Replies to Minor Queries.
Origin of Clubs (Vol. ix., p. 327.).—Johnson's definition of club, as "an assembly of good fellows, meeting under certain conditions," will apply to a meeting held two centuries earlier than that established by Sir Walter Raleigh at the Mermaid, in Friday Street. In the reign of Henry IV., there was a Club called "La Court de bone Compagnie," of which Occleve was a member, and probably Chaucer. In the works of the former are two ballads, written about 1413, one a congratulation from the brethren to Henry Somer, on his appointment as Sub-Treasurer of the Exchequer; and the other a reminder to the same person, that the "styward" had warned him that he was—
" . . . . for the dyner arraye
Ageyn Thirsday next, and nat it delaye."
That there were certain conditions to be observed by this Society, appears from the latter epistle, which commences with an answer to a letter of remonstrance the "Court" has received from Henry Somer against some undue extravagance, and a breach of their rules. They were evidently a jovial company; and such a history as could be collected of these Societies would be both interesting and curious. We have proof that Henry Somer received Chaucer's pension for him.
Edward Foss.
Dr. Whichcote and Dorothy Jordan (Vol. ix., p. 351.).—The sentence which Mr. Leigh Hunt couples with Mrs. Jordan's laugh, as among the best sermons he ever heard, your correspondent Ξανθος will find in the collection of Moral and Religious Aphorisms of Dr. Whichcote, first published by Dr. Jeffery in 1703, and which were re-published by Dr. Salter in 1753. It is to the following effect:
"Aph. 1060. To lessen the number of things lawful in themselves; brings the consciences of men in[to] slavery, multiplies sin in the world, makes the way narrower than God has made it, occasions differences among men, discourages comers to religion, rebuilds the partition wall, is an usurpation upon the family of God, challenges successive ages backward and forward, assigns new boundaries in the world, takes away the opportunity of free-will offerings."
It is possible that Mr. Leigh Hunt may have found it in the little Manual of Golden Sentences, published by the Rev. John Hunter, Bath, 1826, 12mo., where it occurs at p. 64., No. xlvi.
With respect to Dorothy Jordan's laugh, to those of your readers who, like myself, have heard it, and treasure it among their joyous remembrances, no comment will be wanting.
S. W. Singer.
"Paid down upon the Nail" (Vol. ix., p. 196.).—Your correspondent Abhba mentions Limerick, on the authority of O'Keefe the dramatist, as the place where this saying originated; from the fact of a pillar, with a circular plate of copper upon it, having stood in a piazza under the Exchange in this ancient city: which pillar was called "the nail." Permit me to remark, Bristol also claims the origin of this saying: vide the following paragraph in No. 1. p. 4. of the Curiosities of Bristol, published last September:
"We have heard it stated that this phrase first originated in Bristol, when it was common for the merchants to buy and sell at the bronze pillars (four) in front of the Exchange—the pillars being commonly called Nails."
I should infer that, from the fact of Bristol having been at the time of the erection of these pillars (some centuries ago) by far the most important place in the British empire (London only excepted), it is more likely to have originated this commercial saying than Limerick.
Bristoliensis.
"Man proposes, but God disposes" (Vol. ix., pp. 87. 202.).—I regret that I am unable to afford Mr. Thomas any information respecting the Abbot Gerson, to whom the authorship of the De Imitatione has been attributed, beyond what is contained in the preface to the edition which I before quoted. The authority there cited is a dissertation, entitled Mémoire sur le véritable auteur de l'Imitation de Jésus-Christ, par G. de Gregory, Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, etc., Paris, 1827. The contents of this work are thus described in that preface:
"Eques de Gregory argumentis tum externis, tum internis demonstrat:—1. Libellum—primitus tractatum fuisse ethicæ scholasticum, a magistro novitiorum elaboratum. 2. Eundem, tempore inter annum 1220 et 1240 interjecto, suppresso nomine conscriptum esse a Joanne Gerson, monacho Benedictino, antea in Athenæo Vercellensi professore, postea ibidem monasterii S. Stephani abbate. Denique specialibus argumentis eos refellit, qui vel Joanni Gersoni, cancellario academiæ Parisiensi, vel Thomæ Kempensi hunc librum attribuendum esse contendunt."
I have been informed that an interesting article upon the question of the authorship has recently appeared in a very recent number of a Roman Catholic Review; I believe Brownson's American Quarterly.
H. P.
Lincoln's Inn.
H. P. wishes for some other quotations from De Imitatione Christi, in order to test the claims to originality of that extraordinary work; I therefore now supply another—"Of two evils we ought always to choose the least,"—because I strongly suspect that it is even some centuries older than the time of the author, Thomas à Kempis. It will be found in b. III. ch. xii. of the English translation.
A. B. C.
Roman Catholic Patriarchs (Vol. viii., p. 317.).—The following, with the signature W. Fraser, appeared in "N. & Q.":
"Has any bishop of the Western Church held the title of patriarch, besides the Patriarch of Venice? And what peculiar authority or privileges has he?"
The Archbishop of Lisbon has the title of Patriarch of the Indies; but it does not appear that he has any defined jurisdiction, being only an inferior patriarch, and with a title little more than honorary. His grand vicars, however, are archbishops; and his seal has, like those of other patriarchs, the tiara encircled with two crowns only. This patriarchate was created by Pope Clement XI., by his constitution In supremo Apostolatus. Afterwards, in the year 1720, the same Pope conferred upon the Patriarch of Lisbon the exclusive right of anointing the Kings of Portugal at their coronation on the right arm, which had previously been the privilege of the Archbishop of Braga.
F. C. H.
The primate of Portugal has the style of "patriarch," but I do not know of any privileges or authority that he has beyond those appertaining to the rank of archbishop or cardinal, when he happens to be one, as at present.
J. S. Warden.
Classic Authors and the Jews (Vol. ix., p. 221.).—In Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography a few references are given, under the words "Herodes," "Hyrcanus," &c., to classical authors who refer to the Jewish people, their country and customs. Probably many more will be given in the Dictionary of Geography, under the words "Palestine," "Jerusalem," &c., when the work is completed. To suppose that the classical authors allude but seldom to the Jews is a mistake. Roman writers of the post-Augustan period abound in allusions to them. I can supply
B. H. C. with a few. The Histories of Tacitus refer to them in almost every page, and book v. especially contains an account of their origin, institutions, chief city, and temple. Juvenal also has frequent allusions to their customs and habits, e. g. Sat. iii. 14., xiv. 101. &c.; see also Horace's Satires, I. iv. 143., I. v. 100., and I. ix. 70., with Macleane's notes on the two latter passages; Pliny, V. xiv. 15., XIII. iv. 9., XXXI. viii. 44.; Quint., III. vii. 21.; Just., xxxvi. 2. I am not aware of any work which gives all the passages in classical authors referring to the Jews.
Francis J. Leachman, B.A.
In answer to your correspondent B. H. C., I beg to say that I have found out the following passages in classic authors bearing on Judea and the Jews, all of which I have authenticated myself, except where I had not the book at hand:
Tacitus. Annales, ii. 85.; xii. 23. 54.; xv. 44.
Ditto. Historiæ, i. 10.; ii. 1. 4, 5. 78. 79. 81.; v. passim.
Horace. Satires, i. 4. 143.; i. 5. 100.; i. 9. 70.
Juvenal. Satires, ii. 14.; vi. 158-160, 537-547.; xiv. 96-106.
Persius. Satires, v. 180-189.
Martial, iv. 4.
Suetonius. Tiberius, 36.; Augustus, 76.; Claudius, 25.; Vespasian, 5. &c.; Julius Cæsar, 84.
Pliny, v. 14, 15, 16. &c.; vii. 15.; xxviii. 7.
Dio Cassius, lx. §6.; xxxvii. §17.
Lucan, ii.
B. H. A.
Mawkin (Vol. ix., p. 303.).—An attempt to explain the origin of the word maukin, or malkin, may be seen in the Philological Museum, vol. i. p. 681. (See also Halliwell's Dict., in Malkin and Maulkin.) The most probable derivation of the word is, that malkin is a diminutive of mal, abbreviated from Mary, now commonly written Moll. Hence, by successive changes, malkin or maukin might mean a dirty wench, a figure of old rags dressed up as a scarecrow, and a mop of rags used for cleaning ovens. The Scotch maukin, for a hare, seems to be an instance of an animal acquiring a proper name, like renard in French, and jack for pike in English.
L.
Mantelpiece (Vol. ix., p. 302.).—French, Manteau de cheminée. German, Kamin Mantel. This is the moulding, or mantle, that serves to hide (screen) the joint betwixt the wall and the fire-stove.
H. F. B.
Mousehunt (Vol. ix., pp. 65, 135.).—A short time ago I was informed by a gamekeeper, that this little animal is found in the Holt Forest. He told me that there are three kinds of the weasel tribe in the woods: the weasel, the stoat or stump, and the mousehunt or mousehunter, which is also called the thumb, from its diminutive size. It feeds on mice and small birds; but my informant does not think that it attacks game.
White of Selbourne mentions that such an animal was supposed to exist in his neighbourhood:
"Some intelligent country people have a notion that we have, in these parts, a species of the genus Mustelinum, besides the weasel, stoat, ferret, and polecat: a little reddish beast, not much bigger than a field-mouse, but much longer, which they call a cane. This piece of intelligence can be little depended on; but farther inquiry may be made."—Natural History of Selbourne, Let. 15.
Frederick M. Middleton.
As I can completely join in with the praise your correspondent Mr. Tennyson awards to Mr. Fennell's Natural History of Quadrupeds (except as regards some of its woodcuts, which I understand were inserted by the publisher in spite of the author's remonstrance), I feel induced to protect Mr. Fennell from the hypercritical commentary of your correspondent J. S.s. (p. 136.).
In the passage quoted and commented on, had Mr. Fennell used the word beach, it would certainly have referred to the sea; but the word "shore," which he there uses, applies to rivers as well as seas. Thus Spenser, speaking of the river Nile, says:
"... Beside the fruitful shore of muddy Nile,
Upon a sunny bank outstretched lay,
In monstrous length, a mighty crocodile."
The passage, therefore, in Mr. Fennell's work does not seem to me to be incorrect, as it may have reference to the shore of the Tweed, Ettrick, Yarrow, or some other rivers in Selkirkshire.
May I take the present opportunity of inquiring through your truly useful columns, when Mr. Fennell's work on the natural history of Shakspeare, advertised some few years since, is likely to appear?
Archibald Fraser.
Woodford.
"Vanitatem observare" (Vol. ix., pp. 247. 311.).—The quotation of R. H. G. is no more to be found in the Canons of Laodicea than in those of Ancyra. Indeed the passage has more the appearance of a recommendation, certainly excellent, than of any grave decree of a council. It can hardly be supposed to bear any other meaning than that Christian females ought not to indulge vanity, or take occasion to be vain of their works in wool, spun or woven; but to refer all their talent to the Almighty, who gives to them the skill and ability to work. Here is evidently an allusion to the skill and wisdom given to Beseleel and Ooliab:
"Both of them hath he instructed with wisdom, to do ... tapestry and embroidery in blue and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, and fine linen, and to weave all things, and to invent all things."—Exod. xxxv. 35.
And Christian women are reminded that all their skill in such work is the gift of God. The learned Benedictine Rupertus has a comment upon this passage of Exodus, so apposite that its substance may appropriately conclude this Note:
"Disce hinc, artes omnes, etiam mechanicas, esse dona Dei, saltem naturalia, neque in iis ut suis, suaque industria inventis aut partis, homini gloriandum esse (q. d. vanitatem observare), sed illas Deo adscribendas, ab eoque petendas, et in ejus obsequium expendendas esse."
F. C. Husenbeth, D.D.
The passage which your correspondent R. H. G. quotes from the Council of Ancyra, A.D. 314, is not to be found in the canons of that Council, which are printed in their original Greek, with several Latin translations, in Labbe's Concilia, vol. ii. p. 513. The meaning of the sentence does not seem very abstruse; but before any suggestion is made for its interpretation, it will be desirable to ascertain to what Council it belongs.
L.
Divining Rod (Vol. viii., pp. 350. 400.).—Your correspondents do not tell us what was discovered in the places to which the rod pointed in the hands of the ladies named; but although they cannot for a moment be suspected of wilfully deceiving, may there not have been, as in table-turning, an unconscious employment of muscular force? I have long since read, and have tried with success, the following mode of producing the effect:—Holding the rod in the usual position, one branch of the fork in each hand, and grasping them firmly, turn your hands slowly and steadily round inwards, i. e. the right hand from the right to left, and the left from left to right—the point of the rod will then gradually descend till it points directly downwards.
J. S. Warden.
Orange Blossoms (Vol. viii., p. 341.).—The compliment of Captain Absolute to Mrs. Malaprop in The Rivals, contains, I have no doubt, the allegorical reason of the employment of these flowers on bridal occasions; and in that view they seem highly appropriate, at least in our colder climates—where we often see many "flowers" still on the parent stem, while the "fruit" has attained its full perfection.
J. S. Warden.
"Hip, hip, hurrah!" (Vol. viii., pp. 88. 323. 605.).—Allow me to correct two mistakes with reference to the notes on this subject. The note ascribed to Dr. Burney, in a copy of Hawkins's History of Music, in the British Museum, is in the handwriting of Sir John Hawkins, as are all the other notes scattered through the five volumes. These MS. notes have been included in the recent reprint of this valuable work. In the hurry of transcribing, Mr. Chappell (as your correspondent A. F. B. suggests) misread the MS. note. In future we must read "hop drinkers," and not "hep drinkers."
Edward F. Rimbault.
Belgium Ecclesiastical Antiquities (Vol. vii., p. 65.).—The inquiry of Ajax has only been recently brought under my notice. In reply, I refer him to Recueil Héraldique et Historique des Familles de Belgique. This is the finest work on the antiquities, civil, military, and ecclesiastic, of that country: it was printed at Antwerp by Rapell fils, and is in five large 4to. volumes. I saw a copy sold in Malines for about 3l.: it is now become more scarce, and probably could not be obtained under 4l.
Henry Daveney.