FOLK LORE
Moths called Souls.—While I am upon this subject, I may as well mention that in Yorkshire the country-people used in my youth, and perhaps do still, call night-flying white moths, especially the Hepialus humuli, which feeds, while in the grub state, on the roots of docks and other coarse plants, "souls." Have we not in all this a remnant of "Psyche?"
F. S.
[This latter paragraph furnishes a remarkable coincidence with the tradition from the neighbourhood of Truro (recorded by Mr. Thoms in his Folk lore of Shakspeare, Athenæum (No. 1041.) Oct. 9. 1847) which gives the name of Piskeys both to the fairies and to moths, which are believed by many to be departed souls.]
Holy Water for the Hooping Cough (vol. iii., p. 179.).—In one of the principal towns of Yorkshire, half a century ago, it was the practice for persons in a respectable class of life to take their children, when afflicted with the hooping cough, to a neighbouring convent, where the priest allowed them to drink a small quantity of holy water out of a silver chalice, which the little sufferers were strictly forbidden to touch. By Protestant, as well as Roman Catholic parents, this was regarded as a remedy. Is not the superstition analogous to that noticed by Mr. Way?
Eboracomb.
Daffy Down Dilly.—At this season, when the early spring flowers are showing themselves, we hear the village children repeating these lines:—
"Daff a down dill has now come to town,
In a yellow petticoat and a green gown."
Does not this nursery rhyme throw light upon the character of the royal visitor alluded to in the snail charm recorded by F. J. H. (p. 179.)?
Eboracomb.
DR. MAITLAND'S ILLUSTRATIONS AND ENQUIRIES RELATING TO MESMERISM
I know more than one person who would second the request that I am about to make through "Notes and Queries" to Dr. Maitland, that he would publish the remaining parts of his Illustrations and Enquiries relating to Mesmerism: he would do so, I know, at once, if he thought that anybody would benefit by them; and I can bear witness to Part I. as having been already of some use. It is high time that Christians should be decided as to whether or no they may meddle with the fearful power whose existence is is impossible to ridicule any longer. Dr. Maitland has suggested the true course of thought upon the subject, and promised to lead us along it; but it is impossible at present to use anything that he has said, on account of its incompleteness. In tracing the subject through history, Dr. Maitland would no doubt mention the "Ομφαλόψυχοι, or Umbilicani," of the fourteenth century, whose practices make a page (609.) of Waddington's History of the Church read like a sketch of Middle-age Mesmerism, contemptuously given. Also, in Washington Irving's Life of Mahomet, a belief somewhat similar to theirs is stated to have been preached in the seventh century (Bohn's Reprint in Shilling Series, p. 191.) by a certain Moseïlma, a false prophet.
I may add that Miss Martineau's new book, Letters of the Development of Man's Nature, by Atkinson and Martineau, which cannot be called sceptical, for its unbelief is unhesitating, is the immediate cause of my writing to-day.
A. L. R.
Minor Notes
Original Warrant.—The following warrant from the original in the Surrenden collection may interest some of your correspondents, as bearing upon more than one Query that has appeared in your columns:—
"Forasmuch as Sr John Payton, Knight, Lieutenant of the Tower, hath heretofore receaved a warrant from the Lls. of the counsell, by her Mats commandment, for the removinge of Wright the Preist out of the Tower, to Framingham Castle, and for that, since then, it is thought more convenient, that he be removed to the Clincke—Theise therefore shalbe to require now (sic) to enlarge him of his imprisonment in the Tower, and to deliver him prisoner into the hands of the L. Bishop of London, to be committed by his Lp. to the Clincke, because it is for her Mts speciall service,—for doinge whereof, this shalbe your warrant.
"From the court at
"Oatlands this 29
"of September, 1602."Ro. Cecyll.
"To Mr. Anthony Deeringe,
"Deputy Lieutenant of the Tower of London."
"2. October, 1602."I have receyed Mr. Wryght from Mr. Derynge, Deputy Lieutenant, and have comitted him to the Clincke according the direction from Mr. Secretary above expressed.
"Ric. London."L. B. L.
Gloves.—Prince Rupert.—In your First Vol., pp. 72. 405., and in other places in Vol. ii., there are notices with respect to the presentation of gloves. If what is contained in the following paper be not generally known, it may claim an interest with some of your readers:—
"At the Court of Whitehall, the 23rd of October, 1678. Present
The Kings most excellent Majesty,
His Highness Prince Rupert,
Lord Archbp. of Canterbury,"
[with twelve others, who are named.]
"Whereas formerly it hath been a custom upon the Consecra[~c]on of all [~B]ps for them to make presents of Gloves to all Persons that came to the Consecra[~c]on Dinners, and others, wch amounted to a great Su[~m] of Money, and was an unnecessary burden to them, His Matie this day, taking the same into his considera[~c]on, was thereupon pleas'd to order in Council, that for the future there shall be no such distribu[~c]on of Gloves; but that in lieu thereof each Lord B[~p] before his Consecra[~c]on shall hereafter pay the Su[~m] of 50l. to be employ'd towards the Rebuilding of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul. And it was further ordered, that his Grace the Lord Archb[~p] of Canterbury do not proceed to consecrate any B[~p] before he hath paid the s[~d] Su[~m] of 50l. for the use aforesaid, and produced a Receipt for the same from the Treasurer of the Money for Rebuilding the said Church for the time being, wch as it is a pious work, so will it be some ease to the respective B[~p]s, in regard the Expense of Gloves did usually farr exceed that Sum.
"Phi. Lloyd."
Tanner's MSS. vol. 282. 112. al. 74.
One of your correspondents, I think, some time back asked for notices of Prince Rupert posterior to the Restoration. Besides the mention made of him in this paper, Echard speaks of his having the command of one squadron of the English fleet in the Dutch war.
J. Sansom.
Inscription on a Gun (Vol. iii., p. 181.).—Your notes on "the Potter's and Shepherd's Keepsakes" remind me of an old gun, often handled by me in my youth, on the stock of which the following tetrastick was en-nailed:—
"Of all the sports as is,
I fancies most a gun;
And, after my decease,
I leaves this to my son."
Whether this testamentary disposition ever passed through Doctors' Commons, I know not.
C. W. B.
Richard III. (Vol. iii., pp. 206-7.).—The statement by Mr. Harrison, that Richard was not a "hunchback," is curiously "backed" by an ingenious conjecture of that very remarkable man, Doctor John Wallis of Oxford, in his Grammatica Linguæ Anglicanæ, first published in 1653. The passage occurs in the 2d section of chapter 14, "De Etymologia." Wallis is treating of the words crook, crouch, cross, &c., and says:
"Hinc item croisado de militibus dicebatur ad bellum (quod vocant) sanctum conscriptis (pro recuperanda terra sancta) qui à tergo gestabant formam Crucis; et Richardus olim Rex Angliæ dicebatur crouch-backed, non quod dorso fucrit incurvato, sed quod à tergo gestare gestiebat formam Crucis."
G. F. G.
Edinburgh.
Lines by Pope.—On the back of a letter in my possession, written by the poet Gray, are the following lines in the handwriting of his friend Mason:—
"By Mr. Pope.
"Tom Wood of Chiswick, deep divine,
To Painter Kent gave all this coin.
'Tis the first coin, I'm bold to say,
That ever Churchman gave to Lay."
"Wrote in Evelyn's book of coins given by Mr. Wood to Kent: he had objected against the word pio in Mr. Pope's father's epitaph."
If these lines are not already in print, perhaps you will insert them amongst your "Notes" as a contribution from
Robert Hotchkin.
Thimbleby Rectory, March 13. 1851.
Origin of St. Andrew's Cross in connexion with Scotland.—John Lesley, bishop of Ross, reports, that in the night before the battle between Athelstan, king of England, and Hungus, king of the Picts, a bright cross, like that whereon St. Andrew suffered, appeared to Hungus, who, having obtained the victory, ever after bore that figure. This happened in 819. Vide Gent. Mag. for Nov. 1732.
E. S. T.
Snail-eating (Vol. iii., p. 207.).—Your correspondent C. W. B. does not seem to be aware that "a ragout of boror (snails)" is a regular dish with English gypsies. Vide Borrow's Zincali, part i. c. v.
He has clearly not read Mr. Borrow's remarks on the subject:
"Know then, O Gentile, whether thou be from the land of Gorgios (England), or the Busné (Spain), that the very gypsies, who consider a ragout of snails a delicious dish, will not touch an eel because it bears a resemblance to a snake; and that those who will feast on a roasted hedgehog could be induced by no money to taste a squirrel!"
Having tasted of roasted hotchiwitchu (hedgehog) myself among the "gentle Rommanys," I can bear witness to its delicate fatness; and though a ragout of snails was never offered for my acceptance, I do not think that those who consider (as most "Gorgios" do) stewed eels a delicacy ought to be too sever on "Limacotrophists!"
Hermes.
Snail-eating.—Perhaps you will permit me to remark, in reference to the communication of C. W. B., that snails are taken medicinally occasionally, and are supposed to be extremely strengthening. I have known them eagerly sought after for the meal of a consumptive patient. As a matter of taste, too, they are by some considered quite epicurean. A gentleman whom I used to know, was in the constant habit as he passed through the fields, of picking up the white slugs that lay in his way, and swallowing them with more relish than he would have done had they been oysters.
That snails make a no inconsiderable item in the bill of fare of gypsies, and other wanderers, I proved while at Oxford, some time ago; for passing up Shotover Hill, in the parish of Headington, I unexpectedly came upon a camp of gypsies who were seated round a wood fire enjoying their Sunday's dinner: this consisted of a considerable number of large snails roasted on the embers, and potatoes similarly cooked. On inquiry, I was told by those who were enjoying their repast, that they were extremely good, and were much liked by people of their class, who made a constant practice of eating them. I need hardly say that I received a most hospitable invitation to join in the feast, which I certainly declined.
L. J.