Note 402 — Chapter IX · SAINTS, MARTYRS, ETC.
Reading edition
Coryatt’s Crudities, London, 1776, p. 15, reprinted from the edition of 1611.
[403] In those early days the sign alone of a house was not thought to give sufficient publicity. Touters (crieurs) were therefore sent about town (a custom dating from the Romans.) Thus in the “Crieries de Paris,” (Barbazan, Fabliaux et Contes, vol. ii., p. 277,)—
“D’autres cris on fait plusieurs, Qui long seraient à reciter. L’on crie vin nouveau et vieux, Duquel l’on donne à tater.”
These touters had their statutes and privileges granted to them by Philip Auguste in 1258, some of which are very curious.
[404] Not only had the innkeepers saints on their signboards, but the different reception-rooms in their houses were also sanctified with some holy name. Artus Desiré quaintly inveighs against this practice in his “Loyaulté Consciencieuse des Tavernières:”—
“Semblablement toutes leurs chambres painctes, Où il n’y a qu’ordure et ivrognise, Portent les noms de benoistz sainctz et sainctes Contre l’honneur de Dieu et son Eglise. L’une s’apelle, à leur mode et devize, Le Paradis et l’autre Sainct Clement. Et quant quelqu’un rabaste fermement, L’hostesse crie André, Guillot, Mornable, Laisse-moy tout, et va legerement En Paradis, compter de par le Diable. S’on si veut chauffer, Portent le faggot Robin avec Margot, De par Lucifer.”
(“In the same manner all their painted rooms, in which there is nothing but filth and drunkenness, are named after some blessed saint, contrary to the respect due to the Lord and His Church. According to this custom one is called the Paradise, and another St Clement. And if anybody higgles about his bill the hostess calls out, Andrew, Will, Mornable, leave everything, and run quickly up to the Paradise to make out the bill, in the Devil’s name. And if anybody wants a fire, Bob or Maggy has to carry up a faggot in the name of Lucifer.”)
[405]
“This is Saint Crispin, but my name is Kit, I make boots, shoes, and slippers.”
[406]
“Here at the Crispin any man may for his money Immediately obtain shoes made out of animals’ skins; But many a brute in this town wears a human skin, Nay, wears his own brother’s skin, and the brute looks even well in it”
[407] So were Crispin and Crispian, and hence the trade is called the “Gentle Craft.”
[408] The gayest city in Europe three centuries ago.
[409]
“You have said St Julian’s prayer this morning, Either in French or in Latin, Now you are sure to be well lodged.”
[410]
“We are entirely at your service. By S. Peter the good apostle You shall have St Julian inn (or welcome.)”
[411]
“Often good wine makes them say, That they have the inn of St Martin.”
[412]
“Thus they had at his expense the inn of St Martin.”
[413]
“Whosoever sees the image of St Christopher, Shall that day not feel any sickness.”
[414]
“The day that you see St Christopher’s face, That day shall you not die an evil death. 1423.”
[415] Aubrey, Remains of Judaism and Gentilism. Lansdowne MSS., No. 231.
[416] Memoirs of Roger Earl of Orrery, by Rev. Mr Th. Morris, (Earl of Orrery’s State Letters,) 1742, fol. 15.
[417] Strype, B. ii., p. 162.
[418] Tottenham High Cross.
[419] The first library sold by auction in this country was that of Dr Seaman, of Warwick Court, Warwick Lane, in 1676.
[420] “If your potations overnight do not agree with you, take another glass of wine in the morning, and it will cure you.”
[421] Skinker, an old English word, synonymous to tapster, drawer.
“Bacchus the win him skinketh all about.”—Chaucer, Marchant’s Tale, 9696
[422]
“Apollo and you, band of Muses, Bacchus, god of wine and grapes, Ceres, goddess of bread and beer, You all must share our sorrow. Weep all ye gods and goddesses, Over the bier of the defunct Simon Wadloe, He lived well under an evil sign, If he goes to heaven, O miracle! thanks to the Devil.”
[423] Ned Ward’s “London Spy,” 1703.
[424] La Tête Noire, (the Moor’s head,) another famous tavern in that locality.
[425]
“Sacred precincts, where are delivered The holy oracles of Themis, Though you may boast To see everybody kneel to you, Were it not for the Devil and the Moor’s head I would never come near you.”
[426] St Justin, another martyr, after his head was struck off, picked it up, and, holding in his hand, conversed with the bystanders.
[427] Cunningham’s London.
[428] Our Harry VIII. was fully as extravagant in his retinue. When he went over to meet Francis I. at the Camp du Drap d’or, he required 2400 beds, and stabling for 2000 horses.
[429] “Rutland Papers,” reprinted for Camden Society.
[430] Epistle Dedicatory to “Have at you to Saffron Walden,” 1596.
[431] “Misrule in a velvet cap, a sprig, a short cloak, a great yellow ruff, like a reveller, his torch bearer bearing a rope, a cheese, and a basket.” The names given were the real designations of the performers in private life. Kit, the cobbler of Philpot Lane; Cis, a cook’s wife from Scalding Alley; Nell, a milliner from Threadneedle Street; and Tom, our drawer from Blossom’s Inn.
“And he presenteth Misrule, Which you may know by the very show, Albeit you never ask it; For there you may see, what his ensignes bee, The rope, the cheese, and the basket.”
[432] St Catherine was beheaded after having been placed between wheels with spikes, from which she was saved by an angel descended from heaven.
[433] Several of the old carriers and coaching inns still remain in Bishopsgate Street, under their old names, as the Black Bull, the Green Dragon, the Four Swans, and (until a few months ago) the Flowerpot, &c.
[434] Gentleman’s Magazine, March 1842.
[435] It is said that this sign, put up in French somewhere as the cœur doré, was Englished into the “queer door.”
[436] Note in Gifford’s Ben Jonson, vol iv., p. 174.
[437] They were called the three kings of Cologne because they were buried in that city. The Empress Helena brought their bones to Constantinople, from whence they were removed to Milan, and thence in 1164 to Cologne, where they are still kept as sacred and miracle-working relics.
[438] Harl. MSS. 5910, vol. i., fol. 193.
[439]
“Jasper brings myrrh, Melchior frankincense, Balthazar gold. He who carries these three names of the kings about with him Will, through Christ’s favour, be delivered of the falling sickness.”
In the trial of the smugglers for the murder of Chater and Galley, excisemen of Chichester, in the last century, one of the prisoners was found with this charm in his pocket. With this scrap of paper in his possession, he had considered himself quite safe from detection.
[440]
“Three kings brought three gifts to the King of Kings. They gave myrrh to him as man, gold as king, and frankincense as God.”
[441]
“But come now, for already hovers Cain with his bundle of thorns On the confines of the two hemispheres, and touches the Waves beneath Seville.”
[442]
“But tell me, what are the dark spots On that body, which makes them down there on earth Talk of Cain and the bundle of thorns!”
[443] Paul’s Jacks were the little automaton figures that struck the hours in old St Paul’s. Similar puppets, or figures, were also on other London churches.