tu t'envoleras." Cette fable regarde celui qui cherche à s'atribuer de l'honneur et de la gloire tandis qu'il est faible et méprisable. The sense of the bull's reply in Arabic seems to be O you, whatever you are [Ya hadi]. I did not know when you descended, nor shall I know when you take yourself off [Taterin]. A pointed reply, leaving the mosquito on one horn of the dilemma. The following fable by Prior somewhat resembles the other : "Say, sire of insects, mighty Sol!" Did ever with such fury drive?" "Tell, Beelzebub, great father, tell!" Raise such a cloud of dust as I?" MORAL. My judgment turn'd the whole debate! OLD EPIGRAM. The emperor and king of the following epigram, found among some old papers, are Leopold I. and Louis XIV. :— EPIGRAM BY THE EMPEROR, 1666, AND THE KING OF FRANCE. Bella fugis, sequeris bellas, pugnæque repugnas, Et bellatori sunt tibi bella tori. Imbelles imbellis amas, totusque videris Mars ad opus Veneris, Martis ad arma Venus. PARISH REGISTERS. Those who have had opportunities of looking over parish registers have doubtless often been amused at reading many of the entries which are to be found therein, not a few of which are calculated to throw a light on the customs, manners, and habits of the good people in the olden times, which are interesting, not only to antiquarians and those who are admirers of venerable antiquity, but also to the general reader; it is as it were looking through Time's telescope, and viewing through the vista long-past events, which are brought out in full review before the eye, like objects in a panorama. The following extracts, compiled from authentic sources, part of which have been transcribed from the originals, will serve to illustrate the foregoing remarks. The first on the list relates principally to the town of Braintree. Anno 1580.-April 2 was baptized Joseph Mann, son of Joseph Mann. Mem. That the said Joseph Mann the son, in the year 1631, did lay open the street called New Street, and also built the New Cross, at his own proper costs and charges, and afterwards sold the same to the Right Hon. Robert Earl of Warwick, for the sum of 6007., being then bailiff to the said Earl of the town of Brayntree.-23 Hen. VIII., Robert Pucklow gave a crown for a light before St. Nicholas; Richard Norfolk the like before St. Catharine; John Tomkin the like before St. Michael; and Henry Evet the like before Trinity.—A drinking in Lent, towards which, besides what private persons paid, was given by Rayne, 48.; Cressing, 38.; Black Notley, 38. 8d.; Bocking, 38.; and Braintree, 5s. These were in Popish times. There was a canon against these drinkings; but Whitsun ales, which were similar things, were allowed in King James's Book of Sunday Sports. Images in churches do not appear to have been entirely removed until 1588 (1 Eliz.), when the churchwardens received for three images, 26s. 8d. 1574. Received for six almanvyvets, 22s. (Qy. German music-books? which seem to have been superseded by the more solemn music adapted to such psalmody as that of Sternhold and Hopkins )-Received for the organ pipes. . . . . The almanvyvets and organ pipes seem to have fallen before the Puritanic spirit which was at this time prevailing. 1581. Payd for rynging on crowenation-day, 2s. 6d. ; layd out for yenk and paper [ink and paper], 1d.; payd the hie constable for Cataway Bridge, 10s.; payd to Father Wod, for helling [healing] of Widow Matthews, 20s. Father Wod was most likely a Popish priest, but that "occupation gone," he practised physic. It is well known that at the present period, in Roman Catholic countries, the priests, actuated by a kind and benevolent feeling, study in some degree the healing art, in order that they may be enabled to prescribe remedies in cases of sudden illness among the poorer members of their flock, when medical aid through a surgeon, from distance or other causes, is not attainable. 1585. Payd for discharging Father Andrew howt of the Cowrte, being cited for reading the servyce, 16d. This, probably, was another Popish clergyman, who had committed himself by performing some duty contrary to the Reformed doctrines and laws. 1586. Payd to Persom for rushes and flaskes gathering when the byshope was here [to strew the church with], 12d. Strewing churches, and even private houses, with rushes, was at this time a common practice. 1593. Received from "The Hart,” 24 quarts of wyne, at 8d., 158. 4d.; and 11 quarts of muskydine, at 11d., 10s. 1d.; and 8 quarts of wyne, at 9d., 6s. Item, received from the coke [cook] 27 quarts of wyne, at 8d., 188.; and 23 quarts of wyne, at 9d., 178. 3d.; and 1 quart of sack, 12d. Payd for bread, 38. 2d. That is, 94 quarts of wine (nearly 8 dozen) in one year for the Communion, in a town with a population of about 2,000; but this was at a period when almost every adult communicated; and there are some intimations that at this period our ancestors drank deep on those occasions, in order to evince their sincerity. For instance, it is said of "Rare Ben Jonson," that he was twelve years a Papist, but was afterwards reconciled to the Church of England, and that at his first communion, in token of his true reconciliation, he drank the full cup of wine. The quantities and the prices charged do not in several instances agree: but our ancestors were in general very bad arithmeticians. 1625. It is agreed that Hugh Wises's wife shall have some barley allowed her, at the best hand, to bake bread. Poor persons at the present time would not evince much gratitude for such a gift as this. 1635. J. M. hath payd to Mr. W. 5s. 6d., which he layed out to send Burnham with a letter to my Lord of Warwick, in London [distance 40 miles].1637. It is agreed that J. M. shall have 2s. for his journey to Heddingham, about ship-money. The levying "ship-money" at this time was one of the principal causes which led to the civil war. 1662. In an inventory of the goods belonging to the parish is enumerated a sheet for harlots to do penance in. It appears as if the parish authorities at Braintree, at this period, were desirous of establishing a high standard of morality in their town. Whether the article in question was frequently called into use or otherwise, we are not informed. 1719. Ordered, to allow John Wilkinson's wife 9s. to redeem a piece of gold touched by the king. This was a relic of the ancient practice of touching for the king's evil. The practice had been discontinued some time, but the pieces of money used on those occasions were supposed to retain their virtue. In the next article we hardly know which is most remarkable, the apparent knavery of the parties or the attempted legal formalities of the scribe. 1745. This witnesseth an agreement by and between the parishioners below mentioned, on behalf of themselves and the whole parish, and David Stearns, that he the said David Stearns, for and in consideration of a crown bowl of punch, this day paid by him, shall be excused for the future from paying all parish rates, of what name or description soever they be, for the house he dwells in, the king's tax only excepted. Signed by David Stearns and eight other parishioners, and witnessed by the vestry clerk. If the parties in the above agreement had any misgivings as to the legality or honesty of the course they were adopting, we may suppose that, in the words of the old ballad, "they drowned them in the bowl." Being, however, loyal subjects, they desired that the king's taxes should be paid. The following extracts were transcribed verbatim from an old rate-book belonging to the parish of Elmstood, near Colchester : April 28, 1704. Paid for the berrill of Jane Hicks, 48-April 2, 1707. Paid for two payer of britches and a neck of moten, 4s. This is an amusing item; "two pair of breeches and a neck of mutton" food and clothing jumbled together in a rather incongruous manner, and all for the small sum of four shillings. Breeches as well as mutton must have been marvellously cheap in those days. It reminds one of Shakspeare's saying of King Stephen : King Stephen was a worthy peer, His breeches cost him but a crown; By the way, this quotation aptly illustrates Burke's remark, that "there is but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous." Thus, for instance, the first line conveys to the mind the idea of a grand and magnificent monarch arrayed in all the pomp of |