Chapter C: W. G

_French and Italian Degrees._--Can you inform a young Englishman (of good general knowledge, and possessing a thorough knowledge of the French and Italian languages), who is desirous of obtaining a French or Italian _degree_ as inexpensively as possible, how to proceed in order to obtain the same, the expense, &c.?

SEPTIMUS.

Buntingford, Hertfordshire.

_The Shadow of the Tree of Life._--Can any of your readers oblige me with information respecting the author of a little book, the title of which runs as follows:--

"Φαρμακα ουρανοθεν: The Shadow of the Tree of Life; or
a Discourse of the Divine Institution and most Effectual
Application of Medicinal Remedies, in order to the Preservation
and Restoration of Health, by J. M. London, 1673."

S. (An Original Subscriber.)

_Sun-dials._--The following is an inscription on a sun-dial on the wall of a monastery, now suppressed, near Florence. I copied it on the spot in 1841.

"A. D. S.
Mia vita è il sol: Dell' uom la vita è Dio,
Senza esso è l'uom, qual senza sol son' io."

What signification has A. D. S.?

L. S.

_Nouns always printed with Capital Initials._--P. C. S. S. is desirous of information respecting the origin and subsequent disuse of the practice which appears to have prevailed among printers in the last, and towards the end of the preceding century, of beginning every noun-substantive with a capital letter. It prevailed also, to a certain extent, in books published in France and Holland during the same period; but P. C. S. S. is not aware of any other European language in which it was adopted.

P. C. S. S.

_John of Padua._--Who was this person, who in various accounts of Henry VIII.'s time is styled "Deviser of his majesty's buildings?" Where was he educated? and what were his works previous to his arrival in England? He survived his royal master, and enjoyed the favour of the Protector Somerset, who employed him to build his famous palace in the Strand.

From a warrant dated 1544, printed in Rymer's _Foedera_, it appears that _Johannes de Padua_ was a "musician" as well as an architect.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

_St. Kenelm._--Can any of your readers inform me where the life or legend of St. Kenelm, spoken of by Leland, in his _Itinerary_ and _Collectanea_, may be seen, if it is now in existence. Leland says, in speaking of the murder of Kenelm, in Clinte in Cowbage, near Winchelcumb (now Winchcomb), Gloucestershire:--

"He (Averey parson of Dene) tolde me that it is in _S. Kenelme's
Lyfe_ that Ascaperius was married to Quendreda, &c. &c."

"He sayth that it aperithe _by Seint Kenelme's Legend_ that
Winchelcombe was oppidum muro cinctum."

What does Clinthe or Clent in Cowbage mean in the Anglo-Saxon?

E. T. B.

Hereford.

_Church._--What is the derivation of this word? and if from the Greek, how is it that it prevails only in the Teutonic countries (England, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and Germany), while the Latin Ecclesia prevails in the rest of Europe?

GEORGE STEPHENS.

Copenhagen.

Minor Queries Answered.

_Hieroglyphics of Vagrants and Criminals._--In one of the recent deeply interesting Sanitary Reports of Mr. Rawlinson to the General Board of Health--reports which frequently contain scraps of antiquarian, among a mass of more directly utilitarian information--there is passage which opens up a curious subject, upon which, possibly, some of your readers may be able to furnish illustrations from their literary stores. I allude to that portion of his Report on the Parish of Havant (Southamptonshire), in which he states:--

"There is a sort of _blackguard's literature_, and the initiated
understand each other by slang terms, by pantomimic signs, and by
hieroglyphics. The vagrant's mark may be seen in Havant, on
corners of streets, on door-posts, and on house-steps. Simple as
these chalk lines appear, they inform the succeeding vagrants of
all they require to know; and a few white scratches may say 'be
importunate,' or 'pass on.' The murderer's signal is even
exhibited from the gallows; as, a red handkerchief held in the
hand of the felon about to be executed, is a token that he dies
without having betrayed any professional secrets."

This is a curious subject; and I think it would prove interesting to many readers, if any illustration could be afforded of the above strange and somewhat startling statements.

J. J. S.

[Beloe, in his _Anecdotes of Literature_, vol. ii. pp. 146-157.,
has left us some curious notices of this kind of vulgar
literature, of English pure and undefiled from the "knowledge box"
of Thomas Decker. But the most complete _Lexicon Balatronicum et
Macaronicum_ was published in 1754, enriched with many "a word not
in Johnson," and which leaves at a respectful distance the
glossorial labours of Spelman, Ducange, Junius, and even the
renowned Francis Grose and his _Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar
Tongue_. It is entitled _The Scoundrel's Dictionary_; or, an
Explanation of the Cant Words used by Thieves, Housebreakers,
Street Robbers, and Pickpockets. To which are prefixed some
Curious Dissertations on the Art of Wheedling; and a Collection of
Flash Songs, with a proper Glossary, 8vo., London, 1754.]

_Muggleton and Reeve._--I wish to obtain some accurate information as to John Reeve and Rodowick Muggleton, the founders of the sect called Muggletonians, which appears to have been in existence up to the end of the last century. Mr. Macaulay calls Muggleton "a drunken tailor," but gives no reference. The article "Muggletonians" in the _Encyclopædia Britannica_ is extremely meagre, both in matter and length. Is there any authentic portrait of Reeve or Muggleton? Any information on these points, or indication as to where it may be found, will greatly oblige

R. S.

Highgate.

[Our correspondent will find the information he requires in the
following works: "The New Witnesses proved Old Hereticks," by
William Penn, 4to. 1672. "A True Representation of the Absurd and
Mischievous Principles of the Sect commonly known by the name of
Muggletonians," 4to. 1694. Muggleton's Works, with his portrait,
1756. "A Complete Collection of the Works of Reeve and Muggleton,
together with other Muggletonian Tracts," 3 vols. 4to. 1832. See
also Leslie's _Snake in the Grass_; Collier's _Historical
Dictionary_, Supplement; and _Gentleman's Mag._, vol. lxii. pt. i.
p. 218.]

_Rev. T. Adams._--Can any particulars be noted of the Rev. Thomas Adams, a preacher at Paul's Cross in 1612, besides those mentioned by the editor of a _Selection from his Sermons_, published in 1847--the Rev. W. H. Stowell. His works were printed in 1630 in a thick folio volume, but some of them had previously appeared in small 4to., one such is in the British Museum, and another I recollect seeing at a bookseller's. I should much like to have a list and some account of these 4to. editions.

S. FY.

[Thomas Adams, D.D., was minister at Willington, in Bedfordshire,
and afterwards rector of St. Bennet's, Paul's Wharf. According to
Newcourt (_Repertorium_, i. 302.), "he was sequestered for his
loyalty in the late rebellion, and was esteemed an excellent
preacher; but died before the Restoration." The following Sermons
by him were all published in 4to.: those distinguished by an
asterisk are in the British Museum, the others in the Bodleian. 1.
The Gallant's Burden; a Sermon on Isa. xxi. 11, 12., 1612. 2.
Heaven and Earth Reconciled: on Dan. xii. 3., preached at Bedford
at the Visitation of M. Eland, Archdeacon, 1613. *3. The Diuell's
Banquet, described in Six Sermons, 1614. 4. England's Sickness
comparatively conferred with Israel's; in Two Sermons on Jer.
viii. 22., 1615. 5. The Two Sonnes; or the Dissolute conferred
with the Hypocrite; on Matt. xxi. 28., 1615. 6. The Leaven, or a
Direction to Heaven, on Matt. xiii. 33. p 97. ibid. *7. The
Spiritual Navigator bound for the Holy Land, preached at
Cripplegate on Trinity Sunday, 1615. 8. The Sacrifice of
Thankfulness, on Ps. cxviii. 27., whereunto are annexed five other
Sermons never before printed, 1616. 9. Diseases of the Sovle: a
Discourse Divine, Morall, and Physicall, 1616. *10. The Happiness
of the Church; being the Summe of Diverse Sermons preached at St.
Gregorie's, 1618.]

_The Archbishop of Spalatro_ (Vol. iv., pp. 257. 295.).--Who were the English bishops, at whose consecration Antonius de Dominis assisted in Lambeth Chapel?

AGRIPPA.

[On December 14, 1617, Mark Spalatro assisted as a prelate at the
consecration of Nicholas Felton, Bishop of Bristol, and George
Monteigne, Bishop of Lincoln. See a list of the consecrations from
the Lambeth Registers in Perceval's _Apology for the Doctrine of
Apostolical Succession_, Appendix, p. 183.]

_Bishop Bridgeman._--Will you direct me to the best means of obtaining answers to the following questions:--

John Bridgeman, fellow and tutor of Magdalen Coll. Camb., was admitted _ad eundem_ at Oxford, July 4, 1600; and consecrated Bishop of Chester, May, 1619. The points of inquiry are--

1. When was the said John Bridgeman entered at Cambridge?

2. When and where was he born?

3. Who and what were his parents?