Notes and Queries, Number 41, August 10, 1850

HENRY WILKINSON.

The Carpenter's Maggot (Vol. ii., p. 104.).—The ancient tune known as the Carpenter's Maggot, and until lately played at the annual dinner of the Livery of the Carpenters' Company, may be found at p. 258. of the first volume of a rare work entitled The Dancing Master, sm. obl. 1721. The same volume contains a choice assemblage of "Maggots", i.e. Barker's Maggot, Cary's Maggot, Draper's Maggot, Hill's Maggot, Huntington's Maggot, M. Coppinger's Maggot, &c.

The word Maggot, from the French Magot, means a whim, or a fancy. The bird "magpie", originally "maggoty-pie," was so called on account of its whimsical drollery. "A maggoty-pated fellow" is often used to imply a whimsical man.

I do not trace the word, as applied to a tune, earlier than the end of the seventeenth century. Before that time, tunes of a similar description were termed Fancies.

If your correspondent F.T.P. wishes to have a copy of the tune from my volume, he is quite welcome. I append my London address to this Reply, in order that he may favour me with a communication.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

3. Augustus Square, Park Village East.

Martello Towers (Vol. ii., p. 9. and p. 110.).—The interesting account of Le Tellier's defence in Corsica, shows clearly what first drew the attention of our government to these forts but E.V.'s queries do not yet seem satisfactorily answered. The late Duke of Richmond, it is said, gave the plan of the first erected along the British Channel. But as to their name and origin I apprehend that (as in the case of Charles Martel, whose blows also fell so numberless and effectual on the heads of enemies, Vol. i., p. 86.) the old Frank word martel is much more likely to have originated the name than any locality, town, or tower, in either Spain or Corsica and the following extract from Dr. Robertson's Life of Charles V. (bk. c. p. 452., 8vo. ed.) should not be passed over in their history:—

"The commerce of the Mediterranean was greatly interrupted by his cruisers (viz. Haseen Aga's, about 1541), and such frequent alarms given to the coast of Spain, that there was a necessity of erecting watch towers at proper distances, and of keeping guards constantly on foot, in order to descry the approach of his squadrons, and to protect the inhabitants from his descents."

The doctor then gives marginal reference to Jovii Hist. L. 40. p. 266. for authority. I have not Jovius, nor access to him here but I would be obliged by learning whether he gives any and what more specific account of these towers, or how they were called.

LAMBDA.

Highland Kilts.—I have waited a "reasonable time" to learn a little about kilts from your correspondents; but seeing that no one has yet entered the arena, I forward an additional glove to cast before any member of the Scottish societies luxuriating in London. It is from a work written by one of themselves, hight Dr. Macculloch, who, in his Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland (vol. i. p. 176.), gives a whole chapter on northern attire, which is well worth attention. To be sure, he is rather merciless on some of Sandy's present likings, showing them to be of no standing as to time; and he declares that the kilt resembles the loricated skirts of the Roman tunica, only just as much as Macedon does Monmouth. I will not mention how he laughs at the groups of masquerading Highlanders; but will proceed to lay an extract before you, which may incite inquiry and reply:

"A few enthusiasts have amused themselves with deriving the Highland kilt from one of the dresses of the Romans, to which the resemblance is sufficiently vague. These worthy antiquaries forget the anger they feel at the bare notion that the Romans ever interfered with the Highlanders...."

"The Roman theory of the kilt is, indeed, demolished at one blow, by the fact, that this article of dress in an independent form, or the philibeg, (feala beg), is of very modern introduction, and, what is still worse, that it was the invention of an Englishman. It was first introduced at Tyndrum about a century past, (this was published in 1824), by Rawlinson, the superintendent or agent for the lead mines; who, finding his labourers encumbered with their belted plaids, taught them to separate the two into the present form."

[Greek: S]

Derivation of Penny.—Not from the Celtic Pen, but from the German Pfennig, pf being softened into p, as in pfau, peacock, and ig into y, as in hereig, hearty.

B.H.K.

Scarf (Vol. ii, p. 126.).—The custom of the Church for many centuries, which is the authority for the wearing of the scarf, or stole, sanctions the use of it by all orders of the clergy now existing in the Church of England, but with certain distinctions in the manner of wearing it. By deacons it is worn, as in ancient times, over the left shoulder only, hanging down before and behind; by priests, over both shoulders, hanging down in front only, and was formerly crossed on the breast and passed through the girdle at the waist; bishops have always worn it over both shoulders, and not crossed. It was once considered in some sort as a mark of authority, and as peculiarly appropriate to preachers; thus the sub-deacon wore no stole, because he had no authority to preach the Gospel in public. So in the Roman Catholic Church at the present day, when a number of clergymen are assembled together, except on a few extraordinary occasions, no person wears the stole but the presiding or principal clergyman, and the person who preaches or officiates. The stole was originally a linen handkerchief used for wiping the face, but being afterwards made of embroidered silk and other rich materials, it was retained as a decoration. Previous to the Reformation, the stole was one of the vestments used in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, and consequently, in preaching also, but not at vespers or the ordinary services. The authorities for these statements are Paley's Gothic Architecture, the Oxford Manual for Brasses, Popular Tracts illustrating the Prayer-book, No. 2., and An Explanation of the Construction, &c., of a Catholic Church.

Arun.

Smoke-money (Vol. ii., p. 120.).—It may contribute to answering B.'s Query, to know that smoke-pennies are also yearly levied from most of the inhabitants of the New Forest, and understood by them to be an indication for their right of cutting peat in the waste of the forest.

Lambda.

Common, Mutual, Reciprocal.—1. What is equally related to A., B., (C., &c.), is common to them.

2. What A. and B. entertain, feel, do, &c. towards one another, is said to be mutual.

3. What A. entertains, feels, does, &c. to B. in return for the same entertained, felt, done, &c. by B. towards him, is said to be reciprocal. Thus:

1. A., B., (C., &c.), have a common friend X.

2. A. and B. entertain a mutual esteem for each other.

3. B. has a regard for A., and A. has a reciprocal regard for B.

In the passage quoted by Mr. Gatty (Vol. i., p. 440.), I think, with deference to the eminent historian whom he cites, that reciprocal should have been written instead of mutual.

B.H.K.

Juice Cups.—Should no more satisfactory Reply to the Query of N.B. (Vol. ii., p. 89.) present itself, the following suggestions may be acceptable to him. Without pretending to professional knowledge on the point, I conceive that the use of an inverted cup in the centre of a fruit pie is two-fold. It answers the purpose of supporting the crust, which, being usually thin and light, has but little strength in itself, probably less than that of a meat pie, while, by the shrinking of the fruit in baking it is left unsupported: and it further serves, not indeed as some good ladies seem to suppose, to increase the quantity of juice, but to keep a portion of it in reserve; so that the pie may not become too dry when a few spoonfuls of its more liquid contents have been taken out. This, I conceive, it effects in the following manner. It contains, when inserted, a considerable quantity of cold air. This expands as the pie is heated in the oven, until it drives out from under the cup all, or nearly all, of the fluid that has originally collected under it; and then, continuing to expand, much of the air escapes through the air-holes of the pie into the oven. As the pie cools, the portion of air remaining under the cup, and which, while heated, was sufficient to fill it, contracts; and then the pressure of the external atmosphere, entering through the air-holes of the pie, and acting upon the surface of the juice round about the cup, forces a portion of it into the cup, just on the same principle that water rises into the chamber or cylinder of a pump when a partial vacuum is formed in it. Having once risen into the cup, the same law of hydrostatic pressure keeps it there until the cup is raised sufficiently to admit air under its edge, when the juice of course escapes.

J.T.S.

Curfew (Vol. ii., p. 103.).—Your correspondent Naboc will find the information he seeks upon this subject in a valuable communication to the Journal of the British Archæological Association, vol. iv. p. 133, by Mr. Syer Cuming. To Mr. C.'s list may be added, Charter House, London; Newport, S.W.; and Lowestoft, Suffolk.

E.B. Price.

Derivation of Totnes.—From the Anglo-Saxon toten or totten, to project, to rise above, and ness or nes, nose, (French nez, German nase, Latin nasus). Tooting, Tottenham, &c.

B.H.K.

Dogs in Monuments.—S.S.S. (Vol. i., p. 405.) is informed that a dog, at the feet of monumental effigies of females, is as common as a lion accompanying male figures. It is most probable that the dog was meant to represent affection, fidelity, &c., just as the lion signified courage, generosity, &c. There are, however, some instances (Deerhurst, Gloucestershire, Ingham, Norfolk) where the dog's name is inscribed; and then it was doubtless the intention to give a favourite pet the honour of a monument, that of itself, as well as of its mistress, should "witness live in brass."

T.S. Lawrence.