Behold Poor James at York again,
His Cockles all alive, O!
Alive, Alive, he cries amain,
Come buy that he may thrive, O!
"Buy my fine Larks."
(_Catching Larks_)
"Sixpence a Score Oysters."
(_Ouse Bridge_)
"Come Buy my Roasting Spits."
"Rabbits! Rabbits!"
"Buy my fine Writing Ink."
"The City Bellman."
(_Hay Weigh_)
"Buy my Cranberries, fine Cranberries."
"Sweet China Oranges."
(_Pavement_)
"Buy my Capers.
Buy my nice Capers, Capers."
"Buy my nice Banbury Cakes."
"Buy my Windmills, a halfpenny-a-piece."
(_Monk Bar_)
"Fine Kidney Potatoes."
"Threepence a Mart Ripe Gooseberries."
"Come buy a true Calendar."
(_Castle Gates_)
"Razors, Knives, and Scissors to grind."
"Acomb Sand."
"Race Lists."
The Cries of York is distinctly different from The Cries of London
issued by Kendrew though the same set of Cuts are utilized.
London Street Cries have always had a fascination peculiarly their own.
Madame Vestris used to bring down the house with "Cherry Ripe," and
where are happier efforts of the favourite home Artists than "London
Cries" by A. Morland, Wheatley, Stodhard, and others, which are so
eagerly sought after by connoiseurs? The pretty plaintive Cries too,
would we had the 'music' to them, so familiar in the streets in those
charming old English days.
[Illustration: 49_1
"_Nothing like leather._"]
A most interesting and quaint old relic is the one from which annexed
impression is given, from Dyche's Spelling Book: an exceedingly clean,
choice and crisp copy of this book, in the original sheep covers,--a
veritable "old shopkeeper," which for nearly a century had escaped its
intended destiny in Rusher's varied stores, at length found a resting
place in Sir Thomas Bodley's venerable receptacle for bibliographical
treasures in the Bodelian, Oxford. The present example--a portion of
which was broken away many years ago,--is probably the sole surviving
one of the quaint series of cuts, doubtless admired by our
great-grand-parents over 100 years ago.
The following are curious examples of Fable Cuts, which were used in
Dilworth, Cocker, Fisher, and others.
[Illustrations: 50_1 - 50_4]
_Early Fable Cuts, used at Banbury in Spelling Books._
[Illustrations: 51_1 - 51_5]
_History of Joseph, designed by Isaac Cruikshank._
[Illustrations: 52_1 - 52_7]
_Clever little vignettes, by Thomas and John Bewick and Pupils, used
first at Nicholson's, Ludlow, circa 1787, and afterwards, circa 1814,
used in Rusher's Banbury Books._
[Illustrations: 53_1 - 53_10]
_Woodcuts of the Bewick and Cruikshank Schools, from Ludlow and
Ploughwill, afterwards used at Banbury._
[Illustrations: 54_1 - 54_14]
_Used in various Rusher's Penny Banbury Children's Books._
[Illustrations: 55_1 - 55_10]
_By Bewick's Pupils, used in Children's Books at Banbury by Rusher._
[Illustrations: 56_1 - 56_13]
_By Bewick and Pupils, from Ludlow, all used at Banbury._
[Illustrations: 57_1 - 57_10]
[Illustration: 58_1
_Close copy of Bewick, by a pupil._]