Chapter I: Front Matter

{277}

NOTES AND QUERIES:

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

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

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No. 177.] SATURDAY, MARCH 19. 1853 [Price Fourpence. Stamped Edition 5d.

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CONTENTS.

NOTES:-- Page
Inedited Letters of General Green and of Washington, by
Edward Foss 277

On a Passage in the "Domestic Architecture of England:"
Surnames, by Joseph Burtt 278

Samuel Taylor Coleridge 280

FOLK LORE:--The ancient Custom of Well-flowering--Devil's
Marks in Swine--Festival of Baal 280

Lord Monboddo, by W. L. Nichols 281

St. Valentine 281

MINOR NOTES:--His Excellency David Hartley--The Life and
Correspondence of S. T. Coleridge--An old Riddle--The
Word "rather"--In Jesum Cruci affixum 282

QUERIES:--

Corbet Peerage, by Lord Monson 283

The Duke of Wellington a Maréchal de France, by
Henry H. Breen 283

MINOR QUERIES:--Prophecy in Hoveden--A Skating Problem--
"Rap and read for"--"The wee brown Hen"--Deprived
Bishops of Scotland, 1638--Passage in Carlyle--Madagascar
Poetry--Ink--Hamilton Queries--Derivation of Windfall--Do
the Sun's Rays put out the Fire?--Denmark and Slavery--
Spontaneous Combustion--Bucks, most ancient and
honourable Society of--Lines quoted by Charles Lamb--
Descendants of Dr. Bill--"The Rebellious Prayer"--
Ravenshaw and his Works 284

MINOR QUERIES WITH ANSWERS:--Yolante de Dreux--Bishop
Francis Turner--Raleigh's History 286

REPLIES:--

Epitaphs, by George S. Masters, Edw. Hawkins, &c. 287

Throwing old Shoes for Luck, by W. Pinkerton, &c. 288

Owen Glyndwr [Owen ap Griffith Vychan, Lord of Glyndwrdwy] 288

Coleridge's Christabel: "Christobell, a Gothic Tale" 292

PHOTOGRAPHICS NOTES AND QUERIES:--Economical Way of
Iodizing Paper--Queries on Sir W. Newton's Process--
Suggestion to Photographers 293

REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES:--Portrait of Pope--Conundrum--
Herbé's "Costume Français"--Curious Fact in Natural
Philosophy--"Haud cum Jesu itis, qui itis cum Jesuitis"
--Tradescant Family--Arms of Joan d'Arc--Judæus Odor--
Philip d'Auvergne--Dr. Parr's A. E. A. O.--Jewish
Lineaments--Sotadic Verses--Bells at Funerals--Collar
of SS.--Dr. Marshall--Shelton Oak--"God and the
world"--Dreng--Meals--Richardson or Murphy 294

MISCELLANEOUS:--

Books and Odd Volumes wanted 298

Notices to Correspondents 298

Advertisements 299

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Notes.

INEDITED LETTERS OF GENERAL GREEN AND OF WASHINGTON.

The letters of great men are always interesting, more particularly when they are connected with important historical facts. I presume, therefore, that those I subjoin from General Washington and General Green will not be unwelcome to your readers. They were among the papers of an officer, long deceased, who at the time was aide-de-camp to Sir Guy Carlton, the commander-in-chief of our army in America; and were, I presume, intercepted before they reached their respective destinations.

"_General Green to General Washington._

"Head Quarters on Ashley River,
May 31st, 1782.

"Sir,

"I had the honor of informing your Excellency, in a letter of the 19th
instant, that a dangerous spirit of discontent had been discovered in
the army, and of the measures I took to suppress it. I am happy to
inform you that this spirit seems entirely to have subsided, as the
persons who fomented it are removed at a distance from the troops: and,
as we have now a prospect of some cloathing, and more comfortable
supplies, I hope it will no more appear.

"Your Excellency has been informed of the late important and
interesting changes in the face of affairs.--The arrival of Sir Guy
Carlton, and the change of ministers and measures, will open a new
field of hopes for this country. How far we may be benefited by it, a
little time will determine; but it will inevitably be attended with one
bad consequence, as it will relax our preparation for a continuance of
the war, which, to me, appears extremely probable. General Leslie has
made overtures, and a proposition for a suspension of hostilities; I do
myself the honor to inclose you copies of his letter, and my answer on
the subject, from which you will see the ground on which it stands. I
wait most anxiously for advices from Congress or your Excellency, by
which my conduct in the business must be ultimately directed. I suppose
this measure has been adopted {278} by Sir Guy Carlton, and proposed to
your Excellency; but, as I am entirely at a loss to know on what
conditions, and what purposes it has to answer, I can form no
conclusive opinion on its propriety.

"I am sanguine that the operations against Jamaica will go on,
notwithstanding the late misfortune, which seems to be rather a
splendid than useful victory to the enemy. And as Count de Guichen, who
has arrived with a considerable squadron, and taken the command of the
combined fleets in the West Indies, is still much superior to the
British, we have good reason to hope the enterprise may succeed.

"Inclosed, I transmit your Excellency the Report of Brigadier-General
Wayne of a considerable skirmish in Georgia, wherein Lieut.-Col. Brown,
with four or five hundred men, were defeated. The plan was judicious,
and executed in a manner that does great honor both to the general and
the troops. It will have very happy consequences in impressing the
Indians with an idea of our superior power, and in the destruction of
their cavalry.

"The enemy continue their camp, entrenched at the Quarter House, in a
strong position. Their patroles of horse, and ours, frequently go over
the same ground. Captain Armstrong of the Legion, and Captain Gill of
the fourth regiment, with about forty dragoons of Lieut.-Colonel
Laurens's command, fell in with a troop of their horse two days ago,
and took an officer, eight men, and ten horses, without suffering any
other in injury than two men wounded.

"With the highest esteem and regard,
I have the honor to [be]
Your Excellency's
Most Obedient
Humble Servant,
NATH. GREEN.

His Excellency,
General Washington."

"_General Washington to Governor Livingston._

"Head Quarters, Newburgh,
July 3rd, 1782.

"Sir,

"From the inclosed information of Captain Stevens, there is reason to
apprehend the business of driving cattle to the enemy is carrying on
with great art and assiduity; it would be a happy circumstance if the
villains concerned in it could be detected. I have therefore to propose
to your Excellency, that you will be pleased to take such precautions
as you shall judge best calculated to learn whether any such cattle are
passing in droves, or smaller parcels (for they may be divided on the
road), to the enemy.

"If your Excellency should hear of them before they turn off towards
New York, I think it would be advisable to employ some trusty man or
men to dog and follow them privately, until the fact is ascertained;
otherwise, it is to be feared, no positive proof of the intention of
the people engaged in this infamous trade can be obtained.

"I sincerely wish every practicable plan may be attempted for seizing
the cattle, apprehending and bringing to condign punishment the men; as
this would tend essentially to frustrate the insidious schemes of our
enemies, as well as deter their other agents from similar practices.

"I have the honor to be,
With perfect respect,
Your Excellency's
Most Obedient Servant,
GO. WASHINGTON.

"P.S.--I am honor'd with your Excellency's letter of the 24th June.

"His Excellency Gov. Livingston."

EDWARD FOSS.

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ON A PASSAGE IN THE "DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF ENGLAND."--SURNAMES.

In this work, to the justly high character of which I need scarcely refer, the "General Remarks" relating to the periods under consideration are full of information of the most interesting kind, as they often contain illustrations of manners and customs not to be met with elsewhere.

In a portion of the "Remarks" illustrative of the thirteenth century, showing the difficulty and insecurity of travelling at that time (pp. 120-122.), there is, however, an incorrect rendering of an extract from an original document; and this error seriously affects the "illustration" afforded by it. As I am in some degree personally involved in the matter, having supplied the material in its original shape, I may perhaps be permitted fully to explain and correct the passage. My only regret is, that I had not the opportunity of calling my friend's attention to the subject before the sheets were finally struck off. The extract is from an Account of the Chamberlain of Chester, 29-30 Edw. I., showing how the sum of 1000l. was transmitted from Chester to London. After referring to the convoy for the treasure:

"It was not sufficient, however," says the late Mr. Turner, "that the
money should be protected; in the absence of hostels, except in towns,
it was necessary to secure the guards from hunger. _Therefore they were
accompanied by two cooks_, who provided 'a safe lodging' daily for the
money; and, as a matter of course, _provided for the culinary
necessities of its conductors_."

It will be seen that upon the word rendered "cooks" depends the whole value of this passage, {279} as evidence of the road-side necessities of the period. That word, however, does not bear such a construction; although, at first sight, nothing would be more natural than to render it so. It is written in the original "cok'," contracted; and to those conversant with mediæval Latin, it is known to express "cokinus--coquinus," _Gallicè_ "coquin:" a word derived from "coquus," and _not_ that word itself. It occurs commonly enough in the Royal Wardrobe Accounts, and means simply "a messenger."[1] For those who have not the opportunity of referring to original documents, there is a very good account of the persons so designated supplied by the _Liber quotidianus Contrarotulatoris Garderobæ, anno 28 Edw. I._, edited by John Topham, Esq., in 1787, from the original in the library of the Society of Antiquaries. It is referred to in the note to the Post Office Report as containing the words Cokinus, Nuncius, and Garcio, used apparently in one sense. At p. 280. is an account of payments under the heading "Titulus de expens' nuncior' et cok' Regis Edwardi," &c., and in the glossary this explanation of the word is given:

"COKINUS, COQUINUS.--'Homo vilissimus nec nisi infimis conquinæ
ministeriis natus,' says Ducange. Charpentier adds _beggar_. Here it
means the lowest kind of messengers or errand-boys, like _sculls_ or
_scullions_ in colleges."

But this is too low an estimate of the class.

Having disposed of this passage, I wish now to draw the attention of your readers who have taken part or interest in the late discussion in your pages upon certain surnames, to the bearing which this extract, and others expressive of the individuals there referred to, has upon that numerous series of names ending in "cock;" about which so many, and, for these regenerate days, some singular suggestions have been made. The discussion was, I believe, commenced in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for May, 1837; and, in the number for the same month in the following year, J. G. N. suggested that many of those names might be referred to forms of "Coc, koc, le coq, which occur in records as abbreviations of coquus, cocus--cook."

How cavalierly the suggestions thus afforded by Mr. Urban's pages were treated by Mr. Lower, your readers will see who refer to the pages of that gentleman's work upon _English Surnames_, indicated in the author's last communication to you ("N. &. Q.," Vol. v., p. 509.). But their faith in the improvement "N. & Q." has so greatly contributed to effect in such matters, will not however let them be deterred by the terms there used from pursuing the subject. It will be seen that my present contribution will modify the view taken by J. G. N., but also, to a considerable extent, support it.

I am not aware that any attempt has been made to show how early these names were used. I can refer to several instances of the names "Wilcoc" or "Willecok," and "Badecok," two complete examples of the kind, in the documents of the reign of Edward I.

Those of your readers who are members of the Camden Society have now before them a copy of a document in which the first of those names occurs several times. I refer to the small Household Roll of John of Brabant while at the English court, which is printed in the last volume of the Camden Society's _Miscellany_.

No one doubts that by far the greater part of the names in question were originally corrupted forms of Christian names, with a suffix. Mr. Lower has done good service in showing thus much. And any one who refers to the list in the Royal Wardrobe Account of 28 Edw. I., and especially those who can also consult other similar manuscripts, will admit that it would be quite possible that any Christian name might have been so used; so numerous must have been the class of persons called "cokini." I will not further trespass upon your space with specimens of names so manufactured, as they can be formed with ease upon the first name "Wilcoc" from "Wille le cok,"--the contracting mark being dropped. The final letter "k" is of importance, as distinguishing the derivative from the parent word "coquus;" from what period, and _why_, is doubtful. That there is but little early documentary evidence of the names in their complete state, might be attributed to the inferior class of the individuals so designated.

Mr. Lower's sole explanation of the terminal in question is, that it is a diminutive like "kin;" and in justice to that view, I must not pass over the evidence afforded by the Brabant Roll of a case where the two names seem to be interchanged. One of Prince John's pages is named on the roll "Hankin" (p. 7. line 3.); while, on the Wardrobe Account three years previous, where the servants are specified by name, "Hancock" is there, who is most likely the same person. It will also be seen, that whereas in the Wardrobe Account the armourer's name is "Giles," and the barber's "Walter" (see notes to the Brabant Roll), the foreign scribe of the account dubs them "Gilkin" {280} and "Woterkin." In following up his argument upon this subject, Mr. Lower speaks of a person being called "Little Wilcock," as an instance of complete tautology: if, however, it is meant by this (as it seems to be), that a diminutive name was only applied to a diminutive in person, or only expressed such a one, I am sure he will find very many differ from him, as affection or familiarity was at least as likely to have originated its use. Thus, Peter de Gaveston would surely not be deprived of his knightly fame because he was called by Prince Edward "Perot" (Pierrote _a_ Pierre). Thus also came "Amyot" from Amy, "Launcelot" from Laurence, "Gillot" from Giles. And "kin" has as much right to be so considered. But there being already these two diminutives in ordinary use as to names of persons, there surely was no occasion to apply to the same purpose a syllable which (with a mark of contraction) certainly had a direct meaning, and expressed a vocation; and which has very rarely been otherwise used in a diminutive sense.

My object is not so much to advocate any particular solution as regards these names, as to submit evidence bearing upon the subject, with such explanations as have occurred to me.

JOSEPH BURTT.

[Footnote 1: In the _Report from the Select Committee_ (of the House of Commons) _on the Post Office_ in 1844, Sir F. Palgrave makes the following note on the word _Cokinus_, which occurs in some documents supplied to the Committee, and printed in their Appendix:

"The word _Cokinus_, in the Wardrobe Accounts of the latter half of the thirteenth century, is used to signify a 'messenger;' but in what the Cokinus differed from the Nuncius and the Garcio--the other terms employed in their accounts to signify the bearers of letters or messages--does not appear."]

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SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.

The habit of this celebrated author, to annotate in the margins of books which he was reading, must be well known to many of the subscribers of "N. & Q."

I have in my possession a curious little volume of notes, &c. in Mr. Coleridge's handwriting, of course very highly prized, from which extracts were made in vol. i. pp. 274-5., &c. of Coleridge's _Literary Remains_, collected and edited by his nephew, H. N. Coleridge, Esq., 4 vols., 1836: Pickering.

But, in addition to this volume, I have a few with S. T. Coleridge's pencillings in the margins. The following is selected from Dr. Parr's celebrated _Spital Sermon_, and is appended to one of his (Dr. Parr's) notes, wherein he says:

"Upon the various effects of superstition, where it has spread widely
and thriven long, we can reason from facts. But in the original frame
of the human mind, and in the operation of all those usual causes which
regulate our conduct or affect our happiness, there seems to be a most
active, constant, and invincible principle of _resistance_ to the
approachments of atheism. 'All nature cries aloud' against them,
'through all her works,' not in speculation only, but in practice."

Mr. Coleridge's annotation upon the foregoing opinion of the learned Doctor is as follows; and I select it as a specimen of Coleridge's astonishing recollection of any opinions he had formerly promulgated, which might have called any laxity of principle, religious, moral, or political, into doubt, and of his extreme anxiety to refute or explain them:

"I never had even a doubt in _my being_ concerning the supreme Mind;
but understand too sufficiently the difficulty of any intellectual
demonstrations of his existence, and see too plainly how inevitably the
principles of many pious men (Locke, Priestley, Hartley, even
Archbishop King) would lead to atheism by fair production of
consequences, not to feel in perfect charity with all good men, atheist
or theist; and, let me add, though I now seem to feel firm ground of
_reason_ under my belief in God, not gratefully to attribute my uniform
past _theism_ more to general feeling than to depth of understanding.
Within this purpose I hope that, without offence, I may declare my
conviction, that in the French Revolution atheism was an effect, not a
cause; that the same wicked men, under other circumstances and
fashions, would have done the same things as Anabaptists within
Munster, or as Inquisitors among the South American Indians; and that
atheism from conviction, and as a ruling motive and impulse (in which
case only can it be fairly compared with superstition), is a quiescent
state and _per se_ harmless to all but the atheist himself. Rather is
it that overwhelming preference of experimental philosophy, which, by
smothering over more delicate perceptions, and debilitating often to
impotence the faculty of going into ourselves, leads to atheism as a
conscious creed, and in its extreme is atheism in its essence. This
rather is, I should deem, the more perilous, and a plainer and better
object for philosophical attack. O! bring back _Jack the Giant Killer_
and the _Arabian Nights_ to our children, and Plato and his followers
to new men, and let us have chemistry as we have watchmakers or
surgeons (I select purposely honourable and useful callings), as a
_division_ of human labour, as worthy profession for a few, not as a
glittering master-feature of the education of men, women, and
children.--S. T. C."

J. M. G.

Worcester.

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FOLK LORE.

_The ancient Custom of Well-flowering._--At Tissington, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, annually, on Ascension Day, a beautiful ceremony called the "well-flowering" takes place; and in it Psalms used by the Church of England are partially employed. It is a popular recognition of the value of those "perpetual fountains which gush out from below the dry wolds and limestone hills, bearing life and beauty on their course,--objects," remarks Professor Phillips in his admirable work on _The Rivers, Mountains, and Sea Coasts of Yorkshire_ (recently published), "on which rustic love and admiration may tastefully bestow the emblematic flowers and grateful songs, which constituted a pleasing form of popular worship in the earlier ages of the world." Perhaps some correspondents of "N. & Q." may be enabled to mention other {281} villages besides Tissington in which this innocent and pleasing custom is still observed. I am aware that there are many places, especially in the north of England, in which a rustic celebration takes place annually at wells sacred from olden time; but is not the "well-flowering" a distinct custom?

WM. SIDNEY GIBSON.

Newcastle.

_Devil's Marks in Swine._--"We don't kill a pig every day," but we did a short time since; and after its hairs were scraped off, our attention was directed to six small rings, about the size of a pea, and in colour as if burnt or branded, on the inside of each fore leg, and disposed curvilinearly. Our labourer informed us with great gravity, and evidently believed it, that these marks were caused by the pressure of the devil's fingers, when he entered the herd of swine which immediately ran violently into the sea.--See Mark v. 11-15.; Luke viii. 22, 33.

TEE BEE.

_Festival of Baal._--The late Lady Baird, of Ferntower, in Perthshire, told me that, every year at "Beltane" (or the 1st of May), a number of men and women assembled at an ancient druidical circle of stones on her property, near Crieff. They light a fire in the centre; each person puts a bit of oatcake into a shepherd's bonnet; they all sit down and draw blindfold a piece of cake from the bonnet. One piece has been previously blackened, and whoever gets that piece has to jump through the fire in the centre of the circle and to pay a forfeit. This is, in fact, a part of the ancient worship of Baal, and the person on whom the lot fell was formerly burnt as a sacrifice; now, the passing through the fire represents that, and the payment of the forfeit redeems the victim. It is curious that staunch Presbyterians, as the people of that part of Perthshire now are, should unknowingly keep up the observance of a great heathen festival.