Part 2

If humour, wit, and honesty could save The humorous, witty, honest from the grave, The grave had not so soon this tenant found, Whom honesty, and wit, and humour crowned; Could but esteem and love preserve our breath, And guard us longer from this stroke of death, The stroke of death on him had later fell, Whom all mankind esteemed and loved so well.

S. DUCK.

From respect to social worth, mirthful qualities, and histrionic excellence, commemorated by poetic talent, humble life, the above inscription, which Time had nearly obliterated, has been restored and transferred to this stone by order of

MR. JARVIS BUCK, Churchwarden.

A.D. 1816."

UNICORN.

FOLK LORE.

_Swearing on a Skull._--In April, 1851, a man was committed to Mayo prison for cutting off the head of a corpse but a few days interred. His object in severing the head was that of clearing himself of some imputed crime by swearing on a skull, a superstition said to be very common in that part of Ireland.

PHILIP S. KING.

_New Moon._--If, when you look at the new moon for the first time, you think of one particular thing which you greatly desire to have, or to have accomplished, your wishes on that same point will be realised before the close of the year.

R. VINCENT.

_Rust._--If, without any neglect on your part, but even with care, articles of steel belonging to you, such as keys, knives, &c., continually become rusty, some kindhearted person is laying up money for _your_ benefit.

This superstitious notion is very prevalent in Wales.

R. VINCENT.

Minor Notes.

_Epitaph at Low Moor._--The following curious epitaph is on a tombstone in the Low Moor churchyard, near this town:--

"In Memory of Christopher Barlow, Blacksmith, of Raw Nook, who died Oct. 9th, 1824, aged 56.

"My stithy and my hammer I reclin'd; My bellows, too, have lost their wind; My fire's extinguish'd, and my forge decay'd, And in the silent dust my vice is laid. My coal is spent, my stock of iron's gone, My last nail driven, and my work is done."

C. WILLIAMS.

Bradford, Yorkshire.

_Sir Thomas Overbury's Epitaph._--I do not think that the epitaph of the unfortunate Sir Thomas Overbury, poisoned by Carr, Earl of Somerset, in 1613-14, has ever been published. I send it to you, copied from a manuscript on a blank leaf of a black-letter copy of Howe's _Abridgement of Stow's Chronicle_ in my possession.

"1614. SR. THOMAS OVERBURY HIS EPITAPH.

"The Span of my daies measured, heare I rest That is my body, but my Soule his Guest Is hence assended whither neither Tyme Nor Fayth nor Hope: but only Love can Clyme. Wheare beinge nowe enlightned Shee doeth knowe The trueth of all men argue of belowe. Only this Dust doeth heare in pawne remaine, That when the Worlde dissolves, Shee com againe. THOMAS OVERBURY, 1614."

RICHARD F. LITTLEDALE.

Dublin.

_Bibliotheca Literaria._--I possess a copy of the _Bibliotheca Literaria_, 1722-4, in which the names of some of the authors are appended in manuscript to various papers, as follows:

In No. 4., Dr. Brett's name is appended to the first paper.

In No. 5., the first paper, concerning the pillar of fire and cloud, has the name "Sam. Jebb."

In No. 6., the third paper has the name of Dr. Brett; also, the first in

No. 7., continuation of it.

In No. 8., the first and third papers have "Carol. Ashton;" the second, Dr. Brett.

In No. 9. the first and second papers have "Thos. Wagstaffe."

Finally, the second in No. 10. has the name of Dr. Brett.

In the hope that this may be of some utility, I send it, on the chance that these names may not have been published already, which I have not time to ascertain.

W. H. S.

Edinburgh.

[All the above contributors to this valuable literary journal were Nonjurors. It may not be generally known that the principal editor was Samuel Jebb, M.D., of Peter House, Cambridge, who subsequently attached himself to the Nonjurors, and accepted the office of librarian to the celebrated Jeremy Collier. Dr. Jebb was also assisted by Mr. Wasse, Dr. Wotton, Dr. Jortin, Dr. Pearce, and others.--ED.]

_Inscription at Dundrah Castle._--In the course of a summer spent in Argyleshire, I paid a visit to old Dundrah, or Dundarrow Castle, which stands between Inverary and Cairndhu, on the southwest. It is now a small farm-house. The tenant refused me admission under half-a-crown, so I contented myself with a survey of the exterior. Over the doorway I found the following inscription carved in the stone:

"I ' MAN ' BEHALD ' THE ' END ' DE ' NOCHT ' VISER ' NOR ' HEIEST ' HOIP ' IN ' GOD."

The meaning is evident, though what connexion it has with the old castle I am not able to say. I send it you, as I have not seen it noted in any book.

C. M. I.

_Derivation of Charing._--Mr. Peter Cunningham, in his most entertaining work, _The Handbook of London_, tells us that the origin of _Charing Cross_ has never been discovered.

It lies buried in the venerable pages of Somner and Skinner. It was first propounded by the former in his Notes on Lipsius, appended to Meric Causaubon's _Commentatio de Quatuor Linguis_, in v. SCURGI. The A.-S. _cyrrung_ (from _cyrran_, avertere) is, as he tells us, _aversio_:

"Atque hinc, a viarum (scil.) et platearum diverticulis, ut in compitis, pluribus apud nostrates locis hoc nomen olim inditum, quod postea in _Cerring_ mutatum, tandem transiit (ut nunc dierum) in _Charing_; quomodo quadrivium sive compitum illud nuncupatur in suburbiis Londinensibus, ab occidente, prope Westmonasterium, _Charing Crosse_, vulgo dictum; _Crosse_ addito, ob crucem ibidem, ut in compitis solitum, olim erectam."

Q.

Queries.

POEM BY NICHOLAS BRETON.

I have recently purchased a small manuscript in quarto, containing fifteen leaves, written about the year 1590, which consists of a poem in six cantos, without title or name of the author, but which, I feel convinced, from the style, is one of the numerous works of Nicholas Breton. In the hope that some of your correspondents may be able to identify the poem, which may possibly be printed in some of Breton's very rare works, I subjoin the commencing stanzas:

"Where should I finde that melancholy muse, That never hard of any thinge but mone, And reade the passiones that her pen doth use, When she and sorrow sadlye sitt alone To tell the world more then the world can tell What fits indeed most fitlye figure hell.

"Lett me not thinke once of the smalest thought May speake of less then of the greatest gref, Wher every sence with sorrowes overwrought Lives but in death, dispayring of relef, While thus the harte with torments torne asunder Maye of the worlde be cal'd the wofull wonder."

These two stanzas are by no means favourable specimens of the entire poem, but I prefer to give them, because the work itself may be printed. If it appears, on inquiry, to be still inedited, I may venture to submit a few other extracts from it of a more illustrative character. Our bibliographers would be more useful guides, were they always to give the first lines of old poems. I have a tolerably good library, but can find no work sufficiently descriptive of Breton's works to enable me to trace the above.

H.

THE VIRTUOSI, OR ST. LUKE'S CLUB.

Where is to be found that intensely interesting MS. Lot 120., Sixth Day's Sale, at Strawberry Hill, a _folio tract_ entitled _The "Virtuosi," or St. Luke's Club, held at the Rose Tavern, first established by Sir Anthony Vandyke; with Autographs of all the eminent Artists of the day_?

Such is the account of Mr. George Robins, to the sound of whose hammer it fell, let us hope, into worthy hands.

By the aid of a note made whilst the several precious contents of that "Gothic Vatican of Greece and Rome," as I think Pope described it, were on view, I hope to whet the appetite of some of our literary vultures:

"Rose Tavern, Mar. 5. 1697.

"An order for raising an annual fund for pictures; with twenty names of stewards."

What say you, Mr. Editor, to such subscribing parties as, among others, "Grinling Gibbons, Michael Dahl, J. Closterman, and Christopher Wren?" I cannot remember more, but I think "Alex. Verrio" was among them.

Mem. the second: as entries in a sort of journal:

"That our steward, John Chicheley, Esquire, gave us this day a Westphalia Ham, which had been omitted in his entertainment on St. Luke's day."

Again:

"Paid and spent at Spring Gardens, by Knightsbridge, forfeiture £3 15_shgs._"

Why, Mr. Editor, here are the new Roxburgh Revels of the Knights of the Brush and Palette. And now that the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the day is expected to take out his diploma, and the ex-Premier is to be the new Professor of Perspective, _vice_ the author of the _Fallacies of Hope_, it becomes a question of prevailing interest, which I commend to the research of your dilettanti querists. It may be a thread of connexion with those stores of precious materials obtained by Walpole from the widow of that persevering investigator George Virtue.

J. H. A.

THE RABBIT AS A SYMBOL.

The 29th vol. of the _Archæologia_ contains an interesting "description of a monumental effigy of Richard Coeur de Lion, recently discovered in the cathedral of Notre Dame at Rouen," by Alfred Way, Esq., who, with his usual precision, has noticed what he very properly calls "some singular details" beneath the figure of the lion crouching at the king's feet; among these details is "the head of _a rabbit_[1] peeping out of its burrow, and, a little above, a dog warily watching the mouth of the hole." Mr. Way adds:

"I have met with nothing among the accessory ornaments of monumental sculpture analogous to this; and though convinced that what in itself may appear a trifling detail, _was not placed here without design_, I am quite at a loss to conjecture what could have been its import."

[Footnote 1: Mr. Way says _a hare_ or rabbit, forgetting that the hare does not burrow.]

The same symbol or device, well known to all lovers of ancient wood-engraving, appears in some of the earliest specimens of that art. It is found in an impression of one of the oldest known playing-cards, representing the knave of diamonds, now in the print-room of the British Museum, of which a fac-simile is inserted at p. 214. of Chatto's _History of Playing Cards_. Another instance of this device occurs (without the dog) in an old woodcut, dated 1418, discovered a few years ago at Malines, of which a copy appeared in the _Athenæum_ of Oct. 4, 1845. And a third example is contained in that celebrated and unique woodcut of St. Christopher, dated 1423, in the possession of Earl Spencer, copies of which may be found in Janson's _Essai sur l'Origine de la Gravure_, and in Ottley's work. Being as fully convinced as Mr. Way that the symbols he observed on the effigy of Richard at Rouen were _never introduced without design_, but that they were meant to convey some esoteric signification, I have for many years consulted both books and friends to obtain an explanation of this allegorical device, but without success. As a last resource, I address myself to the "N. & Q.," in hopes, from their having now obtained so wide a circulation, that I may receive through their medium, and the kindness of a more learned correspondent, a solution of this enigma.

P.S.--In addition to the above _four_ instances of the device of _a rabbit_ occurring in ancient sculpture and wood-engraving, a French writer, M. Th. Gautier, in the feuilleton of _La Presse_ of the 27th September, 1851, describes the Madonna of Albert Durer as being "presque toujours accompagnée _d'un lapin_," derived (in his opinion) from a "vague ressouvenir du panthéisme Germanique."

SYMBOL.

IS WYLD'S GREAT GLOBE A PLAGIARISM FROM MOLENAX?

(Vol. v., p. 467.)

Some time ago I made the following Notes, which, though they throw some light on the subject of Molineux's globe, yet they do not bear out MR. EASTWOOD'S conjecture. The first is from Richard Hakluyt's Address to the Reader in _The Principal Navigations, Voiages, and Discoveries of the English Nation_, folio, 1589:

"Nowe, because peraduenture it would bee expected as necessarie, that the descriptions of so many parts of the world would farre more easily be conceiued of the Reader, by adding Geographicall and Hydrographicall tables thereunto, thou art by the way to be admonished that I haue contented myselfe with inserting into the worke one of the best generall mappes of the world onely, vntill the comming out of a very large and most exact terrestriall Globe, collected and reformed according to the newest, secretest, and latest discoueries, both Spanish, Portugall, and English, composed by M. _Emmerie Mollineux_ of Lambeth, a rare Gentleman in his profession, being therein for divers yeeres greatly supported by the purse and liberalitie of the worshipfull marchant M. _William Sanderson_."

My second Note is from the rare little volume by John Davis, entitled, _The Worlde's Hydrographical Discription_, 12mo., London, 1595:

"The cause why I vse this particular relation of all my proceedinges for this discouery, is to stay this obiection, why hath not _Dauis_ discouered this passage [the North-west] being thrise that waies imploied, and how far I proceeded, and in what fourme this discouery lyeth, doth appeare vpon the Globe which Master _Sanderson_ to his verye great charge hath published, whose labouring indevour for the good of his countrie deserueth great fauour and commendations, made by Master _Emery Mullineux_, a man wel qualited, of a good iudgement and verye expert in many excellent practises, in myselfe being the onely meane with Master _Sanderson_ to imploy Master Mullineux therein, whereby he is nowe growne to a most exquisite perfection."

P. 25.

And here a Query may not be out of place. Whose account of Iceland does Nash refer to?

In the writings of our early navigators, there is frequent allusion to terrestrial globes. This of Mollineux's, for instance, contains Davis's own discoveries, and should therefore be of some importance. In the tract just quoted, Davis says:

"It is wel knowne that we haue globes in the most excellent perfection of arte, and haue the vse of them in as exquisite sort, as Master _Robert Hues_ in his book of the globes vse, lately published, hath at large made known."

P. 41.

And in an unpublished MS. relating to Sir Thomas Button's voyage, addressed to King James I. in 1610, the writer says:

"I haue left wth Mr. Wright in yor librarie att St James, _a hand globe terrestriall_ for demonstra[=c]on of these."

Do any of the globes exist, and where?

As I am about to reprint Davis's tract with additional illustrations, including the MS. above referred to, I shall be glad to receive any particulars of the life of Davis, and of his connexion with that great patron of discovery, William Sanderson; of his death, any reference to his autograph, and to any authentic portrait of him.

JOHN PETHERAM.

Minor Queries.

_Poem on the Burning of the Houses of Parliament._--On the 17th of October, 1834, the houses of parliament were burnt down, and I believe you will recollect that very soon afterwards a long serio-comic poem was published, detailing the event; the following stray morsels of which just occur to me:

"And poor Mrs. Wright, Was in a great fright, For she swore that night, She saw a great light."

Again--

"She felt a great heat Come thro' to her feet, As she sat herself down In the black rod seat."

I wish very much to find out this poem, or whatever else it may be called; can you assist me? I am told it was published in one of the weekly papers at the time, probably the _Sunday Times_ or _Dispatch_.

T. B.

Exeter.

_Newton's Library._--In 1813, Leigh and Sotheby sold the books of Mrs. Anne Newton, professing to contain the collection of Newton's own books. As it is fully believed that no _personal_ property of Newton descended to any relatives of his name, how is this pretension explained? The statement is copied from Sotheby's catalogue of sales into Hartwell Horne's _Bibliography_, and will be credited at a future time, if not now called in question.

M.

_Meaning of Royd._--What is the meaning of the word _Royd_, which is attached to the names of so many persons and places in Yorkshire, as Ackroyd, Learoyd, Brownroyd, and Boltonroyd?

C. W.

_The Cromwell Family._--I have in my possession a document, which shows that my great-grandfather, "William Cromwell of London," mason, was admitted into

"The freedom aforesaid, and sworn in the Mayoralty of Thomas Wright, Esq., Mayor, and John Wilkes, Esq., Chamberlain; and is entered in the book signed with the letter A., relating to the purchasing of freedom and the admission of freemen, (to wit) the 4th day of April, in the 26th year of the reign of King George the Third, and in the year of our Lord 1786. In witness whereof," &c.

The parchment bears the initials "J. W."

I am anxious to learn, from some of your numerous correspondents, whether this person once lived near Bath, and then at Hammersmith? and, secondly, whether he was descended from the Protector?

J. G. C.

_Sir John Darnell, Knt._--Who was Sir John Darnell, whom did he marry, who were his father and mother, and what arms did he bear? His daughter Mary was married to the Hon. Robert Ord, Lord Chief Baron of Scotland (alive in 1773). Any other particulars regarding his family will be gratefully received by

E. N.

_Royal "We."_--Can you inform me when, and under what circumstances, the use by royalty in Europe sprung up, of using the plural "we" instead of "I," the first person singular?

FRANCIS J. GRUBB.

_Gondomar._--Mr. Macaulay, in one of his "Essays," remarks,

"The skill of the Spanish diplomatists was renowned throughout Europe. In England the name of Gondomar is still remembered."

True, oft have I heard of thee, Count Gondomar, and have read from time to time divers anecdotes of thy wit and wisdom, quips and quiddities. But is it not passing strange that this man, this Spanish Don, who, as is well known, exercised such a powerful influence over the weak-minded "Solomon of Whitehall," and who, moreover, bore so large a share in the murder of the brave and highly gifted Raleigh, should be excluded from a niche in the biographical temple; for such I am told is the case. Having deputed a friend to make search for me in the several biographical dictionaries, he reports that the name of Gondomar is _not_ to be found in the best book of the kind, the _Biographie Universelle_, nor in the dictionaries of Rose and Chalmers. This desideratum will, I confidently hope, ere long be supplied through the medium of "N. & Q.," by some of its learned contributors.

W. STANLEY SIMMONDS.

_Wallington's Journal._--At the sale of the library of Mr. Joseph Gulston, 1784, was sold a Journal of Mr. Nehemiah Wallington, a Puritan divine, written in the year 1630. This volume probably contains some curious matters respecting the Puritans of the day; and, as it is much desired, should any person know of its whereabouts, I should feel much obliged by a note of it.

R.

_Epistola Luciferi, &c._--Nicolas Oresmius, or d'Oresme, bishop of Lisieux, who died in 1382, wrote _Epistola Luciferi ad prælatos Ecclesiæ_, afterwards printed, Magd. 1549, 8vo., and in Wolf's _Lect. Memor._, vol. i. p. 654. So far Fabricius. Who was Lucifer? I mean, was he the potentate who goes by the opposite name of the Prince of Darkness? And what is the tenor of his letter? The bishop was a quiet man, of orthodox fame, and tutor to a king of France.

M.

_Cambrian Literature._--Being a collector of works on Druidical remains and Cambrian history, I shall feel greatly favoured if any of your numerous readers will answer me the following questions, viz.:--

1st. The name of the first book or commentary _printed_ in any language abroad, _previous_ to the introduction of printing into England, actually written by a _Cambrian_?

2nd. The first book _printed_ in the English language, _actually written_ by a Cambrian then living?

3rd. The first and second books _printed_ in England in the _Welsh_ language?

4th. The first book printed in the Welsh language abroad?

5th. The first book printed in the Welsh language in Wales?

6th. The most _ancient author_ in MSS. and in print who mentions Stonehenge and Aubury; also the monument called Cromlêch?

7th. Who has on sale the most extensive collection of Welsh books, and those relating to British history?

P. B. W

7. Harrington Street, Regent's Park.

"VCRIMDR" _on Coins of Vabalathus_ (Vol. v., p. 148.).--As no professed Oriental scholar has directed any attention to this word yet, and as, although root in the words Karimat and Akram appears the same, the analogy to VCRIMDR is not very obvious, I may mention that on searching further I have found the adjective _Ucr_, with the various meanings, _weighty_, _precious_, _esteemed_, _honourable_. I leave it to Orientalists to tell us if VCRIMDR is a compound or an inflexion of _Ucr_. I regret that owing to a peculiarity in my handwriting, De Gauley was twice substituted for De Sauley in my last note, Vol. v., p. 149.

W. H. S.

Edinburgh.

_Lines on Woman._--

"Oh, woman! thou wert born to bless The heart of restless man; to chase his care; To charm existence by thy loveliness, Bright as a sunbeam--as the morning fair. If but thy foot trample on a wilderness, Flowers spring up and shed their roseate blossoms there."

Will any of your readers be kind enough to favour me with the completion of the above stanza, as well as to state who is the author of the same?

J. T.

_Penkenol._--John Aubrey, the antiquary, in his _Collections for North Wilts_, Part I. p. 51. (Sir Thomas Phillips's edition), describing the stained glass in Dauntsey Church, uses the following expression:

"Memorandum. The crescents in these coats: Therefore Sir John [Danvers] was not the _penkenol_."

The word is correctly printed from the original MS. Can any of your readers explain its meaning?

J. E. J.

_Fairfax Family Mansion._--On the right-hand side of the road between Tadcaster and Thorpe Arch, Yorkshire, extends the domain of the Fairfax family. The mansion, a comfortable old fashioned red-brick Tudor-looking structure, stands some two hundred yards back in the grounds through which, from the road to the front door of the house, extends a fine avenue of chestnuts, terminated at the roadside by a pair of venerable, rusty, and decaying iron gates _which are kept closed_; the entrance to the park being by a sort of side gateway of insignificant and field-like appearance further on. Can any of your readers give me the facts, or the local tradition which accounts for this peculiarity? I believe it is a family incident of somewhat historical interest, and a subject on which I am desirous of information.

G. W.

_Postman and Tubman in the Court of Exchequer._--In the _Legal Observer_ of the 24th April, I find the following:

"LAW PROMOTION.--Mr. James Wilde has been appointed to the office of _Postman_, in the Court of Exchequer. The _Postman_ is the senior counsel without the bar attending the court, and has pre-audience of the attorney and solicitor-general in making the first motion upon the opening of the court. The _Tubman_ is the next senior counsel without the bar. The _Postman_ and _Tubman_ have particular places assigned them by the Chief Baron in open court."