The musical notes are preserved in The English Dancing Master, 1686; in The Harmonicon, a musical journal; in Davies Gilbert's Christmas Carols (2nd edition); and in Chappell's National English Melodies. In the first-named work it is called "Joan Sanderson, or the Cushion Dance, an old Round Dance."
In a curious collection of old songs and tunes, Neder-Landtsche Gedenck-clank door Adrianum Valerium, printed at Haerlem in 1626, is preserved a tune called "Sweet Margaret," which, upon examination, proves to be the same as the Cushion Dance. This favourite dance was well known in Holland in the early part of the seventeenth century, and an interesting engraving of it may be seen in the Emblems of John de Brunnes, printed at Amsterdam in 1624.
The last-named work (a copy of the edition of 1661 of which is now before me) is exceedingly curious to the lovers of our popular sports and pastimes. The engravings are by William Pass, C. Blon, &c., and among them are representations of Kiss in the Ring, the game of Forfeits, rolling Snow-balls, the Interior of a Barber's Shop, with citherns and lutes hanging against the wall, for the use of the customers, &c.
Edward F. Rimbault.
North Sides of Churchyards (Vol. ii., p. 93.).—In an appendix to our registers I find the following entry, where I conceive the backside means the northside. Though now the whole of our churchyard is so full that we have much difficulty in finding any new ground, what we do find, however, is on the north side.
"1750, Oct. 23. One Mary Davies, of Pentrobin, single woman, though excommunicated with the Greater Excommunication, was on this day, within night, on account of some particular circumstances alleged by neighbours of credit in her favour (as to her resolving to come and reconcile herself, and do penance if she recovered), indulged by being interred on the backside the church, but no service or tolling allowed."
From this I conclude that here at least there was no part of the churchyard left unconsecrated for the burial of persons excommunicate, as one of your correspondents suggests; or burial in such place would have been no indulgence, as evidently it was regarded in this case. It would be interesting to ascertain from accredited instances how late this power of excommunication has been exercised, and thereby how long it has really been in abeyance. I expect the period would not be found so great as is generally imagined.
Waldegrave Brewster.
Antiquitas Sæculi Juventus Mundi (Vol. ii., p. 466.).—Dugald Stewart, in his Dissertation prefixed to the Encyclopædia Britannica, ed. 7., p. 30., points out two passages of writers anterior to Lord Bacon, in which this thought occurs. The first is in his namesake, Roger Bacon, who died in 1292:
"Quanto juniores tanto perspicaciores, quia juniores posteriores successione temporum ingrediuntor labores priorum."—Opus Majus, p. 9. ed. Jebb.