Chapter I: Front Matter

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[Transcriber's note: Characters with macrons have been marked in brackets with an equal sign, as [=e] for a letter e with a macron on top. Underscores have been used to indicate _italic_ fonts. Original spelling varieties have not been standardized. A list of volumes and pages in "Notes and Queries" has been added at the end.]

NOTES and QUERIES: VOLUME FOURTH. JULY-DECEMBER 1851.

NOTES and QUERIES:

A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION

FOR

LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.

"When found, make a note of."--CAPTAIN CUTTLE.

VOL. IV.--No. 88. SATURDAY, JULY 5. 1851.

Price Threepence. Stamped Edition, 4_d._

CONTENTS.

Page

Our Fourth Volume 1

NOTES:--

The Duke of Monmouth's Pocket-books, by Sir F. Madden 1

Folk Lore:--Stanton Drew and its Tradition, by David
Stevens 3

Minor Notes:--The Hon. Spencer Perceval--An
Adventurer in 1632--Almanacs 4

QUERIES:--

Ghost Stories, by the Rev. Dr. Maitland 5

A Book of Enzinas, or Dryander, wanted, by Benjamin
B. Wiffen 5

Salting the Bodies of the Dead, by W. B. MacCabe 6

Minor Queries:--The Star in the East--Meaning of
Sinage: Distord: Slander--Miss--Jacques Mabiotte--Registry
of British Subjects abroad--Shawls--Figures
of Saints--Conceyted Letters, who wrote?--Acta
Sanctorum--Pope's "honest Factor"--Meaning
of "Nervous"--Doomsday Book of Scotland 6

MINOR QUERIES ANSWERED:--Dr. Sacheverell--Princess
Wilbrahama--Early Visitations 8

REPLIES:--

Written Sermons, by J. Bruce, &c. 8

Lord Mayor not a Privy Councillor 9

Dr. Elrington's Edition of Ussher's Works, by the Rev.
Dr. Todd 10

Replies to Minor Queries:--Mind your P's and Q's--Serius
Seriadesque--Catharine Barton--Alterius Orbis Papa--Charles
Dodd--"Prenzie"--"In Print"--Introduction of Reptiles into
Ireland--Ancient Wood Engraving of the Picture of
Cebes--"The Groves of Blarney"--Tennyson's Lord of
Burleigh--Bicêtre--On a Passage in Dryden--Derivation
of Yankee--Ferrante Pallavicino 11

MISCELLANEOUS:--

Notes on Books, Sales, Catalogues, &c. 13

Books and Odd Volumes wanted 14

Notices to Correspondents 14

Advertisements 15

OUR FOURTH VOLUME.

We cannot permit the present Number, which commences the Fourth Volume of "NOTES AND QUERIES," to come into the hands of our Readers without some few words of acknowledgment and thanks to those Friends, Readers, and Correspondents, whose kind encouragement and assistance have raised our paper to its present high position;--

"and thanks to men
Of noble mind, is honorable meed."

To those thanks we will add our promise, that no effort shall be wanting to carry on this paper in the same spirit in which it was commenced, and to add, if possible, to its utility and interest. And by way of setting an example to our correspondents--

"every word to spare
That wants of force, or light, or weight or care"--

we will, with these thanks and this promise, bid our friends fall to on the Banquet of Pleasant Inventions spread out for them in the following pages.

Notes.

THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH'S POCKET-BOOKS.

In "NOTES AND QUERIES" (Vol. i., p. 198.) is inserted from Chambers' _Edinburgh Journal_ an account of a manuscript volume said to have been found on the person of the Duke of Monmouth at the time of his arrest; which was exhibited by Dr. Anster at a meeting of the Royal Irish Academy, November 30, 1849, accompanied by some remarks, which appeared in the _Proceedings_ of the Academy, vol. iv. p. 411., and which furnish the substance of the article in Chambers above mentioned. In a subsequent number of the "NOTES AND QUERIES" (Vol. i., p. 397.), the authenticity of the volume is somewhat called in question by MR. C. ROSS, on account of certain historical entries not appearing in it, which are printed by Welwood in his _Memoirs_[1], and stated to have been copied by him from "a little pocket-book" which was taken with Monmouth, and afterwards delivered to the King. Dr. Anster replied to this in the _Dublin University Magazine_ for June, 1850 (vol. xxxv. p. 673.), and showed by references to the _Harleian Miscellany_ (vol. vi. p. 322., ed. 1810), and Sir John Reresby's _Memoirs_ (p. 121. 4to., 1734), that more than one book was found on the Duke of Monmouth's person when captured. In the former of these authorities, entitled _An Account of the Manner of taking the late Duke of Monmouth: by his Majesty's command_, printed in 1685, and perhaps compiled from information given by the king himself, the following statement is made:--

"The papers and books that were found on him are since delivered
to his Majesty. One of the books was a manuscript of spells,
charms, and conjurations, songs, receipts, and prayers, _all
written with the said late Duke's own hand_. Two others were
manuscripts of fortification and the military art. And a fourth
book, fairly written, wherein are computes of the yearly expense
of his Majesty's navy and land forces."

[Footnote 1: Query, what is the date of the _first_ edition of
Welwood's work? The earliest in the Museum library is the _third_
edition, printed in 1700.]

It is remarkable that the "pocket-book" mentioned by Welwood is not here specified, but it is possible that the entries quoted by him may have been written on the pages of one of the other books. Two of the above only are noticed by Mr. Macaulay, namely, "a small treatise on fortification," and "an album filled with songs, receipts, prayers, and charms"; and there can be no reasonable doubt that the latter, which is mentioned by the author of the tract in the _Harleian Miscellany_, as well as by Reresby and Barillon, is the identical manuscript which forms the subject of Dr. Anster's remarks.

Within a few weeks this singular volume has been added by purchase to the National Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum, previous to which I ascertained, by a careful comparison of its pages with several undoubted letters of the Duke of Monmouth (an advantage Dr. Anster did not possess), that the whole of the volume (or nearly so) is certainly in the Duke's handwriting. This evidence might of itself be deemed sufficient; but some lines written on the fly-leaf of the volume (which are passed over by Dr. Anster as of no moment) confirm the fact beyond all cavil, since, on seeing them, I immediately recognised them as the autograph of King James himself. They are as follows:

"This book was found in the Duke of Monmouth's pocket when he was
taken, and is most of his owne handwriting."

Although the contents of this volume have been already described in general terms by Dr. Anster, yet it may not perhaps be uninteresting to give a more detailed list of what is written in it:--

1. Receipts "for the stone"; "to know the sum of numbers before
they be writ doun"; "pour nettoyer l'ovrages de cuyvre argenté;"
"for to make Bouts and Choos [Boots and Shoes] hold out water;"
and "to keep the goms well."--pp. 1-4. 8.

2. Magical receipts and charms in French, written partly in an
abbreviated form, accompanied by cabalistic figures. Two of these
are to deliver a person out of prison, and are no doubt the same
which Sir John Reresby refers to.--pp. 5. 7. 9. 11-17.

3. "The forme of a bill of Excheng," drawn on David Nairne of
London, from Antwerp, May 16, 1684, for 200_l._ sterling.--p. 6.

4. Astrological rules in French for finding out anything required;
together with a planetary wheel, dated 1680, to show life or death
in case of illness, also happiness and adversity.--pp. 19-25.

5. Directions "pour savoire si une person sera fidelle ou non,"
&c. At the bottom is a cypher, in which _a_ stands for 10, _b_ for
52, &c., p. 27. All this is entered again at pp. 45. 47.

6. "The way from London to East Tilbery," dated December 1,
1684.--p. 29.

7. Prayers for the morning and evening, pp. 31-43.

8. List of the Christian names of women and men.--pp. 44. 46. 48.

9. Arithmetical table of the number 7, multiplied from 1 to
37.--pp. 49. 51.

10. Receipts "to take away a corne;" "a soveraign water of Dr.
Stephens;" "to make the face fair;" "to make golden letters
without gold;" "to kip iron from rusting;" "to write letters of
secrets;" "to make hair grow;" "to make hair grow black, though of
any colour;" and several more.--pp. 52-61.

11. Casualties that happened in the reigns of the English
sovereigns, from William I. to Queen Mary inclusive; consisting
chiefly of remarkable accidents, and reputed prodigies.--pp.
62-78.

12. "Socrates, Platon, Aristote et Ciceron ont fait ces trente
Comandemens pour leurs disciples."--pp. 78, 79.

13. "A receipt for the Farcy."--p. 81.

14. A poem intitled "The Twin Flame, _sent mee by M P_"--pp.
83-91.

The words in Italics have been scribbled over with the pen for the purpose of concealment. The verses commence:

"Fantastick wanton god, what dost thou mean,
To breake my rest, make mee grow pale and lean."

15. Receipts for secret writing, to take impressions of prints
upon glass, to boil plate, &c.--pp. 93-98.

16. Several songs in English and French, pp. 99-107.

Among them are the verses printed in "NOTES AND QUERIES," Vol. i., p. 199., beginning "With joie we do leave thee," accompanied by the musical notes; and also a song commencing "All ye gods that ar above," with the musical notes. It is most probable that these songs are copied from printed sources; but as they have been conjectured to be compositions by Monmouth himself, the following short specimen may not be unacceptable, copied _literatim_.

"O how blest, and how inocent,
and happy is a country life,
free from tumult and discontent;
heer is no flatterys nor strife,
for t'was the first and happiest life,
when first man did injoie him selfe.

This is a better fate than kings,
hence jentle peace and love doth flow,
for fancy is the rate of things;
I'am pleased, because I think it so,
for a hart that is nobly true,
all the world's arts can n'er subdue."

This poem immediately follows the one in which Toddington in Bedfordshire (which the Duke spells, probably as then pronounced, _Tedington_) is referred to.

17. Prayers after the confession of sins, and the sense of pardon
obtained.--pp. 108-125.

These prayers breathe a spirit of the most humble and ardent piety; and if composed by the Duke himself, exhibit the weakness of his character in a more favourable light than the remainder of the volume. One paragraph is striking:--

"Mercy, mercy, good Lord! I aske not of thee any longer the things
of this world; neither power, nor honours, nor riches, nor
pleasures. No, my God, dispose of them to whom thou pleasest, so
that thou givest me mercy."

18. "The Batteryes that can be made at Flushing to keep ships from
coming in."--pp. 127, 128.

19. "Traité de la guere ou Politique militaire."--pp. 130-132.

20. "The Rode that is to be taken from Bruxels to Diren, the Pri.
of Orange's house."--p. 133.

21. "The Road from Bruxells to Sousdyck, the Prince of Orange his
hous."--p. 134.

22. "The way that I tooke from Diren, when I went for England,
Nov. the 10. 84."--p. 135.

23. "The way that I took when I came from England, December the
10th. 84."--p. 137.

24. "The way that I took the first day of Jan. n. st. [1684-5]
from Bruxells to the Hague."--p. 139.

25. Similar memoranda from 11th to 14th March, 1685, between
Antwerp and Dort.--p. 141.

26. The addresses of various persons in Holland, London, Paris,
and elsewhere, to whom letters were to be written, 1685.--pp. 142.
147-155.

27. "The footway from Trogou to Amsterdam."--p. 143.

28. An obscure memorandum, as follows:--"1683. Munday the 5th of
November. H. W. had T.--The 9th of November, Poupe.--The 16th of
November, Poupe."--p. 156.

29. Value of duckatons, pistols, and gilders.--_Ib._

30. Note of the route from London to Tedington.--p. 157.

Although this volume is not of the same historical value as the _Diary_ mentioned by Welwood, yet it is a curious and interesting relic of the unfortunate man who possessed it, and whose want of education, superstition, and frivolity are so prominently displayed in its pages. As to its recent history, Dr. Anster states that it was purchased at a book-stall in Paris, in 1827, by an Irish divinity student; the same, probably, who has written his name at p. 90.: "John Barrette, Irish College, Paris, Dec. 31, 1837."--The same person has made a memorandum in pencil, at p. 1., which has subsequently been partially rubbed out, and, as far as now legible, is as follows:--

"This Book was found in ... of the English College in Paris, among
other MSS. deposited there by James II."

An earlier hand has scribbled a list of the contents at the commencement, with the signature "S. Rutter." If King James deposited this volume in the College at Paris, in all probability the others found on the person of the Duke of Monmouth accompanied it, and may one day or other turn up as unexpectedly as the present book has done.

F. MADDEN.

British Museum, June 27.

FOLK LORE.

_Stanton Drew and its Tradition._--At the little village of Stanton Drew, in the county of Somerset, east of the road between Bristol and Wells, stands a well-known Druidical monument, which, in the opinion of Dr. Stukeley, was more ancient than that at Abury. It consists (according to a recent writer) of four groups of stones, forming (or, rather, having formed when complete) two circles; and two other figures, one an ellipse. Although the largest stones are much inferior in their dimensions to those at Stonehenge and Abury, they are by no means contemptible; some of them being nine feet in height and twenty-two feet in girth. There is a curious tradition very prevalent amongst the country people, respecting the origin of these remains, which they designate the "Evil Wedding," for the following good and substantial reasons:--Many hundred years ago (on a Saturday evening), a newly married couple, with their relatives and friends, met on the spot now covered by these ruins, to celebrate their nuptials. Here they feasted and danced right merrily, until the clock tolled the hour of midnight, when the piper (a pious man) refused to play any longer: this was much against the wish of the guests, and so exasperated the bride (who was fond of dancing), that she swore with an oath, she would not be baulked in her enjoyment by a beggarly piper, but would find a substitute, if she went to h-ll to fetch one. She had scarcely uttered the words, when a venerable old man, with a long beard, made his appearance, and having listened to their request, proffered his services, which were right gladly accepted. The old gentleman (who was no other than the Arch-fiend himself) having taken the seat vacated by the godly piper, commenced playing a slow and solemn air, which on the guests remonstrating he changed into one more lively and rapid. The company now began to dance, but soon found themselves impelled round the performer so rapidly and mysteriously, that they would all fain have rested. But when they essayed to retire, they found, to their consternation, that they were moving faster and faster round their diabolical musician, who had now resumed his original shape. Their cries for mercy were unheeded, until the first glimmering of day warned the fiend that he must depart. With such rapidity had they moved, that the gay and sportive assembly were now reduced to a ghastly troop of skeletons. "I leave you," said the fiend, "a monument of my power and your wickedness to the end of time:" which saying, he vanished. The villagers, on rising in the morning, found the meadow strewn with large pieces of stone, and the pious piper lying under a hedge, half dead with fright, he having been a witness to the whole transaction.

DAVID STEVENS.

Godalming, May 10. 1851.

Minor Notes.

_The Hon. Spencer Perceval._--Being on a tour through the West of England some years ago, I found myself one morning rapidly advancing up the river Tamar, in the gig of "the Captain of the Ordinary" at Plymouth. We were bound for the noble ruins of Trematon Castle, in the area of which a good modern house has been erected, and in one of the towers is arranged a very pleasing collection of antiquities.

As we proceeded up the river, the gallant captain related the following anecdote in reference to the then proprietor of Trematon:--

It is well known that in the afternoon of the 12th May, 1812, the
Hon. Spencer Perceval, the then prime minister, fell by the hand
of Bellingham in the lobby of the House of Commons; the cause
assigned by the murderer being the neglect of, or refusal to
discharge a supposed claim he had upon the government.

On the same night the gentleman above alluded to, and residing at Trematon, had the tragic scene so minutely and painfully depicted in his sleep, that he could not resist the desire of sending the particulars to a friend in town, which he did by the _up mail_, which departed a few hours after he had risen on the following morning.

He informed his friend that his topographical knowledge of London was very meagre; and that as to the House of Commons (the old one), he had seen only the exterior: he went on to state, that, dreaming he was in town, he had a desire to hear the debates in Parliament, and for this purpose enquired his way to the lobby of the House, the architectural peculiarities of which he minutely described; he gave an exact description of the few officials and others in the room, and especially of a tall, thin man, who seemed to watch the opening of the door as any one entered with wild and restless gaze: at length Mr. Perceval arrived, whose person (although unknown to him) and dress he described, as also the manner in which the horrid deed was done: he further communicated the words uttered by the victim to the effect "the villain has murdered--;" how the wounded man was treated, and the person of the medical man who was on the instant called in.

These, with other particulars, which have escaped my memory, were thus recorded, and the first newspaper he received confirmed the accuracy of this extraordinary dream.