Minor Queries with Answers.
Seamen's Tickets.—From an old paper, 1768:
"Feb. 8. Died at her house in Chapel Street, near Ratcliff Highway, aged 95, Margaret M‘Kennow, who kept a lodging-house in that neighbourhood many years, and dealt in seamen's tickets. She is said to have died worth upwards of 6000l., and just after she expired twenty-nine quarter guineas were found in her mouth."
What are seamen's tickets?
W. D. R.
Philadelphia.
[The system of paying seamen with tickets instead of cash caused great discontent during the reign of Charles II., and, from the frequent notices respecting it in Pepys's Diary, seems to have given our Diarist great trouble. On November 30, 1660, he says: "Sir G. Carteret did give us an account how Mr. Holland do intend to prevail with the parliament to try his project of discharging the seamen all at present by ticket, and so promise interest to all men that will lend money upon them at eight per cent. for so long as they are unpaid, whereby he do think to take away the growing debt which do now lie upon the kingdom for lack of present money to discharge the seamen." These tickets the poor fellows sold at half price to usurers, mostly Jews; and to so great an extent was the system carried, that in the year 1710 there was a floating debt due to these usurers of ten millions paid by Harley from a fictitious fund formed by the government.]
Bruce, Robert.—Can you tell me the name of the author of the following little work? It is small, and contains 342 pages, and is entitled:
"The Acts and Life of the most Victorious Conqueror Robert Bruce, King of Scotland. Wherein also are contained the Martial Deeds of the Valiant Princes Edward Bruce, Sir James Douglas, Earl Thomas Randal, Walter Stewart, and sundry others. To which is added a Glossary, explaining the difficult
Words contained in this Book, and that of Wallace. Glasgow: printed by Mr. A. Carmichael and A. Miller. MDCCXXXVII."
James P. Bryce.
[This work is by John Barbour (sometimes written Barber, Barbere, and Barbare), an eminent Scottish metrical historian. It has been said that he received his education at the Abbey of Aberbrothock, where he took orders, and obtained a living near Aberdeen. Dr. Henry supposes Barbour to have become Archdeacon of Aberdeen in 1356. It is probable he died towards the close of 1395. His poem has passed through several editions, and is considered of high historical value. The earlier editions are those of Edinburgh, 1616, 1670, 12mo. In 1790, Pinkerton published "the first genuine edition from a MS. dated 1489, with notes and a Glossary." The best edition, however, is that by Dr. Jamieson, with Notes, and Life of the Author, Edinb. 4to. 1820.]
Coronation Custom.—At the coronations of Henry IV. and Richard III. a ceremony was performed which seems to indicate some idea of the elective sovereignty in England. The archbishop stood at each of the four corners of the dais in succession, and asked from thence the consent of the assembled Commons (Heylin, Reform., 1st edit., p. 32.). Did this ever take place at the coronation of English monarchs whose succession was not disputed?
J. H. B.
[In after times this ceremony seems to be that called "The Recognition." Sandford, speaking of the coronation of James II., says, "The Archbishop of Canterbury standing near the king, on the east side of the theatre, his majesty, attended as before, rose out of his chair, and stood before it, whilst the archbishop, having his face to the east, said as follows: 'Sirs. I here present unto you King James, the rightful inheritor of the crown of this realm; wherefore all ye that are come this day to do your homage, service, and bounden duty, are ye willing to do the same?' From thence the said archbishop, accompanied with the lord keeper, the lord great chamberlain, the lord high constable, and the earl marshal (garter king of arms going before them), proceeded to the south side of the theatre, and repeated the same words; and from thence to the west, and lastly to the north side of the theatre, in like manner: the king standing all this while by his chair of state, toward the east side of the theatre, and turning his face to the several sides of the theatre, at such time as the archbishop at every of them spake to the people. At every of which the people signified their willingness and joy by loud acclamations.">[
William Warner.—Where can any account be found of Warner the poet, the author of Albion's England?
I. R. R.
[Some account of William Warner will be found in Wood's Athenæ Oxonienses. vol. i. pp., 765-773. (Bliss); also in Percy's Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, vol. ii. p. 261., edit. 1812. From the register of Amwell, in Herts, it appears that he died there March 9, 1608-9, "soddenly in the night in his bedde, without any former complaint or sicknesse;" and that he was "a man of good yeares and honest reputation; by his profession an attorney at the Common Please."—Scott's Amwell, p. 22. note.]
"Isle of Beauty."—Who was the author of "Isle of Beauty?" I always thought Thomas Haynes Bayly, but some say Lord Byron. Not knowing Mrs. Bayly's immediate address, I send this Query. I much regret not asking her when I sent my volume of poems, with view of poor Bayly's Grove, Cheltenham.
L. M. Thornton.
14. Philip Street, Bath.
[The "Isle of Beauty" is by Thomas Haynes Bayly, and is given among his Songs, Ballads, and other Poems, edited by his widow, vol. i. p. 182. edit. 1844.]
Edmund Lodge.—Can you give me the date of the death of Edmund Lodge, the herald? I suppose there will be some account of him in the Obituary of the Gentleman's Magazine, to which I wish to refer. Was he a descendant of the Rev. Edmund Lodge, the predecessor of Dawes in the Mastership of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School at Newcastle-upon-Tyne?
E. H. A.
[Edmund Lodge died January 16, 1839. An account of him is given in the Gentleman's Magazine for April, 1839, p. 433.]
King John.—Baines, in his History of Liverpool, p. 77., says King John "was at Lancaster on the 26th February 1206, and at Chester on the 28th February following." What route did he take from the first to the second-named town, and what was the object of his visit?
Prestoniensis.
[Upon reference to the Introduction to the Patent Rolls, it appears that John was at Lancaster from Monday the 21st to Sunday 27th, from Monday 28th to Wednesday 1st March at Chester, on Thursday 2nd at Middlewich, Friday the 3rd at Newcastle-under-Lyne, and from the 4th to the 8th at Milburn.]