by order of the Duumviri in the year 335, after the foundation of Rome. On the fifteenth, popular games, which lasted three days, began in the Circus. The priests on the nineteenth had a solemn supper in honor of Cybele. The Liberalia, or festivals in honor of Bacchus, were held on the twenty-first. The celebration of these feasts were attended not merely with the utmost gaiety, but with every excess. Libations of honey were poured out to the god, because he was believed to have taught the use of it, and a he-goat was sacrificed to him, from these animals being considered destructive to the vines. The Bacchæ, or priests of the god, who officiated at this ceremony, wore fawn-skins, and had their heads crowned with vine branches, carrying in their hands staves twisted with ivy, and performing the most ridiculous postures. These festivals at last became so degenerate and licentious, that the Consuls Spurious, Posthumius, Albinus, and Quintus Martius Philippus, caused the observance of the Liberalia to be abolished. On the twenty-second, offerings were made to Pluto and Proserpine. The Brumalia began on the twenty-fourth, and lasted for several days. These festivals were celebrated, some writers assert, in honor of Bacchus ; the title of the feasts was derived from Brumus, one of his ancient names: and on the twenty-seventh, the mortuary sacrifices, in the Forum Boarium (the market where the oxen were sold) took place. Till the morning of the twenty-second of this month, the sun is in the sign Scorpio, on which day it enters that of Sagittarius. The month of November rarely, if ever, presents to us any other weather than such as is calculated to depress the spirits and create ennui; its mornings and evenings come to us wrapt in dense and chilling fogs, of a nature so impenetrable, as to defy, till almost the middle of the day, the dispersing powers of the genial beams of the sun: besides the dusky mantle that shortens the greatly diminished light of day, another unpleasant sight meets the eye if you wander forth into the late green fields during this month of gloom, which produces the most melancholy sensations, for no where can the admirer of nature turn without beholding the verdure nipped by the biting morning frosts, and scattered o'er with the leaves from the tall denuded trees, withered, shrunk, and dead, which involuntarily turns your steps back again for home, sickened at the desolating sight, there to forget the drear scene, still green in memory, you have been gazing on, caused by the common enemy, "Winter and rough weather," amid the social circle crowded around the invigorating fire-side. The business which occupies the farmer's attention at this season, is the completing of his ploughing before the frost sets in; while this employment is performing without, the busy flail is heard, filling the air about the homestead, with a pleasant sound, occasioned by the fast falling strokes of the thresher within the well stored barn, which ever and anon is answered by the loud sounds from the woodman's axe. These occupations, with the housing of the horses and cattle, the sending forth into the fields the flocks of sheep to browse upon the juicy root, the destroying of anthills, and the putting the bees under shelter, for protection from the season's inclemency, form the principal features which distinguish November from the preceding portions of the year. Having said thus much of this month of "mental despondency," we must bid adieu to its characteristics; but ere our account closes, we venture to introduce to the attention of our readers a poetical illustration of the practices which pleasured our forefathers on the day of Martinmas, (11th November) which we predict will not prove uninteresting to their children's children. It is the day of Martilmasse, Cuppes of ale should freelie passe; When the dailie sportes be donne, Diary and Chronology, DATE. DAYS. DIARY. Nov. 1 Satur. Ali Saint's. Sun ris. 12m aft 7 sets 48-4 2 SUN, 22d. Sun af. Trin. 3 Mond, St. Malachi. High Water, even 53m aft. 10 mor. 11 even. Oct. 28. St. Simon is styled the Canaanite, from the Hebrew cana-to be zealous; hence his name Simon Zelotes, or the Zealot. Our saint preached the gospel in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Persia, where he received the crown of martyrdom. St. Jude, or Judas, was also called Thaddeus and Libbius.. He was brother to James, the brother of our Saviour. St. Jude was put to death in the city of Berytus in Persia, for reproving the superstition of the Magi. 1216.-Anniversary of the coronation of Henry III 30 This saint was bishop of Amasia in Pontus. He 31 This saint was bishop of Ratisbon in the tenth cen- 2 On All Soul's Day in Catholic countries, the churches are hung with black; the tombs are opened; a coffin, covered with black and surrounded with wax lights, is placed in the nave of the church and in one corner, figures in wood, representing the souls of the deceased, are half-way plunged into the flames. This feast was instituted by Odo, abbot of Clugny, A.D. 993. 8This saint, who was famed for his holiness, was archbishop of Armagh, but before his death, he quitted his archbishoprick for an inferior prelacy in the church of Down. He died A.D. 1148. grotesque device; and the massive stone mansions of the superior class of citizens emulated the castellated dwellings of the THE GOLDSMITH OF WESTCHEAP. nobles of the land. And then, enriched FOR the following interesting tale of the olden time, we are indebted to MR. ACKERMAN'S splendid Annual and welcome visitant, THE FORGET ME Nor, which we recommend to our readers as deserving of their patronage; they will not only find it internally rich in the elegances of art, but equally so in those of literature: we could take up more of our columns in descanting at full upon the great attractions of this volume, were it needful, but as it is our intention to devote a future number to the whole of these gems when they are published, it would only be a futile attempt to "gild refined gold.' AT the close of the fourteenth century, old London presented a noble and picturesque appearance. The eye was not then wearied with unbroken lines of brickwork, pierced full of squares for windows; but the streets displayed rows of lofty houses, lifting their sharp-pointed gables, adorned with many a fanciful and VOL. II. Ť with all the decorations of gothic archifecture, arose the various religious establishments, each with its fair chapel and spacious refectory, surrounded by its wide and well-cultivated garden, and overshadowed by century-aged trees; while, on every side, the stately churches, with their pinnacled towers or tall airy spires, stood proud trophies of an era most unjustly termed barbarous. On of the handsomest and most frequented of the streets, at the period when the following tale commences (although its Goldsmith's-row, subsequently the boast of the old city, was not yet built.), was Westcheap, the Cheapside of modern times. As the inhabitants were mostly dealers in delicate and costly commodities, being mercers, embroiderers, and goldsmiths, and as at this period too (1399,) according to the united testimony of all contemporary historians, luxury had attained a greater height than had ever been anticipated, "alle exceedinge in 45 gorgeous and costly apparel, farre above theyr degre; yeomen and grooms clothed in silke, saten, and damaske, bothe doublets and gownes-and hadde theyr garments cutte farre otherwise thanne it hadde beene before, withe broidered worke, ryche furres, and goldsmythes work," as Master Robert Fabian sets forth; it is easy to imagine the splendid appearance of the different shops. Here, a mercer displayed to view damasks, satins, and velvets-even that costly fabric, forbidden to all but the highest order of nobility," cloth of gold; and beside him the broiderer exhibited his hoods, girdles, purses, and ecclesiastical vestments embellished with the most delicate needlework; while the precious stores of the goldsmith, from the jewelled buckle for the head to the silver chain that fastened the long-peaked shoe to the knee; from the postel-spoon given by the godmother to the infant, to the large silver dish, or enamelled chalice, given by the noble to “holy church,”—all courted the admiring gaze of the passenger, from beneath the overhanging penthouse of the low unglazed window. It was a stirring and a lively scene that this street presented one autumn evening, between vespers and complin; for there walked the city dame in bright coloured sweeping mantle, her gold-hafted knife and tasselled purse hanging from her broad girdle; and the city damsel with silken kirtle and laced bodice; and the sober citizen, warden perchance of his company, or common-councilman of his ward (proud offices in those early days,) wrapt in his sad-coloured long gown, and fingering with a kind of quiet ostentation the well-filled velvet purse, or adjusting the rich enamelled brooch that fastened his hood; while, in that strangely grotesque dress, the silken long coat with hanging sleeves that swept the pavement, the tight party-coloured hose, and shoes which turned up "six inches at the end,' and his hood worked with poppinjays, appeared the exquisite of the fourteenth century. Nor were the common people wanting. There, close beside the conduit, was a crowd of apprentices vociferously joining chorus to a ballad sung by a green-coated minstrel, which asserted with laudable patriotism that undoubted fact, in their estimation, that London was the first of cities, and her citizens the first of men. A little farther on, a more quiet and elderly group surrounded another minstrel (or rather disour,) who stood detailing in a kind of monotonous recitative the prowess of King Brut and his very apocryphal descendants, from that ancient compendium of metrical history, "The Chronikyl of Englande." Still farther on, mounted on the shopboard of one of his zealous disciples, a portly gray friar, with stentorian voice, and vehement action, recounted to a large and greatly edified auditory some outrageous miracles from the life of his founder, St. Francis of Assisi, not forgetting, in the pauses of his long narration, to send round the bag for the contributions of the faithful. In the midst of this lively scene, two men closely wrapt in those large coarse cloaks which formed the common travelling dress of the period, and were often used for purposes of concealment, appeared near the conduit, apparently engaged in deep conversation, and making their way through the crowd in a manner that betokened either a haste which admitted no delay, or a pride which brooked no opposition. Whatever were the cause, it was not without many an angry look and angry word that the multitude gave way; and the strangers, on their arrival opposite to the conduit, inquired of some of the apprentices, in a tone of command, where Arnold de Rothing resided. "Two worthy personages to ask after goldsmiths!" answered one of the 'prentices, irritated at the haughty manner of the inquirer: "and what do ye lack? an enamelled brooch, a jewelled thumbring, a forty-mark girdle to match your goodly mantles-eh, lordings?" And a loud laugh burst from his well-pleased companions. 66 Nothing but a plain answer to my question,' ," retorted the stranger peremptorily. Well, then, master questioner," sullenly replied the 'prentice, as Master de Rothing is not looked upon by his fraternity, I should like to treat him to two such goodly customers as ye. Yonder's his house, next to old Forster's, the mercer, who hath turned the white hart of King Richard into that spotted antelope in honour of our good King Henry, by cutting off his horns and collar and spotting him all over." Alas, the goodly white hart!" said the other stranger, in a suppressed tone; but low as was the ejaculation it did not escape the quick ears of the 'prentices. 66 "Ay, my good master, no wonder ye` lament for the white hart," cried one; 'ye ruffled in silks and damasks then, perchance, instead of your goodly mantle; but these days are gone, I trow." "Come on!" whispered the other stranger. 66 Ay, on with ye!" cried the first 'prentice, "with the malison of all true English hearts on ye and the white hart too!-Up with your caps, boys, for King Henry of Lancaster, the friend of the commons, who hath driven pilling and polling clean out of the land! Saint Mary, though, I should like to know what yon two scatterlings can want with de Rothing. An I had thought their pouches had been lined with rose-nobles, I had sent them to the Silver Unicorn." "Trust not to outside, Symond," replied his companion; " ye may have lost your master two good customers: -see, there they go!" 66 Ay, there they go!" responded a stern voice; "but the cunning shall be taken in his craftiness."> As this was said in Latin, and as the valiant 'prentices were no 'Latiners," the solemn denunciation excited not the surprise which was caused by the sudden appearance of the speaker, who was instantly addressed with every mark of the profoundest respect. He seemed to be a very old man; yet it was not his white locks or flowing beard that excited their spontaneous homage; but his shaggy long coat, iron-shod staff, the large wallet, and high-crowned broad hat, bearing the escallop shell-each part of the appropriate garb of pilgrimage-that caused the 'prentices to gather round and pray a blessing from the holy man, whose weary feet had traversed many a far-distant land, and who had, perchance, even beheld the deep blue skies, and breathed the spicy airs, of heaven-favoured Palestine. The pilgrim hastily pronounced a blessing, and proceeded onward, keeping his eyes steadily fixed on the two men, who now entered a shop, where the meagre show of "vessayle of golde and sylvere" contrasted most disadvantageously with the splendid appearance of its neighbours; and, taking his stand opposite, he seemed as though he intended to keep watch until they should come out again: but it was in vain. The news that a pilgrim so venerable in appearance was to be seen spread rapidly among the crowd, The minstrel was left to finish his song alone the reciter of "Chronykil of Englande was deserted by his auditors, even in the midst of his description of King Bladud's marvellous works at Bath; and the portly |