And thy approving voice would be My childish griefs were hush'd to rest, Those lips on mine fond kisses prest, Those arms my feeble form carest, When few a thought bestow'dWhen sickness threw its venom'd dart, My pillow was thy aching heartThy gentle looks could joy impart, With angel love they glow'd. This world is but a troubled sea, Yet my frail bark must shipwreck'd be, Or send an orison on high, That begs not blessings from the sky, That heav'n will hear a daughter's sigh, And long thy life defend. FLORAL DIRECTORY. one." Whether one or two is of little consequence perhaps their biographers were miraculists. He of Cologne led "an angelical life," according to Butler, who adds, that "his life wrote by Fortunatus is the best:" the latter biographer achieved as great marvels with his pen, as his namesake with his wishingсар. FLORAL DIRECTORY. Rushy Starwort. Aster junicus. Dedicated to St. Theodoret. October 24. St. Proclus, Abp. of Constantinople, A. D. 447. St. Felix, A. D. 303. St. Magloire, A. D. 575. St. Proclus. Besides his other perfections he was a queller of earthquakes. Butler instances that "Theophanes, and other Greek historians, tell us that a child was taken up into the air, and heard angels singing the Trisagion, or triple doxology," which is "in the preface of the mass;" and that therefore St. Proclus "taught the people Three-leaved Silphium. Silphium trifo- to sing it :" he says that "it is at least liatum. was The annals of the saints are confused. St. Severin, Abp. of Cologne, is famous in the history of the church: by him, his own diocese, and that of Tongres, purged from the venom of the Arian heresy, about the year 320." He "knew by revelation the death and glory of St. Martin at the time of his departure," and died about 400. So says Butler, who immediately begins with "Another St. Severin or Surin, patron of Bourdeaux," said by some "to have come to Bourdeaux from some part of the east ;" and by others, to have been "the same with the foregoing archbishop of Cologne." It is difficult to make a distinction when we find "two single gentlemen rolled into agreed, that on their singing it the earthquakes ceased." Butler represents the style of this father to be "full of lively witty turns, more proper to please and delight than to move the heart." Twenty of his homilies were published at Rome in 1630, whereof "the first, fifth, and sixth title of Mother of God," says Butler, are upon the blessed Virgin Mary, whose "he justly extols." He wrote upon mysterious theology and the church festivals, and was a great disputant. This representation of St. Crispin and and are told that they came from Rome St. Crispinian at their seat of work, is to preach at Soissons, in France. "towards faithfully copied from an old engraving the middle of the third century, and, in of the same size by H. David. Every imitation of St. Paul, worked with their body knows that they were shoemakers, hands in the night, making shoes, though and patrons of that "art, trade, mystery, they were said to have been nobly born calling, or occupation," in praise whereof, and brothers." They converted many to when properly exercised, too much cannot the Christian faith, till a complaint was be said. Now for a word or two concern- lodged against them before Rictius Varus, ing these saints. To begin seriously, we "the most implacable enemy of the will recur to the tenth volume of the Christian name," who had been appoint"Lives of the Saints," by "the Rev. ed governor by the emperor Maximiar Alban Butler," where, on the 504th Herculeus. Butler adds, that "they page, we find St. Crispin and St. Cris- were victorious over this most inhuman pinian called " two glorious martyrs," judge, by the patience and constancy with which they bore the most cruel torments, and finished their course by the sword about the year 287." In the sixth century a great church was built to their honour at Soissons, and their shrine was richly ornamented. These are all the circumstances that Butler relates.concerning these popular saints: most unaccountably he does not venture a single miracle in behalf of the good name and reputation of either. On Crispin's-day, in the year 1415, the battle of Agincourt was fought between the English, under king Henry V., and the French, under the constable d'Albret. The French had "a force," says Hume, "which, if prudently conducted, was sufficient to trample down the English in the open field." They had nearly a hundred thousand cavalry. The English force was only six thousand men at arms, and twenty-four thousand foot, mostly archers. The constable of France had selected a strong position in the fields in front of the village of Agincourt. Each lord had planted his banner on the spot which he intended to occupy during the battle. The night was cold, dark, and rainy, but numerous fires lighted the horizon; while bursts of laughter and merriment were repeatedly heard from the soldiery, who spent their time in revelling and debate around their banners, discussing the probable events of the next day, and fixing the ransom of the English king and his barons. No one suspected the possibility of defeat, and yet no one could be ignorant that they lay in the vicinity of the field of Cressy. In that fatal field, and in the equally fatal field of Poictiers, the French had been the assailants: the French determined therefore, on the present occasion, to leave that dangerous honour to the English. To the army of Henry, wasted with disease, broken with fatigue, and weakened by the privations of a march through a hostile country in the presence of a superior force,-this was a night of hope and fear, of suspense and anxiety. They were men who had staked their lives on the event of the ap proaching battle, and spent the ite vening moments in making their w.. and in attending the exercises of rebran Henry sent his officers to exat the he ground by moon-light, arranged the ve rations of the next day, orderes tarttu v music to play in successo durante night, and before sun-rise suu troops to attend at matins and mass: from thence he led them to the field His archers, on whom rested his principal hope, he placed in front; beside his bow and arrows, his battle-axe or sword, each bore on his shoulder a long stake sharpened at both extremities, which he was instructed to fix obliquely before him in the ground, and thus oppose a rampart of pikes to the charge of the French cavalry. Many of these archers had stripped themselves naked; the others had bared their arms and breasts that they might exercise their limbs with more ease and execution: their wellearned reputation in former battles, and their savage appearance this day struck terror into their enemies. Henry him self appeared on a grey paltrey in a helmet of polished steel, surmounted by a crowy sparkling with jewels, and wear a surcoat whereon were emblaget gold the arms of England and I saura Followed by a train of led targ mented with the most gorgeous inerting he rode from banner to ba and exhorting the men, were drawn up in the satur with this fearful dispara n number, that while the Lotus but four, theirs were 11. their lines were military non to cast stones into t English. The French the English was a When Henry gave the advance!" the me .. wards the enemy" twenty paces, shout; this wee which imme cealment & flank of t before the and the To battara v a S B constable and principal commanders, and routed the first division of the army. Henry formed the archers again, and charged the second division for two hours in a bloody and doubtful contest, wherein Henry himself was brought on his knees by the mace of one of eighteen French knights who had bound themselves to kill or take him prisoner: he was rescued by his guards, and this second division was ultimately destroyed. The third shared the same fate, and resistance having ceased, Henry traversed the field with his barons, while the heralds examined the arms and numbered the bodies of the slain. Among them were eight thousand knights and esquires, more than a hundred bannerets, seven counts, the three dukes of Brabant, Bar, and Alençon, and the constable and admiral of France. The loss of the conquerors amounted to no more than sixteen hundred nien, with the earl of Suffolk and the duke of York, who perished fighting by the king's side, and had an end more honourable than his life. Henry became master of fourteen thousand prisoners, the most distinguished of whom were the dukes of Orleans and Bourbon, and the counts of Eu, Vendome, and Richmond. As many of the slain as it was possible to recognise were buried in the nearest churches, or conveyed to the tombs of their ancestors. The rest, to the number of five thousand eight hundred, were deposited in three long and deep pits dug in the field of battle. This vast cemetery was surrounded by a strong enclosure of thorns and trees, which pointed out to succeeding generations the spot, where the resolution of a few Englishmen triumphed over the impetuous but ill-directed valour of their numerous enemies. Henry returned to England by way of Dover: the crowd plunged into the waves to meet him: and the conqueror was carried in their arms from his vessel to the beach. The road to London exhibited one triumphal procession. The lords, commons, and clergy the mayor, aldermen, and citizens, conducted him into the capital: tapestry, re presenting the deeds of his ancestors, lined the walls of the houses: pageants were erected in the streets: sweet wines ran in the conduits: bands of children tastefully arrayed sang his praise: and the whole population seemed intoxicated with joy.-Lingard. This memorable achievement on Crispin's-day is immortalized by Shakspeare, in a speech that he assigns to Henry V before the battle. This day is called-the feast of Crispian : And say,-To-morrow is S. Crispian : Then will he strip his sleeve, and show his scars. But they'll remember, with advantages, What feats they did that day: Then shall our names, Harry the king, Bedford, and Exeter, Warwick, and Talbot, Salisbury, and Glo'ster,- We few, we happy few, we band of brothers And gentlemen in England, now abed, Shall think themselves accursed they were not here; In "Times Telescope" for 1816, it is observed, that "the shoemakers of the present day are not far behind their predecessors, in the manner of keeping St. Crispin. From the highest to the lowest it is a day of feasting and jollity. It is also, we believe, observed as a festival with the corporate body of cordwainers, or shoemakers, of London, but without any sort of procession on the occasion, except the proceeding to a good tavern to partake of a good dinner, and drink the pious memory of St. Crispin." On the 29th of July, 1822, the cordwainers of Newcastle held a coronation of their patron St. Crispin, and afterwards walked in procession through the several streets of that town. The coronation took place in the court of the Freemen's Hospital, at the Westgate, at eleven o'clock; soon after twelve, the procession moved forward through the principal streets of that town and Gateshead, and finally halted at the sign of the Chancellor's head, in Newgate-street, where the members of the trade partook of a dinner provided for the occasion. A great number of people assembled to witness the procession, as there had not been a similar exhibition since the year 1789.* The emperor Charles V. being curious to know the sentiments of his meanest subjects concerning himself and his administration, often went incog. and mixed himself in such companies and conversa tion as he thought proper. One night at Brussels, his boot requiring immediate mending, he was directed to a cobbler. Unluckily, it happened to be St. Crispin's holiday, and, instead of finding the cob bler inclined for work, he was in the height of his jollity among his acquaintance. The emperor acquainted him with what he wanted, and offered him a handgratuity." What, friend !" says the fellow, "do you know no better than to ask one of our craft to work on St. Crispin? Was it Charles himself, I'd not do a stitch for him now; but if you'll come in and drink St. Crispin, do and welcome: we are as merry as the emperor can be." some suppose you are some courtier politician or other, by that contemplative phiz; but be you who or what you will, you are heartily welcome :-drink about-here's Charles the Fifth's health."" Then you love Charles the Fifth?" replied the emperor.-" Love him!" says the son of Crispin; "ay, ay, I love his long-noseship well enough; but I should love him much better would he but tax us a little less; but what have we to do with politics? round with the glasses, and merry be our hearts." After a short stay, the emperor took his leave, and thanked the cobbler for his hospitable reception. "That," cried he, "you are welcome to; but I would not have dishonoured St. Crispin to-day to have worked for the emperor." Charles, pleased with the good nature and humour of the man, sent for him next morning to court. You must imagine his surprise to see and hear his late guest was his sovereign: he feared his joke upon his long nose inust be punished with death. The emperor thanked him for his hospitality, and, as a reward for it, bade him ask for what he most desired, and take the whole night to settle his surprise and his ambition. Next day he appeared, and requested that, for the future, the cobblers of Flanders might bear for their arms a boot with the emperor's crown upon it. That request was granted, and, as his ambition was so moderate, the emperor bade him make another. "If," says he, "I am to have my utmost wishes, command that, for the future, the company of cobblers shall take place of the company of shoemakers." It was, accordingly, so ordained; and, to this day, there is to be seen a chapel in Flanders, adorned with a boot and imperial crown on it: and in all processions, the company of cobblers takes precedence of the company of shoemakers. FLORAL DIRECTORY. Fleabane Starwort. Aster Conizoides. Dedicated to St. Crispin. Meagre Starwort. Aster miser. Dedicated to St. Crispinian. October 26, The emperor accepted the offer: but St. Evaristus, Pope, A. D. 112. Sts. Lu while he was contemplating their rude pleasure, instead of joining in it, the jovial host thus accosts him :-"What, I Sykes's Local Records. cian and Marcian. A. D. 250. It is noticed by Dr. Forster, that in a nild autumn late grapes now ripen c European Magazine, vol. al. |