manifest interest in treating their bondsmen humanely, because of the scarcity of labourers; while there is a superabundance of operatives here, and therefore no inducement for masters to be kind and humane beyond what the law of the land can enforce, or their own moral principles inculcate. There is one argument, however, that will have some weight even with those who do not regard the voice of conscience, or any Divine appeal, which may interfere with their sordid avarice-an avarice that treats, for the sake of gold, the tenderest of human beings as cattle or machinery-with which we close our extracts from Mr. Wing's work; for surely we have cited enough, not only to show how mighty are the concerns it treats of, but the ability and candour of the writer.

"I need scarcely advert to the national evils resulting from the factory system, as at present established; they are obvious to the most careless observer. That so numerous a class of the community should be suffered to remain in a state of discontent, after petitioning for relief from their grievances for upwards of thirty years; that they should witness the continned infraction by their masters of those laws which were meant for the protection, not of themselves, indeed, but of their children; that there should be no bond of union between them and their employers, but, except in comparatively few instances, mutual animosity; that from the want of religious, moral, and political knowledge, they should be left, as their opponents assert, the slaves of their fierce passions and ignorant prejudices; all these are fearful considerations, when joined to the reflection of their facilities for combination, and of the activity and intelligence that characterize many of their delegates. Well do they know their importance to our national resources, an importance likely to increase in proportion as our commercial intercourse with the world at large increases, and if they are not now heard, the time may come when they will make themselves felt. Many of the master-manufacturers have long been persuaded that the disaffection subsisting between them and the operatives should be put an end to; that the advantages of moderate labour should extend to all; and from the greater or less, if not utter, inefficiency of all the former acts, and from the daily vexations which the present has caused, and is causing. I feel confident that a ten-hour bill, rendering by its simplicity observance easy, and evasion next to impossible, will at length be conceded by Government, as the only measure that can produce permanent tranquillity and general satisfaction. There are many of the master manufacturers who deserve the commendation which the Bishop of Exeter has justly bestowed upon Mr. Fielden; many who, whether radicals, whigs, or conservatives, are worthy of respect and veneration; many who will rejoice to see the consummation of the benevolent wishes which they have so long entertained; and perhaps the masters of a different description, after having indulged in a little sordid regret, may find that their interests and their duties are not so much opposed to each other as they now imagine."

VOL. I. (1837) NO. III.

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ART. V.-Prolusiones Historica; or, Essays Illustrative of the Halle of John Halle, Citizen, and Merchant of Salisbury, in the Reigns of Henry VI. and Edward IV.: with Notes, Illustrative and Explanatory, by the REV. EDWARD DUKE, M. A., F. A. S., & L. S. 2 vols. Salisbury. W. B. Brodie and Co.

THE most antique features of the exterior of this book are not more curious, than are its contents. As a literary performance, few of our modern historical romances are half so much worth being read. Certainly we have never encountered any antiquarian disquisitions that were so amusing, delightful, and instructive. Seldom do the Fellows of the Antiquarian Society avoid being repulsively dry to ordinary readers when they begin to treat of their favourite studies. But there is nothing pompous, obscure, or useless in the present work. The author says that all he has aimed at, "has been to amuse his reader, and in plain, and intelligible speech, to tell him, the tale of the olden time. We must inform the Reverend Gentleman, however, or rather those who are in the habit of listening to us, that though the book may disclaim recondite knowledge, it is one which no stranger to such knowledge could write; and that though the diction and elocution of the work may not ape a meretriciously ornamented style, no one who has despised the graces inculcated by good taste, or who is unskilled at the pen, or who did not make all these accomplishments subservient to a nature and habits that are remarkably lively, could have produced such a book. Whether we regard the author's spirited and lightsome style, the ingenuity of his conjectures, or the extent of his reading and researches, these Prolusiones Historica possess no ordinary charm for the learned and the unlearned.

The expressions in the preface "the tale of the olden time”—the aspect of the first volume (which has as yet, alone appeared) and also not a few passages, some of which may meet the reader's eye the moment he opens the work, may lead to the surmise that the whole is a fiction, or "the illusion of a dream." Before diving into the body of the portion that is now before us, it is proper, therefore, to afford some account of the topics it discusses, and the circumstances that have induced the author to handle them in the present form and on the present occasion.

It would appear that from time immemorial the remains of an ancient mansion, situate on the New Canal, were known to exist in the faire citie of Salisbury, whither the antiquary or virtuoso would oft resort. A large hall, divided and subdivided into many small rooms, was there to be seen; but its history for long continued to be unknown. The premises, however, having lately fallen into the hands of an extensive dealer in China, he, at considerable expense,

has removed the comparatively modern partitions, and renovated the Halle, which is now to be seen in its original size and proportions. The elaborate character of the workmanship it displayed, and the beauty and massiveness of its designs, led to the opinion that it was an ancient refectory; but for the use of what fraternity was not so apparent. It contained many armorial shields, which heraldists deciphered; but one coat-of-arms (impaled with a merchant's mark) was a puzzle. After much research, however, the author did "by chance discover, that the arms alluded to were those of Halle of Salisbury." Having thus obtained a clue, he pursued his researches, aud after visiting museums, as well as consulting the records of the city of Salisbury, he obtained so many strong and well-combined proofs, that the splendid room in question wasthe Halle of John Halle-(who is the interesting hero of the present work, and who serves to furnish texts for a number of ingenious and delightful disquisitions upon some of the most interesting topics of Antiquarianism)-that he is to be pitied who would any longer disbelieve. One formal extract from the preface, must conduct us to the body of the work, after informing our readers, that this first volume is restricted more particularly to the history of its Hero, whereas the second will descant on the peculiarities of the Halle itself, its splendid and unique architecture, &c.

"The Author now begs leave to remark, that, although there exist many fine specimens of baronial halls, yet (as he at present believes) Crosby Hall and the Halle of John Halle are the only two, which are well ascertained to have belonged to private merchants of the former age. It is a remarkable fact, that these two halls were erected within ten years of each other-that their owners were both merchants of the staple-both dealers in wool, and men of great affluence-contemporaries— and as is, probable, intimate friends.

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Crosby Hall has, from its connexion with historic facts, and its mention by our great dramatist, Shakspeare, obtained, and deservedly so, great celebrity; but yet the Author is bold enough to place the Halle of John Halle in competition with it, and is sanguine enough to hope, that the latter will, in time, divide with the former the attention of antiquaries, and men of taste. It is very true, that their relative sizes vary greatly-that Crosby Hall exceeds the Halle of John Halle in length, breadth, and height, yet the latter wonderfully surpasses the former in its state of preservation, and is indeed an architectural bijou. Its windows are richly filled with painted glass, and the roof is, in his opinion, an unique specimen of architecture. It has no pendants in common with Eltham and Crosby Halls, and many others, and neither does it openly show its raftering as is the case with the halls at Hampton Court, &c.; but the roof of the Halle of John Halle has this beautiful peculiarity, that the quadrangular compartments, or parallelograms, formed by the intersection of the principals, or main timbers, with the purlins, are covered in, the one half of each with a semi-circular, and scolloped, panelling, the other with plaster. The alternation of the dark panel and the lighter-coloured plaster in this, thus

varied roof, delights the eye of the spectator to a degree, that cannot be conceived. In addition to these circumstances, the Author must remark, that much more is known of the owner of the one hall than of the other. Little is known, comparatively, of Sir John Crosby. The reader will be gratified at receiving the intelligence of many curious incidents of the life of John Halle.

Let us now to the Hero of the Tale, that we may become acquainted "with the station of life, in which he moved with his armorial honours-with the merchant's mark, and-with his memorable deeds-nay John Halle himself will make his bow accoutred in the elegant costume of his day."

It may well puzzle the reader, when he has only perused our author's preface, to understand how two goodly octavo volumes are to be constructed, and yet detail facts in biography and deal honestly with credulity, when the reigns of Henry VI. and Edward IV., point to the era to be described. But the writer has a method of his own, and can without fatiguing the reader, render the slightest notices and the slenderest threads of information the vehicle and index to a vast deal of interesting and important matter. He possesses one quality that adds greatly to the charm of his pages; and this consists of the heartfelt love which he cherishes for his subject, and the manifest delight which its treatment must have yielded to him. His enthusiasm not only carries him forward gallantly and warmly, but having formed a very distinct and affectionate estimate of John Halle, it enables him to picture vividly the object of his admiration, and to preserve the individuality of a sterling character with singular effect.

The work commences with an Essay on the Origin of Names, the name of Halle, suggesting the theme. Here, as in the other divisions of the work, although there be repeated much that has no claims to originality, yet the information is so pleasantly and plainly communicated, that even to those conversant with such researches, it will be acceptable; nay a hasty abridgement or summary of some of the doctrines and principles thus advanced, we have no doubt, will be welcomed by our readers.

The origin of Names becomes an interesting inquiry; and fortunately the investigation, in as far as general points are concerned, and even as regards a vast number of individual instances, becomes perfectly satisfactory. Distinctive appellations or references must be employed wherever social intercourse exists among mankind. It is well known that the Romans had their Prænomen, Nomen, and Cognomen, the last answering to our Surname, which, it is supposed, was first employed for particular distinctive purposes, during the existence of the republic in its most flourishing condition. It is held, however, that our Saxon forefathers had but one Name, and our author thinks it probable that even such a distinction was but

allotted to him who bore the higher rank. But it is not easy to conceive how individuals of an inferior grade were to be designated or pointed out, unless by some verbal sign, although none but those of superior stamp and consideration might appear deserving of being written in a book. The subject, nevertheless, affords an opportunity for our antiquary to display the nature of his researches regarding it.

"In Doomsday Book the names of the Saxon Proprietors of land appear with but one name, and I cannot refrain from giving here an interesting instance, inasmuch as it is also an amusing proof of parochial etymology. In that invaluable, and very early, document (with the view of which I have been gratified, but which no hand is permitted to touch, its leaves being turned over with other aid) the account of the manor of Fittleton, (a parish in my neighbourhood) thus opens : "Rainerius tenet de Roberto Vileltone. Vitel tenuit T. R. E." (tempore Regis Edwardi)" et geldabat pro 10 hidis:" that is, "Rainerius holds Viteltone of Robertus. Vitel held it in the time of King Edward, and it was assessed at 10 hides. The manor and residence of Vitel, the Saxon, was thus called Vitel's Ton or Town; this became contracted by the Normans into Viteltone, and in these our days has been by the interchange of a letter softened down into Fittleton. In the above short extract, we have the interesting fact of the use of four single names,-Vitel, the Saxon, Rainerius and Robertus, who were Normans, and King Edward, the Saxon, contradistinguished in later ages as "The Confessor." On the Norman Invasion the feudal system was introduced, and with it the maxim, that all lands were held mediately or immediately, from the King. There were comparatively but few estates, which were not seized, and granted away to the followers of William, the First; and, as these held their possessions subject to the feudal rights of the Crown, so did they, as superior Lords, regrant on subfeudatory conditions lesser portions of their domains; and thus did Rainerius hold Viteltone under Robertus (called in Doomsday Book "filius Giroldi"), who, it appears, also held the adjoining manors of Mildestone and Brismartone (now Milstone and Brigmilstone) with many others. That the parochial name of Fittleton is derived, as having been the residence of Vitel, the Saxon, is a truth so obvious, that it must be admitted.

It is satisfactorily shown that at the period of the Norman Conquest, patronymics or family Names, were unknown. Even William the First, himself, was called the Conqueror, not as a Surname, but as a descriptive title. His son was called Rufus, in consideration of his red hair. Thus the third Earl of Anjou, bore the name of Plantagenet, on account of the sprig of broom he wore-or Plantagenista. In the course of time the place of residence became the Norman affix, such as Giraldus de Wiltune; thus also, he who was named Richard of Grimsteed, says the author, became Richard Grimsteed, of Grimsteed. As the people receded from barbarism, it began to be considered, says Camden

A disgrace for a gentleman to have but one single name, as the