Chapter 2

I am not about to discuss the character of Cranmer: a timid man might have been roused under such circumstances into attempting to do what it is said he did. The laws of physiology and combustion show that he could not have gone beyond the attempt. If a furnace were so constructed, that a man might hold his hand in the flame without burning his body, the shock to the nervous system would deprive him of all command over muscular action before the skin could be "entirely consumed." If the hand were chained over the fire, the shock would produce death.

In this case the fire was unconfined. Whoever has seen the effect of flame in the open air, must know that the vast quantity sufficient entirely to consume a human hand, must have destroyed the life of its owner; though, from a peculiar disposition of the wood, the vital parts might have been protected.

The entire story is utterly impossible. May we, guided by the words "as the fire was kindling," believe that he _then_ thrust his right hand into the flame--a practice I believe not unusual with our martyrs, and peculiarly suitable to him--and class the "holding it till consumed" with the whole and unconsumed heart?

I may observe that in the accounts of martyrdoms little investigation was made as to what was possible. Burnet, describing Hooper's execution, says, "one of his hands fell off before he died, with the other he continued to knock on his breast some time after." This, I have high medical authority for saying, could not be.

H. B. C.

U. U. Club.

* * * * *

UNREGISTERED PROVERBS.

In Mr. Trench's charming little book on _Proverbs_, 2nd ed., p. 31., he remarks:

"There are not a few (proverbs), as I imagine, which, living on the lips of men, have yet never found their way into books, however worthy to have done so; either because the sphere in which they circulate has continued always a narrow one, or that the occasions which call them out are very rare, or that they, having only lately risen up, have not hitherto attracted the attention of any one who cared to record them. It would be well, if such as take an interest in the subject, and are sufficiently well versed in the proverbial literature of their own country to recognise such unregistered proverbs when they meet them, would secure them from that perishing, which, so long as they remain merely oral, might easily overtake them; and would make them at the same time, what all _good_ proverbs ought certainly to be, the common heritage of all."

"_Note._--The pages of the excellent _Notes and Queries_ would no doubt be open to receive such, and in them they might be safely garnered up," &c.

I trust this appeal of Mr. Trench's will be at once responded to by both the editor and correspondents of this periodical. With the former {393} must rest the responsibility of withholding from reproduction any proverbs, which though sent him as novelties, may be already registered in the recognised collections.

Mr. Trench's first contribution to this _bouquet_ of the wild flowers of proverbial lore is the following, from Ireland:

"'_The man on the dyke always hurls well._' The looker on," says Mr. Trench in explanation, "at a game of hurling, seated indolently on the wall, always imagines that he could improve on the strokes of the actual players, and if you will listen to him, would have played the game much better than they, a proverb of sufficiently wide application."--P. 32.

Each proverb sent in should be accompanied with a statement of the class among whom, or the locality in which, it is current. The index to "N. & Q." should contain a reference to every proverb published in its pages, under the head of _Unregistered Proverbs_, or _Proverbs_ only. Correspondents should bear in mind the essential requisite of a proverb, _currency_. Curt, sharp sayings might easily be multiplied; what is wanted, however, is a collection of such only as have that prerequisite of admission into the ranks of recognised proverbs. And while contributors should not lose sight of "the stamp of merit," as that which renders the diffusion of proverbs beneficial to mankind, still they should not reject a genuine proverb for want of that characteristic, remembering that,--

"'Tween man and man, they weight not every stamp; Though light, take pieces for the _figure's_ sake."

And that the mere _form_ of a proverb often affords some indication of its age and climate, even where the _matter_ is spurious. I have a large MS. collection of English proverbs by me, from which I doubt not I shall be able to extract some few which have never yet been admitted into any published collection. Of these at some future time.

C. MANSFIELD INGLEBY.

Birmingham.

[We shall be happy to do all in our power to carry out this very excellent suggestion.--Ed. "N. & Q."]

* * * * *

MR. JUSTICE TALFOURD.

The noble sentiments uttered by Justice Talfourd in his last moments gave a charm to his sudden death, and shed a hallowed beauty about the painfully closing scenes of this great man. I want them to have a niche in "N. & Q.," and along with them a passage from his beautiful tragedy of _Ion_, which may be considered as a transcript of those thoughts which filled his mind on the very eve of quitting the high and honourable duties of his earthly course. It forcibly illustrates the loving soul, the kind heart, and the amiable character of this deeply lamented judge.

After speaking of the peculiar aspect of crime in that part of the country where he delivered his last charge, he goes on to say:

"I cannot help myself thinking it may be in no small degree attributable to that separation between class and class, which is the great curse of British society, and for which we are all, more or less, in our respective spheres, in some degree responsible, and which is more complete in these districts than in agricultural districts, where the resident gentry are enabled to shed around them the blessings resulting from the exercise of benevolence, and the influence and example of active kindness. I am afraid we all of us keep too much aloof from those beneath us, and whom we thus encourage to look upon us with suspicion and dislike. Even to our servants we think, perhaps, we fulfil our duty when we perform our contract with them--when we pay them their wages, and treat then with the civility consistent with our habits and feelings--when we curb our temper, and use no violent expressions towards them. But how painful is the thought, that there are men and women growing up around us, ministering to our comforts and necessities, continually inmates of our dwellings, with whose affections and nature we are as much unacquainted as if they were the inhabitants of some other sphere. This feeling, arising from that kind of reserve peculiar to the English character, does, I think, greatly tend to prevent that mingling of class with class, that reciprocation of kind words and gentle affections, gracious admonitions and kind inquiries, which often, more than any book-education, tend to the culture of the affections of the heart, refinement and elevation of the character of those to whom they are addressed. And if I were to be asked what is the great want of English society--to mingle class with class--I would say, in one word, the want is the want of sympathy."

Act I. Sc. 2. After Clemanthe has told Ion that, forsaking all within his house, and risking his life with strangers, he can do but little for their aid, Ion replies:

"It is little: But in these sharp extremities of fortune, The blessings which the weak and poor can scatter Have their own season. 'Tis a little thing To give a cup of water; yet its draught Of cool refreshment, drain'd by fever'd lips, May give a shock of pleasure to the frame More exquisite than when nectarean juice Renews the life of joy in happiest hours. It is a little thing to speak a phrase Of common comfort, which, by daily use, Has almost lost its sense; yet, on the ear Of him who thought to die unmourn'd, 'twill fall Like choicest music; fill the glazing eye With gentle tears; relax the knotted hand To know the bonds of fellowship again; And shed on the departing soul a sense, More precious than the benison of friends About the honour'd death-bed of the rich, {394} To him who else were lonely, that another Of the great family is near and feels."

The analogy is as beautiful as it is true.

H. M. BEALBY.

North Brixton.

Before this talented judge was advanced to the bench, he amused himself and instructed his clients by occasional _metrical_ notes, of which the annexed is a specimen. To make it intelligible to those whom it may _not_ concern, I must add an explanation by the attorney in the suit, who has obligingly placed the learned serjeant's notes at my disposal. This gentleman says: "These notes are in the margin of a brief held by the serjeant as leading counsel in an action of ejectment brought against a person named Rock, in 1842. In converting into rhyme the evidence of the witness Hopkins, as set out in the brief, he has adhered strictly to the statements, whilst he has at the same time seized the prominent points of the testimony as supporting the case."

John Hopkins will identify the spot, Unless his early sports are quite forgot, And from his youngest recollection show The house fell down some forty years ago. And then--a case of adverse claim to meet, Show how the land lay open to the street; And there the children held their harmless rambles, Till Robert Woolwich built his odious shambles, And never did the playmates fear a shock, From anything so hateful as a _Rock_.

Perhaps the above may elicit from other quarters similar contributions; indeed, any memorial of the friend of Charles Lamb must be precious to the Muse.

T. J. BUCKTON.

Lichfield.

* * * * *

THE SCREW PROPELLER.

In 1781, when the steam engine, only recently improved by Watt, was merely applied to the more obvious purposes of mine drainage and the like, Darwin, in his _Botanic Garden_, wrote--

"Soon shall thy arm, unconquer'd Steam! afar Drag the slow barge, or drive the rapid car."

And in an appended note prophecies that the new agent might "in time be applied to the rowing of barges, and the moving of carriages along the road." The ingenious chronicler of the "loves of the plants," however, was in no doubt, when he wrote, aware of the experiments of D'Auxiron, Perier, and De Jouffroy; those prosecuted at Dalswinton and in America were some years later, about 1787-8 I think. But in another and less widely known poem by the same author, the _Temple of Nature_, published in 1802, there occurs a very complete anticipation of one of the most important applications of science to navigation, which may prove as novel and striking to some of your readers as it did to me. It is, indeed, a remarkable instance of scientific prevision. In a note to line 373, canto ii. of the poem, the author sets out with, "The progressive motion of fish beneath the water is produced principally by the undulation of their tails;" and after giving the _rationale_ of the process, he goes on to say that "this power seems to be better adapted to push forward a body in the water than the oars of boats;" concluding with the query, "Might not some machinery resembling the tails of fish be placed behind a boat so as to be moved with greater effect than common oars, by the force of wind or steam?"

ANON.

* * * * *

ANCIENT CHATTEL-PROPERTY IN IRELAND.

The Memoranda Roll of the Exchequer, 4 & 5 Edward II., membrane 14., contains a list of the chattel-property of Richard de Fering, Archbishop of Dublin, which had been sold by Master Walter de Istelep, the custos of said See, for the sum of 112l. 10s. 9-3/4d. sterling, consisting, amongst other things, of--

iij affr', price xijs. xiij bobus, iiij_li_. vs. xlvij acr' warrectan' & rebinand' ibidem, lxxs. vjd. ij carucis cum apparatu, iiijs. v crannoc' frumenti ad semen & liberationes famulorum ibidem sibi venditis per predictum custodem, xxijs. vjd. xj crannoc', iij bussellis aven', xxxixs. iijd. iij carucis cum apparatu, vjs.

The chattel-property of Sir James Delahyde is set forth upon the Memoranda Roll 3 & 4 Rich. II., mem. 3. _dorso_, and is as follows:

"Unu' collobiu' de rubio scarleto duplucat' c[=u] panno rubio, unu' collobiu' duplex de sanguineto et Bukhorn', unu' collobi[=u] duplex, de sanguineto et nigro, unu' gip' de serico auro int'text furrat' c[=u] menivero, unu' gyp' de rubio et nigro furrat' cu' calibir', unu' gyp' furrat cu' grys, unu' paltok' de nigro serico, unu' paltok de nigro panno, unu' paltok' de nigro Bustian, duo cap'icia, una' pec' de rubio Wyrset, unam pec' de nigro Wyrset, una' pec' panni linei vocat' Westenale, quinq; pec' Aule pro camera & Aula, tres curtynis c[=u] uno celuro de rubio Wyrset, quinq; mappas, duas pelves c[=u] lavatorio & quatuor p'ia secular'."

Upon the attainder of William Fytzhenry of Dublin, "Capytayn," in the reign of Edward VI., it was found by inquisition that he had "unum torquem aureum ponder' septem uncias d[=i]," put in pledge for 20l., and worth 22l. sterling. In this reign "quinque vasa vocat' fyrkyns de prunis" each worth 6s. 8d.; a firkin of wine, 5s., "a fyrkyn de aceto," 6s. 8d.; "quinque tycks", worth 11s. 8d. each; and "duas duodenas cultellorum," worth 4s., {395} were brought to Dublin from St. Mallow in Brittany. In this reign also 200 "grossos arbores," near Drogheda, were valued at 16l.; 18 "porcos" were worth 40s.; 3 "modios frumenti" worth 20s.; and 5 "lagenas butteri," 20s. During this reign a sum of 300l. was paid out of the Treasury to Sir William Seyntloo, for the purpose of fortifying, &c. the Castle of Dyngham, called "The Governor of Offayley," of which sum he paid to Matthew Lynete, the Clerk of the Ordnance,--

For the hire of 4 carts from Dublin to the forte, 28th December, 71s. 1-1/2d. ster.

3 other carts from Dublin to the sayd forte, 27th March, 2 Edw. VI., 40s.

The carters that came from Dublin to the forte, 15th January and 19th April, 2 Edw. VI., for the hire of 4 cartes by the space of 6 dayes, 53s. 4d.

In the 6 Edward VI. the goods of Thomas Rothe of Kilkenny, merchant, which were seized by a searcher at Waterford, consisted of "30 pecias auri vocat' Crussades," and "un' wegge argenti ponderant' xvj uncias argenti precij cujuslibet uncie, 4s."

In the same year the property of Andrew Tyrrell, a merchant of Athboy, consisted of--

Unam fardellam sive paccam, containing _Sterling._ unam peciam de lychefeldkerfeys, price 36s. Unam peciam de greneclothe 4l. Di' duoden' pellium vocat' red leese 3s. 4d. 2 duoden' de orphell skynnes 8s. 4d. 6 duoden' de Rosell gyrdels 12s. Sex libr' de Brymstone 2s. 3 dudoen' de playng cardes 10s. Un' gross' de fyne knyves 48s. 26 libr' cerici voc' sylke 8l. 13s. 4d. Un' gross' de red poynts [104s. or 4s.] Un' duoden' de pennars [102s. or 2s.] Sex libr' de bykeres 102s. 1000 pynnes 20d. Sex rubeas crumenas 2s. Un' bagam de droggs 4s. Un' burden' de stele 3s. Sex boxes de comfetts 12s. 6 duoden' de lokyng glasses 18d. Un' bolte de threde 2s. 8d. Duas fyrkins de soketts 5s. Duas duoden' de combes 12d. 2 lb. of packethrede 6d. 1 doz. of great bells 16d. One payre of ballaunce 8d. One piece of red cloth 4l.

In Queen Mary's time, in Ireland, a yard of black velvet was valued at 20s. sterling; a yard of purple-coloured damask, at 13s. 4d. sterling; and a yard of tawny-coloured damask, at 10s. sterling.

The foregoing have been taken from the ancient records of the Irish Exchequer.

JAMES F. FERGUSON.

Dublin.

* * * * *

BISHOP ATTERBURY.

I have observed in some former Numbers of "N. & Q.," that an interest has been manifested in regard to the writings, and especially to the letters, of this prelate. It may therefore be interesting to your readers to be informed, that an original painting, and perhaps the only one, of the Bishop, is preserved at Trelawny House in Cornwall; and from its close resemblance to the engraved portrait which is found in his works, I have no doubt it is that from which that likeness was taken. There are also several letters in the handwriting of Bishop Atterbury among the documents preserved in the collection at that ancient mansion. That this portrait and the letters should be preserved at Trelawny, is explained by the fact, that before his elevation to the episcopal bench, Dr. Atterbury was chaplain to Bishop Trelawny.

J. C.

Lines by Bishop Atterbury on Mr. Harley being stabbed by Guiscard:

"Devotum ut cordi sensit sub pectore ferrum, Immoto Harlaeus saucius ore stetit. Dum tamen huic laeta gratatur voce senatus, Confusus subito pallor in ore sedet. O pudor! O virtus! partes quam dignus utrasque Sustinuit, vultu dispare, laude pari."

I found these lines written on the back of an odd volume of Atterbury's _Sermons_. Most likely they have already appeared in print.

E. H. A.

* * * * *

Minor Notes.

"_Milton Blind._"--A little poem bearing this title, and commencing,--

"Though I am old and blind,"

is said to have been included in an edition of the poet's works recently published at Oxford. It was written by Miss Lloyd, a lady of this city, a short time ago.

UNEDA.

Philadelphia.

_Hydropathy._--For a long time, I believe in common with many others, I have imagined that the water cure is of late origin, and that we are indebted for it to Germany, to which we look for all novel quackeries (good and bad) in medicine and theology. This belief was put to flight a short time ago by a pamphlet which I discovered among others rare and curious. It is entitled _Curiosities of Common Water, or the Advantages thereof in preventing and curing many Distempers_. The price of the pamphlet was one shilling, and the author rejoices in the name of John Smith. After his name follows a motto, the doctrine of which it {396} is the duty of all licensed to kill according to law strenuously to protest against both by argument and practice:

"That's the best physick which doth cure our ills Without the charge of pothecaries pills."

E. W. J.

Crawley.

_Cassie._--MR. M. A. LOWER (a correspondent of "N. & Q."), in his _Essays on English Surnames_ (see vol. ii. p. 63.), quotes from a brochure on Scottish family names. He seems, from a footnote, to be in difficulty about the word _cassie._ May I suggest to him that it is a corruption of "causeway?"

The "causeway" is, in Scotch towns, an usual name for a particular street; and of a man's surname, his place of residence is a most common source of derivation.

W. T. M.

_The Duke of Wellington._--Lord de Grey, in his _Characteristics of the Duke of Wellington_, pp. 171, 172., gives the following extract from the despatches published by Colonel Gurwood, and refers to vol. viii. p. 292.

"It would undoubtedly be better if _language_ of this description were never used, and if officers placed as you were could correct errors and neglect in _language, which should not hurt the feelings_ of the person addressed, and without vehemence."

Compare this passage with the following advice which Don Quixote gives to Sancho Panza before he sets off to take possession of his government:

"Al che has de castigar con obras, no trates mal con palabras, pues le basta al desdichado la pena del suplicio sin la anadidura de las malas rezones."--Part II. ch. xlii.

See translation of _Don Quixote_ by Jarvis, vol. iv. b. III. ch. x. p. 76.[1]

The very depreciatory terms in which the Emperor Napoleon used to speak of the Duke of Wellington as a general is well known. The following extract from Forsyth's _Napoleon at St. Helena and Sir Hudson Lowe_, appears to me worthy of being brought under the notice of the readers of "N. & Q.:"

"After the governor had left the house (upon the death of Napoleon he had gone to the house of the deceased with Major Gorrequer to make an inventory of and seal up his papers), Count Montholon called back Major Gorrequer to ask him a question, and he mentioned that he had been searching for a paper dictated to him by Napoleon a long time previously, and which he was sorry he could not find, as it was a _eulogium on the Duke of Wellington_, in which Napoleon had spoken in the highest terms of praise of the military conduct of the Duke."--See vol. iii. p. 299.

J. W. FARRER.

[Footnote 1: Jarvis translates the passage in _Don Quixote_,--"Him you are to punish with deeds, do no evil; intreat with words, for the pain of the punishment is enough for the wretch to bear, without the addition of ill-language."]

_Romford Jury._--The following entry appears on the court register of the Romford Petty Sessions (in Havering Liberty) for the year 1730, relating to the trial of two men charged with an assault on Andrew Palmer. As a curious illustration of the manner in which justice was administered in country parts in "the good old times," I think it may be interesting to the readers of "N. & Q."

"The jury could not for several hours agree on their verdict, seven being inclinable to find the defendants guilty, and the others not guilty. It was therefore proposed by the foreman to put twelve shillings in a hat, and hustle most heads or tails, whether guilty or not guilty. The defendants, therefore, were acquitted, the chance happening in favour of not guilty."

E. J. SAGE.

_Edward Law (Lord Ellenborough), Chief Justice._--J. M.'s quotation of the song in the _Supplement to the Court of Sessions Garland_ (Vol. ix., p. 221.), reminds me of the lines on Mr. Law's being made Chief Justice:

"What signifies now, quirk, quibble, or flaw, Since _Law_ is made _Justice_, seek justice from _Law_."

W. COLLYNS.

Drewsteignton.

_Chamisso._--Chamisso, in his poem of "The Three Sisters," who, crushed with misery, contended that each had the hardest lot, has this fine passage by the last speaker:

"In one brief sentence all my bitter cause Of sorrow dwells--thou arbiter! oh, pause Ere yet thy final judgment thou assign, And learn my better right--too clearly proved. Four words comprise it--I was never loved: The palm of grief thou wilt allow is mine."

"He knew humanity--there can be no grief like that grief. Death had bereaved one sister of her lover--the second mourned over her fallen idol's shame--the third exultingly says,--

'Have they not lived and loved?'"

The above is written in a beautiful Italian female hand on the fly-leaf-of the _Basia_, 1775.

E. D.