Notes and Queries, Number 68, February 15, 1851

E. Smirke.

"Fronte capillata," &c. (vol. iii., pp. 8. 43.).—The couplet is much older than G. A. S. seems to think. The author is Dionysius Cato,—"Catoun," as Chaucer calls him—in his book, Distichorum de Moribus, lib. ii. D. xxvi.:

 
"Rem tibi quam nosces aptam, dimittere noli:
Fronte capillata, post est Occasio calva."
Corp. Poet. Lat., Frankfurt, 1832, p. 1195.
 

The history of this Dionysius Cato is unknown; and it has been hotly disputed whether he were a Heathen or Christian; but he is at least as old as the fourth century of the Christian era, being mentioned by Vindicianus, chief physician in ordinary to the emperor, in a letter to Valentinian I., A.D. 365. In the illustrations of The Baptistery, Parker, Oxford, 1842, which are re-engraved from the originals in the Via Vitæ Eternæ, designed by Boetius a Bolswert, the figure of "Occasion" is always drawn with the hair hanging loose in front, according to the distich.

E. A. D.

Time when Herodotus wrote (vol. ii., p. 405.; Vol. iii., p. 30.)—The passage in Herodotus (i. 5.) is certainly curious, and had escaped my notice, until pointed out by your correspondent. I am unable at present to refer to Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology; but I doubt whether the reading of the poem or title, in Aristotle's Rhetoric (II. 9. § 1.), has received much attention. In my forthcoming translation of the "Pseudo-Herodotean Life of Homer" prefixed to the Odysseia (Bohn's Classical Library), note 1., I have thus given it:—

"This is the exposition of the historical researches of Herodotus of Thurium," &c.

Now Aristotle makes no remark on the passage as being unusual, and it therefore inclines me to think that, at the time of that philosopher and critic, both editions were in use.

The date of the building of Thurium is B.C. 444, and Herodotus was there at its foundation, being then about forty years of age. Most likely he had published a smaller edition of this book before that time, bearing the original date from Halicarnassus, which he revised, enlarged, corrected, and partly re-wrote at Thurium. I think this would not be difficult to prove; and I would add that this retouching would be found more apparent at the beginning of the volume than elsewhere. This may be easily accounted for by the feeling that modern as well as ancient authors have, viz., that of laziness and inertness; revising the first 100 pages carefully, but decreasing from that point. But to return: Later editors, I conceive, erased the word Thurium used by Herodotus, who was piqued and vexed at his native city, and substituted, or restored, Halicarnassus; not, however, changing the text.

A learned friend of mine wished for the bibliographical history of the classics. I told him then, as I tell the readers of the "Notes and Queries" now, "Search for that history in the pages of the classics themselves; extend to them the critical spirit that is applied to our own Chaucer, Shakspeare, and Milton, and your trouble will not be in vain. The history of any book (that is the general history of the gradual development of its ideas) is written in its own pages." In truth, the prose classics deserve as much attention as the poems of Homer.

Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie.

January 20. 1851.

Herstmonceux Castle (Vol. ii., p. 477.).—E. V. asks for an explanation of certain entries in the Fine Rolls, A.D. 1199 and 1205, which I can, in part, supply. The first is a fine for having seisin of the lands of the deceased mother of the two suitors, William de Warburton and Ingelram de Monceaux. As they claim as joint-heirs or parceners, the land must have been subject to partibility, and therefore of socage tenure. If the land was not in Kent, the entry is a proof that the exclusive right of primogeniture was not then universally established, as we know it was not in the reign of Henry II. See Glanville, lib. vii. cap. 3.

The next entry records the fine paid for suing out a writ de rationabili parte against (versus) one of the above coheirs. The demandant is either the same coheir named above, viz. Ingelram, altered by a clerical error into Waleram,—such errors being of common occurrence, sometimes from oscitancy, and sometimes because the clerk had to guess at the extended form of a contracted name,—or he is a descendant and heir of Ingelram, claiming the share of his ancestor. I incline to adopt the former explanation of the two here suggested. The form of writ is in the Register of Writs, and corresponds exactly with the abridged note of it in the Fine Roll. The "esnecia," mentioned in the last entry (not extracted by E. V.), is the majorat or senior heir's perquisite of the capital mansion. E. V. will pardon me for saying, that his translation of the passages is a little deficient in exactness. As to E. V.'s query 4., does he think it worth while to go further in search of a reason for calling the bedroom floor of Herstmonceux Castle by the name of Bethlem, when the early spelling and common and constant pronunciation of the word supply so plausible an explanation? I myself knew, in my earliest days, a house where that department was constantly so nicknamed. But there certainly may be a more recondite origin of the name; and something may depend on the date at which he finds it first applied.

E. Smirke.

Camden and Curwen Families (Vol. iii., p. 89.).—Camden's mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Gyles Curwen, of Poulton Hall, in the county of Lancaster. In the "visitation" of Lancashire made in 1613, it is stated that this Gyles Curwen was "descended from Curwen of Workenton in co. Cumberland;" but the descent is not given, and I presume it rests merely on tradition.

Llewellyn.

Joan Sanderson, or the Cushion Dance (Vol. ii., p. 517.).—Your correspondent Mac asks for the "correct date" of the Cushion Dance. Searching out the history and origin of an old custom or ballad is like endeavouring to ascertain the source and flight of December's snow. I am afraid Mac will not obtain what he now wishes for.

The earliest mention, that I have noticed, of this popular old dance occurs in Heywood's play, A Woman kill'd with Kindness, 1600. Nicholas, one of the characters, says:

"I have, ere now, deserved a cushion: call for the Cushion Dance."

The musical notes are preserved in The English Dancing Master, 1686; in The Harmonicon, a musical journal; in Davies Gilbert's Christmas Carols (2nd edition); and in Chappell's National English Melodies. In the first-named work it is called "Joan Sanderson, or the Cushion Dance, an old Round Dance."

In a curious collection of old songs and tunes, Neder-Landtsche Gedenck-clank door Adrianum Valerium, printed at Haerlem in 1626, is preserved a tune called "Sweet Margaret," which, upon examination, proves to be the same as the Cushion Dance. This favourite dance was well known in Holland in the early part of the seventeenth century, and an interesting engraving of it may be seen in the Emblems of John de Brunnes, printed at Amsterdam in 1624.

The last-named work (a copy of the edition of 1661 of which is now before me) is exceedingly curious to the lovers of our popular sports and pastimes. The engravings are by William Pass, C. Blon, &c., and among them are representations of Kiss in the Ring, the game of Forfeits, rolling Snow-balls, the Interior of a Barber's Shop, with citherns and lutes hanging against the wall, for the use of the customers, &c.

Edward F. Rimbault.

North Sides of Churchyards (Vol. ii., p. 93.).—In an appendix to our registers I find the following entry, where I conceive the backside means the northside. Though now the whole of our churchyard is so full that we have much difficulty in finding any new ground, what we do find, however, is on the north side.

"1750, Oct. 23. One Mary Davies, of Pentrobin, single woman, though excommunicated with the Greater Excommunication, was on this day, within night, on account of some particular circumstances alleged by neighbours of credit in her favour (as to her resolving to come and reconcile herself, and do penance if she recovered), indulged by being interred on the backside the church, but no service or tolling allowed."

From this I conclude that here at least there was no part of the churchyard left unconsecrated for the burial of persons excommunicate, as one of your correspondents suggests; or burial in such place would have been no indulgence, as evidently it was regarded in this case. It would be interesting to ascertain from accredited instances how late this power of excommunication has been exercised, and thereby how long it has really been in abeyance. I expect the period would not be found so great as is generally imagined.

Waldegrave Brewster.

Antiquitas Sæculi Juventus Mundi (Vol. ii., p. 466.).—Dugald Stewart, in his Dissertation prefixed to the Encyclopædia Britannica, ed. 7., p. 30., points out two passages of writers anterior to Lord Bacon, in which this thought occurs. The first is in his namesake, Roger Bacon, who died in 1292:

"Quanto juniores tanto perspicaciores, quia juniores posteriores successione temporum ingrediuntor labores priorum."—Opus Majus, p. 9. ed. Jebb.

The Opus Majus of Roger Bacon was not, however, printed until the last century, and could not have been known to Lord Bacon unless he had read it in manuscript.

The second is from Ludovicus Vives, De Caus. Corrupt. Art., lib. i., of which Mr. Stewart gives the following version:—

"The similitude which many have fancied between the superiority of the moderns to the ancients, and the elevation of a dwarf on the back of a giant, is altogether false and puerile. Neither were they giants, nor are we dwarfs, but all of us men of the same standard; and we, the taller of the two, by adding their height to our own. Provided always that we do not yield to them in study, attention, vigilance, and love of truth; for if these qualities be wanting, so far from mounting on the giant's shoulders, we throw away the advantages of our own just stature, by remaining prostrate on the ground."

Ludovicus Vives, the eminent Spanish writer, died in 1540, and therefore preceded the active period of Lord Bacon's mind by about half a century.

Mr. Stewart likewise cites the following sentences of Seneca, which, however, can hardly be said to contain the germ of this thought:—

"Veniet tempus quo ista quæ nunc latent, in lucem dies extrahet, et longioris ævi diligentia.... Veniet tempus, quo posteri nostri tam aperta nos nescisse mirabuntur."—Quæst. Nat. viii. 25.

L.

Umbrella (Vol. i., p. 414.; Vol. ii., pp. 25. 93. 126. 346. 491. 523.; Vol. iii., p. 37.).—Although I conceive that ample proof has been given in your columns that umbrellas were generally known at an earlier period than had been commonly supposed, yet the following additional facts may not perhaps be unacceptable to your readers.

In Bailey's Dictionary, vol. i. (8th edit. 1737), are these articles:—

"Parasol, a sort of small canopy or umbrella, to keep off the rain."

"Umbella, a little shadow; an umbrella, bon-grace, skreen-fan, &c., which women bear in their hands to shade them."

"Umbelliforus Plants [among botanists]. Plants which have round tufts, or small stalks standing upon greater; or have their tops branched and spread like a lady's umbrella."

"Umbrello [Ombrelle, F.; Ombrella, Ital. of Umbrella, or Umbrecula, L.], a sort of skreen that is held over the head for preserving from the sun or rain; also a wooden frame covered with cloth or stuff, to keep off the sun from a window."

In Bailey's Dictionary, vol. ii. (3rd edit. 1737), is the following:—

"Umbellated [Umbellatus, L.]; bossed. In botan. writ. is said of flowers when many of them grow together, disposed somewhat like an umbrella. The make is a sort of broad, roundish surface of the whole, &c. &c."

Horace Walpole (Memoirs of the Reign of George II., vol. iii. p. 153.), narrating the punishment of Dr. Shebbeare for a libel, 5th December, 1758, says,—

"The man stood in the pillory, having a footman holding an umbrella to keep off the rain."

In Burrow's Reports (vol. ii. p. 792.), is an account of the proceedings in the Court of King's Bench against Arthur Beardmore, under-sheriff of Middlesex, for contempt of court in remitting part of the sentence on Dr. Shebbeare. The affidavits produced by the Attorney-General stated—

"That the defendant only stood upon the platform of the pillory, unconfined, and at his ease, attended by a servant in livery (which servant and livery were hired for this occasion only) holding an umbrella over his head, all the time:"

and Mr. Justice Dennison, in pronouncing sentence on Beardmore, did not omit to allude to the umbrella.

C. H. Cooper.

Cambridge, January 25. 1851.

Form of Prayer at the Healing (Vol. iii., p. 42.).—A copy of this service of an earlier date than those mentioned is before me. It was printed in folio at the Hague, 1650; and is appended to "a Form of Prayer used in King Charles II.'s Chappel upon Tuesdays, in the times of his trouble and distress." Charles I. was executed on that day of the week.

J. H. M.