MISCELLANIES.
Darkness at the Crucifixion.—The following passage, in a volume of Lectures by the Rev. H. Blunt, has fallen under my notice:—
"It was this Dionysius (the Areopagite) of whom the earliest Christian historians relate that, being at Heliopolis, in Egypt, at the time of our Lord's crucifixion, when he beheld the mid-day darkness which attended that awful event, he exclaimed, 'Either the God of Nature suffers, or the frame of the world will be dissolved.'"
Having very limited opportunity of studying the ancient historians, I should be greatly obliged if you would inform me from what work this account is derived; or refer me to any authors, not having embraced Christianity, who give a description of the crucifixion of our Saviour; and especially with reference to the "darkness over all the earth" at the time of that event, mentioned by St. Luke, who also adds, that "the sun was darkened." Your kindly consenting, as you did in your second number, to receive queries respecting references, has induced me to trouble you so far.
S.A.M.
[Our correspondent will find much that is to his purpose, both in the way of statements and of reference to original authorities, in Lardner's Jewish and Heathen Testimonies, chap. xiii. of the Heathen Authors; vol. ii. p. 125. of the original 4to. edition; or vol. vii. p. 370. of the 8vo. edition of his works by Kippis, 1788.]
High-Doctrine.—In the Cambridgeshire fens there are a great number of Dissenters, and I believe Cromwell's Ironsides were chiefly recruited from those districts. On the higher lands adjoining are the old parish churches; and in conversation it is not uncommon to hear the tenets of the Church of England described as High land Doctrine, in contra-distinction to the Low land, or Dissenters' doctrine.
The thing is amusing, if nothing else, and I heard it while staying some few years ago with my brother, who lives on the edges of the Cambridgeshire fens.
E.H.
Wife of Robert de Bruce.—In the Surrenden Collection is an interesting roll, entitled "Liberatio facta Ingelardo de Warlee Custodi Garderobe, 7 E. 2."
It is, as its title imports, the release to the keeper of the wardrobe, for one year's accounts, aaº. 7 E. 2.
I shall probably be able to send you therefrom a few "notes" illustrative of the history of that time.
As a commencement, I think that the subjoined "note" will interest your historical readers.
It appears that the unfortunate wife of Robert Bruce was then consigned to the care of the Abbess of Barking, with an allowance of 20s. per week for the same. She was, I believe, the daughter of Henry de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, and died in 1328. In the above roll there is the following entry:—
"Cs liberati Anne de Veer Abbatisse de Berkyng, per manus domini Roberti de Wakfeld clerici, super expensis domine Elizabethe uxoris Roberti de Brus, percipientis per ebdomadum xxs., et ibidem perhendinantis."
"Cs liberati Johanni de Stystede valletto Abbatisse de Berkyng, per manus proprias, super expensis Domine de Brus in Abbathia de Berkyng perhendinantis."
It does not appear, in the above roll, how long the hapless queen remained in the abbey.
LAMBERT B. LARKING.
Ryarsh Vicarage. Dec. 14. 1849.
The Talisman of Charlemagne.—I beg to refer your correspondent, on the subject of Charlemagne's Talisman, to what professes to be a correct representation of this antique relic, in The Illustrated London News, of March 8th, 1845; but it is not there described as "a small nut, in a gold filigree envelopment," and gives the idea of an ornament much too large for the finger or even wrist of any lady: that paper says,—
"This curious object of virtu is described in the Parisian journals as, 'la plus belle relique de l'Europe;' and it has, certainly, excited considerable interest in the archæological and religious circles of the continent. The talisman is of fine gold, of round form, as our illustration shows, set with gems, and in the centre are two rough sapphires, and a portion of the Holy Cross; besides other relics brought from the Holy Land."
The rest of the description much resembles your correspondent's, and asserts the talisman to be at that time the property of Prince Louis Napoleon, then a prisoner in the château of Ham.
S.A.M.
Sayers the Caricaturist.—In Wright's England under the House of Hanover, vol. ii. p. 83 n., it is stated that James Sayer, the caricaturist, "died in the earlier part of the present century, no long time after his patron, Pitt." In Sepulchral Reminiscences of a Market Town, by Mr. Dawson Turner (Yarmouth, 8vo. 1848), p. 73 n., the caricaturist is called Sayers, and is said to have died on the 20th of April, 1823.
C.H. COOPER.
Cambridge, Dec. 29. 1849.
May-Day.—To what old custom does the following passage allude?
"It is likewise on the first day of this month [May] that we see the ruddy milk-maid exerting herself in a most sprightly manner under a pyramid of silver tankards, and, like the virgin Tarpeia, oppressed by the costly ornaments which her benefactors lay upon her."—Spectator, No. 365.
MELANION.
[Our correspondent will find much curious illustration of this now obsolete custom in Strutt's Sports and Pastimes p. 357. (ed. Hone), where the preceding passage from the Spectator is quoted; and we are told "these decorations of silver cups, tankards, &c. were borrowed for the purpose, and hung round the milk pails (with the addition of flowers and ribands), which the maidens carried upon their heads when they went to the houses of their customers, and danced in order to obtain a small gratuity from each of them." In Tempest's Cryes of London there is a print of a well-known merry milk-maid, Kate Smith, dancing with the milk pail decorations upon her head. See also Hone's Every Day Book, i. p. 576.]
Dr. Dee's Petition.—There is no mention of Dr. Dee's petition to King James in the list of his works in Tanner's Bibliotheca Britannica; but in Beloe's Anecdotes, vol. ii. p. 263., is an account of the preface to a scarce work of his, in which he defends himself from the charge of being a conjurer, or caller of divels, &c.
Tanner mentions his Supplication to Queen Mary for the Recovery of Ancient Writings and Monuments.
I fear, however, that your correspondent is acquainted with these more easily obtained accounts of Dr. Dee's works.
the Dictionary of M. l'Abbé Ladoocat states that he died in England, A.D. 1607, at the age of 81; so that his petition to James must have been made at the close of his life.
HERMES.
Lines quoted by Goethe.—I beg to inform your correspondent "TREBOR," that he will find the lines quoted by Goethe in his Autobiography, in Rochester's Satire against Mankind.
J.S.
Queen Mary's Expectations.—Most persons have heard of the anxiety of Queen Mary I., for the birth of a child, and of her various disappointments; but many may not be aware that among the Royal Letters in the State Paper Office, are letters in French, prepared in expectation of the event, addressed by Queen Mary, without date, except "Hampton Court, 1555" (probably about May), to her father-in-law, the Emperor Charles V., to Henry II., King of France, to Eleonora, Queen Dowager of France, to Ferdinand I., King of Bohemia, to Mary, the Queen Dowager of Bohemia, to the Doge of Venice, to the King of Hungary, and to the Queen Dowager of Hungary, announcing to each the birth of her child, the word being so written fil, as to admit of being made filz, or of an easy alteration to the feminine fille, if necessary.
J.E.
Ken's Morning and Evening Hymns.—I saw it mentioned in a review in the Guardian some few weeks ago, as one merit of the last edition of the Book of Common Prayer, published by Eyre and Spottiswoode, that it had restored Bishop Ken's Morning and Evening Hymns to their original purity.
I have no means of accurately testing this assertion by reference to any undoubted version of the date of the original publication, but I have no doubt that this might easily be done through the medium of your paper; and I think you will agree with me that, if it should be substantiated, not only is credit due to the Queen's printers, but also that it is an example which ought to be followed, without exception, in all future editions of the Prayer Book.
The variations, which I have noted in the ordinary version of the Hymns, as given in other Prayer Books, are too numberous to be inserted here, not to mention the omission of several stanzas, three in the Morning Hymn, together with the Doxology, and one in the Evening Hymn.
If they be false readings, no doubt they have been allowed to creep in inadvertently, and need only pointing out to be corrected. It occurred to me that this might be done more effectually in your columns, and I venture to hope that you will not consider it a task unworthy the high aim which you have in view in your admirable publication.
OXONIENSIS.
[Bishop Ken's Morning and Evening Hymns have been restored in Messrs. Eyre and Spottiswoode's last rubricated edition of the Common Prayer, as far as was practicable; they were carefully collated with the original, and all variations corrected, except those which would materially affect immemorial use. The entire hymns are of great length, but all those verses which have been at all generally sung in churches are to be found in the edition to which we refer.
We may take this opportunity of noticing that the Queen's printers have lately restored the lesser Saints' Days to the kalendar in their smaller editions of the Common Prayer. We are not aware of any other similar editions in which the kalendar appears thus complete.]
Etymology of "Daysman."—What is the etymology of Daysman, which, in the Book of Job, and in some of our provincial dialects, means a mediator or arbitrator?
MARK ANTONY LOWER.
[NARES defines Daysman, an umpire or arbitrator, from his fixing a day for decision; and adds, "Mr. Todd shows that day sometimes meant Judgment." Jacob, in his Law Dictionary, tells us, "Days-man signifies, in the North of England, an arbitrator or person chosen to determine an affair in dispute, who is called a Dies-man or Days-man." Jacob's definition may be again illustrated from NARES:—"In Switzerland (as we are informed by Simlerus) they had some common arbitrators, or dayesmen, in every towne, that made a friendly composition betwixt man and man."—Burton, Anat.]
Roland Monoux.—In answer to your correspondent "M", p. 137., the monumental brass in his possession is, no doubt, from the church at Edmonton, Middlesex. Lysons (Environs of London, vol. ii. p. 263.), in his description of Edmonton Church, says, "Near the door is a brass plate, with some English verses to the memory of ROLAND MONOUX (no date)." He subjoins, in a note, "arms—on a chevron betw. 3 oak-leaves as many bezants, on a chief 2 anchors, a market for difference. On the brass plate are some English verses, nowise remarkable."
These arms (omitting the chief) are those borne by the Baronet Monnoux of Sandy in Bedfordshire (extinct in 1814), who was descended from Sir George Monox, of Walthamstow, Lord Mayor of London, who died in 1543, to whom and his lady there are brasses in Walthamstow Church. ROLAND of Edmonton was doubtless of the same family. I am not able to give an opinion of the date of the brass in question; but it might be readily conjected from the style of its execution.
Your readers will, I am sure, all unite with me in commendation of your correspondent "M's" correct feeling in offering to restore this monument to its original site. I hope "M's" example will find many followers. There are hundreds of these pillaged brasses in the hands of "collectors," and your admirable publication will have effected a great public good, if it shall have been instrumental in promoting their restoration.
Cambridge, Jan. 1. 1850.
E. VENTRIS.
Ancient Motto.—In reference to a query (No. 6. p. 93.), and a reply (No. 7. p. 104.), permit me to remark, that St. Augustine, the celebrated Bishop of Hippo, was the person who caused to be engraved on his table the distich against detractors. Possidius, in his Life of that Father (S. Augustini, Opera Omnia, Paris, 1690, vol. x. part ii. p. 272.), gives the verses—no doubt an adaptation of Horace—thus:—
"Quisquis amat dictis absentum rodere vitam
Hanc mensam indignam noverit esse sibi."
The Benedictine editors subjoin two readings of the pentameter:—
"Hac mensa indignam noverit esse suam."
"Hanc mensam vetitam noverit esse sibi."
LLEWELYN ST. GEORGE.
Mr. Cresswell and Miss Warneford.—At p. 157. of the "NOTES AND QUERIES," your correspondent "B." inquires about a pamphlet relating to the marriage, many years ago, of Mr. Cresswell and Miss Warneford. "P.C.S.S." cannot give the precise title of that pamphlet in question; but he is enabled to state, on the authority of Watts (Biblioth. Brit.), and on that of his old friend Sylvanus Urban (Gent. Mag. vol. xvii. p. 543.), that it was published in London, towards the end of the year 1747, and that the very remarkable and very disgraceful transactions to which it refers were afterwards (in 1749) made the subject of a novel, called Dalinda, or The Double Marriage. Lond. 12mo. Price threepence.
The gentleman who was the hero of this scandalous affair was Mr. Thomas Estcourt Cresswell, of Pinkney Park, Wilts, M.P. for Wootton Bassett. He married Anne, the sole and very wealthy heiress of Edward Warneford, Esq. As it cannot be the object of the "NOTES AND QUERIES" to revive a tale of antiquated scandal, "P.C.S.S." will not place upon its pages the details of this painful affair—the cruel injury inflicted upon Miss Scrope (the lady to whom Mr. Cresswell was said to have been secretly married before his union with Miss Warneford)—and the base and unmanly contrivance by which, it was stated, that he endeavoured to keep possession of both wives at the same time. Miss Scrope appears to have retained, for a considerable time, a deep sense of her injuries; for in 1749 she published a pamphlet, in her own name, called Miss Scrope's Answer to Mr. Cresswell's Narrative. (Lond. Baldwin. Price 2s. 6d.)
If "B." should be desirous of further information, he is referred, by "P.C.S.S.," to the General Evening Post of Oct. 3. and 31. 1747, to the Gentleman's Magazine for that month and year, and to the same work, vol. xix. pp. 192. 288.
P.C.S.S.