_Sapcote Motto_.--Over the old gatehouse of Elton, co. Hunts., built
by the family of Sapcote, is their coat of arms, namely, "three
dove-cotes;" and upon a scroll, surrounding the lower part of the
shield, is carved a motto, evidently French, and as evidently cut by
a person ignorant of that language. So far as I can decypher it, the
letters appear to be
sco toot X vinic [or umic]
X poncs.
Possibly the first and last letters _s_ are only flourishes. I shall
be glad of any suggestion as to its meaning.
I have not been able to find the Sapcote motto on record; and I
believe the Carysfoot family, the possessors of Elton, and the Duke
of Bedford, the heir in blood, to be ignorant of what this scroll is
intended to represent.
Erminois.
Athenæum Club.
_Scala Coeli_.--In a will, dated 12 Hen. VIII., the testator directs
that there shall be four trentals of Saint Gregory said for his soul
at London at "Scala Coeli." Can any of your readers explain what place
is meant by "Scala Coeli?"
A Subscriber.
_Illustrations of Gresset's "Vert Vert," painted on Enamel, &c._--In
a Paris edition of Gresset's Works (Janet et Cotelle, 1823), in the
preface is the following passage.--
"Vert-vert fut bientôt dans toutes les mains. Le suffrage de
la multitude se joignit à celui des connoisseurs; la mode, qui
est aussi en possession de donner son suffrage, s'empressa de
parer les ajustemens d'invention récente, du nom de l'illustre
perroquet; _les vases d'ornement, les vases usuels_ qui
sortoient des fabriques françoises, retraçoient presque tous
quelques épisodes du petit poëme. Un artist dont le nom est
venu jusqu'à nous, Raux, en _peignit sur émail les sujets
les plus marquants_; et tandis qu'on faisoit passer dans une
version latine les vers élégants du poëte jésuite, M. Bertin,
ministre d'état, le gratifioit d'un magnifique _cabaret_ de
Sèvres, dont toutes les pièces reproduisoient les aventures
de son héros, ce qui fit dire à Gresset, _qu'on le traduisoit
aussi en porcelaine de Sèvres_." {367}
The _Query_ I wish to make is, Have any of these illustrations or
designs from Gresset's poem of Vert-vert, painted on enamel china, or
earthenware of any sort, of French or any other manufacture, come to
light of late years? or more lately still, among the articles that
have been dispersed among various buyers of almost all nations, in the
sales within these few weeks effected at Paris?
Robert Snow.
_Urbanus Regius_.--A friend of mine, a delightful old lady, fresh,
genial, and inquisitive, has in her possession an old volume, a family
heir-loom, which is not the less dear to her for being somewhat dingy
and dilapidated, and touching which she would gladly receive such
information as your correspondents can supply.
It is made up of three apparently distinct treatises; the first
(of which several leaves are wanting) on the twelve articles of the
Apostles' Creed. The second is "The ryght foundation, and pryncypall
common places of the hole godly Scripture," &c., by Doctor Urbanus
Regius. Prefixed is an epistle to Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury
(evidently Cranmer), to whom "Hys dayly oratoure, Gwalter Lynne (the
writer of the epistle), wyssheth lyfe euerlastynge." Between this
second treatise and the third, and apparently belonging to the latter,
is a title-page with the following inscription:
"Imprinted for Gwalter Lynne, dwelling upon Somers Kaye, by
Byllinges gate. In the yeare of oure Lorde. MDXLVIII. And they
by [_sic_] to be solde at Poules church yarde at the north
doore, In the signe of the By-bell, By Richard Jugge."
This last treatise is in smaller type than the others, and has no
general designation: it contains chapters on various subjects, e.g.
"The Signification of Baptism," &c.
Query 1. Is this volume well known? 2. Who were Urbanus Regius and
Walter Lynne?