Chapter 2

But notwithstanding this, it appears to me by no means conclusive, that the _Dombec_ referred to in the Laws of Edward the Elder and the _Liber Judicialis_ of Alfred are the same; on the contrary, Alfred's _Liber Judicialis_ seems to have been known not under the name of _Dombec_, but under that of the _Winchester Roll_, from the circumstance of its having been principally kept at Winchester: and Sir Henry Spelman says, the Domesday Book of William the Conqueror was sometimes called _Rotulus Wintoniae, a similitudine antiquoris_, from its resemblance to an older document preserved at Winchester. And he quotes Ingulphus Abbot of Croyland, who says, "Iste rotulus (i.e. the Domesday Book of William) vocatus est Rotulus Wintoniae, et ab Anglicis pro sua generalitate, omnia tenementa totius terrae integre continente _Domesday_ cognominatur." And the he proceeds, "Talem rotulum et multum similem; ediderat quondam Rex Alfredus, in quo totam terram Angliae per comitatus, centurias, et decurias descripserat, sicut praenotatur. Qui quidem Rotulus Wintoniae vocatus est, quia deponebatur apud Wintoniam conservandus," &c.

Here is nothing said of this work being called [Old English: dom bec]: neither does Spelman, in his enumeration of the works of Alfred, give the least intimation that any one of his collections of laws was called [Old English: dom bec].

We know, indeed, that Alfred compiled a code of laws for his subjects; but whether any part of them has been preserved, or how much of them is embodied in subsequent codes, cannot now be determined. Asser mentions that he frequently reprimanded the judges for wrong judgments; and Spelman, that he wrote "a book against unjust magistrates," but any complete body of laws, if such was ever framed by Alfred, is now lost; and that attributed to him in Wilkin's _Leges Anglo-Saxon_, is held in suspicion by most writers.

For these reasons, and considering that Sir William Blackstone's knowledge of English history was rather superficial, I incline to the belief, that the [Old English: dom bec] referred to in the laws of Edward the Elder, was some collection of laws made _prior_ to the time of Alfred: this might clearly be the case, as Sharon Turner informs us that the Saxon laws were committed to writing as early as the commencement of the 7th century.

The opinions of your learned correspondents on this disputed point may be of much interest to many of your readers, and to none more than to

George Munford.

East Winch.

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MINOR QUERIES.

_MSS. of the Wycliffite Translations of the Scriptures_.--The Add. MS. 15,521., in the British Museum, contains a copy of Lewis's edition of the _Wycliffite New Testament_, printed in 1731, with manuscript notes by Ames and Lewis, and the former has transcribed into it some _additional prologues_, prefixed to each book of the New Testament, which had not been printed by Lewis, and were taken by Ames from a MS. of the New Testament, written in 1424, and in 1731 in the possession of Thomas Granger. It would be very desirable to learn what became of this MS. subsequently. Granger died in the following year, but the MS. does not appear in the sale catalogue of his library, nor is it found in the catalogue of Ames's own library, dispersed in 1760. Any information relative to this remarkable copy of the New Testament, would be very acceptable to the Editors of the _Wycliffite Versions of the Scriptures_, who are now, after a literary labour of more than twenty years, about to bring the work to a conclusion. They would also feel much obliged by the communication of any notices of MSS. of the Wycliffite versions, _existing in private hands_, exclusive of those copies of which they already possess descriptions, existing in the libraries of the following individuals:--Mrs. Allanson of Farn, Flintshire, the Earl of Ashburnham, Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., Sir Peregrine Ackland, Bart., Sir David Dundas, H.M. Judge Advocate, Dr. Cardwell, Principal of St. Alban's Hall, Oxford, and Thomas Bannister, Esq.

F. Madden.

British Museum, March 28.

_Why are Gloves not worn before Royalty?_--Can any of your readers inform me what is the origin of the custom observed at Court, of persons in the royal presence not wearing gloves? Is it a matter of pure etiquette, or does the observance of it derive its origins from barbarous times, when chivalry was little else than barbarism in armour?

F.E.

_Law Courts at St. Albans_.--Can any of your correspondents give me the reference to a communication in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ (between, I think, the years 1815 and 1836), in which a passage in Massinger, which alludes to lawyers going to St. Albans, is illustrated by an inscription in the nave of St. Alban's Abbey Church, which records that the courts were held there on account of the sweating-sickness in the reign of Elizabeth?

[Greek: Sigma.]

_Richard Haley, or Hales.--Milton Pedigree_.--I should feel obliged by any particulars respecting Richard Haley, or Hales, of Idlestreete, otherwise Ilstreyd, in com. Hertford, yeoman; my object being to ascertain the nature of some transaction he had with Milton, in July 1674, referred to in a bond which the former executed, dated the 27th of that month, for performance of the covenants contained in an indenture of even date.

Is any thing known of Richard Milton, who signs his name as the attesting witness to the releases given by two of the poet's daughters for their share of his estate? Is there any pedigree of the family of Sir Christopher Milton, the poet's brother, drawn up with sufficient apparent accuracy to exclude the probability of Richard Milton being his son? I have referred to the pedigree in the British Museum (Harl. MS. 5802. fo. 19b.), which makes no mention of the letter; but it is evidently so imperfect a notice, as to be of little authority one way or other.

J.F.M.

_Sapcote Motto_.--Over the old gatehouse of Elton, co. Hunts., built by the family of Sapcote, is their coat of arms, namely, "three dove-cotes;" and upon a scroll, surrounding the lower part of the shield, is carved a motto, evidently French, and as evidently cut by a person ignorant of that language. So far as I can decypher it, the letters appear to be

sco toot X vinic [or umic] X poncs.

Possibly the first and last letters _s_ are only flourishes. I shall be glad of any suggestion as to its meaning.

I have not been able to find the Sapcote motto on record; and I believe the Carysfoot family, the possessors of Elton, and the Duke of Bedford, the heir in blood, to be ignorant of what this scroll is intended to represent.

Erminois.

Athenaeum Club.

_Scala Coeli_.--In a will, dated 12 Hen. VIII., the testator directs that there shall be four trentals of Saint Gregory said for his soul at London at "Scala Coeli." Can any of your readers explain what place is meant by "Scala Coeli?"

A Subscriber.

_Illustrations of Gresset's "Vert Vert," painted on Enamel, &c._--In a Paris edition of Gresset's Works (Janet et Cotelle, 1823), in the preface is the following passage.--

"Vert-vert fut bientot dans toutes les mains. Le suffrage de la multitude se joignit a celui des connoisseurs; la mode, qui est aussi en possession de donner son suffrage, s'empressa de parer les ajustemens d'invention recente, du nom de l'illustre perroquet; _les vases d'ornement, les vases usuels_ qui sortoient des fabriques francoises, retracoient presque tous quelques episodes du petit poeme. Un artist dont le nom est venu jusqu'a nous, Raux, en _peignit sur email les sujets les plus marquants_; et tandis qu'on faisoit passer dans une version latine les vers elegants du poete jesuite, M. Bertin, ministre d'etat, le gratifioit d'un magnifique _cabaret_ de Sevres, dont toutes les pieces reproduisoient les aventures de son heros, ce qui fit dire a Gresset, _qu'on le traduisoit aussi en porcelaine de Sevres_." {367}

The _Query_ I wish to make is, Have any of these illustrations or designs from Gresset's poem of Vert-vert, painted on enamel china, or earthenware of any sort, of French or any other manufacture, come to light of late years? or more lately still, among the articles that have been dispersed among various buyers of almost all nations, in the sales within these few weeks effected at Paris?

Robert Snow.

_Urbanus Regius_.--A friend of mine, a delightful old lady, fresh, genial, and inquisitive, has in her possession an old volume, a family heir-loom, which is not the less dear to her for being somewhat dingy and dilapidated, and touching which she would gladly receive such information as your correspondents can supply.

It is made up of three apparently distinct treatises; the first (of which several leaves are wanting) on the twelve articles of the Apostles' Creed. The second is "The ryght foundation, and pryncypall common places of the hole godly Scripture," &c., by Doctor Urbanus Regius. Prefixed is an epistle to Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury (evidently Cranmer), to whom "Hys dayly oratoure, Gwalter Lynne (the writer of the epistle), wyssheth lyfe euerlastynge." Between this second treatise and the third, and apparently belonging to the latter, is a title-page with the following inscription:

"Imprinted for Gwalter Lynne, dwelling upon Somers Kaye, by Byllinges gate. In the yeare of oure Lorde. MDXLVIII. And they by [_sic_] to be solde at Poules church yarde at the north doore, In the signe of the By-bell, By Richard Jugge."

This last treatise is in smaller type than the others, and has no general designation: it contains chapters on various subjects, e.g. "The Signification of Baptism," &c.

Query 1. Is this volume well known? 2. Who were Urbanus Regius and Walter Lynne?

G.P.

March 16. 1850.

* * * * *

REPLIES.

THE ARABIC NUMERALS AND CIPHER.

I might, with a little more consideration, have referred "E.V." to several other authorities which he will do well to consult.

9. Wallis's _Algebra_, p. 9. and p. 153. of the additions.

10. _Phil. Trans._, Nos. 439. and 475.

11. Montucla, _Histoire des Mathematiques_, tom. i. chap. 2.

12. Baillie, _Histoire de l'Astronomie_.

13. Delambre[1], _Hist. de l'Astr. du moyen age_.

14. Hutton's _Tracts_ (8vo. ed. 1812.), vol. ii. (subject "History of Algebra")

15. Huet, _Demonstratio Evangelica_.

16. Dr. John Taylor's Translation of the _Lilawati_. (Bombay, 1816.)

17. Strachey's Translation of the _Bija Ganita_[2].

18. Colebrooke's _Algebra of the Hindus_.

Would it not be worth while to give a _facsimile_ of the "Tabel for all manere of merchauntes," in the "Notes and Queries"? It is not only a curiosity, but an important element (and unique as far as is known) in the philosophic history of our arithmetic. It was, no doubt, an actual instrument in constant use in the merchant's office, as much so as an almanac, interest-tables, a "cambist" and a copying-press, are now.

As regards the cipher, the difficulty only commenced with _writing numbers_ in the new symbology. With persons accustomed to the use of this instrument, there is no doubt that the mode of obviating the difficulty of "keeping the place," would suggest itself at once. In this instrument an empty hole (without its peg) _signified_ "none of this denomination." What then more simple than to make the outline of the empty hole which occupied the "local position" of any denomination, when none of that precise denomination occurred in the number itself? Under this view the process at least becomes simple and natural; and as the early merchants contributed so largely to the improvement of our arithmetical processes, such a conclusion is wholly divested of improbability on any other ground. The circle would then naturally become, as it certainly has practically become, the most appropriate symbol of _nothingness_.

As regards the term _cipher_ or _zero_ (which are so obviously the same as to need no remark), it is admitted on all hands to be derived from one or other of the Semitic languages, the Hebrew or the Arabic. It is customery with the mathematical historians to refer it to the Arabic, they being in general more conversant with it than with the Hebrew. The Arabic being a smaller hand than the Hebrew, a dot was used instead of the circle for marking the "place" at which the hiatus of any "denomination" occurred. If we obtained our cipher from this, it would be made hollow (a mere _ceinture_, girdle, or ring) to save the trouble of making a dot sufficiently large to correspond in magnitude with our other numerals as we write them. Either is alike possible--probability must be sought, for either over the other, from a slightly different source.

The root-words in Hebrew and in Arabic are precisely the same (_ts-ph-r_), though in the two {368} languages, and at different ages of the same language, they might have been vowelised differently. In some shape or other, this name is used in all countries that have derived their arithmetic from mediaeval Italy, or from the Saracens. It is with some _cipher_, with others _chiffre_, and with all _zero_. The word is certainly no more Italian than it is French or English. Be it remembered, too, that _ezor_ (quoted at p. 268.), as a _girdle_, is radically the same word, somewhat mutilated. The cardinal meaning of the word (denuded of the conventional accretions of signification, which peculiar applications of it adds to the cardinal meaning) appears to be _emptiness_, _hollowness_, _nothingness_. It may be further remarked, that in the fine Chartres MS. of Boetius, described by Chasles, the 0 is called _sipos_:--the same name, he remarks, that Graves found in use in the East. The modern Turks call the 0, _tsifra_.

It is curious enough that in all languages, the term _ciphering_ is popularly used to denote all arithmetical operations whatever. Our schoolboys do their "ciphering," and write carefully in their "ciphering-books." This all seems to point to the art of dispensing with the use of the abacus or counting table.

T.S.D.

Shooter's Hill, March 5.

[1] The best account, because the most consistent and intelligible, of the Greek arithmetic, is that by Delambre, affixed to Peyraud's edition of Archimedes.

[2] At a period of leisure I may be tempted to send you a few extracts, somewhat curious, from some of the papers of Mr. Strachey in my possession.

_Arabic Numerals_.--I had replied to "E.V." (No. 15. p. 230.), when I saw by your "Notice to Correspondents," that the question was answered. I therefore waited the publication of the replies, which I find do not embrace any one of the points to which I would call the attention of "E.V."--Diophantus of Alexandria, who flourished about 150 years after Christ, and who wrote thirteen books of algebra or arithmetic in the Greek language, is generally supposed to be the oldest writer on the subject that has come down to our time; but it was not from him that we received the knowledge of algebra in Europe. It appears certain that the first knowledge of this science in England was from Italy or Spain, after the Moors settled in the latter country; and the Arabians and Persians appear to have derived their arithmetical method of computing by ten characters from the Indians: who, in their turn, have most probably borrowed from the Chinese, and improved on their method by the adoption of a zero, which was one of the most important improvements effected by the Hindoos. In China, the words ancient and modern are almost synonymous; their usages and customs being so unchangeable, as appears by their instrument of computation, the _swanpan_, which is still used in all their calculations. The Oriental scholar will find much curious and interesting information connected with this subject in the Sanscrit _Vija Ganita_ and _Lilivati_ of Bhaskara Acharya: the former was translated into Persian at Agra, or Delhi, in 1634, and the latter by Fyzee in 1587; but there are also English translations, all of which are in the library of the Royal Asiatic Society. The _Khalasah-ul-Hisah_ is another work of repute in India. Mr. Strachey wrote and printed in India, for the _Asiatic Researches_, a valuable paper, which contains most conclusive evidence of the Indian (if not Chinese) origin of our numerals. See also _Astronomie Indienne_, of M. Bailly; 2d vol. _Asiatic Researches_, "On the Astronomical Computations of the Hindoos," by Saml. Davis; "Two Dissertations on Indian Astronomy and Trigonometry," by Professor Playfair, in the 2d and 4th vols. of the _Edinburgh Philosophical Transactions_. And many others might be referred to; but all tending to prove that our numbers came originally from China and India, through Persia, Arabia, Africa, Spain, and Italy, by gradual and successive changes in form, several of them still retaining a close resemblance to the ancient and modern Sanscrit, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, and Hindoo numerals.

Henry Wilkinson.

* * * * *

REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES.

I send you a few Notes on Queries scattered through some of the later numbers of your very valuable publication:

_Anonymous Ravennas_.--In the library of the Royal Geographical Society, I believe there is a copy of an 8vo. edition of that cosmography.

_Selago_.--This plant, I should think it probable, is the _Lycopodium clavatum_ of modern botanists; the seeds of which, when ripe, and when the plant is struck, rise like smoke ("fumum" of Pliny), and may have been supposed, from their remarkable inflammability when dashed into a flame, igniting with a sudden flash, to have possessed wonderful virtues. The species known as _Lycopodium selago_ is rare in comparison to the other.

_Portugal_.--In the library of the Geographical Society are some of the more recent works published in Lisbon on the topography of that country, but they are generally very meagre and unsatisfactory. In a periodical published in Lisbon in numbers, on the plan of the _Penny Magazine_, there is a good deal of information, with engravings, regarding many places of interest in Portugal. I think it is called _The Album_, but I am sorry I have not at present the power of sending you more correct particulars concerning it. It is in 4to.

Portugal is a country that is so little travelled in either by natives or foreigners, that information regarding places in the interior is not easily obtained; and facilities for travelling, as well as accommodation for travellers, is of a very limited description.

_Sir Roger de Coverley_.--In one of your early numbers was a query on this subject, which I do not think has been yet answered. I have a MS. {369} account of the family of Calverley, of Calverley, in Yorkshire, an autograph of Ralph Thoresby in the year 1717, in which occurs the following passage:--

"_Roger_, so named from the Archbishop" (of York), "was a person of renowned hospitality, since, at this day, the obsolete known tune of _Roger a Calverley_ is referred to him, who, according to the custom of those times, kept his _minstrells_, from that their office named _harpers_, which became a family and possessed lands till late years in and about _Calverley_, called to this day _Harpersroids_ and _Harper's Spring_.... He was a knight, and lived in the time of K. Richard 1st. His seal, appended to one of his charters, is large, with a chevalier on horseback."

W. CALVERLEY TREVELYAN.

* * * * *

DERIVATIONS OF "NEWS."

It is not declared with what motive "Mr. GUTCH" (No. 17. p. 270.) has laid before the readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES" the alleged derivation of N.E.W.S.

It must therefore be supposed, that his object was to have its justness and probability commented upon; and it is quite time that they should be so, since the derivation in question has of late become quite a favourite authoritative dictum with etymology compilers. Thus it may be found, in the very words and form adopted by your correspondent, in Haydn's _Dictionary of Dates_, and in other authorities of equal weight.

This sort of initial-letter derivation was probably brought into fashion in England by the alleged origin of "Cabal," or, perhaps, by the many guesses at the much disputed word "AEra." I shall take the liberty of quoting a few sentences with reference to such etymologies, _as a class_, which I find in an unpublished manuscript upon a kindred subject.

"Besides, such a splitting up of a word of significant and perfect meaning in itself is always a bad and suspicious mode of derivation.

"It is generally an after-thought, suggested by some fortuitous or fancied coincidence, that appropriateness of which is by no means a sufficient proof of probability.

"Of this there can scarcely be a better example than the English word 'news,' which, notwithstanding the felicity of its supposed derivation from the four cardinal points, must, nevertheless, so long as the corresponding words 'nova,' 'nouvelles,' &c. exist, be consigned to its more sober and common-place origin in the adjective '_new_.'"

To this it must be added that the ancient orthography of the word _newes_, completely upsets the derivation Mr. Gutch has brought before your readers. Hone quotes from "one Burton, printed in 1614: 'if any one read now-a-days, it is a play-book, or _a pamphlet_ of _newes_."

I had been in two minds whether or not to send this communication, when the scale is completely turned by the apropos occurrence of a corroboration of this latter objection in "NOTES AND QUERIES" of this day. Mr. Rimbault mentions (at p. 277.), "a rare black letter volume entitled _Newes from Scotland_, 1591."

Here is one more proof of the usefulness of your publication, that I am thus enabled to strengthen the illustration of a totally different subject by the incidental authority of a fellow correspondent.

A.E.B.

Leeds, March, 1850.

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REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES.

_Swot_ is, as the querist supposes, a military cant term, and a sufficiently vulgar one too. It originated at the great slang-manufactory for the army, the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. You may depend upon the following account of it, which I had many years ago from the late Thomas Leybourne, F.R.S., Senior Professor of Mathematics in that college.

One of the Professors, Dr. William Wallace, in addition to his being a Scotchman, had a bald head, and an exceedingly "broad Scotch" accent, besides a not very delicate discrimination in the choice of his English terms relating to social life. It happened on one hot summer's day, nearly half a century ago, that he had been teaching a class, and had worked himself into a considerable effusion from the skin. He took out his handkerchief, rubbed his head and forehead violently, and exclaimed in his Perthshire dialect,--"_It maks one swot_." This was a God-send to the "gentlemen cadets," wishing to achieve a notoriety as wits and slangsters; and mathematics generally ever after became _swot_, and mathematicians _swots_. I have often heard it said:--"I never could do _swot_ well, Sir;" and "these dull fellows, the _swots_, can talk of nothing but triangles and equations."

I should have thought that the _sheer disgustingness_ of the idea would have shut the word out of the vocabularies of English _gentlemen_. It remains nevertheless a standard term in the vocabulary of an English soldier. It is well, at all events, that future ages should know its etymology.

T.S.D.