Part 34
In this wild, groping, dark, and drearie cove, Of wife, of children, and of health bereft, I hailed thee, friendly spider, who hadst wove Thy mazy net on yonder mouldering raft: Would that the cleanlie housemaid’s foot had left Thee tarrying here, nor took thy life away; For thou, from out this seare old ceiling’s cleft, Came down each morn to hede my plaintive lay; Joying like me to heare sweete musick play, Wherewith I’d fein beguile the dull dark lingering day.
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FLORAL DIRECTORY.
Pilewort. _Ficaria verna._ Dedicated to _St. Catharine_ of Sweden.
~March 23.~
_St. Alphonsus Turibius_, Abp. of Lima, A. D. 1606. _Sts. Victorian_, &c. A. D. 484. _St. Edelwald_, A. D. 699.
_St. Edelwald._
This was an English benedictine monk of Rippon, who became a hermit, and was buried by St. Cuthbert in St. Peter’s church, at Lindisfarne.
CHRONOLOGY.
1801. Paul, emperor of Russia, was strangled at St. Petersburg.
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FLORAL DIRECTORY.
Peerless Daffodil. _Narcissus incomparabilis._ Dedicated to _St. Alphonsus_.
~March 24.~
Cambridge Term ends.
_St. Irenæus_, Bp. of Sirmium, A. D. 304. _St. Simon_, an Infant Martyr. _St. William_ of Norwich.
_St. Simon_, an Infant.
The _Jews_ are said to have murdered this infant in 1472. After having deliberated at their synagogue in the holy week, on the preparations for their passover, they came to the resolution of crucifying a child on Good Friday, and having stolen Simon, they made him the victim, and sung around his body while elevated. Whenever an act of cruelty was to be perpetrated on the Jews, fables like these were forged, and the brutal passions of the mob let loose upon the life and wealth of fugitive Israelites.
_St. William_ of Norwich, A. D. 1137,
Was another of these pretended martyrs to Jewish hatred. Weever states, that “the Jews in the principal cities of the kingdom, did use sometimes to steal away, and crucify some neighbour’s male child,” as if it were a common practice. Since protestantism, no such barbarities have been imputed to the Jews.
CHRONOLOGY.
1580. The first bombs were thrown upon the town of Wachtendonck in Guelderland. The invention is commonly attributed to Galen, bishop of Munster.
1726. Daniel Whitby, the learned commentator on the New Testament, died. He was born at Rushden, Northamptonshire, in 1638, and was eminent for ability and honesty throughout his life.
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FLORAL DIRECTORY.
Golden Saxifrage. _Chrysosplenum oppositifolium._ Dedicated to _St. Irenæus_.
~March 25.~
_Lady Day._ Holiday at the Public Offices, except the Excise, Stamp, and Custom.
_The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary._ _St. Cammin_, Abbot, A. D. 653.
~Lady Day.~
The Roman Catholic festival of the Annunciation is commonly called in England LADY DAY, an abridgement of the old term _Our Lady’s Day_, or the _Day of our blessed Lady_.
This is a “gaudy day” in the Romish church. Deeming the mother of Christ an intercessor and mediatrix, it offers innumerable honours and devotions to her. _Hail Mary!_ resounds in the masses to her praise; and the worshippers of her shrines and resemblances, are excited to a fervour of devotion which would astonish, if it were not known that sculpture, painting, poetry, vocal and instrumental music, have been added to revive the recollection of monkish fables, and early impressions in her behalf.
In the ~Golden Legend~, a book formerly read instead of the New Testament, but now, in degree, supplanted by Butler’s more voluminous and almost equally miraculous “Lives of the Saints,” there is a story in honour of the virgin, concerning a noble and ignorant knight, who, to amend his life, entered an abbey, but was so incapable of learning, that he could say nothing but _Ave Maria_, which words he continually repeated wherever he was. When this knight died he was buried in the church-yard of the abbey, and there afterwards grew out of his grave a fair _fleur de lis_, and in every flower grew, in letters of gold, the words _Ave Maria_; and at the miracle, the brethren marvelled, and opened the sepulchre, and found the root of the _fleur de lis_ came out of the mouth of the said knight; and then they understood that he was to be honoured for his great devotion to the virgin, by using the words _Ave Maria_.
There is another story in the “Golden Legend” of “another knyght.” “He had a fayre place bisyde the hye waye where moche people passed, whome he robbed,” and so he did all his life; yet he had “a good custom” of saluting the virgin every day, by saying _Ave Maria_, and so he went on committing highway robberies, and saluting the virgin day by day, till his people having put “a holy man” in bodily fear and robbed him, the said “holy man” desired to be brought before their master, the knight, and seeing him, required him to summon all his attendants, which the knight did; but the “holy man” objected that one of them was not present. Then the knight perceived that his chamberlain was not there, and called for him; and when the holy man saw the chamberlain, he conjured him to declare who he was, and the chamberlain being so enforced answered, “I am no man, but am a devil in the form of a man;” and he acknowledged that he had abided with the knight fourteen years, and watched him night and day, hoping the knight might leave off saying the salutation _Ave Maria_, that so he might strangle him, “and brynge him to hell,” because of his evil life; but, because there passed no day without the knight saying _Ave Maria_, the devil could not have him for all his long waiting. Then the knight fell down at the feet of the holy man, and demanded pardon of his sins, and the “holy man” commanded the devil to depart; wherefore says the “Golden Legend,” “let us pray to the gloryous virgyn Mary, that she kepe us from the devyll.”
The festival of the annunciation is kept at Rome by sumptuous shows. The author of “Rome in the nineteenth Century” relates the pope’s proceedings on the occasion: “We drove through streets lined with expecting crowds, and windows hung with crimson and yellow silk draperies, and occupied by females in their most gorgeous attire, till we made a stop near the church before which the pope’s horse-guards, in their splendid full-dress uniforms, were stationed to keep the ground; all of whom, both officers and men, wore in their caps a sprig of myrtle, as a sign of rejoicing. After waiting a short time, the procession appeared, headed by another detachment of the guards, mounted on prancing black chargers, who rode forward to clear the way, accompanied by such a flourish of trumpets and kettle-drums, that it looked at first like any thing but a peaceable or religious proceeding. This martial array was followed by a bareheaded priest, on a white mule, bearing the host in a gold cup, at the sight of which every body fell upon their knees. The pope used formerly to ride upon the white mule himself, and all the cardinals used to follow him in their magnificent robes of state, mounted either on mules or horses; and as the _Eminentissimi_ are, for the most part, not very eminent horsemen, they were generally fastened on, lest they should tumble off. This cavalcade must have been a very entertaining sight. Pius VI., who was a very handsome man, kept up this custom, but the (then) present pope (Pius VII.) is far too infirm for such an enterprise; so he followed the man on the white mule, in a state coach; at the very sight of which, we seemed to have made a jump back of two hundred years at least. It was a huge machine, composed almost entirely of plate-glass, fixed in a ponderous carved and gilt frame, through which was distinctly visible the person of the venerable old pope, dressed in robes of white and silver, and incessantly giving his benediction to the people, by a twirl of three fingers; which are typical of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; the last being represented by the little finger. On the gilded back of this vehicle, the only part that was not made of glass, was a picture of the pope in his chair of state, and the virgin Mary _at his feet_. This extraordinary machine was drawn by six black horses, with superb harness of crimson velvet and gold; the coachmen, or rather postillions, were dressed in coats of silver stuff, with crimson velvet breeches, and full bottomed wigs well powdered, without hats. Three coaches, scarcely less antiquely superb, followed with the assistant cardinals, and the rest of the train. In the inside of the church, the usual tiresome ceremonies went on that take place when the pope is present. He is seated on a throne, or chair of state; the cardinals, in succession, approach and kiss his hand, retire one step, and make three bows or nods, one to him in front, and one on the right hand, and another on the left; which are intended for him (as the personification of the Father,) and for the Son, and for the Holy Ghost, on either side of him; and all the cardinals having gone through these motions, and the inferior priests having kissed his _toe_--that is, the _cross_, embroidered on his shoe--high mass begins. The pope kneels during the elevation of the host, prays in silence before the high altar, gets up and sits down, reads something out of a great book which they bring to him, with a lighted taper held beside it; and, having gone through many more such ceremonies, finally ends as he began, with giving his benediction with three fingers, all the way he goes out. During all the time of this high mass, the pope’s military band, stationed on the platform in front of the church, played so many clamorous martial airs, that it effectually put to flight any ideas of religious solemnity.”
In England, _Lady Day_ is only remembered as the first quarter-day in the year, and is therefore only kept by tenants who truly pay rent to their landlords. A few years ago a country gentleman wrote a letter to a lady of rank in town, and sent it through the general post with the following address:
“To
“The 25th of March,
“Foley-place, London.”
The postman duly delivered the letter at the house of _Lady Day_ for whom it was intended.
CHRONOLOGY.
1688. Parochial charity schools, for the education of the children of poor persons, were instituted in London and its vicinity.
1748. A fire broke out at one o’clock in the morning in ’Change-alley, Cornhill, London, which raged for ten hours, consuming all the buildings in ’Change-alley and Birchin-lane; and in Cornhill, from ’Change-alley to St. Michael’s-alley, including several celebrated taverns and coffee-houses, and many valuable shops, including five booksellers. There were eighty houses destroyed by this conflagration.
1809. Anna Seward, the friend of Dr. Darwin, and recollected for her life of him, and for her poetry and correspondence, died in the bishop’s palace at Lichfield, aged 66. She was born at Eyan, in Derbyshire. Her poetry is easy, rather than vigorous.
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FLORAL DIRECTORY.
Marigold. _Calendula Officinalis._ Annunciation of V. Mary.
~March 26.~
Oxford Term ends.
_St. Ludger_, Bp. of Munster, A. D. 809. _St. Braulio_, Bp. of Saragossa, A. D. 646.
THE CUCKOO.
Now in many situations may be heard the cuckoo. Its distant note intimating dislike to human approach, comes upon the ear as a soft welcome from a shy stranger:--
Hail, beauteous stranger of the grove, Thou messenger of spring! How heaven repairs thy rural seat, And woods thy welcome sing.
What time the daisy decks the green Thy certain voice we hear; Hast thou a star to guide thy path, Or mark the rolling year?
Delightful visitant! with thee I hail the time of flowers, And hear the sounds of music sweet From birds among the bowers.
The school-boy wandering thro’ the wood To pull the primrose gay, Starts--the new voice of spring to hear And imitates thy lay.
Soon as the pea puts on its bloom, Thou fliest thy vocal vale, An annual guest in other lands, Another spring to hail.
Sweet bird, thy bower is ever green, Thy sky is ever clear; Thou hast no sorrow in thy song, No winter in thy year!
O! could I fly, I’d fly with thee; We’d make with social wing Our annual visit o’er the globe, Companions of the spring.
_Logan._
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FLORAL DIRECTORY.
Lurid Henbane. _Hyoscyamus Scopolia._ Dedicated to _St. Braulio._
~March 27.~
_St. John_ of Egypt, Hermit, A. D. 394. _St. Rupert_, or _Robert_, Bp. of Saltzbourg.
_St. John_ of Egypt
Was a hermit, inured to obedience by an ancient holy anchoret, “who made him water a dry stick for a whole year, as if it were a live plant.” He walled himself up at the top of a rock, “from the fortieth or forty-second to the ninetieth year of his age,” and “drew the admiration of the whole world on him,” says Butler, by “the lustre of his miracles,” and the “fame of his predictions.”
CHRONOLOGY.
1801. The peace of Amiens between France and England was signed in France.
This is the first Sunday before Easter, and is sometimes called _Passion_ Sunday. It is denominated _Palm Sunday_, because on this day the Roman catholic church ordains boughs or branches of palm trees to be carried in procession, in imitation of those strewed before Christ when he rode into Jerusalem. In this monkish procession the host was carried upon an ass, branches and flowers were strewed on the road, the richest cloths were laid down, and others were hung up. The palms were consecrated by the priest, and after they were used they were preserved to be burned for holy ashes, to lay on the heads of the people on _Ash_ Wednesday in the following year, as before-mentioned (see p. 261,) on that day.
On _Palm Sunday_, the palm flowers and leaves to be consecrated by the officiating prelate or priest were laid upon the high altar, and those for the poor _laity_ being placed upon the south _step_ of the altar the priest arrayed in a red cope proceeded to consecrate them by a prayer, commencing “I conjure thee, thou creature of flowers and branches, in the name of God the Father,” &c. This was to displace the devil or his influences, if he or they lurked or were hidden in or about the “creature of flowers and branches.” Then followed a prayer wherein he said, with crosses, “We humbly beseech thee that thy truth may + sanctify this creature of flowers and branches, and slips of palms, or boughs of trees, which we offer,” &c. Then the “creature of flowers and branches” was fumed with smoke of frankincense from the censers, and there were other prayers with crossings, and they were sprinkled with holy water with this supplication: “Bless + and sanctify + these branches of palms, and other trees and flowers,” &c. Then the sacrists distributed the palms to the abbots, priors, and nobler persons, and the flowers and leaves to the others. When this was done the procession moved, and afterwards made a stand while two priests brought a _Pascal_ in which the crucifix was laid; afterwards the banner and cross-bearers filed off to the right and to the left, and the boys and monks of the convent arranged themselves, and, after a short service, the priests with the tomb, headed by the banner and cross, passed between the monks, who knelt as they passed. When they came to the city-gates they divided again on two sides, and the shrine being put on a table, was covered with cloth. Above the entrance of the gates, in a place handsomely prepared with hangings, were boys with other singers whom the chanter had appointed, and these sang, “Gloria, Laus,” “Glory, praise,” &c. After having made a procession through the city, they returned to the convent-gate, where the shrine was laid on the table and covered with cloth, and a religious service was performed. The monks then returned to the church, and stood before the crucifix uncovered, while mass was performed; and after they had communicated, the deacon first and the rest afterwards, they offered their palms and flowers, at the altar.[39]
It was also an old Roman catholic custom on Palm Sunday, to draw about the town a wooden ass with a figure on it, representing Christ riding into Jerusalem, and the people strewing palms before it. Googe’s _Naogeorgus_ says:--
A _woodden Asse_ they have, and _Image great_ that on him rides, But underneath the Asse’s feete a table broad there slides, Being borne on wheeles, which ready drest, and al things meete therfore, The Asse is brought abroad and set before the churche’s doore: The people all do come, _and bowes of trees and Palmes they bere, Which things against the tempest great the Parson conjures there_, And straytwayes downe before the Asse, upon his face he lies, Whome there an other Priest doth strike with rodde of largest sise: He rising up, two lubbours great upon their faces fall, In straunge attire, and lothsomely, with filthie tune, they ball: Who, when againe they risen are, with stretching out their hande, They poynt unto the wooden knight, and, singing as they stande, Declare that that is he that came into the worlde to save, And to redeeme such as in him their hope assured have: And even the same that long agone, while in the streate he roade, The people mette, and Olive-bowes so thicke before him stroade. This being soung, the people _cast the braunches as they passe_, Some part upon the Image, and some part upon the Asse: Before whose feete a _wondrous heape of bowes and braunches ly_: This done, into the Church he strayght is drawne full solemly: The shaven Priestes before them marche, the people follow fast, Still striving who shall gather first the bowes that downe are cast: For falsely _they beleeve that these have force and vertue great, Against the rage of winter stormes and thunders flashing heate_. In some place wealthie citizens, and men of sober chere, For no small summe doe hire this Asse with them about to bere, And manerly they use the same, not suffering any by To touch this Asse, nor to presume unto his presence ny. For they suppose that in this thing, they Christ do lightly serve, And well of him accepted are, and great rewardes deserve.
When the wooden ass had performed in the church procession, the boys hired him:
The Sexten pleasde with price, and looking well no harme be done: They take the Asse, and through the streets and crooked lanes they rone, Whereas they common verses sing, according to the guise, The people giving money, breade, and egges of largest sise. Of this their gaines they are compelde the maister halfe to give, Least he alone without his portion of the Asse should live.
On the Romish processioning on Palm Sunday, it is observed by an old writer that, “Among x thousand, scarce one knew what this meant. They have their laudable dumme ceremonies, with _Lentin crosse_ and _Uptide crosse_, and these two must justle til lent break his necke. Then cakes must be caste out of the steple, that al the boyes in the parish must lie scambling together by the eares, tyl al the parish falleth a laughyng. But, lorde, what asses-play made they of it in great cathedral churches and abbies. One comes forth in his albe and his long stole (for so they call their girde that they put about theyr neckes,) thys must be leashe wise, as hunters weares their hornes.--This solempne Syre played Christe’s part, a God’s name. Then another companye of singers, chyldren and al, song, in prick-song, the Jewe’s part--and the Deacon read the middel text. The Prest at the Alter al this while, because it was tediouse to be unoccupyed, made Crosses of Palme to set upon your doors, and to beare in your purses, to chace away the Divel.”[40]
Dr. Fulke, opposing the Catholics, observes on their carrying of the host on Palm Sunday,--“It is pretty sport, that you make the priests carry this idol to supply the room of the ass on which Christ did ride. Thus you turn the holy mystery of Christ’s riding to Jerusalem to a May-game and pagent-play.” In the accounts of St. Andrew Hubbard’s parish, there are Palm Sunday charges for the following items: In 1520, eightpence for the hire of an angel. In 1535-7, another eightpence for a priest and a child that played as a messenger: in that year the angel was hired for fourpence. By the churchwardens of St. Mary-at-hill, in 1451, fourpence was paid to one Loreman for playing the prophet on Palm Sunday. Though Roman catholic ceremonies were generally disused under Henry VIII., yet he declared that the bearing of palms on Palm Sunday was to be continued and not cast away; and it appears, that they were borne in England until the second year of Edward VI. In “Stowe’s Chronicle,” by Howes, the practice is said to have been discontinued in 1548.[41]
It was likewise a Roman catholic custom to resort to “our lady of Nantswell,” at Little Conan, in Cornwall, with a cross of palm; and the people, after making the priest a present, were allowed to throw the cross into the well; if it swam, the thrower was to outlive the year; if it sunk, he was not.[42]
Recently, it is related, that on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, the boys of the grammar-school at Lanark, according to ancient usage, parade the streets with a palm, or, its substitute, a large tree of the willow kind, _salix cafrea_, in blossom, ornamented with daffodils, mezereon, and box-tree. This day there is called Palm Saturday, and the custom is supposed to be “a popish relic of very ancient standing.”[43] Mr. Douce, in a manuscript note, cited by Mr. Ellis, says “I have somewhere met with a proverbial saying, that he that hath not a palm in his hand on Palm Sunday, must have his hand cut off.”
According to Stowe, in the week before Easter, there were great shows in London for going to the woods, and fetching into the king’s house a twisted tree, or _withe_; and the like into the house of every man of note or consequence.
Palm Sunday remains in the English calendars. It is still customary with men and boys to go a palming in London early on Palm Sunday morning; that is, by gathering branches of the willow or sallow with their grey shining velvet-looking buds, from those trees in the vicinity of the metropolis: they come home with slips in their hats, and sticking in the breast button holes of their coats, and a sprig in the mouth, bearing the “palm” branches in their hands. This usage remains among the ignorant from poor neighbourhoods, but there is still to be found a basket woman or two at Covent-garden, and in the chief markets with this “palm,” as they call it, on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, which they sell to those who are willing to buy; but the demand of late years has been very little, and hence the quantity on sale is very small. Nine out of ten among the purchasers buy it in imitation of others, they care not why; and such purchasers, being Londoners, do not even know the tree which produces it, but imagine it to be a “real” palm tree, and “wonder” they never saw any “palm” trees, and where they grow.
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FLORAL DIRECTORY.
Sweet scented Jonquil. _Narcissus Odorus._ Dedicated to _St. John_ of Egypt.
[39] Fosbroke’s British Monach. Brand’s Pop. Antiq. &c.
[40] From a “Dialogue, concerning the chyefest ceremonyes by the Impes of Anti-Christ, 1554,” 12mo. Quoted by Brand.
[41] Brand.
[42] Carew.
[43] Sinclair’s Statist. Acc.
~March 28.~
_Priscus_, _Malchus_, and _Alexander_, Martyrs, A. D. 260. _St. Sixtus_ III. Pope, A. D. 440. _St. Gontran_, King and Confessor, A. D. 593.
CHRONOLOGY.