Minor Queries Answered.
Abraham-Men.
—Although I cannot find it in your former volumes, nor in your Index, I think there was an inquiry in one of your past Numbers as to the meaning of the phrase "To sham Abraham."
If there has been any reply, will you be good enough to refer me to it? as it may explain the passage in Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, that "every village almost will yield dummerers Abraham-men," &c. (Part I. sec. 2., vol. i. p. 360.)
W. W. E. T.
Warwick Square, Belgravia.
["To sham Abraham" is a cant expression, having reference to the practices of a class of vagabonds and cheats once common in this country. In Decker's English Villanies there are many curious particulars of the habits of this class of impostors. "She's all Abram," that is, quite naked. "What an Abram!" an exclamation for a ragged fellow. "An Abraham-man" was an impostor who personated a poor lunatic called Tom of Bedlam: one of this class is described by Shakspeare in his Lear, Act II. Sc. 3.:
"The basest and most poorest shape,
That every penury, in contempt of man,
Brought near to beast."
Among sailors, "An Abram" is being unwell, or out of sorts. When Abraham Newland was Cashier of the Bank of England, it was sung—
"I have heard people say,
That sham Abraham you may,
But you must not sham Abraham Newland.">[
Author of "Le Blason des Couleurs."
—Can you give me the date of, or any account of the author of a small black-letter French work on heraldry entitled, Le Blason des Couleurs en Armes, &c. The author introduces himself as "Je Sicille Herault a tres puissant roy Alphōse Darragon: de Sicilie: de Vallence de Maillaque: de Corseique et Sardeigne: Conte de Barselonne," &c.; and at the end of the first part it is said to be "compose par Sicille Herault du roy Alphōse daragon."
H. N. E.
[See Brunet, Manuel du Libraire, vol. i. p. 279., ed. Bruxelles, 1838, 8vo.]
Banyan-day.
—Can any of your correspondents inform me of the meaning and origin of the term "Banyan-day," which is frequently used by sailors?
W. B. M.
Dee Side.
[A marine term for those days in which the sailors have no flesh meat; and is probably derived from the practice of the Banians, a caste of Hindoos, who entirely abstained from all animal food.]
General Urmston.
—Can any of your correspondents inform me whether a General Edward Urmston, who married in 1752 Leonora daughter of the first Earl Bathurst, had any children; or whether he was himself an only son or child: also when he was born, or when he died? His wife died in 1798 (I believe).
E. B.
[Lieutenant-General Edward Urmston, some time in the 1st regiment of Foot Guards, and afterwards, 10th November, 1770, Colonel of the 65th Regiment of Foot. He married in 1752 Leonora Bathurst; died 21st December, 1778, aged 59, and there is an altar tomb to his memory in the churchyard of Harrow, co. Middlesex. She died 1798.]
Works of Alexander Neville.
—Can any of your readers inform me where I can find a collection of the works of Alexander Neville, the poetical writer, born anno 1544, second son of Sir Alex. [Richard] Neville of South Leverton, Notts, by Ann, fourth daughter of Sir Edw. [Walter] Mantle; he died anno 1614? Any particulars or references concerning him would be acceptable. Was he the Alexander Neville who sate for Christchurch, Hants, 1585, and for Saltash 1601.
J. K.
[There is no edition of the collected works of Alexander Nevile or Nevyle; the following will be found in the British Museum under the word Nevyllus:—1. De Furoribus Norfolciensium, Ketto Duce, 4to., 1575. According to Hearne, there are two editions of this date of 1575; the first, without the passage displeasing to the Welshmen, dedicated only to Abp. Parker; the other, with two dedications, viz. that to Abp. Parker, and a new one to Abp. Grindall. The offensive passage is at p. 132. "Sed enim Kettiani rati," &c., to "Nam præter quam quod," &c., p. 133. 2. The same work in English, Norfolk Furies and their Foyle, under Kett and their accursed Captaine; with a Description of the famous Citye of Norwich, by Richard Woods, 4to., 1615, 1623. 3. Academiæ Cantabrigiensis Lachrymæ, Tumulo Nobilissimi Equitis D. Philippi Sidneij Sacratæ, 4 to., 1587. A biographical notice of Alexander Nevile is given in Chalmers' Biog. Dict., which does not mention that he ever had a seat in parliament. He died in 1614, and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral.]
Lindisfarne.
—What is the meaning or origin of the word "Lindisfarne?"
K. N. P.
[Holy Island was called Lindisfarne from the Lindis, a rivulet which empties itself into the sea from the opposite shore: farne, the concluding syllable, is a corruption of the Celtic word fahren, a recess.]
Index to the Critical Review.
—Was there ever a general index published to the whole or any portion of the Critical Review, which commenced in 1756, and I believe ended in 1816? If so, where can it be obtained.
W. J. B.
[There were five series of the Critical Review between the years 1756 and 1817. No general index has been published.]
"No great shakes."
—Can any of your readers state the origin of the expression "no great shakes," which has obtained an almost universal use, and is employed under a great variety of circumstances? No doubt a knowledge of its derivation would interest many subscribers to "N. & Q." as well as
I. J. H. H.
[Shakes, as used in the following passage by Byron, is a vulgarism, which probably may be traced to the custom of shaking hands, the shake being estimated according to the value set upon the person giving it, and hence applied to the person. Byron writing to Murray, Sept. 28, 1820, says, "I had my hands full, and my head too just then (when he wrote Marino Faliero), so it can be no great shakes."—See Richardson's Dict. s.v.]
Translation of Richard de Bury.
—Is the translation of Richard de Bury's Philobiblon, "with a memoir of the illustrious bishop," promised by W. S. G., Vol. ii. p. 203., yet published?
L. S.
[Our correspondent should remember, that "church work is slow work," as Addison facetiously makes Sir Roger de Coverley complain. From a prospectus recently issued, we learn that the Philobiblon is still preparing for publication; and that gentlemen who may wish to have copies are requested by the author to transmit their names to Mr. R. Robinson, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.]
Life of Ken.
—Who is the author of the Life of Bishop Ken, by a Layman, published a year or two since?
E. G.
Dorchester.
[J. L. Anderson, Esq., author of The River Dove, &c., and editor of Bishop Ken's Approach to the Holy Altar.]
Wedding Rings.
—Can any of your informants give me the origin of the wedding ring, by whom it was introduced, and what it was meant to signify, and does now signify?
BOSQUECILLO.
[Wheatly, in his Rational Illustration of the Book of Common Prayer, ch. x. sect. 5., has ably discussed the origin of the marriage ring, accompanied with numerous references to early and later writers on this visible pledge of fidelity.]
Monasteries, &c. dissolved.
—Will any of your correspondents kindly inform me where I can find an authentic account of the hospitals, monasteries, and religious houses pillaged and destroyed, consequent on the commission of inquiry issued by Henry VIII.?
T. DYSON.
Gainsborough.
[The most authentic account of English monasteries, &c. will be found in Dugdale's Monasticon, edited by Cayley and Ellis; Tanner's Notitia, edit. 1744; and Stevens's Additions to Dugdale. In Dodd's Church History, by Tierney, vol. i. p. 458., will be found "A List of the Abbots, Priors, and other Superiors of the Principal Religious Houses in England, from the Foundation to their Suppression." And for a list of all the mitred abbots and priors of England, who are known to have been mitred, or to have sat in parliament subsequent to the beginning of the reign of Edward III., see Glossary of Heraldry, pp. xxix. xxx.]
Bishops at the Hampton Court Controversy.
—Can you inform me who were the nine bishops who attended the Hampton Court conference in 1603-4?
C. H. D.
[Archbishop of Canterbury, John Whitgift; London, Richard Bancroft; Durham, Tobias Matthew; Winchester, Thomas Bilson; Worcester, Gervase Babington; St. David's, Anthony Rudd; Chichester, Anthony Watson; Carlisle, Henry Robinson; Peterborough, Thomas Dove.]