Chapter C

_Sapcote Motto_ (No. 23. p. 366.).--This motto is known to be French, and as far as it can be decyphered is--

"sco toot X vinic [or umic]
X pones,"

the first and last letters _s_ being possibly flourishes. This certainly seems unpromising enough. The name being Sapcote, _quasi_ Sub-cote, and the arms "three dove-cotes," I venture to conjecture "Sous cote unissons," as not very far from the letters given. If it be objected that the word "cote" is not in use in this sense, it may be remarked that French, "After the scole of Stratford atte bowe," might borrow such a meaning to suit the sound, from "cote," in the sense of a side or declivity. And if the objection is fatal to the conjecture, I would then propose "Sous toit unissons." If we reject the supposed flourishes at the beginning and ending of the inscription, and take it to be--

CO TOOT VNIC
CONC,

the c being a well-known ancient form of s, there is a difference of only one letter between the inscription as decyphered and the proposed motto.

If either of these is adopted, the sentiment of family union and family gathering, "As doves to their windows," is well adapted for a family device.

T.C.

Durham, May 2. 1850.

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_Finkle or Finkel_ (No. 24. p. 384.).--Is not "Finkle" very probably derived from _Finc_, a finch, in the A.-S.? _Fingle_ Bridge, which spans the river Teign, amidst some most romantic scenery, has the following etymology assigned to it by a local antiquary, W.T.P. Short, Esq. (vide _Essay on Druidical Remains in Devon_, p. 26.): "_Fyn_, a terminus or boundary; and _Gelli_, hazel, the hazeltree limits or boundary." But, Query, is not the second syllable rather _Gill_, akin to the numerous tribe of "gills" or "ghylls," in the North Countrie?

J.M.B.

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_Meaning of Finkle._--Referring to No. 24. p. 384. of your most welcome and useful publication, will you allow me to say, touching the inquiry as to the derivation and meaning of the word "Finkle" or "Finkel" as applied to a street, that the Danish word "Vincle" applied to an angle or corner, is perhaps a more satisfactory derivation than "fynkylsede, _feniculum_," the meaning suggested by your correspondent "L." in No. 26. p. 419. It is in towns where there are traces of Danish occupation that a "Finkle Street" is found; at least many of the northern towns which have a street so designated were inhabited by the Danish people, and some of those streets are winding or angular. Finchale, a place, as you know, of fame in monastic annals, is a green secluded spot, half insulated by a bend of the river Wear; and Godric's Garth, the adjacent locality of the hermitage of its famous saint, is of an angular form. But then the place is mentioned, by the name of Finchale, as the scene of occurrences that long preceded the coming of the Danes; and the second syllable may be derived from the Saxon "alh" or "healh," as the place was distinguished for a building there in Saxon times.

W.S.G.

Newcastle, May 4. 1850.

* * * * *

Your correspondent "W.M." ("_Finkel._" p. 384.) may not have recollected that there is a beautiful ruin on the river Wear near Durham, of which the name is pronounced (though not spelt) _Finkel_ Abbey.

* * * * *

_Christian Captives_ (No. 27. p. 441.).--As a very small contribution towards an answer to "R.W.B.'s" inquiry, I may inform you that Lady Russell mentions in her _Letters_ (p. 338., ed. 1792) that Sir William Coventry left by his will 3000l. to redeem slaves.

C.H.

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_Christian Captives_ (No. 27. p. 441.).--"R.W.B." may be referred to the case of "Attorney-General _v._ the Ironmongers' Company," which was a suit for the administration of a fund bequeathed for the redemption of the captives. See 2 _Mylne & Keen_, 576.; 2 _Beavan_, 313., 10 _Beavan_, 194.; and 1 _Craig & Philips_, 208.: all of which I mention to be Reports in Chancery, in case he be not a lawyer.

A.J.H.

* * * * *

_Ecclesiastical Year_ (No. 24. p. 381.).--"NATHAN" is informed, that, according to the legal supputation, until A.D. 1752, the year of Our Lord in that part of Great Britain called England, began on the 25th day of March, as he will find stated in the 24 Geo. II. c. 23., by which Act it was enacted, that the 1st day of January next following the last day of December, 1751, should be the first day of the year 1752; and that the 1st day of January in every year in time to come should be the first day of the year.

Philippe de Thaun, in his _Livre des Creatures_, which was written in the first half of the twelfth century, p. 48. of the edition published for the Historical Society of Science, has some remarks which may interest your correspondent, that are thus literally translated by Mr. Wright:--

"In March, the year ought always to begin,
According to that explanation which we find in the book,
That in the twelve kalends of April, as your understand,
Our Creator formed the first,
Where the sun always will begin his course,
But at all times we make the year begin in January,
Because the Romans did so first;
We will not un-make what the elders did."

ARUN.

* * * * *

_Hanap._--Among the specimens of ancient and mediaeval art now exhibiting in John Street, Adelphi, I was struck with the number of gilt cups, called in the catalogue _hanaps_. The word was new to me; but I have since met with it (as frequently happens after one's interest has been excited with respect to a word) in Walter Scott's _Quentin Durward_, in vol. i. chap. 3.; or rather, vol. xxxi. p. 60. of the edition in 48 vols., Cadell, 1831; in which place the context of the scene appears to connect the idea of _hanap_ with a cup containing treasure.

Now I cannot find _hanap_ in any dictionary to which I have access; but I find _hanaper_ in every one. Johnson, and others, give the word _Hanaper_ as synonymous with _treasury_ or _exchequer_. They also contract _Hanaper_ into _Hamper_. For example, in Dyche's _English Dictionary_, 17th ed. Lond. 1794, we have,--

"_Hamper_, or _Hanaper_, a wicker basket made with a cover to
fasten it up with; also, an office in Chancery; the clerk or
warden of the _Hanaper_ receives all monies due to the king
for seals of charters, &c.... and takes into his custody all
sealed charters, patents, &c.,... which he now puts into bags,
but anciently, it is supposed, into _Hampers_, which gave the
denomination to the office."

And perhaps it may be remarked here, since we commonly say of a man in difficulties that he is "exchequered" or in "chancery," that so we probably intend to express the same, when we say a man is _hanapered_, or _hampered_.

Thus, there is no difficulty about the meaning of _Hanaper_; and its connection with _treasure_ is plain and clear enough: and, with respect to _cups_, though chiefly used for drinking, the presentation of them with sums of money in them has ever been, and indeed is, so very customary, that it is needless to occupy space here with instances. But I cannot distinctly connect the _hanap_ of the exhibition with _hanaper_: and I perhaps ought to look in another direction for its true signification and etymology.

ROBERT SNOW.

[Our correspondents who have written upon the subject of Hanap
are referred to Halliwell's _Archaic Dictionary_, where they
will find "HANAP, a cup. _Test. Vet._ p. 99.;" to Ducange,
s.v. "HANAPUS, HANAPPUS, HANAPHUS, vas, patera, crater, (Vas
ansatum et pede instructum, quo a poculo distinguitur), ex
Saxonico _Hnaep_, _Hnaeppa_, Germ. _Napf_, calix patera;"
and to Guenebault, _Dict. Iconographique des Monuments_, who
refers again for particulars of this species of drinking cup
to the works of Soumerard and Willemin.]

* * * * *

_Life of W. Godwin._--"N.'s" inquiry (No. 26. p. 415.) for an account of the life of W. Godwin, and more particularly of his last hours, leads me to express hope in your columns that the memoirs of Godwin, which were announced for publication shortly after his death, but which family disputes, as I have understood, prevented from appearing, may not much longer be denied to the public. I am not aware of any better account of Godwin's life, to which "N." can now be referred, than the sketch in the _Penny Cyclopaedia_.

CH.

* * * * *

_Charles II. and Lord R.'s Daughter.--Earl of Ranelagh._--Since I inquired in your columns (No. 25. p. 399.) who was the lady mentioned in a passage of Henry Sidney's _Diary_, edited by Mr. Blencowe, as Lord R.'s daughter, and a new mistress of Charles II., who in March 1680 brought Monmouth to the King for reconciliation, I have, by Mr. Blencowe's kindness, seen the original _Diary_, which is in the possession of the Earl of Chichester. The name of the nobleman is there abbreviated: the letters appear to be _Rane._, and it is probably Lord Ranelagh who is intended. I do not remember any other notice of this amour of Charles II., and should be glad to be referred to any other information on the subject. Charles II.'s mistresses are political characters; and in this notice of Lord R.'s daughter, we find her meddling in state affairs.

I do not know whether this lady, if indeed a daughter of a Lord Ranelagh, would be the daughter or sister of the Lord Ranelagh living in 1680, who was the first Earl of Ranelagh and third Viscount, and who is described by Burnet as a very able and very dissolute man, and a great favourite of Charles II. (_Hist. of his own Time_, i. 462., ii. 99., ed. 1823); and who, having held the office of Vice-Treasurer in Ireland during three reigns, was turned out of it in disgrace in 1703. He died in 1711, leaving no son, but three daughters, one of whom was unmarried; he was the last, as well as first, Earl of Ranelagh. The elder title of Viscount went to a cousin, and still exists.

CH.

* * * * *

MISCELLANIES.

_Dr. Sclater's Works._--Books written by W. Sclater, D.D., omitted in Wood's _Ath. Oxon._ edit. Bliss. vol. iii. col. 228.:--

"A Threefold Preseruatiue against three dangerous diseases of these latter times:--

"1. Non-proficiency in Grace.

"2. Fals-hearted Hypocrisie.

"3. Back-sliding in Religion.

"Prescribed in a Sermon at S. Paul's Crosse in London, September 17, 1609. London. 1610." 4to. Ded. to "Master Iohn Colles, Esquire," from which it seems that Sclater had been presented to his living by the father of this gentleman. The Ser. is on Heb. vi. 4-6.

"A Sermon preached at the last generall Assise holden for the County of Somerset at Taunton. London, 1616." 8vo. On Ps. lxxxii. 6, 7. Ded. to "John Colles, Esq., High Sheriffe of Sommerset."

"Three Sermons preached by William Sclater, Doctor of Diuinity, and Minister of the Word of God at Pitmister [sic] in Sommersetshire. Now published by his Sonne of King's Colledge in Cambridge. London, 1629." 4to. On 1 Pet. ii. 11., 2 Kings, ix. 31., and Heb. ix. 27, 28. The last is a funeral Sermon for John Colles, Esq., preached in 1607.

JOHN J. DREDGE.

* * * * *

_Runes._--Worsaeae (_Primeval Antiquities of Denmark_, 1849) mentions that inscriptions are found in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, written in different languages in _Runic character_. He also mentions the fact of a Pagan Runic inscription occurring at Jellinge, Denmark, on the tomb of old King Gorm, A.D. c. 900, found in a huge barrow; and, at the same place, a Christian Runic inscription on the tomb of his son Harold. Has this inquiry been extended to British Runes, and might it not throw much light upon many monuments of dates prior to the Conquest? Crossed slabs with Runes have been found at Hartlepool, Durham; have the inscriptions been read? (Boutell's _Christian Monuments_, p. 3.; Cutt's _Manual of Sepulchral Slabs_, pp. 52. 60. plate III.)

* * * * *

MISCELLANEOUS.

NOTES ON BOOKS, CATALOGUES, SALES, ETC.

The _Nibelungenlied_, which has been aptly designated the German Iliad, has hitherto been a sealed book to the mere English reader. Mr. Lettsom has however just published a most successful translation of it under the title of _The Fall of the Nibelungers_. Few will rise from a perusal of the English version of this great national epic--which in its present form is a work of the thirteenth century--without being struck with the innate power and character of the original poem; and without feeling grateful to Mr. Lettsom for furnishing them with so pleasing and spirited a version of it.

Captain Curling, Clerk of the Cheque of what was formerly designated the Band of Gentleman Pensioners, has, under the influence of a laudable _esprit de corps_, combined the disjointed materials which Pegge had collected upon the subject with the fruits of his own researches; and, under the title of _Some Account of the Ancient Corp of Gentlemen-at-Arms_, has produced a volume of great interest doubtless to his "brothers in arms," and containing some curious illustrations of court ceremonial.[9]

Mr. Timbs, the editor of _The Year-Book of Facts_, &c., announces for early publication a work on which he has been engaged for some time, entitled _Curiosities of London_. It will, we believe, be altogether of a different character from Mr. Cunningham's _Handbook_, and treat rather of present London and its amusements than those of historical and literary associations which give a charm to Mr. Cunningham's volume.

We are glad to find that the most mysterious and mystified portion of the Greek Geometry is likely to receive at last a complete elucidation--we mean the "Porisms." There are so many questions arising out of this subject, respecting the development of the Grecian intellect, that a full discussion of them is no easy task; especially of those arising out of the conflicting testimonies furnished by history, and by the internal evidences contained in the existing works of the "fathers of Geometry." We certainly anticipate, from the known character of the minds now engaged in this work, that some conclusive evidence as to the state of geometry anterior to the time of Euclid will be elicited by Messrs. Potts and Davies. The analysis of the writings of all the authors who have treated on the Porism, will form a subject of interest not only for its assigning to every author his fair share of credit for his contributions towards perfecting the poristic method; but for that _critical discrimination of principles_, which constitutes one of the marked features of Mr. Davies's writings in the archaeology of geometry. We shall be glad if his slight notice of the intended work shall bring some accession of aid to the undertaking in the form of subscriptions: as upon adequate support, it appears, must depend whether the work shall go to press, or the project be abandoned.

We have received the following Catalogues:--Thomas Thorpe's (13. Henrietta Street) General Catalogue of very Choice, Curious, Rare, and most Interesting Books recently purchased, including some hundred articles of the utmost rarity. Williams and Norgate's (14. Henrietta Street) No. 24. of German Book Circular, a Quarterly List of the principal New Publications on the Continent; C.J. Stewart's (11. King William Street, West Strand) Catalogue of Dogmatical, Polemical, and Ascetical Theology.

[9] We find at page 200, an Order of the Council, dated Dec. 5.
1737, respecting the disposition of the band at the funeral of Queen
Caroline, signed by "TEMPLE STANYAN," the subject of a Query in
No. 24. p. 382., and of several Replies in our last, No. 28. p. 460.

* * * * *

WANTED.--MANUSCRIPT OF OLD ENGLISH POETRY.--Borrowed, within
the last few months, from the Town Residence of a Gentleman,
a large 4to. MS., in modern binding, of Early English Poetry,
by Richard Rolle, of Hampole; containing, among other matters,
Religious Pieces couched in the form of Legal Instruments, and
a Metrical Chronicle of the Kings of England, in the style
of Lydgate's. As the owner does not recollect to whom it was
lent, and is very anxious to refer to it, he will be obliged
by its immediate return, either to himself directly, or, if
more convenient, to the Editor of "NOTES AND QUERIES."

* * * * *

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES

WANTED TO PURCHASE.

(_In continuation of Lists in former Nos._)

THE DOCTRINE OF CONSCIENCE FRAMED ACCORDING TO THE FORM IN THE COMMON PRAYER BOOK. by Y.N., London. 1636, 8vo., written by John Prideaux, Lord Bishop of Worcester.

_Odd Volume_.

ARMY LIST for August 1814.

* * * * *

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

_Our pages again exhibit a large proportion of_ REPLIES. _Our next Number, which will complete our First Volume, will do the same, as it is obviously for the convenience of our readers that the_ REPLIES _should, as far as possible, appear in the same Volume with the_ QUERIES _to which they relate_.

* * * * *

13. Great Marlborough Street

MR. COLBURN

HAS JUST PUBLISHED THE FOLLOWING

VALUABLE & INTERESTING WORKS.

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