Notes and Queries, Number 14, February 2, 1850

Now, the topographical description of the county of Armarh is that it is hilly, and the hills (not very high) are of granite rock. The town of Armagh again is described as situated on an eminence. I suggest, therefore, the high field or ground, or the field of the Hill, or the dwelling or town of the Hill, as very natural derivations.

If your correspondent prefers it, Ar bears also the signification of rock, and M. Bullet says:—

"Ce terme nous a été conservé dans la Vie de Saint Colomb."

Who knows, therefore, whether in building the monastery alluded to by Camden, he may not have given it the name of

The dwelling of the Rock?

The Celtic language affords many other possibilities, but an accurate knowledge of the locality is requisite in judging of their probablility.

HERMES.

The etymology of Armagh, in Ireland, is very simple. Ard, high, great, noble, a purely Celtic root, found in many languages. Latin, Arduus, high, &c. Welsh, hardh, fair, handsome, &c. Magh, a plain, a level tract of land, a field. Ardmugh, the great plain. Others derive it from Eamhuin-magh, from the regal residence of the kings of Ulster, that stood in its vicinity; but the former is considered by those best capable of judging as the most correct. The original name was Druim-sailech, "the hill of sallows," which was changed to Ard-sailech, "the height of sallows," and then again to Ardmagh. Although now spelt Armagh, it was formerly more correctly written Ardmagh, which is undoubtedly the proper way.

HIBERNICUS

Jan. 8. 1850.

THE OFFICE OF THE MASTER OF THE REVELS

Your esteemed correspondent, "J.G.N.," asks (p. 158.) for the meaning of the letters "C.K.M.R." and "T.S." appended to the passage he quotes from the Common-place Book of Charles, Duke of Dorset. I think I can tell him. "C.K.M.R." stands for Charles Killegrew, Master of the Revells; and "T.S." means Thomas Skipwith, one of the patentees of Drury Lane Theatre, who died in 1710. Sir Henry Herbert died in 1673; and his successor in the office was Thomas Killegrew. This person had previously been Sir Henry's deputy; and I am in possession of a curious list of MS. instructions, "the heads of what I gave to Mr. Thos. Killegrew the 29th of March, 1664," in the hand-writing of Sir Henry Herbert. Thomas Killegrew died in 1683, and was succeeded by Charles Killegrew; the degree of the relationship between the two Killegrews I do not know; and in the London Gazette, Dec. 7. 1685, there is a notice commanding all "rope-dancers, prize-players, strollers and other persons showing motions and other sights, to have licenses from Charles Killegrew, Esq., Master of the Revells."

Charles Killegrew was one of the managers of Drury Lane Theatre at the time of the union of the King's and Duke of York's servants; and Drydaen calls him, in the Dedication to his translation of Juvenal's Satires, his "ingenious friend."

Upon the death of the latter, in 1725, Charles Henry Lee succeeded to the vacant office; who, dying in 1744, Solomon Dayrolle was appointed in his room. I do not know the date of the decease of the last-named gentleman; but with him, I believe, died the office of the Master of the Revells. The ancient jurisdiction of the Master of the Revells has been transferred, by 1737, by legal authority, to a "licenser of the stage," who, in conjunction with a deputy licenser, performed all the functions of the ancient office.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES

The Red Maids of Bristol.—The answer to the query of "MR. A. GRIFFENHOOF" (No. 12. p. 184.), why the "Red Maids" in Bristol are so called, is, because they are dressed in bright scarlet gowns. They are the incumbents of a benevolent school, founded in 1627, by one of Bristol's great benefactors, Alderman Whitson, of pious memory, for the maintenance and education of 40 girls, which number has now increased to 120. Your correspondent's curiousity respecting their name might be fully satisfied, and his interest increased, if he should happen to be in Bristol on some sunny afternoon in the later part of May, or the beginning of June, by a sight of this bright "regiment of women"—the gay colour of their gowns subdued by the quaintness of their fashion, and the clean whiteness of their aprons, collars, &c.—proceeding, in double file, towards the downs, for air and recreation. An account of their foundation may be found in Barret's Hist. of Bristol, p. 415. "Blue-Boys," so called for a similar reason, are a parallel case of much more general occurance. Yours, &c.

RUFA.

Poetical Symbolism.—In answer to the question of your correspondent, "STEPHEN BEAUCHAMP" (No. 11. p. 173.), I beg leave to mention a work, which answers in some degree to the description which he gives; namely, De Symbolica Ægyptiorum Sapientia, and Polyhistor Symbolicus, electarum Symbolarum et Parabolarum Historicurum Stromata XII. Libris complectens, by Nicolas Caussin, 8vo. Col. Agr. 1631. There were other editions, I believe, in the same century. The former work treats of Egyptian symbols; the titles of the twelve books of the latter are: I. Mundus et Elementa. II. Dii Gentium. III. Hominis Bona. IV. Hominis Mala. V. Ritus Gentium. VI. Aves. VII. Quadrupedes. VIII. Pisces. IX. Serpentes et Insecta. X. Plantæ. XI. Lapilli. XII. Manufacta.

M.

Oxford.

Fraternitye of Vagabondes.—It does not appear very clearly from the wording of the query at p. 184. of your 12th number, whether the object of your correspondent, "A. GRIFFINHOOF, JUN.," be to ascertain the fact of the reprint in question having been published by Stace, or (having ascertained that fact) to procure further information as to the publisher. I cannot find any allusion to the work in the Censura Literuria, (2nd ed. 1815), another instance of the absolute necessity for exact references, the want of which you would do well in making a ground of exclusion from your columns. However, on the chance of being useful I send you an exact copy of the rubricated title-page of the reprint, which is as follows:

"The Fraternitye of Vacabondes; As wel of ruflyng Vacabondes, as of beggerley, of Women as of Men, of Gyrles as of Boyes, With Their proper Names and Qualities. With a Description of the Crafty Company of Cousoners and Shifters. Whereunto also is adioined The XXV orders of Knaues, Otherwyse called A Quartern of Knaues. Confirmed for euer by Cocke Lorell.—¶ The Vprightman speaketh.

¶ Our Brotherhood of Vacabondes,If you would know where dwell:In grauesend Barge which syldome standes,The talke wyll shew ryght well.¶ Cocke Lorell answereth.¶ Some orders of my knaues alsoIn that Barge shall ye fynde:for no where shall ye walke I trow,But ye shall see their knynde.

¶ Imprinted at London by John Awdely, dwellyng in little Britayne Streete without Aldersgate. 1575.

Westminster: Reprinted for Machell Stace, No. 12, Little Queen-Street, and R. Triphook, St. James's Street. 1813."

Those who are curious about Mr. Stace may consult Boaden on the Shakespeare Portraits, p. 141., Wivell on do., p. 189., and Chaleographimania, p. 16. 32. 95.

J.F.M.

Anonymous Ravennas.—In answer to the query of "W.C.," in No. 8., p. 124., I beg to state that Gronovius published the Cosmography of Ravennas, with other ancient scraps of geography, annexed to a neat edition of Pomponius Mela, printed at Leyden, in 1696. Gronovius refers the anonymous author to the seventh century. His Chorography of Britain forms a part of the work; but it is printed from one MS., and wretchedly obscure.

J.I.

Dick Shore.—Your correspondent, J.T. HAMMACK, is not quite correct in stating, No. 9., p. 141., that the modern maps present no trace of the locality of "Dick Shoare," mentioned in the Pepysian Diary. In one of Smith's maps, now before me, of the date of 1806, I find "Duke Shore Stairs," not far from the great turn of the river southward, opposite to the Isle of Dogs. Whether the proper spelling to be Dick, Dyke, Dock, Dog, or Duke, I leave to your readers to determine; but I presume there can be no doubt as to the identity of the place. As the origin of the name of "Isle of Doggs," according to the Pepysian orthography, is said to be still underdetermined; may it not be connected with the modern term DOCKS? We are daily familiarised to worse corruptions. Docks are excavations, large or small, formed by the operation of digging, in Dutch called Dóken.

J.I.

[DICK'S SHORE, Fore Street, Limehouse, and DICK'S SHORE ALLEY, by Dick's Shore, are both mentioned in London and its Environs, vol. ii. p. 233.]

Travelling in England.—Mr. Steven's quotation (No. 11., p. 167.) of Bernard Calvert's rapid journey, as from an anonymous History of England written in the early part of the reign of George I., is to be found in more detail in Stow (1032.), and is transcribed in Mr. Croker's Notes on Bassompière's Embassy, 1819.

Sanuto.—The Ragguagli sulla Vita e sulle Opere di Maria Sanuto, referred to in No. 5., p. 75., were edited by Mr. Rawdon Browne, an English gentleman long resident at Venice, and a most accomplished Italian scholar. The Diary of Sanuto could hardly be printed, filling, as it does, some twenty or thirty thick large folio volumes.

R.M.M.

Darnley's Birth-place.—In answer to the inquiry in No. 8., p. 123., as to the birth-place of Henry Lord Darnley, I believe he was born at Temple-Newsom, near Leeds, the seat of the Lords Irvine, and now of Meynell Ingram, Esq. A noble room is there shown as the traditional scene of his birth.

R.M.M.

History of Edward II.—The compilers of the British Museum Catalogue attribute the History of Edward II. (referred to in No. 4., p. 59.) to Edward Fannant, who also published a Narration of the Memorable Parliament of 1386, which has been several times printed.

J.R.S.

Lord Chatham's Speech on the American Stamp Act.—When I read the question of your correspondent (in No. 1. p. 12.) on this subject, I saw at once its importance; for, if my Lord Brougham's statements were correct, our historians must forthwith re-write a somewhat important chapter in our history. I felt assured, however, that it was not correct; and the result of a somewhat tedious search is as I had anticipated. His lordship had made an error in a date and 1764 should be 1766. The authority, not acknowledged by his lordship, was, no doubt, the Parliamentary History of 1766 (vol. xvi. p. 96.), where your correspondent will find the statement, which of course, the date being correctly given, contains nothing that is not consistent with known facts.

C.

Bone-houses.—The number of skulls at Rothewell (No. 11., p. 171.) is greatly exaggerated, nor is the tradition of their being gathered from Naseby battle-field more than a modern invention, the discovery of the bones being within the memory of living persons. Their existence there is most puzzling. The vault, which is very small, is probably coeval with the church, and seems to have been made for the very purpose to which it is applied. When this vast building was erected in the 12th century, may not this vault have been made for the bones disturbed in the old churchyard by so extensive a foundation?

T.

Queen's Messengers.—In answer to the query of your correspondent "J.U.G.G.," in No. 12., p. 186., I beg to call his attention to the authority quoted in the passage respecting the "Knightes caligate of Armes," to which he alludes, in Mr. C. Knight's London. He will find that he is referred to Legh's Accedens of Armory, and Upton, De Studio Militari. The latter wrote in the early part of the fifteenth century. We are at present, I believe, without earlier information on such subjects.

Whilst I am writing to you, may I ask you to correct a printer's error in my query in the same number, where "trepon" appears instead of "jupon"? It may save a query as to what I could mean by the former.

J.R. PLANCHÉ.

May-day.—In reply to MELANION (No. 12. p. 187.), I would observe that in a collection of Vues des Villes de Londres, &c., published by Pierre Vander at Leyden (without date, but about the time of William III., or early in Anne's reign), there is a representation of "La Laitière de May à Londres," with an enormous head-dress of silver dishes, tankards, and cups, intermixed with flowers. There is no letter-press explanation; but it is evident that the practice of the milk-maids, in carrying their mail-pails balanced on their heads, suggested the idea of carrying this more precious burthen in gala on May-day.

C.

MISCELLANIES

Gray's Elegy.—Your correspondent, "A. GRAYAN" (No. 10., p. 150.), in writing on the Elegy in a Country Church-yard, suggests the existence of error or obscurity in the last stanza of the epitaph; and that, if the reading, as it now stand, be faulty, "some amendment" should be suggested.

At the sale of Mason's collection of Gray's books and MSS., in December, 1845, I purchased Gray's copy of Dodsley's collection (2nd edition, 1758), with corrections, names of authors, &c., in his own hand. The Elegy is the first poem in vol. iv. In the 2nd stanza, the beetle's "drony flight" is printed and corrected in the margin into "droning." In the 25th stanza, an obvious misprint of "the upland land" is corrected into "upland lawn;" and, in the 27th stanza, "he would rove" is altered into "would he rove." These are the only emendations in the Elegy. The care displayed in marking them seems to me indicate that the author had no others to insert, and that the common reading is as he finally left it.

To say that a man's merits and frailties repose in trembling hope before God, is surely not irreverent; and this is, I think, all that Gray intended to convey in the words to which your correspondent objects.

W.L.M.

[The latter emendation "would he rove," which is neither in the Aldine edition of the Rev. J. Mitford, nor in Mr. Van Voorst's beautifully illustrated Polyglot edition, should clearly be introduced, in future, as harmonising more perfectly with the "would he stretch" of the preceding stanza.]

Gray's Elegy.—To the list of German translations of Gray's Elegy should be added the version by Kosegarten, which is said by Mr. Thimm, in his View of German Literature, to be "very spirited." The edition of Kosegarten i have now before me was printed at Greifswald, in 12 vols. in 1824, and contains numerous translations from English poets.

J.M.

Oxford, Jan. 16.

Gregori's Italian Version of "Gray's Elegy."—In answer to the query of "J.F.M.," respecting the translations of Gray's Elegy, I beg to mention that, besides those already possessed by your correspondent, and those in Torri's polyglot edition, there is one in Italian by Domenico Gregori, published in the first volume of his Scelta di Poesie di più celebri Autori Inglesi, recati in Versi Italiani, and printed at Rome in 1821, in 2 vols. small 8vo.

M.

Oxford, Jan. 17. 1850.

Name of Shylock.—When Mr. Knight says that Scialac was "the name of a Marionite (Maronite?) of mount Libanus," he appears to consider the term peculiar, or nearly so, to that personage; but Upton, as long ago as 1748, in his Critical Observations, 2nd ed. p. 299., remarked, that Scialac was the generic name, and Shylock merely a corruption. I may also remark, that Mr. Knight dismisses Dr. Farmer's theory as worthless, without sufficient consideration. It by no means follows that 1607 is the date of the first edition of Caleb Shillocke, merely because Boswell saw a copy bearing that date.

J.O. HALLIWELL.

SONNET

Written on the close of the Session, 1849.

"The tyme cam that resoun was to ryse."—CHAUCER.

"Corin. And how like you this shepherd's life, Master Touchstone?

"Touchstone. Truly, shepherd, in respect of itself it is a good life.... In respect it is in the Fields, it pleaseth me well."—SHAKSPEARE.

Ho! for the shady grove and silvery stream!Now that yclosed is the Fane, where IAm doomed, by no unhappy destiny,To tend those Mighty Ones who find a themeFor their lives' labour in the nation's weal.Now am I free, or book or rod in hand,Alone, or compassed by a cherub bandOf laughing children, by the brook to steal,Seeking repose in sport which WALTON loved—Sport meet alike for Youth or thoughtfulAge—Free, an I wish to go a pilgrimageWith CHAUCER, my companion long approved,Or thee, thou Greater One, who lovedst to sing,"Of books in brooks, and good in every thing."WILLIAM J. THOMS.

THE DEVOTEE

(From the Latin.)Balbus, in vain you urge the notionThat Ignorance begets Devotion—We can't believe it till we seeYourself a fervent devotee.RUFUS.

By Hook or by Crook.—It is said that Strongbow, when debating with his followers on the best mode of capturing Ireland, said, that it must be taken "by Hook or by Crook." "The Hook" is the name of a well-known promontory, forming the N.E. boundary of Waterford Harbour; and Crook-haven is an equally well-known harbour, on the south coast. Could this have any thing to do with the proverb?

J.G.

Kilkenny.

Macaulay's Young Levite.—I send you an advertisement, from a local paper of 1767, which shows what stipend was offered to a curate at that period. The population of Burton Bradstich and Shepton Gorge, in 1821, was respectively 854 and 311. I do not know what it was in 1767.

The value of the rectory of Burton, with the chapelry of Shepton, was returned, in 1650, as 201l. In 1826 it was computed to be 500l.

A.D.M.

From "Cruthwell's Sherborne, Shaftesbury, and Dorchester Journal; or Yeovil, Taunton, and Bridgewater Chronicle of 10th July, 1767."

"A Curate is wanted, at Old Michaelmas next, to serve the Churches of Burton and Shipton, in Dorsetshire; Salary 36l. per annum, Easter Offerings, and Surplice Fees; together with a good House, pleasant Gardens, and a Pigeon House well stock'd. The Churches are within a mile and a half of each other, served once a Day, and alternately. The Village of Burton is sweetly situated, within half a mile of the Sea, about a mile and a half from Bridport Harbour, and is noted in the Summer for its fine Mackarel Fishery. Application to be made to the Rev. Mr. Richards, Rector.

"A married gentleman will be most agreeable."

Praise undeserved.—Does any one know where the oft-quoted line,

"Praise undeserved in censure in disguise,"

is to be found? A long search for it has hitherto proved ineffectual.

D.S.

[This line, which is so often quoted, with the variation—

"Praise undeserved is Satire in disguise,"

is to be found in Pope's First Epistle of the Second Book of Horace; where, however, we find that neither Censure nor Satire is the correct reading. It is moreover, both in Warton's edition and in the Aldine Poets, edited by the Rev. A. Dyce, marked as a quotation, as will be seen in the following extract; so that Pope, it appears, is not the author of it. Perhaps some of our correspondents can trace the source from which he derived it:—

"Besides, a fate attends on all I write,That when i aim at praise they say I bite.A vile encomium doubly ridicules;There's nothing blackens like the ink of fools.If true, a woeful likeness; and, if lies,'Praise undeserved is Scandal in disguise.'"]

Passage in Cowper's "Task."—In all early editions of Cowper's Task the opening lines of the 4th book are punctuated as follows:—

"Hark! 'tis the twanging horn! O'er yonder bridge,(That with its wearisome but needful lengthBestrides the wintry flood, in which the moonSees her unwrinkled face reflected bright,)He comes, the herald of a noisy world," &c.

In modern editions, I believe universally, we find the following corruption of the passage:—

"Hark! 'tis the twanging horn o'er yonder bridge,That with," &c.

closing with a colon or period at "bright," and beginning a new sentence with "He comes;" and thus making the poet use the vulgar colloquialism "'tis the horn over the bridge," instead of the remark, that the postman is coming over it.

W.P.P.

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC

All who have placed on their shelves—and who that desires to know thoroughly the history of this country during the period which it illustrates has not done so—the last edition of The Diary and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys, so ably edited by Lord Braybrooke, have felt the want of a corresponding edition of Evelyn's Diary. To meet this want, Mr. Coulburn has announced a new edition of it, "rendered as complete as possible by a careful revision," and accompanied by illustrative notes, to be completed in four monthly volumes.

Mr. Parker, of Oxford, has just issued a new edition of The History of the Church of England, by J.B.S. Carwithen, B.D. This work was very highly spoken of, at the time of its first appearance, for fidelity of narrative, accuracy of judgement, and soundness of principle; and its author was pronounced, by one well qualified to give an opinion, "a well-read historian, a sound divine, a charitable Christian." As the original edition, in three volumes, has long been out of print, we think Mr. Parker has shown great judgment in bringing it out, in a cheaper form, for the use of students in divinity; and we do not doubt but that he will find a ready sale for the two closely but clearly and handsomely printed volumes, in which this History of the Church of England is now completed.

Those of our readers who take an interest in the writings of our early dramatists will be glad to learn that the Rev. Alexander Dyce has at length completed, in three volumes, his long-looked-for edition of The Dramatic Works of Kit Marlowe.

Such of our clerical friends as have in their churches a peal of bells which, at the will of the ringers,

"Speak the loud language of a mighty knell,"

and who must, therefore, sometimes be painfully convinced of the ill practices which occasionally grow up in the belfry, will thank us for calling their attention to the Practical Remarks on Belfries and Ringers, lately published, by the Rev. H.T. Ellacombe, in which they will find some useful hints for the correction of such abuses.

We have received the following Catalogues:—

D. Nutt (270. Strand), Select Catalogue of Classical and Philological Works.

Williams and Norgate (14. Henrietta Street, Covent Garden), Verzeichniss der Bücher, Landkarten etc welche vom Juli bis zum December neu erschienen oder neu aufgelegt worden sind. (Catalogue of Books, Maps, &c. published in German between July and December 1849.)

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES

WANTED TO PURCHASE(In continuation of Lists in Former Nos.)Odd Volumes

ARCHÆOLOGIA. Vol. III. (A liberal price will be given for sheet C, pp. 9-16.)

TODD'S JOHNSON'S DICTIONARY. 4to. 1819-20. Last Part, SU to Z, with the Titles, preface, &c.

BARBAULD'S BRITISH NOVELIST. ZELUCO, Vol. II.; and FEMALE QUIXOTE, Vol. II.

TATLER (LINTOT'S Edition.) London, 1743. All the Volumes after the Second.

Spectator. (Whittaker's Edition.) London, 1827. With Portraits. Vol. II.

Letters, stating particulars and lowest price, carriage free, to be sent to MR. BELL, Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS

FOLK LORE. We have received several letters, begging us to open our columns to the reception of articles and notes on our fast-fading FOLK LORE, and reminding us what good service The Athenæum did when it consented to receive communications of that interesting subject. We acknowledge with gratitude—for the point is one very interesting to us—the readiness with which The Athenæum listened to the suggestions of a Correspondent, and what benefits resulted to that interesting branch of Archæological study, when that influential journal consented to devote a portion of its valuable space to the reception of such notices. We at once, therefore, accede to the suggestions of our Correspondent; and, following the example of our widely circulated contemporary, take this opportunity of assuring our now numerous readers that any contributions illustrative of The Folk Lore of England, the Manners, Customs, Observances, Superstitions, Ballads, Proverbs, &c. of the Olden Time, will always find welcome admission to our pages. We think, too, we may venture to promise that such communications shall be illustrated, when they admit of it, from the writings of the continental antiquaries.