Mackenzie Walcott, M.A.
Plague Stones—Mr. Mompesson (Vol. v., p. 571.).—I should be sorry that anything inaccurate was recorded in "N. & Q." respecting so eminently worthy a person as the Rev. William Mompesson, Rector of Eyam during the time that it was scourged by the plague in 1666, when, out of a population of only 330, 259 died of the disorder. Mr. M. himself did not fall a victim, as J. G. C. states; but his wife did, and her tomb remains to this day. He was, indeed, an ornament to his sacred profession. He not only stood by his flock in the hour of their visitation, but he obtained such an influence during the panic that they entirely deferred to his judgment, and remained, as he advised, within the village. He preached to them on Sundays in the open air from a sort of natural pulpit in the rock, now called Cucklet Church; and he established the water troughs, or plague stones, into which the people dropped their money, in payment for the victuals that were brought to them from the surrounding country. When in reward for his devotedness the Deanery of Lincoln was offered him, he generously declined it in favour of his friend Dr. Fuller, author of the Worthies of England, who thus obtained the appointment. Mr. Mompesson was subsequently presented to the living of Eakring in Notts, where he died in 1708.
There has recently been discovered on the moor near Fullwood, by Sheffield, a chalybeate spring, which flows into a small covered recess formed of ashlar stone, and this stands just as it did when the wretched inhabitants of Eyam, believing the water to have sanatory virtues, came to drink of it, until a watch was placed on the spot by the Sheffield people, and they were driven back to their infected homes.
Alfred Gatty.
Raleigh's Ring (Vol. v., p. 538.).—Sir Walter Raleigh's ring, which he wore at the time of his execution, is, I believe, in the possession of Capt. Edward James Blanckley, of the 6th Foot, now serving at the Cape of Good Hope. It is an heirloom in the Blanckley family, of which Captain Blanckley is the senior representative, who are directly descended from Sir Walter, and have in their possession several interesting relics of their great ancestor, viz. a curious tea-pot, and a state paper box of iron gilt and red velvet.
A Descendant of Sir Walter's.
Pandecte, an entire Copy of the Bible (Vol. v., p. 557.).—Your correspondent C. H. has noticed this word; I send you a short account of the Irish MSS. in the Bodleian Library, which I laid some time ago before the Royal Irish Academy, and which is printed in their Proceedings, vol. v. p. 162. I have there noticed a curious work by Oengus Cele De, or Oengus the Culdee, a writer of the eighth century, in which the word Pandecte (or, as the Irish scribe spells it, Pantecte) is used in the same sense as that in which Alcuin employs it, for the Bibliotheca, or Bible of St. Jerome.
I have marked the passage, pp. 9, 10. of the enclosed paper, which if you think it worth while you may insert. But perhaps it may be enough to refer your readers to the above-mentioned volume of the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy.
Jas. H. Todd.