Evergreen Golden Rod. _Solidago sempervirens._
Dedicated to _St. Eustochium, V_.
~September 29.~
_The Dedication of St. Michael’s Church_, or _The Festival of St.
Michael and all the holy Angels_. _St. Theodota_, A. D. 642.
~St. Michael.~
This saint is in our almanacs and in the calendar of the church of
England. The day is a great festival in the Romish church. The rev.
Edward Barnard, of Brantinghamthorpe, in “_The Protestant Beadsman_,” an
elegantly written “series of biographical notices and hymns,
commemorating the saints and martyrs whose holidays are kept by the
church of England,” says, “The rank of archangel is given in scripture
to none but Michael, who is represented as the guardian and protector
both of the Jewish church, and the glorious church of Christ, in which
the former merged. On this account he is celebrated by name, while the
rest of the holy angels are praised collectively. St. Michael is
mentioned in scripture five times, and always in a military view; thrice
by Daniel, as fighting for the Jewish church against Persia; once by St.
John, as fighting at the head of his angelic troops against the dragon
and his host; and once by St. Jude, as fighting personally with the
devil, about the body of Moses; for the very ashes of God’s servants
have angelic protection. It has been thought by many, that there is no
other archangel but Michael. An author of great name, who has not given
his reasons or authority, inclines to this opinion; and adds, that he
succeeded Lucifer in this high dignity. Others imagine, and not without
strong probability, that Michael is the Son of God himself. The
interpretation of his name, and the expression (used by St. John) of
‘his angels,’ strengthen this supposition; for to whom can the angels
belong but to God, or Christ? The title, by which Gabriel spoke of him,
when he required his assistance, (‘Michael your prince’) is likewise
brought forward, by bishop Horsley, in confirmation of this opinion.
Besides, the Jews always claimed to be under the immediate spiritual
protection and personal government of God, who calls them his peculiar
people. How then can Michael preside over them? This festival will not
loose any dignity by the adoption of such an interpretation, but will
demand a more conscientious observance from those, who celebrate in it,
not only the host of friendly angels, but, likewise (under the title of
Michael) Jesus Christ the common Lord both of angels and men.” A
well-informed expositor of the “Common Prayer-book,” Wheatley, says that
the feast of _St. Michael and all angels_ is observed, that the people
may know what benefits are derived from the ministry of angels.
* * * * *
The accompanying engraving is from an ancient print emanating from the
“contemplations” of catholic churchmen, among whom there is diversity of
opinion concerning the number of archangels. Their inquiries have been
directed to the subject, because it is an article of the catholic faith
that angels, as well as saints, intercede for men, and that their
intercession may be moved by prayers to them. In conformity with this
persuasion patron-saints and angels are sometimes drawn for, by putting
certain favourite names together, and selecting one, to whom, as the
patron-saint or angel, the invocations of the individual are from that
time especially addressed.
In the great army of angels the archangels are deemed commanders. The
angels themselves are said to be divided into as many legions as there
are archangels; whether these are seven or nine does not appear to be
determined; but Michael, as in the present engraving, is always
represented as the head or chief archangel, he is here accompanied by
six only.
Dr. Laurence, regius professor of Hebrew at Oxford, and now archbishop
of Cashel, recently printed at the Clarendon press, the long lost “Book
of Enoch.” This celebrated apocryphal writing of ancient times calls
“Michael one of the holy angels, who, presiding over human virtue,
commands the nations.” It says, that Raphael “presides over the spirits
of men;” that Uriel “presides over clamour and terror;” and Gabriel,
“over paradise and over the cherubims.”
Our old heraldic friend, Randle Holme, says, Michael is the head of the
“order of _archangels_;” his design is a banner hanging on a cross, and
he is armed, as representing victory with a dart in one hand, and a
cross on his forehead. He styles Raphael as leader of the “order of
powers,” with a thunderbolt and a flaming sword to withsta “order of
_seraphims_;” his ensign is a flaming heart and a cross-staff. Gabriel
he makes governor of the “order of _angels_,” and his ensign a book and
a staff. Of the other three archangels in the print, it would be
difficult to collect an account immediately.
[Illustration: ~St. Michael and other Archangels.~]
Our forefathers were told by the predecessor of Alban Butler, that
Michael bore the banner of the celestial host, chased the angel Lucifer
and his followers from heaven, and enclosed them in dark air unto the
day of judgment, not in the upper region, because there it is clear and
delightful, nor upon the earth, because there they could not torment
mankind, but between heaven and earth, that when they look up they may
see the joy they have lost, and when they look downward, may see men
mount to heaven from whence they fell. The relation says, they flee
about us as flies; they are innumerable, and like flies they fill the
air without number; and philosophers and doctors are of opinion, that
the air is as full of devils and wicked spirits “as the sonne bemes ben
full of small motes which is small dust or poudre.”[331]
* * * * *
Bishop Hall, in his “Triumphs of Rome,” mentions a red velvet buckler to
have been preserved in a castle in Normandy which Michael wore in his
combat with the dragon.
Bishop Patrick who wrote subsequently, in 1674, says “I hope that the
precious piece of St. Michael’s red cloth is forthcoming--his dagger and
his shield were to be seen at the beginning of this age, though one of
their historians says, that five years before he came thither, in 1607
the bishop of Avranches had forbidden his shield to be any more showed:
but who knows but some of the succeeding bishops may have been better
natured, and not have denied this gratification to the desires of their
gaping devotees.”
* * * * *
Bishop Patrick cites a Roman catholic litany, wherein after addresses to
God, the Trinity, and the virgin Mary, there are invocations to St.
Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael, together with all the orders of
angels, to “pray for us.” He also instances that in the old Roman
missal, and in the Sarum missal, there is a proper mass to Raphael the
archangel, as the protector of pilgrims and travellers, and a skilful
worker with medicine. Likewise an office for the continual intercession
of St. Gabriel, and all the heavenly militia. In these catholic services
St. Michael is invoked as a “most glorious and warlike prince,” “chief
officer of paradise,” “captain of God’s hosts,” “the receiver of souls,”
“the vanquisher of evil spirits,” and “the admirable general.” After
mentioning several miracles attributed by the Romanists to St. Michael,
the bishop says, “You see from this legend, that when people are mad
with superstition, any story of a cock and a bull will serve their turn
to found a festival upon, and to give occasion for the further
veneration of a saint or an angel, though the circumstances are never so
improbable.” He relates as an instance, that in a Romish church-book,
Michael is said to have appeared to a bishop, whom he required to go to
a hill-top, where if he found a bull tied, he was to found a church, and
dedicate it to God and St. Michael. The bishop found the bull, and
proceeded to found the church, but a rock on each side hindered the
work, wherefore St. Michael appeared to a man, and bade him go and put
away the rock, and dread nothing; so the man went, and “sette to his
shoulders,” and bade the rock go away in the name of God and St.
Michael; and so the rocks departed to the distance necessary to the
work. “This removing the rock,” says bishop Patrick, “is a pretty
stretcher!”
~Michaelmas.~
It is noticed by Mr. Brand in his “Popular Antiquities,” which cites
most of the circumstances presently referred to, that--“It has long been
and still continues the custom at this time of the year, or thereabouts,
to elect the governors of towns and cities, the civil guardians of the
peace of men, perhaps, as Bourne supposes, because the feast of angels
naturally enough brings to our minds the old opinion of tutelar spirits,
who have, or are thought to have, the particular charge of certain
bodies of men, or districts of country, as also that every man has his
guardian angel, who attends him from the cradle to the grave, from the
moment of his coming in, to his going out of life.”
Mr. Nichols notices in the “Gentleman’s Magazine,” that on Monday,
October 1st, 1804,--“The lord mayor and alderman proceeded from
Guildhall, and the two sheriffs with their respective companies from
Stationers’-hall, and having embarked on the Thames, his lordship in the
city barge, and the sheriffs in the stationers’ barge, went in aquatic
state to Palace-yard. They proceeded to the court of Exchequer: where,
after the usual salutations to the bench (the cursitor baron, Francis
Maseres, Esq. presiding) the recorder presented the two sheriffs; the
several writs were then read, and the sheriffs and the senior
under-sheriff took the usual oath. The ceremony, on this occasion, in
the court of Exchequer, which vulgar error supposed to be an unmeaning
farce, is solemn and impressive; nor have the new sheriffs the least
connection either with chopping of sticks, or counting of hobnails. The
tenants of a manor in Shropshire are directed to come forth to do their
suit and service; on which the senior alderman below the chair steps
forward, and chops a single stick, in token of its having been customary
for the tenants of that manor to supply their lord with fuel. The owners
of a forge in the parish of St. Clement (which formerly belonged to the
city, and stood in the high road from the Temple to Westminster, but now
no longer exists,) are then called forth to do their suit and service;
when an officer of the court, in the presence of the senior alderman,
produces six horse-shoes and sixty-one hobnails, which he counts over in
form before the cursitor baron; who, on this particular occasion, is the
immediate representative of the sovereign.
“The whole of the numerous company then again embarked in their barges,
and returned to Blackfriars-bridge, where the state carriages were in
waiting. Thence they proceeded to Stationers’-hall, where a most elegant
entertainment was given by Mr. Sheriff Domville.”
* * * * *
_To the Editor of the Every-Day Book._
Sir,
I have no doubt but many thousands of my fellow-citizens were unaware of
the existence and very recent destruction of the _baronial_
establishment of their chief magistrate; and that, therefore, by
recording a few particulars you will endeavour to mark the era, when,
perhaps, the last of these gentlemanly households, once to be found in
every knightly and noble family, was destroyed in England. It is perhaps
an unavoidable consequence of change of manners; but to those who
delight in contemplating those of their ancestors, to witness the wreck
of what appears almost consecrated by ancient usage, affords any thing
but a pleasurable sensation. In former days those of rank considered it
a degradation to have menials officiate about their persons, and
therefore created officers in their households, which were looked upon
as initiatory schools to every thing gallant or polite, and were
consequently eagerly filled by noble youths and aspiring cadets. In
imitation of those with whom for a brief period he ranked, the lord
mayor of London had an establishment arranged for him, consisting of the
following officers:
_Four Squires._
1st. The _sword-bearer_, whose duty it was to advise his lordship of the
necessary etiquette to be observed on stated occasions. To some it may
appear very unimportant whether the lord mayor has on a violet or a
scarlet gown; whether the mace is always carried before him or not, and
strictly speaking it is so; but while old customs are harmless, and tend
to preserve dignity and good order, why should they not be observed?
This place used to be purchased, but when the late Mr. Cotterel died,
who gave I believe upwards of 7000_l._ for it, and could have parted
with it for 9000_l._ but was prevented by the corporation, it was made a
gift place, and given to Mr. Smith of the chamberlain’s office, who now
holds it subject to an annual election. This has placed the office on a
very different, less independent, and less respectable footing, than it
used to be. The predecessor of Mr. Cotterel, Heron Powney, Esq., who
enjoyed the office thirty-three years, exercised great authority
throughout the house, and used, with great form, to attend the lord
mayor every morning to instruct him in any necessary ceremonial; and on
all public occasions, assisted by two yeomen of the water side, robed
his lordship: this is now performed by servants. There are four
swords--the _black_, used on Good Friday, 30th of January, fire of
London, and all fast days, when his lordship _ought_ to go to St.
Paul’s: on these days he wears his livery gown. The _common_ sword, to
go to the sessions, courts of aldermen, common council, &c.; the
_Sunday_ sword; and the _pearl_ sword, which used to be carried on very
rare occasions only, but is now exhibited at every turn. This gentleman,
in the olden times, had apartments at the Old Bailey, and derived
emolument from granting admission to two galleries during the sessions.
He wears a black silk damask gown, and a cap of maintenance, and chain
upon state days. He sits at the head of the table which goes by his
name, at which the gentlemen of the household dined when they were in
waiting; but now they only dine together fourteen days in the year, on
public occasions. The lord mayors were latterly allowed 1500_l._ per
annum for the maintenance of this table, which supplied that in the
servants’ hall; but the latter have long been on board wages, to the
great loss of many an exhausted pauper.
The second squire was Mr. _Common Hunt_: his principal office is
indicated by his title; but he was likewise master of the ceremonies. He
was in waiting every Monday and Wednesday, and every third Sunday while
the house was in waiting. The last who held this office was Mr. Charles
Cotterel, brother to the late sword-bearer, at whose death in 1807 it
was abolished, and the duty of master of the ceremonies has since been
performed by Mr. Goldham, one of the serjeants of the chamber. The
common hunt’s house used to be at the Dog-house-bar in the City-road.
The third squire is Mr. _Common Crier_, whose duty it is to attend his
lordship with the mace to the courts of aldermen and common council,
common halls, and courts of hustings: he is in waiting every Tuesday and
Thursday; and whenever the lord mayor wears his scarlet robes, attends
him with the mace. His dress is a damask gown and counsellor’s wig: he
had apartments at Aldersgate. Formerly this place was purchased, but not
within the memory of man.
The fourth squire is the _water-bailiff_, who is empowered by the lord
mayor to act as sub-conservator of the Thames and Medway. He is in
waiting every Friday and Saturday, every third Sunday, and all public
days. Dress, damask gown. Had apartments at Cripplegate. This is now
likewise a gift place.
The _four attornies_ used to attend his lordship in turn, weekly, to
advise him in his magisterial capacity; but this part of their duty has
now become obsolete, and has devolved to Mr. Hobler.
To the lord mayor’s household also properly belong three serjeant
carvers, three serjeants of the chamber, one serjeant of the channel,
one yeoman of the chamber, two marshals, four yeomen of the water-side,
one yeoman of the channel, one under water-bailiff, six young men.
The members of the household, with the exception of the four squires,
attornies, and marshals, had the privilege of alienating their places on
payment of 50_l._ to the corporation; but if they died without paying
this fine, their places lapsed to the city, and the value of them was
consequently lost to their family. But let the one who sold hold what
situation he might in this little republic, the purchaser was admitted
to only the lowest rank, that of junior young man, that all below the
one who sold might rise a step.
The gentlemen were in waiting on fixed days; sometimes the whole number,
at others only a part, and at these times were entitled to a dinner, and
on any extra occasion when the sword was carried: there was a bill of
fare for each day. At table, the marshals were the lowest _above_ the
salt. This was formerly made of pewter, but in the year , a carver
presented the table with one of silver, nearly similar in form. The
pewter one was used in the servants’ hall until it was rendered useless
by the introduction of board wages. Except the squires, attornies, and
marshals, the household now all wear black gowns, in form like those of
the livery, made of prince’s stuff faced with velvet, though formerly
they were curious enough. Divided as if by a herald into two parts,
dexter and sinister, one side was formed of the colours distinguishing
the lord mayor’s livery, and the other those of the two sheriffs.
On Plough Sunday his lordship goes to church to qualify, when two of the
yeomen of the water-side attend, that they may depose to this fact at
the next sessions. On the Monday his lordship keeps wassail with his
household, and with his lady presides at the head of their table. This
used indeed to be a gala day; but elegance now takes place of profusion
and hilarity. Formerly they could scarcely see their opposite neighbour
for the piles of sweetmeats; but these have disappeared to make way for
the city plate and artificial flowers. The lady mayoress is generally
accompanied by two or three ladies, to obviate the unpleasantness of
finding herself the only female among so many strangers: the chaplain on
that day takes the lower end of the table. The yeoman of the cellar is
stationed behind his lordship, and at the conclusion of the dinner
produces two silver cups filled with negus, and giving them to his lord
and lady, proclaims with a loud voice, “Mr. Sword-bearer, squires, and
gentlemen all! my lord mayor and lady mayoress drink to you in a loving
cup, and bid you all heartily welcome!” After drinking, they pass the
cups down each side of the table, for all to partake and drink their
healths. When the ladies retire the chaplain leads her ladyship, and
after a few songs his lordship follows. _Then_ a mighty silver bowl of
punch was introduced, and a collection amounting to nearly 25_l._ _used_
to be made for the servants. They were all introduced, from the stately
housekeeper to the kitchen girl, in merry procession to accept the
largess, taste the punch, and perhaps the cook or a pretty housemaid did
not escape without a kiss. This was not the only day on which the
servants partook of the bounty of the gentlemen. Every Saturday there
was a collection of three shillings and sixpence from the sword-bearer
and the other squire, and one shilling and sixpence from the other
individuals. This was termed cellarage, and was divided between the
yeoman of the cellar and the butler. But these golden days are over.
Since the days of the Fitzaleyns and Whittingtons, it has been found
expedient to make the lord mayors an allowance to enable them, or rather
assist them, to maintain the hospitality and splendour of their station;
but such is the perverseness of human nature, that as this has from time
to time been increased, the gorgeousness of the display seems to have
decreased. The following are the receipts and expenses of Mr. Wilkes
during his mayoralty:
_Receipts._
£. _s._ _d._
Payments from the chamberlain’s office 2372 8 4
Cocket office 702 5 6½
Gauger 250 0 0
Annual present of plate from the Jews 50 0 0
Lessees of Smithfield-market 10 0 0
Licenses 4 10 0
From the bridge-house towards the feast 50 0 0
Alienation of a young man’s place 40 0 0
Sale of a young man’s place 1000 0 0
Presentation of the sheriffs 13 6 8
For keeping the mansion-house in order 100 0 0
Six freedoms to the lord mayor 150 0 0
In lieu of buckets 6 0 0
Licensing the sessions paper 130 0 0
From Mr. Roberts, comptroller, for the importation fee 10 10 0
---------------
£4889 0 6½
---------------
_Expenses._
£. _s._ _d._
Lord mayor’s table, including public dinners 2050 0 0
Sword-bearer’s table 1500 0 0
Lord mayor’s-day 520 0 0
Easter Monday 1200 0 0
Rout 190 0 0
Old Bailey 730 0 0
Horses, coaches, &c. 420 0 0
Servants’ wages, liveries, &c. 570 0 0
Lamps, wax, and other candles 295 0 0
Linen 160 0 0
Coals and firing 280 0 0
China and glass 110 0 0
Stationery wares, newspapers, &c. 60 0 0
Winter and summer for the sword-bearer and household 36 13 0
Glazier, upholsterer, &c. 46 0 0
Music, &c. 35 0 0
Ribands, &c. 24 0 0
---------------
£8226 13 0
---------------
N. B. Benefactions on public occasions, charities, &c. cloths, fees to
the water-bailiff, are not included.
Expenses 8226 13 0
Receipts 4889 0 6½
---------------
Balance £3337 12 5½
---------------
The _rout_ was first discontinued by sir Brooke Watson, because it was
always customary to have it in passion week. The allowance has since had
an increase of 3000_l._ This liberality on the part of the corporation,
instead of exciting a corresponding feeling on the part of their
magistrates, seems rather to have raised in them a spirit of cupidity,
and of late years, on many occasions, the office seems to have been
undertaken on a kind of speculation for saving money. Though allowed
1500_l._ a year for the sword-bearer’s table, every chicken and bottle
of wine began to be grudged; and after repeated appeals by the household
to the court of common council, on account of the shabby reductions
successively made, and which were considered as unjust, as they had
purchased their places with the usual privileges, the corporation
concluded a treaty with them a short time ago, by which a specified sum
of money was secured to each individual, either on giving up his place,
or at his death to be paid to his family. They have of course given up
the right of alienating their places, and thus perpetuating the system.
The corporation have thus gained an extensive increase of patronage;
though the number of officers is to be reduced as the places fall in.
But some of the aldermen below the chair were rather disagreeably
surprised at the result; for the common council very justly deducted the
1500_l._ at which the expense of the table was generally calculated,
from his lordship’s allowance.