| Citation |
MG-A(G.750.005
24 Jan 1750:11 (248)
. . . [16 lines of a letter addressed to Jonas Green,
printer of the Maryland Gazette, describing the history of
the first printing house in England, which the writer
asserts was in a chapel of Westminster Abbey, and to which
the writer ascribes the origin of many customs of the
printing house, such as the following]
If a printer therefore sets up in a house, where never any
printer worked before, that part of the house where the
press is erected is consecrated; which ceremony is
performed, at the master's command, by the senior freeman,
or father of the chapel: It is performed by drinking success
to the master, sprinkling the walls with strong-beer, and
singing the Cuz's Anthem, and the whole solemnity is
concluded with a supper given by the master. . . [37 lines
describing several other ceremonies, concluding with the
ceremony by which an apprentice is made a Cuz].
While the boy is still upon his knees, the chapelonians,
with their right arms a cross the lappets of their coats,
walk round him, and sing the Cuz's Anthem; which is done in
a musical tone of voice, by adding all the vowels to the
consonants, as follows.
THE CUZ'S ANTHEM.
Ba, Ba,
Be, Be, Ba-be,
Bi, Bi, Ba be bi,
Bo, Bo, Ba-be-bi bo,
Bu, Bu, Ba-be bi bo-bu.
Ca, Ca,. . . [4 lines completeing C]
And so proceeding through the rest of the consonants.
. . . [26 lines, signed] Yours, &c., Nic. Turntype
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