"In this case Mrs. Selina Soper complained that Mr. James Clarke, mine host of the Bishop Blaze public house near the Shilhay, had assaulted her on the 25th April, - torn her Tuscan bonnet, and damaged her frock, - for gowns no longer form part of the habiliments of woman.
"It appeared that Wm. Soper, the goodly mate of Selina, at an early party in the morning on the day in question, betook himself, with other boon companions, to the Bishop Blaze, where he staid about three hours, and drank six half pints of beer! In the meantime Selina reached home, and found a pan of milk that was intended to be scalded only, on the brink of ruin. Boiling with rage, even if the milk did not, she set out in search of her truant husband, and finding him at "The Bishop" - if the sign was not fully represented before, - she soon rendered the portraiture complete, by truly setting all in a blaze. This Mr. Clarke disapproved of , as well a landlord may, and proceeded vi et armis to eject the lady from the premises; - a matter that, calling forth the husband, a battle royal ensued.
"That blood had been spilt on either side there was no reason to doubt, - and as little that the jemmy Tuscan bonnet, and frock of cotton print had been torn. But the knotty question with the Bench was, had a greater degree of force been made use of in ejected the exited and turbulent Selina from the house than was necessary.
"Mr. G. W. Turner addressed the Bench, on the part of "mine host" of the Blaze, most eloquently on this point. But the Bench decided that this had been the case. Considering however that great provocation had been given on the other side, it contented itself with imposing on Mr. Clarke the fine of 1s. and the expenses. Mr. Turner advised him to pay this, but under protest, if he shall hereafter determine to appeal to the Quarter Sessions against the judgement. And in order to await this, the "tuscan" and the frock, were delivered into the care of Fulford, an officer."
This trivial tale, as reported in The Exeter Flying Post for 7th May 1845, follows a path well-trodden at the time. The truant husband is followed into the pub by the furious wife and the landlord throws her out, or tries to. In this case the intrepid Selina takes the innkeeper to court and wins her case even if her victory is distinctly Pyrric.
The Bishop Blaze: is still a public house near (or on) the Shilhay in Exeter. Saint Blaise was a fourth century, Armenian, Christian martyr and the patron saint of wool-combers hence his connection to the city.
Gowns and frocks: We would seem to be at a significant point in the history of women's fashion with Selina Soper, perhaps, supercool in her frock of cotton print and with her tuscan bonnet.
Scalding milk: was a common practice to kill bacteria in fresh milk - but I like to think our Selina was hoping to make some Devonshire (clotted) cream.
Vi et armis: by main force, as every schoolboy knew.
A Tuscan bonnet: seems to have been a luxury item. I warm to Selina Soper.
Mine host: is still common, and sometimes even vulgar. I wonder how it was pronounced. These days, in my experience, everyone, those who couldn't care less and those who are nice about these things, say, mine host, which must be wrong, it is like saying an happle. I guess its popularity stems from the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales!
Jemmy: is not in my dictionary of slang (the Oxford). Etymonline has the fascinating etymology: "a pop form of the masc. proper name James ....In mid 18c. often associated with effeminancy and male fastidiousness, hence jemmy "spruce, neat."
The tool seems to have the same origin. I have never seen jemmy (adj.) before but no doubt it is still in use somewhere, - the Appalachians or Botany Bay or Tiverton or somewhere!
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