Chapter 3

While the origin of the Collar of Esses is instructively occupying your correspondents, allow me to direct your attention to the enclosed paragraph extracted from the _Morning Post_ of the 18th instant, from which it appears that Lord Denman's collar has been "obtained" (_Qy._ by purchase?) by the corporation of Derby for the future use of their mayor. I wish to know, can a _Quo warranto_ issue to the said mayor for the assumption of this badge? and if not, in whom does the power reside of correcting this abuse, if such it be?

"THE GOLD CHAIN OF THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND.--On Wednesday week, at a meeting of the corporation of Derby, the mayor stated that the chain he then had the honour to wear was the one worn by the Lord Chief Justice of England, and that it had been obtained from Lord Denman by the corporation for all future chief magistrates of the borough. We understand the corporation obtained the chain upon the same terms as it would have been transferred to Lord Campbell, if his lordship had taken to it from his noble predecessor."--(_Quoted from Nottingham Journal, in Morning Post_, 18th Oct. 1850.)

F. S. Q.

The inclosed paragraph, extracted from the _Morning Post_ of last Saturday completes the history of the municipal collar of the corporation of Derby, concerning which I recently proposed a Query. The right to purchase does not, however, establish the right to wear such a decoration.

"THE INSIGNIA OF MAYORALTY.--Considerable excitement prevails just now in many municipal corporations respecting the insignia of mayoralty. At Derby the mayor has recently obtained the gold chain worn by Lord Denman when Lord Chief Justice. In reference to a question whether or not the chain was a present, a correspondent of the _Derby Mercury_ says, 'I am sorry to admit, it was a bargain; it cost 100l., and is paid for. The chain is the property of the corporation, and will grace the neck of every succeeding mayor. The robes did not accompany the chain; they are bran new, gay in colour, a good cut, and hang well; they are private property, consequently not necessarily transferable. Every mayor will have the privilege of choosing the shape and colour of his official vestment, and can retain or dispose of it as he may deem proper. It was suggested that the robes should be the property of the corporation, but a difficulty arose, from the fact, that mayors differ as much in their bodies as they do in their minds, so that one measure would not conveniently fit all. Economically speaking, the suggestion was a valuable one, but the physical difficulty was insurmountable. It has been hinted that a wardrobe of habiliments for different sized mayors might be kept on hand at the Town-Hall, but as the cost would be great, and the arrangement would partake too much of the customary preparation for a fancy ball or masquerade, it was thought objectionable. The Liberal corporation have, therefore, very properly resolved on throwing no obstacle in the way of Free Trade, and it is their determination to enable all mayors, in the selection of their vestures, to buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest.'"--_Morning Post_, Oct. 26. 1850.

F. S. Q.

As I was the first to open the fire on the very puzzling subject of the SS. Collar, which has led to more pleasant and profitable, though _warm_ discussion, than ever any person could have expected, it seems now to be time for some to step forward as a moderator; and if I be allowed to do so, it will be to endeavour to check the almost _uncourteous_ way in which our ARMIGER friend has taken up the gauntlet on the question.

If, Sir, you admit _severe_ and sneering criticism, it will, it may be feared, tend very considerably to mar the influence and advantage to be drawn from your useful pages, which are intended, I conceive, for calm, friendly and courteous interchange of useful information. Without vituperating the _lucubrations_ of MR. JOHN GOUGH NICHOLS, or sneering at those who "pin faith on his dicta," which have much merit (Vol. ii., p. 363.), it would be surely possible for ARMIGER to advance his own views with good temper and friendly feeling.

I have also a word to say to MR. NICHOLS on his remarks on MR. ELLACOMBE'S view. He imputes to MR. E. ignorance of the "real formation of the collar." He could only mean that the S hook or link gave _the idea_ of such an ornamental chain; and I believe he is correct: which ornament the taste of the workman would adopt and fashion as we now have it, with the insertion of another link both for the comfort of the wearer, and for variety in the construction.

A series of SSes (SSS) by themselves would certainly be a galling badge, whatever honour might be considered to be conferred with it.

B. (original), in future SS., as my initial has been usurped by some unknown friend.

October. 30. 1850.

_Collar of Esses._--I am glad to see the interest shown by your correspondents upon this curious subject, and the various opinions expressed by them as to the actual formation of the collar; the signification of the letter, if a letter be intended (of which I think there can be no reasonable doubt); and the persons who were privileged to wear it. The first two questions will for ever occasion discussion; but allow me to suggest that one step towards the solution of the third, would be a collection in your pages of the names of those persons who, either on their monumental effigies or brasses, or in their portraits or otherwise, are {395} represented as wearing that ornament; together with a short statement of the position held by each of these individuals in the court of the then reigning monarch, seeming to warrant the assumption. Some notices of this sort have been already given, and your antiquarian correspondents will readily supply others; so that in a little time you will have obtained such a list as will greatly assist the inquiry. It may serve as a commencement if I refer to the atchievement of Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, in the reign of Richard II., a representation of which is given in _Archaeologia_, vol. xxix. p. 387., where the Collar of Esses is introduced in a very peculiar manner.

EDWARD FOSS.

[As we think the origin and probable meaning of the Collar of Esses have now been discussed as far as they can be with advantage in the present state of our knowledge, we propose to adopt Mr. Foss's suggestion, and in future to limit our columns to a record of such facts as he points out.]

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DANIEL DE FOE.

Having been much interested with Daniel Defoe's description of a _Gravesend Tiltboat_ in the year 1724, as recorded by ALPHA in Vol. ii., p. 209., I think some of your readers may be pleased to learn that it is quite possible that "it may be a plain relation of matter of fact," as De Foe was engaged in the business of brick and tile making near Tilbury[1], and must consequently have had frequent occasion to make the trip from Gravesend to London. That De Foe was so engaged at Tilbury we learn from the following Proclamation for his apprehension, taken from the _London Gazette_, dated St. James's, January 10, 1702-3:--

WHEREAS Daniel de Foe, alias Fooe, is charged with writing a scandalous and seditious pamphlet, entitled _The Shortest Way with the Dissenters_. He is a middled siz'd spare man, about forty years old, of a brown complexion, and dark brown-coloured hair, but wears a wig; a hooked nose, a sharp chin, grey eyes, and a large mole near his mouth; was born in London, and, for many years an hose-factor in Freeman's Yard, Cornhill, and is now owner of the brick and pantile works near Tilbury Fort, in Essex. Whoever shall discover the said Daniel de Foe to one of Her Majesty's principal secretaries of state, or any one of Her Majesty's justices of the peace, so as he may be apprehended, shall have a reward of fifty pounds, which Her Majesty has ordered immediately to be paid on such discovery."

He soon gave himself up; and having been tried, he stood in the pillory with great fortitude: for soon after he published his poem, entitled _A Hymn to the Pillory_, in which are the following singular lines:--

"Men that are men, in thee can feel no pain, And all thy insignificants disdain; Contempt, that false new word for shame, Is, without crime, an empty name; A shadow to amuse mankind, But never frights the wise or well fix'd mind-- Virtue despises human scorn, And scandals innocence adorn."

Referring to a design of putting the learned Selden into the pillory for his _History of Tithes_, he says smartly:--

"Even the learned Selden saw A prospect of thee thro' the law; He had thy lofty pinnacles in view, But so much honour never was they due. Had the great Selden triumph'd on thy stage, Selden, the honour of his age, No man would ever shun thee more, Or grudge to stand where Selden stood before."

This original poem ends with these remarkable lines, referring to himself:

"Tell them, the men that placed him here, Are scandals to the times, Are at a loss to find his guilt, And can't commit his crimes."

De Foe, however, was afterwards received into favour without any concessions on his part, and proceeded straight onwards in the discharge of what he deemed to be his duty to mankind. He certainly was an extraordinary man for disinterestedness, perseverance, and industry.

W. CRAFTER.

Gravesend.

[Footnote 1: Traces of these tile-works are still discoverable in a field some three or four hundred yards on the London side of Tilbury.

[Wilson, in his _Life of Defoe_, vol. i. pp. 228. et seq., gives some interesting particulars of Defoe's share in these pantile works, and of his losses in connexion with them. Pantiles had been hitherto a Dutch manufacture, and brought in large quantities into England; the works at Tilbury were erected for the purpose of superseding the necessity for such importation, and providing a new channel for the employment of labour.--ED.]

* * * * *

"ANTIQUITAS SAECULI JUVENTUS MUNDI."

(Vol. ii., pp. 218. 350.)

T. J. and his Dublin friend (Vol. ii., p. 350.), appear to refer, one to the Latin version, the other to the original English text of Lord Bacon's _Instauration_; and, oddly enough, the inference to which either points, as a reason for disbelieving in the previous existence of the phrase "Antiquitas" &c., extends not to the authority consulted by the other. Thus, the circumstance of "_ordine retrogrado_" being printed also in Italics, is true only in respect of the _English_ text; while, on the other {396} hand, "_ut vere dicamus_" is an expression to be found only in the _Latin_.

But it may be doubted whether the originality of the phrase "Antiquitas saeculi juventus mundi" is, after all, worth speculating upon. In the sense in which Lord Bacon used it, it is rather a naked truism than a wise aphorism. It does not even necessarily convey the intended meaning; nor, if unaccompanied by an explanation, would it be safe from a widely different interpretation. A previous correspondent of "NOTES AND QUERIES" had termed it "this fine aphoristic expression;" and yet, when Lord Bacon himself expands the thought into an aphorism, he does so without recurring to the phrase in question, which is a tolerably fair proof that he did not look upon it as a peculiarly happy one. (_Novum Organum_, lib. 1., Aphorismus LXXXIV.)

T. J. infers that if the phrase were a quotation it would have been preceded by "ut dictum est" rather than by "ut dicamus"--but even if it had been introduced by the first of these forms, it does not appear that it would thereby have been proved to be a quotation; because there are instances wherein Lord Bacon directly refers to the source from which he professes to quote, and yet prefers to give the purport in his own words rather than in those of his author. Thus, in citing one of the most exquisite and familiar passages of Lucretius, he introduces it by the prefix, "_Poeta elegantissime dixit_." And yet what follows, although printed in italics with every appearance of strict quotation, is not the language of Lucretius, but a commonplace prose version of its substance. (_Sermones Fideles_, De Veritate.)

With reference to Lord Bacon's works, there are two Queries which I wish to ask.

T. J.'s friend mentions a rare translation into English by Gilbert Wats, Oxford, as existing in Primate Marsh's library. Query, _Of what_ is it a translation?

In Lord Bacon's life, by William Rawley, it is stated that his lordship was born in a house "infra plateam dictum _Le Strand_ juxta Londinum."

Query, Was the Strand ever known as _Le Strand_, similarly to Adwick-_le-street_ in Yorkshire?

A. E. B.

* * * * *

Replies to Minor Queries.

_Sir Gammer Vans_ (Vol. ii., pp 89. 280.).--The story related by S. G. is the same that I inquired after, and I admire the accuracy of his memory, for his version is, for the greater part, _literally_ the same that I heard in Ireland sixty years ago. A few passages, as that about _hipper switches_, I do not recollect; and one or two that I remember are wanting--the one, that the narrator was received in "a little _oak_ parlour" of, I forget what, different character; the other, that Sir Gammer's "mother," or "aunt, was a justice of peace, and his sister a captain of horse." I find that Goldsmith's allusion is to this last passage, with some variation. Tony Lumpkin tells Marlow that Hardcastle will endeavour to persuade him that "his mother was an alderman and his aunt a justice of peace." (_She Stoops to Conquer_, A. i. _sub fine_.) I have not been able to find the allusion in Swift; nor can I see how it could have been a _political_ satire. It seems rather to be a mere tissue of incongruities and contradictions--of Irish bulls, in short, woven into a narrative to make folks laugh; and it is much of the same character as many other pieces of ingenious nonsense with which Swift and Sheridan used to amuse each other.

C.

_Sir Gammer Vans._--This worthy is mentioned in that curious little chap-book, _A Strange and Wonderful Relation of the Old Woman that was drowned at Ratcliff Highway_, in two parts. I now quote the passage from a copy of the genuine Aldermary churchyard edition:--

"At last I arrived at Sir John Vang's house. 'Tis a little house entirely alone, encompassed about with forty or fifty houses, having a brick wall made of flint stone round about it. So knocking at the door, Gammer Vangs, said I, is Sir John Vangs within? Walk in, said she, and you shall see him in the little, great, round, three square parlour. This Gammer Vangs had a little old woman her son. Her mother was a churchwarden of a large troop of horse, and her grandmother was a Justice of the Peace; but when I came into the said great, little, square, round, three corner'd parlour, I could not see Sir John Vangs, for he was a giant. But I espied abundance of nice wicker bottles. And just as I was going out he called to me and asked me what I would have? So looking back I espied him just creeping out of a wicker bottle. It seems by his profession he was a wicker bottle maker. And after he had made them, he crept out at the stopper holes."

There are two notes worth recording with respect to this curious medley, which is obviously a modern version of a much older composition. Query, is any older edition known?

1. That the wood-cut on the title page, which has been re-engraved for Mr. Halliwell's _Notices of Fugitive Tracts and Chap-books_, printed for the Percy Society, is one of the few representations we have of the old _Ducking Stool_.

2. That it is said that the Rev. Thomas Kerrich, the well-known librarian of the University of Cambridge, could repeat by heart the whole of the eight and forty pages of this strange gallimawfrey.

W. J. THOMS.

_Hipperswitches_ (Vol. ii., p. 280.).--I saw a story which was copied into the _Examiner_ of Oct. 5. from "NOTES AND QUERIES," entitled "Sir Gammer Vans." The correspondent who has furnished {397} you with the tale says that he is ignorant of the meaning of "hipper switches." Now hipper is a word applied in this part of the country to a description of osiers used in coarse basket making, and which were very likely things to be bound up into switches. A field in which they grow, near the water side, is called a "hipper-holm." There is a station on the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway, which takes its name from such a meadow. My nurse, a Cornwall woman, tells me _hipper_ withies fetch a higher price than common withies in her country.

E. C. G.

Lancaster.

_Cat and Bagpipes_ (Vol. ii., p. 266.).--A public-house of considerable notoriety, with this sign, existed long at the corner of Downing Street, next to King Street. It was also used as a chop-house, and frequented by many of those connected with the public offices in the neighbourhood.

An old friend told me that many years ago he met George Rose,--so well known in after life as the friend of Pitt, clerk of the Parliament, secretary of the Treasury, &c., and executor of the Earl of Marchmont,--then a bashful young man, at the Cat and Bagpipes.

I may mention that George Rose was one of the few instances which I have met with, where a Scotsman had freed himself from the peculiarities of the speech of his country. Sir William Grant was another. Frank Homer was a third. I never knew another.

R.

_Forlot, Firlot, or Furlet_ (Vol. i., p. 371.).--It may be interesting to your correspondent J. S. to be informed that there is a measure of capacity in universal use in this part of India called a _fara_ or _fura_, which is identical in shape, and, as nearly as can be judged by the eye, in size, with the Scottish _furlet_. The _fura_ is divided into sixteen _pilys_, a small measure in universal use here; in like manner as the _furlet_ is divided into sixteen _lipys_, which measure was, and I presume still is, in general use throughout Scotland. A friend informs me that, in the west of Scotland, the common pronunciation of the word _furlet_ is exactly the same as that of the word _fura_ here by the Mahrattas. It is unnecessary to point out the numerous instances in which such changes as that from _pily_ to _lipy_ take place _per metathesem_.

Now, an interesting subject of investigation, supposing the coincidence above noticed not to be an accidental one, would be to trace the links of connexion between these words; and in this, some of your German readers may be enabled to afford valuable aid.

As an illustration of the same article being in use in widely distant localities, I may mention that on returning to England from a voyage to China, I brought with me a Chinese _abacus_ or _swanpan_, the instrument in general use among the Chinese for performing the ordinary computations of addition, subtraction, &c., thinking it a grand article of curiosity, particularly in a remote seaport town on the east coast, with which to astonish the natives. But what was my chagrin when I was informed by an honest Baltic skipper, that to him, at least the instrument was no rarity at all; that he had seen them used hundreds of times for the same purposes at various ports in the Baltic; and that, moreover, he had one of them in his home at that very time, which he forthwith produced.

J. SH.

Bombay.

_Sitting during the Lessons_ (Vol. ii., p. 246.).--The rubric directing the people to stand while the Gospel is read in the Communion service, was first inserted in the Scotch Common Prayer Book, A. D. 1637. The ancient and more reverential practice of standing whenever any portion of God's word is read, had not fallen into entire disuse as late as 1686, as will appear from the following extract from _The Life of Bishop Wilson_, by Cruttwell, prefixed to the folio edition of his works. It occurs (p. 4.) under certain heads of advice given to that holy bishop, at the time he was ordained deacon, by his much-esteemed friend, Archdeacon Hewetson:--

"Never to miss the church's public devotions twice a day, when unavoidable business, or want of health, or of a church (as in travelling), does not hinder. In church to behave himself also very reverently; nor ever turn his back upon the altar in service time, nor on the minister, when it can be avoided; _to stand at the lessons and epistle as well as at the gospel_, and especially when a psalm is sung: to bow reverently at the name of Jesus whenever it is mentioned in any of the church's offices; to turn towards the east when the Gloria Patri and the creeds are rehearsing; and to make obeisance at coming into, and going out of the church, and at going up to, and coming down from, the altar; are all ancient, commendable, and devout usages, and which _thousands_ of good people of our Church practise at this day, and amongst them, if he deserves to be reckoned amongst them, Thomas Wilson's dear friend."

J. Y.

Hoxton.

_Engelmann's Bibliotheca Auctor. Class._ (Vol. ii., pp. 296. 312. 328.).--"I hereby attest that the English titles to my _Bibliotheca Scriptorum Classicorum_ were _not_ printed without my knowledge or wish, but _by myself_, for my customers in England. ... W. ENGELMANN."

Leipzig, Oct. 25. 1850.

I also enclose the original, for the benefit of MR. DE MORGAN, if he is not satisfied.

ANOTHER FOREIGN BOOKSELLER.

_News_ (Vol. ii., p. 81.).--Much wit and ingenuity have been wasted on this word. It seems {398} clear, however, that its origin is Dutch or German, and probably Flemish, like the "NEW'S BOOK," so frequently occurring in the correspondence of the seventeenth century.

Look into that valuable German, French, and Latin dictionary of the Elzeviers, Amst. 1664, where you will find "NEWE, _F._ une novelle; _Lat._ nova, novorum." Then follow "Etwas newes, quelque chose de nouveau; Aliquid novi;" and "Was newes, quelles nouvelles;" or, more accurately, "Quid novi; quoi de nouveau?" The inference is forced upon us that, during the Flemish wars, in which the Sidneys and a long catalogue of noble English volunteers distinguished themselves, the thing and the term were imported hither.

Agreeably to so natural a presumption, the Hollandish "Nieuws" occurs, as a neuter substantive, in the sense of "niewe tijding," or "nouvelles," and, of course, the English "news," as perfect as can be wished. It is true that the "Nieuws-Boek" now circulates under the modest name of "Nieuws-Papieren," or of "Nieuws-Verteller:" but, to convince readers wise enough not to expect in such matters as these a geometrical demonstration, what is here humbly stated might suffice.

G. M.

Guernsey.

_Derivation of Orchard._--What is the derivation of _orchard_? Is the last syllable "yard," as in vineyard, rickyard? If so, what is "orch?" By the way, is the provincial word "hag-gard" hay-yard?

H. A. B.

[Orchard is from the Anglo-Saxon _ort geard_, or _wyrt geard_; the final syllable _gard_ or _yard_, in the words cited by our correspondent, being the modern form of _the A.-S. geard_.]

* * * * *

Miscellaneous.

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.