[In the collected Works of Bishop Hurd, 8 vols. 8vo., edit. 1811, will be found an autobiographical sketch of the Bishop, entitled "Some Occurrences in my Life," discovered among his papers after his decease. Nichols' Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century, vol. vi. pp. 468-512., contains a long and interesting account of the Bishop. See also the Annual Register, vol. 1. p. 155.]
Friday, why considered unlucky.
—Can any of your readers tell me why Friday is considered an unlucky day?
E. N. W.
[There is no doubt the belief of Friday being an unlucky day originated in its being the day of the Crucifixion. A very early allusion to this superstition, and which has not we believe been recorded by Brande, will be found in Geoffrey de Vinsauf's "Lament for Richard Cœur de Lion," who was killed on a Friday:
"O Veneris lacrymosa dies, O sidus amarum!
Illa dies tua nox fuit, et Venus illa venenum."
It is to this passage Chaucer refers in his Nonnes Preeste's Tale, v. 15, 353., et seq., when he says:
"O Gaufride, dere maister soverain,
That, whan thy worthy King Richard was slain