ANCIENT CUSTOM OF SALUTATION.

No. III.

In addition to the records already given, relative to the ancient mode of salutation by kissing, it may be observed, that the custom possesses unquestionable claims to the very highest antiquity.

In the 29th chapter of Genesis, we are told "that Jacob kissed Rachel," at their first interview; and subsequently "when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him."-That a salute was the accompanying reciprocal seal of the "was hol" and "drinc heil” of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors, appears equally certain. An article on this subject, in the "Relics of Literature," (1823) contains the following paragraph.

Dr. Pierius Winsemius, historiographer to their High Mightinesses, the states of Friezland, in his

for some time previously in too ruinous a state to be used with safety for public worship. The boys in an adjacent school actually used to amuse themselves with pelting the beautiful windows. On the wall of Jesus' Chapel, in 1788, a large pigeon-house was erected, (belonging to the clergyman); the pigeons being suffered to fly all over the church.* Hounds and a fox were kept within the sacred edifice. The church was filled with "rubbish, poles, pew lumber, broken altar tables," &c. At last the shameful neglect of this venerable structure excited general attention, and about £2000 was raised and expended on the repairs, from 1802 till 1812. Whitewash was unsparingly used; and an immense ivy bush, which had covered a large portion of the eastern end of the fabric, and overhung the tracery of the great window, instead of being reduced in size, was entirely cut away. It has been excellently observed that ivy holds the same situation in architectural old age, that grey hair does in that of man: 46 clustering about the tracery of Gothic work, and circling the mullions in fantastic" Chronijck van Frieslandt," printed in 1622, inwreaths of green, it sometimes looks like a garland of laurel round a death's head, speaking more forcibly of mortality and decay by contrast." In 1812, we still find the edifice styled "a whitened sepulchre." Much yet remained to be done; and subsequently a large sum was raised by the spirited exertions of the Rev. Henry Card, who was appointed vicar in 1815. Lord Beauchamp also obtained a grant from Government of £1000 towards the repairs. An organ has been purchased; and the interior of the church, the magnificent organ gallery, the ancient decorated stalls on either side of the chancel, and the superb ceiling, have once more been restored, if not to their pristine beauty, at least to a creditable state of renovation. The light of Heaven streams no longer through the broken windows, the wind moans no more along the aisles with a strange unearthly sound, and a " dim religious light" diffuses itself through stained glass as of old. However, time has again fallen heavily on Malvern Abbey; and as we formerly noticed, a bazaar was held in the village to raise funds for its repair in 1831. We cannot better conclude this paper than in the words of Webster.

forms us, that the pleasant custom of kissing was utterly "unpractised and unknown" in England,---(just as it is this day in New Zealand, where sweethearts only know how to touch noses when they wish to be kind), until the fair princess Rouix, (Rowena) the daughter of King Hengist, of Friezland, "pressed the beaker with her lipkens," (little lips) and saluted the amorous Vortigern with a husjen, (little kiss.)" Our own old chroniclers date the origin of drinking healths in Britain, from the introduction of Rowena to Vortigern, and the two lines quoted at p. 24, of the present work, from Robert le Brunne, expressly refer to the proceedings of the princess on that occasion; but the statement of the northern annalist, that kissing was previously "unpractised and unknown" in the island, must surely be received as applying only to the novel fashion of which the salute formed a peculiar part.

The existence of a similar practice among the festive Greeks of Howel's time, is mentioned by him in the 56th Epistle of his 2nd vol. of Familiar Letters. The New Zealand mode of courtship by touching noses, alluded to above, might bear some affinity to a manner of kissing, by putting ear to ear, prevalent among the Greeks and Romans, and illustrated in the Relics," by a Latin epigram on the subject.

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Notwithstanding the instances adduced to shew that the English stood alone in their former habits of personal greeting, it may be reasonably doubted whether they were at any period exclusively singular in this usage. Towards the close of the last century, Mr.

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kysse."

Pratt found the "kissing ceremony," as he terms it in "modern Athens," it indisputably, once formed the his "Gleanings," common throughout every part of most popular disport of Caledonia, and remnants of the German territories. Persons of both sexes, though the practice are still to be found among the heather. but next door neighbours, were accustomed to em- Mr. Douce copies from the "Orchesographie" of brace when separating, and to present both sides of the | Thoinot Arbeau, published in 1588, the music of a face for salutation. So methodical was the practice, Scotish brawl;-but we learn from the "Complaynt that the obstinate refusal of a fastidious young En- of Scotland," printed at St. Andrews, forty years glishman to conform to it, was attributed merely to previous to the above date, that even at that early his fear of exposing an impure breath. period, the Brawl had become so completely natuHowever strange this custom, as a general rite of ralized that it was the ordinary pastoral amusement. ceremonious etiquette, might appear to the gallic The author of the "Complaynt," speaking of a joyous dames of the 16th century, they, certainly, were not rural assemblage, says ، They began to dance in ane unused to the "warm close of lips" in a more familiar ring, evyrie ald scheiphird led his vyfe be the hand, form, or averse to promiscuous caresses in good com- and evyrie yong scheiphird led hyr quhome he luffit pany. ،، Master” queries Moth, in Love's Labour | best.” He then proceeds to describe the figure as Lost, "will you win your love with a French brawl?" commencing with "twa bekkis" (nods) and “ vith a On this passage Mr. Douce remarks, that the ancient English dance denominated a brawl, was an importation from France, with which balls were usually opened; the performers first "uniting hands in a circle," and then, according to an authority in the ،، language François," printed at Angers, in 1579, the leading couple placing themselves in the centre of the ring," the gentleman saluted all the ladies in turn, and his fair partner each gentleman," the figure continuing until every pair had followed the example set them. The annotator observes, it was probably to this dance, that Stubbes and Northbrooke, two puritanical writers of the Elizabethan age, alluded in their coarse invectives. Northbrooke, the earlier censor, inveighs in very gross terms against "daunces" wherein maidens and matrons are "kissed and dishonestly embraced;" and Stubbes, who far exceeds his predecessor in grossness of language, exclaims, amidst a hurricane of invective, what clipping, what culling, what | sions of Socrates, closed all with a pleasant interkissing and bussing, and smouching one of another." In spite, however, of all opposition, this kissing dance ran a career unparalleled in the history of salutation. It spread from land to land, and every where, from the court to the cottage, was enthusiastically welcomed. We all know, that with our stately "mayden Queene,"-" My grave Lord Keeper led the brawls; and Wraxall, in his History of France, relates from Bassompierre, that the Duke of Montpensier, only a very few days before he expired, in 1608, was removed from his bed purposely to witness "one of these dances, which was performed in his own palace, by some of the young nobility."

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Kiss in the ring, yet holds a place among the pastimes of the lower classes, in "Merrie England ;"and though there is but little probability that the Brawl will ever regain its ancient honours in the

Though kissing, in these decorous days, is banished from the ball-room, if antiquity of custom might plead privilege, the act of salutation. “in graceful movement to harmonious sounds," could be defended on very high precedents. The fanatic Northbrooke indeed, (cited by Mr. Douce), in his fiery zeal against the reigning vices, positively declares that not even the Pagans, ever knew" this newe fashion of dauncing of ours;"-yet a reference to that vast store-house of classic lore, and quaint observation, “ The Anatomie of Melancholy," will not only disprove his rash assertion, but so far justify the decried practice, that granting a revival of the usage at Almack's, it might be found productive of the precise results described by Burton, as attendant on its existence in Attica. From his relation, it appears that Xenophon, (at a banquet,) after vainly endeavouring to move the pas

lude, or dance, of Dionysius and Ariadne,” in which the amorous blandishments of a bride and bridegroom were so correctly displayed to musical cadences, that all the spectators were so ravished at the sight, that the married men hasted home to their wives, and the single ones sought to get married!

FEMALE SPY.

THE Earl of Surrey, writing to Cardinal Wolsey, says, that he was spared from burning the Priory of Coldstream, "bycause the prioresse thereof is oon of the best and assured spyes that wee have in Scotland, for which cawse we may not well spare her."*

*Ellis's Original Letters on English History, p. 224.

THE progress of the works for forming the approach | end, are the remains of an arched window; and on the from Tooley Street to the new London Bridge, has laid open some further remains of the Hostelry of the Prior of Lewes.*

So chants Master Thomas Ravenscroft,* "bachelar of musicke;" and although we cannot answer his invitation, by rushing out into the green and dewy pastures, and enjoying the sport of Falconry, we may spend a "little moment" very pleasantly in inquiring into the history of this "joyous science."

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although the term of confinement was reduced to three months, the offender was compelled to find security for his good behaviour for seven years, or to remain in prison till he did. "In the reign of Edward III., the Bishop of Ely excommunicated certain persons for stealing a hawk that was sitting upon her Hawking," observes Henry Peacham, was a perch, in the cloisters of Bermondsey in Southwark."* sport utterly unknown to the ancients; yet it appear- By an act of parliament, passed in 13th of Henry II., eth, by Firmicus, that it was known twelve hundred it is declared that none may "hauke or hunt in other yeeres since." Where it was first exercised, and at mennes warrenes," unless," if he be a secular man, what precise era it came into vogue, is uncertain, he can dispende freely and clerely 40 shillings of free"but it is mentioned by a Latin writer of the fourth holde by yere, and yf he be a preste or clerke, he century, and is affirmed by some to have been bor- ought to be advaynced to a benefice of 40sh by yere." rowed by the Romans from the Britons, as early as And it is again enacted, in 34th of Edward IV., “that the reign of Vespasian."+" In England," says Mr. the possession of a hawk could not be kept by a simple Pennant, "I cannot trace the certainty of falconry till man;" nor can any "of less bearing than a gentlethe reign of King Ethelbert, the Saxon monarch, in man with estate have a hawk." In "Le Morte the year 860, when he wrote to Germany for a brace of d'Arthur," music, hunting, and hawking, are confalcons, which would fly at cranes and bring them to sidered courtly amusements, and only attached to those the ground, as there were very few such in Kent." possessing gentle blood. Thus we see that the sport The unfortunate Harold is pictured going on an em- was confined to the higher ranks; it may, however, bassy of the utmost importance, with a dog under his be gathered from the following passage in the “Quaarm and a hawk on his wrist; and even females of ternio," 1638, that it was not always, nor, at that distinction were occasionally thus represented. "Al-time exclusively restricted to the rich and noble. fred the Great, who is commended for his proficiency "As for hawking," says the writer, "I commend in this, as in all other fashionable amusements, is said to have written a treatise upon the subject, which, however, has not come down to us from various other sources, nevertheless, we are enabled to assert, that the pastime continued to be in high favour to the end of the Saxon era."‡

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"A knowledge of hunting and falconry" Warton describes" as an essential requisite in accomplishing the character of a knight;" and in such high repute was it held by our nobility, for several centuries, that its tenacious support may be traced through the statute laws, and swelling the pains and penalties of criminal jurisprudence." In the 34th of Edward III., it was made felony to steal a hawk; and to take its eggs, even on a person's own ground, was punishable with imprisonment for a year and a day, besides a fine at the king's pleasure. In the reign of Elizabeth,

"A Briefe Discovrse of the true (but neglected) vse of charact'ring the degrees by their perfection, imperfection, and diminution, in measurable musicke against the common practise and custome of these times. Examples whereof are exprest in the harmony of 4 voyces, concerning the pleasure of 5 vsuall Recreations: 1. Hunting. 2. Hawking. 3. Dauncing. 4. Drinking. 5. Enamouring. By Thomas Rauenscroft, Bachelar of Musicke. London: printed by Edw. Alde, for Tho. Adams, 1614, Cum priuilegio Regale," 4to. + Smith's "Festivals," &c. p. 175. + Ibid.

it in some, condemne it in others; in men of qualitie I commend it as a generous and noble qualitie, but in men of meane ranke and religious men, (the clergy) I condemne it, with Blesensis, as an idle and foolish vanitie; for I have ever thought it a kinde of madnesse for such men to bestow ten pounds in feathers,† which at one blast might be blowne away, and to buy a momentary monethly pleasure (if to see one bird torture another may be so called) with the labours and expense of a whole yeare." In the Book of St Alban's also, where the sort of birds is assigned to different ranks of persons, the goshawk is appointed for a yeoman, the tercel for a poor man, and the kesterel for a knave or a servant.

The twelfth century appears to have been the season when falconry attained the zenith of its popularity. Not only kings and nobles, but high-born maidens and dignified ecclesiastics pursued this favourite amuse

ment.

Even Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury,

* Strutt's "Sports and Pastimes," vol. i. p. 34.

+ At the beginning of the seventeenth century, Mr. Smith informs us that a goshawk and tassel hawk were sold for 100 marks, and that in the reign of James II. Sir Thomas Monson gave £1000. for a cast of hawks.

The Treatises on Hawking, Hunting, Fishing, and Coat Armour, usually ascribed to Dame Juliana Berners, Prioress of Sopewell Nunnery, were called "The Boke of St. Alban's,” because first printed in that monastery, 1486.