I was born or made (whichever you please, my little reader) at Banbury
in the county of Oxford, as you can plainly conceive by my title, where
great numbers of Cakes are brought into being daily; and from whence
they travel by coach, chaise, waggon, cart horse and foot into all parts
of this Kingdom: nay and beyond the seas, as I heard my maker declare
that he had, more then once sent some of them into France.
Soon after I was made, and while I was yet warm from the oven, I was
sold by my maker's fair daughter to a person on horseback for twopence.
With this person I took my first journey to Oxford; he rode a very fine
Black Horse. As soon as he came home, he gave me to his son a lovely
little boy, about seven years of age, and one as I found to my comfort
not only lovely in person but in temper also. His name was Tommy, and he
was praised and loved by all that knew him, and had often presents of
cakes, toys and little books, and other things that are proper for
children of his age; the books he kept with great care as things of
value and worthy of his notice, but other trinkets he seemed to despise.
Tommy and his cousin were taken to see Mr. Polito's collection of wild
beasts and birds, which were then exhibiting at Oxford, among which were
a large lion, an eagle, and many other natural curiosities, which sight
was very entertaining, as Tommy and his cousin had never seen such
before. They afterwards walked into the Colleges, round Christ Church
College Meadow, and indeed saw all the curiosities about Oxford.
(The Banbury Cake).
* * * * *
We give a Bibliographical List, as perfect as is possible to date,
of the "Halfpenny Series" of little History and Story Books issued at
Rusher's Banbury Press, some even with the same titles as the "Penny
Series," yet totally different in arrangement and woodcuts, used, as
comparison in the Bodleian Library will readily show: Mother Hubbard and
her Dog; Nursery Rymmes from the Royal Collections; Poetic Trifles for
young Gentlemen and Ladies; The Cries of Banbury, London, and Celebrated
Stories; Children in the Wood, Historical Ballad (Norfolk?); Children in
the Wood, Restored by Honestus; Hermit of the Forest (Cumberland); Jack
the Giant Killer, a Hero, celebrated by Ancient Historians (Cornwall);
Robinson Crusoe; Nursery Poems from the Ancient and Modern Poets; Jack
and Gill and Old Dame Gill; Read who will, They'll laugh their fill;
Dick Whittington and his Cat; The History of Tom Thumb (Middlesex);
Death and Burial of Cock Robin; Renowned History of Dame Trot and her
Cat; London Jingles and Country Tales for Young People; Tom, Tom, the
Piper' Son; Cinderella and her Glass Slipper; Jack Spratt and his Wife
Joan, etc. etc.
[Illustrations: 27_1, 27_2]
_Bewick School, used in Rusher's Banbury Toy Books._
[Illustrations: 28_1, 28_2]
_Used by Rusher in his Banbury Horn Books, Battledores, Galloping
Guide to A, B, C, Primers, Reading Made Easy, Spelling Books, etc._
[Illustration: 28_3]
[Illustration: 29_1
_From Evans's, Long Lane, West Smithfield, used afterwards at
Banbury._]
Rusher's Banbury _Battledore_ and _Reading Made Easy_ blocks, show the
next improvement on the old _Horn Books_. Then Rusher published a
_Galloping Guide to the A B C._, for which see next page.
[Illustrations: 29_2, 29_3]
[Transcriber's Note:
Beginning with D, each letter has its own illustration, printed in
sets of three. The alphabet is printed continuously down the left
and right margins. A page break separates the "Judge" illustration
from its line of text. The complete pages can be seen as
"pic_30_all.png" - "pic_32_all.png"]
[Illustration: 30_1]
A was an Acorn, that grew on the oak;
B is a Boy, who delights in his book.
C is a Canister, holds mamma's teas;
D is a Drum, you may sound if you please.
[Illustration {D, E, F}: 30_2]
E is an Eagle, that soars very high;
F is a Fox, that is crafty and sly.
[Illustration {G, H, J}: 30_3]
G is a Griffin, of him pray take heed;
H is a Hare, that can run with great speed.
[Illustration {K, L, M}: 31_1]
J is a Judge, that the law oft obeys;
K is a Key, that no secret betrays.
L is a Lamb, often freaks o'er the lea;
M is a Mermaid, that sings in the sea.
[Illustration {N, O, P}: 31_2]
N is a Nightingale, dwells in the wood;
O is an Ox, whose beef roasted is good.
P is a Peach, that did grow very high;
Q is a Quince, makes a savoury pie.
[Illustration {Q, R, S}: 31_3]
R is a Raven, rapacity charms;
S shining Sun, is the Banbury Arms.
[Illustration {T, V, W}: 31_4]
T is a Trumpet, your merit to raise;
V is a Vulture, on other birds preys.
W a Wren, that was perch'd on a spray;
[Illustration {X, Y, Z}: 32_1]
X was King Xerxes, well known in his day.
Y is a Yew Tree, both slender and tall;
Z Zacaariah, the last of them all.
[Illustration: 32_2
_Reading made Easie, copy of Bewick._]
[Illustration: 32_3
_You are Old Father William, by Green._]
[Illustration: 33_1
The History of Jack the Giant-killer.]
The above woodcut of a Fugitive Soldier (designed by Craig, and engraved
by Lee) was used on the back of the cover of this little book, as issued
by J. G. Rusher at Banbury.
[Illustrations: 33_2 - 33_7
Jack's Artfulness.
Jack shows the Giant a trick.
The Giant and his Prisoners.
Jack slices off the Giant's nose.
Jack kills Blunderbore.
Jack strangles the Giants.]