Notes and Queries, Number 228, March 11, 1854 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.

Part 3

Chapter 33,728 wordsPublic domain

With the kind assistance of Mr. Duffus Hardy, I have obtained a complete list of the licences to crenellate contained in the Patent Rolls, and some other records preserved in the Tower. Most of these have the name of the county annexed; but there are a few, of which I add a list, in which no county is mentioned, and local information is necessary in order to identify them. Perhaps some {221} of your numerous readers will be able to assist me.

_Licences to Crenellate._

J. H. PARKER.

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DIXON OF BEESTON.

Will the Editor be kind enough to insert the accompanying letter, for _if true_ it is worthy of a place in the heraldic portion of "N. & Q.," and _if not true_, its imposture should stand recorded? On receiving it I sent a copy to my brother, Mr. J. H. Dixon, an able antiquary, and late of the council of the Percy Society, who, somewhat too hastily I think, and without sufficient proof, rejected the information offered. That the family which my brother represents is a "good old" one, is sufficiently attested by the pedigree furnished by Thoresby in the _Ducatus Leodiensis_, and thence copied by Mr. Burke in his _Landed Gentry_; but of its earlier history there is no reliable account, unless that by Mr. Spence can be considered such.

I shall feel very much obliged if any of your correspondents learned in the genealogies of Yorkshire and Cheshire could either corroborate the genuineness of the information tendered by Mr. Spence, or prove the reverse; and it is only fair to that gentleman to add that he is entitled to credibility on the written testimony of the Rev. Mr. Knox, Incumbent of Birkenhead.

R. W. DIXON, J.P.

Seaton Carew, co. Durham.

Sir,

Having been engaged by Miss Cotgreave, of Notherlegh House, near Chester, to inspect and arrange the title-deeds and other documents which belonged to her father, the late Sir John Cotgreave, I find a very ancient pedigree of the Cotgreaves de Hargrave in that county; which family became extinct in the direct male line in the year 1724, but which was represented through females by the above Sir J. C.

It is the work of the great Camden, anno 1598, from documents in the possession of the Cotgreave family, and contains the descents of five generations of the Dixons of Beeston, in the county of York, and Congleton, Cheshire, together with their marriages and armorial bearings, commencing with "Ralph Dixon, Esq., de Beeston and Congleton, living temp. Hen. VI., who was slain whilst fighting on the part of the Yorkists, at the battle of Wakefield, A.D. 1460."

Presuming that you are descended from this ancient family, I will (if you think proper) transmit to you extracts from the aforesaid pedigree, as far as relates to your distinguished progenitors, conditionally that you remunerate me for the information and definition of the armorial bearings, there being five shields, containing twelve quarterings connected with the family of Dixon.

Miss Cotgreave will allow me to make the extracts, and has kindly consented to attest the same.

The arms of Dixon, as depicted in the Cotgreave pedigree, are "Sable, a fleur-de-lis or, a chief ermine," quartering the ensigns of the noble houses of "Robert Fitz-Hugh, Baron of Malpas in the county of Chester, temp. William the Conqueror; Eustace Crewe de Montalt, Lord of Hawarden, Flintshire, during the said reign; Robert de Umfreville, Lord of Tours, and Vian, and Reddesdale, in Northumberland, who flourished in the same reign also; Pole, Talboys, Welles, Latimer," and others.

In the pedigree, Camden states that the aforesaid "Ralph Dixon quartered the ensigns of the above noble families in right of his mother Maude, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Ralph Fitz-Hugh de Congleton and Elton in the county palatine of Chester."

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your very obedient humble servant, WILLIAM SIDNEY SPENCE. Priory Place, Birkenhead, Chester. Dec. 14. 1848.

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Minor Queries.

_Atherstone Family._--Can any of your readers oblige me with information concerning the Atherstone family? Is it an old name, or was it first given some three or four generations back to a foundling, picked up near the town of Atherston?

M. A. B.

_Classic Authors and the Jews._--Where can I find a complete or full account of passages in Greek and Latin authors, which refer to Judea and the Jews? It has been said that these references are very few, and that in Cicero, for instance, there is not one. This last is wrong, I know. (See _e.g._ Cic. _Pro L. Flacco_, 28., and _De Prov. Consul. 5._)

B. H. C.

_Bishop Hooper's Argument on the Vestment Controversy._--Glocester Ridley, in his _Life of Bishop Ridley_, p. 315., London, 1763, states, in reference to Bishop Hooper's _Book to the Council against the use of those Habits which were then used by the Church of England in her sacred Ministries_, written October, 1550, "Part of Hooper's book I have by me in MS." Could any one state whether that MS. is now in existence, or where it is to be found? It is of much importance to obtain {222} an answer to this inquiry, as Bishop Ridley's MS. Reply to Bishop Hooper is, for the first time, about to be printed by the Parker Society, through the kind permission of its possessor, Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., in the second volume of the Writings of Bradford which I am editing; and, to make Ridley's reply fully intelligible, access is needed to Bishop Hooper's _Book to the Council_.

A. TOWNSEND.

Weston Lane, Bath,

February 23.

_The Title of "Dominus."_--How is it that at Cambridge the title of _Dominus_ is applied to B.A.'s, while at Oxford it is confined to the doctorate?

W. FRASER.

Tor-Mohun.

_The De Rous Family._--Hugh Rufus, or De Rous, was Bishop of Ossory, A.D. 1202. He had been previously an Augustinian Canon of Bodmin, in Cornwall. Query, Was he a cadet of the ancient family of De Rous; and if so, what was his descent?

JAMES GRAVES.

_Where was the Fee of S. Sanxon?_--At the end of "Ordericus Vitalis," in the _Gesta Normannorum_, is a list called the "Feoda Normanniæ," wherein, under the title "Feoda Ebroic.," occurs the entry:

"S. Sanxon dim. f. in friche."

Francis Drake, in his _Antiquities of York_, London, 1736, p. 70., speaks of "Sampson, or _Sanxo_," the archbishop of that see; and elsewhere mentions the parish church of S. Sampson, "called by some Sanxo."

What I wish to ask is, Where was this half fee of S. Sanxon? Whether it had any connexion with Sanson sur Rille? And whether it was the place from which "Ralph de S. Sanson" or "Sanson Clericus" of the _Domesday Book_, who was afterwards Bishop of Worcester, derived his name?

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_Russian Emperors._--Is there any truth in a rumour that was current two or three years since respecting the limited period that was placed upon the reign of any Russian monarch? Twenty-five years was the time stated, at the termination of which the Emperor had to abdicate. As this period has elapsed, and no abdication has taken place by the present Autocrat, some one may perhaps be able to state how such a statement originated, and upon what grounds?

THOS. CROSFIELD.

_Episcopal Insignia of the Eastern Church._--Having seen in a late number of the _Illustrated London News_ (Feb. 11, 1854) a peculiarly shaped episcopal staff, with a cross rising from between two in-curved dragons' heads, which is represented in the hand of the metropolitan of Wallachia, I would be glad to know whether this form is peculiar to any branch of the Eastern Church. A reference to a work of authority on the subject will oblige a provincialist.

JAMES GRAVES.

_Amontillado Sherry._--What is the real meaning of this epithet? A friend, who had travelled in Spain, and visited some famous cellars at Xeres, told me that the peculiar flavour of the Amontillado Sherry was always an accidental result of mixing butts of wine brought to the merchant by a variety of growers. I mentioned this to another friend who had the wine on his table; and he ridiculed the account, saying that the Amontillado Sherry was from a grape peculiar to the district. What district, I could not ascertain.

ALFRED GATTY.

_Col. Michael Smith's Family._--Perhaps some of your readers may be enabled to give me some information of the family of Smith, to which Col. Michael Smith, Lieut.-Governor of Nevis about 1750, belongs.

A WEST INDIAN.

_Pronunciation of Foreign Names._--How shall we pronounce Sinope, Citate, and many other words which are now becoming familiar to our eyes? I think the bookseller who should give us a vocabulary of proper names of foreign persons and places, with the correct pronunciation attached, would be encouraged by an extensive sale. So far as my knowledge extends, such a work is a desideratum.

THINKS I TO MYSELF.

_Artesian Wells._--One who is about to dig a well on his land would be glad to know:--1. Whether, in all cases, artesian wells are preferable? 2. If yes, why they are not universally adopted, and whether they are more expensive then the common sort? 3. If not preferable in all cases, in what cases they are preferable?

STYLITES.

_Norman Towers in London._--Can you inform me it there is any other church in the city of London with a Norman tower, besides Allhallows, Mark Lane? which, by the bye, has been colour-washed: I suppose, to preserve it!

J. W. BROWN.

_Papyrus._--Where, or of whom, can a specimen of Papyrus be obtained?

R. H.

Islington.

_Mathew, a Cornish Family._--I am anxious to know the connexion of a family of Mathew, late of Tresungar, co. Cornwall, with any stock in Wales; and I will gladly defray any necessary expense of search, if can attain this object. The descent of a family of the name, apparently the same from the arms, in an old recueil of Devonshire families, is headed "nuper de Walliâ;" and a visitation of that county ascribes their bearing {223} (a stork) to a marriage with an heir of Starkey, which I have been unable to verify. A Visitation of Cornwall, to which I have had access, gives a grant, or probably a confirmation of the arms by Cooke. If this celebrated Herald's grants are on record, some clew would probably be found; but I doubt not that many of your readers well versed in genealogical research can readily answer my Query, and I trust to their kindness to do so.

Birkenhead.

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Minor Queries with Answers.

_Bunyan's Descendants._--As a recent Query respecting John Bunyan may lead to some notices of his descendants, perhaps I may be informed in what edition of his works it is stated that a branch of his family settled in Nottingham? for I find in the burgess-roll of that borough that George Bunyan was entered freeman in 1752. William Bunyan, lieutenant in the navy, 1767; Thomas Bunyan, hosier, 1776. In event of the above story being verified, a pedigree may possibly be extracted hereafter from the parish registers of the town. As far as my own examination goes, the editions in the British Museum afford no corroboration to what I have heard.

FURVUS.

Plumstead Common.

[We have been favoured with the following article on this subject from George Offor, Esq., of Hackney:

"_Where are John Bunyan's Descendants?_--It is natural to inquire after the ancestors and descendants of great men, although experience proves that intellectual greatness runs not in blood, for earth's _great_ and most illustrious sons descended from and left descendants who merged among the masses of her _little_ ones. Of his ancestors Bunyan boasted not, but pleaded with the readers of the first edition of his _Sighs from Hell_, 'Be not ashamed to own me because of my low and contemptible descent in the world.' From the life of the great dreamer, appended to my second edition of Bunyan's works (Blackie, Glasgow), it appears that he left three children: Thomas, a valuable member of his church; Joseph, who settled in Nottingham; and Sarah. Joseph is named by one of Bunyan's earliest biographers, who told his father that 'a worthy citizen of London would take him apprentice without money, which might be a great means to advance him; but he replied to me, _God did not send him to advance his family, but to preach the Gospel_.'

"The Rev. J. H. A. Rudd of Bedford and Elstow has most kindly searched the registers of Elstow and Goldington, and has discovered some interesting entries; and, as his numerous engagements will permit, he will search the registry of the parish churches in Bedford and its vicinity. Information would be most acceptable relative to Bunyan's father and mother, his two wives, and his children, John, Elizabeth, and Mary, who died in his life-time; and also as to Joseph. If your correspondent FURVUS would search the registers at Nottingham, he might discover some valuable records of that branch of the family. Bunyan is said to have been baptized about 1653; and in the Elstow register it appears that his daughter Mary was registered as _baptized_ July 20, 1650, while his next daughter, Elizabeth, is on the register as _born_ April 14, 1654, showing the change in his principles, as to infant baptism, to have taken place between those periods. The family Bible given by John Bunyan to his son Joseph, now in my possession, confirms the statement verbally communicated to me by his descendant Mrs. Senegar, that her great-grandfather Joseph, having conformed to please his rich wife, was anxious to conceal his affinity to the illustrious tinker. The registers contained in it begin with Joseph's son Thomas and Susannah his wife, and it is continued to Robert Bunyan, born 1775, and who was lately living at Lincoln. I should be most happy to show the Bible and copies of registers in my possession to any one who will undertake to form a genealogy."

GEORGE OFFOR.]

_Epigram on Dennis._--

"Should Dennis publish you had stabb'd your brother, Lampoon'd your monarch, or debauch'd your mother," &c.

is printed as by Savage in Johnson's _Life of Savage_. In the notes to _The Dunciad_, i. 106., it is said to be by Pope. _Utri credemus?_

S. Z. Z. S.

[From the fact, that this epigram was not only attributed to Pope, in the notes to the second edition of _The Dunciad_, published in 1729, but also in those of 1743, the joint edition of Pope and Warburton, and both published before the death of Pope, it seems extremely probable that he was the author of it; more especially as he had been exasperated by a twopenny tract, of which Dennis was suspected to be the writer, called _A True Character of Mr. Pope and his Writings_; printed for S. Popping, 1716. D'Israeli however, in his _Calamities of Authors_, art. "The Influence of a bad Temper in Criticism," quoting it from Dr. Johnson, conjectures it was written on the following occasion: "Thomson and Pope charitably supported the veteran Zoilus at a benefit play, and Savage, who had nothing but a verse to give, returned them very poetical thanks in the name of Dennis. He was then blind and old, but his critical ferocity had no old age; his surliness overcame every grateful sense, and he swore as usual, 'They could be no one's but that _fool_ Savage's,' an evidence of his sagacity and brutality. This perhaps prompted 'the fool' to take this fair revenge and just chastisement." After all, Dr. Johnson, who was at that time narrating Savage's intimate acquaintance with Pope, may have attributed to the former what seems to have been the production of the latter.]

_Football played on Shrove Tuesday._--The people of this and the neighbouring towns invariably play at football on Shrove Tuesday. What is the origin of the custom? and does it extend to other counties?

J. P. S.

Dorking.

["Shrove-tide," says Warton, "was formerly a season of extraordinary sport and feasting. There was {224} anciently a feast immediately preceding Lent, which lasted many days, called _Carniscapium_. In some cities of France an officer was annually chosen, called Le Prince d'Amoreux, who presided over the sports of the youth for six days before Ash Wednesday. Some traces of these festivities still remain in our Universities." In these degenerate days more is known, we suspect, of pancakes and fritters, than of a football match and a cock-fight:--the latter, we are happy to say, is now almost forgotten among us. As to the pancake custom, no doubt that is most religiously observed by the readers of "N. & Q.," in obedience to the rubric of the _Oxford Sausage_:

"Let glad Shrove Tuesday bring the pancake thin, Or fritter rich, with apples stored within."

According to Fitz-Stephen, "After dinner, all the youths go into the fields to play at the ball. The scholars of every school have their ball and bastion in their hands. The ancient and wealthy men of the city come forth on horseback to see the sport of the young men, and to take part of the pleasure, in beholding their agility." And till within the last few years:

"... The humble play Of trap or football on a holiday, In Finsbury fields,"--

was sufficiently common in the neighbourhood of London and other places. See Brande's _Popular Antiquities_, vol. i. pp. 63-94. (Bohn's edition), and Hone's _Every-Day Book_, vol. i. pp. 244. 255-260.]

_Vossioner; its Meaning._--In looking over a parcel of brass rubbings made some years since, I find the word _vossioner_ used, and not knowing its signification, I should be glad to be enlightened on the subject; but, in order to enable your readers to judge more correctly, I think it better to copy the whole of the epitaph in which the word occurs. The plate is in Ufton Church, near Southam, county Warwick; it measures eighteen inches in width by sixteen deep.

"Here lyeth the boddyes of Richard Hoddomes, Parsson and Pattron and _Vossioner_ of the Churche and Parishe of Oufton, in the Countie of Warrike, who died one Mydsomer Daye, 1587. And Margerye his Wiffe w^{th} _her_ seven Childryn, as namelye, Richard, _John_, and _John_, Anne, Jane, Elizabeth, Ayles, _his_ iiii Daughters, _whose soule_ restethe with God."

I give the epitaph _verbatim_, with its true orthography. There are some curious points in this epitaph. First, the date of the death of the clergyman only is given; second, the children are called _hers_, while the four daughters are _his_; and two of the sons bear the same Christian name, whilst only one _soul_ is said to rest with God. The family is represented kneeling. Above the inscription, and between the clergyman and his lady, is a desk, on which is represented two books lying open before them.

J. B. WHITBORNE.

[Vossioner seems to be corruption of the Italian _vossignor_, your lord, or the lord, _i.e._ owner or proprietor. Many similar words were introduced by the Italian ecclesiastics inducted into Church livings during the sixteenth century. The inscription is given in Dugdale's _Warwickshire_, vol. i. p. 358.]

_The Game of Chess._--At what period was the noble game of chess introduced into the British Isles; and to whom are we indebted for its introduction among us?

B. ASHTON.

[The precise date of the introduction of this game into Britain is uncertain. What has been collected respecting it will be found in the Hon. Daines Barrington's paper in _Archæologia_, vol. ix. p. 28.; and in Hyde's treatise, _Mandragorias, seu Historia Shahiludii_. Oxoniæ, 1694.]

_A Juniper Letter._--Fuller, in describing a letter written by Bishop Grosthead to Pope Innocent IV., makes use of a curious epithet, of which I should be glad to meet with another instance, if it be not simply a "Fullerism":

"Bishop Grouthead offended thereat, wrote Pope Innocent IV. such a _juniper letter_, taxing him with extortion and other vicious practices."--_Church History_, book III., A.D. 1254.

J. M. B.

["A juniper lecture," meaning a round scolding bout, is still in use among the canting gentry.]

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Replies.

CLARENCE.

(Vol. ix., p. 85.)

Clarence is beyond all doubt the district comprehending and lying around the town and castle of Clare in Suffolk, and not, as some have fancifully supposed, the town of Chiarenza in the Morea. Some of the crusaders did, indeed, acquire titles of honour derived from places in eastern lands, but certainly no such place ever gave its name to an honorary feud held of the crown of England, nor, indeed, has _ever_ any English sovereign to this day bestowed a territorial title derived from a place beyond the limits of his own nominal dominions; the latest creations of the kind being the earldoms of Albemarle and Tankerville, respectively bestowed by William III. and George I., who were both nominally kings of Great Britain, _France_, and Ireland. In ancient times every English title (with the exception of Aumerle or Albemarle, which exception is only an apparent one) was either personal, or derived from some place in England. The ancient earls of Albemarle were not English peers by virtue of that earldom, but by virtue of the tenure of lands in England, though, being the holders of a Norman earldom, they were known in England by their higher designation, just as some of the {225} Barons De Umfravill were styled, even in writs of summons, by their superior Scottish title of Earl of Angos. If these earls had not held English fees, they would not have been peers of England any more than were the ancient Earls of Tankerville and Eu. In later times the strictness of the feudal law was so far relaxed, that in two or three instances English peers were created with territorial titles derived from places in the Duchy of Normandy.

As to the locality of Clarence, see Sandford's _Genealogical History_, 1707, p. 222. There is a paper on the subject in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for November, 1850. The king of arms called Clarenceux, or in Latin _Clarentius_, was, as it has been very reasonably conjectured, originally a herald retained by a Duke of Clarence. (Noble's _History of the College of Arms_, p. 61.) Hoping ere long to send you some notes respecting certain real or seeming anomalies amongst our English dignities, I reserve some particulars which may, perhaps, farther elucidate the present question.

GOLDENCROSS.