Chapter II: Front Matter (2)

With the siege of Calais, and its surrender to Edward III. in 1347, is associated the name of Eustache de St. Pierre, whose loyalty and devotedness have been immortalised by the historian, and commemorated by the artist's pencil. The subject of Queen Philippa's intercessions on behalf of Eustache and his brave companions is, no doubt, familiar to most of your readers: the stern demeanour of the king; the tears and supplicating attitude of the Queen Philippa; and the humiliating position of the burgesses of Calais, &c. But what if Eustache de St. Pierre had been bought over by King Edward? For without going the length of pronouncing the scenes of the worthy citizens, with halters round their necks, to have been a "got up" affair, there is, however, some reason to doubt whether the boasted loyalty of Eustache de St. Pierre was such as is represented, as will appear from the following notes. And however much the statements therein contained may detract from the cherished popular notions regarding Eustache de St. Pierre, yet the seeker after truth is inexorable, or, to use the words of Sir Francis Palgrave (_Hist. of Norm. and Eng._, i. 354.), he is expected "to uncramp or shatter the pedestals supporting the idols which have won the false worship of the multitude; so that they may nod in their niches, or topple down."

In one of the volumes forming part of that valuable collection published by the French {11} government,and commenced, I believe, under the auspices of M. Guizot, namely, the _Documens inédits sur l'Histoire de France_, the following passage attracted my notice:

"Il (M. de Bréquigny) a prouvé par des titres authentiques et inconnus
jusqu'à présent, qu'Eustache de St. Pierre, dont on a si fort vanté le
dévouement pour les habitans de Calais, fut séduit par Edouard, et
qu'il reçut de ce prince des pensions et des possessions fort peu de
temps après la prise de cette place, aux conditions d'y maintenir le
bon ordre, et de la conserver à l'Angleterre."--See _Lettres de Rois,
&c._, vol. i. Preface, p. cix.

The above statement is founded on a memoir read before the Académie des Belles-Lettres by M. de Bréquigny, respecting the researches made by him in London (see _Mém. de l'Acad. des Belles-Lettres_, tom. xxxvii.).

Lingard throws a doubt over the matter. He says:

"Froissart has dramatised this incident with considerable effect; but,
I fear, with little attention to truth.... Even in Froissart there is
nothing to prove that Edward designed to put these men to death. On the
contrary, he takes notice that the King's refusal of mercy was
accompanied with a wink to his attendants, which, if it meant anything,
must have meant that he was not acting seriously."--_Lingard_, 3rd
edit. 1825, vol. iv. p. 79., note 85.

Again, in Hume:

"The story of the six burgesses of Calais, like all extraordinary
stories, is somewhat to be suspected; and so much the more, as
Avesbury, who is particular in his narrative of the surrender of
Calais, says nothing of it, and, on the contrary, extols in general the
King's generosity and lenity to the inhabitants."--_Hume_, 8vo. 1807,
vol. ii., note H.

Both Hume and Lingard mention that Edward expelled the natives of Calais, and repeopled the place with Englishmen; but they say nothing as to Eustache de St. Pierre becoming a pensioner of the King's "aux conditions d'y maintenir le bon ordre, et de la conserver à l'Angleterre."

Châteaubriand (_Etudes Hist._, 1831, 8vo., tome iv. p. 104.) gives Froissart's narrative, by which he abides, at the same time complaining of the "esprit de dénigrement" which he says prevailed towards the end of the last century in regard to heroic actions.

Regarding Queen Philippa's share in the transaction above referred to, M. de Bréquigny says:

"La reine, qu'on suppose avoir été si touchée du malheur des six
bourgeois dont elle venait de sauver la vie, ne laissa pas d'obtenir,
peu de jours après, la confiscation des maisons que Jean d'Acre, l'un
d'eux, avait possédées dans Calais."

Miss Strickland (_Lives of Queens_, 1st edit., vol. ii. p. 336.) likewise gives the story as related by Froissart, but mentions the fact of Queen Philippa taking possession of Jean d'Acre's property, and the doubt cast upon Eustache's loyalty; but she would appear to justify him by reason of King Philip's abandoning the brave Calaisiens to their fate. However this may be, documents exist proving that the inhabitants of Calais were indemnified for their losses: and whether or not the family of Eustache de St. Pierre approved his conduct, so much is certain, that, on the death of the latter, the property which had been granted to him by King Edward was confiscated, because they would not acknowledge their allegiance to the English.

I wish to ask whether this new light thrown on the subject, through M. de Bréquigny's labours, has been hitherto noticed, for it would appear the story should be re-written.

PHILIP S. KING.

* * * * *

DEVIZES, ORIGIN OF: A QUESTION FOR THE HERALDS.

I will put the following case as briefly as I can.

Throughout the mediæval ages, the word _devise_ formed the generic term for every species of emblazonment. Thus we have "_Devises Heroiques_, per Claude Paradin, Lyons, 1557;" "_Devises et Emblems d'Amour moralisés_, par Flamen;" "_The Paradise of Dainty Devices_, 1576;" "_Minerva Britannica, or a Garden of Heroical Devices furnished and adorned with Emblems and Impressa's of Sundry Natives_, newly devised, moralised, and published by Henry Peachum, 1612;" and lastly, Henry Estienne's "discourse of hieroglyphs, symbols, gryphs, emblems, enigmas, sentences, parables, reverses of medals, arms, blazons, cimiers, cyphers, and rebus," which learned discourse, be it observed, is entitled _The Art of making Devises_, 1646. As an additional proof that device included the motto, take the following:

"Henry III. commanded to be written by way of device in his chamber at
Woodstock, 'Qui non dat quod amat non accipit ille quod optat;'"

quoted by Sir Eger. Brydges. Here I must stop, though I could add many illustrations; and go on to observe, that whereas all the explanations which I have ever met with, of the unique appellation of "Castrum Divisarum," or the castle of Devises, are totally un-historic, if not ridiculous, I crave the attention of all whom it may concern to a new solution of the difficulty.

First, then, in order to clear the way, I would observe, that if, as commonly stated, the name had signified a frontier fort, would it not have been called the castle of the division [singular] rather than the castle of the divided districts? In other words, why make it a plural term?

Secondly. If, as I surmise, the Italian word _divisa_ bore at the time of the Conquest its present meaning of "device," in greater force than the {12} sense of divisions or partitions, is it unreasonable to suppose that Castrum Divisarum implied and constituted, at that early period, the deposit or fountain-head of the blazonry of the Norman leaders?

It was certainly not unsuited for such a species of heralds' college; being central, inland, a royal treasury, and the frequent scene of a court. When in the ensuing age re-edified by Bishop Roger, the monkish historians, without a dissentient voice, proclaimed it the most splendid castle in the realm; and though it may be objected that this observation belongs to a date not to our purpose, yet the pre-existence of the fortress is proved by its having been the temporary prison of Duke Robert. I am aware that such a notion as Devizes having formed the nucleus of the tree heraldic in England is not countenanced, nor even suspected, by any of the popular writers on the art. I may add, that one gentleman, holding an important position therein, has signified his disapproval of so early an origin being assigned to the institution. But over-against this, I beg to parade a passage from a letter written by Thomas Blore in 1806 to Sir Egerton Brydges:

"The heralds," says he, "seem originally not to have been instituted
for the manufacturing of armorial ensigns, but for the recording those
ensigns which had been borne."--_Censura Literaria_, vol. iii. p. 254.

My case is now stated. I shall be well content that some of your archæological friends should scatter it to the winds, provided they will explain how it is that Devizes, in common with some of the ancient cities of Egypt and Greece, has so long rejoiced in a plural name. To aid this last endeavour, I close with one more statement. The castle stood nearly midway between two other adjoining towns or villæ, also bearing plural names: Potternæ=arum [Posternæ?] and Kaningæ=arum.

J. WAYLEN.

P.S.--I think I may plead the privilege of a postscript for the purpose of recording (what may be taken as) an indication, though perhaps not a proof, that the idea of devices or contrivances was implied in the name so recently as the period of the civil war. The _Mercurius Civicus_, a parliamentary paper, 1644, states that Devizes was being garrisoned for the king, in the following terms:

"Hopton is fortifying amain at the Devises in Wiltshire, but I fear
greater fortifyings for the Devices in Oxford."

* * * * *

Minor Queries.

_Gold Signet Ring._--I possess an ancient gold signet ring, which was dug up a few years since not far from an old entrenchment in the borough of Leominster, in the county of Hereford, the device thereon being a _cock_; it is of very pure metal, and weighs 155 grains. It is in fine preservation: and device is rudely cut, but I beg to inclose an impression from which you may judge. Can any of your antiquarian readers throw any light on the subject to whom this device originally belonged?

In levelling the fortified entrenchment above referred to some half century ago, various utensils of pottery, burnt bones, spear and arrow heads, tesselated tiles, fragments of sculptured stones, and other relics of antiquity, were found.

J. B. WHITBORNE.

_Ecclesia Anglicana._--I observe, in an interesting letter published in the December Number of the _Ecclesiologist_, in an enumeration of Service Books belonging to the English Church before the Reformation, and now existing in the Pepysian Library, Cambridge, the following title:

"No. 1198. Servicium de omni Officio Episcopali consernenta (_sic_)
chorum ... secundum usum Ecclesie Anglicane."

Now I am anxious to know from any of your readers, who are better informed on these subjects than I am, or who have access to old libraries, whether _Ecclesia Anglicana_ is a _usual_ designation of the Catholic Church in England before the Reformation.

Service Books according to the use of some particular cathedral church are of course well known, as in this same list to which I have referred we find "secundum usum insignis ecclesie Eboracensis," "ad insignis ecclesiæ Sarisburiensis usum," &c.: but I should be glad to learn, in these days of _ultramontane_ pretensions, whether, even prior to the Reformation, the distinct nationality of the Anglican church was _commonly_ asserted by the use of such a title in her Service Books. I need scarcely observe how many interesting cognate questions might be asked on this subject.

G. R. M.

_Tangiers.--English Army in 1684._--A merchant in 1709 deposed that he knew not how long complainant had been a _soldier_, or beyond the seas before May, 1697, but that he has heretofore seen and knew him at Tomger, before and at the time of the demolishing thereof, being then a _soldier_; and no doubt could prove that he was in England a considerable time next before May, 1697.

Could the place be other than Tangiers, destroyed in 1684?

Was complainant (a younger son of a well-connected family of gentry, but himself probably in poverty), who in deeds, and on his mon. tablet, is described as gent., likely to have been in 1684 (aged twenty-seven) a private, a non-commissioned, or commissioned officer?

If the latter, would he not have been so described?

A. C.

{13}

_Smith._--Of what family was ---- Smith, confessor of Katherine of Braganza, buried in York Minster? and what are the arms on his tomb? Where can information be obtained as to a Judge Smith, supposed to have been of the same family?

A. F. B.

Diss.

_Termination "-itis."_--What is the derivation of the termination "-itis," used principally in medical words, and these signifying inflammation, as Pleuritis, _vulgo_ pleurisy, inflammation of the pleura, &c.?

ADSUM.

_Loak Hen._--In two or more parishes in Norfolk was a custom, or modus, of paying a _loak hen_ in lieu of tythes of fowls and eggs. I shall feel obliged to any of your correspondents who can inform me what constituted a _loak hen_?

G. J.

_Etymological Traces of the Social Position of our Ancestors._--I remember reading an account of the traces of the social position of our Saxon ancestors yet remaining in our English customs, which interested me much at the time, and which I would gladly again refer to, as, Captain Cuttle's invaluable maxim not being then extant, I neglected "making a note of it."

It described the Norman derivation of the names of all kinds of _meat_, as beef, mutton, veal, venison, &c.; while the corresponding _animals_ still retained their original Saxon appellations, ox, sheep, calf, &c.: and it accounted for this by the fact, that while the animals were under the care of the Saxon thralls and herdsmen, they retained of course their Saxon names; but when served up at the tables of their Norman lords, it became necessary to name them afresh.

I think the word _heronsewes_ (cf. Vol. iii., pp. 450. 207.; Vol. iv., p. 76.) is another example, which are called _harnseys_ at this day in Norfolk; as it is difficult, on any other supposition, to account for an East-Anglian giving a French appellation to so common a bird as the heron.

E. S. TAYLOR.

_Locke's Writings._--In an unpublished manuscript of Paley's _Lectures on Locke's Essay_, it is stated that so great was the antipathy against the writings of this eminent philosopher, at the time they were first issued, that they were "burnt at Oxford by the hands of the common hangman." Is this fact recorded in any Life of Locke; or how may it be ascertained? There is no notice of it, I believe, in either Law's _Life_, or in that of Lord King.

GEORGE MUNFORD.

East Winch.

_Passage in Göthe's "Faust."_--Has the following passage from the second part of _Faust_ ever been noticed in connexion with the fact that the clock in Göthe's chamber stopped at the moment that he himself expired? If it has not, I shall congratulate myself on having been the first to point out this very curious coincidence

"_Mephistopheles._ Die Zeit wird Herr, der Gries hier liegt im Sand,
_Die Uhr steht still_----
_Chorus._ Steht still! Sie schweigt wie Mitternacht
_Der Zeiger fällt._
_Mephistopheles._ Er fällt, es ist vollbracht."
_Faust_, der Tragödie Zweiter Theil, Fünfter Act.

W. FRASER.

_Schomberg's Epitaph by Swift._--A correspondent asks whether the epitaph alluded to in the following extract from the _Daily Courant_ of July 17, 1731, is given in any edition of Swift's _Works_.

"The Latin Inscription, composed by the Rev. Dr. Swift, Dean of St.
Patrick's, and ordered by the Dean and Chapter to be fixed up in the
Cathedral of the said Church, over the place where the body of the
great Duke of Schomberg lies, has been with all possible care and
elegance engraved on a beautiful table of black Kilkenny marble, about
eight feet long and four or five broad; the letters are gilded, and the
whole is now finished with the utmost neatness. People of all ranks are
continually crowding to see it, and the Inscription is universally
admired."

The _Daily Gazetteer_ of Saturday, July 12, 1740, gives a detailed account of the rejoicings in Dublin on the Tuesday preceding, being the anniversary of the battle of the Boyne, and a particular account of the bonfire made by Dean Swift in St. Kevin's Street, near the watch-house.

E.

_The Burial Service said by Heart._--Bishop Sprat (in his _Discourse to his Clergy_, 1695, for which see _Clergyman's Instructor_, 1827, p. 245.) relates that, immediately after the Restoration, a noted ringleader of schism in the former times was interred in one of the principal churches of London, and that the minister of the parish, being a wise and regular conformist, and afterwards an eminent bishop, delivered the whole Office of Burial by heart on that occasion. The friends of the deceased were greatly edified at first, but afterwards much surprised and confounded when they found that their fervent admiration had been bestowed on a portion of the Common Prayer. Southey (_Common-Place Book_, iii. 492.) conjectures that the minister was Bull. This cannot be, for Bull, I believe, never held a London cure. Was it Hackett? And who was the noted ringleader of schism?

J. K.

_Shaw's Staffordshire MSS._--Can any of your Staffordshire correspondents furnish information as to the present depository of the Rev. Stebbing Shaw's Staffordshire MSS., and the MS. notes of Dr. Thomas Harwood used in his two editions {14} of Erdeswick's _Staffordshire_? And can they refer to a pedigree of Thomas Wood, Esq., Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, 1501; who is said to have built Hall O'Wood, in Batterley, near Botley, Staffordshire.

N. C. L.

_"Ne'er to these chambers," &c._--

"Ne'er to these chambers where the mighty rest
Since their foundation, came a nobler guest,
Nor to th' immortal entrance e'er convey'd
A loftier spirit, or more welcome shade."

Where do these lines come from?

ARAM.

Swillington.

_County History Societies._--I would suggest the idea whether County History Societies might not be formed with advantage, as there are so many counties which have never had their histories written. They are very expensive and laborious for individuals to undertake, and constantly require additions on account of the many changes which are taking place, to make them complete as works of reference for the present time: I think that by the means suggested they might be made very useful, particularly if complete statistical tables were annexed to the general and descriptive account. With comparatively little expense, the history and statistics of every county could be brought down to the latest date, making a valuable work of reference to which all could refer with confidence for the information which is constantly being sought for.

G. H.

_Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter._--Is any pedigree extant of the family of Hugh Oldham? Baines speaks of him (_Hist. of Lanc._, vol. ii. p. 579.) as "descended from an ancient family," born, "according to Wood and Godwin, at Manchester; but, according to Dodsworth, at Oldham."

What arms did he adopt?

J. B.

_The English Domestic Novel._--My first intention was to ask whether Defoe was the founder of this pleasing class of literature, but have just recollected, that Mrs. Aphara Behn wrote something of the kind in the time of Charles II. My first question will be, therefore, who was the earliest writer of this description? And, secondly, is not the matter of sufficient interest to ask your readers' assistance in the formation of a list, giving full titles, authors' names, and dates extending to 1730 or 1750?

JOHN MILAND.

_Dr. Young._--In the most authentic biographical accounts we leave of Dr. Young the poet, it is stated that he left in the hands of his housekeeper a collection of manuscript sermons, with an injunction that after his death they should be destroyed; it is also added, that this request was only complied with _in part_. Can any of your correspondents confirm the hope that these sermons may still be in existence; and if so, in what quarter information may be obtained concerning them? The housekeeper is said to have been the widow of a clergyman, and therefore was not regarded by the Doctor in the light of a servant.

J. H.

Cambridge.

_Bishop Hall's Meditations._--I have an old copy before me, the title-page of which runs as follows:

"Occasionall Meditations by Jos. Exon. Set forth by R. H. The Third
Edition: with the Addition of Forty-nine Meditations not heretofore
published: London, printed by M. F. for Nathaniel Butter, 1633."

It is edited by Bishop Hall's son (Robert). I should be glad to learn whether this is a scarce edition.

BOEOTICUS.

Edgmond, Salop.

_Chatterton._--Dr. Gregory, in his _Life of Chatterton_, p. 100. (reprinted by Southey in the first volume of his edition of Chatterton's _Works_, p. lxx.), says: "Chatterton, as appears by the coroner's inquest, swallowed arsenick in water, on the 24th of August, 1770, and died in consequence thereof the next day."

Mr. Barrett, the historian of Bristol, one of Chatterton's best friends and patrons, who, from his profession as a surgeon, was likely to have made, and seems to have made, inquiries as to the circumstances of his death, says, in his _History of Bristol_, not published before 1789, and therefore not misled by any false first report, that Chatterton's principles impelled him to become his own executioner. He took a large dose of opium, some of which was picked out from his teeth after his death, and he was found the next morning a most horrid spectacle: with limbs and features distorted as after convulsions, a frightful and ghastly corpse" (p. 647.). I do not know whether this contradiction has ever been noticed, and shall be obliged to any correspondent who can give me information. I believe that Sir Herbert Croft's _Love and Madness_ was the authority followed by Dr. Gregory, but I have not the book.

N. B.

_Passage in Job._--The wonderful and sublime book of Job, authenticated by subsequent Divine records, and about 3400 years old, is very probably the most ancient writing in the world: and though life and immortality were especially reserved as the glorious gift and revelation of our Blessed Redeemer, the eternal Author and Finisher of our salvation, yet Job was permitted to declare his deep conviction, that he should rise from the dead and see God. This memorable declaration (chap. xix. ver. 25.) can be forgotten by none of your readers; but some of them may not know that the Septuagint adds these words of life to chap. xlii. ver. 17.:"[Greek: gegraptai de, auton palin anastêsesthai meth' hôn ho Kurios anistêsin][2]."--(But it is written that {15} he shall rise again with those whom the Lord raiseth up.)

Our authorised and truly admirable translation of the Holy Scriptures omits this deeply important conclusion of Job's life, so properly noticed by the learned and excellent Parkhurst.

Pray, can you or any of your readers explain the cause of this omission? As your pages have not been silent on the grand consummation which cannot be too constantly before us, I do not apologise for this very short addition to your Notes.

EDWIN JONES.

Southsea, Hants.

[Footnote 2: This passage was originally printed "[Greek: gegraptai, seauton] ...". It was corrected by an erratum in next issue--Transcriber.]

_Turner's View of Lambeth Palace._--In a newspaper memoir of the late Mr. Turner, R.A., published shortly after his death, it was stated that the first work exhibited by him at Somerset House was a "View of Lambeth Palace," I believe in water colours. I should be glad to ascertain, through your columns, if this picture be still in existence, and in what collection.