Minor Queries Answered.
Kimmeroi, Cimbri, Cymry.
—There appears to be a growing belief that the Gomeridæ of the Bible, the Kimmeroi of the Greeks, the Cimbri of the Romans, and the Cymry or Kymry of Wales, belong to the same family; the few words remaining of their language are to all appearance Kymraeg; and recently there was some likelihood of having more light thrown upon this subject. Kohl, the German traveller, visited the remnant of the Cimbri defeated by Marius, and was told that "sette commune parlano Cimbro." Is the language of these Lombard Kimbri like that of the Kymry of Wales? M. Kohl states that a professor at Padua was about to publish the remains of their language; but I have not seen any subsequent notice respecting them. The inquiry is highly interesting, and will I trust be taken up by some persons who may be in position to obtain further information; and I hope soon to see a few specimens of their language in "NOTES AND QUERIES."
Ritson, in the notes to his work on the Celts, has these remarks on the language of this Cimbric remnant:
"Their language, which was thought to be a corrupt German, was found upon closer inquiry to be very pure Danish. Signor Marco Pezzo has written a very learned dissertation on this subject."—Page 288.
What is the title of this work? I am very desirous to obtain further information on this subject, and invite attention to this people and their Kimbro speech.
T. STEPHENS.
Merthyr Tydfil.
[The title of Pezzo's work is, Dei Cimbri Veronesi, e Vicentini, libri ii. Terza edizione. 8vo. Verona, 1763. This edition is in the British Museum.]
Dictionary of Musicians.
—I have now before me A Dictionary of Musicians, &c., second edition, 2 vols. 8vo., Longman and others, 1827. I should be glad to know whether there is any more recent edition, or anybody engaged in preparing one; or whether there is any more recent and complete work of the kind. This one contains much information, but might be greatly improved by omissions, corrections, and additions.
AN AMATEUR.
[The Biographical Dictionary of Musicians noticed by our correspondent is very incorrect in its details. There is another work of the same kind in preparation, but is not expected to be published for some months. The latest works on the subject are the German Lexicon der Tonkunst in several 8vo. volumes, and that by M. Fetis, which appeared about four years since at Brussels, and pronounced both comprehensive and correct.]
City of London Charter.
—What was the cause of the City charter being forfeited in the year 1683?
In a trial, The King v. The City of London, judgment was given against the City, whereby the charter was forfeited.
S. E. G.
[An information brought against the Mayor and citizens of London was "for usurping of divers franchises and liberties within the said city, and for assuming to themselves an unlawful power to levy several great sums of money, as well upon the said citizens of London as strangers; and in particular upon those which come to the markets of the said city, by colour of the laws and ordinances in their Common Council by them in fact ordained and established, without any other right or authority." The circumstance which gave occasion for this quo warranto to be brought against the City charter, was a petition the Court of Aldermen and City made to the King, upon his prorogation of Parliament, when they were going to try several noblemen concerned in the Popish plot; but especially for their printing and publishing the petition, which was considered seditious. For particulars relating to this celebrated trial, we must refer our correspondent to the following tracts:—The Case of the Charter of London Stated, fol. 1683. This is an ingenious treatise against the charter. A Defence of the Charter and Municipal Rights of the City of London, by Thomas Hunt, 4to.; The Lawyer Outlawed; or a Brief Answer to Mr. Hunt's Defence of the Charter, 4to. 1683; The Forfeitures of London's Charter, or an Impartial Account of the several Seisures of the City Charter, 4to. 1682; Reflections on the City Charter, and Writ of Quo Warranto, 4to. 1682; The City of London's Plea to the Quo Warranto, (an information) brought against their Charter in Michaelmas Term, 1681, fol. 1682. A summary account of the whole proceedings will be found in Maitland's History of London, vol. i. pp. 473-484.]
St. Alkald.
—Upon looking over a sheet of the Ordnance Map lately published, on which part of the parish of Giggleswick is laid down, I find that the patron saint, to whom the church is dedicated, is St. Alkald. No calendar that I have access to mentions any such saint. I shall be obliged by any of your correspondents giving me some account of him, or referring me to any book where I may read his history.
F. W. J.
[In The Calendar of the Anglican Church Illustrated, published by Parker of Oxford, p. 181., our querist will find
"S. Alkald or Alkilda was commemorated March 28. The church of Giggleswick, Yorkshire, is named in honour of this saint, and the Collegiate Church of Middleham in the same county in the joint names of SS. Mary and Alkald.">[