Chapter 2

(Histriones Anglicani maturè prodibant, et sacram Susannæ historiam tanta actionis histrionicæ arte, tanta dexteritate representabant, ut et laudem inde et præmium amplissimum reportarent.)

W.B.R.

[See, also upon this subject, a most interesting communication from Albert Cohn in the _Athenæum_ of Saturday last, January the 4th.]

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MINOR NOTES.

_The Curse of Scotland._--In Vol. i. p. 61., is a Query why the Nine of Diamonds is called the Curse of Scotland. Reference is made to a print dated Oct. 21, 1745, entitled "Briton's Association against the Pope's Bulls," in which the young Pretender is represented attempting to lead across the Tweed a herd of bulls laden with curses, excommunications, indulgences, &c.: on the ground before them lies the Nine of Diamonds. In p. 90. it is said that the "Curse of Scotland" is a corruption of the "Cross of Scotland," and that the allusion is to St. Andrew's cross, which is supposed to resemble the Nine of Diamonds. This explanation is unsatisfactory. The _nine_ resembles St. Andrew's cross less than the _five_, in a pack of cards; and, moreover, the nine of any other suit would be equally applicable. The true explanation is evidently to be found in the game of Pope Joan, in which the Nine of Diamonds is the pope. The well-known antipapal spirit of the Scottish people caused the pope to be called the Curse of Scotland.

The game of Pope Joan is stated to have been originally called Pope Julio, and to be as old as the reign of Queen Elizabeth. See Sir John Harington's "Treatise on Playe," written about 1597, Nugæ Antiquæ, vol. i. p. 220.

L.

_George Herbert._--It is much to be desired that the suggestion thrown out by your correspondent (Vol. ii., p. 460.) may be acted upon. The admirers of George Herbert are doubtless so numerous, that the correct and complete restoration of Bemerton Church might be effected by means of a small subscription among them, as in the case of the Chaucer monument. Most gladly would I aid in the good work.

R.V.

[It is needless for us to add that we shall be glad to promote, in every way, the good work proposed by our correspondent.--ED. N. AND Q.]

_Dutch Versions of English Essayists._--How much the works of the British Essayists were appreciated by my Dutch ancestors, the following plain facts may show. I have now before me

A translation of the Tatler:

"De Snapper, of de Britsche Tuchtmeester. Door den Ridder Richard Steele. Uit het Engelsch vertaald door P. le Clerc. t'Amsterdam, by Hendrik Vieroot, 1733, iv. vol. in 12º."

A second edition of

"De Guardian of de Britsche Zedemeester, door den Ridder Richard Steele. Uit het Engelsch vertaald dor P. le Clercq. Te Rotterdam, by Jan Daniel Beman, 1734, iii. vol. in 12º."

A third edition of

"De Spectator, of verrezene Socrates. Uit het Engelsch vertaald door A.G. & R.G. (some volumes by P. le Clercq) t'Amsterdam, by Dirk Sligtenhorst, Boekverkooper, 1743, ix. vol. 12º."

JANUS DOUSA.

_Long Meg of Westminster_ (Vol. ii., p. 131.).--The same epithet has been applied to women in other places. In the parish Register of Tiverton, Devon, is the following entry:

"Burials. April, 1596. The long Jone seruant to Mr. Demant's. iii. day."

Why should "long Meg" be more fabulous than "long Jone?"

E.A.D.

_Errors in the Date of Printed Books._--In the title-page of Peter Heylin's _Microcosmos_, 8th ed., the date is printed 1939 instead of 1639. In like manner, in _Historical Applications and occasional Meditations upon several Subjects, written by a Person of Honour_, printed in 1670, the imprimatur, signed "Sam. Parker," is dated 1970, instead of 1670. In each of these cases the error is evidently caused by the compositor having inverted the figure 6, which thus became 9.

P.H.F.

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QUERIES.

DOUSA'S POEM ON SIDNEY.--OLD DUTCH SONG-BOOK.

Your correspondent, who subscribes himself JANUS DOUSA in the last number of "NOTES AND QUERIES," ought to be able, and I dare say will be able, to supply through your columns information of which I have been long in search. In 1586 his great namesake printed at Lugd. Batav. a collection of Greek and Latin poems upon dead and living persons of distinction. Geoffrey Whitney, an Englishman, apparently residing at Leyden, and {23} who printed two works there in his own language, has fifteen six-line stanzas preceding Dousa's collection, and he subjoins to it a translation of a copy of Dousa's verses on the Earl of Leicester. Of these I have a memorandum, and they are not what I want; but what I am at a loss for is a copy of verses by Dousa, in the same volume, upon Sir Philip Sidney. It is many years since I saw the book, and I am not sure if there be not two copies of verses to Sidney, in which he is addressed as _Princeps_; and if your correspondent can furnish me with either, or both, I shall be much obliged to him.

Will you allow me to put another question relating to an old Dutch song-book that has lately fallen in my way; and though I can hardly expect a man like JANUS DOUSA to know anything about such a trifle, it is on some accounts a matter of importance to me, in connection with two early English songs, and one or other of your many friends may not object to aid me. The book is called _De zingende Lootsman of de Vrolyke Boer_, and it professes to be the _tweede druk_: the imprint is _Te Amsteldam By S. en W. Koene, Boekdrukkers, Boek en Papierverkoopers, op de Linde Gragt_. The information I request is the date of the work, for I can find none; and whether any _first part_ of it is known in England, and where?

You are probably aware that the Dutch adopted not a few of our early tunes, and they translated also some of our early songs. These I am anxious to trace.

THE HERMIT OF HOLYPORT.

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MINOR QUERIES.

_Sir Cloudesley Shovel._--In Mrs. Markham's _History of England_ it is stated that Sir Cloudesley Shovel escaped from the wreck of his ship, but was murdered afterwards by a woman, who on her death-bed confessed it.

Is there any authentic record elsewhere published?

H.J.

_Christopher Flecamore._--Walton says that Sir H. Wotton wrote his well-known definition of an ambassador at Augusta (_Augsburg_), in the Album of "Christopher Flecamore." (Wordsworth, _Eccl. Biog._, vol. iv. p. 86., ed. 1839.) Can any of your correspondents tell me who this person was?

J.C.R.

"_Earth has no Rage," &c._--Can you, or any of your contributors or readers, inform one where the following couplet is to be found:

"Earth has no rage like love to hatred turn'd, And hell no fury like a woman scorn'd."

I do not trouble you idly, as I have a particular reason for desiring to know the source of the lines.

W.T.M.

O. and C. Club

_D'Oyly and Barry Families._--Any authentic information, original or not in the usual depositories, concerning the two great Norman races of D'OYLY and BARRY, or De Barry (both of which settled in England at the Conquest, and, singularly, both connected themselves with mistresses of King Henry I.), will be thankfully received if sent to WM. D'OYLY BAYLEY (Barry), F.S.A., whose histories of both races are still unfinished.

Coatham, near Redcar, Yorkshire.

_Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham._--A collector of scraps and anecdotes relating to Nathaniel Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham, would be glad to know whether, in the various MS. collections of our public libraries, there are extant any letters either written by that prelate or addressed to him?

E.H.A.

_Epigram on the Synod of Dort._--In the _Biographie Universelle_, art. GROTIUS, it is stated that the following singular distich against the Synod of Dort was made in England:--

"Dordrechti synodus, nodus; chorus integer, æger; Conventus, ventus; sessio, stramen. Amen!"

Query, By whom was it made?

L.

_Private Memoirs of Queen Elizabeth._--Several years ago I met with a book bearing this, or a similar title, upon one of the tables of the reading room of the British Museum. A passing glance made me anxious to refer to it at a future opportunity. But, although I have again and again searched through the Catalogues, and made anxious inquiries of the attendants in the reading-room, I have never yet been able to catch a glimpse of it. Can any of your correspondents furnish me with the correct title, and state whether it is still preserved in this national library?

J.E.C.

_Invention of Steam Power._--The following doggerel is the burden of a common street-ditty, among the boys of Campden, in Gloucestershire.

"Jonathan Hulls, With his paper skulls, Invented a machine To go against wind and stream; But he, being an ass, Couldn't bring it to pass, And so was asham'd to be seen."

Now this Jonathan Hulls was the great grandfather of a man of the same name, now residing in Campden; so that if there be any truth in the tradition, the application of steam power to the propulsion of hulls must be long prior to the time of _Watts his name!_

Can any reader of NOTES AND QUERIES throw any light on the inventions of this man Hulls?

NOCAB.

_Mythology of the Stars._--I want (in perfect {24} ignorance whether there is such a book) a "Mythology of the Stars." Considering how often persons of sound mind express an enthusiasm for the celestial bodies, and exclaim, of clear night, that the stars are the poetry of Heaven, it is wonderful how little most of us know about them. Nine out of ten educated persons would be quite unable to do more than point out the Great Bear and North Star.

If there is not, there _ought_ to be, some collection of the nomenclature and mythological history of the heavens, with a familiar treatise on astrology ancient and modern. The Chaldeans, Egyptians, Grecians, Arabs, Celts, and Norsemen, must have had names and stories, whose relation (both in itself and to one another) would make a very pretty volume either of poetry or prose. Perhaps some of your readers may be able to inform me of such a work, or where detached masses of the information I want could be found.

G.I.C.

_Sword of William the Conqueror._--Can any one inform me where is the sword of William the Conqueror? It was kept in Battle Abbey till the dissolution, and then taken to Sir John Gage's house at Firle, as it is said.

P.

_Neville Family._--Will any of your correspondents inform me what family of the Nevilles were connected by marriage with the Fleetwoods or Cromwells?

In a collateral note in my family pedigree, I find it stated, that Sarah Neville (who married Thomas Burkitt, in 1683) was cousin to General Charles Fleetwood, who married Bridget Cromwell, daughter of the Protector; and, on the cover of a book, I find written--

"My Cozen Fleetwood he gave me this book.--Sarah Burkitt, 1684."

I have also traditional testimony in possessing a valuable cabinet, known us "the Fleetwood;" and a portrait of the above Bridget Cromwell; both of which have been preserved in the family for more than a century and a half, and supposed to have passed into their possession by the marriage of Sarah Neville.

A.H.B.

Clapham, Jan 1. 1851.

_Difformis, Signification of._--Can any of your classical readers refer me to a competent source of information with regard to the signification of the word _difformis_, which is repeatedly to be met with in the writings of Linnæus, and which I cannot find recorded in _Ducange_, _Facciolati_, or any of our ordinary Latin dictionaries?

TYRO.

Dublin.

_Lynch Law._--What is the origin of this American phrase?

J.C.R.

_Prior's Posthumous Works._--Among the curiosities collected by the Duchess of Portland, was a volume containing some prose treatises in MS. of the poet Prior. Forbes, in his _Life of Beattie_ (Vol. ii. p. 160.), speaking of this interesting volume, says:--

"Her Grace was so good as to let me read them, and I read them with great pleasure. One of them, a dialogue between Locke and Montaigne, is all admirable piece of ridicule on the subject of Locke's philosophy."

Have these treatises since been printed? And where now is Prior's original MS.?

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

_Suppressed Chantries._--Does there exist (and if so, where is it to be found) a list of the 2374 chantries suppressed by 37 Henry VIII. and 1 Edward VI.?

IGNOBUS.

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REPLIES.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL QUERIES BY R.G.

(Vol. ii., p. 422.).

_Pagnini's Bible._--I have before me a 12mo. copy of _Liber Psalmorum Davidis. Tralatio Duplex Vetus et Nova_. It contains also the Songs of Moses, Deborah, etc., with annotations. In the title-page, the new translation is said to be that of Pagnini. It was printed by Robert Stephens, and is dated on the title-page "1556," and in the colophon "1557, cal. Jan."

In this edition, both the old and new versions have the _verses distinguished by cyphers_ (numerals). I have not the means of knowing whether, in the earlier editions of Pagnini's Bible, the verses are so distinguished; but I gather from R.G. that they are.

The writer of the article "BIBLE" in Rees's _Cyclopædia_, says that R. Stephens reprinted Pagnini's Bible in folio, with the Vulgate, in 1557. And it appears, from my copy of the Psalms of David, that he also printed that part of Pagnini's Bible in 12mo. in the same year, 1557--the colophon probably containing the correct date.

Your pages have recommended that communications should be made of MS. notes and remarks found in fly-leaves, margins, etc. of printed books; and the above is written, partly in confirmation of Pagnini's title to the honour of distinguishing the verses of the Bible with cyphers, as suggested by R.G., but chiefly to note that there is written with a pen, in my copy, the word "Vetus" over the column which contains the old, or Vulgate, and the words "Pagnini _sive_ Ariæ Montani" over the column containing the new version of the first psalm.

The writer in Rees's _Cyclopædia_, above referred to, says, that "in the number of Latin Bibles is also usually ranked the version of the same Pagninus, corrected, or rather rendered literal by {25} Arias Montanus." But in the title-page of my copy Montanus is not mentioned.

My copy belonged to Jo. Sheldrake (who was he?) in 1663; to D. Hughes, of Queen's College, Cambridge, in 1761; and to E. Tymewell Bridges (as the family name was then spelled) in 1777. The latter was a brother of the late Sir S. Egerton Br_y_dges. But the MS. note above mentioned does not seem to be in the handwriting of either of them.

Will some learned reader of your work let me know whether there be any, and what ground for attributing the new translation, as it stands in this volume, to Montanus; or as Pagnini's corrected by Montanus?

P.H.F.

* * * * *

THE FROZEN HORN.

(Vol. ii., p. 262.)

The quotation from Heylin is good; "the amusing anecdote from Munchausen" may be better; but the personal testimony of Sir John Mandeville is best of all, and, if I am not mistaken, as true a traveller's lie as ever was told. Many years ago I met with an extract from his antiquated volume, of which, having preserved no copy, I cannot give the admirable verbiage of the fourteenth century, but must submit for it the following tame translation in the flat English of our degenerate days.

He testifies that once, on his voyage through the Arctic regions, lat. ***, long. ***, the cold was so intense, that for a while whatever was spoken on board the vessel became frost-bound, and remained so, till, after certain days, there came a sudden thaw, which let loose the whole rabblement of sounds and syllables that had been accumulating during the suspense of audible speech; but now fell clattering down like hailstones about the ears of the crew, not less to their annoyance than the embargo had been to their dismay. Among the unlucky revelations at this denouement, the author gravely states that a rude fellow (the boatswain, I think), having cursed the knight himself in a fit of passion, his sin then found him out, and was promptly visited by retributive justice, in the form of a sound flogging. If this salutary moral of the fable be not proof sufficient to authenticate both the fact in natural history, and the veracity of the narrator, I know nothing in the world of evidence that could do so. It may be added, that the author of _Hudibras_, in his significant manner, alludes to the popular belief of such an atmospheric phenomenon in the following couplet:

"Where Truth in person doth appear, Like words congeal'd in northern air." _Hudibras_, Book i. Canto i.

It is possible that Zachary Grey, in his copiously illustrated edition of the poem, may have quoted Sir John Mandeville's account of this notable adventure, in his wanderings, like a true knight-errant, through Scythia, Armenia, Egypt, Arabia, Syria, Media, Persia, Chaldea, Greece, Dalmatia, Belgium, &c. He wrote an Itinerary of his travels in English, French, and Latin. In these he occupied nearly forty years, and was long supposed to have died in the course of them, but (as if his person had been "congealed in northern air" and suddenly thawed into warm life again) when he re-appeared, his friends with difficulty recognised him.

J.M.G.

Hallamshire.

* * * * *

DOMINICALS

(Vol. ii., p 154.)

I believe to have been that kind of customary payment or oblations made _on Sundays_ to the rector, or his vicegerent, of the church where a person heard divine service and received the sacraments:

"Hostiensis dicit quod in præcipuis festivitatibus tenetur quis offerre, et _cogi potest_; maximè cum sit quasi _generalis consuetudo ubique terrarum_ ... et intelligit festivitates præcipuas, _dies Dominicos_, et alios dies festivos."--Lyndwood, _Prov._, p. 21., not. e., ed. Oxon. 1679.

Though Lyndwood himself, as I understand him, seems to doubt the cardinal's statement, that the payment could be _enforced_, unless sanctioned by local custom.

Ducange, in v. "Denarius," 8vo. ed., Adel. 1774, says, the "Denarius de Palmâ" and "Denarius Dominicalis" were the same:

"Habebit (vicarius) cum eis victum suum competentem, et ad vestes sibi emendas XL. solidos Andegavenses, et _Denarium singulis diebus Dominicis ecclesiasticâ consuetudine offerendum_."

On this extract from a charter he observes:

"Erat itaque _Denarius de Palmâ_, ille qui singulis Diebus Dominicis et [lege à] fidelibus offerrebatur. Cur autem dictus 'de Palmâ' non constat, nisi forte sic dictus fuerit quod in manum seu _palmam_ traderetur." _Denarius Dominicalis_, idem.--Arest. MS. a. 1407.

It would seem also from his definition to be the same as the payment called "Denaria Sacramentorum," that is:

"iidem denarii qui _singulis offerrebantur Dominicis_, ideoque Sacramentorum dicti, quod tempore Sacrosancti Missæ Sacrificii, pro excellentiâ interdum nudè appellati Sacramentum, a fidelibus offerrentur."--_Annal. Bened._, t. iv. p. 466., n. 80. ad annum 1045.

These extracts sufficiently explain, perhaps, the payment known by the different names of "Dominicals," "Palm-penny," and "Sacrament-pence;" and still indicated, probably, by the weekly offertory of our communion service.

Of a kindred nature were the "Denarii pro Requestis," or "Denarii perquisiti," sometimes also {26} called "Denarii memoriales," pence paid for masses in memory of the dead: called "pro requestis," because they were obtained by special petition [requesta] from the curate; and "perquisiti," "perquisite pence," because they were demanded [perquirebantur] from the devotion of the parishioners, over and above the customary offerings. And in this, perhaps, we find the origin of our word "perquisite." (Lyndw. _Prov._ p. 111., notes c, e. and p. 237.)

In further illustration of this subject, I will quote the following note from Mr. Dansey's learned work _Horæ Decanicæ Rurales_, vol. i., p. 426., ed. 1844, which refers also to Blomefield's _Norfolk_, vol. iv. p. 63.:

"A.D. 1686. The dean of the deanery of the city of Norwich was committed to custody, on one occasion, by the itinerant justices, for exacting _hallidays toll_ by his sub-dean in too high a manner; but on his proving that he took of every great boat that came up to the city on a holiday 1d. only, and of each small one a _halfpenny_; of every cart 1d., and of every horse or man laden an _halfpenny_; and of all bakers, butchers, and fishmongers, that sold their commodities on a holiday, 1d. each; and that his predecessors always had immemorially taken it, he was discharged.--Something of the same kind is related, in T. Martin's MS. history, respecting the dues exacted by the rural dean of Thetford. Dr. Sutton's MS. Letter."

E.A.D.

* * * * *

MEDAL STRUCK BY CHARLES XII.--RUDBECK'S ATLANTICA.

Although no numismatist, yet, being resident at Stockholm, I have taken steps to enable me to reply to L.'s Query (Vol. ii., p. 408. of "NOTES AND QUERIES") respecting Charles XII.'s medal in commemoration of the victory at Holowzin.

No copy of the medal exists in the cabinet of the Royal Museum of Antiquities; but in that belonging to the National Bank, there is a very fine example of it in copper, and the inscriptions are as follow:

On the Reverse:--"_Silvæ. Paludes. Aggeres. Hostes. Victi._"

In the Exergue:--"_Moschi ad Holowzinum victi A. 1708 3/14 Jul._"

And round the margin the verse from Lucan in question:

"_Victrices Copias Alium Laturus In Orbem_:"

with the substitution of _copias_ for _aquilas_, recorded by Voltaire and criticised by L.

The same inscriptions are given in Bergh's _Beskrifning öfver Svenska mynt och Skädepenningar_, 4to., Upsala, 1773; only he adds, that the inscription in the margin is only found on some copies.

I may transcribe Bergh's description in full:

"Slagetvid Holofsin.

'119. Konungens Bild och hamnunder Armen NAT. 17. JUN. 1682, SILVÆ. PALVDES. AGGERES. HOSTES. VICTI. En Wahl-platz pä hoilken stär en Rysk Trophé; och twenne fängar derwid bunden. I exerguen: MOSCHI AD HOLOFZINUM VICTI. A. 1708 3/14 JUL.

"Pä nägra exemplar är denna randskrift: VICTRICES COPIAS ALIVM LATVRVS IN ORBEM."

Could any of your readers obtain from the British Museum answers to the following Queries respecting Rudbeck's _Atlantica_, for the use of a Swedish friend of mine.

_British Museum.--Biblioteca Grenvilliana--Olof_ _Redbeck, Atland sive Manheim._

Tomus i. S. anno 1675, 1679. Has any one of these three copies a separate leaf, entitled _Ad Bibliopegos?_ If so, which of them? Has the copy with the date 1679 _Testimonia_ at the end? If so, how many pages do they consist of? Have they a separate title and a separate sheet of _errata?_ Is there a duplicate copy of this separate title at the end of the Preface? Tomus ii. 1689 How many pages of _Testimonia_ are there at the end of the Preface?

Is there, in any one of these volumes, the name of any former owner, any book number, or any other mark by which they can be recognised (for instance, that of the Duke de la Vallière)?

Should there be any other copy of any one of these tomes in the British Museum, these questions will extend to that volume also.

G.J.R. GORDON.

Stockholm, Dec. 17. 1850

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REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES.