Cropredy, Banbury.
[The inscription is given in Lipscomb's _Buckinghamshire_. Horne Tooke
says _imp_ is the past participle of the A.-S. _impan_, to graft, to
plant. Mr. Steevens (Note on _2 Henry IV._, Act V. Sc. 5.) tells us,
"An _imp_ is a shoot in its primitive sense, but means a son in
Shakspeare." In Hollinshed, p. 951., the last words of Lord Cromwell
are preserved, who says, "And after him that his sonne Prince Edward,
that goodlie _impe_, may long reign over you." The word _imp_ is
perpetually used by Ulpian Fulwell, and other ancient writers, for
progeny:
"And were it not thy royal _impe_
Did mitigate our pain."
Again, in the _Battle of Alcazar_, 1594:
"Amurath, mighty emperor of the East,
That shall receive the _imp_ of royal race."
See other examples in Todd's Johnson and Dr. Richardson's Dictionaries.
Shakspeare uses the word only in jocular and burlesque passages, which,
says Nares, is the natural course of a word growing obsolete.]
_"Guardian Angels now protect me," &c._--I remember John Wesley, and also
his saying the "Devil should not have the best tunes." There was a pretty
love-song, a great favourite when I was a boy:
"Guardian angels, now protect me,
Send to me the youth I love."
the music of which Wesley introduced to his congregation as a hymn tune.
The music I have, and I shall be glad if any of your correspondents {444}
can oblige me with the first verse of this love-song; I only recollect the
above lines.