Chapter 2

The word employed to denote _freight_, or rather the _price of freight_, at this day in the principal ports of the Mediterranean, is _nolis_, _nolo_, &c. In the Arabian and Indian ports, the word universally employed to denote the same meaning is _nol_. Are these words identical, and can their connexion be traced? When we consider the extensive commerce of the Phoenicians, both in the Mediterranean and Indian seas, that they were the great merchants and carriers of antiquity, and that, in the words of Hieron, "their numerous fleets were scattered over the Indian and Atlantic oceans; and the Tyrian pennant waved at the same time on the coasts of Britain and on the shores of Ceylon"--it is natural to look to that country as the birthplace of the word, whence it may have been imported, westward to Europe, and eastward to India, by the same people. And we find that it is a pure Arabic word, [Arabic: nwl] _nawil_ and [Arabic: nwln] _nawlun_, or _nol_ and _nolan_, both signifying _freight_ (price of carriage), from the root [Arabic: nwh] _noh, pretium dedit, donum_. I am not aware that the word _freight_ (not used in the sense of cargo or merchandise, but as the _price_ of carriage of the merchandise, _merces pro vectura_) is to be found in the Old Testament, otherwise some light might be thrown on the matter by a reference to the cognate Hebrew word.

But here an interesting question presents itself. The word _freight_ in Greek is [Greek: naulos] or [Greek: naulon], and in Latin _naulum_. Have these any connexion with the Arabic word, or are they to be traced to an independent source, and the coincidence in sense and sound with the Arabic merely accidental? If distinct, are the words now in use in the Mediterranean ports derived from the Greek or the Arabic? If the words be not identical, may not the Greek be derived from the Sanscrit, thus [Sanskrit: nau], _nau_, or in the pure form [Sanskrit: nawah], _nawah_, or resolved, _naus_, a ship or boat; [Sanskrit: nauyayin], _nauyayin_ quasi _nouyayil_, or abbreviated _naul_, that which goes into a ship or boat, _i.e._ freight, fare, or, by metonyme, the price of freight, or passage-money. It is to be noted that _nolis_, though in general use in the Mediterranean ports (Marseilles, for example) to denote the price of freight, or of carriage, is not so in the northern parts of France. At Havre the word is _fret_, the same as our _freight_, the German _fracht_, viz. that which is _carried_ or _ferried_, and, by metonyme, as before, the _price_ of carriage.

J. SH.

Bombay.

* * * * *

Minor Notes.

_Smith's Obituary._--One of the publications of the Camden Society for the year 1849 is the _Obituary of Richard Smyth_ (extending from 1627 to 1674), edited by Sir Henry Ellis. It is printed from a copy of the Sloane MS. in the Brit. Mus., No. 886., which is itself but a transcript, later than Smyth's time. The editor states that "where the original manuscript of the obituary is deposited is not at present known."

I am glad at being able to supply the information here wanted. The original manuscript is in the _University Library_ at Cambridge, marked Mm. 4. 36. It consists of twenty-nine leaves, foolscap folio; and, except that the edges and corners of the leaves are occasionally worn by frequent perusal, is otherwise in excellent condition. It is well and clearly written, but the latter part of it marks the alteration of the hand by the advancing years of the writer. There are many variations in {390} the orthography, and some omissions, in the Camden Society's publication, but perhaps not more than may be accounted for by supposing the Sloane copy to have been made by a not very careful transcriber.

Here again is seen the valuable use which might be made of your excellent publication. Had a "Hue and Cry" been made in the "NOTES AND QUERIES" after the original MS. of this obituary, information might have been immediately given which would have added greatly to the value of this number of the Camden Society's publications.

GASTROS.

Cambridge, Oct. 28. 1850.

_George Wither the Poet, A Printer._--In the "_Premonition_ to the Reader" prefixed to George Wither's _Britain's Remembrancer_, 12mo. 1628, the author acquaints us with some circumstances relative to his work which are not generally known. While craving some apology for his writing, Wither observes:

"It is above two years since I laboured to get this booke printed, and it hath cost me more money, more pains, and much more time to publish it, than to compose it, for I was faine to imprint every sheet thereof _with my owne hand_, because I could not get allowance to doe it publikely."

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

_Corruption of the Text of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall."_--A corruption, which seems to have arisen from an attempt at emendation, has crept into Note 17. on the 55th chapter of Gibbon's _History_. _Root_ is twice printed instead of _roof_ in the later editions, including, Mr. Milman's. "What comes from the roof," may not be very intelligible; still _roof_ is the word in the original edition of Gibbon, where it corresponds to _toit_ in Gibbon's authority, Fleury, and to _tectum_ in Fleury's authority.

J. E. B. MAYOR.

_Traditional Story concerning Cardinal Wolsey._--In David Hughson (Dr. Pugh's) _Walks through London and the surrounding Suburbs_, 12mo. 1817, vol. ii. p. 366., I find the following:--

"Passing on to _Cheshunt_: here is a plain brick edifice, in which Cardinal Wolsey is said to have resided. It has been nearly rebuilt since his time, but is still surrounded by a deep moat. In the upper part of this house, called Cheshunt House, is a room, the door of which is stained with blood: the tradition is--an unfortunate lady became a victim to the Cardinal's jealousy, and that he dispatched her with his own hand. If so, it is unaccountable that the murderer should have suffered those marks of his violence to have remained."

Is there any _old_ authority for this charge against the Cardinal?

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

* * * * *

Queries.

EARLY SALE OF GEMS, DRAWINGS, AND CURIOSITIES.

At the risk of showing my ignorance, I wish to have it removed by answers to my present Queries.

I have before me a printed catalogue of a collection of antiques, drawings, and curiosities, which were to be sold by auction not far from a century and a half ago. It is upon a sheet of four pages, rather larger than foolscap, which it entirely fills. It seems to me a remarkable assemblage of valuable relics, and it is thus headed:--

"A catalogue, being an extraordinary and great collection of antiques, original drawings, and other curiosities, collected by a gentleman very curious ... will be sold by auction at Covent Garden Coffee House, in the Little Piazza, on Wednesday next, being the 9th instant June, 1714."

This is the oldest English catalogue of the kind that I happen to have met with, and my first question upon it is, is there any older? Next, if the fact be known, who was the "gentleman very curious" who owned the collection?

We are farther informed by the auctioneer (whose name is not given), that "The antiques are all in precious stones, most of them engraved by the greatest masters of the old Greeks and Romans; the drawings are of the oldest and the best Italian masters;" and it is advertised, besides, that "the aforesaid rarities may be seen on Monday the 7th, Tuesday the 8th, and Wednesday till the time of sale, which will begin at 11 o'clock in the morning for the antiques, and at 6 o'clock in the evening for the drawings." After a statement that the "conditions of sale are as usual," we come to the list of the gems, under the heads of "Names of the Jewels," and "What they represent." There are fifty-one lots of those that are "set in silver for seals," and they are upon cornelian, beril, sardonix, jasper, &c. For the purpose of identification (if possible) I will quote two or three:--

"3. Sardonix--The head of Anacreon. 17. Cornelian--Pallas crowning Hercules. 30. Beryl--The Trojan Horse, as in Fortuna Lyceto. 51. A cornelian ring, with the head of Lais of Corinth, engraved by Mr. Christian."

To these succeed twelve lots of "stones not set," including a "Head of Christ," a "Gadetian Droll," the "Entry of Severus, the Emperor, into Britain," &c. Then we come to 22. "Camejus, for the most part modern;" and to 10. "Other extraordinary Rarities," including

4. "The Picture of Mathew of Leyden, King of the Anabaptists, done in miniature by Holbein. 7. A box with 8 Calcedonies set in gold, in which are engraved the Passion of our Saviour," &c.

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The "antiques set in gold, being rings or seals," are thirty-seven in number; among them

"8. Ennius the poet, with this motto, _Sine lucto memento_, a seal. "19. Homer deified, a seal. "34. A double seal of Charles I., King of England, and Henrietta, daughter of Henry IV. of France, &c., with a motto of _Castus Amor vinxit_. Engraved by _Simon Monuntum Preclarissimum_."

The Drawings come last, and are divided into seven _Porta Folios_, containing respectively 21, 23, 30, 23, 24, 26 and 42 specimens. In the first two no names of the masters are given: in the third, they are all assigned to various artists, including Emskirk (I spell names as I find them), Paulo Veronesa, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Tintorett, Giulio Romano, &c. The fourth portfolio has only one name to the 23 lots, viz. Tintorett; and Filippo Bellin is the only master named in the fifth portfolio. In the sixth, we meet with Tintorett, Perugino, Mich. Ang. Bonaroti, Annibal Caracci, Paulo Brill, and Raphael. Of the 42 drawings in Portfolio 7. all have names annexed to them, excepting eight; and here we read those of Guido Reni, Gio Bellini, Andrea Mantegna, Corregio, Andrea del Sarto, Tadeo Zuccaro, &c.

I may have gone into more detail than was necessary; but, besides the Queries I have already put, I want to know if any of these gems, cameos, antiques, or drawings are now known to be in existence; and, if possible, where they are to be found.

A CURIOSITY HUNTER.

* * * * *

MINOR QUERIES.

_Quotations wanted._--I shall be greatly obliged to any of the correspondents of your most interesting and useful publication who will kindly inform me in what authors the following passages are to be found, and will, if it can be done without too much trouble, give me the references necessary for tracing them:--

"Par un peu de sang bien repandu, L'on en epargne beaucoup."

And

"Quadrijugis invectus equis Sol aureus extat, Cui septem veriis circumdant vestibus Horae: Lucifer antesolat: rapidi fuge lampada Solis, Aurora, umbrarum victrix, neo victa recedas."

The latter I have only seen subjoined to a print of Guido's celebrated Aurora, at Rome; and I should have supposed it might have been written for the occasion, had I not been told, upon authority in which I put confidence, that it is to be found in some classic author. If so, the lines may possibly have given rise to the painting, and not the painting to the lines.

DAWSON TURNER.

Yarmouth, October 28. 1850.

_Avidius Varus._--Can you, or any of your readers, tell me who _Avidius Varus_ was, referred to in the following passage:

"Sed _Avidii Vari_ illud hic valeat: 'Aut hoc quod produxi testium satis est, aut nihil satis.'"

I find reference made to him as above, in one of the Smith manuscripts; but I cannot discover his name in any catalogue or biographical dictionary. Is he known by any other name?

J. SANSOM.

_Death of Richard II._--By what authority has the belief that Richard II. died in Pontefract Castle, in Yorkshire, arisen? Every history that I have consulted (with the exception, indeed, of Lord Lyttleton's) coolly assumes it as a fact, in the teeth of the contemporary Froissart, who says plainly enough--

"Thus they left the _Tower of London where he had died_, and paraded the streets at a foot's pace till they came to Cheapside."--_Froissart's Chronicles_, translated by Johnes, vol. vii. p. 708.

It is barely possible that our modern historians may have been misled by Shakspeare, who makes Pontefract the scene of his death.

Another circumstance which militates against the received story, is the fact that all historians, I believe, agree that his _dead body_ was conveyed to burial from the Tower of London. Now, it seems odd, to say the least, that if he really died at Pontefract, and his corpse was removed to London, that no one mentions this removal--that Froissart had not heard of it, although, from the nature of the country, the want of good roads, &c., the funeral convoy must have been several days upon the road. Can any one give me any information upon this question? I may just say that, of course, no reliance can be placed on the fact of the "very identical tower" in which the deposed king died being shown at Pontefract.

H. A. B.

_Sir W. Herschel's Observations and Writings._--Will you permit me to propose the following Queries in your excellent paper.

1. I have a note to the following effect, but it is without date or reference. The late Sir W. Herschel, during an examination of the heavens in which he was observing stars that have a proper motion, saw one of the 7.8 magnitude near the 17th star 12 hour of Piazzi's Catalogue, and noted the approximate distance between them; on the third night after, he saw it again, when it had advanced a good deal, having gone farther to the eastward, and towards the equator. Bad weather, and the advancing twilight, prevented Sir William's getting another observation. Meantime the estimated movement in three days was 10" in right ascension, and about a minute, or rather less, towards the north. "So slow a motion," he says, {392} "would make me suspect the situation to be beyond Uranus." What I wish to inquire is this: has it been established by calculation whether the new planet discovered by Adams and Le Verrier was or was not the star observed at the time and in the place specified by Sir William Herschel?

2. Have Sir W. Herschel's contributions to the _Philosophical Transactions_ ever been published in a separate form? and if so, where they can be obtained?

H. C. K.

_Swearing by Swans._--

"At the banquet held on this occasion, he vowed before God and the _swans_, which according to usage were placed on the table, to punish the Scottish rebels."--Keightley's _History of England_, vol. i. p. 249. ed. 1839.

What authority is there for this statement respecting the swans? What was the origin and significance of the usage to which allusion is here made?

R. V.

Winchester.

_Automachia._--I am the possessor of a little book, some 21/2 inches long by 11/2 wide, bound in green velvet, entitled _Automachia, or the Self-conflict of a Christian_, and dedicated

"To the most noble, vertuous, and learned lady, the Lady Mary Nevil, one of the daughters of the Right Honourable the Earl of Dorcet, Lord High Treasurer of England."

The book commences with an anagram on the lady's name:

"Add but an A to Romanize your name _Another Pallas_ is your anagram, Videlicet Maria Nevila Alia Minerva."

And then follow some "Stanzes Dedicatory," subscribed--

Most deuoted to your honourable vertues.--J. S."

On the last page is--

"London, printed by Milch Bradwood, for Edward Blount, 1607."

The _Automachia_ is a poem of 188 lines, in heroic metre, and is followed by a shorter poem, entitled "A Comfortable Exhortation to the Christian in his Self-conflict."

Do any of your correspondents know of the existence or authorship of this little work? It is not in the British Museum, nor could the curators of the library there, to whom it was shown, make out anything about it.

The discovery of its authorship might tend to throw some light on that of "The Pedlar's Song," attributed to Shakspeare, and appearing in Vol. i., p. 23. of "NOTES AND QUERIES." The song contains the line--

"Such is the sacred hunger for gold."

And in the _Automachia_ I find the "auri sacra fames" described as--

"Midas' desire, the miser's only trust, The sacred hunger of Pactolian dust."

A. M.

_Poa cynosuwides._--_Poa cynosuwides_, the sacred grass of India, is mentioned in Persoon's _Synopsis_, as also an Egyptian plant: does it appear on the Egyptian monuments? Theophrastus, quoted in the _Praeparatio Evangelica_ of Eusebius, mentions the use of a certain [Greek: poa] in the ancient sacrifices of Egypt.

F. Q.

_Vineyards._--Besides those at Bury St. Edmonds and Halfield, are there any other pieces of land bearing this name? and if so, when were they disused for their original purpose?

CLERICUS.

_Martin, Cockerell, and Hopkins Families._--Can any one give information respecting the families of Martin, Cockerell, and Hopkins, in or near Wivenhoe, Essex?

CLERICUS.

_Camden's Poem on Marriage of the Thames and Isis._--I should esteem it a favour if any reader of the "NOTES AND QUERIES" would inform me where I can find a Latin poem of Camden's on the "Marriage of the Thames with the Isis." In his work styled _Britannia_ (which was enlarged by Richard Gough, in 3 vols., fol. Lond. 1789), in vol. i. p. 169., under Surrey, Camden himself quotes two passages; and in vol. ii., under Middlesex, p. 2., one passage, from the above-mentioned poem. I have in vain made many endeavours to find the _entire poem_. I have examined the original work, as well as all the translations of _Britannia, sive Florentissimorum Regnorum Angliae, etc., chorographica descriptio; Gulielmo Camdeno, authore_, Londini, 1607, folio. All these contain the quotations I have specified, but no more, and I am anxious to see the whole of the poem.

||S.

_National Airs of England._--Among the national gleanings which are sent to your journal, I have not seen any that relate to the traditional music of England. We allow our airs to be stolen on all sides, and, had not Mr. Chappell acted the part of a detective, might never have recovered our own property. Ireland has taken "My Lodging is on the cold Ground" and "The Girls we leave behind us," while Scotland has laid claim to all her own _at least_, and Germany is laying violent hands on "God save the Queen."

Under these circumstances, would it not be a good thing, for those who have the power, to communicate the simple air of any song which appears native to our country, together with the words? I fancy that in this way we should gain many hints, besides musical ones, highly interesting to your readers.

? (3.).

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P.S. It has struck me that the origin of the word _mass_ may be found in the custom, referred to in an early number of "NOTES AND QUERIES," of messing persons together at dinner in former times.

_Poor Pillgarlick._--Whence comes the expression, "Poor Pilgarlick," and how should the words be spelt?

H. P.

Exeter.

_Inscription on a Portrait._--Can any of your correspondents explain the meaning of the following inscription:--

io par. pla vx

placed at the top left-hand corner of an old portrait in my possession, supposed to be that of Philip II. of Spain?

C. EDWARDS.

_Burton's Parliamentary Diary._--The sale of _clergymen for slaves_ is alluded to in vol. iv. of Burton's _Diary_. This has received elucidation at p. 253. of your present volume.

_Tobacconists._--At p. 320, vol. i., of Burton's _Parliamentary Diary_ it is stated, that

"Sir John Reynolds said he had numbered the House, and there were at rising at least 220 present, besides _tobacconists_."

What and who were the persons designated as tobacconists?

P. T.

_"The Owl is abroad."_--On what ground is the fine base song, "The Owl is abroad," attributed to Henry Purcell? Dr. Clarke has done so in his well-known selections from Purcell's works; and Mr. G. Hogarth, in his _Memoirs of the Musical Drama_, speaking of Purcell's _Tempest_, says:

"There is a song for Caliban, _The Owl is abroad, the Bat and the Toad_, which one might suppose Weber to have imagined."

Is it not really the property of John Christopher Smith, the friend of Handel? Amongst the few books of printed music in the _British Museum Catalogue_ is _The Tempest, an Opera, composed by Mr. Smith_, in which is the base song in question. On the other hand, I do not find it in Purcell's _Tempest_. If, as I imagine, it belongs to Mr. Smith, it seems peculiarly hard that the credit of the composition should be taken from him, to be given to one who stands in no need of it.

A. R.

_Scandal against Queen Elizabeth._--The following note occurs in vol. iv. p. 135. of Burton's _Parliamentary Diary_:--

"Osborn,--see his works (1673), p. 442,--says, 'Queen Elizabeth had a son, bred in the state of Venice, and a daughter, I know not where or when;' with other strange tales that went on her I neglect to insert, as fitter for a romance than to mingle with so much truth and integrity as I profess."

Is this rumour any where else alluded to? and if so, upon what foundation?

P. T.

_Letters of Horning._--What is the meaning of "letters of horning," a term occasionally, though rarely, met with in documents drawn up by notaries? And, _a propos_, why should "notaries public," with regard to the noun and adjective, continue to place the cart before the horse?

MANLEIUS.

_Cromwell Poisoned._--At p. 516. vol. ii. of Burton's _Parliamentary Diary_ it is stated, in a note upon the death of Oliver Cromwell, that his body exhibited certain appearances "owing to the disease of which the Protector died, which, by the by, appeared to be that of poison." The words, "Prestwich's MS." are attached to this note. Is there any other authority for this statement?

P. T.

* * * * *

Replies.

COLLAR OF SS.

(Vol. ii., pp. 89. 194. 248. 280. 330. 362.)

The dispute about the Collar of SS., between MR. J. GOUGH NICHOLS and ARMIGER, is, as Sir Lucius O'Trigger would say, "a mighty pretty quarrel as it stands;" but I have seen no mention by either writer of "the red sindon" for the chamber of Queen Philippa, "beaten throughout with the letter S in gold leaf:" or the throne of Henry V. powdered with the letter S, in an illuminated MS. of his time, in Bennet College Library, Cambridge. I fancy there will be some difficulty in reconciling these two examples with the theory of either of the disputants. When ARMIGER alludes to the monument of Matilda Fitzwalter, "who lived in the reign of King John," I presume he is aware that the effigy is not of that period. I do not think any of the seekers of this hidden signification can be said to be even _warm_ yet, much less to burn.

J. R. PLANCHE.

_Collar of SS._--As I conceive that the description of this Collar by your correspondent C. (Vol. ii., p. 330.) is not strictly correct, I forward you drawings of two examples: No. 1. from the monument of Sir Humphrey Stafford (and which is the general type); No. 2. from that of the husband of Margaret Holand, Countess of Somerset (Gough's _Funeral Monuments_). The latter example might have been called a Collar of 8, 8, were it not that that name is less euphonious than SS. The collar was worn by several ladies. (See the work above quoted.)

B. W.

[The figures in the example No. 1. forwarded by B. W. cannot possibly have been intended for {394} anything but SS.; while, on the other hand, those in No. 2., as he rightly observes, are more like figures 8, 8, than the letters SS.]