosophical Transactions. Mr.
-Willoughby died on the third of July, 1672, leaving issue by
-his wife, Emma, daughter and co-heir of Sir Henry Bernard,
-Knt. two Sons, Francis and Thomas, and one daughter
-Cassandra, married to the Duke of Chandos. The second
-son Thomas was in 1712 created Lord Middleton, from
-whom is descended the present peer of that title.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f51'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r51'>51</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>He was an alderman of London, and after the Exchequer
-was shut retired to Holland, where he died, and was
-brought over to be interred in the church of Tyringham, in
-Buckinghamshire, where he lies embalmed. A glass is placed
-over his face, so that it is likely he may even be seen at this
-time. There is a small portrait of him at Tyringham House,
-in which he is represented in long hair and a flowered gown,
-with a table by him.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f52'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r52'>52</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>A part of the national debt, amounting to £664,263,
-is as old as this iniquitous transaction of Charles the second
-and his ministers. This sum was all that those persons received,
-who had placed their property and their confidence
-in that monarch, for the loss of £1,328,526, and 26 years
-interest thereon at 6 per cent. about £2,100,000 more.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f53'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r53'>53</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Tradescant was the first English collector of curiosities
-in a private rank. Thoresby was the second. <i>Gough’s Topogr</i>.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f54'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r54'>54</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The late James West, <abbr title='Esquire'>Esq.</abbr> told Mr. Bull, that one of
-the family of Roelans, of which there are four or five prints
-by Hollar, lived a long while at Lambeth, in the house that
-afterwards belonged to Tradescant, to whom Roelans sold it.
-<i>Granger’s B. II.</i> 2. 371.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f55'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r55'>55</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>In the year 1656 the younger Tradescant, published a
-small volume, entitled “Museum Tradescantianum, or a
-Collection of Rarities preserved at South Lambeth. London,
-1656, small octavo.” This book is divided into two parts,
-the first containing a catalogue of the museum, and the second
-an enumeration of the plants, shrubs, and trees, growing in
-the garden at South Lambeth. Among the natural curiosities
-here preserved are “a dragon’s egg—the claw of the bird
-<i>Rock</i>, which, as authors report, is able to trusse an elephant,”
-&amp;c. &amp;c.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f56'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r56'>56</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>These drawings are engraven in the Philosophical Trans.
-<abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 63, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 88; and printed from the same plates, in Bibl.
-Topogr. Brit. <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 2. in Dr. Ducarel’s Hist. of Lambeth.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f57'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r57'>57</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Tradescant’s was the next botanical garden in England
-after Gerard’s.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Gerard seems to have been the first that cultivated a
-botanical garden. He had a large one near his house in
-Holborn, London, where he raised nearly eleven hundred
-different trees and plants. He published his history of plants
-in 1597 under the patronage of Lord Burleigh. His herbal
-was republished in 1636 by Johnson.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f58'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r58'>58</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>This was written in the year 1754.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f59'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r59'>59</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>In the centre of the nave of Wells Cathedral there is a
-large stone that had formerly upon it an effigy in brass,
-which was generally ascribed to king Ina, the founder of
-that church.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f60'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r60'>60</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>This is one of the earliest specimens we have of the
-cross-legged monument. It is made of Irish oak, as well the
-table part, as the effigy. On the pannels are the arms of
-several of the worthies, and at the foot the arms of France and
-England, quarterly, which shews these escutcheons to have
-been painted since the reign of king Henry the fourth. This
-monument stood entire until the parliamentary army, during
-the Cromwell usurpation, having garrisoned the city of
-Gloucester against the king, the soldiers tore it to pieces,
-which being about to be burned, were bought of them by
-Sir Humphrey Tracy, of Stanway, and privately laid up
-until the Restoration, when the pieces were put together,
-repaired, and ornamented, and again placed in their former
-situation by Sir Humphrey, who also added a wire screen for
-their future preservation. There is an engraving of this
-monument in Sandford’s Genealogical History, page 16,
-which Rudder, (<i>History of Gloucester</i>, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 126.) calls a noble
-representation of it.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Gibbon has left us the following account of this prince,
-(Rom. Hist. <abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> 11. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 32)—“Robert, Duke of Normandy,
-one of the chiefs of the first crusade, on his father’s death
-was deprived of the kingdom of England, by his own indolence
-and the activity of his brother Rufus. The worth of
-Robert was degraded by an excessive levity and easiness of
-temper; his cheerfulness seduced him to the indulgence of
-pleasure, his profuse liberality impoverished the prince and
-people; his indiscriminate clemency multiplied the number
-of offenders; and the amiable qualities of a private man,
-became the essential defects of a sovereign. For the trifling
-sum of ten thousand marks (the one hundredth part of its
-present yearly revenue) he mortgaged Normandy during his
-absence in the first crusade, to the English usurper; but his
-behaviour in the Holy War, announced in Robert, a reformation
-of manners, and restored him in some degree to the
-public esteem.”</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>There is an engraving of Robert, Duke of Normandy, in
-Ducarel’s Anglo-Norman Antiq. Plate 5.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The monument of William, Earl of Flanders, son of
-Robert, Duke of Normandy, as also two of his seals, are
-engraven in Sandford’s Genealogical Hist. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 17.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f61'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r61'>61</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The monument of Edmund Crouchback has been very
-lofty; it was painted, gilt, and inlaid with stained glass. The inside
-of the canopy has represented the sky with stars, but, by
-age, is changed into a dull red. On the base, towards the area
-are the remains of ten knights, armed, with banners, surcoats
-of armour, and cross-belted, representing, undoubtedly, his
-expedition to the Holy Land, the number exactly corresponding
-with what Matthew Paris reports, namely, Edmund and
-his elder brother, four earls and four knights, of whom some are
-still discoverable, particularly the Lord Roger Clifford, as
-were formerly in Waverly’s time, William de Valence and
-Thomas de Clare.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f62'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r62'>62</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>These rules are extracted from the Antiquarian Repertory,
-<abbr title='volume'>vol.</abbr> <abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 124; and from the Introduction to Gough’s
-“History of Sepulchral Monuments,” <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 115.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f63'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r63'>63</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>This account of these monuments is extracted from
-Gough’s “History of Sepulchral Monuments.”</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f64'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r64'>64</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>This monument was asserted by Green, in his History of
-Worcester, to have been a cenotaph, and accordingly the
-Dean and Chapter had determined on its removal, intending
-to place it over the supposed remains of the king in the lady
-chapel. But on opening the tomb on Monday, July the 17th,
-1797, the royal remains were found therein in a stone coffin,
-the internal measure of which from the feet to the top of the
-excavation hollowed out for the head, was 5 feet 6 inches and
-a half. The body was doubtless originally placed in the
-coffin, nearly in the same form, and arrayed in such a robe as
-the figure on the tomb, with his sword in his left hand, and
-booted, but it was so much deranged as evidently to shew
-that it had been disturbed, and that perhaps at its removal from
-the place of its first interment in the lady chapel, if ever that
-event had taken place, which seems to have been a controverted
-point with historians. The most perfect part of the
-body seemed to be the toes, on some of which the nails were
-still distinguishable, but of what the dress had originally been
-composed, could be only matter of conjecture. The influx
-of people, eager to see the royal remains after an interment
-of nearly 600 years, was so great as to be the cause of the
-tomb being closed on the following day.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f65'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r65'>65</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The monument of Walter de Langton, Dean of York,
-who died in 1279, was the first in that Cathedral that had an
-inscription upon it. It was destroyed by the Puritans during
-the Cromwell Usurpation.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f66'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r66'>66</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Coffins formed of a single stone, hollowed with a chissel,
-are an improvement which has been attributed to the Romans.
-Sometimes they were of marble. Some contained two or
-more bodies, others only one, in which case, it was not
-unusual for them to be made to fit the body, with cavities for
-the reception of the head and arms, and other protuberances.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The solid stone or marble coffin, often curiously wrought,
-was in use among the first christians in England, who, in all
-probability, copied the customs of the Romans, after those
-conquerors had quitted our island.—Stone coffins were disused
-in the fifteenth century. None but opulent persons
-were interred in coffins of this description; the body was
-wrapped in fine linen, attired in the most honourable vestments,
-and laid in spices. The coffin was placed no deeper
-in the ground, than the thickness of a marble slab, or stone
-to be laid over it, even with the surface of the pavement.
-The coffin shaped stones which are frequently seen in churches
-at the present day, have, in general, been the covers of stone
-coffins.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The leaden coffin was also in use among the Romans, not
-only for the reception of the body, but in many instances, for
-the ashes and bones. It was adopted by the christians, and
-continues in frequent use to the present time, among the
-more opulent.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>Alexander was buried in a golden coffin, by his successor
-Ptolemy; and glass coffins have been found in England.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>The oldest instance, on record, among us, of a coffin made
-of wood, is that of king Arthur, who was buried in an entire
-trunk of oak.</p>
-
-<p class='c006'>It was not till the latter end of the seventeenth or the beginning
-of the eighteenth century, that coffins became in general
-use in England. Before that time, there was, in every parish
-church, a common coffin, in which the corpse was placed
-and conveyed on a bier, from the residence of the deceased, to
-the grave; it was then taken out of the coffin and interred.
-Some of these common coffins yet remain in country churches.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f67'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r67'>67</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The gold noble, or half mark, struck by king Edward
-the third, in the seventeenth year of his reign, is the first
-money on which the arms of England appear, namely, three
-lions passant guardant.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f68'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r68'>68</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The <i>three</i> fleurs de lys were used, on some occasions,
-much earlier than this, both in France and England. There
-is an angel of Philip de Valois, coined in 1340, with the
-<i>three</i> fleurs de lys, which was probably done for the sake
-of variation, king Edward having then lately taken the arms
-<i>semée</i> de lys. Le Blanc mentions a charter of Philip, in
-1355, with a seal of the arms in like manner. There is also
-a groat of king John of France, with only <i>three</i> fleurs de lys,
-though he used them likewise <i>semée</i>. But Charles the sixth,
-who began his reign in 1380, constantly bore the <i>three</i> lys for
-the arms of France, as they have been continued ever since.
-As the English kings altered the arms of France, in imitation
-of the French king, it is most likely that our Henry the fourth
-who was contemporary with Charles the sixth, began this
-practice. He did indeed bear the fleurs de lys <i>semée</i>, upon
-his great seal, because it was his predecessor’s, but that he
-bore the <i>three</i> lys upon other occasions is most likely, for so
-they are seen at the head of his monument, at Canterbury,
-and his son Henry, afterwards Henry the fifth, in like manner,
-bore the <i>three</i> fleurs de lys upon his seal, annexed to
-an indenture, so early as the sixth year of his father’s reign.</p>
-</div>
-<div class='footnote' id='f69'>
-<p class='c006'><span class='label'><a href='#r69'>69</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The coins of king Henry the sixth, both gold and silver,
-are supposed to be distinguished from his father’s, by the
-arched crown, surmounted with the orb and cross, being the
-first of our kings who appears with an arched crown upon his
-coins; but upon his great seal he has an open crown, <i>fleuri</i>,
-with small pearls, upon points, between. This is likewise
-the first time we see the orb with the cross upon the money,
-though it had been used upon other occasions, by almost all
-our kings, down from Edward the Confessor. The arched,
-or close crown, is not of ancient use, except in the empire,
-and thence, perhaps, called imperial. Some think Edward
-the third first used it, because he was vicar-general of the
-empire, and it is said that Henry the fifth had an imperial
-crown made, but Henry the sixth had certainly the best pretence
-to it, of any prince in Europe, of his time, being
-crowned king both of France and England. But why he did
-not bear it upon his great seal, as well as upon his coin, is
-not easily resolved any more than that his successor should
-bear it upon his great seal, and not upon his coins.</p>
-</div>
-<div>
-
- <ul class='ul_1 c002'>
- <li>Transcriber’s Notes:
- <ul class='ul_2'>
- <li>Footnotes have been collected at the end of the text, and are linked for ease of
- reference.
- </li>
- </ul>
- </li>
- </ul>
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