MINOR NOTES.

(By her) the soul's disturbance came (was).

By the second:

(Through her) the soul's disturbance continues.

I may here observe that the words ICH WART are particularly distinct on a helmet, pictured in the Journal of the British Archæological Association, which the Secretary, Mr. Planche, in such matters the highest authority, regards as a tilting helmet. It may there have been in the original ICH WARTE, meaning I bide (my time).

But the centres and this inscription are the least difficulty. A second, frequently met with, is by far more puzzling. I could not give your readers any idea of it without a drawing: however it is found imperfectly depicted on the plates I have before mentioned in Nash'sWorcestershire, and theGentleman's Magazine, and I think I recollect also a very rude copy in a volume of Hearne'sMiscellaneous Works, which I examined in the Gottingen Library, but whether belonging to the work or a MS. addition I cannot now call to mind. The fanciful and flowery form of its letters gives great scope to the imagination in assigning them their particular position in the alphabet, and the difficulty of reading them is enhanced by the doubts of German archæologists whether they are initials or component parts of a sentence. Herr Joseph v. Hammer Purgstall, however, in his version RECORD DE SCI GNSI, or in fullRecordamini de sancta Gnosi, deduces thence his principal proof of Gnostic heresy amongst the calumniated Templars, in which I am sorry to say he has been too servilely followed in England:e.g.by Mr. Godfrey Higgins, in his posthumousAnaclypsis(p. 830 note), as well as by E.G. Addison,The Temple Church(p. 57), and by Mr. R.W. Billings more especially, who tacks to his account of this building an "Essay on the symbolical Evidences of the Temple Church, where the Templars are proved Gnostic Idolators, as alleged by Edward Clarkson, Esq." Had the learnedly hypothetic Austrian seen the engravings of the Crypt at Canterbury Cathedral (Archæologia, viii. p. 74.), and Ledwick's remarks on it in conjunction with the carvings at Glendalloch (History of Ireland, p. 174.), or those of Grymbald's Crypt at Oxford, he might have been expected to have attributed their monstrosities to his order, with as little hesitation and as thorough a contempt of chronology, or proved connection, as he has the curious and innocent sculptures of the church at Schöngrabern in Bohemia (videCuriositäten, vol. viii. p. 501.).

WILLIAM BELL, Phil. Dr.

Prince Modoc.—At p. 57., "ANGLO-CAMBRIAN" refers to the report of the Proceedings of the British Association at Swansea, in Aug. 1848, extracted from theAthenæumnewspaper. In the course of a discussion which took place on Prof. Elton's address, it was observed (if I recollect rightly) by the learned Dr. Latham, that a vocabulary of the so-called Welsh-Indian dialect has been formed, and that it containsno traceof any Celtic root.

J.M.T. December 10. 1849.

St. Barnabas.—About the time of the Reformation, it was strongly debated whether the festival days of St. Paul and St. Barnabas should be admitted into the calendar; and, in the 2d Book of K. Edward, the conversion of St. Paul is put down inblack, and St. Barnabas isomitted altogether! No wonder, therefore, if, in Suffolk, liberties were taken with the name of St. Barnabas, and it was transferred to doggerel rhyme, to be repeated by children.

J.I.

Register of Cromwell's Baptism.—The communication of your correspondent C.W.G. at p. 103. of your last number, induces me to offer you the inclosed copy from theRegisterof All Saints' Church, Huntingdon, of the birth and baptism of Oliver Cromwell:—

"Anno Domini 1599 Oliverus filius Roberti Cromwell generosi et Elisabethæ huxoris ejus Natus vicesimo quinto die Aprilis et Baptisatus vicesimo nono ejusdem mensis."

Then follow the words "England's plague for many years," written in a different hand.

R.O.

The Times.—A correspondent (NASO) informs us of the following fact in the history of this widely circulated and influential journal; namely, that it is stated in that the paper of the 12th of March, 1788, that it was printed "Logographically!" We wish our correspondent had furnished us with the precise words of this very curious statement.

Roland Monoux.—I have in my possession a brass monumental plate, said to have been taken from some church in Middlesex, and bearing the following lines, engraved inblack letter:—

"Behold what droupinge Dethe maye doe, consumey'e corse to duste,What Dethe maie not shall lyue for aye, in spite ofDethe his luste;Thoughe Rouland Monoux shrowdeth here, yetRouland Monoux lives,His helpynge hand to nedys want, a fame for evergeves;Hys worde and dede was ever one, his credyth neverquaylde,His zeall' to Christ was stronge, tyll' dethe w'th latestpanges asaylde.Twyse thre and one he Children had, two sones, onekepes his name,And dowghters fyve for home he carde, y't lyve inhonest fame.What booteth more, as he be kynde dyd come ofJentyll race,So Rouland Monoux good Desertes this grave cannot Deface."

"Behold what droupinge Dethe maye doe, consume

y'e corse to duste,

What Dethe maie not shall lyue for aye, in spite of

Dethe his luste;

Thoughe Rouland Monoux shrowdeth here, yet

Rouland Monoux lives,

His helpynge hand to nedys want, a fame for ever

geves;

Hys worde and dede was ever one, his credyth never

quaylde,

His zeall' to Christ was stronge, tyll' dethe w'th latest

panges asaylde.

Twyse thre and one he Children had, two sones, one

kepes his name,

And dowghters fyve for home he carde, y't lyve in

honest fame.

What booteth more, as he be kynde dyd come of

Jentyll race,

So Rouland Monoux good Desertes this grave can

not Deface."

I should be obliged to any of your readers for some account of this Rouland Monoux, and when he died. I may also add; that I should be very willing to restore the brass to its original site, did I know the spot from whence it has been sacrilegiously torn.

Wessel Cup Hymn.—The following Wassail Song is taken from a little chap-book printed at Manchester, calledA Selection of Christmas Hymns. it is obviously a corrupted version of a much older song:—

"Here we come a wesseling,Among the leaves so green,Here we come a wandering,So fair to be seen."Cho.—Love and joy come to you,And to your wessel too,And God send you a happy new year,A new year,And God send you a happy new year."Our wessel cup is made of the rosemary tree,So is your beer of the best barley."We are not daily beggars,That beg from door to door,But we are neighbours' children,Whom you have seen before."Call up the butler of this house,Put on his golden ring,Let him bring us up a glass of beer,And the better we shall sing."We have got a little purse,Made of stretching leather skin,We want a little of your money,To line it well within."Bring us out a table,And spread it with a cloth,Bring us out a mouldy cheese,And some of your Christmas loaf."God bless the master of this house,Likewise the mistress too,And all the little children,That round the table go."Good master and mistress,While you'r sitting by the fire,Pray think of us poor children,Who are wand'ring in the mire."Cho.—Love and joy come to you,And to your wessel to,And God send you a happy new year,A new year,And God send you a happy new year.Our wessel cup is made of the rosemary tree,So is your beer of the best barley."

"Here we come a wesseling,Among the leaves so green,Here we come a wandering,So fair to be seen.

"Here we come a wesseling,

Among the leaves so green,

Here we come a wandering,

So fair to be seen.

"Cho.—Love and joy come to you,And to your wessel too,And God send you a happy new year,A new year,And God send you a happy new year.

"Cho.—Love and joy come to you,

And to your wessel too,

And God send you a happy new year,

A new year,

And God send you a happy new year.

"Our wessel cup is made of the rosemary tree,So is your beer of the best barley.

"Our wessel cup is made of the rosemary tree,

So is your beer of the best barley.

"We are not daily beggars,That beg from door to door,But we are neighbours' children,Whom you have seen before.

"We are not daily beggars,

That beg from door to door,

But we are neighbours' children,

Whom you have seen before.

"Call up the butler of this house,Put on his golden ring,Let him bring us up a glass of beer,And the better we shall sing.

"Call up the butler of this house,

Put on his golden ring,

Let him bring us up a glass of beer,

And the better we shall sing.

"We have got a little purse,Made of stretching leather skin,We want a little of your money,To line it well within.

"We have got a little purse,

Made of stretching leather skin,

We want a little of your money,

To line it well within.

"Bring us out a table,And spread it with a cloth,Bring us out a mouldy cheese,And some of your Christmas loaf.

"Bring us out a table,

And spread it with a cloth,

Bring us out a mouldy cheese,

And some of your Christmas loaf.

"God bless the master of this house,Likewise the mistress too,And all the little children,That round the table go.

"God bless the master of this house,

Likewise the mistress too,

And all the little children,

That round the table go.

"Good master and mistress,While you'r sitting by the fire,Pray think of us poor children,Who are wand'ring in the mire.

"Good master and mistress,

While you'r sitting by the fire,

Pray think of us poor children,

Who are wand'ring in the mire.

"Cho.—Love and joy come to you,And to your wessel to,And God send you a happy new year,A new year,And God send you a happy new year.

"Cho.—Love and joy come to you,

And to your wessel to,

And God send you a happy new year,

A new year,

And God send you a happy new year.

Our wessel cup is made of the rosemary tree,So is your beer of the best barley."

Our wessel cup is made of the rosemary tree,

So is your beer of the best barley."

It is a song of the season which well deserves to be preserved. Its insertion will at least have that effect, and may be the means of our discovering an earlier and purer text.

AMBROSE MERTON.

Portrait of Charles I.—In Sir Henry Ellis'sOriginal Letters, 2d series, vol. iii. p. 254., amongst the prefatory matter to the reign of Charles I., there is a notice of a sermon, entitled "The Subject's Sorrow, or Lamentations upon the Death of Britaine's Josiah, King Charles."

Sir Henry Ellis says it is expressly stated, in this Sermon, that the King himself desired "that unto his Golden Manual might be prefixed his representation, kneeling; contemning a temporal crown, holding our blessed Saviour's crown of thorns, and aspiring unto an eternal crown of happiness."

Noteb. upon this passage is as follows:—

"This very portrait of King Charles the First, engraved by Marshall, adorned the original edition of the [Greek: Eikon Basilikae]. 8vo. 1648.The same portrait, as large as life, in oil painting, was afterwards put up in many of our churches."

When I was a boy, such a portrait, in oil painting, hung upon the south wall of the body of St. Michael's Church, Cambridge, between the pulpit and a small door to the west, leading into the south aisle.

Out of the window of the chamber in which the King was kneeling was represented a storm at sea, and the ship being driven by it upon some rocks.

A few years ago, upon visiting Cambridge, I went purposely to St. Michael's Church to see this picture, which had been so familiar to me in my boyhood. The clerk told me it had been taken down, and was in the vestry. In the vestry I found it, on its side, on the floor against the wall.

You are probably aware that this St. Michael's Church was nearly destroyed by fire not many weeks since; that a committee is established to arrange its restoration.

Would it not be worth while that some inquiry should be made about the fate of this picture?

R.O.

Dec. 17. 1849.

P.S.—I may add, that there was affixed to the bottom of the frame of the picture a board, on which was painted, in conformably large letters—

"LORD, remember David and all his trouble."Psalmcxxxii. 1.

"LORD, remember David and all his trouble."

Psalmcxxxii. 1.

The italics in part of the Note above quoted are mine.

Autograph Mottoes of Richard Duke of Gloucester, and Henry Duke of Buckingham.—In the volume of the Cottonian MSS. marked Vespasian F. XIII., at fol. 53., is a slip of parchment, upon which is written by the hands of Richard Duke of Gloucester, and Henry Duke of Buckingham, the following couplet:—

"Loyaulte me lieRichard Gloucestre"Souente me souèneHarre Bokingh'a'm."

"Loyaulte me lieRichard Gloucestre

"Loyaulte me lie

Richard Gloucestre

"Souente me souèneHarre Bokingh'a'm."

"Souente me souène

Harre Bokingh'a'm."

A fac-simile is engraved inAutographs of Royal, Noble, Learned, and Remarkable Personages in English History, engraved by C.J. Smith, and edited by Mr. John Gough Nichols, 1829, 4to., where the editor suggests that this slip of parchment was "perhaps a deceitful toy," or it may have been attached to some present offered by the Duke of Gloucester to his royal nephew Edward the Fifth. The meaning of Gloucester's motto is perfectly free from misapprehension; but he asserts his fidelity to the crown, which he soon so flagrantly outraged—"Loyalty binds me." In the work above mentioned, the motto of Buckingham is interpreted by these words, in modern French:—"Souvent me souviens." This does not appear to me perfectly satisfactory; and I have to request the opinions of such as are conversant with old manuscripts, whether the true meaning, or even the true reading, of the Duke of Buckingham's motto has as yet been ascertained?

Lord Erskine's Brooms.—"G.B." informs us, that the anecdote about Lord Erskine's brooms, and the apprehension of his servant for selling them without a licence, will be found in his Life by Lord Campbell (Lives of the Chancellors, vol. vi. p. 618.). Erskine himself attended the sessions to plead the man's cause, and contended that the brooms were agricultural produce, or, as he jocosely observed, "came under thesweepingclause." Thewhenis about 1807, and thewherean estate in Sussex, which proved rather an unprofitable speculation to its owner, as it produced nothing but birch trees, and those but stunted ones. To which information "W.J." adds, that about the same period Lord Erskine printed, for private circulation,An Appeal in favour of the agricultural Services of Rooks; a production probably scarce now, but full of humanity, and very characteristic.

Scarborough Warning.—In a postscript to a letter written from court on the 19th January, 1603, by Toby Matthew, Bishop of Durham, to Hutton, Archbishop of York, I find the termScarborough warning. Can any of the correspondents of your valuable paper inform me of the origin and prevalence of this saying? The postscript is—

"When I was in the middest of this discourse, I received a message from my lord chamberlaine, that it was his majesty's pleasure that I should preach before him upon Sunday next; whichScarborough warningdid not perplex me, but so puzzled me, as no mervail if somewhat be pretermitted, which otherwise I might have better remembered."

Quoted in Caldwell'sConferences, p. 166.

W.M.C.

[NARES tells us, that Ray, on the authority of Fuller, states that this saying took its origin from "Thomas Stafford, who, in the reign of Mary, A.D. 1557, with a small company, seized on Scarborough Castle (utterly destitute of provision for resistance), before the townsmen had the least notice of their approach;" but shows that it was probably much older, as, in a ballad written by J. Heywood on the taking of that place by Stafford, the following more probable origin is given to the proverb:—

"This termScarborow warninggrew (some say),By hasty hanging for rank robbery theare.Who that was met, but suspect in that way,Straight he was trust up, whatever he were."

"This termScarborow warninggrew (some say),

By hasty hanging for rank robbery theare.

Who that was met, but suspect in that way,

Straight he was trust up, whatever he were."

This implies that Scarborough imitated the Halifax gibbet law. Is any thing known of such a privilege being claimed or exercised by the men of Scarborough? We should be glad to hear from any local antiquary upon this point.]

Gray's Elegy.—In answer to your correspondent, J.F.M. (p. 101.), who asks for information respecting the competition for the best translation of Gray'sElegy, in which Dr. Sparke was a candidate, I would beg to refer him to the satirical poem attributed to Mr. T.J. Matthias, formerly Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, entitledThe Pursuits of Literature, in which a ludicrous account is given of the affair. It does not appear who offered the prize, but Mr. Nares, the editor ofThe British Critic, was the judge, and the place of meeting "The Musical Room inHanover Square," which was decorated for the occasion with appropriate scenery—at least so saysThe Critic. He thus describes the solemnity (p. 174 8th edit. 1798):—

"Lo, learned clerks in sable stole,Graceful in years, pant eager for the goal.Old Norbury starts, and, with theseventh-formboys,In weeds of Greek the church-yard's peace annoys,With classic Weston, Charley Coote and Tew,In dismal dance about the mournful yew.But first in notes Sicilian placed on high,Bates sounds the soft precluding symphony;And in sad cadence, as the bands condense,The curfew tolls the knell ofparting sense."

"Lo, learned clerks in sable stole,

Graceful in years, pant eager for the goal.

Old Norbury starts, and, with theseventh-formboys,

In weeds of Greek the church-yard's peace annoys,

With classic Weston, Charley Coote and Tew,

In dismal dance about the mournful yew.

But first in notes Sicilian placed on high,

Bates sounds the soft precluding symphony;

And in sad cadence, as the bands condense,

The curfew tolls the knell ofparting sense."

The distribution of prizes is thus recorded, Dr. Norbury being apparently the "conqueror:"—

"Nares rising paused; then gave, the contest done,To Weston, Taylor's Hymns and Alciphron,And Rochester's Address to lemans loose;To Tew, Parr's Sermon and the game of goose;To Coote the foolscap, as the best reliefA dean could hope; last to the hoary chiefHe filled a cup; then placed on Norbury's backThe Sunday suit of customary black.The gabbling ceased; with fixed and serious lookGray glanced from high, and owned his rival, COOK."

"Nares rising paused; then gave, the contest done,

To Weston, Taylor's Hymns and Alciphron,

And Rochester's Address to lemans loose;

To Tew, Parr's Sermon and the game of goose;

To Coote the foolscap, as the best relief

A dean could hope; last to the hoary chief

He filled a cup; then placed on Norbury's back

The Sunday suit of customary black.

The gabbling ceased; with fixed and serious look

Gray glanced from high, and owned his rival, COOK."

W. Lincoln's Inn, Dec. 17.

Coffee, the Lacedæmonian Black Broth.—Your correspondent "R.O." inquires what modern author suggests the probability of coffee being the black broth of the Lacedæmonians? The suggestion, I think, originated with George Sandys, the translator of Ovid'sMetamorphoses. Sandys travelled in the Turkish empire in 1610. He first published hisNotesin 1615. The following is from the 6th edit. 1652, p. 52.:—

"Although they be destitute of taverns, yet have they their coffa-houses, which something resemble them. Their sit they, chatting most of the day, and sip of a drink called coffa (of the berry that it is made of), in littleChinadishes, as hot as they can suffer it; black as soot, and tasting not much unlike it (why not that black broth which was in use among the Lacedæmonians?) which helpeth, as they say, digestion, and procureth alacrity," &c.

Burton also (Anatomy of Melancholy) describes it as "like that black drink which was in use among the Lacedæmonians, and perhaps the same."

E.B. PRICE.

It would be an interesting fact if we could ascertain the last bondsman by blood—nativus de sanguine—who lived in this country. The beginning of the seventeenth century is the period usually referred to as the date of the extinction of personal villenage. In the celebrated argument in the case of the negro Somerset (State Trials, vol. xx. p. 41), an instance as late as 1617-18 is cited as the latest in our law books. (See Noy'sReports, p. 27.) It is probably the latest recordedclaim, but it is observable that the claim failed, and that the supposed villain was adjudged to be a free man. I can supply the names of three who were living near Brighton in the year 1617, and whose thraldom does not appear to have been disputed. Norden, from whose unpublishedSurvey of certain Crown ManorsI have extracted the following notice, adverts to the fact, but seems to think that the times were rather unfavourable to any attempt by the lord of the manor to put his rights in force.

"There are three bondmen of bloude belonginge unto this manor, never known to be anie way mannumissed, namely, Thomas Goringe, William and John Goringe. Thomas Goringe dwells at Amberley, William at Piddinghow, and John Goringe at Rottingdean. What goods they have the Jurie know not. All poor men. Thomas hath the reversion of a cotage now in the tenure of William Jefferye. But mee thinks this kinde of advantage is nowe out of season; yet, were they men of ability, they might be, upon some consideration, infraunchized." (Survey of the Manor of Falmer, Sussex.)

I shall be glad to know whether any more recent instance can be pointed out.

E. SMIRKE.

In Herbert's edition of Ames'sTypographical Antiquities, 1785, vol. i. p. 492., is noticedThe Dore of Holy Scripture, 12mo., printed by John Gowghe in 1536; and, at p. 494., a reprint of the same work is mentioned in 1540, by the same printer, and a description of a copy given from one then in the possession of Herbert himself. In the preface prefixed by the printer, he calls the work "the prologue of the fyrste translatoure of the byble out of latyn in to Englyshe;" and at the end of the work is this note:—"Perused by doctor Taylor and doctor Barons, Master Ceton and Master Tornor." As I am much interested in the subject to which this publication refers, may I ask for information on three points?—1. What evidence is there of this edition of 1536, beyond the statement in Ames? 2. What has become of the copy of the edition of 1540, formerly belonging to Herbert? and, 3. Who are the persons whoperuseand revise the latter edition? There is not copy of either edition, as far as I can trace, in the British Museum, in the Bodleian, or at Lambeth.

I may add to these queries the following remarks:—

1. Ames asserted thatThe Dore of Holy Scripturewas among the books prohibited to be readby the injunctions of Henry the Eighth, and refers, as his authority, to Foxe'sActs and Monument, ed. 1562, p. 574. Herbert, in a note, questions the fact, and raises a doubt as to the existence of the passage in Foxe, since it is not in the edition of 1641. I have, however, the first edition now before me of 1563 (not1562), and at p. 574., among "the names of certen bokes whiche after this injunction [namely, of 1539], or some other in the said kinges dayes were prohybited," occurs, "Item,the doore of holy scripture. made by Jhon. Gowghe."

2. This work was again printed by Crowley in 1550, 12mo., under a different title, namely,The Pathway to Perfect Knowledge; and in the preface, he falsely ascribes it to John Wycliffe, and adds, "the original wherof is in an olde English Bible, betwixt the Olde Testament and the Newe, which Bible remaineth now in the Kyng his Majesties chamber." This Bible appears to be the identical manuscript copy of the later Wycliffe version of the Scriptures, now preserved in the University Library, Cambridge, and marked Mm 2. 15. A copy of Crowley's edition is in the British Museum, but the orthography and language of the tract are modernised.

F.M. B.M., Dec. 19.

On April 6. 1708, Henry Turner was elected, by the vestry, organist of St. Margaret's, Westminster, in the room of the famous "Father Smith" (Bernard Schmidt). As regards his musical capabilities, Hawkins does not assign him a niche in hisTemple of Worthies, although he names some of his predecessors and successors in that office. One merit we must accord him, that of true antiquarian love and zeal in all matters regarding "this renowned city." "Great materials are said to have been collected for a full description (of Westminster), by a parish-clerk of St. Margaret's. I presume this is Henry Turner, mentioned in Widmore'sAccount of the Writers of the History of Westminster Abbey.... His book was only a survey of the city of Westminster, purposely omitting the history of the (collegiate) church."—Gough,Brit. Top.vol. i. p. 761. Lond. 1780. "The man's natural parts were very good; he was also very diligent in making enquiries relating to his subject, and he had collected a great deal."—Widmore'sAcc. of Writers of the Hist. of Westm. Abbey, pp. 6, 7. Lond. 1751. As regards his personal history, I alighted on some curious notes on a fly-leaf of a transcript of a register: "Henry Turner, borne at Yearely, Derbyshire, 12. July, 1679: married Eliz. Sabin, of Clement Danes, in St. Margrts. Westmr. Feb. 26. 1701. by Dr. Onley."

In 1697 it was discovered that some valuable MS. records belonging to the parish, and taken out of the Tower of London, had been lost by their keeper. This history in its time appears to have suffered the same fate. However, there is this entry in theHarleian MSS.7045. fol. 361.: "From the learned Dr. Kennet, Dean of Peterborough's Collection. MSS. MS. H. On Aug. 2. 1708, at Windsor, I read over theHistory of the Parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster, drawn up in MS. by one of the parish clerks." Some interesting extracts follow. CompareAysc. Add. MSS. Brit. Mus.4163. fol. 5. Bishop Kennet resided in St. James's Street, in this parish, and died there on Dec. 19. 1728. I have applied in vain for any account of this MS. to the librarians of Windsor Castle and Eton College.

Can any of your readers give a clue to its recovery? Are any aware that this survey, which would be valuable now, still exists? There is an instance, as early as the fifteenth century, of the union of the offices of lay-clerk and organist in St. Margaret's, in the person of one Metyngham, and H. Turner also held them at the same time; since, on July 28th, 1713, he was elected parish-clerk by the vestry, in "consideration of the experience they had of fitness and diligence in executing the office of deputy-clerk of this parish for several years last past;" and he did not resign the place of organist until 2nd October, 1718.

May I make another Query?—The gold chain and crucifix, laid in the grave of K. Edward the Confessor, were removed by Charles Taylor, and given into the hands of King James II. On the reverse of the same cross was pictured a Benedictine monk, in his habit, and on each side of him these capital Roman letter,—

On the right limb thus: and on the left thus:(A) P.Z. A. X A. C.A H.

Antiq. of St. Peter's, vol. ii. App. n. iij, Ed. 1722.

What does the inscription mean? Is the former portion to be understood "[Greek: A. O. Zoae agion Christos]"? What is the import of the latter?

MACKENZIE WALCOTT, M.A.

Many years back, "Prince" Louis Napoleon was stated to be in possesion of the talisman of Charlemagne;—"a small nut, in a gold filigree envelopment, found round the neck of that monarch on the opening of his tomb, and given by the town of Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) to Buonaparte, and by him to his favourite Hortense,ci-de-vantQueen of Holland, at whose death it descended to her son," the present President of the French Republic.

The Germans have a curious legend connected with this talisman. It was framed by some of the magi in the train of the ambassadors of Aaroun-al-Raschid to the mighty Emperor of the West, at the instance of his spouse Fastrada, with the virtue that her husband should be always fascinated towards the person or thing on which it was. The constant love of Charles to this his spouse was the consequence; but, as it was not taken from her finger after death, the affection of the emperor was continued unchanging to the corpse, which he would on no account allow to be interred, even when it became offensive. His confessor, having some knowledge of the occult sciences, at last drew off the amulet from the inanimate body, which was then permitted to be buried; but he retained possession of it himself, and thence became Charles's chief favourite and prime minister, till he had been promoted to the highest ecclesiastical dignity, as Archbishop of Mainz and Chancellor of the Empire. At this pitch of power, whether he thought he could rise no higher, or scruples of conscience were awakened by the hierarchical vow, he would hold the heathen charm no longer, and he threw it into a lake not far from his metropolitan seat, where the town of Ingethüm now stands. The regard and affection of the monarch were immediately diverted from the monk, and all men, to the country surrounding the lake; and he determined on building there a magnificent palace for his constant residence, and robbed all the ancient royal and imperial residences, even to the distance of Ravenna, in Italy, to adorn it. Here he subsequently resided and died: but it seems the charm had a passive as well as an active power; his throes of death were long and violent; and though dissolution seemed every moment impending, still he lingered in ceaseless agony, till the Archbishop, who was called to his bed-side to administer the last sacred rites, perceiving the cause, caused the lake to be dragged, and, silently restoring the talisman to the person of the dying monarch, his struggling soul parted quietly away. The grave was opened by the third Otto in 997, and possibly the town of Aachen may have been thought the proper depository of the powerful drug, to be by them surrendered to one who was believed by many, as he believed himself to be, a second Charlemagne.

So much for the introduction to the following Queries:—1. Can any of your readers say whether this amulet is still in possession of the President of the French Republic? 2. If so, might not the believers in the doctrines of Sympathy attribute the votes of the six millions who, in Dec. 1848, voted in favour of his election, to the sympathetic influence of his "nut in gold filigree," and be justified in looking upon those who voted for his rivals as no true Franks? It was originally concocted for a Frankish monarch of pure blood, and may be supposed to exercise its potency only on those of genuine descent and untainted lineage.

WILLIAM BELL, Phil. Dr.

I entirely concur in the opinion of your able correspondent, Mr. P. Cunningham, that Pepys'sDiaryis well deserving all the illustrative light which may be reflected upon it from your useful pages. In submitting the following Query, however, my object is to glean a scrap of information on a point connected with the neglected topography of the east end of London, taking Pepys for my text. In theDiary, the entry for January 15th, 1660-61, contains this passage:—

"We took barge and went to Blackwall, and viewed the Dock and the new west Dock which is newly made there, and a brave new merchantman which is to launched shortly, and they say to be called the Royal Oake. Hence we walked toDick Shoare, and thence to the Towre, and so home."—Vol. i. p. 178. new Ed.

I shall be glad to learn from any of your readers what part of the northern bank of the river, between Blackwall and the Tower, was calledDick Shore. It is not marked on any of the old maps of London I have been able to consult; but it was probably beyond the most easterly point generally shown within their limits. The modern maps present no trace of the locality in question.

The dock-yard visited by Pepys was long one of the most considerable private ship-building establishments in England. For may years it was conducted by Mr. Perry, and subsequently, under the firm of Wigram and Green, the property having been purchased by the late Sir Robert Wigram, Bart. The extensive premises are still applied to the same use; but they have been divided to form two distinct yards, conducted by separate firms.

The origin of the name (Isle of Dogs), given to the marshy tract of land lying within the bold curve of the Thames between Blackwall and Limehouse, is still undetermined. The common story is, that it receives its name from the king's hounds having been kept there during the residence of the royal family at Greenwich. This tradition is wholly unsupported; nor is it very probable that the king's hounds would be kennelled in this ungenial and inconvenient place, while they could be kept on the Kentish side of the river, in the vicinity of Greenwich Castle, then occupying the site of the present Observatory.

The denominations "isle" and "island" appear to have been bestowed on many places not geographically entitled to them. The Isle of Dogs, before the construction of the canal which now crosses its isthmus, was in fact a peninsula. Pepysspent a night in the "isle of Doggs," as appears by his entry for July 24th, 1665, and again, on the 31st of the same month, he was compelled to wait in the "unlucky Isle of Doggs, in a chill place, the morning cool and wind fresh, above two if not three hours, to his great discontent."

To the account of Katherine Pegg, given by your correspondents, pp. 90, 91, may be added, that, besides Charles Fitz-Charles, Earl of Plymouth, she had, by Charles II., a daughter, who died in her infancy. Mrs. Pegg was one of thethreewives of Sir Edward Greene, of Sampford (not Samford), near Thaxted, Essex, created a baronet 26th July, 1660 (within two months of the Restoration), to whom she seems to have been not unfitly matched; for it is recorded of him that, "by his extravagancy and love of gambling, he entirely ruined his estate, and his large inheritance passed from his family." He had issue two daughters, who married.—See Burke'sExtinct Baronetage.

I do not think that Katherine Pegg, whose son by the King was born in 1657, was "the pretty woman newly come called Pegg," saluted by Pepys, 7th May, 1668, as Mr. Cunningham surmises.

J.T. HAMMACK.

December.

The Strand Maypole.—"E.F.R." inquires what was the ultimate fate of the "tall Maypole" which "once o'erlooked the Strand"? It was taken down about the year 1717, when it was found to measure a hundred feet. It was obtained by Sir Isaac Newton, and borne on a carriage, for timber, to Wanstead, in Essex, the seat of the Earl of Tylney, where, under the direction of the Reverend Mr. Pound Breton, it was placed in the Park, for the erection of a telescope, the largest then in the world, presented by a French gentleman to the Royal Society.

To Fettle.—What is the derivation of the verb "to fettle?" In the North it means to amend—to repair—to put a thing, which is out of order, into such a state as to effectuate, or to be effectual for, its original, or a given purpose;e.g.a cart out of order is sent to the wheelwright's to be fettled. It has been suggested that the word is a verbalised corruption of the word "effectual." Bailey, in hisDictionary, has designated it as a north country word: but it is evident that he misunderstood its entire meaning; for he has merely "to fettleto," and seems to have been ignorant of the use of the word "fettle" as a verb active. To revert to my former example of its use—An injured cart is fettled by the wheel-wright; the wheelwright fettles the injured cart.

L.C.R.

Greek Verse.—Can any of your readers inform me who is the author of the line—

"[Greek: Pollai men thnaetois glottai, mia d' athanatoisi]?"

Dr. Dee's petition to James I.—"E.F.R." states that he has lately discovered, in the lining of an ancient trunk, two or three curious broadsides, one of which purports to be Dr. Dee's petition to James I., 1604, against the report raised against him, namely, "That he is or hath bin a Conjurer and Caller, or Invocator of Divels." He would be glad to know whether this curious broadside has been printed in any memoir of Dr. Dee.

Vondel's Lucifer.—"F." desires to be informed whether the tragedy or dramatic poemLucifer, of the Dutch poet Vondel, which has been said to bear some analogy toParadise Lost, has ever been translated? and if not, why not? The French writer, Alfred de Vigny, inStella, calls Vondel (Wundel in his spelling) "ce vieux Shakspeare de la Hollande."

Discurs Modest.—In Bishop Andrewes'Replyto theApologyof Bellarmine, chap. i. p. 7, ed. 4to. London, 1610, certain jesuits in prison are reported to have confessed,Rem transubstantiationis patres ne attigisse quidem; as authority for which is quotedDiscurs Modest, p. 13. From this work apparently the passage is copied by Jeremy Taylor,Real Presence, sect. 12. § 16;Dissuasive, part i. chap. 1. § 5, and part 2. book 2. sect. 3. 3: also by Cosin onTransubstantiation, chap. 6. § 17. Can any of your readers favour me with a clue to theModest Discourse?

A.T.

Ptolemy of Alexandria.—"QUERY" wishes to be informed what works of Ptolemy of Alexandria are to be met with in an English translation.

Vanbrugh's London Improvements.—In theLondon Journalof March 16th, 1722-23, there is the following paragraph:—

"We are informed that Sir John Vanbrugh, in his scheme for new paving the cities of London and Westminster, among other things, proposes a tax on all gentlemen's coaches, to stop all channels in the street, and to carry all the water off by drains and common sewers under ground."

Sir John Vanbrugh was chiefly known as an architect of noblemen's and gentlemen's mansions. Can any of your readers supply me with a reference to any detailed plan, from Sir John, for the general improvement of the metropolis?

B.M.

Becket's Grace-Cup.—The inscription round the neck of this so-called cup, of which a representation is given in No. 1. of Mr. Scott'sAntiquarian Gleanings, is thus printed by him—GOD FERARE—: to which he adds, in explanation, "probably the name of the goldsmith."At the foot of an earlier print of this relic, the inscription is given thus—FERARE GOD—and till the appearance of Mr. Scott's version, I had considered the former word as an accidental error of the engraver, instead of FEARE; which would present a moral motto, suiting the SOBRII ESTOTE round the lid.—As Mr. Nichols, in his recent interesting work onPilgrimages to Walsingham and Canterbury, noticing the misnomer of the cup (p. 229, n.), indicates its date to be of "the early part of the sixteenth century," perhaps some one of your well-informed readers could state if any artist-goldsmith of that era, and of that name, be known.

ALICUI.

Sir Henry Herbert's Office-Book.—I should be glad to know if any of your readers can tell me the "whereabouts" of Sir Henry Herbert's Office-Book, a MS. frequently referred to by Malone, Chalmers, and Collier. Sir Henry Herbert was Master of the Revels to King James the First, and the two succeeding kings, and the said MS. contains an account of almost every piece exhibited at any of the theatres from August, 1623, to the commencement of the rebellion in 1641. Malone, in hisHistorical Account of the English Stage(edit. Boswell, iii. 57.), says, in a note—

"For the use of this very curious and valuable manuscript I am indebted to Francis Ingram, of Ribbisford, near Bewdley, in Worcestershire, Esq., Deputy Remembrancer in the Court of the Exchequer. It has lately been found in the same old chest which contained the manuscriptMemoirs of Lord Herbert of Cherbury, from which Mr. Walpole, about twenty years ago, printed the life of that nobleman, who was elder brother to Sir Henry Herbert."

In another place, Malone adds:—

"This valuable manuscript, having lain for a considerable time in a damp place, is unfortunately damaged, and in a very mouldering condition; however, no material part of it appears to have perished."

Such being the case, it becomes more than ever desirable that this interesting volume should be sought after, and thewholeof its contents put on record before its total decay. Surely, if its depositary is known, and accessible, it is well worth the attention of theShakespeare Society, or some other learned body instituted for the preservation of documents of this nature.

A biographical account of the various persons that have held the appointment of "Master of the Revels," with such particulars of the stage as would necessarily fall in, would form a valuableProlegomenato the publication of Sir Henry's Office-Book. We have, it is true, much information upon this subject, but in a very scattered form.

I have now before me a list of the "Masters of the Revells," with the dates of their patents, which I beg to transcribe. It is of more than ordinary value, being in the handwriting of Sir Henry Herbert himself, and copied at the back of the worthy knight's "Petition to Charles the Second against the Grant to Killegrew and Davenant to form Two Companies of Players."

"Masters of ye Revells.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

(In continuation of Lists in former Nos.)

1. DR. BROOK TAYLOR'S PERSPECTIVE. 1st edit. 1715.

2. DR. AUSTIN'S CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FIRST SIX BOOKS OF EUCLID. (Date not known.)

3. DR. ABRAHAM ROBERTSON ON RATIO AND PROPORTION. Oxford. 1804.

4. LAWSON'S DISSERTATION ON THE ANALYSIS OF THE ANTIENTS. Edited by Fryer, and printed in Bristol, 1809.—[The particular copy wanted is interleaved with thick paper and MS. alterations by the Editor. It was surreptitiously obtained from its owner; but the books of the person who had it are dispersed.]

Letters, stating particulars and lowest price,carriage free, to be sent to MR. BELL, Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.

It will be seen by our leading article that having been unable to procure by any other means sufficient copies of our early numbers, to supply perfect sets to all who applied for them, we have reprinted Nos. 1. 2. 3. and 4., so that our subscribers have now an opportunity of completing their sets.

Our correspondent who inquired respecting theLife and Diary of Haydon the Painter, is informed that its publication is suspended for the present.

We have to explain to correspondents who inquire as to the mode of procuring "NOTES AND QUERIES," that every bookseller and newsman will supply itif ordered, and that gentlemen residing in the country may be supplied regularly with the Stamped Edition, by giving their orders direct to the publisher, MR. GEORGE BELL, 186. Fleet Street, accompanied by a Post Office order for a Quarter (4s.4d.).

A neat Case for holding Numbers of "NOTES AND QUERIES" until the completion of each volume, is now ready, price 1s.6d., and may be had, byOrder, of all Booksellers and Newsmen.

We are again compelled to omit many Notes, Queries, and Answers to Queries, as well as Answers to Correspondents.

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