Notes And Queries, Issue 237.

To the most illustrious and most high Prince, the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend—Greeting:

It having appeared to us a matter of interest, not only to ourselves, but likewise to the whole Christian world, that we also should keep in the Mediterranean sea a certain number of galleys ready to afford prompt aid to our neighbours and allies against the frequent insults of the barbarians and Turks, we lately caused to be constructed two galleys, one in Genoa, and the other in the port of Leghorn; in order to man these, we directed a person well acquainted with such affairs to be sent, as to other parts, so also to the island of Malta, subject to the rule of your highness, in order to buy slaves and procure other necessaries. He having purchased some slaves, it has been reported to us that your highness' collector of customs demanded five pieces of gold of Malta money per head before they could be permitted to embark, under the title of toll; at which proceeding we were certainly not a little astonished, it appearing to us a new proceeding, and one contrary to custom, especially it being well known to us that our neighbours and allies, the Kings of France and Spain, are never accustomed to pay anything under the title of toll for the slaves which they cause yearly to be transported from your island.

We therefore beg your highness, by the good and long friendship existing between us, to grant to us the same privilege in regard to this kind of commerce within the territories of your highness, as is enjoyed by both our said neighbours and allies, which although it ought to be conceded to us simply on account of our mutual friendship and our affection towards your highness and the illustrious Order of Malta, still we shall receive so gratefully, that if at any time we can do anything to please your highness, we shall be always ready to do it, with all attention, and most willingly.

In the meantime we heartily recommend your highness and all the members of the illustrious Order of Malta, as well as all your affairs, to the Divine keeping.

Given from our palace of Westminster on the 12th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1673, and of our reign the 25th.

To the most eminent Prince, the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend—Greeting:

The military order over which your eminence most worthily presides, having always used its power to render the navigation of the sea safe and peaceable for Christians, we in no way doubt that our ships of war, armed for the same purpose, will receive from your eminence every office of friendship. We therefore are desirous of signifying to your eminence by these our letters that we have sent a squadron of our royal fleet to the Mediterranean sea under the command of Sir John Narbrough, knight, to look after the safety of navigation and commerce, and to oppose the enemies of public tranquillity. We therefore amicably beseech your eminence that if ever the above-named Admiral Narbrough, or any of our ships cruising under his flag, should arrive at any of your eminence's ports or stations, or in any place subject to the Order of Malta, that they may be considered and treated as friends and allies, and that they may be permitted to purchase with their money, and at just prices, and to export provisions and munitions of war, and whatever they may require, which, on similar occasions, we will abundantly reciprocate to your eminence and to your most noble Order.

In the mean time we heartily recommend your eminence to the safeguard of the Most High and Most Good God.

To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend.

Although we in no way doubt of the sincere readiness of your eminence and of your holy Order of Malta to do everything which might be known to be expedient for our interests, still we could not read your eminence's letters under date of 24th March last, in which such readiness is fully set forth, without the greatest pleasure. Our affection is sharpened and excited by the mention of the good will of our predecessors, the Kings of Great Britain, evinced in every age towards your most illustrious Order, which, as your eminence in your said letters so honourably commemorates, so will we studiously endeavour to imitate, and even to surpass. From our admiral, Sir John Narbrough, knight, and also from other parties, we have heard with how much benignity your eminence lately received him, and caused him and the other officers of our fleet to be supplied with what was requisite for our ships of war, which we consider not less worthy of the piety and valour of your Order than of our friendship; and we on our part, on opportunity presenting itself, will be careful to abundantly reciprocate by every kind of good offices.

It remains to recommend your eminence and the whole of your holy Order militant to the safeguard of the God of Hosts.

To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend—Greeting:

We know not how it came to pass that our admiral in the Mediterranean sea, Sir John Narbrough, knight, should have given such cause of complaint as mentioned in your eminence's letters addressed to us under date of the 5th of April, as to have refused to give the usual salute to the city of Malta, unless, perhaps, he had thought something had been omitted on the part of the Maltese which he considered due to our dignity, and to the flag of our royal fleet. Be it, however, as it may, your eminence may be persuaded that it is our fixed and established intention to do and perform everything both ourselves and by our officers amply to show how much we esteem the sacred person of your eminence and the Order of Malta.

In order, therefore, that it should already appear that we do not wish greater honour to be paid to any prince than to your eminence and to your celebrate Order, we have directed our above-mentioned admiral to accord all the same signs of friendship and good will towards your eminence's ports and citadels as towards those of the most Christian and catholic kings; and we no way doubt your Order will equally show that benevolence towards us which it is customary to show to the above-mentioned kings, or to either of them.

It only remains to us to heartily recommend your eminence and all your military Order to the safeguard of the Most High and Most Good God.

To the most eminent prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend—Greeting:

Not only by the letters of Sir John Narbrough, knight, whom we appointed in right and power to be the admiral of our fleet in the Mediterranean sea, but also from other sources, we have heard how benignantly your eminence, both by command and example, and all the sacred Order of Malta, have treated him and the other commanders of our ships, so much so that they could not have been better at home, and in our dockyards, than in your port of Malta. This is, indeed, a sign of great friendship, and the more so that our kingdoms and seas are so far distant from the usual navigation of the sacred Order of Malta, that few occasions could be expected to offer themselves to us of reciprocating the friendship of your eminence. Some other mode, therefore, must be sought by which we may testify our gratitude and affection towards your eminence and the other members of your most sacred Order, to do which we shall willingly embrace and studiously search after every opportunity which may offer.

In the mean time we heartily recommend your eminence and all your military Order to the safeguard of the Most High and Most Good God.

To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend.

Our well-beloved and faithful Sir John Narbrough, knight, latterly admiral of our fleet in the Mediterranean sea, conveyed to us your eminence's letters written under date of the 7th of April last, which being most full indeed of affection and gratitude on your part, we received and perused with equal feelings and satisfaction. The acknowledgments of benefits conferred by us, which your eminence so frequently expresses, causes us also to return similar thanks to your eminence and to the whole of your sacred Order, for all those offices of humanity and courtesy with which you assisted our above-mentioned admiral and other our ships stationed in that sea, of which we shall always preserve the memory indelibly engraved in our hearts. It is equally a source of pleasure to us that our arms have been of help to your eminence and to your Order; and if the expedition had been of no other benefit, we consider it ample compensation in having restored to their homes so many persons celebrated through the whole Christian and Infidel world who were recovered from the power and chains of the barbarians.

May your eminence continue to desire that we should freely divide the glory of rendering peaceful the Mediterranean sea with the illustrious Order of Malta!

May the Most Good and Great God sustain and preserve your eminence with all your religious Order!

To the most eminent Prince the Lord Nicholas Cotoner, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, our well-beloved cousin and friend—Greeting:

The thanks which your eminence, by your letters written under date of the 15th of August last, returns to us on account of the fifty knights of your Order liberated by our assistance from the slavery of the barbarians, could hardly be more acceptable to us than the prayers adjoined in the above-mentioned letters for the liberation from the slavery of the Algerines of another member of your holy Order, the German, John Robert A. Stael. We in consequence, in order that we my not appear to be wanting either in the will or in affection towards your eminence, have communicated our orders to our well-beloved and faithful subject, Sir John Narbrough, knight, commanding our fleet in those seas, that if the city of Algiers should be constrained to agree to a treaty of just peace and submission by the force of our arms, assisted by Divine help, he should use every effort in his power, so that the liberty of the said John Robert A. Stael be obtained.

Your eminence is already well aware of the fidelity and zeal of our above-mentioned admiral, and we have no doubt that he will willingly and strenuously observe our orders on that head.

It remains for us to heartily recommend your eminence and the whole of your military Order to the safeguard of the Most High and Most Good God.

Given from our palace of Whitehall the 2nd day of November, in the year of our Lord 1678.

DISEASE AMONG CATTLE.

For some years past, a great many cattle have died from a disease of the lungs, for which I believe no effectual antidote has been discovered. This fact having been mentioned to a German in London, who had formerly been a Rossarzt or veterinary surgeon in the Prussian army, he stated that he had known a similar disease to prevail in Germany; and that by administering a decoction of Erica communis (Common Heath), mixed with tar, the progress of the disease had in many instances been arrested.

In order, therefore, that the British farmer may obtain the benefit of this gentleman's experience, and that he may receive all manner of justice, I beg leave to send you a literal copy of the recipe which he was kind enough to give pro bono publico.

POPIANA.

The various editors print only these two lines. Where have I seen it printed as follows, in six lines; and whence came the other four?^[3]

Query, in what modern editions is this imitation found? I have searched most of them (including the last, and by no means the worst, by Mr. Robert Carruthers) in vain.

IV. It has always seemed to me desirable that a perfect edition of an author like Pope, whose pages teem with proper names frequently repeated, and personal allusions, should be furnished with an Index nominum propriorum, which would enable the reader to refer in a moment to the exact whereabouts of the line wanted. I once took the trouble to make such an Index to Pope for my own use, and add one word of it as a specimen:

Is this a hint worthy the notice of Mr. Croker, Mr. P. Cunningham, or Mr. John Murray, whose joint labours promise us a new edition of Pope?

V. Roscoe and Croly give four poems on Gulliver's Travels. Why does Mr. Carruthers leave out the third? His edition appears to contain (besides many additions) all that all previous editors have admitted, with the exception of this third Gulliver poem, the sixteen additional verses to Mrs. Blount on leaving town, the verses to Dr. Bolton, and a fragment of eight lines (perhaps by Congreve); which last three are to be found in Warton's edition.

Footnote 3:(return)

These lines are quoted in the fourth edition of the Ency. Britan., art. Bononcini, and are said to have been written by Swift. Only the last two lines, however, are given in Scott's edition of his Works.—Ed.

HAMPSHIRE FOLK LORE.

Churching.—A woman in this village, when going to church for the first time after the birth of her child, keeps to the same side of the road, and no persuasions or threats would induce her to cross it. She wears also upon that occasion a pair of new boots or shoes, so that the mothers of large families patronise greatly the disciples of St. Crispin. I should much like to know if this twofold superstition is prevalent, and how it first originated.

Bees.—There is not one peasant I believe in this village, man or woman, who would sell you a swarm of bees. To be guilty of selling bees is a grievous omen indeed, than which nothing can be more dreadful. To barter bees is quite a different matter. If you want a hive, you may easily obtain it in lieu of a small pig, or some other equivalent. There may seem little difference in the eyes of enlightened persons between selling, and bartering, but the superstitious beekeeper sees a grand distinction, and it is not his fault if you don't see it too.

When a hive swarms, it is customary to take the shovel from the grate, and the key from the door, and to produce therewith a species of music which is supposed to captivate and soothe the winged tribe. If the bees do not settle on any neighbouring tree where they may have the full benefit of the inharmonious music, they are generally assailed with stones. This is a strange sort of proceeding, but it is orthodox, and there is nothing the villagers despise more than modern innovations of whatever kind.

Charming.—As regards charming, the wife of the village innkeeper who preceded the present one (she now rests in the churchyard), used to whisper away burns. Her form of words, if she had any, is unknown. The mind has great influence upon the body, and the doctor knows it, or he would not give his nervous lady patients so many boxes of bread pills, and sleeping draughts in the shape of vials filled with savoury rum-punch. Doubtless this good woman cured her patients by acting on their imaginations. If the agency of imagination is an incorrect supposition, I see but one way of accounting for the curative powers of whispering, namely, by means of animal magnetism. I trust your medical readers do not question the curative powers of animal magnetism in certain cases; if they do, I would recommend them to read a work entitled Human Magnetism, its Claim to Dispassionate Inquiry, by W. Newnham, Esq., M.R.S.L. It is published by John Churchill, Princes Street, Soho.

THE MOST CURIOUS BOOK IN THE WORLD.

The following account of this truly wonderful specimen of human patience and skill is from a rough copy that I took some years ago. I regret that I cannot give any reference, as I made no note of my authority, which has now escaped my recollection. But that is of little consequence, as the book is well known to bibliographists.

Perhaps the most singular bibliographic curiosity is that which belonged to the family of the Prince de Ligne, and is now in France. It is entitled Liber Passionis Domini nostri Jesu Christi, cum Characteribus nulla materia compositis. This book is neither written nor printed! The whole letters of the text are cut out of each folio upon the finest vellum; and being interleaved with blue paper, is read as easily as the best print. The labour and patience bestowed in its completion must have been excessive, especially when the precision and minuteness of the letters are considered. The general execution, in every respect, is indeed admirable; and the vellum is of the most delicate and costly kind. Rodolphus II. of Germany offered for it, in 1640, 11,000 ducats, which was probably equal to 60,000 at this day. The most remarkable circumstance connected with this literary treasure is, that it bears the royal arms of England; but it cannot be traced to have ever been in this country.

I now offer this notice, in the hope that the readers of "N. & Q." may supply farther particulars; such as the time of its commencement or completion, and also whether it is still in France. With respect to the arms of England, which yet present a puzzle to all antiquaries, I beg to submit a conjecture. I think it was intended as a present to our Henry VIII., when he was in such high favour at Rome, for his Defence of the Seven Sacraments, that Leo X. conferred on him the title of "Fidei Defensor," and which all our sovereigns have subsequently retained. But when he threw off the Papal authority, declared himself supreme head of the Church, and proceeded to confiscate its property, the intention of presentation was abandoned. This is at least plausible, as I do not mean that it was originally designed for a present to "bluff Harry," because it was produced before he was born. But the arms were a work for any time; and I think they were executed just before his rupture with the Pope was known. To pay him a compliment afterwards from any part of Catholic Europe was, of course, out of the question.

Minor Notes.

Copernicus.—The inscription on the tomb of the celebrated Copernicus, in the cathedral church at Thorn, in Prussian Poland, supposed to have been written by himself, deserves a place in "N. & Q."

First Instance of Bribery amongst Members of Parliament.—The following extract from Parry's Parliaments and Councils of England, deserves, I think, a corner in "N. & Q.," especially at the present day:

Richard Brinsley Sheridan.—In the "Life of Sheridan," by G. G. S., prefixed to his Dramatic Works, published by Bohn in 1848, is the following passage (p. 90.):

And in an essay lately published, entitled Richard Brinsley Sheridan, by George Gilfillan, is this statement:

In the Life by G. G. S. are two glaring slips of the pen or of the press; at p. 8. it is said that Sheridan was born in the year 1771 (1751?), and at p. 44. that The Duenna was brought out on the 21st of November, 1755 (1775?).

Publican's Invitation.—Amongst various other ingenious contrivances adopted by the proprietors of the rosoglio houses (anglicè, dram-shops) in Valetta, to attract the custom and patronage of the gallant red-jackets that swarm in our streets at this time, one individual has put forth and distributed among the soldiers the following puzzle, which I send for the amusement of your readers. A very little study will suffice to master the mysterious document.

"THE PUBLICAN'S INVITATION.

Here's to Pand's Pen. DASOCI.

Alhou Rinha? R. M. (Les Smirt)

Ha! N. D. F. Unlet fri. Ends.

HIPRE! ign. Beju! Standk.

Indan! Devil's Peako! F. N.

(One.)"

Bishop Burnet again!—The following anecdote occurs in Mrs. Thistlethwaite's Memoirs and Correspondence of Dr. Henry Bathurst, Lord Bishop of Norwich, p. 7.:

Old Custom preserved in Warwickshire.—There is a large stone a few miles from Dunchurch, in Warwickshire, called "The Knightlow Cross." Several of Lord John Scott's tenants hold from him on the condition of laying their rent before daybreak on Martinmas Day on this stone: if they fail to do so, they forfeit to him as many pounds as they owe pence, or as many white bulls with red tips to their ears and a red tip to their tail as they owe pence, whichever he chooses to demand. This custom is still kept up, and there is always hard riding to reach the stone before the sun rises on Martinmas Day?

English Diplomacy v. Russian.—A friend of Sir Henry Wotton's being designed for the employment of an ambassador, came to Eton, and requested from him some experimental rules for his prudent and safe carriage in his negociations; to whom he smilingly gave this for an infallible aphorism,—that, to be in safety himself, and serviceable to his country, he should always, and upon all occasions, speak the truth (it seems a state paradox). "For," says Sir Henry Wotton, "you shall never be believed; and by this means your truth will secure yourself, if you shall ever be called to any account; and 'twill also put your adversaries (who will still hunt counter) to a loss in all their disquisitions and undertakings." (Reliquiæ Wottonianæ.)

Queries.

ANCIENT TENURE OF LANDS.

The following paragraphs, containing both Notes and Queries, will doubtless interest your readers

At the last Kent assizes held at Maidstone (March, 1854) a case was tried by a special jury, of whom the writer was one, before Mr. Baron Parke; plaintiffs, "the Earl of Romney and others," trustees under an act of parliament to pay the debts of the borough of Queenborough, county Kent; defendants, "the Inclosure Commissioners of England and Wales." Tradition relates that Edward III. was so pleased with his construction of the Castle of Queenborough, that he complimented his consort by not only building a town, but creating a borough^[4], which he named after her honour.^[5] The case, in various shapes, has been before the law courts for some time, and was sent to these Kent assizes to ascertain whether Queenborough was either a manor or a reputed manor. In the course of the trial Baron Parke said, that, in despite of the statute Quia Emptores, he should rule that manors could be created when they contained the essentials.

My first Query is, therefore, Have any manors been created in England since the passing of that statute? In my History of Deptford I have alluded to the manor of Hatcham as one of the last manors I supposed to have been created.

The Inclosure Commissioners, as the defendants, had been prayed by the Leeze-holders^[6] of Queenborough to inclose sundry lands called Queenborough Common; such inclosure was opposed by the trustees, who claimed under the act of parliament which constituted their existence to be in the position of the mayor^[7], &c., and thus, if they were the lords of the manor, to have a veto upon the inclosure of the waste. The plaintiffs relied very much upon the following fact, which I here embalm as a note, and append thereon a query:—During the Mayoralty of Mr. Greet^[8], a gentleman who died in 1829, a turbot was caught by a dredger on the Queenborough oyster-grounds: this unlucky fish was immediately pounced upon by the Queenborough officials, and seized for the mayor's behoof as his perquisite, à la sturgeon.

The Jury, after two days' long sitting, decided that Queenborough was neither a manor nor a reputed manor.

Footnote 4:(return)

Parliamentary History, 1765.—On Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1654, an attempt was made to disfranchise Queenborough: the then member, Mr. Garland, suddenly and jocularly moved the Speaker that we give not any legacies before the Speaker was dead. This pleasant conceit so took with the House, as, for that time, Queenborough was reprieved, but was voted for the future to be dismembered, and to be added to the county.—Ap. Burton i. cxi. Archæological Mine, i. 12. Queenborough was one of the victims included in Schedule A of the act of parliament known as "The Reform Bill."

Footnote 5:(return)

In our own day Cove has been called Queenstown in honour of Queen Victoria.

Footnote 6:(return)

Leeze-holders, a right of turning on the coming or Leeze (Celtic, Leswes) twenty-four sheep, which of late years, by a bye-law, has been arranged to substitute either two horses or three bullocks. A Leeze is supposed to contain about seven acres of land of herbage. The common consists of about 240 acres, including roads.

Footnote 7:(return)

See Hogarth's Visit, &c. to Queenborough. A hearty laugh will repay the trouble. The mayor was then a thatcher: the room remains as it did in Hogarth's day; and as Queenborough was then, so it is now, one long street without any trade.

Footnote 8:(return)

Of Mr. Greet's mayoralty many humorous tales are told: he was at times popular, but towards the close of his reign most decidedly the reverse. At his funeral the dredgers, &c. threw halfpence into his grave to pay his passage to the lower regions. He, one day, ex officio, sentenced a pilferer to a flogging at the cart's tail, and as executioners did not volunteer, he took off his coat, and himself applied the cat to the bare back of the culprit from one end of the street to the other. Mr. Greet was one of the best friends Queenborough ever had. After his death it plunged deeply into debt, had its paraphernalia and books seized and sold by the sheriff, and now all its property is in the hands of trustees to pay its debts, whilst its poor-rates are, a witness, a late mayor said, nine shillings in the pound. The debt was originally 12,700l.; but as no interest has been paid thereon, it is now 17,000l. The trustees have received about 4,000l., but this sum has been melted in subsequent litigation; for Queenborough men are mightily fond of supporting the law courts.

OWEN ROWE THE REGICIDE.

Mark Noble, in his Lives of the Regicides, says that Owen Rowe was descended from Sir Thomas Rowe, Lord Mayor of London in 1568. In the Additional Manuscripts (British Museum), 6337. p. 52., is a coat in trick: Argent, on a chevron azure, three bezants between three trefoils per pale gules and vert, a martlet sable for difference; crest, a roe's head couped gules, attired or, rising from a wreath; and beneath is written, "Coll. Row, Coll. of hors and futt." These arms I imagine to have been the regicide's. If so, he was a fourth son. Query, whose? The Hackney Parish Register records, that on Nov. 6, 1655, Captain Henry Rowe was buried from Mr. Simon Corbet's, of Mare Street, Hackney. How was he related to Colonel Owen Rowe? I should feel particularly obliged to any correspondent who could furnish me with his descent from Sir Thos. Rowe.

According to Mr. Lysons (Environs of London, vol. iv. p. 540.), the daughter of Mr. Rowland Wilson, and widow of Dr. Crisp, married Colonel Rowe; adding in a note, that he supposes this Colonel Rowe to have been Colonel Owen Rowe, the regicide. The same statement is found in Hasted's History of Kent (edit. 1778), vol. i. p. 181. I should be glad of some more certain information on this point; also, what issue Owen Rowe left, if any, besides two daughters, whose marriages are recorded in the Hackney Register.

I am likewise anxious to learn whether there exist any lineal descendants of this family of Rowe, which had its origin in Kent; and thence branching off in the sixteenth century, settled and obtained large possessions in Shacklewell, Walthamstow, Low Layton, Higham Hill, and Muswell Hill. Through females, several of our nobility are descended from them.

WRITINGS OF THE MARTYR BRADFORD.

The second and concluding volume of Bradford's writings, which I am editing for the Parker Society, is about to be concluded.

Bradford's Treatise against the Fear of Death, with Sweet Meditations on the Felicity of the Life to Come and the Kingdom of Christ, was printed by Powell without a date, by Singleton without a date, and by Wolf 1583,—the last two editions being mentioned by Herbert, the first of Powell by Dibdin from Herbert's MS. additions. If any of your readers could inform me where a copy of any one of these editions is to be found, it would greatly oblige.

I have also never met, after some years' inquiry, with the edition of Bradford's Letter on the Mass, printed by Waldegrave, Edinburgh.

Some of the early editions of Bradford's writings are very rare. I possess his Examinations, Griffith, 1561; and Meditations, Hall, 1562; both of which are scarce: as also the only copy I have ever seen (though imperfect) of the first edition of his Sermon on Repentance, evidently printed in 1553.

His Complaint of Verity is of extraordinary rarity. The only copy I am aware of is possessed by the Rev. T. Corser, of Stand, Manchester; and was purchased (I believe) at Mr. Bright's sale for 17l.

I should be obliged to any one who would supply me with any information about early editions of Bradford's writings.

Every one is familiar with the story that Bradford, on seeing a criminal pass to execution, said, "There goes John Bradford but for the grace of God." Can any one inform me of any early printed authority for that story?

Granville's moving lays	Past. i.	46
Granville commands, &c.	Wind. For.	5
Granville could refuse to sing, what Muse for	"	6
Granville sings, or is it	"	282
Granville of a former age, Surrey the	"	292
Granville's verse recite, the thoughts of God let	"	425
Granville's Myra die, till	Epist. to Jervas	76
Granville the polite	Prol. to Sat.	135

ORIGINAL ENGLISH ROYAL LETTERS TO THE GRAND MASTERS OF MALTA.