Replies.

"Now all you at home in safety,Shelter'd from the howling storm,Tasting joys by heaven vouchsaf'd ye,Of our state vain notions form."

"Now all you at home in safety,

Shelter'd from the howling storm,

Tasting joys by heaven vouchsaf'd ye,

Of our state vain notions form."

I should wish to obtain some information regarding the authors of these alterations, and when they first took place.

Βορέας.

Pictorial Proverbs.—I have now lying open before me a small 12mo. book (binding modern) containing sixty-seven old prints (averaging in size 5¾ by 3¾ inch), but wanting a title-page. The subjects appear to be in the shape of pictorial proverbs; they are evidently very old, the distich before each plate is in Latin, which is again written in old German. The views in each background are places generally in Germany, and the names are written on the plate itself. Inone onlyplate I discover the name "M. Merian, fe" (Qy. Matts. Merian, or his daughter, of Frankfort?); and in some few others the following mark, "ST." All the platesseemdone by the same person.

If you can enlighten me as to the authorship of them, I shall feel much obliged.

H. S. S.

Inscription on George Inn, Wansted.—Will you kindly give me information respecting the origin of the following inscription, which is affixed to the side of the George Inn at Wansted?—

"In memory of yecherry pey,As cost half a guiney.ye17 of July,That day we had good cheer,I hope to see it maney a year.1752.David Jersey."

"In memory of yecherry pey,

As cost half a guiney.

ye17 of July,

That day we had good cheer,

I hope to see it maney a year.

1752.David Jersey."

W. H. B.

Learned Man referred to by Rogers.—Rogers, in his work on the Thirty-nine Articles, published 1607, writes as follows:—

"A certain learned man (speaking of the religion here then professed, and writing unto the lords of our late queen's council) doth say 'He' (meaning the papist his adversary, who charged our church with discord, and disagreements about matters of religion), 'he ought' (saith he) 'if he had been able, to have brought out the public confession and articles of faith, agreed in K. Edward's time; and have showed any in England, that, professing the gospel, dissenteth from the same.'"

I shall be much obliged to any of the readers of "N. & Q." who can inform me who was this "certain learned man."

C. C. C. C.

Corp. Chr. Coll., Camb.

Mormonism and Spalding's Romance.—The extraordinary spread of Mormonism seems to stamp it as likely to prove a kind of second Mahometanism in the world's history. Under these circumstances the origin of theBook of Mormonis of course a literary curiosity. In a clever pamphlet entitledMormonism Exposed, by John Bowes (E. Ward, 54. Paternoster Row, London), at pp. 30, 31. an account of the history of the book of Mormon is given. Mr. Bowes quotes fromMormonism Unveiled, by E. D. Hoare, to the effect that a Mr. "John Spalding" affirms that his (now deceased) brother "Solomon Spalding" had written "an historical romanceof the first settlers in America, endeavoring to show that the American Indians are the descendants of Jews, or the lost tribes. It gave a detailed account of their journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, till they arrived in America, under the command ofNephiandLehi; he also mentions the Lamanites." Mr. J. Spalding, it is said, on reading theBook of Mormon, "to his great surprise," found "nearly the same historical matter, names, &c., as they were in his brother's writings;" and further says "according to the best of my recollection and belief, it is the same as my brother Solomon wrote, with the exception of the religious matter." The latter is obviously taken from the Bible, with alterations and additionsad libitum.

Can any of your readers tell whether this romance of Solomon Spalding's was ever published; or whether it is still in existence, and accessible for reference, &c.?

C. H. D.

Carrs or Calves.—In 1 Esdras v. 55. there occurs the wordcarrs. This is found in all copies of the Bible to which I have access, except one edited in the last century by a Mr. Butley, of Ch. Ch. Oxon, wherecalvesis read, and a note given from Josephus apparently in support of it. I should be glad to know whether there is any authority in the original for this alteration.

Eryx.

Stoup.—There is a holy-water stoup, in good preservation, on theexteriorof the north wall (by the nave door) of the church of Houghton-le-Spring, Durham. What other examples are there ofexteriorstoups? Their usual situation waswithineither the porch or the church.

Cuthbert Bede.

Casper Ziegler and the Diaconate.—There is a book in Latin with the following title:—Casparis Ziegleri de Diaconis et Diaconissis Veteris Ecclesiæ Liber Commentarius.Wittebergæ: Sumptibus Hæredum Jobi Wilhelmi Fingelii. Anno 1678.

What copies of this book are known to be extant? Would a translation of the whole, or selected parts, be useful at the present time, when attention is being called to the subject?

What particulars are known about the life, religion, &c. of the author? At the foot of the frontispiece are the following lines:—

"Omnis in hoc vultu vasti compendia juris,Cæsarii, sacri, Saxonicique vides.Non Divæ unius tam multum crede laborem,Cujus vix umbram pingere possit homo."

"Omnis in hoc vultu vasti compendia juris,

Cæsarii, sacri, Saxonicique vides.

Non Divæ unius tam multum crede laborem,

Cujus vix umbram pingere possit homo."

Can any one give me the meaning of the last two lines? or information as to what other authors have treated on the subject of the Diaconate?

W. H.

Inscription at Persepolis.—The following curious inscription I some years ago made a note of by copying it, but neglected to mark whence I obtained it. My extract stands thus—

Arabic Inscription.

It is said this was found by Captain Barth, engraven on marble, among the ruins of Persepolis, and by him translated from the Arabic into Latin and English.

Query, What does it all mean?

Thomas Lawrence.

Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

"I do not know what the truth may be."—Will some one tell me whence the lines—

"I do not know how the truth may be;I tell the tale as told to me"?

"I do not know how the truth may be;

I tell the tale as told to me"?

W. T. M.

Hong Kong.

Twittens.—Are not the narrow passages in Brighton so called? and what is the meaning?

A. C.

Clapper Gate.—Steps, with a gate above, into Bushy Park are so called; what is the meaning?

A. C.

Jemmy.—When and why was sheep's head baptized with the name "Jemmy?" Does it apply to the entire sheep, or to the head only? I have heard of a "James's head" as a refinement of "Jemmy's head," which would make it seem as though the sheep was the "Jemmy."

Shirley Hibberd.

Muffs worn by Gentlemen.—Whilst looking over Hogarth's works, I observed in two plates amale figure wearing a muff; in the "Rake's Progress," pl. 4., and in the "Woman Swearing a Child." How long, and within what limits, did this fashion flourish?

W. Sparrow Simpson, B.A.

(Vol. v., p. 520.)

Allowing himself to be led astray by such an untruthful guide as Ledwich, your correspondent E. M. R. thinks that "there seems to be very great doubt if St. Patrick ever existed in reality." Had E. M. R. sought for, he might have found evidences of Ireland's apostle's existence beginning with the very lifetime itself of that saint. 1st. We have a short work from St. Patrick's own pen, theConfessio, which the best critics have allowed to be genuine: it commences thus: "Ego Patricius peccator," &c. 2nd. A very old hymn, shown by Dr. O'Conor to have been written c.A.D.540 (Prol. in Rer. Hib. Vet. Script., p. lxxxix.), tells us that: "Patricius prædicabat Scotis." (Ib., p. xciii.). 3rd. The Irish monk Adamnan, who diedA.D.704, that is, almost a half century before our Beda, in hisLife of St. Columba, says: "Quidam proselytus Brito homo sanctus, sancti Patricii episcopi discipulus," &c. (AA. SS. Junii, t. ii. p. 197.). 4th. In the library of C. C. College, Cambridge, there is a MS. of the seventh century, containing the early Irish canons: "Synodus episcoporum id est Patricii, Auxillii, Issernini" (Nasmith'sCat. C. C. C. C., p. 318.). 5th. The Antiphonal, once belonging to the Irish Bangor, but now in the Ambrosian Library, Milan, a MS. of the end of the seventh or beginning of the eighth century, and published by Muratori, has a "hymnum Sancti Patricii magistri Scotorum" (Muratori,Anecd., t. iv. p. 89.). 6th. Cummian, writing about the Pascal question to the Abbot of Hy,A.D.634, says: "Primum (cyclum) illum quem sanctus Patricius Papa noster tulit," &c. (Vet. Epist. Hibernicarum Syl., ed. Usserio, p. 21.). 7th. In the very old Litanies, once used, as it seems, by some church among the Britons living in this island beyond the reach of Anglo-Saxon control, we find invoked St. Patrick, along with SS. Brindane, Gildas, Paterne, Guinwaloc, Munna, Tutwal, German, and other lights of the Irish, as well as our ancient British church (ed. Mabillon,Vet. Analect., p. 168.). 8th. St. Gertrude, Abbess of Nivelle, died on the 17th March,A.D.658; the writer of her life was her cotemporary, and he expressly mentions St. Patrick (Vita S. Gertrudis, ed. Mabillon.AA. SS. O. B., t. ii. p. 447.). 9th. Our own Bedadidinsert St. Patrick's name in the Martyrology which he drew up (ed. Smith,Bedæ Hist. Eccl., p. 351.); and another far-famed countryman of ours, Alcuin, who, in some verses which he composed for being placed "Ad aram SS. Patricii et aliorum Scotorum," says:

"Patricius, Cheranus, Scotorum gloria gentis,Atque Columbanus, Congallus, Adomnanus atque," &c.Opp.ed. Frobenio, t. ii. p. 219.

"Patricius, Cheranus, Scotorum gloria gentis,

Atque Columbanus, Congallus, Adomnanus atque," &c.

Opp.ed. Frobenio, t. ii. p. 219.

10th. A liturgical MS. in the British Museum, Nero, A, II. fo. 35. b., which was first printed by Spelman, who calls it "codex vetustissimus" (Concil., i. 176.), speaks of St. Patrick as "archiepiscopus in Scotiis et Britanniis" (Ib., 177.). 11th. The celebrated monastery of St. Gall (an Irish saint) still possesses the fragment of what was once a missal, and written in the Irish character. This codex must have been older than the ninth century, for it is set down "inter libros Scottice scriptos" in a catalogue of the books belonging to that library, made in the ninth century. Among the saints enumerated in the canon of the mass is Patrick the bishop, "intercedentibus pro nobis beatis apostolis Petro et Paulo et Patricio æpiscopo" (see the fragment inAppendix A to Cooper's Report, p. 95.).

Pyrrhohas had, and is likely always to have, followers in every age and country: Hardouin would not allow that Virgil ever lived, but stoutly held that theÆneidwas "a fardel of monkish fictions" put together during the middle ages: not "the bigoted Anglo-Saxons" of the eighth, but Dr. Ledwich of the eighteenth century, denied the existence of the great St. Patrick; a few weeks ago a correspondent of "N. & Q." asked "Is not the battle itself (of Waterloo) a myth?" (Vol. v., p. 396.); and last week, another tells us that "the saint (Patrick) certainly vanishes into 'an airy nothing,' if we are to credit the above authors" (Dr. Ledwich and Dr. Aikin).

Who the Aikin may be, or what the work of his which E. M. R. has brought forwards, I do not know; Ledwich's book now lies before me, and a more prejudiced writer I have never met with. I think, however, that from the above authorities it is clearly shown that, together with all the most learned of early and modern times, we are still warranted in treating St. Patrick "as a real actor in Irish ecclesiastical affairs."

D. Rock.

Buckland.

Sir James Ware—St. Patrick's Birth-place(Vol. v., p. 520.)—Permit me to correct your correspondent E. M. R., who, by a strange mistake, calls Sir James Ware "a Roman Catholic writer." He was a zealous member of the church of Ireland: E. M. R. will see a memoir of him in Harris's edition of Ware'sWriters of Ireland.

With respect to the birth-place of St. Patrick, your correspondent may consult Colgan'sTrias Thaumaturga, Append. quinta ad vitas S. Patricii,cap. ii. p. 221. et seq.; also the Life of St. Patrick by Harris in his edition of Ware'sBishops of Ireland; and Dr. Lanigan'sEcclesiastical History of Ireland.

Ledwich was entirely unacquainted with the sources of Irish history, and is no authority.

Trin. Coll. Dublin.

(Vol. v., p. 467.)

Mr. Eastwood'squotation from Nashe'sTerrors of the Nightregarding the use of ale for the sacrament in Iceland, may have some light thrown upon it by the following passages from the Icelandic sages and the learned editors of theHistoric Memorials of Greenland. We doubt if Nashe was correct in saying that ale was granted for that purpose by the Pope in preference to wine, on account of the "incessant frosts there;" for, in truth, the Icelanders of the present day, as well as in former times, have no difficulty in protecting liquids much more congealable, such as milk, from the winter's frost. The abundance of warm springs, and the volcanic fires throughout the island, render the temperature of the inhabited districts of Iceland much warmer in winter than would be supposed from its high northern latitude. The word "red emayle" no doubt means "red enamel," an apt simile enough, and well understood in the writer's days. We do not find any mention of "ale" ("öl") being ever used in Iceland for the celebration of the eucharist; but a wine seems to leave been prepared from the Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), as is shown by the following extract from Bishop Paul'sSaga, a nearly cotemporary history; for theSagain question is believed to have been written by Bishop Magnus Gissurson (1215-1237), who succeeded Bishop Paul in the see of Skalholt:—

"In Bishop Paul's days came Bishop John from Greenland to Iceland, and remained during the winter in the eastern fiords; but afterwards he journeyed late in Lent (langaföstu, long fast time) to Skalholt to meet Bishop Paul, and he came there on Maunday Thursday (Skírdegi-Skjærtorsdag), and these two bishops consecrated a large store of Chrism, and had besides many confidential and learned conversations. Bishop John taught the people to prepare wine from the crowberry (krækiberium), as he himself had been instructed by King Sverrer. But it so happened that the next summer few berries grew in Iceland; but a man called Erick, who lived on a farm called Snorrastade, near Skalholt, prepared a small quantity of the wine from these berries, which succeeded well that summer."—Pp. 186, 187.

We confess that we are much inclined to agree with the learned Eggert Olafsen's doubts as to the practicability of manufacturing a wine, to suit at least our palates, from the acrid fruit of theEmpetrum nigrum. It is said that Boerhaave, gives a receipt for this purpose, and we have accordingly found it in his forty-secondProcess of the Elementa Chemiæ, but this relates to the general mode of producing wine from fruits; and Olafsen (p. 172. vol. i.) tried it in vain with the crowberry when in Iceland in 1753. Still a species of subacid drink, such as still prepared from this fruit by the Icelanders, may have been dignified in olden times with the name of wine; but Olafsen was certainly in error when he stated that Bishop Paul brought over to Iceland, according to tradition, a native of the Canary Isles, to teach the art. The Canary Isles were not then (A.D.1203) known to Europe.

About the year 1186 King Sverrer forbade the importation of wine into Bergen by the German traders, on account of the scenes of drunkenness and riot that ensued therefrom; and he is said to have turned his attention to the preparing of a home-made wine from the crowberry, as a substitute for the foreign liquors he had forbidden. The learned editors of theHistoric Memorials of Greenland, in a note on the passage above quoted in Bishop Paul'sSaga, remark, that this was probably the kind of wine which is traditionally said to have been used for the sacrament in Iceland when the true juice of the grape could not be obtained. Huidtfeldt, in his Chronicle, positively states that the Northmen in 1250 and 1290 sought and obtained permission from the Pope to use mead, "mjod" (mulsum), and other similar liquors, in the celebration of the sacrament, in consequence of the great scarcity of wine in those countries. The editors further state that "within our own times, during the disastrous war with England, it was proposed to employ wine made from bilberries for the same purpose in Iceland."

The Synod of Roeskilde, according to Pontoppidan,Annal. Eccles. Dan.ii. 329. and iii. 538., forbids the use of any liquor but pure wine in the sacrament in the following words:—

"Pastores sunt admoniti ad communionem uti, nonmustoaut aliis liquoribus illicitis, sed puro vino, juxta institutionem."

Lastly, in Rymer'sFœdera, vol. x. p. 762., there is a petition from the Bishop of Skalholt to the English government in 1440, stating the depressed state of the commerce of Iceland at that period, and that nowine, beer, or indeed any liquorexcept milk and water, was to be found in the country. Such was its wretched condition, that he expresses his fear, unless supplies were received from England, divine service, the celebration of the communion, and of baptism, would soon cease.

From this last document it would seem thatwinewas no longer made in Iceland from the crowberry, and that the fermented juice of thegrape was deemed absolutely necessary by the bishop of that day for the celebration of the sacrament. We are not aware of any decree or bull of the court of Rome, by which any other liquor than that obtained from the grape was permitted to be used, as such would be entirely contrary to all the canons of the church, and the opinions of all her theologians.

Edward Charlton.

Newcastle-on-Tyne.

The following quotation bears upon your correspondentJ. Eastwood's Query:—

"Gregorious episcopus, &c.[Sigurdo archiepiscopo] Nidrosiensi.Tuæ fraternitati quærenti, an deficienti in quibusdum ecclesiis suffragancorum tuorum eucharistia propter frumenti penuriam simplex oblata undecumque confecta populo, ut sub quadam decipiatur pietatis specie, ac cervisiæ vel potus alius loco vini, cum vix aut nunquam vinum reperiatur in illis partibus, sint tradenda, taliter respondemus, quod neutrum est penitus faciendum, cum in hujus modi sacramento visibilis panis de frumento et vini de uvis debeat esse forma in verbo creatoris per sacerdotis ministerium consecrata, quod veritatem carnis et sanguinis non est dubium continere, quamquam dari possit populo panis simpliciter benedictus, prout in quibusdam partibus fieri consuevit. Datum Viterbii v. Idus Maii, pontificatus nostri anno undecimo." (A.D.1237.)—Diplomatarium Norvegicum, p. 14.: Christiania, 1847.

"Gregorious episcopus, &c.[Sigurdo archiepiscopo] Nidrosiensi.

"Gregorious episcopus, &c.

[Sigurdo archiepiscopo] Nidrosiensi.

Tuæ fraternitati quærenti, an deficienti in quibusdum ecclesiis suffragancorum tuorum eucharistia propter frumenti penuriam simplex oblata undecumque confecta populo, ut sub quadam decipiatur pietatis specie, ac cervisiæ vel potus alius loco vini, cum vix aut nunquam vinum reperiatur in illis partibus, sint tradenda, taliter respondemus, quod neutrum est penitus faciendum, cum in hujus modi sacramento visibilis panis de frumento et vini de uvis debeat esse forma in verbo creatoris per sacerdotis ministerium consecrata, quod veritatem carnis et sanguinis non est dubium continere, quamquam dari possit populo panis simpliciter benedictus, prout in quibusdam partibus fieri consuevit. Datum Viterbii v. Idus Maii, pontificatus nostri anno undecimo." (A.D.1237.)—Diplomatarium Norvegicum, p. 14.: Christiania, 1847.

Emayleis no doubt enamel, used for ice, or frozen wine.Chevelais answered in the Query. I may add a letter from the same Pope to the same Archbishop on baptism in ale:—

"Cum, sicut ex tua relatione didicimus, nonnunquam propter aquæ penuriam infantes terræ tuæ contingat in cervisia baptizari, tibi tenore præsentium respondemus, quod cum secundum doctrinam evangelicam oportet eos ex aqua et spiritu sancto renasci, non debent reputari rite baptizati, qui in cervisia baptizantur. Datum Laterani, viii. Idus Julii anno xv." (A.D.1241.)—Ibid.p. 21.

The curious in this matter may find the practice of baptising in other liquids than water denounced in other countries, in other bulls, and even by councils.

De Camera.

(Vol. v., pp. 92. 110. 181.)

I send you the mottoes adopted by serjeants and judges, taken from the Term Reports, being, with one exception, I believe, a perfect list from 1786 to the year 1832, whenMr. Colman's list, in the 5th Volume of "N. & Q.," begins. That exception is Lord C. B. Richards, whose motto is not given. I have also made some additions toMr. Colman's list.

J. E.

Footnote 1:(return)In 1847 his son, Mr. Justice E. V. Williams, adopted the same motto.Footnote 2:(return)Vol. v. p. 92. The motto of the Onslow family, "Festina lente," is erroneously given as the serjeant's motto on his rings.Footnote 3:(return)Afterwards Lord Manners, Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

In 1847 his son, Mr. Justice E. V. Williams, adopted the same motto.

Vol. v. p. 92. The motto of the Onslow family, "Festina lente," is erroneously given as the serjeant's motto on his rings.

Afterwards Lord Manners, Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

(Vol. v., pp. 145. 323.)

In your Number of "N. & Q." of April 3rd, there are some curious and interesting remarks by theKnight of Kerry, respecting that wonder for length of days, the old Countess of Desmond, in which he gives the copy of an inscription on an ancient painting, stating that in the year 1614, and in the 140th year of her age, she appeared at the court of King James, to seek relief in consequence of the House of Desmond having been ruined by attainder. That this statement in the inscription is erroneous, can, I think, be proved by the following circumstances, which also seem to me to afford some light on the most obscure parts of the question.

I have at this moment before me a work, which has been for many years in the library of my husband (the Rev. E. A. Bray, the Vicar of this place), and highly prized by us both, namely, a most perfect and beautiful copy of Sir Walter Raleigh'sHistory of the World, published in 1614. I here give the date from the engraved title-page, which is of an allegorical description:

"THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.""AT LONDON: PRINTED FOR WALTER BVRRE.""1614."

In this volume, Chapter V. (of "the first Booke of the first Part"), page 66., "Of the long Lives of the Patriarchs, and some oflate memory," after enumerating several celebrated persons who lived to great ages, Raleigh thus speaks of the old Countess:—

"I myself knew the old Countess of Desmond of Inchiquin, in Munster, who lived in the yeare 1589, and many years since, who was married in Edward IV.'s time, and held her joynture from all the Earls of Desmond since then; and that this is true, all noblemen and gentlemen of Munster can witnesse."

From this passage I think it can be shown, that the reader can draw no other inference than that the Countess of Desmond was dead at the time Sir Walter Raleigh wrote it. In his heading to the chapter he speaks of some of "late memory;" and the words "many years since" evidently mean that she lived many yearsafter1589.[4]We do not know at what precise period the above passage was penned; but we learn from Sir Walter's Preface, that he composed this great and admirable work whilst a prisoner in the Tower (from which he was liberated in 1616). In that preface he speaks with deep feeling and regret for the loss of Prince Henry. He saysthe Prince read part of the work; and that he wrote it "for the service of that inestimable" youth. We know that Henry died in November, 1612. The passage, therefore, about the "old Countess," which occurs in a very early part of the book, there can be no doubt, was written before 1612, and the entire work published in 1614. If, therefore (as I think no one can doubt, from the manner in which it is worded), the old lady was dead when Sir Walter wrote about her, it is not possible she could have visited the court of King James in 1614.

As Raleigh says "I myself knew the old Countessof Desmond," and plainly declares that she was married in the time of Edward IV., it is most probable that he received this account from herself at all events, when he so strongly appeals to the witness of "all the noblemen and gentlemen of Munster" for the truth of his statement, it is most unlikely he would have written thus merely on common or casual report. TheKnight of Kerrysays, "There are statements in existence of 1464 being the year of her birth." This is most probably the correct date, which is perfectly consistent with Raleigh's account of her marriage in the reign of Edward IV. It is likely she married very young. There is every probability that Raleigh was well acquainted with the "old Countess" when he was in Ireland, and acted so gallant a part against the rebels in that country. Early in the spring of 1581, upon the Earl of Ormond leaving Ireland, Captain Raleigh (for he was then only such), with Sir William Morgan and another gentleman, received a commission to succeed the Earl for a time in his government inMunster(the old lady's county), and he spent the summer there of that year. It may be further remarked, that the then Earl of Desmond andSir John Desmondare among the rebels, and that therefore the House of Desmond did suffer by attainderin the reign of Elizabeth;[5]and more likely was it that the aged Countess should sue at the Court of Elizabeth for relief, than twenty years after at that of Jas. I.

If she came to England in 1589, Sir Walter Raleigh might have seen her in her pilgrimage to his royal mistress in that year, as inthat year(the next after the defeat of the Spanish Armada, in which glorious service he bore a distinguished part), among other honours conferred upon him, was that of being appointed one of the gentlemen of her Majesty's Privy Chamber. In 1614 Raleigh was a prisoner in the Tower; and very improbable is it that, even had she been living at that date and in England, the old Countess would there have paid him a visit, to thank him for his mention of her in hisHistory of the World. And, finally, had she really been alive when he wrote it, he might have referred to the lady herself, as a proof of what he said about her being true, instead of referring to "all the noblemen and gentlemen in Munster."

As theKnight of Kerryhas expressed a wish to receive the opinions of your readers who take an interest in the subject, I venture to offer the foregoing remarks, in consequence of having the very valuable copy of Raleigh's great work in our possession, and shall be happy if the few observations I have made may be in any respect acceptable to him or to your readers.

Anna Eliza Bray.

The Vicarage, Tavistock, Devon.

Footnote 4:(return)In hisHistory of the World, Raleigh frequently uses the wordsinceas we use the wordafter.Footnote 5:(return)See Stow'sAnnales of England, p. 1217.

In hisHistory of the World, Raleigh frequently uses the wordsinceas we use the wordafter.

See Stow'sAnnales of England, p. 1217.

In a "Life of Old Parr,"Harl. Misc., vol. vii. p. 79., are the following lines about the old Countess, which may perhaps interest some of your readers:

"Sir Walter Raleigh, a most learned knight,Doth of an Irish Countess (Desmond) write,Of sevenscore years of age; he with her spake;The Lord St. Albans doth more mention make,That she was married in fourth Edward's reign;Thrice shed her teeth, which three times came again."

"Sir Walter Raleigh, a most learned knight,

Doth of an Irish Countess (Desmond) write,

Of sevenscore years of age; he with her spake;

The Lord St. Albans doth more mention make,

That she was married in fourth Edward's reign;

Thrice shed her teeth, which three times came again."

At the bottom of the page is a note by Oldys, but it probably contains nothing new to your correspondents who have so diligently investigated this matter. He quotes however some remarks of Archbishop Usher on this subject, which I do not remember to have seen noticed in your pages.

Erica.

TheKnight of Kerry, in his very interesting letter, infers that if the old Countess of Desmond was only eight or nine years old at the death of Edward IV., she therefore could not have been married during the reign of that monarch. Was it not, however, a not uncommon custom, at that period, for royal and noble infants to be given in marriage at quite as early an age as eight or nine, whenever it suited the views, political or otherwise, of their parents or guardians?

C. E. D.

(Vol. v., p. 481.)

Your correspondentMr. Bealbymentions that in his visit to Kidderminster in 1836, he was shown the house in the High Street in which Richard Baxter is said to have resided: a few more particulars on the subject may prove interesting.

It was a three storied, high gabled house, with low ceilinged rooms, lighted by long ranges of casement. The exterior of the house displayed a goodly proportion of wood-work, and appeared to be much in its original condition. No garden or extra-ground was attached to it, another street (Swan Street) running immediately at its back. Three or four years since the house fell before the march of modern improvements, and none of its old features can now be recognised. At the time of these alterations, the house was tenanted by a shoemaker. An ascent of four or five steps led into the shop, the long low window of which, projecting somewhat over the pavement, was tiled above, and supported underneath by wooden pillars. These also served to mark the boundary allotted to the display of the handiwork of the basketmaker who plied his trade in the capacious cellar underneath the shop.

Of courseMr. Bealby, while prosecuting in Kidderminster his inquiries about Baxter, visited Caldwall Castle (close to the town), once theresidence of Sir Ralph Clare, Baxter's sturdy opponent. In an old map of the town, the castle is represented as having eight towers; but only one of these now remains, which is attached to a modern house. The tower is octagonal, built of red sandstone, of massive proportions, and is in good preservation. It contains two rooms lighted N. and S.; a turret staircase; and a groin-roofed cellar, level with the ground, and with an exterior door. From this cellar an underground passage is said to extend to St. Mary's Church, about a quarter of a mile distant. Sir Ralph Clare was buried in St. Mary's, opposite to where Baxter's pulpit then stood. The flat stone that covers his grave has once again been restored to the light by the removal of the cumbrous sleeping-box that concealed it,—thanks to the judicious alterations now being carried on by the present vicar; alterations very different to those "beautifyings" of 1786, in which Baxter's pulpit was sold as worthless lumber. (Vide "N. & Q.,", Vol. v., p. 363.)

The Registers preserved in the vestry of St. Mary's attest the careful neatness of Baxter in his official entries. The headings of the different months are printed, and, in some cases, ornamented after the missal style. Many of the burials are set down as those of "valliant souldiers," who fell in the frequent skirmishes of those troublous times.

The row of elms on the south walk of the churchyard is said to have been planted in Baxter's time,—perhaps by his own hand.

IfMr. Bealbywould like a copy of my etching of Baxter's pulpit (referred to at p. 363.), and would leave his address with the Publisher of "N. & Q.," I should be happy to forward one to him.

Cuthbert Bede, B.A.

(Vol. v., pp. 396. 475.)

As no one has hitherto answered the inquiries of A. B. touching St. Botulph, I beg to forward you the following Notes. The earliest mention of him will be found in theSaxon Chronicle, at the year 654. He is said to have then commenced the building of a minster atYcean-ho. The statement is repeated by Florence of Worcester, who writes the name of St. Botulph's conventIkanho. Its locality is thus pointed out by Leland,Itinerary, i. 31, 32. ed. Hearne:—

"Some hold opinion that est of Lincoln were 2 suburbs, one toward S. Beges, a late [of late] a cell of S. Mari abbay at York; the which place I take beIcanno, wher was an house of monkes in S. Botolphes tyme, and of this speketh Bede[?]. It is scant half a mile from the minster."

The same writer has informed us (viii. 68.) that St. Botulph died in Icanno (15 Kal. Jun.), and that the monastery was soon afterwards destroyed by the Scandinavian vikings. The authority on which this latter statement will be found to rest is a "Life of St. Botulph," written or embellished by John Capgrave, and included in hisNova Legenda Angliæ. I have now before me a fine copy of the work (Lond. 1516); but very few of the events in which St. Botulph is there said to have played a part belong to the sphere of history. We learn that Botulphus and Adulphus were two noble brothers, who in early life were sent into "Old Saxony" to be instructed in monastic learning. Botulph there became acquainted with two sisters of an English king, named Ethelmund ("regis australium Anglorum"), who, at their wish, allotted to the monk a piece of barren ground, on which to build a convent ("locum quendam incultum et ab hominibus desertum Ykanho vocatum.") Like other marshy spots, in which theignis fatuusabounded, it was thought to be infested by malignant spirits. These were soon, however, put to flight ("edito crucis signo"), and a convent, on the model of the house in which St. Botulph had been reared, was planted in the midst of their domain. It perished under Edmund (941-946); but the relics of St. Botulph, which had been enshrined in his own foundation, were preserved, and afterwards translated, in the time of Edgar (959-975), through the efforts of St. Ethelwold. The head was sent to Ely, and the body equally apportioned to the royal cabinet of relics and the abbey church of Thorne. The closing passage is as follows:

"In libro ecclesie Sancti Botulphi juxta Aldersgate Londonhabetur quæ pars corporis Sancti Botulphi per bone memorie regem Edwardum ecclesie B. Petri Westmonasterii est collata. Eodem etiam tempore, ut in quibusdam locis scriptum inveni, per eundem monachum, jubente episcopo Ethelwoldo, translata sunt apud Thornense monasterium ossa Benedicti Biscop, abbatis venerabilis Wermuthensis, nutritoris Bede presbiteri. Construxit autem Sanctus Ethelwoldus non longe a monasterio Thornensi, in loco ubibeata virgo Christi Toua inclusafuerat, lapideam ecclesiolam delicatissimis cameratam cancellulis et duplici area tribus dedicatam altaribus permodicis, undique usque ad eius muros vallatam arboribus diversi generis. Sedem ibi heremiticam, si permisisset Deus, sibi delegit."

Is there any other notice of this female solitary?

C. H.

St. Catharine's Hall, Cambridge.

Back to Index Next