Chapter I: Part 1

NOTES AND QUERIES

A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION FOR LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.

* * * * *

"When found, make a note of."--CAPTAIN CUTTLE.

* * * * *

NO. 11.] SATURDAY, JANUARY 12. 1850. [Price Threepence. Stamped Edition, 4d.

* * * * *

CONTENTS.

NOTES:--
Sir E. Dering's Household Book, by E. Rimbault
Bayswater and its Origin
Eva, Daughter of D. MacMurrough
Plagiarisms, or Parallel Passages
Billingsgate
Notes from Fly-Leaves, No. 4.
Opinions on English Historians, No. II.--Lord Clarendon

MISCELLANIES:--
Books by the Yard--Thistle of Scotland--Miry-land
Town--Richard Greene of Lichfield--Lobster on
Medal of Pretender--Marescantia--Macaulay's Young
Levite--Travelling in England--Warning to Watchmen
--Ælfric's Colloquy--Humble Pie--By Hook or
by Crook--Origin of Grog--Barnacles--Vondel's
Lucifer--Dr. Faustus--To Fettle, &c.

QUERIES:--
Catacombs and Bone-houses, by Rev. A. Gatty
Contradictions in Don Quixote, &c., by S.W. Singer
Ancient Alms-Basins
Minor Queries:--Cupid Crying--Was Sir G. Jackson
Junius?--Ballad of Dick and the Devil--Erasmus'
Paraphrase--Iland Chest--Court of Wards--Ancient
Tiles--Pilgrimage of kings--Anthony Bek--Welsh
Custom--Fall of Rain--Metal for Telescopes--Colonel
Blood's House--Lucas's MS.--Theophania--MS.
Account of Britain

MISCELLANEOUS:--
Notes on Books, Catalogues, Sales, &c.
Books and Odd Volumes wanted
Notices to Correspondents
Advertisements

* * * * *

SIR EDWARD DERING'S[1] HOUSEHOLD BOOK, A.D. 1648-52.

About ten years since, I remember seeing, in the hands of a London bookseller, a curious MS. purporting to be the "Household Book of Receipts and Expences of Sir Edward Dering, Bart., of Surrenden Dering, Kent, from Lady-Day, 1648, to April, 1652." It was a think folio, in the original binding, entirely in the hand-writing of the distinguished baronet.

Sir Edward was the only son of Sir Edward Dering, the first baronet, by his second wife, Anne, daughter of Sir John Ashburnham, of Ashburnham, Sussex, Knt. He succeeded to the baronetcy upon the death of his father, in 1644, and married Mary, daughter of Daniel Harvey, Esq., of Combe, Surrey, who was brother of the famous Dr. Harvey, the discoverer of the circulations of the blood.

The volume commences at Lady-day, 1648, with the gifts of his grandmother Cramond, and his uncles Dr. Harvey and Eliab Harvey. Nov. 8. 1648, is a memorandum of receipts of "the full remainder of the three thousand pounds he was to pay me on my marriage." The receipts close March 25. 1652, with "a note of what money I have received for rent, wood, &c.; in effect, what I have to live upon, for four years, 1413_l_. 8_s_." The expenses begin at the same period; and among the earliest is, "given my wife, in gold, 100_l_." Under the date Aug. 4. 1648, we read, "Item: paid Mr. Edward Gibbes, to the use, and by the appointment of my sister Dorothy, it being her portion, 1200_l_." Dorothy was probably Sir Edward's only sister, by the same mother, Sir Edward, the first baronet's second wife. Her sun of life soon set; for Feb. 21. 1650, a whole page is occupied with items of mourning "at the death of my deare and only sister, the Lady Darell."

Independently of the frequent notices of relatives, almost serving as a family history, there are entries of high interest to the general historian and the antiquary. The costs of every article of use and virtue are set down in full, and a few of the items (which I find in my Common-place Book) will serve as a specimen of the general contents:--

"1648. July 31. It. for seeing two plaies with my
wife, &c., coach hire, &c., 1_l_. 6_s_.
-- Sept. 2. It. paid the upholsterer for a
counterpayne to the yellow
petuana bed 3_l_. 10_s_.
-- Sept. 7. Paid Mr. Winne, for a tippet of
sables for my wife 14_l_.
-- Nov. 23. For a copy of Marg. Dering's
office 9_s_.
-- Dec. 23. It. paid Mr. Le Neve, in part for
my wife's picture 3_l_.
-- Mar. 8. It. a velvet saddle furniture for
my wife, 13_l_. It. black sattin,
for a gown for her, 7_l_. It. two
diamond rings 13_l_.

"1649. April 16. It. given seeing Rechampton-House 6_s_.
-- April 28. It. paid Mr. Le Neve, the remainder
due for my wife's picture,
3_l_. 4s. It. paid him for a
picture of the king. 2_l_. It. paid
him for a new frame to my
grandmother's -- 6_s_.
"1649. May 9. Item, given at John Tradeskin's
[Tradescant] -- 2_s_. 6_d_.
--- June 1. Paid Mr. Lawes, a month's
teaching of my wife -- 1_l_. 10_s_.
--- Sept 1. It. spent at Tunbridge Welles, in
19 dayes stay -- 26_l_, 8_s_.
"1650. April 8. It. paid Mr. Lilly [Sir Peter] for
my wife's picture -- 5_l_.
"1651. April 21. It. paid Mr. Lelie for my picture,
5_l_. It. paid him for my wife's
picture, being larger, 10_l_. It.
given Mr. Lelie's man, 5_s_.
--- April 23. It. paid Frank Rower for a frame
for my wife's picture 4_l_.
--- Aug. 7. Spent in Spring Gardens, and
coach hire thither -- 17_s_.
--- Sept. 3. Baubles at Bartholomew fayre, 4_s_.
--- Oct. 3. It. given the Scots prisoners, 8_s_.
--- Nov. 13. It. paid for bringing a great cake
from Richborow -- 3_s_.
--- March 9. Twelve paire of gloves given my
Valentine, the Lady Palmer
1_l_. 12_s_.
--- March 22. It. paid Mr. Lilly for Mrs.
Montague's picture, the larger size
10_l_.

The entry concerning the Celebrated Henry Lawes, _Milton's Tuneful Harry_, is very interesting, and is well illustrated by the following dedication, prefixed to Lawes' _Second Book of Ayres and Dialogues_, 1655:--

_"To the Honourable the Lady Dering, Wife to Sir Edward Dering, of
Surenden Dering, Bart._

"Madam,--I have consider'd, but could not finde it lay in my power,
to offer this Book to any but your Ladiship. Not only in regard of
that honour and esteem you have for Musick, but because those Songs
which fill this Book have receiv'd much lustre by your excellent
performance of them; and (which I confesse I rejoice to sepak of)
some, which I esteem the best of these ayres, were of your own
composition, after your noble husband was pleas'd to give the
words. For (although your Ladiship resolv'd to keep it private) I
beg leave to declare, for my own honour, that you are not only
excellent for the time you spent in the practice of what I set, but
are yourself so good a composer, that few of any sex have arriv'd
to such perfection. So as this Book (at least a part of it) is not
Dedicated, but only brought home to your Ladiship. And here I would
say (could I do it without sadness), how pretious to my thoughts is
the memory of your excellent Mother (that great example of prudence
and charity), whose pious meditations were often advanc'd by
hearing your voice. I wish all prosperity to your Ladiship, and to
him who (like yourself) is made up of Harmony; to say nothing of
the rest of his high accomplishments of wisdome and learning. May
you both live long, happy in each other, when I am become ashes;
who, while I am in this world, shall be ever found, Madame,

"Your Ladiship's humble Admirer
"and faitnful Servant,
"HENRY LAWES."

The Derings appear to have been great lovers and patrons of music; and one of their family, Richard, practised the art as his profession. This excellent musician was educated in Italy; and, when his education was completed, he returned to England with great reputation. He resided in his own country for some time, but, upon a very pressing invitation, went to Brussels, and became organist to the convent of English nuns there. From the marriage of Charles I., until the time when that monarch left England, he was organist to the Queen. In 1610 he was admitted to the degree of Bachelor in Music at Oxford, and died in the communion of the Church of Rome, about the year 1657.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

* * * * *

BAYSWATER AND ITS ORIGIN.

A piece of topographical history was disclosed at the recent trial of a cause at Westminster, which it may be worth while to record among your "Notes." The Dean and Chapter of Westminster are possessed of the manor of Westbourne Green, in the parish of Paddington, parcel of the possessions of the extinct Abbey of Westminster. It must have belonged to the Abbey when _Domesday_ was compiled; for, though neither Westbourne nor Knightsbridge (also a manor of the same house) is specially named in that survey, yet we know, from a later record, viz. a _Quo Warranto_ in 22 Edward I., that both of those manors were members, or constituent hamlets, of the vill of Westminster, which is mentioned in _Domesday_ among the lands of the Abbey. The most considerable tenant under the abbot in this vill was _Bainiardus_, probably the same Norman associate of the Conqueror who is called Baignardus and Bainardus in other parts of the survey, and who gave his name to Baynard's Castle.

The descent of the land held by him of the abbot cannot be clearly traced: but his name long remained attached to part of it; and, as late as the year 1653, a parliamentary grant of the Abbey or Chapter lands to Foxcrafte and another, describes "the common field at Paddington" as being "near a place commonly called _Baynard's Watering_."

In 1720, the lands of the Dean and Chapter in the same common field are described, in a terrier of the Chapter, to be the occupation of Alexander Bond, of _Bear's Watering_, in the same parish of Paddington.

The common field referred to, is the well-known piece of garden ground lying between Craven Hill and the Uxbridge road, called also _Bayswater Field_.

We may therefore fairly conclude, that this portion of ground, always remarkable for its springs of excellent water, once supplied water to Baynard, his household, or his cattle; that the memory of his name was preserved in the neighbourhood for six centuries; and that his watering-place now figures on the outside of certain green omnibuses in the streets of London, under the name of BAYSWATER.

E.S.

* * * * *

EVA, DAUGHTER OF DERMOT MACMURROUGH.

Being a subscriber to Mr. O'Donovan's new translation of _The Annals of the Four Masters_, I beg to inform your correspondent, "A HAPLESS HUNTER" (No. 6, p. 92.), that the copy which I possess begins with the year 1172; consequently, it is hopeless to refer to the years 1135 and 1169. In 1173 the death of Mulmurry Mac-Murrough is recorded; as also of Dermot O'Kaelly, from whom the family name of Kelly is derived; but I do not find any notice of the daughter of Dermot MacMurrough.

J.I.

Oxford.

If some earlier note-taker has not anticipated me, please to inform your correspondent from Malvern Wells that the published portion of the _Annals of the Four Masters_, by O'Donovan, commences with the year 1172. The earlier portion of the _Annals_ is in the press, and will shortly appear. When it sees the light, your querist will, it is to be hoped, find an answer. A query, addressed personally, to Mr. O'Donavan, Queen's College, Galway, would, no doubt, meet with a ready reply from that learned and obliging Irish scholar and historian.

J.G.

Kilkenny.

"A HAPLESS HUNTER" will find, in the _Statute of Kilkenny_ (edited by James Hardiman, Esq., M.R.I.A. for the Irish Archaeological Society in 1843), pp. 28, 29, _note_, two incidental notices of Eva, daughter of Dermot McMorrough; the first, her witnessing a grant made by Richard Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, during his lifetime; and the second, a grant made by her to John Comyn, Archbishop of Dublin, in the reign of Richard I. (at least sixteen years after her husband's death), "pro salute anime mee et domini comitis Ricardi," &c. Should he not have an opportunity of consulting the work, I shall have much pleasure in furnishing the entire extract, on receiving a line from him.

JOHN POWERS.

10. Dorchester Place, Blandford Square.

Giraldus Cambrensis mentions, that MacMurrough, having, in the year 1167, procured letters patent from Henry II., repaired to England, and there induced Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke and Strighul, to engage to aid him, on condition of receiving, in return, the hand of his _eldest_ daughter, Eva, and the heirship of his dominions.--_Girald. Camb._ p. 761. And further, that Strongbow did not arrive in Ireland until the eve of St. Bartholomew's day, September, 1170; he was joined at Waterford by Eva and her father, and the marriage took place a _few days after_, and _during_ the sacking of that place.--Ibid. p. 773.

"Strongbow left, by his _second_ wife Eva, one daughter, named Isabella, an infant. * * * Richard the First gave Isabella in marriage to William de la Grace, who thus became Earl of Pembroke, and was created First Earl Marshal of England," &c.--Fenton's _Hist. Pembrokeshire._

SELEUCUS.

* * * * *

PLAGIARISMS, OR PARALLEL PASSAGES

I have placed this title in my note-books, more than one instance of similarity of thought, incident, or expression that I have met with during a somewhat desultory course of reading. These instances I shall take the liberty of laying before you from time to time, leaving you and your readers to decide whether such similarity be the effect of _accident_ or _design_; but I flatter myself that they may be accepted as _parallel passages_ and _illustrations_, even by those who may differ from me in the opinion I have formed on the relation which my "loci inter se comparandi" bear to each other.

In Lady Blessington's _Conversations with Lord Byron_, pages 176, 177., the poet is represented as stating that the lines--

"While Memory, with more than Egypt's art,
Embalming all the sorrows of the heart,
Sits at the altar which she raised to woe,
And feeds the source whence tears eternal flow!"

suggested to his mind, "by an unaccountable and incomprehensible power of association," the thought--

"Memory, the mirror which affliction dashes to the earth, and,
looking down upon the fragments, only beholds the reflection
multiplied."

afterwards apparently embodied in _Childe Harold_, iii. 33.

"Even as a broken mirror, which the glass
In every fragment multiplies; and makes
A thousand images of one that was,
The same, and still the more, the more it breaks."

Now, Byron was, by his own showing, _an ardent admirer_ of Burton's _Anatomy of Melancholy_. See Moore's _Life of Byron_, vol. i. page 144. Notices of the year 1807.

Turn to Burton, and you will find the following passage:--

"And, as Praxiteles did by his glass, when he saw a scurvy face in
it, brake it to pieces, but for that one, he saw many more as bad
in a moment."--Part 2. sect. 3. mem. 7.

I am uncharitable enough to believe that _Childe Harold_ owes far more to Burton, than to "the unaccountable and incomprehensible power of association."

MELANION.

* * * * *

BILLINGSGATE.

I think your correspondent in No. 6. p. 93., starts on wrong premises; he seems to take for granted that such a structure as Belin's Gate really existed. Now the story entirely rests on the assertion of Geoffrey of Monmouth. What amount of credit may be placed on that veracious and most unromantic historian, your correspondent doubtless knows better than myself. Geoffrey says, in the 10th chap. of the 3rd book, that Belin, among other great works, made a wonderful gate on the bank of the Thames, and built over it a large tower, and under it a wharf for ships; and when he died his body was burned, and his ashes put into a golden urn on the top of the tower. Stow seems to doubt it. In Strype's edition, 1720, he says, concerning this gate, "Leaving out the fable thereof faming it to be builded by King Belin, a Briton, long before the incarnation of Christ." Burton, writing 1722, mentions the legend, but adds, "But whether of that antiquity is doubted." and John Brydall, in 1676, mentions it only as a wharf or quay for ships. Now, as Geoffrey of Monmouth's _Chronicle_ is generally allowed by critics to be but a mass of romance and monkish legends, built on a slight foundation of truth, we may suppose this account to partake of the general character of the rest of the work. That some circumstance gave rise to the name is not doubted. "Haply," says Stow, "some person of that name lived near." I look on the name as only a corruption or romantic alteration of the word Baal or Bel; and, as we have every reason to suppose he was worshipped by part of the aborigines of this country, I deem it not improbable that on or near this spot might once have existed a temple for his worship, which afterwards gave a name to the place. It is true Baal generally had his temples placed on the summit of lofty mountains or other eminences. But supposing a number of his votaries to have settled near London, and on the banks of the Thames, nothing would be more likely than, to obviate the natural lowness of the ground, they would raise a tower for the better celebration of the ceremonies attendant on his worship. This might have been the foundation upon which Geoffrey built his story. However, I only suggest this. The real origin of the name I am afraid is too far sunk in oblivion to hold out any hopes of its being rescued at the present day.

VOX.

* * * * *

If "WILLIAM WILLIAMS" will examine the map of London in 1543, lately engraved from a drawing in the Bodleian Library, he will perceive the "Water Gate,", about which he inquires, defended on the west side by a lofty hexagonal machicolated tower.

C.S.

* * * * *

NOTES FROM FLY-LEAVES, NO. 4.

In order to forward your views as regards the valuable department of "Notes from Fly-Leaves" I have spent some leisure hours in _beating the covers_ of a portion of my library. I send you the produce of my first day's sport, which, you will observe, has been in the fields of poetry. Make what use of it you think fit, selecting such notes only as you think of sufficient interest for publication.

I. Note in the handwriting of Richard Farmer, in a copy of "Canidia, or the Witches; a Rhapsody in five parts, by R.D." 4to. London, printed by S. Roycroft for Robert Clavell, 1683.

"In Mr. Hutton's Catale P. 65. N. 1552. this strange composition is
ascribed to one Dixon. There was a Robert Dixon, an author about
the time, and D.D. (Woods's _Fasti_, v. ii. p. 103.), but it surely
must not be given to him! Qu.? This is the only copy I have seen,
1785."

[Lowndes has the work under the name of Robert Dixon, D.D.]

II. Note in the handwriting of James Bindley, in a copy of an English translation of Milton's "Defensio pro Populo Anglicano," printed in the year 1692.

"Translated into English by Richard Washington, Esq., of the Middle
Temple."

On another page, however, he has written,

"Mem. in a miscellany called 'Poems on Affairs of State,' 8vo. 5th
edit. 1703, at page 223 'In memory of _Joseph_ Washington, Esq.,
late of the Middle Temple, an elegy written by N. Tate, Servant to
their Majesties.' Though Mr. Warton calls him _Richard_, his name
was, I believe, as above, and the translator most likely of this
book.--J.B."

To this is added, in the handwriting of the late Mr. Ford, bookseller, formerly of Manchester--

"The note on the opposite side, signed J.B., stands for James
Bindley, who may be considered as good authority for what is here
asserted. Some curious information will be found relative to the
original work in 'Diction. des Livres Condamnés,' &c., par Peignot.
tom. ii. p 319."

III. Note in the handwriting of Mr. Ford, in a copy of Fletcher's "Purple Island,", &c. 1633.

"See the lines at the end by Francis Quarles, which are ingenious
and poetical. This curious and very rare volume I purchased out of
Longman's celebrated catalogue of old English poetry, called 'Bib.
Ang. Poet.,' where it will be found marked £2 12s. 6d., which is
what it cost me. Mr. Montgomery, the poet, styles this poem a
fantastical allegory describing the body and soul of man, but
containing many rich and picturesque passages (v. his 'Christian
Poem,' p. 163.) But there is a most excellent critique upon it in
the 'Retrosp. Rev.' for Nov. 1820 (v.p. 351.), but see also
Headley, who highly praises it. The name of Fletcher ranks high in
the list of our poets. He was born in 1584, and was the son of Dr.
Giles Fletcher, who was himself a poet; the brother of Giles
Fletcher, the author of 'Christ's Victory;' and the cousin of John
Fletcher, the celebrated dramatist."

IV. In a note on a copy of "Iter Boreale, with large additions of several other poems, being an exact collection of all hitherto extant; never before published together. The author R. Wild, D.D., printed for the booksellers in London, 1668,"--the author is described as "of Tatenill, near Burton supr Trent." The note is apparently of contemporary date, or a little later.

This edition is not noticed by Lowndes, nor is another edition (anonymous), of which I have a copy, the date of which is 1605 (printed for R.J., and are to be sold in St. Paul's Churchyard). Of course this date is a mistake, but query what is the real date? Probably 1665. The volume concludes with the 70th page, being identical with the 72nd page of the edition of 1668.

V. Note in the handwriting of Mr. Ford, in a copy of "Waller's Poems," 1645 (after quoting "Rymer on Tragedy," pp. 2. and 79.):--

"The dedicatory epistle in this first and rare edition 'To my
Lady,' is omitted in all the subsequent editions, even in Fenton's
of 1729 (see Dibdin).--I find it _is_ inserted in Fenton's
edition among the speeches and letters; but he adds, in his
observations thereon, that it appears not to have been designed for
a public dedication, though why or wherefore he assigns no reason;
and he further adds, 'I never met with any tradition to what Lady
it was originally directed.' It certainly has as much the
appearance of having been intended for a dedication, _if we may
judge from internal evidence_, as such sort of things generally
have. This is the first genuine edition and very scarce. It is
priced in the 'Bib. Ang. Poet.'; at 2 gs. No. 851. The subsequent
editions are of no particular value, exception Fenton's elegant and
complete edition in 4to., which is worth about the same sum."

VI. Note in a handwriting of the 17th century, in a copy of Cawood's edition of the "Ship of Fools," opposite to the dedication, which is "Venerandissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino, domino Thomæ Cornissh, Tenenensis pontifici, ac diocesis Badonensis Suffraganio vigilantissimo," &c.

"Thomas Cornish, in 1421-2, was made Suffragan Bishop to Rich. Fox,
Bp of Bath and Wells, under ye title of 'Episcopus Tynensis,' by wh
I suppose is meant Tyne, ye last island belonging to ye republick
of Venice in ye Archipelago. See more of him in 'Athenæ Oxoniens,'
vol. i. p. 555."

VII. Note by T. Park, in a copy of the third edition of an "Essay on Human Life," by the author of the "Essay on Man," 1736. (Printed for J. Witford.)

"By Lord Pagett. 1st edn 1734. 4to. says Lord Orford. An edn in
8vo. was printed in 1736 'for Fletcher Gyles against Grays Inn in
Holbourn,' and was called (as this is) the _third_; but it gave no
delusive intimation in the title that Pope was the author, honestly
assigning it to the Right Hon. Lord Pagett. To the preface was
added a short postscript."

On another page he has written:

"This is perhaps the most successful imitation of Pope's ethic poem
which has been produced. Lord Paget has had the credit of composing
it."

In another handwriting there is written:

"From Mr. Newton, a valuable present, June 25. 1760."

Under which Mr. Park has added:

"Qu. from Newton to Cowper, whose handwriting resembles the above."

VIII. I have a little book entitled, "The Original History of Old Robin Gray; with the adventures of Jenny and Sandy: a Scotch Tale;" n.d. printed for H. Turpin. A prose narrative, apparently intended for children, but which Mr. Haslewood has enriched with a number of newspaper cuttings and other illustrations, and has added the following note:--

"Auld Robin Gray; a ballad by the Right Honourable Lady Anne
Barnard, born Lady Anne Lindsay of Balcarras; Edin. printed by
James Ballantyne and Co. 1825, qto. This is the first authentic
edition of this beautiful Scottish ballad, and forms one of the
publications by Sir Walter Scott as a member of the Bannatyne Club.
The publication gives an interesting account of the authoress--of
the origin of the ballad--the ballad--continuation of Auld Robin
Gray, all from the same hand; it is to be regretted it is not
published for wider circulation. It will, it may be expected, find
a vent for the publick at some future period, and some of the
gatherings in this volume swell a note or two, if not a page.--See
'Cens. Lib.' vol. ix. p. 323. for another ballad called,
'Continuation of Auld Robin Gray.' Auld Robin gray's Ghaist begins
'Right sweetly sang the nightingale,' among my Scotch songs. The
sequel to Auld Robin Gray begins, 'Full five long years' in do."

J.F.M.

* * * * *

OPINIONS ON ENGLISH HISTORIANS.

II. _Lord Clarendon._

"This great historian is always too free with his judgments. But the
piety is more eminent than the superstition in this great man's
foibles."--Bishop Warburton, note, last edition, vol. vii. p. 590.

"It is to be hoped no more chancellors will write our story, till
they can divest themselves of that habit of their profession,
apologising for a bad cause."--H. Walpole, Note in _Historic
Doubts_.

"Clarendon was unquestionably a lover of truth, and a sincere
friend to the free constitution of his country. He defended that
constitution in Parliament, with zeal and energy, against the
encroachments of prerogative, and concurred in the establishment of
new securities for its protection."--Lord Grenville, Note in
_Chatham Correspondence_, vol. i. p. 113.

"We suffer ourselves to be delighted by the keenness of Clarendon's
observations, and by the sober majesty of his style, till we forget
the oppressor and the bigot in the historian."--Macaulay, _Essays_,
vol. ii. p. 281.

"There is no historian, ancient or modern, with whose writings it
so much behoves an Englishman to be thoroughly conversant, as
Lord Clarendon."--Southey, _Life of Cromwell_.

"The genuine text of the history has only been published in 1826,"
says Mr. Hallam, who speaks of "inaccuracy as habitual to him;" and
further, "as no one, who regards with attachment the present system
of the English constitution, can look upon Lord Clarendon as an
excellent minister, or a friend to the soundest principles of civil
and religious liberty, so no man whatever can avoid considering his
incessant deviations from the great duties of an historian as a
moral blemish on his character. He dares very frequently to say
what is not true, and what he must have known to be otherwise; he
does not dare to say what is true, and it is almost an aggravation
of this reproach, that he aimed to deceive posterity, and poisoned
at the fountain a stream from which another generation was to
drink. No defence has ever been set up for the fidelity of
Clarendon's history; nor can men, who have sifted the authentic
material, entertain much difference of judgment in this respect;
though, as a monument of powerful ability and impressive eloquence,
it will always be read with that delight which we receive from many
great historians, especially the ancient, independent of any
confidence in their veracity."--Hallam, _Constitutional History_,
8vo. vol. ii. p.502.

"His style is a little long-winded; but, on the other hand, his
characters may match those of the ancient historians; and one
thinks they would know the very men if you were to meet them in
society. Few English writers have the same precision, either in
describing the actors in great scenes, or the deeds which they
performed; he was himself deeply engaged in the scenes which he
depicts, and therefore colours them with the individual feeling,
and sometimes, doubtless, with the partiality of a partisan. Yet, I
think he is, on the whole, a fair writer; for though he always
endeavours to excuse King Charles, yet he points out his mistakes
and errors, which certainly were neither few nor of slight
importance."--Scott, _Life by Lockhart_, vol. v. p. 146.

Other opinions as to the noble writer will be found in the _Life of Calamy_, and in Lord Dover's _Essay_; but I have perhaps trespassed too much on your space.

M.

* * * * *

MISCELLANIES.

_Books by the Yard_.--Many of your readers have heard of books bought and sold by weight,--in fact it is questionable whether the _number_ of books sold in that way is not greater than those sold "over the counter,"--but few have probably heard of books sold "by the yard." Having purchased at St. Petersburg, the library left by an old Russian nobleman of high rank, I was quite astonished to find a copy of _Oeuvres de Frederic II_. originally published in 15 vols., divided into 60, to each of which a new title had been printed; and several hundred volumes lettered outside _Oeuvres de Miss Burney, Oeuvres de Swift,_ &c., but containing, in fact, all sorts of French waste paper books. These, as well as three editions of _Oeuvres de Voltaire_, were all very neatly bound in calf, gilt and with red morrocco backs. My curiosity being roused, I inquired into the origin of these circumstances, and learnt that during the reign of Catherine, every courtier who had hopes of being honoured by a visit from the Empress, was expected to have a library, the greater or smaller extent of which was to be regulated by the fortune of its possessor, and that, after Voltaire had won the favour of the Autocrat by his servile flattery, one or two copies of his works were considered indispensable. Every courtier was thus forced to have rooms filled with books, by far the greater number of which he never read or even opened. A bookseller of the name of Klostermann, who, being of an athletic stature, was one of the innumerable favourites of the lady, "who loved all things save her lord," was usually employed, not to select a library, but to fill a certain given space of so many yards with books, at so much per volume, and Mr. Klostermann, the "Libraire de la Cour Imperiale," died worth a plum, having sold many thousand yards of books (among which I understood there were several hundred copies of Voltaire), at from 50 to 100 roubles a yard, "according to the binding."

A. ASHER. Berlin. Dec. 1849.

_Thistle of Scotland_.--R.L. will find the thistle first introduced on coins during the reign of James V., although the motto "Nemo me impune lacessit" was not adopted until two reigns later.--See Lindsay's _Coinage of Scotland_, Longman, 1845.

B.N.

_Miry-Land Town_. In the _Athenaeum_, in an article on the tradition respecting Sir Hugh of Lincoln, the Bishop of Dromore's version of the affair is thus given:--

"The rain rins doun through Mirry-land toune,
Sae dois it doune the Pa';
Sae dois the lads of Mirry-land toune.
Quhan they play at the Ba'."

In explanation of part of this stanza, Dr. Percy is stated to have considered "Mirry-land toune" to be "_probably_ a corruption of Milan (called by the Dutch Meylandt) town," and that the Pa' was "_evidently_ the River Po, though the Adige, not the Po, runs through Milan;" and it is observed that it could not have occasioned Dr. Jamieson _much trouble_ to conjecture as he did that "Mirry-land toune" was a corruption of "Merry Lincolne," and that, in fact, in 1783, Pinkerton commenced his version of the ballad thus--

"The bonnie boys o' merry Lincoln;"

and it is added, very truly, that with all his haste and petulance, Pinkerton's critical acumen was far from inconsiderable. Now, there appears to me to have been a very simple solution of the above words, so simple that perhaps it was beneath the critical acumen of the said commentators. My note on the subject is, that Mirry-land toune means nothing more than Miry-, Muddy-land Town, a designation that its situation certainly entitles it to; and Pa' is certainly not the Po, but an abbreviated form of Pall, i.e. a place to play Ba' or ball in, of which we have a well-known instance in Pall Mall.

Since writing the above, I recollect that Romsey, in Hampshire, has been designated "Romsey-in-the-Mud."

J.R.F.

_Richard Greene of Lichfield_.--H.T.E. is informed that there is a medal or token (not difficult to obtain) of this zealous antiquary. Obv. his bust, in the costume of the period; legend, "Richard Greene, collector of the Lichfield Museum, died June 4, 1793, aged 77." Rev. a Gothic _window_, apparently; legend, "West Porch of Lichfield Cathedral, 1800."

B.N.

_The Lobster in the Medal of the Pretender_.--The "Notes" by your correspondents, Mr. Edward Hawkins and Mr. J.B. Yates, relative to this medal, are very curious and interesting, and render it probable that the device of the Lobster has a religious rather than a political allusion. But it strikes us that the _double_ introduction of this remarkable emblem has a more important signification than the mere insidious and creeping characteristics of Jesuitism. The lines beneath the curious print in Brandt's _Stultifera Nuvis_ throw no light on the meaning of the Lobster. We think the difficulty yet remains unsolved.

B.N.

_Marescautia_.--Your correspondent "D.S." who asks (in No. 6.) for information upon the word "Marescautia," may consult Du Cange with advantage, _s. v._ "Marescallus;" the "u," which perhaps was your correspondent's difficulty, being often written for "l," upon phonotypic principles. It was anciently the practice to apportion the revenues of royal and great monastic establishments to some specific branch of the expenditure; and as the profits of certain manors, &c., are often described as belonging to the "Infirmaria," the "Camera Abbatis," &c., so, in the instance referred to by "D.S." the lands at Cumpton and Little Ongar were apportioned to the support of the royal stable and farriery.

J.B.

_Macaulay's "Young Levite_.--The following is an additional illustration of Mr. Macaulay's sketch, from Bishop Hall's _Byting Satyres_, 1599:--

"A gentle squire would gladly entertaine
Into his house some _Trencher-chapelaine_;
Some willing man, that might instruct his sons,
And that would stand to good conditions.
First, that he lie upon the truckle-bed,
While his young master lieth o'er his head;
Second, that he do, upon no default,
Never to sit above the salt;
Third, that he never change his trencher twise;
Fourth, that he use all common courtesies,
Sit bare at meales, and one half rise and wait;
Last, that he never his young master beat,
But he must aske his mother to define
How manie jerks she would his breech should line;
All these observ'd, he could contented be,
To give five markes, and winter liverie."

R.

_Travelling in England._--I forward you a note on this subject, extracted, some years ago, from a very quaintly-written _History of England_, without title-page, but apparently written in the early part of the reign of George the First. It is among the remarkable events of the reign of James the First:--

"A.D. 1621, July the 17th, Bernart Calvert of Andover, rode from
St. George's Church in Southwark to Dover, from thence passed by
Barge to Callais in France, and from thence returned back to Saint
George's Church the same day. This his journey he performed betwixt
the hours of three in the morning and eight in the afternoon."

This appears to me such a surprising feat, that I think some of your correspondents may be interested in it; and also may be able to append farther information.

DAVID STEVENS.

_Warning to Watchmen._--The following _Warning_, addressed to the Watchmen of London on the occasion of a great fire, which destroyed nearly 100 houses in the neighbourhood of Exchange Alley, Birchin Lane, the back of George Yard, &c., among which were Garraway's, The Jerusalem Coffee House, George and Vulture, Tom's, &c. &c., is extracted from the _London Magazine_ for 1748, and is very characteristic of the then state of the police of the metropolis:--

"Mr. Touchit's _Warning to the Watchmen of London_. From the
_Westminster Journal_, April 2nd, No. 331. (1748).

"Whereas it has been represented to me, _Thomas Touchit_, Watchman
Extraordinary of the City of _Westminster_, that the Watchmen of
_London_ were very remiss during the dreadful Fire on _Friday_
morning, _March_ 25, in not giving timely Notice of that Calamity
over their several _Beats_, whereby the Friends of many of the
unhappy Sufferers, who would have flown to their Assistance, were
ignorant of their Distress till it was too late to do them Service;
and also that most of the said Watchmen, on other Occasions, are
very negligent, whence it happens that many Robberies, Burglaries,
and other Offences, which their Care might prevent, are committed;
and that even some of them are in Fee with common Harlots and
Streetwalkers, whom they suffer at unseasonable Hours, unmolested
to prey on the Virtue, Health and Property of His Majesty's Liege
Subjects: Be it known to the said Watchmen, and their Masters,
that, having taken the Premises into Consideration, I intend
whenever I set out from _Spring Gardens_ with my _invisible Cap_,
my _irradiating Lanthorn_, and my _Oken Staff_ of correction, to
take the City of _London_, under Leave of the Right Hon. the Lord
Mayor, into my Rounds, and to detect, expose, and punish all
Defaulters in the several Stands and Beats: Whereof this fair
Warning is given, that none may be surprized in Neglect of Duty, I
being determined to shew no Favour to such Offenders."

Euston Square, 12th Dec. 1849.

_Aelfric's Colloquy_.--Permit me to correct a singular error into which the great Anglo-Saxon scholars, Messrs. Lye and B. Thorpe, have been betrayed by some careless transcriber of the curious _Monastic Colloquy_ by the celebrated Aelfric. This production of the middle ages is very distinctly written, both in the Saxon and Latin portions, in the Cotton MS. (Tiberius, A 3, fol. 58_b_.) Mr. Lye frequently cites it, in his _Saxon Dictionary_, as "_Coll. Mon._," and Mr. Thorpe gives it entire in his _Analecta Anglo-Saxonica_. The former loosely explains _higdifatu_, which occurs in the reply of the shoewright (_sceowyrhta_), thus--"Ca_l_idilia, sc. vasa _quoedam.--Coll. Mon._"--and Mr. Thorpe prints both _higdifatu_ and _ca_l_idilia_. _Higdifatu_ is manifestly vessels of hides, such as skin and leather bottles and buckets. The _ig_ is either a clerical error of the monkish scribe for _y_, or the _g_ is a silent letter producing the quantity of the vowel. "I buy hides and fells," says the workman, "and with my craft I make of them shoes of different kinds; leathern hose, flasks, and _higdifatu_." The Latin word in this MS. is _casidilia_, written with the long straight _s_. Du Cange explains _capsilis_ to be a vessel of leather, and quotes Matt. Westmon.: "Portans _cassidile_ toxicum mellitum."--_Gloss_. tom. ii. col. 387. The root _caps_, or _cas_, does not appear to have any Teutonic correspondent, and may merit a philological investigation.

R.T. Hampson.

_Humble Pie_.--the proverbial expression of "eating humble pie," explained by A.G., will be found also explained in the same manner in the Appendix to Forby's _Vocabulary_, where it is suggested that the correct orthography would be "umble pie," without the aspirate. Bailey, in his valuable old _Dictionary_, traces the word properly to _umbilicus_, the region of the intestines, and acknowledges in his time the perquisite of the game-keeper.

J.I.

Oxford.

_By Hook or by Crook_.--You have noted the origin of Humble Pie. May I add a note of a saying, in my opinion also derived from forest customs, viz. "By hook or by crook?" Persons entitled to fuel wood in the king's forest, were only authorised to take it of the dead wood or branches of trees in the forest, "with a cart, a hook, and a crook."

The answer to the query respecting the meaning of "per serjantiam Marescautiae," is the Serjeantry of Farriery, i.e. shoeing of the king's horses. In Maddox, vol. i. p. 43. you will find a very full account of the office of Marescallus.

J.R.F.

THE ORIGIN OF GROG.

"Written on board the Berwick, a few days before Admiral Parker's engagement with the Dutch fleet, on the 5th of August, 1781. By DR. TROTTER.

"'Tis sung on proud Olympus' hill
The Muses bear record,
Ere half the gods had drank their fill
The sacred nectar sour'd.

"At Neptune's toast the bumper stood,
Britannia crown'd the cup;
A thousand Nereids from the flood
Attend to serve it up.

"'This nauseous juice,' the monarch cries,
'Thou darling child of fame,
Tho' it each earthly clime denies,
Shall never bathe thy name.

"'Ye azure tribes that rule the sea,
And rise at my command,
Bid _Vernon_ mix a draught for me
To toast his native land.'

"Swift o'er the waves the Nereids flew,
Where _Vernon's_ flag appear'd;
Around the shores they sung 'True Blue,'
And Britain's hero cheer'd.

"A mighty bowl on deck he drew,
And filled it to the brink;
Such drank the Burford's[2] gallant crew,
And such the gods shall drink.

"The sacred robe which Vernon wore
Was drenched within the same;
And hence his virtues guard our shore,
And _Grog_ derives its name."

W.H.S.

[The gallant correspondent to whom we are indebted for the
foregoing satisfactory, because early and documentary, evidence of
the etymology of the now familiar term GROG, informs us that there
is a still earlier ballad on the subject. We trust that he will be
enabled to recover that also, and put it on record in our columns.]

_Barnacles_.--In a _Chorographical Description of West, or Il-Jar Connaught_, by Rhoderic O'Flaherty, Esq., 1684, published by the Irish Archaeological Society in 1846, the bernacle goose is thus mentioned:--

"There is the bird engendered by the sea out of timber long lying
in the sea. Some call them _clakes_, and _soland geese_, and some
puffins; others _bernacles_, because they resemble them. We call
them _girrinn_."

Martin, in his _Western Isles of Scotland_, says:--

"There are also the _cleek geese_. The shells in which this fowl is
said to be produced, are found in several isles sticking to trees
by the bill; of this kind I have seen many,--the fowl was covered
by a shell, and the head stuck to the tree by the bill,--but never
saw any of them with life in them upon the tree; but the natives
told me that they had observed them to move with the heat of the
sun."--See also Gratianus, Lucius, Ware's _Antiquities_, &c.

Eating sea-birds on fast days is a very ancient custom. Socrates mentions it in the 5th century: "Some along with fish eat also birds, saying, that according to Moses, birds like fish were created out of the waters." Mention is made in Martin's _Western Isles_, of a similar reason for eating _seals_ in Lent. _Cormorants_, "as feeding only on fish," were allowable food on fast days, as also were _otters_.

CEREDWYN.

_Vondel's Lucifer_.--I cannot inform your correspondent F. (No. 9 p. 142.), whether Vondel's _Lucifer_ has ever been translated into English, but he will find reasons for its not being worth translating, in the _Foreign Quarterly Review_ for April, 1829, where the following passage occurs:--

"Compare with him Milton, for his _Lucifer_ gives the fairest means
of comparison. How weak are his highest flights compared with those
of the bard of Paradise! and how much does Vondel sink beneath him
in his failures! Now and then the same thought may be found in
both, but the points of resemblance are not in passages which do
Milton's reputation the highest honour."

The scene of this strange drama is laid in Heaven, and the _dramatis personæ_ are as follows:--

Beelzebub }
Belial } Disobedient Officers.
Apollion }
Gabriel (Interpreter of God's secrets).
Troop of Angels.
Lucifer.
Luciferists (Rebellious Spirits).
Michael (Commander-in-chief).
Rafael (Guardian Angel).
Uriel (Michael's Esquire).
Act I. Scene 1. Beelzebub, Belial, Apollion, &c.

I give this from the original Dutch now before me. HERMES.

_Dutch Version of Dr. Faustus_.--Can any of your correspondents give me information as to the author of a Dutch _History of Dr. Faustus_, without either author's name or date, and illustrated by very rude engravings? There is no mention of where it was printed, but at the bottom of the title-page is the following notice:--

"Compared with the high Dutch copy, and corrected in many places,
and ornamented with beautiful copper plates."[3]

There is also a promise of a Latin copy soon to follow.

HERMES.

[The first German chap-book upon _Faust_ appeared in 1587. A
translation of it into Dutch was published as early as 1592, at
Emmerich. It was again printed at Delft in 1607; and there have
been several editions since that date. The curious history of this
romance has been well investigated by H. Düntzer, _Die Sage von
Doctor Johannes Faust_, in the 5th volume of _Das Kloster_; and
even more fully by the Freiherr v. Reichlien Meldegg, in the 11th
volume of the same work.]

_To Fettle_.--Your correspondent L.C.R. (p. 142) is referred to the late Mr. Roger Wilbraham's _Cheshire Glossary_, or (as he modestly termed it) _An Attempt_, &c. This work, privately printed in 1820, is the republication, but with _very considerable additions_, of a paper in the _Archaeologia_, vol. xix.

The explanation of the present word is an instance of this expansion.

Your correspondent and Mr. W. agree as to the meaning of this verb, viz. "to mend, to put in order any thing which is broken or defective." Being used in this sense, Mr. W. differs from Johnson and Todd, and he is inclined to derive Fettle from some deflection of the word _Faire_, which comes from Latine _Facere_. I must not crowd your columns further, but refer to the _Glossary_.

May I point out rather a ludicrous misprint (doubtless owing to an illegible MS.) at p. 120. For Mr. Pickering's _Lives_, read _Series_ of Aldine Poets.

J.H.M.

To Fetyl, _v. n._ To join closely. See G. _factil. ligamen._--Wyntown.

Fettil, Fettle, s. Energy, power.--S.B.

To Fettle, _v. a._ To tie up.--S.

Fettle, _adj._ 1. Neat, tight.--S.B. 2. Low in stature, but well-knit.--S.B.

Fetous, _adj._ Neat, trim.

Fetously, _adv._ Featly.

Jamieson's _Dictionary_, abridged 8vo. edition. Fettle, _v._ To put in order, to repair or mend any thing that is broken or defective.

I am inclined to consider it as from the same root as Feat,--viz. Sue Got. _fatt_, apt, ready. Swed. _fatt_, disposed, inclined; _fatta_, to comprehend.--Brockett's _Glossary_.

_Ptolemy of Alexandria_.--Your correspondent, "QUERY," wishes to be informed what works of Ptolemy have been translated. The following, as far as I can learn, is a list of them, viz.:--

"The Compost of Ptholomeus, Prynce of Astronomye, translated out of
the Frenche into Englysshe." London, printed by Robert Wyer, no
date, 12mo. There is also another edition of the same work, London,
printed by T. Colwell, without date, 12mo.

"The Bounding of Greece-Land, according to Ptolomeus; Englished out
of the Greek, by Thos. Wilson." London, 1570, 4to.

N.B. This is included in Wilson's translation of Demosthenes' _Olynthiacs_.

"The Geography of Ptolemy, so far as it relates to Britain; in
Greek and English, with observations by J. Horsley." London, 1732,
folio.

N.B. This forms a part of the _Britannia Romana_.

"Quadripartite; or Four Books concerning the Influence of the
Stars, faithfully rendered into English, from Leo Allatius; with
Notes, explaining the most difficult and obscure Passages, by John
Whalley." London, 1701 and 1786, 12mo.

"Tetrabiblos, or Quadripartite; being Four Books, of the Influence
of the Stars, newly translated from the Greek Paraphrase of
Proclus; with a Preface, explanatory Notes, and an Appendix
containing Extracts from the Almagest of Ptolemy, and the whole of
his Colloquy, &c. by J.M. Ashmand." London, 1822, 8vo.

I am indebted to Watt's _Bibliotheca Britannica_ for the titles of the first three of these works. The others I have in my possession.

W.J. BROWN.

Old Street.

There are several real or pretended translations of the _astrological_ work--some certainly pretended--and Ptolemy's name is on many astrological titlepages which do not even pretend to translate. The Geography, as far as Britain is concerned, is said to be in Dr. Henry's _History of Great Britain_, 1788. Some works in harmonics appear in lists as translations or close imitations of Ptolemy, as John Keeble's, 1785, Francis Styles, _Phil. Trans_. vol. li. Various dissertations on minor pieces exist: but there is no English translation of the _Almagest_, &c., though it exists in French (see Smith's _Biograph. Dict_. art. PTOLEMY). If an English reader wants to know Ptolemy's astronomical methods and hypotheses, nothing will suit him better than Narrien's _History of Astronomy_.

M.

_Accuracy of References_.--In connection with the article on "Misquotations," in No. 3. p.38., will you impress upon your correspondents the necessity of exact references? It is rather hard when, after a long search, a sought reference has been obtained, to find that the reference itself is, on examination, incorrect. To illustrate my position: at p. 23., in an article relating to Judge Skipwyth, and at p. 42., in an article relating to the Lions in the Tower, references to certain "pp." of the Issue Rolls of the Exchequer. Now if any person with these references were to search the Issue Rolls, he would be much surprised to find that the Rolls are rolls, and not books, and that "pp." is not the correct reference. The fact is that neither of your correspondents are quoting from the Rolls themselves, but from a volume, published in 1835, under the direction of the Comptroller General of the Exchequer, by Mr. F. Devon, called _Issue Roll of Thomas de Brantingham, Bishop of Exeter, Lord High Treasurer of England_, &c. 44 Edward III.

And while on the subject, permit me to remark, with reference to the article on the Domestic Expenses of Queen Elizabeth (page 41.), that there are plenty of such documents in existence, and that the only test of their value and authenticity is a reference to where they may be found, which is wanting in the article in question.

J.E.

_A Peal of Bells_.--In No. 8 of your interesting and valuable journal, I find a query, from the REV. A. GATTY, relative to a peal of bells. Now the science of bell-ringing being purely English, we can expect to find the explanation sought for, only in English authors. Dr. Johnson says peal means a "succession of sounds;" and in this way it is used by many old writer, thus:--

"A peal shall rouse their sleep."--MILTON.

And again Addison:--

"Oh for a peal of thunder that would make
Earth, sea, and air, and heaven, and Cato tremble."

Bacon also hath it:--

"Woods of oranges will smell into the sea perhaps twenty miles; but
what is that, since a peal of ordnance will do as much, which
moveth in a small compass?"

It is once used by Shakespeare, _Macbeth_:--

"Ere to black Hecate's summons
The shard-borne beetle, with drowsy hums,
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note."

Will not ringing a peal, then, mean a succession of sweet sounds caused by the ringing of bells in certain keys? Some ringers begin with D flat; others, again, contend they should begin in C sharp.

In your last number is a query about _Scarborough Warning_. Grose, in his _Provincial Glossary_, give the meaning as "a word and a blow, and the blow first;" it is a common proverb in Yorkshire. He gives the same account of its origin as does Ray, extracted from Fuller, and gives no notion that any other can be attached to it.

R.J.S.

* * * * *

QUERIES.

CATACOMBS AND BONE-HOUSES.

I should be very glad to have some distinct information on the above subject, especially in explanation of any repositories of human bones in England? Was the ancient preservation of these skeleton remains always connected with embalming the body?--or drying it, after the manner described by Captain Smythe, R.N., to be still practised in Sicily?--and, in cases in which dry bones only were preserved, by what process was the flesh removed from them? for, as Addison says, in reference to the catacombs at Naples, "they must have been full of stench, _if_ the dead bodies that lay in them were left to rot in open niches." The catacombs at Paris seem to have been furnished with bones from the emptyings of the metropolitan churchyards. In some soils, however, the bones rot almost as soon as the flesh decays from them.

There are, possibly, many bone-houses in England. I have seen two of considerable extent, one at Ripon Minster, the other at Rothwell Church, in Northamptonshire; and at both places skulls and thigh bones were piled up, in mural recesses, with as much regularity as bottles in the bins of a wine-cellar. At Rothwell there was (twenty years ago) a great number of these relics. The sexton spoke of there being 10,000 skulls, but this, no doubt, was an exaggeration; and he gave, as the local tradition, that they had been gathered from the neighbouring field of Naseby. A similar story prevails at Ripon, viz. that the death-heads and cross-bones, which are arranged in the crypt under the Minster, are the grisly gleanings of some battle-field.