Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

which continue to be used from the Nativity to the Epiphany.-Feastings are frequent during the whole Time, and we send what are called New Year's Gifts Exchanges of Dress too, as of old among the Romans, are common, and Neighbours by mutual Invitations, visit each other in the Manner which we Germans call Mummery: So writes the Author of the Convivial Antiquities, and adds, as the Heathens had their Saturnalia in December, their Sigillaria in January, and the Lupercalia and Bacchanalia in February; so amongst Christians these three Months are devoted to Feastings and Revellings of every Kind†.

There was an antient Custom, (I know not whether

* Strena usus primo die anni, Romanorum veterum est inventum -Suetonius in Augusto. Deprav. Rel. 164.

Johannes Boëmus Aubanus tells us, "Calendis Januarii, quo "tempore et Annus & omnis Computatio nostra inchoatur, Cogna"tus cognatum, Amicus amicum accedunt, & consertis manibus "invicem in novum Annum prosperitatem imprecantur, diemque "illum festiva Congratulatione & Compotatione deducunt. Tunc "etiam ex avita consuetudine ultro citroque munera mittuntur, quæ à Saturnalibus, quæ eo tempore celebrantur à Romanis, Sa"turnalitia, a Græcis Apophoreta dicta sunt. Hunc morem anno 60 superiori ego ita versificavi:"

[ocr errors]

'Christe patris Verbum, &c.

Natalemque tuum celebrantes octo diebus,
Concinimus laudem, perpetuumque decus.
Atque tuo Exemplo moniti munuscula notis,
Aut Caprum pinguem mittimus, aut leporem,
Aut his liba damus signis & imagine pressa,
Mittimus aut Calathis aurea mala decem,
Aurea mala decem, buxo cristata virenti,
Et variis caris rebus aromaticis.

P. 265.

There are Allusions to some other obsolete Rites at this Time in Pope Zecharias' Interdiction of them, preserved in the Convivial

[blocks in formation]

whether it be not yet retained in many Places) : Young Women went about with a Wassail-bowl, that is, a Bowl of spiced Ale on New Year's Eve, with some Sort of Verses that were sung by then in going about from Door to Door. Waissail is derived from the Anglo. Sax. Wær pæl, that is, "be in "Health." They accepted little Presents from the Houses they stopped at. --Mr. Selden thus alludes to it in his Table Talk, Art. Pope. "The Pope in "sending Relicks to Princes, does as Wenches do by “their Wassels at New Year's Tide.-They present

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

.

you with a Cup, and you must drink of a slabby

Stuff; but the Meaning is, you must give them "Money ten Times more than it is worth."

Stow has preserved an Account of a remarkable Mummery, 1377," made by the Citizens for disport of the young Prince Richard, Sonne to the Black Prince.

On the Sunday before Candlemass in the Night, 130 Citizens disguised and well horsed, in a Mummery, with Sound of Trumpets, Sackbuts, Cornets, Shalmes and other Minstrels, and innumerable

Antiquities. "Si quis Calendas Januarii ritu Ethnicorum colere, "ut aliquid plus noví facere propter novum annum, aut mensas cum "lampadibus, vel Epulas in domibus præparare, et per vicos et plateas cantatores et Choreas ducere ausus fuerit, Anathema sit.” Antiquit. Conviv. p. 120.

In Trusler's Chronology, A. D. 1198, we are told, "Fools, Fes"tival of, at Paris, held January 1st, and continued for 240 Years, "when all Sorts of Absurdities and Indecencies were committed."

Mr. Pennant tells us, that the Highlanders on New Year's Day, burn Juniper before their Cattle, and on the first Monday in every Quarter sprinkle them with Urine,

6

Torch

Torch Lights of Wax, rode to Kennington, besides Lambeth, where the young Prince was.

In the 1st Rank, 48 in Likeness and Habit of Esquires, two and two together, clothed in red Coats and Gowns of Say or Sendall, with comely Vizors on their Faces.

After them came 48 Knights, in the same Livery: Then followed one richly arrayed, like an Emperor; and after him some Distance, one stately tyred like a Pope, who was followed by 24 Cardinals: And after them eight or ten with black Vizors, not amiable, as if they had been Legates from some forraigne Princes.

These Maskers, after they had entred the Mannor of Kennington, alighted from their Horses, and entred the Hall on foot; which done, the Prince, his Mother and the Lords came out of. the Chambers into the Hall, whom the Mummers did salute; shewing by a Paire of Dice on the Table, their desire to play with the young Prince; which they so handled, that the Prince did alwaies winne, when he cast at them.

Then the Mummers set to the Prince three Jewels, one after another; which were, a Boule of Gold, a Cup of Gold, and a Ring of Gold, which the Prince wanne at three Casts. Then they set to the Princes Mother, the Duke, the Earles and other Lords, to every one a Ring of Gold, which they did also win. After which they were feasted, and the Musick sounded, the Prince and

Lords

Your

whet ds daunced on the one Part with the Mummers, so did also dance; which Jollity being ended, er were again made to drink, and then departed Order as they came.

that

with

goin

from

« I'

Ho

it in

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

1

The like he says was to Henry the 4th-in the

Year of his Reign, he then keeping his Christss at Eltham, twelve Aldermen of London, and zer Sonnes, rode in a Mumming, and had great

Tanks.

We reade in Fabian's Chronicle, Temp. Henry 4th: -In whiche passe Tyme the Dukys of Annarle, of Surrey, and of Exetyr, with the Earlys of Saesbury, and of Gloucetyr, with other of their

yte made Provysyon for a Dysguysynge, or a Jimmynge, to be shewyd to the Kynge upon -methe Night, and the Tyme was nere at Hande, and all Thynge redy for the same. Upon re sand twelfthe Day, came secretlye unto the e te Dake of Amnarle, and shewyd to ate wyth the other Lordys aforenamed, - fere incend to sle hym in the Time of the and Mosgrance, &c. Fol. 169.

*ke to have proved a very

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

Mr. Bourne seems to "carry Coals to Newcastle," when he attempts to prove that it is no Way sinful to wish each other a good New Year. That Person carried his Scruples methinks very far, who first doubted concerning the Lawfulness of this Ceremony. If the Benevolent can thus hardly be saved, how shall the Malicious and the Envious appear?

-

New years Gift. History is silent concerning the Manner in which her Majesty received it.

Ad Mariam Scotiæ Reginam:

Do quod adest: opto quod abest tibi, dona darentur
Aurea, Sors animo si foret æqua meo.

Hoc leve si credis, paribus me ulciscere donis:

Et quod abest, opta tu mihi: da quod adest.

[ocr errors][merged small]
« AnteriorContinuar »