Minor Queries Answered.
The Bed of Ware.
—In Shakspeare's comedy of Twelfth Night, the following words are used by Sir Toby, Act III. Sc. 2.:
"... Although the sheet were big enough for the Bed of Ware in England."
Query: What is the history of Bed of Ware?
†
[Nares, in his Glossary, says, "This curious piece of furniture is said to be still in being, and visible at the Crown or at the Bull in Ware. It is reported to be twelve feet square, and to be capable of holding twenty or twenty-four persons." And he refers to Chauncy's Hertfordshire for an account of its receiving at once twelve men and their wives, who lay at top and bottom in this mode of arrangement; first two men, then two women, and so on alternately; so that no man was near to any woman but his wife.]
Merry Andrew.
—When did the term Merry Andrew first come into use, and what was the occasion of it?
χ. β.
[Although Strutt, in his Sports and Pastimes, has several allusions to Merry Andrews, he does not attempt to explain the origin of the term. Hearne, in his Benedictus Abbas (tom. i. Præf. p. 50. ed. Oxon. 1735, as quoted by Warton in his English Poetry, vol. iii. p. 74. ed. 1840), speaking of the well-known Andrew Borde, gives it as his opinion that this facetious physician gave rise to the name of MERRY ANDREW, the fool on the mountebank's stage: "'Twas from the Doctor's method of using such speeches at markets and fairs, that in aftertimes those that imitated the like humorous, jocose language, were styled MERRY ANDREWS, a term much in vogue on our stages.">[
A Baron's Hearse.
—In reading a curious old book, entitled the Statesmen and Favourites of England since the Reformation, which was written by David Lloyd, and published in 1665, I was at a loss to know what a baron's hearse might be, and hope therefore that some of your readers may be able to give me some information respecting it. It occurs at page 448., in his observations on the life of Sir Henry Umpton, who, he says, "had allowed him a baron's hearse, because he died ambassadour leiger."
JOHN BRANFILL HARRISON.
Maidstone.
[Although a "baron's hearse" is not particularly specified in the very curious Note upon Funerals prefixed by Mr. J. G. Nichols to the Diary of Henry Machyn, edited by him for the Camden Society,—we refer our correspondent to it, as furnishing much curious illustration of the time and expense formerly bestowed upon these ceremonials. The word "herse," it may be remarked, was not then applied in its modern sense, but to a frame of timber "covered with black, and armes upon the black, ready to receive the corpse when it had arrived within the church," which corresponds to what our French neighbours designate the Catafalque.]
Saint Bartholomew.
—Can you favour me with a reference to any works in which any further account is given of this saint, than is contained in the four passages of the New Testament in which his name is mentioned?
What representations are there of him in picture, tapestry, or window, in England or on the continent?
REGEDONUM.
[For further particulars we would refer our correspondent to Mrs. Jameson's Sacred and Legendary Art (1st edit.), vol. i. pp. 222. et seq.; and Parker's Calendar of the Anglican Church illustrated, p. 100.]
Moravian Hymns—Tabitha's Dream (Vol. iv., p. 502.).
—Are the following lines from Walsh's Aristophanes original; and was the translation ever completed? I quote from memory.
"Audi mæstum, Eliza, questum,
Nuntium audi horridum;
It devota domus tota,
Barathrum orci torridum.
"Simkin Frater desperatur,
Ludit, salit, turpiter;
Ridet Jana sacra fana;
Tabitha Runt deperditur.
"Ego, ut ovis, errans quovis
Scomma nuper omnium,
Ter beata, quæ vocata
Manè sum per somnium;
"Nam procero par Rogero
Spectrum venit cœlitus:
Dicens, Ego amore implebo
Te divino penitus."
J. H. L.
[These lines are by Christopher Anstey, Esq., and will be found in his New Bath Guide, letter xiv., where "Miss Prudence B-n-r-d informs Lady Betty that she has been elected to Methodism by a Vision." This metrical epistle consists of five more verses, to which the author has subjoined a Latin translation. See Anstey's Works, p. 82. 4to. 1808. Only Vol. I. of Walsh's translation of The Comedies of Aristophanes has been published.]
Story of Ginevra.
—Mr. Rogers, in his beautiful poem of Italy, has a story which is headed "Ginevra," and which he lays the scene of at Modena. It narrates that a young bride on the day of her wedding, to entertain her young friends, proposes that they should amuse themselves at "hide-and-seek;" and thinking to conceal herself where her companions could not discover her, bethought herself of an old oaken chest in the garret of the house. The lid of this chest unfortunately had a clasp lock, which occasioned her to be completely enshrined; and not being discovered at the time, she must have perished miserably. Many years after, upon pulling the house down the chest was forced open, and the skeleton of the unfortunate lady was, to the consternation of all present, brought to light.
Mr. Rogers, in a note, says, "I believe this story to be founded on fact, though I cannot tell when and where it happened;" and adds, "many old houses in this country lay claim to it."
I should be much obliged to any reader of the "N. & Q." to point out any old seat in England where the above is stated to have happened; if there be any memorial or legend concerning it, or any particulars relating to it.
☞ F.
P.S. I have, some years ago, read the counterpart of this story in French, when the bride proposes jouer au cache-cache, with exactly the same melancholy result, but I have not any recollection in what work.
[Two versions of the dramatic narrative of "Ginevra, the Lady buried alive," are given by Collet in his Relics of Literature, p. 186., in neither of which is there any notice of the hide-and-seek game, or of the chest with the clasp-lock. The French account is extracted from the Causes Célèbres; and the Italian, which differs in some particulars, from a work by Dominico Maria Manni.]
Play of "Pompey the Great."
—Can any of your readers inform me where the entire translation of this play, from the French of Corneille into English, is to be found?—the first act only, which was translated by Waller, being found in some editions of his works. Also, whether I am right in supposing that this play contains a scene where the dead body of Pompey is discovered on the seashore, and a passage discussing what tomb should be erected to his honour, in deprecation of any monument at all, and ending with: "The eternal substance of his greatness; to that I leave him."
H.
[The title of the play is, Pompey the Great; a Tragedy, as it was acted by the Servants of his Royal Highness the Duke of York. Translated out of French by certain Persons of Honour, 4to. 1664. It consists of five acts. Waller translated the first; the others were translated by the Earl of Dorset, Sir C. Sedley, and Mr. Godolphin. It will be found in the British Museum and the Bodleian.]