Minor Queries with Answers.
Ralph Ashton the Commander.—In an ancient record I met with a year or two ago (two centuries old, I suppose), the name of a Ralph Ashton, "Commander," occurred. The record related to Lancashire, and it spoke of "Isabella, the wife of Ralph the Commander." I believe that a gentleman of this name was commander of the Lancashire forces under the Commonwealth. Will any of your readers oblige me (should they have access to any ancient pedigree of the Ashton family) by saying whether any mention is made of this "Isabella," and what her name was before her marriage to Ralph the Commander?
Jaytee.
[The pedigree of the family of Ashton, or Assheton, of Middleton, is given in Baines's Lancaster, vol. ii. p. 596., which states that Ralph Ashton, Esq., M.P. for Clithero, temp. Chas. I., for the county, 16 Chas. I., died 17th Feb. 1650, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Kaye of Woodsome, co. York. In old documents Isabella and Elizabeth are used for one and the same name.]
Christopher Hervie.—M. Zachary (Vol. ix., p. 184.) obligingly replies to my question as to the quotation—
"One while I think, and then I am in pain,
To think how to unthink that thought again."
Would he be kind enough to say where I may find any notice of Christopher Hervie? as I have been unable to find mention of him or his work in any biography to which I have access.
W. M. M.
[A biographical notice of Christopher Harvie, or Harvey, is given by Anthony à Wood in his Athenæ Oxonienses, vol. iii. p. 538. (Bliss), from which it appears he was "a minister's son of Cheshire, was born in that county, became a batler of Brasen-nose College in 1613, aged sixteen years, took the degrees in Arts, that of Master being completed 1620, holy orders, and at length was made vicar of Clifton in Warwickshire." Wood, however (Ath. Oxon., vol. i.
p. 628.), attributes The Synagogue to Thomas Harvey, first Master of Kington School in Herefordshire. "There can be no doubt," adds Mr. Bliss, "but a Ch. Harvie was the author of this poem, particularly as Walton contributed some commendatory verses to it, which were repaid by another copy prefixed to the Compleat Angler by Harvie; but whether this was Christopher Harvey, the vicar of Clifton, or some other, remains to be decided. If it was, it is at least singular that Wood, who was so inquisitive in these matters, should have been ignorant of the circumstance." Harvey died before the 4th Sept. 1663, as on that day Samuel Bradwall was instituted to the vicarage of Clifton, void by the death of the last incumbent.—See Sir John Hawkins' edition of The Complete Angler, p. 186.; also "N. & Q.," Vol. vi., pp. 463. 591.]
Dannocks.—Hedging-gloves made of whit-leather (untanned leather), and used by workmen in cutting and trimming fences, are called in this part of Norfolk dannocks. Can any of your correspondents say whence the word is derived?
J. L. S.
Edingthorpe.
["It should rather be Dornecks," says Forby, "which is the proper Flemish name of Tournai, a Frenchified name, long since universally substituted. Two hundred years ago it was celebrated for its coarse woollen manufactures, principally of carpets and hangings, mentioned in some of our old comedies. Probably thick gloves were another article of importation. Our modern dannocks, indeed, are of thick leather, and made at home by our own glovers. Dan. dorneck.">[
Brass in All Saints, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.—In the Church of All Saints, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (an erection dating at some period of the Protestant dark ages), there is a magnificent Flemish brass, of which the incumbent refuses to allow a rubbing to be taken, on the ground that the process would injure it! Can any of your correspondents tell me if it has been engraved, and where?
J. H. B.
[There is a beautiful representation of the very curious plate of brass inlaid on the table monument of Roger Thornton, the celebrated patron of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, temp. Henry IV., and still preserved in the Church of All Saints in that town, engraved in Brand's History of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, vol. i. p. 382. Mention is also made by that author of another work containing it, entitled Monuments in the Churches of St. Nicholas and All Saints.]
Imperfect Bible.—A Bible has lately come into my possession in an imperfect state. It is in black letter, 4to., with the capitals commencing the chapters in Roman letters. I wish to know the date and printer. It begins at fol. 7., at the end of the 6th verse of xvth chapter of Genesis, "counted that to him for righteousness." There are a number of engravings representing the instruments used in the temple and tabernacle, at fol. 36. 38. 40. 62. 160. &c. There is no date, but I think it is about 1590 or 1600.
An Ignoramus on the Subject.
[This imperfect Bible is one of the very numerous series of editions of the Genevan or Puritan version, commonly called the Breeches Bible. It is not a 4to. but a pot folio, having six leaves to the sheet or signature, "Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker, printer to the Queen's most excellent Maiestie, Anno Dom. 1595. Cum privilegio." Our correspondent's copy wants the title and preface (three leaves), six leaves of Genesis, the title to the N. Testament, and at the end eleven leaves, including the two tables. The translation may be identified by the last word of 1 Cor. vi. 9., or by 1 Tim. i. 10. There is another edition by the same printer, and of similar size, in the year 1602; but the title to the second part has "conteineth," instead of "conteining.">[
The Poem of "Helga."—At what date was this poem, by Herbert, written?
Seleucus.
[This poem was commenced, as the author states in his preface, "soon after the publication of the translations which he made from the relics of ancient Icelandic and Scandinavian poetry," issued in 1805.]
"Merryweather's Tempest Prognosticator."—I wish to know if there be a book published entitled "Merryweather's Weather Prognostication?" I think, if I mistake not, I saw it among the nautical instruments, &c. in the naval department of the London Exhibition in 1851. I cannot find here if there be any such book extant.
J. T. C.
Dublin.
[The work is entitled An Essay explanatory of the Tempest Prognosticator in the Building of the Great Exhibition for the Works of Industry of all Nations, read before the Whitby Philosophical Society, Feb. 27, 1851, by George Merryweather, M.D., the Designer and Inventor: London, John Churchill, Princes Street, Soho, 1851.]
Edward Spencer's Marriage.—Can any reader supply me with particulars of the marriage of Edward Spencer of Rendlesham, co. Suffolk, and Grosvenor Square, who lived in the early part of the last century, and whose daughters married the Duke of Hamilton and Sir James Dashwood?
Charles Bridger.
Keppel St., Russell Sq.
[The following entry is given in Davy's Suffolk Collections (Add. MSS. 19,097., p. 272.): "Edward Spencer, son of John Spencer, Esq., ob. 1718. Edward, now living at Naunton Hall, is a barrister-at-law. He married Anne, the only daughter of William Baker of Layham, clerk, by whom he had issue Henry Spencer, who died an infant, and Ann Spencer, their only daughter, and now living." This extract is copied from Hawes's MSS., the date of which, unfortunately, is not given.]
Yew-tree at Crowhurst.—Could any of your readers inform me of the age of the yew-tree in Crowhurst Churchyard, Sussex?
C. Bowmer.
[Decandolle assigns an antiquity of fourteen and a half centuries to this remarkable yew. See a valuable article on the "Age of Trees" in our fourth volume, p. 401.]