The Queer, the Quaint and the Quizzical Part 8

1189-Robin Hood and Little John lived. This yeare London obtained to be gouerned by Sheriffes and Maiors.

1205-By reason of a frost from January to March wheate was sold for a marke the quarter, which before was at twelve pence.-_Anno Regni_ 6. John.

1209-London bridge builded with stone; and this yeare the citizens of London had a grant to choose them a maior.

1227-The citizens of London had libertie to hunt a certain distance about the citie, and to pa.s.s toll-free through England.

1231-Thunder lasted fifteen daies; beginning the morrow after St. Martin's day.

1233-Four sunnes appeared, beside the true sunne, of a red colour.

1235-The Jews of Norwich stole a boy and circ.u.mcised him, minding to have him crucified at Easter.

1247-The king farmed Queene-hiue for fifty pounds per annum, to the citizens.

1252-Great tempests upon the sea, and fearful; and this year the king (Henry III.) granted, that wheretofore the citizens of London were to present the maior before the king, wheresoeuer he were, that now barons of the exchequer should serue (serve).

1292-The Jews corrupting England with vsury, had first a badge giuen them to weare, that they might be knowne, and after were banished to the number of 150,000 persons.

1313-This yeare the king of France burned all his leporous and pocky people, as well men as women; for that he supposed they had poysoned the waters, which caused his leprosie. About this time, also, the Jews had a purpose to poyson all the Christians, by poysoning all their springs.

1361-Men and beasts perished in diuers places with thunder and lightning, and fiends were seene speake unto men as they trauelled.

1386-The making of gunnes found; and rebels in Kent and Ess.e.x, who entered London, beheaded all lawyers, and burnt houses and all bookes of law.

1388-Picked shoes, tyed to their knees with siluer chains, were vsed. And women with long gownes rode in side-saddles, like the queen, that brought side-saddles first to England; for before they rode astrid.

1401-Pride exceeding in monstrous apparrell.

1411-Guildhall in London begun.

1417-A decree for lantherne and candle-light in London.

1427-Rain from the 1st of Aprill to Hollontide.

_Hymn in the Form of a Cross._

The following hymn was composed by a Christian monk during the middle ages:-

THE CROSS.

Blest they who seek While in their youth, With spirit meek, The way of truth.

To them the sacred Scriptures now display Christ as the only true and living way; His precious blood on Calvary was given To make them heirs of endless bliss in heaven.

And e'en on earth the child of G.o.d can trace The glorious blessings of his Saviour's face.

For them He bore His Father's frown, For them He wore The th.o.r.n.y crown; Nailed to the cross, Endured its pain That His life's loss Might be their gain.

Then haste to choose That better part, Nor dare refuse The Lord your heart, Lest He declare- "I know you not!"

And deep despair Shall be your lot.

Now look to Jesus who on Calvary died, And trust on Him alone who there was crucified.

_Curious Piece of Antiquity, on the Crucifixion of our Saviour and the two Thieves._

INRI

+----------------------+ +----------------------+ My G.o.d! My G.o.d! vers of my tears +----------------------+ +----------------------+ I come to Thee; bow down thy blessed ears To hear me, wretch, oh let thine eyes, which sleep Did never close, behold a sinner weep.

Let not, O G.o.d! my G.o.d! my faults, though great And numberless, bet w een thy mercy-seat And my poor soul be t h rown, since we are taught.

+----+ +----+ +----+ +----+ Thou,Lord! remember est th y ne, If thou beest sought.

+----+ +----+ +----+ +----+ I co me not, Lord, wit h any o the r merit Than wh at I by my S a viour Ch rist inherit: Be th en his wound s my balm, his st ri pes my bliss, My crown his th orns, my dea t h be lo st in his, And th ou my bles t Redeemer, Sa viour G.o.d!

Quit my ac co unts, with h old thy v engeful rod; O beg for me my h o pes on the e are set, Thou Chri st forgi u e, as well as pay th e debt.

The liv in g fount, the li f e, the wa y I know; And but to thee o whither s hould I go?

All o th er helps a r e vain, giv e thine to me; For by th y cross my s aving hea l th must be.

Oh hear k en then, wh a t I with f aith implore, Lest s in and death sin k me forev e r more.

Oh Lord! my G od! my way e s direct a nd keep, In d eath defe n d that from thee I n e'er slip; And at the do om let m e be raise d then, To liv e with the e.Sweet Jes us say, Amen!

EXPLANATION.

The middle cross represents our Saviour; those on either side, the two thieves. On the top and down the middle cross are our Saviour's expression, "My G.o.d! My G.o.d! why hast thou forsaken me?" and on the top of the cross is the Latin inscription "INRI"-Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum, _i. e._ Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Upon the cross on the right-hand is the prayer of one of the thieves:-"Lord! remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." On the left-hand cross is the saying, or reproach, of the other: "If thou beest the Christ, save thyself and us." The whole, comprised together, makes a piece of excellent poetry, which is to be read across all the columns, and makes as many lines as there are letters in the alphabet. It is perhaps one of the most curious pieces of composition to be found on record.

_Copy of a Letter written by Cardinal Richelieu to the French Amba.s.sador at Rome._

First read the letter across, then double it in the middle, and read the first column.

SIR.-Mons. Compigne, a Savoyard by birth, a Friar of the order of Saint Benedict, is the man who will present to you as his pa.s.sport to your protection, this letter. He is one of the most discreet, the wisest and the least meddling persons that I have ever known or have had the pleasure to converse with.

He has long earnestly solicited me to write to you in his favor, and to give him a suitable character, together with a letter of credence; which I have accordingly granted to his real merit, rather I must say, than to his importunity; for, believe me, Sir, his modesty is only exceeded by his worth, I should be sorry that you should be wanting in serving him on account of being misinformed of his real character; I should be afflicted if you were as some other gentlemen have been, misled on that score, who now esteem him, and those among the best of my friends; wherefore, and from no other motive I think it my duty to advertise you that you are most particularly desired, to have especial attention to all he does, to show him all the respect imaginable, nor venture to say any thing before him, that may either offend or displease him in any sort; for I may truly say, there is no man I love so much as M. Compigne, none whom I should more regret to see neglected, as no one can be more worthy to be received and trusted in decent society. Base, therefore, would it be to injure him.

And I well know, that as soon as you are made sensible of his virtues, and shall become acquainted with him you will love him as I do; and then you will thank me for this my advice. The a.s.surance I entertain of your Courtesy obliges me to desist from urging this matter to you further, or saying any thing more on this subject. Believe me, Sir, &c., RICHELIEU.

_Pa.s.sage through the Isthmus of Panama, Suggested Three Hundred Years Ago._

In the Town Library (_Stadt Bibliothek_) of Nuremberg is preserved an interesting globe, made by John Schoner, professor of mathematics in the gymnasium there, A. D. 1520. It is very remarkable that the pa.s.sage through the Isthmus of Panama, so much sought after in later times, is, on this old globe, carefully delineated.

_A False Conclusion._

Amongst the _deliramenta_ of the learned, which have amused mankind, the following deserves a place:-