Chapter C: Mansfield Ingleby

_Richard, second Son of the Conqueror_, is said by Hume, and by some minor writers after him, to have been killed by a stag in the New Forest; but William of Malmesbury and Roger of Wendover both say that he died of fever, consequent on malaria, which struck him while hunting there. This is well known to be of frequent occurrence in the neighbourhood of desolated human dwellings; and thus seems to involve even a more striking instance of retributive justice than the fate which Hume assigns to him. The fatality attending most of this name in our history is singular. Of nine princes (three of them kings) who have borne the name of Richard, seven, or, if Hume is right, eight, have died violent deaths, including four successive generations of the House of York.

J. S. WARDEN.

_Francis Walkinghame._--Your correspondent's mention of my _Arithmetical Books_ (Vol. v., p. 392.) reminds me of a Query which I made in it, and which has never obtained the slightest answer--Who was Francis Walkinghame, and when was his work on arithmetic first published? The earliest edition I know of is the twenty-third, in 1787; but I am told, on good authority, that Mr. Douce had the sixteenth edition of 1779.

A. DE MORGAN.

_Optical Phenomenon._--I shall be much obliged to anybody who will explain a phenomenon which I have observed.

Suppose 1. A street from twenty to thirty feet broad.

2. At the open window of a house on one side stands a man looking at the corresponding window of the house on the opposite side; that is, he looks at what was a window, but is now filled up with a large board that is covered with an inscription of short lines, black on white; in short, just such a board as one sees at a turnpike gate.

3. From shortness, or defect, of sight (I cannot say which), the man is unable to read the inscription as he stands at his window.

4. He sits down on a low seat, so as to bring his eye almost close to, and just on a level with, the sill of his own window. He then slowly raises and depresses his head. As he does this, it of course appears to him as if his own window-sill travelled up and down the board opposite.

5. In doing so it comes successively under each line of the inscription.

6. As it does so, that one line becomes perfectly legible.

N. B.

Minor Queries Answered.

_Abraham-Men._--Although I cannot find it in your former volumes, nor in your Index, I think there was an inquiry in one of your past Numbers as to the meaning of the phrase "_To sham Abraham_."

If there has been any reply, will you be good enough to refer me to it? as it may explain the passage in Burton's _Anatomy of Melancholy_, that "every village almost will yield dummerers _Abraham-men_," &c. (Part I. sec. 2., vol. i. p. 360.)

W. W. E. T.

Warwick Square, Belgravia.

["To sham Abraham" is a cant expression, having reference to the
practices of a class of vagabonds and cheats once common in this
country. In Decker's _English Villanies_ there are many curious
particulars of the habits of this class of impostors. "She's all
Abram," that is, quite naked. "What an Abram!" an exclamation for
a ragged fellow. "An Abraham-man" was an impostor who personated a
poor lunatic called Tom of Bedlam: one of this class is described
by Shakspeare in his _Lear_, Act II. Sc. 3.:

"The basest and most poorest shape,
That every penury, in contempt of man,
Brought near to beast."

Among sailors, "An Abram" is being unwell, or out of sorts. When
Abraham Newland was Cashier of the Bank of England, it was sung--

"I have heard people say,
That sham Abraham you may,
But you must not sham Abraham Newland."]

_Author of "Le Blason des Couleurs."_--Can you give me the date of, or any account of the author of a small black-letter French work on heraldry entitled, _Le Blason des Couleurs en Armes_, &c. The author introduces himself as "Je Sicille Herault a tres puissant roy Alph[=o]se Darragon: de Sicilie: de Vallence de Maillaque: de Corseique et Sardeigne: Conte de Barselonne," &c.; and at the end of the first part it is said to be "compose par Sicille Herault du roy Alph[=o]se daragon."

H. N. E.

[See Brunet, _Manuel du Libraire_, vol. i. p. 279., ed. Bruxelles,
1838, 8vo.]

_Banyan-day._--Can any of your correspondents inform me of the meaning and origin of the term "Banyan-day," which is frequently used by sailors?

W. B. M.

Dee Side.

[A marine term for those days in which the sailors have no flesh
meat; and is probably derived from the practice of the Banians, a
caste of Hindoos, who entirely abstained from all animal food.]

_General Urmston._--Can any of your correspondents inform me whether a General Edward Urmston, who married in 1752 Leonora daughter of the first Earl Bathurst, had any children; or whether he was himself an only son or child: also when he was born, or when he died? His wife died in 1798 (I believe).

E. B.

[Lieutenant-General Edward Urmston, some time in the 1st regiment
of Foot Guards, and afterwards, 10th November, 1770, Colonel of
the 65th Regiment of Foot. He married in 1752 Leonora Bathurst;
died 21st December, 1778, aged 59, and there is an altar tomb to
his memory in the churchyard of Harrow, co. Middlesex. She died
1798.]

_Works of Alexander Neville._--Can any of your readers inform me where I can find a collection of the works of Alexander Neville, the poetical writer, born anno 1544, second son of Sir Alex. [Richard] Neville of South Leverton, Notts, by Ann, fourth daughter of Sir Edw. [Walter] Mantle; he died anno 1614? Any particulars or references concerning him would be acceptable. Was he the Alexander Neville who sate for Christchurch, Hants, 1585, and for Saltash 1601.

J. K.

[There is no edition of the collected works of Alexander Nevile or
Nevyle; the following will be found in the British Museum under
the word _Nevyllus_:--1. _De Furoribus Norfolciensium, Ketto
Duce_, 4to., 1575. According to Hearne, there are two editions of
this date of 1575; the first, without the passage displeasing to
the Welshmen, dedicated only to Abp. Parker; the other, with two
dedications, viz. that to Abp. Parker, and a new one to Abp.
Grindall. The offensive passage is at p. 132. "Sed enim Kettiani
rati," &c., to "Nam præter quam quod," &c., p. 133. 2. The same
work in English, _Norfolk Furies and their Foyle, under Kett and
their accursed Captaine; with a Description of the famous Citye of
Norwich_, by Richard Woods, 4to., 1615, 1623. 3. _Academiæ
Cantabrigiensis Lachrymæ, Tumulo Nobilissimi Equitis D. Philippi
Sidneij Sacratæ_, 4 to., 1587. A biographical notice of Alexander
Nevile is given in Chalmers' _Biog. Dict._, which does not mention
that he ever had a seat in parliament. He died in 1614, and was
buried in Canterbury Cathedral.]

_Lindisfarne._--What is the meaning or origin of the word "Lindisfarne?"

K. N. P.

[Holy Island was called Lindisfarne from the Lindis, a rivulet
which empties itself into the sea from the opposite shore:
_farne_, the concluding syllable, is a corruption of the Celtic
word _fahren_, a recess.]

_Index to the Critical Review._--Was there ever a general index published to the whole or any portion of the _Critical Review_, which commenced in 1756, and I believe ended in 1816? If so, where can it be obtained.

W. J. B.

[There were five series of the _Critical Review_ between the years
1756 and 1817. No general index has been published.]

"_No great shakes._"--Can any of your readers state the origin of the expression "no great shakes," which has obtained an almost universal use, and is employed under a great variety of circumstances? No doubt a knowledge of its derivation would interest many subscribers to "N. & Q." as well as