Chapter 3

In a side chapel of the chancel of the church at Alost, midway between Brussels and Ghent, is the printer's tomb, and a double inscription, in Latin and in Flemish, commemorates his celebrity and the dates of his birth and death; in the Latin inscription the name is Theodoricus Martinus; in the Flemish, which is very old and nearly effaced, it is Diedrych Meertens.

The name of _Meertens_, as a surname, is as common in Brabant and Flanders as that of Martin with us.

A.B.

* * * * *

I beg to say that, in Peignot's _Dictionnaire raisonné de Bibliologie_, the name of the printer Mertens is given as "Martens, Mertens, ou Martin d'Alost (Thierry), en Latin Theodoricus Martinus." The article is too long for insertion in your pages, but it contains an account of the title-page of one of his editions, in 4to., in which the name is spelt _Mertens_:--"Theo. Mertens impressore." Two other title-pages have "Apud Theod. M_a_rtinum." So it appears that the printer himself used different modes of spelling his own name. Erasmus wrote a Latin epitaph on his friend, in which a graceful allusion is made to his printer's mark, the anchor:--

"Hic Theodoricus jaceo, prognatus Alosto: Ars erat impressis scripta referre typis. Fratribus, uxori, soboli, notisque superstes Octavam vegetus præterii decadem. Anchora sacra manet, gratæ notissima pubi: Christe! precor nunc sis anchora sacra mihi."

HERMES.

* * * * *

ETYMOLOGY OF ARMAGH.

In reply to the inquiry of "D.S.Y." (p. 158. of your 10th number), I beg to say that the name of Armagh is written, in Irish, Ardmacha, and signifies the Height (or high ground) of Macha. It is supposed to have derived this name from Macha Mong-ruadh [i.e. Macha of the red hair], who was queen of Ireland, according to the Chronology of O'Flaherty, A.M. 3603.

I.H.T.

Dublin, Jan. 5. 1850.

Sir,--There are the following authorities for different derivations of the word _Armagh_.

Camden, in his _Britannia_, says:--

"_Armach_ ab Amarchâ reginâ; sic dictum fabulantur Hibernici; at mihi eadem esse videtur quam _Dearmach_ vocat Beda: et _Roborum Campum_ ex lingua Scotica sive Hibernica interpretatur, ubi circa annum salutis DLX. monaterium extruxit celeberrimum Columbanus."

Dr. Keating's _Hist. of Ireland_ has as follows:--

"_Macha_ the wife of Nemedius died before her son Ainnim ... from her _Ardmagh_ received its name, because she was buried in that place."

_Circles of Gomer_ (London, 1771), contains as follows:--

"Ar, and Ararat.--The Earth, country, or upon and on the earth ... _Armagh_ on the surrounding water confines."

M. Bullet, _Mémoires de la Langue Celtique_, writes thus:--

"Armagh, Une des plus anciennes villes d'Irland. _Ar_, article. _Mag_, ville."--vol. i.

But the 2nd and 3rd vols. of these _Mémoires_, which contain the Celtic Dictionary, afford a more probable interpretation:--

"_Ar_ or _Ard_ signifies a height, mountain, hill, {219} elevation, the highest, noble, chief, &c. &c., and _Ar_ in Hebrew, Chaldean, and Armenian, has the same meaning. _Magh_ is a field, a plain, ground, &c., as well as a town, dwelling, &c."

Now, the topographical description of the county of Armarh is that it is _hilly_, and the hills (not very high) are of granite rock. The town of Armagh again is described as situated on an _eminence_. I suggest, therefore, _the high field_ or ground, or _the field of the Hill_, or the dwelling or town of the Hill, as very natural derivations.

If your correspondent prefers it, _Ar_ bears also the signification of _rock_, and M. Bullet says:--

"Ce terme nous a été conservé dans la Vie de Saint Colomb."

Who knows, therefore, whether in building the monastery alluded to by Camden, he may not have given it the name of

The dwelling of the Rock?

The Celtic language affords many other possibilities, but an accurate knowledge of the locality is requisite in judging of their probablility.

HERMES.

The etymology of _Armagh_, in Ireland, is very simple. _Ard_, high, great, noble, a purely Celtic root, found in many languages. Latin, _Arduus_, high, &c. Welsh, _hardh_, fair, handsome, &c. _Magh_, a plain, a level tract of land, a field. _Ardmugh_, the great plain. Others derive it from _Eamhuin-magh_, from the regal residence of the kings of Ulster, that stood in its vicinity; but the former is considered by those best capable of judging as the most correct. The original name was _Druim-sailech_, "the hill of sallows," which was changed to _Ard-sailech_, "the height of sallows," and then again to _Ardmagh_. Although now spelt _Armagh_, it was formerly more correctly written _Ardmagh_, which is undoubtedly the proper way.

HIBERNICUS

Jan. 8. 1850.

* * * * *

THE OFFICE OF THE MASTER OF THE REVELS.

Your esteemed correspondent, "J.G.N.," asks (p. 158.) for the meaning of the letters "C.K.M.R." and "T.S." appended to the passage he quotes from the _Common-place Book_ of Charles, Duke of Dorset. I think I can tell him. "C.K.M.R." stands for _Charles Killegrew_, Master of the Revells; and "T.S." means _Thomas Skipwith_, one of the patentees of Drury Lane Theatre, who died in 1710. Sir Henry Herbert died in 1673; and his successor in the office was Thomas Killegrew. This person had previously been Sir Henry's deputy; and I am in possession of a curious list of MS. instructions, "the heads of what I gave to Mr. Thos. Killegrew the 29th of March, 1664," in the hand-writing of Sir Henry Herbert. Thomas Killegrew died in 1683, and was succeeded by Charles Killegrew; the degree of the relationship between the two Killegrews I do not know; and in the _London Gazette_, Dec. 7. 1685, there is a notice commanding all "rope-dancers, prize-players, strollers and other persons showing motions and other sights, to have licenses from Charles Killegrew, Esq., Master of the Revells."

Charles Killegrew was one of the managers of Drury Lane Theatre at the time of the union of the King's and Duke of York's servants; and Drydaen calls him, in the Dedication to his translation of Juvenal's _Satires_, his "ingenious friend."

Upon the death of the latter, in 1725, Charles Henry Lee succeeded to the vacant office; who, dying in 1744, Solomon Dayrolle was appointed in his room. I do not know the date of the decease of the last-named gentleman; but with him, I believe, died the office of the Master of the Revells. The ancient jurisdiction of the Master of the Revells has been transferred, by 1737, by legal authority, to a "licenser of the stage," who, in conjunction with a deputy licenser, performed all the functions of the ancient office.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

* * * * *

REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES.

_The Red Maids of Bristol._--The answer to the query of "MR. A. GRIFFENHOOF" (No. 12. p. 184.), why the "Red Maids" in Bristol are so called, is, because they are dressed in bright scarlet gowns. They are the incumbents of a benevolent school, founded in 1627, by one of Bristol's great benefactors, Alderman Whitson, of pious memory, for the maintenance and education of 40 girls, which number has now increased to 120. Your correspondent's curiousity respecting their name might be fully satisfied, and his interest increased, if he should happen to be in Bristol on some sunny afternoon in the later part of May, or the beginning of June, by a sight of this bright "regiment of women"--the gay colour of their gowns subdued by the quaintness of their fashion, and the clean whiteness of their aprons, collars, &c.--proceeding, in double file, towards the downs, for air and recreation. An account of their foundation may be found in Barret's _Hist. of Bristol_, p. 415. "Blue-Boys," so called for a similar reason, are a parallel case of much more general occurance. Yours, &c.

RUFA.

_Poetical Symbolism._--In answer to the question of your correspondent, "STEPHEN BEAUCHAMP" (No. 11. p. 173.), I beg leave to mention a work, which answers in some degree to the description which he gives; namely, _De Symbolica Ægyptiorum Sapientia_, and _Polyhistor Symbolicus, electarum Symbolarum et Parabolarum Historicurum Stromata XII. Libris complectens_, by Nicolas Caussin, {220} 8vo. Col. Agr. 1631. There were other editions, I believe, in the same century. The former work treats of Egyptian symbols; the titles of the twelve books of the latter are: I. Mundus et Elementa. II. Dii Gentium. III. Hominis Bona. IV. Hominis Mala. V. Ritus Gentium. VI. Aves. VII. Quadrupedes. VIII. Pisces. IX. Serpentes et Insecta. X. Plantæ. XI. Lapilli. XII. Manufacta.

M.

Oxford.

_Fraternitye of Vagabondes._--It does not appear very clearly from the wording of the query at p. 184. of your 12th number, whether the object of your correspondent, "A. GRIFFINHOOF, JUN.," be to ascertain the fact of the reprint in question having been published by Stace, or (having ascertained that fact) to procure further information as to the publisher. I cannot find any allusion to the work in the _Censura Literuria_, (2nd ed. 1815), another instance of the absolute necessity for exact references, the want of which you would do well in making a ground of exclusion from your columns. However, on the chance of being useful I send you an exact copy of the rubricated title-page of the reprint, which is as follows:

"The Fraternitye of Vacabondes; As wel of ruflyng Vacabondes, as of beggerley, of Women as of Men, of Gyrles as of Boyes, With Their proper Names and Qualities. With a Description of the Crafty Company of Cousoners and Shifters. Whereunto also is adioined The XXV orders of Knaues, Otherwyse called A Quartern of Knaues. Confirmed for euer by Cocke Lorell.--¶ The Vprightman speaketh.

¶ Our Brotherhood of Vacabondes, If you would know where dwell: In grauesend Barge which syldome standes, The talke wyll shew ryght well.

¶ Cocke Lorell answereth.

¶ Some orders of my knaues also In that Barge shall ye fynde: for no where shall ye walke I trow, But ye shall see their knynde.

¶ Imprinted at London by John Awdely, dwellyng in little Britayne Streete without Aldersgate. 1575.

Westminster: Reprinted for Machell Stace, No. 12, Little Queen-Street, and R. Triphook, St. James's Street. 1813."

Those who are curious about Mr. Stace may consult Boaden on the _Shakespeare Portraits_, p. 141., Wivell on do., p. 189., and _Chaleographimania_, p. 16. 32. 95.

J.F.M.

_Anonymous Ravennas._--In answer to the query of "W.C.," in No. 8., p. 124., I beg to state that Gronovius published the _Cosmography of Ravennas_, with other ancient scraps of geography, annexed to a neat edition of _Pomponius Mela_, printed at Leyden, in 1696. Gronovius refers the _anonymous_ author to the seventh century. His _Chorography of Britain_ forms a part of the work; but it is printed from one MS., and wretchedly obscure.

J.I.

_Dick Shore._--Your correspondent, J.T. HAMMACK, is not quite correct in stating, No. 9., p. 141., that the modern maps present no trace of the locality of "_Dick Shoare_," mentioned in the Pepysian _Diary_. In one of Smith's maps, now before me, of the date of 1806, I find "Duke Shore Stairs," not far from the great turn of the river southward, opposite to the Isle of Dogs. Whether the proper spelling to be Dick, Dyke, Dock, Dog, or Duke, I leave to your readers to determine; but I presume there can be no doubt as to the identity of the place. As the origin of the name of "Isle of Doggs," according to the Pepysian orthography, is said to be still underdetermined; may it not be connected with the modern term DOCKS? We are daily familiarised to worse corruptions. _Docks_ are excavations, large or small, formed by the operation of digging, in Dutch called _Dóken_.

J.I.

[DICK'S SHORE, _Fore Street_, _Limehouse_, and DICK'S SHORE ALLEY, _by Dick's Shore_, are both mentioned in _London and its Environs_, vol. ii. p. 233.]

_Travelling in England._--Mr. Steven's quotation (No. 11., p. 167.) of Bernard Calvert's rapid journey, as from _an anonymous History of England written in the early part of the reign of George I._, is to be found in more detail in Stow (1032.), and is transcribed in Mr. Croker's _Notes on Bassompière's Embassy_, 1819.

_Sanuto._--The _Ragguagli sulla Vita e sulle Opere di Maria Sanuto_, referred to in No. 5., p. 75., were edited by Mr. Rawdon Browne, an English gentleman long resident at Venice, and a most accomplished Italian scholar. The _Diary of Sanuto_ could hardly be printed, filling, as it does, some twenty or thirty thick large folio volumes.

R.M.M.

_Darnley's Birth-place._--In answer to the inquiry in No. 8., p. 123., as to the birth-place of Henry Lord Darnley, I believe he was born at Temple-Newsom, near Leeds, the seat of the Lords Irvine, and now of Meynell Ingram, Esq. A noble room is there shown as the traditional scene of his birth.

R.M.M.

_History of Edward II._--The compilers of the _British Museum Catalogue_ attribute the _History of Edward II._ (referred to in No. 4., p. 59.) to Edward Fannant, who also published a _Narration of the Memorable Parliament of 1386_, which has been several times printed.

J.R.S.

_Lord Chatham's Speech on the American Stamp Act._--When I read the question of your correspondent {221} (in No. 1. p. 12.) on this subject, I saw at once its importance; for, if my Lord Brougham's statements were correct, our historians must forthwith re-write a somewhat important chapter in our history. I felt assured, however, that it was not correct; and the result of a somewhat tedious search is as I had anticipated. His lordship had made an error in a date and 1764 should be 1766. The authority, not acknowledged by his lordship, was, no doubt, the _Parliamentary History of_ 1766 (vol. xvi. p. 96.), where your correspondent will find the statement, which of course, the date being correctly given, contains nothing that is not consistent with known facts.

C.

_Bone-houses._--The number of skulls at Rothewell (No. 11., p. 171.) is greatly exaggerated, nor is the tradition of their being gathered from Naseby battle-field more than a modern invention, the discovery of the bones being within the memory of living persons. Their existence there is most puzzling. The vault, which is very small, is probably coeval with the church, and seems to have been made for the very purpose to which it is applied. When this vast building was erected in the 12th century, may not this vault have been made for the bones disturbed in the old churchyard by so extensive a foundation?

T.

_Queen's Messengers._--In answer to the query of your correspondent "J.U.G.G.," in No. 12., p. 186., I beg to call his attention to the authority quoted in the passage respecting the "Knightes caligate of Armes," to which he alludes, in Mr. C. Knight's _London_. He will find that he is referred to Legh's _Accedens of Armory_, and Upton, _De Studio Militari_. The latter wrote in the early part of the fifteenth century. We are at present, I believe, without earlier information on such subjects.

Whilst I am writing to you, may I ask you to correct a printer's error in my query in the same number, where "trepon" appears instead of "jupon"? It may save a query as to what I could mean by the former.

J.R. PLANCHÉ.

_May-day._--In reply to MELANION (No. 12. p. 187.), I would observe that in a collection of _Vues des Villes de Londres_, &c., published by Pierre Vander at Leyden (without date, but about the time of William III., or early in Anne's reign), there is a representation of "_La Laitière de May à Londres_," with an enormous head-dress of silver dishes, tankards, and cups, intermixed with flowers. There is no letter-press explanation; but it is evident that the practice of the milk-maids, in carrying their mail-pails balanced on their heads, suggested the idea of carrying this more precious burthen in _gala_ on May-day.

C.

* * * * *

MISCELLANIES.

_Gray's Elegy._--Your correspondent, "A. GRAYAN" (No. 10., p. 150.), in writing on the _Elegy in a Country Church-yard_, suggests the existence of error or obscurity in the last stanza of the epitaph; and that, if the reading, as it now stand, be faulty, "some amendment" should be suggested.

At the sale of Mason's collection of Gray's books and MSS., in December, 1845, I purchased Gray's copy of Dodsley's collection (2nd edition, 1758), with corrections, names of authors, &c., in his own hand. The _Elegy_ is the first poem in vol. iv. In the 2nd stanza, the beetle's "_drony_ flight" is printed and corrected in the margin into "droning." In the 25th stanza, an obvious misprint of "the upland land" is corrected into "upland lawn;" and, in the 27th stanza, "he would rove" is altered into "would he rove." These are the only emendations in the _Elegy_. The care displayed in marking them seems to me indicate that the author had no others to insert, and that the common reading is as he finally left it.

To say that a man's merits and frailties repose in trembling hope before God, is surely not irreverent; and this is, I think, all that Gray intended to convey in the words to which your correspondent objects.

W.L.M.

[The latter emendation "would he rove," which is neither in the Aldine edition of the Rev. J. Mitford, nor in Mr. Van Voorst's beautifully illustrated Polyglot edition, should clearly be introduced, in future, as harmonising more perfectly with the "would he stretch" of the preceding stanza.]

_Gray's Elegy._--To the list of German translations of Gray's Elegy should be added the version by Kosegarten, which is said by Mr. Thimm, in his _View of German Literature_, to be "very spirited." The edition of Kosegarten i have now before me was printed at Greifswald, in 12 vols. in 1824, and contains numerous translations from English poets.

J.M.

Oxford, Jan. 16.

_Gregori's Italian Version of "Gray's Elegy."_--In answer to the query of "J.F.M.," respecting the translations of Gray's _Elegy_, I beg to mention that, besides those already possessed by your correspondent, and those in Torri's polyglot edition, there is one in Italian by Domenico Gregori, published in the first volume of his _Scelta di Poesie di più celebri Autori Inglesi, recati in Versi Italiani_, and printed at Rome in 1821, in 2 vols. small 8vo.

M.

Oxford, Jan. 17. 1850.

_Name of Shylock._--When Mr. Knight says that _Scialac_ was "the name of a Marionite (Maronite?) of mount Libanus," he appears to consider the {222} term peculiar, or nearly so, to that personage; but Upton, as long ago as 1748, in his _Critical Observations_, 2nd ed. p. 299., remarked, that _Scialac_ was the generic name, and _Shylock_ merely a corruption. I may also remark, that Mr. Knight dismisses Dr. Farmer's theory as worthless, without sufficient consideration. It by no means follows that 1607 is the date of the _first edition_ of _Caleb Shillocke_, merely because Boswell saw a copy bearing that date.

J.O. HALLIWELL.

* * * * *

SONNET.

_Written on the close of the Session_, 1849.

"The tyme cam that resoun was to ryse."--CHAUCER.

"_Corin_. And how like you this shepherd's life, Master Touchstone?

"_Touchstone._ Truly, shepherd, in respect of itself it is a good life.... In respect it is in the Fields, it pleaseth me well."--SHAKSPEARE.

Ho! for the shady grove and silvery stream! Now that yclosed is the Fane, where I Am doomed, by no unhappy destiny, To tend those Mighty Ones who find a theme For their lives' labour in the nation's weal. Now am I free, or book or rod in hand, Alone, or compassed by a cherub band Of laughing children, by the brook to steal, Seeking repose in sport which WALTON loved-- Sport meet alike for Youth or thoughtful Age-- Free, an I wish to go a pilgrimage With CHAUCER, my companion long approved, Or thee, thou Greater One, who lovedst to sing, "Of books in brooks, and good in every thing."

WILLIAM J. THOMS.

* * * * *

THE DEVOTEE. (_From the Latin_.)

Balbus, in vain you urge the notion That Ignorance begets Devotion-- We can't believe it till we see Yourself a fervent devotee.

RUFUS.

* * * * *

_By Hook or by Crook._--It is said that Strongbow, when debating with his followers on the best mode of capturing Ireland, said, that it must be taken "by Hook or by Crook." "_The Hook_" is the name of a well-known promontory, forming the N.E. boundary of Waterford Harbour; and _Crook-haven_ is an equally well-known harbour, on the south coast. Could this have any thing to do with the proverb?

J.G.

Kilkenny.

_Macaulay's Young Levite._--I send you an advertisement, from a local paper of 1767, which shows what stipend was offered to a curate at that period. The population of Burton Bradstich and Shepton Gorge, in 1821, was respectively 854 and 311. I do not know what it was in 1767.

The value of the rectory of Burton, with the chapelry of Shepton, was returned, in 1650, as 201l. In 1826 it was computed to be 500l.

A.D.M.

From "Cruthwell's Sherborne, Shaftesbury, and Dorchester Journal; or Yeovil, Taunton, and Bridgewater Chronicle of 10th July, 1767."

"A Curate is wanted, at Old Michaelmas next, to serve the Churches of Burton and Shipton, in Dorsetshire; Salary 36l. per annum, Easter Offerings, and Surplice Fees; together with a good House, pleasant Gardens, and a Pigeon House well stock'd. The Churches are within a mile and a half of each other, served once a Day, and alternately. The Village of Burton is sweetly situated, within half a mile of the Sea, about a mile and a half from Bridport Harbour, and is noted in the Summer for its fine Mackarel Fishery. Application to be made to the Rev. Mr. Richards, Rector.

"A married gentleman will be most agreeable."

_Praise undeserved._--Does any one know where the oft-quoted line,

"Praise undeserved in censure in disguise,"

is to be found? A long search for it has hitherto proved ineffectual.

D.S.

[This line, which is so often quoted, with the variation--

"Praise undeserved is _Satire_ in disguise,"

is to be found in Pope's _First Epistle of the Second Book of Horace_; where, however, we find that neither _Censure_ nor _Satire_ is the correct reading. It is moreover, both in Warton's edition and in the _Aldine Poets_, edited by the Rev. A. Dyce, marked as a quotation, as will be seen in the following extract; so that Pope, it appears, is not the author of it. Perhaps some of our correspondents can trace the source from which he derived it:--

"Besides, a fate attends on all I write, That when i aim at praise they say I bite. A vile encomium doubly ridicules; There's nothing blackens like the ink of fools. If true, a woeful likeness; and, if lies, 'Praise undeserved is _Scandal_ in disguise.'"]

_Passage in Cowper's "Task."_--In all early editions of Cowper's _Task_ the opening lines of the 4th book are punctuated as follows:--

"Hark! 'tis the twanging horn! O'er yonder bridge, (That with its wearisome but needful length Bestrides the wintry flood, in which the moon Sees her unwrinkled face reflected bright,) He comes, the herald of a noisy world," &c.

In modern editions, I believe universally, we find the following corruption of the passage:--

"Hark! 'tis the twanging horn o'er yonder bridge, That with," &c.

closing with a colon or period at "bright," and {223} beginning a new sentence with "He comes;" and thus making the poet use the vulgar colloquialism "'tis the horn over the bridge," instead of the remark, that the postman is coming over it.

W.P.P.

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NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.