Contents：
TotheViscountessWolseleyPrefaceElzevirsBalladeoftheRealandIdealCuriositiesofParishRegistersTheRowfantBooksToF。L。
SomeJapaneseBogie-booksGhostsintheLibraryLiteraryForgeriesBibliomaniainFranceOldFrenchTitle-pagesABookman\'sPurgatoryBalladeoftheUnattainableLadyBook-loversTOTHEVISCOUNTESSWOLSELEY
Madame，itisnomodishthing，Thebookman\'stributethatIbring；
Atalkofantiquariesgrey，Dustuntodustthismanyaday，Gossipoftextsandbindingsold，Offadedtype，andtarnish\'dgold！
Canladiescareforthisto-doWithPayne，Derome，andPadeloup？
Cantheyresigntherout，theball，Forlonelyjoysofshelfandstall？
Thecriticthus，serenelywise；
Butyoucanreadwithothereyes，Whosebooksandbindingstreasuredare\'Midstmingledspoilsofpeaceandwar；
ShieldsfromthefightstheMahdilost，AndtrinketsfromtheGoldenCoast，AndmanythingsdivinelydoneByChippendaleandSheraton，AndtrophiesofEgyptiandeeds，Andfans，andplates，andAggreybeads，Pomanderboxes，assegais，Andsword-hiltsworninMarlbro\'sdays。
Inthispell-mellofoldandnew，Ofwarandpeace，myessays，too，Forlonginserialstempest-tost，Arelandednow，andarenotlost：
Nay，onyourshelfsecuretheylie，Asintheambersleepsthefly。
\'Tistrue，theyarenot\"richnorrare；\"
Enough，forme，thattheyare——there！
A。L
PREFACE
Theessaysinthisvolumehave，forthemostpart，alreadyappearedinanAmericanedition（Combes，NewYork，1886）。TheEssayson\'OldFrenchTitle-Pages\'and\'LadyBook-Lovers\'taketheplaceof\'BookBinding\'and\'BookmenatRome；\'\'Elzevirs\'and\'SomeJapaneseBogie-
Books\'arereprinted，withpermissionofMessrs。Cassell，fromtheMagazineofArt；\'CuriositiesofParishRegisters\'fromtheGuardian；\'LiteraryForgeries\'fromtheContemporaryReview；\'LadyBook-Lovers\'fromtheFortnightlyReview；\'ABookman\'sPurgatory\'
andtwoofthepiecesofversefromLongman\'sMagazine——withthecourteouspermissionofthevariouseditors。Allthechaptershavebeenrevised，andIhavetothankMr。H。Tedderforhiskindcareinreadingtheproofsheets，andMr。CharlesElton，M。P。，forasimilarservicetotheEssayon\'ParishRegisters。\'
ELZEVIRS
TheCountryman。\"Youknowhowmuch，forsometimepast，theeditionsoftheElzevirshavebeenindemand。Thefancyforthemhasevenpenetratedintothecountry。Iamacquaintedwithamantherewhodenieshimselfnecessaries，forthesakeofcollectingintoalibrary（whereotherbooksarescarceenough）asmanylittleElzevirsashecanlayhishandsupon。Heisdyingofhunger，andhisconsolationistobeabletosay，\'IhaveallthepoetswhomtheElzevirsprinted。Ihavetenexamplesofeachofthem，allwithredletters，andalloftherightdate。\'This，nodoubt，isacraze，for，goodasthebooksare，ifhekeptthemtoreadthem，oneexampleofeachwouldbeenough。\"
TheParisian。\"Ifhehadwantedtoreadthem，IwouldnothaveadvisedhimtobuyElzevirs。Theeditionsofminorauthorswhichthesebooksellerspublished，eveneditions\'oftherightdate，\'asyousay，arenottoocorrect。Nothingisgoodinthebooksbutthetypeandthepaper。YourfriendwouldhavedonebettertousetheeditionsofGryphiusorEstienne。\"
ThisfragmentofaliterarydialogueItranslatefrom\'EntretienssurlesContesdeFees，\'abookwhichcontainsmoreofoldtalkaboutbooksandbooksellersthanaboutfairiesandfolk-lore。The\'Entretiens\'werepublishedin1699，aboutsixteenyearsaftertheElzevirsceasedtobepublishers。Thefragmentisvaluable：first，becauseitshowsushowearlythetasteforcollectingElzevirswasfullydeveloped，and，secondly，becauseitcontainsverysoundcriticismofthemania。Already，intheseventeenthcentury，loversofthetinyElzevirianbookswaxedpatheticoverdates，alreadytheyknewthata\'Caesar\'of1635wastheright\'Caesar，\'alreadytheywerefondofthered-letteredpassages，asinthefirsteditionofthe\'Virgil\'of1636。Asearlyas1699，too，theParisiancriticknewthattheeditionswerenotverycorrect，andthatthepaper，type，ornaments，andFORMATweretheirmainattractions。TothesewemustnowaddtherarityofreallygoodElzevirs。
ThoughElzevirshavebeenmorefashionablethanatpresent，theyarestillregardedbynovelistsasthegreatprizeofthebookcollector。Youreadinnovelsabout\"pricelesslittleElzevirs，\"
aboutbooks\"asrareasanoldElzevir。\"Ihavemet，intheworksofaladynovelist（butnotelsewhere），withanElzevir\'Theocritus。\'ThelateMr。HepworthDixonintroducedintooneofhisromancesaromanticElzevirGreekTestament，\"worthitsweightingold。\"CasualremarksofthiskindencourageapopulardelusionthatallElzevirsarepearlsofconsiderableprice。Whenamanisfirstsmittenwiththepleasantfeverofbook-collecting，itisforElzevirsthathesearches。Atfirsthethinkshimselfinamazingluck。InBooksellers\'RowandinCastleStreethe\"picksup，\"forashillingortwo，Elzevirs，realorsupposed。Tothebeginner，anybookwithasphereonthetitle-pageisanElzevir。Forthebeginner\'sinstruction，twocopiesofspheresareprintedhere。Thesecondisasphere，anill-cut，ill-drawnsphere，whichisnotElzevirianatall。Themarkwasusedintheseventeenthcenturybymanyotherbooksellersandprinters。Thefirst，ontheotherhand，isatrueElzeviriansphere，fromaplayofMoliere\'s，printedin1675。Observethecomparativelyneatdrawingofthefirstsphere，andbenotledawayafterspuriousimitations。
Beware，too，ofthevulgarerroroffancyingthatlittleduodecimoswiththemarkofthefoxandthebee\'snest，andthemotto\"Quaerendo，\"comefromthepressoftheElzevirs。ThemarkisthatofAbrahamWolfgang，whichnameisnotapseudonymforElzevir。
TherearethreesortsofElzevirpseudonyms。First，theyoccasionallyreprintedthefulltitle-page，publisher\'snameandall，ofthebooktheypirated。Secondly，whentheyprintedbooksofa\"dangerous\"sort，Jansenistpamphletsandsoforth，theyusedpseudonymslike\"Nic。Schouter，\"onthe\'LettresProvinciales\'ofPascal。Thirdly，therearerealpseudonymsemployedbytheElzevirs。JohnandDaniel，printingatLeyden（1652-1655），usedthefalsename\"JeanSambix。\"TheElzevirsofAmsterdamoftenplacedthename\"JacquesleJeune\"ontheirtitle-pages。Thecollectorwhoremembersthesethingsmustalsoseethathispurchaseshavetherightornamentsattheheadsofchapters，therighttail-piecesattheends。Twoofthemostfrequentlyrecurringornamentsaretheso-called\"TetedeBuffle\"andthe\"Sirene。\"MoreorlessclumsycopiesoftheseandtheotherElzevirianornamentsarecommonenoughinbooksoftheperiod，evenamongthoseprintedoutoftheLowCountries；forexample，inbookspublishedinParis。
AbriefsketchofthehistoryoftheElzevirsmayherebeuseful。
Thefounderofthefamily，aFlemishbookbinder，Louis，leftLouvainandsettledinLeydenin1580。HeboughtahouseoppositetheUniversity，andopenedabook-shop。Anothershop，oncollegeground，wasopenedin1587。Louiswasagoodbookseller，averyordinarypublisher。Itwasnottillshortlybeforehisdeath，in1617，thathisgrandsonIsaacboughtasetoftypesandothermaterial。Louisleftsixsons。Twoofthese，MatthewandBonaventure，keptonthebusiness，datingexofficinaElzeviriana。
In1625BonaventureandAbraham（sonofMatthew）becamepartners。
The\"gooddates\"ofElzevirianbooksbeginfrom1626。ThetwoElzevirschoseexcellenttypes，andafternineyears\'endeavoursturnedoutthebeautiful\'Caesar\'of1635。
Theirclassicalseriesinpetitformatwasopenedwith\'Horace\'and\'Ovid\'in1629。In1641theybegantheirelegantpiraciesofFrenchplaysandpoetrywith\'LeCid。\'ItwasworthwhilebeingpiratedbytheElzevirs，whoturnedyououtlikeagentleman，withfleuronsandredletters，andaprettyfrontispiece。Themodernpiratedressesyouinrags，printsyoumurderously，andbindsyou，ifhebindsyouatall，insomehideousexampleof\"clothextra，\"allgilt，likearchaicgingerbread。BonaventureandAbrahambothdiedin1652。
Theydidnotdepartbeforepublishing（1628），ingrandformat，adesirableworkonfencing，Thibault\'s\'Academiedel\'Espee。\'ThisTibbaldalsokilledbythebook。JohnandDanielElzevircamenext。
Theybroughtoutthe\'Imitation\'（ThomaeaKempiscanoniciregularisord。S。AugustiniDeImitationeChristi，libriiv。）；IwishbytakingthoughtIcouldaddeightmillimetrestothestatureofmycopy。In1655Danieljoinedacousin，Louis，inAmsterdam，andJohnstayedinLeyden。Johndiedin1661；hiswidowstruggledon，buthersonAbraham（1681）letallfallintoruins。Abrahamdied1712。
TheElzevirsofAmsterdamlastedtill1680，whenDanieldied，andthebusinesswaswoundup。Thetype，byChristopherVanDyck，wassoldin1681，byDaniel\'swidow。Sictransitgloria。
Afterhehaslearnedallthesematterstheamateurhasstillagreatdealtoacquire。HemaynowknowarealElzevirfromabookwhichisnotanElzeviratall。Butthereareenormousdifferencesofvalue，rarity，andexcellenceamongtheproductionsoftheElzevirianpress。Thebookstallsteemwithsmall，\"cropped，\"dingy，dirty，batteredElzevirianeditionsoftheclassics，NOT\"ofthegooddate。\"Ontheseitisnotworthwhiletoexpendacoupleofshillings，especiallyasElzeviriantypeistoosmalltobereadwithcomfortbymostmoderneyes。No，letthecollectorsavehismoney；avoidlitteringhisshelveswithwhathewillsoonfindtoberubbish，andlethimwaitthechanceofacquiringareallybeautifulandrareElzevir。
Meantime，andbeforewecometodescribeElzevirsofthefirstflight，letitberememberedthatthe\"taller\"thecopy，thelessharmedandnippedbythebinder\'sshears，thebetter。\"Menscarcelyknowhowbeautifulfireis，\"saysShelley；andwemaysaythatmostmenhardlyknowhowbeautifulanElzevirwasinitsuncutandoriginalform。TheElzevirswehavemaybe\"dear，\"buttheyarecertainly\"dumpytwelves。\"Theirfairproportionshavebeendockedbythebinder。AttheBeckfordsaletherewasapearlofabook，a\'Marot；\'notanElzevir，indeed，butabookpublishedbyWetstein，afolloweroftheElzevirs。Thisexquisitepairofvolumes，boundinbluemorocco，wasabsolutelyunimpaired，andwasasighttobringhappytearsintotheeyesoftheamateurofElzevirs。Therewasagracioussvelteeleganceaboutthesetomes，anappealingandexquisitedelicacyofproportion，thatlingerlikesweetmusicinthememory。IhaveacopyoftheWetstein\'Marot\'myself，notabadcopy，thoughmurderouslyboundinthatecclesiasticalsortofbrowncalfantique，whichgoeswellwithhymnbooks，andremindsoneofcakesofchocolate。Butmycopyisonlysome128millimetresinheight，whereastheuncutBeckfordcopy（ithadbelongedtothegreatPixerecourt）wasatleast130millimetreshigh。BesidetheuncutexampleminelookslikeCinderella\'splainsisterbesidethebeautyofthefamily。
NowthemoralisthatonlytallElzevirsarebeautiful，onlytallElzevirspreservetheirancientproportions，onlytallElzevirsareworthcollecting。Dr。LemuelGulliverremarksthattheKingofLilliputwastallerthananyofhiscourtbyalmostthebreadthofanail，andthathisaltitudefilledthemindsofallwithawe。Well，thePhilistinemaythinkafewmillimetres，moreorless，intheheightofanElzevirareoflittleimportance。Whenhecomestosell，hewilldiscoverthedifference。Anuncut，oralmostuncut，copyofagoodElzevirmaybeworthfiftyorsixtypoundsormore；
anordinarycopymaybringfewerpence。Thebindersusuallyparedownthetopandbottommorethanthesides。Ihavea\'Rabelais\'ofthegooddate，withtheredtitle（1663），andsomeofthepageshaveneverbeenopened，atthesides。Buttheheightisonlysome122
millimetres，ameredwarf。Anythingover130millimetresisveryrare。ThereforethecollectorofElzevirsshouldhaveoneofthoseusefulivory-handledknivesonwhichtheFrenchmeasuresaremarked，andthushewillatoncebeabletosatisfyhimselfastotheexactheightofanyexamplewhichheencounters。
LetusnowassumethattheamateurquiteunderstandswhataproperElzevirshouldbe：tall，clean，wellboundifpossible，andofthegooddate。Butwehavestilltolearnwhatthegooddatesare，andthisismatterforthestudyandpracticeofawell-spentlife。WemaygossipaboutafewofthemorefamousElzevirs，thosewithoutwhichnocollectioniscomplete。OfallElzevirsthemostfamousandthemostexpensiveisanoldcookerybook，\"\'LePastissierFrancois。\'Whereinistaughtthewaytomakeallsortsofpastry，usefultoallsortsofpersons。Alsothemannerofpreparingallmannerofeggs，forfast-days，andotherdays，inmorethansixtyfashions。Amsterdam，Louys，andDanielElsevier。1665。\"Themarkisnottheold\"Sage，\"butthe\"Minerva\"withherowl。NowthisbookhasnointrinsicvalueanymorethanaTauchnitzreprintofanymodernvolumeoncooking。The\'Pastissier\'ischerishedbecauseitissoveryrare。Thetractpassedintothehandsofcooks，andthehandsofcooksaredetrimentaltoliterature。Justasnurserybooks，fairytales，andthelikearedestroyedfromgenerationtogeneration，soithappenswithbooksusedinthekitchen。The\'Pastissier，\'tobesure，hasagoodfrontispiece，asceneinaLowCountrykitchen，amongthedeadgameandthedainties。Thebuxomcookismakingagamepie；apheasantpie，decoratedwiththebird\'sheadandtail-feathers，isalreadymade。{1}
Notforthesecharms，butforitsrarity，isthe\'Pastissier\'
coveted。Inanearlyeditionofthe\'Manuel\'（1821）Brunetsays，withafeignedbrutality（forhedearlylovedanElzevir），\"TillnowIhavedisdainedtoadmitthisbookintomywork，butIhaveyieldedtotheprayersofamateurs。Besides，howcouldIkeepoutavolumewhichwassoldforonehundredandonefrancsin1819？\"Onehundredandonefrancs！IfIcouldonlygeta\'Pastissier\'foronehundredandonefrancs！ButourgrandfatherslivedintheBookman\'sParadise。\"Iln\'estpasjusqu\'auxAnglais，\"addsBrunet——\"theveryEnglishthemselves——haveatasteforthe\'Pastissier。\'\"TheDukeofMarlborough\'scopywasactuallysoldfor1pound4s。ItwouldhavebeenmoneyintheducalpocketsofthehouseofMarlboroughtohavekeptthisvolumetillthegeneralsaleofalltheirportablepropertyatwhichourgenerationisprivilegedtoassist。Nowonderthe\'Pastissier\'wasthoughtrare。Berardonlyknewtwocopies。
Pietiers，writingontheElzevirsin1843，couldciteonlyfive\'Pastissiers，\'andinhis\'Annales\'hehadfoundoutbutfivemore。
Willems，ontheotherhand，enumeratessomethirty，notincludingMotteley\'s。Motteleywasanuncultivated，untaughtenthusiast。HeknewnoLatin，buthehadaFLAIRforuncutElzevirs。\"Incomptiscapillis，\"hewouldcry（itwasallhislore）ashegloatedoverhistreasures。TheywereallburntbytheCommuneintheLouvreLibrary。
Afewexamplesmaybegivenofthepricesbroughtby\'LePastissier\'
inlaterdays。Sensier\'scopywasbut128millimetresinheight，andhadtheoldordinaryvellumbinding，——infact，itcloselyresembledacopywhichMessrs。EllisandWhitehadforsaleinBondStreetin1883。TheEnglishbooksellersasked，Ithink，about1，500
francsfortheircopy。Sensier\'swassoldfor128francsinApril，1828；for201francsin1837。ThenthebookwasgloriouslyboundbyTrautz-Bauzonnet，andwassoldwithPotier\'sbooksin1870，whenitfetched2，910francs。AttheBenzonsale（1875）itfetched3，255
francs，and，fallingdreadfullyinprice，wassoldagainin1877for2，200francs。M。Dutuit，atRouen，hasatallercopy，boundbyBauzonnet。Lasttimeitwassold（1851）itbrought251francs。TheDucdeChartreshasnowthecopyofPieters，thehistorianoftheElzevirs，valuedat3，000francs。
AboutthirtyyearsagonofewerthanthreecopiesweresoldatBrighton，ofallplaces。M。QuentinBaucharthadacopyonly127
millimetresinheight，whichheswoppedtoM。Paillet。M。
Chartener，ofMetz，hadacopynowboundbyBauzonnetwhichwassoldforfourfrancsin1780。Wecallthistheageofcheapbooks，butbeforetheRevolutionbookswerecheaper。Itisfairtosay，however，thatthisexampleofthe\'Pastissier\'wasthenboundupwithanotherbook，Vlacq\'seditionof\'LeCuisinierFrancois，\'andsowentcheaperthanitwouldotherwisehavedone。M。deFontainedeResbecqdeclaresthatafriendofhisboughtsixoriginalpiecesofMoliere\'sboundupwithanoldFrenchtranslationofGarth\'s\'Dispensary。\'Theonefainthopelefttothepoorbookcollectoristhathemayfindavaluabletractlurkingintheleavesofsomeboundcollectionoftrash。IhaveanoriginalcopyofMoliere\'s\'LesFascheux\'boundupwithatreatiseonpreciousstones，butthebooksellerfromwhomIboughtitknewitwasthere！Thatmadeallthedifference。
But，toreturntoour\'Pastissier，\'hereisM。deFontainedeResbecq\'saccountofhowhewooedandwonhisowncopyofthisillustriousElzevir。\"Ibeganmywalkto-day，\"saysthishaunterofancientstalls，\"bythePontMarieandtheQuaidelaGreve，thepillarsofHerculesofthebook-huntingworld。Afterhavingviewedandreviewedtheseremotebooks，Iwasgoingaway，whenmyattentionwascaughtbyasmallnakedvolume，withoutastitchofbinding。I
seizedit，andwhatwasmydelightwhenIrecognisedoneoftherarestofthatfamedElzevircollectionwhoseheightismeasuredasminutelyasthecaratsofthediamond。Therewasnoindicationofpriceontheboxwherethisjewelwaslying；thebook，thoughunbound，wasperfectlycleanwithin。\'Howmuch？\'saidItothebookseller。\'Youcanhaveitforsixsous，\'heanswered；\'isittoomuch？\'\'No，\'saidI，and，tremblingalittle，Ihandedhimthethirtycentimesheaskedforthe\'PastissierFrancois。\'Youmaybelieve，myfriend，thataftersuchapieceofluckatthestart，onegoeshomefondlyembracingthebelovedobjectofone\'ssearch。
ThatisexactlywhatIdid。\"
Canthistalebetrue？Issuchluckgivenbythejealousfatesmortalibusaegris？M。deResbecq\'sfindwasmadeapparentlyin1856，whentroutwereplentyinthestreams，andrarebooksnotsoveryrare。TomyownknowledgeanEnglishcollectorhasboughtanoriginalplayofMoliere\'s，intheoriginalvellum，foreighteenpence。Butnoonehassuchluckanylonger。Not，atleast，inLondon。Amoreexpensive\'Pastissier\'thanthatwhichbroughtsixsouswaspricedinBachelin-Deflorenne\'scatalogueat240
pounds。Acuriousthingoccurredwhentwouncut\'Pastissiers\'
turnedupsimultaneouslyinParis。OneofthemMorgandandFatoutsoldfor400pounds。Cleverpeoplearguedthatoneofthetwinuncut\'Pastissiers\'mustbeanimitation，afacsimilebymeansofphotogravure，orsomeotherprocess。Butitwastriumphantlyestablishedthatbothweregenuine；theyhadminutepointsofdifferenceintheornaments。
M。Willems，thelearnedhistorianoftheElzevirs，isindignantatthesuccessesofabookwhich，asBrunetdeclares，isbadlyprinted。
Theremustbeatleastfortyknown\'Pastissiers\'intheworld。Yes；
butthereareatleast4，000peoplewhowouldgreatlyrejoicetopossessa\'Pastissier，\'andsomeofthesedesirousonesareverywealthy。Whilethisstateofthemarketendures，the\'Pastissier\'
willfetchhigherpricesthantheothervarieties。AnotherextremelyrareElzeviris\'L\'IllustreTheatredeMons。Corneille\'
（Leyden，1644）。Thiscontains\'LeCid，\'\'LesHoraces，\'\'LeCinna，\'
\'LaMortdePompee，\'\'LePolyeucte。\'Thename，\'L\'IllustreTheatre，\'appearingatthatdatehasaninterestofitsown。In1643-44，MoliereandMadeleineBejarthadjuststartedthecompanywhichtheycalled\'L\'IllustreTheatre。\'Onlysixorsevencopiesofthebookareactuallyknown，thoughthreeorfourarebelievedtoexistinEngland，probablyallcoveredwithdustinthelibraryofsomelord。\"Hehasaverygoodlibrary，\"Ionceheardsomeonesaytoanobleearl，whoseownlibrarywasfamous。\"Andwhatcanafellowdowithaverygoodlibrary？\"answeredthedescendantoftheCrusaders，whoprobably（beingayouthlight-heartedandcontent）
wasignorantofhisowngreatpossessions。Anexpensivecopyof\'L\'IllustreTheatre，\'boundbyTrautz-Bauzonnet，wassoldfor300
pounds。
AmongElzevirsdesirable，yetnothopelesslyrare，isthe\'Virgil\'
of1636。Heinsiuswastheeditorofthisbeautifulvolume，prettilyprinted，butincorrect。ProbablyitishardtocorrectwithabsoluteaccuracyworksintheclearbutminutetypewhichtheElzevirsaffected。Theyhavewonfamebytheeleganceoftheirbooks，buttheirintentionwastosellgoodbookscheap，likeMichelLevy。Thesmalltypewasrequiredtogetplentyof\"copy\"intolittlebulk。NicholasHeinsius，thesonoftheeditorofthe\'Virgil，\'whenhecametocorrecthisfather\'sedition，foundthatitcontainedsomanycoquilles，ormisprints，astobenearlythemostincorrectcopyintheworld。Heynesays，\"Letthe\'Virgil\'beoneoftherareElzevirs，ifyouplease，butwithinithasscarcelyatraceofanygoodquality。\"Yetthefirsteditionofthisbeautifullittlebook，withitstwopassagesofredletters，issodesirablethat，tillhecouldpossessit，CharlesNodierwouldnotprofanehisshelvesbyany\'Virgil\'atall。
Equallyfineisthe\'Caesar\'of1635，which，withthe\'Virgil\'of1636andthe\'Imitation\'withoutdate，M。WillemsthinksthemostsuccessfulworksoftheElzevirs，\"oneofthemostenviablejewelsinthecasketofthebibliophile。\"Itmayberecognisedbythepage238，whichiserroneouslyprinted248。Agoodaverageheightisfrom125to128millimetres。Thehighestknownis130millimetres。
Thisbook，likethe\'Imitation，\'hasoneoftheprettyandingeniousfrontispieceswhichtheElzevirsprefixedtotheirbooks。Sofarewell，andgoodspeedinyoursport，yehuntersofElzevirs，andmayyoufindperhapstherarestElzevirofall，\'L\'AimableMeredeJesus。\'
BALLADEOFTHEREALANDIDEAL（DOUBLEREFRAIN）
Ovisionsofsalmontremendous，Oftroutofunusualweight，OfwatersthatwanderasKendoes，YecomethroughtheIvoryGate！
Buttheskiesthatbringnevera\"spate，\"
Butthefliesthatcatchupinathorn，Butthecreelthatisbarrenoffreight，Throughtheportalsofhorn！
OdreamsoftheFatesthatattendusWithprintsintheearlieststate，Obargainsinbooksthattheysendus，YecomethroughtheIvoryGate！
Butthetomethathasneveramate，Butthequartothat\'statteredandtorn，Andbereftofatitleanddate，Throughtheportalsofhorn！
Odreamsofthetonguesthatcommendus，Ofcrownsforthelaureatepate，Ofapublictobuyandbefriendus，YecomethroughtheIvoryGate！
Butthecriticsthatslashusandslate，{2}
Butthepeoplethatholdusinscorn，Butthesorrow，thescathe，andthehate，Throughtheportalsofhorn！
ENVOY。
Fairdreamsofthingsgoldenandgreat，YecomethroughtheIvoryGate；
Butthefactsthatarebleakandforlorn，Throughtheportalsofhorn！
CURIOSITIESOFPARISHREGISTERS
Therearethreeclassesofpersonswhoaredeeplyconcernedwithparishregisters——namely，villains，antiquaries，andthesedulousreaders，\"parishclerksandothers，\"ofthesecondor\"agony\"columnoftheTimes。Villainsareprobablythemostnumerousofthesethreeclasses。Thevillainoffictiondearlylovesaparishregister：hecutsoutpages，insertsothers，intercalatesremarksinadifferentcolouredink，andgenerallymanipulatestheregisterasaGreekmanageshishandatecarte，orasaHebrewdealerinMoabitebric-a-bractreatsasynagogueroll。Wewellrememberonevillainwhohadlockedhimselfintothevestry（hewasdisguisedasanarchaeologist），andwhowasenjoyinghiswickedpleasurewiththeregister，whenthevestrysomehowcaughtfire，therustykeywouldnotturninthedoor，andthevillainwasroastedalive，inspiteofthedisinterestedeffortstosavehimmadebyallthevirtuouscharactersinthestory。Letthefateofthisbold，badmanbeawarningtowickedearls，baronets，andallotherswhoattempttodestroytherecordofthemarriageofahero\'sparents。Fatewillbetoostrongfortheminthelongrun，thoughtheybribetheparishclerk，orcarryoffinwhitewaxanimpressionofthekeysofthevestryandoftheironchestinwhicharegistershouldrepose。
Thereisanotherandmoreprosaicdangerinthewayofvillains，ifthenewbill，entitled\"TheParishRegistersPreservationAct，\"everbecomeslaw。Thebillprovidesthateveryregisterearlierthan1837shallbecommittedtothecareoftheMasteroftheRolls，andremovedtotheRecordOffice。NowthecommonvillainoffictionwouldfeelsadlyoutofplaceintheRegisterOffice，whereamorewatchfuleyethanthatofacomicparishclerkwouldbekeptonhisproceedings。Villainsandlocalantiquarieswill，therefore，usealltheirparliamentaryinfluencetoopposeanddelaythisbill，whichiscertainlyhardontheparisharchaeologist。Themenwhogrubintheirlocalregisters，andslowlycompileparishorcountyhistory，deservetobeencouragedratherthandepressed。Mr。
ChesterWaters，therefore，hassuggestedthatcopiesofregistersshouldbemade，andthecomparativelylegiblecopyleftintheparish，whilethecrabbedoriginalisconveyedtotheRecordOfficeinLondon。Thusthelocalantiquarywouldreallyhavehisworkmademoreeasyforhim（thoughitmaybedoubtedwhetherhewouldquiteenjoythatcondescension），whilethevillainofromancewouldbefoiled；foritisuseless（asanovelofMr。ChristieMurray\'sproves）toaltertheregisterinthekeepingoftheparishwhentheoriginaldocumentissafeintheRecordOffice。Butpreviousexamplesofenforcedtranscription（asin1603）donotencourageustosupposethatthecopieswouldbeveryscrupulouslymade。Thus，aftertheReformation，theprayersforthedeadintheoldregisterswereomittedbythecopyist，whoseemedtothink（asthecontractorfor\"sandwichmen\"saidtothepoorfellowswhocarriedtheletterH），\"Idon\'twantyou，andthepublicdon\'twantyou，andyou\'renousetonobody。\"Again，whenLaurenceFletcherwasburiedinSt。
Saviour\'s，Southwark，in1608，theoldregisterdescribedhimas\"aplayer，theKing\'sservant。\"Buttheclerk，keepinganote-book，simplycalledLaurenceFletcher\"aman，\"and（in1625）healsostyledMr。JohnFletcher\"aman。\"Now，theoldregistercallsMr。
JohnFletcher\"apoet。\"TocopyalltheparishregistersinEnglandwouldbeaveryserioustask，andwouldprobablybebutslovenlyperformed。Iftheywerereproduced，again，byanyprocessofphotography，theolddifficultcourthandwouldremainashardasever。Butthisisaminorobjection，forthelocalantiquaryrevelsintheoldcourthand。
FromthelittlevolumebyMr。ChesterWaters，alreadyreferredto（\'ParishRegistersinEngland；\'printedfortheauthorbyF。J。
Roberts，LittleBritain，E。C。），weproceedtoappropriatesuchmattersofcuriosityasmayinterestmindsneitherparochialnordoggedlyantiquarian。Parishregistersamongthecivilisedpeoplesofantiquitydonotgreatlyconcernus。ItseemscertainthatmanyPolynesianraceshavemanagedtorecord（inverse，orbysomerudemarks）thegenealogiesoftheirchiefsthroughmanyhundredsofyears。Theseoralregistersareacceptedasfairlytruthfulbysomestudents，yetwemustrememberthatPindarsupposedhimselftopossessknowledgeofatleasttwenty-fivegenerationsbeforehisowntime，andthatonlybroughthimuptothebirthofJason。NobodybelievesinJasonandMedea，andpossiblythegenealogicalrecordsofMaorisandFijiansareaslittletrustworthyasthoseofPindaricGreece。However，toconsiderthusistoconsidertoocuriously。Weonlyknowforcertainthatgenealogyverysoonbecomesimportant，and，therefore，thatrecordsareearlykept，inagrowingcivilisation。\"AfterNehemiah\'sreturnfromthecaptivityinBabylon，thepriestsatJerusalemwhoseregisterwasnotfoundwereaspollutedputfromthepriesthood。\"Romehadherparishregisters，whichwerekeptinthetempleofSaturn。Butmodernparishregisterswere\"discovered\"（likeAmerica）in1497，whenCardinalXimenesfounditdesirabletoputonrecordthenamesofthegodfathersandgodmothersofbaptisedchildren。Whentheserelationsof\"gossip，\"orGod\'skin（asthewordliterallymeans），werenotcertainlyknown，marriedpersonscouldeasilyobtaindivorces，bypretendingpreviousspiritualrelationship。
ButitwasonlyduringthereignofMary，（calledtheBloody）thatthisruleofregisteringgodfathersandgodmothersprevailedinEngland。HenryVIII。introducedthecustomofparishregisterswheninaProtestanthumour。Bytheway，howcuriouslyhasMadamedeFlamareil（lafemmedequaranteans，inCharlesdeBernard\'snovel）
anticipatedtheverdictofMr。FroudeonHenryVIII。！\'OnaccuseHenriVIII。，\'ditMadamedeFlamareil，\"moijelecomprends，etjel\'absous；c\'etaituncoeurgenereux，lorsqu\'ilnelesaimaitplus，illestuait。\'\"ThepublicofEnglandmistrusted，inthematterofparishregisters，thegenerousheartofHenryVIII。Itisthefixedconvictionofthepublicthatallnoveltiesinadministrationmeannewtaxes。ThustheCroatianpeasantrywereonceonthepointofrevoltingbecausetheyimaginedthattheyweretobetaxedinproportiontothelengthoftheirmoustaches。TheEnglishbelieved，andtheinsurgentsofthefamousPilgrimageofGracedeclared，thatbaptismwastoberefusedtoallchildrenwhodidnotpaya\"trybette\"（tribute）totheking。ButHenry，orratherhisminister，Cromwell，stucktohisplan，and（September29，1538）
issuedaninjunctionthataweeklyregisterofweddings，christenings，andburialsshouldbekeptbythecurateofeveryparish。Thecostofthebook（twopenceinthecaseofSt。
Margaret\'s，Westminster）wasdefrayedbytheparishioners。Theoldestextantregisterbooksarethosethusacquiredin1597or1603。Thesevolumeswereofparchment，andentrieswerecopiedintothemoutoftheoldbooksonpaper。Thecopyists，aswehaveseen，wereindolent，andomittedcharacteristicpointsinthemoreancientrecords。
Inthecivilwarparishregistersfellintosomeconfusion，andwhentheclergydidmakeentriestheycommonlyexpressedtheirpoliticalfeelingsinamixtureofLatinandEnglish。Latin，bytheway，wentoutasProtestantismcamein，butthecurateofRotherby，inLeicestershire，writes，\"Bellum，Bellum，Bellum，interruption！
persecution！\"AtSt。Bridget\'s，inChester，isthequaintentry，\"1643。Heretheregisterisdefectivetill1653。ThetymeswereSUCH！\"AtHilton，inDorset，WilliamSnoke，minister，enteredhisopinionthatpersonswhosebaptismandmarriagewerenotregistered\"willbemadeuncapableofanyearthlyinheritanceiftheylive。
ThisInoteforthesatisfactionofanythatdo：\"thoughwemaydoubtwhethertheseparishionersfoundtheinformationthusconveyedhighlysatisfactory。
TheregisterofMaid\'sMoreton，Bucks，tellshowthereading-desk（aspreadeagle，gilt）was\"doomedtoperishasanabominableidoll；\"
andhowthecrossonthesteeplenearly（butnotquite）knockedoutthebrainsofthePuritanwhoremovedit。ThePuritanshadtheirwaywiththeregistersaswellaswiththeeagle（\"thevowl，\"astheoldcountrypeoplecallit），andlaymentooktheplaceofparsonsasregistrarsin1653。Thebooksfrom1653to1660，whilethisregimelasted，\"werekeptexceptionallywell，\"newbroomssweepingclean。
ThebooksoftheperiodcontainfeweroftheoldPuritanChristiannamesthanwemighthaveexpected。Wefind，\"REPENTEKytchens，\"sostyledbeforethepoorlittlethinghadanythingbutoriginalsintorepentof。\"FAINTNOTKennard\"isalsoregistered，and\"FREEGIFT
Mabbe。\"
Anoveltywasintroducedintoregistersin1678。Thelawrequired（forpurposesofprotectingtrade）thatallthedeadshouldbeburiedinwoollenwinding-sheets。ThepriceofthewoolwastheoboluspaidtotheCharonoftheRevenue。AfterMarch25，1667，nopersonwastobe\"buriedinanyshirt，shift，orsheetotherthatshouldbemadeofwooleonly。\"ThuswhenthechildreninalittleOxfordshirevillagelatelybeheldaghost，\"dressedinalongnarrowgownofwoollen，withbandagesroundtheheadandchin，\"itisclearthattheghostwasmuchmorethanahundredyearsold，fortheact\"hadfallenintodisuselongbeforeitwasrepealedin1814。\"Butthishaslittletodowithparishregisters。Theadditionmadetothedutiesofthekeeperoftheregisterin1678wasthis——hehadtotakeandrecordtheaffidavitofakinsmanofthedead，totheeffectthatthecorpsewasactuallyburiedinwoollenfabric。Theupperclasses，however，preferredtoburyinlinen，andtopaythefineof5L。WhenMistressOldfield，thefamousactress，wasinterredin1730，herbodywasarrayed\"inaveryfineBrusselslaceheaddress，ahollandshiftwithatuckeranddoublerufflesofthesamelace，andapairofnewkidgloves。\"
In1694anemptyexchequerwasreplenishedbyataxonmarriages，births，andburials，theveryextortionwhichhadbeenfearedbytheinsurgentsinthePilgrimageofGrace。Thetaxcollectorshadaccesswithoutpaymentoffeetotheregisters。TheregistrationofbirthswasdiscontinuedwhentheTaxationActsexpired。Anattempttointroducetheregistrationofbirthswasmadein1753，butunsuccessfully。Thepublichadtheoldsuperstitiousdreadofanythinglikeacensus。Moreover，thecustomwasdenouncedas\"French，\"andthereforeabominable。Inthesamewayitwasthoughttellingtocallthecloture\"theFrenchgag\"duringsomerecentdiscussionsofparliamentaryrules。In1783theparishregisterwasagainmadetheinstrumentoftaxation，andthreepencewaschargedoneveryentry。Thus\"theclergymanwasplacedintheinvidiouslightofataxcollector，andasthepoorwereoftenunableorunwillingtopaythetax，theclergyhadadirectinducementtoretaintheirgood-willbykeepingtheregistersdefective。\"
ItiseasytoimaginetheindignationinScotlandwhen\"bangwentsaxpence\"everytimeapoormanhadtwins！OfcoursetheScotchroseupagainstthisunparalleledextortion。Atlast，in1812，\"Rose\'sAct\"waspassed。Itisstyled\"anActforthebetterregulatingandpreservingregistersofbirths，\"buttheregistrationofbirthsisaltogetheromittedfromitsprovisions。Byastrokeofthewildestwitthepenaltyoftransportationforfourteenyears，formakingafalseentry，\"istobedividedequallybetweentheinformerandthepooroftheparish。\"AmorecasualActhasrarelybeendrafted。
Withoutenteringintothemodernhistoryofparishregisters，wemayborrowafewoftheancientcuriositiestobefoundtherein，theblundersandthewaggeriesofforgottenpriests，andcurates，andparishclerks。Inquiterecenttimes（1832）itwasthoughtworthwhiletorecordthatCharityMorrellatherweddinghadsignedhernameintheregisterwithherrightfoot，andthattheringhadbeenplacedonthefourthtoeofherleftfoot；forpoorCharitywasbornwithoutarms。Sometimesthetimeofabirthwasrecordedwithmuchminuteness，thattheastrologersmightdrawamoreaccuratehoroscope。Unluckychildren，withnoacknowledgedfathers，wereenteredinavarietyofoddways。InLambeth（1685），GeorgeSpeedwellisputdownas\"amerrybegot；\"AnneTwineis\"filiauniuscujusque。\"AtCroydon，acertainWilliamis\"terraefilius\"
（1582），anautochthonousinfant。Amongthequeernamesoffoundlingsare\"Nameless，\"\"Godsend，\"\"Subpoena，\"and\"MoysesandAaron，twochildrenfound，\"notinthebulrushes，but\"inthestreet。\"
Therulewastogivethefoundlingforsurnamethenameoftheparish，andfromtheTempleChurchcamenofewerthanonehundredandfourfoundlingsnamed\"Temple，\"between1728and1755。TheseTemplesaretheplebeiangensofthepatricianhousewhichclaimsdescentfromGodiva。TheuseofsurnamesasChristiannamesislaterthantheReformation，andistheresultofareactionagainsttheexclusiveuseofsaints\'namesfromthecalendar。AnotherexampleofthesamereactionistheuseofOldTestamentnames，and\"AnaniasandSapphirawerefavouritenameswiththePresbyterians。\"
ItisonlyfairtoaddthatthesenamesarenolongerpopularwithPresbyterians，atanyrateintheKirkofScotland。TheoldPuritanargumentwasthatyouwouldhardlyselectthenameoftoonotoriousascripturalsinner，\"asbearingtestimonytothetriumphofgraceoveroriginalsin。\"ButinAmericaaclergymanhasbeenknowntodeclinetochristenachild\"PontiusPilate，\"andnowonder。
Entriesofburialsinancienttimesoftencontainedsomebiographicalinformationaboutthedeceased。Butnothingcouldpossiblybevaguerthanthis：\"1615，February28，St。Martin\'s，Ludgate，wasburiedananatomyfromtheCollegeofPhysicians。\"
Man，woman，orchild，sinnerorsaint，weknownot，onlythat\"ananatomy\"foundChristianburialinSt。Martin\'s，Ludgate。Howmuchmorefullandcharacteristicisthis，fromSt。Peter\'s-in-the-East，Oxford（1568）：\'TherewasburiedAlyce，thewiffofanaughtyfellowwhosenameisMatthewManne。\'ThereisimmortalityforMatthewManne，andthereis，inshort-hand，thetragedyof\"Alycehiswiff。\"ThereaderofthisrecordknowsmoreofMatthewthanintwohundredyearsanyoneislikelytoknowofuswhomoraliseoverMatthew！AtKyloe，inNorthumberland，theintellectualdefectsofHenryWatsonhave，likethenaughtinessofManne，securedhimameasureoffame。（1696。）\"Henrywassogreatafooll，thathenevercouldputonhisownclose，norneverwentaquarterofamileoffthehouse，\"asVoltaire\'sMemnonresolvednevertodo，andasPascalpartlyrecommends。
WhathadMaryWoodfielddonetodeservethealiaswhichtheCroydonregistergivesherof\"QueenofHell\"？（1788。）Distinguishedpeoplewereburiedineffigy，inallthedifferentchurcheswithwhichtheywereconnected，andeachshamburialservicewasenteredintheparishregisters，asnareandstumbling-blocktothehistorian。
Thiscuriouscustomisveryancient。ThuswereadintheOdysseythatwhenMenelausheardinEgyptofthedeathofAgamemnonherearedforhimacenotaph，andpiledanemptybarrow\"thatthefameofthedeadmanmightneverbequenched。\"ProbablythisoldusagegaverisetotheclaimsofseveralGreekcitiestopossessthetombofthisorthatancienthero。Aheroictomb，asofCassandraforexample，severaltownshadtoshow，butwhichwasthetruegrave，whichwerethecenotaphs？QueenElizabethwasburiedinalltheLondonchurches，andpoorCassandrahadherbarrowinArgos，Mycenae，andAmyclae。
\"Adrynkyngforthesoul\"ofthedead，a[Greektext]orfuneralfeast，wasascommoninEnglandbeforetheReformationasinancientGreece。JamesCooke，ofSporle，inNorfolk（1528），leftsixshillingsandeightpencetopayforthis\"drynkyngforhissoul；\"
andthefuneralfeast，whichlongsurvivedinthedistributionofwine，wafers，androsemary，stillenduresasaslightcollationofwineandcakeinScotland。Whatafuneralcouldbe，aslateas1731，Mr。ChesterWatersprovesbythebillfortheburialofAndrewCard，seniorbencherofGray\'sInn。Thedeceasedwasbraveina\"superfinepinkedshroud\"（cheapat1L。5S。6D。），andtherewereeightlargeplatecandle-sticksonstandsroundthedais，andninety-sixbuckramescutcheons。Thepall-bearersworeAlamodehatbandscoveredwithfrizances，andsodidthedivineswhowerepresentatthemelancholybutgorgeousfunction。Ahundredmeninmourningcarriedahundredwhitewaxbranchlights，andtheglovesoftheportersinGray\'sInnwereash-colouredwithblackpoints。
Yetthewinecostnomorethan1L。19S。6D。；a\"dealofsack，\"bynomeans\"intolerable。\"
Leavingthefunerals，wefindthattheparishregistersometimesrecordsancientandobsoletemodesofdeath。Thus，martyrsarescarcenow，buttheregisterofAllSaints\'，Derby，1556，mentions\"apoorblindewomancalledJoanWaste，ofthisparish，amartyr，burnedinWindmillpit。\"ShewascondemnedbyRalphBaynes，BishopofCoventryandLichfield。In1558，atRichmond，inYorkshire，wefind\"RichardSnell，b\'rnt，bur。9Sept。\"AtCroydon，in1585，RogerShepherdprobablyneverexpectedtobeeatenbyalioness。
Rogerwasnot，likeWyllyamBarker，\"acommondrunkardandblasphemer，\"andwecannotregardtheCroydonlioness，liketheNemeanlion，asamiraculousmonstersentagainstthecountyofSurreyforthesinsofthepeople。Thelioness\"wasbroughtintothetowntobeseenofsuchaswouldgivemoneytoseeher。He\"
（Roger）\"wassorewoundedinsundryplaces，andwasburiedthe26thAug。\"
In1590，theregisterofSt。Oswald\'s，Durham，informsusthat\"Duke，Hyll，Hogge，andHoliday\"werehangedandburnedfor\"therehorribleoffences。\"ThearmofoneofthesehorribleoffenderswaspreservedatSt。Omerastherelicofamartyr，\"amostprecioustreasure，\"in1686。ButnooneknewwhetherthearmbelongedoriginallytoHoliday，Hyll，Duke，orHogge。Thecoals，whentheseunfortunatemenwereburned，costsixpence；theotheritemsintheaccountoftheabominableexecutionare，perhaps，toorepulsivetobequoted。
AccordingtosomecriticsoftheBritishgovernment，wedonottreattheEgyptianswell。ButourconducttowardstheFellahshascertainlyimprovedsincethisentrywasmadeintheregisterofSt。
Nicholas，Durham（1592，August8th）：\'Simson，Arington，Featherston，Fenwick，andLancaster，WEREHANGEDFORBEING
EGYPTIANS。\'Theywere，infact，gypsies，orhadbeenconsortingwithgypsies，andtheysufferedunder5Eliz。c。20。In1783thisstatutewasabolished，andwasevenconsidered\"alawofexcessiveseverity。\"Forevenahundredyearsago\"thepulingcantofsicklyhumanitarianism\"wasmakingitselfheardtotheinjuryofoursturdyoldEnglishlegislation。Tobekilledbyapoetisnowanunusualfate，buttheSt。Leonard\'s，Shoreditch，register（1598）mentionshow\"GabrielSpencer，beingslayne，wasburied。\"Gabrielwas\"slayne\"byRareBenJonson，inHoxtonFields。
Theburningofwitchesis，naturally，notanuncommoniteminparishregisters，andissetforthinabold，business-likemanner。OnAugust21（1650）fifteenwomenandonemanwereexecutedfortheimaginarycrimeofwitchcraft。\"Agrave，forawitch，sixpence，\"isaniteminthemunicipalaccounts。AndthegravewasacheaphavenforthepoorwomanwhohadbeencommittedtothetendermerciesofaScotchwitch-trier。Cetewayo\'smedicine-men，who\"smeltout\"
witches，wereonlysometwocenturiesintherearofourcivilisation。ThreehundredyearsagoBishopJewell，preachingbeforeElizabeth，wasquiteofthemindofCetewayoandSaul，astothewickednessofsufferingawitchtolive。Aslateas1691，theregisterofHolyIsland，Northumberland，mentions\"WilliamCleugh，bewitchedtodeath，\"andthesuperstitionisalmostaspowerfulaseveramongtheruralpeople。BetweenJuly13andJuly24（1699）thewidowComon，inEssex，wasthriceswumforawitch。Shewasnotdrowned，butsurvivedherimmersionforonlyfivemonths。A
singularhomicideisrecordedatNewingtonButts，1689。\"JohnArrisandDerwickFarlininonegrave，beingbothDutchsoldiers；onekilledtheotherdrinkingbrandy。\"Butwhoslewtheslayer？Theregisterissilent；but\"ofteneatingashoulderofmuttonorapeckofhastypuddingatatimecausedthedeathofJamesParsons，\"atTeddington，inMiddlesex，1743。Parsonshadresistedtheeffectsofshouldersofmuttonandhastypuddingtilltheageofthirty-six。
Andsotheregistersrunon。Sometimestheytellofthedeathofaglutton，sometimesofaGRACEWYFE（grossefemme）。Nowthebelltollsforthedeceaseofaduke，nowofa\"dog-whipper。\"
\"Lutenists\"and\"Saltpetremen\"——theskeletonoftheoldGermanallegorywhisperstoeachandtwitcheshimbythesleeve。\"EllisThompson，insipiens，\"leavesChester-le-Street，wherehehadgabbledandscrabbledonthedoors，andfollows\"William，fooletomyLadyJerningham，\"and\"EdwardErrington，theTowne\'sFooll\"（Newcastle-
on-Tyne）downthewaytodustydeath。EdwardErringtondied\"ofthepest，\"andanotheridiottookhisplaceandoffice，forNewcastlehadherregulartownfoolsbeforesheacquiredhersingularlyadvancedmodernrepresentatives。The\"aquavityman\"dies（inCripplegate），andthe\"dumb-manwhowasafortune-teller\"（Stepney，1628），andthe\"King\'sFalkner，\"andMr。GregoryIsham，whocombinedtheprofessions，notfrequentlyunited，of\"attorneyandhusbandman，\"inBarwell，Leicestershire（1655）。\"Thelamechimney-
sweeper，\"andthe\"Kingofthegypsies，\"andAlexanderWillis，\"quicalographiamdocuit，\"thelinguist，andtheTomo\'Bedlam，thecomfit-maker，andthepanyer-man，andthetack-maker，andthesuicide，theyallfounddeath；or，iftheysoughthim，thechurchyardwheretheywere\"hurledintoagrave\"wasinterdicted，andpurified，afterafortnight，with\"frankincenseandsweetperfumes，andherbs。\"
Sometimespeoplediedwholesaleofpestilence，andtheLongboroughregistermentionsafreshwayofdeath，\"theswatcalledNewAcquaintance，aliasStoupeKnave，andknowthymaster。\"Anothermaladywas\'thepostingswet，thatpostedfromtownetotownethroughEngland。\'Theplagueof1591wasimportedinbalesofclothfromtheLevant，justasBritishcommercestillpatrioticallytriestointroducecholeraincargoesofEgyptianrags。TheregisterofMalpas，inCheshire（Aug。24，1625），hasthisstrangestoryoftheplague：-
\"RichardDawsonbeingsickeoftheplague，andperceivinghemustdieatyttime，aroseoutofhisbed，andmadehisgrave，andcausedhisnefew，JohnDawson，tocaststraweintothegravewhichwasnotfarrefromthehouse，andwentandlay\'dhimdowninthesay\'dgrave，andcausedclothestobelay\'dupponandsodep\'tedoutofthisworld；thishedidbecausehewasastrongman，andheavierthanhissaidnefewandanotherwenchwereabletobury。\"
AndJohnDawsondied，andRoseSmyth，the\"wench\"alreadyspokenof，died，thelastofthehousehold。
Oldcustomssurviveintheparishregisters。Scoldingwiveswereducked，andinKingston-on-Thames，1572，theregistertellshowthesexton\'swife\"wassettonanewcukking-stoole，andbroughttoTemesbrydge，andtherehadthreeduckingsoverheadanderes，becauseshewasacommonscoldandfighter。\"Thecucking-stool，averyelaborateengineofthelaw，cost1L。3S。4D。Menwereduckedforbeatingtheirwives，andifthatcustomwererevivedtheprofessionofcucking-stoolmakerwouldbecomebusyandlucrative。
Penancesofagraversortareonrecordintheregisters。MargaretSherioux，inCroydon（1597），wasorderedtostandthreemarketdaysinthetown，andthreeSundaysinthechurch，inawhitesheet。Thesinimputedtoherwasadreadfulone。\"ShestoodoneSaturday，andoneSunday，anddiedthenext。\"Innocentorguilty，thisworldwasnolongerafitabiding-placeforMargaretSherioux。Occasionallythekeeperoftheregisterenteredanyeventwhichseemedoutofthecommon。ThustheregisterofSt。Nicholas，Durham（1568），hasthiscontributiontonaturalhistory：-
\"AcertaineItalianbroughtintothecittieofDurhamaverygreatestrangeandmonstrousserpent，inlengthsixteenfeet，inquantitieanddimentionsgreaterthanagreatehorse，whichwastakenandkilledbyspecialpolicie，inEthiopiawithintheTurkasdominions。
Butbeforeitwaskilled，ithaddevoured（asiscrediblythought）
morethan1，000persons，anddestroyedagreatcountry。\"
ThismusthavebeenadescendantofthemonsterthatwouldhaveeatenAndromeda，andwasslainbyPerseusinthecountryoftheblamelessEthiopians。Collectionsofmoneyarerecordedoccasionally，asin1680，whennolessthanonepoundeightshillingswascontributed\"forredemptionofChristians（takenbyyeTurkishpyrates）outofTurkishslavery。\"TwohundredyearsagotheTurkwaspretty\"unspeakable\"still。OfallblunderingDogberries，themostconfusedkept（in1670）theparishregisteratMeltonMowbray：-
\"Here[hewrites]isabillofBurtonLazareth\'speople，whichwasburied，andwhichwasandmariedabove10yearsold，forbecausetheclarkewasdead，andthereforetheywasnotsetdownaccordingastheywas，buttheyallsetdownsureenoughoneamonganotherhereinthisplace。\"
\"Theyallsetdownsureenough，\"nordoesitmattermuchnowtoknowwhomtheymarried，andhowlongtheylivedinMeltonMowbray。ThefollowingentrysufficedforthegreatVilliersthatexpired\"intheworstinn\'sworstroom，\"——\"KirkbyMoorside，Yorkshire，1687。
GeorgesvilarisLorddookeofBookingham，bur。17。April。\"
\"SomuchforBuckingham！\"
THEROWFANTBOOKS
BALLADEENGUISEDERONDEAU
TheRowfantbooks，howfairtheyshew，TheQuartoquaint，theAldinetall，Print，autograph，portfolio！
Backfromtheouterairtheycall，TheathletesfromtheTennisball，ThisRhymerfromhisrodandhooks，WouldIcouldsingthemoneandall，TheRowfantbooks！
TheRowfantbooks！InsunandsnowThey\'redear，butmostwhentempestsfall；
ThefoliotowersabovetherowAsonce，o\'erminorprophets，——Saul！
Whatjollyjestbooksandwhatsmall\"DeardumpyTwelves\"tofillthenooks。
YoudonotfindoneverystallTheRowfantbooks！
TheRowfantbooks！TheselongagoWerechainedwithinsomeCollegehall；
ThesemanuscriptsretaintheglowOfmanyacolouredcapitalWhileyettheSatireskeeptheirgall，WhilethePastissierpuzzlescooks，Theirsisajoythatdoesnotpall，TheRowfantbooks！
ENVOI。
TheRowfantbooks，——ahmagicalAsfamedArmida\'s\"goldenlooks，\"
Theyholdtherhymerfortheirthrall，TheRowfantbooks。
TOF。L。
ImindthatForestShepherd\'ssaw，For，whenmenpreachedofHeaven，quothhe，\"It\'sa\'that\'sbricht，anda\'that\'sbraw，ButBourhope\'sguideneuchforme！\"
Beneaththegreendeep-bosomedhillsThatguardSaintMary\'sLochitlies，ThesilenceofthepasturefillsThatshepherd\'shomelyparadise。
Enoughforhimhismountainlake，Hisglentheburnwentsingingthrough，AndRowfant，whenthethrusheswake，Maywellseemgoodenoughforyou。
Forallisold，andtried，anddear，Andallisfair，androundaboutThebrookthatmurmursfromthemereIsdimpledwiththerisingtrout。
ButwhentheskiesofshorterdaysAredarkandallthewaysaremire，HowbrightuponyourbookstheblazeGleamsfromthecheerfulstudyfire，Onquartoswhereourfathersread，Enthralled，thebookofShakespeare\'splay，OnallthatPoecoulddreamofdread，AndallthatHerricksangofgay！
Fairfirsteditions，dulyprized，Abovethemall，methinks，IrateThetomewhereWalton\'shandrevisedHiswonderfulreceiptsforbait！
Happy，whorichintoysliketheseForgetsawearynation\'sills，WhofromhisstudywindowseesThecircleoftheSussexhills！
SOMEJAPANESEBOGIE-BOOKS
ThereisorusedtobeapoemforinfantmindsofaratherPharisaicalcharacter，whichwaspopularinthenurserywhenIwasayoungster。Itransomethinglikethis：。
IthankmystarsthatIwasbornAlittleBritishchild。
Perhapsthesewerenottheverywords，butthatwasdecidedlythesentiment。LookattheJapaneseinfants，fromthepencilofthefamousHokusai。ThoughtheyarenotBritish，werethereevertwojollier，happiersmallcreatures？DidLeech，orMr。DuMaurier，orAndreadellaRobbiaeverpresentamoredelightfulviewofinnocent，well-pleasedchildhood？Well，theseJapanesechildren，iftheyareintheleastinclinedtobetimidornervous，musthaveanawfultimeofitatnightinthedark，andwhentheymakethateerie\"northwestpassage\"bedwardsthroughthedarklinghouseofwhichMr。