Part 3

I have read D'Israeli's list of the above, to which J. E. alludes in Vol. iii., p. 369., and they are certainly well-known glaring instances of the inconsistencies and absurdities into which artists may be led by ignorance and total want of good taste and feeling: those given by J. E., at the same page, are also unhappy examples. I cannot, however, think that the instance, given by G. T. R. in Vol. iii., p. 517., deserves to be placed in the same category: the subject is, The Woman taken in Adultery; and G. T. R. complains of the anachronism of Steenwyk's having represented our Saviour as writing on the ground in _Dutch_. But this is not necessarily the result of ignorance, and is justifiable on the ground of making the painting more intelligible to his countrymen. For the same reason the writing is often in Latin; and, in fact, often as the subject has been painted, I do not recollect any instance of the proper language being used. In making the scene take place in a building of the architecture of the thirteenth century, Steenwyk has erred (if error it be) in company with the best Italian masters. Both Tintoretto and Paul Veronese engraft into their paintings the architecture and other accessories of their own day. In Tintoretto's celebrated picture of the Marriage of Cana, the artist has made use of the drinking vessels and loaves of bread still used in Venice at the present day. In fact, if strict accuracy were contended for, not a single representation by the old masters of this subject, and of the Last Supper, would pass muster, as, according to the facts of the case, our Saviour and His disciples would not be sitting at a table, but reclining on the ground. But I think these liberties not only defensible, but that the artist's faculty of thus introducing successfully into his paintings the scenes passing before his eyes is often a great proof of his genius; and pictures often owe much of their power and reality to this very circumstance. Space, as well as time, is often annihilated not from ignorance or inadvertence, but purposely, and with the most happy results. Tintoretto, in a painting of the Entombment of Christ, has introduced the stable of Bethlehem in the background; thus finely contrasting the birthplace of Him who was found "lying in a manger" with the fulfillment of the prophecy of His being "with the rich in His death:" and such liberties both of time and place are equally allowable in pictures of at all an imaginative character, the artist feeling that by sacrificing a minor and lower truth he can gain a higher, or make his subject appeal more to the sympathies of his spectators. The instance also noticed by P. P. in Vol. iv., p. 150., is no mistake, but a legitimate employment of a symbol: the cross or flag, with the motto "Ecce Agnus Dei," soon became the recognised symbol of St. John the Baptist, and as such was generally used without reference to the exact time when the motto became strictly applicable. The same strict criticism which would disallow this license, would require the Madonna to be always painted as a Jewess: but I cannot think that paintings are fairly liable to such close and prosaic scrutiny. P. P.'s instance of Zebedee's sons being represented as young children, is treading on more doubtful ground, and some great counterbalancing gain to the picture would alone justify such a bold alteration of facts: but if the subject be altogether treated in an allegorical manner, it might be defensible. His modern instances are, of course, sheer blunders, and cannot be too severely reprehended; and artists must always remember that such liberties should never be taken, unless by these means some higher object is gained. Nor should modern painters expect the same indulgence, until they express in their works the same spirit of devotion, and simple, childlike earnestness of feeling, which distinguish the early painters of the Italian Religious School.

B. H. C.

Oxford.

"AGLA," MEANING OF.

(Vol. iv., p. 116.)

I have the pleasure of being able to refer MR. MARTIN to an interpretation of this inscription. The mystical word AGLA belongs to that species of Cabbala, used by the Rabbinical writers, which is called _Notaricon_, and which consists of forming one word out of the initial letters of a sentence. Thus Agla is composed of the initials of [Hebrew] Attah-Gibbor-Leholam-Adonai ("Thou art strong for ever, O Lord!"), and signifies either "I reveal," or "a drop of dew," and is the cabbalistic name of God.

They also reversed this process, and made an entire sentence from the letters of one word: thus of [Hebrew], Bereshith, which is the first word of Genesis, they made the sentence [Hebrew] Bara-Rakiya-Eretz-Shamayim-Yam-Tehomoth (_i.e._ "he created the firmament, the earth, the heavens, the sea, and the deep"). It would, however, be more correctly written [Hebrew]. Vide _Dr. Hook's Church Dictionary_, art. Cabbala.

In Arnaud's work on the Vaudois, translated by Acland (Murray, 1825), there is mention made of certain inscribed talismans or preservatives, found on the slain French soldiers of Marshal Catinat, the inscriptions of which are given, and among them is one bearing the legend [+]AGVA[+]BATOME[+].

E. S. TAYLOR.

The word "AGLA" mentioned by your correspondent MR. MARTIN as being inscribed on a ring, is mentioned by Reginald Scott in his _Discoverie of Witchcraft_ (1584), as being inscribed on the conjuring knives employed to describe the circles used in calling spirits. He gives a cut of "the fashion or form of the conjuring knife, and the names thereon to be engraved," and on one side is AGLA.

E. H. K.

According to M. Collin de Plancy, in his _Dictionaire Infernal_, vol. i. p. 34., this word is composed of the four first letters of the following Hebrew words, _Athar_, _gabor leolam_, _Adonai_, "Thou art powerful and eternal, O Lord," and was a cabbalistic word used against evil spirits. A brooch of gold found near Devizes, and set with rubies in the form of the letter [A], and having the word AGLA thereon, was shown at the Winchester meeting of the Archaeological Institute by W. Herbert Williams (_Journal_, vol. iii. p. 359.).

EDWARD HAILSTONE.

COLONIES IN ENGLAND.

(Vol. iv., p. 272.)

"The inhabitants of Haverfordwest derived their origin from Flanders, and were sent by Henry I. to inhabit these districts; a people brave and robust, ever hostile to the Welsh; a people, I say, well versed in commerce and woollen manufactures; a people anxious to seek gain by sea and land, in defiance of fatigue or danger; a hardy race, equally fitted for the plough and sword; a people brave and happy," &c.--_Giraldus Cambrensis._

"A.D. 1107. About this season a great part of Flanders being drowned by an inundation, or breaking in of the sea, a great number of Flemings came to England beseeching the king to have some void part assigned to them, wherein they might inhabit. At the first they were appointed to the countrie lieing on the east part of the Tweed; but within four years after they were removed into a corner by the sea-side in Wales, called Pembrokeshire, to the end that they might be a defence there against the unquiet Welsh. It would appear by some writers that this multitude of Flemings consisted not onlie of such as came over about that time, by reason their countrie was overflowed with the sea [as ye have heard], but also others that arrived there _long before_, even in the daies of William the Conqueror, through the friendship of the queen, their countriewoman, sithens their numbers so increased that the realme of England was sore pestered with them; whereupon King Henrie devised to place them in Pembrokeshire, as well to avoide them out of the other of England, as also by their helpe to tame the bold and presumptuous Welshmen: which thing in those parts they brought verie well to pass; for after they were settled there, they valiantlie resisted their enemies, and made verie sharp wars upon them, sometimes with loss and sometimes with gaine."--_Holinshed._

"Wallenses Rex Henricus, semper in rebellionem crebris expeditionibus in deditionem premebat; consilioque salubri nixus, ut eorum tumorem extenuaret, Flandrenses omnes Angliae accolas eo traduxit. Plures enim, qui tempore patris pro matris paterna cognatione confluxerant, occultabat Anglia, adeo ut ipsi regno pro multitudine onerosi viderentur. Quapropter omnes cum substantiis et necessitudinibus apud Ros provinciam Walliarum, velut in sentinam congessit, ut et regnum defaecaret, et hostium brutam temeritatem retunderet."--_William of Malmsbury._

"The yeare 1108 the rage of the sea did overflow and drowne a great part of the lowe countrie of Flanders, in such sort that the inhabitants were driven to seeke themselves other dwellings; who came to King Henrie and desired him to give some voide place to remaine in; who being very liberal of that which was not his owne, gave them the lande of Ros, in Dyvet or West Wales, where Pembroke, Tenby, and Haverfordwest are now built; and there they remaine till this daie, as may be well perceived by their speeche and conditions, farre differing from the rest of the countrie."--_Powell's Welsh Chronicle._

A similar colony is located in that part of Glamorgan called Gower; and the Flemish population, both of Ros and of Gower, still retain many peculiar customs and words; while they scrupulously keep aloof from the Welsh, each people looking down upon the other, and considering intermarriage as a degradation. I have been told by a friend that Flemish colonies were also located in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. This much is certain: in the last-named county fields are occasionally divided between different proprietors, in the manner known as "landshares," a custom which prevails to a great extent in Gower, and also, I believe, in Ros. Am I right in considering this Flemish peculiarity?

SELEUCUS.

In an ancient map of this town, Pembroke (South Wales), of which the language is Norman-French, two districts of ours are mentioned thus: _Le grene_, which is now called "the green;" and _Monton_, now called "mountain." As regards the first, not a portion of _green_ is discoverable; it is a disagreeable street, close to a large mill and sheet of water, with none of the conditions of a country green. I have often wondered at the name, feeling persuaded that there never could have existed such a spot here as would be so called, and was puzzled till I last week saw this old map. Tracing the matter, although no French substantive seems to exist spelled _grene_, the v.n. _grener_ and its relatives afford a solution--as _grenier_ is a granary, and _grenetis_ the mill round a coin: so that I take it for granted, as our _green_ in fact is in the immediate neighbourhood of the corn-mill, that from said pounding or grinding (_grener_) it solely is derived.

The solution of "mountain" is not so easy. It is a portion of the town outside the old fortifications, at the _foot_ of a high hill; so never could have been dignified by the term "mountain" from its height,--in fact, it rises but little from the estuary, one arm of which here terminates. The tide here ceases; up to this spot "la maree _monte_." Am I right in conjecturing that _montant_ (pronounced just like _monton_), meaning "rising" as well as mounting, may be the origin of the designation?

All the early memorials of Pembroke are either Norman or Flemish, those foreigners having settled here. We have no token of Welsh; perhaps there are not six people in the town who can speak the language. The names of some of the inhabitants are French and Flemish, and it is to be noted that their personal appearance corresponds with the type of their ancestral country. Our parish clerk, named _Freyne_, is a little Frenchman to all intents and purposes; and our street-keeper, _Rushaut_, has all the square stolidity and heavy features of the Low Countries.

Although unconnected with the foregoing, will you allow space for another record? Only within a few years the last of a family, invariably called "Cromwell," died. It was not their true name, but they have held it to perpetuate the treason of their ancestor, who followed the great Protector after he had temporarily abandoned the siege of Pembroke Castle; and, procuring an interview on "Ridgway," an eminence between here and Tenby, this unworthy townsman told the general to return, as the garrison were reduced "to a bean a day." The advice was followed. Pembroke was taken; but the stern captor ordered the traitor to be hanged! Thenceforward the family ever went by the name of Cromwell.

B. B.

Replies to Minor Queries.

_Broad Arrow_ (Vol. iv., p. 315.).--P. C. S. S. has always understood that the "broad arrow" on government stores represented the _Pheon_, the well-known arms of the Sydney family. Henry Viscount Sydney, afterwards Earl of Romney, was Master-General of the Ordnance from July, 1693, to June, 1702.

P. C. S. S.

_Sacro-Sancta Regum Majestas_ (Vol. iv., p. 293).--In reply to the second query of [Greek: Boreas], I send the following extract from Sir James Ware's _Writers of Ireland_:--

"John Maxwell was at first promoted to the Sees of Killala and Achonry, and afterwards translated to the archbishopric of Tuam. He writ a Treatise intitled, Sacro-Sancta Regum Majestas; Printed London, 1643 or 1644, 4to., which he published under the name of J.A. In answer to which came out a Tract intitled, Lex, Rex; The Law and the Prince, a dispute for the just Prerogative of King and People. Containing the Reasons and Causes of the most necessary defensive Wars of the Kingdom of Scotland, and of their expedition for the aid and help of their dear brethren in England. In which their Innocency is asserted, and a full Answer is given to a seditious Pamphlet, intitled, Sacro-Sancta Regum Majestas, or the Sacred and Royal Prerogative of Christian Kings under the name of J. A. but penned by John Maxwell, the excommunicate Prelate. London, 1644, 4to."

TYRO.

Dublin.

Your correspondent [Greek: Boreas] asks who was the author of the _Sancta Regum Majestas, or the Sacred and Royal Prerogative of Christian Kings_: Oxford, 1644.

This work has been by some erroneously attributed to Archbishop Ussher, from the supposition that the letters J.A., subscribed to the dedication, denoted Jacobus Armachanus; they signify, however, Johannes Alladensis, and the real author was John Maxwell, Bishop of Killala. See Ware's _Writers of Ireland_ (Harris's edit.), p. 357.

J. H. T.

_Grimsditch_ (Vol. iii., pp. 192. 330.).--There is a wood so called in the parish of Saffron Walden, which has long formed a part of the Audley End estates. It is about a mile from the town, situated on the crest of a steep hill, on the south side of the road leading to Linton, and from its commanding position may have been at some time a military station. Some portions of a fosse may still be traced on the lower edge of the wood; but no tradition connected with its history has descended to us. Warton, in his _Account of Kiddington_, Oxon, p. 62., edition 1815, observes that Stukeley describes a fosse called Grimsditch, near Ditchley House, between Stunsfield and Chipping Norton, the vallum of which was eastward. He also says that the word means "the ditch made by magic," and was indiscriminately applied to ancient trenches, roads, and boundaries, whether British, Roman, Saxon, or Danish.

We learn from the same work, that there exists a vallum, or ridged bank, within two miles of Ewelme, and near to Nuffield, called Grimsditch; and the lands adjoining to it are described in a charter in or before the reign of Richard I. as "extra fossatum de Grimisdic."

BRAYBROOKE.

"_'Tis Twopence now_," &c. (Vol. iv., p. 314.).--I met with the lines mentioned by your correspondent REMIGIUS in a newspaper about twenty years ago, and cut them out. I cannot now remember the work it was said they were copied from, nor do I quite understand if that is the information REMIGIUS wants, or the verses themselves: but I think the verses, and therefore inclose them.

"THE ABBEY: A FRAGMENT.

"A feeling sad came o'er me, as I trod the sacred ground Where Tudors and Plantagenets were lying all around: I stepp'd with noiseless foot, as though the sound of mortal tread Might burst the bands of the dreamless sleep that wraps the mighty dead.

"The slanting ray of the evening sun shone through those cloisters pale, With fitful light, on regal vest and warrior's sculptured mail; As from the stained and storied pane it danced with quivering gleam, Each cold and prostrate form below seem'd quickening in the beam.

"Now sinking low, no more was heard the organ's solemn swell, And faint upon the listening ear the last hosanna fell; It died--and not a breath did stir; above each knightly stall, Unmoved, the banner'd blazonry hung waveless as a pall.

"I stood alone--a living thing midst those that were no more-- I thought on ages that were past, the glorious deeds of yore-- On Edward's sable panoply, on Cressy's tented plain, The fatal Roses twined at length, on great Eliza's reign.

"I thought on Blenheim--when, at once, upon my startled ear There came a sound; it chill'd my veins, it froze my heart with fear, As from a wild unearthly voice I heard these accents drop-- 'Sarvice is done--it's tuppence now for them as wants to stop!'"

FANNY.

_Pauper's Badge_ (Vol. iv., p. 294.).--The 8 & 9 Wm. III. c. 30. s. 2., required all paupers in the receipt of parochial relief to wear a badge bearing a large Roman "P", together with the first letter of the name of the parish, cut either in red or blue cloth, upon the shoulder of the right sleeve of the uppermost garment, in an open and visible manner, under certain penalties, and prevented paupers who neglected to wear it from being relieved. This provision of the statute was repealed by the 50 Geo. III. c. 52.; and although by the 55 Geo. III. c. 137. s. 2. parish officers might cause goods, &c. to be branded with the word "Workhouse," and such other mark or stamp as they thought proper, to identify the parish, it was nevertheless provided, with the view of preventing a revival of the former mark of degradation, that such mark or stamp should not at any time be placed on any articles of wearing apparel so as to be publicly visible on the exterior of the same.

FRANCISCUS.

Miscellaneous.

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.

Well may Mr. Layard plead the interest felt in the discoveries on the site of Nineveh as a reason for the publication in a cheap and popular form of his _Nineveh and its Remains_: and we know no work better calculated to give value to Mr. Murray's _Reading for the Rail than A Popular Account of Discoveries at Nineveh_. By Austen Henry Layard, Esq., D.C.L. _Abridged by him from his larger Work._ The value of Mr. Layard's first and larger publication has been so generally recognised, that in calling attention to the present work, with its numerous and spirited woodcuts, we feel bound to confine ourselves to pointing out the plan pursued by the author in his abridgment; namely, that of omitting the second part of the original work, and introducing the principal Biblical and historical illustrations into the narrative, which has thereby been rendered more useful and complete. "As recent discoveries," observes Mr. Layard, "and the contents of the inscriptions, so far as they have been satisfactorily decyphered, have confirmed nearly all the opinions expressed in the original work, no changes on any material points have been introduced into this abridgment. I am still inclined to believe that all the ruins explored represent the site of ancient Nineveh; and whilst still assigning the later monuments to the kings mentioned in Scripture, Shalmanezer, Sennacherib, and Essarhadon, I am convinced that a considerable period elapsed between their foundation and the erection of the older palaces of Nimroud."

After the pictures which our facetious contemporary Punch has furnished of the troubles which an "unprotected female" encounters, who ventures beyond the quiet circle of her domestic duties, one is predisposed to regard as a heroine a lady who ventures unattended on a voyage round the world. Madame Ida Pfeiffer has done this; and her narrative of her adventures having excited great attention both in Germany and this country, Messrs. Longman have shown themselves excellent caterers for the reading public, by printing as the new parts of their _Traveller's Library_, a selected translation of them by Mrs. Percy Sinnett, under the title of _A Lady's Voyage round the World_. The work will be read with great pleasure and interest; and while we wonder at the writer's extraordinary passion for travelling, we feel that she has produced such an amusing and instructive volume that we are glad that she had the opportunity of indulging it. Mrs. Sinnett well characterises the book on which she has employed her talents as a translator when she says, "Its chief attraction will most likely be found in the personal narrative and in the singular character of the authoress; who though apparently far removed by circumstances from the romantic or adventurous, yet passes through the most surprising scenes, and encounters the most imminent perils with a calm and unconscious heroism that can hardly fail to command admiration."

_The Gentleman's Magazine_ announces that the King of Denmark has conferred the Order of Dannebrog on M. Worsaae, the author of the _Primeval Antiquities of Denmark_, and other important works. This will be gratifying intelligence to all who had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of this accomplished antiquary during his visit to this country. We hope the time is not far distant when similar distinctions will be conferred in England on men of learning. The necessity for the institution of some ORDER OF MERIT is insisted upon both in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for this month, and _The Athenaeum_ of Saturday last; and a communication urging its adoption, on novel and important grounds, has reached us, unfortunately at too late a period in the week to admit of its insertion in our present number.

Messrs. Puttick & Simpson (191. Piccadilly) will sell on Wednesday next a portion of the Library (including numerous curious MSS. by Sir Isaac Newton), Medals, &c. of the late Mr. Alchorne.

Messrs. Sotheby will sell on Monday and Tuesday the valuable Library of Dr. Ford, late Principal of Magdalen Hall, and Professor of Arabic at Oxford; and on Thursday and two following days, a valuable Collection of Theological and Miscellaneous Books.

CATALOGUES RECEIVED.--T. Kershaw's (3. Park Street, Bristol) Catalogue of another Portion of his Valuable Stock; W. S. Lincoln's (Cheltenham House, Westminster Road) Catalogue No. 74. of Cheap Second-hand English and Foreign Books; and Supplementary Catalogue of Italian Books.

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES

WANTED TO PURCHASE.

LEWIS'S LIFE OF CAXTON. 8vo. 1737.

CATALOGUE OF JOSEPH AMES'S LIBRARY. 8vo. 1760.

TRAPP'S COMMENTARY. Folio. Vol. I.

WHITLAY'S PARAPHRASE ON THE NEW TESTAMENT. Folio. Vol. I. 1706.

LONG'S ASTRONOMY. 4to. 1742.

MAD. D'ARBLAY'S DIARY. Vol. II. 1842.

ADAM'S MORAL TALES.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. JOHNSON. 1805.

WILLIS'S ARCHITECTURE OF THE MIDDLE AGES. (10_s._ 6_d._ will be paid for a copy in good condition.)

CARPENTER'S DEPUTY DIVINITY; a Discourse of Conscience. 12mo. 1657.

A TRUE AND LIVELY REPRESENTATION OF POPERY, SHEWING THAT POPERY IS ONLY NEW MODELLED PAGANISM, &c., 1679. 4to.

ROBERT WILSON'S SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF HAWICK. Small 8vo. Printed in 1825.

JAMES WILSON'S ANNALS OF HAWICK. Small 8vo. Printed in 1850.

BARRINGTON'S SKETCHES OF HIS OWN TIME. Vol. III. London, 1830.