Replies to Minor Queries.
Broad Arrow (Vol. iv., p. 315.).
—P. C. S. S. has always understood that the "broad arrow" on government stores represented the Pheon, the well-known arms of the Sydney family. Henry Viscount Sydney, afterwards Earl of Romney, was Master-General of the Ordnance from July, 1693, to June, 1702.
P. C. S. S.
Sacro-Sancta Regum Majestas (Vol. iv., p. 293).
—In reply to the second query of Βορέας, I send the following extract from Sir James Ware's Writers of Ireland:—
"John Maxwell was at first promoted to the Sees of Killala and Achonry, and afterwards translated to the archbishopric of Tuam. He writ a Treatise intitled, Sacro-Sancta Regum Majestas; Printed London, 1643 or 1644, 4to., which he published under the name of J.A. In answer to which came out a Tract intitled, Lex, Rex; The Law and the Prince, a dispute for the just Prerogative of King and People. Containing the Reasons and Causes of the most necessary defensive Wars of the Kingdom of Scotland, and of their expedition for the aid and help of their dear brethren in England. In which their Innocency is asserted, and a full Answer is given to a seditious Pamphlet, intitled, Sacro-Sancta Regum Majestas, or the Sacred and Royal Prerogative of Christian Kings under the name of J. A. but penned by John Maxwell, the excommunicate Prelate. London, 1644, 4to."
TYRO.
Dublin.
Your correspondent Βορέας asks who was the author of the Sancta Regum Majestas, or the Sacred and Royal Prerogative of Christian Kings: Oxford, 1644.
This work has been by some erroneously attributed to Archbishop Ussher, from the supposition that the letters J.A., subscribed to the dedication, denoted Jacobus Armachanus; they signify, however, Johannes Alladensis, and the real author was John Maxwell, Bishop of Killala. See Ware's Writers of Ireland (Harris's edit.), p. 357.
J. H. T.
Grimsditch (Vol. iii., pp. 192. 330.).
—There is a wood so called in the parish of Saffron Walden, which has long formed a part of the Audley End estates. It is about a mile from the town, situated on the crest of a steep hill, on the south side of the road leading to Linton, and from its commanding position may have been at some time a military station. Some portions of a fosse may still be traced on the lower edge of the wood; but no tradition connected with its history has descended to us. Warton, in his Account of Kiddington, Oxon, p. 62., edition 1815, observes that Stukeley describes a fosse called Grimsditch, near Ditchley House, between Stunsfield and Chipping Norton, the vallum of which was eastward. He also says that the word means "the ditch made by magic," and was indiscriminately applied to ancient trenches, roads, and boundaries, whether British, Roman, Saxon, or Danish.
We learn from the same work, that there exists a vallum, or ridged bank, within two miles of Ewelme, and near to Nuffield, called Grimsditch; and the lands adjoining to it are described in a charter in or before the reign of Richard I. as "extra fossatum de Grimisdic."
BRAYBROOKE.
"'Tis Twopence now," &c. (Vol. iv., p. 314.).
—I met with the lines mentioned by your correspondent REMIGIUS in a newspaper about twenty years ago, and cut them out. I cannot now remember the work it was said they were copied from, nor do I quite understand if that is the information REMIGIUS wants, or the verses themselves: but I think the verses, and therefore inclose them.
THE ABBEY: A FRAGMENT.
"A feeling sad came o'er me, as I trod the sacred ground
Where Tudors and Plantagenets were lying all around:
I stepp'd with noiseless foot, as though the sound of mortal tread
Might burst the bands of the dreamless sleep that wraps the mighty dead.
"The slanting ray of the evening sun shone through those cloisters pale,
With fitful light, on regal vest and warrior's sculptured mail;
As from the stained and storied pane it danced with quivering gleam,
Each cold and prostrate form below seem'd quickening in the beam.
"Now sinking low, no more was heard the organ's solemn swell,
And faint upon the listening ear the last hosanna fell;
It died—and not a breath did stir; above each knightly stall,
Unmoved, the banner'd blazonry hung waveless as a pall.
"I stood alone—a living thing midst those that were no more—
I thought on ages that were past, the glorious deeds of yore—
On Edward's sable panoply, on Cressy's tented plain,
The fatal Roses twined at length, on great Eliza's reign.
"I thought on Blenheim—when, at once, upon my startled ear
There came a sound; it chill'd my veins, it froze my heart with fear,
As from a wild unearthly voice I heard these accents drop—
'Sarvice is done—it's tuppence now for them as wants to stop!'"
FANNY.
Pauper's Badge (Vol. iv., p. 294.).
—The 8 & 9 Wm. III. c. 30. s. 2., required all paupers in the receipt of parochial relief to wear a badge bearing a large Roman "P", together with the first letter of the name of the parish, cut either in red or blue cloth, upon the shoulder of the right sleeve of the uppermost garment, in an open and visible manner, under certain penalties, and prevented paupers who neglected to wear it from being relieved. This provision of the statute was repealed by the 50 Geo. III. c. 52.; and although by the 55 Geo. III. c. 137. s. 2. parish officers might cause goods, &c. to be branded with the word "Workhouse," and such other mark or stamp as they thought proper, to identify the parish, it was nevertheless provided, with the view of preventing a revival of the former mark of degradation, that such mark or stamp should not at any time be placed on any articles of wearing apparel so as to be publicly visible on the exterior of the same.
FRANCISCUS.