"Quantrisdicvulstraosguistiroumnerevit,HsanChrismitmula
Quos anguis tristi diro cum vulnere stravit,Hos sanguis Christi miro tum munere lavit."
Quos anguis tristi diro cum vulnere stravit,
Hos sanguis Christi miro tum munere lavit."
J. O. B.
[The inscription quoted by our correspondent has been preserved by Stow, in hisSurvey of London, who, describing the monuments in the church of St. Anne in the Willows, says (p. 115. ed. 1842), "John Herenden, mercer, esquire, 1572; these verses on an old stone."]
—I shall feel greatly obliged to any of the readers of your entertaining and instructive miscellany, if they can explain the meaning of the worddeal, as used in Exod. xxix. 40. A tenth of flour is the verbal rendering of the Hebrew, the Septuagint, and the Vulgate. It was introduced by Coverdale and Tyndale, and is, I believe, in all our English translations except the Puritan or Genevan, which has "a tenth part;" and Mr John Ray of Glasgow, in his revised translation, who renders the word "the tenth of an ephah." Is this use of the worddealnoticed in any dictionary?
GEORGEOFFOR.
Hackney, July 13. 1851.
[The word "deal" in the passage referred to by our correspondent clearly signifies "part," and corresponds with the German "theil." It is from the A-S.; and Chaucer uses the phrases "never adel" and "everydel," for "never a bit" and "every bit." In theVision of Piers Ploughmanwe have a nearly parallel phrase to that used in our Bibles:
"That hevedes of holy church benThat han hir wil hereWithouten travaillethe tithe deelThat trewe men biswynken."L. 10571.et seq., ed. Wright.]
"That hevedes of holy church ben
That han hir wil here
Withouten travaillethe tithe deel
That trewe men biswynken."
L. 10571.et seq., ed. Wright.]
—Who is the author ofLa Mer des Histoires? I have seen the first volume in large folio; the type and paper are beautiful, the capital letters very fine. It is stated in the preface to be a translation from the Latin ofRudimentum Noviciorum, with the addition of the French Chronicles, and made at the instance of André de la Haye, Seigneur de Chaumot, Paymaster of Sens. It is printed at Paris in the month of July, 1448, by Pierre le Rouge. In how many volumes is the work comprised? Is it very scarce?
R. C. H. H.
[Greswell, in hisAnnals of Parisian Typography, p. 307., says, "The designationLa Mer des Histoiresseems, as a popular one, to have been given to French chronicles of various descriptions. Two impressions thus entitled appeared Parisiis, post 1500, viz., 'Mer des Histoires et Chroniques de France: extrait en partis de tous les anciens chroniquers, &c. jusqu' au temps de Francois I.,' 2 voll. fol. Galliot du Pres, 1514, 16; and more especially'La Mer des Hystoires et Croniques de France: Extraict en partie de tous les anciens croniquers,' 4 voll. fol.—'Lepremiervolume,' Galliot du pre, 1517; 'Lesecondvolume,' M. le Noir, 1517; 'Letiersvolume,' sine anno et impressoris nomine; 'Lequatriesmeliure,' Par. 1518. Panzer says that both these chronicles, of which the latter seems to be an improved edition of the former, are said to have been compiled by Johannes Descourtils, the French king's historiographer."]
—Not having by me at present the means of ascertaining, will some one kindly inform me where the above words are to be found in Shakspeare, giving me the exact reference?
R. VINCENT.
["Let's take the instant by the forward top;For we are old, and on our quick'st decreesThe inaudible and noiseless foot of timeSteals ere we can effect them."All's Well that ends Well, Act V. Sc. 3.]
["Let's take the instant by the forward top;For we are old, and on our quick'st decreesThe inaudible and noiseless foot of timeSteals ere we can effect them."All's Well that ends Well, Act V. Sc. 3.]
["Let's take the instant by the forward top;
For we are old, and on our quick'st decrees
The inaudible and noiseless foot of time
Steals ere we can effect them."
All's Well that ends Well, Act V. Sc. 3.]
Your correspondent ERYXinquires, in your paper of July 12, whether Servius's interpretation of
"Viridesque secant placido æquore silvas."Virg.Æn.viii. 96.
"Viridesque secant placido æquore silvas."
Virg.Æn.viii. 96.
be correct. I beg to reply that it is not. The interpretations of Servius are almost invariably incorrect; Servius was a very illiterate, ignorant, and narrow-minded man, and totally unable to understand the author whom he attempted to illustrate. His comments on Virgil resemble those which we might expect a hedge schoolmaster in Yorkshire now to make upon Milton. These comments, which are only valuable on account of the mythological traditions which are preserved in them, have been very injurious to the right understanding of Virgil.
The meaning of the passage in question is, that the Æneadæ row up the river among the green woods, or (literally) "secant silvas,"travel the woods, "placido æquore,"on the calm surface of the water,i. e.by rowing up the placid stream of the river. This, and not that assigned by Servius following Terentienus, is the true meaning. 1st. Becausesecarewith the objective case means constantly in Virgil totravel along. Compare "viam secat ad naves,"Æn.vi. 902.; "secuit sub nubibus arcum," v. 658., &c. 2ndly. Because the Tiber is described only asplacid, not asclear; and as appears fromÆn.vii. 31., was actuallyvery muddy,"multa flavus arena." The immediately preceding words, "variisque teguntur arboribus," have been pronounced by a very learned critic (one who has often deserved well of Virgil) to beidle, otiosa. (See Wagner adÆn.i. 678.) And his opinion has been sanctioned by the usually judicious Forbiger. But they are not idle; on the contrary, they are necessary to convey the idea that the Æneadæ passed up the riverunder the shade of the trees; and so are supplemental to the statement contained in the words cited by your correspondent, which inform us only that they went up the river. Hence a confirmation of the correctness of the received interpretation.
JAMESHENRY.
34. Westland Row, Dublin, July 14. 1851.
Your correspondent ERYXwishes to know, whether in the passage (Æneid, viii. 96.)—
"Viridesque secant placido æquore silvas,"
"Viridesque secant placido æquore silvas,"
the wordsecantcan legitimately convey the same idea that is expressed in Tennyson's lines—
—— "my shallop ... cloveThe citron shadows in the blue."
—— "my shallop ... clove
The citron shadows in the blue."
There can be little doubt that this well-known passage in theÆneidis theoriginalof Tennyson's image; that, in fact, it is an excusable plagiarism on the part of the latter, who, in introducing, his image, has, I think, missed the appropriateness, and therefore increased beauty, belonging to it in the original passage of Virgil.
When Æneas is journeying up the Tiber to visit Evander, the river, in order to lessen his labours—
"refluens ... substitit unda;"
"refluens ... substitit unda;"
but notwithstanding this, the journey was arduous as is shown in thewholeof the three lines 94-96.
"Olli remigio noctemque diemque fatigant,Et longos superant flexes, variisque tegunturArboribus, viridesque secant pacido æquore silvas."
"Olli remigio noctemque diemque fatigant,
Et longos superant flexes, variisque teguntur
Arboribus, viridesque secant pacido æquore silvas."
That is to say, "They labour at the oar till night is wearied out, and day also is obliged to give place in its turn; they master one by one the long serpentine bends of the river, and, though covered and inclosed by the varied foliage above them, they cut their way through the opposing woods, which lie, as it were, in their path in the shadowy surface of the clear, still water."
The wordplacidois surely sufficient to prevent any one falling into the common-place interpretation alluded to by your correspondent as the one "usually given."
H. C. K.
—— Rectory, Hereford, July 14.
I feel much obliged for the information afforded by your Dutch correspondent. When I sent you my Query on the subject more than a year ago, I wrote principally from memory; but as I have now the work in question lying beside me as I write, and as it seems to be rarer and less known than I had imagined, you will perhaps find place for a more minute description of it.
The Vine of St. Francisis a folio volume, containing 418 numbered leaves, a "Prologhe" of one leaf (next to the title-page), and a "Tafel vā dit boeck" at the end, of five leaves and a half unnumbered.
The title-page contains a full-length picture of the saint, with a nimbus round his head, the knotted cord round his waist, and his palms extended, displaying the sacred stigmata. Above the picture is the title in red and black. I have written in Italics the words printed in red:
"Denwÿngaert vāSinteFranciscusvolschoonrehistorienlegenden endeduechdelÿckeleerēnghen allenmenschenseer profÿtelÿch."
And under the picture "Cumgratiaetprivilegio." On the back of the title-page is printed as follows:—
"Dit is die generael tafel vā dese wÿngaert dwelcke ghdeylt is in drie boecken.
¶ Dat eerste boeck inhoutSinte Franciscus grote legendeSinte Franciscus oude legendeDen aflaet van portiunkelSinte Franciscus souter.¶ Dat ander boeck inhoudeDe legēde vā de .v. marte mind-brod'sDe legēde vā de seuē mar. ooc mind'b.Sinte bonauentura legendeSinte lodewÿc biscop legendeSinte anthonis vā paduen legendeSinte bernardÿns legendeSinte clara legendeSinte puo priesters legendeSinte lodewÿc coninex legendeSinte elzearius graue legendeSinte elizabets legende.¶ Dat derde boec inhoutEen tractaet vā S. Franciscus oordenSinte Franciscus geselle leuenDie geleerde en̄ edele vā S. Frāciscus oordenDat getal der broederē en̅ prouintienDe aflaet vā romē mittē aflaet des oordēsDe kalēdier mittē feestē des aflaets."
¶ Dat eerste boeck inhoutSinte Franciscus grote legendeSinte Franciscus oude legendeDen aflaet van portiunkelSinte Franciscus souter.
¶ Dat eerste boeck inhout
Sinte Franciscus grote legende
Sinte Franciscus oude legende
Den aflaet van portiunkel
Sinte Franciscus souter.
¶ Dat ander boeck inhoudeDe legēde vā de .v. marte mind-brod'sDe legēde vā de seuē mar. ooc mind'b.Sinte bonauentura legendeSinte lodewÿc biscop legendeSinte anthonis vā paduen legendeSinte bernardÿns legendeSinte clara legendeSinte puo priesters legendeSinte lodewÿc coninex legendeSinte elzearius graue legendeSinte elizabets legende.
¶ Dat ander boeck inhoude
De legēde vā de .v. marte mind-brod's
De legēde vā de seuē mar. ooc mind'b.
Sinte bonauentura legende
Sinte lodewÿc biscop legende
Sinte anthonis vā paduen legende
Sinte bernardÿns legende
Sinte clara legende
Sinte puo priesters legende
Sinte lodewÿc coninex legende
Sinte elzearius graue legende
Sinte elizabets legende.
¶ Dat derde boec inhoutEen tractaet vā S. Franciscus oordenSinte Franciscus geselle leuenDie geleerde en̄ edele vā S. Frāciscus oordenDat getal der broederē en̅ prouintienDe aflaet vā romē mittē aflaet des oordēsDe kalēdier mittē feestē des aflaets."
¶ Dat derde boec inhout
Een tractaet vā S. Franciscus oorden
Sinte Franciscus geselle leuen
Die geleerde en̄ edele vā S. Frāciscus oorden
Dat getal der broederē en̅ prouintien
De aflaet vā romē mittē aflaet des oordēs
De kalēdier mittē feestē des aflaets."
Under these tables of contents occur two stanzas, the first containing five lines, the second containing seven lines. They commence:—
"¶ O salige wÿngaert seer diep gheplantGroyende in duechden van vruchten playsant," &c.
"¶ O salige wÿngaert seer diep gheplant
Groyende in duechden van vruchten playsant," &c.
The preface to theGrote Legendeinforms us that it is Saint Bonaventura's life of Saint Francis, and mentions why it is called theGreat Legend. This life ends at folio 47.
The preface to theOude Legende, which next follows, states that it is "gathered from thewritings of his companions and the chronicles of the order of the Brothers Minor;" and the "Prologhe" (which succeeds the preface) mentions—
"Die legēde van zÿn drie gesellen den spiegel der volcomēheyts der minderbroeders. Broeder Thomas oude legends en̄ dē boeck der ghelÿcheden daer seer schoon besereuē is. Hoe ghelÿck dat dese heylighe man Franciscus: Christo Jhesu."
These lives, I suppose, are—that joint narrative compiled by three intimate associates of the Saint, "zÿn drie gesellen," that composed by Thomas of Celano; and theLiber Conformitatum.
The 39th chap. of thisOude Legende, folio ciii., relates, as the preface says—
"¶ Hoe dat S. F. woude reysen in verre lāden om dat vole te bekeren en̄ te vermaenen en̄ vā die grote tribulacie die hi leet int soldaēs lant en̄ hoe hi gerne martelaer hadde geworden en̄ hoe die broeders te Antiochien sÿn oordē aēnaemen."
On which Jewish-converting martyrdom-seeking journey Dr. Geddes (in his curious little work on theRomish Orders of Monks and Friars, Lond. 1714) quaintly remarks:
"A Quaker's having gone from England to Rome to convert the pope to his religion, is a mighty jest with some people, who are very much edified with this story of Francis's going from Italy to Egypt to convert the sultan, but these two adventures do to me appear to be so much alike that I shall leave it to anatomists to tell whether good wits that prompt others, have not their brains either made of the same size, or much in the same posture."
TheOude Legendeends folio 44. Next follows:
"¶ Die historie van dē aflaet van Sinte Maria van dē enghelen diemē portiūkel heet,"
as the preface hath it. Some of your readers may have seen an advertisement respecting a series of Franciscan works (to be published, I think, by Richardson of Derby), entitled thePortioncule Library; and seeing in the above table of contents "Die aflaet van Portiunkel," or the Indulgence of thePortiunkel, they may be at a loss to know its meaning, so I shall quote a note from Mrs. Jameson's highly interesting and valuable work on theMonastic Orders, which is to the purpose:
"The term Porzioncula means literally 'a small portion, share, or allotment.' The name was given to a slip of land, of a few acres in extent, at the foot of the hill of Assisi, and on which stood a little chapel; both belonged to a community of Benedictines, who afterwards bestowed the land and the chapel on the brotherhood of S. Francis. This chapel was then familiarly known as the 'Capella della Porzioncula.' Whether the title by which it has since become famous as the S. Maria-degli-Angeli belonged to it originally, or because the angels were heard singing around and above it at the time of the birth of St. Francis, does not seem clear. At all events this chapel became early sanctified as the scene of the ecstasies and visions of the saint; here also S. Clara made her profession. Particular indulgences were granted to those who visited it for confession and repentance on the fifth of August and it became a celebrated place of pilgrimage in the fourteenth century. Mr. Ford tells us, that in Spain the termPorzionculais applied generally to distinguish the chapel or sanctuary dedicated to St. Francis within the Franciscan churches. The original chapel of the Porzioncula now stands in the centre of the magnificent church which has been erected over it."
In the "Legende" of St. Anthony of Padua, chap. vii. fol. ccxx., we have that saint's "sermo ad pisces" in the city of Rimini,die vol ketters was, and the conversion therefrom of the saidkettersor heretics.
The "Prologhe" to the narrative "van die vÿf Martelaren," fol. clxxviii., commences, "Ego quasi Vitis fructificavi suavitatem odoris alo cenē wÿngaert," &c.: here we learn why the work is calledDen Wÿngaert, orThe Vine.
In the "tractat vā S. F. orden en̄ reghele," at fol. cccxxix., we have an account of Brother Agnellus of Pisa his mission to England in 1224.
In the "Getal der broederē en̄ prouintien," at fol. cccci., we learn that at that time (1518) England had 7 convents and 200 friars; Ireland 15 convents and 400 friars; and Scotland 8 convents and 120 friars.
The "Kalendier" which follows this "Getal" is printed in red and black.
"Den aflaet vā romē" is the last tract in the book. Here is the finis:
"¶ Hier eyndt bÿ de gratie gods dat derde boec vā desen wÿngaert die mit groten arbeyt wt veel ductētelÿcke scriftē wten latÿne vergadert en̄ nu eerst translateert is, ter eerē des heylighe confessors Sinte Franciscus en̄ ten profÿte vā allen gueden kenten menschen.
"¶ Hier na volcht di tafele."
After the "tafel" or index occur some verses containing seventy-three lines, eulogistic of the saint.
I forgot to mention that in theOude Legendesome of St. Francis's poems are given, translated from the Italian originals: at fol. cxxii. is given the "Canticum solis," part of which Sir James Stephen quotes in his sketch of the saint's life.
I have a Query to make, but must defer it to another time, as I have already taken up enough of your paper.
JARLTZBERG.
An extraordinary mode of swearing, akin to the oaths already noticed, is recorded by Ysbrant Ides in hisTravels from Moscow to China(London, 1705, and reprinted in the second volume of Harris's Collection):—
"TwoTunguzian hostages falling out, one accused the other before the Waywode (or Viceroy) of having conjured his deceased brother to death. The Waywode asked the accuser if he would, according to the Tunguzian custom, put the accused to his oath? To this he answered in the affirmative; after which the accused took alive dog, laid him on the ground, and with a knife stuck him into the body, just under his left foot, and immediately clapped his mouth to the wound, and sucked out the dog's blood as long as he could come at it; after which he lift him up, laid him on his shoulders, and clapped his mouth again to the wound in order to suck out the remaining blood. An excellent drink indeed! And this is the greatest oath and most solemn confirmation of the Truth amongst them; so that on credit of this the accused was set free, and the accuser punished for his false accusation."
The dog, designed, as Cicero observes, for man's use, was doubtless selected for his sagacity and faithfulness; and by Loccenius, in hisLeges W. Gothicæ, "tria canum capita" are stated to have been "Hunnorum gentis insignia," the progenitors of the Tunguzians, p. 107. In Northern Europe "sanguine Deos placari creditum; canibus etiam cum hominibus permistè in luco suspensis." (Ibid.p. 105.)
Among the northern nations, not only their testimoniary oaths were thus sanctioned by blood, but their confederative also, in which their fraternisation was symbolised by reciprocal transfusion of blood.
"Dear as the blood that warms my heart."Gray'sBard.
"Dear as the blood that warms my heart."
Gray'sBard.
It was the custom of the Scythians "non dextras tantum implicare, sed pollices mutuo vincire, nodoque perstringere; mox sanguine in artus extremos se effundente levi ritucruorem elicere, atque invicem lambere." (HanseaniusDe Jurejurando Verterum.) Quintus Curtius remarks that among the Hindoos (between whom and the Scythians Sir W. Jones and other ethnographers have observed various traces of affinity) the joining of right hands was their usual mode of salutation; "dextra fidei sedes."
En passant, I have elsewhere seen the opinion quoted by a correspondent (Vol. ii., p. 464), "Sedem animæ in digitis ponunt," attributed to the Hindoos. Query, Has not the profession ofθεληται(see Dr. Maitland onMesmerism) prevailed among them? Their propensity to conjuring is so proverbial, that, according to a writer in theAsiatic Researches, that term is derived from one of their tribes. See also on their witchcrafts, Acosta'sEast and West Indies, chap. xxvi.
Before I dismiss the subject of swearing, permit me to observe what appears to me to be the origin of the apothegm "Fiat Justitia, ruat Cœlum" (Vol. ii., p. 494.), which, with a slight change, was afterwards adopted by Ferdinand, emperor of Austria.
May it not have originated in an oath similar to that of Chaganus, king of the Huns, recorded by Otrokoesi, in hisHistoriæ Hungaricæ?—
"Abarico ritu jusjurandum ad hunc modum præstitit. Ense edueto et in altum sublato sibi et Abaricorum genti dira imprecatussi quid mali, &c.Cœlumex alto ipsis et Deus Ignis qui in cœlo est,irrueret."
More sententiously he may have said: "Fiat [a me] justitia, [in me] ruat Cœlum, [si non].
On the inviolability of oaths among the heathens, in addition to the works referred to in Vol. iii., p. 192., seeGentleman's Magazine, vol. i. p. 415.; on the singular notion, in the fourteenth century, of the harmlessness of colloquial and affirmative oaths, seeArchæologia, vol. xx. p. 43.; and on the opposition made by the Lollards to this unchristian practice, Purvey'sRemonstrance against the Corruptions of the Church of Rome, edited by the Rev. J. Forshall, London, 1851.
T. J.
The querist on Hugh Holland and his works, must be content with a reply of unvarnished brevity.
1. "Where are these lines taken from, and what do they mean?"—The lines are from theCypress garlandof Hugh Holland, 1625. 4to. The meaning is obvious. I assume that Holland may be trusted as to his own age, to which Wood gives no clue.
2. "Who says he did not quit Westminster school till 1589?"—Wood says he was bred in Westminster school, and "elected into Trinity coll. in Cambridge, an. 1589." Welch, from official documents, gives the same date. Wood nowhere states that he "matriculated at Baliol in 1582."
3. "My words are, 'about1590 he succeeded to a fellowship.'"—Wood says he was elected to Trinity college in 1589, "of which he wasafterwardsfellow." It may have been some years afterwards.
4. "Why does not MR. CORNEYgive your readers his interpretation of the mysterious H. H.?"—He reserved it for another occasion, but now consents to satisfy the curiosity of the querist and others.
In 1632 Henry Holland dedicated to Charles I. an English version of theCyrvpædiaof Xenophon, made by his father Philemon Holland. In the dedication, which is signed at length, he says:
"Also, when any unworthy selfe (anno 1620) offred mine owne collections, entituledHerwologia Anglica, unto his highnesse [James I.], he most graciously received it."
In 1614 appeared, under the initials "H. H.," theMonvmenta sepvlchraria sancti Pavli, and in the addressad lectoremwe read:
"Et non solùm nomine bonus appellatus est [sc. Alex. Nowel], sed etiam et in vita sua bonitas apparuit, et in morte bona sua opera illum sunt sequuta, et uberiùs et fusiùs inEffigiebusnostris etvitis illustrium Anglorumcum de Coleto tum de illo apparet: (quæ nunc transmarino habitu vestiendæ sunt) quare hic illum pluribus prosequi verbis non est opus."
Here is unanswerable evidence that Henry Holland was the compiler of both works. In the catalogue of the Grenville collection of books, now in the British Museum, both works are ascribed to Hugh Holland.
5. "The edition of 1614 was certainly the first, and that of 1633certainlythe second."—The querist adopts my correction of his threefold error, and calls it ananswer!
6. "I shall therefore leave the shade of Cole and MR. BOLTONCORNEYto settle the question as to whether any such work exists."—The querist did not perceive that theRoxana of Alexanderwas an error for theRoxana of Alabaster—so he endeavours to draw off the attention of his readers from this proof of critical obtuseness by a common-place witticism.
I must describe the facile process by which our querist has obtained his apparent triumph. Wood, at the close of his article on Hugh Holland the poet, which is chiefly derived from theWorthiesof Fuller, mentions one Hugh Holland as admitted B.A. in 1570, and another Hugh Holland as matriculated at Baliol college in 1582, aged twenty-four; with others of that surname. He adds, "but whether any of them were authors, I cannot yet tell, orwhether the last was the same with the poet. Qu." Now, with regard to the first and second articles, our querist omits the sentence which proves the inapplicability of his quotations! and with regard to the third article, he omits the wordafterwards, which forms the gist of the argument.
BOLTONCORNEY.
"Assertion is not proof," and it surely does requireproofere we consent to brand a writer of unimpeached character with the charge of "a shameless, heartless act of literary piracy."
It rests with ERZAto bring forward his or herproofthat the lines in dispute were written by Lady Flora. ERZAasserted that they were "never before printed." I have enabled him or her to satisfy himself or herself that they were in printnearlytwelve years ago. I am disposed to believe ERZAequally mistaken in the assertion as to the authorship of the lines. If this prove so, the imputation cast upon Miss Barber will revert upon her accuser, and will demand the most ample apology.
I do not know Miss Barber; her writings I have long admired; and having been the means of drawing down upon her such an accusation, I am not disposed to let the inquiry terminate here. Nor can I believe the Editor of "NOTES ANDQUERIES" will desire that either a literary error or a groundless slander should descend to posterity in his pages.
L. H. K.
ERZAcannot entertain a higher respect than I do for the memory of Lady Flora Hastings; but I am sure no member of her family would countenance any attempt to exalt her reputation at the expense of another's; and I fear ERZA, however unintentionally, has fallen into this error. The stanzas she attributed to Lady Flora, as L. H. K. stated (Vol. iii., p. 522.), were published as Miss M. A. S. Barber's inThe Christian Lady's Magazinefor September, 1839, only two months after Lady Flora's death. In the preceding number, as L. H. K. also correctly stated, is a brief memoir of Lady Flora, in which it is said, that shortly before her death she "delivered to her fond brother a little Bible, the gift of her mother, requesting him to restore it to that beloved parent," &c. ERZAmay be unacquainted with that publication, but I can assure her that Lady Flora's brother, my esteemed and lamented patron, was not; for shortly after the number appeared, I found it lying on his table, in his own private room at Donington Park, and, while waiting to see him, partly read it there myself for the first time. I know not whether he ever read the lines in question in the succeeding number, but I know theMagazinewas regularly taken by some of Lady Flora's intimate friends, and I cannot suppose they would allow any poem of hers to pass unnoticed for twelve years, with the signature of Miss Barber attached to it. Indeed the stanzas bear internal evidence of being written after Lady Flora's death, and founded on the account given byCharlotte Elizabethin the preceding number. If, however, ERZAstill persists in attributing them to Lady Flora Hastings, she is in duty bound to give her authority, and not bring such a heavy accusation against Miss Barber on the bare assertion of an anonymous correspondent. If Miss Barber really composed the stanzas, as I believe she did, she was doubtless actuated with a desire to honour the memory and character of Lady Flora; and in such case nothing could be more cruel and unjust than the conduct imputed to her by ERZA. Unfortunately I do not know Miss Barber's address, or whether she is still living; but if any of your readers do, I hope they will name this case to her, or her friends, that her reputation may be cleared from the imputation thus rashly cast on it. If the case cannot thus be satisfactorily settled, I will obtain the desired information from another quarter; but I hope ERZAwill also offer the assistance in her power towards this desirable object; and toset the example of candour and openness, I will subscribe my real name.
W. HASTINGSKELKE.
Drayton Beauchamp.
—In reply to one of your correspondents, who inquires as to the correct pronunciation of the name of the poetCowper, I may mention, that some years ago, being on a visit in the neighbourhood of Weston Underwood, I made particular inquiries on this point in the village, and found thattherethe poet had always been known as Mr. Cooper. The name of the noble family to which he was related will be the best criterion.
By the way, was there not sometime since a proposal for erecting by subscription a worthy monument to a poet whose memory every Christian must revere? In whose hands was this project, and with whom does its execution rest?
THOS. MCCALMONT.
Highfield, near Southampton, July 22. 1851.
In my humble opinion, Coke is the old English form of writingcook, from A.-Sax. "cóc." See Chaucer'sCoke's Tale, andCock Lorrell's Bote, where we read "Drouers, Cokes, and pulters;" and in this same poem occurs the line, "Carpenters,coupers, and ioyners." See also under Cooper in Pegge'sAnecdotes of the English Language; the names, as thus pronounced, are rendered significant.
Should it be asked how we ought to pronounce the name of another poet, viz. Cowley, if Cowper be called Cooper, I answer that they are from different roots: that Cowley is fromcow, andley, signifying cow pasture, or place for cows; and that Cowper is only another form of Cooper: not but that in the north they pronouncecowascoo, and, therefore, they would call him Cooley.
THOS. LAWRENCE.
Ashby de la Zouch.
—JAMESC. will find the subject ofVitrified Fortstreated at considerable length in the fourth volume of theArchæologia Scotica, by S. Hibbert, Esq, M.D., Sir George Mackenzie, Bart., of Coul, and George Anderson, Esq., F.R.S., pp. 160-195.
T. B. J.
Edinburgh, July 18. 1851.
—The editorial note is sufficiently satisfactory; but what is the etymology ofgooseberry? Clearly "gorseberry," the fruit of the prickly shrub or bush.
JAMESCORNISH.
—Whether Oldham or Dryden had the prior claim to the thought, is a very interesting question, but very easily settled in favour of the much greater poet of the two, for—
"The dedication to the Earl of Orrery was addressed to him in the year 1664, whenThe Rival Ladies, which was Dryden's second play, was first printed."—Malone'sDryden, vol. i. part 2. p. 3.
Whereas the poem of Oldham states itself to have been written in July, 1678.
C. B.
—TYROwill find a notice of him in Sir James Ware'sWriters of Ireland, p. 92., Harris's edition.
FABER-FERRARIUS.
Dublin.
—In No. 75. of "NOTES ANDQUERIES" for April, 1851, inquiry is made "to whom William Penn, the eldest son of William Penn (the founder), was married, and also to whom the children of said son were married, as well as those of his daughter Letitia (Mrs. Aubrey), if she had any?" William Penn (the son) married Mary Jones, by whom he had three children, William, Springett (who died without issue), and Gul. Maria. William hadtwowives, Christiana Forbes, and Ann Vaux. By Miss Forbes he had a daughter, married to Peter Gaskell, Esq.; and by Miss Vaux a son, Springett, who died without issue. Mrs. Aubrey (Letitia Penn) had no children.
EDW. D. INGRAHAM.
Philadelphia, July 4. 1851.
—I have no doubt that this word is derived, as so many of ourmarketterms are, from the French,bonne marée, fresh fish.
"Marée signifie toute sorte de poisson de mer qui n'est pas salé;bonne marée, marée fraîche, vendeur de marée."—Dict. de l'Acad. Franc., voce.
C.
—The indiscriminate use of "Miss" and "Mrs." to unmarried ladies is often very perplexing. The "Mrs." was not, as M. S. supposes, always accompanied by the Christian name for unmarried ladies; and the custom lasted at least as late as the reign of George II. Pope in his letters (about 1719) mentions "Mrs. Lepel" and "Mrs. Bellenden," maids of honour. The examples are innumerable, but thelatestinstance I remember is the Duchess of Queensbury addressing Patty Blount in 1756 as "Mrs. Blount;" though, no doubt, Patty was, bythat time, entitled to what is calledbrevetrank.
C.
—MR. PARSONS, I observe, confines his inquiry to English book plates. On that point I cannot at present offer him any information but I can to a certain extent confirm his views with regard to the use of them in foreign countries, havingnow before me the plate (a woodcut) of Erhardus à Muckhenthall—probably in modern German, Erhardt von Muckenthal—dated 1634. It consists of his armorial bearings, surmounted by a helmet, &c., apparently indicative of nobility; but the tinctures not being expressed, I cannot give the blazon. The charge on his shield seems to be intended for a lamb salient.
F. S. Q.
In the Surrenden Collection there are several loose impressions of Sir Edward Dering's book plate, bearing date 1630. It is a very elaborate one, and of a size adapted only for a folio volume; one of them is now before me, with the date most clearly and distinctly marked.
L. B. L.
Mr. Macaulay's vigorous sketch of the gallant cornet of horse who resigned his commission for the toga, and, after figuring during his life as statesman than whom "none has left a more stainless, and none a more splendid name," was stricken down in full council while straining his feeble voice to rouse the drooping spirit of his country, forms the fifth part ofThe Traveller's Library: and it would be difficult to find a volume of the same compass better calculated to furnish a couple of hours' amusing and instructive reading thanWilliam Pitt, Earl of Chatham, by Thomas Babington Macaulay.
Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson will sell, on Tuesday next, an extensive collection of Autograph Letters, chiefly of distinguished Actors, Actresses, and Dramatic Writers, but including a very interesting series of letters, documents, and papers relating to the Byron family, and, what is of still more importance and historical value, the Autograph Correspondence of Charles I. with Captain Titus, written during his imprisonment in Carisbrook Castle, and treating of his proposed escape from it, and also some letters of Charles II., addressed by him, after the Restoration, to the same zealous adherent. On the following day Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson will be employed in the disposal of a very select Collection of Autograph Letters and Historical Documents, including Letters and Autographs of Queen Elizabeth, James I., King John of France (Jehan le Bon), Richard Duke of York, Philip II. of Spain, and many documents connected with the great Anglo-Norman Families, and the Royal Houses of France and Normandy.
CATALOGUESRECEIVED.—W. Lincoln's (Cheltenham House, Westminster Road) Seventy-first Catalogue of English, Foreign, Classical, and Miscellaneous Literature; Cole's (15. Great Turnstile) List No. XXXVI. of very Cheap Books; G. Bumstead's (205. High Holborn) Catalogue Part 52. of Interesting and Curious Books.
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