Part 1
{33}
NOTES AND QUERIES:
A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION FOR LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.
"When found, make a note of."--CAPTAIN CUTTLE.
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No. 167.] SATURDAY, JANUARY 8. 1853 [Price Fourpence. Stamped Edition 5d.
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CONTENTS.
NOTES:-- Page
Autograph of Edward of Lancaster, Son of Henry VI., by Sir Frederic Madden 33
Robert Bloomfield, by George Daniel 34
Note for London Topographers, by Lambert B. Larking 34
Sermons by Parliamentary Chaplains, by R. C. Warde 34
A Perspective View of Twelve Postage-stamps, by Cuthbert Bede, B.A. 35
MINOR NOTES:--Cremona Violins--Prices of Tea-- Coleridge a Prophet--Lord Bacon's Advice peculiarly applicable to the Correspondents of "N. & Q."--Etymology of Molasses--A Sounding Name 36
QUERIES:--
Roman Sepulchral Inscriptions, by Rev. E. S. Taylor 37
Chapel Plaster, by J. E. Jackson 37
MINOR QUERIES:--Martha Blount--Degree of B.C.L.-- The Word "anywhen"--Shoreditch Cross, &c.--Winchester and Huntingdon--La Bruyère--Sir John Davys or Davies--Fleshier of Otley--Letters U, V, W--Heraldic Queries--"Drengage" and "Berewich"--Sidney as a Female Name--"The Brazen Head"--Portrait of Baron Lechmere--"Essay for a New Translation of the Bible," and "Letters on Prejudice"-- David Garrick--Aldiborontophoskophornio--Quotations wanted--Arago on the Weather--"Les Veus du Hairon," or "Le Voeu du Héron"--Inscription on a Dagger-case--Hallet and Dr. Saxby 38
REPLIES:--
Descent of the Queen from John of Gaunt, by W. Hardy 41
Uncertain Etymologies: "Leader" 43
Lines of Tipperary 43
Shakspeare Emendations, by Thomas Keightley 44
Statues represented on Coins, by W. H. Scott 45
Judge Jeffreys, by Dr. E. F. Rimbault, &c. 45
Dutch Allegorical Pictures, by Dr. J. H. Todd 46
The Reprint, in 1808, of the First Folio Edition of Shakspeare 47
PHOTOGRAPHIC NOTES AND QUERIES:--Le Grey and the Collodion Process--Ready Mode of iodizing Paper-- After-dilution of Solutions--Stereoscopic Pictures from one Camera--Camera for Out-door Operations 47
"'Twas on the Morn" 49
Alleged Reduction of English Subjects to Slavery, by Henry H. Breen 49
REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES:--Royal Assent, &c.--Can Bishops vacate their Sees?--"Genealogies of the Mordaunt Family," by the Earl of Peterborough--Niágara, or Niagára?--Maudlin--Spiritual Persons employed in Lay Offices--Passage in Burke--Ensake and Cradock Arms--Sich House--Americanisms so called--The Folger Family--Wake Family--Shakspeare's "Twelfth Night"--Electrical Phenomena--Daubuz Family--Lord Nelson--Robes and Fees in the Days of Robin Hood--Wray--Irish Rhymes 50
MISCELLANEOUS:--
Notes of Books, &c. 53
Books and Odd Volumes wanted 53
Notices to Correspondents 54
Advertisements 54
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Notes.
AUTOGRAPH OF EDWARD OF LANCASTER, SON OF HENRY VI.
In the Museum of Antiquities of Rouen is preserved an original document, thus designated, "Lettre d'Edouard, Prince de Galles (1471)." It is kept under a glass case, and shown as "an undoubted autograph of the Black Prince," according to the testimony of the gentleman who has very obligingly placed a transcript of this interesting relic at my disposal. It is as follows:
"Chers et bons amis, nous avons entendu, que ung nostre homme lige subject, natif de nostre pays de Galles, est occupé et détenu es prisons de la ville de Diepe, pour la mort d'un homme d'icelle ville, dont pour le dict cas autres ont esté exécutez. Et pour ce que nostre dict subject estoit clerc, a esté et est encores en suspens, parce qu'il a esté requis par les officiers de nostre très cher et aimé cousin l'archevesque de Rouen, afin qu'il leur fut rendu, ainsi que de droict; pourquoy nous vous prions, que icelui nostre homme et subject vous veuillez bailler et delivrer aux gens et officiers de mon dict cousin, sans en ce faire difficulté. Et nous vous en saurons un très grant gré, et nous ferez ung essingulier plaisir. Car monseigneur le roy de France nous a autorisez faire grace en semblable cas que celui de mon dict subject, duquel desirons fort la delivrance. Escript à Rouen, le onziesme jour de Janvier.
(Signed) EDUARD. (Countersigned) MARTIN."
The error of assigning this signature to Edward the Black Prince is sufficiently obvious, and somewhat surprising, since we here have an undoubted, and, I believe, _unique_ autograph of Edward of Lancaster, Prince of Wales, only son of Henry VI. by Margaret of Anjou. He was born at Westminster, October 13th, 1453, and was therefore, in January, 1471 (no doubt the true date of the document), in the eighteenth year of his age. He had sought refuge from the Yorkists, in France, with his mother, ever since the year 1462, and in the preceding July or August, 1470, had been affianced to Anne Neville, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Warwick. At the period when this {34} letter was written at Rouen, Margaret of Anjou was meditating the descent into England which proved so fatal to herself and son, whose life was taken away with such barbarity on the field at Tewksbury, in the month of May following. The letter is addressed, apparently, to the magistrates of Rouen or Dieppe, to request the liberation of a native of Wales (imprisoned for the crime of having slain a man), and his delivery to the officers of the Archbishop of Rouen, on the plea of his being a clerk. The prince adds, that he was authorised by the King of France (Louis XI.) to grant grace in similar cases. As the signature of this unfortunate prince is at present quite unknown in the series of English royal autographs, it would be very desirable that an accurate fac-simile should be made of it by some competent artist; and perhaps the art of photography might in this instance be most advantageously and successfully used to obtain a perfect copy of the entire document.
F. MADDEN.
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ROBERT BLOOMFIELD.
Presuming that some of the many readers of "N. & Q." may feel an interest in the author of _The Farmer's Boy_, whom I knew intimately (a sickly-looking, retiring, and meditative man), and have often seen trimming his bright little flower-garden fronting his neat cottage in the City Road--a pastry-cook's shop, an apple and oyster stall, and part of the Eagle Tavern ("To what base uses," &c.) now occupy its, to me, hallowed site,--I send you a few extracts from his sale catalogue, an interesting and a rare document, as a mournful record of a genius as original and picturesque, as it was beautiful and holy. His books, prints, drawings (215 lots), and furniture (105 lots) were sold in the humble house in which he died, at Shefford, Beds, on the 28th and 29th May, 1824. The far greater number of his books had been presented to him by his friends, viz. the Duke of Grafton (a very liberal contributor), Dr. Drake, James Montgomery, Samuel Rogers, Mrs. Barbauld, Richard Cumberland, Sir James Bland Burges, Capel Lofft, &c. His autograph manuscript of _The Farmer's Boy_, elegantly bound, was sold for 14l.; of _Rural Tales_, boards, for 4l.; of _Wild Flowers_, for 3l. 10s.; of _Banks of the Wye_, for 3l.; of _May-day with the Muses_ (imperfect), for ten shillings; and _Description of the Æolian Harp_ (he was a maker of Æolian harps), for 15s. His few well-executed drawings by _himself_ (views of his City Road cottage and garden, &c.) produced from 5s. to 18s. each. Among his furniture were "A handsome inkstand, presented to him by the celebrated Dr. Jenner" (in return for his sweet poem of "Good Tidings"), and the "celebrated oak table, which Mr. Bloomfield may be said to have rendered immortal by the beautiful and pathetic poem inscribed to it in his _Wild Flowers_. The first was sold for 6l. 10s., the second for 14l. I am happy in the possession of the _original miniature_ (an admirable likeness, and finely painted) of Robert Bloomfield, by Edridge. It is the first and most authentic portrait of him that was engraved, and prefixed to his poems:
"And long as Nature in her simplest guise, And virtuous sensibility we prize, Of well-earn'd fame no poet shall enjoy A fairer tribute than _The Farmer's Boy_."
GEORGE DANIEL.
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NOTE FOR LONDON TOPOGRAPHERS.
I send you a note for London topographers. The charter is dateless, but, inasmuch as Walter de Langeton was appointed to the bishopric of Coventry and Lichfield in 1295, and Sir John le Bretun was "custos" of London 22 to 25 Edw. I., _i.e._ 1294 to 1297, we may fairly assign it to the years 1296 or 1297:--
"Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos presentes litere pervenerint, Johannes de Notlee salutem in domino. Noveritis me remisisse, et omnino quietum clamasse pro me et heredibus meis, Domino Waltero de Langeton, Coventrensi et Lichfeldensi episcopo, heredibus, vel assignatis suis, totum jus et clameum quod habui, vel aliquo modo habere potui, in quadam placea terre cum pertinenciis in vico Westmonasterio sine ullo retenemento, illam videlicet que jacet inter exitum curie et porte domini Walteri episcopi supradicti, ex una parte, et tenementum Henrici Coci ex altera, et inter altum stratam que ducit de Charryngg versus curiam Westmonasterii, ex parte una et tenementum domini Walteri episcopi supradicti, ex altera; Ita quod ego predictus Johannes, aut heredes mei, sive aliquis nomine nostro nuncquam durante seculo in predicta placea terre cum omnibus suis pertinenciis, aliquod jus vel clameum habere, exigere, vel vendicare poterimus quoquo modo in perpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium, sigillum meum apposui huic scripto. His testibus, Dominis Johanne le Bretun tunc custode civitatis Londonii; Roberto de Basingg, militibus; Johanne de Bankwelle; Radulpho le Vynneter; Adam de Kynggesheued; Henrico Coco; Reginaldo le Porter; Henrico du Paleys; Hugone le Mareschal, et aliis."
LAMBERT B. LARKING.
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SERMONS BY PARLIAMENTARY CHAPLAINS.
Perhaps there is nothing in ecclesiastical writings more ludicrously and rabidly solemn than the sermons preached before "The Honourable House of Commons" during the Protectorate, by that warlike race of saints who figure so extensively in the {35} history of those times. I possess some thirty of these, and extract from their pages the following morsels, which may be taken as a fair sample of the general strain:
From
"'Gemitus Columbæ,' the Mournful Note of the Dove; a Sermon preached," &c.: by John Langley, Min. of West Tuperley in the Countie of Southampton. 1644.
"The oxen were plowing, the asses were feeding beside them ('twas in the relation of one of Job's messengers). By the oxen wee are to vnderstand the laborious Clergie; by the asses, that were feeding beside them, wee may vnderstande the Laity" (!).--P. 8.
"The worde set on by the Spirit, as Scanderbags' sworde, by the arme of Scanderbags, will make a deepe impression."--P. 16.
Query, what is the allusion here?
"We came to the height, shall I saye, of our fever (or frenzie, rather), when _wee began to catch Dotterills_, when wee fell to cringing and complimenting in worship, stretching out a wing to their wing, a legge to their legge."--P. 18.
"Time was when the _Dove-cote was searched, the Pistolls were cockt; the Bloudie-birdes were skirring about_: then the Lord withdrew the birds."--P. 29.
"When your ginnes and snares _catch any of the Bloudie-birdes, dally not with them, blood will have blood_; contracte not their bloude-guiltinesse vpon your owne soules, by an vnwarranted clemencie and mildnesse."--P. 30.
"(_Note._--The 'Bloudie-birdes,' _i. e._ the cavaliers.)"
From
"A Peace Offering to God: a Sermon preached," &c., by Stephen Marshall, B.D. 1641.
"Not like tavernes, and alehouses, howses of lewd and debauched persons, where _Zim and Jim_ dwels, dolefull creatures, fitt only to be agents to Satan."--P. 50.
I conclude with a rather interesting scrap, which I do not remember to have met with elsewhere, from
"The Ruine of the Authors and Fomentors of Ciuill Warre; a Sermon," &c., by Samuel Gibson. 1645.
"There was a good motto written ouer the gates at Yorke, at King James the Firste his firste entraunce into that city:
'Suavis Victoriæ amor populi.'
_i. e._ the sweete victorie is the love of the people."--P. 27.
R. C. WARDE.
Kidderminster.
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A PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF TWELVE POSTAGE-STAMPS.
In the advertising sheet of "N. & Q." for December 18, 1852, its unartistic readers have the tempting offer placed before them of being taught "the art of drawing and copying portraits, views, steel or wood engravings, with perfect accuracy, ease, and quickness, _in one lesson_! And when the gentle reader of "N. & Q." has recovered from the shock of this startling announcement, he is further instructed that, "by sending a stamped directed envelope and twelve postage-stamps, the necessary articles will be forwarded with the instructions." Who would not, thinks the gentle reader, be a Raphael, a Rubens, or a Claude, when the metamorphosis may be effected for twelve postage-stamps? And then, delighted with the thought that no expensive residence in Italy, or laborious application through long years of study, will be required, but that the royal road to art may be traversed by paying the small toll of twelve postage-stamps, he forthwith gives them to "Mr. A. B. Cleveland, 13. Victoria Street, Brighton," and in due course of time Mr. A. B. C. forwards him "the necessary articles with the instructions," the former of which the gentle reader certainly finds to be "no expensive apparatus," but as simple as A, B, C. The articles consist of a small piece of black paper, and a small piece of common tissue paper, oiled in a manner very offensive to a susceptible nose. The instructions are printed, and are prefaced by a paragraph which truly declares them to be "most simple:"
"The outlines must be sketched by the following means, and may _be filled up according to pleasure_. In the first place, _lay what you intend to copy straight before you_; then _lay over it_ the transparent paper, and you will see the outlines most distinctly; pencil them over lightly, taking care to keep the paper in the same position until you have finished the outlines; after which, place the paper or card you intend the copy to appear on under the black tracing-paper, with the black side on it, and on which place the outlines you have previously taken, remembering to keep them all straight, and then, by passing a piece of wire (or anything brought to a point not sufficient to scratch) correctly over the said outlines, you will have an exact impression of the original upon the card intended, _which must then be filled up_. I would recommend a portrait _for the first attempt_, which can be done in a few minutes, and you will soon see your success. _Of course you can ink or paint the copy according to pleasure._"
"Why, of course I can," probably exclaims the now un-gentle reader; "of course I can, when I have the ability to do it,--a consummation which I devoutly wish for, and which I am quite as far from as when I was weak-minded enough to send my twelve postage-stamps to Mr. A. B. C.; and yet that individual encloses me a card along with his nasty oiled paper and 'instructions,' which card he has the assurance to head 'scientific!' and says, 'the exquisite and beautiful art of drawing landscapes, &c. from nature, in true perspective, with perfect accuracy, ease, and quickness, taught to the most inexperienced person in ONE _lesson_.' {36}
"I should like to know how I am to lay the landscape straight before me, and put my oiled paper on the top of it, and trace its outlines in true perspective? I should like also to know, since Mr. A. B. C. recommends a portrait for the first attempt, how I am to lay the transparent paper over my wife's face, without her nose making a hole in the middle of it? It is all very well for Mr. A. B. C. to say that he 'continues to receive very satisfactory testimonials respecting the RESULT of his instructions, which are remarkable for simplicity (I allow that), and invaluable for correctness' (I deny that). But, although he prints 'result' in capital letters, all the testimonial that I can give him will be to testify to the (on his part) satisfactory result attending his 'art of drawing' twelve postage-stamps out of my pocket."
Thus, can I imagine, would the gentle reader soliloquise, on finding he had received two worthless bits of paper in return for his investment of postage-stamps. My thoughts were somewhat the same; for I, alas! sent "twelve postage-stamps," which are now lost to view in the dim perspective, and I shall only be too happy to sell Mr. A. B. C. his instructions, &c. at half-price. In the mean time, however, I forward them for Mr. Editor's inspection.
CUTHBERT BEDE, B.A.
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Minor Notes.
_Cremona Violins._--As many of your readers are no doubt curious about the prices given, in former times, for musical instruments, I transcribe an order of the time of Charles II. for the purchase of two Cremona violins.
"[_Audit Office Enrolments_, vi. 359.]
"These are to pray and require you to pay, or cause to be paid, to John Bannester, one of his Ma^{ties} Musicians in Ordinary, the some of fourty pounds for two Cremona Violins by him bought and delivered for his Ma^{ts} Service, as may appeare by the Bill annexed, and also tenn pounds for stringes for two yeares ending June 24, 1662. And this shall be your warrant. Given under my hand, this 24th day of October, 1662, in the fourteenth year of his Majesty's reign.
"E. MANCHESTER.
"To S^r Edward Griffin, Kn^t, Treasurer of his Ma^{ties} Chamber."
PETER CUNNINGHAM.
_Prices of Tea._--From Read's _Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer_, Saturday, April 27, 1734:
"Green Tea 9s. to 12s. per lb. Congou 10s. to 12s. " Bohea 10s. to 12s. " Pekoe 14s. to 16s. " Imperial 9s. to 12s. " Hyson 20s. to 25s. "
E.
_Coleridge a Prophet._--Among the political writers of the nineteenth century, who has shown such prophetic insight into the sad destinies of France as Coleridge? It is the fashion with literary sciolists to ignore the genius of this great man. Let the following extracts stand as evidences of his profound penetration.
_Friend_, vol. i. p. 244. (1844):
"That man has reflected little on human nature who does not perceive that the detestable maxims and correspondent crimes of the existing French despotism, have already dimmed the recollections of democratic phrenzy in the minds of men; by little and little have drawn off to other objects the electric force of the feelings which had massed and upholden those recollections; and that a favourable concurrence of occasions is alone wanting to awaken the thunder and precipitate the lightning from the opposite quarter of the political heaven."
Let the events of 1830 and 1848 speak for themselves as to the fulfilment of this forecast.
_Biographia Literaria_, vol. i. p. 30. (1847), [after a most masterly analysis of practical genius]:
"These, in tranquil times, are formed to exhibit a perfect poem in palace, or temple, or landscape-garden, &c.... But alas! in times of tumult they are the men destined to come forth as the shaping spirit of ruin, to destroy the wisdom of ages in order to substitute the fancies of a day, and to change kings and kingdoms, as the wind shifts and shapes the clouds."
Let the present and the future witness the truth of this insight. We have (in Coleridge's words) "lights of admonition and warning;" and we may live to repent of our indifference, if they are thrown away upon us.
C. MANSFIELD INGLEBY.
Birmingham.
_Lord Bacon's Advice peculiarly applicable to the Correspondents of "N. & Q."_--Lord Bacon has written that--
"A man would do well to carry a pencil in his pocket, and write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are generally the most valuable, and should be secured, because they seldom return."
W. W.
Malta.
_Etymology of Molasses._--The affinity between the orthography of this word in Italian (melássa), Spanish (melaza), and French (mélasse), and our pronunciation of it (m_e_lasses), would seem to suggest a common origin. How comes it, then, that we write it with an _o_ instead of an _e_? Walker says it is derived frown the Italian "mellazzo" (_sic_); and some French lexicographers trace their "mélasse" from [Greek: melas], with reference to the colour; others from [Greek: meli], in allusion to the taste. But these Greek derivations are too recondite for our early sugar manufacturers; and the likelihood {37} is, that they found the word nearer home, in some circumstance which had less to do with literary refinement than with the refining of sugar.
There is an expression in French which is identical in spelling with this word, namely, "molasse" (softish--so to speak); and which describes the liquidity of molasses, as distinguished from the granulous substance of which they are the residue. As our first sugar establishment was formed in 1643, in an island (St. Christopher) one half of which was then occupied by the French, it is possible that we may have adopted the word from them; and this conjecture is supported by the following passage in Père Labat (vol. iii. p. 93.), where he uses the word "molasse" in the sense of _soft_, to describe a species of sugar that had not received, or had lost, the proper degree of consistency.
"Je vis leur sucre qui me parut très beau et bien gréné, surtout lorsqu'il est nouvellement fait; mais on m'assura qu'il devenait cendreux ou _molasse_, et qu'il se décuisait quand il était gardé quelques jours."
HENRY H. BREEN.
St. Lucia.
_A Sounding Name._--At the church of Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, is a record of one John Chapman, whose name, it is alleged, "sounds in (or throughout) the world," but for my own part I have never been privileged to hear either the original blast or the echo. Perhaps some of the readers of "N. & Q." can inform me who and what was the owner of this high-sounding name. Was he related to Geo. Chapman, the translator of Homer? The inscription is as follows:
"Memoriæ defunctorum Sacrum
[Greek: kai tuphônia]
Siste gradum, Viator, ac leges. In spe beatæ Resurrectionis hic requiescunt exuviæ Johannis Chapmanni et Isabellæ uxoris, filiæ Gulielmi Allen de Wightford, in Comitat. War. ab antiquo Proavorum stemmate deduxerunt genus. Variis miseriarum agitati procellis ab strenue succumbentis in arrescenti juventutis æstate, piè ac peccatorum poenitentia expirabant animas.
Maij 10 Die Anno Domini 1677. Sistite Pierides Chapmannum plangere, cujus Spiritus in coelis, _nomen in orbe sonat_."
J. NOAKE.