Replies to Minor Queries.
James Wilson, M.D. (Vol. v., p. 276.).
—To the numerous list of men whose services to literature our English biographers have injudiciously omitted to record may be added James Wilson, M.D. As editor of the Mathematical tracts of Mr. Benjamin Robins in 1761, he has often been noticed with commendation. Beyond that circumstance, all is obscurity.
He wrote, however, a valuable Dissertation on the rise and progress of the modern art of navigation, which was first published by Mr. John Robertson in his Elements of navigation in 1764, and republished by him in 1772. The authors shall now speak for themselves:—
"This edition [of the Elements of navigation] is also enriched with the history of the art of navigation; for with the author's leave, I have published the following dissertation on that subject, written by Dr. Wilson, believing it would afford the most ample satisfaction on that subject."—John ROBERTSON, 1764.
"My enquiries into these matters [navigation] induced the late learned Dr. James Wilson to review and complete his observations on the subject, and produced his Dissertation on the history of the art of navigation, which he was pleased to give me leave to publish with the second edition of this work.... The second edition of these Elements having also been well received by the public, Dr. Wilson took the pains to revise his Dissertation, which he improved in many particulars."—John ROBERTSON, Nov. 1, 1772.
"This Dissertation, written at first by desire, is now reprinted with alterations. Though I may be thought to have dwelt too long on some particulars, not directly relating to the subject; yet I hope that what is so delivered, will not be altogether unentertaining to the candid reader. As to any apology for having handled a matter quite foreign to my way of life, I shall only plead, that very young, living in a sea-port town, I was eager to be acquainted with an art that could enable the mariner to arrive across the wide and pathless ocean at his desired harbour."
London. James WILSON, 1771?
The united libraries of Henry Pemberton, M.D., F.R.S., and James Wilson, M.D., were sold in 1772. The sale occupied eighteen evenings, and produced 701l. 17s. 6d. The learned writers, who were intimate friends, died within seven months of each other in 1771.
BOLTON CORNEY.
History of Commerce (Vol. v., p. 276.).
—As a learned and lucid account of the early commercial intercourse between Europe and the eastern countries, I believe there is no work comparable to that entitled Histoire du commerce entre le Levant et l'Europe depuis les croisades jusqu'à la fondation des colonies d'Amérique, par G. B. Depping. Paris, 1830. 8vo. 2 vols. This subject was proposed in 1826, as a prize essay, by the Académie royale des inscriptions et belles-lettres, and M. Depping was the successful competitor. The prize, a gold medal of the value of 1500 francs, was awarded in 1828. M. le baron Silvestre de Sacy, whose profound acquaintance with oriental history and literature enabled him to detect some slight errors in the work, thus concludes his review of it in the Journal des savants: "Mais ces légères critiques ne m'empêchent pas de rendre toute justice à un travail véritablement estimable, et digne de l'honneur qu'il a obtenu de l'Académie des belles-lettres."
BOLTON CORNEY.
Ecclesiastical Geography (Vol. v., p. 276.).
—There is a work on this subject by I. E. T. Wiltsch, Handbuch der Kirchlichen Geographie and Statistik, Berlin, 1846, 2 vols. 8vo., which, in so far as I have looked at it, appears to be carefully done.
J. C. R.
Butts Family (Vol. iv., p. 501.).
—I read yesterday an article signed COWGILL, asking information concerning the family of Butts, anciently of Thornage, Norfolk. Sir William Butts, physician to Henry VIII., and Dr. Robert Butts, my great-grandfather, formerly Bishop of Norwich, were of that family, and if your correspondent will communicate privately with me, I shall be happy to receive from him, and communicate to him, any particulars of a public character concerning a family of which I am nearly the only representative. My address is "Rev. Edward Drury Butts, Camesworth, Bridport."
E. D. B.
Friday at Sea (Vol. v., p. 200.).
—The story to which your correspondent? refers may be found in a note to one of Fennimore Cooper's sea novels; I do not remember which, and am unable at present to ascertain by reference to the book itself. If my recollection be accurate, the novelist speaks of it as an event of which he had personal knowledge, and does not quote any earlier authority.
K. E.
It is a most curious circumstance connected with the superstition sailors have regarding putting to sea on a Friday, which will now have greater weight attached to it than ever, that I can inform your correspondent, W. FRASER, that the ill-fated Amazon, Captain Symons, did really sail on a Friday, as he suggested she might have done.
The day was January 2, 1852, by Lloyd's Lists, which is the day of the month the West India mail always leaves this country.
J. S. O.
Old Broad Street.
A Pinch of Snuff from Dean Swift's Box (Vol. v., p. 274.).
—The printed leaves inquired for by A SUBSCRIBER, are from the Irish Union Magazine, No. 2., April, 1845, and are quoted at p. 182. of Wilde's Closing Scenes of Dean Swift's Life, where may be found several particulars of the snuff-box inquired about. The inscription within the lid is curious, and is copied by Wilde.
E. D.
English Translation of the Canons (Vol. v., p. 246.).
—M. tells us that in the second clause of the 36th canon of 1603, the words quodque eodem taliter uti liceat are translated "and that the same may be lawfully used," the word taliter being altogether omitted in the English. What authority is there for this statement? In all the copies of the English Canons that I have examined, the translation is exact, viz., "and that it may lawfully so be used;" and that the form now presented for subscription at ordination agrees with this, may be inferred from the fact that the words are so printed in Mr. Hodgson's Instructions for the Clergy (6th edition, p. 8.).
It would seem that M. has confounded with the Canons of 1603 an older form, which was prescribed by Archbishop Whitgift in 1584 (Cardwell, Docum. Annals, i. 414.). The words of that form agree with your correspondent's quotation; and it has also a bearing on his assumption that the 36th canon was originally presented for subscription in Latin, and that the English version has been wrongfully substituted. Not only is there (as I believe) no proof of this assumption; but we have the fact that a set of English articles, substantially the same with those of the 36th canon of 1603 (or rather 1604), was subscribed for twenty years before the body of the canons existed.
J. C. R.
Few Descents through a long Period.
—The pedigree of the noble family of Dartmouth, given by Edmondson in his Baronagium Genealogicum, No. 197., contains an extraordinary instance of few descents through a long period of time.
The stock of descent is Thomas Legge, Sheriff of London in 1343, and Lord Mayor in 1346. He had a son, Simon, whose son, Thomas, had issue, William, who had issue an only son, Edward. This Edward had thirteen children, one of whom, John, is stated to have died in 1702, aged 109. Supposing Thomas Legge to have been 46 years old at his Mayoralty (i.e. born in 1300) these six lives would extend over more than 400 years. This is so extraordinary that I append a Query. Is Edmondson's Genealogy correct, or are there any intermediate descents omitted?
The ages at death of four only of Edward's children are given, and they, too, are remarkable: the before-mentioned John, aged 109 years; Elizabeth (unmarried), 105 years; Margaret (married —— Fitzgerald, Esq.), 105 years; and Anne (married —— Anthony, Esq.), 112 years. Can any of your correspondents inform me the years when any of these died, or where they are buried? to enable me to verify these facts by certificates.
C. H. B.
30. Clarence Street, Islington.
Tandem D. O. M. (Vol. iii, p. 62.).
—Looking over some of the back numbers, I see under this heading a very tantalising announcement of a rich store of venerable literature in an ancient mansion in a distant part of Cornwall. It would be very desirable to know the habitat of such an unique collection of books. Will FABER MARINUS gratify the readers of "N. & Q." by allowing it to be known?
S. S.
Land Holland (Vol. ii., p. 267.).
—Has not your querist J. B. C. mistaken the initial letter here,—read H for M? I have often met in Court Rolls with Land Molland, viz., held by mill service.
G. A. C.
Arc de Arbouin (Vol. v., p. 249.).
—In East Anglia the Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is called Harber or Arber wood.
G. A. C.
Derivation of "Martinique" (Vol. v., p. 11.).
—M. de Magnard, in the opening chapter of his novel of Outre-mer, says the name of "Martinique" is derived from that which the island had received from the Caribs:
"Ce nom de 'Martinique' dérive par corruption de l'ancien nom sauvage et indigène, Matinina."
HENRY H. BREEN.
Bigot (Vol. v., p. 277.).
—I beg to direct attention to the subjoined extract from Mr. Trench's Lectures on the Study of Words, a most able and interesting little work:
"'Bigot' is another word widely spread over Europe, of which I am inclined to think that we should look for the derivation where it is not generally sought, and here too we must turn to Spain for the explanation. It has much perplexed inquirers, and two explanations of it are current; one of which traces it up to the early Normans, while they yet retained their northern tongue, and to their often adjuration by the name of God, with sometimes reference to a famous scene in French history, in which Rollo, Duke of Normandy, played a conspicuous part; the other puts it in connexion with 'Beguines,' often called in Latin 'Beguttæ,' a name by which certain communities of pietest women were known in the Middle Ages. Yet I cannot but think it probable, that rather than to either of these sources, we owe the word to that mighty impression which the Spaniards began to make upon all Europe in the fifteenth century, and made for a long time after. Now the word 'bigote' means in Spanish 'mustachio;' and, as contrasted with the smooth or nearly smooth upper lip of most other people, at that time the Spaniards were the 'men of the mustachio.' That it was their characteristic feature comes out in Shakspeare's Love's Labour's Lost, where Armado, the 'fantastical Spaniard,' describes the king, 'his familiar, as sometimes being pleased to lean on his poor shoulder, and dally with his mustachio.' [Act V. Sc. 1.] That they themselves connected firmness and resolution with the mustachio, that it was esteemed the outward symbol of these, is plain from such phrases as 'hombre de bigote,' a man of resolution; 'tener bigotes,' to stand firm. But that in which they eminently displayed their firmness and resolution in those days, was their adherence to whatever the Roman See required and taught. What then more natural, or more entirely according to the law of the generation of names, than that this striking and distinguishing outward feature of the Spaniard should have been laid hold of to express that character and condition which eminently were his, and then transferred to all others who shared the same? The mustachio is, in like manner, in France a symbol of military courage; and thus 'un vieux moustache,' is an old soldier of courage and military bearing. And strengthening this view, the earliest use of the word which Richardson gives, is a passage from Bishop Hall, where 'bigot' is used to signify a pervert to Romanism: 'he was turned both bigot and physician.' In further proof that the Spaniard was in those times the standing representative of the bigot and the persecutor, we need but turn to the older editions of Fox's Book of Martyrs, where the Pagan persecutors of the early Christians are usually arrayed in the armour of Spanish soldiers, and sometimes graced with tremendous 'bigotes.'"—2nd edit. 80-82.
Mr. Trench's derivation of bigot is, I think, very preferable to those you cite.
C. H. COOPER.
Davies Queries (Vol. iv., p. 256.).
—LLAW GYFFES asks for a correct description of the monument erected to Sir John Davys, Davis, or Davies, in St. Martin's church. Perhaps the following will answer his purpose: it is extracted from one of a series of MS. volumes in my possession, in the autograph of John Le Neve:—
"On the 3rd pillar, on the south range, a plain white marble monument, in memory of Sir John Davis, Knight. Inscrip.:
"D. O. M. S. Johannes Davys, Equestris Ordinis, quondam attornati Regii Generalis amplissima Provincia regno Hib. functus. Inde in patriam revocatus inter Servientes Domini Regis ad Regem primum locum sustinuit, ob. 1626.
"Accubat Dignissimo Marito incomparabilis Uxorque illustre genus et generi pares animos, Christiana Mansuetudine temperavit, Erudita supra sexum mitis infra sortem, plurimis major, quia humilior, in eximia forma sublime ingenium, in venusta Comitate, singularem modestiam, in Fœmineo Corpore virales spiritus, in Rebus adversissimis serenam mentem, in Impio seculo Pietatem et Rectitudinem inconcussa possedit.
"Non illi Robustam animam ad res lauta laxavit, aut Angusta contraxit, sed utramq; sortem pari animoq; non excepit modo sed rexit. Quippe Dei plena cui plenitudini mundus, nec benig. addere nec malignus detrahere potuisset.
"Talis Deum jamdudum spirans et sursum aspirans, sui ante et Reip. fata præsaga, salutisq; Æterna certissima, ingenti lætoq; ardore in Servatoris dilectissimi sinum ipsius sanguine totam animam efflavit, rebus humanis exempta, immortalitate induit 3 nonas Quintilis, An. Kal. 1652.
"Arms; on a Lozenge; Argent a Heart Gules, on a Chief Sable 3 Mullets.
"Also at the bottom of the Monument, Sable a Fess Ermin between 3 Cinquefoils Argent."
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
Fawsley, Heraldic Atchievement (Vol. v., p. 297.).
—See Baker's Northamptonshire, vol. i. p. 385-6., where the shield of the knightly quarterings is noticed in describing the Manor house.
r.
Old Scots March (Vol. v., pp. 104. 235.).
—Your correspondent E. N., after quoting a passage from Mr. Tytler's Dissertation on Scottish Music, says he has "never yet been able to meet with any of the ports here referred to." I have the pleasure to inform him that several curious ancient ports have been preserved, and may be found in the Skene MS., and in Gordon of Straloch's Lute Book.
Port, in Gaelic, signifies an air, either sung or played upon an instrument. Mr. Tytler correctly describes this species of composition as of the plaintive strain, and modulated for the harp. All the existing specimens answer to this character.
The Ports which are contained in the above-named MSS., are named as follows: "Rory Dall's Port," "Port Ballangowne," "Jean Lindsay's Port," &c.
It may be necessary to say, that these tunes are written in an obsolete notation called tablature. Translations, however, are in my possession, and if E. N. wishes for copies, he is quite welcome to have them if he will favour me with a communication.
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
29. St. Mark's Crescent, Regent's Park.
Periwinkle (Vol. i., p. 77.).
—The following note, from Withering's Arrangement of British Plants, vol. ii. p. 341. ed. 1830, will perhaps be acceptable to MELANION:—
"VINCA. PERIWINKLE. (From vincio, to bind; its runners trailing round other plants. Or to those who prefer a more interesting association, we would intimate that of such was formed in ancient times the bridal zone, which none but the bridegroom was privileged to untie. In modern Italy it is said to be appropriated to a far different usage, that of enwreathing deceased infants; and is hence called Fior di Morto.—E.)"
W. R. DEERE SALMON.
Erasmus' Paraphrase (Vol. i., p. 172.).
—If it be allowable to answer one's own Query, and not too late to go back to Vol. i., I should like to notice that the fragment therein referred to corresponds, as far as it goes, with an edition "Empriented in Flete Strete the last daie of Januarie, Anno Domini, 1548," by Edward Whitchurch, and is no doubt part of that edition. In the Churchwardens' Accounts for this parish it is thus mentioned:
"1589. Itm̅, pd. to Mr Vicar
wchhe layde downe for
ye Englyshe Paraphrase
of Erasmus
ijs.
"Itm̅, chaynes for
two bookes
xijd.
"Itm̅, spent at chayninge
ye same
ijd."
J. EASTWOOD.
Ecclesfield Hall.
"Black Gowns and Red Coats" (Vol. v., p. 297.).
—I am not aware that it was ever any secret, or, at any rate, that there is any occasion to make it so now, that the satire Black Gowns and Red Coats was the production of George Cox, M.A., and Fellow of New College, Oxford; neither did I ever hear of its suppression. The satire is certainly somewhat severe; but even those who fell under its lash could scarcely deny its great ability, or the high poetical talent which it evinced. Such as knew the marvellous promise of his youth can never cease to lament that it pleased God to bring the author's life to a premature and unhappy close.
I have a copy of the little book, which I would gladly lend to any one making a proper application through the publisher.
C. W. B.
Arms of Manchester (Vol. v., p. 59.).
—The arms of Manchester (gules 3 hindlets enhanced or) are those attributed to the family of Grelle, De Greslet, or Grelly, feudal Barons of Manchester under the Normans. The town has used them for years; long before the charter of incorporation.
P. P.
Sir Thomas Frowyk (Vol. v., p. 295.).
—Thomas Frowyk was, in all likelihood, of a family long connected with the government of London. According to Fuller, he was born at Ealing in Middlesex, and was son of Thomas Frowyk, Esq. [if I do not greatly err he was knighted in or before the reign of Richard III.] of Gunnersbury, by the daughter and heiress of Sir John Sturgeon, knight. He was "bred in the study of our municipal law," and read on the statute Prerogative Regis (17 Edw. II. stat. 1.), but in what inn of court, or in what year, I have not seen stated. He was (with others) made serjeant-at-law, by writ tested 10th September, 1496. The feast was kept on the 16th of November following, at Ely House in Holborn, "where dined the King, Queen, and all the chief lords of England." He was afterwards one of the King's serjeants. On the 11th July, 1502, he (with Mr. Justice Fisher and Humphrey Conyngsbye, one of the King's serjeants) made an award between the University and town of Cambridge adjusting disputes between the two bodies, and defining in minute detail their respective jurisdictions. On the 30th September, 1502, he was constituted Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and was, at or about the same time, knighted. In 19 Hen. VIII. he was, by Act of Parliament, appointed one of the feoffees to the use of the King's will. He died 17th October, 1505, being, as it is said, under forty years old. He was buried, with Joan his wife, in the church of Finchley. He left a large estate to his two daughters, of whom Elah, the eldest, was married to Sir John Spelman, Justice of the King's Bench, "grandfather to Sir Henry, that renowned knight." Sir Thomas Frowyk's arms (azure a cheveron between 3 leopards' faces or) were in a window of the hall of Serjeants' Inn, Fleet Street; and the same coat (quartering Sturgeon and another) was in a window at St. Dunstan's in the West. (Fuller's Worthies in Middlesex; Dugdale's Origines Juridiciales, 47. 128. 328.; Chronica Series, 74. 76.; Bibliotheca Legum Angliæ, ii. 192.; Excerpta Historica, 119. 121. 123.; Plumpton Correspondence, 152, 153. 161. 165.; Cooper's Annals of Cambridge, 258. 260.; Rotuli Parliamentorum, vi. 522.; Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica, iv. 107.)
C. H. COOPER.
Cambridge.
John Goldesborough (Vol. v., p. 294.).
—John Goldesborough, or Goldesburgh, was born 18th October, 1568, studied at Oxford, and went thence to the Middle Temple, where he was called to the Bar. In or about 1613 he was constituted Second Prothonotary of the Common Pleas, which office he held till his death, 9th October, 1618. He was buried in the Temple Church, where there is, or was, a monumental brass to his memory, having thereon his and his wife's effigies, with an inscription in English. His Reports were printed several years after his death. (Wood's Athenæ Oxonienses, i. 293. 369.; Dugdale's Origines Juridiciales, 63. 178.; Bibliotheca Legum Angliæ, i. 236. 242., ii. 213.; Reports of Deputy Keeper of Public Records, Second Report, Appendix, ii. p. 73.; Fourth Report, Appendix, ii. p. 37.)
C. H. COOPER.
Cambridge.
Corrupted Names of Places (Vol. v., p. 285.).
—I beg to offer a few additions to mispronounced names of places:
| Rampisham | Dorset | Ransom | |
| Beaminster | Do. | Bemmister | |
| Portisham | Do. | Possum | |
| Portishead | Somerset | Posset. |
In Sussex the names of places ending in ly are pronounced with the accent on the last syllable; e.g. West Hoathly, Hellingly, &c. In Gloucestershire, a place written Newland is unexpectedly called Newlànd.
C. W. B.
My memory enables me to make the following small additions to the list of "Popular Dialects" requested by your correspondent P. M. M. The names of the towns are derived exclusively from my native county, Essex:
| Spelling. | Pronunciation. | |
| Bradwell | Bradell | |
| Brentwood | Burnt'ood | |
| Brightlingsea | Bricklesea | |
| Chelmsford | Chensford | |
| Coggeshall | Cockshall | |
| Colchester | Cou'chester | |
| Davenham | Dagnum | |
| Kelvedon | Kelldon | |
| Margaretting | Margretten | |
| Mersy Island | Masy Island | |
| Mount Nissing | Money's End | |
| Toulleshunt Darcy | Toussent Darcy. |
M. W. B.
Story of Ginevra (Vol. v., pp. 129. 209.).
—Bramshall, Hants (of which there are some views in Nash's Mansions), claims to be connected with a Ginevra tradition, so that Rogers seems to be justified in stating that "many" old houses in this country do so.
P. P.
Ornamental Hermits (Vol. v., pp. 123. 207.).
—FLORENCE must be in error as to the locality of one of her hermits. There is no place called Marcham in Lancashire, nor any resident family of Powyss. The late Lord Lilford certainly married a Lancashire heiress in 1797, and became possessed of property near Warrington. Whether he had a hermit, I cannot say but I never heard of a hermit in the Preston neighbourhood.
P. P.
Dr. Fell (Vol. v., p. 296.).
—Mr. Tom Sheridan, the only child of Richard Brinsley Sheridan by his wife (Miss Elizabeth Linley), is author of the lines on Dr. Fell. They were written on the celebrated Dr. Parr, under whose tuition he was. Why he gave to Dr. Parr the nomen "Dr. Fell," I do not know. I have often heard my dear mother repeat the lines:
"I do not like thee, Dr. Fell,
The reason why I cannot tell,
But this I know full well,
I do not like thee, Dr. Fell."
The metre of the third line would be more perfect by the addition of the dissyllable; but the lines I have so often heard want this.
My mother was very intimate with the Sheridan family, and many years agone she informed me that Miss Jane Linley (afterwards Mrs. Ward) told her that young Tom Sheridan composed the foregoing lines on Dr. Parr.
E. F.
List of Prothonotaries (Vol. v., p. 294.).
—Lists of the prothonotaries of the Court of Common Pleas, from Henry VIII. to George IV., may be collected from the Reports of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records, Second Report, Appendix, ii. 67-88.; Fourth Report, Appendix, ii. 30-52.
C. H. COOPER.
Cambridge.
The Vellum-bound Junius (Vol. iii., p. 262.; Vol. v., p. 303.).
—Since I wrote to you I have seen my informant, and am now enabled to state, that what your correspondent calls "the vellum-bound Junius," at Stowe, was, as I said, printed on vellum, but was not bound in vellum.
V. B. J.
Plague Stones (Vol. v., p. 308.).
—The three following places, where these stones of exchange were erected, have just occurred to me, and I forward them to add to the desired list:—
At Derby the stone was known by the name of the Headless Cross; and it has within the last few years been removed for preservation to the Arboretum in that town.
A stone of a similar name existed at Shrewsbury.
At East Retford, in Nottinghamshire, was also one, called the Broad Stone.
L. JEWITT.
George Trehern (Vol. v., p. 295.).
—George Trehern, or Treheryon, was Autumn Reader of Lincoln's Inn, 12 Hen. VIII.; Lent Reader there 16 Hen. VIII.; and one of the Governors of that society 12 & 17 Hen. VIII. His reading on Carta Forestæ appears to have been printed in 4to., but in what year is not stated. (Dugdale's Origines Juridiciales, 251. 259.; Bibliotheca Legum Angliæ, i. 24., ii. 191.)
C. H. COOPER.
St. Christopher (Vol. v., p. 265.).
—I know not whether Mr. Drake's explanation (referred to by E. A. H. L.) be the same as that given in Sacred and Legendary Art, but the latter seems sufficiently satisfactory.
"It was believed that in consequence of his prayer, those who beheld the figure of St. Christopher were exempt during that day from all perils of earthquake, fire, and flood. The mere sight of his image, that type of strength, was deemed sufficient to inspire with courage those who had to struggle with the evils and casualties of life, and to reinvigorate those who were exhausted by the labours of husbandry.... Hence it became a custom to place his image in conspicuous places, to paint it of colossal size on the walls of churches and houses, where it is sometimes seen occupying the whole height of the building, and is visible from a great distance, being considered as a good omen for all those who look upon it. A mountain in Granada, which is first seen by ships arriving from the African coast, is called San Cristobal, in allusion to this poetical superstition."—S. and L. Art, p. 262.
J. EASTWOOD.
White Livers (Vol. v., p. 127.).
—The superstition, that a man or woman who survives several wives or husbands has a white liver, is common among the lower orders in Lancashire.
P. P.
Torshel's Design to harmonise the Bible (Vol. v., p. 199.).
—This rare and valuable tract is reprinted in The Phenix, 1707, vol. i. pp. 96-113.
JOHN I. DREDGE.