Part 2

"Þ'e first heste is þis: Þu schalt worschipen Þi lord god & him alone seruyn. In þ't heste is forboden to don any sacrifice to mawmettis or worschipe to fals goddis. In þ't heste also is forboden al maner wicchecraftis, enchauntementis, wiþ seruys and markis and al manere experimentis, coniuraciouns, as men wone to do and maken for thynges i-stolen, in bacynes, in swerdis and in certeyn names wreten and enclosed, holi water and holi candel and oþere manye maneris whiche ben nought good to neuene. In þ't heste also is forboden al maner iogelyng and for to tellyn of þing þ't is to comen, be sterres and planets, or be metell, or be destene, or be schynynge of þ'e pawme of mannes hond or eny oþere maneris. For þei aproperen to man þing þ't oneliche falleþ to god, to witen of þinges þ't arn to come," &c.

C. H.

St. Catharine's Hall, Cambridge.

A FUNERAL IN HAMBURGH.

MR. GATTY'S observations (Vol. iii., p. 499.) regarding the funeral of an Irish labourer, have reminded me that while on a visit some years ago to a brother in the city of Hamburgh, we one Sunday spent the day with a worthy pastor of a small village a few miles from that city, where we went early enough to attend morning service in the village church; and in the afternoon, while indulging with our pipes and coffee in an alcove in the pastor's garden, I observed a funeral approach the churchyard gate, and understanding that the ceremony was different to what I had been accustomed to, I laid down my pipe and walked into the churchyard to observe what passed, and my movement induced my brother and another or two to become spectators also. The funeral party having arranged themselves at the entrance, the ceremony commenced as follows. The parish clerk or verger walked first, having a lemon in one hand and a bunch of evergreen in the other; he was followed by six choristers or singing boys, then six men as bearers carrying the coffin, and after them the mourners and other attendants. As soon as the cavalcade moved off, the clerk or verger gave out a strophe of some psalm or hymn, which he and the boys chanted while moving round the churchyard; and thus chanting they followed a green path, which I discovered was kept close mown for the purpose; and I observed our worthy pastor had joined the cavalcade, though alone, and at some little distance from the mourners. I understood it was customary thus to move three times round, but being a very sultry afternoon, the party made two turns serve, when coming to the open grave the bearers let down the coffin into it, and then another strophe was chanted, which ended, the mourners took a last look at the coffin, and silently dropped their sprigs of evergreen upon it; the bearers then each took a spade, already provided for them, and quickly filled up the grave, and adjusted its form, when the funeral party returned silently home as they came. The pastor had now retreated again to the alcove in his garden, where we soon joined him, and he told me that as we had gone to witness the ceremony, it would have been thought disrespectful had he not also shown himself, though it did not appear that his attendance was necessary. The general practice here observed of the bearers filling up the grave, shows that the Irish labourers had some more general custom for their practice than MR. GATTY appears to be aware of.

W. S. HESLEDEN.

FOLK LORE.

_The Baker's Daughter._--_Ophelia_ (Act IV. Sc. 5.) says that

"The owl was a baker's daughter."

This reminds me of a Welsh tradition concerning the female who refused a bit of dough from the oven to the Saviour "when He hungered," and was changed into _Cassek gwenwyn_, [Hebrew: Lilith] _lilish_[TR: Lilith], _lamia_, _strix_, the night spectre, _mara_, or screech-owl.

G. M.

_"Pray remember the Grotto" on St. James's Day_ (Vol. i., p. 5.).--The interesting note with which MR. WILLIAM J. THOMS presented the firstborn of "NOTES AND QUERIES," may perhaps admit of a postscript, borrowed from one of Mr. Jerdan's well-deserving pupils, the _Literary Gazette_ for 1822:

"I am inclined to believe that the illuminated grottos of oyster-shells for which the London children beg about the streets, are the representatives of some Catholic emblem which had its day, as a substitute for a more classical idol. I was struck in London with the similarity of the plea which the children of both countries urge in order to obtain a halfpenny. The 'It is but once a year, sir!' often reminded me of the

'La Cruz de Mayo Que no come ni bebe En todo el ano.'

'The Cross of May, Remember pray, Which fasts a year and feasts a day.'"

_Letters from Spain._ By Don Leucadio Doblado.

This to prove that I _did_ remember the grotto.

* & ?

Manpadt House.

_The King's Evil._--One Mr. Bacon of Ferns, being an one-and-twentieth son born in wedlock, without a daughter intervening, has performed prodigious cures in the king's evil and scrofulous cases, by stroking the part with his hand. (_The Gentleman's Magazine_ for December 1731, p. 543.)

* & ?

_Bees._--Being at a neighbour's house about a month ago, the conversation turned upon the death of a mutual acquaintance a short time prior to my visit. A venerable old lady present asked, with great earnestness of manner, "Whether Mr. R.'s bees had been informed of his death?" (Our friend R. had been a great bee-keeper.) No one appeared to be able to answer the old lady's question satisfactorily, whereat she was much concerned, and said, "Well, if the bees were not told of Mr. R's death they would leave their hives, and never return. Some people give them a piece of the funeral cake; I don't think that is absolutely necessary, but certainly it is better to tell them of the death." Being shortly afterwards in the neighbourhood of my deceased friend's residence, I went a little out of my way to inquire after the bees. Upon walking up the garden I saw the industrious little colony at full work. I learned, upon inquiring of the housekeeper, that the bees had been properly informed of Mr. R.'s death.

I was struck with the singularity of this specimen of folk-lore, and followed up the subject with further inquiries amongst my acquaintance. I found that in my own family, upon the death of my mother, some five-and-twenty years ago, the bees were duly informed of the event. A lady friend also told me, that twenty years ago, when she was at school, the father of her school-mistress died, and on that occasion the bees were made acquainted with his death, and regaled with some of the funeral cake.

I wish to know whether this custom prevails in any other, and what part of England, and to what extent?

L. L. L.

North Lincolnshire.

THE CAXTON COFFER.

Reflecting on the extreme rarity of the works which issued from the press of Caxton, the question arises, What number of copies was he accustomed to print? On that point, as it seems, we have only conjectures.

Maittaire assumes that the number was about 200; an opinion which I shall not controvert. Dibdin, however, inclines to think, with regard to _The golden legend_ and other works of the same class, "that at least 400 copies were struck off;" and in support of this conjecture, cites the practice of Sweynheym and Pannartz, as proved by the memorial addressed in their behalf to Sixtus IV., by J. Andrea, bishop of Aleria, in 1472, which practice he thus states:--

"If we are to judge from the celebrated list of the number of copies of the different works printed by those indefatigable typographical artists, Sweynheym and Pannartz, it would appear that 275 was the usual number of copies of a particular work; although sometimes they ventured to strike off as many as 550; and, twice, not fewer than 1100 copies."

Now, our renowned bibliographer misinterprets the important document which he cites. Sweynheym and Pannartz printed 300 copies of a _Donatus_, and the same number of a _Speculum vitæ humanæ_, and of two more works. In all other cases, each impression of the works which proceeded from their press consisted of only 275 copies. The words _Volumina quingenta quinquaginta_ refer to works of which two editions were published, or which were in two volumes; and the words _Volumina mille centum_, to a work of which there were two editions of two volumes each. So the conjecture of Dibdin loses its best support.

As Sweynheym and Pannartz printed only 275 copies of the works of such authors as St. Augustin and St. Jerome, of Cæsar, Cicero, Livy, Ovid, Quinctilian, and Virgil--works which must have found purchasers in all parts of Europe--it is rather improbable that Caxton should have ventured to exceed that number with respect to books for which, being chiefly translations, there could be no demand beyond the shores of England.

BOLTON CORNEY.

Minor Notes.

_Braham Moor._--The following _remarkable_ account of this place by John Watson, Esq., of Malton, in the year 1781, may be interesting to some of the readers of your paper. Braham is situated five miles S.W. of Tadcaster, and close to, and in, the remains of the old Roman road called "Watling Street:"--

"Upon the middle of this moor a man may see ten miles around him; within those ten miles there is as much free stone as would build ten cities as large as York; within those ten miles there is as much good oak timber as would build those ten cities; there is as much limestone, and coals to burn it into lime, as the building of those ten cities would require; there is also as much clay and sand, and coals to burn them into bricks and tiles, as would build those ten cities; within those ten miles there are two iron forges sufficient to furnish iron for the building of those ten cities, and 10,000 tons to spare; within those ten miles there is lead sufficient for the ten cities, and 10,000 fodders to spare; within those ten miles there is a good coal seam sufficient to furnish those ten cities with firing for 10,000 years; within those ten miles there are three navigable rivers, from any part of which a man may take shipping and sail to any part of the world; within those ten miles there are _seventy_ gentlemen's houses, all _keeping coaches_, and the least of them an esquire, and ten parks and forests well stocked with deer; within those ten miles are ten market towns, one of which may be supposed to return 10,000_l._ per week."

CHAS. W. MARKHAM.

Becca Hall, Tadcaster.

_Portraits of Burke._--Through the kindness of a friend I have just examined what I take to be an interesting and curious work of art, viz., a miniature of the great Edmund Burke, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds, and said to be the _only miniature_ he ever painted. It is a small oval of ivory executed in water colours, and represents him past the meridian of life, his hair combed back from his ample forehead, and powdered; the coat (according to the fashion of the day) without a collar, and, as well as the waistcoat, of a chocolate colour; a white stock, and the shirt frill of lace; the features, although retaining great animation and intelligence, are round and plump. The painting is carefully and delicately finished. The same friend also possesses another miniature of the same right honourable gentleman (artist unknown), deserving notice: it is in a much larger oval, and drawn in coloured crayons. This likeness represents the statesman at a much earlier period of life, and is most exquisitely executed: his fine auburn hair in natural waves, if I may use the expression, is also thrown off the face, the features rather sharp, the nose prominent, the eyes brilliant, the lips beautifully expressed, and, on the whole, one of the most highly finished specimens of this style I ever saw: the costume the same as that already described, the colour being a snuff-brown. In this portrait, a black ribbon crosses the lace frill, indicating the presence of an eye-glass, an appendage not observable in portraits taken later in life. The lady who owns these paintings is the widow of a gentleman lately deceased, who being related to, was brought up under the guardianship of this great man, and was by him introduced into public life; circumstances which prove the authenticity of the works thus briefly described.

M. W. B.

Bruges, Sept. 26, 1851.

Queries.

GENERAL JAMES WOLFE, WHO FELL AT QUEBEC.

A short time ago I accidentally became possessed of a small packet of autograph letters, by this distinguished man, to a very intimate friend and brother officer. These letters were found in an old military chest, which had belonged to the latter. They are twelve in number; the first is dated Glasgow, 2d April, 1749, and the last, Salisbury, 1st December, 1758, on the eve of his embarkation with the memorable expedition against Quebec. The letters are written in a small and remarkably neat hand, and Wolfe's seal is still adhering to some of them. They contain much honourable sentiment, and proofs of a warm generous heart.

The perusal of these curious letters, and their allusions to passing incidents, have excited a desire to become better acquainted with the details of Wolfe's personal history; but in this I experience considerable difficulty, from the meagreness with which his biographers appear to have treated the subject. I shall accordingly feel much obliged by any of your military, or other correspondents, favouring me with references to the fullest and best account of this distinguished officer. I am anxious to obtain information, in particular, on the following points.

1. Wolfe's family connexions? I am aware who his father was, but should like to know if the former had any brothers or sisters, and who is the present representative? What was his mother's name and family?

2. Where was Wolfe educated? In one of the letters he mentions that he was taken from his studies at fifteen, and entered the army at that early age.

3. The different regiments in which he held a commission, with his rank in each, the steps and date of promotion?

4. His _first_ and subsequent military services?

5. How long was he stationed in Scotland, on what duty, and in what places?

6. In particular, was he engaged in the formation of any of the military roads in that country, _when_ and _where_?

7. Did he serve in Scotland during the rebellion of 1745-46, and was he present at the battle of Culloden? If so, in what regiment, and with what rank?

8. Are there any good portraits of Wolfe extant, and where are they to be seen?

9. Was his body brought to England, and are memorials of him preserved, such as his sword, pistols, &c.? His spurs were lately in the possession of a gentleman near Glasgow.

[Ezh.]

WALKER'S SUFFERINGS OF THE CLERGY.

Is it the intention of the Ecclesiastical History Society to publish a new edition of Walker's _Sufferings of the Clergy_? At the time when the society was instituted it was on the list of works to be published by them.

Surely, if that is the case, somewhat might be done to correct the many inaccuracies, and, in other ways, increase the value of a work which has preserved the memory of some of the most exalted acts of Christian heroism that England has ever witnessed.

Will the editor of "NOTES AND QUERIES" open his pages to receive notes and corrections for a future edition of _The Sufferings of the Clergy_?

DRYASDUST.

[It is believed that the trading speculation, miscalled a Society, has ended with considerable loss to both undertakers and subscribers; and is not likely to publish any more of the works which figured in its rhodomontade prospectus. Certainly it is very desirable that there should be a new, careful, and critical edition of Walker; and any assistance which can be rendered by "NOTES AND QUERIES" will be at the service of anybody who will undertake such a work. It would be well, however (and it is mentioned here with general reference to all such cases, though it is particularly applicable to the present), if the learned doctor would specify some mode by which the readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES", may address him directly. The Editor suggests this, not to save himself trouble, or because he grudges room (or rather would grudge room if he had it) for many voluminous and important communications, which would be very valuable to the Doctor, but which, from length, and want of general interest, could not be inserted in this little work. It is probable that he would by this mode obtain many communications which the writers would not send to "NOTES AND QUERIES," from being aware that they could not be inserted. There would be nothing in this to prevent his maintaining his incognito; and, therefore, the Editor ventures to request his correspondents to send to "NOTES AND QUERIES" anything that is brief, and may promise to be of general interest; and to address anything which may be more voluminous to DR. DRYASDUST, at our publisher's, No. 186. Fleet Street.]

Minor Queries.

207. _Colonies in England._--Can any of your correspondents give me any information about a colony of Spaniards said to exist at Brighton; of Flemings in Pembrokeshire; of Frisians in Lancashire; of Moors in (I think) Staffordshire; and of some Scandinavian race, with dark eyes and dark hair, at Yarmouth in Norfolk. I should feel thankful for the mention of other colonies besides these, if any more exist, as I believe many do, in other parts of England.

THEOPHYLACT.

208. _Buxtorf's Translation of the "Treatise on Hebrew Accents," by Elias Levita._--John Buxtorf the elder, in his _Bibliotheca Rabbinica_ (printed along with his useful book _De Abbreviaturis Hebraicis_: Basil, 1630), p. 345., speaking of the curious and valuable work on the Hebrew Accents, by R. Elias Levita, called

[Hebrew: Sefer Tuv Ta'am],

says, "Habemus cum Latine a nobis translatum."

Can any of your readers inform me whether this translation was ever printed; and, if not, whether the MS. of it is known to exist?

JAMES H. TODD.

Trin. Coll. Dublin.

209. _The Name "Robert."_--Can any of your readers offer any suggestions as to how the name "Robert," and its various diminutives, became connected with so much diablerie?

Besides the host of _hob_-goblins, _hob_-thrush, _hob_-with-the-lantern, and the Yorkshire _Dobbies_, we have those two mysterious wights _Robin_ Hood and _Robin_ Goodfellow, and "superstitious favourite" the _Robin_ Redbreast. It is a term also frequently applied to idiotcy (invariably among our lower orders linked with the idea of super-naturalism). _Hobbil_ in the northern and _Dobbin_ in the midland districts of England are terms used to denote a heavy, torpid fellow. The French _Robin_ was formerly used in the same sense.

SAXONICUS.

210. _Meaning of "Art'rizde."_--In Halliwell's _Archaic Dictionary_, p. 821. col. 2., there is a quotation from Middleton's _Epigrams and Satyres_, 1608. Will you, or any of your readers, be kind enough to inform me what is the meaning of the word "Art'rizde" which occurs in the quotation, and also give some information as to the book from which it is quoted? Dyce professes to publish _all_ of Middleton's known works, but in his edition (1840) there are no epigrams to be found.

QUÆSO.

211. _Sir William Griffith of North Wales._--Elizabeth, daughter of William Fiennes, Constable of Dover Castle, who was slain at the battle of Barnet, 10 Edw. IV., married, according to the pedigrees of Fiennes, "_Sir William Griffith, of North Wales, Knt._" It appears there were several persons of this name, and one styled Chamberlain of North Wales, but no such wife is given to him. Can any of your Welsh genealogists _identify_ the Sir William Griffith by reference to any evidence or authorities, manuscript or otherwise, which state the marriage, and show whether Elizabeth Fiennes had any issue?

G.

212. _The Residence of William Penn._--I have been informed that Chatham House, opposite the barracks at Knightsbridge, was the residence of Penn. This house was built in 1688; it had formerly large garden grounds attached both in front and behind. Another account informed me that a house, now known as the "Rising Sun," was the honoured spot. This house has only of late years been turned into a public-house; it is of neat appearance, and the date of 1611 is, or was till lately, to be seen at the two extremes of the copings. Query, Can either of these houses be pointed out with certainty as having been the residence of the great Quaker, and, if so, which? Why was the first-mentioned house called Chatham House?

H. G. D.

213. _Martial's Distribution of Hours._--

"Prima salutantes atque altera continet hora; Exercet raucos tertia causidicos. In quintam varios extendit Roma labores, Sexta quies lassis ----"

Martial, iv. 8.

These lines are the forenoon portion of Martial's well-known distribution of hours and occupation.

Taking these hours then, for the sake of simplification, at the equinox, when they assimilate in length to our modern hours and assuming it as granted that "_quies lassis_" refers to the noon-tide siesta, and therefore that "_sexta_" cannot signify any time previous to our twelve o'clock, or noon, I wish to ask the classical readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES"--

1st. How far into the day are we carried by the expression "_in quintam_?"

2nd. If no farther than to a point equivalent to our eleven o'clock, A.M., in what way is the vacant hour between that point and _sexta_, or noon, accounted for by Martial?

A. E. B.

Leeds.

214. _Moonlight._--A sermon of Dr. Pusey's contains the following beautiful illustrations of the danger of much knowledge and little practice:

"The pale cold light of the moon, which enlightens but warns not, putrifies what it falls upon."

Will any one inform me whether this is a physical truth, or only an allowable use of a popular opinion?

PHILIP HEDGELAND.

215. _Ash-sap given to new-born Children._--Lightfoot, in his _Flora Scotia_, vol. ii. p. 642., says--

"That in many parts of Scotland (the Highlands), at the birth of a child the nurse or midwife puts one end of a great stick of the ash-tree into the fire, and while it is burning receives into a spoon the sap or juice which oozes out at the other end, and administers this as the first spoonfuls of liquor to the new-born babe."--Phillip's _Sylva Flora_.

Why?

G. CREED.

216. _Cockney._--In John Minshieu's _Ductor in Linguas_, published in 1617, the origin of this word is thus explained:--

"That a citizen's son riding with his father out of London into the country, and being a novice and merely ignorant how corn and cattle increased, asked, when he heard a horse neigh, what the horse did? His father answered, the horse doth neigh. Riding further he heard a cock crow, and said, doth the _cock neigh_ too?"

I should not have troubled you with this story had I not been anxious to ascertain the real origin of the word "Cockney," about which Johnson seems to have been nearly as much in the dark as I am. For any other and more rational explanation I shall be much obliged, as well as by being informed from what source Minshieu derived this story of a cock and a horse, which I am confident I have met with elsewhere, and which is probably familiar to many of your readers.

H. C.

Workington.