Part 3

_Optical Phenomenon._--I shall be much obliged to anybody who will explain a phenomenon which I have observed.

Suppose 1. A street from twenty to thirty feet broad.

2. At the open window of a house on one side stands a man looking at the corresponding window of the house on the opposite side; that is, he looks at what was a window, but is now filled up with a large board that is covered with an inscription of short lines, black on white; in short, just such a board as one sees at a turnpike gate.

3. From shortness, or defect, of sight (I cannot say which), the man is unable to read the inscription as he stands at his window.

4. He sits down on a low seat, so as to bring his eye almost close to, and just on a level with, the sill of his own window. He then slowly raises and depresses his head. As he does this, it of course appears to him as if his own window-sill travelled up and down the board opposite.

5. In doing so it comes successively under each line of the inscription.

6. As it does so, that one line becomes perfectly legible.

N. B.

Minor Queries Answered.

_Abraham-Men._--Although I cannot find it in your former volumes, nor in your Index, I think there was an inquiry in one of your past Numbers as to the meaning of the phrase "_To sham Abraham_."

If there has been any reply, will you be good enough to refer me to it? as it may explain the passage in Burton's _Anatomy of Melancholy_, that "every village almost will yield dummerers _Abraham-men_," &c. (Part I. sec. 2., vol. i. p. 360.)

W. W. E. T.

Warwick Square, Belgravia.

["To sham Abraham" is a cant expression, having reference to the practices of a class of vagabonds and cheats once common in this country. In Decker's _English Villanies_ there are many curious particulars of the habits of this class of impostors. "She's all Abram," that is, quite naked. "What an Abram!" an exclamation for a ragged fellow. "An Abraham-man" was an impostor who personated a poor lunatic called Tom of Bedlam: one of this class is described by Shakspeare in his _Lear_, Act II. Sc. 3.:

"The basest and most poorest shape, That every penury, in contempt of man, Brought near to beast."

Among sailors, "An Abram" is being unwell, or out of sorts. When Abraham Newland was Cashier of the Bank of England, it was sung--

"I have heard people say, That sham Abraham you may, But you must not sham Abraham Newland."]

_Author of "Le Blason des Couleurs."_--Can you give me the date of, or any account of the author of a small black-letter French work on heraldry entitled, _Le Blason des Couleurs en Armes_, &c. The author introduces himself as "Je Sicille Herault a tres puissant roy Alph[=o]se Darragon: de Sicilie: de Vallence de Maillaque: de Corseique et Sardeigne: Conte de Barselonne," &c.; and at the end of the first part it is said to be "compose par Sicille Herault du roy Alph[=o]se daragon."

H. N. E.

[See Brunet, _Manuel du Libraire_, vol. i. p. 279., ed. Bruxelles, 1838, 8vo.]

_Banyan-day._--Can any of your correspondents inform me of the meaning and origin of the term "Banyan-day," which is frequently used by sailors?

W. B. M.

Dee Side.

[A marine term for those days in which the sailors have no flesh meat; and is probably derived from the practice of the Banians, a caste of Hindoos, who entirely abstained from all animal food.]

_General Urmston._--Can any of your correspondents inform me whether a General Edward Urmston, who married in 1752 Leonora daughter of the first Earl Bathurst, had any children; or whether he was himself an only son or child: also when he was born, or when he died? His wife died in 1798 (I believe).

E. B.

[Lieutenant-General Edward Urmston, some time in the 1st regiment of Foot Guards, and afterwards, 10th November, 1770, Colonel of the 65th Regiment of Foot. He married in 1752 Leonora Bathurst; died 21st December, 1778, aged 59, and there is an altar tomb to his memory in the churchyard of Harrow, co. Middlesex. She died 1798.]

_Works of Alexander Neville._--Can any of your readers inform me where I can find a collection of the works of Alexander Neville, the poetical writer, born anno 1544, second son of Sir Alex. [Richard] Neville of South Leverton, Notts, by Ann, fourth daughter of Sir Edw. [Walter] Mantle; he died anno 1614? Any particulars or references concerning him would be acceptable. Was he the Alexander Neville who sate for Christchurch, Hants, 1585, and for Saltash 1601.

J. K.

[There is no edition of the collected works of Alexander Nevile or Nevyle; the following will be found in the British Museum under the word _Nevyllus_:--1. _De Furoribus Norfolciensium, Ketto Duce_, 4to., 1575. According to Hearne, there are two editions of this date of 1575; the first, without the passage displeasing to the Welshmen, dedicated only to Abp. Parker; the other, with two dedications, viz. that to Abp. Parker, and a new one to Abp. Grindall. The offensive passage is at p. 132. "Sed enim Kettiani rati," &c., to "Nam præter quam quod," &c., p. 133. 2. The same work in English, _Norfolk Furies and their Foyle, under Kett and their accursed Captaine; with a Description of the famous Citye of Norwich_, by Richard Woods, 4to., 1615, 1623. 3. _Academiæ Cantabrigiensis Lachrymæ, Tumulo Nobilissimi Equitis D. Philippi Sidneij Sacratæ_, 4 to., 1587. A biographical notice of Alexander Nevile is given in Chalmers' _Biog. Dict._, which does not mention that he ever had a seat in parliament. He died in 1614, and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral.]

_Lindisfarne._--What is the meaning or origin of the word "Lindisfarne?"

K. N. P.

[Holy Island was called Lindisfarne from the Lindis, a rivulet which empties itself into the sea from the opposite shore: _farne_, the concluding syllable, is a corruption of the Celtic word _fahren_, a recess.]

_Index to the Critical Review._--Was there ever a general index published to the whole or any portion of the _Critical Review_, which commenced in 1756, and I believe ended in 1816? If so, where can it be obtained.

W. J. B.

[There were five series of the _Critical Review_ between the years 1756 and 1817. No general index has been published.]

"_No great shakes._"--Can any of your readers state the origin of the expression "no great shakes," which has obtained an almost universal use, and is employed under a great variety of circumstances? No doubt a knowledge of its derivation would interest many subscribers to "N. & Q." as well as

I. J. H. H.

[_Shakes_, as used in the following passage by Byron, is a vulgarism, which probably may be traced to the custom of _shaking_ hands, the _shake_ being estimated according to the value set upon the person giving it, and hence applied to the person. Byron writing to Murray, Sept. 28, 1820, says, "I had my hands full, and my head too just then (when he wrote _Marino Faliero_), so it can be no great _shakes_."--See Richardson's _Dict._ _s.v._]

_Translation of Richard de Bury._--Is the translation of Richard de Bury's _Philobiblon_, "with a memoir of the illustrious bishop," promised by W. S. G., Vol. ii. p. 203., yet published?

L. S.

[Our correspondent should remember, that "church work is slow work," as Addison facetiously makes Sir Roger de Coverley complain. From a prospectus recently issued, we learn that the _Philobiblon_ is still preparing for publication; and that gentlemen who may wish to have copies are requested by the author to transmit their names to Mr. R. Robinson, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.]

_Life of Ken._--Who is the author of the _Life of Bishop Ken_, by a Layman, published a year or two since?

E. G.

Dorchester.

[J. L. Anderson, Esq., author of _The River Dove_, &c., and editor of Bishop Ken's _Approach to the Holy Altar_.]

_Wedding Rings._--Can any of your informants give me the origin of the wedding ring, by whom it was introduced, and what it was meant to signify, and does now signify?

BOSQUECILLO.

[Wheatly, in his _Rational Illustration of the Book of Common Prayer_, ch. x. sect. 5., has ably discussed the origin of the marriage ring, accompanied with numerous references to early and later writers on this visible pledge of fidelity.]

_Monasteries, &c. dissolved._--Will any of your correspondents kindly inform me where I can find an _authentic_ account of the hospitals, monasteries, and religious houses pillaged and destroyed, consequent on the commission of inquiry issued by Henry VIII.?

T. DYSON.

Gainsborough.

[The most authentic account of English monasteries, &c. will be found in Dugdale's _Monasticon_, edited by Cayley and Ellis; Tanner's _Notitia_, edit. 1744; and Stevens's _Additions to Dugdale_. In Dodd's _Church History_, by Tierney, vol. i. p. 458., will be found "A List of the Abbots, Priors, and other Superiors of the Principal Religious Houses in England, from the Foundation to their Suppression." And for a list of all the mitred abbots and priors of England, who are known to have been mitred, or to have sat in parliament subsequent to the beginning of the reign of Edward III., see _Glossary of Heraldry_, pp. xxix. xxx.]

_Bishops at the Hampton Court Controversy._--Can you inform me who were the nine bishops who attended the Hampton Court conference in 1603-4?

C. H. D.

[Archbishop of Canterbury, John Whitgift; London, Richard Bancroft; Durham, Tobias Matthew; Winchester, Thomas Bilson; Worcester, Gervase Babington; St. David's, Anthony Rudd; Chichester, Anthony Watson; Carlisle, Henry Robinson; Peterborough, Thomas Dove.]

Replies.

SCOTTISH REGALIA.

(Vol. iv., p. 208.)

The story referred to by Jeremy Taylor reminds me of a somewhat similar instance of dishonest astuteness I lately heard of in Scotland, from an old Highlander; the which, though courtesy forbade me to dispute, I at the time received "cum grano," and have since been unable to verify. It was as follows:

The custodians (whether rightful or not, I know not, as no date was assigned to the action of the narrative) of the Scottish regalia being bound by an oath to deliver it to the Governor of Carlisle, as the nearest representative of the English sovereign, by a certain day, determined upon a plan for performing (!), and at the same time evading, their promise. Having selected the most able steed in Scotland, a suitable deputation escorted the regalia _and the horse_ to the appointed place of tradition. The embassy carrying with them the more valuable and portable of their treasures--the jewels, not the horse, of which hereafter,--were duly admitted to an audience with the governor, who received them in the presence of the principal inhabitants of Carlisle: and having produced and surrendered the regalia (and doubtless taken an acquittance!), surreptitiously, and with gipsey adroitness, regained possession of it, and conveying it from the audience chamber, immediately delivered it to an expectant messenger; who, mounted on the before-mentioned horse, awaited its return outside the hall; and who, _ventre à terre_, pursued his eager flight across the border, nor once drew rein until his precious burden was again deposited in the custody of Scottish tenure. Whether the deputation was dismissed, and escaped before the discovery of its chicanery, or whether the conspirators received the well-merited punishment of their audacious dissimulation, my informant knew not. And although the story tells more in favour of the astuteness than the honesty of his countrymen (if true), he narrated it with considerable unction, and declared that it was generally believed and admired in Scotland; the patriotism displayed, the dangerous nature of the enterprise, and the success which attended it, palliating any stigma which might attach to the want of faith, double dealing, and casuistry which marked the transaction.

The method by which the horse's title to be considered the ablest in Scotland was ascertained, was ingenious. The horses the most renowned for fleetness and endurance were secretly collected, and having been deprived of water for a considerable time, were presently, one by one, permitted to bury their heads in the grateful bucket, and the duration of each draught was scrupulously watched and recorded; the animal that retained its nostrils for the longest time immersed being selected for the honour of rescuing the royal treasure, as having given proofs of its superior wind and bottom.

Is any credit to be attached to the story: and if historical, can any reader inform me where it is recorded?

C. A.

St. John's Wood.

GOSPEL OAKS.

(Vol. v., pp. 157. 209.)

The replies of FABER, EXON., and P. T. to the inquiry of STEPHEN, concerning the origin of Gospel Oaks, are not very explanatory.

The oak was consecrated to the god of thunder--Ang.-Sax., _Thunor_; Gallic, _Taranis_; Irish, _Toran_; Anc. N. _Thorr_--as being more generally struck by lightning than any other tree; and the acorn was called by the Romans _Jovis glans_, the fruit of the supreme god.

"Quercus Jovi placuit."--_Phædrus_, III. 17.

"Magna Jovis antiquo robore quercus."--Virg. _Georg._ III. 332.

At Dodona stood the δρῦς ὑψίκομος Διός.--_Od._ XIV. 327.

Woods, groves, and trees were the temples and sacred emblems of the Deity among the greater part of the Pagans, but especially among the Teutonic and Celtic tribes. Maximus Tyrius, an author of the second century, informs us, concerning the worship of the Celts:

"Κελτοὶ σέβουσι μὲν Δία, ἄγαλμα δὲ Διὸς Κελτικὸν ὑψηλὴ δρῦς."

And Tacitus gives us the oldest testimonies concerning the Germans, _Germ._ 9.:

"Ceterum, nec cohibere parietibus Deos, neque in ullam humani oris speciem assimulare, ex magnitudine coelestium arbitrantur. _Lucos ac nemora consecrant_, Deorumque nominibus appellant secretum illud, quod sola reverentia vident."

Vid. _Germ._ 39. cap. 40. cap. 43., &c.

Also, a passage of the later Claudian is to the same purpose:

Ut procul Hercyniæ per vasta silentia silvæ Venari tuto liceat, lucosque vetusta Religione truces, et _robora Numinis instar Barbarici_, nostræ feriant impune bipennes.

_Cons. Stilich._ I. 288.

From these passages it will be seen that the gods dwelt in these groves, and that sacred vessels and altars were placed there, but no images; neither were temples erected.[2] The practice of worshipping the gods in woods and trees continued for many centuries, till the introduction of Christianity (Vid. Willibald, A.D. 786, _in Vita Bonifacii_), and the converters did not disdain to adopt every means to raise Christian cultus to higher authority than that of Paganism, by acting upon the senses of the heathen, _e.g._ using white robes for those baptized, lighting of candles, burning of incense, &c.; and they erected the Christian churches, for the most part, upon the site of Pagan _tree_ or temple; Sulp. _Severus_ (ed. Amst. 1665), p. 485.:

"Nam ubi fana destruxerat (Martinus), _statim ibi aut ecclesias aut monasteria construebat_."

Dietm. _V. Merseb._, 7. 52., p. 859.:

"Fana idolorum destruens incendit, et mare dæmonibus cultum inmissis quatuor lapidibus, sacro Chrismate perunctis et aqua purgans benedicta, novam Domino ... plantationem eduxit."

[Footnote 2: Brissonius _De Regno Pers._ II. 28.: "Persæ diis suis nulla templa vel altaria constituunt, nulla simulacra."]

The heathen gods were represented as impotent, in opposition to the true God, though not as powerless in themselves, and were converted into inimical evil powers, which must submit, but could nevertheless exercise a certain hurtful influence.

Some heathen traditions and superstitions remained, their names only being altered into those of Christ, Maria, and the saints. In this manner they spared the assuefactions of the people, and made them believe that the sacredness of the place was not lost, but henceforth depended on the presence of the true God.

The above facts will perhaps sufficiently explain the origin of the Gospel Oak.

PROFESSOR THEODORE GOEDES.

Hampden House, Reading.

There is a tree called by this name a few miles from Winchester, in the parish of Tichborne or Cheriton,--I _think_ the latter, but have no means of ascertaining at the present moment. Mention of it is made in Duthy's _Sketches of Hampshire_.

L. G.

MITIGATION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT TO A FORGER.

(Vol. iv., p. 434.)

The case related by MR. GATTY is interesting, but requires sifting. Perhaps he will be good enough to do it, or to put me on the trail. As the energetic sister may be a reader of "N. & Q.," I do not wish to annoy her by printing the forger's name, but I shall be glad to have the place and date of the conviction.

About twenty years ago, the rule of hanging for forgery was broken in the case of Fry, a school-master, who was sentenced to death without any hope of mercy, and not reprieved till he had heard the "condemned sermon"--I think, not till the day before that which was fixed for his execution. He showed great fear; rolled upon the chapel floor, and delivered to the sheriffs a well-written protest against the right to inflict capital punishment. His being spared caused much surprise; and between that event and the abolition of the punishment of death for forgery, few, if any, were executed for that crime.

The sister, falling, at the feet of Baron G----, who "was notorious for his unflinching obduracy," is a melo-dramatic event which, I think, would have found its way to the newspapers. But the most extraordinary thing is the conclusion:

"The forger was placed in the hulks prior to transportation; and before this took place he had forged a pass or order from the Home Secretary's office for his own liberation, which procured his release, and he was never afterwards heard of."

Letters to convicts in the hulks are opened by the officers before being delivered to the prisoners. It is not usual for the Home Secretary to write to a convict enclosing "a pass or order." On the contrary, a pardon is attended with a good number of formalities, and without one I do not think that any convict would have been allowed to quit the vessel. In that class of prisoners, leave of absence on parole, or a "day rule," would have been something peculiar enough to make the turnkey ask, "Where did you get this?" In short, a convict who made his escape as described must be as extraordinary a person as the strong American, who could sit in a basket and lift himself upon a table by the handles.

"She returned to the city at which the assizes had been held just as they were concluded. The two judges were in the act of descending the cathedral nave, after partaking of the Holy Sacrament, when," &c.

It is usual for the judges to attend divine service on the commission-day if they arrive soon enough, or the day after if they do not. If a Sunday occur during the sitting of the commission, they also attend; but I never knew, and on inquiring I cannot hear, that they ever so attended at the close of the assizes, when they are always glad to get on to the next town, if the circuit is not concluded, and away altogether if it is.

H. B. C.

U. U. Club.

LORDS MARCHERS OF WALES.

(Vol. v., pp. 30. 135. 189.)

Allow me to call upon your correspondent I. J. H. H., who dates from St. Asaph, to explain what he means by a Lordship Marcher; and what proof he possesses that his friend Mr. Lloyd is the "only Lord Marcher now extant in the kingdom?" The most authentic single record which we possess of the number, names, and situation of these lordships is the statute 27 Hen. VIII. ch. 26. The writs issued to the Lords Marchers, at various times before that statute, would perhaps furnish materials for a more exact enumeration of them; but the above Act was unquestionably intended to include all of them; and the only reason why the information conveyed by it is not complete is, that some of the names specified in it may perhaps be those of townships, or other districts within, or parcel of, some Lordship Marcher, and that other lordships seem to be comprehended under a general description, such as "all lordships lying between Chepstow Bridge and Gloucestershire." Hence, the number of real Lordships Marchers may, _perhaps_, be fewer or more than are there mentioned. Herbert, in his _History of Henry VIII._, says that there were 141 Lordships Marchers. (Kennett's _Compl. Hist._, vol. ii. p. 189.)

The lordship of Kemes is not, I think, specified in the Act; but I presume that it is comprehended within some of the descriptions of lordships in it. Probably it is included in sect. 16. In old writs of summons to attend the King in his wars, Kemes is associated with Dyvett or with Llandovery.

The statute referred to did, in fact, extinguish the most characteristic privileges of a Lordship Marcher, and reduced it nearly to the level of an ordinary lordship, with such royalties only as have often been granted, and are still enjoyed, by Lords of Manors, or honours in other parts of England and Wales. The franchises left to them are enumerated in sections 25. and 30., explained by the later statute 1 & 2 Phil. & Mary, ch. 15. The palatine jurisdiction which they once possessed, and the exemption from ordinary process, exist no longer; and the various local customs prevailing in each lordship, which were repugnant to the common law of England, must have been almost wholly abolished by the operation of that Act. The lordships themselves remain in name, and in little more than in name.

Hence I am afraid that I. J. H. H.'s friend must be prepared to surrender the distinction of being the sole surviving Lord Marcher. In the strict and original sense of the term, there is now no such lordship in existence. In the sense in which alone the title can now be assumed, he shares the honour with many others; among others, with the Duke of Beaufort, who holds the very extensive and important Marcher Seignory of Gower and Kilvey.

Probably the number of private lordships of this kind is not now great; for, at the passing of the above statute, the majority were in the Crown; and if any have since been re-granted, it is most likely that their franchises and tenure would be so modified as to leave no vestige of the Marcher privileges in them.

The statement of your correspondent suggests to me another doubt. How could any Lordship Marcher be "erected by Martin of Tours?" Every such lordship must be of the creation of the Crown, either shown or presumed. The date of the establishment of these marcherships is so ancient that, perhaps, no one may have actually seen any document to prove them but charters of confirmation and inquisitions post-mortem; still the _law_ refers their origin to specific Crown grants, and not to the act or authority of a mere subject. If, therefore, Martin, who was a tenant in capite of the Crown, founded the lordship of Kemes, he must have done--as the military invaders of Ireland in a subsequent reign did--conquered the territory with his own arms, and obtained palatine jurisdiction over it, with the assent and by the authority of the King.

Let me add, that the MS. treatise in the Harleian Collection (referred to _ante_, p. 135.) is printed in Pennant's _Wales_, and, more correctly, in vol. ii. of the _Transactions of the Cymmrodorion Society_. It is much to be lamented that the treatise on the Lordships Marchers, bequeathed by Sir Matthew Hale to the Society of Lincoln's Inn, is not to be found in that library. If the work was composed by that eminent judge himself, it must be one of the highest value and authority. Does any one possess it, or a copy of it?

E. SMIRKE.

DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION.

(Vol. iii., p. 374.)