In these instances we see at a glance the origin of the licentious Aphra Behn's name, which looks so like a _nom-de-plume_, and has puzzled many. She was born at Canterbury, with the surname of Johnson, baptized Aphra, and married a Dutch merchant named Behn. When acting as a Government spy at Antwerp in 1666, she signs a letter "Aphara Behn" (C. S. P.), which is nearer the Biblical form than many others. It is just possible her father might have rolled himself several times in the dust had he lived to read some of his daughter's writings. Their tone is not Puritanic. The name has become obsolete; indeed, it scarcely survived the seventeenth century, dying out within a hundred years of its rise. But it was very popular in its day. Rachel, in her dying pains, had styled, under deep depression, her babe Benoni ("son of my sorrow"); but his father turned it into the more cheerful Benjamin ("son of the right hand"). Of course, Puritanism sided with the mother, and the Benonis flourished at a ratio of six to one over the Benjamins: "1607. Christened Benony, sonne of Beniamyn Ruthin, mariner."--Stepney. "1661, Dec. 20. Christened Margrett, d. of Bennoni Wallington, goldsmith."--St. Dionis Backchurch. "1637, May 6. Order to transmit Benoni Bucke to England from Virginia."--"C. S. P. Colonial." "1656, March 25. Petition of Benoni Honeywood."--"C. S. P. Colonial." I don't think, however, all these mothers died in childbed. It would speak badly for the chirurgic skill of the seventeenth century if they did. It was the Church of Christ that was in travail. _Ichabod_ was equally common. There was something hard and unrelenting in Jael (already mentioned) that naturally suited the temper of every fanatic: "1613, July 28. Christened Jaell, d. of Roger Manwaryng, preacher."--St. Helen, Bishopsgate. Mehetabell had something in it, probably its length, that made it popular among the Puritan faction. It lasted well, too: "1680, March 24. Married Philip Penn and Mehittabela Hilder."--Cant. Cath. "1693, May 21. Baptized Mehetabell, d. of Jeremiah Hart, apothecary."--St. Dionis Backchurch. But while Deborah, an especial pet of the fanatics, Sara, Rebecca, Rachel, Zipporah, and Leah were in high favour as Old Testament heroines, none had such a run as Abigail: "1573, Oct. Abigoll Cumberford, christened."--Stepney. "1617, Oct. 15. Christened Abbigale, d. of John Webb, shoemaker."--St. Peter, Cornhill. "1635, Jan. 19. Married Jarrett Birkhead and Abigaile Whitehead."--Ditto. "May 30, 1721. Married Robert Elles and Abigail Six."--Cant. Cath. Few Scripture names made themselves so popular as this. At the conclusion of the sixteenth century it was beginning its career, and by Queen Anne's day had reached its zenith. When the Cavalier was drinking at the alehouse, he would waggishly chant through his nose, with eye upturned--