York figures more frequently on the signboard than any other place in England. From the trades tokens we see that the City of York was a sign in Middle Row, Holborn, in the seventeenth century. The York Minster is one of the few cathedrals ever seen represented out of its own city, probably for no other reason than because it stands in the capital of the county from whence the Yorkshire stingo comes. York, however, seems to have been a right merry city, second only to the city of London, for one of the oldest Roxburghe ballads, dated 1584, says:—
“Yorke, Yorke, for my monie, of all the cities that ever I see,
For mery pastime and companie, except the cittie of London.”
The Castle being such a general sign, many traders adopted some particular castle. Dover Castle, or Walmer Castle, is amongst the most frequent. The first is mentioned in the following amusing advertisement:—
“For Female Satisfaction.
“WHEREAS the mystery of Freemasonry has been kept a profound secret for several Ages, till at length some Men assembled themselves at the Dover Castle, in the parish of Lambeth, under pretence of knowing the secret, and likewise in opposition to some gentlemen that are real Freemasons, and hold a Lodge at the same house; therefore, to prove that they are no more than pretenders, and as the Ladies have sometimes been desirous of gaining knowledge of the noble art, (sic,) several regular-made Masons, (both ancient and modern,) members of constituted Lodges in this metropolis, have thought proper to unite into a select Body at Beau Silvester’s, the sign of the Angel, Bull Stairs, Southwark, and stile themselves Unions, think it highly expedient, and in justice to the fair sex, to initiate them therein, provided they are women of undeniable character; for tho’ no Lodge as yet (except the Free Union Masons) have thought proper to admit Women into the Fraternity, we, well knowing they have as much Right to attain to the secrets as those Castle Humbugs, have thought proper so to do, not doubting but they will prove an honour to the Craft; and as we have had the honour to inculcate several worthy Sisters therein, those that are desirous, and think themselves capable of having the secret conferred on them, by proper Application, will be admitted, and the charges will not exceed the Expences of our Lodge.”—Publick Advertiser, March 7, 1759.
The sign of the Angel at Beau Silvester’s was certainly well chosen by those gallant soi-disant Masons; but would not the Silent Woman have been still more appropriate? Be that as it may, Lodges for ladies there were—witness the following advertisement, a good specimen of “Stratford-le-Bow” French:—
“C. Loge C.
“AVERTISSEMENT AUX DAMES, etc. Pour vincre que les Francs Massons ne sont pas telles que le public les a representées en particulier la sexe Feminine, cet Loge juge a propos de recevoir des Femmes aussi bien que des Hommes.
“N.B.—Les Dames seront introduits dans la Loge avec la Ceremonie accoutumée ou le Serment ordinaire et le reel Secret leur seront administrées. On commencera a recevoir des Dames Jeudy 11 de Mars 1762, at Mrs Maynard’s, next door to the Lying-in Hospital, Brownlow Street, Longacre. La Porte sera ouverte a 6 Heures du Soir. Les Dames et Messieurs sont priées de ne pas venir après sept. Le prix est £1, 1s.”—(Newspaper, 1762.)
How the ladies were initiated—or, as the worthy secretary of Beau Silvester’s Lodge calls it, “inculcated,”—we are not informed; but certainly some modification must have been made in the usual ceremony attending the initiation of novices.
Llangollen Castle is painted on a sign in Deansgate, Manchester: under it is the following rhyme:—
“Near the above place in a vault,
There is such liquor fixed,
You’ll say that water, hops, and malt,
Were never better mixed.”
Many other castles occur, such as Jersey Castle, on the token of Philip Crosse in Finch Lane, in the seventeenth century; Rochester Castle, Mitford Castle, Hereford Castle, Warwick Castle, Edinburgh Castle, &c.