324 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 78. 



now reprinted, and intended for a wide and gratuitous 

 circulation, is also of uncommon rarity : tliere is not a 

 copy of it in the Library of Trinity College, or in any 

 of ihe other public libraries of ihiscity [Dublin], which 

 have been searched on purpose. The profoundly- 

 learned Vice- Provost, Doctor Barrett, never met with 

 one; and many gentlemen well skilled in the literature 

 of Ireland, who have been applied to for information 

 on the subject, are even imacquainted with the name 

 of the book." 



The full title of the work to which I refer, and 

 which is an 8vo. volume of 200 or 300 pnjjes, is 

 Itfjiections and Resolutions proper for the Gentle- 

 men of Ireland^ as to their Conduct for the Service 

 of their Country. It was printed in Dulilin iu 

 1738; it w;is reprinted there in 1816 at the sole j 

 expense of the well-known philanthropist, Thomas j 

 Pleasants, and the anthor was Samuel Madden, 

 D.D., the author of several publications : a great j 

 patron of arts and literature in his native land, 

 and one of whom Dr. Johnson remarked with 

 truth, — "His was a name Ireland ought to 

 honour." For some authentic information re- 

 specting him, see Nichols's Literary Anecdotes of 

 the Eighteenth Century, vol. ii. pp. 31. G99. ; and 

 Grosley's Tour in England^ vol. ii. p. 2G0. These 

 writers, however, make no mention of his Re- 

 flections. 



The original edition may indeed be looked upon 

 as rather rare, but not so rare as some aj^pear 

 inclined to think. I have a copy, and until lately 

 had two ; and at different times I have met with 

 copies for sale. However, the copy now in the 

 library of tlie Royal Dublin Society was pur- 

 chased some years ago at a high price ; and, unless 

 I am mistaken, there is not one as yet in the 

 British Museum. The reprint which is there is 

 much to be preferred by readers in general. 



Abuba. 



THE BELLMAN, AND HIS HISTORY. 



I have often read Vincent Bourne's poem, 

 " Ad Davidem Cook, Westmonasterii Custodem 

 Nocturnum et Vigilantissimum, Anno 1716:" 

 Pickering's edition, p. 129. This nightly guardian, 

 it appears, was accompanied by a dog : 



" Ciini variis implent tcncbra; terroribus orbem, 

 Tu comite assuetum cum cane carpis iter," 

 was armed with a stout staff, or knotty club : 

 " Nee te perterrent, iiodoso stipite fretum, 

 Siibdola qui tacito pcctore furta parant," 



and carried a bell : 



" Tinnitu adventum signans, orlantur an astra, 

 Narras, an pure lucida Luna micet." 



To the last-mentioned part of his equipment, 

 he owed the title of "Belhnan." 



The Bellman's duty, however, was not confined 



to crying the rising of the stars, or the shining of 

 the moon, but he cheered his nightly round with 

 many a chant : 



" Nocturnum niulto carmine fallis iter." 

 The next lines are descriptive of the Bellman's 

 poetry, and tell iis the subjects of it. Of some of 

 these I want explanation ; and of all, examples. 

 I am at a loss to explain the following four lines : 

 " Divorum liyberni menses quotcunque celebrant, 

 Cuique locum et versum dat tua musa suum : 

 Crispinn ante omnes ; neque enim sine carmine fas est 

 Nobile sutorum priettriisse dccus." 



The next lines refer to the Bellman's loyalty in 

 ever remembering the Royal Family ; to his salu- 

 tation of masters and mistresses; to the useful 

 instruction he pours forth in song to young men 

 and maidens ; and to the happy marriages he 

 wishes to such as give heed to his warnings. The 

 Bellman then addresses himself to men-servants 

 and maid-servants, enjoining honesty on the 

 former, cleanliness on the latter. Repeatedly 

 wishing prosperity to his masters, he concludes 

 with one pre-eminent exhortation to keep in mind, 

 that the friendly hand of death levels the highest 

 and the lowest. 



My ignorance asks several questions. When 

 did the Bellman lay aside his bell, and assume the 

 rattle; and, with this change (I presume), drop 

 the name of Bellman for that of Watchman, to 

 whom the silent policeman has succeeded ? Was 

 the dog the usual aide-de-camp of the Bellman ? 

 Are there any other instances in which the dog 

 is mentioned as assisting the Bellman in his noc- 

 turnal guardianship ? 



As to the Bellman's poetry, Milton will occur 

 to every one : 



" Or the bellman's drowsy charm 

 To bless the door from nightly harm." 



Jl Penseroso. 



1. Herrick's Hesperides, p. 169., is a Bellman's 

 song, a blessing, concluding : 



" Past one o'clock, and almost two, 

 My masters all, good-day to you." 



2. Ibid. p. 231. is another song; a warning to 

 remember the judgment-day, and ending — 



" Ponder this when I am gone, 

 By the clock 'tis almost one." 



See The Tatler, No. 111., for the Bellman's 

 salutation : 



" Good morrow, Mr. Bicherstaff, good morrow, my 

 masters all." 



" It was the owl that shrick'd, the fat.al bellman, 

 Which gives the stern'st good niglit." 



Shakspeare, Macbeth, Act I F. Sc. 2. 



Gay refers to the Bellman's song in the follow- 

 ing lines : 



" Behold that narrow street which steep descends. 

 Whose building to the slimy shore extends; 



