ii s. v. FEB. 10, 1912.] NOTES AND QUERIES.
Ill
DICKENS KNOCKERS. I have in my pos-
session a bedroom door-knocker, which
commemorates the birth and death of the
novelist. It measures about 4J by 2 in.
The bust of Dickens in the centre is sur-
rounded by a scroll design, each division of
which is inscribed with the name of one of
ten of his novels. The knock would be
the result of the impact of a spirited metal
reproduction of Mr. Micawber, Mr. Pickwick,
and Little Dorrit upon a representation of
the house where Dickens was born.
Another knocker of a similar size which I have seen is an oblong piece of metal with the figures of Silas Wegg, Sam Weller, and Pickwick over those of Pecksniff, Sydney Carton, and Barnaby Rudgc, a band of metal inscribed "Born 1812, died 1870," forming the handle of the knocker. There are doubtless many such knockers and imitations of them in existence. Can any follower of Capt. Cuttle supply information as to their vogue and subsequent disuse ?
E. J. M. E.
'LILLIBULLERO.'
(11 S. v. 28.)
MR. BRESLAR will find nearly all he wants to know about " Lilliburlero " and -" bul- linala " in ' Knight's Store of Knowledge ' (1841), pp. 297 and 307 the treatise 'The Old English Ballads,' by Allan Cunningham. He states that the change from James II. to William III.
" was greatly brought about by the scoffing ballad of ' Lilliburlero ' ; the profligate Lord Wharton penned, it is said, this satiric ditty in revenge for the King having made Richard Talbot viceroy of Ireland. The song took its name from the Papist
watchword in the terrible massacre of 1641
It made an impression, says Bui-net, on the King's army that cannot be imagined by those that saw it not. The whole army, and at last the whole people, both in city and country, were singing it perpetually ; and perhaps never had so slight thing so great an effect."
The song is set out by Allan Cunningham, and the meaning of each verse is explained by him.
Macaulay, in his ' History of England ' (7th edition), vol. ii. chap. ix. p. 428, refers to ' Lillibullero,' and says that " these verses, which were in no respect above the ordinary standard of street poetry, had for burden some gibberish which was said to have
been used as a watchword by the insurgents of
Ulster in 1641."
In a note he says :
" The song of Lillibullero is among the State Poems. In Percy's ' Belies ' the first part will be found, but not the second part, which was added after William's landing. In The Examiner and in several pamphlets of 1712 Wharton is mentioned as the author."
Macaulay also says that
" Wharton afterwards rboasted that he had sung a king out of three kingdoms."
It will be noticed that the spelling differs : Cunningham has " Lilliburlero," and Mac- aulay " Lillibullero."
There is some further information about this song in ' D.N.B.,' vol. Ix. p. 418, in the biography of Thomas Wharton, 1st Marqufs of Wharton. It is there stated that the song described
" the mutual congratulations of a couple of ' Teagues ' upon the coming triumph of popery and the Irish race. The verses attracted little notice at first, but set to a quick step by Purcell, the song, known by its burden of ' Lilli Burlero, Bullen-a-la,' became a powerful weapon against James."
It was first printed in 1688 on a single sheet as ' A New Song,' with the air above the words. I think that most persons who study these verses will consider them far above " the ordinary standard of street poetry."
The great disturbance about the Jews in 1753 was owing to the introduction and passing of a Bill for the naturalization of Jews born abroad, and admitting them to the privileges of Jews born in this country. This Act was repealed in the next session in obedience to an unconquerable popular arejudice. There were, in fact, petitions aresented to Parliament for its repeal from
- he Corporation of London and from all the
other cities.
In Grove's ' Dictionary of Music,' vol. ii. D. 138, there is a good account of ' Lilli- jurlero,' and the music by Purcell is there , as well as the words :
The first strain has been commonly sung as a chorus in convivial parties :
A very good song, and very well sung,
Jolly companions every one.
And it is the tune to the nursery rhyme "
There was an old woman toss'd up on a blanket Ninety-nine times as high as the moon.
A large number of other songs have been written to
the air at various times."
This article is by William Chappell, F.S.A.
HARRY B. Pox AND. Inner Temple.
