Chapter 6

"At that time two brothers, who were extremely rich, sold their inheritance by the advice of Crato the philosopher, and bought diamonds of singular value, which they crushed in the Forum before all the people, thus making an ostentatious exhibition of their contempt for the world. St. John, happening to be passing through the Forum, witnessed this display, and, pitying the folly of these misguided men, kindly gave them sounder advice. Sending for Crato their master, who had led them into error, he blamed the wasteful destruction of valuable property, and instructed him in the true meaning of contempt for the world according to Christ's doctrine, quoting the precept of that teacher, his own Master, when, in reply to the young man who inquired of Him how he might obtain eternal life, He said, 'If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.' Crato the philosopher, acknowledging the soundness of the apostle's teaching, entreated him to restore the jewels which had been foolishly crushed to their former condition. St. John then gathered up the precious fragments, and, while he held them in his hand, prayed for some time with his eyes raised to heaven. His prayer being concluded, and all the faithful present having said _Amen_, the broken pieces of the jewels became so closely united, that there remained not the slightest appearance of any fracture. Then Crato the philosopher, with all his disciples, threw himself at the apostle's feet, believed, and were baptized; and Crato, preaching openly the faith of the Lord Jesus, became a true philosopher. Moreover, the two brothers who before destroyed their property to no purpose, now, in obedience to the evangelical precept, sold their jewels, and distributed the price in alms to the poor of Christ. And a multitude of believers began to attach themselves to St. John, and to follow his steps."--_Ordericus Vitalis_, b. II. ch. v. (Mr. Forrester's translation), Bohn's edit., vol. i. pp. 240, 241.

J. SANSOM.

_The Curfew_ (Vol. vii., pp. 167. 539.).--Add to the already long list of places where the curfew bell is still rung the following:

St. Werburgh's (Cathedral) Chester, Acton, Audlem, Nantwich, Wybunbury; all in Cheshire and adjoining parishes.

Madeley, Staffordshire. In this place also (Audlem) the very ancient custom of chiming at funerals is still maintained.

T. H. KERSLEY, B.A.

Audlem, Nantwich.

_Thomas Blount_ (Vol. viii., p. 286.).--Since forwarding the monumental inscription inserted as above, which makes this gentleman's death to take place on Dec. 26, I find that Sir William Dugdale, with whom Blount was on terms of intimacy, as he calls him "my very worthy friend," has the following notice of him in his _Diary_ under the year 1679:

"December 16. Mr. T. Blount dyed, at Orlton, Herefordshire, of an apoplexie."

Thus making a difference of ten days, which is probably an error made by the engraver of the inscription. It may be interesting to know from the same authority, that Mr. Blount's chamber was in Fig Tree Court, on the back side of the Inner Temple Hall, London, his country residence being at Orlton. From his correspondence with Sir William, it appears that he rendered him much assistance in his works.

J. B. WHITBORNE.

_Pronunciations of "Coke" and "Cowper"_ (Vols. iv. and v. _passim_; Vol. vi., p. 16.).--So much, and so well to the purpose, has already been said in "N. & Q.," in support of the averment that the former of these names was originally pronounced _Cook_, that it may appear needless to adduce additional evidence; still, considering the source from which the testimony I am now bringing forward is derived, I think I may stand excused for recurring to the subject. It is from the Court Books of the manor of Mitcham (the birthplace of Sir Edward Coke), and from the parochial registers; in which, and, indeed, in all cotemporary records where sound was followed in the spelling, I find the name of this family written {604} _Cook_ or _Cooke_. The great Sir Edward's own baptismal register is thus entered--1551, Feb. 7. "Edward Cooke genero." Surely this is conclusive. The same pronunciation was vulgarly followed almost up to the present time. There must be many who remember at the Norfolk elections the cry of "Cook for ever," as well as that of the opposite political party who threw up their caps for _Woodhouse_; for so _Wodehouse_ was in like manner pronounced. Again, the Hobarts, another Norfolk family, were always called _Hubbarts_; and more anciently Bokenham, _Buckenham_, Todenham, _Tuddenham_, and others I could name, showing that in the Norfolk dialect the usage was in pronunciation to soften the _o_.

Now as regards the sound of Cowper, the same class of authorities, old deeds, court rolls, and parish registers, appears to lead to a different conclusion from that of your other correspondents. We have now no _Cowper_ family of Norfolk origin; of _Coopers_ we have multitudes: the names of whose forefathers were written _Couper_ or _Cowper_; and if written as pronounced, the analogical inference is that the original pronunciation was _Cowper_, Cooper being merely the modern way of spelling; and curiously enough, the parish of _Hoo_, in this county, is called and now usually spelt _How_.

G. A. C.

_Unkid_ (Vol. viii., p. 353.).--_Unketh_, _uncouth_, are different writings of the same word. Jamieson has _uncoudy_, which he explains, dreary; and _coudy_, i. e. couth, couthy, nearly allied to _cuth_, notus (see _couth_ (could), _uncouth_, _unketh_, in Richardson; and _coudy_, _uncoudy_, in Jamieson). Lye has "_Uncwid_, solitary; whence, perhaps, the not entirely obsolete _unkid_." Grose also tells us that, in the north, _uncuffs_ and _uncuds_ mean news. It is very plain that these are all the same word, differently written and applied.

Q.

Bloomsbury.

_To split Paper_ (Vol. viii., p. 413.).--

"Procure two rollers or cylinders of glass, amber, resin, or metallic amalgam; strongly excite them by the well known means so as to produce the attraction of cohesion, and then, with pressure, pass the paper between the rollers; one half will adhere to the under roller, and the other to the upper roller; then cease the excitation, and remove each part."--From the _Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal_.

A. H. B.

_La Fleur des Saints_ (Vol. viii., p. 410.).--The work which Molière intended was in all probability the French translation of a Spanish work entitled _Flos Sanctorum_. The author of it was Alonso de Villegas. It was first printed at Toledo in 1591, and an English version appeared at Douay in 1615. Some idea of the contents may be gathered from the following title: _Flos Sanctorum, Historia General de la Vida, y Hechos de Jesu Christo Dios y Señor nuestro; y de todos los Santos, de que reza, y haze fiesta la Iglesia Catolica, &c._ My copy is the Madrid edition of 1653.

C. HARDWICK.

St. Catharine's Hall, Cambridge.

_Dr. Butler and St. Edmund's Bury_ (Vol. viii., p. 125.).--Could this have been Dr. William Butler, of eccentric memory, born at Ipswich about 1535, and buried in St. Mary's Church, Cambridge, 1618?

G. A. C.

_Major André_ (Vol. viii., p. 174.).--Two nephews of Major André, sons of his sister, Mrs. Mills, are resident in Norwich, both being surgeons there. Perhaps, on application, your correspondent SERVIENS would be able to obtain from them some serviceable information regarding this unfortunate officer.

G. A. C.

_Wooden Tombs and Effigies_ (Vol. viii., p. 255.).--In the church of Chew-Magna, co. Somerset, is the effigy of Sir John Hautville, cut (says Collinson, vol. ii. p. 100.) in one solid piece of Irish oak. He lies on his left side, resting on his hip and elbow, the left hand supporting his head. The figure is in armour, with a red loose coat without sleeves over it, a girdle and buckle, oblong shield, helmet, and gilt spurs. The right hand rests on the edge of the shield. This monument was brought many years ago from the neighbouring church (now destroyed) of Norton Hautville. Sir John lived temp. Henry III. The popular story of him is that he was a person of gigantic strength, and that he carried, for a feat, three men to the top of Norton church tower, one under each arm, and the third in his teeth! (Collinson, vol. ii. p. 108.)

J. E. J.

_Froissart's Accuracy_ (Vol. viii., p. 494.).--The accuracy of Froissart as an historian has never been questioned, says T. J. This assertion ought not to pass without a note. If T. J. will look into Hallam's _Lit. of Europe_, ch. iii., he will find that judicious and learned critic comparing Froissart with Livy for "fertility of historical invention," or, in other words, for his unhesitatingly supplying his readers with a copious and picturesque statement of the details of events, where they were palpably out of the reach of his knowledge.

As a gleaner of chivalrous gossip, and a painter of national manners, Froissart is perhaps unequalled. Take up his account of a campaign on the Scottish borders, and he relates the proceedings in his amusing style, as if he had been behind every bush with the Scotch, and hunting for them in vain with every English banner. But if his accuracy be inquired into, he tells you that Carlisle, which he calls Cardoel en Gales, is on {605} the Tyne, and was garrisoned in vain with "grand planté de Galois," to prevent the Scotch from passing the Tyne under its walls (vol. i. ch. xviii. xix. xxi.).

So much by way of note; but there is a Query which I should be glad to see answered. Bayle (art. Froissart) quotes a German critic as affirming that in the Lyons edition of Froissart, by Denys Saulvage, 1559: "Omnia quæ Aulæ Gallicæ displicebant, deleta, vixque decimam historiæ partem relictam esse." Does Col. Johnes notice this inaccuracy in the edition generally procurable? And does he state whether he saw, or consulted, or received any benefit from the existence of the MS. copy of Froissart, once in the library of Breslaw?

HENRY WALTER.

_Nursery Rhymes_ (Vol. viii., p. 452.).--I fear J. R.'s anxiety to find a Saxon origin to a nursery rhyme has _suggested_ unconsciously a version which does not otherwise exist. The rhyme in my young days used to be,--

"Hushaby, baby, on the tree top, When the wind blows the cradle will rock."

--a sufficient rhyme for the nursery.

EDEN WARWICK.

Birmingham.

"_Hip, hip, hurrah!_" (Vol. viii., pp. 88. 323.).-- SIR J. EMERSON TENNENT, in answering MR. BRENT'S observation at p. 88., seems to have been fighting a shadow. Upon reference to Mr. Chappell's _Collection_, vol. ii. p. 38., quoted by MR. BRENT, it appears that a note by Dr. Burney, in a copy of Hawkins's _History of Music_, in the British Museum, is the authority for the reading:

"Hang up all the poor _hep_ drinkers, Cries old Sim, the King of skinkers."

In the folio edition of Ben Jonson's _Works_, published by Thomas Hodgkin, London, 1692, in which the "Leges Convivales" are I believe for the first time printed, the verses over the door of the Apollo are given, and the couplet runs:

"Hang up all the poor _hop_ drinkers, Cries Old Sym, the King of skinkers."

Probably Mr. Chappell misread Dr. Burney's MS. note: at all events MR. BRENT'S ingenious suggestion is without foundation.

A. F. B.

Diss.

_Dodo_ (Vol. vii., p. 83.).--Dodo or Doun Bardolf married Beatrix, daughter of William de Warren of Wormegay. She was a widow in 1209, and remarried the famous Hubert de Burgh.

ANON.

_Oaths_ (Vol. viii., p. 364.).--Your correspondent assumes that the act of kissing the Bible, or other book containing the Holy Gospels, by a judicial witness, is a part of the oath itself. Is it such, or is it merely an act of reverence to the book? In support of the latter supposition, I would quote Archdeacon Paley, who says, that after repeating the oath,--

"The juror kisses the book; the kiss, however, seems rather an act of reverence to the contents of the book, as in the Popish ritual the priest kisses the gospel before he reads it, than any part of the oath."--_Mor. and Pol. Ph._, p. 193., thirteenth edition.

In none of the instances given by C. S. G. does kissing the book appear to be essential. Does not this rather favour Dr. Paley's explanation? which, if it be correct, would, I think, afford grounds for concluding that the practice of kissing the book accompanied the taking of ancient oaths, and is not, as C. S. G. suggests, an addition of later times.

Again, may I bring forward the same authority in opposition to that quoted by your correspondent with reference to the origin of the term corporal oath:

"It is commonly thought that oaths are denominated corporal oaths from the bodily action which accompanies them, of laying the right hand upon a book containing the four gospels. This opinion, however, appears to be a mistake, for the term is borrowed from the ancient usage of touching upon these occasions the _corporale_, or cloth, which covered the consecrated elements."--P. 191.

R. V. T.

Mincing Lane.

The old custom of taking the judicial oath by merely laying the right hand upon the book, is undoubtedly, thinks ERICA, of Pagan origin. In my humble opinion it is far too common with us to ascribe things to Pagan origin. I would venture to assert that the origin of this form of judicial oath may be traced to Deuteronomy xxi. 1-8., where at the sacrifice offered up in expiation of secret murder, the rulers of the city nearest the spot where the corpse was found were in presence of the corpse to wash their hands _over_ the victim, and say, "Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it."

CEYREP.

_Mayors and Sheriffs_ (Vol. viii., p. 126.).--In answer to a SUBSCRIBER, there can be little or no doubt, I consider, but that the mayor of a town or borough is the principal and most important officer, and ought to have precedence of a sheriff of a town or borough. By stat. 5 & 6 Wm. IV. cap. 76. sec. 57., it is enacted, "That the mayor for the time being of every borough shall, during the time of his mayoralty, have precedence in all places within the borough." As sheriffs of towns, and counties of towns, do not derive their appointments from the Crown, but from the councils of their respective towns, &c. (see sec. 61. of the {606} above Act), I do not imagine that they can legally claim precedence of mayors, on the alleged ground of any "representation of Majesty," in the face of the particular enactment above quoted; which, indeed, seems to me to give to the mayor within his own borough precedence of a high sheriff of a county, if present on any public occasion. I am not aware that the sheriff of borough, as such, can "_claim_ to have a grant of arms, if he has not any previous;" although I have no doubt he may readily obtain one, upon payment of the usual fees.

C. J.

_Mousehunt_ (Vol. viii., p. 516.).--

"A Mousehunt is a little animal of the species of weasel; it has a very slender body, about the length of a rat, with a long hairy tail, bushy at the end; the back is of a reddish-brown colour, the hair long and smooth; the belly is white, as are also its feet; it runs very swiftly, swaying its body as it moves along from side to side. The head is short and narrow, with small ears, like those of a rat; the eyes are black, piercing, and very bright. Their chief food is rats, mice, young chickens, little birds, and eggs. They frequent mole-hills, and are often caught in the traps set for the moles; they are destroyed by ferrets and dogs. These mousehunts live, for the most part, in holes beneath the roots of trees, or in old buildings."

The above description of the Mousehunt is given in _The History of a Field-mouse_ by Miss Black. Should it be thought of sufficient authority to deserve a place in "N. & Q.," the coincidence which led "Little Downy" to be read to a little girl on the morning of Nov. 26 will amuse.

E. B. R.

_"Salus populi," &c._ (Vol. viii., p. 410.).--Selden, in his _Table Talk_ (art. PEOPLE), states, on what authority I know not, that this was part of the law of XII Tables.

E. S. T. T.

_Love Charm from a Foal's Forehead_ (Vol. viii., p. 292.).--The word which H. P. wants is _Hippomanes_. The reference which the Lexicons give is to Aristotle's _History of Animals_, viii. 23. 5.

I shall be glad to have some of H. P.'s references to Tacitus, as I cannot now call one to mind. In connexion with the subject, I should like to know if the white star, which used to be so fashionable on horses' foreheads, was always or generally produced artificially.

W. FRASER.

Tor-Mohun.

_Land of Green Ginger_ (Vol. viii., pp. 160. 227.). --So named, in all probability, from green ginger having been manufactured there. Green ginger was one of the favourite conserve of our ancestors, and great quantities of it were made in this country from dried ginger roots. In an old black-letter work without date, but unmistakeably of the sixteenth century, entitled _The Book of pretty C[=o]ceits, taken out of Latine, French, Dutch, and English_, there is a receipt "To make Green Ginger," commencing thus:--"Take rases of cased ginger and use them in this sort." I need not quote the long-winded receipt. Suffice it to say that dried ginger was placed in alternate layers with fine white sand, and the whole mass kept constantly wet until the ginger became quite soft. It was then washed, scraped clean, and put into sirup. There can be no greater difficulty in finding a derivation for the Land of Green Ginger, than for Pudding Lane, or Pie Corner.

W. PINKERTON.

Ham.

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Miscellaneous.

NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.

The Members of the _Camden Society_ have just received two volumes, with which we doubt not all will be well pleased. The first is a farther portion, namely, from M to R, of Mr. Way's most valuable edition of the _Promptorium Parvulorum_. A glance at the foot-notes, so rich in philological illustration, and a knowledge that Mr. Way's labours have been greatly impeded by his removal from London, where only he can meet with the authorities which he is obliged to consult, may well explain the delay which has taken place in its publication. But we doubt not that the Camden Council are justified in the hope which they have expressed that the favour with which the present portion is received, will encourage the editor to proceed with all possible dispatch to the conclusion of the work.

Rich, like the _Promptorium_, in philological illustration, and of the highest value as a contribution to the social history of the thirteenth century, is the next work; and for which the Camden Members are indebted to the learned Vicar of Holbeach, The Rev. James Morton. _The Ancren Riwle; a Treatise on the Rules and Duties of Monastic Life_, which he has edited and translated from a Semi-Saxon MS. of the thirteenth century, is a work which many of our best scholars have long desired to see in print,--we believe we may add, that many have thought seriously of editing. The information to be derived from it, with regard to the state of society, the learning and manners, the moral and religious teaching, and the language of the period in which it was written, is so various and so important, that it is clear the Camden Society has done good service in selecting it for publication; while the manner in which it has been edited by Mr. Morton, and the translation and complete Glossarial Index with which he has enriched it, show that the Council did equally well in their choice of an editor. The work does the highest credit both to that gentleman and to the Camden Society.

Mr Bridger, of 3. Keppel Street, Russell Square, is desirous of making known to our readers that he is engaged in compiling a "Catalogue of Privately Printed Books in Genealogy and kindred subjects," and to solicit information in furtherance of his design, {607} more especially with regard to privately printed sheet pedigrees. The Catalogue will be printed for private distribution, and he will be happy to give a copy to any one who may favour him with communications.

BOOKS RECEIVED.--As usual, we have a large item to enter under this head to the account of that enterprising caterer of good and cheap books, Mr. Bohn. We have two volumes of his _Standard Library_, namely, Adam Smith's _Theory of Moral Sentiments; and Dissertation on the Origin of Languages, with the Biographical and Critical Memoir of the Author_, by Dugald Stewart--and a work of greater present interest, though in itself of far less importance, namely, Ranke's _History of Servia_, and his _Insurrection in Bosnia, translated from the German_, by Mrs. A. Kerr, and the _Slave Provinces of Turkey, chiefly from the French_ of M. Cyprien Robert, a volume which will be read with eagerness in the present condition of the political world. _Justin, Cornelius Nepos, and Eutropius, literally translated, with Notes and a General Index_, by the Reverend J. Selby Watson, M.A., forms the new volume of the same publisher's _Classical Library_. Mr. Bohn has this month commenced a New Series under the title of Bohn's _British Classics_. The first work is an edition of Gibbon's _Decline and Fall_, with the notes of Guizot, Wenck, and other continental writers; and farther illustrations by an English Churchman. In thus choosing Gibbon, Mr. Bohn has not shown his usual tact. He may not mean his edition to be a rival to that published by Mr. Murray under the editorship of Dean Milman; but he will find much difficulty in dissuading the reading world that it is not so intended. We speak thus freely, because we have always spoken so freely in commendation of Mr. Bohn's projects generally.--_Catalogue of my English Library, collected and described_ by Henry Stevens, F.S.A., is a catalogue of the books essential to a good English library of about 5000 volumes, and such as Mr. Stevens, the indefatigable supplier of book rarities and book utilities to his American brethren, feels justified in recommending. It would be found so capital a Hand-book to all classes, that we are sorry to see it is only printed for private distribution.--_The Botanist's Word-book_, by G. Macdonald, Esq., and Dr. James Allan. This little vocabulary of the terms employed in the Science of Botany, which may now almost be described as the science of Long Names, will be found most useful by all who pursue that fascinating study.

* * * * *

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES WANTED TO PURCHASE.

THE FRIENDS. 1773. 2 Vols.

THE EDINBURGH MISCELLANY. 1720.

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

Particulars of Price, &c. of the following Books to be sent direct to the gentlemen by whom they are required, and whose names and addresses are given for that purpose:

ORMEROD'S CHESHIRE. Parts II. and X. Small Paper.

HEMINGWAY'S CHESTER. Parts I. and III. Large Paper.

Wanted by _T. Hughes_, 13. Paradise Row, Chester.

* * * * *

AARON HILL'S PLAIN DEALER.

EDINBURGH MISCELLANY. Edinb. 1720.

Wanted by _F. Dinsdale_, Leamington.

* * * * *

OXFORD ALMANACK for 1719.

AMOENITATES ACADEMICÆ. Vol. I. Holmiæ, 1749.

AMMANUS l. STIRPES RARIORES. Petrop. 1739.

PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS for 1683.

ANNALS OF PHILOSOPHY for January, 1824.

UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE for January, 1763.

SPRINGEL AND DECANDOLLE'S BOTANY.

Wanted by _Mr. H. T. Bobart_, Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

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LADERCHII ANNALES ECCLESIASTICI. 3 Tom. Folio. Romæ, 1728-37.