REPLIES.

THE DODO QUERIES.

There is no mention of the Solitaire as inhabiting Bourbon, either in Père Brown's letter or in the Voyage de l'Arabic Heureuse, from whence the notice of the Oiseau Bleu was extracted. I have since seen Dellon, Rélation d'un Voyage des Indes Orientales, 2 vols. 12mo. Paris, 1685, in which there is a brief notice of the Isle of Bourbon or Mascarin; but neither the Dodo, the Solitaire, or the Oiseau Bleu are noticed. The large Bat is mentioned, and the writer says that the French who were on the island did not eat it, but only the Indians. He also notices the tameness of the birds, and says that the Flammand, with its long neck, is the only bird it was necessary to use a gun against, the others being readily destroyed with a stick or taken by hand.

Mr. Strickland's correction of the error about the monumental evidence of the discovery of Bourbon by the Portuguese, in 1545, will aid research into the period at which it was first visited and named; but my stock of Portuguese literature is but small, and not all of it accessible to me at present. In the meantime it may be acceptable to Mr. Strickland to know, that there is a detailed account of Portuguese discoveries in a book whose title would hardly indicate it, in which one passage will probably interest him. I allude to the rare and interesting folio volume printed at Lisbon in 1571. De Rebus Emanuelis Regis Lusitanie, invictissimi Virtute et Auspicio Gestis, auctore Hieronymo Osorio Episcopo Silvensis. These annals embrace the period from 1495 to 1529. In narrating the principal events of Vasco de Gama's first voyage, after he had rounded the Cape of Good Hope on the 25th November, 1497, steering to the east along the southern coast of Africa, the vessels anchor in the bay of St. Blaize, where—

"In intimo sinu est parva quædam Insula, ad quam nostri aquandi gratia naves-appulerunt. Ibi phocarum armenta conspexere admiranda quædam multitudine. In quibus inerat tanta feritas et truculentia, ut in homines irruerent. AVES etiam eo in loco visæ sunt, quas incolas apellant SOLTICARIOS, pares anscribus magnitudine: plumis minime vestiuntur, alas habent similes alis verspertionum: volare nequeunt, sed explicatis alarum membranis, cursum celeritate summa conficiunt."

The islet was probably that of La Cruz; but what were the birds? and what was the indigenous name which is represented by Solticarios? It is possible that some of your correspondents may be familiar with the original narration which Osorio follows, or Mr. Strickland may be able to solve the question.

I may just remark, that my observation respecting the improbability of Tradescant's stuffed specimen having been a fabrication could hardly be considered superfluous, seeing that some naturalists, Dr. Gray, I believe, among others, had suggested that it most probably was one.

S.W. SINGER.

May 3. 1850.

ABBEY OF ST. WANDRILLE.

In reply to the Vicar of Ecclesfield (No. 24. p. 382.), I am sorry to say that the "Chronicle of the Abby of St. Wandrille," to which I alluded (No. 21. p. 338.), contains nothing relating to the subject of his inquiry. The Abbey of Fontanelle, or St. Wandrille, was founded A.D. 645; and this chronicle contains a very concise account of a few only of its abbots and most celebrated members, down to the year 834: written, it is supposed, by a cotemporary of Ansegisus, the last abbot therein mentioned. It is followed by an appendix containing a compilation from a book on miracles wrought in the translation of the body of St. Wilfran, by an "eye-witness," which also recounts incidentally some of the acts of the abbots of St. Wandrille to the year 1053. Acheri speaks of persons who had been long engaged in collecting memorials of the history of this abbey up to the time of his writing, 1659. Whether these have ever been published, I have not the means at this moment of ascertaining. Some account of this abbey, with views of its ruins, will be found in that splendid work, Voyages dans L'Ancienne France, by Nodier, &c., vol. i.

The following notes from this chronicle may not be without interest, as showing an early connection between the abbey and this country, and our attachment to the See of Rome.

Chapter V. is devoted to the praise of BAGGA, a monk and presbyter of this abbey, who is said to have been "ex Britanniâ Oceani insula Saxonico ex genere ortus." He died, and was buried in the abbey, between the years 707 and 723; on which occasion the Abbot Benignus is said to have exclaimed, "O signifer fortissime Christi militiæ BAGGA, nunc mercedem laborum lætus accipis tuorum. Deprecare ipsum benignum Dominum, ut unà tecum mereamur gaudere consortiis justorum per ævum." Here is a prayer not for, but to the dead.

During the presidency of AUSTRULPHUS (ch. 13.), which began in 747 and ended in 753, a certain receptacle, in the form of a small pharos, was driven ashore in the district of Coriovallum, which contained a very fair copy of the four Gospels, beautifully written in Roman characters on the purest vellum; and part of the precious jaw of St. George the Martyr, as well as a portion of the "health-bearing" wood of the true cross, duly labelled. The acquisition of this treasure was of course ascribed to the immediate interposition of God. And as about the same period the head of St. George was discovered at Rome, through the intervention of Pope Zachary, it was conjectured that this pontiff had given the wonder-working relic to some venerable men from Britain, a country described as being "always on the most intimate footing (maximè familiares) with the Apostolic See;" and that, these being wrecked on their voyage home, or through some other adventure, the said treasure was providentially driven ashore at Coriovallum.

Chapter XV. gives us an account of GERVOLDUS, who ruled this abbey eighteen years, dying A.D. 806. He had been ambassador from Charlemagne to Offa, King of Mercia. The son of Charlemagne demanded the daughter of Offa in marriage, who refused his consent, unless his own son should receive the hand of Bertha, the daughter of the French king. Charles, in consequence, inhibited the subjects of Offa from trading on the French coast. This inhibition was, however, withdrawn through the mediation of the Abbot Gervoldus, who seems to have been in great favour with Charles.

I need hardly say, that throughout the chronicle there is a tolerable sprinkling of the marvellous. I give you the following as a warning to all dishonest bell-founders.

The pious builder of a church being desirous, according to custom, of putting a bell in the turret, engaged a skillful craftsman to carry into effect his design. This man, "at the instigation of the devil," stole some of the metal with which he had been furnished for the work; and the bell was, in consequence, mis-shapen and of small size. It was, however, placed in the turret; but, as a divine punishment for his crime, whenever the bell was struck, the dishonest founder was thereupon seized with frenzy, uttering strange words and barking like a dog!

GASTROS.

ORIGIN OF THE WORD "NEWS."

I have great respect for "Mr. SAMUEL HICKSON," but I cannot treat his derivation of the word "News" with any respect (No. 27. p. 428.). I wish "Mr. HICKSON" had been a little more modest in his manner of propounding his novelty. Can any thing be more dogmatic than his assertions? which I will recapitulate as much as possible in his own words, before I proceed to deal with them.

1. "I have never had the least doubt that this word is derived immediately from the German."

2. "It is, in fact, 'das Neue' in the genitive case;" and "Mr. H." proceeds to mention the German phrase, "Was giebt's Neues?" as giving the exact sense of our "What is the news?" [which cannot be gainsaid; but I shall have a word to say presently about neues in that phrase being the genitive case.]

3. "That the word is not derived from the English adjective 'new,'—that it is not of English manufacture at all—I feel well assured."

4. "In that case 's' would be the sign of the plural; and we should have, as the Germans have, either extant or obsolete, also 'the new.'" [I do not see the sequitur.]

5 "'News' is a noun singular, and as such must have been adopted bodily into the language."

Such are "Mr. HICKSON's" principal assertions: and when I add, that he has found out that the German "neu" was in olden time spelt "new," so that the genitive, "newes," was identical with the old form of the English word "news;" and that he explains the transformation of a genitive case of a German adjective into an English substantive by English ignorance, which he further thinks is exemplified by the Koran having been called "the Alkoran," in ignorance of "Al" meaning "the," I have given not only all of his assertions, but also the whole of his argument.

I now proceed to assert on my part that the word "news" is not "derived immediately from the German," and "has not been adopted bodily into our language;" that the English "new" and German "neu" have, however, of course the same origin, their common root being widely spread in other languages, as [Greek: neos], Gr.; norus, Lat.; neuf, Fr., &c.; that "news" is a noun of plural form and plural meaning, like goods, riches, &c.; that its peculiar and frequent use is quite sufficient to account for its having come to be used as a singular noun ("riches," by the way, may be prefixed sometimes to a singular verb, as "riches is a cause of corruption"); that Mr. HICKSON might as well say that "goods" is derived immediately from "gutes," the genitive of "gut;" and "riches" from "reiches," the genitive of "reich:" and also that if "s" in "goods," and "es" in "riches" are signs of the plural, "we should have, as the Germans have, either extant or obsolete," the "good," "the rich," (not that I quite understand this part of "Mr. HICKSON's" argument): and, lastly, I assert that I believe that Neues, in the phrase "Was giebt's Neues?" is not the genitive, but the nominative neuter, so that the phrase is to be literally translated "What is there new?"

As regards the derivation of "News," I wish you had allowed the question to rest as it stood after the sensible remarks of "A.E.B." (No. 23. p. 369.). Pray excuse me, Sir, for expressing a hope that you will ponder well before you again allow us to be puzzled on so plain a subject, and give circulation and your sanction to paradoxes, even though coming from one so entitled to attention as "Mr. HICKSON."

The early communication between the English and German languages, of which "Mr. HICKSON" puts forward the derivation of "news" from "neues" as an instance, may be an interesting and profitable subject of inquiry; but as I think he has been singularly unfortunate in the one instance, so I do not think him particularly happy in his other. I see no further resemblance between Heywood's "Song in praise of his Mistress," and the early German poem, than what might arise from treatment of the same and a very common subject.

I am not enough of an etymologist to give you the root of the word "noise." But my faith in "Mr. HICKSON" in this capacity is not strong enough to lead me to believe, on his dictum, that "news" and "noise" are the same word; and when, pursuing his fancy about "neues," he goes on to say that "noise" is "from a dialect from which the modern German pronunciation of the dipthong is derived," I fear his pronunciation of German is faulty, if he pronounces eu in "Neues" like oi in "noise."

[We differ from our correspondent on this point, and think that here, at all events, Mr. HICKSON has the advantage of the argument.]

I beg to repeat that for "Mr. HICKSON" I feel great respect. If he knew my name, he would probably know nothing about me; but I happen to know of him, what perhaps, some of your readers do not, that he has unostentatiously rendered many considerable services not only to literature but to our social and political interests. In my humble opinion, his recent essay in your columns on The Taming of the Shrew is a contribution to our literary history which you may be proud of having published. But I feel that I cannot too strongly protest against his derivation of "News."

CH.

REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES.

Dr. Whichcot and Lord Shaftesbury (No. 24. p. 382., No. 27. p. 444.).—I am obliged to "COLL. REGAL. SOCIUS" for his notice of my inquiry. The Lord Chamberlain and Chancellor of Cambridge University mentioned in Lord Lauderdale's letter to Dr. Whichcot, is the Earl of Manchester. Shaftesbury was never either Lord Chamberlain or Chancellor of Cambridge.

I may mention that Whichcot's intimacy with Lord Shaftesbury would probably have been brought about by his being incumbent of the church of St. Lawrence Jewry, Shaftesbury having his London house in the latter part of his life in Aldersgate Street.

If it is not committing unpardonable trespass on that useful part of your publication in which books and odd volumes are asked for, I will go on to say that I should be glad to have a copy of the volume of Whichcot's Sermons (1698) which the third Lord Shaftesbury edited, at a reasonable price.

CH.

Elizabeth and Isabel (No. 27. p. 439.).—Mr. Thomas Duffus Hardy, in his evidence on the Camoys Peerage case (June 18. 1838, Evidence, p. 351.) proved that the names of Isabella and Elizabeth were in ancient times used indifferently, and particularly in the reigns of Edward I. and Edward III. Mr. Hardy says in his evidence:—

"In the British Museum there is a Latin letter of Elizabeth of Austria, Queen of Charles IX. of France, to Queen Elizabeth of England. In the Latin she is called Elizabetha, and she signs her name Ysabel. In the Chronicle de St. Denis, in the year 1180, it is stated, 'Le jor martmes espousa la noble Roine Ysabel,' 'Upon this day, Queen Elizabeth was married;' and in Rigordus de Gestis Philippi Augusti Regis Francois it is stated, 'Tune inuncta fuit Elizabeth uxor ejus venerabilis foemina;' and Moreri says she is called 'Elizabeth or Izabeau de Hainault, Queen of France, wife of Philippe Auguste.' Camden, in his Remains, says, 'Isabel is the same as Elizabeth;' that the Spaniards always translate Elizabeth into Isabel, and the French into Izabeau. I have seen in the British Museum a deed, in which the name Elizabetha is written in Latin; on the seal it is Isabella. In the Inquisitiones post Mortem I have frequently seen Ysabella returned in one country and Elizabetha in an other for the same person. I have something like a dozen other instances from Moreri, in which he says that Elizabeth and Isabella or Isabeau are the same. Elizabeth or Izabeau de France, dau. of Lewis VIII. and Blanche of Castella; Elizabeth or Isabelle d'Aragon, Queen of France, wife of Philippe III., surnamed le Hardie; Elizabeth or Isabeau de Bavière, Queen of France, wife of Charles VI.; Elizabeth or Isabeau d'Angoulême, wife of King John of England; Elizabeth or Isabeau de France, Queen of England, dau. of Philippe IV.; Elizabeth or Isabelle of France, Queen of Richard II.; Elizabeth or Isabelle de France, Queen of Navarre; Elizabeth or Isabelle de Valois, dau. of Charles of France; Elizabeth or Isabelle de France, dau. of Philippe le Long, King of France; Elizabeth or Isabelle de France, Duchess of Milan; Elizabeth or Isabelle, Queen of Philippe V. of Spain."

WM. DURRANT COOPER.

81. Guildford Street, May 4. 1850.

Elizabeth—Isabel.—The Greek word [Greek: Elisabet] (Luke, i. 5. &c.) from which Elizabeth, or Elisabeth, must have been adopted as a Christian name, is used by the LXX. (Exodus, vi. 23.) to express the Hebrew [Hebrew: Elisheba], the name of Aaron's wife. This at once directs us to the verb [Hebrew: shaba], or rather to its Niphal, [Hebrew: nishba], for the Kal form does not occur, to swear; for the combination of letters in [Hebrew: el isshaba], God will swear, or God sweareth, is the same as that in the proper name. Now let us transpose the verb and its nominative case, and we have [Hebrew: ishaba el], which a Greek translator might soften into [Greek: Isabel].

The use of [Greek: Elisabet] both by the LXX. and the Evangelist, makes it probable that the mother of John the Baptist, who was of the daughters of Aaron (Luke, i. 5.), was known amongst her own people by the recognized and family name of Elisheba, as Anna no doubt would be Hannah ([Hebrew: hanah]), and Mary, Miriam ([Greek: Mariam], Luke, i. 27.). And this is confirmed by the Syriac version, the vernacular, or nearly so, of Our Blessed Lord and His disciples, which has [Syriac: elisheba].

Genesius, in his Lexicon, explains Elisheba to mean "cui Deus est sacramentum," "quæ jurat per Deum, i.e. Dei cultrix: cf. Is. xix. 18." I should rather take it to be a name expressive of trust in God's promises or oath, such as Elijah, "the LORD is my God;" Isaiah, "the LORD is my salvation;" Ezekiel, "God strengtheneth." Schleusner (Lex. N.T.) says that others derived it from [Hebrew: saba], saturavit; "sic in Alberti Gloss. N.T., p. 87. explicatur, [Greek: Theou mou plaesmonae]." Wolfius, in his note on Luke, i. 5., refers to Witsii Miscellanea, tom. ii. p. 478., to which I must refer your correspondent "A.C.," as I have not the book by me.

Camden must, of course, have derived the name from [Hebrew: shabath], to rest; but I think we must rather defer to the authority of the LXX. And though [Hebrew: el ishaboth] may give us Elisabeth, we shall not be able to deduce Isabel from [Hebrew: ishboth el] quite so easily.

B.

L —— Rectory, S ——, May 4. 1850.

Trunck Breeches (No. 24. p. 384.), more commonly called "trunk-hose," were short wide breeches reaching a little above, or sometimes below the knees, stuffed with hair, and striped. (See The Oxford Manual for Brasses, p. cvi.; and Planche's British Costume, pp. 334-339. new ed.) Two years ago, I saw in the Strand an old man with a queue; a sight which I made a note of as soon as I got home, influenced by the same motive that, no doubt, led Smith in 1640 to append to the death of "old Mr. Grice" the remark, "who wore truncke breeches," namely, the antique singularity of the habiliment.

ARUN.

Mercenary Preacher (No. 24. p. 384.).—I think mercenary here is used in its primary signification, and in the sense in which we still apply it to troops in the pay of a state foreign to their own; to designate one who, having no settled cure, was at liberty to be "hired" by those who had occasion for his services.

ARUN.

Abdication of James the Second (No. 3. p. 40.).—"J.E." would probably hear of the MSS. mentioned by Sir Harris Nicholas, on application to the Rev. Sir Thomas Miller, Bart., Froyle, near Alton, Hants.

E.W.

Clifton.

Toom Shawn Cattie (No. 24. p. 383.).—An entertaining volume, containing the life and adventures of Twm Sion Catti, was published at Biulth some years ago, by Mr. Jeffery Llewelyn Prichard, who recently told me it was out of print, and that inquiries had been made for the book which might probably lead to a new and improved edition.

ELIJAH WARING.

Dowry Parade, Clifton.

Wotton's Poem to Lord Bacon (No. 19. p. 302.).—The poem communicated by Dr. Rimbault, with the heading, "To the Lord Bacon when falling from Favour," and with the remark that he does "not remember to have seen it in print," was written by Sir Henry Wotton, and may be found under the title, "Upon the sudden restraint of the Earl of Somerset, then falling from Favour," in all the old editions of the Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1651, 1654, 1672, and 1685), as well as in the modern editions of Sir Henry's poems, by Mr. Dyce and Mr. Hannah. It was also printed as Wotton's in Clarke's Aurea Legenda, 1682, p. 97., and more recently in Campbell's Specimens, in both cases, doubtless, from Rel. Wotton. The misapplication of it to Lord Bacon's fall dates from an unauthorised publication in 1651, which misled Park in his edition of Walpole's Royal and Noble Authors, ii. 208. In stanza 3. line 2. of Dr. Rimbault's copy, "burst" should be "trust."

R.A.

"My Mind to Me a Kingdom is" (No. 19. p. 302.).—The following note, from the Introduction to Mr. Hannah's edition of the Poems of Sir H. Wotton and Sir Walter Raleigh, 1845, p. lxv., will answer Dr. Rimbault's Query, and also show that a claim had been put in for Sir E. Dyer before Mr. Singer's very valuable communication to "NOTES AND QUERIES," p. 355.

"There are three copies of verses on that model; two of which, viz., one of four stanzas and another of size, were printed by Byrd in 1588. They have been reprinted from his text in Cens. Lit ii. 108-110, and Exc. Tudor, i. 100-103. Percy inserted them in the Reliques with some alterations and additions; but he changed his mind more than once as to whether they were two distinct poems, or only the discovered parts of one (see i. 292-294. 303., ed. 1767; and i. 307-310. ed. 1839). The third (containing four stanzas) is among Sylvester's Posthumous Poems p. 651.; and Ellis reprinted it under his name. In Cens. Lit. ii. 102., another copy of it is given from a music book by Gibbons, 1612. Now the longest, and apparently the earliest of these poems is signed 'E. DIER,' in MS. Rawl. Poet. 35., fol. 17. That copy contains eight stanzas, and one of the two which are not in Byrd corresponds with a stanza which Percy added. The following are the reasons which incline us to trust this MS.:—(1.) Because it is the very MS. to which reference is commonly made for several of Dyer's unprinted poems, as by Dr. Bliss, A.O. i. 743.; and apparently by Mr. Dyce, ed. of Greene, i. p. xxxv. n.; and by Park, note on Warton, iii. 230. Park is the only person I can recollect who has mentioned this particular poem in the MS., and he cannot have read more than the first line, for he only says, 'one of them bears the popular burden of "My mind to me a kingdom is."' (2.) Because it is quite impossible that Dyer wrote many extant poems, of which he is not known to be the author; for, as Mr. Dyce says, none of his (acknowledged) productions 'have descended to our times that seem to justify the contemporary applause which he received.' (3.) Because I cannot discover that there is any other claimant to this poem. One of Greene's poems ends with the line,

It will be observed that no mention is here made of the copy in Breton's tract; therefore this summary gains from both the correspondents of "NOTES AND QUERIES"—an addition from the one, a corroboration from the other.

R.A.

Gesta Grayorum (No. 22. p. 351.).—"J.S." is informed that copies of the Gesta Grayorum are by no means uncommon. It was originally printed for one shilling; but the bibliomaniac must now pay from twenty to thirty shillings for a copy. The original, printed in 1688, does not contain the second part, which was published by Mr. Nichols for the first time. Copies are in the Bodleian, and in the University Library, Cambridge.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

Marylebone Gardens (No. 24. p. 383.).—These gardens were finally closed in 1777-8. It is not generally known that, previous to the year 1737, this "fashionable" place of amusement was entered gratis by all ranks of people; but the company becoming more "select," Mr. Gough, the proprietor, determined to charge a shilling as entrance money, for which the party paying was to receive an equivalent in viands.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

Mother of Thomas à Becket (No. 26. p. 415.).—An inspection of some of the numerous legends touching the blessed martyr, St. Thomas of Canterbury, would probably supply many interesting particulars concerning the story of his father's romantic marriage. But the most important narrative is that of Herbert Bosham, Becket's secretary, who, it will be remembered, was present at his martyrdom. Bosham's Vita et Res Gestæ Thomæ Episcopi Cantuariensis is published in the Quadrilogus, Paris, 1495. Consult also the French translation of Peter Langtoft, and the English one by Laurence Wade, a Benedictine monk of Canterbury. Robert of Gloucester's metrical Legend of the Life and Martyrdom of Thomas Beket, published by the Percy Society, under the editorial care of Mr. W.H. Black, fully confirms the "romance;" as also do the later historians, Hollingshed, Fox, and Baker.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

Dr. Strode's Poem (no. 10. p. 147.).—Dr. Strode's poem, beginning—

which Dr. Rimbault does "not remember to have seen in print," is in Ellis's Specimens, iii. 173. ed. 1811. He took it from Wit Restored, p. 66. ed. 1658, or i. 168. reprint. It is the second poem mentioned by Dr. Bliss, A.O. iii. 152., as occurring with Strode's name in MS. Rawl. 142.

R.A.

"All to-broke" (No. 25. p. 395.).—Surely the explanation of Judges, ix. 53, is incorrect. Ought not the words to be printed "and all-to brake his scull," where "all-to" = "altogether"?

R.A.

Woolton's Christian Manual (No. 25. p. 399.).—There is a copy in the Grenville Collection.

NOVUS.

Tract by F.H. (No. 25. p. 400.).—"J.E." may advance his knowledge about F.H. slightly, by referring to Herbert's Ames, p. 1123.

NOVUS.

Duke of Marlborough (No. 26. p. 415.).—Your correspondent "BURIENSIS" is referred to the Trial of William Barnard, Howell's State Trials, xix. 815-846.; the case of Rex v. Fielding, Esq., Burrow's Reports, ii. 719. and Lounger's Common Place Book, tit. Barnard, William. The greater part of this latter article is in Leigh Hunt's One Hundred Romances of Real Life, No. 1.

C.H. COOPER.

Cambridge, April 29. 1850.

["C.I.R." refers "BURIENSIS" to Burke's Celebrated Trials connected with the Aristocracy, London, 1848; and "J.P. Jun." refers to Leigh Hunt's London Journal, No. 1. p. 5., No. 3. p. 24.]

Lord Carrington or Karinthon (No. 27. p. 440.).—The nobleman about whom "C." inquires, was Sir Charles Smith, created an English baron 19 Charles I., by the title of Lord Carrington, and afterwards advanced to the dignity of an Irish Viscount under the same name. These honours were conferred upon him for his services to the King in the time of his majesty's great distresses.

On the 20th Feb., 1655, whilst travelling in France, Lord Carrington was barbarously murdered by one of his servants for the sake of his money and jewels, and buried at Pontoise. (Bankes' Dormant and Extinct Peerage, vol. iii. p. 155.) The title became extinct circiter 1705.

BRAYBOOKE.

Lord Monson presents his compliments to the Editor of "NOTES AND QUERIES," and has the pleasure of answering a Query contained in this day's Number, p. 440.; and takes the liberty of adding another.

The English nobleman murdered at Pontoise was Charles Smith, Viscount Carrington of Barrefen, Ireland, and Baron Carrington of Wotton Warem, co. Warwick; the date in the pedigrees of the murder is usually given 1666, probably March 1665-6.

The last Lord Carrington died 17 May, 1706: the estates of Wotton came to Lewis Smith, who married Eliz., daughter of William Viscount Monson, and relict of Sir Philip Hungate. His son Francis Smith Carrington died in 1749, and left one daughter and heir. What relation was Lewis Smith to the Smiths Lord Carrington? No pedigree gives the connection.

Dover, May 4. 1850.

["J.M.W." has kindly answered this Query; so also has "W.M.T.," who adds, "Lord Carrington, previously Sir Charles Smith, brother to Sir John Smith, who fell on the King's side at Alresford in 1644, being Commissary-General of the Horse. By the way, Bankes says it was his son John who fell at Alresford, but it is more likely to have been, as Clarendon states, his brother, unless he lost there both a brother and a son."]

Esquires and Gentlemen.—I would ask your correspondent (No. 27. p. 437.), whether he has ascertained the grounds of distinction made in the seventeenth and in the early part of the eighteenth century, between esquires and gentlemen, when both were landed proprietors? We find lists of names of governors of hospitals, trustees, &c., where this distinction is made, and which, apparently, can only be accounted for on this ground, that the estates of the gentleman were smaller in extent than those of the esquire; and, consequently, that the former was so far a person of less consideration. Had the bearing of coat armour, or a connection with knighthood, any thing to do with the matter?

J.H. MARKLAND.

Bath, May.

Early Inscriptions.—The excellent remarks by "T.S.D." on "Arabic Numerals, &c." (No. 18. p. 279.) have put me in mind of two cases which in some degree confirm the necessity for his caution respecting pronouncing definitively on the authenticity of old inscriptions, and especially those on "Balks and Beams" in old manorial dwellings. The house in which I spent the greater portion of my youth was a mansion of the olden time, whose pointed gables told a tale of years; and whose internal walls and principal floors, both below and above stairs, were formed of "raddle and daub." It had formerly belonged to a family of the name of Abbot; but the "last of the race" was an extravagant libertine, and after spending a handsome patrimonial estate, ended his days as a beggar. Abbot House was evidently an ancient structure; but unfortunately, as tradition stated, a stone, bearing the date of its erection, had been carelessly lost during some repairs. However, in my time, on the white wainscot of a long lobby on the second floor, the initials, "T.H. 1478," were distinctly traced in black paint, and many persons considered this as nothing less than a "true copy" of the lost inscription. Subsequent inquiry, however, finally settled the point; for the inscription was traced to the rude hand of one of the workmen formerly employed in repairing the building, who naively excused himself by declaring that he considered it "a pity so old a house should be without a year of our Lord."

The second instance is that of the occurrence of "four nearly straight lines" on one of the compartments of a fine old font in Stydd Church, near Ribchester, which many visitors have mistaken for the date "1178." A closer scrutiny, however, soon dispels the illusion; and a comparison of this with similar inscriptions on the old oak beams of the roof, soon determines it to be nothing more than a rude, or somewhat defaced, attempt to exhibit the sacred monogram "I.H.S."

J.W.

Burnley, April 27. 1850.

American Aborigines called Indians (No. 16. p. 254.).—I believe the reason is that the continent in which they live passed under the name of India, with the whole of the New World discovered at the close of the fifteenth century. It is, of course, unnecessary to dwell upon the fact of Columbus believing he had discovered a new route to India by sailing due west; or upon the acquiescence of the whole world in that idea, the effects of which have not yet passed away; for we not only hear in Seville, even now, of the "India House" meaning house of management of affairs for the "New World," but we even retain ourselves the name of the West Indies, given as unwarrantably to the islands of the Caribbean Sea. It is needless to do more than allude to this, and to other misnomers still prevalent, notwithstanding the fact of the notions or ideas under which the names were originally given having long since been exploded; such as the "four quarters of the globe," the "four elements," &c. If your correspondent searches for the solution of his difficulty on different grounds from those I have mentioned, it would not satisfy him to be more diffuse; and if the whole reason be that which I conceive, quite enough has been said upon the subject.

G.W.

89. Hamilton Terrace, St. John's Wood.

"Northman" is informed, that on the discovery of America by Columbus, when he landed at Guanahani (now called Cat Island), he thought, in conformity with his theory of the spherical shape of the earth, that he had landed on one of the islands lying at the eastern extremity of India; and with this belief he gave the inhabitants the name of Indians. The following quotations will perhaps be interesting:—

"America persæpe dicitur, sed improprie, Indiæ Occidentales, les Indes Occidentales, Gallis, West Inde, Belgis: Non tantum ab Hispanis, qui illam denominationem primi usurparunt, sed etiam a Belgis, Anglis, et aliquando a Francis, quod eodem fere tempore detecta sit ad occidentem, quo ad Orientem India reperta est."—Hofmanni Lexicon Univ. 1677, sub titulo "America."

"At eadem terra nonnullis India Occidentalis, nuncupatur, quia eodem tempore, quo India Orientalis in Asia, hæc etiam delecta fuit; tum quod utriusque incolis similis ac pene eadern ivendi ratio: nudi quippe utrique agunt."—P. Clurerii Introduct. in Univ. Geographiam, Cap. xi (iv.) 1711.

"The most improper name of all, and yet not much less used than that of America, is the West Indies: West, in regard of the western situation of it from these parts of Europe; and Indies, either as mistook for some part of India at the first discovery, or else because the seamen use to call all countries, if remote and rich, by the name of India."—Heylyn's Cosmography, 1677, Book iv., sub initio.

It is almost needless to mention, that India received its name from the river Indus; and that Indus and [Greek: Indos] are the Roman and Greek forms of Sindo, the name it was known by among the natives.

HENRY KERSLEY.

Corpus Christi Hall, Maidstone.

[We have received many other replies to this Query, referring "NORTHMAN" to Robertson's History of America, and Humboldt's Aspects, &c., vol. ii. p. 319.]

Vox Populi Vox Dei (No. 20. p. 321.).—Your correspondent "QUÆSITOR" asks for the origin of the saying Vox populi Vox Dei. Warwick, in his Spare Minutes (1637), says—

"That the voice of the common people is the voice of God, is the common voice of the people; yet it is as full of falsehood as commonnesse. The cry before Pilate's judgement-seat, 'Let him be crucified,' was vox populi, 'the cry of all the people.' How far was it the voice of God?"

M.

[Mr. G. Cornewall Lewis, in his valuable Essay on the Influence of Authority in Matters of Opinion, p. 172., has some very interesting remarks upon this proverb, which, "in its original sense, appears to be an echo of some of the sentences in the classical writers, which attribute a divine or prophetic character to common fame or rumour." See pp. 172, 173., and the accompanying Notes.]

Dutch Language (No. 24. p. 383.).—"E.V." will find Holtrop's Dictionary in 2 vols. one of the best. Werninck's Pocket Dictionary is very good: also Tauchnitz's Dutch and French (pocket): also Picard's English and Dutch. Jansen's is not bad. Swier's Grammar is a good one; but I do not know whether there is any late edition. See Williams and Norgate, or Quaritch.

AREDJID KOOEZ.

[Messrs. Williams and Norgate have also obligingly answered this Query, by the following list:—

PYL (R. van der), A practical Grammar of the Dutch Language, 8vo. Rotterd. 1826, 8s.

AHN (F.) Neue holländische Sprachlehre nebst Lesestucke, 12mo. Cref. 1841, 2s.

AHN (F) holländische Umgangsprache, 12mo. 1846, 1s. 6d.

PICARD (H.) A new Pocket Dictionary of the English and Dutch Languages, remodelled and corrected from the best Authorities. Zalt-bommel, 1848, 10s. 6d.

DICTIONNAIRE Hollandais et Français. 16mo. Leipzig, 4s.

HOLLANDISCH u. deutsches Taschen-wörterbuch. 16mo. 4s.]

"Salting."—Salt is said by all writers upon magic to be particularly disagreeable to evil spirits; and it is owing to this noxious substance being dissolved in holy water, that it has such power in scaring them away. Query, did not salt acquire this high character, and its use in all sacrifices, from its powers of resisting corruption?

Salt is used emblematically in many of our foreign universities. There is a book published at Strasburg as late as 1666, containing twenty plates, illustrating the several strange ceremonies of the "Depositio." The last represents the giving of the salt, which a person is on a plate in his left hand; and, with his right hand, about to put a pinch of it upon the tongue of each Becanus or Freshman. A glass, probably holding wine, is standing near him. Underneath is the following couplet:—

A copy of this rare book was sold in the Rev. John Brand's collection. I have never seen it, and know it only from a MS. note in one of Brand's Common Place Books now in my possession.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

Vincent Gookin (No. 24. p. 385.).—Your querist "J." is referred to Berry's Kentish Pedigrees, where, at pp. 60. 195. 202. 207. and 113., he will find notices and a pedigree of the family Gookin; and therein it is shown that Vincent Gookin was the fourth son of John Gookin of Replecourt, co. Kent, by Katherine, dau. of William Dene of Kingston.

In the early part of the 7th century, Sir Vincent Gookin, Knt. (why was he knighted?) was living at Highfield House, in the parish of Bitton, Gloucestershire. It appears by the register, that in 1635, Mary Gookin, Gentleman, and Samuel, son of Sir Vincent Gookin, Knt., were buried at Bitton.

In 1637, John Gookin of Highfield, age 11 years, was buried in the Mayor's Chapel, Bristol.

1637, Frances, dau. of Sir Vincent Gookin, Knt., and the Lady Judith, was baptized at Bitton.

1637, Feb. 13. "Sir Vincent Gookin, Knt., was buryed" at Bitton.

1642, May 2. "Judith, the Lady Gookin, was buryed" at Bitton.

There are no monuments remaining.

Highfield, with the manor of Upton Cheyney, was a considerable estate in 1627, where it was passed by fine from John and Mary Barker to Vincent Gookin, Esq.

In 1646, Vincent Gookin, Esq. (no doubt the knight's son), and Mary his wife, and Robert Gookin their son, Gent., passed the same estates by fine to Dr. Samuel Bave, after which it is supposed the Gookins left the parish. In Sims' Index are references to pedigrees under Gokin, Kent. Any further notices of Sir Vincent or his son would be acceptable to

H.T. ELLACOMBE.

Bitton, May 20, 1850.

Sneck up (No. 29, p. 467.)—All Shakspearean students will be deeply indebted to you for giving insertion to articles on obsolete words and phrases, so many of which are to found in the pages of the great poet. The article by R.R. is very interesting, but I apprehend that the passage from Taylor, first quoted by Weber, is sufficient to show that the phrase sneck up was equivalent to be hanged! See Halliwell, p. 766, on the phrase, that writer not connecting it with sneck, to latch. Compare, also, Wily Beguiled,—"An if mistress would be ruled by him, Sophos might go snick up." And the Two Angry Women of Abingdon, 1599,—"If they be not, let them go snick up," i.e. let them go and be hanged! These passages will not be consistently explained on R.R.'s principle.

R.

Hanap (No. 29. p. 477.).—I have a few notes by me relative to the drinking vessel, which may, perchance, be acceptable to some of your readers. It was similar to the standing cup and grace cup, as these vessels were subsequently called, being raised from the table by a foot and stem, for the convenience of passing it round the table for the company to pledge each other out of; it was thus distinguished from the cup, which was smaller, and only used by one person. The hanap frequently occurs in wills and inventories of the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries.

In the will of Lady Calre, 1355,—

"Je devise a ma joefne fille Isabel Bardolf en cide de lui marier un hanap plat door."

And in that of the Earl of March, 1389,—

"Item. nous devisons a notre treschier friere Mons'r. Henri, un hanaper de tortelez ove un ostelle en le founce."

A very elegant specimen is described in the will of the Duchess of Gloucester, 1390,—

"Un hanappe de Beril gravez de long taille, et assis en un peé d'or, ove un large bordur paramont, et un covercle tout d'or, ove un saphir sur le pomel du dit covercle."

In an inventory 19th Henry VI. we find—

"Une haute coupe d'argent enorrez appellez l'anap de les pinacles pois de troie vii lb pris la lb xl. Summa xiii li."

And temp. Edward II 1324,—

"Un hanap a pee de la veille fazon quillere et cymelle el founz du pois xxix, du pris xl."

In the same document several others are described having feet. I could give many other quotations, but will conclude with only one more, as in the last occurs the word kyrymyry, of which I should like to know the derivation, if any of your readers can assist me:—

"Item, un hanap d ore covere del ovrage d un kyrymyry et iij scochons des armes d Engleterre et de Franuce en le sumet."

I have met with notices of cups "covered of kerimery work," and "chacez et pounsonez en lez founcez faitz de kermery;" and the following, from the Vision of Piers Ploughman, would seem to indicate a sort of veil or net-work:—

W.C.

Jun.

MISCELLANIES

Bishop Burnet as an Historian.—Dr. Joseph Warton told my father that "Old Lord Barthurst," Pope's friend, had cautioned him against relying implicitly on all Burnet's statements; observing that the good bishop was so given to gossiping and anecdote hunting, that the wags about court used often to tell him idle tales, for the mischievous pleasure of seeing him make note on them. Lord Bathurst did not, I believe, charge Burnet with deliberate misrepresentation, but considered some of his presumed facts questionable, for the reason stated.

ELIJAH WARING.

Dance Thumbkin.—In the Book of Nursery Rhymes, published by the Percy Society, there is a small error of importance, involving no less that the learned would call "a non sequitur," and which, if my correct-and-almost-unequalled nurse, Betty Richins, was alive, she would have noticed much sooner that the nurseling who now addresses you. (She died about the year 1796.) In the valuable and still popular nursery classical song, "Dance Thumbkin, dance," it is not only an error to say "Thumbkin he can dance alone" (let any one reader of the "NOTES AND QUERIES," male or female, only try), but it is not the correct text. Betty Richins has "borne me on her knee a hundred times" and sung it thus:—

Thumbkin cannot dance alone.

I scarcely need add, that if this be true of Thumbkin, it is truer of Foreman, Longman, Middleman, and Littleman.

R.S.S.

King's Coffee-house, Covent Garden.—As an addition to "Mr. RIMBAULT's" Notes on Cunningham's Handbook, the following extract from Harwood's Alumni Etonenses, p. 293., in the recount of the boys elected for Eton to King's College may be interesting:—

"A.D. 1713, 12."

"Thomas King born at West Ashton in Wiltshire; went away scholar, in apprehension that his fellowship would be denied him, and afterwards kept that coffee-house in Covent Garden which was called by his own name."

J.H.L.

Spur Money (No. 23. p. 374, and No 28. p. 462.).—In a curious tract, published in 1598, under the title of The Children of the Chapel stript and whipt, we have the following passage:—

"Wee think it very necessarye that every quorister sholde bringe with him to churche a Testament in Englishe, and turne to everie chapter as it is daily read, or som other good and godly prayer-booke, rather than spend their tyme in talk and hunting after spur-money, whereon they set their whole mindes, and do often abuse dyvers if they doe not bestowe somewhat on them."

In 1622, the dean of the Chapel Royal issued an order by which it was decreed—

"That if anie Knight, or other persone entituled to weare spurs, enter the chappell in that guise, he shall pay to y'e quiristers the accustomed fine; but if he command y'e youngest quirister to repeate his Gamut, and he faile in y'e so doing, the said Knight, or other, shall not pay y'e fine."

This curious extract I copied from the ancient cheque-book of the Chapel Royal.

Within my recollection, His Grace the Duke of Wellington (who, by the way, is an excellent musician) entered the Royal Chapel "booted and spurred," and was, of course, called upon for the fine. But His Grace calling upon the youngest chorister to repeat his GAMUT, and the "little urchin" failing, the impost was not demanded.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.