Over the spot where Schodeli was buried, an elegant Mosque, called the Southern Mosque, represented in our cut, was built, and his memory is still remembered with great veneration by the inhabitants; the well that supplies the city with water, and one of the gates, bear his name; his descendants are held in honour, and enjoy the title of Scheik, the people swear by him, and his name will doubtless be remembered as long as Mocha stands. On the 25th June, the anniversary of his death, the Southern Mosque is illuminated, and also on two following nights; the people go in procession to pay honour to his remains, and oblations are offered up at his shrine: this festival is called Zaira. ·

The Mosque, it will be seen, like all buildings of the kind, is square_at bottom, and is built of stone. The interior is hung round with a considerable number of lamps, and between these are placed many chrystal rings, ostriches' eggs, and other ornaments, which, when the lamps are lighted, produce a curious effect. It is not lawful to enter the Mosque with stockings or shoes on, and women are totally excluded. The tomb of the founder, about six or seven feet long, is covered with green velvet or sattin; at the end are two tapers, and round it several seats, for the accommodation of those who resort thither to read the Koran, and pray for the soul of the deceased.

what quanity of muriatic acid and water will be sufficient for a mixture; and whether the water should be warm or cold. His answer will oblige many individuals, and, inter alios,

"Your humble Servant,

"A. B."

To this I reply, that every one who makes use of the mixture must himself be the best judge of the quantity necessary to effect a cure. Where the irritation is violent, and requires several applications before it is allayed, perhaps half a pint may be expended ; while in cases of a milder nature, halfa tea-cup full will be found sufficient. As to the temperature of the water, I can offer no opinion, having never made use of any but cold, but I imagine it is matter of indifference whether 'tis cold or warm.

Oxford Street, Dec. 6, 1823.

LEX GRÉX.

ANTIQUITIES. SIR,-Having lately read a paragraph in the London and Provincial Papers, stating, as an instance of the longevity of the Oak, that the tree is still standand struck King WILLIAM II., I ing from which the arrow glanced through your publication to correct beg the error, by inserting the inscription Cross, in the New Forest :on a triangular stone, near Stoney

had happened should not be hereafter unknown, this stone was set up by JOHN Lord DELAWARR, who has seen the Oak tree growing in this place"

It may not be wholly uninteresting to state that the axle-tree of the cart, which conveyed the body of the KING to Winchester, as mentioned above, was preserved in the PURKESS family, who reside near Minsteed, until about 40 years since, when in a drunken frolic they burnt "Old RUFUS," as they called it. I am, Sir, yours, &c.

FRISK.

ARDEN OF FEVERSHAM.

(Resumed from page 3.)

SOON after this it was necessary for Green to go to London, in order to transact some business for his master, Sir Anthony Agar, who then resided here: Arden was also in London at this time. Now Green had property about him to a considerable amount, and as in those days it was particularly dangerous to travel alone upon such an occasion, he agreed with one Bradshaw, his neighbour, to accompany him as far as Gravesend, from which place he intended to proceed by water. Bradshaw was a person of exemplary honesty, and it will appear the precaution was by no means unnecessary. They reached Rainham Down in perfect security, and as they were proceeding over it towards Rochester, they observed three or four soldiers advancing across the Down. Two other persons were also in sight, but they were ascending the hill from Rochester, and were of an extremely suspicious appearance. One was armed with a sword and buckler; the other bore a great staff on his shoulder.

When Bradshaw espied them at a distance, he said to Green, "We are fortunate that some company is about to join us on the road, for here is coming up the hill against us, as murderous a knave as any in England; if it were not for these other persons, we should perhaps hardly escape without loss of our money and lives." A thought immediately darted across the mind of Green; he recollected

Arden and the service he was engaged to perform, and something, as he afterwards confessed, suggested to him that such a one would admirably suit his bloody purpose; therefore he hastily inquired "Which is he?" "Yonder he is," said Bradshaw; "he that you see with the sword and buckler; his name is Black Will."-"How do you know that?" said Green. "I knew him," replied the other, "at Boulogne, where we both served; he was a soldier, and I was Sir Richard Cavendish's man; his character as a cut-throat was infamous at that time, and he committed many robberies and dreadful murders upon travellers in that part of France." Little did Bradshaw suspect what was passing in the mind of his companion, who secretly coveted the acquaintance of such an abandoned monster.

By this time the company of soldiers overtook them, and as they proceeded together, they met Black Will and his comrade: the soldiers knew and saluted him.

What a curious idea does it give us of the state of the police at that time, when villains of such notoriety were suffered to roam through the highways in broad day, and commit their depredations unmolested! But indeed the rebellion, quelled only a few months before, had most probably furnished every road in the kingdom with a swarm of robbers. But to returnafter mutual salutations, the soldiers asked Black Will whither he was going. The wretch was accustomed to swear at almost every sentence, and therefore in his usual manner, which may be imagined (and was mentioned only because it serves more strongly to stamp his character) but shall not be related, he answered I neither know nor care, but set up my staff, and whichsoever way it falls, that way I go."-"If thou wilt go back again with us to Gravesend," said they, "we will give thee thy supper."-"I care not," replied he; agreed; I am content; come along :" and so he returned with them towards Gravesend. As the whole party were journeying onward, Black Will looked steadfastly at Bradshaw, and at last

66

66

66

familiarly accosted him, "Fellow Bradshaw, how dost thou ?" Bradshaw, not equally desirous of renewing acquaintance with such a ruffian, of whom he was ashamed, affected surprise. Why do you know ME?""Know You," said the other, "yea that I do?"-"Indeed then," said Bradshaw, 66 you must pardon me, for I have quite forgotten you Then Green entered into conversation with Black Will, and said to him before they parted, When you have supped, come to the inn where I lodge, at such a sign, and I will treat you with sack and sugar."-"Thank you," said the ruffian: "never fear; I'll come and take it, I warrant you;" and he came thither according to his promise, at the appointed time. When the cheer was ended, and Black Will was about to depart, Green seized an opportunity of drawing him aside, and out of the hearing of Bradshaw,held a conference with him concerning the murder of Arden. He proposed it to the villain, and promised him 101. as his reward. Will you agree to kill him ?" said he, in a low voice. "That I will,” replied the other instantly, "if I can but see him to know him."-(Resumed on page 19)

66

MANNERS & SUPERSTITIONS

OF OUR ANCESTORS. From an old MS. of Aubrey's, Preserved in the Ashmolean Museum.

THERE were very few free-schools in England before the Reformation. Youth were taught Latin in the monasteries; and young women had their education in the nunneries, where they learned needle-work, confectionary, surgery, physic (apothecaries and surgeons being then rare), writing, drawing, &c. Old Jacques, now living, has often seen from his house the nuns of St. Mary Kingston, in Wilts, coming forth with rocks and wheels to spin, sometimes to the number of seventy; all of whom were not nuns, but young girls sent there for education. Anciently, before the reformation, ordinary men's houses, and copy

holder's, and the like, had no chimneys, but flues like lower holes ; some of 'em were in being when I was a boy.

In the halls and parlours of great houses were wrote texts of scripture on the painted cloths or tapestry.

The lawyers say, that before the time of Henry Eight, one shall hardly find an action on the case, as for slander, &c. once a year.

Before the civil wars began, in gentlemen's houses at Christmas, the first dish that was brought to table was a boar's head, with a lemon in his mouth. At Queen's Coll. Oxon, they still retain this custom, the bearer of it bringing it into the hall, singing to an old tune an old Latin rhyme, 'Apri caput defero," &c. The first dish that was brought up to table on Easter-day, was a red herring riding away on horseback; i. e. a herring ordered by the cook something after the likeness of a man on horseback, set in a corn salad.

66

The custom of eating a gammon at Easter (which is still kept up in many parts of England), was founded on this, viz., to shew their abhorrence of Judaism at that solemn commemoration of our Lord's resurreetion.

The use of "Your Humble Servant" came first into England on the marriage of Queen Mary, daughter of Henry the Fourth of France, which is derived from "Votre tres humble Serviteur;" the usual salutation before that time was, God keep you, "God be with you :" and among the vulgar, "How dost do?" with a thump on the shoulder.

66

Till this time the court itself was unpolished and unmannered. King James's Court was so far from being civil to women, that the ladies, nay, the Queen herself, could hardly pass by the King's apartments, without ceiving some affront. (vide v. 1, p. 379

re

At the parish-priests' houses in France, especially in Languedoc, the table cloths were on the board all the day long, and ready for what was in the house to be put thereon, for strangers, travellers, fryers, pilgrims; so it . was in England, I have heard my

grandfather say in his grandfather's time.

Heretofore noblemen and gentlemen of fine estates had their heralds, who wore their coats of arms at Christmas, and at other solemn times, and cried" Largesse" thrice.

A neat-built chapel, and a spacious hall, were all the rooms of note, the rest were small.

At Tomarton, in Glocestershire, anciently the seat of the Rivers's, is a dungeon of 13 or 14 feet deep; about four feet high are iron rings fastened in the wall, which were probably to tie offending villains to; as all lords of manors had this power over their villains (or slaves), and had all of them no doubt such places for punishment. It is well known that all castles had dungeons, and so I believe had monasteries, for they had often within themselves power of life and death. Mr. Dugdale told me that, about Henry the Third's time, the Pope gave a bull or patent to a company of Italian architects, to travel up and down Europe to build churches. In the days of yore, ladies and gentlemen lived in the country like petty kings, had jura regalia belonging to seignories; had castles and boroughs; had gallows within their liberties, where they could try, condemn, and execute; never went to London but in parliament time, or once a year, to do homage to their King. They always eat in their gothic halls, at the high table, or orsille, which is a little room at the upper end of the hall, where stands a table, with the meaner folks at the side table. The meat was served up by watch-words. Jacks are but of late invention; the poor boys did turn the spits, and licked the dripping for their pains, Then the beds of men-servants and retainers were in the hall. In the hall, mumming and loaf-stealing, and other Christmas sports, were performed. The hearth was commonly in the middle, whence the saying, "Round about our coal fire."

Every baron and gentleman of estate kept great horses for men-atarms; some had their armories, sufficient to furnish out some hundreds of

men. The halls of the justice of peace were dreadful to behold. The screen was garnished with corslets, and helmets gaping with open mouths, with coats of mail, launces, pikes, halberts, brown bills, bucklers.

Public inns were rare-travellers were entertained at religious houses for three days together, if occasion served. The meetings of the gentry were not at taverns, but in the fields or forests, with their hawks and hounds, and their bugle horns, in silken baldrics.

In the last age, every gentlemanlike man kept a sparrow-hawke, and a priest kept a hobby, as Dame Julien Berners teaches us (who wrote a treatise on field sports in Henry the Sixth's time). It was then a diversion for young gentlemen to man sparrow-> hawkes and morlines.

Before the Reformation there were no poor's-rates. The charitable doles given at the religious houses, and the church ale in every parish, did the business.

In every parish there was a churchhouse, to which belonged spits, potts &c. for dressing provision. Here the house-keepers met, and were merry, and gave their charity. The young people came there too, and had dancing, bowling, shooting at butts, &c. Mr. A. Wood assures me, there were few or no alms-houses before the time of Henry the Eighth; that at Oxon, opposite Christchurch, was one of the most ancient in England.

Before

In every church was a poor's-box, and the like at great inns. the Wake, or Feast of the Dedication of the Church, they sat there all night, fasting and praying; viz. on the eve of the wake.

In the Easter holidays was the clerk's ale, for his benefit, and the solace of the neighbourhood.

In these times, besides the jollitys above-mentioned, they had their pilgrimages to several shrines; as to Walsingham, Canterbury, Glastonbury, Bromholm, &c. Then the erusades to the holy wars were magnificent and splendid, and gave rise to the adventures of koight-errants and romances.

The solemnity attending processions in and about churches, and the pe rambulations in the fields, were great diverions also of those times.

Glass-windows in churches and gentlemen's houses, were rare before the time of Henry the Eighth. In my own remembrance, before the civil wars, copyholders and poor people had none. In Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, and Salop, it is so still. About 90 years ago, noblemen's and gentlemen's coats were of the fashion of the beadles and yeomen of the guard, i. e. gathered at the middle. The benchers in the inns at court yet retain that fashion in the make of their gowns. Captain Silas Taylor says, that in the days of yore, when a church was to be built, they watched and prayed on the vigil of the dedication, and took that part of the horizon whence the sun arose from the east, which makes that variation, so that few stand true except those built between the two equinoxes,

In Scotland, especially among the Highlanders, the women make a courtsey to the new moon; and our English women in this country have a touch of this; some of them, sitting astride on a gate or stile, the first evening the new moon appears, say, A fine moon, God bless her." The like I observed in Hertfordshire.

The Britains received their knowledge of husbandry from the Romans: the foot and acre which we yet use, is the nearest to them. In our west country, and I believe in the north, they give no wages to the shepherd, but he has the keeping so many sheep with his master's flock. Plautus hints at this in his Asiharis, act 3, s. 1. "Eliam Opilin, &c.

The Normans brought with them into England, civility and building, which, though it was Gothic, was yet magnificent. Upon any occasion of bustling in those days, great lords sounded their trumpets and summoned those that held under them. Old Sir Walter Long, of Draycot, kept a trumpeter, and rode with thirty servants and retainers: hence the sheriffs' trumpets at this day. No younger brothers then went to betake them

selves to trade, but were churchmen or retainers to great men.

From the time of Erasmus, to about twenty years last past, the learning was downright pedantry. The conversation and habits of those times were as starcht as their bands and square beards: and gravity was then taken for wisdom. The doctors in those days were but old boys, when quibbles passed for wit even in their sermons.

The gentry and citizens had little learning of any kind; and their way of breeding up their children was suitable to the rest; they were as severe to their children as the schoolmasters; as severe as masters of the House of Correction. The child perfectly loathed the sight of the parent, as the slave his torture. Gentlemen of thirty or forty years old were made to stand like mutes and fools, bareheaded, before their parents; and the daughters, well grown women, to stand at the cupboardside during the whole time of the proud mother's visits, unless, as the fashion was, leave was desired forsooth that a cushion should be given them to kneel upon; brought them by the serving man afs ter they had done sufficient penance in standing. The boys (I mean young fellows) had the hair on their foreheads turned up, and stiffened with spittle.

They were to stand, mannerly forsooth, thus:-the foretop ordered as before, with one hand at the bandstring. the other behind the breech.

The gentlewomen had prodigious fans, as is to be seen in old pictures, like that instrument which is used to drive away flies; they were made of feathers, and had handles at least one half as long, with which these daughters were oftentimes corrected. Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chief Jus tice, told me he was an eyewitness of it. The Earl of Manchester also used such a fan, but fathers and mothers slasht their daughters with their besom discipline, when they were perfect women. At Oxford (and I believe also at Cambridge) the rods were frequently used by the tutors and deans; and Dr. Potter, of Trinity College, I know right well, whipt his