The prototype of the corps is to be found in that of "les gentilhommes du Bec de Corbin," (so named from the bill-hook kind of battle axe they carried,) formerly constituting "la grande garde du corps" of the French monarchs. Like those, the English pensioners were furnished with an axe, which they bore when doing dismounted duty in the palace; a branch of service quickly accruing,—and, in our day, the only one remaining to them. By some it has been thought that King Henry disused his band of pensioners for many years, on account of the heavy expense entailed, and only revived it towards the end of his reign, but there is no sound reason for the belief. At all events we find it shone with much splendour during the reigns immediately succeeding. With Queen Elizabeth, the due selection of its members appears to have been a matter of constant care and interest.* All were the cadets of noble families, if not the immediate representatives. Indeed, Earl Clare, alluding to the subject, is recorded to have said, that at this time, "he did not know a worse man than himself amongst them;" yet he was known to possess £4000. a year. At the Queen's death the character of the troops must truly have been honourable, for Lord Hunsdon, its then commander, formally recommended it to the countenance of the successor as a nursery to breed up Deputies of Ireland, ambassadors into foreign parts, counsellors of state, captains of the guard, governors of places, and commanders both by sea and land." James, however, did not take especial note of this recommendation, for during his rule the pensioners sunk into somewhat of their modern condition.+ Under his unfortunate son, Charles I., they did faithful service during the parliamentary war. Charles II. reembodied them at the restoration; but reduced their number to forty; at which complement they have since continued. The latest historical fact we have concerning the band occurs in 1745; when George II., issued the royal mandate for raising his standard on Finchley common. The pensioners were then ordered to provide themselves with horses and equipment to attend his majesty to the field. It may fairly be concluded that such orders will never again break in upon the habits of this, now perfectly peaceful, establish

ment.

As now constituted, the band consists of a captain,

* The axe, or partizan, of Sir Dudley Carleton, Captain of the Pensioners to Queen Elizabeth, bearing his arms and crest, was formerly shown in the Spanish Armoury in the Tower, as the Spanish General's Staff, or Halbard.

+ Thomas Percy, one of the band, was engaged in the Gunpowder plot of 1605.

lieutenant, standard bearer, clerk of the cheque, and forty private gentlemen. The pay of each of the latter is £100. a year, and the situation is transferable by sale and purchase. Their uniform appears to have varied with the times. In 1557, the Queen's Pensioners mustered in Hyde Park, in green cloth and white, that is, in green guarded with white;-the livery colours generally used by the Tudor family. It has been lately scarlet and gold; shaped after the prevalent military style. Battle axes, with the offensive part diminished in size, and the shafts covered with crimson velvet, are an invariable appendage to their parade. The captain bears an ebony baton with a gold head; the lieutenant a similar baton with a silver head. We will not so far occupy the province of the "court circular" as to intrude any account of the ordinary functions performed at the palace by the "honorable corps." On days of ceremony, solely, it is, that a field quota from the general roll is put in requisition.

Contributing to what has been called the "decent splendour of the crown," the two demi-military Guards of Honour of Pensioners and Yeomen are little to be quarrelled with, even in this era of retrenchment; and would be quite the contrary, were their ranks filled up so as to relieve the half pay and general pension list of the Nation.

C. S. A.

DOCTOR COX; A BLANSCUE.*

WRITTEN IN

EXEMPLIFICATION OF THE SOMERSETSHIRE DIALECT. BY JAMES JENNINGS, Esq.

Omnes una manet

Et calcanda semel via lethi.---Horat.

THE catastrophe described in the following sketch, occurred near Highbridge, in Somersetshire, about the year 1779.--Mr. or Doctor Cox, as surgeons and apothecaries are usually called in the west, was the only medical resident at Huntspill, and indeed the only medical man in actual practice for many father-in-law, Dr. Jeffery, was an old man, and had miles, in every direction, around that village. His know that he was called in to attempt the resuscitaretired from practice; and, in this instance, I do not tion of his son-in-law. Indeed, such was the then general ignorance, even among medical men, of the

* Unexpected accident.

proper means of treating drowned persons, that there

is no

reason to suppose that any then known, if adopted, would have been successful. But that, with our present knowledge, the life of Cox, a young and healthy man, might have been preserved, there is every reason to believe.*

The conduct of Mr. Robert Evans, the friend and associate of Cox, can only be accounted for by one of those unfortunate infatuations to which minds of a certain order are sometimes liable. Had an immediate alarm been given when we children first discovered that Cox was missing, he might, probably, have been saved. The real cause of his death was, as it now appears to me, a too great abstraction of heat from the body; as the water was fresh and still, and of considerable depth; and, under the surface, in consequence, much beneath the usual temperature of the human body. This fact ought to be a lesson to those who bathe, particularly in still and deep fresh water; and it ought, besides, to warn them to continue only a short time in such a cold medium.

If, in the style of this sketch, I have departed from what is usually esteemed modern refinement, and attempted to relate, in a simple way, facts, to me at any rate, interesting, after the manner of some of our old writers, and if I have, at the same time, exemplified a dialect of considerable importance in our language, my objects are accomplished. The genuine delineation of natural feeling is infinitely more valuable than all the blandishments of art.

The BRUE war bright, and deep and clear,1 And Lammas dâ and harras 2 near;

Various efforts to restore the suspended animation of Cox, such as shaking him, rolling him on a cask, attempts to get out the water which it was then presumed had got into the stomach or the lungs, or both, in the drowning; strewing salt over the body, and many other equally ineffectual and improper methods to restore the circulation were, I believe, pursued. Instead of which, had the body been laid in a natural position, and the lost heat gradually administered, by the application of warm frictions, a warm bed, &c., how easily, in all probability, would

animation have been restored!

The reader must not suppose, from this description of the river Brue, that it is generally a clear stream, or that it is always a rapid one. I have elsewhere called it "lazy Brue." It is sometimes, at and above the floodgates at Highbridge, when they are not closed by the tide, or other cause, a rapid stream; but through the moors, generally, its course is slow. In floods, its motion is necessarily much accelerated. In the summer time, and at the particular period to which allusion in the text is made, it was exactly as above described. Of course, the state of the river was that in which the floodgates were closed. * Harvest. It is scarcely necessary to observe, that the preceding word dâ is day.

The zun upon the waters drode,3
Girt sheets of light as on a rode;
From zultry heät the cattle hirn'd5
To shade or water as to firnd; 6
Men, too, in yarly 7 âternoon

Doff'd quick ther cloaths and dash'd in zoon
To thic9 deep river, whaur the trout,
In all ther prankin, plâd 10 about;
And yels 11 wi' zilver skins war zid, 12
While gudgeons droo 13 the wâter slid,
Wi' carp zumtimes and wither 14 fish
Avoordin 15 many a dainty dish.
Whaur elvers 16 too in spring time plâd,
And pailvuls mid o' them be had.
The water cold---the zunshine bright,
To zwimmers than 17 what high delight!
"Tis long agwon whun 18 youth and I
Wish'd creepin Time would rise an vly---
A, 19 half á hunderd years an moor
Zunz 20 I a trod theeäze earthly vloor!
I zed, the face o' Brue war bright;
Time smil'd too in thic zummer light,
Wi' Hope bezide en 22 promising
A wordle 23 o' fancies wild o' whing. 24
I mine 25 too than one lowering cloud
That zim'd26 to wrop us like a shroud;
The death het 27 wor o' Doctor Cox---
To thenk o't now the storry shocks!
Vor âll the country vur an near
Shod than vor'n 28 many a horty tear.
The Doctor like a duck could zwim ;
No fear o' drownin daver'd 29 him!

s Threw.

21

13

8 Afternoon.

12 Seen: this word is sometimes a long syllable, as zeed. 14 Other. Through. 15 Affording. 16 Young eels are called elcers in Somersetshire. Walton, in his Angler, says, Young eels, in the Severn, are called yelvers." In what part of the country through which the Severn passes they are called yelvers we are not told in Walton's book; as eels are called, in Somersetshire, yels, analogy seems to require yelvers for their young; but I never heard them so called. The elvers used to be, and I dare say still are, obtained from the salt-water side of the bridge. 17 Then. 18 When. 22 Him.

21 This.

20 Since.

19 Yes. 23 World. 27 It.

24 Wing. 28 For him.

25 Remember. 23 Seemed. 22 To daver, in a neuter sense, is to droop, to fade; the tutties be all a daver'd-the flowers are all faded. I am not aware that daver is ever used in the active sense in which it is here employed; but it is nevertheless in strict accordance with the genius of the dialect.

The pectur now I zim I zee!

I wish I could het's likeniss gee 130
His Son, my brother John, myzel,
Or Evans, mid31 the storry tell;
But thâ 32 be gwon and I, o' âll
O'm, left to zâ33 what did bevâll.
Zo, nif 34 zo be you like, why I
To tell the storry now ool try.

Thie Evans had a coward core
And fear'd to venter vrom the shore;
While to an fro, an vur an near,
And now an tan35 did Cox appear
In dalliance with the wâters bland,
Or zwimmin wi' a maester hand.
We youngsters dree,36 the youngest 1,
To zee the zwimmers âll stood by
Upon the green bonk37 o' the Brue

Jist38 whaur a stook39 let water droo:40
A quiet time of joyousness

Zim'd vor a space thic dâ to bless!
A dog, too, faithful to his maester
War there, and mang'd11 wi' the disaster---
Vigo, ah well I mine his name!
A Newvoun-lond and very tame!
But Evans only war to blame:
He âllès 42 paddled near the shore
Wi' timid hon43 an coward core;
While Doctor Cox div'd, zwim'd at ease
Like fishes in the zummer seas;
Or as the skaiters on the ice
In winin44 circles wild and nice.
Yet in a moment he war gwon,
The wonderment of ivry one:
That is, we dree and Evans, âll
That zeed what Blanscue45 did bevâll.---
Athout 46
one sign, or naise, or cry,

Or shriek, or splash, or groan, or sigh!
Could zitch a zwimmer ever die
In wâter?---Yet we gaz'd in vain
Upon thic bright and wâter plain :
All smooth and calm---no ripple gave
One token of the zwimmer's grave!
We hir'd 47 en 48 not, we zeed en not ;---
The glassy wâter zim'd a blot!
While Evans, he of coward core,
Still paddled as he did bevore!

"54

Than, Evans vrom the wâter rose;
"A hunderd vawk'll come bimeby,"
A55 zed; whun, short way vrom the shore,
We zeed, what zeed we not avore,
The head of Doctor Cox appear---
Het floated in the water clear!
Bolt upright war he, and his hair,
That pruv'd 56 he sartainly war there,
Zwimm'd on the water !---Evans than,
The stupid'st of a stupid man,
Câll'd Vigo---pointed to that head---
In Vigo dash'd---Cox was not dead!
But seiz'd the dog's lag---helt en vast!
One struggle, an het war the last!
Ah! well do I remember it---
That struggle I sholl ne'er forgit!
Vigo was frightened and withdrew;
The body zink'd 57 at once vrom view.
Did Evans, gallid58 Evans, then
Câll out, at once, vor father's men ?
(Thâ war at work vor'n59 very near
A mendin the old Highbridge pier,)
A did'n câll, but 'mus'd 60 our fear---
"A hundred vawk ool zoon be here!"
A zed.---We gid 61 the hue an cry!
And zoon a booät 62 wi' men did vly!
But twar âll auver! Cox war voun63
Not at the bottom lyin down,
But up aneen,64 as jist avore
We zeed en floatin nigh the shore.

49 Go up. Several other similar verbs undergo contraction in Somersetshire, namely, to g' auver, to go over; to g’under, to go under; to g' out, to go out,---this is probably the origin of gout, a drain; to g' in, to go in; to g' auf, to go off; and g'on, to go on.

50 Mr. Stole resided near Newbridge, about a mile from the spot where the accident occurred; he was somewhat famous for his cyder. $3 Find. * By and by. 67 Sank. 5 Frightened. 02 Boat.

si Empty. 65 He.

59 For him. 63 Found.

59 Wind. $6 Proved. 60 Amused. 64 On end, upright,

61 Gave.

But death 'ad done his wust 65---not all
Thâ did could life's last spork recâll.

Zo Doctor Cox went out o' life,
A vine,66 a, and as hansom mon
As zun hath iver shin'd upon;
A left a family---a wife,---

Two sons,---one dáter,
As beautivul as lovely Mâ,-
Of whom a-mâ-bi I mid zâ

Zumthin hereâter:

What thâ veel'd 67 now I sholl not tell---
My hort athin68 me 'gins to zwell!
Reflection here mid try in vain
Wither 69 particulars to gain:
Evans zim'd âll like one possest;
Imaginâtion! tell the rest!

L'ENVOY.

To all that sholl theeäze70 storry read
The Truth must vor it chiefly plead.
I gee71 not here a tale o' ort,72
Nor snip-snap wit, nor lidden73 smort.
But ôten,74 ôten by thic river
Have I a pass'd; yet niver, niver,
Athout 75 a thought o' Doctor Cox---
His dog---his death---his floatin locks!

The mooäst76 whun Brue war deep an clear,
And Lammas dâ and harras near ;---
Whun zummer vleng'd77 his light abroad---
The zun in all his glory rawd ;78
How beautivul mid be the dâ

A zumthin âllès zim'd to zâ,

"War whing 179-The water's deep an clear, But death mid be a lurkin near!"

Of Sommersett at Sainte Albans.

Of Yorke at Wakefield.

Of Sommersett at Hexham.

Of Sommersett at Tewkesburye.
Of Buckingham at Northampton.
Of Exeter upon the Sea.
Of Clarence in the Tower.
Of Buckingham at Salisburye.

Of Yorke in the Tower.

Of Norfolk at Bosworth field. MARQUES.-The Marques Montague at Barnet. EARLES.—Of Northumberland at St. Albans. Of Oxford at the Tower Hlil.

Of Wiltshire at Mortimer's Cross.
Of Devonshire at Yorke.

Of Northumberland at Tawnton.

Of Devonshire at Bridgewater.

Of Rivers at Deventrie.

Of Rivers at Pomfrett.

Of Devonshire at Tewkesburye.
Of Warwick at Barnet.
Of Worcester at ye Tower Hille.
Of Salisburye at Pomfrett.
Of Pembroke at Northampton.
Of Rutland at Wakefield.

Of Lincolne at Stokefield.

Of Warwick at ye Tower Hille.
Of Shrewesburye at Northampton.
VISCOUNTE.-Viscounte Beaumont at Northampton
BARONS.-The Lo: S' John at Tewkesburye.
Lo: Clifford at St Albans.

Lo: Clifford at Tawnton fields.
Lo: Ffitzwater at Fferribrigge.
Lo: Wells at Tawnton fields.
Lo: Egremond at Northampton.
Lo: Lovell at Stokefield.
Lo: Roffe at Hexham.
Lo: Hungerford at Salisburye.
Lo: Wenlock at Tewkesburye.
Lo: Audley at Blower-heathe.
Lo: Wells at Lincolne.
Lo: Willoughbie at Stamford.
Lo: Rugemond Guy at Leicester

Lo: Stolis at London.
Lo: Daurie at Tawnton-field.