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I may now avow that I have other aims than I deemed it expedient to mention in the prospectus :-to communicate in an agreeable manner, the reatest possible variety of important and diverting facts, without a single sentence to excite an uneasy sensation, or an embarrassing inquiry; and, by not seeming to teach, to cultivate a high moral feeling, and the best affections of the heart to open a storehouse, from whence manhood may derive daily instruction and amusement, and youth and innocence be informed, and retain their innocency.

To these intentions I have accommodated my materials under such difficulties as I hope may never be experienced by any one engaged in such a labour. To what extent less embarrassed and more enlarged faculties could have better executed the task I cannot determine; but I have always kept my main object in view, the promotion of social and benevolent feelings, and I am persuaded this prevailing disposition is obvious throughout. The poetical illustrations, whether "solemn thinkings," or light dispersions, are particularly directed to that end.

I may now be permitted to refer to the copious indexes for the multifarious contents of the volume, and to urge the friends to the undertaking for assistance towards its completion. There is scarcely any one who has not said— "Ah! this is something that will do for the Every-Day Book :" I crave to be favoured with that "something." Others have observed "I expected something about so and so in the Every-Day Book." It is not possible, however, that I should know every thing; but if each will communicate "something,' the work will gratify every one, and my own most sanguine wishes.

And here I beg leave to offer my respectful thanks to several correspondents who have already furnished me with accounts of customs, &c. which appear under different signatures. Were I permitted to disclose their real names, it would be seen that several of these communications are from distinguished characters. As a precaution against imposition, articles of that nature have not been, nor can they be, inserted, without the name and address of the writer being confided to myself. Accounts, so subscribed, will be printed with any initials or mark the writers may please to suggest.

From the publication of the present volume, a correct judgment may be formed of the nature and tendency of the work, which incidentally embraces almost every topic of inquiry or remark connected with the ancient and present state of manners and literature. Scarcely an individual is without a scrap-book, or a portfolio, or a collection of some sort; and whatever a kindhearted reader may deem curious or interesting, and can conveniently spare, I earnestly hope and solicit to be favoured with, addressed to me at Messrs. Hunt and Clarke's, Tavistock-street, who receive communications for the work, and publish it in weekly sheets, and monthly parts, as usual.

W. HONE.

May, 1826.

P.S.-—As many of the admirers of Hone's Popular Works have expressed regret that his original Titles were not included in the present Edition, the Publisher has much pleasure in acceding to their wishes.

1868.

EXPLANATORY ADDRESS

TO THE

READERS OF THE EVERY-DAY BOOK.

OCR ancestors were persons of leisure. They appropriated each day in the year to the memory of remarkable persons or events. THE EVERY-DAY BOOK will relate the origin of these three hundred and sixty-five celebrations, with interesting accounts of the individuals and circumstances commemorated.

It will especially describe the National and Domestic Festivities at the Remarkable Seasons, and on the great Holidays that are still kept; particularly those on New Year's day-Twelfth day- St. Agnes' eve-Candlemas day-St. Valentine's day-Shrovetide-Ash Wednesday-St. David's day-St. Patrick's day- Palm Sunday- Lady day-All Fools' day - Maundy Thursday-Good Friday-Eastertide-Hock day-St. George's day-May day-Royal Oak day-WhitsuntideSt. Barnabas' day - St. John's eve St. Swithin's day-Lammas-tide - Corpus Christi day- Midsummer-tide — Michaelmas-tide — Allhallow e'en - Gunpowder Plot day-St. Andrew's day-Christmas-tide-Childermas day-New Year's eve, &c.

While recording such observances, it will entertain the reader with descriptions of numerous Popular Merriments and Usages, a few of which may be mentioned as instances: namely, Fairs-Wakes-Morris Dancings-Harvest Homes-Shearinga-Mayings-Aleings - Wassailings - Mummings - Soulings-Waits - Eton Montem-Hogmany-Yule, &c.

Besides a multitude of subjects of this description, the amusing character of the EVERY-DAY BOOK will be increased by curious details respecting Flinging the stocking-The Wandering Jew-Hand of Glory-Glastonbury thorn-WrestlingKissing-Man in the Moon-Robin Hood - The Merry Thought-Tea-The Drama-Highgate oath-Dunmow flitch-Winifred's well-Music - Horn Fait -Old Nick-Joint ring-Robin Goodfellow-Robin Badfellow-Passing bellWedding ring-Death watch - The Grace cup-Archery-Cockfighting – Breaking up-Jack a' Lanthorn-Second sight- Barber's pole - Strewing rushesBleeding of the Murdered-Under the Rose-Sitting cross legged-LongevityCoronation stone-Sneezing-Bear baiting-Lady in the straw-Seventh son of a seventh son-True lover's knot-Blindman's buff-Curfew bell-Divining rodHunt the slipper-Roodloft- Nightmare - Pricking in the belt-Dress-Cursing by bell, book and candle-Golf-Black's the white o' my eye-Garnish-Barring out at school-Groaning cake-Chiromancy-Cunning men-Undertakers -Marriages Penny weddings - Vanes-Love charms - Toys Storms Moles Cramp rings-Horseshoes- Fools-Jesters-Apparitions-Babies in the eyesFairy rings-Autographs-Witch finders-Witches-Wizards - Shop signs-Cries - Amulets - Duels - Charms Healths - Exorcisms Evil eyes Shooting stars-Gypsies-Sin eaters-Corpse candles-Misers-Quacks—Incantations Crickets-Bonfires-Old saws - Philtres-Frosts- Fairies-Somnambulists-Christenings - Pawnbrokers' balls - Burials Cuckolds - Processions Spectres-Lucky and unlucky numbers-Newspapers-Christmas-boxes-Bogles— Brownies-Spunkies - Kelpies - Wraiths - Dwarfs-Giants - Fascinations-ToSnuff-Sorcerers — Songs-Hair and Wigs-Vigils-Spirits - Omens

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Eclipses

Familiars-Holy Wells-Gossips - Cards - Wrecks - Divinations — Betrothings— Shrouds Inventions - Phenomena, &c. &c. &c. By the introduction of various topics and facts of a still more interesting and important nature, with suitable Historical, Biographical, Astronomical, and Seasonable Anecdotes-information that is useful to all, will be combined with amusement that is agreeable to most.

THE EVERY-DAY BOOK will be a History of the Year. Whether it be consulted respecting to-day or to-morrow, or any other day, it will present acceptable particulars respecting the day sought. It becomes, therefore, a Perpetual Guide to the Year-not to any one year in particular, but to every year-and forms a Complete Dictionary of the Almanac, for the daily use and instruction of every person who possesses an Almanac, and desires a Key to it.

In this view it will be the EVERY-DAY Вook of pleasure and business-of parents and children, teachers and pupils, masters and servants: and, as Cowper says, that, "a volume of verse is a fiddle that sets the universe in motion," it is believed that his remark may be somewhat verified by the pleasant images and kind feelings, which the interspersion of much excellent poetry throughout the work is designed to create in all classes of its readers.

Many essential particulars relating to the days of the week, the twelve months, the four seasons, and the year generally, will be arranged by way of Appendix, and there will be a copious Index to the whole.

A number, or sheet of thirty-two columns, price threepence, will be published every Saturday till the undertaking is completed, which will be in about a year— a few weeks more or less. The Engravings in each will vary as to number: in some there may be only one or two; in others, three, or four, or five-according to the subject.

It will form a large and handsome volume, containing a greater body of curious and interesting anecdotes and facts than exists in any other in the English language; and be illustrated by nearly two hundred Engravings from the original designs of superior artists, or from rare and remarkable prints and drawings.

This mode of publication is adopted with a view to two objects: 1st, the general diffusion of useful facts in connection with various information; and 2dly, the attainment of additional particulars during its progress.

To a large mass of materials already collected, communications respecting local usages or customs in any part of the United Kingdom, and Festival Ceremonials abroad, will be especially acceptable. Such communications, or any useful hints or suggestions, or permission to extract from books or manuscripts, it will give me great pleasure to receive, and to acknowledge as circumstances may require.

45, Ludgate-hill,

31st December, 1824.

W. HONE.

NOTE.-This Leaf and the Title are to be cut off, and thrown aside, when the Volume is bound. A new title, &c., will be given gratis.

THE HISTORY OF PARODY, with ENLARGED REPORTS OF MY THREE TRIALS, a royal octavo volume of 600 pages, handsomely printed and illustrated by numerous Engravings on copper and wood, plain and coloured, is in considerable forwardness. The price will be 27. 28. in extra boards. The favour of additional names to the list of Subscribers is respectfully solicited, in order to regulate the number of copies to be printed-but NO MONEY WILL BE RECEIVED until the book is delivered.

Now publishing in WEEKLY NUMBERS, Price Threepence,

THE

EVERY-DAY BOOK;

OR, THE

Perpetual Guide to the Year,

RELATING THE

POPULAR AMUSEMENTS, SPORTS, CEREMONIES, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND EVENTS,

Incident to the 365 Days in past and present Times; being a series of Five Thousand Anecdotes and Facts, forming a History of the Year, a Calendar of the Seasons, and a Chronological Dictionary of the Almanac; with a variety of Important and Diverting Information for Daily Use and Entertainment: compiled from authentic Sources.

BY WILLIAM HONE.

I tell of festivals, and fairs, and plays,

Of merriment, and mirth, and boufire blaze;

I tell of Christmas-mummings, new year's day,

Of twelth-night king and queen, and children's play;
I tell of Valentines, and true-love's-knots,

Of omens, cunning men, and drawing lots

I tell of brooks, of blossoms, birds and bowers,
Of April, May, of June, and July flowers;

I tell of May-poles, hock-carts, wassails, wakes,
Of bridegrooms, brides, and of their bridal cakes;
I tell of groves, of twilights, and I sing
The court of Mab, and of the fairy-king.

Ellustrated by numerous Engravings.

HERRICK.

LONDON: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM HONE, 45, LUDGATE-HILL.
SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS IN TOWN AND COUNTRY.

PROSPECTUS.

THE EVERY-DAY BOOK records the dedication of every Day in the Year by our Ancestors, to the memory of remarkable persons or circumstances, with interesting particulars respecting each of these Three Hundred and Sixty-five Commemorations. It especially describes the National and Domestic Festivities at Remarkable Seasons, and on Great Holidays, particularly those on New Year's Day-Twelfth Day-St. Agnes' Eve-Candlemas Day - St. Valentine's DayShrove tide - Ash Wednesday-St. David's Day St. Patrick's Day. - Palm Sunday - Lady Day-All Fools' Day- Maundy Thursday -Good Friday Easter-tide Hock Day George's Day May Day Royal Oak Day - Whitsun-tide-St. Barnabas' Day-St. John's Eve St. Swithin's Day-Lammas-tide-Corpus Christi Day-Midsummer-tide-Michaelmastide-Allhallow E'en Gunpowder Plot Day St. Andrew's Day Christmas-tide-Childermas Day-New Year's Eve, &c. Of the numerous Popular Merriments and Usages, a few may be mentioned as instances: namely, Fairs - Wakes - Morris Dancings Homes Shearings - Mayings - Aleings - Wassailings - Mummings - Soulings-Waits-Eton Montem-Hogmany-Yule, &c.

-St

Harvest

The EVERY-DAY BOOK, besides a multitude of other subjects, contains curious details respecting

Flinging the stocking-The Wandering lew-Hand of Glory-Glastonbury thorn-Wrestling-Kissing-Man in the Moon Robin Hood-The Merry Thought-Tea-The DramaHighgate oath - Dunmow Flitch-Winifred's well-Music-Horn Fair-Old Nick-Joint ring -Robin Goodfellow-Robin Badfellow- Passing bell-Wedding ring Death watch - The Grace cup-Archery-Cock-fighting-Breaking up-Jack a' Lanthorn-Second sight-Barber's pole-Strewing rushes - Bleeding of the Murdered Under the Rose — Sitting crosslegged-Longevity -Coronation stone-Sueezing-Bear balting-Lady in the Straw-Seventh son of a seventh son-True lover's knot - Blindman's buff-Curfew bell - Divining rod

2

Hunt the slipper-Roodloft-Nightmare-Pricking in the belt-Dress-Cursing by bell, book, and candle-Golf-Black's the white o' my eye-Garnish-Barring out at school-Groaning cake Chiromancy -- Cunning men Undertakers - Marriages-Penny weddings - Vanes Love charms - Toys - Storms - Moles - Cramp rings-Horseshoes-Fools-Jesters-Apparitions-Babies in the eyes - Fairy rings - Autographs-Witch-finders - Witches-Wizards Shop signs-Cries - Amulets-Duels - Charms - Healths- Exorcisms - Evil eyes-Eclipses Shooting stars — Gypsies - Sin eaters - Corpse candles - Misers - Quacks— IncantationsCrickets Bonfires - Old saws-Philtres - Frosts Fairies- Somnambulists-Christenings Pawnbrokers' balls- Burials - Cuckolds - Processions— Spectres-Lucky and unlucky numbers-Newspapers - Christmas boxes - Bogles Brownies Spunkies — Kelpies - WraithsDwarfs-Giants - Fascinations-Tobacco-Snuff-Sorcerers-Songs-Hair and Wigs -Vigils - Spirits - Omens Familiars- Holy Wells - Gossips Cards - Wrecks -Divinations Betrothings-Shrouds-Inventions-Phenomena, &c. &c. &c. The EVERY-DAY BOOK includes a greater variety of Historical, Biographical, Topographical, Astronomical, and Seasonable Anecdotes and Descriptions, and of interesting and important topics, than any work of similar compass and tendency in the English Language. By the interspersion of much excellent Poetry, creative of pleasing imagery and kind feeling, it verifies, in degree, the apt remark of Cowper, that "a volume of verse is a fiddle that sets the universe in motion."

The EVERY-DAY BOOK, by its abundant information, and chronological arrangement, is a storehouse of continual instruction and amusement for persons of all ages, in all ranks of society.

1. It is a HISTORY of the Year-for it is a History of Every Day in the CalendarDay by Day.

2. It is a PERPEtual Guide to THE YEAR-not to any one Year in particular, but to Every Year.

3. It is a COMPLETE DICTIONARY OF THE ALMANAC-for the Daily Use and Information of Every Person who has an Almanac, and desires a Key to it.

4. It is the EVERY-DAY BOOK OF PLEASURE AND BUSINESS-of Parents and Children of Teachers and Pupils-of Masters and Servants.

The EVERY-DAY BOOK is for the mansion and the cottage-the parlour-the countinghouse the ladies' work-table-the library-shelf- the school room-the coffee-room-the steam-boat-the workman's bench-the traveller's trunk, and the voyager's sea-chest. is a work of general use, and daily reference: in all places it is in place, and at all seasons seasonable.

lt

The EVERY-DAY BOOK was not announced in London, or anywhere else, nor was it known to any one, either publicly or privately, until three days before the publication of the First Number, on the 1st of January, 1825. Its immediately great sale, and its rapidly increasing circulation, fully justify the expectation that it will become one of the most popular publications ever issued from the press.

The NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS are from the Original Designs of superior Artists, or from Rare and Remarkable Prints and Drawings.

A NUMBER, consisting of a sheet of 32 columns with Engravings, is published
Every Saturday, Price Threepence.

A PART, containing Four Numbers, is published Every Month, Price One Shilling.

COUNTRY READERS can be supplied with the EVERY-DAY BOOK by ordering it of any Bookseller, Postmaster, Newsman, or Vender of Periodical Works, in any of the towns or villages throughout the United Kingdom.

COMMUNICATIONS of local Usages or Customs, or other useful Facts, are earnestly and respectfully solicited. Extracts, or permission to extract, from scarce books and original MSS. will be highly esteemed.

CORRESPONDENTS with real names and addresses are obviously the most valuable; their favours will receive the most respectful regard.

Statements cannot be inserted without authority. Anonymous Contributors will please to accompany theirs by reference to sources of easy access, through which they may be verified. Notices to Contributors will appear on the wrappers of the Parts only; the Numbers cannot contain acknowledgments.

W. HONE.

Office of the Every-Day Book,
45, Ludgate-hill.

THE HISTORY OF PARODY, with ENLARGED REPORTS OF THE THREE TRIALS OF WILLIAM HONE, a royal octavo Volume of 600 pages, handsomely printed, and illustrated by nu nerous Engravings on copper and wood, plain and coloured, is in considerable forwardness. The price will be 27. 2s. in extra boards.

The favour of additional names to the list of Subscribers is respectfully solicited, in order to regulate the number of copies to be printed-but MONEY WILL NOT BE RECEIVED FOR IT until the book is delivered

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