Glaucus Aletris. _Veltheimia glauca._
Dedicated to _St. John Lateran_.
[382] _Whiffler_, Mr. Douce says, in his “_Illustrations of
Shakspeare_,” is a term undoubtedly borrowed from _whiffle_, another
name for a fife or small flute; for whifflers were originally those
who preceded armies or processions, as fifers or pipers: in process of
time the term _whiffler_, which had been always used in the sense of a
_fifer_, came to signify any person who went before in a procession.
He observes, that Minshew defines him to be a club or staff-bearer,
and that it appears, _whifflers_ carried white staves, as in the
annual feast of the printers, founders, and ink-makers, described by
Randle Holme.
Mr. Archdeacon Nares, in his _Glossary_, cites Grose’s mention of the
_whifflers_ at Norwich, who make way for the corporation by
flourishing their swords.
A friend informs me, that the dexterity of the Norwich _whifflers_ in
turning their swords to every possible direction is amazing.
Mr. Archdeacon Nares remarks, that in the city of London, young
freemen, who march at the head of their proper companies on the lord
Mayor’s day, sometimes with flags, were called _whifflers_, or
_bachelor whifflers_, not because they cleared the way, but because
they went first as _whifflers_ did; and he quotes a character in the
old play of the _City Match_, saying, “I look’d the next lord mayor’s
day to see you o’ the livery, or one of the bachelor _whifflers_.”
_Hone on Mysteries._
[383] Dr. Drake’s Shakspeare and his Times, vol. ii.
~November 10.~
_St. Andrew Avellino_, A. D. 1608. _Sts. Trypho_ and _Respicius_, A.
D. 250. _St. Nympha_, 5th Cent. _St. Justus_, Abp. of Canterbury, A.
D. 627. _St. Milles_, Bp., and _Sts. Abrosimus_ and _Sina_, A. D. 341.