Notes and Queries, Number 12, January 19, 1850
TekstPICTURES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH AND CHARLES I. IN CHURCHES
Your correspondent "R.O." will find two pictures of Charles I. of the same allegorical character as that described by him in his note (antè, p. 137.), one on the wall of the stairs leading to the north gallery of the church of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, and the other in the hall of the law courts in Guildhall Yard. I know nothing of the history of the first-mentioned picture; the latter, until within a few years, hung on the wall, above the gallery, in the church of St. Olave, Jewry, when, upon the church undergoing repair, it was taken down, and, by the parishioners, presented to the corporation of London, who placed it in its present position. In the church of St. Olave there were two other pictures hung in the gallery, one representing the tomb of Queen Elizabeth, copied from the original at Westminster, the other of Time on the Wing, inscribed with various texts from Scripture. Both these pictures were presented at the same time with the picture of Charles I. to the corporation, and are now in the hall in Guildhall Yard. The representation of Queen Elizabeth's tomb is to be met with, I believe, in some other of the London churches. The picture in Bishopsgate Church is fully described in the 1st vol. of Malcolm's Londinium Redivivum, p. 243., and the St. Olave's pictures are mentioned in the 4th vol. of the same work, p. 563. Malcolm states he was not able to find any account of the Bishopsgate painting in the parish books. Hitherto I have not been able to discover anything connected with the history of the St. Olave's pictures, which, as the old church was destroyed in the great fire of 1666, were doubtless placed there subsequently to that year. I shall be glad if any of your readers can throw any light as to the time when, and the circumstances under which, such pictures as I have mentioned, referring to Queen Elizabeth and Charles I., were placed in our churches.
JAMES CROSBY.
FLAYING IN PUNISHMENT OF SACRILEGE
In the Journal of the Archæological Institute, for September, 1848, there are some most interesting notes on the subject of "Flaying in Punishment of Sacrilege," by Mr. Way. Since then I have felt peculiar interest in the facts and traditions recorded by Mr. Way. Can any of your correspondents, or Mr. Way himself, give any further references to authors by whom the subject is mentioned, besides those named in the paper to which I allude? A few weeks ago I received a piece of skin, stated to be human, and taken from the door of the parish church of Hadstock, in Essex. Together with this I received a short written paper, apparently written some fifty years ago, which ascribes the fact of human skin being found on the door of that church, to the punishment, not of sacrilege, but of a somewhat different crime. The piece of skin has been pronounced to be human by the highest authority. As the above query might lead to some lengthy "notes," I desire only to be informed of the titles of any works, ancient or modern, in which distinct mention, or allusion, is made of the punishment of flaying.
R.V.
Winchester.
MINOR QUERIES
Pokership or Parkership.—In Collins' Peerage, vol. iv. p. 242., 5th edition, 1779, we are told that Sir Robert Harley, of Wigmore Castle, in 1604, was made Forester of Boringwood, alias Bringwood Forest, in com. Hereford, with the office of the 'Pokership,' and custody of the forest or chase of Prestwood for life. The same word occurs in the edition (the 3rd) of 1741, and in that edited by Sir Egerton Brydges in 1812 (vol. iv. p. 57.).
If Pokership be not a misprint or misreading of the original authority, viz. Pat. 2. Jac. I. p. 21., for Parkership, can any of your readers tell me the meaning of "the Pokership," which is not to be found in any book of reference within my reach? I like the "NOTES AND QUERIES" very much.
Audley End, Jan. 9. 1850.
BRAYBROOKE.
Boduc or Boduoc on British Coins.—I observe there is a prevailing opinion that the inscription on the British coin, "Boduc or Boduoc," must be intended for the name of our magnanimous Queen Boadicea. I am sorry to cast a cloud over so pleasant a vision, but your little book of QUERIES tempts me to throw in a doubt.
Although the name Budic is not met with in the pedigrees of England, commonly given by Welsh heralds, yet it is often found among the families of the Welsh in Brittany, and as they are reported to be early descendants of the Welsh of England, there can be little doubt that the name was once common in England. I beg leave, therefore, to query, Whether the inscription is not intended for a Regulus of Britain of that name?
P.
The Origin of the word Snob.—Can any of your valuable correspondents give me the origin or derivation of the word Snob?
When, and under what peculiar circumstances, was it first introduced into our language?
In the town in which I reside, in the north of England, the word Snob was formerly applied to a cobbler, and the phrase was in use, "Snip the tailor, and Snob the cobbler."
I cannot discover how and why the word Snob was enlarged into its present comprehensive meaning.
Explanations of many of the slang phrases met with in the dramatic works of the last century, such as, "Thank you, sir, I owe you one," "A Rowland for an Oliver," "Keep moving, dad," &c. &c. would perhaps give much light upon the manners of the times, and an interesting history might be compiled of the progress of slang phrases to the present day.
ALPHA.
Mertens, Martins, or Martini, the Printer.—Can any of your correspondents inform me what was really the surname of Theodoric Mertens, Martins, or Martini, the printer of Louvain, and who was a friend of Erasmus? In a small volume of his, now before me, printed in 1517, the colophon gives: "Lovanii apud Theodoricum Martinum anno MDXVII mense April;" while, on the reverse of the same leaf, is a wooden block, of his device, occupying the whole page, and beneath it are inscribed the words "Theodoricus Martini." This appears to put Mertens out of the question.
W.
Queen's Messengers.—I should esteem it a favour conferred if any of your readers could give me any memoranda touching the early origin of the corps now termed Queen's Messengers, the former "Knightes caligate of Armes." The only mention that I have read of their origin is a brief notice in Knight's London, No. 131. p. 91; but doubtless there exists, did I know what works to consult, many more voluminous a history of their origin and proceedings than the short summary given in the work of Mr. Knight. In whose reign were they first created? and by whom were they appointed? In fact, any data relating to their early history would very much oblige,
J.U.G.G.
Bishop Lesly of Ross' Epitaph.– Machoreus or Macorovius, "De Prælio Aveniniano."—Would any of your readers be so kind as to favour me with a copy of the Latin epitaph of Bishop Lesly, of Ross, inscribed on his tomb in the abbey church of Gurtenburg, near Brussels?
Can any one furnish the entire title and imprint of a Latin poem, De Prælio Aveniniano, said to have been written in 1594, by a Scottish Jesuit named Alexander Macorovius, or Machoreus? Any particulars concerning this author would gratify
LLEWELYN ST. GEORGE.
The Word "Cannibal."—When was the word Cannibal first used in English books?—To what language does it belong?—and what is its exact meaning?
W.
Sir William Rider.—"H.F." would feel obliged by a reference to any work containing an account of Sir William Rider and his family. He was Lord Mayor of London in 1600; and his daughter Mary was married to Sir Thomas Lake, of Cannons, Secretary of State temp. James I. He wishes more particularly to ascertain the date of Sir William Rider's death.
The Word "Poghele."—What is the etymology and precise meaning of the word "Poghele" (pronounced Poughley), or rather the first part of it, which occurs occasionally as the name of a place in the county of Berks, and perhaps elsewhere?
W.
Duncan Campbell.—Was the Duncan Campbell, of whom memoirs were written by Defoe, a real or an imaginary person? If the former, where can one find any authentic account of him?
L.B.
Boston de Bury de Bib. Monasteriorum.—Can any of your correspondents give me a reference to the original MS. of Boston de Bury de Bibliothecis Monasteriorum?
P.
Cazena on the Inquisition.—Can any one tell me what is the public opinion of Cazena's work on the Inquisition? I see Limborch and many others quoted concerning that tribunal, but never Cazena. Is the book scarce?—or is it not esteemed? I never saw but one copy.
P.
The Reconciliation, 1554.—In 1554, Cardinal Pole directed a register to be kept in every parish of all the parishioners who, on a certain day, were to be reconciled to the Church of Rome and absolved. (Burnet's Ref. vol. iii. p. 245.)
The Bishop of London's Declaration thereon (Feb. 19. 1554) runs thus:—
"And they not so reconciled, every one of them shall have process made agaynst him accordyng to the canons, as the case shall requyre; for which purpose the pastours and curates of every paryshe shall be commanded by their archedeacon to certyfye me in writinge of every man and woman's name that is not so reconciled."
Have any of your readers at any time seen and made a note of such a register?
The most probable place of deposit would be the Bishop's Registry, but I have never yet been fortunate enough to meet with one of these curious returns.
J.S.B.
MISCELLANIES
Darkness at the Crucifixion.—The following passage, in a volume of Lectures by the Rev. H. Blunt, has fallen under my notice:—
"It was this Dionysius (the Areopagite) of whom the earliest Christian historians relate that, being at Heliopolis, in Egypt, at the time of our Lord's crucifixion, when he beheld the mid-day darkness which attended that awful event, he exclaimed, 'Either the God of Nature suffers, or the frame of the world will be dissolved.'"
Having very limited opportunity of studying the ancient historians, I should be greatly obliged if you would inform me from what work this account is derived; or refer me to any authors, not having embraced Christianity, who give a description of the crucifixion of our Saviour; and especially with reference to the "darkness over all the earth" at the time of that event, mentioned by St. Luke, who also adds, that "the sun was darkened." Your kindly consenting, as you did in your second number, to receive queries respecting references, has induced me to trouble you so far.
S.A.M.
[Our correspondent will find much that is to his purpose, both in the way of statements and of reference to original authorities, in Lardner's Jewish and Heathen Testimonies, chap. xiii. of the Heathen Authors; vol. ii. p. 125. of the original 4to. edition; or vol. vii. p. 370. of the 8vo. edition of his works by Kippis, 1788.]
High-Doctrine.—In the Cambridgeshire fens there are a great number of Dissenters, and I believe Cromwell's Ironsides were chiefly recruited from those districts. On the higher lands adjoining are the old parish churches; and in conversation it is not uncommon to hear the tenets of the Church of England described as High land Doctrine, in contra-distinction to the Low land, or Dissenters' doctrine.
The thing is amusing, if nothing else, and I heard it while staying some few years ago with my brother, who lives on the edges of the Cambridgeshire fens.
E.H.
Wife of Robert de Bruce.—In the Surrenden Collection is an interesting roll, entitled "Liberatio facta Ingelardo de Warlee Custodi Garderobe, 7 E. 2."
It is, as its title imports, the release to the keeper of the wardrobe, for one year's accounts, aaº. 7 E. 2.
I shall probably be able to send you therefrom a few "notes" illustrative of the history of that time.
As a commencement, I think that the subjoined "note" will interest your historical readers.
It appears that the unfortunate wife of Robert Bruce was then consigned to the care of the Abbess of Barking, with an allowance of 20s. per week for the same. She was, I believe, the daughter of Henry de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, and died in 1328. In the above roll there is the following entry:—
"Cs liberati Anne de Veer Abbatisse de Berkyng, per manus domini Roberti de Wakfeld clerici, super expensis domine Elizabethe uxoris Roberti de Brus, percipientis per ebdomadum xxs., et ibidem perhendinantis."
"Cs liberati Johanni de Stystede valletto Abbatisse de Berkyng, per manus proprias, super expensis Domine de Brus in Abbathia de Berkyng perhendinantis."
It does not appear, in the above roll, how long the hapless queen remained in the abbey.
LAMBERT B. LARKING.
Ryarsh Vicarage. Dec. 14. 1849.
The Talisman of Charlemagne.—I beg to refer your correspondent, on the subject of Charlemagne's Talisman, to what professes to be a correct representation of this antique relic, in The Illustrated London News, of March 8th, 1845; but it is not there described as "a small nut, in a gold filigree envelopment," and gives the idea of an ornament much too large for the finger or even wrist of any lady: that paper says,—
"This curious object of virtu is described in the Parisian journals as, 'la plus belle relique de l'Europe;' and it has, certainly, excited considerable interest in the archæological and religious circles of the continent. The talisman is of fine gold, of round form, as our illustration shows, set with gems, and in the centre are two rough sapphires, and a portion of the Holy Cross; besides other relics brought from the Holy Land."
The rest of the description much resembles your correspondent's, and asserts the talisman to be at that time the property of Prince Louis Napoleon, then a prisoner in the château of Ham.
S.A.M.
Sayers the Caricaturist.—In Wright's England under the House of Hanover, vol. ii. p. 83 n., it is stated that James Sayer, the caricaturist, "died in the earlier part of the present century, no long time after his patron, Pitt." In Sepulchral Reminiscences of a Market Town, by Mr. Dawson Turner (Yarmouth, 8vo. 1848), p. 73 n., the caricaturist is called Sayers, and is said to have died on the 20th of April, 1823.
C.H. COOPER.
Cambridge, Dec. 29. 1849.
May-Day.—To what old custom does the following passage allude?
"It is likewise on the first day of this month [May] that we see the ruddy milk-maid exerting herself in a most sprightly manner under a pyramid of silver tankards, and, like the virgin Tarpeia, oppressed by the costly ornaments which her benefactors lay upon her."—Spectator, No. 365.
MELANION.
[Our correspondent will find much curious illustration of this now obsolete custom in Strutt's Sports and Pastimes p. 357. (ed. Hone), where the preceding passage from the Spectator is quoted; and we are told "these decorations of silver cups, tankards, &c. were borrowed for the purpose, and hung round the milk pails (with the addition of flowers and ribands), which the maidens carried upon their heads when they went to the houses of their customers, and danced in order to obtain a small gratuity from each of them." In Tempest's Cryes of London there is a print of a well-known merry milk-maid, Kate Smith, dancing with the milk pail decorations upon her head. See also Hone's Every Day Book, i. p. 576.]
Dr. Dee's Petition.—There is no mention of Dr. Dee's petition to King James in the list of his works in Tanner's Bibliotheca Britannica; but in Beloe's Anecdotes, vol. ii. p. 263., is an account of the preface to a scarce work of his, in which he defends himself from the charge of being a conjurer, or caller of divels, &c.