Chapter V: B. J

_Sept_ (Vol. v., p. 277.).--Dr. Ogilvie's derivation is absurdly far-fetched. _Sept_ is notoriously from the Latin _septus_ or _septum_, _inclosed_, _an inclosure_, and it is applied to one kindred or family living in or round the inclosure in which they herded their cattle. See Spenser's _Ireland_; see also Cole's _Dictionary_:

"SEPT, an inclosure; the multitude of the same name in Ireland."

In ancient Rome certain classes of voters were called _Septs_, from the _septa_ or _inclosures_ in which they were arranged.

C.

_Many Children_ (Vol. v., p. 204.).--I am indebted to the Rev. J. Sanford, orderly preacher at the Rolls chapel, for the subjoined curious statement, which you may add, if you please, to the instances of female fecundity already recorded in your pages.

The Marchese Frescobaldi, the representative of one of the most ancient Florentine families, is still possessed of a portrait of his ancestress, Dionora Salviati, wife of Bartolomeo Frescobaldi of the same house. She gave birth to fifty-two children, never less than three at a time; and there is a tradition in the family that she once had six, and that twelve were reared. The portrait was painted by the celebrated Bronzino, who died in 1570, and has recorded the remarkable circumstance in the following inscription placed under the picture, and in some degree has thus made himself responsible for the authenticity of the story:--

"Dionora Salviati moglie di Bartolomeo dei Frascobaldi, fece 52
figli, e mai meno di tre per parto, come riferesce Gio. Schenzio
nei libri delle osservazioni amirabili, cioe nel libro quarto de
Parto a carta 144."

BRAYBROOKE.

Relative to extraordinary births, I may mention that within half a dozen miles of this city, and not more than six weeks since, a poor woman gave birth to four children, two of each sex, and all, with the mother, doing well. Some millions are born without such, as I may term it, a phenomenon.

In a very late Brussells paper I find it stated, that in nine years the wife of a tradesman had twenty-four children, three on each delivery,--"chose désespérante (it is added) pour le mari, qui désirait transmettre son nom, car c'étaient toutes des filles." Mercier, in his _Tableau de Paris_ (1786) quotes _L'Histoire de l'Académie des Sciences_ of the preceding century for a similar fact, where it is asserted that a baker's wife had twenty-one children in seven years, three at each birth, and that he had again three children at a birth by a servant maid.

J. R. (Cork)

_Hog's Norton_ (Vol. v., p. 245.).--Your correspondent who writes from Ashby-de-la-Zouch will, it is probable, be surprised to find that _Hog's Norton_ is almost in his own immediate neighbourhood. In Curtis' _Topographical History of Leicestershire_ (printed, by-the-bye, at Ashby), he subjoins to the modern names of places the ancient names as found in _Domesday Book_, Inquisitiones post mortem, &c. It appears that _Norton juxta Twycross_ was in other days "Nortone, Hoggenortone, Hog's Norton." There is, then, no doubt as to which of the many Nortons in England is Hog's Norton: but whether there is now, or ever was, an organ in the church; or whether a Mr. Pigge, or any number of _pigs_, played on one there, I know not.

S. S. S.

_Cromwell's Skull_ (Vol. v., p. 275.).--Your correspondent J. P., who inquires in your last respecting the identity of a certain skull with that of Oliver Cromwell, will find valuable information on the subject in an article in the fifth volume of the _Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical Science_ (1848), entitled--

"Historical Notes concerning certain Illnesses, the Death, and
Dis-interment of Oliver Cromwell, by W. White Cooper, F.R.C.S."

This article is very ably written, and throws much light on a vexed question.

ANTIQUARIUS.

Athenæum.

_Eliza Fenning_ (Vol. v., pp. 105. 161.).--It is long after the "N. & Q." are published that I get sight of a number, or I should have urged (what may probably have been already done) the very great importance of obtaining from the workhouse, or wherever else in Suffolk or Essex it can be obtained, an authentication of the report by Turner, that he was the poisoner of the family in Chancery Lane, for which crime Eliza Fenning was executed. One would hope that a question of so much and such serious monument would not be permitted to remain undetermined, if by any possibility it can be cleared up.

I well knew the medical man who attended the case, and gave evidence at the trial,--he was cruelly assailed afterwards by some who had taken a prejudice against him, and no doubt suffered in his practice in consequence.

T. D. P.

_Hexameter on English Counties_ (Vol. v., p. 227.).--The lines referred to by M. are to be found in Grey's _Memoria Technica_ and Lowe's _Memories_, p. 172., and runs thus:

"Nor cum-dúr: we La-yórk: che-de-not-line: shrop sta-le-rut norf:
Hér-wo-wa-nórtha: Bed-hunt-cámb-suff: mon-gl-óxfo-buck-hart-ess:
Som-wilt-bérk-Middlesex: corn-dev-dors-hámp-Surrey-Kent Suss."

"Such as are contiguous southward are joined, as in we la:
Such as are contiguous westward are hyphened, as che-de."

C. S. P.

_Fairest Attendant of the Scottish Queen_ (Vol. v., p. 152.).--Your correspondent who inquires about an attendant of the Scottish queen who disappeared when she was in England, will find a notice of the same person in the appendix to Tytler's _History of Scotland_, reign of Queen Mary. There is a letter there from the English ambassador at Paris to his Court, with an account of the Queen Dowager's visit to France: he mentions that King Henry had been captivated by one of the ladies in Mary's train, who, it was reported, was with child to him. The frail fair one left with her mistress, but returned shortly thereafter. I think she must be the person referred to in the _Grey Friars' Chronicle_.

J. F.

Belfast.

_Ecclesiastical Geography_ (Vol. iv., p. 276.).--AJAX, who asks the name of some work on this subject, may perhaps find his wants supplied in _Geographia Ecclesiastica, &c._, "Auberto Miraeo auctore."