MERRY WAKEFIELD. What peculiar cause of mirth the town of Wakefield hath above others, Fuller certainly confesses he cannot tell, unless that it may be entitled to that epithet from its cheapness, and the plenty of good cheer. Grose, however, adds, "Might it not be mirrie, that is, faithful Wakefield? and allude to some event in the disputes between the houses of York and Lancaster. Mirriemen is a term that frequently occurs in old ballads, signifying true or faithful men." While again it has been suggested, that it derives this complimentary epithet from the reputation of that "merry" man, the Pindar of the town "Of Wakefield, George a Green, whose fames so far are blown; for Brathwaite, in his Strappado for the Divell, applies it to both of them, when he speaks of 'Merry Wakefield and her Pindar too."" NEVER LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH! This very familiar, and often repeated saying, takes its origin from a circumstance which occurred many years ago in the vicinity of Carlisle. "Two farmers, who had been neighbours for many years, and who had lived upon very friendly terms, mutually agreed, that which ever died first should leave to the other a valuable consideration, not specifying, however, what it was to be. The one was called Martin Timson, and the other David Dean. David was called away first, and bequeathed to Martin a favourite horse. When it was communicated to the latter, he manifested a great deal of disappointment, and observed, that "He did expect something better than an old horse." "Not so old, neither," said the party who had brought him the information. A dispute now arose about the age, and it was agreed to go to the stable and examine it. Martin went up to the horse's head, and, in the act of opening its mouth to look at its teeth, the horse made a snatch and bit his nose off! A mortification in a few hours ensued, and strange to say, Martin followed David to the grave. Hence came the saying, "Never look a Gift Horse in the Mouth." GIVE HIM A BONE TO PICK! This saying probably took its rise from a custom at marriage feasts among the poor in Sicily, when, after dinner, the bride's father gives the bridegroom a bone, saying, "Pick this bone, for you have undertaken to pick one more difficult." I'LL SET YOU DOWN IN MY BLACK BOOK! The Black Book was a book kept by the English monasteries, in which a detail of the scandalous enormities practised were Hence the entered, for the inspection of visiters under Henry VIII., in order to blacken them, and hasten their dissolution. vulgar phrase, "I'll set you down in my Black-book." "ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL." This proverb had its origin in the time of Edward VI., when much of the lands of Saint Peter, at Westminster, were invaded by the great men of the Court, who therefore allowed somewhat out of them towards the repair of St. Paul's Church. -Blount's Dictionary. NO GREAT SHAKES. Shakes, as used in the following passage by Byron, is a vulgarism, which probably may be traced to the custom of shaking hands, the shake being estimated according to the value set upon the person giving it, and hence applied to the person. Byron writing to Murray, Sept. 28, 1820, says, I had my hands full, and my head too just then (when he wrote Marino Faliero), so it can be no great shakes." BANYAN-DAY. 66 A marine term for those days in which the sailors have no fresh meat; and is probably derived from the practice of the Banians, a caste of Hindoos, who entirely abstained from all animal food. TOPOGRAPHICAL RHYMES. Most of the following Rhymes upon places have been contributed to Notes and Queries, vols. v. and vi., and are here distributed under their respective counties. BERWICKSHIRE. I stood upon Eyemouth Fort, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. Tring, Wing, and Ivinghoe, Tring, Wing, and Ivinghoe, all these three did go, CORNWALL. Pars Corinea datur Corineo, de duce nomen DERBYSHIRE. Derbyshire born, and Derbyshire bred, EDINBURGH. Cain, in disgrace with heaven, retired to Nod, A place, undoubtedly, as far from God As Cain could wish; which makes some think he went As far as Scotland, ere he pitch'd his tent; And there a city built of ancient fame, Which he, from Eden, Edinburgh did name. ESSEX. A village called Ugley, possesses the unfortunate saying : HERTFORDSHIRE. They who buy a house in Hertfordshire, KENT. Sutton for mutton, Kirkby for beef, South Darne for gingerbread, Dartford for a thief. When England wrings Thanet sings. English lord, German count, and French marquis, Deal, Dover, and Harwich, The Devil gave his daughter in marriage; He added Helvoet and the Brill. LANCASHIRE. Proud Preston, Poor people, High church, And low steeple. If Liverpool's Good Mayor should ever be, LEICESTERSHIRE. Mountsorrel he mounted at, Rodelyt he rode by, Onelept he leaped o'er, At Birstall he burst his gall, And Belgrave he was buried at. LINCOLN. York was, London is, but Lincoln shall be Though Boston be a proud town, Well is the man "Twixt Trent and Witham. * Mr. Thomas Littledale, the Mayor in 1852, was the last who received the present connected with this legendary custom. Now Rothley. Now Wanlip. Northap rise and Grayingham fall, Luddington poor people, Built a brick church to a stone steeple. NORFOLK. Gimmingham and Tremmingham, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. Dodington dovecot, Wilby hen, Irthlingborough ploughboys, and Wellingborough men. NORTHUMBERLAND. Rothbury for goats' milk, And the Cheviots for mutton; Harnham was headless, Bradford breadless, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. Eaton and Taton, and Bramcote o' th' hill, OXFORDSHIRE. Stow on the Wold (Would) SOMERSETSHIRE. Sutton Long, Sutton Long, At every door a lump of dung: Some two; some three; It's the dirtiest place that ever you see. STAFFORDSHIRE. Wotton under Weaver, Where God came never; Being very lonely and out of the way. Stanton on the stones, Where the Devil broke his bones. |