LIVERIES WORN BY GENTLEMEN.

"Orgelum Orgelei,Dudeldum Dudeldei."

"Orgelum Orgelei,

Dudeldum Dudeldei."

He exhibits things taken from the physics of Oken, the metaphysics of Schelling, and the æsthetics of Görres. The whole of the song is good; and I quote one stanza as showing a sound appreciation of the current metaphysicians:

"Die Intelligenz construirt sich in der ZeitAls Object, und erkennt sich, und das ist gescheidt,Denn aus diesen und andern ConstructurenEntstehen Lehrbücher und Professuren."

"Die Intelligenz construirt sich in der Zeit

Als Object, und erkennt sich, und das ist gescheidt,

Denn aus diesen und andern Constructuren

Entstehen Lehrbücher und Professuren."

They visit the garret of Herr Novalis Octavianus Hornwunder, a maker of books to order upon every subject: they learn the mysteries of the manufacture. The scene is clever, but much of the wit is unappreciable as directed against productions which have not survived. Jupiter, in compassion to Hornwunder, changes him to a goose, immediately after which a bookseller enters, and, mistaking the gods for authors, makes them an offer of six dollars and twelve groschen the octavo volume, besides something for the kitchen. Jupiter, enraged, changes him to a fox, which forthwith eats the goose "feathers and all."

They then go to see the play of the Fall of Man (Der Sündenfall). The subject is treated after the manner of Hans Sachs, but with this difference, that the simple-minded old Nuremberger saw nothing incongruous in making Cain and Abel say their catechism, and Cain go away from the examination to fight with the low boys in the street; whereas the author ofDer Sündenfallis advisedly irreverent. Another proof, if one were wanted, that he was not Tieck.

Die Ungöttliche Comödieis not by Batornicki, but translated by him from the Polish. In the preface he apologises for inelegant German, as that is not his native language; and I presume he is a Pole, as he says the author's name is known among us (unter uns). As he calls it a poem (Dichtung) the original is probably in verse. I think the Munich critic could have seen only some extracts from theComœdia Divina; for, so far from Batornicki "plundering freely," I do not find any resemblance between the works except in the sole wordcomœdia. TheComœdia Divinais a mockery, not political, but literary, and as such anti-mystic and conservative.Die Ungöttliche Comödieis wild, mystical, supernatural, republican, and communistic. It contains passages of great power, eloquence, and pathos. German critics are often prosy and inefficient, but not given to wilful misrepresentation or carelessness in examining the books they review. The writer in the Munich journal must be held an exception.

H. B. C.

U. U. Club.

(Vol. vi., p. 146.; Vol. viii., p. 473.)

The prevalence of the custom of the liveries of noble and other persons being worn by others than the retainers of the family, in the reigns of Henry VI. and Elizabeth, is exemplified by two documents preserved amongst the MSS. of the corporation of this borough. The first, which is also curious as a specimen of the language of the period, is an award under the seal of Margaret of Anjou; under whom, as they had previously done under Katherine, queen of Henry V., the corporation farmed the bailiwick of the town:

"Margaret, by the grace of God, Quene of England and of Ffraunce and Lady of Irland, Doughter of the Kyng of Sicile and Jerlm. Be it knawen to all men to whom this p'sent writyng (endented) shall come, that whereas a certeyn Comission of my fuldoutfull Lord was directed to c'teyn p¯sones to enquere as well of yevyng of lyu'e, as of other diu's articles ... before the Comissioners of the seyd Comission it was p'sented by William Neuby and other of our tenntz of Leycestre ... that c'teyn p¯sones, in Leycestre, had taken clothyng of diu'rez p'sones, ayenst the forme of the statut; that ys to wete, that some of hem had taken clothyng of the Viscount Beaumont, and some of SrEdward Grey, Lord Fferrers of Growby, and some of hem had taken clothyng of other diu'res p¯sones, by cause of which p'sentement diu'res p¯sones, some of the houshold of the seyd Lord Fferrers, and some of the clothing of the said Lord, with other wele wilners to the said Lord, as yet not to us knawen, by supportacon and favour, and for pleasance to the said Lord, as we ben enfo'med ... betyn and sore woundetyn the said William Neuby, and manesten to bete other of our tenntz of Leycestre." ... She doth therefore "ordeyn, deme, and awarde" that the said Lord Ferrers pay c. marks to William Neuby, that he "be goode lorde to the said William Neuby; and to all other tenntz in our lordship of Leycestre; and that the said lord shall not geve any clothyng or liue'y to any p¯sone dwellyng within our said lordship," &c.... "Yeven the xx day of May, the yere of the reign of my most douted Lord Kyng Henr' the Sext, xxvii."

The above extracts show one of the evils to which the practice led; another, mentioned in the deed, was that of deerstealing. William Newby was mayor of the town in 1425, 1433, and 1444-5.

The second document is a curious letter from the mayor and some members of the corporation to George Earl of Huntington, lord-lieutenant of the county, and a frequent resident in the town, where a part of his mansion, called "Lord's Place," and in which James I. was entertained, still exists. The draft of this letter forms part of an interesting series of correspondence between the corporation and the earl, respecting the nomination of the parliamentary representatives of the town in 1601.

The earl recommended that Mr. (afterwards Sir) William Herrick and Mr. Bromley should be chosen, and in strong language warned them against electing Mr. George Belgrave of Belgrave (who had greatly offended him), as he hears "that Belgrave still contineweth his great practising in labouring to be chosen;" and he adds, "Goode Mr. Mayor, be carefull of this, as you and the rest will looke to make accompt of me."

It appears that many members of the corporation were secretly favourable to Mr. Belgrave, and he was elected, as explained in the following letter:

"Right Hoe, oure humble dewties remeberd, &c., may yt please yorgood Lpp. to be c'tified, that upon Tuesday morninge laste, being assembled for the choice of orBurgesses, Mr. George Belgrave p'sented himselfe amongest us, in a blewe coat wtha bull head, affirminge and protestinge he was yorLp's s'vt, and that SrHenrie Harrington, verye late the night before, had obteyned that favour of yorhorin his behalfe; and muche bemoned his former undewtifull cariage towards yorLp, wtha remorsive remembrance of many most ho. favours receaved from yorLpand yorhouse, towards his auncestors, him, and his; and, recommendinge his former suite to be one of oure Burgesses, being demanded whether he had any letter from yorLp, answered, that this (poyntinge at his coat and cognizance) he hoped was a sufficient testimonie of yrLp's favour towards him, and of his submission towards yorhor; and further, that it was so late before SrHenrie cold p¯cure yorLp's said favour, as that you cold not well write, and, for the truth of the p¯mises, he offered his corporal oathe. Whereupon we, thinkinge all this to be true, made choyce of him, wthMr. WillmHerricke, to be orBurgesses. And now, this evening, wee are credibly certified that yrLphath geven him no suche entertaynemt; and thus by his said lewde and most dishonest dealinge, being much abused, we thought it ordewties forthewthto signifie the same unto yorLp, humbly cravinge yorLp's most horable favor for some reformacon of this vile practize. And thus, wthremembrance of oure dewties, wee humbly take orleaves. From Leicr, this xxthday of October, 1601.

"Youre honor's most humble to comaunde,Signed by "WillmROWES, Maior,ROBERT HEYRICKE,"And ten others.

"Youre honor's most humble to comaunde,

Signed by "WillmROWES, Maior,

ROBERT HEYRICKE,"

And ten others.

An angry and characteristic reply from the earl follows, but with which, as it is printed in Thompson'sHistory of Leicester(p. 318.), I will not trespass upon your valuable space. It may be sufficient to say, that he tells the mayor that—

"Notwithstanding this treacherous devise of that cunninge practisore, I feare it will appeare, upon due scanninge of this accydent, ytthere remaynes a false brother amongst you.... And as for yep'sone hymself whoe hathe thus shameleslye sought to dishonoure me and deceave you, I will, by the grace of God, take suche order as in honor and lawfullye I maye, bothefor yebetter unfouldinge of this, as also for suche punnyshmtas the law will inflict."

In pursuance of this determination, the earl exhibited an information against Mr. Belgrave in the Star Chamber. The subsequent proceedings which took place on the subject in parliament will be found noticed in D'Ewes'sJournal, and quoted in Thompson'sHistory of Leicester, pp. 319-323.

William Kelly.

Leicester.

Queries on Dr. Diamond's Calotype Process.—Would you kindly askDr. Diamond, to whom I should imagine all of us are more or less indebted, the following questions respecting the very valuable paper on the calotype in the lastPhotographic Journal?

1. As to the white spots which make their appearance in developing, on Turner's paper especially, and which he says are owing to minute pieces of metal in the paper, what is the best way of hiding them in the negative, so that they may as little as possible injure the positive? I have suffered sadly from this cause; and have tried to stop them with ammonio-nitrate, which turns after a time to red, and stops the light effectually; but I should prefer some black colouring the strength of which one could measure by seeing its immediate effect.

2. And again, when one has black spots, what is the best means of lessening their intensity, if not of wholly removing them?

Φωτογραφος.

[Where light spots occur in a negative,Dr. Diamondrecommends, as the most effectual mode of stopping them, a little gamboge neatly applied with a camel-hair pencil. Where a great intensity is desired, Indian ink may be applied in the same manner, taking care in both cases to smooth off the edges with a dry brush. The cyanide of potassium applied in the same way, butwith very great care, will remove the black spots. Before it appears to have quite accomplished its object, a negative should be immersed in water, as its action is so energetic.]

Albumenized Paper.—I have followedDr. Diamond'sdirections for albumenizing paper (thin Canson negative) as accurately as I can, but I cannot prevent the albumen in drying, when pinned up, from forming into waves or streaks. This will be best understood from a specimen of a sheet which I inclose, and I shall be much obliged if you can tell me how this can be avoided. Some albumenized paper which I have purchased is quite free from this defect, but being at a distance from London, it is both convenient and economical to prepare my own paper.

C. E. F.

[We would recommend our correspondent to remove his paper from the albumen still more slowly; and to take care not to draw it along, but so to lift it that the last corner is not moved until it is raised from the albumen. In pinning up be careful that the paper takes the inward curl, otherwise the appearances exhibited will be almost sure to take place. As the albumenizing liquid is of very trifling cost, we recommend the use of two dishes, as by that means a great economy of time is obtained.]

Marcarnes(Vol. viii., p. 365.).—Can this curiously sounding name be an archaic form of Mackarness, a name, I think, still borne by living persons?

Francis John Scott.

Tewkesbury.

X on Brewers' Casks(Vol. viii., p. 439.).—Your correspondent B. H. C., though ingenious, is in error. The X on brewers' casks originated in the fact, that beer above a certain strength paid 10s. duty; and the X became a mark to denote beer of that better quality. The doubling and tripling of the X are nothing but inventions of the brewers to humbug the public.

ב‎.ד‎.

No Sparrows at Lindham(Vol. vii., p. 233.).—Amongst the various responses in connexion with the Queries given on the page above noted, communicated direct, the only one which I have thought worthy of insertion in my MSS. is as follows:

"As for there being no sparrows at Lindham, it may be accounted for in the following legend:—A few years ago I was in that district when I heard some account of a person called 'Tom of Lindham;' who, by the way, was a curious personage, and performed some very extraordinary and out-of-the-way feats. At one time he was left at home to protect the corn from thesparrows; when,to save trouble, he got all of them into the barn, and put aharrowinto the window to keep them in; and sostarved(i. e.hungered) them to death."

Furthermore Mr. Whittaker kindly communicated of the above Yorkshire worthy:

"At the close of Tom's life he took it into his head to make a road across a part of Hatfield Chase to his own dwelling; when, according to the legend, he employed supernatural aid: with this clause in the contract, that he, Tom, should not inquire any particulars as to the character of his assistants or helpmates. One day, however, being more curious than prudent, he looked behind him; his workmen immediately disappeared, and Tom of Lindham was no more heard of. His road still remains in the state he left it."

M. Aislabie Denham.

Piersebridge, near Darlington, Durham.

Theobald le Botiller(Vol. viii., p. 366.).—Theobald le Botiller was an infant at his father's death, 1206. He had livery in 1222; and in 9 Hen. III.,1225, married Rohesia or Rose de Verdun, notVernon. She was so great an heiress that she retained her own name, and her posterity also bore it. She founded the Abbey of Grâce Dieu,Leicestershire, in 1239; and died 1247-8. Her husband died in 1230, leaving two sons: John de Verdun, who inherited, and Nicholas, who died in Ireland without issue; and one daughter Maud, who married John FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel.

Walter Devereux.

Hampton Court Palace.

Vault at Richmond, Yorkshire(Vol. viii., p. 388.).—Touching the "vault," or underground passage, "that goeth under the river" of Swale, from the Castle of Richmond to the priory of St. Martin, every tradition,i. e.as to its whereabouts, is, I believe, now wholly lost.

Your Querist, however, who seems to feel an interest in that beautiful and romantic portion of thenorth countrie, will perhaps welcome the following mythe, which is connected, it is possible, with the identicalvaultwhich is depictured by Speed in hisPlan of Richmond. It was taken down from the lips of a great-grand-dame by one of her descendants,both of whom are still living, for the gratification of your present correspondent, who, like Luther,

"Would not for any quantity of gold part with the wonderful tales which he has retained from his earliest childhood, or met with in his progress through life."

But to my legend:

Once upon a time a man, walking round Richmond Castle, was accosted by another, who took him into avennel, or underground passage, below the castle; where he beheld a vast multitude of people lying as if they were sleeping. Ahornand aswordwere presented to him: the horn to blow, and the sword to draw; in order, as said his guide, to release them from their slumbers. And when he had drawn the sword half out, the sleepers began to move; which frightened him so much, that he put it back into the sheath: when instantly a voice exclaimed,

"Potter!Potter Thompson!If thou had either drawnThesword, or blown thehorn,Thou had been the luckiest man that ever was born."

"Potter!Potter Thompson!

If thou had either drawn

Thesword, or blown thehorn,

Thou had been the luckiest man that ever was born."

So ends the Legend of the Richmond Sleepers and Potter Thompson; which, mayhap, is scarcely worth preserving, were it not that it has preserved and handed down the characteristic, or rather trade, cognomen and surname of its timorous at least, if not cowardly, hero.

M. Aislabie Denham.

Piersebridge, near Darlington, Durham.

Lord Audley's Attendants at Poictiers(Vol. viii., p. 494.).—A notice of the arguments in opposition to the statement, rested mainly on the grant of arms by John Touchet, Lord Audley, to the descendant of Sir James de Mackworth, in consideration of his having been one of these esquires, occurs in Blore'sRutland, p. 130. and p. 224. And it appears to be satisfactorily shown by the grant itself, that it was not made on account of the services of Sir James.

J. P. Jun.

Portraits at Brickwall House(Vol. vii., p. 406.).—Immerzeel says, in hisLevens der Kunstschilders(Lives of the Painters), vol. iii. pp. 238, 239.:

"Thomas van der Wilt, born at Piershil in the district of Putten, was a disciple of Verkolje at Delft, where he also settled. He painted portraits, domestic scenes, &c., which were not free from stiffness. He also engraved in mezzotinto after Brouwer, Schalken, and others. His drawings were engraved by his son William, who died young."

He was living in 1701, and was probably grandson of a person of the same name who resided in 1622 at Soetermeer near Leyden, for in the register of the villages of Rhynland are found:

"Jan Thomas van der Wilt and Maritgen Pietersdr, his wife, with Thomas, Maritgen, Pieter, Cornelis, Grietge, Jannetge, and Ingethen, their children."

The portrait painted by Terburgh probably represents Andries de Graeff, who, in 1672, is called by Wagenaar, in hisVaderlandsche Hist.of that year (p. 82.), late burgomaster of Amsterdam. It is then necessary to ascertain whether this late burgomaster died in 1674. The family de Graeff also resided at Delft, where several of its members became magistrates.

Elsevir.

The portrait of the old gentleman is, in my opinion, doubtless that of Andries de Graeff, who was elected burgomaster of Amsterdam in 1660, and filled the office several times afterwards, although after the year 1670 his name no more appears on the list of burgomasters, which can very well agree with the date of death (1674) on the portrait.—From theNavorscher.

A. J. van der Aa.

Gorinchem.

The Words "Mob" and "Cash"(Vol. viii., pp. 386. 524.).—Clericus Rusticuswill find the origin and first introduction of the wordmobfully stated in Trench'sLectures on the Study of Words(p. 124. fourth ed.). In addition to the quotations there made,Clericus Rusticusmay refer to Dryden's preface toCleomenes(1692), to the 230th number ofThe Tatler, written by Swift (an. 1710), and to the Dean'sIntroduction to Polite Conversation.

Cash.—What Lord Holland may have meant by a legitimate English word it is hard to say. Dr. Johnson derives it from the Fr.caisse(orcasse), which Cotgrave interprets "a box, acase,or chest; also, a merchant'scashor counter." Todd confirms the correctness of Johnson's etymology by a usage in Winwood'sMemorials; where the Countess of Shrewsbury is said to have 20,000l.in hercash. And Richardson farther confirms it by a quotation from Sir W. Temple; and one from Sherwood, who explainscashier, "Qui garde lecassede l'argent de merchand;" and a merchant'scash, "cassede merchand."

Bloomsbury.

English Clergyman in Spain(Vol. viii., p. 410.).—The clergyman was perhaps attached to the army of England in Spain, in the capacity of chaplain. I recommend a search for the record of his licence, which will very probably recite his appointment; and this record is most likely to be found with the proper officer of the diocese of London, in Doctors' Commons. I have seen one extraordinary discovery of information of the kind now sought by D. Y., in this quarter; and D. Y. will probably be so kind as to note his success in "N. & Q.," if he obtains his information here or elsewhere.

The Cid(Vol. viii., p. 367.).—I find in the catalogue of my library, the greatest part of which was destroyed by fire in 1849, amongst other books relating toThe Cid, the following:

"Romancero, e Historia del muy valeroso Cavallero el Cid Ruy Diaz de Bivar, en lenguaje antiguo, recopilado por Juan de Escobar. En esta ultima impression van añadidos muchos romances, que hasta aora no han sido impressos, ni divulgados, 12mo. con licençia. En Pamplona, por Martin de Zavala, año 1706.""Romancero e Historia del mui valeroso Cabellero el Cid Rui-diaz de Vibar, en lenguage antiguo, recopilado por Juan de Escobar, neuva edicion, reformada sobre las antiguas, añadida e illustrada con varias notas y composiciones del mismo tiempo y asunto para su mas facil intelligencia, y adornada con un epitome de la Historia verdadera del Cid. Por D. Vicente Gonçales del Reguero. 12mo. con licencia, Madrid, Imprenta de Cano, 1818."

"Romancero e Historia del mui valeroso Cabellero el Cid Rui-diaz de Vibar, en lenguage antiguo, recopilado por Juan de Escobar, neuva edicion, reformada sobre las antiguas, añadida e illustrada con varias notas y composiciones del mismo tiempo y asunto para su mas facil intelligencia, y adornada con un epitome de la Historia verdadera del Cid. Por D. Vicente Gonçales del Reguero. 12mo. con licencia, Madrid, Imprenta de Cano, 1818."

In Thorpe'sCatalogue, 1841, No. 1355, is an edition, 12mo., Segovia, 1629.

John Adamson.

Exterior Stoups(Vol. v., p. 560.; Vol. vi., pp. 18. 86. 160. 345. 497. 591., &c.).—Having introduced this subject to "N. & Q.," you will perhaps allow me to return to it, by adding to the list of churches where exterior stoups may be seen, the names of Leigh and Shrawley, Worcestershire. A recent visit to these places made me aware of the existence of the stoups. That at Leigh is in a shattered condition, and is on the south side of the western doorway: it is now covered in by a porch of later date. That at Shrawley is on the eastern side of the south door, and is hollowed out within the top of a short column. Shrawley Church possesses many points of interest for the antiquary: among which may be mentioned, a Norman window pierced through one of the buttresses of the chancel. Among the noticeable things at Leigh Church is a rude sculpture of the Saviour placed exteriorly over the north door of the nave, in a recess, with semicircular heading and Norman pillars. The rector is gradually restoring this fine church.

Cuthbert Bede, B.A.

Green Jugs used by the Templars(Vol. viii., p. 171.)—In clearing out the ground for the foundation of Raymond Buildings in Gray's Inn, about thirty years since, two earthen green jugs were dug up, which are preserved by the benchers as a memento of "the olden times."

They will hold very little more than half a pint of liquor, are tall and of good proportions, but so small at the top as almost to preclude their being used to drink out of, and having a lip it is surmised that they held the portion assigned to each student, who was also supplied with a drinking horn.

I have seen a jug of the same description in the possession of a gentleman in Lincoln's Inn, which he informed me was brought to light in excavating for the new hall. It is therefore probable that all the inns of court were accustomed to provide jugs of the same description.

F. Whitmarsh.

"Peccavi," I have Scinde(Vol. viii, p. 490.).—Your correspondentMr. G. Lloyd, who says he does "not know on what authority" it is stated that "the old and lamented warrior, Sir Charles Napier, wrote on the conquest of Scinde,Peccavi!" is informed that the sole author of the despatch wasMr. Punch.

Cuthbert Bede, B.A.

In a note touching these well-known words,Mr. G. Lloydsays, "It is also stated, I do not know on what authority, that the old and lamented warrior, Sir Charles Napier, wrote on the conquest of Scinde,Peccavi!" The author ofDemocritus in London, with the Mad Pranks and Comical Conceits of Motley and Robin Good-Fellow, thus alludes to this saying in that work. I presume he had good authority for so doing:

Sir P. "What exclaim'd the gallant Napier,Proudly flourishing his rapier!To the army and the navy,When he conquer'd Scinde? 'Peccavi!'"

Sir P. "What exclaim'd the gallant Napier,

Proudly flourishing his rapier!

To the army and the navy,

When he conquer'd Scinde? 'Peccavi!'"

A Subscriber.

Raffaelle's Sposalizio(Vol. vii., p. 595.; Vol. viii., p. 61.).—The reason why the ring is placed onthe third finger of the right hand of the Blessed Virgin in Raffaelle's "Sposalizio" at Milan, and in Ghirlandais's frescoe of the same subject in the Santa Croce at Florence, is to be found in the fact that the right hand has always been considered the hand of power or dignity, and the left hand of inferiority or subjection. A married woman always wears her ring on the third finger of the left hand to signify her subjection to her husband. But it has been customary among artists to represent the Blessed Virgin with the ring on the right hand, to signify her superiority to St. Joseph from her surpassing dignity of Mother of God. Still she is not always represented so, for in Beato Angelico's painting of the marriage of Mary and Joseph she receives the ring on her left hand. See woodcut in Mrs. Jameson'sLegends of Madonna, p. 170. In the Marriage of the Blessed Virgin by Vanloo, in the Louvre, she also receives the ring on the left hand. Giotto, Taddeo Gaddi, Perugino, &c., have painted the "Sposalizio," but I have not copies by me to refer to.

Ceyrep.

Early Use of Tin.—Derivation of the Name of Britain(Vol. viii., pp. 290. 344. 445.).—Your correspondent G. W. having been unable to informDr. Hinckswho first suggested the derivation ofBritanniafromBaratanacorBratanac, I have the pleasure to satisfy him on this point by referring him to Bochart'sGeographia Sacra, lib.I.c. xxxix. In that great storehouse of historical information, the Memoirs of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, there are some profound researches by Melot and others, in which may be found answers to all the Queries proposed by G. W.

The islands, rivers, mountains, cities, and remarkable places of Phœnician colonies, had even in the time of the habitation of the Greeks and Romans Phœnician names, which, according to the spirit of the ancient languages of the East, indicated clearly the properties of the places which bore those names. See instances in Bochart,ubi supra; Sammes'sBritannia Antiqua Illustrata, or the Antiquities of Ancient Britain derived from the Phœnicians; and D'Hancarville's Preface to Hamilton'sEtruscan, &c. Antiquities.

Bibliothecar. Chetham.

Unpublished Epigram by Sir Walter Scott(Vol. vii., pp. 498. 576.).—The following extract is from theGentleman's Magazine, March, 1824, p. 194.:

"Mr. J. Lawrence of Somers Town observes: 'In the summer of the year 1770 I was on a visit at Beaumont Hall on the coast of Essex, a few miles distant from Harwich. It was then the residence of Mr. Canham.... I was invited to ascend the attics in order to read some lines, imprinted by a cowboy of precocious intellect. I found these in handsome, neatly executed letters, printed and burnished with leaf-gold, on the wall of his sleeping-room. They were really golden verses, and may well be styled Pythagorean from their point, to wit:

'Earth goes upon the earth, glittering like gold;Earth goes to the earth sooner than 'twould;Earth built upon the earth castles and towers;Earth said to the Earth, All shall be ours.'

'Earth goes upon the earth, glittering like gold;

Earth goes to the earth sooner than 'twould;

Earth built upon the earth castles and towers;

Earth said to the Earth, All shall be ours.'

The curiosity of these lines so forcibly impressed them on my memory, that time has not been able to efface a tittle of them.But from what source did the boy obtain them?"

Permit me to repeat this Query?

J. R. M., M.A.

Derivation of the Word "Humbug"(Vol. viii.passim).—Not being satisfied with any of the derivations of this word hitherto proposed in your pages, I beg to suggest that perhaps it may be traced to a famous dancing master who flourished about the time when the word first came into use. The following advertisement appeared in theDublin Freeman's Journalin Jan. 1777:

"To the Nobility."As Monsieur Humbog does not intend for the future teaching abroad after 4 o'clock, he, at the request of his scholars, has opened an academy for young ladies of fashion to practise minuets and cotillions. He had his first assembly on Friday last, and intends continuing them every Friday during the winter. He does not admit any gentlemen, and his number of ladies is limited to 32; and as Mrs. Humbog is very conversant in the business of the Toilet Table, the ladies may depend on being properly accommodated. Mr. Humbog having been solicited by several gentlemen, he intends likewise to open an academy for them, and begs that those who chuse to become subscribers will be so good as to send him their addresses, that he may have the honour of waiting upon them to inform them of his terms and days. Mr. Humbog has an afternoon school three times a week for little ladies and gentlemen not exceeding 14 years of age. Terms of his school are one guinea per month and one guinea entrance. Any ladies who are desirous of knowing the terms of his academy may be informed by appointing Mr. Humbog to wait upon them, which he will do on the shortest notice. Capel St. 21 Jan. 1777."

"To the Nobility.

"As Monsieur Humbog does not intend for the future teaching abroad after 4 o'clock, he, at the request of his scholars, has opened an academy for young ladies of fashion to practise minuets and cotillions. He had his first assembly on Friday last, and intends continuing them every Friday during the winter. He does not admit any gentlemen, and his number of ladies is limited to 32; and as Mrs. Humbog is very conversant in the business of the Toilet Table, the ladies may depend on being properly accommodated. Mr. Humbog having been solicited by several gentlemen, he intends likewise to open an academy for them, and begs that those who chuse to become subscribers will be so good as to send him their addresses, that he may have the honour of waiting upon them to inform them of his terms and days. Mr. Humbog has an afternoon school three times a week for little ladies and gentlemen not exceeding 14 years of age. Terms of his school are one guinea per month and one guinea entrance. Any ladies who are desirous of knowing the terms of his academy may be informed by appointing Mr. Humbog to wait upon them, which he will do on the shortest notice. Capel St. 21 Jan. 1777."

Omicron.

Bees(Vol. viii., p. 440.).—In the midland counties the first migration of the season isa swarm, the seconda cast, and the thirda spindle.

Erica.

Topsy Turvy(Vol. viii., p. 385.).—I have always understood this to be a corruption of "Topside t'other way," and I still think so.

Wm. Hazel.

Parish Clerks and Politics(Vol. viii., p. 56.).—In the excitement prevalent at the trial of Queen Caroline, I remember a choir, in a village not a hundred miles from Wallingford, Berks, singingwith great gusto the 1st, 4th, 11th, and 12th verses of 35th Psalm in Tate and Brady's New Version.

Wm. Hazel.

Phantom Bells—"The Death Bell"(Vol. vii. passim).—I have never met, in any work on folk-lore and popular superstitions, any mention of that unearthly bell, whose sound is borne on the death-wind, and heralds his doom to the hearer. Mickle alludes to it in his fine ballad of "Cumnor Halle:"

"Thedeath-bellethrice was heard to ring,An aerial voice was heard to calle,And thrice the raven flapp'd its wing,Arounde the towers of Cumnor Halle."

"Thedeath-bellethrice was heard to ring,

An aerial voice was heard to calle,

And thrice the raven flapp'd its wing,

Arounde the towers of Cumnor Halle."

And Rogers, in his lines "To an Old Oak:"

"There once the steel-clad knight reclined,His sable plumage tempest-tossed:And as thedeath-bellsmote the wind,From towers long fled by human kind,His brow the hero crossed."

"There once the steel-clad knight reclined,

His sable plumage tempest-tossed:

And as thedeath-bellsmote the wind,

From towers long fled by human kind,

His brow the hero crossed."

When ships go down at sea during a terrible tempest, it is said the "death-bell" is often distinctly heard amid the storm-wind. And in tales of what is called Gothic superstition, it assists in the terrors of the supernatural.

Sir W. Scott perhaps alluded to the superstition in the lines:

"And the kelpierang,And the sea-maid sangThe dirge of lovely Rosabelle."

"And the kelpierang,

And the sea-maid sang

The dirge of lovely Rosabelle."

Eirionnach.

Porter Family(Vol. viii., p. 364.).—Full particulars of the existing branch of this ancient family can be afforded by the Rev. Malcom Macdonald of South End, Essex, chaplain to Lady Tamar Sharpe, the aunt and guardian of the representatives of Sir R. K. Porter.

M. H. J.

Thavies Inn.

The Mitred Abbot in Wroughton Church, Wilts(Vol. viii., p. 411.).—The figure was painted in fresco, not on a pillar, but on the spandril-space between two arches. The vestments, as far as I can make out, are an alb, a tunicle and a cope, and mitre. The hands do not appear to hold anything, and I see nothing to show it to represent a mitred abbot rather than a bishop. The colours of the cope and tunicle were red and green, the exterior of the cope and the tunicle being of one colour, the interior of the cope of the other. The figure was the only perfect one when I visited the church, and the rain was washing it out even as I sketched; but there had been one between every two arches, and there were traces of colour throughout the aisle, and the designs appeared to me unusually elegant. I believe my slight sketch to be all that now remains; and shall be glad to send a copy of it to your correspondent if he wishes for it, and will signify how I may convey it to him.

Passage in Virgil(Vol. viii., p. 270.).—Is this the passage referred to by Doctor Johnson?

"Nunc scio, quid sit Amor: duris in cotibus illumAut Tmarus, aut Rhodope, aut extremi Garamantes,Nec generis nostri puerum, nec sanguinis, edunt."Virgil:Bucolica, Ecl. viii. l. 43.

"Nunc scio, quid sit Amor: duris in cotibus illum

Aut Tmarus, aut Rhodope, aut extremi Garamantes,

Nec generis nostri puerum, nec sanguinis, edunt."

Virgil:Bucolica, Ecl. viii. l. 43.

"The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks." Dr. Johnson found his reward not in vain solicitations to patrons, but in the fruits of his literary labours.

The famous lines in Spenser's "Colin Clout's come home again,"[3]on the instability and hollowness of patronage, may occur to the reader:

"Full little knowest thou, that hast not tride,What hell it is in suing long to bide:To lose good days that might be better spent,To waste long nights in pensive discontent.To speed to-day, to be put back to-morrow,To feed on hope, to pine with fear and sorrow.To fret thy soul with crosses and with cares;To eat thy heart through comfortless despaires," &c.

"Full little knowest thou, that hast not tride,

What hell it is in suing long to bide:

To lose good days that might be better spent,

To waste long nights in pensive discontent.

To speed to-day, to be put back to-morrow,

To feed on hope, to pine with fear and sorrow.

To fret thy soul with crosses and with cares;

To eat thy heart through comfortless despaires," &c.

Footnote 3:(return)In Mother Hubberd's Tale.—Ed.

In Mother Hubberd's Tale.—Ed.

Sir Anthony Fitzherbert, Chief Justice(Vol. viii., pp. 158. 276.).—In "A Letter to a Convocation Man," which was recently edited by a frequent contributor to your pages, theRev. W. Fraser, B.C.L., and is favourably mentioned by you, I find the following sentence, declaring that Sir Anthony FitzherbertwasChief Justice:

"I must admit that it is said in the second part of Rolle'sAbridgment, that the Archbishop of Canterbury was prohibited to hold such assemblies by Fitzherbert, Chief Justice, because he had not the King's licence. But he adds that the Archbishop would not obey it; and he quotes Speed for it."—P. 38. of original pamphlet, and p. 36. of Mr. Fraser's reprint.

Mr. Frasermerely refers to Sir Anthony Fitzherbert as being made judge of the Common Pleas in 1523, and does not enter into this question, which deserves investigation.

M. W. R.

"To put aspokein his wheel" (Vol. viii., pp. 269. 351.).—W. C.'s answer to G. K.'s inquiry is so very facetious, that I must confess I do not understand it.

As to the meaning of the expression, I think there can be no doubt. Ainsworth interpreted "Scrupulum injecisti mihi, spem meam remoratus es."

In Dutch, "Een spaak in t'wiel steeken," is "To traverse, thwart, or cross a design." See Sewel'sWoordenboek.

The effect is similar to that ofspikingcannon. And it is not improbable thatspoke, known by theignorant to form part of the wheel, has been by them corrupted fromspike: and that the act is, driving aspikeinto the nave, so as to prevent the wheel from turning on its axle.

Bloomsbury.

Ballina Castle(Vol. viii., p. 411.).—O. L. R. G. inquires about Ballina Castle, Castlebar, and of the general history, descriptions, &c. of the co. Mayo. In the catalogue of my manuscript collections, prefixed to myAnnals of Boyle, or Early History of Ireland(upwards of 200 volumes), No. 37. purports to be "one volume 8vo., containing full compilations of records and events connected with the county of Mayo, with reference to the authorities," and it has special notices of Castlebar, Cong, Burrishoole, Kilgarvey, Lough Conn, &c., and notes of scenery and statistics. I offered in the year 1847 to publish a history of the county if I was indemnified, but I did not succeed in my application. I have, of course, very full notices of the records, &c. of Ballina, and the other leading localities of that interesting but too long neglected county, which I would gladly draw out and assign, as I would any other of my manuscript compilations, to any literary gentleman who would propose to prepare them for publication, or otherwise extract and report from them as may be sought.

John D'Alton.

48. Summer Hill, Dublin.

Mardle(Vol. viii., p. 411.).—This is the correct spelling as fixed by Halliwell. I should propose to derive it from A.-S.mathelian, to speak, discourse, harangue; or A.-S.methel, discourse, speech, conversation. (Bosworth.) Forby gives this word only with the meaning "a large pond;" a sense confined to Suffolk. But his vocabulary of East Anglia is especially defective in East Norfolk words—an imperfection arising from his residence in the extreme west of that county.

E. G. R.

Charles Diodati(Vol. viii., p. 295.).—Mr. Singermentions that Dr. Fellowes and others have confounded Carlo Dati, Milton's Florentine friend, with Charles Diodati, a schoolfellow (St. Paul's, London) to whom he addresses an Italian sonnet and two Latin poems. Charles Diodati practised physic in Cheshire; died 1638. Was this young friend of Milton's a relative of Giovanni Diodati, who translated the Bible into Italian; born at Lucca about 1589; became a Protestant; died at Geneva, 1649?

Ma. L.

Longevity(Vol. viii., p. 442.).—Mr. Murdoch'sQuery relative to Margaret Patten reminds me of a print exhibited in the Dublin Exhibition, which bore the following inscription:

"Mary Gore, born at Cottonwith in Yorkshire,A.D.1582; lived upwards of one hundred years in Ireland, and died in Dublin, aged 145 years. This print was done from a picturetaken(the word is torn off) when she was an hundred and forty-three. Vanluychpinxit, T. Chambersdel."

Eirionnach.

"Now the fierce bear," &c.(Vol. viii., p 440.).—The lines respecting whichθ.requests information are from Mr. Keble'sChristian Year, in the poem for Monday in Whitsun Week. They are, however, misquoted, and should run thus

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