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Read Ebook: The Every-day Book and Table Book v. 1 (of 3) or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements Sports Pastimes Ceremonies Manners Customs and Events Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete Histo by Hone William
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Transcriber's Notes
More Transcriber's Notes may be found at the end of this text.
THE EVERY-DAY BOOK, AND TABLE BOOK;
OR,
EVERLASTING CALENDAR OF POPULAR AMUSEMENTS, SPORTS, PASTIMES, CEREMONIES, MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND EVENTS,
INCIDENT TO ~Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days,~ IN PAST AND PRESENT TIMES;
FORMING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE YEAR, MONTHS, AND SEASONS,
AND A
PERPETUAL KEY TO THE ALMANAC;
INCLUDING
ACCOUNTS OF THE WEATHER, RULES FOR HEALTH AND CONDUCT, REMARKABLE AND IMPORTANT ANECDOTES, FACTS, AND NOTICES, IN CHRONOLOGY, ANTIQUITIES, TOPOGRAPHY, BIOGRAPHY, NATURAL HISTORY, ART, SCIENCE, AND GENERAL LITERATURE, DERIVED FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES, AND VALUABLE ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS, WITH POETICAL ELUCIDATIONS, FOR DAILY USE AND DIVERSION.
BY WILLIAM HONE.
I tell of festivals, and fairs, and plays, Of merriment, and mirth, and bonfire blaze; I tell of Christmas-mummings, new year's day, Of twelfth-night king and queen, and children's play; I tell of valentines, and true-love's-knots, Of omens, cunning men, and drawing lots:
I tell of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers, Of April, May, of June, and July flowers. I tell of May-poles, hock-carts, wassails, wakes, Of bridegrooms, brides, and of their bridal cakes; I tell of groves, of twilights, and I sing The court of Mab, and of the fairy king.
HERRICK.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
LONDON: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM TEGG AND Co., 73, CHEAPSIDE; R. GRIFFIN AND CO., GLASGOW; CUMMING AND FERGUSON, DUBLIN.
J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY.
TO CHARLES LAMB, ESQ.
Your letter to me, within the first two months from the commencement of the present work, approving my notice of St. Chad's Well, and your afterwards daring to publish me your "friend," with your "proper name" annexed, I shall never forget. Nor can I forget your and Miss Lamb's sympathy and kindness when glooms outmastered me; and that your pen spontaneously sparkled in the book, when my mind was in clouds and darkness. These "trifles," as each of you would call them, are benefits scored upon my heart; and
I DEDICATE THIS VOLUME,
TO YOU AND MISS LAMB,
WITH AFFECTIONATE RESPECT,
W. HONE
PREFACE
This volume is a specimen of a work undertaken for the purpose of forming a collection of the manners and customs of ancient and modern times, with descriptive accounts of the several seasons of popular pastime.
Each of the three hundred and sixty-five days in the year is distinguished by occurrences or other particulars relating to the day, and by the methods of celebrating every holyday; the work is therefore what its title purports, THE EVERY-DAY BOOK.
It is a HISTORY OF THE YEAR--because it traces the commencement and progress of the year from the first day to the last.
It is a HISTORY OF THE MONTHS--because it describes the appearances that distinguish each month from the other months.
It is a HISTORY OF THE SEASONS--because it describes the influences and character of the four quarters into which the year is divided, and the most remarkable objects in natural history peculiar to each season.
It is a PERPETUAL KEY TO THE ALMANACK--because it explains the signification of every name and term in the almanack.
Its antiquarian and historical notices are calculated to engage the attention of almost every class of readers, and to gratify several who would scarcely expect such particulars in such a miscellany. The perplexities attending the discovery of certain facts, and the labour of reducing all into order, will be appreciated by the few who have engaged in similar pursuits. Some curious matters are now, for the first time, submitted to the public; and others are so rare as to seem altogether new.
I may now avow that I have other aims than I deemed it expedient to mention in the prospectus:--to communicate in an agreeable manner, the greatest possible variety of important and diverting facts, without a single sentence to excite an uneasy sensation, or an embarrassing inquiry; and, by not seeming to teach, to cultivate a high moral feeling, and the best affections of the heart:--to open a storehouse, from whence manhood may derive daily instruction and amusement, and youth and innocence be informed, and retain their innocency.
And here I beg leave to offer my respectful thanks to several correspondents who have already furnished me with accounts of customs, &c. which appear under different signatures. Were I permitted to disclose their real names, it would be seen that several of these communications are from distinguished characters. As a precaution against imposition, articles of that nature have not been, nor can they be, inserted, without the name and address of the writer being confided to myself. Accounts, so subscribed, will be printed with any initials or mark, the writers may please to suggest.
From the publication of the present volume, a correct judgment may be formed of the nature and tendency of the work, which incidentally embraces almost every topic of inquiry or remark connected with the ancient and present state of manners and literature. Scarcely an individual is without a scrap-book, or a portfolio, or a collection of some sort; and whatever a kind-hearted reader may deem curious or interesting, and can conveniently spare, I earnestly hope and solicit to be favoured with, addressed to me at Messrs. Hunt and Clarke's, Tavistock-street, who receive communications for the work, and publish it in weekly sheets, and monthly parts, as usual.
W. HONE.
THE EVERY-DAY BOOK
This is the first and the coldest month of the year. Its zodiacal sign is Aquarius or the Waterbearer. It derives its name from Janus, a deity represented by the Romans with two faces, because he was acquainted with past and future events. Cotton introduces him into a poem on the new year--
Hark, the cock crows, and yon bright star Tells us, the day himself's not far; And see where, breaking from the night, He gilds the western hills with light. With him old Janus doth appear, Peeping into the future year, With such a look as seems to say, The prospect is not good that way. Thus do we rise ill sights to see, And 'gainst ourselves to prophesy; When the prophetic fear of things A more tormenting mischief brings, More full of soul-tormenting gall Than direst mischiefs can befall. But stay! but stay! Methinks my sight, Better inform'd by clearer light, Discerns sereneness in that brow, That all contracted seem'd but now. His revers'd face may show distaste, And frown upon the ills are past; But that which this way looks is clear, And smiles upon the new-born year.
According to the ancient mythology, Janus was the god of gates and avenues, and in that character held a key in his right hand, and a rod in his left, to symbolize his opening and ruling the year: sometimes he bore the number 300 in one hand, and 65 in the other, the number of its days. At other times he was represented with four heads, and placed in a temple of four equal sides, with a door and three windows in each side, as emblems of the four seasons and the twelve months over which he presided.
According to Verstegan the Saxons called this month "Wolf-monat," or Wolf-month, because the wolves of our ancient forests, impelled by hunger at this season, were wont to prowl and attack man himself; the inferior animals, on whom they usually preyed, having retired or perished from the inclemency of the weather. The Saxons also called this month "Aefter-yula," or After Christmas. In illuminated calendars prefixed to catholic missals, or service books, January was frequently depicted as a man with fagots or a woodman's axe, shivering and blowing his fingers. Spenser introduces this month in his Faerie Queene:
Then came old January, wrapped well In many weeds to keep the cold away; Yet did he quake and quiver like to quell; And blow his nayles to warme them if he may; For they were numb'd with holding all the day An hatchet keene, with which he felled wood, And from the trees did lop the needlesse spray.
~January 1.
~ Adelphi, & has not y^ corner house that is to be built.--Pray, my dear & very good friends, think a little of this matter, & if you can make us happy, by suiting all our conveniences--we shall make his shop, as old Jacob Tonson's was formerly, y^ rendevouz for y^ first people in England.--I have a little selfishness in this request--I never go to coffee-houses, seldom to taverns, & should constantly be at Becket's at one at noon, & 6 at night; as y^ monkey us'd to be punctual in Piccadilly.
When you left me on Saturday, whether I had exerted my spirits too much, or gave too great a loose to my love of drinking with those I like, I know not; but I was attack'd terribly with a fit of y^ stone, & had it all yesterday morning, till I was relieved from torture, to y^ great joy of my wife & family.--I was 4 hours upon y^ rack, & now as free from pain as ever I was. I am weak w^ my disorder; but I could eat turtle, & laugh with you again to day, as if nothing had ail'd me--'tis a curs'd disorder, & that you may never have that curse make y^ peace w^ heav'n by an act of righteousness, & bestow that corner blessing upon Becket & his family--this is y^ pray'r & petition
Mr. Becket had the "corner blessing" conferred upon him.--He removed into the house from another part of the Strand, and remained tenant to the "Adelphi," until he retired into Pall Mall.
FLORAL DIRECTORY.
~March 4.
CHRONOLOGY.
After a life excellent for kindness, charity, and faithful dealing towards the people intrusted to his care, he died at the age of sixty-six worn out by labour in well doing.
FLORAL DIRECTORY.
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