Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/293

 2 1 " 1 S. N" 15., APRIL 12. '56.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

285

LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1856.

DINNER CUSTOMS : THE SONG OF THE BRODERERS* COMPANY.

When I recently communicated to you the ac- count of the Clifford's Inn Dinner Custom (2 nd S. i. p. 79.)- it occurred to me how interesting a col- lection of such customs, graces, &c., still existing in our Inns of Court, Colleges, Grammar Schools, and Livery Companies, as well as municipal cor- porations, might prove : my attention has been again drawn to the subject by the remarks of Y. B. N. J., in his article on " Grammar Schools and their Traditions" (2 ml S. i. p. 145.), in which he somewhat suggests the idea, and points out your own columns as their safest asylum for pos- terity. I am induced, therefore, to renew the subject ; and to submit the following song, which I recently heard sung at a Court dinner of the Broderers' (Embroiderers') Company. The legend in the Company is, that an estate was inherited, and would be forfeited if the song, which is styled " The Broderers' Song," is not sung or said by the master of the Company at every Court dinner. It appears that this custom has now prevailed in the Company for above 100 years, and has always been punctually observed ; although the estate said to depend upon it is now only mythical, if indeed it has ever been otherwise. The song, which is in antique MSS., is handed with much formality by the clerk of the Company to the master, who introduces it immediately after the usual toasts : the whole company present joining in chorus.

" THE BRODERERS' SONG.

" Air. ' How happy could I be with either.'

" Come give us your plain dealing fellows,

Who never from honesty shrink ;

Not thinking of all they should tell us,

But telling us all that they think.

Folderol,"&c. " Truth from man flows like wine from a bottle,

His free-spoken heart's a full cup ; But when truth sticks halfway in the throttle, Man's worse than a bottle cork'd up.

Fol de rol, &c. " Complaisance is a gingerbread creature,

Used for show, like a watch by each spark ; But truth is a golden repeater,

That sets a man right in the dark. Fol de rol, &c.

" Half nods, shrugs, and winks are deceivers,

The cunning man's art to seem wise ; But trust me, plain dealers will ever Such paltry practice despise.

Fol de rol, &c."

The sentiments embodied in the song are supe- rior to its versification, although there is a quaint oddity nbout the whole thing which gives a raci- r.ess to it ; and of this there can be little doubt,

that such sentiments so persistently uttered before the worshipful Company of Broderers for more than one hundred years, are likely in no little degree to have tended to the truth, honesty, and plain dealing of its members.

MIDDLE TEMPLE GATE.

MUTILATED EXCHEQUER RECORDS.

In the year 1840, it was my lot to examine several large sacks filled with the remnants and fragments of the Exchequer documents so wan- tonly and ignorantly destroyed by order of the government. They consisted chiefly of

1. Original Warrants, from the reign of Henry VI. to the reign of George III., inclusive.

2. Eolls of the Wages and Diet of the Band of Gen- tlemen Pensioners, during part of the same period.

3. Notes or Docquets of Receipts from Fee-farm Lands, Collectors of Subsidies, &c. ; entered on narrow slips of parchment.

4. Indentures for Receipts of Exchequer Measures and Weights, &c.

5. Ushers' Rolls of Expenses for the Conveyance of Writs.

6. Orders for Payment of Annuities out of the Sinking Fund, Excise, on Army Debentures, &c.

7. Certificates and Receipts for Payment of Money for the Apprehension of Felons.

The whole of these (with the exception of No. 3.) were cut into pieces, most of which were not larger than the palm of the hand. The War- rants (to judge from some handfuls of them pulled out of the sacks at hazard,) were of con- siderable interest ; but, unfortunately, not one could be found entire. Among those examined were the following :

HENRY VI. Grant to the Hospital of St. Giles's near the Tower, a r. 6. [1428].

Grant to the Convent of Friars Preachers

at Cambridge.

ELIZABETH. Warrant for the Payment of Money to Thomas Leighton, Captain of the Isle of Guernsey, for the Fortifications there, a. r. 17. [1575].

Grant to Lady Lennox, widow of

Charles, Earl of Lennox, of a Pension of 300/. per annum for the Maintenance of her daughter, a. r. 20. [1578].

JAMES I. Warrant for the Erection of the Tomb of Mary, Queen of Scots, by Cornelius Cure, Master-mason, in Westminster Abbey, for which he was to receive 825/. 10s., exclusive of materials, a. r. 4. [1606].

Warrant for the Erection of the Tomb of

Queen Elizabeth, in Westminster Abbey.

Warrant for the Erection of a Tomb to his

daughter in Westminster Abbey ; to be made by Maxi- milian Poutrayne.

[Neither Cure nor Poutravne are mentioned by Walpole.]

CHARLES I. Grant of a Pension of 200Z. to Sir Anthony Vandyke; and the sum of 603/. for [pictures?] sold to the King.

From the above specimens, the value of the mass may be judged of, before the documents were so barbarously mutilated and sold as waste