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قراءة كتاب Explanatory Notes of a Pack of Playing Cards, Temp Charles II. Forming a Complete Political Satire of the Commonwealth
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Explanatory Notes of a Pack of Playing Cards, Temp Charles II. Forming a Complete Political Satire of the Commonwealth
Introduction.
Through the courtesy of Lord Nelson, the very curious Pack of Cards here presented in facsimile was placed at the disposal of the Aungervyle Society of Edinburgh. The Committee of this Society were very anxious to reproduce these extremely quaint memorials of a by-gone age, but on enquiry it was found that the cost of re-engraving the fifty-two cards on copper, the only really satisfactory method, would be far beyond the means of a Society then barely numbering 120 members. Being Honorary Secretary both the Aungervyle and Clarendon Historical Societies, I suggested that the work should be undertaken at the joint expense of the two Societies. This was rather outside the plans of the Clarendon, but the Committee at length agreed to provide a portion of the necessary funds on condition that after the fifty-two cards had been re-produced in thirteen plates, accompanied by a small explanatory pamphlet, a second series of the Cards, the precise fac-simile of the originals, should be presented to each member of the two Societies. There still remained, however, a considerable sum to be raised. I thereupon proposed, after satisfying the above conditions, to purchase the plates from the Societies. These are now in my possession. The work, executed by the firm of Murdoch and Son, of this City, is perfect in every detail, and heavy though the cost has been, I feel sure that in this case at any rate, the object aimed at has been fully attained. Not a line, not a stroke of the original, but appears in exact counterpart in the reprint.
Lord Nelson, unfortunately, had lost, or never had in his possession, two Cards, the ace and three of hearts. After much trouble, these have been supplied from another source, and, with the exception that the figures of Cromwell and Fairfax in the latter are on a somewhat smaller scale than those on the threes of the other suits, it would be difficult to suspect that they did not belong to the original pack.
In the following notes, I have merely attempted to explain the allusions contained in the Cards. A few however remain riddles to me.
EDMUND GOLDSMID.
Edinburgh, 12th October 1885.
A PACK OF CAVALIER PLAYING CARDS.
(Circa 1660.)
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1. Ace of Hearts Cromwell, Ireton and Hudson all in ye same boate. In 1650, Cromwell was named Commander-in-Chief in Ireland; Ireton, his son-in-law, his deputy; and Hewson or Huson (here misprinted Hudson) governor of Dublin. In the plate they are sailing away from the sun of loyalty towards the night of treason. The portrait of Cromwell at the stern is not to be mistaken. Next to him is Hewson distinguished from Ireton by his older features. 2. Ace of Clubs A Free State or a Toleration for all sorts of Villany. In the Mystery of the Good Old Cause* (London 1660) a Royalist attack on the leading members of the Long Parliament, the author says of the Roundheads, "Their pretences were no doubt the most specious and plausible that could be imagined,... but, alas! never were these things more pretended to, and less in reality designed; greatness, wealth and command were the inducements of the most hypocritical persons in the world to profane the name of God ... to murder many innocent persons ... to ruin many noble families, etc., ... but let destruction be the reward of our destroyers, let the prey be torn out of their teeth, let the blood they have shed fall upon their own heads, and let their names be detested and infamous to all posterity!" * Reprinted by the Aungervyle Society. Second Series. 3. Ace of Spades. Bradshaw, the jaylor and ye hangman, keepers of the liberty of England. Bradshaw was appointed president of the High Court of Justice in 1648, a year "of reproach and infamy above all years which had passed before it; a year of the highest dissimulation and hypocrisy, of the deepest villany and most bloody treasons, that any nation was ever cursed with or under: a year, in which the memory of all transactions ought to be erased from all records, lest, by the success of it, atheism, infidelity and rebellion, should be propagated in the world." (Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, vol. iii. p. 154, Oxford 1726, folio). He was born in 1586, died in 1659, and his body exhumed and hung in chains at the Restoration. He was a cousin of Milton, who has written a Eulogy of him in his Second Defense of the People of England. 4. Ace of Diamonds. The High Court of Justice or Oliver's Slaughter-House. "The charge and accusation, upon which they resolved to proceed against the King, being thus settled and agreed upon, they began to consider in what manner and form to proceed, that there might be some appearance of justice.... A new form they did erect never before heard of. They constituted and erected a Court that should be called the High Court of Justice. The number of the Judges named was about an hundred and fifty ... Bradshaw ... was named president ... and with great humility accepted the office, which he administered with all the pride, impudence, and superciliousness imaginable."—(Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, vol. iii. p. 138-139). |
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1. Ace of Hearts Cromwell, Ireton and Hudson all in ye same boate. In 1650, Cromwell was named Commander-in-Chief in Ireland; Ireton, his son-in-law, his deputy; and Hewson or Huson (here misprinted Hudson) governor of Dublin. In the plate they are sailing away from the sun of loyalty towards the night of treason. The portrait of Cromwell at the stern is not to be mistaken. Next to him is Hewson distinguished from Ireton by his older features. 2. Ace of Clubs A Free State or a Toleration for all sorts of Villany. In the Mystery of the Good Old Cause* (London 1660) a Royalist attack on the leading members of the Long Parliament, the author says of the Roundheads, "Their pretences were no doubt the most specious and plausible that could be imagined,... but, alas! never were these things more pretended to, and less in reality designed; greatness, wealth and command were the inducements of the most hypocritical persons in the world to profane the name of God ... to murder many innocent persons ... to ruin many noble families, etc., ... but let destruction be the reward of our destroyers, let the prey be torn out of their teeth, let the blood they have shed fall upon their own heads, and let their names be detested and infamous to all posterity!" * Reprinted by the Aungervyle Society. Second Series. 3. Ace of Spades. Bradshaw, the jaylor and ye hangman, keepers of the liberty of England. Bradshaw was appointed president of the High Court of Justice in 1648, a year "of reproach and infamy above all years which had passed before it; a year of the highest dissimulation and hypocrisy, of the deepest villany and most bloody treasons, that any nation was ever cursed with or under: a year, in which the memory of all transactions ought to be erased from all records, lest, by the success of it, atheism, infidelity and rebellion, should be propagated in the world." (Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, vol. iii. p. 154, Oxford 1726, folio). He was born in 1586, died in 1659, and his body exhumed and hung in chains at the Restoration. He was a cousin of Milton, who has written a Eulogy of him in his Second Defense of the People of England. 4. Ace of Diamonds. The High Court of Justice or Oliver's Slaughter-House. "The charge and accusation, upon which they resolved to proceed against the King, being thus settled and agreed upon, they began to consider in what manner and form to proceed, that there might be some appearance of justice.... A new form they did erect never before heard of. They constituted and erected a Court that should be called the High Court of Justice. The number of the Judges named was about an hundred and fifty ... Bradshaw ... was named president ... and with great humility accepted the office, which he administered with all the pride, impudence, and superciliousness imaginable."—(Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, vol. iii. p. 138-139). |
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5. II of Hearts. Onsley. Father and Sonne. This is evidently a misprint for Onslow. Sir Richard Onslow, Kt., "of the old stamp, a gentleman of Surrey, of good parts and considerable revenue," successfully weathered the tempests of the period. He was commander at the siege of Basing House, was driven from the House of Commons by Pride's Purge, and was afterwards at the head of a Surrey regiment at Worcester. He spoke strongly in favour of Cromwell's becoming king. Later he became a member of the Convention Parliament which restored Charles II. 6. II of Clubs. Lenthall. Father and Sonn. William Lenthall, of Lincoln's Inn, a Counsellor at Law, and Speaker of the House of Commons. "Oliver (Cromwell) once made a spunge of him, and squeezed him out of £15,000. Who turning him and his tribe out of doors, he veered about to save himself and his great offices; and he that had been so long bell-weather in the Commons House, was thought, for his compliance and his money, to deserve to be one of the herd of Lords in the Other House," (Mystery of the Good Old Cause.) John Lenthall, son of the speaker, was knighted by Oliver Cromwell, made a Colonel of foot, and governor of Windsor Castle. 7. II of Spades. Parry. Father and Sonne. Query, Sir George Parry, one of the Commissioners for Dorsetshire, who with those of Somerset and Cornwall, met Prince Rupert at Bridgewater shortly before the Battle of Naseby?—(Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, vol. ii. p. 393). 8. II of Diamonds. Vane. Father and Sonne. "Sir Henry Vane was of very ordinary parts by Nature, and had not cultivated them at all by art, for he was illiterate. But being of a stirring and boisterous disposition, very industrious and very bold, he still wrought himself into some employment.... His malice to the Earl of Strafford transported him to all imaginable thoughts of revenge, ... and that disposed him to sacrifice his honour and faith and his Master's interest, that he might ruin the Earl, and was buried himself in the same ruin; for which, being justly chastised by the |