[Fox Family History Home Page] [Site Map]
Reader bestow some trife in this book
If it's in pages you should chance to look
For through each day bring with it but one hour
Such small beginnings will fill the book in time
Two lovely sisters appear unite,
To blind improvement with delight
Painting and Poetry engage
By turns to deck the Album's Page.
Here may each glowing picture be
The quintessence of Poesy,
With skill so exquisitely wrought
As if the colours were pure thought,-
Thought from the bosum's inmost cell,
By magic tints made visible.
That all the eyes admires, the mind
Herself, as in a glass may find.
And may the poet verse alike,
With all the Powers of Painting strike,
So freely, so divinely trace
In every line the line of grace;
And beautify, with such sweet art.
The Image chamber of the heart,
That Fancy here may gaze her fill,
Forming fresh scenes and shapes at will,
Where silent words alone appear
A, borrowing voice, but touch the ear.
Yet humble Prose with these shall stand
Friends, kindred, comrades, hand in hand,
All this fair enclosure meet,
The Lady of the book to greet,
And with the Pen and Pencil, make
These leaves love tokens, for her sake.
A Graceful form, a gentle mien,
Sweet eye's of witching blue,
Dimples were young Love nestles in
Around a "cherry mou'."
A temple kind,
A heart not vain or proud.
A face, the mirror of her mind,
Like sky without a cloud.
A fancy pool as virgin snows,
Yet playful as the wind,
A soul alive to other's woe,
But to her own resigned.
This gentle Portraiture to frame
Required not Fancy's art:
But do not asked the Lady's name -
'Tis hidden in my heart.
There was a little bullet, the messenger of death
Sent by King James to try to stop King William
This bullet had a bailiff been, which made him much .....
And therefore in King James's name, he clapt him on the shoulder.
Cries Jane, "To Malvern I'll repair,
"And get a little Sun and air
"A Son and heir," cries Sue, "Not yet,
"First love a little husband get!"
Into life's bitter cup true friendship drops
Balsamic sweets, to overpower the Gall,
True Friends, liek Ivy and the wall it props.
Both stand together, or together fall.
"Tis my will when I die, not a tear should be shed
No Hic facet be placed on my stone
xxxx
Sly Belzabub took all occasions
To try Job's constancy, and patience,
He took his honour, took his health,
He took his children, took his wealth,
His servants, horses, oxen, cows,-
But cunning Satan did not take his spouse.
But heaven, that brings out good from evil,
And loves to disappoint the devil,
Had predetermined to restore
Twofold all lhe had before:
His servants, horses, oxen, cows,-
Shortsighted devil, not to take his spouse.
.... his merit under-rates,
The worth which he disclaims, creates.-
It chanc'd a single drop of rain
Fell from a cloud into the main!
Abashed, dispirited, amazed,
At last her modest voice she raised:-
"Where and what am I? woe is me!
What a mere drop in such a sea.!"
An oyster yawning, where she fell,
Entrappe'd the bagrant in his shell,
In that alembic wrought for he
Was deeply vers'd in alchemy-
This drop became a pearl; and now
Adorns the crown on George's brow.
Affliction one day, as she hark'd to the roar
Of the stormy and struggling billow,
Drew a beatiful form on the sands of the shore,
With the branch of a weeping willow.
Jupiter, struck with the noble plan
As he roamed on the verge of the ocean,
Breathed on the figure, and calling it man,
Endued it with life and motion.
A creature so glorious in mind and in frame
So stamp'd with each Parents impression
Among them a point of contention became,
Each claiming the right of possession.
He is mine, said Affliction, I gave him his birth,
I alone am his cause of creation:-
The materials were furnished by me, answer'd Earth
I gave him, said Love, animation,
The Gods, all asembled in solemn Divan
After hearing each claimant's petition,
Pronounced a definitive verdict on Man,
And thus settled his fate's disposition.
Let Affliction possess her own child, 'till the woes
Of life cease to harass and goad it,
After Death, give his body to Earth, whence it came,
And his spirit to Love who bestowed it.
One day the dreary old King of Death,
Inclined for some sport with the carnal,
So he tied a pack of darts on his back,
And quietly stole from his charnel.
His head was bald of flesh and of hair,
His body was lean and lank,
His joints at each stir made a crack, and the ...
Took a gnaw, by the way, at his shank.
And what did he do with his deadly darts,
This goblin of gisly bone?
He dabbled and spill'd man's blood and he kill'd
Like a butcher that that kills his own.
The first he slaughtered it made him laugh,
(For the man was a coffin maker)
To think the mutes, and men in black suits,
Would mourn for an undertaker.
Death saw two Quakers sitting at church,
Quothe he, "We shall not differ,"
And he let them alone like figures of stone,
For he could not make them differ.
He saw two duellists going to fight,
In fear they could not smother;
And he shot one through at once - for he knew
They never would shoot each other.
He saw a watchman fast in his box,
And he gave a snore infernal,
Said Death, "He may keep his breath, for his sleep
Can never be more eternal."
He met a coachman driving his coach
So slow, that his fare grew sick;
But he let him stray on his tedious way,
For Death only wars on the quick.
He found an author writing his life,
But he let him write no further;
For Death who strikes, whenever he likes,
Is jealous of all self murther!
Death saw a patient that pull'd out his purse,
And a doctor that took the sum;
But he let them be for he knew the "fee"
Was a prelude to "fair" and "fun".
He met a dustman ringing his bell,
And he gave him a mortal thrust;
For himself, by law, since Adam's flaw,
Is contractor for all our Dust.
His saw sailor mixing his grog
And he marked him out for slaughter;
For on water he scarcely had cares for death,
And never on rum and water.
Death saw two players playing at cards,
But the game wasn't worth a Dump
For he quickly laid them flat with a spade,
To wait for the final Trump!
I looked on the waters, all calmly they lay
and a light bark full proudly was bounding away
Love sat at the helm, the sails courted the wind,
While heedlissly Pleasure and Beauty reclined.
I looked on the waters - the billows rose high,
Love quitted the helm, Pleasure fled with a sigh;
The gale came on stronger, the vessel wend down
And Beauty was left there to struggle and drown.
And thus 'tis, I said, in voyage of Life:
Love sits at the helm, all with Pleasure is rife;
But let only misfortune's dark billow rise nigh,
And Beauty's deserted, to live or to die.
Charles II in gay moment, asked Rochester to write to his Epitaph; which is as follows:
Here lies our Sov'reign Lord the King,
Whose word no man relied on;
Who never said a foolish thing,
Nor ever did a wise one.
Charles, who could always a Joke, on being shown this Epitaph, wrote the following comment upon it:
If death could speak, The King would say
In justice to his crown,
His acts they were the Ministers,
His words they were his own.
The angel of the flowers one day,
Beneath a rose tree sleeping lay;
That spirit, to whose charge is given
To bathe young buds in dews of heav'n.
Awakening from his light repose,
The angel whisper'd to the rose.
"O fondest object of my care,
Still fairest found when all are fair;
For the sweet shade thous't given to me,
Ask what show wilt - is granted thee."
"Then," said the rose wth deepened glow,
"On me another grace bestow"
The spirit paused in silent thought,
What grace was that the flower had not?
Twas but a moment: ... the rose
A veil of moss the angel throws;
And, robed in naturs simplist weed,
Can there a flower that rose exceed?
(Calcutta Journal)
A young gentleman from Kilkenny, meeting a handsome milkmaid, near the parade, said, "What will you take for yourself and your milk my dear?"
The girl instantly replied "Yourself and a gold ring, Sir."
(Olio)
If I could make time slower move
I would, that I might longer love,
And yet, when her I love is nigh
The rascal always seems to fly.
A little Miss, at three years old,
Plays with her doll, and prattles;
A little Master, stout and bold,
Plays with his drums, and rattles.
The Boy detesting musty books,
Love romping with the lasses;
and Miss grown older, studes looks,
And plays with looking glasses.
The jolly Toper, fond of fun,
Plays with his friend at drinking;
The Sportsman plays with a dog and gun;
and Wise Men play at thinking.
The Beauty full of haught airs,
When young plays at tormenting;
But wrinkled turn'd to other cares,
And starts at last repenting.
Wretched from self-created woe,
The Miser's game is hoarding;
Eager to meet his country's foe,
The Sailor plays at boarding.
The Lawyer plays his game so well,
As gets him many a greeting;
The Auctioneer with things to sell;
The Glutton plays at eating.
To play at dosing, Doctor's know
A lengthy case is cheering;
And those who would to Congress go;
.... at Electioneering.
With ledger busied Merchants take
A game at calculation;
And Congressmen too often make
A plaything of the nation.
By speaking much and doing nought,
By ...... threatening, raving,
Congress the nation have not bought
That they have played at saving.
With looks profound, and thoughtful mind
Projectors play at scheming
Till worn with care at last they find,
They've all along been dreaming.
The Lover sad, and woeful warn,
Plays day and night at fretting;
Whilst laughing at the silly man,
His Delia sports coquelting!
Cowards while none but Cowards nigh
Are fond of gasconading,
And Statesmen fawn, and cringe, and lie,
And play at masquerading.
At selling types the Printers play
And sometimes, with thier quills,
Their Patrons do not play, they say,
At paying off their bills!
The Player plays for wealth and fame,
And thus all play together
Till Death at last disturbs the game
And stops their play for ever!
(United States paper)
One day I was strutting with my customary swagger
A ... he cried "Pistol! you're a coward though a bragger
Now this indignity no gentleman could take! Sir!
So I told him, pat and plump, -"You lie!" - under a mistake shy son
Fools may be foolhardy, still, but men like me are wiser,
And if we get a fighting fame it is for fighting shy Sir!
Said I "Sir, if you take the wall, you take it with to your ruin
Then forth he popped knuckles, and gave my nose a screwing
"Zounds and fury!" bellows I, "there's no bearing, this at ....
So I lifted up my cane and I gave rogue the wall,
Fools may be foolhardy still, but men like are wiser
And if we get a fighting fame, it is for fighting shy son!
I told him for his insolence I must have satisfaction
When he gave me such a kick, that it drove me to distraction
My patience now was overcome, so nobody will wonder
That I doubled up my fist and immediately knocked under!
Fools may be foolhardy still, but men like are wiser
And if we get a fighting fame, it is for fighting shy son!
(Friendships offering)
With his Lordship's nightcap that caught fire on the Poet's head as he was reading in bed at Merton
Take your nightcap again my good Lord, I d
For I wish not to keep it a minute;
What belongs to a Nelson, where 'eve there's fire
Is sure to be instantly in it.
At the time of the war between Edward the Third, and David, King of Scotland and after the plunder of the city of Durham by the army of the later. When the castle of Weerk was so galantly defended by the noble minded and beautiful counts of Salisbury. King Edward, on the invitation of that lady, (as further pursuit that might would have been that labour lost) resolved to sojurn at the castle.
His majesty had not seen her from the days of their childhood and was so much ravished by the sight of her beauty that he stood as if enchanted. After expressing his delight and beholding her, forgetting altogether the purpose of his visit, he took her by the hand and led her into the castle for she had come forth to welcome him at the gates. After partaking of a hasty banquet, he sat down with his lords enjoying the conversation of his lovely cousin to a late hour at night.
When the king retired to the chamber in which his couch was prepared, he instantly and without speaking signified to his attendants to retire. There he continued remaining until the lights burned dimly leaning on the table. The grace and loveliness of the lady had taken possession of his bosum that remembrance of her dignity checked the indulgence of his wishes. Like the Egyptian gun which he corruptions and fires over the dead and over .... lasting beauty. "I am awed by her presence" said he aloud to himself. The chaste rebuke of her mild religious eye makes me feel more as a whore worshipper than as a lover.
It is not a name that may be used towards her than by any other than the happy Salisbury -happy indeed-. But why do I yield to the suggestion of such unhallowed wishes and this time of night to when all good men are in bed and innocent smiling in her dreams clings fondly to the bosum of the nursing sleep. "St George, drive off the tempting friend, that works so to blot me with dishonour".
He then started from his seat, threw his sword on the table and with long strides,sometimes drooping his head till his chin almost touched his breastplate and sometimes looking aloft, walked twice or three across the chamber in great physical perturbation. Then summoning his attendants to unlace his mail, he soon after lay down upon his couch but the virtue of his endeavours to compose himself to sleep were rewarded with no slumber.
The meditations of the Lady Salisbury were that night, though of a different kind, not more happy than those of her kinsman, the King. Fear was in her sleep, and sorrow in her dreams. The thought of her absent Lord, abroad in the service of his royal master of Uriah, ordered to the front of the battle, and while bravely defying the enemy falling pierced in the back with many wounds. Sometimes she fancied that she did the King injustice by her aprehensions, and committing herself to the care of the holy virgin, composed herself to rest; but as soon as sleep hovering above her pillow, attempted to fold his downy pinions, and alight upon her weary eyelids, Fear, standing at her bedside, drove the dumb cherub away.
As soon as she saw the dawn breaking through the casement of her chamber, she arose and went down to the pleasants of the castle, with the hope of there in the freshness of the morning air, lasting some solace to cool the anxieties which fevered her spirits, but she had not advanced many steps beyond the hedge of yew, which like a screen, parted the garden in the middle, when she beheld the King coming towards her with his arms folded, with his eyes cast down upon the ground.
Her first intent was to return and to retire back to her chamber but in some instant she disgarded the weak and unworthy thought, and went on with her serene countenance and a firm step towards the King. "I am grieved," said she "to see your Majesty so early abroad and ..... so thoughtful, it says little for the hospitality of Werk". He looked at her for nearly the space of a minute, and then replied, with some hesitation,- "I have sustained a great wrong lady since I came into this Castle". "Heaven forbid! From whom? How?" she would have said more but the ardent glance of his eye for a moment disconcerted her resolution, - it was however, only for a minute for she presently added gravely- "Who has done the wrong? Tell me so I may remedy the fault".
"To what extent will you fair cousin apply the remedy," said the King advancing and taking her by the hand.
"To all in the power of a lady to do".
"Then is the redress of my wrong not far off but you indeed so ready?"
"Can your majesty doubt the sincerity of my words?" replied the lady with some degree of embarrassment in her air,- her eyes cast towards the ground and her voice somewhat tremulous. "Say then" proclaimed the King, "That you will swear to me that you will".
She cast on him for a moment, a glance that made him drop her hand, which in that instant she raised solemnly to heaven, and said "I do swear".
After a brief pause, the King looked doubtfully at her, and then added, with a smile that but sparkled and vanished,- "I dote upon you and you can make me happy; the wrong I have suffered is peace that you have yourself stolen from me. Your love alone can be the requittal". In making this declaration, he dropped upon his knee, and would have again taken her by the hand, but she retired back, and said - "All power of love in my power to give, your Majesty has freely, and with all obedience,- employ me as you will in proof of what I say."
"I dote upon you," replied the King, rising.
"If it is on my beauty," said the lady mildly, "take if you can but it is the sunshine of the summer of my life. You make the blush from the rose, and the light from the lily as easily as I can dispossess myself of it". She then paused, and said more earnestly- "If is any little virtue of which I am supposed to be in posssesion take it too, for the store of virtue like the Widow's curse, is augmented by the distribution".
The King was perplexed, and knew not well what answer to make; but, putting on a more familar air, he said, with a laugh,- "I would not dispossess you of your beauty, I would but have you lend it. In sooth, I wish for no more than you may freely give, and have you not sworn to give me what I would?"
"Yes and with all faith and sincerity I did swear, but, before I can give, I must have to give."
"A truce, lady, with this. I do not ask anything. I would barter with your love for love."
The Countess retreated about the length of a pace from him, for he again knelt, she then said, after regarding him with a sad and compassionate look,- "Your grace offers what is not your own to give, and were not the lips sacred which have uttered it, I would say have profaned the name of love. O marvel of guilty mystery! To behold him to whom all others are bound to kneel, sunk to such prostration! Rise, my Lord, ill accords this base suit with your princely character. The man that but counterfeits your coin is put to death, and yet you would commit treason to the oaths and allegiance that you owe to God, and stamp his image in forbidden metal. I am Lord Salibury's wife,- and surely this trial is but to test me."
In saying this the tears rose into her eyes, and for the space of a minute she was silent, during which the King took hold of her hand , and pressed it to his lips, at which she said- "Well then, I do consent to your desires but on condition-".
"Name it!" cried the King, transported to hear she was at last consenting.
"The death of my husband and the Queen - 'till they are removed, neither of us is free to love".
This was said very solemnly, and the King was somewhat daunted; still, however, he replied as it were jovially - "Your opposition is beyond all law."
"Your desire is beyond all law".
"Well! Well!" exclaimed the King" eagerly seizing her in his arms, "Your beauty makes them guilty, and they shall die".
"I would cry for help," replied the lady, but the King's presence the meanist subject is safe from outrage."
The King dropped his rude hold and retired abashed - some distance, saying "Lady, you are safe. Noble woman! The rash fool was betrayed his natures fraility to insult you with an unrighteous passion was not the King. The King was will exact from him such atonement this may well apease the wrong that he did you. Edward will make the final and enchanted.
Plantagenet richly indemnify his offence,- and name the penalty."
The lady was moved by these words; but still, without any abatement of the stern serinity with which she had invested her magnamimous fortitude, she replied,- "The world, my lord, stands in great expectations that you will achieve in these wars some singular and imperishable renoun for England. Your claim to the French crown is a call from the God of Battles to accomplish the hope of the age. Obey that call, and fulfil the expectations that all men have in your destiny."
The King roused with the natural elevation of his ambition by the chivalous excitement exclaimed- "And it shall be so; I will perform the penance that you require, and hereafter the remembrance of my vow shall become so famous as the badge of herioc worth, that the mightest Kings will proud to obtain it for the emblem and g......... of the greatest triumphs.
In so saying, being filled with new sentiment of reverence and admiration, he again knelt and respectfully held the hand of the Countess. In doing so he chanced to observe that she had dropped her garter with he took up with the intention of presenting it to her, but the Lords Mowbray and Warwick, with certain other barons then chancing to come forward and seeing the King in that position, halted. Noticing the garter in his hand, they looked at one another, and began to smile ....... majesty having risen, and guessing what was passing in their minds, discordant to the higher key to which his own feelings were at that moment pitched said-
"Oh, shame, my lords! Honi sort qsi mal q pense! Blush not, lady, at this accident. This shall be a remembrance- I will make this cause of their slanderous thoughts as richly honoured as the relics of St George." With these words he led the lady back to the Castle; and from this incident, the most noble Order of the Garter took its rise.
In opposition to the above, we have the following account of the origin of this Noble Order of Knighthood.
"Some do affirm that this order beganne first by King Richard Cœur de Lion, at the siege of the city Acrés, where in his great necessity there were but twenty-five knights that firmalye and surelye abode by him, when he caused them to wear thongs of blue leythere about their legges, and afterwards they were called knights.
(Rastells Chroncile)
Be this at it may (the former story has however obtained the more general belief) the number received into this order consisted of twenty-five persons, besides the Sovereign; and as this number has never been increased, this badge of distinction continues as honourable as at its first institution.
The battle of Cressy began on August the 24th 1346. The French army consisted of upwards 100,000 men, out of which they lost 11 Princes, 8 banners, 1,200 Knights, above 80 Standards and upwards of 80,000 common Soldiers. The old King of Bohemia, although blind, would not be absent from the battle; he, therefore, had his horse's bridle fastened to the bridles of two valiant knights. He was slain, however, for his ......... and his standard taken, on which there were three ostrich feathers embroided in Gold, with these words, Ich Dien, I serve. The Prince of Wales, in commemoration of that day, wore three ostrich feathers in his coronet with the same Motto, which is being continued by all his successors up to the present time.
Richard 1st of England defeated the French at Gifors, in the department of Eure, France, AD 1198. That monach's parole for the day was "Dieu et mon Droit" God and my right - which has almost ever since continued the Motto of the Royal Arms of England.
King William III and the motto Je maintiendray, I will maintain - though he commanded the former to be retained on the great seal.
The late Queen Anne used the motto Semper Eadem, Always the same - which had been before adopted by Queen Elizabeth.
Hungers, king of the Picts, the night previous to the battle that was fought between him and Athelstan, King of England, saw in the sky a bright cross in the shape of that on ....... St Andrew suffered martrydom, and the .......... of the battle proving successful to Hungers, in memorial of the said apparation which predicted so happy an omen, the Picts and Scots have ever since bore on their ensign and banners the figure of the said cross.
From this circumstance it is supposed this order took its rise which was about the year 810. For King Hungus and Achaims (confederates against Athelstan) wnet barefooted and very devously to the kirk of the St Andrew, to return thanks to God and his Apostles for their victory; vowing for themselves and their prosterity, ever to use the said cross on their ensigns in any warlike expedition.
The principal in sign of this order is the golden collar, composed of thistles, intermixed with ammulets of gold to which hangs the figure of St Andrew, and this motto.
Nesmo me impuse la .... - No one may provoke one with impurity
The knights were originally thirteen in number, in allusion to our Saviour and the twelve Apostles. The order has frequently neglected and as often resumed. It consists at present of a sovereign and twelve companions.
There are in the English language twenty-two thousand word, of which four thousand are old British, one thousand German, fifteen thousand Greek and Latin and the remainder a mix of doubtful origin.
(Literary Gazette)
| Agnes | Greek | Chaste |
| Amelia, Ann, Amy, (Emily) | Latin | Beloved |
| Ann, Anna, Hannah, Nancy | Hebrew | Gracious, Kind |
| Charlotte | The feminine of Charles | |
| Catherine | German | Pure |
| Clara, Clarissa | Latin | Clear, fair, noble, illustrious |
| Eleanor | Saxon | All happy |
| Emily | Corrupted from Amelia | |
| Emma | Same as Ann or Amelia | |
| Esther | Hebrew | Secret |
| Flora | Latin | Flowery |
| Frances | The feminine of Francis, Frank | |
| Georgianna | The compound of George and Ann | |
| Helen |
Derived from the Greek word to drew because the beauty of the famous Helen attracted many admirers and from Hellas. |
|
| Harriett, Henrietta, Isobel | The feminine of Henry | |
| Jane |
As some say, form of Joan and Joanna the feminine of John others that the James is used by some Latin historians as the name for the sun. Jane of Juane may be as Phoebe meaning the moon. |