Notes and Queries, Number 16, February 16, 1850

A BERLIN:

Au Dépens de l'Autheur: se vend chez Etienne de Bourdeaux, Libraire; imprimé chez Frédéric Guillaume Birnstiel.

MDCCLXVIII.

I presume that it is of some rarity, never having met with any other copy than the one from which I transcribed this title.

Some of your correspondents may, perhaps, be able to give the name of the Author who, as far as I have had occasion to refer, seems to have done his work carefully.

T.W.

Sir Stephen Fox.—I have seen it stated in some biographical dictionary, that Sir Stephen Fox was a younger brother of "John Fox, Esq.," who was a devoted Royalist at the time of the great Rebellion, and fought at the battle of Worcester, and after the Restoration was Clerk of the Acatry, in the household of Charles the Second.

Mr. Suckling, in his History of Suffolk, claims for a family some time seated at Stradbrook, in that county, a consanguinity with the descendants of Sir Stephen.

On an altar-tomb in Stadbrook churchyard are inscribed notices of many members of this family, but without dates. One is rather extraordinary, making the lives of a father and son together to amount to 194 years. Amongst them is this:—

"Here is hourly expected, Simon the next descendant, with his son Simon, who died young, tho' still preserved to be interr'd with his father at the earnest request of his pious mother the Lady Hart. And also Major John Fox, with his issue, who during the late rebellion loyally behav'd himself, undergoing with great courage not only the danger of the field, but many severe imprisonments."

The arms on this tomb differ from those of Lords Ilchester and Holland, being simply three foxes' heads erased.

Should this note supply a clue for your correspondent "VULPES" to identify Major John Fox with the brother of Sir Stephen, on knowing that he has found the scent I shall be able to assist him in unearthing the whole litter.

VENATOR.

French Maxim.—The maxim inquired after by "R.V." (No. 14. p. 215.) undoubtedly belongs to Rochefoucault. I have met with a somewhat similar passage in Massillon:—

"Le vice rend hommage à la vertu en s'honorant de sus apparences."

J.B.M.

Feb. 5. 1850.

Shipster.—A scip-steora among our Anglo-Saxon ancestors was a pilot ("ship-steerer"). The word has descended to our own times in the surname of the family Shipster. As a common noun it was not obsolete in the days of Wynkyn de Worde, who printed that curious production "Cock Lorelle's Bote," one line of which runs thus:—

"With gogle-eyed Tomson, shepster of Lyn."

It is pretty certain, however, that this masculine occupation was not the one followed by "Marie Fraunceys de Suthwerk!"

Pray accept this "Reply" for what it is worth. Perhaps I might have done better by meeting Mr. John R. Fox's "Query" (No. 14. p. 216.) with another. Should not the designation of Marie F. be Spinster instead of Shipster?

MARK ANTONY LOWER.

Lewes, Feb. 2.

Sparse.—Permit me to refer your correspondent "C. FORBES" for a reply to his query, p. 215. of your last Number, to the article "Americanism" in the Penny Cyclopædia, the author of which observes:—

"Sparse is, for any thing we know, a new word, and well applied; the Americans say a sparse instead of a scattered population; and we think the term has a more precise meaning than scattered, and is the proper correlative of dense."

In the Imperial Dictionary (avowedly based upon Webster's American work, which I cannot at this moment refer to in its original form), the word in question is given both as an adjective and as a verb, and the derivatives "sparsed," "sparsedly," "sparsely," and "sparseness," are also admitted. The reference given for the origin of "sparse" is to the Latin "sparsus, scattered, from spargo;" and the definitions are, 1. "Thinly scattered, set or planted here and there; as, a sparse population:" and, 2., as a botanical term, "not opposite, not alternate, nor in any regular order; applied to branches, leaves, peduncles, &c."

J.T. STANESBY.

Cosmopolis—Complutensian Polyglot.—Though in considerable haste, I must send replies to the fourth and eighth queries of my friend Mr. Jebb, No. 14. p. 213.

Cosmopolis was certainly Amsterdam. That the Interpretationes paradoxæ quatuor Evangeliorum, by Christophorus Christophori Sandius, were there printed, appears from this writer's Bibliotheca Anti-Trinitarionum, p. 169., Freistad, 1684. I may add that "Coloniæ" signifies "Amstelædami" in the title-page of Sandius's Nucleus Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ, 1676, and in the Appendix Addendorum, 1678, 4to.

With regard to the MSS. used in the formation of the text of the Complutensian Polyglot, Mr. Jebb will find an account of their discovery in a letter addressed by Dr. James Thompson to the editor of The Biblical Review. See also The Irish Ecclesiastical Journal for April 1847.

R.G.

Complutensian Polyglot.—The following extract from "The Prospectus of a Critical Edition of the New Testament," by the learned Mr. S. Prideaux Tregelles, affords a satisfactory reply to Mr. Jebb's query, No. 14. p. 212.:—

"However there is now more certainty as to the MSS. belonging to the University of Alcala. Dr. James Thompson has published (Biblical Review, March, 1847), the result of inquiries made thirty years ago by Dr. Bowring, and more recently by himself. Hence it appears that all the MSS. which formerly were known as belonging to Cardinal Ximenes, and which were preserved in the library of Alcala, are now with the rest of that library, at Madrid....Dr. José Gutierrez, the present librarian at Madrid, communicated to Dr. J. Thomson a catalogue of the Complutensian MSS., and from this it appears that the principal MSS. used in the Polyglott are all safely preserved."

J. MILNER BARRY.

Totnes, Feb. 6. 1850.

Christmas Hymn.—Your correspondent "E.V." (No. 13. p. 201.) asks for the author of the Christmas Hymn—

"Hark! the Herald Angels sing."

I believe it to be the composition of the Rev. Charles Wesley, the younger brother of the celebrated John Wesley: he was born in 1708, and died in 1788. He was the author of many of the hymns in his brother's collection, which are distinguished for their elegance and simplicity. I am not able to find out, for certain, whether he had another name; if he had, it was probably the occasion of the initials (J.C.W.) your correspondent mentions.

J.K.R.W.

Sir Jeffery Wyattville.—Sir Jeffery Wyattville, respecting whom "J.P." inquires (No. 14. p. 215.), was knighted at Windsor Castle, Dec. 9, 1828., on the king entering into possession after the restoration.

S.G.

[To which may be added, on the information of our valued correspondent "C.," "that it was about 1824 that Mr. Wyatt, being appointed by George IV. to conduct the improvements at Windsor Castle, had the absurd ambition of distinguishing himself from the other architects of his name by changing it to Wyattville. This produced the following epigram in, I think, the Morning Chronicle:—

"'Let GEORGE whose restlessness leaves nothing quiet,Change, if he will, the good old name of Wyatt;But let us hope that their united skillMay not make Windsor Castle—Wyattsville!'"]

"Peruse."—In reply to the question of "H.W." (No. 14. p. 215.), although from want of minute reference I have been unable to find, in the original edition, the quotation from Frith's works, I beg leave to suggest that the word "Peruse" is a misprint, and that the true reading is "Pervise." To this day the first examination at Oxford, commonly called the "Little-Go," is "Responsiones in Parviso." It must not, however, be supposed that "Pervise," or "Parvise," is derived from the Latin "Parvus;" the origin, according to Spelman and succeeding etymologists, is the French "Le Parvis," a church porch.

In London the Parvis was frequented by serjeants at law: see Chaucer, Prol. Cant. Tales. There is a difference of opinion where it was situated: see Tyrwhitt's Gloss. The student in ecclesiastical history may compare Leo Allatius de Templis Græcorum, p. 44.

T.J.

Autograph Mottoes of Richard Duke of Gloucester and Harry Duke of Buckingham. (No. 9. p. 138.)—There can be no doubt that "Mr. NICOLS" is somewhat wrong in his interpretation of the Duke of Buckingham's Motto. It is evident that both mottoes are to be read continuously, and that "souene" is the third person singular of a verb having "loyaulte" for its nominative case. It appears to me that the true reading of the word is "soutienne," and that the meaning of the motto is "My feelings of loyalty often sustain me in my duty to the King when I am tempted to join those who bear no good feeling towards him." So that we shall have in English,

ARUN.

Boduc.—Your correspondent "P." (No. 12, p. 185.) seems to consider the "prevailing opinion," that Boduc or Boduoc on the British coin must be intended for our magnanimous Queen Boadicea, to be merely a "pleasing vision," over which he is "sorry to cast a cloud." Yet his own remark, that the name Budic (a mere difference in spelling) is often found among families of the Welsh in Brittany, and that the name was once common in England, serves only to confirm the common opinion that Boduoc on the coins was intended as the name of the British Queen.

Dio expressly writes her name in Greek Boudouica, which approaches nearly to Budic. In Cornwall we still find Budock, the name of a parish and of a saint. In Oxford there was a church formerly called from St. Budoc, long since destroyed. Leland mentions a Mr. Budok, and his manor place, and S. Budok Church. His opinion was, that "this Budocus was an Irisch man, and cam into Cornewalle, and ther dwellid." Whether there was a Regulus of Britain of this name, is not material. I am not prepared to cast a cloud over it, if it should be found. Our motto should be, "ex fumo dare lucem," &c.

ANTINEPHELEGERETA.

Oxford.

Annus Trabeationis.—I am sure that you will allow me to correct an oversight in your reply to a query of "G.P.," in No. 7. p. 105. You have attributed to Du Cange a sentence in the Benedictine addition to his explanation of the term Trabeatio. (Glossar. tom. vi. col. 1158. Venet. 1740.) This word certainly signifies the Incarnation of Christ, an not his Crucifixion. Besides the occurrence of "trabea carnis indutus," at the commencement of a sermon on S. Stephen by S. Fulgentius Ruspensis, I have just now met with the expressions, "trabea carnis velatus," and "carnis trabea amicti," in a copy of the editio princeps of the Latin version of Damascen's books in defence of Image-worship, by Godefridus Tilmannus, fol. 30 b. 39 a, 4to. Paris, 1555.

R.G.

MISCELLANIES

Pursuits of Literature.—The lines upon the pursuits of literature, quoted by you at p. 212., remind me of some others, which I have heard ascribed to Mr. Grattan, and are as follows:—

"'Tis well, Pursuits of Literature!But who, and what is the pursuer,A Jesuit cursing Popery:A railer preaching charity;A reptile, nameless and unknown,Sprung from the slime of Warburton,Whose mingled learning, pride, and blundering,Make wise men stare, and set fools wondering."X.

Doctor Dobbs and his Horse Nobbs.—I remember having read somewhere of "Doctor Dobbs and his horse Nobbs," but where I cannot now recall. I only remember one anecdote. The horse Nobbs was left, one cold night, outside a cottage, whilst the Doctor was within officiating as accoucheur (I believe); when he was ready to start, and came out, he found the horse apparently dead. The Doctor was miles from home, and, as the horse was dead, and the night dark, in place of walking home, he, with his host, dragged the horse into the kitchen, and skinned him, by way of passing the time profitably. But, lo! when the skinning was finished, the horse gave signs of returning animation. What was to be done? Doctor Dobbs, fertile in resources, got sheepskins and sewed them on Nobbs, and completely clothed him therein; and—mirabile dictu!—the skins became attached to the flesh, Nobbs recovered, and from thenceforward carried a woolly coat, duly shorn every summer, to the profit of Doctor Dobbs, and to the wonder and admiration of the neighbourhood.

I have also read somewhere that Coleridge told the story of "Doctor Dobbs and his horse Nobbs" to Southey at Oxford.

J.M.B.

Dr. Dobbs and his Horse Nobbs.—Although of small moment, it is, perhaps, worth recording, that a Doctor Daniel Dove, of Doncaster, and his horse Nobbs, form the subjects of a paper in "The Nonpareil, or the Quintessence of Wit and Humour," published in 1757, and which, there can be little doubt, was the source whence Southey adopted, without alteration, the names so well known to all readers of the Doctor.

JNO. SUDLOW.

Manchester.

Seeing the communication of "P.C.S.S." (p. 73.), reminds me of a note taken from our Parish Register:—

"1723. Feb. 10. 'Dorothy Dove, gentlewoman, bur.'"

I have never seen the name in connection with Doncaster before or since the above date.

J.S.

Doncaster, Jan. 15.

——SI PROPIUS STES,TE CAPIET MINUS(From the Latin of Vincent Bourne.)Glide down the Thames by London Bridge, what timeSt. Saviour's bells strike out their evening chime;Forth leaps the ompetuous cataract of sound,Dash'd into noise by countless echoes round.Pass on—it follows—all the jarring notesBlend in celestial harmony, that floatsAbove, below, around: the ravish'd earFinds all the fault its own—it was TOO NEAR.RUFUS.

St. Evona's Choice.—To your citation of Ben Jonson's exceptional case of the Justice Randall as "a lawyer an honest man," in justice add the name of the learned and elegant author of Eunomus; for Mr. Wynne himself tells the story of St. Evona's choice (Dialogue II. p. 62. 3rd ed. Dublin, 1791), giving his authority in the following note:—

"The story here dressed up is told in substance in a small book published in 1691, called a Description of the Netherlands," p. 58.

In strict law, Sir, the profession may in courts of Momus be held bound by the act of the respectable but unlucky St. Evona; but in equity, let me respectfully claim release, for Evona was a churchman.

A TEMPLAR.

[We gladly insert our correspondent's "claim to release," but doubt whether he can establish it; inasmuch as St. Ivo or Evona, canonized on account of his great rectitude and profound knowledge both of civil and canon law, was both lawyer and churchman, like the CLERICUS so recently discussed in our columns; and clearly sought for and obtained his patron saint in his legal character.]

Muffins and Crumpets, &c.—Not being quite satisfied with the etymology of "muffin," in p. 205., though brought by Urquhart from Phoenicia and the Pillars of Hercules, I am desirous of seeking additional illustration. Some fancy that "coffee" was known to Athenæus, and that he saw it clearly in the "black broth" of the Lacedæmonian youth. In the same agreeable manner we are referred to that instructive and entertaining writer for the corresponding luxury of "muffins." Maphula, we are told, was one of those kinds of bread named as such by Athenæus; that is to say, "a cake baked on a hearth or griddle." If we need go so far, why not fetch our muffins from Memphis, which is Môph in Hebrew? (See Hosea, ix. 6.) It is, perhaps, mou-pain, in old French, soft bread, easily converted into mouffin. So "crumpet" may be a corruption of crumpâte a paste made of fine flour, slightly baked. The only difficulty would then be in the first syllable, concerning, which the ingenuity of your various correspondents, Mr. Editor, may be exercised to some effect. Is it connected with the use of the crimping irons in producing these delicacies?

HYPOMAGIRUS.

Oxford.

Dulcarnon.—Dulcarnon is one of those words in Chaucer which Tyrwhitt professes that he does not understand. It occurs in Trolius and Creseide, book iii. 931.933. Creseide says:—

"I am, til God me better minde sende,At Dulcarnon, right at my witt'is ende.Quod Pandarus ye nece, wol ye here,Dulcarnon clepid is fleming3 of wretches."

This passage of Trolius and Creseide is quoted in the life of Sir Thomas More, given in Wordsworth's Ecclesiastical Biography. More's daughter said to him, when he was in prison, "Father, I can no further goe; I am come, as Chaucer said of Cressid Dulcarnon, to my witt's end."

Has this passage been satisfactorily explained since Tyrwhitt's time? The epithet "Dulcarnon" is mentioned in a note to the translation of Richard de Bury's Philobiblon, London, 1832. I give the note in full. It is in reference to the word "Ellefuga":—

"This word was a pons asinorum to some good Grecians,—but that is probably its meaning4; at least making it the name of a problem gets over all difficulty. The allusion is to the flight of Helle, who turned giddy in taking a flying leap, mounted on a ram, and fell into the sea;—so weak a head fails in crossing the pons. The problem was invented by Pythagoras, 'and it hath been called by barbarous writers of the latter time Dulcarnon,'—Billingsley. This name may have been invented after our author's time. Query δολκαρηνον."

If we take the words "Dulcarnon" in this sense, it will help to explain the passage in the Troilus and Creseide.

E.M.B.

Bishop Barnaby.—The origin of the term "Bishop Barnaby," as applied to the Lady-bird, is still unexplained.

I wish to observe, as having some possible connexion with the subject, that the word "Barnaby" in the seventeenth century appears to have had a particular political signification.

For instance, I send you a pamphlet (which you are welcome to, if you will accept of it) called "The Head of Nile, or the Turnings and Windings of the Factious since Sixty, in a dialogue between Whigg and Barnaby," London, 1681. In this dialog, Whigg, as might be expected, is the exponent of all manner of abominable opinions, whilst Barnaby is represented as the supporter of orthodoxy.

Again, in the same year was published Durfey's comedy, "Sir Barnaby Whigg," the union of the two names indicating that the knight's opinions were entirely regulated by his interest.

Q.D.

P.S. The pamphlet above alluded to affords another instance of the use of the word "Factotum," at page 41.: "before the Pope had a great house there, and became Dominus Factotum, Dominus Deus noster Papu."

Barnacles.—In Speculum Mundi, or a Glass representing the Face of the World, by John Swan, M.A., 4th edit., 1670, is the following mention of the Barnacle goose (pp. 243, 244.):—

"In the north parts of Scotland, and in the places adjacent, called Orchades, are certain trees found, whereon there groweth a certain kind of shell-fish, of a white colour, but somewhat tending to a russet; wherein are contained little living creatures. For in time of maturity the shells do open, and out of them by little and little grow those living creatures; which falling into the water when they drop out of their shells, do become fowls, such as we call Barnacles or Brant Geese; but the other that fall upon the land, perish and come to nothing."

The author then quotes the passage from Gerard where mention is made of the Barnacle.

HENRY KERSLEY.

Ancient Alms-Dishes.—I have one of these dishes; diameter 1 foot 4-3/4 inches, and its height 1-1/2 inch. The centre is plain, without any device, and separated from the circle of inscription by a bold embossed pattern.

The inscription is Der infrid gehwart, in raised (not engraved) capital letters, 1 inch long, repeated three times in the circle. Mine is a handsome dish of mixed metal; yielding, when struck, a fine sound like that of a gong. It has devices of leaves, &c. engraved on the broad margin, but no date.

I have seen another such dish, in the collection of the late William Hooper, Esq., of Ross, part of which (and I think the whole of the under side) had been enamelled, as part of the enamel still adhered to it. In the centre was engraved the temptation in Eden; but it was without legend or date.

P.H.F.

Why the American Aborigines are called Indians. —I have often wondered how the aborigines of America came to be called Indians; and for a considerable time I presumed it to be a popular appellation arising from their dark colour. Lately, however, I fell in with a copy of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Antwerp, 1583, by Abraham Ortelius, geographer to the king; and, in the map entitled Typus Orbis Terrarum. I find America called America, sive India Nova. How it came to get the name of India Nova is of course another question, and one which at present I cannot answer.

NORTHMAN.

MISCELLANEOUS

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC

The arrangements for the Exhibition of Works of Ancient and Mediæval Art at the rooms of the Society of Arts in the Adelphi, are proceeding most satisfactorily. Her MAJESTY and PRINCE ALBERT have manifested the interest they feel in its success, by placing at the disposal of the Committee for the purposes of the approaching Exhibition a selection from the magnificent collection of such objects which is preserved at Windsor.

Messrs. Puttick and Simpson, of 191. Piccadilly, will sell on Thursday next, and five following days, the extensive and valuable Library of a well known and eminent Collector; comprising some very early printed books of extreme rarity, numerous French, Spanish, and Italian early Romances, an extensive series of ancient Italian Books quoted by the Academia della Crusea, ancient and modern Books of Travels, and Oriental Books and MSS.; amongst which latter are the original MSS. of the celebrated M. Jules de Klaproth.

We have received the following Catalogues:—

"A Catalogue of Scientific and Mathematical Books, comprising Architecture, Astrology, Magic, Chess, and other Games; Fine Arts, Heraldry, Naval and Military, Numismatics, Penmanship and Short Hand, Typography, and Miscellaneous Books now selling at the reduced prices affixed by William Brown, 130. and 131. Old Street, St. Luke's, London."

"Catalogue (Part I. Feb. 1. 1850) of Choise, Useful and Curious Books in most departments of Literature, on Sale, at the very low prices affixed, by John Russell Smith, 4, Old Compton Street, Soho Square."

"William Dobson Reeves' Catalogue of Books (Many Rare and Curious), now on Sale at 98. Chancery Lane."

"Catalogue of very Cheap Books, chiefly Divinity, with a Selection of Miscellaneous Literature, on Sale, for Ready Money, by T. Arthur, No. 496. New Oxford street."

"A Catalogue of Fathers of the Church, and Ecclesiastical Writers to the Fifteenth Century, arranged in Chronological Order, with Collections, Analyses and Selections, Illustrative and Introductory Works, and an Alphabetical Index of Authors; on Sale at the Low Prices affixed, for Ready Money, by C.J. Stewart, 11. King William Street, West Strand."

We had occasion in a former Number (No. 5. p. 78) to speak in terms of high and deserved praise of Mr. Stewart's "Catalogue of Bibles and Biblical Literature;" the present is no less deserving of commendation, in as much as it gives not only the Fathers and Ecclesiastical Writers in Chronological order, according to Centuries (to each of which, by the way, Mr. Stewart affixes its distinctive character, Apostolic, Gnostic, &c., as given by Cave); but also marking the precise period in which they severally flourished, so as to show their succession in each century. So that this Catalogue, with its Index, and its tempting quotations from Cranmer and Bishop Hall, which we regret we have not room to quote, will really be most useful to all Students of Theology and Ecclesiastical History.

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES

WANTED TO PURCHASE(In continuation of Lists in former Nos.)

GLAMORGANSHIRE PEDIGREES, from the MSS, of Sir Isaac Heard, Knt. By SIR THOMAS PHILLIPS, Bart. 1845.