out." This is the Latin adage in another form, and seems worth preserving. G. L. G. SENIOR WRANGLERS.-I venture to think that the following letter from Mr. Luard, the Registrary of the University of Cambridge, which appears in the Times of Jan. 31, 1882, is worthy of preservation in "N. & Q.": "An idea seems to prevail that the earliest Senior Wrangler known is he of the year 1747. So far from this being the case, the order of seniority for at least 200 years previous to that date is in very many cases preserved. There are many gaps, owing to accident or the forgetfulness of the registrary of the time, but the order is oftener preserved than lost. Unfortunately, the seniority for the year 1664-45 [sic; ?65], when Sir Isaac Newton was admitted to the degree, is not given. The registrary headed the page as usual, and even pencilled it out for the names, but omitted to enter them." THE NEW ENGLISH DICTIONARY OF THE PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY.-Quotations wanted (5): send to the editor, Dr. Murray, Mill Hill, N.W. The prevalence of the idea to which Mr. Luardial -ion, amelectic, amendableness, amenty, amerceA. Instances of any date of amburbial, ambust refers is probably owing to the Cambridge University Calendar. The first list of the Mathematical Tripos which is given in that book is that of the year 1747-8. G. F. R. B. A TAHITI LAMENTATION FOR NINEVEH [?].The following statement, I think, ought to be preserved in "N. & Q.”: "When the writer [Admiral Fitzroy] first visited Tahiti [in 1835-6], a ceremony occurred among the heathen natives which Mr. Nott [then missionary there] told him was an annual custom -a lamentation for Nineveh-he knew no more."-The Weather Book, by Rear-Admiral Fitzroy, 1863, foot-note, p. 132. EDWARD PARFITT. Devon and Exeter Institution, Exeter. AN OATH.-I met with the following oath this morning in reading William Nelson's Laws of England concerning Game, third edit., 1736, p. 101. I think it is worthy of reproduction in the pages of "N. & Q." The particular forest to which the oath applies is not mentioned: "The Oath of the Inhabitants of the Forest, being of the age of twelve years, was antiently used in these old Rymes : You shall true Liege-man be, Unto the Beasts of the Forest you shall no hurt do, K. P. D. E. able, ametallous, amethodical -ly, ametabolic, ametropia, ametrous, amissible, amma (surg.), ammophilous, amnemonic, amnestic, amnicolist, amnigenous. B. Instances before the date annexed of ambulationism, 1880; ambulatorial, 1874; ameliorable, 1807; ameliorate, 1780; ameliorative -or, 1861; amenability, 1802; amenable, 1596; amenableness -ly, 1877; amendatory, 1862; amene, vb., 1863; americanism, 1870; americanize, 1858; amicability, 1838; amidmost, 1870; amidst, 1590; amissibility, 1837; amity, 1474; ammonia, 1814; ammonite (sing.), 1800; ammunition, 1620; amnesty, vb., 1837. C. Instances after the date annexed of ambulative, 1657; ameliorable, 1807; amenance, 1739; amendful, 1623; amenous, 1567; amerciable, 1622; amervail, 1530; amicitial, 1653; amissive, 1677; ammic, 1611; ammonial, 1818; amoindre, 1633. Queries. We must request correspondents desiring information on family matters of only private interest, to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that the answers may be addressed to them direct. THE UNPUBLISHED JEUX D'ESPRIT OF THE POET GRAY.-I shall feel particularly obliged for any information which will put me on the traces of the unpublished jeux d'esprit of the poet Gray. One of these was sold at Sotheby & Wilkinson's on August 5, 1854. I am, moreover, particularly anxious to inspect the "Memoranda relative to the Gray and Antrobus Family," which formed lot 239 of the sale mentioned above. Any unpublished matter relative to Gray will be gratefully received by me for my Life of Gray, which is now approachcompletion. EDMUND W. GOSSE. THE ACE OF SPADES CALLED "OLD MOSSYFACE."-The note by MR. PLATT on the Ace of Spades (ante, p. 66) reminds me of a peculiar terming that I have often heard applied to that card, and that is, "Old Mossy-face." The card used to be engraved very delicately and with great softness of appearance, which may, perhaps, have given rise 29, Delamere Terrace, Westbourne Square, W. THE CONVENT OF THE CROSS, JERUSALEM. Can any one tell me whether the story told by dragomans and by the paintings on the screen in the church has much antiquity? The living and the silent witness says,-Lot came to Abraham to confess his sin with his daughters. Abraham gave him three sticks, which he said were the three angels' staves. If Lot planted them where four roads met, in a public place, and diligently watered them with Jordan water, and they sprouted, then Lot would know that his sin was pardoned by God. This Lot did. He planted them in the spot where the Hebron and Jaffa road met the Gaza and Jerusalem road, and carefully watered them with Jordan water, notwithstanding the devil's opposition, who was always presenting himself as a poor man dying of thirst to Lot on his weary way from the Jordan, and appealing to his compassion. In time the sticks, each of a different wood, sprouted and grew, the stems being inextricably intertwined. The story goes on that the tree being lopped and the loppings lying in the temple, the Queen of Sheba's lame daughter knocked her foot against them and was cured. Then comes the subsequent legend-which disposes of the tree, as too hard for fuel or for any ordinary purpose, to those who purveyed the wood for criminals' crosses at Jerusalem. Below the altar there is a hole, which the sacristan shows as the hole where the tree itself grew, and down which the priest now pours the ablutions at the Eucharist. Jerusalem. C. PICKERING CLARKE, THOMAS COUTTS'S MARRIAGE.-In 1814, when Thomas Coutts married Harriet Mellon, Sir Elijah Impey appeared at a masquerade held at Mrs. Cormack's, in St. James's Square, dressed half in mourning and half in wedding costume, to represent Mr. Coutts, on which occasion he spoke certain verses, commencing: "A tender bridegroom and a widower true, I come prepared to whimper or to woo." These verses were entitled The Merry Mourner's Address to the Ladies. Can any of your correspondents tell me the exact date of the masquerade, and where I can find a copy of these verses? I take this opportunity of asking, also, where a good account of the marriage itself is to be found. HENRY B. WHEATLEY. and truly conscientious editor, the late Mr. H. S.. RICHARD HARINGTON. I shall be much obliged if any of your readers will give me some information about a member of the Harington or Harrington family, of whom there exists the following medal. Obv. Male bust to left, in armour, mantle fastened on left shoulder with jewel, deep collar. Legend, RIC. DE. HARINGTO. Rev. Cupid with club and bow before tree bearing fruit, from which fall leaves; the tree is on a mound inscribed 1609. Legend, AMOR. NON FLORE SED. FRVCTV. Size, 1 in., silver gilt. It will be seen that this medal was executed in 1609, and, from the reverse inscription, may refer to a marriage. H. GRUEBER. British Museum. RELIGIOUS NOVELS.-A writer in the December number of Macmillan's Magazine, p. 113, says that religious novels were the result of the Tractarian movement. His words are: "Then for the first time began the religious novel, and it may be doubted whether Sir Walter did more to create sympathy for the Stuart cause than did the stories of Messrs. Sewell, Paget, Neale, and Gresley, and the author of From Oxford to Rome, to popularize Tractarian opinions." I have nothing to say as to the influence of the writers he mentions, but is it not a matter of history that the religious novel was of earlier date? Mrs. Sherwood's Lady of the Manor is certainly older than the days of the Tractarian movement, and it must be classed under this. head. It would be difficult, perhaps, to go back to the last century; but if I did I could name several books which seem to me to belong to the ANON. same family. CROMLECH.-Does this word occur in ancient 66 stoneWelsh or Gaelic literature in the sense of table or chamber," as commonly used in this country? In Brittany these structures are called "dolmens" (stone tables), and Mr. Lukis says that there a cromlech is "Kroumlec'h, from kroumm, curved, and lec'h, &c., a sacred stone, a circle of stones.' I want to ascertain whether cromlech as used out of Brittany be a blunder "sanctioned by usage" or a legitimate term. Bp. Hatfield's Hall, Durham. J. T. F. FREDERICK ROBERTSON.-The Boston Literary World, reviewing Harper's edition of The Human Race, and other Sermons (May 7, 1881), remarks that "he was a painstaking author in his lifetime." I ask, What was Robertson the author of ?-and in what sense was he "painstaking"? His sermons or LISTER OF ARNOLDS, BIGGIN CRAVEN, WEST Who was Osbaldiston lectures were always delivered extempore; and RIDING, YORKSHIRE. though he sometimes tried to recover a sermon by Lister? It was John Lettisler whose father, writing it from memory, he never succeeded in Hugh de Litzer (the dyer), headed, in 1381, the doing so with anything like exactitude, whatever rebellion in Norwich. The name was evidently pains he bestowed upon the work. In editing taken from the occupation. Halliwell gives the these sermons and lectures, the "painstaking" "obsolete verb to let or dye; hence the name is GEORGE ELIOT: 66 ESSAYS AND REVIEWS."In the recently published Letters, Literary_and Theological, of Bishop Thirlwall, edited by Dean Perowne and Rev. Louis Stokes, the editors make the following remark (p. 234): "One curious feature of the [Essays and. Reviews] controversy was the publication of a pamphlet entitled Essays and Reviews Anticipated-the authorship of which has been attributed to George Eliot. It consisted of copious extracts from a work published in the year 1825, and attributed to the Bishop of St. David's (Schleiermacher's St. Luke)." Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." confirm the ascription contained in the words I have italicized? CHARLES W. SUTTON. in a window for some ten days or a fortnight A MINIATURE OF THE LATE SIR ROBERT PEEL. A MOTTO FOR A DRINKING CUP.-Can any one suggest a suitable motto, in any language, for a drinking-cup; or tell me whether there is any book in which I could find any variety of mottoes? RED LION. BISHOP OF SODOR AND MAN.-In a book called, The History and Description of the Isle of Man, London, 1744, without name of author (whom, however, I have ascertained to be George Waldron), the following passage occurs. The abridger of Camden's Britannia says that JOHN SOUTHAM, 1440.-Where can I find the will of this priest, which was dated and proved in 1440? By his will he directs his body to be buried in Lincoln Cathedral, before the image of St. Christopher. On his monumental inscription at Lincoln (which is preserved in Peek's Desiderata Curiosa) he is described as being Canon of Lincoln, York, and Sarum, Archdeacon of Oxford, and Rector of Conyngsby. There are a few particulars about him in Nichols's Leicestershire, iii. 900, but where can I find a fullerEcclesia Sodorensis,' dedicated to our Saviour (Ewrne). account? W. G. D. F. LORD LOUGHBOROUGH AND THE "HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LAW."-The first Lord Loughborough, in a letter (c. 1786) to Mr. William Eden (afterwards Lord Auckland), refers to a proposed work of his upon the English law. He says: " My other work has been entirely stopped, for there is no thinking what the law of England has been when one is employed every hour in deciding what it is. I have drawn a plan of a much larger edifice than I shall live to finish, though a great many of the materials are provided, and I have got my building above ground, for I have completed the first part, which comes as far as the reign of Edward I."-Journal and Correspondence of Lord Auckland, vol. i. p. 382. Was any part of this work ever published or issued to subscribers? Foss (Lives of the Judges, vol. viii. p. 297) says that his lordship's only contribution to legal literature was a Treatise on English Prisons. F. SYDNEY WADDINGTON. RED INK.-Can any of your readers name a red ink (maker's name) which will stand exposure to the air and retain its colour? I keep a barometer register, ruled with red down-lines and blue cross-lines. I have tried some half-dozen different kinds of red ink, but all fade after being exposed among the Hebrides, generally reckoned forty-four Scotland, and called by Bede Hy or Hu; and that there in number, was the island Iona, lying between Ila and was a bishop's see erected in Sodore, a small village, from which all the islanders took the name of Sodorenses, being all contained in his diocess. But nothing is more certain than that this opinion is erroneous; for the Bishops of Man do not take their title of Sodor from the island so called, but from the church at Peel called This is not only maintained by Archbishop Spotswood, SAMPFORD-SPINEY : MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTION. MR. AND MRS. MATTOCKS, OF COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.-I shall be glad to hear in what collection are the original portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Mattocks, painted by Dighton and engraved in 1779; also a portrait of Mrs. Mattocks by Miller, and another by Drummond, some few years later. G. S. D. ARSCOTT PEDIGREE.-The coat of Arscott of Tudwell, Devon, bears on an escutcheon of pretence, among other coats,-2, Gu., a bend engrailed or between three mullets or, pierced of the field, 2 and 1; 4, Gu., two bars wavy az.; 5, Gu., ten lozenges in pile; 6, Or, on a bend gu. three leopards (?). Any information about these will be G. H. FOWLER. very acceptable. St. Anne's Lodge, Lincoln. SIR JAMES HAWES, KT., MAYOR OF LONDON.Issue (1) John, (2) Margaret, (3) Elizabeth, (4) Mary (Cooke's Visitation of London, 1568, edit. 1869). John Hawes, Sheriff of London 1558-9 (Diary of H. Machyn, 1550-63, edit. 1848), at whose house in Mynsyon Lane, "xxvj day June, 1559, was deprevyd of their byshoprykes the bysshope of Wynchestur [White], the bysshope of Lynckolne [Watson]." Can you refer me to any information as to the above two persons? Are there any pedigrees of any Hawes or Hawis family, printed or in manuscript? 3, Pembroke Street, Cambridge. G. J. GRAY. [See Marshall's Genealogist's Guide.] THEODORE BATHURST.-Perhaps some of the readers of "N. & Q." will kindly give me references from which information concerning him can be obtained. He sent out a Latin verse translation of Spenser's Shepherd's Calendar first, I believe, in 1653. The same was afterwards reprinted in 1732-English and Latin on the opposite pages-with cuts and a life of Spenser in Latin, written by John Ball. I have consulted most of the modern lives and works of Spenser without being able to find any notice of Bathurst beyond that in the scanty reference in Ball's preface. My copy of the book, 1732, appears to have belonged to Warburton, when Bishop of Gloucester. Lechlade, Gloucestershire. ADIN WILLIAMS. PARCHMENT WILLS.-I venture to inquire why novelists and play writers almost invariably describe wills as being written on parchment, and speak of missing wills as "lost parchments," "missing sheepskins," &c.? I have never seen a will written on parchment, and have never come across any one who has. The mistake arises, no doubt, from probates of wills being engrossed on parchment. The latest instance of this blunder which I have seen is in Cassell's Magazine for December. FREDERICK E. SAWYER. Brighton. SIR JAMES HALKETT, KNT., OF PITFIRRANE, A.D. 1649.—To whom were the two daughters of Sir James Halkett, Knt., of Pitfirrane, Fifeshire, married? Sir James married, first, Miss Montgomery, daughter of Sir Robert Montgomery, of Skelmorley, and was returned M.P. for co. Fife in 1649. I should also be glad of information with reference to the marriages of the six daughters of Sir James Halkett. Sir Charles was created a Sir Charles Halkett, son of the above-mentioned baronet of Nova Scotia in 1662, and married Pitdennis, by whom he had one son and six Janet, daughter of Sir Patrick Murray, Knt., of daughters. WILLIAM HENRY HENDERSON. 9, Royal Crescent, Bath. SIXPENNY EDITIONS OF THE POETS.-Leigh Hunt, in his charming Autobiography, says: "In those times [I suppose about 1793-1795] Cooke's edition of the British poets came up. I got an with Collins and Gray. How I loved those little sixodd volume of Spenser, and I fell passionately in love penny numbers containing whole poets! I doted on their size; I doted on their type, on their ornaments, on their wrappers, containing lists of other poets, and on the engravings from Kirk."-Autobiography of Leigh Hunt (London, Smith Elder, & Co., 1878), pp. 69, 70. Is this the earliest "sixpenny edition of the poets" on record? and what was the size of the volumes and type? It seems wonderful that, some ninety years ago, a complete poet, in good type, with ornaments and engravings, could be had for sixpence. BRITO. Replies. THE AUTHORSHIP OF THE "IMITATIO (6th S. iv. 246, 335, 358; v. 70.) criticism. I striking peculiarities. Their purpose was to point To his question. I may reply very shortly. cannot furnish MR. WATERTON with any other instance of the use of the word exterius in the sense of "by heart" than that which I have already given. Du Cange, if I remember rightly, cites only the Imitation and Buschius. But it seems to me that the instance taken from the Carthusian statutes must modify any universal proposition as to the German (or Flemish) use of this sense of the word. "In omni axiomate vero constituendo, major est vis instantiæ negativa"; and unless MR. WATERTON can show that the statutes of the Grande Chartreuse are of German or Flemish authorship, I think they must be held to furnish an "instantia negativa." The members of that great house were of various nationalities, but few of them were German or Flemish. Of the sixty-one priors up to the present day (and the priors of the house are, by virtue of their office, Generals of the Carthusian order), two only have been Germans (St. Bruno, the founderand he was a German by birth only-and one other), two Dutch, and one Fleming. Of the fifty-six others, forty-nine were Frenchmen, five Italians, and two Spaniards. Even allowing that this statute of 1430 was drafted by a German, it can hardly be supposed that a word intelligible only to the minority of the brethren would have been allowed to remain unexplained. I therefore conclude that this use of the word exterius was in 1430 known to and understood by a considerable body of persons residing neither in Germany nor in Flanders. I now pass to the criticism. I have no desire to enter upon the hazardous task of discussing with MR. WATERTON a question of which he warns me I certainly cannot consider the contemporary that I know nothing. But he bases this warning evidence in favour of Thomas to be overwhelming. upon certain "papers on Walter Hilton" alleged Of the MSS which are cited in his favour, the to have been written by me. I am entirely at a loss to know to what he refers. It is possible that he has in mind the papers I contributed to "N. & Q." last March on "The Magdalen MS. of the Imitation"; but I find that though they were so prolix as to occupy no less than eight columns of " N. & Q.," the whole space which can be considered as in any way devoted to the claims of Walter Hilton does not exceed two-thirds of a single column. Let me briefly recall the subject and purpose of these papers. Their subject was the minute description of a MS. in our college library (then under my charge) as yet imperfectly known with respect to some of its most inscription of the Kirckheim MS., which includes both his name and the date 1425, is an insertion in a later hand; the Gaesdonck MS., which has the date 1427, has not his name, but that of Thomas of Millingen.* These, therefore, may be set aside, and these are, I believe, the only two MSS. with date and name of author or transcriber earlier than our MS. of 1438. I take the opportunity of correcting a mistake in one of my papers (6th S. iii. 223). Wolfsgruber did not the discoverer, Schooss. Wolfsgruber could not find any discover the name of the transcriber, but had it from trace of the MS. at Gaesdonck, but my Dutch friend previously mentioned has succeeded in unearthing it. |