"The captive Linnet which enthrall ? "To chace the rolling Circle's Speed, 1 To have a Month's Mind, implying a longing Desire, is a figurative Expression, of which the Subsequent is the Origin: Minnyng Days, says Blount, (from the Saxon Gemynde, i. e. the Mind, q. Mynding Days) Bede Hist. lib. 4. ca. 30. Commemorationis Dies; Days which our Ancestors called their Monthe's Mind, their Year's Mind, and the like, being the Days whereon their Souls (after their Deaths) were had in special Remembrance, and some Office or Obsequies said for them; as Obits, Dirges, &c. This Word is still retained in Lancashire; but elsewhere more commonly called Anniversary Days. Add the following to the Observations on Chap. 16th, p. 214. Wassail-bowl: In the Antiquarian Repertory, Vol. I. p. 218, is a Wood Cut of a large Oak Beam, the antient Support of a Chimney-piece, on which is carved a large Bowl, with this Inscription on one Side-Wass heil. "The Figure, says the ingenious Remarker on it, is of the old Wassell-bowl, so much the Delight of our hardy Ancestors, who on the Vigil of the New Year, never failed to assemble round the glowing Hearth with their chearful Neighbours, and then in the spicy Wassel-bowl (which testifies the Goodness of their Hearts) drowned every former Animosity, 7 Animosity, an Example worthy modern Imitation. Wassell was the Word, Wassell every Guest returned, as he took the circling Goblet from his <Friend, whilst Song and civil Mirth brought in the infant Year." The three blue Balls, as I find in the abovenamed elegant Collection, prefixed to the Doors and Windows of Pawn-brokers Shops, by the Vulgar humourously enough said to indicate that it is two to one, that the Things pledged, are never redeemed, was in reality the Arms of a set of Merchants from Lombardy, who were the first that publicly lent Money on Pledges-They dwelt together in a Street from them named Lombard-street, in London-The Appellation of Lombard, was formerly all over Europe considered as synonimous to that of "Usurer.” The purple-flowered Lady's Thistle, which grows in great plenty about the Ruins of Tinmouth Castle and Monastry, Northumberland, and of which, the Leaves are beautifully diversified with numerous white Spots like Drops of Milk'; is vulgarly thought to have been originally marked by the falling of some Drops of the Virgin Mary's Milk on itWhence I suppose its Name, its Name, Lady's (scil. our Lady's) Thistle: An ingenious little Invention of Popery, and which, no doubt, has been of Service to the Cause of Superstition. To cry Coke, is in vulgar Language, synonymous with crying Peccavi-" Coke, says the Author "of 2G2 "of the Glossary to Douglas' Virgil, is the Sound "which Cocks utter, especially when they are "beaten, from which Sk. is of opinion; that they "have their Name of Cock." In Verb. Marry, a Term of Asseveration in common Use, was originally in Popish Times, a swearing by the Virgin Mary-q. d. by Mary. So also Marrowbones for the Knees: I'll bring him down upon his Marrow-bones, q. d. I'll make him bend his Knees, as he does to the Virgin Mary. There is a vulgar Custom in the North, called riding the Stang, when one in Derision is made to ride on a Pole, for his Neighbour's Wife's Fault: This Word Stang, says Ray, is still used in some Colleges in the University of Cambridge, to stang Scholars in Christmass Time, being to cause them to ride on a Colt-staff or Pole, for missing of Chapel. It is derived from the Islandic Staung, hasta. Add to the Conjecture on the Etymon of Waffs, P. 109, the following:-Wrach in the Glossary to Gawen Douglas' Virgil, signifies a Spirit or Ghost, parian too A. Saxon is rendered stupere, horrere, fluctuare. N. B. I have carefully endeavoured to steer clear of Scripture Controversy in the preceding Observations. The sacred Writings, given for very different Purposes, and to Nations whose Genius and Manners by no means resembled our own, cannot in my Opinion, with any Propriety, be applied to this Subject. If it be objected here that Spirits 6 Spirits and Apparitions, Dreams, &c. are mentioned in them-so, I add, are Miracles, yet we do not now make Pretensions to a Power of performing them. The GREAT BEING, who presides over every Cause of Nature, can undoubtedly make all its Effects subservient to his Pleasure: In the silence of rational Adoration, I prostrate my Faith before the immensity of his Power, of which I believe infallible Wisdom to have been the inseparable Concomitant: I must therefore apply in this Place what Horace said upon another Occasion: Nec Deus intersit, nisi dignus Vindice nodus |