this incident the distinction became general, and the party were called roundheads.

CUTPURSE.

This term, which we meet with so often in Shakspeare's plays, and indeed in many works of more modern authors, is derived from the circumstance of persons in former days having their purses hanging in front, from their girdles, from whence they were cut by the Pickpurse, or Cutpurse, of former times.

MISER.

The term Miser, which we well know, signifies a man who makes his money his god; is derived from Miserii, i. e., Misery, or Miserable.

MYRMIDON.

Myrmidon is derived from Myrmidons, a people of Thessaly, who by miracle, being ants (states the Heathen Mythology), were turned into men at the request of Eacus, when the most destructive plague had destroyed the old inhabitants. They followed Achilles to the siege of Troy. Hence the term Myrmidon has been applied to followers, or hangers-on.

ASS.

The Ass is of Assyrian origin, and from the former syllable also derives its name. Nature, foreseeing the cruel usage which this useful servant to man should receive at man's hands, did prudently in furnishing him with a tegument impervious to ordinary stripes. The malice of a child, or a weak hand, can make but feeble impression on him. To a common whip or switch, his hide presents an absolute insensibility. His back offers no mark to a puny foeman. You might as well pretend to scourge a schoolboy with a tough pair of leather breeches on. His jerkin is well fortified.

-on him is ne'er engender'd

The hatefull vermine that doth teare the skin."

And truly, when one thinks on the suit of impenetrable armour with which Nature (like Vulcan to Achilles) has provided him, these subtle enemies to our repose would have shown some dexterity in getting into his quarters. The term Ass, as applied to the disciples of folly, has been of very long standing, having its origin, no doubt, in their proverbial stupidity. So, to conclude with a pun,-" Ass in præsenti seldom makes a WISE MAN in futuro.

ASSASSIN.

There was, says Hume, a petty prince in Asia, commonly called "The Old Man of the Mountain," who had acquired such an

ascendency over his fanatical subjects, that they paid the most -implicit deference to his commands; esteemed assassination meritorious, when sanctioned by his mandate; courted danger, and even certain death, in the execution of his orders; and fancied that, when they sacrificed their lives for his sake, the highest joys of paradise were the infallible reward of their devoted obedience. It was the custom of this prince, when he imagined himself injured, to despatch secretly some of his subjects against the aggressor, to charge them with the execution of his revenge, to instruct them in every art of disguising their purpose; and no precaution was sufficient to guard any man, however powerful, against the attempts of those subtle and determined ruffians.

The greatest monarchs stood in awe of this Prince of the Assassins or Hassassinah (for this was the name of his people; whence the word has passed into most European languages), and it was the highest indiscretion in Conrade, Marquis of Montserrat, to offend and affront him. The inhabitants of Tyre, who were governed by that nobleman, had put to death some of this dangerous people. The prince demanded satisfaction; for, as he piqued himself on never beginning any offence, he had his regular and established formalities in requiring atonement. Conrade treated his messengers with disdain. The prince issued his fatal orders. Two of his subjects who had insinuated themselves in disguise among Conrade's guards, openly, in the streets of Sidon, wounded him mortally; and when they were seized and put to the most cruel tortures, they triumphed amidst their agonies, and rejoiced that they had been destined by heaven to suffer in so just and meritorious a cause.

A DUN!

Some erroneously suppose, that the word dun comes from the French donner, to give, implying a demand; but the true origin of this word, or epithet, so frequently used, is from one John Dunn, a famous bailiff, or sheriff's officer, of the town of Lincoln; so extremely active and dexterous at the management of his rough business, that it became a proverb, when a man refused, or perhaps could not pay his debts, "Why don't you dunn him?" that is, "Why don't you send Dunn to arrest him?" Hence it became a custom, and a proverb, and is as old as the days of Henry VIII. But the word dun is not merely confined to demanding payment with importunity, but to any other thing demanded in a similar manner.

BAILIFF.

Bailiff (states the Cabinet Lawyer) is of doubtful etymology, and applies to offices very different in rank and jurisdiction. Thus, the sheriff is Bailiff to the Crown, in the county of which

he has the care, and in which he executes the King's writs. There are likewise Bailiffs to whom the king's castles are committed, as the Bailiff of Dover Castle. Lastly, the chief magistrates in divers ancient corporations, as Ipswich, Yarmouth, Colchester, Scarborough, and other places, are termed Bailiffs.

The term Bailiff is no doubt derived from the word bail, implying responsibility, or a responsible person, as a Bailiff most assuredly is.

ANTHONY PIG!

The officers who had the inspection of the city markets in former times, were very diligent in detecting persons that brought bad provisions to sell; and pigs being then sold alive, they seized all that were found unmarketable, and bestowed the same upon St. Anthony's hospital, which the proctors or overseers thereof no sooner received, than they hung a bell round each of their necks, as so many testimonials of their belonging to them, and sent them abroad into the world to shift for themselves. These pigs, by frequenting the several parts of the city, soon became acquainted with their benefactors, whom they followed with a continual whining (which gave birth to a proverb, that "you follow and whine like a St. Anthony's pig"), till they received a benevolence; whereby in a short time they became so fat, that they were taken up for the use of the fraternity. Another pleasant observer says, "This was a common nickname for a dangler, among our old writers."

Tanthony, is a corruption of St. Anthony. In Hampshire the small pig of the litter (in Essex called 'the cad') is, or once was, called 'the Tanthony pig.' Pigs were especially under this saint's care. The ensign of the order of St. Anthony of Hainault was a collar of gold made like a hermit's girdle; at the centre thereof hung a crutch and a small bell of gold. St. Anthony is styled, among his numerous titles, membrorum restitutor,' and Dæmonis fugator:' hence the bell. The Egyptians have none but wooden bells, except one brought by the Franks into the monastery of St. Anthony.-Rees' Cyclopædia, art. Bell. 'The custom of making particular Saints tutelars and protectors of one or another species of cattle, is still kept up in Spain, and other places. They pray to the tutelar when the beast is sick. Thus St. Anthony is for hogs, and we call a poor starved creature a Tanthony pig.-Salmon's History of Hertfordshire, 1728.

RIBALD.

"It was," says Verstegan, "the proper name of Rabod, a heathen king of Friesland, who, being instructed in the faith of Christ, by the godly Bishop Ulfran, faythfully promised to be

baptized, and appointed the tyme and place: where being come, and standing in the water, he asked of the bishop where all his forefathers were, that in former ages were deceased? The bishop answered, "That, dying without the knowledge of the true God, &c., they were in hell!' Then,' quoth Rabod, I hold it better, and more praiseworthy, to go with the multitude to hell, than with your few Christians to heaven!' and therewith he went out of the water unchristened, and returned both to his wonted idolatry and his evil life, notwithstanding the good admonitions of the bishop, and an evident miracle which (through the power of God) the said bishop wrought even in his own presence. He was afterwards surprised with a sudden and unprovided death, about the yeere of our Lord 720, and his very name became so odious through his wickedness, that it grew to be a title of reproach and shame, and hath so continued ever since."

BEEFEATER.

Beefeater is a corruption of the French le buffet, which is now used for the apartment in which refreshments are supplied to the guests at royal balls or concerts in France. The final syllable is like that of charretier, added to charrette, or layetier to layette, &c. Dr. Ash (English Dictionary) has BEAUFET, a corrupt spelling for a buffet. Boiste (Dictionnaire Universel) has BUFFETER (le verbe), and BUFFETEUR (le substantif); with a signification as regards drinking, and not eating. The buffeteur is described as a carrier who uses a gimlet, “percer les tonneaux en route, pour voler le vin.” It is curious, however, that Boyer, in his French Dictionary, translates Beefeater, Mangeur de Boeuf, and subjoins, by way of remark, that this is a nickname given to the guards of England, because while on duty they are fed upon beef; that otherwise, their true name is Yeoman of the Guard.

MAN OF STRAW!

It is a notorious fact, that many years ago wretches sold themselves to give any evidence, upon oath, that might be required; and some of these openly walked Westminster Hall with a straw in their shoe, to signify they wanted employ as witnesses; such was one of the customs of the "good old times," which some of us regret we were not born in. From this custom originated the saying, "he is a Man of Straw." An article in the Quarterly Review (vol. xxxiii. p. 344), in which the Greek courts of justice are treated of, there notices the custom.-" We have all heard of a race of men who used, in former days, to ply about our own courts of law, and who, from their manner of making known their occupation, were recognised by the name of Strawshoes. An advocate, or lawyer, who wanted a convenient witness,

knew by these signs where to find one, and the colloquy between the parties was brief. 'Don't you remember?" said the advocate-(the party looked at the fee and gave no sign; but the fee increased, and the powers of memory increased with it). To be sure I do.' 'Then come into the court and swear it.' And Straw-shoes went into the court and swore it. Athens abounded in Straw-shoes."

LUNATIC!

The term Lunatic is derived from Luna, the moon, from the belief which formerly prevailed that all who are mentally deranged are more or less affected by the change in that luminary.

POLTROON!

According to Suetonius, in Vit. August. c. 24, a Roman knight, who had cut off the thumb of his two sons to prevent them being called to a military life, was by order of Augustus publicly sold, both he and his property. Calmet remarks, that the Italian language has preserved a term poltrone, which signifies one whose thumb is cut off, to designate a soldier destitute of courage and valour. We use poltroon to signify a dastardly fellow, without considering the import of the original.

BIGOT!

The word Bigot is derived by that judicious antiquary, Camden, from the following circumstance:-When Rollo, Duke of Normandy, received Gisla, the daughter of Charles the Simple, King of France, in marriage, together with the investiture of that dukedom, he would not submit to kiss Charles's feet; and when his friends urged him by all means to comply with that ceremony, he made answer in the English tongue, "Ne se, by God!" i. e., "Not so, by God." Upon which, the king and his courtiers deriding him, and corruptly repeating his answer, called him Bigot, from whence the Normans were called Bigodi, or Bigots.

TURN-COAT!

The Duke of Savoy took, indifferently, sometimes part with France, and sometimes with Spain; for that purpose he had a justeau corps, white on one side and scarlet on the other, so that when he meant to declare for France he wore the white outside, and when for Spain the red. This is the origin of the proverb, tourner casaque, or turn coat."

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YANKEE!

Notwithstanding the various derivations which have been given, there never was any difference of opinion among those