sound of "the merry, merry bells," breaks out : "How say you reader-do not these verses smack of the rough magnanimity of the old English vein? Do they not fortify like a cordial; enlarging the heart, and productive of sweet blood, and generous spirits in the concoction ?-Another cup of the generous! and a merry New Year, and many of them, to you all, my masters !" The same to you, ELIA,-and "to you all my masters!"-Ladies! think not yourselves neglected, who are chief among "my masters"-you are the kindest, and therefore the most masterful, and most worshipful of "my masters !" Under the female form the ancients worshipped the Earth. They called her "Bona Dea," or the "Good Goddess," by way of excellency, and that, for the best reason in the world, because "there is no beingthat does men more good." In respect to her chastity, all men were forbidden to be present at her worship; the high priest himself, in whose house it was performed, aud who was the chief minister in all others, not excepted. Cicero imputed to Clodius as a crime that he had entered the sacred fane in disguise, and by his presence polluted the mysteries of the Good Goddess. The Roman ladies offered sacrifices to her through the wife of the high priest, and virgins consecrated to the purpose. The Earth, Bona Dea, or the "Good Goddess," was represented under the form of a matron with her right hand opened, as if tendering assistance to the helpless, and holding a loaf in her left hand. She was also venerated under the name of Ops, and other denominations, but with the highest attributes; and when so designated, she was worshipped by men and boys, as well as women and virgins; and priests ministered to her in dances with brazen cymbals. These motions signified that the Earth only imparted blessings upon being constantly moved; and as brass was discovered before iron, the cymbals were composed of that metal to indicate her antiquity. The worshippers seated themselves on the ground, and the posture of devotion was bending forward, and touching the ground with the right hand. On the head of the goddess was placed a crown of towers, denoting strength, and that they were to be won by those who persevered. To all of the earth" not wholly "earthy," the Earth seemed a fit subject to picture under its ancient symbol; and, in a robe of arable and foliage, set in a goodly frame of the celestial signs, with the seasons "as they roll," it will be offered as a frontispiece to the present volume, and accompany the title-page with the indexes in the next sheet. It must have been obvious to every reader of the Every-Day Book, as it has been to me, of which there have been several indications for some time past, that the plan of the work could not be execoted within the year; and I am glad to find from numerous quarters that its continuance is approved and even required So far as it has proceeded I have done my utmost to render it useful. My endea vours to render it agreeable may occas.03 "close" readers to object, that it was more discursive than they expected. I am afraid I can only answer that I cannot unmake my making-up; and plead guilty to the fact, that, knowing the wants of many, through my own deficiencies, I have tried to aid them in the way that appeared most likely to effect the object, with the greater number of those for whom the work was designed. Nor do I hes tate also to acknowledge, that in gathering for others, I have in no small degree been teaching myself. For it is of the nature of such an undertaking to constrain him who executes it, to tasks of thought, and exercises of judgment, unseen by those who are satisfied when they enjoy what is before them, and care not by what ventures it was obtained. My chief anxiety has been to provide a wholesome suffciency for all, and not to offer any thing that should be hurtful or objectionable. I hope I have succeeded. I respectfully desire to express my grateful sense of the extensive favour wherein the conduct of the publication is held. And I part from my readers ca New Year's-eve, with kind regards till we meet in the new volume of the Every Day Book on New Year's-day-to-mor row. 45, Ludgate-hill, 1825. END OF VOL I. London: Printed by A. Applegath, Stamford-street." W. HONE. INDEXES. I. GENERAL SUBJECTS II. ROMISH SAINTS. III. POETRY, ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. V. CORRESPONDENTS' SIGNATURES. VI. ENGRAVINGS IN THE VOLUME. I. GENERAL INDEX. SUBJECTS CONTAINED OR NOTICED IN THIS VOLUME. Festivals and other Holydays of observance, in the Church of England Calendar, ABBEVILLE, sporting letter from, 1575. Accomplishments without principle, 287. Acts of the Apostles, a mystery at Paris, 749. Adam, R. and J., account of, 326. Advent, meaning of the term, 1531; cus- Etna, its eruptions diverted by a lady's Africa, travels in, 1580. After Yula, 3. SOULS, November 2; customs on, 1423. Alleluia, buried in the Romish church, 199. AGATHA, February 5; miracles by her, Alphabet, in a bill of costs, 238. 213. Agincourt, battle of, 1397. AGNES, January 21; her legend, 141; cus- ALPHEGE, April 19; customs on his festival, Amelia, princess, original letter from, 1071. 1571. Amherst, lord, his portrait, 604. Amiens, peace of, signed, 392. Angels, archangels, and angels guardian, Anglo-Norman carol, 1595. Animals, on cruelty to, 799, 1308. ANNUNCIATION, B. V. M., or LADY DAY, March 25; customs on the festival, 385. Anson, commodore, lord, died, 767. 978. Apple-tree, charm, 42; wassail, 1606. Aprilius, John, hanged for three days and Apron, the barbers', 1254. Archee, bis new-year's gift, 9. Archers, decay of, 1236; their service at Architecture of the new churches, 945. Arsedine, yellow arsenic, 1213. Art, eminence in it, how attained, 273. Arundel Castle, a sweep in the state bed, 588. ASCENSION-DAY, 651; its customs, 1379. fraud at, 768. 1600 ASH WEDNESDAY, movable; customs, 261 Astley's troop at Bartholomew fair, 12:4 Attanasy, father, his Easter sermon, 446. August, the Twelfth of, petition from, 1059, AUGUSTINE, archbishop of Canterbury, May St., August 28; an early father Baal, Bal, Beal, Bel-tein, fires, 594, 847, Bacchus, his festival, 1471. Bachelors, in the lord mayor's show, 1453. Balloons, 442. Banks, sir Jos., his wine cellar, 21; čied, Bannockburn, battle of, 855. Bannocks, cakes, "sauty" and charmed Bara, a Sicilian festival, 1118. | Barley, beerlegh, berlegh, berleg, 1147. Barme, beerheym, berham, 1147. BARNABAS, St., June 11; notice respecting 1661 GENERAL INDEX. Barnes and Finley's booth at Bartholomew Barnet, battle of, 463. Baron, lord chief, to say he cannot ear of Barr, Ben, the seer of Helpstone, 525. Barrow, Dr. Isaac, notice of, 613. massacre at Paris, 1131. hospital, origin of, 1231. Mr., of St. John's, Clerken- well, 1480, 1481. Bassingborne, Camb., mystery at, 755. Batman, Stephen, his notice of printing, 1134. Batrich, Thomas, an ancient barber, 1244. Bauer, assists Koenig in the steam press, Baynes, John, account of, 159. Bears, mode of taking in Russia, 180; carried Beards, comely ones, 18; various, described, Beasts preached to, and blessed, 117 Becket, the bookseller, and Garrick, 328. Bed, love of it, 17; sleeping out of one's BEDE, VENERABLE, May 27; notice of him, Bees, swarming, 647, 682; on a man's Beggars, their patron, 1149. Behines, Mr. W., sculptor, his bust of West, i 1662 346; of Mrs. Gent, 638; he calls a man the great, of Lincoln's Inn, 811. Bellows, blown under Dives, 1599. Belzoni, death of, 1542. BENEDICT, March 21; miraculous anecdotes Benedictine nunnery, Clerkenwell, its site, Bent, Independent, 603. Berkshire customs, 435. Berlin, royal marriage dance, 1551. 876. Berwick, duke of, killed, 773. -, man, 1565. Bill of costs, whimsical, 235. Birch, Dr. Thomas, notice of, 79, 975. Birds, in winter, 24; their resistance to cold, 70; arrival, 466, 614; singing, Birdseller's shop, described, 754. London Mechanics' Institution, 1549. Blackbird, in a cage at Greenwich, 691. Blacksmiths, their patron, 1498. Bleeding image of Paris, 895; stone cross, Blessing of apples, 978; ashes, 261; beasts, Bolton, Jenny, 1241. -, prior of St. Bartholomew's, 1232. Bonaparte, Louis, anecdote of, 95. Bonasoni, his portrait of M. Angelo, 270. Bonfires, on St. John's eve, 823, 845; on archbishop of Canterbury, anec- dote of, 1231. Bonnets, 1437. Boot of St. Ignatius, 1050. BRITIUS BRICE, November 13, notice of him, Broom girls, Buy a broom? 809. Brougham, Mr. Robert, his good humour Bruno, bishop, eaten by rats, 1362. Buchanan, George, his new-year's gift to 281. Budgell, Eustace, his suicide, 614. Building, improvements, 638, 642, 872, 878. Bull, a,the dead returns thanks, 372. Bumping, 1340, 1374. Bungay, Suffolk, storm at, 1065; watch- Buonarroti, Michael Angelo, account of, Boots and Shoes, receipt for water proof, Burial of persons alive, 1565. Bowring, John, tendency of his poetry, Bows and silver arrows, prizes, 1238. Boxley rood, 1292. Boy bishop, account of, 1557. Boyer, Jem, C. L's schoolmaster, 1361. Braddock, Fanny, singular memoir of, 1278. Bramanti, his disputes with M. Angelo, 267. Breakfast, in cold weather, 288. Brewster, Dr., invents the kaleidoscope, 174. St., church, Fleet-street, 86; spital Burleigh, lord, at Bernard Gilpin's, 331. Burning the old witch, 58. Burton, Devon, festival at, 741. Butler, rev. Alban, his "Lives of the Saints" |