WILLIAM BASSE AND HIS POEMS.

I read with great pleasure MR. COLLIER'S interesting paper on "William Basse and his Poems," inserted in your 13th Number. Very little is known of this once popular poet, but it is very desirable that that little should be collected together, which cannot be better effected than through the friendly system of inter-communication established by your valuable journal.

From my limited researches upon this subject, it appears that there were two poets of the name of William Basse. Anthony Wood (Athen. Oxon., edit. Bliss. iv. 222.) speaks of one William Basse, of Moreton, near Thame, in Oxfordshire, who was some time a retainer of Lord Wenman, of Thame Park,i.e.Richard Viscount Wenman, in the peerage of Ireland. And I find among my MS. biographical collections that a William Basse, of Suffolk, was admitted a sizar of Emanuel College, Cambridge, in 1629. A.B. 1632, and A.M. in 1636. The William Basse who wroteGreat Brittaines Sunnes-setin 1613, was also the author of the MS. collection of poems entitledPolyhymnia, mentioned by MR. COLLIER. In proof of this it is merely necessary to notice the dedication of the former "To his Honourable Master, Sir Richard Wenman, Knight," and the verses and acrostics in the MS. "To the Right Hon. the Lady Aungier Wenman, Mrs. Jane Wenman, and the truly noble, vertuous, and learned Lady, the Lady Agnes Wenman." Basse's Poems were evidently intended for the press, but we may conjecture that the confusion of the times prevented them from appearing. Thomas Warton, in hisLife and Literary Remains of Ralph Bathurst, M.D., has a copy of verses by the Dr. "To Mr. W. Basse, upon the intended publication of his Poems, January 13, 1651;" to which the learned editor adds, "I find no account of this writer or his poems." The whole consists of forty-four verses, from which I extract the beginning and the end:—

Basse, whose rich mine of wit we here beholdAs porcelain earth, more precious, 'cause more old;Who, like an aged oak, so long hath stood,And art religion now as well as food:Though thy grey Muse grew up with elder times,And our deceased grandsires lisp'd thy rhymes;Yet we can sing thee too, and make the laysWhich deck thy brow look fresher with thy praise.Though these, your happy births, have silent pastMore years than some abortive wits shall last;He still writes new, who once so well hath sung:That Muse can ne'er be old, which ne'er was young."

Basse, whose rich mine of wit we here behold

As porcelain earth, more precious, 'cause more old;

Who, like an aged oak, so long hath stood,

And art religion now as well as food:

Though thy grey Muse grew up with elder times,

And our deceased grandsires lisp'd thy rhymes;

Yet we can sing thee too, and make the lays

Which deck thy brow look fresher with thy praise.

Though these, your happy births, have silent past

More years than some abortive wits shall last;

He still writes new, who once so well hath sung:

That Muse can ne'er be old, which ne'er was young."

These verses are valuable as showing that Basse was living in 1651, and that he was then an aged man. The Emanuelian of the same name, who took his M.A. degree in 1636, might possibly be his son. At any rate, the latter was a poet. There are some of his pieces among the MSS. in the Public Library, Cambridge; and I have a small MS. volume of his rhymes, scarcely soaring above mediocrity, which was presented to me by an ancient family residing in Suffolk.

A poem by William Basse is inserted in theAnnalia Dubrensia, 1636, in praise of Robert Dover and his revival of the Cotswold Games; but it is not clear to which of these poets we may ascribe it. Malone attributes two rare volumes to one or other of these poets. The first, a translation or paraphrase of Juvenal's tenth satire, entitledThat which seems Best is Worst, 12mo., 1617; the second, "A Miscellany of Merriment," entitledA Helpe to Discourse, 2nd edit. 8vo., 1620: but the former is more probably the work of William Barkstead. I may mention that a copy of Basse'sSword and Buckler, or Serving Man's Defence, 1602, is among Malone's books in the Bodleian.

Izaac Walton speaks of William Basse, "one that hath made the choice songs of theHunter in His Career, and ofTom of Bedlam, and many others of note." The ballad mentioned by MR. COLLIER, "Maister Basse his Career, or the Hunting of the Hare," is undoubtably the one alluded to by Walton. I may add, that it is printed inWit and Drollery, edit. 1682. p. 64.; and also inOld Ballads, 1725, vol. iii. p. 196. The tune is contained in theShene MS., a curious collection of old tunes in the Advocate's Library, Edinburgh; and a ballad entitledHubert's Ghost, to the tune ofBasse's Carrier, is preserved among the Bagford Collection of Old Ballads in the British Museum. With regard to the second ballad mentioned by Walton, our knowledge is not so perfect. Sir John Hawkins in a note (Complete Angler, 5th edit. p. 73.) says:—

"This song, beginning—'Forth from my dark and dismal cell,'

"This song, beginning—

'Forth from my dark and dismal cell,'

with the music to it, set by Hen. Lawes, is printed in a book, entitledChoice Ayres, Songs and Dialogues, to sing to the Theorbo Lute, and Bass Viol, folio. 1675, and in Playfield'sAntidote against Melancholy, 8vo. 1669, and also in Dr. Percy'sReliques of Ancient English Poetry, vol. ii. p. 350; but in the latter with a mistake in the last line of the third stanza, of the wordPentarchyforPentateuch."

A copy of theChoice Ayres, 1675, is now before me, but Henry Lawes's name does not appear to the song in question. Sir John has evidently made a mistake; the air ofMad Tomwas composed by John Cooper, aliasGiovanni Coperario, for one of the Masques perfomed by the Gentlemen of Gray's Inn. (SeeThe English Dancing Master, 1651, in the British Museum, and Additional MS. 10,440, in the same repository.) With regard to the ballad itself, there is an early copy (of the latter part of the sixteenth century)preserved in the Harleian MSS., No. 7332, fol. 41. It purports to have been

"Written (i.e. transcribed) be Feargod Barebone, who being at many times idle and wanting employment, wrote out certain songs and epigrams, with the idea of mending his hand in writing."

There is another copy among Malone's MSS. in the Bodleian (No. 16. p. 55.), where it is entitledA new Tom of Bedlam. But I contend there is no evidence to show that this is the ballad alluded to by Walton; none of the copies having the name of the author. We have two other songs (probably more) bearing the same title ofTom of Bedlam; one beginning, "From the top of high Caucasus;" the other commencing, "From the hag and hungry goblin;" either of which are quite as likely to have been intended as that mentioned above.

It still remains a question, I think, which of the two Basses was the author of the ballads mentioned by Walton. But I have already trespassed so long upon your valuable space that I will leave the further consideration of the subject until a future period: in the meantime, perhaps some of your correspondents may be enabled to "illuminate our darkness" upon the various knotty points.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

Allow me to say a few words in reply to your correspondent "GASTROS." His quotation from Fairholt (Costume in England), who cites Stubbes'sAnatomy of Abusesas the earliest authority for the use of beaver hats in England, is not a satisfactory reply to my query; inasmuch as I am aware that beaver hats were occasionally worn by great people in this country some centuries before Stubbes was born. For example, Henry III. possessed "unum capellum de Bevre cum apparatu auri et lapidibus preciosis;" as appears from the "Wardrobe Account," of the 55th year of his reign. I have, therefore, still to ask for theearliestinstance of the use of hats or caps of this material in England; such hats, as well as gloves, are mentioned in several English inventories made between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. Is there any example earlier than the time of Henry III.?

"GASTROS" has also obligingly replied to my query as to "the meaning of the termPisan, used in old records for some part of defensive armour," but he seems to have forgotten that I expressly stated that term had no relation to "the fabrics of Pisa;" at least such is my belief. With regard to the inventory of the arms and armour of Louis le Hutin, taken in 1316, printed in Meyrick'sAncient Armour, to which he kindly refers me, it may be observed that the said inventory is so perversely translated in the first edition of that work (just now I have no means of consulting the second), as to be all but useless; indeed it might be termed one of the most extraordinary literary performances of modern times, as the following instance may suffice to show. One of the items of the inventory is, "une cote gamboisée à arbroissiaus d'or broudées à chardonereus;" and it is thus rendered into English, "a gamboised coat with a rough surface (like a thicket;—note) of gold embroidered on the nap of the cloth!" The real signification is "a gamboised coat embroidered in gold, with little bushes (or trees), with gold-finches [on them]." But I am rather wandering from my point: I never could ascertain on what authority Sir Samuel Meyrick asserted that "jazeran armour," as he calls it, was formed of "overlapping plates." The French wordjazeranwas derived from the Italianghiazarino, orghiazzerino, which signified "a gorget of mail," or what some of our antiquaries have termed "a standard of mail;" in France this word always preserved its relation to mail, and in process of time came to be applied to so lowly an object as a flagon-chain: see Cotgrave'sFr. Dict.ed. 1673. Roquefort, indeed, says a "jaserans" was a cuirass, but to my apprehension the passage which he quotes from theRoman d'Alexandre—

"Es haubers,jazerans, et ès elmes gemez"—

seems to prove that, in that instance at least, a gorget is meant. At any rate, the translation of the passage in the inventory to which "GASTROS" refers should be, "three Pisan collerets of steel mail," not that given by Meyrick. Here we have clearly a fabric of Pisa: whereas thepisan, of which I desire to know the meaning, invariable occurs as an independent term, e.g. "item, unum pisanum," or "unum par pisanorum." Of course I have my own conjecture on the subject, but should be glad to hear other opinions; so I again put the question to your correspondents. In conclusion I would observe to "GASTROS" that they must beverylate MSS. indeed in which such a contraction aspisanforpartisancan be found. If you have room, and think it worth while, I will from time to time send you some corrections of the more flagrant errors of Meyrick.

T. HUDSON TURNER.

Norman Pedigrees. In reference to your correspondent "B.'s" inquiries, he will find much information in the Publications de la Société des Antiquaires de Normandie. Under their auspices, M. Estancelin published in 1828 a full history of the Earls of Eu. I am not aware of any full collection of pedigrees of the companions of William the Conqueror: the names of several of the lands from which they took their designations yet remain.

W. DURRANT COOPER.

Norman Pedigrees.—In answer to "B.'s" query (No. 14. p. 214.), an excellent Gazetteer was published in Paris, 1831, entitledDictionnaire Complet Géographique, Statistique, et Commercial de la France et de ses Colonies; par M. Briand-de-Verzé, pp. 856. Many of the names of the Conqueror's Norman companions will be found in that work; as, for instance, Geoffrey de "Mandeville, village. Calvados arrondissement, 31½ O.N.O. de Bayeaux," &c.

Norman deBeauchamp: three Beauchamps are mentioned; that 51. from Avranches will be the one in question.

C.I.R.

Oxford, Feb. 19. 1850.

Norman Pedigrees.—Your correspondent "B." (No. 14. p. 214.) would probably find part of the information he seeks inDomesday Book, seu Censualis Willelmi Primi Regis Angliæ. But query? Is "B." right in supposing the prefix "De" to beFrench? Does it not rather originate in theLatin?

"Domesday" is written in Latin throughout; and the "de," denoting the place, is there occasionally followed by what seems to be the Latin ablative case. I copy an example:—

"Canonici de Hansone ten. l. hida de Sansone," (i.e. loc. in co. Stafford.)

Then of the person it is said—

"Sanson ten. de rege, &c.... iii. hid. træ in Hargedone," &c.

J.S.

Translation of Ælian.—In answer to the query of "G.M." in No. 15. p. 232., I beg to state that in Lowndes'sManual, vol. i. p. 13., is the following notice under the head of "Ælianus Claudius:"—

"Various Histories translated by T. Stanley, London, 1665, 8vo. 5s.This translation is by the son of the learned editor of Æschylus, and was reprinted 1670. 1677."

C.I.R.

Ave Trici and Gheeze Ysenoudi.—I regret that I cannot give "H.L.B." any further information about these ladies than the colophon I transcribed affords. To me, however, it is quite clear that they were sisters of some convent in Flanders or Holland; the name of their spiritual father, Nicolas Wyt, and the names of the ladies, clearly indicate this.

S.W.S.

Daysman(No. 12. p. 188.)— It seems to me that a preferable etymology may be found to that given by Nares and Jacob. The arbiter or judge might formerly have occupied adaisorlit de justice, or he might have been selected from those entitled to sit on the raised parts of the courts of law,i.e.jurisconsulti, or barristers as we call them. I have heard another etymology, which however I do not favour, that the arbiter, chosen from men of the same rank as the disputants, should be paid for loss of his day's work.

GEORGE OLIVER.

Perhaps the following may be of some use in clearing up this point. In theGraphic Illustrator, a literary and antiquarian miscellany edited by E.W. Brayley, London, 1834, at p. 14, towards the end of an article on the Tudor Style of Architecture, signed T.M. is the following:—

"This room (talking of the great halls in old manor-houses) was in every manor-house a necessary appendage for holding 'the court,' the services belonging to which are equally denominated 'the homage,' with those of the king's palace. Thedais, or raised part of theupper endof the hall,was so called, from the administration of justice. Adais-manis still a popular term for an arbitrator in the North, andDomesday-Book(with the name of which I suppose every one to be familiar) is known to be a list of manor-houses."

C.D. LAMONT.

Greenock.

[Our correspondents will probably find some confirmation of their ingenious suggestion in the following passage fromThe Vision of Piers Ploughman:—

"And at the day of domeAt the heighe deys sitte."

"And at the day of dome

At the heighe deys sitte."

Ll. 4898-9. ed. Wright.]

Saveguard.—"BURIENSIS" (No. 13. p. 202.) is informed that asaveguardwas an article of dress worn by women, some fifty or sixty years ago, over the skirts of their gowns when riding on horseback, chiefly when they sat on pillions, on adouble horse, as it was called.

It was a sort of outside petticoat, usually made of serge, linsey-wolsey, or some other strong material: and its use was toguardthe gown from injury by the dirt of the (then very dirty) roads. It was succeeded by the well-known riding-habit; though I have seen it used on a side-siddle by a rider who did not possess the more modern dress.

P.H.F.

Amongst the bequests to the Clothworkers' Company of London is one by Barbara Burnell, by will dated 27th June, 1630, wherein she directs the company to bestow 4l.6s.yearly in woollen cloth to make six waistcoats and sixsafeguardsfor six poor women.17

Also we find that John Skepworth, by will dated 17th Oct. 1678, gave two closes of land to the parish of Louth, to the intent that the churchwardens and overseers of the poor there should apply the rents and profits of the same in providing so much coarse woollen cloth as would make ten suits yearly to be given to ten poor people of Louth, the men to have coats and breeches, and the women to have waistcoats andsafeguards.18

If "BURIENSIS" has a friend belonging to the Clothworkers' Company, it is probable that he will acquire much information on this subject from their old records.

H. EDWARDS.

Derivation of "Calamity"(No. 14. p. 215.)—"Calamity" is from the Latincalamitas, fromcalamusa straw or stalk of corn, signifying, 1st, the agricultural misfortune of the corn being beaten down or laid by a storm; and thence, any other trouble or disaster:—

"Ipsa egreditur nostri fundicalamitas."

Ter.Eun. i. 1.

Upon which the commentator in the Delph. ed. has this note:—

"Calamitasest grando et tempestas, quæ calamos segetum prosternit et conterit. Unde Cicero Verrem vocat 'calamitosam tempestatem.'"

Ainsworth, quoting the above passage from Terence, adds:—

"Ubi Donatus. Propriecalamitatemrustici vocant quod comminuatcalamum; h.e. culmen et segetem."

The etymology of its synonym, "disaster," is more direct—δυσ αστηρ, a star of evil influence, or, as we say, "born under an ill planet."

Φιλολογοσ.

Forcellini,s.v. Calamitas, says:—

"Proprie significat imminutionem clademque calamorum segetis, quæ grandine vel impetuoso aliquo turbine aut alia quapiam de causa fit."

He then quotes Servius,Ad Georg, i. 151:—

"Robigo genus est vitii, quo culmi pereunt, quod a rusticanis calamitas dicitur."

Then follows the note of Donatus on Ter.Eun. i. 1. 34.

It appears to me, if "calamitas" were derived fromcalamus, it would mean something very different from what it does.

Another suggestion is, that the first syllable is the same as the root ofcad-o, to fall;landd, everybody knows, are easily interchangeable: as Odysseus, Ulixes: δακρυον,lacrima,tear, &c. &c. If so,calamitasis a corrupted form ofcadamitas. Mar. Victorinus,De Orthogr. p. 2456., says:—

"Gueius Pompeius Magnus et scribebat et dicebatKadamitatemproKalamitatem."—(Quoted from Bothe'sPoetæ,"Scenici Latinorum, vol. v. p. 21.)

But how is the -amitasto be explained? I may as well add, that Döderlein, with his usual felicity, derives it from κολουω.

EDWARD S. JACKSON.

I beg to refer MR. F.S. MARTIN (No. 14. p. 215.), for the derivation of "Calamity," to theEtymologicon Linguæ Latinæof Gerard Vossius, or to theTotius Latinitatis Lexiconof Facciolatus and Forcellinus. He will there find that the wordcalamitaswas first used with reference to the storms which destroyed the stalks (calami) of corn, and afterwards came to signify metaphorically, any severe misfortune. The terrific hail-storm of the summer of 1843, which destroyed the crops of corn through several of the eastern and midland counties of this kingdom, was acalamityin the original sense of the word.

"W.P.P." has also kindly replied to this query by furnishing a part of the Article onCalamitasin Vossius; and "J.F.M." adds,Calamitasmeans—

"The spindling of the corn, which with us is rare, but in hotter countries common: insomuch as the wordcalamitaswas first derived fromcalamus, when the corn could not get out of the stalk."—Bacon,Nat. Hist. sect. 669.

Derivation of "Zero"(No. 14. p. 215.).—ZeroItal.; Fr.un chiffre,un rien, a cipher in arithmetic, a nought; whence the proverbavere nel zero, mépriser souverainement, to value at nothing, to have a sovereign contempt for. I do not know what the etymology of the word may be; but the application is obvious to that point in the scale of the thermometer below the numbered degrees to which, in ordinary temperatures, the mercury does not sink.

Φιλολογοσ.

Deanery of Gloucester, Feb. 7. 1850.

"Zero" (No. 14. p. 215.)—Zero, as is well known, is an Italian word signifying the arithmetical figure of nought (0). It has been conjectured that it is derived from the transposition from the Hebrew wordezor, a girdle, the zero assuming that form. (See Furetière, vol. iii.) Prof. le Moine, of Leyden (quoted by Ménage), claims for it also an Eastern origin, and thinks we have received it from the Arabians, together with their method of reckoning ciphers. He suggests that it may be a corruption from the Hebrew [Hebrew: rphs],safara, to number.

Complutensian Polyglot.—I cannot pretend to reply to "MR. JEBB'S" inquiry under this head in No. 12. p. 213.; but perhaps it may assist him in his researches, should he not have seen the pamphlet, to refer to Bishop Smallridge's "Enquiry into the Authority of the Primitive Complutensian Edition of the New Testament, as principally founded on the most ancient Vatican MS., together with some research after that MS. In order to decide the dispute about 1 John v. 7. In a letter to Dr. Bentley. 8vo. London, 1722."

J.M.

Oxford, Feb. 5.

Sir William Rider.—In reply to the queries of "H.F.," No. 12. p. 186., respecting Sir William Rider, I beg to say that among the many MS. notes which I have collected relating to the Rider family,&c., I find the following from theVisitation of Surry, 1623, and from a MS. book ofPedigrees of Peersin the Herald's College, with additions.

"Thomas Rider married a daughter of —— Poole of Stafforde, by whom he had Sir William Rider, born at Muchalstone, co. Stafforde, Sheriff of London, 1591, Citizen and Haberdasher, Lord Mayor, 1600. Will dated 1 Nov., and proved 9 Nov. 1610, 8 Jas. I. (94 Wood); buried at Low Layton, Essex, &c. Sir William married Elizabeth, da. of R. Stone, of Helme, co. Norfolk; by whom he had, besides other children and descendants, Mary daughter and coheiress, who married Sir Thomas Lake, of Canons, Middlesex, from whose issue descended Viscount Lake."

S.S.

Pokership(No. 12. p. 185., and No. 14. p. 218.).—It is to be regretted that no information has been supplied respecting the meaning of this remarkable word, either from local sources or from the surveys of crown lands in the Exchequer or Land Revenue offices. In one or the other of these quarters we should surely find something which would dispense with further conjecture. In the meantime the following facts, obtained from records easily accessible, will probably be sufficient to dispose of the explanations hitherto suggested, and to show that thepokerof Bringwood forest was neither aparkernor apurser.

The offices conveyed to Sir R. Harley by James I. had been, before his reign, the subject of crown grants, after the honor of Wigmore had become vested in the crown by the merger of the earldom of March in the crown. Hence, I find that in the act 13 Edward IV. (A.D. 1473), for the resumption of royal grants, there is a saving of a prior grant of the "office of keeper of oure forest or chace of Boryngwode," and of the fees for the "kepyng of the Dikes within oure counte of Hereford, parcelles of oure seid forest." (6Rot. Parl.p. 94.)

In a similar act of resumption, 1 Henry VII., there is a like saving in favour of Thomas Grove, to whom had been granted the keepership of Boryngwood chase in "Wigmoresland," and "thepokershippand keping of the diche of the same." Theparkershipof Wigmore Park is saved in the same act. (6Rot. Parl.p. 353 and 383.)

In the first year of Henry VIII. there is a Receiver's Account of Wigmore, in which I observe the following deductions claimed in respect of the fees and salaries of officers:-

"In feodo Thomæ Grove, forestarii de Bringewod,6l.1s.6d.— ejusdem Thomæ, fossat'de Prestwode dych,18d.— Edm. Sharp, parcarii parci de Wiggemour,6l.1s.6d.— Thomæ Grove, pocar' omnium boscorumin Wiggemourslonde - 30s.4d."

"In feodo Thomæ Grove, forestarii de Bringewod,

6l.1s.6d.

— ejusdem Thomæ, fossat'de Prestwode dych,

18d.

— Edm. Sharp, parcarii parci de Wiggemour,

6l.1s.6d.

— Thomæ Grove, pocar' omnium boscorum

in Wiggemourslonde - 30s.4d."

There is another like account rendered in 23 & 24 Hen. VII. These, and no doubt many other accounts and documents respecting the honor of Wigmore and its appartenances, are among the Exchequer records, and we are entitled to infer from them, firstly, that aparcariusand apocariusare two different offices; secondly, that, whether the duty of the latter was performed on the dikes or in the woods of Boringwood chase, the theory of Mr. Bolton Corney (pace cl. viri dixerim) is very deficient in probability. If the above authorities had not fallen under my notice, I should have confidently adopted the conjecture of the noble Querist, who first drew attention to the word, and, so far from considering the substitution of "poker" for "parker" an improbable blunder of the copyist, I should have pronounced it fortunate for the house of Harley that their founder had not been converted into a porcarius or pig-driver.

E. SMIRKE.

Pokership.—I had flattered myself thatParkershipwas the real interpretation of the above word, but I have once more doubts on the subject. I this morning accidentally stumbled upon the word "Porcellagium," which is interpreted in Ducange'sGlossary, "Tributum ex porcis seu porcellis."

Porcariusalso occurs asPorcorum custos, and mention is made of "Porcorum servitium quo quis porcos domini sui pascentes servare tenetur."

Now, considering how much value was formerly attached to the right of turning out swine in wooded wastes, during the acorn season, it seems probable that Sir R. Harley might be the king's "Porcarius," or receiver of the money paid for an annual license to depasture hogs in the royal forests; and, after all,Porkershipis as like toPokershipasParkership, and one mistake would be as easily made as the other.

BRAYBROOKE.

Audley End, Feb. 16.

[We are enabled to confirm the accuracy of Lord Braybrooke's conjecture as toPokershipbeing the office conferred upon Sir Robert Harley, inasmuch as we are in expectation of receiving an account of the various forms of its name from a gentleman who has not only the ability, but also peculiar facilities for illustrating this and similar obscure terms.]

Havior—Heavier or Hever.-Supposed etymology ofHavior, Heavier, andHever, as applied by park-keepers to an emasculated male deer.—"NOTES AND QUERIES," (No. 15. p. 230.)

Pennant, in hisBritish Zoology, 8vo. edition, 1776, vol. i. p. 38., and 8vo. edition, 1812, vol. i. p. 45., under the article, "Goat" says:—

"The meat of a castrated goat of six or seven years old, (which is calledHyfr,) is reckoned the best; being generally very sweet and fat. This makes an excellent pasty, goes under the name of rock venison, and is little inferior to that of the deer."

As Pennant was a Welchman, a scholar and anaturalist, he will probably be considered good authority; andHyfr, the most likely origin of the altered terms of the deer park-keepers.

The word occurs twice in page 61. vol. ii. of theSportsman's Cabinet, in the article on the Stag or Red Deer, where it is printedHeavier; and it will be found also asHever, in Mr. Jesse'sScenes and Tales of Country Life, at page 349.

WM. YARRELL.

Ryder Street, St. James, Feb. 11. 1850.

Mr. Halliwell gives the wordshaverandhavering, in the same sense ashavior. Are not these words identical withaver, averium, in the sense of cattle, tame beasts?Averium, from the old French,aveir, i.e.avoir, originally meant any personal property; but likecatalla, chattels, it came to signify more particularly the most important part of a peasant's possessions—namely, his live stock. Thus, in the laws of William the Conqueror (Thorpe'sAncient Laws, vol. ii. p. 469.), we find:—

"Si præpositus hundredi equos aut boves aut oves aut porcos vel cujuscumque generis averia vagancia restare fecerit," &c.

The word may naturally enough have been applied to deer reduced to the state of tame and domesticated cattle.

C.W.G.

[TREBOR furnishes us with a reference toPegge's Anonymiana, who endeavours to show that the proper term is "halfer;" on the same principle that an entire horse is spoken of, the word being pronounced "hâver" by those who call half "hâfe," while those who pronounce half with the openasay "hauver:" while J. Westby Gibson suggests that Havior isEvir, from the Latin "Eviro, Eviratus, Eviratio," but admits that he can give no authority for the use ofEvir.]

Sir W. Hamilton(No. 14. p. 216.).—Douglas says, that this Sir W. Hamilton was notson, but grandson and brother of the 1st and 2nd earls of Abercorn, his father having diedvitâ patris. I therefore doubt that the inscription has been miscopied. "He was," Douglas says, "resident at Rome, on the part of the Queen Dowager;" but this could hardly be the service alluded to.

Dr. Johnson's Library(no. 14. p. 214.).—I have a copy of Dr. Johnson's Sale Catalogue. The title is as follows:

"A catalogue of the valuable Library of Books of the late learned Samuel Johnson, Esq., LL.D., deceased, which will be sold by auction (by Order of the Executors) by Mr. Christie, at his Great Room in Pall Mall, on Wednesday, February 16. 1785. and three following Days. To be viewed on Monday and Tuesday preceding the Sale, which will begin each Day at 12 o'Clock. Catalogues may be had as above."

It is a Catalogue of 28 pages and 662 lots, of which 650 are books. The twelve last are prints, chiefly "framed and glazed." The Catalogue is very rare; there is not a copy in the British Museum, and Messrs. Christie and Manson are without one. I may add, as your correspondent is curious about Johnson's Library, that I have the presentation copy to the Doctor of Twiss'sTravels in Spain, with "the gift of the Author" in Johnson's handwriting, immediately beneath Twiss's MS. presentation. The Twiss was in Lot 284.

PETER CUNNINGHAM.

Etymology of "News."—The word "news" is not derived, as many suppose, from the adjective new, but from a practice that obtained in newspapers of an early date, of prefixing to the title the letters expressive of the cardinal points, thus:—

meaning that their intelligence was derived from all quarters of the globe. This must, at any rate, be allowed as ingenious etymology.

J.U.G. GUTCH.

Why "golden," when that age alone, we're told,Was blest with happy ignorance of gold—More justly we our venal times might call"The Golden Age," for gold is all in all.

Why "golden," when that age alone, we're told,

Was blest with happy ignorance of gold—

More justly we our venal times might call

"The Golden Age," for gold is all in all.

RUFUS.

Messrs. Sotheby and Co. will sell on Monday next two collections of Autographs; the first consisting of Autograph Letters, the property of a gentleman; which will be immediately followed by that belonging to the late Mr. Rodd, and the extensive Correspondence of the late William Upcott, Esq., comprising several thousand Autograph Letters. Mr. Rodd's collection comprises many letters of great historical and literary interest.

Messrs. Puttick and Simpson will sell by auction on Friday, March the 8th, and seven following days, the extensive and very important Stock of Books of Mr. James Carpenter, of Bond Street, who is retiring from business. The characteristics of this fine collection are the numerous books of prints and illustrated works which it contains, such as the matchless Series of Piranesi's Works, being the dedication copy to the king of Sweden: a copy of Boswell'sLife of Johnson, in 8 vols.folio, illustrated with nearly six hundred Portraits and Views.

We heard some time since that the long-established and highly-respectable house of Payne and Foss, of Pall Mall, had succeeded the late Mr. Rodd in the agency of purchasing for the British Museum. The rumour proved to be unfounded, and now receives a formal contradiction by the announcement that Messrs. Payne and Foss are retiring from business, and that the first portion of their extensive and valuable Stock of Books will be sold by auction by Messrs. Sotheby and Co.; the first division in a ten days' sale, commencing on the 18th and terminating on the 28th March; which will be followed by the second division, which will also occupy ten days, and commence on Monday the 8th April. The lovers of choice copies of fine editions of first-class books will have, on this occasion, such an opportunity of enriching their collections as rarely presents itself.

We have received the following Catalogues:—

"Number Two, for 1850, of John Miller's Catalogue of Books, old and new, on sale at 43. Chandos Street, Trafalgar Square.""Catalogue of curious and rare Books, recently purchased, now on sale by George Bumstead, 205. High Holborn.""Catalogue (No. 5.) of Books, Theological and Miscellaneous, and Catalogue (No. 6.) of Books, consisting chiefly of Foreign Literature and Theology, on sale by Andrew Clark, No. 4. City Road.""Cheap List of useful and curious Books relating to Ecclesiastical History, Councils, Ceremonies, the Puritans, &c., on sale by S. and I. Palmer, 24. Red Lion Street, Holborn.""A List of Books, chiefly curious ones, now selling by Thomas Kerslake, Bookseller, at No. 3. Park Street, Bristol."

"Number Two, for 1850, of John Miller's Catalogue of Books, old and new, on sale at 43. Chandos Street, Trafalgar Square."

"Catalogue of curious and rare Books, recently purchased, now on sale by George Bumstead, 205. High Holborn."

"Catalogue (No. 5.) of Books, Theological and Miscellaneous, and Catalogue (No. 6.) of Books, consisting chiefly of Foreign Literature and Theology, on sale by Andrew Clark, No. 4. City Road."

"Cheap List of useful and curious Books relating to Ecclesiastical History, Councils, Ceremonies, the Puritans, &c., on sale by S. and I. Palmer, 24. Red Lion Street, Holborn."

"A List of Books, chiefly curious ones, now selling by Thomas Kerslake, Bookseller, at No. 3. Park Street, Bristol."

HIERONYMUS MAGIUS DE TINTINABILIS. 12mo. 1608 and 1664.

A. STOCKFLEET DE CAMPANARUM USU.

REIMANU'S DISSERTATIO DE CAMPANIS.

NICOL. EGGER'S DISSERTATIO DE ORIGINE ET NOMINE CAMPANARUM. EJUSDEM DISSERTATIO DE CAMPANARUM MATERIA ET FORMA.

PACICHELLI DE TINTINABULO NOTANO LUCUBRATIO.

WALLERI DISSERTATIO DE CAMPANIS ET PRÆCIPUIS EARUM USIBUS.

HILCHER DE CAMPANIS TEMPLORUM.

ARNOLDUS DE CAMPANARUM USU. 12mo. 1665.

ROCCHA DE CAMPANIS COMMENTARIUS. 1612.

THIERS, TRAITE DES CLOCHES.

MITZLER DE CAMPANIS. ESCHENWECKER DE EO QUOD IUSTUM EST CIRCA CAMPANIS.

PINGRE'S ACCOUNT OF HIS VOYAGE TO RODRIGUEZ, published (?) at Paris about 1762.

DUDLEY RYDER'S REPORT ON THE PETITION OF BERKELEY SEYMOUR, ESQ., CLAIMING THE BARONY OF SEYMOUR AND DUKEDOM OF SOMERSET. Published 1750, pp. 15. folio.

PRIVATE ACT, 12 WM 3., FOR THE SALE OF THE ESTATES OF ARTHUR LACY, ESQ., CO. SOMERSET.

BELL ON THE HAND. Bridgewater Treatises.

Odd Volumes.

MADRAS JOURNAL OF LITERATURE AND SCIENCE. Vols I. to IX. CATALOGUE OF HARLEIAN MSS., Vol. IV. WOODS'S ATHENÆ OXONIENSES (ed. Bliss.), Vol. III.

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

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Among the many papers which we are unavoidably obliged to postpone are an original and ineditedLetter by Horace Walpole, Mr. Singer's Reply to C.W.G. onÆlfric's Colloquies, an interesting communication from Mr. Coles respectingArabella Stuart, a paper by Mr. Rye on theQueen of Robert Bruce, and T.S.D.'s able article onArabic Numerals.

The Erectheum Club (like "The Parthenon") takes its name from the Erectheum at Athens.

H.M.A. declined with thanks.

X.P. is informed that themonotomeedition of Boswell's Johnson edited by Croker, is not an abridgment of the larger work, but a new and thoroughly revised edition of it; and with a really good index.

To correspondents inquiring as to the mode of procuring "NOTES AND QUERIES," we have once more to explain, that every bookseller and newsman will supply it regularly, if ordered; and that gentlemen residing in the country, who may find a difficulty in getting it through any bookseller in their neighbourhood, 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 half year, 8s.8d.; or one year, 17s.4d.

Errata. P. 242. col. 2. l. 11., for "coheir" read "cognate;" and line 16, for "Argidius" "Ægidius;" and p. 243, col 1. l. 35. read "anecdote of Dionysius related by Cicero and by Plutarch, in hisLaconic Apophthegms, which Stobæus evidently followed."

Just published, in post 8vo., 10s.6d., the Third Volume of

THE ROMANCE OF THE PEERAGE; or, CURIOSITIES OF FAMILY HISTORY.

By GEORGE LILLIE CRAIK.

With a Portrait of Sir Robert Dudley.

Contents:—The Hereditary Principle; Aristocracy and Democracy—Charles Brandon's Widow and her Second Marriage—The Lady Mary Grey—Sir Robert Dudley—Bess of Hardwick and the Talbots—The Cavendishes and the Stanhopes—Lord Pembroke and Sir Richard Wharton—The Wharton and Stuart Duel—The Bruce and Sackville Duel—The Lord Crichton of Sanquahar—The Earldom of Monteith, &c. &c. &c.

London: CHAPMAN AND HALL, 186. Strand.

On the 1st of March will be published, price One Shilling,

MODEL PRISONS; being No. 2. of LATTER-DAY PAMPHLETS.

Edited by THOMAS CARLYLE.

London: CHAPMAN AND HALL, 186. Strand.

Early Antiquities of England Illustrated.

THE PRIMÆVAL ANTIQUITIES OF DENMARK. By J.J.A. WORSAAE, M.R.S.A., of Copenhagen. Translated and applied to the Illustration of similar Remains in England, by WILLIAM J. THOMS, ESQ., F.S.A., Secretary of the Camden Society. Illustrated with numerous Woodcuts. 8vo. 10s.6d.

"This is the best antiquarian handbook we have ever met with—so clear is its arrangement, and so well and so plainly is each subject illustrated by well-executed engravings, that confusion for the future is impossible upon a variety of points on which the most grievous mistakes have hitherto been made by anxious and zealous antiquarians. * * * It is the joint production of two men who have already distinguished themselves as authors and antiquarians. It is a book of which it may be said, that in every sentence is to be found an interesting fact, and that every page teems with instruction, and may be regarded as a sure guide to all antiquarians in their future archæological inquiries."—Morning Herald.

See alsoGentleman's Magazinefor February, 1850.

JOHN HENRY PARKES, Oxford, and 377. Strand, London.

Vols. I. and II. 8vo., price 28s.cloth.

THE JUDGES OF ENGLAND; from the TIME of the CONQUEST. By EDWARD FOSS, F.S.A.

"A work in which a subject of great historical importance is treated with the care, diligence, and learning it deserves; in which Mr. Foss has brought to light many points previously unknown, corrected many errors, and shown such ample knowledge of his subject as to conduct it successfully through all the intricacies of a difficult investigation, and such taste and judgment as will enable him to quit, when occasion requires, the dry details of a professional inquiry, and to impart to his work, as he proceeds, the grace and dignity of a philosophical history."—Gent. Mag.

London: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, and LONGMANS.

Just published, price 4s.6d.cloth.

PINACOTHECÆ HISTORICÆ SPECIMEN; sive Illustrium Quorundam Ingenia, Mores, Fortunæ, ad Inscriptionum formam Expressæ. Auctore F. KILVERT, A.M. Pars Secunda.

"The production of an English clergyman, and bears unequivocal marks of refined taste, elegant scholarship, and a liberal, generous, and candid mind. The idea—to us a novel one—carried out in this work is, to bring up for judgment (as the Egyptians used to do with their departed kings) the characters that figure most in the page of history, and to pass sentence upon them. Summoning them, as it were, into his presence with the lamp of history to guide him,exquiritque auditque dolos; and whether it be praise or blame, or a mixture of both, that he awards, the judgment is pronounced in a temperate spirit, and with judicial impartiality; and it is expressed in pure and elegant Latin, and often with epigrammatic felicity."—Scotsman.

London: GEORGE BELL, 186. Fleet Street; of whom Part I., price 3s., may be had.

Just published, price 3s.6d.12mo. cloth, 7s.calf or morocco.

THE ENGLISH GENTLEMAN: his Principles, his Feelings, his Manners, his Pursuits.

"We like him so well as to wish heartily we might meet many such."—Theologian.

"The object of the first of the four essays is to form the principles of a gentleman on a Christian standard. In the other three subjects, of feelings, manners, and pursuits, the views, though strict, are of a more worldly kind."—Spectator.

GEORGE BELL, 186. Fleet Street.

Just published, 12mo. cloth, 4s.; morocco (Hayday), 10s.,

A SELECTION FROM PERCY'S RELIQUES OF ANCIENT ENGLISH POETRY, and from EVANS'S OLD BALLADS, with short Introductions and Notes. By the Rev. HENRY TRIPP, M.A., Sub Warden of St. Columba's College.

"The selection is made with good taste and judgment."—Christian Remembrancer.

12mo., cloth, 2s.6d.,

SELECTIONS FROM HERRICK, for Translation into Latin Verse, with a short Preface. By the Rev. A.J. MACLEANE, M.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, Principal of Brighton College.

"We cordially recommend it as a book well adapted to promote a superior style of versification to that which has hitherto prevailed even in the highest classes of our German Schools."—Educational Times.

GEORGE BELL, 186. Fleet Street.

12mo. boards. 3s.6d.

LYRA MEMORIALIS: Original Epitaphs and Churchyard Thoughts. In Verse. By JOSEPH SNOW. With an Essay, by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Reprinted by his permission. A new Edition, remodelled and enlarged.

"The object of Mr. Snow in the volume before us is to suggest a purer taste and a more impressive style in our churchyard memorials, and by every word and thought to point through the shadow of the tomb to the brightness and light beyond it. His work is, in truth, a treasury of feeling, and we find in its simplicity its highest merit. To the clergy this volume may be of signal use."—Theologian.

"This is truly a book of the affections; there is scarcely a page which will not touch tenderly a chord in the heart of every reader."—Church of England Quarterly.

GEORGE BELL, 186. Fleet Street.

On a large sheet, price 7s.6d.plain; 15s.richly coloured; in case, 10s.6d.plain; 18s.coloured.

A CHART of ANCIENT ARMOUR, from the ELEVENTH to the SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES; containing Eighteen Figures, with a Description and a Sketch of the Progress of European Armour. By JOHN HEWITT.

"A graphic outline of the subject of military costume during the period of its greatest interest to the English antiquary. The author has made a judicious selection of examples, chiefly from the rich series of monumental effigies; and, in the brief text which accompanies these illustrations, a useful resumé will be found of a subject which, not many years since, was attainable only through the medium of costly publications."—Archæological Journal.

GEORGE BELL, 186. Fleet Street.

Royal 32mo., cloth, 2s.; morocco (Hayday), 7s.

SELDEN'S TABLE TALK.

Royal 32mo., price 2s.6d.cloth, 7s.6d.morocco (Hayday).

THE TEMPLE, SACRED POEMS, and PRIVATE EJACULATIONS. By GEORGE HERBERT.

Also, by the same Author, Price 2s.cloth, 7s.morocco (Hayday).

A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE; or, THE COUNTRY PARSON: his Character, and Rule of Holy Life, &c.

London: GEORGE BELL, Fleet Street. Leicester: J.S. CROSSLEY.

Footnote 1:(return)"La précieuse géographie d'Alfred, roi d'Angleterre."—Le Comte J. Gräberg.La Scandinavie Vengée, p. 36.

"La précieuse géographie d'Alfred, roi d'Angleterre."—Le Comte J. Gräberg.La Scandinavie Vengée, p. 36.

Footnote 2:(return)Cotton MSS.,Tiberius, b. i. fol. 12b.

Cotton MSS.,Tiberius, b. i. fol. 12b.

Footnote 3:(return)Transl. ofOrosius, p. 8.

Transl. ofOrosius, p. 8.

Footnote 4:(return)Inaugural Lecture, p. 72.

Inaugural Lecture, p. 72.

Footnote 5:(return)Vita Karoli Magni, ann. 789.

Vita Karoli Magni, ann. 789.

Footnote 6:(return)"Sunt et alii Slavorum populi qui inter Albiam et Oderam degunt, sicut Heveldi, qui juxta Haliolam fluvium, et Doxani, Liubuzzi, Wilini, et Stoderani, cum multis aliis."—Hist. Eccl.p. 47, 48.

"Sunt et alii Slavorum populi qui inter Albiam et Oderam degunt, sicut Heveldi, qui juxta Haliolam fluvium, et Doxani, Liubuzzi, Wilini, et Stoderani, cum multis aliis."—Hist. Eccl.p. 47, 48.

Footnote 7:(return)Annales Sangall. Brev., ann. 789.—Ann. Lauresham, &c.

Annales Sangall. Brev., ann. 789.—Ann. Lauresham, &c.

Footnote 8:(return)Vit. Kar. Mag.andAnnal. Francor., ann. 822.

Vit. Kar. Mag.andAnnal. Francor., ann. 822.

Footnote 9:(return)Annal. Petav., ann 789.

Annal. Petav., ann 789.

Footnote 10:(return)Chron. Slavorum, l. i, c. 2.

Chron. Slavorum, l. i, c. 2.

Footnote 11:(return)Brodekine. A richly-gilt stuff.

Brodekine. A richly-gilt stuff.

Footnote 12:(return)It appears from an entry in the preceding year, that this man was first sent to "Sentt Thomas Spittell in Soughwork," when it was discovered that he was afflicted with the leprosy, or some cutaneous disease, and immediately removed to the Lazar-house at Mile End, it being strictly forbidden that such cases should remain in the hospitals. These lazar-houses were built away from the town; one was the Lock Hospital, in Southwark; one at Kingsland, another at Knightsbridge, and that mentioned above between Mile End and Stratford. The laws were very strict in the expulsion of leprous people from the city; and if they attempted to force their way into the hospitals, they were bound fast to horses, and dragged away to the lazar-houses.

It appears from an entry in the preceding year, that this man was first sent to "Sentt Thomas Spittell in Soughwork," when it was discovered that he was afflicted with the leprosy, or some cutaneous disease, and immediately removed to the Lazar-house at Mile End, it being strictly forbidden that such cases should remain in the hospitals. These lazar-houses were built away from the town; one was the Lock Hospital, in Southwark; one at Kingsland, another at Knightsbridge, and that mentioned above between Mile End and Stratford. The laws were very strict in the expulsion of leprous people from the city; and if they attempted to force their way into the hospitals, they were bound fast to horses, and dragged away to the lazar-houses.

Footnote 13:(return)Thebaldrickewas the garter and buckle by means of which the clapper was suspended inside the bell.

Thebaldrickewas the garter and buckle by means of which the clapper was suspended inside the bell.

Footnote 14:(return)Harnes, or armour, which perhaps hung over some of the monuments in the church.

Harnes, or armour, which perhaps hung over some of the monuments in the church.

Footnote 15:(return)It was about this time that clocks began to be generally used in churches (although of a much earlier invention); and in subsequent years we have several items of expenditure connected with that above mentioned. In 1595:—"Paid for a small bell for thewatcheiiijs"Paid to the smith for Iron worke to it xxd"Paid for a waight for the Clocke wayinge36lband for a ringe of Iron vs."Still, however, the hour-glass was used at the pulpit-desk, to determine the length the parson should go in his discourse; and xijdfor a new hour-glass frequently occurs.

It was about this time that clocks began to be generally used in churches (although of a much earlier invention); and in subsequent years we have several items of expenditure connected with that above mentioned. In 1595:—

"Paid for a small bell for thewatcheiiijs"Paid to the smith for Iron worke to it xxd"Paid for a waight for the Clocke wayinge36lband for a ringe of Iron vs."

"Paid for a small bell for thewatcheiiijs

"Paid to the smith for Iron worke to it xxd

"Paid for a waight for the Clocke wayinge36lband for a ringe of Iron vs."

"Paid for a waight for the Clocke wayinge

36lband for a ringe of Iron vs."

Still, however, the hour-glass was used at the pulpit-desk, to determine the length the parson should go in his discourse; and xijdfor a new hour-glass frequently occurs.

Footnote 16:(return)Those who have access to Colgan'sActa Sanctorum Hiberniæwill see that he always spells Armagh,Ardmacha; and Durrow,Durmugia.

Those who have access to Colgan'sActa Sanctorum Hiberniæwill see that he always spells Armagh,Ardmacha; and Durrow,Durmugia.

Footnote 17:(return)Reports from the Commissioners of Charities b. 235. 32nd part 4.—696.

Reports from the Commissioners of Charities b. 235. 32nd part 4.—696.

Footnote 18:(return)Ibid.

Ibid.

Printed by THOMAS CLARK SHAW, of No. 8. New Street Square, at No. 5. New Street Square, in the Parish of St. Bride in the City of London; and published by GEORGE BELL, of No. 186. Fleet Street, in the Parish of St. Dunstan in the West, in the City of London, Publisher, at No. 186. Fleet Street aforesaid.—Saturday, February 23. 1850.

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