WHITSUN FARTHINGS.

Whitsun farthings, otherwise called smoke farthings, or quadrantes pentecostes, was a composition for offerings which was anciently made in Whitsun week by every man in England, who occupied a house with a chimney, to the cathedral church of the diocese in which he lived.

WHITSUNDAY, WHY SO CALLED.

Whitsunday is a solemn festival of the Christian church, observed on the fiftieth day after Easter, in memory of the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles, in the visible appearance of fiery cloven tongues, and of those miraculous powers which were then conferred upon them.

It is called Whitsunday, or Whitesunday; because this being one of the stated times for baptism in the ancient church, those who were baptized put on white garments, as types of that spiritual purity they received in baptism. As the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles happened upon the day which the Jews called Pentecost, this festival retained the name of Pentecost among the Christians.

CHAPEL, DERIVATION OF THE Word.

A place of divine worship called a chapel, is derived from the Latin capella. In former times, when the kings of France were engaged in war, they always carried St. Martin's hat into the field, which was kept in a tent as a precious relic: from whence the place was called capella: and the priests who had the custody of the tent, capellani. Afterwards the word capella became applied to. private oratories.

66

ORIGIN OF THE OLD ADAGE, IF IT RAINS ON ST. SWITHIN'S DAY, IT WILL RAIN FOR FORTY DAYS AFTERWARDS."

In the year 865, Saint Swithin, Bishop of Winchester, dying, was canonized by the then pope. He was singular in his desire to be buried in the open church-yard, and not in the chancel of the minster, as was usual with the then bishops, which request was complied with; but the monks, on his being canonized, taking it into their heads that it was disagreeable for the saint to lie in the open church-yard, resolved to move his body into the choir, which was to have been done in solemn procession on the 15th of July. It rained, however, so violently on that day, and for forty days succeeding, as had hardly ever been known

which made them set aside their design, as contrary to the will of Heaven; and, instead of removing the body, they erected a chapel over his grave.

ORIGIN OF THE SHERIFFS COUNTING HOBNAILS.

This is a foolish custom of antiquity, nobody knows when begun, or why continued; but that it originated from the following circumstances:

In former times, when money was very scarce, and when we had no larger coin than a penny, the reserved rents or grants of lands or tenements, especially small ones, were usually paid in something that had a reference to the nature of the thing granted, or the occupation of the grantee.

The two following extracts from records in the Exchequer, with the translation, will clear up the point.

"Walter de Brun Mareschallus, de Stranda, redit compotum de sex femis equorum, pro habenda quadam placea in Parochia St. Clementis ad Fabrica quam ibidem locandam.”—Mag. Rot. 19 Henry III.

"Walter Mareschallus, ad crucem lapideam, redit sex ferra equorum cum claribus, pro qua

dam fabrica quam de Rege tenet in capite ex opposito crucis lapidea."-Memor. 1. Edward I.

"Walter le Brun Mareshall, or farrier, of the Strand, renders six horse shoes to have a certain place in the parish of St. Clements, to build a forge there.-Great Rolls of the 19th Henry III.

"Walter Mareshall, or the farrier at the stone cross, renders six horse shoes, with their nails, for (or as a reserved rent) a certain forge, opposite to the stone cross, which he holds of the king in capite."-Memoranda Rolls in the Exchequer of the first year of King Edward the First.

The first of these points out the beginning, as well as the reason of the payment of these horse shoes and nails; for, it was to have a piece of ground to build a forge on, therefore that must be the first payment. The nineteenth year of Henry the Third falls in with 1234, now 577 years ago. In process of time, this piece of ground, and buildings on it, came to the mayor and citizens of London; and they, by the sheriffs, have continued to render them into the Exchequer annually to this day.

The spot where the stone cross once stood had afterwards a maypole erected on it, which many now living can well remember.

SHOEMAKERS, WHY CALLED CORDWAINERS.

The

Cordwainers, or Cordineers, is the term, whereby the statutes denominate shoemakers. word is formed from the French Cordonnier, a kind of leather brought from Cordova, whereof they formerly made tie upper leather of their shoes. Others derive it from Corde, rope, because, anciently, shoes were made of cord; as they are still in some parts of Spain, under the name of Alpargates.

AVE MARIA.

Ave Maria, or Hail Mary, signifies the angel Gabriel's salutation of the Virgin Mary, when he brought her the tidings of the incarnation. It is become a prayer, or form of devotion in the Romish church. Their chaplets and rosaries are divided into so many Ave Marias, and so many pater nosters, to which the Papists ascribe wonderful efficacy.

JUBILEE, ORigin of.

The Jubilee was originally a time of public and solemn festivity among the ancient Hebrews. This was kept every fiftieth year; it began about the autumnal equinox, and was proclaimed by