Minor Queries.
246. Rocky Chasm near Gaëta: Earthquake at the Crucifixion.
—Dr. Basire (who was archdeacon of Northumberland, prebendary of Durham, and chaplain to King Charles the Martyr and King Charles II.), in his account of a tour made by himself and companions in 1649, says:
"Wee landed to see Gaëta, a pleasant, strong, and very antient citty. In it we saw some wonders, especially the thorow rupture of a rocky mountain by an earthquake, which tradition sayes, and Cardinal Baronius publishes to have happened at our Savior's passion: a stupendous sight it is however, and well worth our digression."—Correspondence, &c., of Basire, edited by the Rev. W. N. Darnell, p. 90.
I cannot here consult Baronius, to see whether he gives any references, and should be very glad to be referred to any ancient historian who has noticed the event to which this remarkable chasm is attributed, and to know whether the tradition is preserved by any classical writer. I do not find the chasm in question described by any naturalist, or other traveller, whose writings I have been able to refer to. It is in a locality which abounds with indications of volcanic action. It is said that the Monte Somma was probably not distinct from the present cone of Vesuvius prior to the great eruption in A.D. 79. In Dr. Daubeny's Description of Active and Extinct Volcanos, mention is made of an ancient town beneath the town of Sessa, where a chamber with antique frescoes and the remains of an amphitheatre were disinterred, of the overwhelming of which there is no record, nor is there even a tradition of any eruption having occurred near it in the memory of man.
W. S. G.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
247. Cavalcade.
—Your correspondent MR. W. H. HESLEDEN, in his description of "A Funeral in Hamburgh" (Vol. iv., p. 269.), has twice made use of the word cavalcade in reference to that which would otherwise appear to be a walking procession. He will oblige me (and I dare say others of your readers) by explaining whether the procession was really equestrian, or whether he has any authority for the application of the term to pedestrians. The use of the word cannot have been a mere oversight, since it is repeated. The relation in which it stands makes it very doubtful whether it can, by any possibility, be intended to describe a riding party. If, by any latitude, the word may be otherwise applied, an authority would be interesting. If it is an error, it certainly should not go uncorrected in "NOTES AND QUERIES."
NOCAB.
Harley Street.
248. A Sept of Hibernians.
—Is sept a word of Erse etymology; and, if not, of what other? Has it a specific sense; or is it a general equivalent to clann or treubh?
A. N.
249. Yankee Doodle.
—Can any of your correspondents explain the origin of this song, or state in what book a correct version of it can be found? Likewise, whether the tune is of older date than the song. To some these may appear trite questions; but I can assure you that I have been unable to obtain the information I require elsewhere, and my applications for the song at several music shops, when I was last in London, were unsuccessful.
SAMPSON WALKER.
Cambridge.
250. Seventeenth of November: Custom.
—When at school at Christ's Hospital, many years ago, a curious custom prevailed on the 17th November respecting which I had not then sufficient curiosity to inquire.
Two or more boys would take one against whom they had any spite or grudge, and having lifted him by the arms and legs would bump him on the hard stones of the cloisters.
I have often, since I left the school, wondered what could be the origin of this practice, and more especially as the day was recognised as having some connexion with Queen Elizabeth.
In reading, "Sir Roger de Coverley" with notes by Willis, published in the Traveller's Library, I find at p. 134. what I consider a fair explanation. A full account is there given of the manner in which the citizens of London intended to celebrate, in 1711, the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession on 17th November; some parts of which would almost seem to have been copied during the excitement against the papal bull in November 1850.
I have little doubt that originally the unfortunate boy who had to endure the rude bumping by his schoolfellows was intended to represent the pope or one of his emissaries, and that those who inflicted the punishment were looked upon as good Protestants.
Is there any other school where this day is celebrated; and if so, what particular custom prevails there?
The boys always attended morning service at Christ Church on this day.
F. B. RELTON.
251. Chatter-box.
—The derivation of this word would seem very plain, and yet I have some doubts about it. I used to think that we called a person a "chatter-box" because he or she was, metaphorically speaking, a box full of chatter, as we should call another person a bag-of-bones. And this seemed confirmed by the German plaudertasche, or a chatter-bag, till I learnt from Wackernagel, Glossar, that in the Middle High German Tasche = a woman. (See under "Flattertasche.") I believe we meet with the word again in the epithet Maultasche applied to the celebrated Margaret Maultasche, the wife of Louis the Elder; i.e. Margaret, the woman with the large mouth. The word also occurs in the Danish Taske = a girl, a wench. Hence, I conclude that there is no doubt but that the German plaudertasche means a chattering woman. Has our chatter-box the same meaning—i.e. is there a word for woman or female in any of our ancient languages from which box might arise? The only word which occurs to me just now as confirming such a supposition is buxom ("to be bonere and buxom, in bedde and at borde." Ancient Matrimony Service), which is thus = womanly.
J. M. (4)
St. Mary Tavy, Tavistock.
252. Printing in 1449, and Shakspeare.
—As the Esil controversy seems now, if not settled, to be at least lulled, at the risk of stirring up another Shakspearean discussion, I venture to set down a passage in the Second Part of Henry VI., which I have never yet seen satisfactorily explained. It is—
"Act IV. Scene 7.—Cade. ... Thou has most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm, in erecting a grammar-school; and whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used; and contrary to the king, his crown and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill."
Is this a mere wilful anachronism on Shakspeare's part; or had "that misunderstood politician" Mr. John Cade any ground for this particular accusation against the Lord Treasurer Say? Perhaps some of your correspondents who have contributed the very interesting Notes on Caxton and Printing will elucidate the matter.
W. FRASER.
253. Texts before Sermons.
—What is the origin of, and the authority for our present use of texts of Holy Scripture before sermons? In the Roman Catholic church the custom, I believe, is not the same. The homilies used in the Church of England have no texts. In the ancient Postils, was the gospel for the day again read from the pulpit, or were the hearers supposed to carry it in their minds? It is quite clear that texts are now in most cases merely the pegs whereon the sermon is hung, so to speak, and are not read as passages of Holy Scripture to be expounded to an audience ignorant of the meaning of the sacred volume. Perhaps this Query may draw forth some remarks on the subject.
G. R. M.
254. Paradyse, Hell, Purgatory.
—Can any of your correspondents favour me with the history and uses of three Chambers or Houses in Westminster Hall, which in the reigns of Henry VII. and VIII. bore these portentous names? The custody of them was evidently a source of profit; as there are several grants of it to "squires of the king's body" and others. (See Rymer, xii. 275., xiii. 34.; Rot. Parl. vi. 372.)
Φ.
255. Dead Letter.
—"If the editor of 'NOTES AND QUERIES' will accept an indirect suggestion, we should be glad if he, or some of his learned correspondents, would inform the public of the origin or antiquity of the popular saying by which a thing, under certain circumstances, is designated as a 'dead letter.'"
[Being unwilling that the foregoing Query, which we have taken from an admirable article on the Dead Letters of the Post Office, which appeared in The Times of Tuesday last, should itself become a dead letter, we have transferred it to our columns in hopes that some of our learned correspondents will explain the origin, and show the antiquity of the phrase by instances of its earliest use. We do not believe that it is a Post Office technicality transferred to the vocabulary of every-day life, but that it is in some way connected with "the letter" that "killeth.">[
256. Dominus Bathurst, &c.
—Who was "Dominus Bathurst," a Commoner of Winchester in 1688? "Dominus Anvers" and "Dominus Modyford" occur in 1694; who were they?
MACKENZIE WALCOTT, M.A.
257. Grammar Schools.
—The Editor of the Family Almanack would be glad if any of the readers of the "NOTES AND QUERIES" could inform him whether the Grammar Schools founded in the following places are still open to scholars:—
Neale's School, March, Cambridgeshire; Dilborne, Staffordshire; Kirton in Lindsay, Lincolnshire; Kirton in Holland, Lincolnshire; Nuneaton, Warwickshire; Pilkington School, Prestwich, Lancashire; Royston, Yorkshire; Bolton School, Scorton, Yorkshire; Lovel's School, Stickney, Lincolnshire; Stourbridge, Worcestershire; Tottenham, Middlesex.
Any letter on the subject can be forwarded to the publisher, 377. Strand.
258. Fermilodum.
—I have an antique metal seal in my possession, which is about two inches and a quarter in diameter, having on its exterior circle in small capitals SIGILLVM + CIVITATIS + FERMILODVM. I wish to know if a place with such a seal could be called a City, and want a literal translation of it. My native town was originated by a monastic establishment, and several of the names of the streets have long puzzled the learned, such as May-gate, Colorow (Collicrow), Pill or Peel Muir: a place called the Rhodes is also in the vicinity. Would any of your antiquarian correspondents give derivations of those streets?
H. E.
259. Lord Hungerford.
—Who was the Lord Hungerford who was hanged and degraded (and for what crime?), and who is said in Defoe's Tour (cited in Southey's Commonplace Book, 4th series, p. 429.) to have had a toad put into his coat of arms? Where can such coat of arms be seen?
J. R. RELTON.
260. Consecration of Bishops in Sweden.
—As I see "NOTES AND QUERIES" attracts notice in Sweden, may I ask whether any record exists of the consecration of Bothvidus Sermonis, who was appointed to the see of Strengness by King Gustavus Vasa in 1536?
E. H. A.