Chapter 4

_House-marks, &c._ (Vol. vii., p. 594.).--It is very well known that the sign of the "Swan with two Necks," in London, is a corruption of the private mark of the owner of the swans, viz., two nicks made by cutting the neck feathers close in two spaces. It is also a common custom in Devon to mark all cattle, horses, &c., with the owner's mark when sent out on Exmoor, Dartmoor, and other large uninclosed tracts for summering: thus, Sir Thos. Dyke Acland's mark is an anchor on the near side of each of his large herd of ponies, on Exmoor.

W. COLLYNS.

Harlow.

_Bibliography_ (Vol. vii., p. 597.).--The following may assist MARICONDA:

Fischer: Beschreibung einiger Typographischer Seltenheiten nebst Beytraegen zur Erfindungsgeschichte der Buchdruckerkunst, 8vo. Mainz, 1800-4.

Origin of Printing, in Two Essays; with Remarks and Appendix, 8vo. 1776.

The Typographical Antiquities of Great Britain, by J. Johnson, Dr. Dibdin, Dr. Wilkins, and others, Longmans, 1824.

He will also find a list of works under the head PRINTING in the _Penny Cyclopaedia_.

GETSRN.

_Parochial Libraries_ (Vol. vi., p. 432. Vol. vii. _passim._).--A parochial library was for many years deposited in the room over the south entrance of Beccles Church. The books consist chiefly of old divinity, &c., and appear to have been gifts from various persons; among whom were Bishop Trimnel (of Norwich), Sir Samuel Barnardiston, Sir Edmund Bacon of Gillingham, Sir John Playters, Mrs. Anna North, and Mr. Ridgly of London. There is a copy of Walton's _Polyglot Bible_, 1655-7, besides an odd volume of the same work (Job to Malachi), 1656, uncut. It is probable that many of the books have been lost, as the room in which they were kept was used as a repository for discarded ecclesiastical appliances, and, latterly, for charity blankets during summer. In 1840, with the consent of the late bishop of Norwich, and of the rector and churchwardens of the parish, the remaining volumes (about 170) were removed to the public library room, and placed under the care of the committee of that institution. A catalogue of them was then printed. The greater part have been repaired, with the aid of a donation of 10l. from a former inhabitant, who had reason to believe that some of the works had been lost in consequence of their having been in his hands many years ago. Are there not numerous instances elsewhere in which this example might be copied with propriety?

S. W. RIX.

Beccles.

_Faithfull Teate_ (Vol. vii., p. 529.).--"Though this author's name be spelt Teate, there is great reason to believe that he was the father of Nahum Tate, translator of the Psalms."--_Bibl. Anglopoetica_, p. 361. In the punning copy of verses preceding the "Ter Tria" is this distich:

"We wish that Teats and Herberts may inspire Randals and Davenants with poetick fire.--JO. CHISHUTT."

My copy is on miserable paper, yet priced 31s. 6d., with this remark in MS. by some former possessor: "Very rare: which will not be wondered at by any one who will read five pages carefully."

E. D.

_Lack-a-daisy_ (Vol. vi., p. 353.).--Todd had better have allowed Johnson to speak for himself: _lack-a-daisy, lack-a-day, alack the day_, as Juliet's nurse exclaims, and _alas-the-day_, are only various readings of the same expression. And of such inquiries and such solutions as Todd's, I cannot refrain from expressing my sentiments in the {63} words of poor Ophelia, "Alack! and fye for shame!"

Q.

Bloomsbury.

_Bacon_ (Vol. ii., p. 247.; Vol. iii., p. 41.).--I think that you have not noticed one very common use of this word, as evidently meaning _beechen._ Schoolboys call tops made of boxwood, _boxers;_ while the inferior ones, which are generally made of beechwood, they call _bacons._

H. T. RILEY.

_Angel-beast--Cleek--Longtriloo_ (Vol. v., p. 559.).--An account of these games, the nature of which is required by your correspondent, is given in the _Compleat Gamester_, frequently reprinted in the latter part of the seventeenth century. The first, which is there called _beast_, is said to derive its name from the French _la bett_, meaning, no doubt, _bete_. It seems to have resembled the game of loo. _Gleek_ is the proper name of the second game, and not _check_, as your correspondent suggests. It was played by three persons, and the cards bore the names of Tib, Tom, Tiddy, Towser, and Tumbler. Hence we may conclude that it was an old English game. The third game, or _lanterloo_, is evidently the original form of the game now known as _loo_. Its name would seem to indicate a Dutch origin.

H. T. RILEY.

_Hans Krauwinckel_ (Vol. v., p. 450.).--When the ground in Charterhouse Square was opened in 1834, for the purposes of sewerage (I believe), vast numbers of bones and skeletons were found, being the remains, as was supposed, of those who died of the Plague in 1348, and had been interred in that spot, as forming a part of Pardon Churchyard, which had lately been purchased by Sir Walter Manny, for the purposes of burial, and attached to the Carthusian convent there. Among the bones a few galley halfpence, and other coins, were found, as also a considerable number of abbey counters or jettons. I do not recollect if there was any date on the counters but the name "Hans Krauwinckel" occurred on some of them which fell into my possession, and which I gave some years ago to the Museum of the City Library, Guildhall. If these were coeval, as was generally supposed, with the Plague of 1348, it is singular that the same name should be found on abbey counters with the date 1601. I should be obliged if any of your correspondents could inform me when the use of jettons ceased in England; and whether Pardon Churchyard was used as a place of sepulture after 1348, and, if so, how long?

H. T. RILEY.

_Revolving Toy_ (Vol. vi., p. 517.).--The Chinese have lanterns with paper figures in them which revolve by the heat, and are very common about New Year time.

H. B.

Shanghai.

_Rub-a-dub_ (Vol. iii., p. 388.).--Your correspondent seems at a loss for an early instance of this expression. In Percy's _Reliques_ there is a song, the refrain or burden of which is:

"Rub-a-dub, rub-a-dub, so beat your drums, Tantara, tantara, the Englishman comes."

H. T. RILEY.

_Muffs worn by Gentlemen._--In one of Goldsmith's _Essays_ I remember well an allusion to the practice. The writer of the letter, or essay, states that he met his female cousin in the Mall, and after some sparring conversation, she ridicules him for carrying "a nasty _old_-fashioned [A.D. 1760] muff;" and his retort is, that he "heartily wishes it were a tippet, for her sake,"--glancing at her dress, which was, I suppose, somewhat what we moderns call "decolletee".

E. C. G.

_Detached Church Towers._--The Norman tower at Bury St. Edmund's should not be included in the lists. Although now used as the bell tower of the neighbouring church of St. James, it was erected several centuries before the church, and was known as the "Great Gate of the Churchyard," or the "Great Gate of the Church of St. Edmund." It would be very desirable to add to the list the date of the tower, and its distance from the church.

BURIENSIS.

Add to the list the modern Roman Catholic chapel at Baltinglass, Ireland. It has a detached tower built in a field above it, and, although devoid of architectural beauty, is so placed that it appears an integral part of the chapel from almost any point of view.

ALEXANDER LEEPER.

Dublin.

Is not the bell-tower at Hackney detached from the church? I do not remember that it has been yet named by your correspondents.

B. H. C.

_Christian Names_ (Vol. vii., pp. 406. 626.).--On the name of Besilius Fetiplace, Sheriff of Berkshire, in 26 Elizabeth, Fuller remarks,--

"Some may colourably mistake it for _Basilius_ or _Basil_, whereas indeed it is _Besil_, a surname.... Reader, I am confident an instance can hardly be produced of a surname made Christian, in England, save since the Reformation; before which time the priests were scrupulous to admit any at font, except they were baptised with the name of a Scripture or legendary saint. Since, it hath been common; and although the Lord Coke was pleased to say he had noted many of them prove unfortunate, yet the good success in others confutes the general truth of the observation."--_Worthies_, vol. i. pp. 159, 160., edit. Nuttall.

J. C. R.

Lord C. of Ireland, which MR. WILLIAM BATES guesses to be Lord _Castlereagh_, was Lord _Clare_, Chancellor of Ireland, who used also to call men {64} with three names by a term opprobrious among the Romans: "Homines trium literarum."

C.

_Hogarth's Pictures_ (Vol. vii. _passim_).--One of the correspondents of "N. & Q." inquires where he could see some pictures from this great artist. May I ask if he is aware of the three very fine large paintings in the Church of St. Mary, Redcliffe, Bristol? which I am told will shortly be sold.

BRISTOLIENSIS.

P.S.--They were painted for the church, and the vestry holds his autograph receipt for the payment of them.

_Old Fogie_ (Vol. vii., pp. 354. 559. 632.).--Whether the origin of this term be Irish, Scotch, or Swedish I know not; but I cannot help stating the significant meaning which, as an Edinburgh boy at the beginning of the century, I was taught to attach to it. Every High-School boy agreed in applying it to the veterans of the Castle garrison, to the soldiers of the Town Guard (veterans also, and especial foes of my school-mates), and more generally to any old and objectionable gentleman, civil or military. It implied that, like stones which have ceased to roll, they had obtained the proverbial covering of _moss_, or, as it is called in Scotland (probably in Ireland also), _fog_. I have heard in Scotland the "_Moss_ Rose" called the "_Fogie_ Rose;" and there is a well-known species of the humble bee which has its nest in a mossy bank, and is itself clothed with a moss-like covering: its name among the Scottish peasantry is the _fogie_ bee.

G. J. F.

Bolton.

_Clem_ (Vol. vii., p. 615.).--MR. KEIGHTLEY considers this word to mean _press_ or _restrain_, and quotes three passages from Massinger and Jonson in support of his opinion; admitting, however, that it is usually rendered _starve_. Now, whatever may have been the root of this word, or whencesoever it may have been derived, I think it must be admitted that _starve_ is the correct meaning of the word in these passages. Let the reader test it by substituting _starve_ for _clem_ in each case. In Cheshire and Lancashire the word is in common use to this day, and invariably means _starved_ for want of food. Of a thin, emaciated child it is said, "His mother _clems_ him." A person exceedingly hungry says, "I'm welly _clem'd_; I'm almost or well-nigh _starved_." It is the ordinary appeal of a beggar in the streets, when asking for food.

EDW. HAWKINS.

_Kissing Hands_ (Vol. vii., p. 595.).--CAPE will find in Suetonius that Caligula's hands were kissed.

C.

_Uniform of the Foot Guards_ (Vol. vii., p. 595.).--In answer to D. N., as to where he can see uniforms of the Foot Guards, 1660 to 1670, I have to refer him to the Orderly-room, Horse Guards, where he will see the costume of the three regiments since they were raised. In Mackinnon's _History of the Coldstream Guards_, he will find that regiment's dress from the year 1650 to 1840.

C. D.

_Book Inscriptions_ (Vol. vii., p. 455.).--At the end of No. 1801. _Harl. MSS._ is the following:

"Hic liber est scriptus, Qui scripsit sit benedictus. Qui scriptoris manum Culpat, basiat anum."

In the printed catalogue there is this note:

"Neotricus quidam hos scripsit versiculos, ex alio forsan Codice depromptos."

[omega]. [phi].

I have not seen the following amongst your deprecatory rhymes. It may come in with another batch. The nature of the punishment is somewhat different from that usually selected, and savours of Spain:

"Si quisquis furetur This little libellum, Per Phoebum, per Jovem, I'll kill him, I'll fell him! In ventum illius I'll stick my scalpellum, And teach him to steal My little libellum."

RUBI.

In a Gesner's _Thesaurus_ I have the following label of the date 1762:

"Ex Caroli Ferd. Hommelii Bibliotheca.

"Intra quatuordecim dies comodatum ni reddideris, neq' belle custodieris, alio tempore, Non habeo, dicam."

L.

_Humbug_ (Vol. vii., pp. 550. 631.).--I do not remember any earlier use of this word than in Fielding's _Amelia_, 1751. Its origin is involved in obscurity: but may it not be a corruption of the Latin _ambages_, or the singular ablative _ambage_? which signifies _quibbling, subterfuge_, and that kind of conduct which is generally supposed to constitute _humbug_. It is very possible that it may have been pedantically introduced in the seventeenth century. May, in his translation of Lucan, uses the word _ambages_ as an English word.

H. T. RILEY.

A severe instance of the use of the term "humbug" occurred in a court of justice. A female in giving her evidence repeatedly used this term. In her severe cross-examination, the counsel (a very plain, if not an ugly person) observed she had frequently used the term humbug, and desired to know what she meant by it, and to {65} have an explanation; to which she replied, "Why, Sir, if I was to say you were a very handsome man, would you not think I was humbugging you?" The counsel sat down perfectly satisfied.

G. H. J.

_Sir Isaac Newton and Voltaire on Railway Travelling_ (Vol. viii., p. 34.).--The passage in Daniel alluded to is probably the following:--"Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased," chap. xii. v. 4. MR. CRAIG should send to your pages the exact words of Newton and Voltaire, with references to the books in which the passages may be found.

JOHN BRUCE.

_Engine-a-verge_ (Vol. vii., p. 619.).--Is not this what we term a garden engine? The French _vergier_ (_viridarium_) is doubtless so named, quia _virga_ definita; and we have the old English word _verge_, a garden, from the same source.

H. C. K.

---- Rectory, Hereford.

_"Populus vult decipi," &c._ (Vol. vii., p. 572.).--The origin of this phrase is found in Thuanus, lib. xvii. A.D. 1556. See Jackson's _Works_, book iii. ch. 32. s. 9. _note_.

C. P. E.

_Sir John Vanbrugh_ (Vol. vii., p. 619.).--Sir John Vanbrugh was the grandson of a Protestant refugee, from a family originally of Ghent in Flanders. The Duke of Alva's persecution drove him to England, where he became a merchant in London. Giles, the son of this refugee, resided in Chester, became rich by trade, and married the youngest daughter of Sir Dudley Carleton, by whom he had eight sons, of whom Sir John Vanbrugh was the second. The presumption is he was born in Chester, but the precise date is unknown.

ANON.

_Erroneous Forms of Speech_ (Vol. vii., pp. 329. 632.).--With regard to your two correspondents E. G. R. and M., I hold that, with Cowper's disputants, "both are right and both are wrong."

The name of the _field_ beet is, in the language of the unlearned, _mangel-wurzel_, "the root of poverty." It acquired that name from having been used as food by the poor in Germany during a time of great famine. Turning to Buchanan's _Technological Dictionary_, I find,--

"_Mangel-wurzel._ Field beet; a variety between the red and white. It has as yet been only partially cultivated in Britain."

In reference to the assertion of your later correspondent, that "such a thing as mangel-wurzel is not known on the Continent," I would ask if either he or his friends are familiar with half the beautiful and significant terms applied to English flowers and herbs? If he prefer using mangold for beet, he is quite at liberty to do so, and I believe on sufficiently good authority. What says Noehden, always a leading authority in German:

"_Mangold._ Red beet; name of some other plants, such as lungwort and sorrel."

Mangold is here, then, a generic term, standing for other plants equally with the beet. One suggestion, however; I would recommend the generic term, when used at all, to be used alone, leaving the more familiar appellation as it stands, for the adoption of those who prefer the homely but suggestive phraseology to which it belongs.

E. L. H.

_Devonianisms_ (Vol. vii., p. 630.).--_Plum_, adj. I am at a loss for the origin of this word as employed in Devonshire in the sense of "soft," _e.g._ "a _plum_ bed:" meaning a soft, downy bed.

Query: Can it be from the Latin _pluma_? And if so, what is its history?

There is also a verb _to plum_, which is obscure. Dough, when rising under the influence of heat and fermentation, is said to be _plumming_ well; and the word _plum_, as an adjective, is used as the opposite of _heavy_ with regard to currant and other cakes when baked. If the cake rises well in the oven, it is commonly said that it is "nice and plum;" and _vice versa_, that it is heavy.

_Clunk_, verb. This word is used by the common people, more especially the peasantry, to denote the swallowing of masses of unmasticated food; and of morsels that may not be particularly relished, such as fat. What is the origin of the word?

_Dollop_, subs. This word, as well as the one last-named, is very expressive in the vocabulary of the vulgar. It is applied to lumps of any substances, whether food or otherwise. Such a phrase as this might be heard: "What a _dollop_ of fat you have given me!" "Well," would be the reply, "if you don't like it, _clunk_ it at once." I should be glad to be enlightened as to the etymology of this term.

ISAIAH W. N. KEYS.

Plymouth, Devon.

* * * * *

Miscellaneous.

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES WANTED TO PURCHASE.

A NARRATIVE OF THE HOLY LIFE AND HAPPY DEATH OF MR. JOHN ANGIER. London. 1685.

MOORE'S MELODIES. 15th Edition.

WOOD'S ATHENAE OXONIENSES (ed. Bliss). 4 vols. 4to. 1813-20.

THE COMPLAYNTS OF SCOTLAND. 8vo. Edited by Leyden. 1804.

SHAKSPEARE'S PLAYS. Vol. V. of Johnson and Steevens's edition, in 15 vols. 8vo. 1739.

*** _Correspondents sending Lists of Books Wanted are requested to send their names._

*** Letters, stating particulars and lowest price, _carriage free_, to be sent to MR. BELL, Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.

* * * * * {66}

Notices to Correspondents.

_Owing to the necessity of infringing on the present Number for the Title-page of our_ Seventh Volume, _we are compelled to omit many interesting communications, and our usual_ NOTES ON BOOKS, &c.

ABREDONENSIS _must be referred to the_ Philosophical Transactions, vol. xliii. p. 249., _for a reply to his Query. It will be sufficient here to state, that the Willingham Boy was at his birth of gigantic form, and an object of great curiosity to the philosophical world. It is not stated how long he lived, or what education he received, so that we cannot ascertain whether he distinguished himself in any "department of literature or art."_

H. N. _will find in our_ Seventh Volume, p. 192., _that the quotation--_

"Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love," &c.,

_is from J. P. Kemble's Comedy of_ The Panel, _altered from Bickerstaff's_ 'Tis well 'tis no worse.

MR. POLLOCK'S PROCESS.--"_In answer to_ N. T. B., _a saturated solution of hypo. saturated with iodide of silver._

"21. Maddox Street. HENRY POLLOCK."

T. B. (Coventry). _Paper positives are seldom varnished. The glossy appearance which they possess may depend either upon their being printed on albumenised paper, or upon their being hot-pressed. The latter process always much improves the picture. Where the size has been much removed, it is well to re-size the paper, which may be done by boiling a few parchment cuttings in water, and soaking the prints in the liquor._

H. H. H. (Ashburton). _All the best authorities concur in the uncertain properties of the salts of gold. We have seen some Daguerreotypes which have been executed about three years, and were treated with the salts of gold, and which are now mere shades._

C. M. M. (Abbey Road). _Your question as to the spots has been carefully answered in a late Number. The film which you notice on the surface of your nit. silver bath depends upon the remaining portion of ether in the collodion being liberated, which, not being very soluble in water, causes the greasy appearance. It soon evaporates, and is of no consequence._

T. COOK _is thanked for his offer of a cheap and easy method of obtaining pictures for the stereoscope. We shall be glad to receive it._

DR. DIAMOND'S PHOTOGRAPHIC NOTES.--_We share in the desire expressed by_ W. C., J. M. S., _and many other Correspondents, for the speedy publication of this volume. But we believe the delay is not to be regretted. It is a very easy matter to write a book upon Photography; but it requires no small labour, and great consideration, to produce such a volume as_ DR. DIAMOND _proposes, in which it is his desire to explain everything so clearly, that a person living in a remote part of the country, or in the colonies, may, from his directions, make a good photograph._

_Errata._--P. 25., last line, read "camp_u_s" for "camp_re_s;" p. 26., fourth line, read "iar_o_" for "iar_s_;" p. 36., 2nd col. line 18., read "regularity" for "irregularity."

_A few complete sets of_ "NOTES AND QUERIES," Vols. i. _to_ vii., _price Three Guineas and a Half, may now be had; for which early application is desirable._

"NOTES AND QUERIES" _is published at noon on Friday, so that the Country Booksellers may receive Copies in that night's parcels, and deliver them to their Subscribers on the Saturday._

* * * * *

GILBERT J. FRENCH,

BOLTON, LANCASHIRE,

RESPECTFULLY informs the Clergy, Architects, and Churchwardens, that he replies immediately to all applications by letter, for information respecting his Manufactures in CHURCH FURNITURE, ROBES, COMMUNION LINEN, &c., &c., supplying full information as to Prices, together with Sketches, Estimates, Patterns of Material, &c., &c.

Having declined appointing Agents, MR. FRENCH invites direct communications by Post, as the most economical and satisfactory arrangement. PARCELS delivered Free by Railway.

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