Magnus thesaurus latet in nominibus, said Strafford, then Lord Deputy Wentworth, when noticing a most unwise scheme which was supposed to proceed from Sir Abraham Dawes, he observes, it appeared most plainly that he had not his name for nothing! In another letter, he says, “I begin to hope I may in time as well understand these customs as Sir Abraham Dawes. Why should I fear it? for I have a name less ominous than his.”
Gonin, Court de Gebelin says, is a French word or rather name which exists only in these proverbial phrases, Maître Gonin,—un tour de Maître Gonin; it designates un Maître passé en ruses et artifices; un homme fin et rusé. The origin of the word, says he, was altogether unknown. Menage rejects with the utmost contempt the opinion of those who derive it from the Hebrew ץובנ, Gwunen a diviner, an enchanter. It is true that this etymology has been advanced too lightly, and without proofs: Menage however ought to have been less contemptuous, because he could substitute nothing in its place.
It is remarkable that neither Menage nor Court de Gebelin should have known that Maistre Gounin was a French conjurer, as well known in his day as Katterfelto and Jonas, or the Sieur Ingleby Emperor of Conjurors in later times. He flourished in the days of Francis the first, before whom he is said to have made a private exhibition of his art in a manner perfectly characteristic of that licentious King and his profligate court. Thus he effected “par ses inventions, illusions et sorcelleries et enchantements,—car il estoit un homme fort expert et subtil en son art, says Brântome; et son petit-fils, que nous avons veu, n'y entendoit rien au prix de luy.” Grandfather and grandson having been at the head of their worshipful profession, the name past into a proverbial expression, and survived all memory of the men.
Court de Gebelin traced its etymology far and wide. He says, it is incontestable that this word is common to us with the ancient Hebrews though it does not come to us from them. We are indebted for it to the English. Cunning designe chez eux un homme adroit, fin, rusé. Master Cunning a fait Maître Gonin. This word comes from the primitive Cen pronounced Ken, which signifies ability, (habilité) art, power. The Irish have made from it Kanu, I know; Kunna, to know; Kenning, knowledge, (science); Kenni-mann, wise men (hommes savans), Doctors, Priests.
It is a word common to all the dialects of the Celtic and Teutonic; to the Greek in which Konne-ein1 signifies to know (savoir) to be intelligent and able &c., to the Tartar languages &c.
1 So in the MS.
Les Anglois associant Cunning avec Man, homme, en font le mot Cunning-Man, qui signifie Devin, Enchanteur, homme qui fait de grandes choses, et qui est habile: c'est donc le correspondant du mot Hebreu Gwunen, Enchanteur, Devin; Gwuna, Magicienne, Devineresse; d'où le verbe Gwunen, deviner, observer les Augures, faire des prestiges. Ne soyons par étonnés, says the author, bringing this example to bear upon his system, de voir ce mot commun à tant de Peuples, et si ancien: il vint chez tous d'une source commune, de la haute Asie, berceau de tous ces Peuples et de leur Langue.
If Mr. Canning had met with the foregoing passage towards the close of his political life, when he had attained the summit of his wishes, how would it have affected him, in his sober mind? Would it have tickled his vanity, or stung his conscience? Would he have been flattered by seeing his ability prefigured in his name? or would he have been mortified at the truth conveyed in the proverbial French application of it, and have acknowledged in his secret heart that cunning is as incompatible with self-esteem as it is with uprightness, with magnanimity, and with true greatness?
His name was unlucky not only in its signification, but according to Roman de Vaudemont, in its initial.
Maudit est nom qui par C se commence,
Coquin, cornard, caignard, coqu, caphard:
Aussi par B, badaud, badin, bavard,
Mais pire est C, si j'ay bien remembrance.