Nooks and Corners of English Life, past and present. ... With illustrations

Preface

. Pictures of the Domestic Manners of our forefathers, at some of the most attractive periods of English History, form the staple of the present volume. These Pictures are sup plemented by Sketches of subordinate Scenes and Incidents "which illustrate great changes in Society, and tend to show, in different degrees, the Past as the guide for the Present and the Future. The value and interest of Archæological studies in bringing home to our very doors the information required of special localities, and their former life, have, it is hoped, been made available by the Author of this work, so far as to render it acceptable as well for the soundness of its information as for its entertaining character. The antiquary of old was but, in many instances, "a gatherer of other men's stuff ; " whereas the archæologist of the present day adds to the worth of antiquarian studies by placing their results in new lights, and thus extending the utility and amusement which they afford.

The materials for writing English History are inexhaus tible ; and one of the aims of this work is to seize upon and group from such stores leading facts and transitions, and by means of condensation to present their narratives in a more tangible form than that in which they were originally Preface. IV written. In this task the Author has brought to bear, from a variety of accredited sources, evidences of the condition of the English people— in their " woods and caves, and painted skins" — their homes and modes of living, in cavern and castle, mansion and cottage; the origin of their Domestic Inventions and Contrivances in the several stages of comfort ; House furnishing, Dress and Personal Ornament; Provisions and Olden Cookery, and Housewifery ; Peasant Life, with its curious Customs, Laws, and Ceremonies ; Fairs and Fes tivals and Amusements.

To these succeed a few Historic Sketches : Traditions of Battle-fields, and other memorable sites ; Mansions and their Families ; romantic Narratives, Portraits of eminent Persons, &c. The authorities and sources of information conveyed in the following pages, are fully acknowledged. " Quotation," said Johnson, "is a good thing; there is a community of mind in it ;" although some writers seem to ride upon their readers, like Pyrrhus on his elephant, forgetting that "there is not so poor a book in the world, that would not be a pro digious effort, were it wrought out entirely by a single hand, without the aid of prior investigation." Real antiquarianism has been well defined as a lively knowledge of the Past, comprehending the spirit of a period through the details of its customs, events, and institutions ; the language of its writers, the movements of its sciences and arts ; and, by keeping in view these points, the writer of the present volume hopes he has succeeded in producing a recreative result worthy of the acceptance of the reader.

CONTENTS. I. CfarlB ©n-jltsl) Htfr. PAGE Aboriginal Britons — British Caves — Bosphrennis Bee-hive Hut and Picts' House — On the Brigantes of Yorkshire ; by Prof. Phillips 1—7 Britain before the Roman Colonization. Lappenberg's Picture of South Britain — War Chariots — Druidism, its Eites aud Customs — Arch-Druid and Mistletoe — Legend of Stonehenge — Charles II. at Stonehenge — Fire Worship — Druidical Serpents' Eggs — Druids' Medicines — Druid Schools and Priests — Trade of the Phœnicians — Tin-trade of Cornwall — Ornamental Art — British AVarchiefs— Britain and New Zealand compared S — 23 The Romans in England. Civilization of Ancient Britain — British and Eoman Encampments—British Trackways and Roman Roads — British Railways — Country of the Brigantes — London of Roman origin — The Romans leave Britain — Roman London in Leadenhall Street— Mr. Roach Smith's Museum — Roman Wall, Pottery, and Glass — Roman City of Uriconium, Wroxeter, described — Owen Glendower's Oak — Shropshire Legends of Giants — Silchester explored — Conquest by Cæsar : Condition of the People then and now .... 24 — Contents.

VI PAGE Domestic Life of the Saxons. Saxon Architecture— Saxon Houses— Mead-hall, or Beer-hall — Saxon Beds — Story of Vortigern and Rowena — Origin of the AVassail Cup and the Loving Cup— Dinner in the Middle Ages — Peg Tankards and Drinking Horns — Mazer Bowls — The Hanap — Saxon Metal-working — Alfred's Jewel, and Ethelwulf 's Eing — Saxon Coins — Glass-making — Saxon Cloths and Dyeing — Embroidery — Iron-smelting — Alfred's Inventions — Travelling in the Saxon Times- Sussex Eoads — Stirrups, Spurs, and Bridles 46 — 60 Meals — British, Anglo-Roman, and Saxon. Britons' Early Living — Roman Luxury — British Oysters — Roman Supper — Saxon Law of Host and Guest — Canute's Dinner-law — Origin of " Lady" — Saxon Provisions — Saxon Feasts — Early Baking — Elecampane — Ale and Beer — Brewing in Monasteries and Colleges — Oxford Ale — Ancient Vineyards — Danish Drinking — Ancient Names of Provisions 61 — 70 M. Castle a iff.

Castles of England — Roman Castles — Pevensey — Maiden Castle and Poundbury — Introduction of Bricks — Norman Castles — Conisborough and Ivanhoe — Tonbridge Castle — Bedford Castle Siege — Raby Castle, Durham — Kitchen of Raby — Durham Castle, Kitchen and Buttery — Legend of Mulgrave Castle — Corfe Castle, and King Edward the Martyr — Lady Bankes's Defence of Corfe — Castles temp. Edward III. — AVindsor Castle, its History and Description — St. George's Chapel — Round Tower and Round Table — William of Wykeham and Chaucer, Clerks of the AVorks, Windsor Castle — Restoration of Windsor Castle, by George IV. — Sir Jeffrey Wyatville's Gothic— Canon Bowles on AVindsor Castle — Pictures at AVindsor ; Keep, and Private Apartments — AVarwick Castle, its History *. Pictures, Warwick Vase — Guy's apocryphal Curiosities — Historical Earls of AVarwick — Kenilworth Castle — Leices- Contents.

VII PAGE ter and Queen Elizabeth — Arundel Castle — Dukes of Nor folk — Bevis's Tower and its Legend — Norman Remains, Interior, Vineyards, Historical Picture 71 — 108 HE. pioustiiolti ant._iii-.tifs. The Old English House— Norman Houses — The Manor-house — The Hall — City Companies' Halls— Embattled Mansions — AATingfield and Cowdray — Mary Queen of Scots at Wingfield — Thornbury Castle and its History — Longleat, Wilts — John Thorpe, the Elizabethan Architect — Holland House, Kensington — Burghley, Northamptonshire — Hatfield House, Herts — Campden, Gloucestershire — Haddon Hall, Derbyshire — Lines on Haddon — The Great Hall — Hall at Hampton Court — Hall AVindows— ! Hall Fires — College and Inns of Court Halls — Hall in Aubrey's Time — Queen Victoria at Hatfield — Eltham Palace Hall, its .present Condition — Early Mansions of the English Gentry — The Oldest Dwelling-house in England — AVood and Stone in building — London built ot Wood — Chestnut Timber and Ornamental Carpentry — Kenilworth Hall Roof — Half-Timbered Houses in London — English Cottages — Sussex Cottages, by Cobbett — Brambletye House and the Comptons 109 — 134 The Englishman's Fireside.

Warmth and Ventilation — Count Rumford and Dr. Arnott — Introduction of Chimneys — The Hall Louvre or Lantern — Chimneys of Wood — Smoke Farthings and Hearthmoney — Crosby Hall— The HaU Fire and God's Sunday — Rushes used — Coal introduced — Awnd-irons — Hever Castle — Christmas in the Great Hall— Silver Fire Implements — Invention of Grates — Prof. Faraday on Ventilation by the Chimney — The Open Coal Fire — Roman Mode of heating Houses — Flue-Tiles and Hypocausts — History of the Curfew, and Curfew ringing 135 — 147 Private Life of a Queen of England. Last Days of Isabella, Queen of Edward II. — Private Life of Five Hundred Years since — Mortimer and the Queen Contents. VIII PAGE —The Castle of Castle Rising— Daily Expenses— Visitors and Pilgrimages — Ancient Meal Hours — Queen Isabella at Windsor, Tottenham, and Canterbury — Death of Queen Isabella — Messenger, Alms, and Doles — Repairs — The Queen's Love of Jewels — Minstrels' and New Year's Gifts— Murder of Edward II.

(note) 148—160 The English Housewife. Gervase Markham's Tract — Olden Cookery — Banquet Bills of Fare — Brewing and Wine-making — The Bakehouse — Spinning — Domestic Medicines — Carving by Ladies — Lady Mary AVortley Montague on Carving 161 — 166 A Herefordshire Lady in the Time of the Civil War. Hereford, the ancient City — Mrs. Joyce Jeffries and her Servants — Gifts to Country Cousins — Lending Money — Dress of the Lady, 1638 — Housekeeping Expenses — Amusements and Social Customs — Civil War Imposts — Lord Stratford's Trial — Mrs. Jeffries' Generosity . . . 167 — 176 House-furnishing in the Middle Ages. Cabinet-work — Bedsteads — Beds — Tapestried Chambers — Blanket aud Worsted — Great Bed of Ware — Warmiug-pan, ancient — Chairs — Chamber at Hengrave — Rushes and Carpets — Hall Furniture — Court Cupboard — Wardrobes — Loseley, near Guildford, described 177 — 183 Dress — Personal Ornaments.

Laundry Accounts — Hangings — Woollen Clothing — Pomanders — Country Life, 17th century 184 — 187 Pins and Pin-money. Pins introduced from France — Pins first made in England — Pinners' Company — Pins, temp. Elizabeth — Pinners on London Bridge — Origin of Pin Money — What becomes of all the Pins ?— Pin Wells 188—191 Contents. IX Provisions — Bread-making, Grocery, and Confectionery. PAGE Olden Bread-making— Manchets, Recipes for — The Manciple — Pastry -making taught in Schools — Christmas Game Pie, 1394 — Cookery, temp. Richard II. — History of Sugar, 195 — Tea and Coffee introduced — Spices and other Condiments — Olden Confectionery — Marchpane and Biscuits— Dessert Fruits, 13th century — Oranges introduced — Lincoln's Inn Fruit and Vegetable Garden — Ornamental Fruit Trenchers — Vegetables in early use — Conveyance of perishable Food — Antiquity of Cheese — Banbury and Cheshire Cheese — Ballad on Cheshire Cheese— Sage Cheese — Ale aud Beer — Hops introduced — Our National Drink . 192 — 216 IV. ptasant HiU.

" A bold Peasantry, their Country's Pride " — Serfdom — Were and AVergild — Operative Tenants — Rent paid in Labour — Mondaymen — Villeins — Stocks for Vagrants and unruly Servants— Services of Tillage — Ploughing Boon — Harrowing and Bed-weeding — Threshing, Thatching, Delving, &c. — Inclosures — Maltiugfor the Lord — Malt-silver — Ancient . Harvest — Reaping Boon — Hayward — Love-boons or Lawdays — Autumnal Precations, temp. Edward II. — Ram Feast — Beltane Superstition — Hay-field cut and cleared — Mutton Rewards — Hock-day Court and Sports— Hardicanute's Death — Scot Ales — Sheep Shearing and Clipping-time Customs — Conveyance Service — Arriage and Carriage — Farming a Castle or Monastery — Vraic in the Channel Islands — Langerode— AA*"atch aud Ward — The Beadle — Sleeping in Church — "Firm Locks make faithful Servants" 217 — 234 Olden Housemarks : Land, Cattle, Sheep, Swans, and Ducks ; Houses and Cottages — Merchants' and Tradesmen's Marks — Picture Marks — Ancient Conveyancing . 235 — 237 V. Customs anti Crrcmonirs.

May -day Carol on Magdalen College Tower, Oxford — Flower Customs at Oxford — May-day Song at Saffron Walden — May-poles still extant — Raine's Charity — Picture of Oxford 238—244 Contents. X PAGE Banbury Cakes, Congleton Cakes, etc. Banbury Cakes abolished by the Puritans— Banbury Cross —Banbury zeal and veal— Old Fuller on Banbury— High Church Banburians— Congleton Triangular Cakes and Gingerbread— Sale of Banbury Cakes— Banbury Cheese — Banbury Cross restored— Sack Brewage at Congleton — Shrewsbury Cakes — Islington and Holloway Cheesecakes 245—253 Horselydown Fair in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Horselydown — Curious Picture at Hatfield House, of the Fair, described — Hermitage 254 — 258 AVake Festivals in the Black Country. Bull-baiting, Cock-fighting, &c. — AVake-time, better spent — Bloxwich Bull 259—263 Keeping Birds in the Middle Ages.

Alexander Neckam and his Treatise — Love of Animals — Hawk and Eagle — Parrot — Barnacle — Swan, Nightingale, Sparrow, Raven, and Crow ; Cuckoo, Cock, Wren, __c. . 264 — 268 VI. pjistorit SfttttJfS. The Story of Fair Eosamund. Woodstock Bower, and Rosamund's Well — The Nunnery at Godstow, near Oxford — Eosamund born — Known to Henry II. —Maze at Woodstock— The Silken Clue— The Poison Cup — Rosamund's Tomb at Godstow — Legend from the French Chronicle 269 — 277 Cardinal Wolsey at Esher Place. Fall of Wolsey — Retires to Esher — His Servants and Retainers — Henry VIII. demands a cession of York House —The " comfortable Message " — Death of Wolsey at Leicester — Contents. XI PAGE The Abbey — Esher Place embellished by Kent — Dr. John son's Portrait of Wolsey — At Cawood — Weighing his Plate — AVolsey and Christchurch — Death and Interment of Wolsey — Tomb-house and Sarcophagus — Cavendish's Life of Wolsey 278—292 Traditions of Battle-fields, AATorth of Tradition — Antiquity of Tenure — TheWapshotts — Flodden Field Tradition — Battle of Hastings described — Roll ofthe Conqueror's Companions— Towton Field described — Tewkesbury Field explored — Bosworth Field — The Battle — Relics of Richard, Duke of Gloucester — His Autograph — Black Boy Inn, Chelmsford, a Plantagenet Lodge — Baynard's Castle and Crosby Place — King Richard's Inn, Leicester — Omens to the King — Oxford, Norfolk, and Surrey — Richard's Last Charge — Sir Johu Cheney — Combat of Richard and Richmond — Richard's Body carried to Leicester — Legend on the Corporation Bridge — AA*"ars of York and Lancaster — Rose-tree at Longleat — False Traditions 293—314 Curiosities of Hatfield.

Princess Elizabeth kept Prisoner here — Old Palace — Park — Queen Elizabeth's Oak— The Vineyard — Historical Documents at Hatfield — Olden Furniture — Portraits of Queen Elizabeth, and other Pictures — Elizabeth's Abode at Hatfield— The Mansion built by the Earl of Salisbury . . . 315—322 The Grand Remonstrance 323 — 325 Cavaliers and Roundheads 326 — 328 The Evelyns at AVotton. The Evelyn Family — Wotton House built — Grounds planned and laid out by John Evelyn — His Tour in France and Italy — Public Services — Sayes Court — Retires to Wotton — Great Storm of 1703 — Mills on the rivulet at Wotton Contents. PAGE — Lord Abinger — Lines to the Countess of Donegal, by Swift — Abinger Church — Kneller's Portrait of Evelyn — Historical Curiosities — Character of Mrs. Evelyn — Evelyn's " Elysium Britannicum " — His Planting — Milton Court and Jeremiah Markland 329—342 Lord Bolingbroke at Battersea.

Battersea Parish and Manor — Sir Robert AValpole and Bolingbroke — Pope, Swift, Arbuthnot, Thomson, and Mallet at Bolingbroke House — Burning of 500 Copies of the Patriot King — Death of Bolingbroke — Tomb, by Roubiliac — Site of Bolingbroke House— Horizontal Mill — " Pope's Parlour," and Essay on Man — Rose's Diaries, and Mallet's treacherous Executorship — Bolingbroke's Ingratitude — Lord Brougham's Comments — York House, Battersea — Archbishop Holgate — Residence of Sir Thomas Boleyn at Battersea— A Shakespearian Query .... 343 — 352 The Last of Epping Forest. Inclosure of the Forest — A Royal Chase — Hainault — Forest Scenery — History of Epping Forest — Visit to Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge — Chingford Hall — Curious Tenure Custom — Elizabeth's Fondness for Hunting — Conclusion 353—361