Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

approaching hard fate, or misguided by Ashburnham, went away in the nighttime westward, and surrendered himself to Hammond, in the Isle of Wight. Whilst his majesty was at Hamptoncourt, alderman Adams sent his majesty one thousand pounds in gold, five hundred whereof he gave to madam Whorewood. I believe I had twenty pieces of that very gold for my share." Lilly proceeds thus: " His majesty being in Carisbrook-castle, in the Isle of Wight, the Kentish men, in great numbers, rose in arms, and joined with the lord Goring; a considerable number of the best ships revolted from the parliament; the citizens of London were forward to rise against the parliament; his majesty laid his design to escape out of prison, by sawing the iron bars of his chamber window; a small ship was provided, and anchored not far from the castle to bring him into Sussex; horses were provided ready to carry him through Sussex into Kent, that so he might be at the head of the army in Kent, and from thence to march immediately to London where thousands then would have armed for him. The lady Whorewood came to me, acquaints me herewith. I got G. Farmer (who was a most ingenious locksmith, and dwelt in Bow-lane) to make a saw to cut the iron bars in sunder, I mean to saw them, and aqua fortis besides. His majesty in a small time did his work; the bars gave liberty for him to go out; he was out with his body till he came to his breast; but then his heart failing, he proceeded no farther: when this was discovered, as soon after it was, he was narrowly looked after, and no opportunity after that could be devised to enlarge him."

Lilly goes on to say, "He was be

headed January 30, 1649. After the execution, his body was carried to Windsor, and buried with Henry VIIIth, in the same vault where his body was lodged. Some, who saw him embowelled, affirm, had he not come unto this untimely end, he might have lived, according unto nature, even unto the height of old age. Many have curiously inquired who it was that cut off his head: I have no permission to speak of such things; only thus much I say, he that did it is as valiant and resolute a man as lives, and one of a competent fortune. For my part, I do believe he was not the worst, but the most unfortunate of kings."

[ocr errors]

Lilly elsewhere relates, "that the next Sunday but one after Charles I. was beheaded, Robert Spavin, secretary unto lieutenant-general Cromwell at that time, invited himself to dine with me, and brought Anthony Pierson, and several others, along with him to dinner. Their principal discourse all dinner-time was, who it was beheaded the king: one said it was the common hangman; another, Hugh Peters; others also were nominated, but none concluded. Robert Spavin, so soon as dinner was done, took me by the hand, and carried me to the south window; saith he,' These are all mistaken, they have not named the man that did the fact; it was lieutenant-colonel Joice: I was in the room when he fitted himself for the work, stood behind him when he did it; when done, went in again with him. There is no man knows this but my master, viz. Cromwell, commissary Ireton, and myself.'-' Doth not Mr. Rushworth know it?' said I. 'No, he doth not know it,' saith Spavin. The same thing Spavin since hath often related unto me when we were alone"

MOVEABLE FEASTS.

SHROVE TUESDAY regulates most of the moveable feasts. Shrove Tuesday itself is the next after the first new moon in the month of February. If such new moon should happen on a Tuesday, the next Tuesday following is Shrove Tuesday. A recently published volume furnishes a

list, the introduction of which on the next page puts the reader in possession of serviceable knowledge on this point, and affords an opportunity for affirming. that Mr. Nicolas's book contains a variety of correct and valuable informa tion not elsewhere in a collected form:

MOVEABLE FEASTS

FROM

Tables, Calendars, &c. for the use of His torians, Antiquaries, and the Legal Profession, by N. H. Nicolas, Esq." Advent Sunday, is the nearest Sunday to the feast of St. Andrew, November 30th, whether before or after. Ascension Day, or Holy Thursday, is the Thursday in Rogation week, i. e. the week following Rogation Sunday. Ash Wednesday, or the first day in lent, is the day after Shrove Tuesday. Carl, or Care Sunday, or the fifth Sunday in lent, is the fifth Sunday after Shrove Tuesday.

Corpus Christi, or Body of Christ, is a festival kept on the Thursday a ter Trinity Sunday; and was instituted in the year 1264.

Easter Day. The Paschal Sabbath. The Eucharist, or Lord's Supper, is the seventh Sunday after Shrove Tuesday, and is always the first Sunday after the first full moon, which happens on or next after the 21st of March.

Easter Monday
are the Monday and
Tuesday
Easter Tuesday
following
Easter day.
Ember Days, are the Wednesdays, Fri-
days, and Saturdays, after the first Sun-
day in lent; after the Feast of Pente-
cost; after Holy-rood Day, or the Feast
of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross,
viz. 14th September; and after St.
Lucia's day, viz. 15th December.
Ember Weeks, are those weeks in which
the Ember days fall.

The Eucharist. See Easter day.
Good Friday, is the Friday in Passion
Week, and the next Friday before Eas-
ter day.

Holy Thursday. See Ascension day.
Lent, a Fast from Ash Wednesday, to

the Feast of Easter, viz. forty days. Lord's Supper. See Easter day. Low Sunday, is the Sunday next after Easter day.

Maunday Thursday, is the day before Good Friday.

Midlent, or the fourth Sunday in Lent, is the fourth Sunday after Shrove Tuesday.

Palm Sunday, or the sixth Sunday in Lent, is the sixth Sunday after Shrove Tuesday.

Paschal Sabbath. See Easter day. Passion Week, is the week next ensuing after Palm Sunday

Pentecost or 'hit Sunday, 1s the fif tieth day and seventh Sunday after Easter day.

Quinquagesima Sunday, 13 SO namec from its being about the fiftieth day before Easter. It is also called Shrove Sunday.

Relick Sunday, is the third Sunday after Midsummer-day.

Rogation Sunday, is the fifth Sunday af ter Easter day.

Rogation Days are the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday following Rogation Sunday.

Shrove Sunday, is the Sunday next before Shrove Tuesday. It is also called Quinquagesima Sunday.

Septuagesima Sunday, so called from its being about the seventieth day be fore Easter, is the third Sunday before Lent.

Sexagesima Sunday, is the second Sun day before Lent, or the next to Shrove Sunday, so called as being about the sixtieth day before Easter.

Trinity Sunday, or the Feast of the Holy
Trinity, is the next Sunday after Pen-
tecost or Whitsuntide.
Whit Sunday. See Pentecost.

Whit Monday Whit Tuesday

are the Monday an Tuesday following Whit Sunday.

Whitsuntide, is the three days abovementioned.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

SEXAGESIMA

Is the eighth Sunday before Easter.
QUINQUAGESIMA

Is the seventh Sunday before Easter.
QUADRAGESIMA

Is the sixth Sunday before Easter, and the first Sunday in Lent, which commences on Ash Wednesday.

"The earliest term of Septuagesima Sunday is the 18th of January, when Easter day falls on the 22d of March; the latest is the 22d of February, when Easter happens on the 25th of April " Butler. Shepherd in his "Elucidation of the Book of Common Prayer" satisfactorily explains the origin of these days:

"When the words Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima were first applied to denote these three Sundays, the season of Lent had generally been extended to a fast of six weeks, that is, thirty-six days, not reckoning the Sundays, which were always celebrated as festivals. At this time, likewise, the Sunday which we call the first Sunday in Lent, was styled simply Quadragesima, or the fortieth, meaning the fortieth day before Easter. Quadragesima was also the name given to Lent, and denoted the Quadragesimal, or forty days' fast. When the three weeks before Quadragesima ceased to be considered as weeks after the Epiphany, and were appointed to be observed as a time of preparation for Lent, it was perfectly conformable to the ordinary mode of computation to reckon backwards, and for the sake of even and round numbers to count by decades. The authors of this novel institution, and the compilers of the new proper offices, would naturally call the first Sunday before Quadragesima, Quinquagesima; the second, Sexagesima; and the third, Sepviagesima. This reason corresponds with the account that seems to be at present most generally adopted."

There is much difference of opinion as to whether the fast of Lent lasted anciently during forty days or forty hours.

FLORAL DIRECTORY.

Common Maidenhair. Asplenium tri

chomanes.

Dedicated to St. Martina.

[blocks in formation]

was

Ribadeneira relates, that on the 1st of August 1216, the virgin Mary with beautiful train of holy virgins appeared to this saint at midnight, and signified it was the divine pleasure that a new order should be instituted under the title of Our Blessed Lady of Mercy, for the redemption of captives, and that king James of Aragon had the same vision at the same time, and "this order, therefore, by divine revelation, founded upon the 10th, or as others say, upon the 23d of August." Then St. Peter Nolasco begged for its support, and thereby rendered himself offensive to the devil. For once taking up his lodging in private, some of the neighbours told him, that the master of the house, a man of evil report, had lately died, and the place had ever since been inhabited by 66 night spirits," wherein he commended himself to the virgin and other saints, and "instantly his admonitors vanished away like smoke, leaving an intolerable scent behind them." These of course were devils in disguise. Then he passed the sea in his cloak, angels sung before him in the habit of his order, and the virgin visited his monastery. One night he went into the church and found the angels singing the service instead of the monks; and at another time seven stars fell from heaven, and on digging the ground "there, they found a most devout image of our lady under a great bell," and so forth.

FLORAL DIRECTORY.

Hartstongue. Asplenium Scolopendium. Dedicated to St. Marcella.

H

[blocks in formation]
[graphic][merged small][merged small]

Are purified, was Februa termed of old; Lustrations are from hence, from hence the

name

This month has Pisces or the fishes for In short, with whatsoe'er our hearts we hold its zodiacal sign. Numa, who was chosen by the Roman people to succeed Romulus as their king, and became their legislator, placed it the second in the year, as it remains with us, and dedicated it to Neptune, the lord of waters. Its name is from the Februa, or Feralia, sacrifices offered to the manes of the gods at this season. Ovid in his Fasti attests the derivation :

In ancient times, purgations had the name
Of Februa, various customs prove the same;
The pontiffs from the rer and flamen crave
A lock of wool; in former days they gave
To wool the naine of Februa.

A pliant branch cut from a lofty pine,
Which round the temples of the priests they
twine,

Is Februa called; which if the priest demand,
A branch of pine is put into his hand :

Of this our month of February came;
In which the priests of Pan processions made;
In which the tombs were also purified
Of such as had no dirges when they died;
For our religious fathers did maintain,
Purgations expiated every stain
Of guilt and sin; from Greece the custom

came,

[blocks in formation]

now call the colewurt, the greatest potwurt in time long past that our ancestors used, and the broth made therewith was thereof also called kele; for before we borrowed from the French the name of potage, and the name of herbe, the one in our owne language was called kele, and the other wurt; and as this kele-wurt, or potage-hearbe, was the chiefe winterwurt for the sustenance of the husbandman, so was it the first hearbe that in this moneth began to yeeld out wholesome yong sprouts, and consequently gave thereunto the name of Sprout-kele." The "kele" here mentioned, is the wellknown kale of the cabbage tribe. But the Saxons likewise called this month "Solmonath," which Dr. Frank Sayers in his "Disquisitions" says, is explained by Bede "mensis plancentarum," and rendered by Spelman in an unedited manuscript "pan-cake month," because in the course of it, cakes were offered by the pagan Saxons to the sun; and "Sol," or "soul," signified "food," or cakes."

In "The Months," by Mr. Leigh Hunt,

he remarks that "if February were not the precursor of spring, it would be the least pleasant season of the year, November not excepted. The thaws now take place; and a clammy mixture of moisture and cold succeeds, which is the most disagreeable of wintry sensations." Yet so variable is our climate, that the Febru ary of 1825 broke in upon the inhabitants of the metropolis with a day or two of piercing cold, and realized a delightful description of January sparkled from the same pen. "What can be more delicately beautiful than the spectacle which sometimes salutes the eye at the breakfastroom window, occasioned by the hoarfrost dew? If a jeweller had come to dress every plant over night, to surprise an Eastern sultan, he could not produce any thing like the pearly drops,' or the 'silvery plumage.' An ordinary bed of greens, to those who are not at the mercy of their own vulgar associations, will sometimes look crisp and corrugated emerald, powdered with diamonds."

THE SEASON.

[ocr errors]

Sunk in the vale, whose concave depth receives
The waters draining from these shelvy banks
When the shower beats, yon pool with pallid gleam
Betrays its icy covering. From the glade
Issuing in pensive file, and moving slow,
The cattle, all unwitting of the change,
To quench their customary thirst advance.

With wondering stare and fruitless search they trace
The solid margin: now bend low the head

In act to drink; now with fastidious nose
Snuffing the marble floor, and breathing loud,
From the cold touch withdraw. Awhile they stand
In disappointment mute; with ponderous feet
Then bruise the surface: to each stroke the woods
Reply; forth gushes the imprisoned wave.
February 1.

St. Ignatius. St. Pionius, A. v. 250. St.
Bridget. St. Kinnia. St. Sigebert II.
King.

St. Bridget.

St. Bride, otherwise St. Bridget, confers her name upon the parish of St. Bride's, for to her its church in Fleetstreet is dedicated. Butler says she was born in Ulster, built herself a cell under a large oak, thence called Kill-dara, or cell of the oak, was joined by others of her own sex, formed several nunneries, and became patroness of Ireland. "But," says Butler, "a full account of her virtues has not been transmitted down to us, together with the veneration of her name;"

yet he declares that "her five modern lives mention little else but wonderful miracles." According to the same author, she flourished in the beginning of the sixth century, her body was found in the twelfth century, and her head "is now kept in the church of the Jesuits at Lisbon." This writer does not favour us with any of her miracles, but bishop Patrick mentions, that wild ducks swimming in the water, or flying in the air, obeyed her call, came to her hand, let her embrace them, and then she let them fly away again. He also found in the breviary of Sarum, that when she was sent a-milking by her mother to make butter, she gave away an the milk to the poor; that when the rest of the maids brought

« ZurückWeiter »