Notes and Queries, Number 11, January 12, 1850

R.J.S.

QUERIES

CATACOMBS AND BONE-HOUSES

I should be very glad to have some distinct information on the above subject, especially in explanation of any repositories of human bones in England? Was the ancient preservation of these skeleton remains always connected with embalming the body?—or drying it, after the manner described by Captain Smythe, R.N., to be still practised in Sicily?—and, in cases in which dry bones only were preserved, by what process was the flesh removed from them? for, as Addison says, in reference to the catacombs at Naples, "they must have been full of stench, if the dead bodies that lay in them were left to rot in open niches." The catacombs at Paris seem to have been furnished with bones from the emptyings of the metropolitan churchyards. In some soils, however, the bones rot almost as soon as the flesh decays from them.

There are, possibly, many bone-houses in England. I have seen two of considerable extent, one at Ripon Minster, the other at Rothwell Church, in Northamptonshire; and at both places skulls and thigh bones were piled up, in mural recesses, with as much regularity as bottles in the bins of a wine-cellar. At Rothwell there was (twenty years ago) a great number of these relics. The sexton spoke of there being 10,000 skulls, but this, no doubt, was an exaggeration; and he gave, as the local tradition, that they had been gathered from the neighbouring field of Naseby. A similar story prevails at Ripon, viz. that the death-heads and cross-bones, which are arranged in the crypt under the Minster, are the grisly gleanings of some battle-field.

Now, if these, and other like collections, were really made after battles which took place during any of the civil wars of England, some details would not be unworthy of the notice of the picturesque historian; e.g., was it the custom in those unhappy days to disinter, after a time, the slightly-buried corpses, and deposit the bones in the consecrated vault?—or was this the accidental work of some antiquarian sexton of the "Old Mortality" species?—or was the pious attention suggested by the ploughman's later discoveries—

"Agricola, incurvo terram molitus aratro," &c.?

Any report from the places where there happen to be bone-houses, together with the local tradition assigning their origin, would I think, throw light on an interesting and rather obscure subject.

Ecclesfield, Dec. 31. 1849.

ALFRED GATTY

CONTRADICTIONS IN DON QUIXOTE; AND QUERY AS TO THE BUSCAPIÉ

In answer to the question of "MELANION" (in No. 5 p. 73.), it may be sufficient to refer him to the Spanish editions with notes, viz. that of Pellicer in 1800; the 4th edition of the Spanish Academy in 1819; and that of D. Diego Clemencin in 1833, where he will find the discrepancies he mentions pointed out. In the first edition of 1605 there was another instance in the same chapter, which Cervantes corrected in the edition of 1608, but overlooked the other two. It was one of those lapses, quas incuria fudit, which great writers as well as small are subject to. Clemencin laughs at De los Rios for thinking it a chracteristic of great geniuses so to mistake; and at the enthusiasm of some one else, who said that he preferred the Don Quixote with the defects to the Don Quixote without them.

Having answered one query, I presume I may be permitted to propose one, in which I feel much interested.

Is the recently published BUSCAPIÉ the work of Cervantes? We have now been favoured with two translations, one by Thomasina Ross, the other by a member of the University of Cambridge, under the title of The Squib, or Searchfoot; the latter I have read with some attention, but not having been able to procure the Spanish original, I should be glad to have the opinion of some competent Spanish scholar who has read it, as to its genuineness. My own impression is that it will prove an ingenious (perhaps innocent?) imposture. The story of its discovery in a collection of books sold by auction at Cadiz, and its publication there by Don Adolfo de Castro, in the first place, rather excites suspicion. My impression, however, is formed from the evident artificial structure of the whole. Still, not having seen the original, I confess myself an imperfect judge, and hope that this may meet the eye of one competent to decide.

S.W. SINGER

ANCIENT ALMS-BASINS

I have read the various notices in Nos. 3, 5, and 6. on the subject of these dishes. I have an electrotype copy from such a dish, the original of which is in Manchester. The device is like No. 4. of those of CLERICUS (No. 3. p. 44.); but two circles of inscription extend round the central device (the Grapes of Escol), in characters which are supposed to be Saracenic. The inner inscription is five times, the outer seven times, repeated in the round. I see by the Archaeological Journal, No. 23, for Sept. 1849 (pp.295-6.), that at the meeting of Archaeological Institute, on the 1st June last, Mr. Octavius Morgan, M.P., exhibited a collection of ancient salvers or chargers, supposed to be of latten; several ornamented with sacred devices and inscriptions, including some remarkable examples of the curious florid letter, forming legends, which have so long perplexed antiquaries in all parts of Europe. Mr. Morgan arranged the devices in four classes, the first being chargers or large dishes, supposed by him to have been fabricated at Nuremburg. The northern antiquary, Sjöborg, who has written much on the subject, calls them baptismal or alms dishes. Their most common devices are, Adam and Eve (probably the No. 3. of CLERICUS), St. George, and the Grapes of Eschol (No. 4. of CLERICUS). On one of those exhibited was the Annunciation (No. 2. of CLERICUS). On these facts I wish to put the following queries:—

1. Are Sjöborg's works known to any of your readers?

2. In what language does he suppose the characters to be?

MELANDRA.

[While we are very happy to promote the inquiries of our correspondent, we think it right to apprise him that the opinions of the Swedish antiquary whom he has named, are received with great caution by the majority of his archæological brethren.]

MINOR QUERIES

Cupid Crying.—I shall be obliged if you, or any of your correspondents, can tell me who was the author of the epigram, or inscription, of which I subjoin the English translation. I am sure I have seen the Latin, but I do not know whose it was or where to find it; I think it belongs to one of the Italian writers of the fifteenth or sixteenth century:—

"CUPID CRYING"Why is Cupid crying so?—Because his jealous mother beat him.—What for?—For giving up his bowTo Coelia, who contrived to cheat him."The child! I could not have believedHe'd give his weapons to another.—He would not; but he was deceived:She smiled; he thought it was his mother."RUFUS.

Was not Sir George Jackson "Junius?"—Among the names which have been put forward as claimants to be "Junius," I beg to propose the name of SIR GEORGE JACKSON, who was, I believe, about that time Secretary to the Admiralty. I shall be glad to know what obstacles are opposed to this theory, as I think I have some presumptive evidence (I do not call it strong), which seems to show either that he was "Junius," or a party concerned.

P.

[We insert this communication, knowing that our correspondent is likely to possess such evidence as he alludes to, and in the hope that he will be induced to bring it forward.]

Ballad of Dick and the Devil.—About the middle of the seventeenth century, occasionally resided, on the large island in Windermere, a member of the ancient but now extinct family of Philipson, of Crooke Hall. He was a dashing cavalier, and, from his fearless exploits, had acquired among the Parliamentarians the significant, though not very respectable, cognomen of "Robin the Devil."

On one of these characteristic adventures, he rode, heavily armed, into the large old church at Kendal, with the intention of there shooting an individual, from whom he had received a deeply resented injury. His object, however, was unaccomplished, for his enemy was not present; and in the confusion into which the congregation were thrown by such a warlike apparition, the dauntless intruder made his exit, though subjected to a struggle at the church door. His casque, which was captured in the skirmish that there took place, is yet to be seen in the church, and the fame of this redoubtable attempt, which was long held in remembrance through the country side, excited the poetic genius of a rhymer of the day to embody it in a ballad, entitled "Dick and the Devil," which is now rare and difficult to be met with.

As my endeavours to light on a copy have been unavailing, and my opportunities for research are limited, perhaps some one of your numerous readers who may be versed in the ballad poetry of the age of my hero, will kindly take the trouble to inform me whether he has ever met with the ballad in question, or direct me to where it may most likely be found.

I trust that from the obliging communications of some of your valuable literary correspondents, I may be so fortunate as to meet with the object of my query.

H.J.M.

Dec. 27. Ambleside.

Erasmus' Paraphrase on the Gospels.—I have in my charge the mutilated remains of an old black-letter copy of Erasmus' Paraphrase on the Gospels, not of any great value perhaps, but interesting to me from its having been chained from time immemorial (so to speak) to one of the stalls in our parish church; it is only perfect from Mark, fol. lxiiii. to John fol. cxiii., but I should be glad to know the date, &c. of its publication. Presuming, therefore, that one of the objects of your interesting publication is to aid in solving the minor difficulties of persons like myself, who have no means of consulting any large collection of books, I have the less scruple in forwarding the accompanying "Notes" from my copy, for the guidance of any one who will be at the trouble of comparing them with any copy to which he may have access.

The spelling of the word "gospel" varies throughout; thus, in Mark, fols. lxiiii-lxxii., xci., xciv., xcv., xcvii., and xcviii. it is "ghospel;" on lxxiii-lxxvi., lxxviii., it is "gospell;" on the rest "gospel." So also throughout St. Luke, which occupies cc. foll., it varies in like manner, "ghospell" being there the more common form. The initial letter to St. Luke represents Jacob's dream; on the first page of fol. vi. of St. Luke the translator's preface ends, "Geven at London the last day of Septembre, in the yere of our Lorde M.D.XLV." On fol. xiii. of the same, Erasmus' own preface ends, "Geven at Basill the xxii. dai of August ye yere of our Lord, M.D." (the rest effaced). On the first page of fol. viii. of St. John's Gospel the preface ends, "Geven at Basile the yere of our Lord, M.D.XXIII. the v daye of Januarye." If these notes are sufficient to identify my copy with any particular edition, it will afford a real pleasure to

A YORKSHIRE SUBSCRIBER.

Iland Chest.—In some wills of Bristol merchants of the latter part of the 16th century, I have met with the bequest of a chattel called an "Iland Chest:" thus, ex.g. "Item: to Edmond Poyley I give the Iland chest in the great chamber wherein his linen was." Mention is made of the like article in two or three other instances. An explanation of the word and an account of the kind of chest will much oblige.

B.W.G.

D'Israeli on the Court of Wards.—D'Israeli, in his article upon "Usurers of the Seventeenth Century" (Curios. of Lit. iii. 89. old ed.), which is chiefly upon Hugh Audley, a master of the Court of Wards and Liveries, speaks of that court as "a remarkable institution, on which I purpose to make some researches." Can any of your readers inform me if D'Israeli acted upon this resolve, and, if so, where the results of labours are to be found?

J.B.

Ancient Tiles.—Two birds, back to back, with heads turned to each other, were common on ancient tiles. What are they intended to represent or to emblemise?

B.

Pilgrimage of Kings, &c.—Blind Man's Buff —Muffin—Hundred Weight, &c.— 1. Can your readers oblige me with the name of the author and the date of a work entitled The Pilgrimage of Kings and Princes, of which I possess an imperfect copy—a small quarto? 2. What is the etymology of the game Blind Man's Buff? I am led to doubt whether that was the old spelling of it, for in a catalogue now before me I find a quarto work by Martin Parker, entitled The Poet's Blind Man's Bough, or Have among you my Blind Harpers, 1641. 3. What is the origin of the word muffin? It is not in Johnson's Dictionary. Perhaps this sort of tea-cake was not known in his day. 4. By what logic do we call one hundred and twelve pounds merely a hundred weight? 5. I shall feel still more obliged if your readers can inform me of any works on natural history, particularly adapted for a literary man to refer to at times when poetical, mythological, scriptural, and historical associations connected with animals and plants are in question. I am constantly feeling the want of a work of the kind to comprehend zoological similes and allusions, and also notices of customs and superstitions connected with animals, when reading our old poets and chroniclers. Even the most celebrated zoological works are of no use to me in such inquiries.

STEPHEN BEAUCHAMP.

Anthony Bek, Bishop of Durham.—Having employed my leisure for many years in collecting materials for the biography of the famous Anthony Bek, Bishop of Durham, I am baffled by the conflicting and contradictory accounts of,—(1.) The title by which he became possessed of the Vesci estates; (2.) When and by what authority he took upon him the title of "King of the Isle of Man;" and (3.) How he became dispossessed of that title, which it is well known that Edward II. bestowed upon Gaveston; and whether that circumstance did not induce him to take part with the confederate barons who eventually destroyed that favourite.

Other incongruities occur in my researches, but the above are the most difficult of solution.

I am, dear Sir,

ONE THAT INTENDS TO BE A REGULAR SUBSCRIBER TO THE "NOTES AND QUERIES."

Curious Welsh Custom.—A custom prevails in Wales of carrying about at Christmas time a horse's skull dressed up with ribbons, and supported on a pole by a man who is concealed under a large white cloth. There is a contrivance for opening and shutting the jaws, and the figure pursues and bites every body it can lay hold of, and does not release them except on payment of a fine. It is generally accompanied by some men dressed up in a grotesque manner, who, on reaching a house, sing some extempore verses requesting admittance, and are in turn answered by those within, until one party or the other is at a loss for a reply. The Welsh are undoubtedly a poetical people, and these verses often display a good deal of cleverness. This horse's head is called Mari Lwyd, which I have heard translated "grey mare." Llwyd certainly is grey, but Mari is not a mare, in Welsh. I think I have heard that there is some connection between it and the camel which often appears in old pictures of the Magi offering their gifts. Can any of your readers inform me of the real meaning of the name, and the origin of the custom, and also whether a similar custom does not prevail in some parts of Oxfordshire?

PWCCA.

Fall of Rain in England.– Can you give me any information respecting the fall of rain in England? I mean the quantity of rain that has fallen in various parts of the island, from month to month, during the last ten, fifteen, or twenty years. If any of your correspondents can do that, or can give me a list of works, periodical or otherwise, in which such information is to be found, they will greatly oblige me.

Can any of your correspondents inform me who is the author of the following lines?—

"Though with forced mirth we oft may soothe a smart,What seemeth well, is oft not well, I ween;For many a burning breast and bleeding heart,Hid under guise of mirth is often seen."ROYDON.

Rev. J. Edwards on Metals for Telescopes.—I shall feel obliged if any of your correspondents can inform me where I can find a paper, called "Directions for making the best Composition for the Metals of reflecting Telescopes, and the Method of grinding, polishing, and giving the great Speculum the true parabolic figure," by the Rev. John Edwards, B.A.

I saw it some years ago in on old journal or transactions, but Capt. Cuttle's maxim not having been then given to the world, and being now unable to make a search, I avail myself of your valuable publication.

[Hebrew]

Colonel Blood's House.—The notorious Colonel Blood is said to have resided at a house in Peter Street, Westminster. Tradition points out the corner of Tufton Street. Can any of your readers give me information as to the correctness of this statement?

E.F.R.

John Lucas's MS. Collection of English Songs.—Ames, the author of the Typographical Antiquities, is said to have had in his possession a folio MS. volume of English Songs or Ballads, composed or collected by one John Lucas, about the year 1450. If this MS. is in private hands, the possessor would confer an essential service on the antiquarian public by informing them of its contents.

E.F.R.

Theophania.—I send you a copy, verbatim et literatim, of the title-page of an old book in my possession, in the hope that some one of your correspondents may be able to furnish me with information respecting its author. I believe the work to be a very scarce one, having never seen or heard of any other copy than my own.

"Theophania; or severall Modern Histories Represented by way of Romance; and Politickly Discours'd upon: by an English Person of Quality.

"Stat. Theb,Nec divinam Sydneida tentaSéd longe sequere, & Vestigia semper adora.

"London, printed by T. Newcomb, for Thomas Heath and are to be sold at his Shop in Russel-street, near the Piazza of Covent Garden, 1655."

HENRY KERSLEY.

Ancient MS. Account of Britain.—I find the following note in Cooper's Thesaurus Linguæ Romanæ et Britannicæ, Impressum Londini, 1573, under the word Britannia:—

"About 30 yeares since it happend in Wilshire, at Juy church, about twoo miles from Salisbury, as men digged to make a foundation, they founde an hollowe stone covered with another stone, wherein they founde a booke, having in it little above xx leaves, (as they sayde) of verye thicke velume, wherein was some thing written. But when it was shewed to priestes and chanons, which were there, they would not read it. Wherefore after they had tossed it from one to another (by the meanes whereof it was torne) they did neglect and cast it aside. Long after, a piece thereof happened to come to my handes; which notwithstanding it was al to rent and defaced, I shewed to mayster Richarde Pace, then chiefe Secretarie to the kinges most Royall maiestie, whereof he exceedingly reioysed. But because it was partly rent, partly defaced and bloured with weate which had fallen on it, he could not find any one sentence perfite. Notwithstanding after long beholding, hee showed mee, it seemed that the sayde booke contayned some auncient monument of this Ile, and that he perceyved this word Prytania to bee put for Brytannia. But at that time he said no more to me."

Cooper's conjecture founded on this is that Britain is derived from the Greek word Prytania, which, according to Suidas, "doth," with a circumflexed aspiration, "signifie metalles, fayres, and markets." "Calling the place by that which came out of it, as one would say, hee went to market, when he goeth to Antwarpe," &c. Has this been noticed elsewhere?

J.G.

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC

The announcement recently made in The Athenæum of the intention of the Government to print in a neat and inexpensive form, a series of Calendars or Indices of the valuable historical documents in the State Paper Office, cannot but be very gratifying to all students of our national history—in the first place, as showing an intention of opening those documents to the use of historical inquirers, on a plan very different from that hitherto pursued; and, in the next, it is to be hoped, as indicating that the intention formerly announced of placing the State Paper Office under the same regulation as the Record Offices, with the drawback of fees for searches, is not to be persevered in.

To the citizens of London, to its occasional visitants, as well as to the absent friends and relatives of those who dwell within its walls, Mr. Archer's projected work, entitled Vestiges of Old London, a series of finished Etchings from original Drawings, with Descriptions, Historical Associations and other References, will be an object of especial interest. The artistical portion will, we believe, be mainly founded on the collection of drawings in the possession of William Twopeny, Esq., while the literary illustrations will be derived entirely from original sources, and from the results of careful observation and inquiry.

It is said to have been a rule with Charles Fox to have every work bound in one volume if possible, although published in two or three. The public have long felt the convenience of such an arrangement; and the great booksellers have very wisely gratified their wishes in that respect. The handsome "monotome" edition of The Doctor is doubtless well known to our readers. The success of that experiment has, we presume, induced Messrs. Longman to announce the Complete Works of the Rev. Sydney Smith, and Mr. Macaulay's Critical Essays, in the same cheap and convenient form. We believe, too, that another (the sixth) edition of that gentleman's History of England from the Accession of James II., is on the eve of publication.

Those of our readers who take an interest in that widely spread and popular subject, The Dance of Death, will remember that one of the most exquisite works of art in which expression is given to the idea on which this pictorial morality is founded, is the Alphabet Dance of Death—so delicately engraved on wood, (it is sometimes said by Holbein, who designed it,) but really by H. Lutzelburger, that the late Mr. Douce did not believe it could ever be copied so as to afford any adequate impression of the beauty of the original. A German artist, Heinrich Loedel, has, however, disproved the accuracy of this opinion; and the amateur may now, for a few shillings, put himself in possession of most admirable copies of a work which is a masterpiece of design, and a gem in point of execution, and of which the original is of the extremest rarity. There are two editions of this Alphabet; one published at Gottingen, with an accompanying dissertation by Dr. Adolf Ellisen; and the other at Cologne, with corresponding borders by Georg Osterwald.

The revised and much enlarged edition of Dr. Lingard's History of England, handsomely printed in ten large octavo volumes, is, we understand, nearly ready for publication.

Mr. M.A. Lower, whose Curiosities of Heraldry and English Surnames are no doubt well known to many of our readers, is preparing for publication a Translation, from a MS. in the British Museum, of The Chronicle of Battel Abbey from the vow of its Foundation by William the Conqueror, to the Year 1176, originally compiled in Latin, by a Monk of the Establishment.

Mr. Thorpe, 13. Henrietta Street, has just issued "A Catalogue of most choice, curious, and excessively rare Books, particularly rich in Early Poetry, Mysteries, Pageants, and Plays, and Romances of Chivalry." This Catalogue is also extremely rich in Madrigals set to Music, by eminent Composers of Queen Elizabeth's reign— and contains an unrivalled series of Jest Books, and also of Song Books.

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES

WANTED TO PURCHASE

(In continuation of Lists in former Nos.)

M'CULLUM'S OBSERVATIONS ON H.R.H. THE DUKE OF KENT'S SHAMEFUL PERSECUTION SINCE HIS RECAL FROM GIBRALTAR, &c. London, 1809. [Ten shillings will be given for a clean and perfect copy.]

DALTON'S (EDWARD) DOUBTING'S DOWNFALL. [Ten shillings, if a pamphlet, twenty shillings, if a book, will be given for a clean and perfect copy.]