June 27. 66 "The June 27, 1686, Mr. Evelyn says, new very young Lord Chief Justice Herbert declared on the bench, that the government of England was entirely in the king; that the crown was absolute; that penal laws were powers lodged in the crown to enable the king to force the execution of the law, but were not laws to bind the king's power; that he could pardon all offences against the law, and forgive the penalties; and why could he not dispense with them by which the test was abolished? Every one, says Evelyn, was astonished." In June 1688, less than two years afterwards, the seven bishops, whom James II. had sent to the tower, by virtue of these doctrines, were tried while he was reviewing his army encamped on Hounslow Heath. James had retired into the general's tent, when he was surprised to hear a great uproar in the camp, with the most extravagant symptoms of tumultuary joy. He suddenly inquired the cause, and was told, "It was nothing but the rejoicing of the soldiers for the acquittal of the bishops." Within another six months he was in lasting exile-excluded from the throne with all his posterity-by a solemn act of both houses of parliament. MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. Morley, near Leeds, Yorkshire, MR. HONE, "To the Right Worshipful the Mayor and Burgesses of Totness-After my most harty commendacions, whereas I, at my brother's request, and for your sakes, have been your burgess for the parliament to my no small coste, for myne expence were above twenty marks, over and above the forty shillings I received of you; and forasmuch as it is like the parliament will go forward at this time, which causeth me to call to mind the charge I took in hand, which with like charge should be prosecuted, if otherwise I prevented not the same: These are therefore to require you, either to bestowe the same upon some other, or else to allow me but the bare fee which is two shillings a day; and, as I have began, so will I end (God willing) to your contentation. Truly, at this pre sent season, I have no occasion, as I know of, to travel up to London; which considered, I think it reason which I demand, and hope you will take it very reasonably demanded. Thus, trusting you will return an answer of your determination herein with convenient speed, I most hartily commit you to God.From Mount Edgcumbe, this 8th of September 1565.-Yours to command, RICHARD EDGECOMB." It appears that the custom of boroughs maintaining their members had not ceased in the early part of the last century. Hall, whose collections were brought down till about 1739, speaking of Helstone, says, "this place, and others in Cornwall, are not able to maintain their burgesses in London during the sessions at their own proper costs and charges (as of old was accustomed) in any tolerable post or grandeur; but have found that profitable expedient (as many others) of making country gentlemen free of their town, who bear the burden and heat of the day for them, and, many times, for the honor of their corporations, distress their paternal estates, to exalt the reputation and perpetuate the privileges of a petty society, nade up of mechanics, tradesmen, and inferior practitioners of the law." In another page of the same volume we read that "Padstow, Lelent, and Marazion formerly sent members to parliament, but were excused upon their petition on the score of poverty." At what an early period there were returns made of improper persons to sit in parliament in defiance of public opinion, and opposition to the public will, may be seen in Stone, p. 642, under the reign of Henry VI. In 1679, May 27th, it appeared by the Report of the Committee of Secresy, that £20,000 per annum were paid by the Commissioners of Excise, quarterly, "for secret service" to members of parliament (See Life of Lord Russell, p. 94). Lord Danby extended the system of corrupting members, increasing the sum allowed from 10 to 20,000 (Ib. p. 88). So far had corruption advanced, under his Catholic majesty Charles II. It appears that the first instance of election bribery on record occurred in the 13 of Elizabeth, (Blackstone's Comm. i. 179). In the reign of Henry III. the parlia ment was called, for its opposition to the king, "parliamentum insanum"-the mad parliament. In Edward III.'s reign the parliament was called the "good parliament." In Richard II.'s reign, to express their dislike of the proceedings of the lords against the sovereign, the people called them the "unmerciful parliament." In another reign (which I forget) the parliament was called "indoctum parliamentum "-the illiterate parliament. A Scotch assembly was called the "running parliament." The famous parliament of the seventeenth century was the long parliament." The next was the “rump parliament.” Of late I observe the word "infernal" often used in our periodical publications. Whether the word "infernum" may be the word next used in history, time alone can discover. Yours respectfully, NORRISSON SCATCHERD. BURGESSES OF PRESTON. [To Mr. Hone.] SIR,-There is a custom observed in my native town, Preston, in Lancashire, which you may perhaps think worth a place in the Year Book. Every year, upon the election of a burgess, the person so elected is compelled to leap over (or into, as it may happen,) a wide ditch on Preston Marsh, near the river Ribble; it takes place, I think, in February, and the dirtiest day of the month is purposely selected, when the ditch, in addition to its usual contents, is filled with mud, previous to the unfortunate individual alluded to being taken to the widest part, from whence he is to essay the perilous leap. This, I believe, no one was ever able to perform safely. The good people of Preston, who assemble to witness the immersion of the new burgess, go with the further intention of "making a day of it," and few return without having incurred the penalty of the newly elected member of the borough. Any person who stands near to the ditch is certain of getting pushed into it, by one who is perhaps indebted to him, before the day is out, for the same favor. I have heard that the custom originated in one of our king's having accidentally fallen, while hunting, into this identical ditch, and that he subjected the towns' people to this infliction, as a penalty, for not having kept the roads in better repair. There is another custom in Lancashire, which, as I have never seen it in print, may be unknown to you. On Easter Monday, a number of holiday folks as- April 1831. THE SEASON. Now Summer is in flower, and Nature's hum Are never weary of their melody. Round field and hedge flowers in full g ory twine, Large bind-weed bells, wild hop, and streak'd That lift athirst their slender throated flowers, Leaving, a school's-boy height, in snugger The leveret's seat, and lark, and partridge nest. Clare. ⭑ [Particulars of this custom of Lifting at Easter are related in the Every-Day Book, i. 422.] FLOWERS. Not Iris in her pride and braverie, As doe these fields and groves, and sweeter Bestrew'd, and deckt with partie-coloured Along the bubbling brookes, and silver glyde, -I saw, grasse. Flying between the cold moon and the earth, And loosed his loveshaft smartly from his As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts. THE DAISY. In youth from rock to rock I wezi, Most pleased when most uneasy, When soothed awhile by milder airs, When rains are on thee. A aundred times, by rock or Dower. Some steady love; some brief delight Wordsworth. And as for me, though that I can but lite, And ever ilike faire and freshe of hewe, As well in winter as in summer newe; This love I evre, and shall untill I die. Saffisaunt to praise this floure aright.- Of this flourè, whan that it should unclose 29th June, 1678, Mr. Evelyn enters in his diary" Now were brought into service a new sort of soldiers called Grenadiers, who were dextrous in flinging hand grenades, every one having a pouch full; they had furred caps with coped crowns like Janizaries, which made them look very fierce; and some had long hoods hanging down behind, as we picture fools; their clothing being likewise py-bald, yellow, and red." Grenadiers derived their name from being trained to throw grenades. In battle, after throwing this Alas! you have not known that show'r Nor felt the unkind Who think it strange to see Such pretty flowers, like to orphans young, The reason why Or that ye have not seen as yet Or brought a kiss From that sweetheart to this? By your tears shed, Would have this lecture read; That things of greatest, so of meanest worth, 'Conceiv'd with grief are, and with tears brought forth."" Herrick, 1648 THE SEASON. More appropriately a few weeks earlier, yet here, for their feeling and descriptiveness, may be introduced these beautiful verses-t BY DELTA. Come hither, come hither, and view the face Of Nature enrobed in her vernal grace By the hedgerow way side flowers are springing; On the budding elms the birds are singing, And up-up-up to the gates of heaven Fosbroke's Ency. of Antiquities. The work in which they first appeared would be referred to were it known: they are derived into the Year Book from an ano nymous collection, Mounts the lark, on the wings of her rapture driven : The voice of the streamlet is fresh and loud; On the sky there is not a speck of cloud : Come hither, come hither, and join with me In the season's delightful jubilee. Haste out of doors-from the pastoral mount The isles of ocean thine eye may countFrom coast to coast, and from town to town, You can see the white sails gleaming down, Like monstrous water-birds, which fling The golden light from each snowy wing; And the chimnied steam-boat tossing high Its volum'd smoke to the waste of sky: While you note, in foam, on the yellow beach, The tiny billows, each chasing each, Then melting like cloudlets in the sky, Or time in the sea of eternity! Why tarry at home ?-the swarms of air Venture again on the light to peep; Come, hasten ye hither-our garden bowers By the kissing winds are wooing and woord: While the wall-flower threatens with bursting Come along, come along, and guess with me Out upon in door cares-rejoice In the thrill of nature's bewitching voice! The finger of God hath touched the sky, And the clouds, like a vanquished army, fly, Leaving a rich, wide, azure bow, O'erspanning the works of his nand below:The finger of God hath touched the earth, And it starts from slumber in smiling mirth; Behold it awake in the bird and bee, In the springing flower and the sprouting tree, And the leaping trout, and the lapsing stream, And the south wind soft, and the warm sun |