"Blamed be the man that first invented ink,And made it easier for to write than think."
"Blamed be the man that first invented ink,
And made it easier for to write than think."
N. O. K.
—Can any correspondent furnish me with the reference to a passage supposed to exist in one of the early fathers (I think Irenæus):—
"Quid est episcopus, nisi primus presbyter?"
"Quid est episcopus, nisi primus presbyter?"
X. G. X.
—I shall feel obliged to any person who can give any account (for genealogical purposes) of Henry Isaac, who lived at Roehampton about the middle of last century. He was a diamond merchant from Holland. He had a collection of pictures, one of which was the Lord of the Vineyard paying his Labourers, by Rembrandt.
H. T. E.
—Britannia, sive regnorum Angliæ, Scotiæ, et Hiberniæ chorographica descriptio: Gulielmo Camdeno: Lond. 1607, folio, p. 302., Middlesex.
"Nec magno hinc intervalloTamisimduplici ostiolo Colus postquam insulas sparserit, illabitur.Ad quemut nostræ ætatis Poeta Germanus lusit:
"'Tot campos, sylvas, tot regia tecta, tot hortosArtifici dextrâ excultos, tot vidimus arces,Aut nunc Ausonio, Tamisis cum Tybride certet.'"
"'Tot campos, sylvas, tot regia tecta, tot hortos
Artifici dextrâ excultos, tot vidimus arces,
Aut nunc Ausonio, Tamisis cum Tybride certet.'"
Camden, speaking of the Colne falling with a double mouth into the Thames, quotes a German poet of his day; and I should be much obliged by any reader of the "N. & Q." favouring me with the name, and reference to the author from whence the preceding quotation is taken.
☞F.
—Several members of the Brougham Institute here, and constant readers of "N. & Q.," would feel obliged if some of your learned correspondents would give them some information about the obtaining of American degrees, as recently a large cargo of diplomas had arrived in this quarter, such as D.D. and LL.D., and conferred on men of third-rate talent. What we want is, to be informed how such degrees are obtained; if it is the president, or president and professors, of the American academies who confer them. This subject is so frequently agitated here, that you would greatly oblige many inquirers by making a question of it in "N. & Q.," so that wemay obtain full reply explanatory of how these degrees are obtained, and of the bestowers of them.
J. W.
Liverpool.
—It is just two years since the wordNewswas stated to be derived from the initial letters of the cardinal points of the compass, as prefixed to early newspapers. I well remember the impression which the statement made on me: if written seriously, as a mark of credulity; if sportively, as rather out of place. Moreover, it was both stated as afact, and as aningenious etymology—a manifest inconsistency.
In the fierce and tiresome discussion which arose out of that announcement, the main points in support of the asserted derivation were never once introduced. Do such early newspapers exist? Is the derivation itself of early date? As to the first question, I must declare that no such newspapers ever came undermyobservation; but as to the second, it must be admitted that the derivation has been in print, with all the weight of evidence which belongs to it, above two centuries.
I shall assume, if not better informed, that it has no other authority than the subjoined epigram inWits recreations, first published in 1640, and said to contain thefinest fanciesof the muses of those times. In default of the original edition of that rare work, I transcribe from the re-publication of it in 1817.
"News."When news doth come, if any would discusseThe letter of the word, resolve it thus:News is convey'd by letter, word, or mouth,And comes to us fromNorth,East,West, andSouth."
"News.
"News.
"When news doth come, if any would discusseThe letter of the word, resolve it thus:News is convey'd by letter, word, or mouth,And comes to us fromNorth,East,West, andSouth."
"When news doth come, if any would discusse
The letter of the word, resolve it thus:
News is convey'd by letter, word, or mouth,
And comes to us fromNorth,East,West, andSouth."
BOLTONCORNEY.
—Would MR. J. PAYNECOLLIER, whose name I have often seen among your contributors, have the kindness to inform me whether any light is thrown, in the emendations inserted in his folio edition ofShakspeare, 1628, on a line which has always puzzled me in Ulysses' speech in council, in Scene 3. of Act I. ofTroilus and Cressida? The passage runs thus:
"How could communities,Degrees in schools, and brotherhood in cities,Peaceful commérce from dividable shores,The primogenitive and due of birth,Prerogative of age, crowns, sceptres, laurels,But by degree, stand in authentic place?"
"How could communities,
Degrees in schools, and brotherhood in cities,
Peaceful commérce from dividable shores,
The primogenitive and due of birth,
Prerogative of age, crowns, sceptres, laurels,
But by degree, stand in authentic place?"
It will be seen that the third line, according to the usual pronunciation of the last word, is defective in scanning; that, if derived fromdivido, the vowel in the penultimate syllable would beiand nota; and that, even if intended to express the worddivided, as suggested by one of our commentators, would be too vague and inexpressive.
Might I suggest that the derivation is not from the worddivido, but rather from a compound of the wordsdivitiæanddo; the expression "riches-giving shores" not only completing the sense of the passage, but forming a compound not uncommon with our immortal bard.
W. S. D.
—That should be their name if they exist; but, if so, where are they to be got? I never heard of them. I should think a clever fellow might make a fortune by inventing some kind of substitute which a man without the time, skill, or materials necessary for sewing on a button, might put in the place of a deserter. If you do not insert this Query, may your brace buttons fly off next time you are dressing in a hurry to dine with the grandest people you know!
YOURWELLWISHER.
—In theNew Memoirs of Literature, vol. iv., July, 1726, it was announced that Mr. Bush, one of the Clerks of the Record Office in the Tower, and late Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, designed to print a Collection of Charters, Letters Patent, and other instruments concerning the creation and investiture of the eldest sons of the Kings of England as Princes of Wales, Dukes of Cornwall, Earls of Chester and Flint, &c. &c., from the time of Edward, the first Prince of Wales (afterwards King Edward II.), to the time of Edward IV.
Can any of your correspondents inform me whether such a work ever was published? and who was the editor of the monthly review entitledNew Memoirs of Literature, which extended to six volumes 8vo.? It contains notices of many old and now rare works, and stopped in December, 1727.
G.
—Your correspondent A. B. R. (antè, p. 145.) and others arguetheirquestion of the old Countess of Desmond very ably;—will any one of them be pleased to arguemyquestion? Is there one word of truth in the story, or any other story that rests, as a preliminary condition, on the assumption that people have lived to one hundred and fifty years of age? Of course the proof is to rest on dates and facts, parish registers—onclear legal evidence. It is admitted by actuaries and others, learned in such matters, that the average duration of life is greater now than it was; so, we might fairly assume, would be the exceptional life. Can these gentlemen refer us to a single instance of an insured person who lived to one hundred and fifty? to one hundred and forty, thirty, twenty, ten? aye, to one hundred and ten? There is a nonsensical inscription to this effect on the portrait of a man of the name of Gibson, hung up in Greenwich Hospital, but its untruth has been proved. I alsoremember another case made out to the entire satisfaction of some benevolent ladies, by, as afterwards appeared, the baptismal register of John the father being made to do duty as the register of John the son. I mention these things as a warning; I protest, too, at starting against flooding "N. & Q." with evidence brought from Russia or America, or any of the back settlements of the world, and against all evidence of people with impossible memories. What I want isgood legal evidence; the greatest age of the oldest members of the Equitable, Amicable, and other Insurance offices—lives certainly beyond the average; the greatest age of a member of the House of Peers coming within the eye of proof. When these preliminary questions, and reasonable inferences, shall have been determined, it will, I think, be quite time enough to raise questions about the old Countess, old Parr, old Jenkins, and other like ante-register longevities.
O. C. D.
—Can any of your correspondents inform one where any unpublished letters or papers of Archbishop Laud are to be met with, besides those at Lambeth or in the British Museum?
Anthony à Wood mentions his speech against Nathanael Fiennes; and Wanley, in hisCatalogue of English and Irish MSS., states that many of his writings, both political and theological, were extant at that time in private libraries.
B. J.
[Archbishop Laud'sWorksare now in the course of publication in the Library of Anglo-Catholic Theology, and from the editor's valuable bibliographical prefaces to vols. i. and ii., we think it probable that some notices of these MSS. will be given in the subsequent volumes. Our correspondent may also consultCatalogi Librorum Manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ, Oxon. 1697.]
—Philomythie, or Philomythologie, wherein Outlandish Birds, Beasts, and Fishes are taught to speak true English plainlie, &c.
The same volume, a small quarto unpaged, contains "The Merrie American Philosopher, or Wise Man of the New World," and "Certaine Pieces of this Age Parabolized, viz. Duellum Britannicum; Regalis Justitia Jacobi; Aquignispicium; Antidotum Cecillianum; by Thomas Scot, Gentleman, 1616, with illustrative woodcuts."
Query: Is the book rare, and who was Thomas Scot?
L. S.
[But little appears to be known of the personal history of Thomas Scot. Sir S. Egerton Brydges, in hisCensura Literaria, vol. iii. pp. 381-386., and vol. iv. p. 32., has given some account of his works, but no biographical notice of the author. The dedications to his poems being principally to the Norfolk and Suffolk gentry, it is probable he belonged to one of those counties. The first edition ofPhilomythiewas published in 1610; the second in 1616; but some copies of the second edition, according to Lowndes, are dated 1622, others 1640. There is a third portion which our correspondent does not appear to possess, entitledThe Second Part of Philomythie, or Philomythologie, containing Certaine Tales of true libertie, false friendship, power united, faction and ambition. By Thomas Scot, Gent. London, 1616, 1625. Thomas Park thought that, from the great disparity of merit between this and the preceding part, there is little reason to suppose them to be by the same author, though they bear the same name. Scot's works are considered rare, especially his first, entitledFour Paradoxes of Arte, of Lawe, of Warre, of Seruice: London, 1602, consisting of twenty-four leaves, in verse, dedicated to Ladie Helena, Marquesse of Northampton, which is marked inBibl. Anglo. Poet.at 25l., and resold for 7l.12s.(Hibbert, 7243.)]
—Give me leave to ask for an explanation of the following enigmatical epitaph, which will be found in theHistory of Doncaster, by Dr. Edward Miller, p. 74.:
"Howe, Howe, who is heare?I Robin of Doncaster and Margaret my feare.That I spent, that I had,That I gave, that I have,That I left, that I lost.A.D. 1579.Quoth Robertus Byrkes, who in this world did reignThree score years and seven, and yet liv'd not one."
"Howe, Howe, who is heare?
I Robin of Doncaster and Margaret my feare.
That I spent, that I had,
That I gave, that I have,
That I left, that I lost.A.D. 1579.
Quoth Robertus Byrkes, who in this world did reign
Three score years and seven, and yet liv'd not one."
Dr. Johnson latinized a part of it thus:
"Habeo, dedi quod alteri;Habuique, quod dedi mihi;Sed quod reliqui, perdidi."SeeWorks of English Poets, vol. lxxii. Lond. 1790, small 8vo. Poemata, p. 99.
"Habeo, dedi quod alteri;
Habuique, quod dedi mihi;
Sed quod reliqui, perdidi."
SeeWorks of English Poets, vol. lxxii. Lond. 1790, small 8vo. Poemata, p. 99.
InMagna Britannia et Hibernia, antiqua et nova, vol. vi. p. 429., it is stated that Robin of Doncaster gave Rossington Wood to that corporation. Perhaps some reader may be able to supply more of his biography.
☞F.
[A similar epitaph to the above will be found on the tomb of William Lambe, in the church of St. Faith under Paul: see Strype's Stow, book iii. p. 146. Dr. Miller does not appear to have given any biographical notices of Robert Byrkes, except that he was Mayor of Doncaster during the years 1569, 1573, and 1577. The following explanation of this inscription is given by Bland in hisProverbs, vol. i. p. 23.:—"By prudence in the distribution of his benevolence, by giving only to good and deserving persons, he procured to himself friends, on whose advice and assistance he might depend whenever occasion should desire it; and by expending only what he could conveniently spare, and laying it out on such things as administered to his comfort, he enjoyed, and therefore had what he expended; but what he left, not being enjoyed by himself, nor going perhaps to persons of his choice, or being used in the manner he would have preferred, that portion might be truly said to be lost."]
—In what language is the second part of Hoffman von Fallersleben'sHoræ Belgicæwritten? This, from its title being written in Latin, may seem a foolish question, but it is also called (N. & Q., Vol. v., p. 7.)Holländische Volkslieder: and where can it be procured or seen?
W. S. S.
[Hoffman's work consists of six parts, of which the first—a bibliographical essay on old Flemish literature—is written in Latin. The second, to which our correspondent refers, is in German. Part III. contains the FlemishFloris ende Blancefloer, with a German Introduction; Part IV., the old FlemishCaerl ende Elegast, has a Latin preface; while Part V., containingLantsloof ende die scone Sandrijn and Renout van Montalbaen, and Part VI.,Altniederländische Schaubühne, a collection of early Flemish dramatic pieces, have German introductions. We believe the work may be procured of Williams and Norgate. If not, or our correspondent only wishes to refer to it, we shall be very happy to place our copy at his service for a few weeks.]
—"I am at Dulcarnon." What is the origin of the above saying? I heard it used the other day by a person who, declaring he was at his wit's end, exclaimed, "Yes, indeed I am at Dulcarnon." Since that I have seen it in Boyer'sFrench Dictionary, but in no English book.
H. CORVILLEWARDE.
Kidderminster.
[In addition to the note in our first Vol. p. 254, we may remark that Mr. Halliwell, in hisDictionary, says this word has set all editors of Chaucer at defiance. A clue to its meaning may be found in Stanihurst'sDescription of Ireland, p. 28.: "These sealie soules were (as alldulcarnanesfor the most part are) more to be terrified from infidelitie through the paines of hell, than allured to Christianitie by the joies of heaven."]
Your correspondent ÆGROTUSsees a difficulty in the rapid increase of the Israelites in Egypt, and proposes to lessen it by doubling the time of their stay there, and including women in their census. His criticisms, however, seem to be as inadmissible as his difficulty is unreal.
For, first, in the place he quotes (Ex. xii. 37.), the number is said to be "nearly 600,000that weremen," where the Italics are intended to throw emphasis onmen; because the Heb.גְּבָריִםmeans menas opposedto women,strongmen, even soldiers. Also, from Numb. i. 2. 46. we see that the number 603,550 included only "every male ... from 20 years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war," thus excluding the tribe of Levi (v. 47.). Josephus, indeed, says (Antiq.III. viii. 2. and xii. 4.) that it included only the men between 20 and 50 years of age.
Then, as to the time that they were in Egypt: it is evident from Gal. iii. 17. that, going back 430 years from the Exode, we must come into the time of Abraham: so that the 430 years in Ex. xii. 40. must begin when Abraham first went into Egypt. And this is confirmed by the reading of the LXX there:κατῴκησαν ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ ἐν γῇ Χαναὰν, ἔτη τετρακόσια τριάκοντα. That they remained only 215 years in Egypt, is not merely the opinion of Professor Lee, as ÆGROTUSseems to think: it is given by Josephus (Antiq.II.xv. 2.), was received by the Jews and early Christians generally, and is now (at least almost) universally adopted.
Now, to come to the supposed difficulty itself: none such really exists, even if we take the higher number and the shorter time, as I think indeed we ought. The men being taken at about 600,000, we must reckon the whole people, at least, at 2,000,000. A calculation of no difficulty shows that if 70 persons increase in 215 years to 2,000,000, the number of the people must double itself every 14-1/2 years: or, if they increase to 3,000,000, the number must double every 14 years. Now, compare this with what we know about some other nations. Humboldt, in hisEssai Politique sur le Royaume de la Nouvelle-Espagne(tom. i. p. 339.) says:
"The information which I have collected proves that, if the order of nature were not interrupted from time to time by some extraordinary and disturbing cause" [e.g.famine, pestilence], "the population of New Spain ought to double itself everynineteenyears. [...] In the United States, since 1774, we have seen the population double itself in 22 years. The curious tables which M. Samuel Blodget has published in hisStatistical Manual of the United States of America(1806, p. 73.), show that, for certain States, this cycle is onlythirteenorfourteenyears."
Again, Malthus, in hisEssay on the Principles of Population, p. 6., says:
"According to a table of Euler, calculated on a mortality of 1 in 36, if the births be to the deaths in the proportion of 3 to 1, the period of doubling will be over 12 years and 4-5ths. And this supposition is not only a possible supposition, but has actually occurred for short periods in more countries than one. Sir William Petty (Polit. Arith., p. 14.) supposes a doubling, possible in so short a time astenyears."
What difficulty, then, can there be (knowing the promise in Gen. xvii. 6.) in believing that the number of the Israelites in Egypt doubled itself everyfourteenyears?
F. A.
P.S. Assuming what Malthus considers an ordinary rate of increase, when population is unchecked, viz. a doubling in 25 years, 70 persons in 430 years would increase to 10,539,000: which is what ÆGROTUSwishes to know.
At Vol. v., p. 11., ÆGROTUSsuggests that the "600,000 men" of Ex. xii. 37. mean "men andwomen." He will find some valuable "Notes" on Hebrew statistics in the 1st and 2d chapters of Numbers, that appear to militate against his theory! (Numb. i. 1, 2, 3., ii. 32.)
A. A. D.
The following will, I believe, be found to be acorrectlist of the Serjeants' mottoes during the last twenty years. The Law Reports not being probably accessible to all your readers to whom the subject may be one of interest, I have compiled this list with the view of preserving (in as brief a form as possible) in your pages, what is now scattered through many volumes.
Serjeants
N.B. The subsequent titles of those of the above learned Serjeants who have received promotion are omitted for brevity sake.
J. B. COLMAN.
Eye.
MR. FOSSis, I believe, mistaken in supposing that all the serjeants called at the same time have the same motto. That is the usual practice, but it has not been invariably observed. Sir John Walter, Sir Henry Yelverton, and Sir Thomas Trevor, were all called on the same day (May 10, 1 Car. I.). Sir John Walter and Sir Thomas Trevor gave the same motto on their rings, and Sir Henry Yelverton gave rings with a different motto. There are other instances of the like kind; that above referred to I take from the only old law-book I have now at hand (Croke'sReports).
C. H. COOPER.
Cambridge.
The following is probably the case referred to at p. 92. It is contained in 1Modern Reports, case 30.:
"Seventeen serjeants being made the 14th day of November, a daye or two after, Serjeant Powis, the junior of them all, coming to the King's Bench bar, Lord Chief Justice Kelynge told him that he had something to say to him, viz., that the rings which he and the rest of the serjeants had given weighed but eighteen shillings apiece; whereas Fortescue, in his bookDe Laudibus Legum Angliæ, says, 'The rings given to the Chief Justices and to the Chief Baron ought to weigh twenty shillings apiece;' and that he spoke not this expecting a recompense, but that it might not be drawn into a precedent, and that the young gentlemen there might take notice of it."
W. H. LAMMIN.
Fulham.
MR.FOSSquotes what he considers thehappiestof these mottoes. I think the following at least as happy, and certainly more classical. I believe (but am not sure) it was adopted by Mr. Serjeant Bosanquet. I need not point out its application:
"Antiquam exquirite matrem."
"Antiquam exquirite matrem."
F. R.
As no one appears inclined to follow up the suggestion of your correspondent with regard to the learned men of the name of Bacon, I have drawn up the following list, which I have met in the course of my reading, according to their dates.
1st. Robert Bacon, an eminent divine, born 1168, and died 1248. He studied at Oxford, and perfected his education at Paris; his principal work was the life of his friend and patron, Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury, which was highly esteemed; he also wrote many other learned works.
2nd. Roger Bacon, the learned monk; of him it will suffice for me to mention the date of his birth and death, as none will disputehisright to a place in the list. He was born near Ilchester, in Somersetshire, 1214, and died at Oxford 1294.
3rd. John Bacon (surnamedthe Resolute Doctor) was born at the latter end of the thirteenth century, in the little village of Baconthorpe, in Norfolk;from thence he is often called Baconthorpe. After some years spent in the Convent of Blackney, five miles from Walsingham, he removed to Oxford, and thence to Paris, where he was honoured by degrees both in law and divinity, and was considered the head of the Averroïsts. In 1333 he was invited by letters to Rome; and Paulus Pansa, writing of him from thence, says, "This oneresolute doctorhas furnished the Christian religion with armour against the Jews, stronger than any of Vulcan's," &c. He was held in great esteem all throughout Italy. He died in London, 1346.
4th. Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper of the great seal to Queen Elizabeth, was born at Chislehurst, in Kent, 1510, and educated at Cambridge. "As a statesman," says his historian, "he was remarkable for a clear head and deep counsels; he had much of that penetrating genius, solidity, and judgment, persuasive eloquence, and comprehensive knowledge of law and equity, which afterwards shone with so great a lustre in his son" (Francis Lord Verulam). He died Feb. 26th, 1578, equally lamented by the queen and her subjects; a monument was erected to him in St. Paul's, which was destroyed by the Great Fire, 1666. Sir Nicholas left several MSS., which have never been published.
5th. Anthony Bacon, the eldest son of Sir Nicholas by his first wife, born 1558, and educated at Cambridge. He was personally acquainted with most of the literati of that age. At Geneva he lodged in the house of the celebrated Theodore Beza. In 1585, he visited Henry of Navarre, then at Berne; here he became acquainted with the learned Lambert Danæus, who, as a mark of esteem, dedicated several of his works to him. In 1586, he formed an intimacy with the famous Philip Plessis de Mornay at Montaubon; 1591, he returned to England; from this time he carried on an extensive correspondence with the literati, and in 1596 he began a correspondence with Henry of Navarre, then Henry IV. of France. The time of his death is uncertain.
6th. Sir Francis Bacon, Viscount St. Albans, second son of Sir Nicholas, born 1560, educated at Trinity College, Cambridge; died April 9th, 1621. What can be a more concise and expressive notice of this great man than that of Walpole!—
"The Prophet of Artswhich Newton was sent to reveal.... It would be impertinent to enter into an account of this amazing genius or his works; both will be universally admired so long as science exists."
7th. Sir Nathaniel Bacon, K.B., a younger son by his second wife of Sir Nicholas, was an excellent painter. He studied his art in Italy, but his style and colouring approach nearer to the Flemish school. I can find no date of his birth, &c.
8th. Phanuel Bacon, D.D., an admirable wit and poet. He died at Balden, Jan. 2nd, 1733.
9th. John Bacon, the celebrated sculptor, and possessed also of respectable literary talents; born in Southwark 1740, died 1799.
I hope you will not consider this list too long for insertion; but I thought it useless to give a long string of names without a short notice of each.
MYFANWY.
Having only commenced subscribing to "N. & Q." at the beginning of the present year, I am not aware what has been said prior to this date, with reference to the Collar of SS.; but should not Mr. Boutell's remarks about this collar have been published, I beg to send them for the information of those interested:
"Next to the Garter itself, the most celebrated knightly decoration of this class is the Collar of SS. introduced by King Henry IV., apparently as a memorial of the success with which his aspiring ambition had been crowned: this letter S, repeated either in links of gold, or in gold embroidery, worked upon a fillet of blue, is the initial of the word 'Souveraine,' Henry's motto, which he bore while Earl of Derby, and which, as he afterwards became sovereign, appeared auspicious."
I dare say this idea of Mr. Boutell's may have been very ably refuted, by having pointed out the existence of the collar on a knight who is knownfor certainto have died prior to the reign of Henry IV.; but I must say that I have seen nothing in the Numbers of the current year which alters my opinion.
With reference to what MR. LEWISEVANSsays, at page 38., I beg to remark that he only assumes their datesfrom current report, for the dates are not on either of the tombs he mentions; and I think MR. EVANSis not a great studier of monumental effigies, otherwise he would not talk of a knight being dressed in "a coif de mailles and pointed helmet." I assume he means "a camailand pointed bascinet."
LLEWELLYN, at p. 81., makes mention of several, but of the only two upon which he ventures to fix a date, prior to Henry IV., one is "commonly ascribed," &c., and the other is "vulgarly called," &c., so that I place no reliance upon the truth of his deductions. Edwardus de la Hale, whom he mentions as No. 7., died, I think he will find, in 1431, and not 1421.
As regards the brass of Sir Thomas Peryent and lady, at Digswell, Herts, I may mention that although he wears a collar, yet I do not think it ought to be fixed as certain that it is that of the SS., for no letter, or portion of a letter, remains to prove it, although the collar which Lady Peryent wears is perfectly distinct.
I send you a list of a few more knights and ladies who wear this collar:
A.D.1382. Sir Thomas Burton, at Little Casterton, Rutlandshire.1407. Sir W. and Lady Bagot, at Baginton, Warwickshire.1411. Sir John Drayton, at Dorchester, Oxfordshire.1412. Sir Thomas Swynborne, at Little Horkesley, Essex.1424. Lord and Lady Camoys, at Trotton, Sussex.1430. Sir John Dyve, at St. Owens, Bromham, Beds.1435. Lady Delamere (but not worn by her husband), at Hereford Cathedral.
A.D.
1382. Sir Thomas Burton, at Little Casterton, Rutlandshire.
1407. Sir W. and Lady Bagot, at Baginton, Warwickshire.
1411. Sir John Drayton, at Dorchester, Oxfordshire.
1412. Sir Thomas Swynborne, at Little Horkesley, Essex.
1424. Lord and Lady Camoys, at Trotton, Sussex.
1430. Sir John Dyve, at St. Owens, Bromham, Beds.
1435. Lady Delamere (but not worn by her husband), at Hereford Cathedral.
As regards the brass of Sir Thomas Burton, although the date affixed to it is 1382, yet it is quite evident, from the style of armour worn by him, and the execution of the brass itself, that it was not executed till 1410, and that he died about that time, and his wife at the date mentioned.
H. L.
To MR.FOSS'Slist of effigies bearing the Collar of SS. allow me to add the brass of Sir Thomas Peryent and his lady, at Digswell, Herts, both of whom wear this collar. Sir Thomas was a squire at arms to Henry IV., and diedA.D.1415.
At Arundel Church, also in Sussex, is a brass to Thomas Salmon and his lady. The figure of the knight is destroyed, but that of his lady bears the collar. Perhaps some of your readers can give some account of this knight.
Query, What persons arenowentitled to wear it?
NEDLAM.
A tragic destiny was that of most of the posterity of that John Christopher Königsmark, who commanded at the storm of the suburbs of Prague, the last deed of arms of the Thirty Years' War. John Christopher himself was born at Kotzlin in the Mark on Feb. 25, 1600, and from his brother descended the Königsmarks of the Mark. He fought first in the imperial service and in Italy, but afterwards joined the Swedes, and after the peace was Stadtholder of Bremen and Vredun, became Count and Royal Councillor (Reichsrath), and left behind him at his death in 1663 property worth 130,000 thalers yearly. He had three sons; the second, John Christopher, died in 1653 at Rottemburg, in Swabia, by a fall from his horse. The youngest, Count Otto Wilhelm, was born at Minden on June 3, 1639; studied under Esaias Pufendorf, and in 1654 was Rector Magnificus at Jena; served different powers as soldier and diplomatist; distinguished himself as general of the Venetians in the Morea; and died on September 16, 1688, of fever, when before Negropont. He was married to a Countess de la Gardie, of the well-known Swedish family. He probably was that Count Königsmark to whose protection John Leyser (Theophilus Alethaus) fled when he forfeited his offices of preacher and inspector at Pforta, which he had held since 1664, on account of, although himself chaste and virtuous, having defended polygamy; was pursued, taken, placed in prison, and died at Amsterdam in extreme poverty in 1684. The eldest son, Konrad, was first in the Swedish, then in the Dutch service, and fell a lieutenant-general at the siege of Bonn in 1673. He had married Marie Christine, daughter of Marshal Hermann Wrangel, and the Pfalzgravine Amalie Magdalene of Sulzbach, who bore him three sons and two daughters; one son died young. Which of the two others was the elder is doubtful. Certain it is that the one, Karl Johann, who is generally, though on no sufficient grounds, held to be the elder, was born in 1659, at Nieuburg on Fuhnen; studied till 1674 at Hamburg and Stade; then travelled in Holland, England, France, and Italy; fought so bravely on board the Maltese galleys, that on his departure in 1678 he, although a protestant, received the grand cross of the order. He then visited Rome, Florence, Genoa, Venice, Madrid, Paris, Holland, Hamburg, Stockholm, Windsor; set out in all haste when Tangiers was attacked, to take share in the battle; and, as the fleet was delayed by contrary winds, made his journey to Tangiers through France and Spain; from thence back again to Madrid and Paris; then again to Gibraltar, and three times to Africa; was with the English before Algiers; wandered round in Holland, England, and Germany; was with the French before Courtrai; and in Catalonia fought bravely under his uncle at Argos, and died in Greece on August 26, 1686.
The most mysterious episode of his life was brought on by his sueing for England's richest and highest heiress, Elizabeth, daughter of Josceline, second Earl of Northumberland.
The other brother, Count Philip Christopher, was involved in the well-known tale of the unfortunate wife of George I., the unhappy Sophia Dorothea of Zelle, afterwards Duchess of Ahlden, and met his death under circumstances of much mystery. According to the Duchess's assertion, he was the elder brother, as she states he was born in 1656.
The sisters were—Amalie Wilhelmina, and the well-known mistress of Augustus II., Maria Aurora, the mother of Marshal Saxe. Amalie married the Count Charles Gustavus of Löwenhaupt.
Extract from Von Bulau'sGeheime Geschichten, vol. iii., article on "Count Löwenhaupt."
J. R. J.
MR. JOHNGOUGHNICHOLS'Sobservations upon the reply you favoured me by publishing upon this subject, require from me some few observations in further support of it. When I wrote the article in question, I had not had an opportunity of consulting the statute of 22 Hen. VIII. itself. In making the assertion that, prior to the case of Roose, "there was no peculiarity in the mode of punishment," I did so principally on the authority of Blackstone, who says—
"Of all species of deaths the most detestable is that of poison, because it can of all others be the least prevented either by manhood or forethought,and thereforeby the statute of 22 Hen. VIII. c. 9. it was made treason, and a more grievous and lingering kind of death was inflicted on itthan the common law allowed, namely, boiling to death."
Upon a perusal of the statute (as published by you at p. 33.), I am confirmed in my opinion that the statutewas"retrospective in its enactments as against" Roose, and was more extensive in its operation than (as MR. NICHOLSappears to consider) merely depriving the culprit of the "advantage of his clargie." The Act, after reciting the facts of the case, enacted that the particular act of poisoning should be deemed high treason; and that the said "Richard" should be attainted of high treason: and because that offence, then "newlypractised," requiredcondign punishment, it was further enacted, that the said Richard Roose should be boiled to death without benefit of clergy.
If this particular punishment already existed for the crime stated in the Act to be "new," why the necessity for thus particularising the mode of punishment? The conclusion of the Act (differing much in the verbiage from that part relating to Roose) confirms me in my opinion, for it enacts that all future poisoners should not only be adjudged guilty of high treason, and not be admitted to the benefit of clergy,but alsoprovides for the punishment in the mode in question.
With regard to the case instanced by MR. NICHOLS, in the 13th Hen., I merely observe that it appears to have escaped the attention of Blackstone, and others who have written upon the subject. Assuming that case to have happened, a reference to the statutes of Henry of that period might probably show that an Act was passed for the punishment of that particular offence; but not extending further, it became necessary to pass another, both specific and general, upon the occurrence of Roose's case.
In support of my view as to the discontinuance of the punishment, videBlackstone, vol. iv. p. 96.
N.B. The date "1524" (third line from the bottom of second column, p. 112.) appears a misprint for "1542".
J. B. COLMAN.
Eye.
The punishment of boiling criminals to death was not inflicted solely for such a crime as poisoning. It was a common punishment for coining. SeeAnnales Dominicanarum Colmariensiumin Urstisius, Ger.Illust. Script., vol. ii. p. 12.; and Ducange, in verb.Caldariis decoquere. I believe instances of it will also be found in Döpler,Theatrum Pœnarum; and it will be seen by a reference to Ayala,Cronica del Rey Don Pedro, that this was the favourite mode of putting to death all persons who had offended him, employed by that monarch, who is best, and, as I think, most truly, known in history as "Peter the Cruel."
W. B. MACCABE.
As the punishment of boiling has been a matter of investigation lately in your columns, perhaps the following contribution on the same subject may not be uninteresting to some of your readers. It appears that in the year 1392, when Florentius Wewelinghofen, or Wewelkofen, was Bishop of Utrecht, a certain Jacobus von Jülich, by means of forged credentials from the Pope, contrived to pass himself off, for a time, as suffragan to the same see. Upon the discovery of the cheat, however, Florentius summoned a synod of six bishops to Utrecht, who condemned the unfortunate pretender to be sodden to death in boiling water! Zedler, in hisUniversal Lexicon, tom. ix. col. 1282., alludes to the fact. Wilh. Heda, in hisHist. Episc. Ultraject.pp. 259, 260., gives the story thus:
"Circa hæc tempora, scilicet anno 1392 ... quidam ex professione Divi Francisci, sese pro Sacerdote et Episcopo gerens, et in Suffraganeum Episcopi Florentii assumptus, cum aliquandiu sacra omnia peregisset, inventus falso charactere atque literis usus, destituitur, et ferventibus aquis immergendus adjudicatur; impositus vero aquis (quia clamore suo Episcopum ad pietatem commovit) statim extrahitur et capite truncatus obtinuit sepulturam."
Perhaps the Cardinal, should this meet his eye, or any one of your readers equally skilled in Roman ecclesiastical archæology, can inform the public whether this may not be the origin of the phrases, "getting oneself into hot water," and "being sent to pot."
J. B. MCC.
British Museum.
This is not at all an uncommon book. There are at least three copies in the University Library, Cambridge; one at Trinity College; besides others in other college libraries. There is also one at Lambeth; two in the Bodleian, Oxford; and copies are from time to time occurring at booksellers' for sale. There is not, however, one in the British Museum; and the first edition is exceedingly scarce. MR. PAYNECOLLIERis, Ithink, mistaken in the dates which he assigns to theAdmonitionand to Whitgift'sAnswer. He follows indeed Herbert'sAmes, in which reference is made to Strype; but Strype would have furnished materials for a more accurate statement. Whitgift'sAnswerwas first published towards the end of 1572; for the edition of that year does not contain "Certayne notes and properties of Anabaptistes," which Whitgift himself (Defense of the Aunswere, p. 33., and elsewhere) tells us he had introduced into thesecondedition. But these "notes" do appear in the edition dated 1573, which must therefore be only the second. Moreover, Thomas Norton wrote to Whitgift dissuading him from publishing hisAnswer. This letter was dated Oct. 20, 1572. In a subsequent letter to Archbishop Parker, dated Jan. 16, 1572 (1573), Norton speaks of his former epistle as having been written "before Mr. Whitgift's book came out." (SeeStrype;Whitgift, book I. chap. vi.;Parker, bookIV. chap. xii.) The date of theAnswerthus ascertained, we may the better conjecture the dates of the editions of theAdmonition, which MR. COLLIERsays he gathers "had been printed four times anterior to" 1572. Whitgift, it would seem, had written, if not published, his reply before more than a single edition of theAdmonitionwas abroad; for he says (Answer, 1573, p. 189.), "After I had ended this confutation of theAdmonition, there comes to my hand a new edition of the same, wherein some things be added," &c. He also says (Defense, p. 34.), "theAdmonitionwas published after the Parliament, to the which it was dedicated, was ended ... it was not exhibited in Parliament, as it ought to have been," &c. Further, theAdmonitionitself, fol. A. viii., says, "immediately after the last Parliament holden at Westminster, begun in Anno 1570, and ended in Anno 1571," &c. This could hardly have been said earlier than 1572. For these reasons (I will not occupy space by alleging more) theAdmonitioncould not, we may gather, have "been printed four times anterior to that year."
A. J. H.
The following is a copy of a letter addressed by Miss Porter to a relative of mine:—
"Esher, Jan. 30, 1832.
"Madam,—I hasten to express the pleasure with which I answer your favour on the subject of Sir Edward Seaward'sNarrative, to the best indeed of my power, but, I regret to say, not as explicitly as I wish. However, with respect to the authenticity of the events, I have no reason to doubt them; the manner of the original MSS. coming into my hands having been precisely what my Preface to the work described.
"The same query that you have made has been put to me from various quarters; and I have communicated most of them to the owner of the MSS., but he invariably declines allowing me to give his name, or other proofs of the facts in theNarrative, saying, that 'since the public has done him the honour of putting his old heir-loom into mystery, even in the face of the editor's simply told Preface, he will not deprive himself of the amusement such unexpected doubts afford him.'
"Thus far his whimsical decision; nevertheless, as editor of the work, I cannot deny myself adding the sincere satisfaction I feel in the sympathy so universally expressed with the virtues of the truly amiable Seaward and his family; and the more so, as his lessons of piety and domestic concord in the most trying situations may well be considered his richest bequeathment.
"I have the honour to subscribe myself, Madam,
"Very much yours,
"JANEPORTER."
This corroborates the account given by W. W. E. J., and may be thought worthy of a place in "N. & Q."
W. H. LAMMIN.
Fulham.
If we may credit the inscription on the monument erected to the memory of the Porter family in Bristol Cathedral, the real author of Sir E. Seaward'sNarrativewas none other than Miss Porter's own brother, Dr. Wm. Ogilvie Porter, who within three months followed his sister to the grave, being the last survivor of that talented and distinguished family. Dr. Porter commenced his medical career as a surgeon in the navy, and was probably acquainted with the Caribbean Sea and its islands; for his first wife, who died in 1807, and was buried at St. Oswald, in the city of Durham, was a native of Jamaica. Whether he avowed himself the writer, when he entrusted the work to his sister for publication, seems doubtful. It is possible she may have been led to regard it as a genuine account of real transactions, whereas it is said to be an entirely fictitious and imaginary story, written solely for amusement.
May I take this opportunity of asking for information respecting the origin of the Porter family? Their father, who was a surgeon in the army, and died in early life, is said to have been of Irish extraction. Their mother was a Miss Blenkinsop, of the city of Durham. Any information respecting the families of Porter and Blenkinsop would be interesting. What is the name of the Russian nobleman or gentleman to whom the daughter of Sir R. K. Porter is married? If she is still alive, she is the sole representative of the Porters, it is believed.
E. H. A.
As a sequel to the inquiries suggested in your pages respecting General Wolfe, permit me to contribute the inscription on the obelisk erectedby Lord Dalhousie, in 1827, in a conspicuous part of Quebec, in honour of the General and of his brave opponent Montcalm.[9]I give it in the precise form in which it was obligingly communicated to me by the present Bishop of Quebec, in reply to my suggestions, a year or two ago, of another inscription, which I also send: