Minor Queries.
Plants and Flowers.—Might I inquire of your correspondent Eirionnach why his long-promised Notes on the "ecclesiastical and rustic pet names" of plants and flowers have never been forthcoming? I have often lingered on the threshold of the "garden full of sunshine and of bees," where Eirionnach has laboured; would he kindly be my guide to the pleasant domain, and indicate (without trespassing on your columns I mean) the richest gatherings of the legendary lore and poetry of the vegetable kingdom? Are there any collections of similes drawn from plants and flowers? Dr. Aitkin has broken ground in his Essay on Poetical Similes. Any notes on this subject, addressed to the "care of the Editor," will greatly oblige
Sigma.
Customs, London.
Quotations wanted.—Whence the following:
1. "Condendaque Lexica mandat Damnatis, pœnam pro pœnis omnibus unam."
Quoted at the end of the Preface to Liddell and Scott's Lexicon?
2. "Rex erat Elizabeth, sed erat Regina Jacobus?"[[1]]
P. J. F. Gantillon.
Footnote 1:[(return)]
Rapin has given the parentage of this pasquil at the end of his History of James I.:
"Tandis qu' Elizabeth fut Roy
L'Anglois fut d'Espagne l'effroy,
Maintenant, devise et caquette,
Regi par la Reine Jaquette."
"Extinctus amabitur idem."
Unde?
W. T. M.
Griffith, William, Bishop of Ossory.—Any facts relative to the life of this prelate will be acceptable, as I am about to go to press with a work comprising Lives of the Bishops of Ossory.
James Graves.
Killkenny.
"Cowperiana."—Southey, in his preface to the last volume of his edition of Cowper's Works (dated Aug. 12, 1837), speaks of his intention to publish two additional volumes under the title of Cowperiana. Were these ever published? If not, will they ever be?
W. P. Storer.
Olney, Bucks.
John Keats's Poems.—Can any of your readers inform me what legend (if any) John Keats the poet refers to in his beautiful poem of St. Agnes' Eve, st. xix., when he says:
"Never on such a night have lovers met,
Since Merlin paid his demon all the monstrous debt."
And pray let me know what is implied in the concluding lines of his absurd poem of Hyperion, as they have always been a mystery to me.
Ξανθος.
Holland.—We have the kingdom of Holland, we have the Holland division of Lincolnshire, and in Lancashire we have the two townships of Downholland and Upholland. Is the derivation of each the same, and, if it be, what is the affinity?
Prestoniensis.
Armorial.—Can the younger son of a peer use the supporters to his family arms?
Prestoniensis.
Stoke and Upton.—These names of places are so very common, and in some counties, as Bucks, Worcester, and Devon, apply to adjoining villages, that it would be interesting to know the origin of the names, and of their association.
Jno. D. Alcroft.
Slavery in England.—One of the recent volumes published by the Chetham Society, the Stanley Papers, part ii., contains the household books of the third and fourth Earls of Derby, temp. Queen Elizabeth. I find in the "orders touching the government of my Lo. his house," that at the date thereof (1558) slavery in some form or other existed in England, for in the mansion of this powerful noble it was provided—
"That no slaves nor boyes shall sitt in the hall, but in place therefore appoynted convenyent."
And,—
"That the yemen of horses and groomes of the stable shall not suffre any boyes or slaves to abye about the stables, nor lye in theym, nor in anie place about theym."
Was there then in England the form of slavery now in existence in the United States, and until lately in the West Indies; or was it more like the serfdom of Russia? And when was this slavery abolished in England?
Prestoniensis.
"Go to Bath."—What is the origin of this saying?
R. R.
Mummy Chests.—Harris, in his Natural History of the Bible, says:
"The imperishable chests which contain the Egyptian mummies were of cypress."
Shaw, in his Travels, p. 376., says:
"The mummy chests, and whatever figures and instruments are found in the catacombs, are all of them of sycamore."
Which is right, and how can we account for the contradiction?
N. L. J.
The Blechenden Family.—Thomas Blechenden, D.D., a Prebendary of Canterbury, whose will was proved in 1663, had a younger brother Richard, who had a daughter Mary. It is desired to know if Mary married, and if so, to whom? The family were of Ruffin's Hill in Kent, and Richard is described as "of London."
Gwillim.
Philadelphia.
Francklyn Household Book.—In the extracts from this MS., given in the Archæologia, vol. xv. p. 157., is an entry,—
"Given to the prisoners at White Chappel, 1s."
Who were they?
"Nov. 12, 1624. Given to Mr. Atkynson's man for writing out the causes which are to be hearde in the Star Chamber this tearme, 1s."
Who and what was Mr. Atkynson?
"June 13, 1625. Spent by Wyllyam when he was sworn by the pages, 6s. 6d."
What does this refer to?
"April 17, 1625. Given to Sir Charles Morrison's groomes, 3s."
Who and what was Sir Charles Morrison?
In another extract given elsewhere, I find,—
"August 5, 1644. For bay salt to stop the barrells, 6d."
What does this mean?
"January 17, 1644. For four giggs and scourgesticks, 1s."
What are giggs and scourgesticks?
"November 10, 1646. For haulfe a pound of cakes and jumballs, 10d."
What are jumballs?
Can any of your readers tell me where this Livre des Acconts pour Chevalier Jean Francklyn en son [sic] Maison au Wilsden now is? When the extracts were published in the Archæologia, it was said to be in the possession of the late Sir John Chardin Musgrave, Bart. I have applied to the present Sir George Musgrave, and also to George Musgrave, Esq., of Gordon Square, and Bedfordshire, who is descended from Sir Christopher Musgrave, who married to his second wife a daughter of Sir George Francklyn; but neither can give me any tidings of this MS.
J. K.
Lord Rosehill's Marriage.—An American paper of August 22, 1768, has the following:
"Last week was married in Maryland, the Right Honorable Lord Rosehill to Miss Margaret Cheer, a lady much admired for her theatrical performances."
Who was Lord Rosehill?
W. D. R.
Philadelphia.
Colonel Butler.—Can you give me any information respecting Colonel Butler, who fought during the civil wars, I fear, under the banner of the usurper? He belonged to a Lincolnshire family, and either his daughter or some relative married a person of the name of Hairby or Harby.
Agares.
Willesdon, co. Middlesex.—Information is solicited respecting the families of Willesdon, Roberts, Francklyn, Barne, Poulett, Atye, Troyford, and Nicolls of this place, as well as of other families known to have belonged to this parish.
Any communications as to the church, its original construction, or its reconstruction about the end of the fourteenth, or beginning of the fifteenth, century, or illustrative of the general history of the parish in early or recent times, or biographical notices of its vicars, will be gladly received; and as such information may not be generally interesting to your readers, I would request contributors to address any communications they may be pleased to favour me with, to J. K., care of Mr. Fenton, Kensall Green, Harrow Road, Middlesex.
J. K.