Minor Notes.

"The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch,But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek,Dashes the fire out."

"The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch,

But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek,

Dashes the fire out."

"The manuscript corrector of the folio 1632,"Mr. Collierinforms us, "has substitutedheatfor 'cheek,' which is not an unlikely corruption, a person writing only by the ear."

I should say very unlikely: but ifheathad been actually printed in the folios, without speculating as to the probability that the press-copy was written from dictation, I should have had no hesitation in altering it tocheek. To this I should have been directed by a parallel passage inRichard II., Act III. Sc. 3., which has been overlooked byMr. Collier:

"Methinks, King Richard and myself should meetWith no less terrorthan the elementsOf fire and water, when their thundering shockAt meeting tears the cloudy cheeks of heaven."

"Methinks, King Richard and myself should meet

With no less terrorthan the elements

Of fire and water, when their thundering shock

At meeting tears the cloudy cheeks of heaven."

Commentary here is almost useless. Every one who has any capacity for Shakspearian criticism must feel assured that Shakspeare wrotecheek, and notheat.

The passage I have cited fromRichard II.strongly reminds me of an old lady whom I met last autumn on a tour through the Lakes of Cumberland, &c.; and who, during a severe thunderstorm, expressed to me her surprise at the pertinacity of the lightning, adding, "I should think, Sir, that so much water in the heavens would have put all the fire out."

C. Mansfield Ingleby.

Birmingham.

The Case referred to by Shakspeare in Hamlet(Vol. vii., p. 550.).—

"If the water come to the man."—Shakspeare.

The argument Shakspeare referred to was that contained in Plowden's Report of the case of Halesv.Petit, heard in the Court of Common Pleas in the fifth year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It was held that though the wife of Sir James Hale, whose husband wasfelo-de-se, became by survivorship the holder of a joint term for years, yet, on office found, it should be forfeited on account of the act of the deceased husband. The learned serjeants who were counsel for the defendant, alleged that the forfeiture should have relation to the act done in the party's lifetime, which was the cause of his death. "And upon this," they said, "the parts of the act are to be considered." And Serjeant Walsh said:

"The act consists of three parts. The first is the imagination, which is a reflection or meditation of the mind, whether or no it is convenient for him to destroy himself, and what way it can be done. The second is the resolution, which is the determination of the mind to destroy himself, and to do it in this or that particular way. The third is the perfection, which is the execution of what the mind has resolved to do. And this perfection consists of two parts, viz. the beginning and the end. The beginning is the doing of the act which causes the death; and the end is the death, which is only the sequel to the act. And of all the parts, the doing of the act is the greatest in the judgment of our law, and it is, in effect, the whole and the only part the law looks upon to be material. For the imagination of the mind to do wrong, without an act done, is not punishable in our law; neither is the resolution to do that wrong which he does not, punishable; but the doing of the act is the only point the law regards, for until the act is done it cannot be an offence to the world, and when the act is done it is punishable. Then, here, the act done by Sir James Hale, which is evil and the cause of his death, is the throwing of himself into the water, and death is but a sequel thereof, and this evil act ought some way to be punished. And if the forfeiture shall not have relation to the doing of the act, then the act shall not be punished at all, for inasmuch as the person who did the act is dead, his person cannot be punished, and therefore there is no way else to punish him but by the forfeiture of those things which were his own at the time of the act done; and the act was done in his lifetime, and therefore the forfeiture shall have relation to his lifetime, namely, to that time of his life in which he did the act which took away his life."

And the judges, viz. Weston, Anthony Brown, and Lord Dyer, said:

"That the forfeiture shall have relation to the time of the original offence committed, which was the cause of the death, and that was, the throwing himself into the water, which was done in his lifetime, and this act was felony."——"So that the felony is attributed to the act, which act is always done by a living man and in his lifetime," as Brown said; for he said, "Sir James Hale was dead, and how came he to his death? It may be answered, By drowning. And who drowned him? Sir James Hale. And when did he drown him? In his lifetime. So that Sir James Hale being alive, caused Sir James Hale to die; and the act of the living man was the death of the dead man. And then for this offence it is reasonable to punish the living man who committed the offence, and not the dead man. But how can he be said to be punished alive when the punishment comes after his death? Sir, this can be done no other way but by devesting out of him, from the time of the act done in his life, which was the cause of his death, the title and property of those things which he had in his lifetime."

The above extract is long, but the work from which it is taken can be accessible to but very fewof your readers. Let them not, however, while they smile at the arguments, infer that those who took part in them were not deservedly among the most learned and eminent of our ancient judges.

Thomas Falconer.

Temple.

Shakspeare Suggestion.—

"These sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours;Most busy—less when I do it."Tempest, Act III. Sc. 1.

"These sweet thoughts do even refresh my labours;

Most busy—less when I do it."

Tempest, Act III. Sc. 1.

I fear your readers will turn away from the very sight of the above. Be patient, kind friends, I will be brief. Has any one suggested—

"Most busy, least when I do"?

The words in the folio are

"Most busylest, when I do it."

The "it" seems mere surplusage. The sense requires that the thoughts should be "most busy" whilst the hands "do least;" and in Shakspeare's time, "lest" was a common spelling forleast.

Icon.

Shakspeare Controversy.—I think the Shakspeare Notes contained in your volumes are not complete without the following quotation fromThe Summer Nightof Ludwig Tieck, as translated by Mary Maynard in theAthen.of June 25, 1853. Puck, in addressing the sleeping boy Shakspeare, says:

"After thy death, I'll raise dissension sharp,Loud strife among the herd of little minds:Envy shall seek to dim thy wondrous page,But all the clearer will thy glory shine."

"After thy death, I'll raise dissension sharp,

Loud strife among the herd of little minds:

Envy shall seek to dim thy wondrous page,

But all the clearer will thy glory shine."

Ceridwen.

Falsified Gravestone in Stratford Churchyard.—The following instance of a recent forgery having been extensively circulated, may lead to more careful examination by those who take notes of things extraordinary.

The church at Stratford-upon-Avon was repaired about the year 1839; and some of the workmen having their attention directed to the fact, that many persons who had attained to the full age of man were buried in the churchyard; and, wishing "for the honour of the place," to improve the note-books of visitors, set about manufacturing an extraordinary instance of longevity. A gravestone was chosen in an out-of-the-way place, in which there happened to be a space before the age (72). A figure 1 was cut in this space, and the age at death then stood 172. The sexton was either deceived, or assented to the deception; as the late vicar, the Rev. J. Clayton, learned that it had become a practice with him (the sexton) to show strangers this gravestone, so falsified, as a proof of the extraordinary age to which people lived in the parish. The vicar had the fraudulent figure erased at once, and lectured the sexton for his dishonesty.

These facts were related to me a few weeks since by a son of the late vicar. And as many strangers visiting the tomb of Shakspeare "made a note" of this falsified age, "N. & Q." may now correct the forgery.

Robert Rawlinson.

Barnacles in the River Thames.—In Porta'sNatural Magic, Eng. trans., Lond. 1658, occurs the following curious passage:

"Late writers report that not only in Scotland, but also in the river of Thames by London, there is a kind of shell-fish in a two-leaved shell, that hath a foot full of plaits and wrinkles: these fish are little, round, and outwardly white, smooth and beetle-shelled like an almond shell; inwardly they are great bellied, bred as it were of moss and mud; they commonly stick in the keel of some old ship. Some say they come of worms, some of the boughs of trees which fall into the sea; if any of them be cast upon shore they die, but they which are swallowed still into the sea, live and get out of their shells, and grow to be ducks or such like birds(!)."

It would be curious to know what could give rise to such an absurd belief.

Speriend.

Note for London Topographers.—

Extracted from Rawlinson MS. A. 170, fol. 132.

J. Yeowell.

The Aliases and Initials of Authors.—It has often occurred to me that it would save much useless inquiry and research, if a tolerable list could be collected of the principal authors who have published their works under assumed names or initials: thus, "R. B. Robert Burton,"Nathaniel Crouch, "R. F. Scoto-Britannicus,"Robert Fairley, &c. The commencement of a new volume of"N. & Q." affords an excellent opportunity for attempting this. If the correspondents of "N. & Q." would contribute their mites occasionally with this view, by the conclusion of the volume, I have little doubt but a very valuable list might be obtained. For the sake of reference, the whole contributions obtained could then be amalgamated, and alphabetically arranged.

Perthensis.

Pure.—In visiting an old blind woman the other day, I was struck with what to me was a peculiar use of the wordpure. Having inquired after the dame's health, and been assured that she was much better, I begged her not to rise from the bed on which she was sitting, whereupon she said, "Thank you, Sir, I feel quitepurethis morning."

Oxoniensis.

Oakridge, Gloucestershire.

Darling's "Cyclopædia Bibliographica."—The utility of Mr. Darling'sCyclopædia Bibliographicais exemplified by the solution conveyed under the title "Crellius," p. 813, of the following difficulty expressed by Dr. Hey, the Norrisian professor (Lectures, vol. iii. p. 40.):

"Paul Crellius and John Maclaurin seem to have been of the same way of thinking with John Agricola. Nicholls, on this Article [Eighth of the Thirty-nine Articles], refers to Paul Crellius's bookDe Libertate Christiana, but I do not find it anywhere. A speech of his is in theBodleian Dialogue, but not this work."

Similar information might have been received by your correspondent (Vol. vii., p. 381.), who inquired whether Huet'sNavigations of Solomonwas ever published. In the Cyclopædia reference is made to two collections in which this treatise has been inserted,Crit. Sac., viii.;Ugolinus, vii. 277. With his usual accuracy, Mr. Darling states there are additions in theCritici Sacriprinted at Amsterdam, 1698-1732, as Huet's treatise above referred to is not in the first edition, London, 1660.

Bibliothecar. Chetham.

I am extremely desirous of obtaining some information respecting the Dutch manufactories of enamelled pottery, or Delft ware, as we call it.

On a former occasion, by your connexion with theNavorscher, you were able to obtain for me some very valuable and interesting information in reply to some question put respecting the Dutch porcelain manufactories. I am therefore in hopes that some kind correspondent in Holland will be so obliging as to impart to me similar information on this subject also. I should wish to know—

When, by whom, at what places, and under what circumstances, the manufacture of enamelled pottery was first introduced into Holland?

Whether there were manufactories at other towns besides Delft?

Whether they had any distinctive marks; and, if so, what were they?

Whether there was more than one manufactory at Delft; and, if so, what were their marks, and what was the meaning of them?

Whether any particular manufactories were confined to the making of any particular sort or quality of articles; and, if so, what were they?

Whether any of the manufactories have ceased; and, if so, at what period?

Also, any other particulars respecting the manufactories and their products that it may be possible to communicate through the medium of a paper like "N. & Q."

Octavius Morgan.

The Withered Hand and Motto "Utinam."—At Compton Park, near Salisbury, the seat of the Penruddocke family, there is a three-quarter length picture, in the Velasquez style, of a gentleman in a rich dress of black velvet, with broad lace frill and cuffs, and ear-rings, probably of the latter part of Queen Elizabeth's reign. His right hand, which he displays somewhat prominently, iswithered. The left one is a-kimbo, and less seen. In the upper part of the painting is the single Latin word "UTINAM" (O that!). There is no tradition as to who this person was. Any suggestion on the subject would gratify

History of York.—Who is the author of aHistory of York, in 2 vols., published at that city in 1788 by T. Wilson and R. Spence, High Ousegate? I have seen it in several shops, and heard it attributed to Drake; and obtained it the other day from an extensive library in Bristol, in the Catalogue of which it is styled Drake'sEboracum. Several allusions in the first volume to his work, however, render it impossible to be ascribed to him. It is dedicated to the Right Honourable Sir William Mordaunt Milner, of Nunappleton, Bart., who was mayor at the time.

R. W. Elliot.

Clifton.

"Hauling over the coals."—What is the origin and meaning of the phrase, "Hauling one over the coals;" and where does it first appear?

Faber.

Dr. Butler and St. Edmund's Bury.—Can any of your readers give me any information respecting the Mr. or Dr. Butler, of St. Edmund's Bury, referred to in the extracts from thePost Boyand Gough'sTopography, quoted byMr. Ballardin Vol. vii., p. 617.?

Buriensis.

Washington.—Anecdotes relative to General Washington, President of the United States,intended for a forthcoming work on the "Homes of American Statesmen," will be gratefully received for the author by

Joseph Stansbury.

26. Parliament Street.

Norman of Winster.—Can any of your correspondents afford information bearing on the family of Norman of Winster, county of Derby?

"John Norman of Winster, county of Derby, married, in 1715 or 1716, to Jane (maiden nameparticularly wanted). The said J. Norman married again in 1723, to Mary" (maiden name wanted also).

I shall be particularly obliged to any one affording such information.

Sir Arthur Aston.—I shall be much obliged, should any of your very numerous correspondents be able to inform me in which part or parish, of the county of Berkshire, the celebrated cavalier Sir Arthur Aston residedupon his returnfrom the foreign wars in which he had been for so many years engaged; andpreviouslyto the rupture between Charles I. and the Houses of Parliament.

I believe one of his daughters, about the same period, married a gentleman residing in the same county: also that George Tattersall, Esq., of Finchampstead, a family of consideration in the same county of Berkshire, was a near relative.

Chartham.

"Jamieson the Piper."—I am anxious to ascertain who was the author of the above ditty; it was very popular in Aberdeenshire about the beginning of this century. The scene, if I remember rightly, is laid in the parish of Forgue, in Aberdeenshire. Possibly some of the members of the Spalding Club may be able to enlighten me on the subject.

Bathensis.

"Keiser Glomer."—I have a Danish play entitledKeiser Glomer, Frit oversatte af det Kyhlamske vech C. Bredahl: Kiobenhavn, 1834. It is a mixture of tragedy and farce: the former occasionally good, the latter poor buffoonery. In the notes, readings of the old MS. are referred to with apparent seriousness; butGammel Gumba's Sagais quoted in a manner that seems burlesque. I cannot find the word "Kyhlam" in any dictionary. Can any of your readers tell me whether it signifies a real country, or is a mere fiction? The work does not read like a translation; and, if one, the number of modern allusions show that it is not, as it professes to be, from an ancient manuscript.

M. M. E.

Tieck's Comœdia Divina.—I copied the following lines six years ago from a review in a Munich newspaper of Batornicki'sUngöttliche Comödie. They were cited as from Tieck's suppressed (zurückgezogen) satire,La Comödie Divina, from which Batornicki was accused of plundering freely, thinking that, from its variety, he would not be detected:

"Spitzt so hoch ihr könnt euer Ohr,Gar wunderbare Dinge kommen hier vor.Gott Vater identifieirt sich mit der Kreatur,Denn er will anschauen die absolute Natur;Aber zum Bewustseyn kann er nicht gedeihen,Drum muss er sich mit sich selbst entzweien."

"Spitzt so hoch ihr könnt euer Ohr,

Gar wunderbare Dinge kommen hier vor.

Gott Vater identifieirt sich mit der Kreatur,

Denn er will anschauen die absolute Natur;

Aber zum Bewustseyn kann er nicht gedeihen,

Drum muss er sich mit sich selbst entzweien."

I omitted to note the paper, but preserved the lines as remarkable. I have since tried to find some account ofLa Divina Comedia, but in vain. It is not noticed in any biography of Tieck. Can any of your readers tell me what it is, or who wrote it?

M. M. E.

Fossil Trees between Cairo and Suez—Stream like that in Bay of Argastoli.—Can any of your readers oblige me by stating where the best information may be met with concerning the very remarkable fossil trees on the way from Cairo to Suez? And, if there has yet been discovered any other stream or rivulet running from the ocean into the land similar to that in the Bay of Argastoli in the Island of Cephalonia?

H. M.

Presbyterian Titles(Vol. v., p. 516.).—Where may be found a list of "the quaint and uncouth titles of the old Presbyterians?"

P. J. F. Gantillon, B.A.

Mayors and Sheriffs.—Can you or any of your readers inform me which ought to be considered the principal officer, or which is the most important, and which ought to have precedence of the other, the mayor of a town or borough, or the sheriff of a town or borough? and is the mayor merely the representative of the town, and the sheriff of the Queen; and if so, ought not the representative of majesty to be considered more honourable than the representative of merely a borough; and can a sheriff of a borough claim to have a grant of arms, if he has not any previous?

A Subscriber.

Nottingham.

The Beauty of Buttermere.—In an article contributed by Coleridge to theMorning Post(vid.Essays on his own Times, vol. ii. p. 591.), he says:

"It seems that there are some circumstances attending her birth and true parentage, which would account for her striking superiority in mind and manners, in a way extremely flattering to the prejudices of rank and birth."

What are the circumstances alluded to?

R. W. Elliot.

Clifton.

Sheer Hulk.—Living in a maritime town, and hearing nautical terms frequently used, I had always supposed this term to mean an old vessel,with sheers, or spars, erected upon it, for the purpose of masting and unmasting ships, and was led to attribute the use of it, by Sir W. Scott and other writers, for a vessel totally dismasted, to their ignorance of the technical terms. But of late it has been used in the latter sense by a writer in theUnited Service Magazineprofessing to be a nautical man. I still suspect that this use of the word is wrong, and should be glad to hear on the subject from any of your naval readers.

I believe that the word "buckle" is still used in the dockyards, and among seamen, to signify to "bend" (see "N. & Q.," Vol. vii., p. 375.), though rarely.

J. S. Warden.

The Lapwing or Peewitt(Vanellus cristatus).—Can any of your correspondents, learned in natural history, throw any light upon the meaning in the following line relative to this bird?—

"The blackbird far its hues shall know,Aslapwingknows the vine."

"The blackbird far its hues shall know,

Aslapwingknows the vine."

In the first line the allusion is to the berries of the hawthorn; but what thelapwinghas to do with thevine, I am at a loss to know. Having forgotten whence I copied the above lines, perhaps some one will favor me with the author's name.

J. B. Whitborne.

"Could we with ink," &c.—Could you, or any of your numerous and able correspondents, inform me who is thebonâ fideauthor of the following lines?—

"Could we with ink the ocean fill,And were the heavens of parchment made,Were every stalk on earth a quill,And every man a scribe by trade;To write the love of God above,Would drain the ocean dry;Nor could the scroll contain the whole,Though stretched from sky to sky."

"Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the heavens of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above,

Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky."

Naphtali.

Launching Query.—With reference to the accident to H.M.S. Cæsar at Pembroke, I would ask, Is there any other instance of a ship, on being launched, stopping on the ways, and refusing to move in spite of all efforts to start her?

A. B.

Manliness.—Query, What is the meaning of the word as used in "N. & Q.," Vol. viii., p. 94., col. 2. l. 12.

Anonymous.

Pues or Pews.—Which is thecorrectway of spelling this word? What is its derivation? Why has the formpuebeen lately so much adopted?

Omega.

[The abuses connected with the introduction of pues into churches have led to an investigation of their history, as well as to the etymology of the word. Hence the modern adoption of its original and more correct orthography, that ofpue; the Dutchpuye,puyd, and the Englishpue, being derived from the Latinpodium. In Vol. iii., p. 56., we quoted the following as the earliest notice of the word from theVision of Piers Plouman:"Among wyves and wodewes ich am ywoned suteYparroked inpues. The person hit knoweth."Again, inRichard III., Act IV. Sc. 4.: "And makes herpue-fellowwith others moan."—In Decker'sWestward Hoe: "Being one day in church, she made mone to herpue-fellow."—And in theNorthern Hoeof the same author: "He would make him apue-fellowwith lords."—See a paper onThe History of Pews, read before the Cambridge Camden Society, Nov. 22, 1841.]

"Among wyves and wodewes ich am ywoned suteYparroked inpues. The person hit knoweth."

"Among wyves and wodewes ich am ywoned sute

Yparroked inpues. The person hit knoweth."

Again, inRichard III., Act IV. Sc. 4.: "And makes herpue-fellowwith others moan."—In Decker'sWestward Hoe: "Being one day in church, she made mone to herpue-fellow."—And in theNorthern Hoeof the same author: "He would make him apue-fellowwith lords."—See a paper onThe History of Pews, read before the Cambridge Camden Society, Nov. 22, 1841.]

"Jerningham" and "Doveton."—Who was the author ofJerninghamandDoveton, two admirable works of fiction published some twelve or fifteen years ago? They are equal to anything written by Bulwer Lytton or by James.

J. Mt.

[The author of these works was Mr. Anstruther.]

(Vol. viii., p. 8.)

I possess a singular work, consisting of a series ofPoetical Sketchesof the campaigns of 1793 and 1794, written, as the title-page asserts, by an "officer of the Guards;" who appears to have been, from what he subsequently states, on the personal staff of His Royal Highness the late Duke of York. This work, I have been given to understand, was suppressed shortly after its publication; the ludicrous light thrown by its pages on the conduct of many of the chief parties engaged in the transactions it records, being no doubt unpalatable to those high in authority. From the notes, which are valuable as appearing to emanate from an eye-witness, and sometimes an actor in the scenes he describes, I send the following extracts for the information of your correspondent; premising that the letter to which they are appended is dated from the "Camp at Inchin, April 26, 1794."

"As the enemy were known to have assembled in great force at the Camp de Cæsar, near Cambray, Prince Cobourg requested the Duke of York would make areconnoissancein that direction: accordingly, on the evening of the 23rd, Major-General Mansel's brigade of heavy cavalry was ordered about a league in front of their camp, where they lay that night at a farm-house, formingpartof a detachment under General Otto. Early the next morning, an attack was made on the French drawn up in front of the village of Villers en Couchée (between Le Cateau and Bouchain) by the 15th regiment of Light Dragoons, and two squadrons of Austrian Hussars: they charged the enemy with such velocity and force, that, darting through their cavalry, they dispersed a line of infantry formed in their rear, forcing them also to retreatprecipitately and in great confusion, under cover of the ramparts of Cambray; with a loss of 1200 men, and three pieces of cannon. The only British officer wounded was Captain Aylett: sixty privates fell, and about twenty were wounded."Though the heavy brigade was formed at a distance under a brisk cannonade, while the light dragoons had so glorious an opportunity of distinguishing themselves, there are none who can attach with propriety any blame on account of their unfortunate delay; for which General Otto was surely, as having the command, alone accountable, and not General Mansel, who acted at all times, there is no doubt, according to the best of his judgment for the good of the service."The Duke of York had, on the morning of the 26th, observed the left flank of the enemy to be unprotected; and, by ordering the cavalry to wheel round and attack on that side, afforded them an opportunity of gaining the highest credit by defeating the French army so much superior to them in point of numbers."General Mansel rushing into the thickest of the enemy, devoted himself to death; and animated by his example, thatverybrigade performed such prodigies of valour, as must have convinced the world that Britons, once informedhow to act, justify the highest opinion that can possibly be entertained of their native courage. Could such men haveeverbeen willinglybackward? Certainly not."General Mansel's son, a captain in the 3rd Dragoon Guards, anxious to save his father's life, had darted forwards, and was taken prisoner, and carried into Cambray. Since his exchange, he has declared that there was not, on the 26th,a single French soldierleft in the town, as Chapuy had drawn out the whole garrison to augment the army destined to attack the camp of Inchi. Had that circumstance been fortunately known at the time, a detachment of the British army might easily have marched along the Chaussée, and taken possession of the place ere the Republicans could possibly have returned, as they had in their retreat described a circuitous detour of some miles."

"Though the heavy brigade was formed at a distance under a brisk cannonade, while the light dragoons had so glorious an opportunity of distinguishing themselves, there are none who can attach with propriety any blame on account of their unfortunate delay; for which General Otto was surely, as having the command, alone accountable, and not General Mansel, who acted at all times, there is no doubt, according to the best of his judgment for the good of the service.

"The Duke of York had, on the morning of the 26th, observed the left flank of the enemy to be unprotected; and, by ordering the cavalry to wheel round and attack on that side, afforded them an opportunity of gaining the highest credit by defeating the French army so much superior to them in point of numbers.

"General Mansel rushing into the thickest of the enemy, devoted himself to death; and animated by his example, thatverybrigade performed such prodigies of valour, as must have convinced the world that Britons, once informedhow to act, justify the highest opinion that can possibly be entertained of their native courage. Could such men haveeverbeen willinglybackward? Certainly not.

"General Mansel's son, a captain in the 3rd Dragoon Guards, anxious to save his father's life, had darted forwards, and was taken prisoner, and carried into Cambray. Since his exchange, he has declared that there was not, on the 26th,a single French soldierleft in the town, as Chapuy had drawn out the whole garrison to augment the army destined to attack the camp of Inchi. Had that circumstance been fortunately known at the time, a detachment of the British army might easily have marched along the Chaussée, and taken possession of the place ere the Republicans could possibly have returned, as they had in their retreat described a circuitous detour of some miles."

Mr. Simpsonwill perceive, from the above extracts, that the brilliant skirmish of Villers en Couché took place on April 24th; whereas the defeat of the French army under Chapuy did not occur until two days later. A large quantity of ammunition and thirty-five pieces of cannon were then captured; and although the writer does not mention the number who were killed on the part of the enemy, yet, as he states that Chapuy and near 400 of his men were made prisoners, their loss by death was no doubt proportionately large.

The 15th Hussars have long borne on their colours the memorable words "Villers en Couché" to commemorate the daring valour they displayed on that occasion.

T. C. Smith.

In Cruttwell'sUniversal Gazetteer(1808), this village, which is five miles north-east of Cambray, is described as being "remarkable for an action between the French and the Allies on the 24th of April, 1794." The following officers of the 15th regiment of light dragoons are there named as having afterwards received crosses of the Order of Maria Theresa for their gallant behaviour, from the Emperor of Germany, viz.:

"Major W. Aylett, Capt. Robert Pocklington, Capt. Edw. Michael Ryan, Lieut. Thos. Granby Calcraft, Lieut. Wm. Keir, Lieut. Chas. Burrel Blount, Cornet Edward Gerald Butler, and Cornet Robert Thos. Wilson."

D. S.

(Vol. viii., p. 33.)

The Surrey snails referred to byH. T. Riley, are thus mentioned by Aubrey in his account of Box Hill:

"On the south downs of this county (Surrey), and in those of Sussex, are the biggest snails that ever I saw, twice or three times as big as our common snails, which are the Bavoli or Drivalle, which Mr. Elias Ashmole tells me that the Lord Marshal brought from Italy, and scattered them on the Downs hereabouts, and between Albury and Horsley, where are the biggest of all."

Again, Aubrey, in hisNatural History of Wiltshire, says:

"The great snailes on the downes at Albury, in Surrey (twice as big as ours) were brought from Italy by * * * Earle Marshal, about 1638."—Aubrey'sHistory, p. 10., edited by John Britton, F.S.A., published by the Wiltshire Topographical Society, 1847.

The first of these accounts, from Aubrey'sSurrey, I have quoted in myPromenade round Dorking, 2nd edit. 1823, p. 274., and have added in a note:

"This was one of the Earls of Arundel. It is probably from this snail account that the error, ascribing the planting of the box (on Box Hill) to one of the Earls of Arundel, has arisen. The snails were brought thither for the Countess of Arundel, who was accustomed to dress and eat them for a consumptive complaint."

When I lived at Dorking (1815-1821) a breed of large white snails was found on Box Hill.

John Timbs.

Mr. H. T. Rileyis informed that the breed of white snails he refers to is to be plentifully found in the neighbourhood of Shere. I have found them frequently near the neighbouring village of Albury, on St. Martha's Hill, and I am told they are to be met with in the lanes as far as Dorking. I have always heard that they were imported for the use of a lady who was in a consumption; but who this was, or when it happened, I have never been able to ascertain.

Nedlam.

The breed of large white snails is to be found all along the escarpment of the chalk range, and isnot confined to Surrey. It is said to have been introduced into England by Sir Kenelm Digby, and was considered very nutritious and wholesome for consumptive patients. About the end of the last century I was in the habit of collecting a few of the common garden snails from the fruit-trees, and taking them every morning to a lady who was in a delicate state of health; she took them boiled or stewed, or cooked in some manner with milk, making a mucilaginous drink.

E. H.

I have somewhere read of the introduction of a foreign breed of snails into Cambridgeshire, I forget the exact locality, for the table of the monks who imported them; but unfortunately it was before I commenced making "notes" on the subject, and I have not been able to recollect where to find it.

Seleucus.

(Vol. viii., p. 76.)

This inscription is not "in Earl Bathurst's park," as your correspondentA. Smithsays, but is in Oakley Woods, situated at some three or four miles' distance from Cirencester, and being separated and quite distinct from the park; nor is the inscription correctly copied. Rudder, in his newHistory of Gloucestershire, 1779, says:

"Concealed as it were in the wood stands Alfred's Hall, a building that has the semblance of great antiquity. Over the door opposite to the south entrance, on the inside, is the following inscription in the Saxon character and language [of which there follows a copy]. Over the south door is the following Latin translation:"'Fœdus quod Ælfredus & Gythrunus reges, omnesAnglia sapientes, & quicunq; Angliam incolebant orientalem, ferierunt; & non solum de seipsis, verum etiam de natis suis, ac nondum in lucem editis, quotquot misericordiæ divinæ aut regiæ velint esse participes jurejurando sanxerunt."'Primò ditionis nostræ fines ad Thamesin evehuntur, inde ad Leam usq; ad fontem ejus; tum recta ad Bedfordiam, ac deniq; per Usam ad viam Vetelingianam.'"

"'Fœdus quod Ælfredus & Gythrunus reges, omnesAnglia sapientes, & quicunq; Angliam incolebant orientalem, ferierunt; & non solum de seipsis, verum etiam de natis suis, ac nondum in lucem editis, quotquot misericordiæ divinæ aut regiæ velint esse participes jurejurando sanxerunt.

"'Primò ditionis nostræ fines ad Thamesin evehuntur, inde ad Leam usq; ad fontem ejus; tum recta ad Bedfordiam, ac deniq; per Usam ad viam Vetelingianam.'"

I copy from Rudder, with the stops and contracted "et's," as they stand in his work; though I think the original has points between each word, as marked byA. Smith.

The omissions and mistakes of your correspondent (which you will perceive are important) are marked in Italics above.

Rudder adds,—

"Behind this building is a ruin with a stone on the chimney-piece, on which, in ancient characters relieved on the stone, is this inscription:'IN . MEM . ALFREDI . REG . RESTAVR . ANO . DO. 1085.'"It would have been inexcusable in the topographer to have passed by so curious a place without notice; but the historian would have been equally culpable who should not have informed the reader that this building is an excellent imitation of antiquity. The name, the inscription, and the writing over the doors, of the convention between the good king and his pagan enemies, were probably all suggested by the similarity ofAchelie, the ancient name of this place, toÆcglea, where King Alfred rested with his army the night before he attacked the Danish camp at Ethandun, and at length forced their leader Godrum, or Guthrum, or Gormund, to make such convention."

"Behind this building is a ruin with a stone on the chimney-piece, on which, in ancient characters relieved on the stone, is this inscription:

'IN . MEM . ALFREDI . REG . RESTAVR . ANO . DO. 1085.'

"It would have been inexcusable in the topographer to have passed by so curious a place without notice; but the historian would have been equally culpable who should not have informed the reader that this building is an excellent imitation of antiquity. The name, the inscription, and the writing over the doors, of the convention between the good king and his pagan enemies, were probably all suggested by the similarity ofAchelie, the ancient name of this place, toÆcglea, where King Alfred rested with his army the night before he attacked the Danish camp at Ethandun, and at length forced their leader Godrum, or Guthrum, or Gormund, to make such convention."

It is many years since I saw the inscription, and then I made no note of it; but I have no doubt that Rudder has given it correctly, because when I was a young man I was intimately acquainted with him, who was then an aged person; and a curious circumstance that occurred between us, and is still full in my memory, impressed me with the idea of his great precision and exactness.

I would remark on the explanation given by Rudder, that theIgleaof Asser is supposed by Camden, Gibson, Gough, and Sir Richard Colt Hoare to beClayhill, eastward of Warminster; andEthandunto beEdington, about three miles eastward of Westbury, both in Wilts.

Asser says that, "in the same year," the year of the battle, "the army of the pagans, departing from Chippenham, as had been promised, went toCirencester, where they remained one year."

On the signal defeat of Guthrum, he gave hostages to Alfred; and it is probable that, if any treaty was made between them, it was made immediately after the battle; and not that Alfred came from his fortress ofÆthelingayto meet Guthrum at Cirencester, where his army lay after leaving Chippenham.

If the treaty was made soon after the battle, it might have been at Alfred's Hall near Cirencester, especially ifHampton(Minchinhampton in Gloucestershire), which is only six miles from Oakley Wood, be the real site of the great and important battle, as was, a few years since, very plausibly argued by Mr. John Marks Moffatt, in a paper inserted, with the signature "J. M. M.," in Brayley'sGraphic and Historical Illustrator, p. 106.et seq., 1834.

The mention of Rudder's History brings to my mind an inscription over the door of Westbury Court, which I noticed when a boy at school, in the village of Westbury in this county. This mansion was taken down during the minority of Maynard Colchester, Esq., the present owner of the estate. Rudder, in his account of that parish, has preserved the inscription—

"D.O. M.N. M. M. H. E. P. N. C."

"D.

O. M.

N. M. M. H. E. P. N. C."

He reads the first three letters "Deo Optimo Maximo," and says the subsequent line contains the initials of the following hexameter:

"Nunc mea, mox hujus, et postea nescio cujus,"

alluding to the successive descent of property from one generation to another.

Perhaps one of your readers may be enabled to tell me whether the above line be original, or copied, and from whom.

P. H. Fisher.

Stroud.

The agreement referred to is no other than the famous treaty of peace between Alfred and Guthrun, whose name, by the substitution of an initial "L." for a "G.," among various other inaccuracies for which your correspondent is perhaps not responsible, has been disguised under the form of "Lvthrvnvs." The inscription itself forms the commencement of the treaty, which is stated, in Turner'sAnglo-Saxons, book iv. ch. v., to be still extant. It is translated as follows, in Lambard'sΑρχαιονομια, p. 36.:—

"Fœdus quod Aluredus & Gythrunus reges ex sapientum Anglorum, atque eorum omnium qui orientalem incolebant Angliam consulto ferierunt, in quod præterea singuli non solum de se ipsis, verum etiam de natis suis, ac nondum in lucem editis (quotquot saltem misericordiæ divinæ aut regiæ velint esse participes), jurarunt."Primo igitur ditionis nostræ fines ad Thamesim fluvium evehuntor: Inde ad Leam flumen profecti, ad fontem ejus deferuntor: tum rectà ad Bedfordiam porriguntor, ac denique per Usam fluvium porrecti ad viam Vetelingianam desinunto."

"Primo igitur ditionis nostræ fines ad Thamesim fluvium evehuntor: Inde ad Leam flumen profecti, ad fontem ejus deferuntor: tum rectà ad Bedfordiam porriguntor, ac denique per Usam fluvium porrecti ad viam Vetelingianam desinunto."

Another translation will be found in Wilkins'sLeges Anglo-Saxonicæ, p. 47., and the Saxon original in both. As to the boundaries here defined, see note in Spelman'sAlfred, p. 36.

At Cirencester Guthrun remained for twelve months after his baptism, according to his treaty with Alfred. (SeeSim. Dunelm. de gestis Regum Anglorum, sub anno 879.)

J. F. M.

(Vol. viii., p. 55.)

W. W., alluding to such a custom at Marshfield, Massachusets, asks "if this custom ever did, or does now exist in the mother country?" The curiosity is that your worthy Querist has never heard of it! Dating fromMalta, it may be he has never been in ourringing island: for it must be known to every Englishman, that the custom, varying no doubt in different localities, exists in every parish in England.

Thepassing bellis of older date than the canon of our church, which directs "that when any is passing out of this life, a bell shall be tolled, and the minister shall not then slack to do his duty. And after the party's death, if it so fall out, then shall be rung no more than one short peal."

It is interesting to learn that our colonists keep up this custom of their mother country.

In this parish, the custom has been to ring as quickly after death as the sexton can be found; and the like prevails elsewhere. I have known persons, sensible of their approaching death, direct the bell at once to be tolled.

Durand, in hisRituals of the Roman Church, says: "For expiring persons bells must be tolled, that people may put up their prayers: this must be done twice for a woman, and thrice for a man." And such is still the general custom: either before or after theknellis rung, to toll three timesthree, or three timestwo, at intervals, to mark the sex.[6]

"Defunctos plorare" is probably as old as any use of a bell; but there is every reason to believe that—

"the ringing of bells at the departure of the soul (to quote from Brewster'sEncy.) originated in the darkest ages, but with a different view from that in which they are now employed. It was to avert the influence of Demons. But if the superstition of our ancestors did not originate in this imaginary virtue, while they preserved the practice, it is certain they believed the mere noise had the same effect; and as, according to their ideas, evil spirits were always hovering around to make a prey of departing souls, the tolling of bells struck them with terror. We may trace the practice of tolling bells during funerals to the like source. This has been practised from times of great antiquity: the bells being muffled, for the sake of greater solemnity, in the same way as drums are muffled at military funerals."

H. T. Ellacombe.

Rectory, Clyst St. George.

At St. James' Church, Hull, on the occurrence of a death in the parish, a bell is tolled quickly for about the space of ten minutes; and before ceasing, nine knells given if the deceased be a man, six if a woman, and three if a child. As far as I have been able to ascertain, the custom is now almost peculiar to the north of England; but in ancient times it must have been very general according to Durandus, who has the following in hisRationale, lib. i. cap. 4. 13.:

"Verum aliquo moriente, campanæ debent pulsari; ut populus hoc audiens, oret pro illo. Pro muliere quidem bis, pro eo quod invenit asperitatem.... Pro viro vero ter pulsator.... Si autem clericus sit, tot vicibus simpulsatur, quot ordines habuit ipse. Ad ultimum vero compulsari debet cum omnibus campanis, ut ita sciat populus pro quo sit orandum."—Mr. Strutt'sMan. and Cust., iii. 176.

Also a passage is quoted from an old English Homily, ending with:

"At the deth of a manne three bellis shulde be ronge, as his knyll, in worscheppe of the Trinetee; and for a womanne, who was the secunde persone of the Trinetee, two bellis should be rungen."

In addition to the intention of the "passing-bell," afforded by Durandus above, it has been thought that it was rung to drive away the evil spirits, supposed to stand at the foot of the bed ready to seize the soul, that it might "gain start." Wynkyn de Worde, in hisGolden Legend, speaks of the dislike of spirits to bells. In alluding to this subject, Wheatly, in his work on the Book of Common Prayer, chap. xi. sec. viii. 3., says:

"Our Church, in imitation of the Saints of former ages, calls in the minister, and others who are at hand, to assist their brother in his last extremity."

The 67th canon enjoins that, "when any one is passing out of this life, a bell shall be tolled, and the minister shall not then slack to do his duty. And after the party's death, if it so fall out, there shall be rungno more than one short peal."

Several other quotations might be adduced (vid. Brand'sAntiq., vol. ii. pp. 203, 204. from which much of the above has been derived) to show that "one short peal" was ordered only to be rung after the Reformation: the custom of signifying the sex of the deceased by a certain number of knells must be a relic, therefore, of very ancient usage, and unauthorised by the Church.

R. W. Elliot.

Clifton.

Back to Index Next