Chapter 2

H. M. BEALBY.

North Brixton.

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MR. GOUGH'S TRANSLATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.

The original work is thus described by Brunet, in his _Manuel_, Paris, 1842, vol. ii. p. 583.:

"Histoire du Vieux et du Nouveau Testament (par Dav. Martin), enrichie de plus de 400 fig. Anvers (Antwerp), P. Mortier, 1700, 2 vol. gr. in fol."

This work is usually called _Bible de Mortier_. It is not a difficult book to be met with, but the price varies considerably according to the state of the plates.

H. F.

_Mr. Gough's Translation of the History of the Bible_ (Vol. iii., p. 100.).--A friend has furnished me with the following extract from the _Manuel du Libraire_ of M. J. C. Brunet in reply to my inquiry who was the author of the original history. It is taken from tom. i. p. 544.

"Histoire du V. et du N. Testament (par Dav. Martin), enrichie de plus de 400 fig. Anvers (Antwerp.), P. Mortier, 1700, 2 vol. gr. in fol."

M. Brunet informs us that copies of these volumes are valued by the state of the plates; one of which, in the Apocalypse, having been broken, was mended with nails, which marked the impression, and gave the distinction of copies before or with the nails.

As there can be no doubt but that most booksellers take in your useful publication, one of them may be induced to inform the undersigned if he has a copy for sale, and the price.

J. M. GUTCH.

Worcester.

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Minor Notes.

_Origin of Harlequins._--In a note to his translation of Priscus' "History of the Embassy sent to Attila by Theodosius the Younger" (_Hist. Civiliz._ app. iii. vol. ii. p. 430., Bogue's edit. European Library), M. Guizot remarks, alluding to the appearance of Zercho, a Moor, at Attila's feast:

"Is it not singular to find an harlequin at the court of Attila? Yet such is the origin of these buffoons. The colour of the black slaves, the strangeness of their face and manners, caused them to be sought after as excellent ministers of mirth; to complete the singularity, Zercho asks his wife at the hands of Attila, closely paralleling Harlequin demanding Columbine."

Is this account of the origin of Harlequins generally acquiesced in? I should be obliged by any early notice of the character of Harlequin, and his introduction on the English or any foreign stage.

E. L. N.

_Monosyllables_.--Among the many correspondents who have sent you specimens of monosyllabic poetry, I have seen no one who has quoted this very singular passage from Phineas Fletcher's _Purple Island_. It is _far more striking_ than anything you have yet inserted on this subject.

Canto I. Stanza 7. "New light new love, new love new life hath bred; A life that lives by love, and loves by light; A love to Him to whom all loves are wed; A light to whom the sun is darkest night: Eye's light, heart's love, soul's only life He is; Life, soul, love, heart, light, eye, and all are His; He eye, light, heart, love, soul; He all my joy and bliss."

In seventy words only _one_ of more than a syllable; the alliteration in the second line is likewise noticeable.

H. A. B.

Trin. Col., Cambridge.

_The Breeches, or Geneva Bible_ (Vol. iii, p. 17.).--I have before me a copy of Christopher Barkar's edition of the "Breeches" Bible, 1576, small folio, in which, on the fly-leaf, is the following interesting note in the handwriting of the late Francis Douce:--

"It is generally conceived that the peculiarity, 'and they sewed fig tree leaves together, and made themselves breeches,' belongs exclusively to this Bible, but it is a mistake. The Saxon version of Ælfric has, {166} '_and sewed fig-leaves, and worked them_ WEED-BREECH, _or cloaths for the breech._' Wicliffe also translates 'and maden hem _breechis_;' and it is singular that Littleton, in his excellent _Dictionary_, explains _perizomata_, the word used in the Vulgate, by _breeches_. In the manuscript French translation of Petrus Comestor's _Commentary on the Bible_, made by Guiars des Moulins in the 13th century, we have 'Couvertures tout autres-sint comme unnes petites _braies_.'"

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

_Etymology of Mushroom._--In the sixteenth century this word appears generally to have been spelt _Mushrump_. Nares, in his valuable _Glossary_, gives an instance from Marlow's play of _Edward the Second_, 1598; but there is an earlier example in Robert Southwell's _Spirituall Poems_, 1595:

"He that high growth on cedars did bestow, Gave also lowly _mushrumps_ leave to growe."

It is also spelt _Mushrump_ in Cockeram's _Dictionary_, 1632. These instances may possibly lead to a correct etymology of the word.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

_Curious Fact in Natural History._--There is in the Brazils a popular superstition to this effect. There is a tree called Japécarga, which is said to grow out of the body of the insect called Cigara. This is a very large tree, and the Cigara is an insect which makes an incessant chirping on the tree, and, as the saying goes, chirps till it bursts. When the insect dies, the tree is said to grow out of it, the roots growing down the legs. My explanation is this: The insect feeds on the seeds of the Japécarga, and occasionally, under advantageous circumstances, some of the seeds germinate, and cause the death of the insect, the tree shooting up through the softest part, the back, and the rootlets making their way down the only outlets, the legs. I wish to know whether any similar fact in Natural History has been noticed, and if not, how is it accounted for, since I can vouch for the skin of the insect having been found with the tree growing out of its back, and the roots growing down through the legs.

JOHN MANLEY.

Pernambuco.

_Hudibras in 1710._--On the back of the oldest register of the parish of Syston, Leicestershire, is the following memorandum:--

"July 19th, 1710. Borrow'd then of Mr. Hesketh _Hudibrass_ in 3 parts, w^{ch} I promise to return upon demand; witness my hand, JOHN KILBY."

A pretty strong proof of the value and interest of this work about a century and a half ago.

ARUN.

_The Great Exhibition._--It is well known that the vineyards of Switzerland have been long protected from hail by means of upright poles having copper wire attached to them, termed "paragrêles," distant from each other from 60 to 100 feet. The formation of hail is an effect of which electricity is the cause, and the cloud being deprived of this agent by the conductors, descends in the shape of rain. Mr. John Murray, F.S.A., F.L.S., &c., in his work on Switzerland, speaks very decidedly of their utility. Has then this ingenious contrivance been considered with reference to the protection of the Great Exhibition and its valuable, or rather invaluable, contents? or why is it deemed inapplicable to the purpose?

C. T.

* * * * *

Queries.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

Everybody can see that the first commandment is directed against polytheism, and the second against idolatry; and most people know that the Church of Rome differs from the Church of England in joining these two into one commandment, and dividing the tenth into two commandments, so as to make up the full number, ten. This point of difference betwixt the two churches must necessarily have been the subject of much dispute. There must be plausible reasons on both sides for every commandment in the Anglican ritual being different from its correspondent on the Roman tables: and the settlement of this question must properly belong to the theologian, since holy scripture only mentions how many divine commandments there are (Exodus, xxxiv. 28.; Deuteronomy, iv. 13., x. 4.), without authoritatively separating them.

Will any one kindly inform me where this question may be found fully discussed; and where mention is made of the earliest known divisions of the law? Also, I should be glad to know how the Jews at the present day divide the commandments; and whether there is any record or tradition of there ever having been discussions in their church upon this very interesting and no less important matter?

ALFRED GATTY.

Ecclesfield.

* * * * *

Minor Queries.

_Was Hugh Peters ever on the Stage?_--In a pamphlet entitled _Arbitrary Government displayed to the Life, in the illegal Transactions of the late Times under the tyrannick Usurpation of Oliver Cromwell_, ed. 1690, p. 98., we are informed that Hugh Peters, after he had been expelled the University of Cambridge, went to London, and enrolled himself as player in Shakspeare's company, "in which he usually performed the part of Clown." Is there any other authority for this statement?

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

_English Synonymes._--What are the books of best authority for the _synonymes_ of the English language?

A FOREIGNER.

{167}

_Christmas Day._--Which of the popes fixed dogmatically the 25th of December as the birthday of our Saviour? Was it not either Julius I. or II.? and what grounds had he for his decision?

J. C.

_A Coggeshall Job._--"_Saffron Walden, God help me._"--Has the old saying of "A Coggeshall Job" occupied the attention of your readers? And why is it that many of the mendicants who ramble the county of Suffolk in search of relief, when asked where they come from, reply in a pitiful tone, "Saffron Walden, God help me."

J. C.

Easton.

_T. Gilburt on Clandestine Marriages._--I have a MS. against the validity of clandestine marriages, dated from Oxford, June 23rd, 1682, signed T. Gilburt. It is a learned and argumentative treatise on this subject. It is entitled:

"An Argument against the Validitie of Clandestine Marriages in the Sight of God. Sent with a Letter to a person of Qualitie desiring my Judgment in y^e case wherein he was too nearly concerned."

I am anxious to know who this T. Gilburt may have been.

W. F.

_Father Hehl, and Cahagnet._--If any of your numerous readers can say where any account of Father Hehl, who in 1774 discovered animal magnetism, may be found; and whether such a person as M. L. Alph. Cahagnet is _living_ in Paris or elsewhere, whether he is a doctor or pharmacien, what his age may be, and whether the persons whose letters are given in his book, _Arcanes de la Vie future dévoilés_, are real or imaginary beings, they will greatly comfort

ENGASTRIMYTHUS.

_Roman Catholic Bishops in Ireland._--Can any of your readers refer me to any printed or manuscript account of the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland by the Stuart family subsequent to the death of James II., containing names, dates, &c.?

DRUMLETHGLAS.

_Derivation of the Word Fib._--Can any of your readers suggest a proper derivation of this word? Old Bailey, to whom a reference would occasionally save many doubts and inquiries, connects it with "fable." Johnson says nothing as to the etymology, but explains it as "a cant word among children;" while, at the same time, he inserts it on the authority of Pope and Arbuthnot.

In reading the works of that very learned and instructive author, Samuel Werenfels, I was struck with a passage in his _Diatribe de Meteoris_, p. 272. (Amstel. Wetstein, 1702), which seemed to furnish a probable solution of the question:--"Propter abusum nominis Phoebi evenit, ut omnes qui, altius in oratione, quam decet, se extollere volunt, Gallis hodiernis [Greek: phoibologein] Phoebum loqui, _Parler_ _Phebus_, dicantur." So far as the sound is concerned, this seems a nearer approximation to "fib" than the word "fable." The sense, too, is not _very_ remote from the accepted one of "_talking fibs_." Query, as to this conjecture?

C. H. P.

Brighton, Feb. 10. 1851.

_Thomas May, the Author of the Supplement to Lucan._--Who was this Thomas May? To an Elzevir edition of Lucan, 1658, Amsterdam, "accuranto Cornelio Schrevelio," there is added "Supplementum Lucani Libri Septem; authore Thoma Maio, Anglo." In the preface it is stated, "Supplementum Lucani ab Anglo quodam antehâc seorsim editum, et huic materiæ aptissimum adjunximus, ne quid esset quod hic desideraretur." In the fourth book of this _Supplement_, Cato is represented as soliloquising before his death as follows:--

"Quam diversa, inquit, restant post funera sortes! Credo equidem, divine Plato, te dogmata vera Hæc ipsum docuisse Deum. Deus ipse sequendam (Aut Natura homines ratioque innata fefellit) Proposuit virtutem, et præmia debita justis Hæc quonian justos injusta potentia fraudat Sæpius in terris, et gens humana rebellat Solvere post mortem justissimus ipse tenetur."

The famous soliloquy in Addison's _Cato_ seems to resemble this, in its general tone of thought. In a former passage occur these lines:--

"Solatia sola hæc, Quod meliore frui post mortem lumine sperat. Immortalem animam spes hæc probat."

The idea is similar to that contained in--

"Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire, This longing after immortality?"

Addison seems to me to have had May's description of Cato's death in his mind, when he wrote the soliloquy.

J. H. L.

_Bunting's Irish Melodies._--This admirable musical scholar many years since promised a new edition of the first two volumes of his _Irish Airs_. Is there any hope of this being soon accomplished?

GEORGE STEPHENS.

Stockholm.

_Rudbeck, Campi Elysii._--A copy of this work is said to exist in Sherard's[6] _Collection_, in the Botanical Garden, Oxford. It must have been acquired _before_ 1797. (See _Bibliotheca Banksiana_, iii. 67.)

Vol. I.--The title and some following leaves are written. Does any note exist as to _who_ copied these leaves, or _when_, or _where_?

Is any name of any former owner written on the book-back, title, or elsewhere; or is it known when it was purchased, or at what price?

{168} Does any library-mark, auction-number, or other identifying signature occur?

Is it quite complete at the end, or is anything missing after page 224.?

Does the whole consist of figures, or have some leaves an introduction, text, or corrections, &c.?

Vol. II.--Does anything in this volume illustrate any of the above questions?

A SWEDISH BIBLIOGNOST.

Stockholm.

[Footnote 6: Sherard, 1738.]

_Prince of Wales' Motto_ (Vol. iii., p. 106.).--The Query of EFFESSA is one of great interest to us "Taffies," but I wish to add the following to it. Is there any foundation for the idea, which we so strenuously maintain, that "_Ich Dien_" is a misspelled edition of "_Eich Dyn_," "Behold the man:" and that the motto was bestowed on Edward of Carnarvon in consequence of his royal father having learned these two Welsh words, and made use of them when he presented his infant to the assembled tribes as a prince who could "speak no word of English?"

SELEUCUS.

_Borrow's Danish Ballads._--The singular author of _Lavengro_, Mr. Geo. Borrow, some years ago published certain translations of Danish or other northern ballads, with which I have never been able to meet. Can you or any of your readers furnish me with the title of the book and publisher's name?

My curiosity respecting it has again been aroused somewhat strongly by the account in _Lavengro_ of the way in which he began to study Danish. It might afford a good lesson to all _young_ "philologers."

I presume that, at the mature age of "NOTES AND QUERIES," commonplace compliments as to its usefulness and high general value, begin to be very stale; but I cannot close without a hearty "God speed" to you in your labours.

BRUNO.

_Head of the Saviour._--Can any of your readers give me some information about an engraving of our Saviour, which may just now be seen in many of the London print-shops? It represents the side-face, and is said to be a fac-simile of a likeness engraved on an emerald by order of some Roman Emperor, and which served as the ransom of some other famous person (who, I quite forget). Is this really the truth?

P. M. M.

_Lines on English History._--_The Sword Flamberg._--I shall be greatly obliged to any of your correspondents who can inform me where I can procure a copy of some lines on English history, commencing:

"William the Norman conquers England's state-- In his own forest Rufus meets his fate," &c.

They are said to be written by a Roman Catholic gentleman named Chaloner.

I also wish to know something about the old German sword called the "Flamberg." I have seen it represented as twisted like a column of flame, and should like to know its history, and whether there was any allusion in it to the flaming sword that kept the gate of Paradise.

Mention is made of it by Körner in his poem, "Männer und Buben:"

"Stosst mit an Mann für Mann Wer den Flamberg schwingen kann."

Can your correspondents tell me, also, whether there is such a phrase, expressive of the place where four roads met, as a "four warnt way," and whence its origin, and how properly spelt?

AN ENGLISH MOTHER.

_Denarius Philosophorum._--Can you inform me what the inscription "Denarius Philosophorum" means, on Bishop Thornborough's monument in Worcester Cathedral?

D. Y.

_"Sees Good in everything."_--Where does the line,

"Sees good in everything, and God in all."

come from?

D. Y.

Christchurch, Oxford.

_Oxford Friar's Voyage to the North Pole._--In a book I have, entitled _Prospects of the most famous Parts of the World_, date 1646, occurs the following:

"Towards the north pole we have gained, more in proportion, as far as Nova Zembla, and the sea is known to be navigable to the 81st degree: whether the rest be land or not it never yet appeared to any (as I heare of) but an Oxford Friar by a Magique voyage. He reports of a Black Rock just under the pole, and an Isle of Pygmies; other strange miracles, to which, for my part, I shall give little credit till I have better proof for it than the Devil's word."

Query, Who was the friar? and where is the account of his voyage to be found?

J. Y. R.

_Roman Catholic Church._--The Rev. J. M. Neale has just published an appendix to his _Introduction to the History of the Holy Eastern Church_, containing a list of all the sees in that communion, with the names of the present possessors. Can any of your correspondents inform me where I can meet with a similar notitia of the sees in the Roman Catholic Church?

E. H. A.

[The _Almanach du Clergé de France_ contains a catalogue of Roman Catholic bishops throughout the world, complied from documents furnished by the Congregation De Propaganda Fide of Rome.]

_Cor Linguæ._--May I ask who is the author of the following epigram, quoted by Coke on the trial of Garnet?

"Cor linguæ foederat naturæ sanctio, Veluti in quodam certo connubio; Ergo cum dissonent cor et locutio, Sermo concipitur in adulterio."

J. BS.

{169}

_Bishop Hooper's Godly Confession, &c._--Being engaged in editing Bishop Hooper's works, and finding myself impeded by want of the original edition of his _Godly Confession and Protestation of the Christian Faith_, printed at London by John Day, 1550, I am induced to seek your assistance, and to ask whether you can inform me where a copy of the above work may be found?

(THE REV.) CHARLES NEVINSON.

Browne's Hospital, Stamford.

_Extradition, Ignore, Diamagnetism._--In pursuance of my note to you regarding the definition of words in science and literature which may have sprung up of late years, will you allow me to quote, as instances in the latter department, the two words "extradition" and "ignore?"

1. Is the following a correct definition of "extradition," viz., "the surrender by a state, of a political refugee, at the request of a foreign power?"

2. Is the etymology of the word made up of "extra" and "ditio" put for "deditio," a giving up or surrendering?

Does "ignore" mean to "treat as non-existent;" and are there no other words in the language which express exactly the meaning conveyed by these two?

In science, I would ask, is "diamagnetism" correctly explained by terming it "the property of any substance whereby it turns itself, when freely suspended, at right angles to the magnetic meridian."

P. S.

_Cinquante Lettres d'Exhortation._--Can any of your readers inform me who is the author of the following work?--

"Cinquante lettres d'exhortation et de consolation sur les souffrances de ces derniers tems, et sur quelques autres sujets; écrites à diverses personnes par Mons. D. V. B. pendant ses exils et ses prisons, en France; et depuis que par ordre du Roi, il s'est retiré en Hollande. La Haye, 1704, 8vo."

The copy which I have seen is lettered on the back "Beringke-Lettres;" but I can find no account of any person of that name at all likely to have written the letters, nor any authority for ascribing their authorship to a person of that name.

TYRO.

Dublin.

_Old Tract on the Eucharist._--Can any of your readers tell me the name of the author of the following tract?--

"A Full View of the Doctrines and Practices of the Ancient Church, relating to the Eucharist. Lond. 1688."

Wishing to procure a copy, I have asked several booksellers, but without success. It has been most strongly recommended by a writer of the present day.

ABHBA.

* * * * *

Replies.

CARDINAL'S MONUMENT.

(Vol. iii., p. 106.)

Your correspondent and querist, J. D. A., asks for some information respecting the coat of arms surmounted by a cardinal's hat, sculptured and affixed to one of the pillars of the south transept in St. Saviour's Church, Southwark. I send in reply an extract from a now scarce book, Arthur Tiler's _History and Antiquities of St. Saviour's_, 1765, with which all the later historians of the church agree:--

"Anno 1400. 2 Hen. IV.

"The whole church was new built about this time; Henry Beaufort (second son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, son of Edward III.), Cardinal of St. Eusebius, and Bishop of Winchester from the year 1405 to the time of his death in 1447, might have contributed towards the building, being a man of great wealth, for which he was called the rich Cardinal, _as the arms of the Beauforts are carved in stone on a pillar in the south cross aisle; and by the remaining sculpture on each side it appears to be done for strings pendant from a Cardinal's hat placed over them_. The arms are quarterly France and England, a border compone argent and azure."

When the transepts were rebuilt, some years since, the cardinal's hat, which till that time was nearly defaced, was then restored, and the coat of arms newly emblazoned.

W. B.

19. Winchester Place, St. Saviour's, Southwark.

[G. A. S. and JAMES H. SMITH have forwarded similar replies.]

With reference to the Query of J. D. A. (p. 106. antè), it would appear that the cardinal's hat, but with a difference in the number of rows of tassels, is sometimes seen on the monuments of men who never were raised to that dignity.

In the Cathedral of St. Canice, Kilkenny, are two monuments placed there during the rule of the Confederate Catholics, viz., that of James Cleere, "Protonotarius et Rector ecclesiæ D. Joannis Dioecesis oporiensis," who died A.D. 1643, Nov. 14; and David Rothe, intrusive Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossery, who died some years after--on both of which the arms of the individual are surmounted by a cardinal's hat. It is quite certain that neither of these ecclesiastics had a right to this distinction _as cardinals_. For the right of Bishops and Prothonotaries to wear hats or caps of the same shape as the cardinals, with their colours and peculiarities, see _Glossary of Heraldry_ (Oxford), under "Cap-Cardinals." Any further examples will oblige

J. GRAVES.

Kilkenny, Feb. 10. 1851.