1 it is two to one, that the Things pledged, are never redeemed, was in reality the Arms of a fet of Merchants from Lombardy, who were the firft that publicly lent Money on Pledges-They dwelt together in a Street from them named Lombardftreet, in London-The Appellation of Lombard, was formerly all over Europe confidered as fynonimous to that of "Ufurer." The purple flowered Lady's Thiftle, which grows in great plenty about the Ruins of Tinmouth Caftle and Monaftry, Northumberland, and of which, the Leaves are beautifully diverfified with numerous white Spots like Drops of Milk; is vulgarly thought to have been originally marked by the falling of fome Drops of the Virgin Mary's Milk on it-Whence I fuppofe its Name, Lady's (fcil. our Lady's) Thiftle: An ingenious little Invention of Popery, and which, no doubt, has been of Service to the Cause of Superftition. To cry Coke, is in vulgar Language, fynonymous with crying Peccavi" Coke, fays the Au"thor of the Gloffary to Douglas' Virgil, is the "Sound which Cocks utter, especially when they "are beaten, from which Sk. is of opinion, that they have their Name of Cock." In Verb. 66 Marry, a Term of Affeveration in common Use, was originally in Popish Times, a fwearing by the Virgin Mary-q. d. by Mary. So alfo Marrow-bones for the Knees: I'll bring him down upon his Marrow-bones, q. d. I'll make him bend his Knees, as he does to the Virgin Mary. There is a vulgar Cuftom in the North, called riding the Stang, when one in Derifion is made to ride on a Pole, for his Neighbour's Wife's Fault: -This Word Stang, fays Ray, is still used in some Colleges in the University of Cambridge, to ftang Scholars in Christmass Time, being to cause them to ride on a Colt-ftaff or Pole, for miffing of Chapel. It is derived from the lflandic Staung, hafta. Add to the Conjecture on the Etymon of Waffs, P. 99, the following:-Wrach in the Glossary to Gawen Douglas' Virgil, fignifies a Spirit or Ghoft. parian too A. Saxon is rendered ftupere, horrere, fluctuare. N. B. I have carefully endeavoured to steer clear of Scripture Controverfy in the preceding Obfervations. The facred Writings, given for very different Purposes, and to Nations whofe Genius and Manners by no means refembled our own, cannot in my Opinion, with any Propriety, be applied to this Subject. If it be objected here that Spirits and Apparitions, Dreams, &c. are mentioned in them-so, I add, are Miracles, yet we do not now make Pretenfions to a Power of performing them. The GREAT BEING, who prefides over every Caufe of Nature, can undoubtedly make all its Effects fubfervient to his Pleasure: In the filence of rational Adoration, I proftrate my Faith before the immenfity of his Power, of which I believe infallible Wisdom to have been the infeparable Concomitant: I must therefore apply in this Place what Horace faid upon another Occafion: Nec Deus interfit, nifi dignus Vindice nodus FINI S. GENERAL INDEX. A ANTIQUITATES VULGARES. A Byffum Abfolom, his Feaft 140 III Air, the Means by which a Spirit becomes visible Altar, worshipping towards it Ambrofe, St. his Corpfe watched ibid. 5 44 20 Aneftefe, the Salutation of the Greek Church on Easter Day 243 Anthony, St. buries Paul the Hermit The Devil appears to him in the Wilderness 55 32 104 Anfelm, a Canon of his against worshipping of Fountains 83 Arthur, King, how he observed 13 Days at Christmas Afh Wednesday, remarkable Custom on in Germany Armed Man, meeting, a good Omen on an Expedition Achs and Corns, Prognoftication of Weather by Artificial Sun-Dance on Eafter-Day Amphidromia, Feaft of Ale-houfe Signs Apple-Parings, Divination by Apple-Kernels,-ditto All Fools-Day Andrew-merry' Agnes' Faft 77 201 235 270 114 184 72 178 343 ΙΟΙ 175 217 247 278 340 345 ibid. 398 400 405 and 387 B ANTIQUITATES VULGARES. Babylas, his Body carried out with Pfalmody. - Bede, his Account of the Cuftom of Monafteries at the - Tolling of them for the Dead, a Custom of the old Beersheba, the Name of Abraham's Well Bethany, the Place where Mary Magdalene lived Blowing of Horns, when ufed Bone-fires Bones of the Dead Brownifts, their Charge against tolling the Bell - 46 Burying with the Feet to the East, and the Head to the - Our Saviour fo buried 35 Bowing and turning to the Altar, additional Remarks on 50 Benfhi, or the Fairy's Wife, Shrieks of 99 Barefoot, Woman, Omen Bruifers, Cuftom of fpitting in their Fifts Bogle-boe, Bauners hung over the Tombs of Knights Box Sprigs of a substitute for Palms Bay, decking the Coffin with 335 ibid. and 403 4.2 240 37 Borlafe Mr. his Account of May-Day Rites in Cornwall 260 Bringing the Summer Home 262 Cake, with a Bean in when ufed Candles, when lighted up in the Eastern Church Cato Caffian, his Account of Spirits vanishing at Day-break 204 200 161 220 214 211 |