Note 274 — GAMMER GURTON'S NEEDLE.
Reading edition
In Shakspeare's "Hamlet," Ophelia sings a song, in which this adjuration is used—
"By gys and by Saint Charity."
And it is also to be found in Gascoigne's Poems, in Preston's "Cambyses," and in the comedy of "See me and see me not," 1618—
"By gisse I swear, were I so fairly wed," &c.
Mr Steevens's note on "Hamlet," in which Mr Steevens observes, that Saint Charity is a known saint among the Roman Catholics. Spenser mentions her ("Eclog," v., 255):—
"Ah dear Lord and sweet Saint Charity!"
Again, in "The Downfall of Robert, Earl of Huntington," 1601—
"Therefore, sweet master, for Saint Charity."
—Note on Hamlet, act iv., sc. 5.
[Dr Bailey supposes, which is very probable, that this abbreviated or corrupt form of Jesus arose from] the letters I H S being anciently all that was set down to denote that sacred name on altars, the covers of books, &c.
It occurs also in the following passage of Erasmus's "Praise of Folie," by Chaloner, 1549:—"Lyke as many great lordes there be who set so muche by theim, as scant they can eate theyr meate, or byde a minute without theim, cherisshyng them (by iysse) a little better than thei are wont to dooe these frounyng philosophers," &c. Sig. G 2.
Again, in "Euphues and his England," 1582, p. 5:—"Unto whome he replyed, shoaring up his eyes, 'by Jis,' soune, I accompt the cheere good which mainteineth health, and the servauntes honest whome I finde faythfull."