as the other assassins, paid with their lives the forfeit of their temerity, Crichton killing every one of them.

PEEPING TOM OF COVENTRY.

Peeping Tom, a person of nearly as much notoriety as the Countess Godiva, and an auxiliary in the drama under that denomination, derives his importance from the following historical circumstance. In the early part of the reign of Edward the Confessor, Leofric, the fifth Earl of Mercia, and his countess Godiva, sister to Thorold, sheriff of Lincolnshire, founded a monastery on the ruins of St. Osburg's nunnery for an abbot and twenty-four monks of the Benedictine order. This monastery was so liberally endowed by Leofric, that it surpassed all others in the county in splendour and magnificence; so that Malmsbury relates, that it was enriched and beautified with so much gold and silver, that the walls seemed too narrow to contain it; insomuch that Rob de Limesie, bishop of this diocese in the time of king William Rufus, scraped from one beam that supported the shrines five hundred marks of silver.

With the foundation of its monastic structure commenced the prosperity of Coventry; but it seems the city had yet to complain of the grievance of excessive tolls, which Leofric, as lord of the town, levied; and concerning the manner in which they were relieved from it, is told a romantic tale, which Dugdale thus relates:-The Countess Godiva,bearing an extraordinary affection to this place, often and earnestly besought her husband, that for the love of God, and the blessed Virgin, he would free it from that grievous servitude whereunto it was subject; but he, rebuking her for importuning him in a matter so inconsistent with his profit, commanded that she should thenceforth forbear to move therein; yet she, out of her womanish pertinacity, continued to solicit him; insomuch that he told her, if she would ride on horseback, naked, from one end of the town to the other, in the sight of all the people, he would grant her request. Whereunto she answered, But will you give me leave so to do? And he replying yes, the noble lady upon an appointed day got on horseback, naked, with her hair loose, so that it covered all her body but her legs, and thus performing the journey, returned with joy to her husband, who therefore granted to the inhabitants a charter of freedom, which immunity I rather conceive to have been a kind of manumission from some such servile tenure, whereby they then held what they had under this great earl, than only a freedom from all manner of toll, except horses, as Knighton affirms. It is said by Rapin, that the countess, previous to her riding, commanded all persons to keep within doors, and from their windows, on pain of death; but, notwithstanding this severe penalty, there was one person who could not forbear giving

a look, out of curiosity; but it cost him his life. From this circumstance, reader, originated the familiar epithet of “Peeping Tom of Coventry.' A figure, commemorative of the peeper, has long been preserved there, and is now inserted in the niche of a new house, communicating with the High Street.

JACK OF NEWBURY.

This title was given to John Winchcomb, who was in the time of Henry VIII. the greatest clothier in England. He kept one hundred looms in his own house at Newbury, and armed and clothed at his own expense one hundred of his men, to march in the expedition against the Scots at Flodden Field.

THE TRIBES OF GALWAY.

The "Tribes of Galway" is an expression first used by Cromwell's forces, as a term of reproach against the natives of the town, for their singular friendship and attachment to each other during the time of their troubles and persecutions; but which the latter afterwards adopted as an honorable mark of distinction between themselves and their cruel oppressors. These tribes or families, who colonised Galway in the thirteenth century, were thirteen in number, according to the following distich:

"Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, Deane, Darcy, Lynch,
Joyes, Kirwan, Martin, Morris, Skerrett, French."

See Hardman's History of Galway, pp. 6-20, 4to, 1820, which contains a plate of the armorial ensigns of these ancient families.

CURSE OF SCOTLAND.

The nine of diamonds, being termed the "Curse of Scotland," originates from a Scotch member, whose family arms is the nine of diamonds, voting for the introduction of the Malt Tax into Scotland.-Another version states, that the nine of diamonds is called the "Curse of Scotland" because it is the great winning card at Comette, which was a game introduced into Scotland by the French attendants of Mary of Lorraine, queen of James V., to the ruin of many Scotch families.

GOOD OLD TIMES.

It has been supposed by many, that this phrase is of uncertain date, and that it has been made use of, as it were, from time immemorial. In Godwin's History of the Commonwealth, however, we are informed, that it first came into use at that period. The cant and hypocrisy of the day became so disgusting, that twothirds of the nation began to wish in their hearts, however cautious they were with their tongues, for the restoration of the

royal family. Being restrained from speaking their sentiments openly, they strung together many ambiguous terms; among others was, wishing for a return of the "good old times," which really meant a return to the monarchial system, and the demolition of Cromwell's government; although, if required, a less objectional (to the governors) explanation might have been given.

BY HOOK OR BY CROOK!

The proverb of getting any thing by Hook or by Crook, is said to have arisen in the time of Charles I., when there were two learned judges named Hooke and Crooke; and a difficult cause was to have been gotten either by Hooke or by Crooke. Spenser, however, mentions these words twice in his Faery Queene, which is a proof that this proverb is much older than that time; and that the phrase was not then used as a proverb but applied as a pun.-Warton.

HOBSON'S CHOICE!

This saying is derived from one Hobson, who let out horses at Cambridge, and obliged such as wanted one, to take that next the stable door, being the one which had had most rest.

GOOD WINE NEEDS NO BUSH.

Bushes of evergreen, such as ivy, cypress, &c., were anciently signs where wine was sold; hence the proverb, or saying, “Good wine needs no bush!"

Commentators have been sadly puzzled to find out the meaning of this proverb, which a residence in France during the autumn would easily have solved. In the departments where the vine is cultivated, the peasant sells its vintage, and as a sign, a green bush is stuck in the wall over the door; this is a regulation of the police; and as long as the peasant has any wine to sell, so long must the bush remain. If one has made better wine than another, the news is soon spread abroad among the topers, and hence the proverb, "good wine needs no bush."

THEY ARE SWORN BROTHERS!

The term "sworn brothers" arose from a custom in Morlachia, and other places, where friendships between the same sex are, like marriages, ratified at the altar. Others say, from persons covenanting formerly to share each other's fortune in an expedition to invade a country, as were Robert de Oily and Robert de Ivery in William the First's expedition into England, or the three Pizarros to Peru. Hence, also, the term of "brethren in iniquity," because of their dividing plunder.

GOD BLESS YOU! TO THE SNEEZER.

The custom of saying "God bless you" to any one who sneezes, seems to have begun about the year of our Lord 750. According to Mythology, the first sign of life Prometheus's artificial man gave, was by sneezing, which Prometheus observing, offers up a fervent prayer for the preservation of so singular a being. His automaton observed him, and remembering his ejaculation, was very careful, on the like occasions, to offer these wishes in behalf of his descendants, who perpetuated it from father to son in all their colonies. This custom is practised among the Jews and among the Abyssinians. When the king of Monomotapa sneezes, those who are near him loudly wish him happiness, this is catched by those farther off, and is echoed through the whole city.

DINING WITH DUKE HUMPHREY!

Dining with duke Humphrey" is said of those who walked in Saint Paul's Church during dinner-time, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, being a man of great hospitality, and supposed to have been buried in Saint Paul's. But (saith Doctor Fuller) that saying is as far from truth as they from dinner, even twenty miles off, seeing this duke was buried in the Church of St Albans, to which he was a great benefactor.

AS STUPID AS A GOOSE!

"As stupid as a goose" is a very common saying indeed, and is used to denote the extreme of stupidity. It may be truly said, as regards geese in general, that it carries with it its origin; and is introduced here merely to show that all geese are not stupid alike. History informs us, that the cackling of geese saved the capitol of Rome; and the Glasgow Courier, not long ago, gave us the following instance of the above position. "A haughty dunghill cock, at a farm at the head of this county, took a particular antipathy to a fine goose, the guardian of a numerous brood; and accordingly, wheresoever and whenever they met, the cock immediately set upon his antagonist. The goose, who had little chance with the nimble and sharp heels of his opponent, and who had accordingly suffered severely in various rencontres, got so exasperated against his assailant, that one day, during a severe combat, he grasped the neck of his foe with his bill, and dragging him along by main force, he plunged him into an adjoining pond, keeping his head, in spite of every effort, under water, and where the cock would have been drowned, had not a servant who witnessed the proceeding rescued the humble foe. From that day forward the goose received no further trouble from his enemy." The compiler here suggests, that the North Country Geese may

be an exception to the general rule, especially after laying his hand on the following:

"One morning lately, during the frost, the geese were as usual let out of their roosting-place, and, according to their customary habit, went directly to the pond on the common; they were observed by the family to come back immediately, but you may guess their astonishment, when in a few minutes they were seen to return to the pond, each, five in number, with a woman's patten in their mouths!!! The females, to rescue so useful a part of their dress from the possession of the invaders of their property, immediately made an attack, when the waddling banditti made such a stout resistance, that it was not till some male allies were called in, that a victory could be obtained :" the relater continues, "I was much concerned, when this anecdote was related to me, that the geese were not suffered to proceed."—Letter from York. So much for the saying, "As stupid as a goose!"

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HORSE-CHESTNUT AND A CHESTNUT HORSE?

In the reign of queen Anne lived two gentlemen, both members in the same parliament; the one was called Montague Matthieu, the other Matthew Montague: the former a tall handsome man, the latter a deformed ugly one. On one occasion, in the house, an honourable member inadvertently attributed something that had been said by Mr. Matthew Montague, to Mr. Montague Matthieu: upon which, the latter got up and appealed to the speaker and the house in the following manner:

"Sir, an honourable member has charged me with having said that which I never gave utterance to, but which came from Mr. Matthew Montague. Now, Sir, I must appeal to you and this honourable house, whether there is not as much difference between Mr. Matthew Montague, and Mr. Montague Matthieu, as there is between a horse-chestnut and a chestnut horse?" It is almost needless to add that the house was convulsed with laughter, in which Mr. Matthew Montague most heartily joined: hence the origin of the whimsical question, "What's the difference between a horse-chestnut and a chestnut horse?"

ANOTHER FOR HECTOR!

The following is the origin of this saying:-In the battle of Inverkeithing, between the Royalists and Oliver Cromwell's troops, 500 of the followers of the Laird of Maclean were left dead on the field. In the heat of the conflict, seven brothers of the clan sacrificed their lives in defence of their leader, Sir Hector Maclean, who, being hard pressed by the enemy, was supported