Chapter L: M. M. R

_Earl of Glencairn._--Could you or any of your readers inform me of any particulars concerning the Earl of Glencairn, who, with a sister, is said to have fled from Scotland about 1700, or rather later, and to have concealed himself in Devonshire, where his sister married, 1712, one John Lethbridge, and had issue? Was this sister called Grace? Within late years they were spoken of by the very old inhabitants of Okehampton, Devon, and stories of the coroneted clothes, &c. were current.

LODBROK.

_Willow Bark in Ague._--I have seen recently some notices of the use of willow bark in ague. Will some kind correspondent inform me and others interested in the subject, where the information is to be found?

E. C.

_"Perturbabantur," &c._--Can any of your readers give the whole of the poem, of which the first two lines are--

"Perturbabantur Constantinopolitani,
Innumerabilibus sollicitudinibus"?

These lines are singularly applicable at the present moment.

I am also desirous of knowing the history of this poem.

P.

* * * * *

Minor Queries with Answers.

_Seamen's Tickets._--From an old paper, 1768:

"Feb. 8. Died at her house in Chapel Street, near Ratcliff Highway,
aged 95, Margaret McKennow, who kept a lodging-house in that
neighbourhood many years, and dealt in seamen's tickets. She is said to
have died worth upwards of 6000l., and just after she expired
twenty-nine quarter guineas were found in her mouth."

What are seamen's tickets?

W. D. R.

Philadelphia.

[The system of paying seamen with tickets instead of cash caused great
discontent during the reign of Charles II., and, from the frequent
notices respecting it in Pepys's _Diary_, seems to have given our
Diarist great trouble. On November 30, 1660, he says: "Sir G. Carteret
did give us an account how Mr. Holland do intend to prevail with the
parliament to try his project of discharging the seamen all at present
by ticket, and so promise interest to all men that will lend money upon
them at eight per cent. for so long as they are unpaid, whereby he do
think to take away the growing debt which do now lie upon the kingdom
for lack of present money to discharge the seamen." These tickets the
poor fellows sold at half price to usurers, mostly Jews; and to so
great an extent was the system carried, that in the year 1710 there was
a floating debt due to these usurers of ten millions paid by Harley
from a fictitious fund formed by the government.]

_Bruce, Robert._--Can you tell me the name of the author of the following little work? It is small, and contains 342 pages, and is entitled:

"The Acts and Life of the most Victorious Conqueror Robert Bruce, King
of Scotland. Wherein also are contained the Martial Deeds of the
Valiant Princes Edward Bruce, Sir James Douglas, Earl Thomas Randal,
Walter Stewart, and sundry others. To which is added a Glossary,
explaining the difficult {453} Words contained in this Book, and that
of Wallace. Glasgow: printed by Mr. A. Carmichael and A. Miller.
MDCCXXXVII."

JAMES P. BRYCE.

[This work is by John Barbour (sometimes written Barber, Barbere, and
Barbare), an eminent Scottish metrical historian. It has been said that
he received his education at the Abbey of Aberbrothock, where he took
orders, and obtained a living near Aberdeen. Dr. Henry supposes Barbour
to have become Archdeacon of Aberdeen in 1356. It is probable he died
towards the close of 1395. His poem has passed through several
editions, and is considered of high historical value. The earlier
editions are those of Edinburgh, 1616, 1670, 12mo. In 1790, Pinkerton
published "the first genuine edition from a MS. dated 1489, with notes
and a Glossary." The best edition, however, is that by Dr. Jamieson,
with Notes, and Life of the Author, Edinb. 4to. 1820.]

_Coronation Custom._--At the coronations of Henry IV. and Richard III. a ceremony was performed which seems to indicate some idea of the elective sovereignty in England. The archbishop stood at each of the four corners of the dais in succession, and asked from thence the consent of the assembled Commons (Heylin, _Reform._, 1st edit., p. 32.). Did this ever take place at the coronation of English monarchs whose succession was not disputed?

J. H. B.

[In after times this ceremony seems to be that called "The
Recognition." Sandford, speaking of the coronation of James II., says,
"The Archbishop of Canterbury standing near the king, on the east side
of the theatre, his majesty, attended as before, rose out of his chair,
and stood before it, whilst the archbishop, having his face to the
east, said as follows: 'Sirs. I here present unto you King James, the
rightful inheritor of the crown of this realm; wherefore all ye that
are come this day to do your homage, service, and bounden duty, are ye
willing to do the same?' From thence the said archbishop, accompanied
with the lord keeper, the lord great chamberlain, the lord high
constable, and the earl marshal (garter king of arms going before
them), proceeded to the south side of the theatre, and repeated the
same words; and from thence to the west, and lastly to the north side
of the theatre, in like manner: the king standing all this while by his
chair of state, toward the east side of the theatre, and turning his
face to the several sides of the theatre, at such time as the
archbishop at every of them spake to the people. At every of which the
people signified their willingness and joy by loud acclamations."]

_William Warner._--Where can any account be found of Warner the poet, the author of _Albion's England_?

I. R. R.

[Some account of William Warner will be found in Wood's _Athenae
Oxonienses_. vol. i. pp., 765-773. (Bliss); also in Percy's _Reliques
of Ancient English Poetry_, vol. ii. p. 261., edit. 1812. From the
register of Amwell, in Herts, it appears that he died there March 9,
1608-9, "soddenly in the night in his bedde, without any former
complaint or sicknesse;" and that he was "a man of good yeares and
honest reputation; by his profession an attorney at the Common
Please."--Scott's _Amwell_, p. 22. note.]

"_Isle of Beauty._"--Who was the author of "Isle of Beauty?" I always thought Thomas Haynes Bayly, but some say Lord Byron. Not knowing Mrs. Bayly's immediate address, I send this Query. I much regret not asking her when I sent my volume of poems, with view of poor Bayly's Grove, Cheltenham.