His etiam conjux apia sancta[1333] dialis
Lucibus impexas debet habere comas—
see the two distiches preceding.
This St. Andrewe's crosse we wore on our hatts, pinned on, till the Plott, and never since:—MS. Aubr. 8, fol. 69.
Avebury. Between pages 1 and 2[1334] insert the scheme of Avebury.—... miles westwards from Marleborough (not far from Bristowe-roade) is a village called Avebury which stands within one of the most remarkeable monuments of its kind in England. It seemes strange to me that so little notice hath been taken of it by writers. Mr. Camden only touches on it and no more.—MS. Aubr 9, fol. 50v.
<Palm Sunday.> Antiquity—the fashion hereabout[1335] was before the warres that on Palme Sunday the young men and maydes received the communion, and in the afternoon walkt together under the hedges about the cornefields, which was held to be lucky.—MS. Aubr. 21, fol. 2v.
<Simples.> Some write that the water ..., vervayn, ..., ... of sprinkled about the hall or place where any feast or banket is kept maketh all the company both lusty and merry.—Dodoens Herball.—MS. Aubr. 21, a slip at fol. 9.
Witches (maleficae). Twisting of trees, tearing and turning up oakes by the roots. Raysing tempests; wracking ships; throwing down steeples; blasting plantes; dwindle away young children. To overlooke and binde the spirits and phantasy; bewhattling and making men impotent, woemen miscarry (countesse of Carlisle). Whirlewinds; haracanes.
Mr. Morehouse[1336]:—spirits in 'em. Bishop of Bahuse; the devill's black mace of rammes hornes; the session, à la mode de Royal Society, with ballotting box. Memorandum;—Sir H. B. <said> wise men alwaies saw that as some malicious woemen increased in yeares, increased also in malice: set howses on fire, mischiefe <to> children, etc. Thought it better to have them underground then above ground and raise storms: the familiars could not handsomely knock 'em in the head.—MS. Aubr. 21, p. 11.
<Provincial ignorance.> Sir Eglamour and Fitz-ale <two of the persons in Aubrey's Comedy The Country Revel> discourse of the gothique manner of living of these gentlemen, of their ignorance, and envy of civilized and ingeniouse men; of the promising growth of civility and knowledge in the next generation[1337] (in our grandfathers' or great-grandfathers' dayes few gentlemen could write a letter: then 'the clarke made the justice'); that there is a sort of provinciall witt, or rather a humour that goes for witt, e.g. in the west, which if used in the north, or elsewhere, seemes strange and ridiculous.—MS. Aubr. 21, p. 11.