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{485}
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No. 239.]
SATURDAY, MAY 27. 1854.
[Price Fourpence. Stamped Edition 5d.
* * * * *
CONTENTS.
NOTES:-- Page
Reprints of Early Bibles, by the Rev. R. Hooper, M.A. 487
Marriage Licence of John Gower, the Poet, by W. H. Gunner 487
Aska or Asca 488
Legends of the County Clare, by Francis Robert Davies 490
Archaic Words 491
MINOR NOTES:--Inscriptions on Buildings--Epitaphs--Numbers--
Celtic Language--Illustration of Longfellow: "God's Acre" 492
QUERIES:--
John Locke 493
MINOR QUERIES:--"The Village Lawyer"--Richard Plantagenet,
Earl of Cambridge--Highland Regiment--Ominous Storms--Edward
Fitzgerald--Boyle Family--Inn Signs--Demoniacal Descent of
the Plantagenets--Anglo-Saxon Graves--Robert Brown the
Separatist--Commissions issued by Charles I. at Oxford 493
MINOR QUERIES WITH ANSWERS:--Hogmanay--Longfellow's
"Hyperion"--Sir Hugh Myddelton--Sangarede--Salubrity of
Hallsal, near Ormskirk, Lancashire--Athens--James Miller 495
REPLIES:--
Brydone, by Lord Monson 496
Coleridge's Unpublished MSS., by C. Mansfield Ingleby 496
Mr. Justice Talfourd and Dr. Beattie 497
Russian "Te Deum," by T. J. Buckton, &c. 498
Artesian Wells, by Henry Stephens, &c. 499
Dog-whippers 499
Cephas, a Binder, and not a Rock, by T. J. Buckton, &c. 500
Whittington's Stone 501
PHOTOGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE:--Photographic Experience--
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Office of Sexton held by one Family--Lyra's Commentary--
Blackguard--"Atonement"--Bible of 1527--Shrove Tuesday--
Milton's Correspondence--"Verbatim et literatim"--Epigrams 502
MISCELLANEOUS:--
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Books and Odd Volumes Wanted 505
Notices to Correspondents 505
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{487}
_LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1854._
Notes.
REPRINTS OF EARLY BIBLES.
In 1833 the authorities of the Clarendon Press put forth a quarto reprint,
word for word, page for page, and letter for letter, of the _first_ large
black-letter folio edition of 1611, of the present authorised or Royal
version of the Bible. So accurate was it, that even manifest errors of the
press were retained. It was published that the reader might judge whether
the original standard could still be exactly followed. It was accompanied
by a collation with a _smaller_ black-letter folio of 1613, in preference
to the larger folio of that year, as no two copies (entire) of the latter
could be found, all the sheets of which corresponded precisely:
"Many of these copies contain sheets belonging, as may clearly be
proved, to editions of more recent date; and even those which appear to
be still as they were originally published, are made up partly from the
edition printed at the time, and partly from the remains of earlier
impressions."
Now this is a most interesting subject to all lovers of our dear old
English Bible. It is supposed the translators revised their work for the
1613 edition (after two years); yet the collation with the _small_ folio of
that year, shows little or no improvement, rather the contrary. I possess a
small quarto edition of 1613 (black-letter, by Barker), not mentioned by
our more eminent bibliographers, which, while admitting the better
corrections, adheres to the old 1611 folio, where the _small_ folio of 1613
unnecessarily deviates. It is certainly, I consider, a most valuable
impression. I have lately purchased a magnificent copy of the _great_ folio
of 1613. It is in the original thick oak binding, with huge brass clasps,
corners, and bosses; and appears to have been chained to a reading-desk. In
collating it, I find a sheet or two in 1 Samuel and St. Matthew most
carefully supplied from an earlier impression. The titles both to the Old
and New Testaments are exactly the same as those of the folio 1611, with
the exception of the date 1613 for 1611. It has been gloriously used, and
the imagination revels in the thought of the eyes and hearts that must have
been blessed by its perusal. I am not sufficiently conversant with our
earlier translations to identify, without reference, the sheets of the
inserted edition, and I have not time to refer. I may only say that there
is a most quaint woodcut of little David slinging a stone at the giant
Goliath. A slight collation of Genesis shows me this large edition agrees
in corrections with the small one the Clarendon Press authorities used,
though my quarto 1613 differs, adhering, as I said before, more closely to
the original standard of 1611. I would put a Query or two to your many
readers.
1. Was the great folio 1613 ever published entire, or are the sheets I have
indicated supplied in every known copy, some from earlier, some from later,
impressions? 2. Is it an established fact, that the translators revised
their work in 1613? 3. What is the small quarto of 1613 I have mentioned?
Lastly, would it not be an interesting enterprise to reprint our various
translations of the holy volume in a cheap and uniform series, like the
Parker Society published the Liturgy? A society might be formed by
subscription to support such an object. We might have Coverdale's,
Matthews', Cranmer's, Taverner's, the Geneva (1560), the Bishops'
(Parker's, 1568), and the noble authorised (Royal 1611), with their
variations noted. I cannot see any harm would arise; and surely it might
give an impulse to that noblest of all studies, the study of God's Word.
What grander volume for simplicity and elegance of language, for true
Anglo-Saxon idiom, than our present venerated translation? What book that
could interest more than Cranmer's Great Bible of 1539, from whence our
familiar Prayer-Book version of the Psalms is taken? It would give me
heartfelt pleasure to contribute my humble efforts in such a cause.
RICHARD HOOPER, M.A.
St. Stephen's, Westminster.
* * * * *
MARRIAGE LICENCE OF JOHN GOWER THE POET.
The following special licence of marriage extracted from the Register of
William of Wykeham, preserved in the registry at Winchester, is a curious
document in itself; but if, as there is much reason for supposing, the
person on whose behalf it was granted was no less a man than the
illustrious poet--the "moral Gower"--the interest attached to it is very
much enhanced: and for this reason I am desirous of giving it publicity
through the columns of "N. & Q."--a fit place for recording such pieces of
information, relating to the lives of men eminent in the annals of
literature. I have not been able to find any notice of the marriage of John
Gower in the books to which I have been able to refer; and, though it may
be perhaps an event of little importance, it is one which a faithful
biographer would never omit to mention. The document is as follows:
"Willelmus permissione divina Wyntoniensis Episcopus, dilecto in
Christo filio, domino Willelmo, capellano parochiali ecclesiae S.
Mariae Magdalenae in Suthwerk, nostrae diocesis, salutem, gratiam, et
benedictionem. Ut matrimonium inter Joannem Gower et Agnetem Groundolf
dictae ecclesiae parochianos sine ulteriore bannorum editione, dumtamen
aliud canonicum non obsistat, extra ecclesiam parochialem, in {488}
Oratorio ipsius Joannis Gower infra hospicium cum in prioratu B. Mariae
de Overee in Suthwerk praedicta situatum, solempnizare valeas licenciam
tibi tenore praesentium, quatenus ad nos attinet, concedimus specialem.
In cujus rei testimonium sigillum nostrum fecimus his apponi. Dat. in
manerio nostro de alta clera vicesimo quinto die mensis Januarii, A.D.
1397, et nostrae consecrationis 31mo."
The connexion of the poet Gower with the priory of St. Mary Overy is well
known; as well as his munificence in contributing very largely to the
reconstruction of the church of the priory, in which he also founded a
chantry, and where his tomb still exists. It would appear from this
document, that he actually resided within the priory.
This marriage must have taken place late in his life. The year of his birth
is unknown. He is said to have been somewhat older than Chaucer, the date
of whose birth is also uncertain; there being some grounds for assigning it
to 1328, others, perhaps more satisfactory, for fixing it 1345. If the
latter be correct, and if we allow for the disparity of age, we may suppose
Gower to have been somewhere between fifty-five and sixty years of age at
the time of his marriage with Agnes Groundolf.
W. H. GUNNER.
Winchester.
[A reference to the will of Gower, which is printed in Todd's
_Illustrations of Gower and Chaucer_, p. 87. et seq., confirms the
accuracy of our correspondent's inference, that this is the marriage
licence of the poet, inasmuch as it shows that the Christian name of
Gower's wife was Agnes.--ED. "N. & Q."]
* * * * *
ASKA OR ASCA.
Throughout North America this dissyllable is found terminating names in
localities, occupied at the present day by Indian tribes speaking very
different languages; and, in these languages, with the exception of such
names, few analogous sounds exist. There are, besides, names terminating in
_esco_, _isco_, _isca_, _escaw_, _uscaw_, which, perhaps, may be placed in
the same category, being only accidental variations of _aska_, arising from
a difference of ear in those who first heard them pronounced by a native
tongue.
Are these names vernacular in any of the modern Indian languages? and, if
so, what is their real meaning? I propound these questions for solution by
any of the gentlemen at Fort Chepewyan, Norway House, &c. (since, no doubt,
"N. & Q." penetrates the Far West as well as the Far East), who may feel an
interest in the subject.
Apparently, they have been imposed by a people who occupied the whole
continent from sea to sea, as they occur from Hudson's Bay to Yucatan, and
from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
Were the American nations originally of one tongue? Humboldt, Du Ponceau,
and others have remarked that striking analogies of grammatical
construction exist in all American languages, from the Eskimo to the
Fuegian, although differing entirely in their roots. Dr. Prichard says,--
"There are peculiarities in the very nature of the American languages
which are likely to produce great variety in words, and to obliterate
in a comparatively short period the traces of resemblance."--_Phys.
Hist._ &c., vol. v. p. 317.
It may be only a curious coincidence, but it is undoubtedly true, that,
with scarcely one exception, all names (we might almost say _words_) so
terminating are more or less connected with water. The exception (if it
really be one) is _Masca_, which I have found among my old notes, followed
by the word _Montagne_; but nothing more, and I have forgotten all about
it.
For the rest, the varieties in isca, &c., spoken of before, are chiefly to
be found in the northern countries, towards Hudson's and James' Bay, &c.,
where the present spoken languages are the Eskimo or Karalit, the Cree, and
the Montagnard dialect of the Algonkin, viz. Agomisca, island in James'
Bay; Meminisca, lake on Albany River; Nemiskau, a lake; Pasquamisco, on
James' Bay; then, Keenwapiscaw, lake; Naosquiscaw, ditto; Nepiscaw, ditto;
Camipescaw, ditto; Caniapuscaw, ditto and river: the last five lie between
the head waters of the Saguenay and the bottom of James' Bay.
Again, beginning at the extreme west, we find Oonalaska, or Agoun Aliaska,
or (according to the natives) Nagoun Alaska, an island abounding in fine
springs and rivulets. Nor should I omit another of the Aleutian islands,
called Kiska.
Alaska, or Aliaska, a peninsula. The language in these instances is a
branch of the Eskimo.
Athabaska (Atapescow of Malte-Brun), lake and river. McKenzie says that the
word means, in the Knistenaux language, a flat, low, swampy country, liable
to inundations (edit. 4to., p. 122.). Here I repeat the question, is the
word vernacular, or only adopted? In such vocabularies as I have seen,
there is nothing bearing the slightest relationship to it. In one given by
Dr. Latham (_Varieties of Man_, &c., pp. 208-9.), water, in the Chepewyan,
is _tone_, and river, _tesse_.
Itaska, the small lake whence the Mississippi has its origin. The languages
prevalent in the adjacent country would be the Sioux, and the Chippeway
branch of the Algonquino.
Wapiscow, river. Language, Cree?
Nebraska, "The Shallow River," said to be the name of the Platte in the
Sioux language.
Mochasko, "Always full;" another river so called in the Sioux. Query, Are
these two vernacular? Watapan is river in that language. {489}
Oanoska is a Sioux word, meaning "The Great Avenue or Stretch;" but whether
it applies to a river I have forgotten. The quotation is from Long's
_Expedit. to St. Peter's River_, vol. i. p 339., to which I have not access
just now. Atamaska and Madagaska are two names of which I can give no
account, for the same reason as stated above at Maska.
Arthabaska is (or was) a very swampy township so named, lying south of the
St Lawrence.
Maskinonge (also the name of a fish) in which the sound occurs, although
not as a termination, is a seigneurie on the north bank of the St Lawrence,
of which the part near the river is so low that it is inundated frequently.
A river of the same name runs through this seigneurie. Both the foregoing
are in the country where the Iroquois language prevailed.
Zoraska, or Zawraska, name of a river somewhere between Quebec and James'
Bay, of which I know nothing more, having only heard it spoken of by
moose-hunters. Probably it is in a country where the language would be the
Montagnard.
Yamaska, a river on the south side of the St. Lawrence, having much marshy
ground about it, particularly near its junction with the Grand River.
Kamouraska, or Camouraska, islands in the St. Lawrence below Quebec, taking
their name from a seigneurie on the mainland; a level plain surrounded by
hills, and dotted all over with mounds. Bouchette says,--
"D'apres la position, l'apparence, et l'exacte ressemblance de ces
especes d'iles en terre-firme avec celles de Camouraska, entre
lesquelles et le rivage le lit de la riviere est presqu'a sec a la
maree basse, le naturaliste sera fortement porte a croire que ce qui
forme a present le continent etait, a une epoque quelconque, submerge
par les vagues immenses du St Laurent, et que les elevations en
question formaient des iles, ou des rochers exposes a l'action de
l'eau," &c.--_Description de Bas-Canada, &c._, p. 551.
There can be no doubt, if _aska_ relate to water, that this district is
appropriately named.
We may presume the language prevalent here to have been the Algonquin,
since the inhabitants, when first visited by Europeans, were either the
Micmac or Abenaqui, both tribes of that great family.
Still further eastward, flowing from Lake Temisconata into the River St.
John, we find the Madawaska, in a country where the language was either the
Abenaqui, or a dialect of the Huron, said to be spoken by the Melicite
Indians of the St. John. Aska does not occur again in this part of North
America, as far as I call ascertain; but on looking southward it does so,
and under similar circumstances, viz. associated with water.
Tabasca, or Tobasco (for it is written both ways), a country on the borders
of Yucatan, described by the conquerors as difficult to march through, on
account of numerous pools of water and extensive swamps. Clavigero says the
present name was given by the Spaniards; but I know of no Spanish word at
all resembling it, therefore presume they must have adopted the native
appellation. The language was, and perhaps is, the Maya.
Tarasca; name of a people inhabiting the country of Mechouacan, celebrated
for its numerous fountains of fine water. Language appears to have been
Mexican. (See Clavigero, vol. i. p. 10., edit. 4to., Cullen's _Trans._; and
Dr. Prichard's _Phys. Hist._, &c., vol. v. p. 340.)
The mention of Tarasca reminds one of Tarascon, also written Tarasca. Two
instances occur in the country of Celtic Gaul; both on rivers: the one on
the Rhone, the other on the Arriege.
Having for the present finished with America, one is naturally led to
inquire whether _asca_ occurs in other parts of the world, in like manner
associated with water. Before doing so, however, I would observe that
Thompson, in his _Essay on Etymologies_, &c., p. 10., remarks that "The
Gothic termination _sk_, the origin of our _ish_, the Saxon _isk_,
signifying _assimilated_, _identified_, is used in all dialects, to the
very shores of China," &c. He instances "Tobolsk" and "Uvalsk." If, then,
it be true that _[=a]_ and _[=a]b_ are primitive sounds denoting water in
many languages, may we not here have a combination of _[=a]_ and _sk_?
But to proceed. Malte Brun mentions a city in Arabia called "Asca," one of
the places sacked by the expedition under Elius Gallus (_Precis de la
Geographie_, &c., vol. i. p. 179.). Generally speaking, Arabia is not
abounding in waters; but that very circumstance renders celebrated, more or
less, every locality where they do abound and are pure. The city,
therefore, might have been notable for its walls and fountains of pure
water.
Aska is the name of a river in Japan, remarkable for its great depth, and
for frequently changing its course (Golownin, vol. iii. p. 149.).
In north-eastern Asia we find a river called after the Tongouse,
_Tongousca_. Query, Tungouse-asca? and, following up Thompson's examples
before mentioned, we may name Yakutsk, Irkutsk, Ochotsk, Kamtchatka, &c.,
all intimately connected with water. Then there is Kandalask, a gulf of the
White Sea; Tchesk, another; Kaniska-Zemblia, an island, &c. In Spain,
Huesca is on the river Barbato. The two Gradiskas in Hungary, &c. are the
one on the Save, the other on the Lisonzo.
Zaleski (Pereslav) is seated on a lake; but Malte-Brun says the name means
"au-dela des bois." This may or may not be the case. The sound is here, and
in connexion with water. Pultusk is nearly surrounded by water, the Narew.
Askersan, in Sweden, stands on a lake. Gascon, {490} says Rafinesque, means
"beyond the sea" (_American Nations_, &c., No. 2. p. 41.).
Madagascar. Curious the similarity between this name of an island and the
American names Madagaska and Madawaska. By the way, I forgot to notice of
this last, that Captain Levinge, in his _Echoes from the Back Woods_, &c.,
vol. i. p. 150., derives it from Madawas (Micmac), a "porcupine;" whilst
_The Angler in Canada_ (Lanman), p. 229., says that it means "never
frozen," because part of the river never freezes. Which is right?
Tcherkask. Every one knows that the capital of the Don Cossacks is
eminently a water city. According to Pallas, the Circassians (Tcherkesses)
once were located in the Crimea. They may have extended their influence to
the Don, and the name in question may be a synthetic form of
Tcherkesse-aska.
Damasca (Latinised Damascus) is famed all over the East for its waters. The
name of the ancient city was Damas, "Le Demechk, ou Chamel-Dimichk, des
Orientaux" (Malte-Brun, viii. 215.).
The modern city is said to be called Damas, or I Domeschk, though it seems
more generally known as El Sham. Bryant says it was called by the natives
_Damasec_ and _Damakir_, the latter meaning the city (Caer?) of Dams, or of
Adama (_Mythology_, &c., vol. i. p. 69.). Can it have once been Adama, or
Dama-asca?
In Great Britain we have rivers and lakes called severally Esk, Exe or
Isca, Axe, and Usk.
Axe seems to have been written _Asca_ at one time; for Lambarde gives
Ascanmynster as the Saxon name of Axminster. Hence, also, we may infer that
Axholme Island was once Ascanholme. The Exe was probably Esk, _i.e._ water,
or river: it certainly was Uske. Iska is the British Isk Latinised by
Ptolemy; for Camden says Exeter was called by the Welsh _Caerisk_, &c. Usk
or Uske was written _Osca_ by Gyraldo Camb. (See Lambarde.)
Kyleska, or Glendha, ferry in Sutherlandshire. Kyle-aska? Kyles (Ir.), a
frith or strait.
Ask occurs frequently as the first syllable of names in England, and such
places will be almost invariably found connected with water. Camden
mentions a family of distinguished men in Richmondshire named Aske, from
whom perhaps some places derive their names, as _p. ex._ the Askhams,
Askemoore, &c. Askrigg, however, being in the neighbourhood of some
remarkable waterfalls (Camden), may have reference to them.
Now, from places let us turn to things, first noticing that _usk_, in
modern Welsh, means river. In Irish, _uisce_ or _uiske_ is water. In Hebrew
and Chaldee, _hisca_ is to wash or to drink. (See Introduction to
Valancey's _Irish Dictionary_.) In the same we find _ascu_ (ancient Irish),
a water-serpent or dog; _iasc_, fish; _easc_ (Irish), water, same as _esk_.
Chalmers, in "Caledonia," &c., has easc or esc (Gael.), water; _easc lan_
(Gael.), the full water.
Askalabos (Greek), a newt or water reptile; and asker, askard, askel, ask,
and esk, in provincial English, a water-newt. (See _Archaic Dictionary_.)
Masca, the female sea-otter; so called by the Russians.
Askalopas (Greek), a woodcock or snipe, _i.e._ a swamp-bird.
As I said before, there are few words in any of the Indian languages of
North America in which the sound _ask_ occurs; at least as far as my
limited acquaintance with them goes. The only two I can quote just now are
both in the Chippeway. One only has direct reference to water; perhaps the
other may indirectly. They are, _woyzask_, rushes, water-plants; _mejask_,
herb, or grass. The only grass the forest Indians are likely to be
acquainted with is that growing in the natural meadows along the river
banks, which are occasionally met with, and these in general are pretty
swampy.
We may wind up with our _cask_ and _flask_. I could have added much more,
but fear already to have exceeded what might hope for admittance in your
pages; therefore I will only say that, in offering these remarks, I insist
on nothing, and stand ready to submit to any correction.
A. C. M.
Exeter.
* * * * *
LEGENDS OF THE COUNTY CLARE.
About two miles from the village of Corofin, in the west of Clare, are the
ruins of the Castle of Ballyportree, consisting of a massive square tower
surrounded by a wall, at the corners of which are smaller round towers: the
outer wall was also surrounded by a ditch. The castle is still so far
perfect that the lower part is inhabited by a farmer's family; and in some
of the upper rooms are still remaining massive chimney-pieces of grey
limestone, of a very modern form, the horizontal portions of which are
ornamented with a quatrefoil ornament engraved within a circle, but there
are no dates or armorial bearings: from the windows of the castle four
others are visible, none of them more than two miles from each other; and a
very large cromlech is within a few yards of the castle ditch. The
following legend is related of the castle:--When the Danes were building
the castle (the Danes were the great builders, as Oliver Cromwell was the
great destroyer of all the old castles, abbeys, &c. in Ireland),--when the
Danes were building the Castle of Ballyportree, they collected workmen from
all quarters, and forced them to labour night and day without stopping for
rest or food; and according as any of them fell down from exhaustion, his
body was thrown upon the wall, which was built up over him! When {491} the
castle was finished, its inhabitants tyrannised over the whole country,
until the time arrived when the Danes were finally expelled from Ireland.
Ballyportree Castle held out to the last, but at length it was taken after
a fierce resistance, only three of the garrison being found alive, who
proved to be a father and his two sons; the infuriated conquerors were
about to kill them also, when one of then proposed that their lives should
be spared, and a free passage to their own country given them, on condition
that they taught the Irishmen how to brew the famous ale from the
heather--that secret so eagerly coveted by the Irish, and so zealously
guarded by the Danes. At first neither promises nor threats had any effect
on the prisoners, but at length the elder warrior consented to tell the
secret on condition that his two sons should first be put to death before
his eyes, alleging his fear, that when he returned to his own country, they
might cause him to be put to death for betraying the secret. Though
somewhat surprised at his request, the Irish chieftains immediately
complied with it, and the young men were slain. Then the old warrior
exclaimed, "Fools! I saw that your threats and your promises were beginning
to influence my sons; for they were but boys, and might have yielded: but
now the secret is safe, your threats or your promises have no effect on
me!" Enraged at their disappointment, the Irish soldiers hewed the stern
northman in pieces, and the coveted secret is still unrevealed.
In the South of Scotland a legend, almost word for word the same as the
above, is told of an old castle there, with the exception that, instead of
Danes, the old warrior and his sons are called Pechts. After the slaughter
of his sons the old man's eyes are put out, and he is left to drag on a
miserable existence: he lives to an immense old age, and one day, when all
the generation that fought with him have passed away, he hears the young
men celebrating the feats of strength performed by one of their number; the
old Pecht asks for the victor, and requests him to let him feel his wrist;
the young man feigns compliance with his request, but places an iron
crow-bar in the old man's hand instead of his wrist; the old Pecht snaps
the bar of iron in two with his fingers, remarking quietly to the astounded
spectators, that "it is a gey bit gristle, and has not much pith in it
yet." The story is told in the second volume of Chambers's _Edinburgh
Journal_, first series, I think; but I have not the volume at hand to refer
to. The similarity between the two legends is curious and interesting.
FRANCIS ROBERT DAVIES.
* * * * *
ARCHAIC WORDS.
(Vol. vii., p. 400., &c.)
The following list of words, which do not appear in Mr. Halliwell's
_Dictionary of Archaic Words_, may form some contribution, however small,
to the enlargement of that and of some of our more comprehensive English
dictionaries. It falls in with the desire already expressed in "N. & Q.;"
and, if the present paper seem worth inserting, may be followed by another.
In some few cases, though the word does appear in Mr. Halliwell's columns,
an authority is deficient; instances having as it were turned up, and in
rather uncommon sources, which seemed occasionally worth supplying. It must
be observed that the explanations given are, in some instances, mere
conjectures, and await more certain and accurate interpretation.
_Aege_, age. _The Festyvall_, fol. cxii. recto, edit. 1528.
_Advyse_, to view attentively. Strype's _Memorials_, under MARY, ch.
xxviii. p. 234., folio, or vol. iv. p. 384. edit. 1816.
_Apause_, to check. Foxe, _Acts and Monuments_, vii. 647.; and
Merchant's _Second Tale_, 2093.
_Assemble_, to resemble. Bale's _Image of both Churches_, Part II. p.
378., edit. 1849.
_Beclepe_, to embrace. _The Festyvall_, fol. xxxvi. recto, edit. 1528:
"The ymage--becleped the knyght about the necke, and kyssed hym."
_Bluck_, ...(?) "So the true men shall be hunted and blucked."--_The
Festyvall_, fol. xxvi. recto.
_Boystously_, roughly. "Salome--boystously handled our Lady."--_The
Festyvall_, fol. lxvii. verso.
_Brince_, to introduce, hand out, _propino_. "Luther first brinced to
Germany the poisoned cup of his heresies."--Harding in Bishop Jewel's
_Works_, vol. iv. p. 335., edit. Oxford, 1848.
_Bussing._ "Without the blind bussings of a Papist, may no sin be
solved."--Bishop Bale's _Image of both Churches on the Revelation_, ch.
xiii. p. 431., edit. Cambridge, 1849.
_Croked._ A curious application of this word occurs in _The Festyvall_,
fol. cxxviii. recto: "A croked countenance."
_Daying_, arbitration. Jewel's _Works_, i. 387. See Dr. Jelf's note,
_in loc._
_Dedeful_, operative? "This vertue is dedefull to all Chrysten
People."--_The Festyvall_, fol. clxxii. recto.
_Do_, to do forth; meaning, to proceed with, to go on with, occurs in
_The Festyvall_. fol. viii. verso.
_Domageable_, injurious. _The Festyvall_, fol. cxi. recto: "How
domageable it is to them which use for to saye in theyr bargens and
marchaundyses, makynge to the prejudyce--of their soules."
_Dyssclaunderer_, a calumniator. "To stone hym (Stephen) to deth as for
a dyssclaunderer."--_The Festyvall_, fol. lxx. verso.
_Enclense_, to make clean. _The Festyvall_, fol. lxxxviii. recto.
_Enforcement_, effort? Erasmus' _Enchiridion_, 1533, Rule IV. ch. xii.
{492} _Engrease_, to overfeed. "Riches, wherewithal they are fatted and
engreased like swine."--Foxe's _Acts and Monuments_, v. 615. edit.
1843.
_Ensignement_, ... (?) _The Festyvall_, fol. cliv. recto: "And whan all
the people come so togyder at this ensignement."
_Entrecounter_, to oppose. Brook's _Sermon_, 1553, quoted in Foxe's
_Acts and Monuments_, vol. viii. p. 782.
_Fele._ An application of this word may be quoted, partaking of a
Grecism, unless we mistake: "And whan the people _felte_ the smell
therof."--_The Festyvall_, fol. c. recto.
_Flytterynge_: "lyghtnynge, and not flytterynge."--_The Festyvall_,
fol. xliv. verso, edit. 1528.
NOVUS.
* * * * *
Minor Notes.
_Inscriptions on Buildings._--The following inscriptions are taken from
buildings connected with the hospital of Spital-in-the-Street, co. Lincoln.
On the chapel:
"FVI A^O D[=N]I 1398 }
NON FVI 1594 } DOM DEI & PAVPERVM.
SVM 1616 }
QVI HANC DEVS HVNC DESTRVET."
On the wall of a cottage, formerly one of the alms-houses:
"DEO ET DIVITIBVS.
A^O D[=N]I 1620."
On the wall of a building now used as a barn, but formerly the Court-house,
in which the Quarter Sessions for the parts of Lindsey were formerly held,
before their transfer to Kirton in Lindsey:
"FIAT IVSTITIA.
1619."
"HAEC DOMVS
DIT, AMAT, PVNIT, CONSERVAT, HONORAT,
EQVITIAM, PACEM, CRIMINA, JVRA, BONOS."
L. L. L.
_Epitaphs._--The following specimen of rural monumental Latin is copied
from a tombstone in the churchyard of Henbury, Gloucestershire:
"Hic jacet
Requiesant in pace,
HENRICUS PARSONES.
Qui obtit XXV. die Junes,
Anno Dominii MDCCCXLV,
Aetatis suae XX.
Cujus animia proprietur Christus."
The following is from the churchyard of Kingston-Seymour, Somersetshire:
"J. H.
He was universally beloved in the circle of
His acquaintance; but united
In his death the esteem of all,
Namely, by bequeathing his remains."
J. K. R. W.
_Numbers._--We occasionally see calculations of how often a given number of
persons may vary their position at a table, and each time produce a fresh
arrangement. I believe the result may be arrived at by progressive
multiplication, as thus:
Twice 1 2
3
---
Giving for three persons 6 changes.
4
---
Giving for four persons 24 changes.
5
---
Giving for five persons 120 changes.
6
---
Giving for six persons 720 changes,
and so on. Probably also change-ringing is governed by the same mode of
calculation.
J. D. ALLCROFT.
CELTIC LANGUAGE.--As _fraus latet in generalibus_ in linguistics as in law,
I beg to suggest that, instead of using the word _Celtic_, the words
_Gaelic_, _Cymbric_, _Breton_, _Armorican_, _Welsh_, _Irish_, &c. might be
properly appropriated. The mother Celtic is lost,--her remains are to be
found only in the names of mountains, rivers, and countries; and our
knowledge of this tongue is derived from an acquaintance with her two
principal daughters, the Gaelic and Cymbric (=Kymric). The Gaelic tongue
has been driven by Germanic invasion into Ireland (Erse), and into the
Highlands of Scotland (Gaelic). The Cymbric tongue first took refuge in
Belgium, known afterwards as Breton, and still lives as Welsh and
Bas-Breton, which (and not the Gaelic) is nearest of kin in some words to
the Latin and Italian.
To understand this subject, the profound induction of Eichhoff must be
studied carefully.
T. J. BUCKTON.
Lichfield.
_Illustration of Longfellow_--"_God's Acre._"--Longfellow's very beautiful
little poem, commencing:
"I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which calls
The burial-ground God's acre."
is doubtless familiar to all your readers. It may interest some of them to
know, that the "ancient Saxon phrase" has not yet become obsolete. I read
the words "GOTTES ACKER," when at Basle last autumn, inscribed over the
entrance to a modern cemetery, just outside the St. Paul's Gate of that
city.
W. SPARROW SIMPSON.
* * * * *
{493}
Queries.
JOHN LOCKE.
I shall be much obliged if any gentleman who has the power of access to the
registers of Wrington, Somerset, or who may otherwise take an interest in
the descent of John Locke the philosopher, will kindly assist me to prove
that the parents of that eminent man were as supposed to be in the
accompanying pedigree.
Edmund Keene of Wrington, = Mary, daughter of ... described as a widow,
county Somerset. | October 15, 1631. (Court Roll.)
_______________________|_________________________________
| | | : |
| | | : ... = ... Morris.
| | | : /|\
| | | :
Edmund Keene of = Frances, John. Richard Agnes Keene, = John Locke
Wrington. Yeoman.| daughter of (?). married :
Will dated | ... Locke(?). at Wrington,:
September 12, | Executrix July 15, :
1667 (in which | of her 1630. :
he mentions his | husband's will. :
"loving brother | John Locke the philosopher,
Peter Locke." | baptized August 29, 1632.
Who was he?) |
_____________|_____________________
| | | | |
Samuel John, Peter. Sarah. Mary, baptized at = John Darbie of
Keene. baptized Both baptized Wrington, February 27, Shirbourne,
: October 8, October 24, 1633, by her father's co. Dorset,
: 1635. 1639. will had lands at Mercer.
: : Wrington and Ley. (Deed, August
:________: Will dat. August 16, 16, 1676.)
| 1717. by which she
Frances Keene. = Joseph Watkins devised her estate at
(Daughter of | of Abingdon. Wrington to her niece Frances Watkins
Samuel or John?) | of Abingdon, widow, remainder to her
| son Joseph. Died November 27, 1717.
|
Joseph Watkins of Clapton, Middlesex, = Magdalen, daughter of... Gibbes.
Esq. /|\
I observe that in Chalmers' Dictionary the mother of Locke is called Anne,
whereas, in the Wrington register, I am informed that it appears as
Agnes,--"1630, July 15, (married) John Locke and Agnes Keene." I believe,
however, that in former days Anne and Agnes were not unfrequently
confounded, so that the apparent discrepancy may not be material.
The best evidence that is at present within my reach, in support of the
connexion here given, is a letter from Mrs. Frances Watkins, a daughter of
either Samuel or John Keene, dated "Abingdon, January, 1754," addressed to
her son "Joseph Watkins, Esq., at John's Coffee House, Cornhill, London,"
and from which I make the following extract for the information of those
who may be disposed to look into this question. She says,--
"I am allied to Mr. Lock thus: His father and my grandmother were
brother and sister, and his mother and my grandfather were also sister
and brother, consequently my father and the great Lock were doubly
first cousins. My grandfather's sister and my grandmother's brother
produced this wonder of the world. To make you more sensible of it, a
Lock married a Keen, and a Keen married a Lock. My aunt Keen was a most
beautiful woman, as was all the family; and my uncle Lock an extream
wise man. So much for genealogy. My Lord Chancellor King was allied
thus near. I forgett whether his mother was a Keen or Lock. I had this
information from my aunt Darby. Mr. Lock had no advantage in his
person, but was a very fine gentleman. From foreign Courts they used to
write, 'For John Lock, Esq., in England.'"
C. J.
* * * * *
Minor Queries.
"_The Village Lawyer._"--Can you inform me who is the author of that very
popular farce, _The Village Lawyer_? It was first acted about the year
1787. It has been ascribed to Mr. Macready, the father of Mr. W. C.
Macready, the eminent tragedian. The real author, however, is said to have
been a dissenting minister in Dublin, and I would be obliged to any of your
readers who could give me his name.
SIGMA.
_Richard Plantagenet, Earl of Cambridge._--In a note in the first volume of
Miss Strickland's _Lives of the Queens of Scotland_, she remarks that
Bourchier, Earl of Essex, "was near of kin to the royal family, being
grand-nephew to Richard, Duke of York, father of Edward IV., but did not
share the blood of the heiress of March, _Jane_ Mortimer." I quote from
memory, not having the book at hand; but allowing that Jane for Anne may be
a slip of the pen, or a mistake of the press, where did Miss Strickland
discover any second marriage of Richard, Earl of Cambridge? All pedigrees
of the royal family that I have seen agree in giving him only one wife, and
in expressly stating her to be mother to Isabel, Countess of Essex.
J. S. WARDEN.