Minor Queries Answered.
Hornchurch; Wrestling for the Boar's Head.
—I have extracted from the Daily News of the 5th instant, the following paragraph, which appears to have been quoted from the Chelmsford Chronicle, relative to this custom:—
"By ancient charter or usage in Hornchurch, a boar's head is wrestled for in a field adjoining the church; a boar, the property of the parish, having been slaughtered for the purpose. The boar's head, elevated on a pole, and decorated with ribbons, was brought into the ring, where the competitors entered and the prize awarded."
The paragraph goes on further to observe that if the prize be taken by a champion out of the parish, the charter is lost. And I shall be glad to know the origin of the custom, and of the notion of the charter or usage, as it is called, being lost if the prize be taken away as before alluded to. I observe that it is noticed in the Gentleman's Magazine for April, 1828, p. 305.
JOHN NURSE CHADWICK.
[It may be as well to state, as a clue to the discovery of this ancient custom, that the tithes of Hornchurch belong to New College, Oxford; the warden and fellows of which society are ordinaries of the place, and appoint a commissary, who holds an annual visitation. The lessee of the tithes supplies the boar's head, dressed and garnished with bay leaves, &c. Several curious notices are given by Hone in his works of the custom observed at Christmas at Queen's College, Oxford, of serving up at the first course at dinner, "a fair and large boreshead upon a silver platter with minstralsye;" but he has omitted to furnish the origin of the custom at Hornchurch. Perhaps some Oxonian connected with New College will favour us with a reply.]
Spectacles.
—In recent numbers of "N. & Q." there have been several allusions to spectacles, and as I am not aware of any clear and satisfactory data relative to the origin or antiquity of this most important auxiliary to the extension and usefulness of that sense upon which the enjoyment and value of life so much depends, I beg to submit the Query, What is the earliest form in which evidence of the existence of this invaluable optical aid to the human eye presents itself?
H.
[Dr. Johnson expressed his surprise that the inventor of spectacles was regarded with indifference, and has found no biographer to celebrate his deeds. Most authorities give the latter part of the thirteenth century as the period of their invention, and popular opinion has pronounced in favour of Alexander de Spina, a native of Pisa, who died in the year 1313. In the Italian Dictionary, Della Crusca, under the head of "Occhiale," or Spectacles, it is stated that Friar Jordan de Rivalto tells his audience, in a sermon published in 1305, that "it is not twenty years since the art of making spectacles was found out, and is indeed one of the best and most necessary inventions in the world." This would place the invention in the year 1285. On the other hand, Dominic Maria Manni, an eminent Italian writer, attributes the invention to Salvino Armati, who flourished about 1345. (See his Treatise, Degli Occhiali da Naso, inventati da Salvino Armati, 4to. 1738.) On the authority of various passages in the writings of Friar Bacon, Mr. Molyneux is of opinion that he was acquainted with the use of spectacles; and when Bacon (Opus Majus) says, that "this instrument (a plano-convex glass, or large segment of a sphere) is useful to old men, and to those who have weak eyes; for they may see the smallest letters sufficiently magnified," we may conclude that the particular way of assisting decayed sight was known to him. It is quite certain that they were known and used about the time of his death, A.D. 1292.]
Stoke.
—What is the meaning of the word stoke, with regard to the names of places, as Bishopstoke, Ulverstoke, Stoke-on-Trent, &c.?
W. B.
[Bosworth (Anglo-Saxon Dict.) derives it from "stoc, a place; hence stoke, a termination of the names of places; locus:—Wude stoc sylvarum locus, Sim. Dunelm. anno 1123.">[
Author of Psalm Tune "Doncaster."
—Our organist is about to add another selection of psalm tunes to the large number already existing. He has been able to assign all the tunes which it comprises to their proper composers, with one exception—the tune called "Doncaster," the author of which he has failed to discover. Will any of your correspondents kindly supply this desideratum?
W. SPARROW SIMPSON, B.A.
[The well-known tune called "Doncaster" was composed by Dr. Edward Miller, for fifty-one years organist of Doncaster Church, but better known as the author of The History and Antiquities of Doncaster. See his Collection of Psalm Tunes for the Use of Parish Churches, 4to. 1790, pp. 32. 46. 106.]
Dr. Henry Sacheverell.
—Can any of your correspondents refer me to a copy of the Assize Sermon preached at Derby by Dr. Sacheverell, and which formed part of the charge against him?
L. J.
[We can favour L. J. with the loan of a copy of this sermon for a week or two. It shall be left for him at our publisher's.]