Norwich.
Herbert Family (Vol. vi., p. 473.).—The celebrated picture of Lord Herbert of Cherbury by Isaac Oliver, at Penshurst, represents him with a small swarthy countenance, dark eyes, very dark black hair, and mustachios. All the Herberts whom I have seen are dark-complexioned and black-haired. This is the family badge, quite as much as the unmistakeable nose in the descendants of John of Gaunt.
E. D.
Children crying at Baptism (Vol. vi., p. 601.).—I am inclined to suspect that the idea of its being lucky for a child to cry at baptism arose
from the custom of exorcism, which was retained in the Anglican Church in the First Prayer-Book of King Edward VI., and is still commonly observed in the baptismal services of the Church of Rome. When the devil was going out of the possessed person, he was supposed to do so with reluctance: "The spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead." (St. Mark, ix. 26.) The tears and struggles of the infant would therefore be a convincing proof that the Evil One had departed. In Ireland (as every clergyman knows) nurses will decide the matter by pinching the baby, rather than allow him to remain silent and unlachrymose.
Rt.
Warmington.
Americanisms (Vol. vi., p. 554.).—The word bottom, applied as your correspondent Uneda remarks, is decidedly an English provincialism, of constant use now in the clothing districts of Gloucestershire, which are called "The Bottoms," whether mills are situated there or not.
E. D.
Dutch Allegorical Picture (Vol. vi., p. 457.).—In the account I gave you of this picture I omitted one of the inscriptions, which I but just discovered; and as the picture appears to have excited some interest in Holland (my account of it having been translated into Dutch[[6]], in the Navorscher), I send you this further supplemental notice.