Replies to Minor Queries.
Wooden Tombs and Effigies (Vol. viii., p. 604.).—In addition to that mentioned by J. E. J., there is a wooden chest in the centre of the chancel of Burford Church, in the county of Salop, with a figure in plated armour on the top; the head resting on a helmet supported by two angels, and at the feet a lion crowned. An ornament of oak leaves runs round the chest, at the edge. This effigy is supposed to represent one of the Cornwall family, the ancient, but now extinct, barons of Burford. As I am preparing, with a view to publication, a history of this very ancient family, with an account of the curious and interesting monuments in Burford and other churches, I should esteem it a favour if any of your correspondents could furnish me with authentic information relative to any members of the family, or of any memorials of them in other churches than those of Worcestershire and Shropshire.
J. B. Whitborne.
Epitaph on Politian (Vol. viii., p. 537.).—Harwood's Alumni Etonenses, A.D. 1530, Hen. VIII., p. 22.:
"Edward Bovington was born at Burnham, and was buried in the chapel. Some member of the College made these lines on him:
'Unum caput tres linguas habet,
(Res mira!) Bovingtonus.'"
This member must have seen Politian's epitaph.
J. H. L.
Defoe's Quotation from Baxter on Apparitions (Vol. ix., p. 12.).—The story copied by Dr. Maitland from Defoe's Life of Duncan Campbell, is to be found nearly word for word in pp. 60, 61. of
The Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits fully evinced by the unquestionable Histories of Apparitions, &c., by Richard Baxter, London, 1691. I can trace no mention of the Dr. Beaumont, author of the Treatise of Spirits, unless he be the "eminent apothecary in Henrietta Street, Covent Garden," stated by Nichols (Literary Anecdotes, vol. ix. p. 239.) to be the father of Mr. Beaumont, Registrar of the Royal Humane Society.