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Replies to Minor Queries
Cremonas (Vol. vii., p. 501.).—A discriminative account of the violins and basses by the great Italian makers, showing, in every ascertainable instance, the date of manufacture, and thereby forming to some extent a chronological catalogue, as it were, of the works of each master, would be, indeed, a curious and interesting achievement. Such a task, involving much consultation of books and examination of instruments, calls for sounder eye-sight and larger opportunities than are possessed by me; but I shall rejoice if the desire expressed by your correspondent H. C. K. shall be found to have stirred up some competent investigator. Time and accident are gradually attaching, to the fine instruments in question, a kind of sibylline intensity of value; and the inquiry, if omitted now, may become impossible hereafter. Let us not fear, however, that those "cunning'st patterns of excelling art," the Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri fiddles, will eventually perish without worthy issue, and "die, and leave the world no copy." Provision to the contrary, it seems, has already been made; Monsieur Vuillaume "has ta'en order for't," that is to say, if his instruments, which at present look very like faithful fac-similes of the renowned classic prototypes, shall verify the confident predictions of their admirers, by continuing to stand the test of time.
My authority for 1664 as the date of birth of Antonio Stradivari, is a living Belgian writer, Monsieur Fétis, who has not stated from whence he has adopted it. I find that the Paris Biographie Universelle gives no fixed date, but only a conjectural one, about 1670, so that 1664 may possibly be right.
G. Dubourg.
Brighton.
James Chaloner (Vol. vii., p. 334.).—Mr. Hughes is mistaken in imagining that James Chaloner the herald-painter was the same person as James Chaloner, Governor of the Isle of Man, and one of the judges of Charles I. He will find the error exposed by Chalmers (Biog. Dict., Jas. C.), and in my family, as descendants of the latter James Chaloner, there are among his papers many which prove the governor to have been (as Mr. Hughes doubts) the son of Sir Thomas Chaloner of Gisborough.
Should any farther doubts remain on the subject, I shall be happy to give all information required concerning these papers, among which are the original commission of governor and captain, signed by Lenthal, and twenty-one letters from Lord Fairfax to his "dear cousin James Chaloner." The son of Sir Thomas Chaloner married Ursula Fairfax. It may be presumed the herald-painter did not stand in the same relationship to the Parliamentary general. Lord Fairfax thanks his correspondent for a copy of "his" History of the Isle of Man.
Ursula.
Irish Convocation (Vol. vi., p. 317.; Vol. vii., p. 345.).—In vol. i. of Letters written by the late Jonathan Swift, D.D., Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, and several of his Friends, from the Year 1703 to 1740, &c., with Notes, by John Hawkesworth, LL.D.: London, 1766,—will be found some account of the Irish Convocation in 1711. See Archbishop King's Letters at pp. 110, 111. 122, 123. 132, 133. 140, 141.
J. K.
St. Paul's Epistle to Seneca (Vol. vii., p. 500.).—It is not manifest whether J. M. S. wishes for information simply respecting the MS. in Merton College, or whether his inquiry really relates to the printing of the fourteen spurious epistles, eight of which are ascribed to Seneca, and six to St. Paul.
If your correspondent is curious about the particular MS. he mentions, which is a very old one, and was the gift of William Reade, Bishop of Chichester (who had been a Fellow of Merton) about the year 1370, he may consult the Catal. Lib. MSS. Ang. et Hib., part. ii. p. 23., Oxon. 1697; and should he desire to peruse the fictitious Epistles, he may easily discover them in the Bibliotheca Sancta of Sixtus Senensis, lib. ii. pp. 102-104. Francof. 1575, or in Fabricii Cod. Apoc. Nov. Test., ii. 892-904. Jacobus Faber Stapulensis has inserted them in the handsome volume of his Commentaries on the Epistles of St. Paul. (Fol. clxxvi.-clxxix.: Paris, 1517.) I find them also annexed to the Epistole Francisci Philelphi, 4to., Hagenau, 1514. So far as I can perceive, it does not appear that the correspondence in question was published amongst any of the works of Seneca earlier than the year 1475; and it is commonly omitted in later editions. (Fabr., Bib. Lat., i. 429.: Venet. 1728.) Vid. Raynaudi Erotemata, p. 119.: Lugd. 1653.; Nicolai Antonii Biblioth. Hisp. vetus, tom. i. pp. 39, 40.: Matriti, 1788.
R. G.
Captain Ayloff (Vol. vii., p. 429.).—I possess a small volume (a 12mo.) by "Captain Ayloffe," with a title-page as follows:
"A Pocket Companion for Gentlemen and Ladies; being a true and faithful Epitomy of the most exact and ample Histories of England; containing all the material Particulars in every reign of the English Monarchs, from Egbert to her present Majesty, being 884 years. With forty-nine Copper plates curiously engraved, being the effigies of every Monarch. London, printed by J. Nutt, near Stationers' Hall, 1703."
It is dedicated "To the Honourable Col. Archibald Row, Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Scots Fuzileers," and signed "W. Ayloffe." Then follows an introduction of six pages.
Should the above be useful to Mr. Sternberg, I shall feel pleasure in having made the communication by means of the useful and intelligent publication of "N. & Q."
Goddard Johnson.
Plan of London (Vol. vii., p. 382.).—L. S. W. asks whether there is a good plan of London, and answers his Query thus, None. I beg to differ from him, believing that no city in the world possesses so good a plan as that lately made under the late Commissioners of Sewers. It is true I and my tenants have paid very dearly for it, but having examined both the reduced plan and block plan very carefully, am compelled to admit their accuracy. It is published in sheets at two shillings each; size, three feet by two feet; scale of block plan, five feet to one mile; reduced plan, one foot to one mile. On each plan accurate levels of every place is given. An index-map, price threepence, is also published.
A. P.
Canonbury.
Syriac Scriptures (Vol. vii., p. 479.).—The editions of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, preceding the Bible Society's edition, are,—
1. Nov. Testam. Syriac. et Arabic. Romæ, typis Sacr. Cong. de prop. Fide, 1703, fol.
2. Nov. D. N. Jesu Christi Test. Syriac. cum versione Latiná, currâ et studio Joh. Leusden et Caroli Schaaf. Secunda editio à mendis purgata. Lugduni. Bat. Typ. Jo. Mulleri. John. fil. apud Vid. et fil. Cornel. Boutesteyn, Samuelem Luchtmans, 1717, 4to.
3. Biblia Sacra quadrilinguia N. T. Græci, cum versione Syriacâ, Græcâ vulgari, Latinâ, et Germanicâ, accurante M. Christ. Reineccio, Lips. 1713, fol.
4. Psalter, by John. Aug. Dathe, 1768.
5. Sacrorum evangeliorum versio Syriaca Pholoxeniana ex codd. MSS. Ridleianis, nunc primum edita cum interpretatione et annotationibus Josephi White. Oxon. 1778.
6. Pentateuchus Syriace. Ex Polyglottis Anglicanis summa fide edidit M. Georgius Guil. Kirsch. Gymnasii quod Hofæ est, in Principatu Baruthino Rector. Hofæ et Lipsiæ ap. A. Fr. Bœhm, 1787, 4to.
An elaborate criticism on No. 5. (the Oxford edit.) appears in Eichhorn's Repertorium, vol. vii. p. 1., by D. Gottlob Christian Storr.
T. J. Buckton.
Birmingham.
Meaning of "Worth" (Vol. v., p. 509.).—As this suffix enters into the composition of many of our English surnames, particularly in the northern counties, Mr. Lower (and probably your readers in general) will be glad to have the explanation of an able Anglo-Saxon scholar and antiquary, the late lamented Mr. John Just of this town, whose merits as a philosopher and etymologist were highly appreciated by the learned societies in this district. It occurs in a paper read at a chapter of the Rosicrucians in Manchester a few months since:
"Worth.—Weorthe, Anglo-Saxon, a field, &c. Worth means land, close, or farm. It does not necessarily imply any residence, although thereon might be a hall or mansion. It likewise sometimes means nothing more than road or public way. Hence it is connected with the names of many places on our old roads, as Ainsworth, Edgeworth, on the Roman military road to the north; Failsworth, Saddleworth, on the Roman military road from Manchester to York; Unsworth, Pilsworth, on the old road between Bury and Manchester; also Ashworth, Whitworth, Butterworth, on old roads, and connected with old places, near Rochdale. Whether originally land, closes, or farms, worths were acquired properties. The old expression of 'What is he worth?' in those days meant, 'Has he land? Possesses he real property?' If he had secured a worth to himself, he was called a worthy person, and in consequence had worship, i. e. due respect shown him. A worth was the reward of the free; and perchance the fundamentals of English freedom were primarily connected with such apparently trivial matters, and produced such a race of worthies as the proud Greeks and haughty Romans might not be ashamed of. Worth is pure Anglo-Saxon. The Scandinavians applied it not in their intercourse with our island."
Broctuna.
Bury, Lancashire.
Khond Fable (Vol. vii., p. 452.).—This fable is clearly from Lokman, of which the following is Hélot's translation:
"Une moustique se posa un jour sur la corne d'un taureau, et, pensant qu'elle pouvait être trop lourde pour lui, elle lui dit: 'Si je te suis à charge, fais-le-moi savoir afin que je m'envole.' Le taureau lui répondit: 'Je ne t'ai point sentie au moment où tu es descendue, je ne saurai pas davantage quand tu t'envoleras.' Cette fable regarde celui qui cherche à s'attribuer de l'honneur et de la gloire tandis qu'il est faible et méprisable."
The sense of the Bull's reply in Arabic seems to be:
"O you, whatever you are [Ya hadi], I did not know when you descended, nor shall I know when you take yourself off [Taterin]."
A pointed reply, leaving the mosquito one horn of the dilemma.
T. J. Buckton.
Birmingham.
The following lines by Prior immediately occurred to my mind on perusing J. C. R.'s interesting note. The points of resemblance between the two fables are somewhat striking:
"'Say, sire of insects, mighty Sol!'
A fly on the chariot pole cried out,
'What blue-bottle alive
Did ever with such fury drive?'
"'Tell, Beelzebub, great father, tell!'
Says t'other, perch'd upon the wheel,
'Did ever any mortal fly
Raise such a cloud of dust as I?'"
MORAL.
"My judgment turn'd the whole debate!
My valour saved the sinking state!"
Cowgill.
This fable is found in the collection assigned to Babrius. It is the eighty-fourth in the excellent edition of these fables by Mr. G. Cornewall Lewis: Oxford, 1846.
W. H. G.
Winchester.
Collar of SS. (Vols. iv. and v., passim).—In the discussion on the subject of the collar of SS., in the columns of "N. & Q.," I find no mention of an incidental observation of Thomas Fuller, which occurs in the notice of John Gower, the poet, in the Worthies of Yorkshire, and is deserving of some notice:
"Another author (Stow) unknighteth him, allowing him only a plain esquire, though in my apprehension the collar of SSS. about his neck speaketh him to be more. Besides (with submission to better judgments) that collar hath rather a civil than a military relation, proper to persons in place of judicature; which makes me guess this Gower some judge in his old age, well consisting with his original education."
Mr. Foss, I see, mentions (Vol. iv., p. 147.) the existence of the collar on the poet's monument, and suggests that he might have worn it as a court poet.
H. C. K.
—– Rectory, Hereford.
Chaucer's Knowledge of Italian (Vol. vii., p. 517.).—To the proofs that Chaucer was well acquainted with Italian literature, brought forward in "N. & Q." by J. M. B., it may seem unnecessary to add any more. Yet, if it were only for the purpose of recalling your readers' attention to the elegant and instructive Dissertation on the State of English Poetry before the Sixteenth Century, by the late Dr. Nott, of All Souls' College, will you permit me to adduce that learned writer's authority, in opposition to the opinion of Sir Harris Nicolas, that Chaucer was not versed in Italian literature? Dr. Nott's Dissertation is entombed in the two quarto volumes of his edition of the Works of Surrey and Wyatt (London, 1815); and it is much to be wished that it were reprinted in a separate and more accessible form.
J. M.
Oxford.
Pic Nic (Vol. vii., p. 387.).—The following extract from an Italian newspaper raises a considerable presumption that this word is not now considered in Italy as an Italian one; the date is Sept. 1841.
"Se qualche delirante vi ha dato ad intendere che i Bagni di Lucca sono il soggiorno prediletto dell' Italiano, ci vi ha detto una solenne bugia.
"I Bagni di Lucca appartengono, come tant' altre cose in Italia, esclusivamente allo straniero."
Then follows a description of the numerous English arrivals, while the Italian—
"Spera di rinvenir sulle alture di que' colli un piè di patria tutto per lui, e ascende i sentieri ornati di bosco. Ma abbassando gli occhi ci s' accorge che non è solo. Un' Amatore a cui forse l' ignobile itinerario della Starke ha rivelate quella sublime veduta, sta colassu scarabocchiando uno sbozzo pell' Album del suo drawing room. Più lunge, povero Italiano! più lunge! Ecco la scena si cambia … i sentieri divengono più ardui … in fondo, mezzo nascosto dal fitto fogliame apparisce … un casolare; un villano lo invita ad entrare … e gli parla in Inglese, in Francese, ed in Tedesco!… ci s' allontana impazientito, e corre più lunge!… I castagni divengono rari.... Aride roccie annunziano il vertice dell' Apennin. Ancora una breve salita, e poi ci sarà sul più alto pinacolo del Prato Fiorite. Ma al piè del viattolo è un inciampo! e l'occhio sconfortato scorge la livrea di un groom e da un lato una sentimentale Lady, che si è arrampiccata più lassa e prosaicamente seduta sulla sua sedia portatile sta scrivendo una lettera sopra un foglio a vignetta. L' Italiano continua ad ascendere … e giunte alla vetta … all' amplissima libera vista, il cuore dell' Italiano batte più forte … la mente s' esalta, e i più energici pensieri vi bollono.... Ma gli occhi ritornano svegliati dei passi dei Cavalli, appiè del ripiane s' affaccia una numerosa comitiva … è un pique nique! Fuggi fuggi mal capitate Italiano la straniero l' inseque anco nel nido dell aguila!"
Here the "pique nique" is evidently the climax of all that is "straniero."
K. E.
Canker or Brier Rose (Vol. vii, p. 500.).—I suspect that this term refers to the beautiful mossy gall, so commonly seen on the branches of the wild rose, which has been called the bedeguar of the rose. This is the production of a cynips; and, from its vivid tints of crimson and green, might well pass at a short distance for a flower, brilliant, but scentless. Hence Shakspeare's allusion:
"The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye
As the perfumed tincture of the roses."
W. J. Bernhard Smith.
Temple.
Cancre and crabe in French are synonymous, meaning the same; Anglicè, crab (fish).
Now, we have crab-tree, a wild apple-tree; a canker rose, a wild rose; dog rose, dog-violet, horse leech, horse chestnut. In all these cases the prefix denotes inferiority of species.
H. F. B.
Door-head Inscriptions (Vol. vii., pp. 23. 190.)—In Watson's History of Halifax (1775, 4to., p. 257.), in describing the High Sunderland, an ancient mansion near Halifax, formerly the residence of the Sunderlands, he notices that "over the north door is written, Ne subeat Glis serdus, a mistake for surdus; and over a door on the south side, Ne entret amicus hirudo."
As some of your correspondents doubt as to the proper reading I have thought it worth while to give this duplicate version. I recollect the inscription well, having been sorely puzzled, when a schoolboy, in my frequent walks to High Sunderland, to understand these two inscriptions. I must not omit the inscription on the south front:
"Omnipotens faxet, stirps Sunderlandia sedes
Incolet has placide, et tueatur jura parentum,
Lite vacans, donec fluctus formica marinos
Ebibat et totum testudo perambulet orbem!"
The commentary of the worthy historian is edifying:
"The writer of these, or his son, alienated this very estate, which the then owner so earnestly wished might continue in the family for ever!"
James Crossley.
On the portico of Arley Hall, the seat of the ancient family of Warburton, and about four miles from the town of Northwich, Cheshire, the following "free pass" to visitors appears, carved in stone:
"This gate is free to all men, good and true;
Right welcome thou, if worthy to pass through."
T. Hughes.
Chester.
"Time and I," &c. (Vol. vii., p. 181.).—Who was the author of this adage? Lord Mahon gives it as a favourite saying of Mazarin (History of England, vol. ii. p. 100., small edition). Mr. Stirling (Cloister Life of Charles V., p. 151., 2nd edition) tells us that it was a favourite adage of that temporising monarch. Perhaps it was a well-known Spanish proverb.
Cheverells.
Lowbell (Vol. vii., p. 181.).—The inclosed was taken from the Northampton Herald of the 16th April, 1853:
"On Monday last this village was thrown into a state of great excitement by the tidings that a married labourer, named Samuel Peckover, had taken poison, with the intent of destroying himself. This was found to be the case. He had swallowed a dose of mercury, such as is commonly used for sheep, and, but for the timely arrival of Mr. Jones, surgeon, from Brackley, who administered him a powerful antidote, he would have expired within a short time. The circumstance which led the misguided man to attempt this rash act was as follows:—Although a married man, and wedded to a very respectable woman, he had seduced a young female of the village, named Adelaide Hirons, who was delivered of a female child on Saturday last. This disgraceful affair, of course, had become known to the neighbours, who expressed great indignation at his most disreputable conduct, and they in consequence determined to put him to open shame by 'lowbelling' him in front of his cottage in the evening, when all the old pots and kettles in the village were put in requisition, and a continual discord was kept up for two or three hours, by way of administering him a wholesome punishment for his breaking the marriage vows. It is supposed that the fear of this impending disgrace, and also remorse for his crime, were the cause of his thus attempting to make away with himself, and to rush unprepared and unpardoned into the presence of his Maker!"
F. James.
Overseers of Wills (Vol. vii., p. 500.).—J. K. will find what he seeks about, overseers and supervisors of wills, in Burn's Ecclesiastical Law.
F. O. Martin.
Detached Belfry Towers (Vol. vii., pp. 333. 416. 465.).—I have also to inform you that the tower of Terrington St. Clement's Church, about five miles from Kings Lynn, is detached from the church.
J. N. C.
King's Lynn.
To the list of churches having detached towers may be added the church of Chittlehampton, near South Molton, Devon. It is several years since I last visited the spot, but I have a distinct recollection of the fact.
J. Sansom.
Amongst your list of towers separate from the church, I think you have not mentioned Westbury on Severn, near Gloucester.
H. H. Gibbs.
Add to your list of Detached Church Towers, the magnificent Norman tower at Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk.
J. B.
Vincent Family (Vol. vii., p. 501.).—The representative of Augustine Vincent is Thomas Wentworth Edmunds of Worsbro', W. Barnsley, in the county of York, the son of the late Wm. Bennet Martin of the same place, Esq., who has assumed the name of his great-uncle, Francis Offley Edmunds. There is a memoir of Augustine Vincent, by Mr. Hunter, published, I believe, by Pickering, Piccadilly, which shows the descent, and may perhaps throw light on Francis Vincent. The name, I believe, is still common at Finedon in Northamptonshire.
F. O. Martin.
Stoudon Place, Brentwood.
Pronunciation of "Coke" (Vol. vi., p. 16.).—In a list of books "printed and sold by Richard Chiswell," at the end of a copy of Cave's Lives of the Fathers, 1683, in my possession, the following occurs among the folios: "Lord Cook's Reports in English." This is exactly fifty years after his death.
H. C. K.
