Part 3

_Inn Signs, &c._--Can any reader of "N. & Q." supply information respecting inn and other signs; or refer to any printed books, or accessible MSS., relating to the subject?

ALPHEGE.

_Smiths and Robinsons._--Could any of your correspondents inform me what are the arms of Miles Smith, Bishop of Gloucester, those of the Smiths of Willoughby, those of the Smiths of Crudely, in Lancashire, and those of the Robinsons of the North Riding of Yorkshire? Also, in what church, and in what year, did Lady Elizabeth Robinson, otherwise known as Betty of the Boith, serve the office of churchwarden?

JOHN H. R. SMITH, JUN.

_Coin of Carausius._--A brass coin has lately come into my possession, bearing on the obverse the head and inscription:

"IMP. CARAVSIUS. P. P. AVG."

And on the reverse, a female figure, with spear and a branch:

"PAX. AUG. S. P. MLXXI."

I believe it to have been struck by Carausius, an usurper of the end of the third century, and my Query is as to the meaning of the letters MLXXI. Some friends assert them to be the Roman numerals, making the year 1071, and conclude it to have been struck at that date.

C. G.

Paddington.

_Verelst the Painter._--Can any of your readers inform me who was Jo. Verelst? I have in my possession a picture bearing the signature, with the addition of P. 1714. The celebrated artists of that name mentioned in the _Dictionary of Painters_ cannot be the same.

CELCRENA.

_Latin Treatise on whipping School-boys._--What is the name of a modern Latin author, who has written a treatise on the antiquity of the practice of whipping school-boys? The work is alluded to in the _History of the Flagellants_, p. 134., edit. 1777, but the author's name is not given.

BETULA.

Dublin.

_Whitewashing in Churches._--Can any of your correspondents inform me at what period, and about what year it became the custom to cover over with whitewash the many beautiful works of art, both in stone and wood, which have of late years been brought to light in our cathedrals and churches in the course of renovation?

K.

_Surname "Kynoch."_--Can any of your correspondents supply any heraldic or genealogical information regarding this name, a few families of which are to be found in Moray and Aberdeen shires, North Britain?

J.

_Dates of published Works._--Is it possible to ascertain the exact time of publication of any book, for instance in the year 1724, either at Stationers' Hall or elsewhere?

D.

_Saw-dust Recipe._--There is a recipe existing somewhere for converting saw-dust into palatable {149} human food. Can you tell me what it is, or where it is to be found?

G. D.

* * * * *

Minor Queries with Answers.

_Branks, or Gossips' Bridles._--Walton Church contains one of those strange instruments with which our ancestors used to punish those dames who were too free with the use of their tongues. They were called hanks [branks], or gossips' bridles, and were intended to inclose the head, being fastened behind by a padlock, and having attached to it a small piece of iron which literally "held the tongue." Thus accoutred, the unhappy culprit was marched through the village till she gave unequivocal signs of repentance and humiliation. Can any one give some account of this curious instrument?

GEORGE HODGES.

Oxford.

[Fosbroke says that "the brank is a sugar-loaf cap made of iron hooping, with a cross at top, and a flat piece projecting inwards to lie upon the tongue. It was put upon the head of scolds, padlocked behind, and a string annexed, by which a man led them through the towns." (See also Brand's _Popular Antiquities_, vol. iii. p. 108., Bohn's edition.) Engravings of them will be found in Plot's _History of Staffordshire_, p. 389., and in Brands _History of Newcastle_, vol. ii. p. 192. In the _Historical Description of the Tower of London_, p. 54., edit. 1774, occurs the following libellous squib on the fair sex: "Among the curiosities of the Tower is a collar of torment, which, say your conductors, used formerly to be put about the women's neck that cuckolded their husbands, or scolded them when they came home late; but that custom is left off now-a-days, to prevent quarrelling for collars, there not being smiths enough to make them, as most married men are sure to want them at one time or another." Waldron, in his _Description of the Isle of Man_, p. 80., thus notices this instrument of punishment: "I know nothing in the Manx statutes or punishments in particular but this, which is, that if any person be convicted of uttering a scandalous report, and cannot make good the assertion, instead of being fined or imprisoned, they are sentenced to stand in the market-place, on a sort of scaffold erected for that purpose, with their tongue in a noose made of leather, which they call a _bridle_, and having been exposed to the view of the people for some time, on the taking off this machine, they are obliged to say three times, 'Tongue, thou hast lyed.'"]

_Not caring a Fig for anything._--What is the origin of this expression?

J. H. CHATEAU.

Philadelphia.

[Nares informs us that the real origin of this expression may be found in Stevens and Pineda's Dictionaries under _Higa_; and, in fact, the same phrase and allusion pervaded all modern Europe: as, _Far le fiche_, Ital.; _Faire la figue_, Fr.; _Die Feigen weisen_, Germ., _De vÿghe setten_, Dutch. (See Du Cange, in _Ficha_.) Johnson says, "To _fig_, in Spanish, _higas dar_, is to insult by putting the thumb between the fore and middle finger. From this Spanish custom we yet say in contempt, _A fig for you_." To this explanation Mr. Douce has added the following note: "Dr. Johnson has properly explained this phrase; but it should be added, that it is of Italian origin. When the Milanese revolted against the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, they placed the Empress his wife upon a mule with her head towards the tail, and ignominiously expelled her their city. Frederick afterwards besieged and took the place, and compelled every one of his prisoners, on pain of death, to take with his teeth a _fig_ from the posteriors of a mule. The party was at the same time obliged to repeat to the executioner the words _Ecco la fica_. From this circumstance _far la fica_ became a term of derision, and was adopted by other nations. The French say likewise, _faire la figue_."]

_B. C. Y._--Can you give me any information respecting the famous B. C. Y. row, as it was called, which occurred about fifty years ago? A newspaper was started expressly to explain the meaning of the letters, which said it was "Beware of the Catholic Yoke;" but it was wrong.

H. Y.

[These "No-Popery" hieroglyphics first appeared in the reign of Charles II. during the debates on the Exclusion Bill, and were chalked over all parts of Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament. O B. C. Y. was then the inscription, which meant, "O Beware of Catholic York." On their re-appearance in 1809 the Y. was much taller than the B. C.; but the use and meaning at this time of these initials still remains a query.]

_Earl Nugent's Poems._--I would be much obliged for any information relating to the poems written by Robert, afterwards Earl Nugent, between the years 1720 and 1780. It is supposed that they were first published in some periodical, and afterwards appeared in a collected form.

JAMES F. FERGUSON.

Dublin.

[A volume of his poems was published anonymously by Dodsley, and entitled _Odes and Epistles_; containing an Ode on his own Conversion from Popery: London, 1739, 8vo., 2nd edit. There are also other pieces by him in Dodsley's Collection, and the _New Foundling Hospital for Wit_. He also published _Faith_, a Poem; a strange attempt to overturn the Epicurean doctrine by that of the Trinity; and _Verses to the Queen_; with a New Year's Gift of Irish Manufacture, 1775, 4to.]

_Huntbach MSS._--Can you tell me where the Huntbach MSS. now lie? Shaw, in his _History of Staffordshire_, drew largely from them.

URSUS.

[Dr. Wilkes's Collections, with those of Fielde, Huntbach, Loxdale, and Shaw, as also the engraved plates and drawings, published and unpublished, relative to the _History of Staffordshire_, were, in the year 1820, in the possession of William Hamper, F.S.A., Deritend House, Birmingham.]

{150}

_Holy Loaf Money._--In Dr. Whitaker's _Whalley_, p. 149., mention is made of holy loaf money. What is meant by this?

T. I. W.

[This seems to be some ecclesiastical due payable on Hlaf-mass, or Loaf-mass, commonly called Lammas-Day (August 1st). See Somner and Junius. It was called Loaf or Bread-mass, because it was a day of oblation of grain, or of bread made of new wheat; and was also the holiday of St. Peter ad Vincula, when Peter-pence were paid. Du Cange likewise mentions the _Panis benedictus_, and that money was given by the recipients of it on the following occasion:--"Since the catechumens," says he, "before baptism could neither partake of the Divine Mysteries, nor consequently of the Eucharist, a loaf was consecrated and given to them by the priest, whereby they were prepared for receiving the body of Christ."]

_St. Philip's, Bristol._--Can you inform me when the Church of St. Philip, Bristol, was made parochial, and in what year the Priory of Benedictines, mentioned by William de Worcester in connexion with this church, was dissolved, and when founded?

E. W. GODWIN.

[Neither Dugdale nor Tanner could discover any notices of this priory, except the traditionary account preserved in William of Worcester, p. 20.: "---- juxta Cimiterium et Ecclesiam Sancti Philippi, ubi quondam ecclesia religiosorum et Prioratus scituatur." It was probably a cell to the Tewkesbury monastery; and the historians of Bristol state, that the exact time when it became parochial is not known; but it was very early, being mentioned in Gaunt's deeds before the year 1200; and, like St. James's, became a parish church through the accession of inhabitants.]

_Foreign Universities._--Is there any history of the University of Bologna? or where can be found any account of the foundation and constitution of the foreign universities in general?

J. C. H. R.

[Our correspondent will find some account of the foreign universities, especially of Bologna, in the valuable article "Universities," _Encyclopædia Britannica_, vol. xxi., with numerous references to other works containing notices of them. Consult also "A Discovrse not altogether vnprofitable nor vnpleasant for such as are desirous to know the Situation and Customes of Forraine Cities without trauelling to see them: containing a Discovrse of all those Citties which doe flourish at this Day priuiledged Vniuersities. By Samuel Lewkenor. London, 1594, 4to."]

* * * * *

Replies.

DEATH-WARNINGS IN ANCIENT FAMILIES.

(Vol. ix. p. 55.)

The remarks of JOHN O' THE FORD of Malta deserve to be followed up by all your correspondents who, at least, admit the possibility of "communications with the unseen world." In order to facilitate the acquisition of the requisite amount of facts, I beg to apprise JOHN O' THE FORD, and your other correspondents and readers generally, that a Society was founded about a year ago, and is now in existence, composed of members of the University of Cambridge; the objects of which will be best gleaned from the following extract from the Prospectus:

"The interest and importance of a serious and earnest inquiry into the nature of the phenomena which are vaguely called 'supernatural,' will scarcely be questioned. Many persons believe that all such apparently mysterious occurrences are due, either to purely natural causes, or to delusions of the mind or senses, or to wilful deception. But there are many others who believe it possible that the beings of the unseen world may manifest themselves to us in extraordinary ways; and also are unable otherwise to explain many facts, the evidence for which cannot be impeached. Both parties have obviously a common interest in wishing cases of supposed 'supernatural' agency to be thoroughly sifted.... The main impediment to investigations of this kind is the difficulty of obtaining a sufficient number of clear and well-attested cases. Many of the stories current in tradition, or scattered up and down in books, may be exactly true; others must be purely fictitious; others again, probably the greater number, consist of a mixture of truth and falsehood. But it is idle to examine the significance of an alleged fact of this nature, until the trustworthiness, and also the extent of the evidence for it, are ascertained. Impressed with this conviction, some members of the University of Cambridge are anxious, if possible, to form an extensive collection of authenticated cases of supposed 'supernatural' agency.... From all those who may be inclined to aid them, they request written communications, with full details of persons, times, and places."

The Prospectus closes with the following classification of phenomena:

"I. Appearances of Angels. (1.) Good. (2) Evil.--II. Spectral appearances of--(1.) The beholder himself (_e.g._ 'Fetches' or 'Doubles'). (2.) Other men, recognised or not. (i.) Before their death (_e.g._ 'second sight.') (a.) To one person. (b.) To several persons. (ii.) At the moment of their death. (a.) To one person. (b.) To several persons. 1. In the same place. 2. In several places. i. Simultaneously. ii. Successively. (iii.) After their death. In connexion with--(a.) Particular places remarkable for--1. Good deeds. 2. Evil deeds. (b.) Particular times (_e.g._ on the anniversary of any event, or at fixed seasons). (c.) Particular events (_e.g._ before calamity or death). (d.) Particular persons (_e.g._ haunted murderers).--III. 'Shapes' falling under neither of the former classes. (1.) Recurrent. In connexion with--(i.) Particular families (_e.g._ the 'Banshee'). (ii.) Particular places (_e.g._ the 'Mawth Dog'). (2.) Occasional. (i.) Visions signifying events, past, present, or future. (a.) By actual representation (_e.g._ 'second sight'). (b.) By symbol. (ii.) Visions of a fantastical nature.--IV. Dreams remarkable for {151} coincidences. (1.) In their occurrence. (i.) To the same person several times. (ii.) In the same form to several persons. (a.) Simultaneously. (b.) Successively. (2.) With facts. (i.) Past. (a.) Previously unknown. (b.) Formerly known, but forgotten. (ii.) Present, but unknown. (iii.) Future.--V. Feelings. A definite consciousness of a fact. (1.) Past: an impression that an event has happened. (2.) Present: sympathy with a person suffering or acting at a distance. (3.) Future: presentiment.--VI. Physical effects. (1.) Sounds. (i.) With the use of ordinary means (_e.g._ ringing of bells). (ii.) Without the use of any apparent means (_e.g._ voices). (2.) Impressions of touch (_e.g._ breathings on the person).

"Every narrative of 'supernatural' agency which may be communicated, will be rendered far more instructive if accompanied by any particulars as to the observer's natural temperament (_e.g._ sanguine, nervous, &c.), constitution (_e.g._ subject to fever, somnambulism, &c.), and state at the time (_e.g._ excited in mind or body, &c.)."

As I have no authority to give names, I can do no more than say that, though not a member of the Society, I shall be happy to receive communications and forward them to the secretary.

C. MANSFIELD INGLEBY.

Birmingham.

[_The Night Side of Nature_ would seem to indicate that its ingenious, yet sober and judicious, authoress had forestalled the "Folk-lore" investigations of the projected Cambridge Society. Probably some of its members will not rest satisfied with a simple collection of phenomena relating to communications with the unseen world, but will exclaim with Hamlet--

"Thou com'st in such a questionable shape, That I will _speak_ to thee!"

and will endeavour to ascertain the _philosophy_ of those communications, as Newton did with the recorded data and phenomena of the mechanical or material universe. Whether the transcripts of some of the voluminous unpublished writings of Dionysius Andreas Freher, deposited in the British Museum (Add. MSS. 5767-5792.), will assist the inquirer in his investigations, we cannot confidently state; but in them he will find continual references to what Jacob Böhme terms "the eternal and astral magic, or the laws, powers and properties of the great Universal Will-Spirit of the two co-eternal worlds of darkness and light, and of this third or temporary principle." Freher was the principal illustrator of the writings of the celebrated Jacob Böhme, now exciting so much interest among the German literati; and, if we may credit William Law, it was from the principles of this remarkable man that Sir Isaac Newton derived his theory of fundamental powers. (See "N. & Q.," Vol. viii., p. 247.) But on this and other matters we may doubtless expect to be well informed by Sir David Brewster, in his new "Memoir of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton." According to Law, the two-fold spiritual universe stands as near, and in a similar relation to this material mixed world, of darkness and light, evil and good, death and life, or rather the latter to the former, as water does to the gases of which it is essentially compounded.--ED.]

* * * * *

STARVATION.

(Vol. ix., p. 54.)

Until your correspondent Q. designated the word _starvation_ as "an Americanism," I never had the least suspicion that it was obtained from that source. On the contrary, I remember to have heard some thirty or forty years ago, that it was first employed by Harry Dundas, the first Viscount Melville, who might have spoken with a brogue, but whose despatches were in good intelligible English. I once asked his son, the second Viscount, whose correctness must be fresh in the recollection of many of your readers, if the above report was true, and he seemed to think that his father had coined the word, and that it immediately got into general circulation. My impression is, that it was already current during the great scarcity at the end of the last, and the commencement of this century; but the dictionary makers, those "who toil at the lower employments of life," as old Sam Johnson termed it, are not apt to be alert in seizing on fresh words, and "starvation" has shared in the general neglect.

If you permit me I will, however, afford them my humble aid, by transcribing some omitted words which I find noted in a little Walker's _Dictionary_, printed in 1830, and which has been my companion in many pilgrimages through many distant lands. Many of them may by this time have found their way even into dictionaries, but I copy them as I find them.

Fiat. Lichen. Dawdle. Compete (verb). Starvation. Cupel (_see_ test). Stationery (writing materials). Chubby. Mister (form of address). Iodine. Disorganise. Growl (substantive). Avadavat (School for Scandal). Apograph. Flange. Effete. Jungle. Celt (formed of touchstone). Minivar. Unhesitating. Remittent. Tannin. Curry (substantive). Uncompromised. Duchess. Resile (verb). Gist. Nascent. Dictum. Retinence. Phonetic. Lacunæ. Extradition. Laches. Fulcrum. Statics. Æsthetical. Complicity.

N.L. MELVILLE.

However "strange it may appear, it is nevertheless quite true," that this word, "_Starvation_ {152} (from the verb), state of perishing from cold or hunger," is to be found, and thus defined, in "An Appendix to Dr. Johnson's English Dictionary," published along with the latter, by William Maver, in 2 vols. 8vo., Glasgow, 1809, now forty-five years ago. In his preface to this Appendix he says:

"In the compilation the editor is principally indebted to Mr. Mason, whose labours in supplying the deficiencies of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary have so much enriched the vocabulary of our language, that every purchaser of the quarto edition should avail himself of a copy of Mr. Mason's Supplement."

Whether or not Mr. Maver drew the word "starvation" from Mr. Mason's Supplement, I cannot say; but from old date in the west of Scotland it has been, and is still, popularly and extensively used in the exact senses given to it by Mr. Maver as above. I think it much more likely to be of Scottish than of American origin, and that Mr. Webster may have picked it up from some of our natives in this country.

I may add, that in early life I often spoke with Mr. Maver, who was a most intelligent literary man. In 1809 he followed the business of a bookseller in Glasgow, but from some cause was not fortunate, and afterwards followed that of a book auctioneer, and may be dead fully thirty years ago. His edition of, and Appendix to, Johnson were justly esteemed; the latter "containing several thousand words omitted by Dr. Johnson, and such as have been introduced by good writers since his time," with "the pronunciation according to the present practice of the best orators and orthoepists" of the whole language.

G. N.

This word was first introduced into the English language by Mr. Dundas, in a debate in the House of Commons on American affairs, in 1775. From it he obtained the nick-name of "Starvation Dundas." (Vide the _Correspondence between Horace Walpole and Mason_, vol. ii. pp. 177. 310. 396., edition 1851.) The word is of irregular formation, the root starve being Old English, while the termination _-ation_ is Latin.

E. G. R.

The word may perhaps be originally American; but if the following anecdote be correct, it was introduced into this country long before Webster compiled his _Dictionary_:

"The word _starvation_ was first introduced into the English language by Mr. Dundas, in a speech in 1775 on an American debate, and hence applied to him as a nickname, 'Starvation Dundas.' 'I shall not,' said he, 'wait for the advent of starvation from Edinburgh to settle my judgment.'"--_Letters of Horace Walpole and Mason_, vol. ii. p. 396.

J. R. M., M.A.

Throughout this part of the country, "starved" always refers to cold, never to hunger. To express the latter the word "hungered" is always used: thus, many were "like to have been hungered" in the late severe weather and hard times. This is clearly the scriptural phrase "an hungred." To "starve" is to perish; and it is a common expression in the south, "I am quite perished with cold;" which answers to our northern one, "I am quite starved."

H. T. G.

Hull.

I cannot ascertain the period of the adoption of the unhappily common word "starvation" in our language, but it is much older than your correspondent Q. supposes. It occurs in the _Rolliad_:

"'Tis but to fire another Sykes, to plan Some new _starvation_ scheme for Hindostan."

M.

* * * * *

OSMOTHERLEY IN YORKSHIRE.

(Vol. viii., p. 617.)