Chapter V: T. Sternberg

_Segantiorum Portus._--Has there been any locality yet found for this port, mentioned by Ptolemy in his _History of Britain_?

PRESTONIENSIS.

_Stamping on Current Coinage._--Can any of your readers inform me whether the current English coinage may legally be used for stamping advertisements on?

GREGORY.

_Rhymes: Dryden._--

"Thou breakst through forms, with as much ease
As the French king through articles."
"To Sir G. Etherege."

"Some lazy ages, lost in sleep and ease,
No action leave to busy chronicles."
_Astræa Redux_, 105, 106.

And again, in _Threnodia Augustalis_, "these," ending line 410, and "miracles," ending line 414, are made to rhyme.

Was it ever the fashion to pronounce these different terminations alike; or does any other author of repute of that date use such rhymes?

Again, "hour" and "traveller" are made to rhyme in _Astræa Redux_, 147, 148; "stars" and "travellers," in _Religio Laici_, 1; "are" and "Lucifer," in _The Medal_; "men" and "sin," in _Religio Laici_, 89, 90; "convince" and "sense," in _Ibid._ 148; _cum multis aliis_.

HARRY LEROY TEMPLE.

_The Cadenham Oak._--Can any of the correspondents of "N. & Q." inform me if this famous old tree is still alive? It flourished for nearly three centuries in Hampshire Forest; and during this long period was visited by crowds of people, who, it must be confessed, entertained towards it a religious veneration--from its peculiarity of annually shooting forth its buds on old Christmas-day. If dead, as I suppose--for the account which I read some years ago stated that it was fast decaying--then I would like to know if the young tree, one of its progeny, is still flourishing in the forest, and enjoying, from its peculiarity, the same veneration {181} which was paid to the parent stock. Those of your readers who wish to know more of this venerable oak, and of the trees which sprung from it, are referred to Mr. Gilpin's able and interesting work on forest scenery, published, as I believe, in London between sixty and seventy years ago.

W. W.

Malta.

_St. Mary's Church, Beverley._--In the memorials of Ray (_Ray Society_), at p. 138., is a curious account of the church of St. Mary at Beverley. Would some kind antiquary resident at Beverley, or its vicinity, compare the present state of the church with what Ray describes it to have been in his day; and at the same time state whether "the inhabitants of Beverley" now "pay no toll or custom in any city, town, or port in England?"

ENIVRI.

Tredagh.

_The Rev. Joshua Marsden._--I should be glad if any of the correspondents of "N. & Q." could furnish any particulars relative to the above gentleman. He was the author of a most exquisite _morceau_ of about forty lines, entitled "What is Time;" in reference to which, a literary periodical of some thirty years ago says:

"If our readers are half as much struck with the following solemn
appeal, as we ourselves have been, they will not wonder at its
insertion where poetry so rarely finds room."

BRAEMAR.

_Bentley's Examination._--I have found this anecdote of Bentley in Bishop Sandford's _Memoirs_. Is it authentic?

"When the great Bentley, afterwards so distinguished, was examined for
Deacon's Orders, he expected that the Bishop would himself examine him;
and his displeasure at what he considered neglect, he vented in such
answers as the following:

_Chaplain._ Quid est Fides?
_Bentley._ Quod non vides.
_Chaplain._ Quid est Spes?
_Bentley._ Quod non habes.
_Chaplain._ Quid est Charitas?
_Bentley._ Maxima raritas."

Are not these rhymes older than Bentley?

W. FRASER.

_Derivation of "Lowbell."_--I see MR. STERNBERG, in his "Dialect and Folk-lore of Northamptonshire," gives a new explanation of the puzzling word _lowbell_, in Beaumont and Fletcher's _Woman's Prize_, Act I. Sc. 3. It appears that Northamptonshire peasants have a way of their own for punishing offenders against good morals:

"On the first appearance of the culprit in 'strit,' or on 'grin,' the
villagers rise _en masse_, and greet him with a terrible din of tin
pots and kettles, &c.; and, amidst the hooting and vociferation of the
multitude, he is generally compelled to seek shelter by flight. This is
called 'lowbelling,' and the actors are termed 'lowbells,' or
'lowbellers,' forming a tolerable explanation of the _lowbell_ in
Beaumont and Fletcher's _Woman's Prize_, Act I. Sc. 3., which has so
long mystified the commentators:

'_Petru._ If you can carry't so, 'tis very well.
_Bian._ No, you shall carry it, Sir.
_Petru._ Peace, gentle _Lowbell_.'"

MR. STERNBERG derives it from the Anglo-Saxon _lowian_, past participle of the Anglo-Saxon _lowian_, and the verb _bellan_. This would seem satisfactory; but I should like to know whether the word is current anywhere else besides Northamptonshire.

H. T. W.

_Meaning of Assassin._--Can any reader of the "N. & Q." inform me of the correct meaning of the word "assassin?" The old story of the nation of the assassins, under their prince the "Old Man of the Mountain," I reject as absurd, although Gibbon adopts it. I have my own idea, which agrees with Mr. Lane in his account of the modern Egyptians, who derives it from the Arabic word "_Hushhusheen_, one drunk with hemp." M. Volney says it comes from the Arabic "_Hass_, to kill, or lie in ambush to kill." Which of all these derivations is correct?

MUHAMMED.

A. and N. Club, St. James's Square.

_Punishment for exercising the Roman Catholic Religion._--In Burton's _Narratives from Criminal Trials in Scotland_, vol. ii. p. 168., I find the following statement:

"The latest case of punishment under the act is supposed to have
occurred in 1759, when Neil McFie was banished by the circuit court of
Inverness, for being 'held and reputed a Popish priest.' Later
instances might be adduced of punishment for exercising the Roman
Catholic religion in England."

Can any of your readers inform me of the date of the last instance in England, and where it is stated?

S. Y.

_Hogarth's Pictures._--I have a catalogue of the pictures and prints, the property of the late Mrs. Hogarth deceased, which were sold by Mr. Greenwood on April 24th, 1790. Under the head "Pictures by Mr. Hogarth," I see in Lot 44.: "The heads of six servants of Mr. Hogarth's family." Can any of your numerous readers inform me where this picture is placed, or say in what manner the heads are grouped?

W. D. HAGGARD.

_Lines in a Snuff-box._--The following lines were recently found in a metal (probably silver) snuff-box, which had lain for many years undiscovered in a plate chest. They are engraved {182} _inside_, on the bottom of the box, and are supposed to be a saying of Cardinal Mazarin. Can any of your correspondents give any account of them, and where they are to be found? They are as follow, _verbatim et literatim_, punctuation included:

"Time and I, to any Two
Chance & I to time and you
1750"

R. BLAKISTON.

Ashington Rectory, Sussex.

_Rosa Mystica._--Where is information to be found on the subject of the _Rosa Mystica_; and what is the date of its institution?