Chapter M: H. R

_Widdrington Family_ (Vol. ix., p. 375.).--The church of Nunnington, near Helmsly, in the North {551} Riding of Yorkshire, contains two handsome marble monuments of Lords Preston and Widdrington. The old hall at Nunnington, now occupied by a farmer, was once the seat of Viscount Preston, and afterwards of Lord Widdrington. William, Lord Widdrington, who is said to be descended from the brave Witherington, celebrated in Chevy Chace for having fought upon his stumps, was of the very noble and ancient family of the Widdringtons of Widdrington Castle, in the county of Northumberland; and great-grandson of the brave Lord Widdrington who was slain gallantly fighting in the service of the crown at Wigan, in Lancashire, in 1651. William, his grandson, was unfortunately engaged in the affair of Preston in 1715, when his estate became forfeited to the crown, and he afterwards confined himself to private life. He married a daughter of the Lord Viscount Preston above mentioned, one of the co-heiresses of the estate at Nunnington, and was in consequence buried in the family vault in 1743, aged sixty-five. For other particulars of the family of Widdrington, see Camden's _Britannia_.

THOMAS GILL.

Easingwold.

_Mathew, a Cornish Family_ (Vol. ix., pp. 22. 289.).--I fear I cannot give the REV. H. T. ELLACOMBE much information on the point he desires of the descent of the Devon and Cornwall branches of the Mathew family, which I yet entertain the hope some of your readers having access to the Cambrian genealogical lore at Dinevawr, Penline, Margam, Fonmon, and other places, may be able to graft correctly on their Welsh tree.

I was unable to corroborate in the British Museum the marriages given in the Heralds' Visitation of Devon, with Starkey and Gamage. Did a son of Reynell of Malston by an heir of Mathew take that name?

MR. ELLACOMBE will find by the Heralds' Visitation that _both_ of the West of England branches settled before 1650 in Cornwall, the one at Tresingher, the other at Milton; but that of the former, William married Elizabeth Wellington, and John married Rebecca Soame, both reverting to settle in Devonshire, from whom, perhaps, his ancestress derives.

B.

Birkenhead.

"[Greek: Pistis]," _unde deriv._ (Vol. ix., p. 324.).--The perfect impossibility of deriving this word from [Greek: Histêmi] is at once evident, on the following grounds: 1. To obtain the letter [pi], recourse is had to the compound form [Greek: ephistamai]; but where have we a similar instance, in any derived word, of the [epsilon] in [Greek: epi] being thus absorbed, and the [pi] taken to commence a fresh word? 2. Allowing such an extraordinary process, what possible meaning of [Greek: ephistamai] can be adduced in the slightest degree corresponding to the established interpretation of [Greek: pistis]?

Throwing aside the termination [Greek: -is], we obtain the letters [Greek: pist-], which a very slight knowledge of etymology enables us to trace back to [Greek: peithô]; for the stem of this verb is [Greek: PITH] (cf. Aor. 2. [Greek: epithon]), and the formation of the adjective [Greek: pistos] from [Greek: pe-peist-ai] is clearly analogous to that of the word in question, the long syllable and diphthong [Greek: ei] being altered into the short and single letter [Greek: i], to which many similar instances may be adduced.

[Phi].

There is no doubt as to the derivation of [Greek: pistis] from [Greek: peithô]. Compare [Greek: knêstis] from [Greek: knaô] or [Greek: knêthô], [Greek: pristis] or [Greek: prêstis] from [Greek: prêthô], [Greek: pustis] from [Greek: punthanomai]. Verbs of this form introduce the [Greek: s] into the future and other inflected tenses, as [Greek: peisô], [Greek: peusomai].

L.

_Author of "The Whole Duty of Man"_ (Vol. vi., p. 537.).--It is asserted in the _English Baronetage_ (vol. i. p. 398., 1741), on the authority of Sir Herbert Perrot Pakington, Bart., in support of the claim of Lady Pakington to the authorship, "the _manuscript, under her own hand_, now remains with the family." Can this MS. now be found?

B. H. C.

_Table-turning_ (Vol. ix., pp. 88. 135., &c.).--In turning over Sozomen's _Ecclesiastical History_, I observed at b. VI. ch. 34. an account of the transaction already printed in your pages from Ammianus Marcellinus. It is in brief as follows:--Certain philosophers who were opposed to Christianity were anxious to learn who should succeed Valens in the empire. After trying all other kinds of divination, they constructed a tripod (or table with three legs: see Servius on Virgil, _Æn._ III. 360.) of laurel wood, and by means of certain incantations and formulæ, succeeded (by combining the letters which were indicated, one by one, by a contrivance of some kind connected with the table) in obtaining Th. E. O. D. Now, being anxious and hopeful for one Theodorus to succeed to the throne, they concluded that he was meant. Valens, hearing of it, put him and them to death, and many others whose names began with these letters.

On referring to Socrates, I find that he also names the circumstances just alluded to. Although he does not give all the particulars, he adds one important statement, which serves to identify the thing more closely with modern table-moving and spirit-rapping. "The devil," he says, "induced certain curious persons to practise _divination, by calling up the spirits of the dead_ ([Greek: nekuomanteian poiêsasthai]), in order to find out who should reign after Valens." They succeeded in obtaining the letters Th. E. O. D.

I observe a reference to Nicephorus, b. XI. 45., but have not his works at hand to consult. {552}

The use of _laurel_, in the construction of the table, seems to connect the occurrences with the worship of Apollo. Those who would investigate the subject fully must consult such passages in the classics as this from Lucan [Lucretius?], lib. i. 739-40.:

"Sanctius et multo certa ratione magis, quam
Pythia, quæ _tripode_ ex Phoebi _lauro_que profatur."

I have a reference to Le Nourry, p. 1345., who, I see, has some remarks upon the passage already given from Tertullian; he, however, throws little light upon the subject.

HENRY H. BREEN (Vol. viii., p. 330.) says, "It is not unreasonable to suppose that table-turning ... was practised in former ages:" to this I think we may now subscribe.

B. H. C.

Poplar.

_Pedigree to the Time of Alfred_ (Vol. viii., p. 586.; Vol. ix., p. 233.).--The person S. D. met at the "King's Head," Egham, was doubtless Mr. John Wapshott of Chertsey, Surrey (late of Almoner's Barn Farm in that neighbourhood), an intelligent, respectable yeoman, who would feel much pleasure in giving S. D. any information he may require.

B. S. ELCOCK.

Bath.

_Quotation wanted_ (Vol. ix., p. 421.).--"Extinctus amabitur idem," is from _Horace_, Epist. II. i. 14. (See Vol. vii., p. 81.)

P. J. F. GANTILLON.

"_Hic locus odit, amat._"--In Vol. v. of "N. & Q.," at p. 8., "PROCURATOR" gives the two quaintly linked lines--

"Hic locus odit, amat, punit, conservat, honorat
Nequitiam, leges, crimina, jura probos."

as "carved in a beam over the Town Hall of Much Wenlock, in Shropshire." They are to be found also in the ancient hall of judicature of the "Palazzo del Podesta," at Pistoja, in Tuscany. The ancient stone seats, with their stone table in front of them, where the magistrates of the republic administered justice in the days of the city's independence, are still remaining, and these lines are cut in the stone just over the benches. This simple and primitive tribunal was built as it now stands in 1307, and there can be no doubt that the verses in question existed there before they found their way to Much Wenlock. But as it is hardly likely that they travelled direct from Tuscany into Shropshire, the probability is that they may be found in some other, or perhaps in many other places. I have not been able to light on any clue to the authorship or history of the lines. Perhaps some of your correspondents, who have the means of wider researches than this city commands, might be more fortunate.

T. A. T.

Florence, March, 1854.

_Writings of the Martyr Bradford_ (Vol. ix., p. 450.).--In reply to MR. TOWNSEND'S inquiry respecting early editions of Bradford's writings, I can add to the information furnished by the Editor that the copy of his _Hurt of Hearyng Masse_, sold at Mr. Jolley's sale, was purchased subsequently of Mr. Thorpe, and deposited in the Chetham Library. This edition is not noticed by Watt.

In Stevens's _Memoirs of the Life and Martyrdom of John Bradford, with his Examinations, Letters, &c._, there is no mention of the letter _ad calcem_ of--

"An Account of a Disputation at Oxford, Anno Domini 1554. With a
Treatise of the Blessed Sacrament; both written by Bishop Ridley,
Martyr. To which is added a Letter written by Mr. John Bradford, never
before printed. All taken out of an original manuscript [and published
by Gilbert Ironside], Oxford, 1688, 4to."

BIBLIOTHECAR. CHETHAM.

_Latin Inscription on Lindsey Court-house_ (Vol. ix., p. 492.).--Your correspondent L. L. L. gives this inscription as follows:

"Fiat Justitia,
1619.
Hæc domus
Dit, amat, punit, conservat, honorat,
Equitiam, pacem, crimina, jura, bonos."

This couplet, in its correct form, evidently stood thus:

"Hæc custodit, amat, punit, conservat, honorat,
Æquitiam, pacem, crimina, jura, bonos."

That is to say,

"Custodit æquitiam, amat pacem, punit crimina, conservat jura, honorat
bonos."

The substantive of _æquus_ is _æquitas_, not _æquitia_. If these verses were composed in good Latinity, the first word of the pentameter probably was _justitiam_.

L.

_Blanco White's Sonnet_ (Vol. vii., pp. 404. 486.; Vol. ix., p. 469.).--This sonnet is so beautiful, that I hope it will suffer no disparagement in the eyes of any of your admiring readers, if I remind them of a passage in Sir Thomas Browne's _Quincunx_, which I conceive may have inspired the brilliant genius of Blanco White on this occasion. I regret that I have not the precise reference to the passage:

"_Light_" (says Browne) "_that makes things seen, makes some things
invisible_. Were it not for darkness, and the shadow of the earth, _the
noblest part of creation had remained unseen_, and _the stars in heaven
as invisible_ as on the fourth day, when they were created above the
horizon _with the sun_, or there was not an eye to behold them. The
greatest mystery of religion is expressed by adumbration; and, in the
noblest part of the Jewish types, we find the cherubim shadowing the
{553} mercy-seat. _Life itself is but the shadow of death_, and souls
departed but the shadows of the living: all things fall under this
name. _The sun itself is but the dark simulacrum_, and _light but the
shadow of God_!"

J. SANSOM.

Oxford.

_"Wise men labour," &c._ (Vol. ix., p. 468.).--The following version of these lines is printed in the _Collection of Loyal Songs, written against the Rump Parliament between the Years 1639-1661_:

"_Complaint._

"Wise men suffer, good men grieve,
Knaves devise and fools believe;
Help, O Lord! send aid unto us,
Else knaves and fools will quite undo us."

These four lines constitute the whole of the piece, which is anonymous: vol. i. p. 27., and also on the title-page.

B. H. C.

[We are indebted to S-C. P. J. for a similar reply.]

_Copernicus_ (Vol. ix., p. 447.).--This inscription, as given in "N. & Q.," contains two false quantities, _Gr[=a]tiam_ and _V[=e]niam_. May I suggest the transposal of the two words, and then all will be right, at least as to _prosody_, which, in Latin poetry, seems to override all other considerations.

C. DE LA PRYME.

N.B.--What is the nominative to poor _dederat_?

_Meals, Meols_ (Vol. vii., pp. 208. 298.; Vol. ix., p. 409.).--The word "mielles" is of frequent occurrence in Normandy and the Channel Islands, where it is applied to sandy downs bordering the sea-shore. It is not to be found in French dictionaries, and, like the words _hougue_, _falaise_, and others in use in Normandy, has probably come down from the Northmen, who gave their name to that province.

EDGAR MACCULLOCH.

Guernsey.

_Byron and Rochefoucauld_ (Vol. ix., p. 347.).--Allow me to refer your correspondent SIGMA to "N. & Q.," Vol. i., p. 260., where, under the signature of MELANION, I noted Byron's two unacknowledged obligations to _La Rochefoucauld_, and the blunder made in the note on _Don Juan_, canto iii. st. 4. SIGMA will also find these and other passages from Byron given among the notes in the translation of _La Rochefoucauld_, published in 1850 (June) by Messrs. Longman and Co.