Chapter M

THE FRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE--CHAUCER'S NIGHT CHARM.

In a little work by Costanzi, entitled _Le Istituzioni di Pieta che si esercitano in Roma_, &c., and published A.D. 1825, in Rome, where the schools under the management of that brotherhood are in great favour, "C.F.S." will find much to interest him on the subject, though not exactly in the order in which he has put his queries (No. 14. p. 214.), nor to their full extent.

Mr. Thoms, to whom English mediæval literature is so much beholden, asks very earnestly for some information about "the white Paternoster" and "seynte Petres soster," (No. 15. p. 229.). Perhaps the following guesses may not be without use. First, then, about the "white Paternoster:"

Henry Parker, a Carmelite friar of Doncaster, who wrote his admirable _Compendiouse Treatyse, or Dialogue of Dives and Pauper_, during the reign of Edward IV., speaking against superstitions, and especially "craftes and conjurations with holy prayers," says:

"They that use holy wordes of the gospel, Pater noster, Ave, or
Crede, or holy prayers in theyr wytchecraftes, for charmes or
conjurations--they make a full hye sacrifice to the fende. It
hath oft ben knowen, that wytches, with sayenge of their Pater
noster and droppynge of the holy candell in a man's steppes that
they hated, hath done his fete rotton of. Dr. What should the
Pater noster, and the holy candell do therto? Pau. Ryght nought.
But for the wytche worshyppeth the fende so highly with the holy
prayers, and with the holy candell, and used suche holy thinges
in despyte of God therefore is the fende redy to do the wytche's
wylle and to fulfyll thinges that they done it for. 'The Fyrst
Command,' cap. XXXV. Fol. 52. Imprynted by T. Berthelet, 1536.
12mo."

That the Pater noster used sometimes to be said with the wicked design of working ill to individuals, and by those who were deemed witches, is clear form the above extract: may not, then, this "wytche's" Pater noster be the "white" Pater noster, against which the night-spell in Chaucer was employed? "Wyche" may easily be imagined to have glided into "white."

"Seynte Petres soster," I suspect has a reference to St. Petronilla's legend. St. Petronilla, among our forefathers, was called St. Pernell, and _The Golden Lengend_ imprinted 1527, by Wynkyn de Word, tells us, fol. cxxxi. b., that she "was doughter of saynt peter thappostle, whiche was ryght fayre and bewteous, and by the wyll of her fader she was vexed with fevers and akes." For a long while she lay bed-ridden. From the name of this saint, who went through so many years of her life in sickness, perhaps was borrowed the word "pernell," to mean a person in a sickly weak state of health, in which sense, Sir Thomas More (_Works_, London, 1557, p. 893) employs it, while bantering Tindal. St. Peter's daughter (St. Pernell) came to be looked upon, in this country, as the symbol of bad health under all its forms. Now, if we suppose that the poet mistook, and wrote "soster" instead of "doughter," we immediately understand the drift of the latter part of the spell, which was, not only to drive away witchcraft, but guard all the folks in that house from sickness of every kind.

Daniel Rock.

Buckland, Faringdon.

* * * * *

REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES.

_By Hook or by Crook--Pokership--Gib Cat--Emerod._--I regret that very pressing business has hitherto prevented me from supplying an omission in my communication relating to the probable derivation of "By Hook or by Crook;" namely, my authority for saying there was evidence of the usage I referred to in forest customs. I now beg to supply that omission, by referring to the numerous claims for fuel wood made by divers persons at the justice seats held in the reigns of Charles I. and Charles II. for the New Forest, and which will be found at the Tower and Chapter House. Among others of these claims, I would mention that made by the tenant of land in Barnford, No. 112., who claims to have had the privilege, from _time immemorial_, of going into the king's wood to take the _dead branches_ off the trees therein, "with a cart, a horse, a _Hook and a Crook_, and a sail cloth." Verily this necessity for a sail cloth seems to point very distinctly to his being obliged to collect his fire-wood "by Hook or by Crook." May I add, that I do not think that any of the notes I have seen hitherto, with reference to this subject, invalidate the supposition of the origin being forestal; all that they {282} appear to me to prove is, that the saying is of long standing.

With reference to the query regarding the word Pokership (No. 12. p. 185.), I would observe, that the word is correctly copied from the grant, and that it was so spelt in all the previous grants that I have been able to refer to. As to the meaning of the word, I am of the opinion that it is intended to express the office of keeping the hogs in the forest, i.e. Porcarius. Pokership was probably spelt in early times Pawkership, from Pawn, I apprehend; subsequently it was either spelt or pronounced Paukership or Pokership. In corroboration of this view, I would mention, that on referring to the Pipe Roll, 6 John, county of _Hereford_, the following will be found:--"Hubert de Burgo, Et i libæ const. Parcario de heford, xxxs. vd." If, however, Parkership be deemed the more correct reading, still it does not of necessity apply to the custody of a park; it might have denoted the pound-keeper, for, in matters relating to manors, _parcus_ means a pound.

With respect to the query about Gib Cat, you will find the subject treated on largely in the _Etymologicon_--I may say, exhausted.

By the bye, there can be no doubt that Emerod means Emerald; formerly Emerald would be spelt Emeraud, and the transition is natural to Emerode--Emerod. With regard to the supposed size being an objection to this reading, it will be found that anciently the _matrix_ of the Emerald, which is _tinged_ green, went by the name of the more valuable jewel.

T.R.F.

Spring Gardens, Feb. 1850.

_Golden Frog_ (No. 14. p. 214.).--Sir John Poley's frog may have been a device alluding to his name; I imagine that Poley is an appelative of frogs. I find in Halliwell's _Dict. of Archaic Words_, "_Polly_wig," and in Jamieson's _Scottish Dictionary_, "_Pow_lick," both meaning _tadpole_, and both _diminutive_ forms; and Rowley _Poley_ is closely (though not very logically) connected with the _frog_ who would a-wooing go. The word has probably the same root as _poole_, _puddle_, &c.

R.R.

_Madoc._--In addition to what is stated (No. 4. p. 56.) on this subject, may be noted, that in the MS. Add. 14,957. British Museum, fol. 149., is a letter from Dr. David Samwell to the Gwyneddigion Society, dated 23rd March, 1791, in which he states, that the result of an interview, held by himself and William Owen with General Bowles, "places the existence of a race of Welsh Indians beyond all matter of doubt." This race is identified with _Padongas_ on the Missouri, who are said to be of a different complexion from the other Indian races, and to have books, which they were not able to read. Is this information to be depended on or not?

F.M.

_MSS. of Sir Roger Twysden_ (No. 5. p. 76.).--Twysden's MSS. were purchased by Sir Thomas Sebright, in or before the year 1715, and in the Sebright sale at Leigh and Sotheby's, in 1807, appear to be two of the MSS. inquired after by the Rev. L.B. Larking, namely, Lot 1224., "Vita et Epistolæ Sancti Thomæ, Archiepiscopi Cant." (purchased by Heber, and, at his sale in 1836, resold [Lot 323.] to Sir Thomas Phillipps), and Lot 1225., "Epistolæ Beati Anselmi, Archieposcopi Cant.", purchased by Dardis; but what became of it afterwards I know not.

F.M.

_Royal Genealogies_ (No. 6. p. 92.).--The inquirer will find, probably, what he requires, in a work by J.F. Dambergen, entitled, "Sechzig genaealogische auch chronologische und statistische Tabellen, zu Fürstentafel und Fürstenbuch der Europäischen Staatengeschichte," fol. Regensburg, 1831, in which the descents are brought down to a recent period.

F.M.

_Astle's MSS._ (No. 15. p. 230.).--After the death of Astle, in 1803, his collection of MSS. was purchased, pursuant to his will, for the sum of 500l., by the Marquess of Buckingham, and they remained at Stowe till the spring of last year, when they passed, with the rest of that noble collection, into the hands of the Earl of Ashburnham, for the sum of 8000l.;--a loss to the public much to be regretted.

F.M.

_Dr. Hugh Todd's MSS_. (No. 16. p. 246.).--The first of the five MSS. mentioned by Mr. Walbran, namely, the Chartulary of Fountains Abbey, is at present in University College, Oxford, and perhaps some of the other MSS. may be there also. A catalogue of the MSS. of this College has been printed, compiled by the Rev. H.O. Coxe, of the Bodleian Library; but I have not been able to consult a copy of it in London.

F.M.

_Sir William Ryder_ (No. 12. p. 186.),--"H.F." is informed that Sir William Ryder, Lord Mayor of London in 1660, lived at Bethnal Green, received the honour of knighthood, 12th March, 1660 or 1661; died 30th August, 1669; and was buried 9th September following at St. Andrew Undershaft, London. He had two sons, one of whom was Thomas Ryder, who was an equerry to King James II., and lord of the manor of Bilsington, in Kent. He performed some service at the coronation of Queen Anne; and his son, Sir Barnham Ryder, was knighted at the coronation of her successor. The other son of Sir William Ryder was William Ryder, gentleman. Sir William Ryder had five daughters:--1. Elizabeth, who married Richard, son of Sir Thomas Midleton, of Chirk Castle in Denbighshire, knight. 2. Priscilla, the wife of Richard Baylie, son of Dr. Baylie, Dean of {283} Sarum. 3. Mary. 4. Anne. 5. Martha.--_Harl. MSS._ 5801, 5802.

F.E.

_Scole Inn._--In answer to the query (No. 16. p. 245.) respecting the Sign and House at Scole Inn, I beg to refer to vol. ii. p. 142., of the _History of Norfolk_, published by Crouse and Booth of Norwich, in 1781, in 10 vols. 8vo.

I beg to state that I have impressions of two large prints, one of the "House," and the other of the "Sign." They were published in 1740.--"Joshua Kirby," del., "John Fossey," sculpt.

I have also a smaller print of the "Sign" taken from the opposite side--from the larger one--apparently by the same parties, but the names of the drawer and engraver are cut off.

I think the Sign was not take down till after 1795, as I have a recollection of having passed _under it_ when a boy, in going from Norwich to Ipswich.

The sign was large and handsome, and extended across the road.

In _Kirby's Print_, it is stated to have cost Mr. James Peck, who was a merchant at Norwich, 1057l.

The prints are not very scarce, and may be got at many of the printsellers in London.

J.B.

About twenty years ago I have seen hanging up on the wall of the principal entry of this inn, a print of its original front, comprising the various figure, coats of arms, &c. which adorned it: in this account the founder Peck was called a citizen of Norwich, and the traveller was puzzled by this piece of information. "It is called Scole Inn, because it is at about the same distance from Norwich, Ipswich, and Bury."

M. Prendergast.

7. Serjeant's Inn. Fleet Street, Feb. 19. 1850.

_Killigrew Family and Scole Inn Sign_ (No. 15. p. 231.).--Doubtless there are pedigrees of the Killigrew family in the _Visitations of Cornwall_, which would answer Mr. Lower's questions. Many notices of them also occur in Gilbert's _History of Cornwall_, and Wood's _Athenæ Oxon._, Bliss. ed., and both those works have good indexes.

There is a folded engraving of Scole Inn Sign (No. 16. p. 245.) in Armstrong's _History of Norfolk_, vol. ii. p. 144., but I never could learn when or why the sign was removed. The couchant stag in the centre was the Cornwallis crest.

Braybrooke.

Audley End.

_Pavoise of the Black Prince_ (No. 12. p. 183).--It is very probably that the _Pavoise_ which "Bolton" mentions as hanging in his time at the tomb of Edward the Black Prince, was no part of the original collection.

"A quilted coat-armour, with _half-sleeves tabard fashion_," reads oddly as part of this prince's costume; but we know that sometimes "Coming events cast their shadows before."

T.W.

_Welsh Ambassador._--The following use of the word "Welsh" _in metaphor_, may perhaps serve as a clue to, or illustration of, G.'s query (No. 15. p. 230.):

_Andrew_. "In tough _Welsh_ parsley, which in our vulgar tongue,
is Strong hempen altars."--Beaumont and Fletcher, _Elder
Brother_, Act. 1. ad fin.

Petit André

Pleissis-les-Tours, Fevrier, 1850.

_Phoenix--by Lactantius._--"Seleucus" is informed, in answer to his query in No. 13. p. 203., that he will find the Latin poem of the _Phoenix_, in hexameters _and pentameters_, in that scarce little volume, edited by Pithaeus, and published at Paris in 1590 (see Brunet), _Epigrammata et Poematia Vetera, &c._ (of which I am happy to say I possess a most beautiful copy), where it is headed "Phoenix, Incerti Auctoris;" and again at the end of the edition of _Claudian_ by P. Burmann Secundus Amsterdam, 1760), with the following title,--_Lactantia Elegia, de Phoenice; vulgo Claudiano ad scripta, &c._, where also another correspondent, "R.G." (in No. 15. p. 235.), will find much information as to who was the author of the poem.

C.J.C.

Feb. 9. 1850.

_Catsup_ (no. 8. p. 125.).--"Catsup" is to be found thus spelt in Todd's _Johnson's Dictionary_ (London, 1818). He describes it as a kind of Indian pickles imitated by pickled mushrooms; and quotes these two lines of Swift:

"And for our home-bred British cheer,
Botargo, catsup, and cavier."

An eminnet Sanscrit scholar informs me that "kuck-hup" is the Hindostanee word for Turtle; it is to be met in the Vocabulary attached to Gilchrist's _East Indian Guide_ (8vo. London, 1820). May not the name of the sauce take its origin from the use of it in preparing the turtle for the table? In the _Cuisinier Royal, par Viart_, p. 75., it is mentioned among the "petites sauces," as ket-chop, "ou Soyac;" and the receipt for making it ends with "servez le avec le poisson." (Published at Paris, 1840.)

C.I.R.

_The Buckingham Motto_ (No. 9. p. 138., and No. 16. p. 252.).--On examining the original manuscript the true reading of this motto appears to me to be,

Sovente me sovene,
Harre Bokynghame.

I should translate it, "souvent me souvenez;" an Anglo-French paraphrase of "sis memor mei;" or, "Ne m'oubliez pas." I have great doubt {284} whether the original MS. can be safely assumed to be an _autograph_.

S.

[Our correspondent "P." writes, "It surprises me your OEdipi
should be so wide of the mark in this motto. It is simply, 'Oft
remember me.'"]

_Devices of the Standards of the Anglo-Saxons_ (No. 14. p. 216.).--The arms, i.e. the standards of the successive rulers of Britain, may be found in Sir Winston Churchill's curious work, _Divi Britannici_, which gives (as your correspondent supposes) the White Horse for Kent, the White Dragon for Wessex, and the Raven for the Danes.