"6. What is the fairest quality in a man? Sincerity.
"7. What is the greatest folly in a man? The wish to injure another without having the power to effect it."
Antediluvian oak.—In digging the capacious drain in Bilsby parish, connected with the new work of sewers near Alford, at the depth of thirty feet some oak trees have been found, which are at this time the subject of examination by the curious. They are as black as ebony, but the heart is firm wood, notwithstanding the trees are believed to have been deposited for several thousand years. The conjecture formed by those best qualified for considering the subject of similar discoveries in other situations is, that they existed before Noah's flood.
Nugæ Antiquæ.—From a household book of the Earl of Northumberland in the reign of Henry VIII. it appears, that his family, during winter, fed mostly on salt fish and salt meat, and with that view there was an appointment of 160 gallons of mustard. The Earl had two cooks, and more than 200 domestics.
Holinshed says, that merchants, when they gave a feast, rejected butchers' meat as unworthy of their table: having jellies of all colours, and in all figures, representing flowers, trees, beasts, fish, fowl and fruit.
The streets of Paris, not being paved, was covered with mud; and yet for a woman to travel those streets in a cart was held an article of luxury, and prohibited by Philip the Fair.
An old tenure in England binds the vassal to find straw for the King's bed, and hay for his horse.
It was a luxurious change of wood platters for pewter plates, and from wooden spoons to those of tin.
Holinshed says, "when our houses were built of willow, then had we oaken men? but now that our houses are made of oak, our men are not only become willow but, many, through Persian delicacy, crept in among us, altogether of straw, which is a sore alteration."
Reproof.—A person was remonstrating with a friend, inclined too much to dandyism, on the absurdity of following such foppish fashions. "They are really contemptible, (said he,) and I am sure all who see you must think you ridiculous." "I don't value the opinion of the world, (answered he,) I laugh at all those who think me ridiculous." "Then you can never give over laughing," drily observed his mentor.