Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

Or a bit of cold ham,

As at night we ne'er cram ;
Or a tart, if you please,
With a slice of mild cheese.
Then we'll sing-sing, did I say?
Yes: "The Vicar of Bray ;"*
And, what I know you don't hate
66 My fond shepherds of late :"+
Nor think me a joker,

If I add "Ally Croaker."

In fine, we'll sing and delight ye, Till you say, "Friends, good night t' ye.' 1780.

N. J.

Whether these verses were written by Mr. Nichols

or not, the mention of his name occasions it to be observed, that about a week before the present date he died, at the age of eighty-five.

The editor of this humble work, who has derived much assistance in its progress from the "Gentleman's Magazine," which Mr. Nichols edited for nearly half a century, would omit to do rightly if he were not thus to acknowledge the obligation. Nor can he recollect without feelings of respectful gratitude, that his name appeared a few years ago in the "Domestic Occurrences" of the "Gentleman's Magazine" with fidelity to its readers, unaccompanied by remarks which some of its admirers might, perhaps, at that time have admired. Its critical pages subsequently distinguished the volume on "Ancient Mysteries" by approval; and since then they have been pleased to favour, and even praise, the publica tion of which this is the last sheet. There was no personal intimacy to incline such good-will, and therefore it may be fairly inferred to have resulted from pure feelings and principles of equity. Mr. Nichols's rank as a literary antiquary is manifested by many able and elaborate works. As he declined in life, his active duties gradually and naturally devolved on his successor: may that gentleman ive as long in health and wealth, and be remem bered with as high honour, as his revered father. Dec. 23, 1826. W. H.

GLASTONBURY THORN.

On Christmas-eve, (new style,) 1753, a vast concourse of people attended the noted thorn, but to their great disappointment there was no appearance of its blowing, which made them watch it narrowly the 5th of January, the Christmasday, (old style,) when it blowed as usual. -London Evening Post.

On the same evening, at Quainton, in Buckinghamshire, above two thousand people went, with lanterns and candles, to view a blackthorn in that neighbour hood, and which was remembered to be slip from the famous Glastonbury thorn,

a

"In good king Charles's golden days." This is said to have been written by an officer in colon, Fuller's regiment, in the reign of king George I. It is founded on an historical fact, and, though it reflects no great honour on the hero of the poem, is humorously expressive of the complexion of the times in the successive reigns from Charles II. to George I.

"My fond shepherds of late were so blest A favourite air in Dr. Arne's "Eliza."

"There lived a youth in Ballan o Crazy,"

This song is ascribed to a lady of great quality: it does not, however, abound with the wit which usually flows from female pens; but it admits of being sung with great humour.

and that it always budded on the 24th, was full blown the next day, and went all of at night. The people finding no appearance of a bud, it was agreed by all, that December 25 (new style) could not be the right Christmas-day, and accordingly refused going to church, and treating their friends on that day as usual: at length the affair became so serious, that the ministers of the neighbouring villages, in order to appease them, thought it prudent to give notice, that the Old Christmas-day should be kept holy as before."

This famous hawthorn, which grew on a hill in the church-yard of Glastonburyabbey, it has been said, sprung from the Staff of St. Joseph of Arimathea, who having fixed it in the ground with his own hand on Christmas-day, the staff took root immediately, put forth leaves, and the next day was covered with milk-white blossoms. It has been added, that this thorn continued to blow every Christmasday during a long series of years, and that slips from the original plant are still preserved, and continue to blow every Christmas-day to the present time.

There certainly was in the abbey churchyard a hawthorn-tree, which blossomed in winter, and was cut down in the time of the civil wars but that it always blossomed on Christmas-day was a mere tale of the monks, calculated to inspire the vulgar with notions of the sanctity of the place. There are several of this species of thorn the east, where it is common. in England, raised from haws sent from One of our countrymen, the ingenious Mr. Millar, raised many plants from haws brought from Aleppo, and all proved to be what are called Glastonbury thorns. This exotic, or eastern thorn, differs from our common hawthorn in putting out its leaves very early in spring, and flowering twice a year; for in mild seasons it often flowers the usual time of the common sort; but in November or December, and again at the stories that are told of its budding, blossoming, and fading on Christmas-day are ridiculous, and only monkish legends.†

HODENING" IN KENT.

At Ramsgate, in Kent, they begin the festivities of Christmas by a curious mu

• Gentleman's Magazine.

Communicated by D. B. C. from Boswell's An tiquities of England and Wales

sical procession. A party of young people procure the head of a dead horse, which is affixed to a pole about four feet in length, a string is tied to the lower jaw, a horse cloth is then attached to the whole, under which one of the party gets, and by frequently pulling the string keeps up a loud snapping noise, and is accompanied by the rest of the party grotesquely habited and ringing hand-bells. They thus proceed from house to house, sounding their bells and singing carols and songs. They are commonly gratified with beer and cake, or perhaps with money. This is provincially called a hodening; and the figure above described a " hoden," or wooden horse.

This curious ceremony is also observed in the Isle of Thanet on Christmas-eve, and is supposed to be an ancient relic of a festival ordained to commemorate our Saxon ancestors' landing in that island.*

CHRISTMAS POTTAGE.

Amongst the customs observed on Christmas-eve, the Venetians eat a kind of pottage, which they call torta de lasagne, composed of oil, onions, paste, parsley, pine nuts, raisins, currants, and candied orange peel.

MARSEILLES FESTIVAL.

Many festivals, abrogated in France by the revolution, were revived under Buonaparte. Accordingly, at Marseilles on Christmas-eve all the members of any family resident in the same town were invited to supper at the house of the senior of the family, the supper being entirely au maigre, that is, without meat, -after which they all went together to a solemn mass, which was performed in all the churches at midnight: this ceremony was called in Provence faire calène. After mass the party dispersed and retired to their respective houses; and the next day, after attending high mass in the morning, they assembled at dinner at the same house where they had supped the night before, a turkey being, as in England, an established part of the dinner. The evening was concluded with cards, dancing, or any other amusement usual on holydays. Formerly there had been the midnight mass, which was often irre

• Busby's Concert Room and Orchestra Anecdotes, &c.

gularly conducted, and therefore on the revival of the old custom it was omitted. CHRISTMAS.

With footstep slow, in furry pall yclad,

His brows enwreathed with holly never sere Old Christmas comes, to close the wained year;

And aye the shephera's heart to make right glad;

Who, when his teeming flocks are homeward had, To blazing hearth repairs, and nutbrown beer,

And views well pleased the ruddy prattlers dear

Hug the grey mungrel; meanwhile maid and lad

Squabble for roasted crabs. Thee, Sire, we hail,

Whether thine aged limbs thou dost enshroud

In vest of snowy white and boary veil,

Or wrap'st thy visage in a sable cloud; Thee we proclaim with mirth and cheer, nor

fail

[blocks in formation]

WHITEHAVEN CUSTOMS.

To the Editor of the Every-Day Book.

Whitehaven, 4th Sept. 1826. Sır,-You furnished your readers last Christmas with a dish, greatly up-heaped, of information regarding the manner in which it was kept in various parts of the kingdom. I enclose herein a printed copy of the play, which is said, or rather sung, at and about that time, by numbers of boys in this town. The comedians, of which there are many companies, parade the streets, and ask at almost every door if the mummers are wanted. They are dressed in the most grotesque fashion; their heads adorned with high paper caps, gilt and spangled, and their bodies with ribbons of various colours, while St. George and the prince are armed with ten swords. The "mysterie" (query?) ends with a song, and afterwards a collection is made. This is the only relic of ancient times which exists in this town, except. ing, indeed, it be the Waites-a few persons who parade the streets for a fortnight or three weeks before Christmas, and play upon violins one or two lively jig tunes, and afterwards call upon the inhabitants for a few pence each. The same persons, when they hear of a marriage, or of the arrival from abroad of a sea-faring man, regularly attend and fiddle away till they raise the person or persons; and for this they expect a trifling remuneration.

I am satisfied you will join me, in surprise, that for so great a number of years. such a mass of indecent vulgarity as "Alexander and the king of Egypt," should been used without alteration.

Upon the death of any individual, poor or rich, in this town, and the day before the funeral, the parish clerk, or the clerk of the church in whose church-yard the corpse is to be interred, goes round the town, with or without mourning as the case may be, and rings a bell, like a bellman, and thus announces his purpose: "All friends and neighbours are desired to attend the corpse of A. B. from Queenstreet to St. James's church to-morrow afternoon at four o'clock.”

Some of these hints may be of use to you-if so I shall rejoice; for a kinderhearted publication than yours I never perused.

For the present I am, Mr. Hone, Yours, most respectfully, ANADMIRER OF YOUR EVERY-DAY BOK.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

For with my spear I've won three crowns of gold,

Twas I that brought the dragon to the slaughter,

And I that gain'd the Egyptian monarch's daughter.

In Egypt's fields I prisoner long was kept,
But by my valour I from them escap'd;
I sounded loud at the gate of a divine,
And out came a giant of no good design,
He gave me a blow which almost struck me
dead,

But I up with my sword and cut off his head. Alex. Hold, Slacker, hold, pray do not be so hot,

For in this spot thou know'st not who thou'st got,

'Tis I that's to hash thee and smash thee as small as flies,

And send thee to Satan to make mince pies. Mince pies hot, mince pies cold,

I'll send thee to Satan 'ere thou'rt three days old;

But hold, Prince George, before you go away, Either you or I must die this bloody day, Some mortal wounds thou shalt receive by me, So let us fight it out most manfully.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

now,

For I was never more in need,

For thee to stand with sword in hand,
And to fight at my command.

Doctor. Yes, my liege, I will thee obey, And by my sword I hope to win the day; Yonder stands he who has kill'd my master's son,

And has his ruin thoughtlessly begun,
I'll try if he be sprung from royal blood,
And through his body make an ocean flood,
Gentlemen, you see my sword's point is broke,
Or else I'd run it through that villain's throat.
K. of Egypt. Is thero never a doctor to be
found,

That can cure my son of his deadly wound? Doctor. Yes there is a doctor to be found. That can cure your son of his deadly wound K. of Egypt. What discases can he cure? [The doctor relates in ribald lines his va rious remedies, and the scene ends.]

Act II. Scene II. Prince George arises Prince George speaks.

O horrible! terrible! the like was never seen, A man drove out of seven senses into fifteen, And out of fifteen into four score,

O horrible! terrible! the like was ne'er before. Alex. Thou silly ass, that liv'st on grass, dost thou abuse a stranger?

I live in hopes to buy new ropes, and tie thy nose to a manger.

P. George. Sir, unto you I bend.

Alex. Stand off thou slave, I think thee not my friend;

P. George. A slave! Sır, that's for me by far too base a name,

That

word deserves to stab thine honour's fame!

Alex. To be stabb'd, sir, is least of all my

[blocks in formation]

But, gentlemen, you see we're but actors four, We've done our best, and the best can do no

more.

HORNCHURCH,

For the Every-Day Book.

On Christmas-day, the following custom has been observed at Hornchurch, in Essex, from time immemorial. The lessee of the tithes, which belong to New College, Oxford, supplies a boar's head dressed, and garnished with bay-leaves, &c. In the afternoon, it is carried in procession into the Mill Field, adjoining the church-yard, where it is wrestled for; and it is afterwards feasted upon, at one of the public-houses, by the rustic conqueror and his friends, with all the merriment peculiar to the season. And here it may be observed, that there is another custom, at this place, of having a model of an ox's head, with horns, affixed on the top of the eastern end of the chancel

of the church. A few years ago it had been suffered to fall into decay; but in the year 1824 it was renewed by the present vicar. This church formerly belonged to the convent on Mount St. Bernard in Savoy; and it has been suggested, that the ox's head, with the horns, may perhaps be the arms or crest of the convent, and that the custom, as well as the name of the place, originated from that circumstance. I shall be happy to be informed whether this suggestion be founded on matter of fact; and if not, to what other cause the custom can be assigned. IGNOTUS.

Of the ancient doings of Christmas, there is a bountiful imagining, by a modern writer, in the subjoined verses :

The great King Arthur made a sumptuous feast,
And held his Royal Christmas at Carlisle,
And thither came the vassals, most and least,

From every corner of this British Isle ;
And all were entertained, both man and beast,
According to their rank, in proper style;
The steeds were fed and littered in the stable
The ladies and the knights sat down to table.
The bill of fare (as you may well suppose)
Was suited to those plentiful old times,
Before our modern luxuries arose,

With truffles and ragouts, and various crimes;
And therefore, from the original in prose

I shall arrange the catalogue in rhymes:
They served up salmon, venison, and wild boars
By hundreds, and by dozens, and by scores.
Hogsheads of honey, kilderkins of mustard,

Muttons, and fatted beeves, and bacon swine;
Herons and bitterns, peacocks, swan, and bustard,
Teal, mallard, pigeons, widgeons, and in fine
Plum-puddings, pancakes, apple-pies, and custard
And therewithal they drank good Gascon wine,
With mead, and ale, and cider of our own;
For porter, punch, and negus, were not known.

orts of people there were seen together,
All sorts of characters, all sorts of dresses;
The fool with fox's tail and peacock's feather,
Pilgrims, and penitents, and grave burgesses;
The country people with their coats of leather,

Vintners and victuallers with cans and messes >
Grooms, archers, varlets, falconers, and yeomen,
Damsels and waiting-maids, and waiting-women.

SUBTERRANEAN CHRISTMAS BELLS. To the Editor of the Every-Day Book. Dear Sir,-Near Raleigh, in Nottinghamshire, there is a valley, said to have been caused by an earthquake several

WHISTLECRAFT.

hundred years ago, which swallowed up a whole village, together with the church.

Formerly, it was a custom for people to assemble in this valley, on Christmasday morning, to listen to the ringing o the bells of the church beneath them!

« ZurückWeiter »