Chapter C: M. T

Oare.

_How to take Paint off old Oak._--Can any of your correspondents inform me of some way to take paint off old oak?

F. M. MIDDLETON.

* * * * *

Minor Queries with Answers.

_Cadenus and Vanessa._--What author is referred to in the lines in Swift's "Cadenus and Vanessa,"--

"He proves as sure as GOD's in Gloster,
That Moses was a grand impostor;
That all his miracles were tricks," &c.?

W. FRASER.

Tor-Mohun.

[These lines occur in the Dean's verses "On the Death of Dr. Swift,"
and refer to Thomas Woolston, the celebrated heterodox divine, who, as
stated in a note quoted in Scott's edition, "for want of bread hath, in
several treatises, in the most blasphemous manner, attempted to turn
our Saviour's miracles in ridicule."]

_Boom._--Is there an English verb active _to boom_, and what is the precise meaning of it? Sir Walter Scott uses the participle:

"The bittern _booming_ from the sedgy shallow."
_Lady of the Lake_, canto i. 31.

VOGEL.

[Richardson defines BOOM, v., applied as _bumble_ by Chaucer, and
_bump_ by Dryden, to the noise of the bittern, and quotes from Cotton's
_Night's Quatrains_,--

"Philomel chants it whilst it bleeds,
The bittern _booms_ it in the reeds," &c.]

"_A Letter to a Member of Parliament._"--Who was the author of _A Letter to a Member of Parliament_, occasioned by _A Letter to a Convocation Man_: W. Rogers, London, 1697?

W. FRASER.

Tor-Mohun.

[Attributed to Mr. Wright, a gentleman of the Bar, who maintains the
same opinions with Dr. Wake.]

_Ancient Chessmen._--I should be glad to learn, through the medium of "N. & Q.," some particulars relative to the sixty-four chessmen and fourteen draughtsmen, made of walrus tusk, found in the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, and now in case 94. Mediaeval Collection of the British Museum?

HORNOWAY.

[See _Archaeologia_, vol. xxiv. p. 203., for a valuable article,
entitled "Historical Remarks on the introduction of the Game of Chess
into Europe, and on the ancient Chessmen discovered in the Isle of
Lewis, by Frederick Madden, Esq., F.R.S., in a Letter addressed to
Henry Ellis, Esq., F.R.S., Secretary."]

_Guthryisms._--In a work entitled _Select Trials at the Old Bailey_ is an account of the trial and execution of Robert Hallam, for murder, in the year 1731. Narrating the execution of the criminal, and mentioning some papers which he had prepared, the writer says: "We will not tire the reader's patience with transcribing these prayers, in which we can see nothing more than commonplace phrases and unmeaning _Guthryisms_." What {621} is the meaning of this last word, and to whom does it refer?

S. S. S.

[James Guthrie was chaplain of Newgate in 1731; and the phrase
_Guthryisms_, we conjecture, agrees in common parlance with a later
saying, that of "stuffing _Cotton_ in the prisoner's ears."]

* * * * *

Replies.

CORRESPONDENCE OF CRANMER AND CALVIN.

(Vol. vii., p. 501.)

The question put by C. D., respecting the existence of letters said to have passed between Archbishop Cranmer and Calvin, and to exist in print at Geneva, upon the seeming sanction given by our liturgy to the belief that baptism confers regeneration, is a revival of an inquiry made by several persons about ten years ago. It then induced M. Merle d'Aubigne to make the search of which C. D. has heard; and the result of that search was given in a communication from the Protestant historian to the editor of the _Record_, bearing date April 22, 1843.

I have that communication before me, as a cutting from the _Record_; but have not preserved the date of the number in which it appeared[2], though likely to be soon after its receipt by the editor. Merle d'Aubigne says, in his letter, that both the printed and manuscript correspondence of Calvin, in the public library of Geneva, had been examined in vain by himself, and by Professor Diodati the librarian, for any such topic; but he declares himself disposed to believe that the assertion, respecting which C. D. inquires, arose from the following passage in a letter from Calvin to the English primate:

"Sic correctae sunt externae superstitiones, ut residui maneant innumeri
surculi, qui assidue pullulent. _Imo ex corruptelis papatus audio
relictum esse congeriem, quae non obscuret modo, sed propemodum obruat
purum et genuinum Dei cultum_."

Part of this letter, but with important omissions, had been published by Dean Jenkyns in 1833. (_Cranmer's Remains_, vol. i. p. 347.) M. d'Aubigne's communication gave the whole of it; and it ought to have appeared in the Parker Society volume of original letters relative to the English Reformation. That volume contains one of Calvin's letters to the Protector Somerset; but omits another, of which Merle d'Aubigne's communication supplied a portion, containing this important sentence:

"Quod ad formulam precum et rituum ecclesiasticorum, _valde probo ut
certa illa extet, a qua pastoribus discedere in functione sua non
liceat_, tam ut consulatur quorumdam simplicitati et imperitiae, quam ut
certius ita constet omnium inter se ecclesiarum consensus."

Another portion of a letter from Calvin, communicated by D'Aubigne, is headed in the _Record_ "Cnoxo et gregalibus, S. D.;" but seems to be the one cited in the Parker Society, vol. ii. of _Letters_, pp. 755-6, notes 941, as a letter to Richard Cox and others; so that _Cnoxo_ should have been Coxo.

The same valuable communication farther contained the letter of Cranmer inviting Calvin to unite with Melancthon and Bullinger in forming arrangements for holding a Protestant synod in some safe place; meaning in England, as he states more expressly to Melancthon. This letter, however, had been printed entire by Dean Jenkyns, vol. i. p. 346.; and it is given, with an English translation, in the Parker Society edition of _Cranmer's Works_ as Letter CCXCVII., p. 431. It is important, as proving that Heylyn stated what was untrue, _Eccles. Restaur._, p. 65.; where he has said, "Calvin had offered his assistance to Archbishop Cranmer. But the archbishop knew the man, and refused his offer." Instead of such an offer, Calvin replied courteously and affectionately to Cranmer's invitation; but says, "Tenuitatem meam facturam spero, ut mihi parcatur ... Mihi utinam par studii ardori suppeteret facultas." This reply, the longest letter in their correspondence, is printed in the note attached to Cranmer's letter (Park. Soc., as above, p. 432.; and a translation of it in Park. Soc. _Original Letters_, vol. ii. p. 711.: and there are extracts from it in Jenkyns, p. 346., n.p.). D'Aubigne gave it entire; but has placed both Calvin's letters to the archbishop before the latter's epistle to him, to which they both refer.

HENRY WALTER.

[Footnote 2: It appeared in the No. for May 15, 1849.--ED.]

* * * * *

"POPULUS VULT DECIPI."

(Vol. vii., p. 572.)

If MR. TEMPLE will turn to p. 141. of Mathias Prideaux's _Easy and Compendious Introduction for reading all Sorts of Histories_, 6th edit., Oxford, 1682, small 4to., he will find his Query thus answered:

"It was this Pope's [Paul IV.] Legate, _Cardinal Carafa_, that gave
this blessing to the devout Parisians, _Quandoquidem populus decipi
vult, decipiatur_. Inasmuch as this people _will_ be deceived, let them
be deceived."

This book of Prideaux's is full of mottoes, of which I shall give a few instances. Of Frederick Barbarosa "his saying was, _Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit imperare_:" of Justinian "His word was, _Summum jus, summa injuria_--The rigour of the law may prove injurious to conscience:" of Theodosius II. "His motto was, _Tempori parendum_--We must fit us (as far as it may be done with a good conscience) to the time wherein we live, with Christian prudence:" of Nerva "His motto sums {622} up his excellencies, _Mens bona regnum possidet_--My mind to me a kingdom is:" of Richard Coeur de Lion, "The motto of _Dieu et mon droit_ is attributed to him; ascribing the victory he had at Gisors against the French, not to himself, but to God and His might."

EIRIONNACH.

Cardinal Carafa seems to have been the author of the above memorable dictum. Dr. John Prideaux thus alludes to the circumstance:

"Cardinalis (ut ferunt) quidam [Greek: meta polles phantasias] Lutetiam
aliquando ingrediens, cum instant importunius turbae ut benedictionem
impertiret: _Quandoquidem_ (inquit) _hic populus vult decipi,
decipiatur in nomine Diaboli_."--_Lectiones Novem_, p. 54.: Oxoniae,
1625, 4to.

I must also quote from Dr. Jackson:

"Do all the learned of that religion in heart approve that commonly
reported saying of Leo X., '_Quantum profuit nobis fabula Christi_,'
and yet resolve (as Cardinal Carafa did, _Quoniam populus iste vult
decipi, decipiatur_) to puzzle the people in their
credulity?"--_Works_, vol. i. p. 585.: Lond. 1673, fol.

The margin directs me to the following passage in Thuanus:

"Inde Carafa Lutetiam regni metropolim tanquam Pontificis legatus
solita pompa ingreditur, ubi cum signum crucis, ut fit, ederet,
verborum, quae proferri mos est, loco, ferunt eum, ut erat securo de
numine animo et summus religionis derisor, occursante passim populo et
in genua ad ipsius conspectum procumbente, saepius secreta murmuratione
haec verba ingeminasse: _Quandoquidem populus iste vult decipi,
decipiatur_."--_Histor._, lib. xvii., ad ann. 1556, vol. i. p. 521.:
Genevae, 1626, fol.

ROBERT GIBBINGS.

* * * * *

LATIN--LATINER.

(Vol. vii., p. 423.)

Latin was likewise used for the language or song of birds:

"E cantino gli angelli
Ciascuno in suo _Latino_."
_Dante_, canzone i.

"This faire kinges doughter Canace,
That on hire finger bare the queinte ring,
Thurgh which she understood wel every thing
That any foule may in his _leden_ sain,
And coude answere him in his _leden_ again,
Hath understonden what this faucon seyd."
Chaucer, _The Squieres Tale_, 10746.

Chaucer, it will be observed, uses the Anglo-Saxon form of the word. _Leden_ was employed by the Anglo-Saxons in the sense of language generally, as well as to express the Latin tongue.

In the German version of Sir Tristram, Latin is also used for the song of birds, and is so explained by Ziemann:

"_Latin_, Latein; fuer jede fremde eigenthuemliche Sprache, selbst fuer
den _Vogelgesang_. Tristan und Isolt, 17365."--Ziemann,
_Mittelhochdeutsches Woerterbuch_.

Spenser, who was a great imitator of Chaucer, probably derives the word _leden_ or _ledden_ from him:

"Thereto he was expert in prophecies,
And could the _ledden_ of the gods unfold."
_The Faerie Queene_, book iv. ch. xi. st. 19.

"And those that do to Cynthia expound
The _ledden_ of straunge languages in charge."
_Colin Clout_, 744.

In the last passage, perhaps, _meaning, knowledge_, best expresses the sense. _Ledden_ may have been one of the words which led Ben Jonson to charge Spenser with "affecting the ancients." However, I find it employed by one of his cotemporaries, Fairfax:

"With party-colour'd plumes and purple bill,
A wond'rous bird among the rest there flew,
That in plain speech sung love-lays loud and shrill,
Her _leden_ was like human language true."
Fairfax's _Tasso_, book xvi. st. 13.

The expression _lede, in lede_, which so often occurs in Sir Tristram, may also have arisen from the Anglo-Saxon form of the word _Latin_. Sir W. Scott, in his Glossary, explains it: "_Lede, in lede. In language_, an expletive, synonymous to _I tell you_." The following are a few of the passages in which it is found:

"Monestow neuer in _lede_
Nought lain."--Fytte i. st. 60.

"In _lede_ is nought to layn,
He set him by his side."--Fytte i. st. 65.

"Bothe busked that night,
To Beliagog in _lede_."--Fytte iii. st. 59.

It is not necessary to descant on thieves' Latin, dog-Latin, _Latin de Cuisine_, &c.; but I should be glad to learn when dog-Latin first appeared in our language.

E. M. B.

Lincoln.

* * * * *

JACK.

(Vol. vii., p. 326.)

The list of _Jacks_ supplied by your correspondent JOHN JACKSON is amusing and curious. A few additions towards a complete collection may not be altogether unacceptable or unworthy of notice.

Supple (usually pronounced souple) _Jack_, a flexible cane; _Jack_ by the hedge, a plant (_Erysimum cordifolium_); the _jacks_ of a harpsichord; _jack_, an engine to raise ponderous bodies (Bailey); _Jack_, the male of birds of sport (Ditto); _Jack_ of Dover, a joint twice dressed (Ditto, from Chaucer); _jack_ pan, used by barbers (Ditto); _jack_, a frame used by sawyers. I have also noted _Jack_-Latin, _Jack_-a-nod, but cannot give their authority or meaning. {623}

The term was very familiar to our older writers. The following to Dodsley's _Collection of old Plays_ (1st edition, 1744) may assist in explaining its use:

Vol. I.--Page 45. Jack Strawe.
Page 65. New Jack.
Page 217. Sir Jacke.
Page 232. Jack Fletcher.
Page 263. Jacknapes.
Page 271. Jack Sauce.

Vol. II.--Page 139. Clapper Jack.

Vol. III.--Page 34. Prating Jack.
Page 64. Jack-a-lent.
Page 168. His Jacks.
Page 214. Black Jacks.

Vol. V.--Page 161. Every Jack.
Page 341. Skip-Jack.

Vol. VI.--Page 290. Jack Sauce.
Page 325. Flap-Jacks.
Page 359. Whirling Jacks.

Vol. VIII.--Page 55. Jack Sauce.

Vol. X.--Pages 46. 49. His Jack.

Your correspondent is perhaps aware that Dr. Johnson is disposed to consider the derivation from _John_ to be an error, and rather refers the word to the common usage of the French word Jacques (James). His conjecture seems probable, from many of its applications in this language. _Jacques_, a jacket, is decidedly French; _Jacques_ de mailles equally so; and the word _Jacquerie_ embraces all the catalogue of virtues and vices which we connect with our _Jack_.

On the other hand, _John_, in his integrity, occurs familiarly in _John_ Bull, _John_-a-Nokes, _John_ Doe, _John_ apple, _John_ Doree, Blue _John_, _John_ Trot, _John's_ Wort, _John_-a-dreams, &c.; and Poor _John_ is found in Dodsley, vol. viii. pp. 197. 356.