NOTES AND QUERIES:

A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION FOR LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.

"When found, make a note of."—Captain Cuttle.

CONTENTS.

Notes.

AUTOGRAPH OF EDWARD OF LANCASTER, SON OF HENRY VI.

In the Museum of Antiquities of Rouen is preserved an original document, thus designated, "Lettre d'Edouard, Prince de Galles (1471)." It is kept under a glass case, and shown as "an undoubted autograph of the Black Prince," according to the testimony of the gentleman who has very obligingly placed a transcript of this interesting relic at my disposal. It is as follows:

"Chers et bons amis, nous avons entendu, que ung nostre homme lige subject, natif de nostre pays de Galles, est occupé et détenu es prisons de la ville de Diepe, pour la mort d'un homme d'icelle ville, dont pour le dict cas autres ont esté exécutez. Et pour ce que nostre dict subject estoit clerc, a esté et est encores en suspens, parce qu'il a esté requis par les officiers de nostre très cher et aimé cousin l'archevesque de Rouen, afin qu'il leur fut rendu, ainsi que de droict; pourquoy nous vous prions, que icelui nostre homme et subject vous veuillez bailler et delivrer aux gens et officiers de mon dict cousin, sans en ce faire difficulté. Et nous vous en saurons un très grant gré, et nous ferez ung essingulier plaisir. Car monseigneur le roy de France nous a autorisez faire grace en semblable cas que celui de mon dict subject, duquel desirons fort la delivrance. Escript à Rouen, le onziesme jour de Janvier.

(Signed) Eduard.

(Countersigned) Martin."

The error of assigning this signature to Edward the Black Prince is sufficiently obvious, and somewhat surprising, since we here have an undoubted, and, I believe, unique autograph of Edward of Lancaster, Prince of Wales, only son of Henry VI. by Margaret of Anjou. He was born at Westminster, October 13th, 1453, and was therefore, in January, 1471 (no doubt the true date of the document), in the eighteenth year of his age. He had sought refuge from the Yorkists, in France, with his mother, ever since the year 1462, and in the preceding July or August, 1470, had been affianced to Anne Neville, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Warwick. At the period when this letter was written at Rouen, Margaret of Anjou was meditating the descent into England which proved so fatal to herself and son, whose life was taken away with such barbarity on the field at Tewksbury, in the month of May following. The letter is addressed, apparently, to the magistrates of Rouen or Dieppe, to request the liberation of a native of Wales (imprisoned for the crime of having slain a man), and his delivery to the officers of the Archbishop of Rouen, on the plea of his being a clerk. The prince adds, that he was authorised by the King of France (Louis XI.) to grant grace in similar cases. As the signature of this unfortunate prince is at present quite unknown in the series of English royal autographs, it would be very desirable that an accurate fac-simile should be made of it by some competent artist; and perhaps the art of photography might in this instance be most advantageously and successfully used to obtain a perfect copy of the entire document.

F. Madden.

ROBERT BLOOMFIELD.

Presuming that some of the many readers of "N. & Q." may feel an interest in the author of The Farmer's Boy, whom I knew intimately (a sickly-looking, retiring, and meditative man), and have often seen trimming his bright little flower-garden fronting his neat cottage in the City Road—a pastry-cook's shop, an apple and oyster stall, and part of the Eagle Tavern ("To what base uses," &c.) now occupy its, to me, hallowed site,—I send you a few extracts from his sale catalogue, an interesting and a rare document, as a mournful record of a genius as original and picturesque, as it was beautiful and holy. His books, prints, drawings (215 lots), and furniture (105 lots) were sold in the humble house in which he died, at Shefford, Beds, on the 28th and 29th May, 1824. The far greater number of his books had been presented to him by his friends, viz. the Duke of Grafton (a very liberal contributor), Dr. Drake, James Montgomery, Samuel Rogers, Mrs. Barbauld, Richard Cumberland, Sir James Bland Burges, Capel Lofft, &c. His autograph manuscript of The Farmer's Boy, elegantly bound, was sold for 14l.; of Rural Tales, boards, for 4l.; of Wild Flowers, for 3l. 10s.; of Banks of the Wye, for 3l.; of May-day with the Muses (imperfect), for ten shillings; and Description of the Æolian Harp (he was a maker of Æolian harps), for 15s. His few well-executed drawings by himself (views of his City Road cottage and garden, &c.) produced from 5s. to 18s. each. Among his furniture were "A handsome inkstand, presented to him by the celebrated Dr. Jenner" (in return for his sweet poem of "Good Tidings"), and the "celebrated oak table, which Mr. Bloomfield may be said to have rendered immortal by the beautiful and pathetic poem inscribed to it in his Wild Flowers. The first was sold for 6l. 10s., the second for 14l. I am happy in the possession of the original miniature (an admirable likeness, and finely painted) of Robert Bloomfield, by Edridge. It is the first and most authentic portrait of him that was engraved, and prefixed to his poems:

George Daniel.

NOTE FOR LONDON TOPOGRAPHERS.

I send you a note for London topographers. The charter is dateless, but, inasmuch as Walter de Langeton was appointed to the bishopric of Coventry and Lichfield in 1295, and Sir John le Bretun was "custos" of London 22 to 25 Edw. I., i.e. 1294 to 1297, we may fairly assign it to the years 1296 or 1297:—

"Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos presentes litere pervenerint, Johannes de Notlee salutem in domino. Noveritis me remisisse, et omnino quietum clamasse pro me et heredibus meis, Domino Waltero de Langeton, Coventrensi et Lichfeldensi episcopo, heredibus, vel assignatis suis, totum jus et clameum quod habui, vel aliquo modo habere potui, in quadam placea terre cum pertinenciis in vico Westmonasterio sine ullo retenemento, illam videlicet que jacet inter exitum curie et porte domini Walteri episcopi supradicti, ex una parte, et tenementum Henrici Coci ex altera, et inter altum stratam que ducit de Charryngg versus curiam Westmonasterii, ex parte una et tenementum domini Walteri episcopi supradicti, ex altera; Ita quod ego predictus Johannes, aut heredes mei, sive aliquis nomine nostro nuncquam durante seculo in predicta placea terre cum omnibus suis pertinenciis, aliquod jus vel clameum habere, exigere, vel vendicare poterimus quoquo modo in perpetuum. In cujus rei testimonium, sigillum meum apposui huic scripto. His testibus, Dominis Johanne le Bretun tunc custode civitatis Londonii; Roberto de Basingg, militibus; Johanne de Bankwelle; Radulpho le Vynneter; Adam de Kynggesheued; Henrico Coco; Reginaldo le Porter; Henrico du Paleys; Hugone le Mareschal, et aliis."

Lambert B. Larking.

SERMONS BY PARLIAMENTARY CHAPLAINS.

Perhaps there is nothing in ecclesiastical writings more ludicrously and rabidly solemn than the sermons preached before "The Honourable House of Commons" during the Protectorate, by that warlike race of saints who figure so extensively in the history of those times. I possess some thirty of these, and extract from their pages the following morsels, which may be taken as a fair sample of the general strain:

From

"'Gemitus Columbæ,' the Mournful Note of the Dove; a Sermon preached," &c.: by John Langley, Min. of West Tuperley in the Countie of Southampton. 1644.

"The oxen were plowing, the asses were feeding beside them ('twas in the relation of one of Job's messengers). By the oxen wee are to vnderstand the laborious Clergie; by the asses, that were feeding beside them, wee may vnderstande the Laity" (!).—P. 8.

"The worde set on by the Spirit, as Scanderbags' sworde, by the arme of Scanderbags, will make a deepe impression."—P. 16.

Query, what is the allusion here?

"We came to the height, shall I saye, of our fever (or frenzie, rather), when wee began to catch Dotterills, when wee fell to cringing and complimenting in worship, stretching out a wing to their wing, a legge to their legge."—P. 18.

"Time was when the Dove-cote was searched, the Pistolls were cockt; the Bloudie-birdes were skirring about: then the Lord withdrew the birds."—P. 29.

"When your ginnes and snares catch any of the Bloudie-birdes, dally not with them, blood will have blood; contracte not their bloude-guiltinesse vpon your owne soules, by an vnwarranted clemencie and mildnesse."—P. 30.

"(Note.—The 'Bloudie-birdes,' i. e. the cavaliers.)"

From

"A Peace Offering to God: a Sermon preached," &c., by Stephen Marshall, B.D. 1641.

"Not like tavernes, and alehouses, howses of lewd and debauched persons, where Zim and Jim dwels, dolefull creatures, fitt only to be agents to Satan."—P. 50.

I conclude with a rather interesting scrap, which I do not remember to have met with elsewhere, from

"The Ruine of the Authors and Fomentors of Ciuill Warre; a Sermon," &c., by Samuel Gibson. 1645.

"There was a good motto written ouer the gates at Yorke, at King James the Firste his firste entraunce into that city:

'Suavis Victoriæ amor populi.'

i. e. the sweete victorie is the love of the people."—P. 27.

R. C. Warde.

Kidderminster.

A PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF TWELVE POSTAGE-STAMPS.

In the advertising sheet of "N. & Q." for December 18, 1852, its unartistic readers have the tempting offer placed before them of being taught "the art of drawing and copying portraits, views, steel or wood engravings, with perfect accuracy, ease, and quickness, in one lesson! And when the gentle reader of "N. & Q." has recovered from the shock of this startling announcement, he is further instructed that, "by sending a stamped directed envelope and twelve postage-stamps, the necessary articles will be forwarded with the instructions." Who would not, thinks the gentle reader, be a Raphael, a Rubens, or a Claude, when the metamorphosis may be effected for twelve postage-stamps? And then, delighted with the thought that no expensive residence in Italy, or laborious application through long years of study, will be required, but that the royal road to art may be traversed by paying the small toll of twelve postage-stamps, he forthwith gives them to "Mr. A. B. Cleveland, 13. Victoria Street, Brighton," and in due course of time Mr. A. B. C. forwards him "the necessary articles with the instructions," the former of which the gentle reader certainly finds to be "no expensive apparatus," but as simple as A, B, C. The articles consist of a small piece of black paper, and a small piece of common tissue paper, oiled in a manner very offensive to a susceptible nose. The instructions are printed, and are prefaced by a paragraph which truly declares them to be "most simple:"

"The outlines must be sketched by the following means, and may be filled up according to pleasure. In the first place, lay what you intend to copy straight before you; then lay over it the transparent paper, and you will see the outlines most distinctly; pencil them over lightly, taking care to keep the paper in the same position until you have finished the outlines; after which, place the paper or card you intend the copy to appear on under the black tracing-paper, with the black side on it, and on which place the outlines you have previously taken, remembering to keep them all straight, and then, by passing a piece of wire (or anything brought to a point not sufficient to scratch) correctly over the said outlines, you will have an exact impression of the original upon the card intended, which must then be filled up. I would recommend a portrait for the first attempt, which can be done in a few minutes, and you will soon see your success. Of course you can ink or paint the copy according to pleasure."

"Why, of course I can," probably exclaims the now un-gentle reader; "of course I can, when I have the ability to do it,—a consummation which I devoutly wish for, and which I am quite as far from as when I was weak-minded enough to send my twelve postage-stamps to Mr. A. B. C.; and yet that individual encloses me a card along with his nasty oiled paper and 'instructions,' which card he has the assurance to head 'scientific!' and says, 'the exquisite and beautiful art of drawing landscapes, &c. from nature, in true perspective, with perfect accuracy, ease, and quickness, taught to the most inexperienced person in ONE lesson.'

"I should like to know how I am to lay the landscape straight before me, and put my oiled paper on the top of it, and trace its outlines in true perspective? I should like also to know, since Mr. A. B. C. recommends a portrait for the first attempt, how I am to lay the transparent paper over my wife's face, without her nose making a hole in the middle of it? It is all very well for Mr. A. B. C. to say that he 'continues to receive very satisfactory testimonials respecting the RESULT of his instructions, which are remarkable for simplicity (I allow that), and invaluable for correctness' (I deny that). But, although he prints 'result' in capital letters, all the testimonial that I can give him will be to testify to the (on his part) satisfactory result attending his 'art of drawing' twelve postage-stamps out of my pocket."

Thus, can I imagine, would the gentle reader soliloquise, on finding he had received two worthless bits of paper in return for his investment of postage-stamps. My thoughts were somewhat the same; for I, alas! sent "twelve postage-stamps," which are now lost to view in the dim perspective, and I shall only be too happy to sell Mr. A. B. C. his instructions, &c. at half-price. In the mean time, however, I forward them for Mr. Editor's inspection.

Cuthbert Bede, B.A.

Minor Notes.

Cremona Violins.—As many of your readers are no doubt curious about the prices given, in former times, for musical instruments, I transcribe an order of the time of Charles II. for the purchase of two Cremona violins.

"[Audit Office Enrolments, vi. 359.]

"These are to pray and require you to pay, or cause to be paid, to John Bannester, one of his Ma^ties Musicians in Ordinary, the some of fourty pounds for two Cremona Violins by him bought and delivered for his Ma^ts Service, as may appeare by the Bill annexed, and also tenn pounds for stringes for two yeares ending June 24, 1662. And this shall be your warrant. Given under my hand, this 24th day of October, 1662, in the fourteenth year of his Majesty's reign.

Peter Cunningham.

Prices of Tea.—From Read's Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, Saturday, April 27, 1734:

E.

Coleridge a Prophet.—Among the political writers of the nineteenth century, who has shown such prophetic insight into the sad destinies of France as Coleridge? It is the fashion with literary sciolists to ignore the genius of this great man. Let the following extracts stand as evidences of his profound penetration.

Friend, vol. i. p. 244. (1844):

"That man has reflected little on human nature who does not perceive that the detestable maxims and correspondent crimes of the existing French despotism, have already dimmed the recollections of democratic phrenzy in the minds of men; by little and little have drawn off to other objects the electric force of the feelings which had massed and upholden those recollections; and that a favourable concurrence of occasions is alone wanting to awaken the thunder and precipitate the lightning from the opposite quarter of the political heaven."

Let the events of 1830 and 1848 speak for themselves as to the fulfilment of this forecast.

Biographia Literaria, vol. i. p. 30. (1847), [after a most masterly analysis of practical genius]:

"These, in tranquil times, are formed to exhibit a perfect poem in palace, or temple, or landscape-garden, &c.... But alas! in times of tumult they are the men destined to come forth as the shaping spirit of ruin, to destroy the wisdom of ages in order to substitute the fancies of a day, and to change kings and kingdoms, as the wind shifts and shapes the clouds."

Let the present and the future witness the truth of this insight. We have (in Coleridge's words) "lights of admonition and warning;" and we may live to repent of our indifference, if they are thrown away upon us.

C. Mansfield Ingleby.

Birmingham.

Lord Bacon's Advice peculiarly applicable to the Correspondents of "N. & Q."—Lord Bacon has written that—

"A man would do well to carry a pencil in his pocket, and write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are generally the most valuable, and should be secured, because they seldom return."

W. W.

Malta.

Etymology of Molasses.—The affinity between the orthography of this word in Italian (melássa), Spanish (melaza), and French (mélasse), and our pronunciation of it (melasses), would seem to suggest a common origin. How comes it, then, that we write it with an o instead of an e? Walker says it is derived frown the Italian "mellazzo" (sic); and some French lexicographers trace their "mélasse" from μέλας, with reference to the colour; others from μέλι, in allusion to the taste. But these Greek derivations are too recondite for our early sugar manufacturers; and the likelihood is, that they found the word nearer home, in some circumstance which had less to do with literary refinement than with the refining of sugar.

There is an expression in French which is identical in spelling with this word, namely, "molasse" (softish—so to speak); and which describes the liquidity of molasses, as distinguished from the granulous substance of which they are the residue. As our first sugar establishment was formed in 1643, in an island (St. Christopher) one half of which was then occupied by the French, it is possible that we may have adopted the word from them; and this conjecture is supported by the following passage in Père Labat (vol. iii. p. 93.), where he uses the word "molasse" in the sense of soft, to describe a species of sugar that had not received, or had lost, the proper degree of consistency.

"Je vis leur sucre qui me parut très beau et bien gréné, surtout lorsqu'il est nouvellement fait; mais on m'assura qu'il devenait cendreux ou molasse, et qu'il se décuisait quand il était gardé quelques jours."

Henry H. Breen.

St. Lucia.

A Sounding Name.—At the church of Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, is a record of one John Chapman, whose name, it is alleged, "sounds in (or throughout) the world," but for my own part I have never been privileged to hear either the original blast or the echo. Perhaps some of the readers of "N. & Q." can inform me who and what was the owner of this high-sounding name. Was he related to Geo. Chapman, the translator of Homer? The inscription is as follows:

"Memoriæ defunctorum Sacrum

και τυφωνια

Siste gradum, Viator, ac leges. In spe beatæ Resurrectionis hic requiescunt exuviæ Johannis Chapmanni et Isabellæ uxoris, filiæ Gulielmi Allen de Wightford, in Comitat. War. ab antiquo Proavorum stemmate deduxerunt genus. Variis miseriarum agitati procellis ab strenue succumbentis in arrescenti juventutis æstate, piè ac peccatorum pœnitentia expirabant animas.

Maij 10 Die Anno Domini 1677.

Sistite Pierides Chapmannum plangere, cujus

Spiritus in cœlis, nomen in orbe sonat."

J. Noake.

Worcester.

Queries.

ROMAN SEPULCHRAL INSCRIPTIONS.

In the year 1847 I brought from the Columbaria, near the tomb of Scipio Africanus at Rome, a small collection of sepulchral fictile vessels, statuettes, &c., in terra cotta. Among these was a small figure, resembling the Athenian Hermæ, consisting of a square pillar, surmounted by the bust of a female with a peculiar head-dress and close curled coiffure. The pillar bears the following inscription:

"ΥΣΤ
ΡΑΝ
Σ
ΑΝΙ
ΚΗΤ
Ο."

—a translation of which would oblige me much.

Another, in the form of a small votive altar, bears the heads of the "Dii Majores" and their attributes, the thunderbolt, two-pronged spear, and trident, and the inscription—

"DIIS PROPI
M HERENNII
(i.e. vivantis). VIVNTIS" (i.e. vivantis).

Of the meaning of this I am by no means certain; and I have searched Montfaucon in vain, to discover anything similar.

A third was a figure of the Egyptian Osiris, exactly resembling in every point (save the material) the little mummy-shaped figures in bluish-green porcelain, which are found in such numbers in the catacombs of Ghizeh and Abousir. As the Columbaria were probably the places of sepulture of the freedmen, these various traces of national worship would seem to indicate that they were still allowed to retain the deities peculiar to the countries from which they came, through their master might be of a different faith.

E. S. Taylor.

Ormesby, St. Marg., Norfolk.

CHAPEL PLASTER.

In North Wilts, between Corsham and Bradford, and close to the meeting of five or six roads, there is a well-known public-house, contiguous to which is an ancient wayside chapel bearing this peculiar name. Some account of the place, with two views of the chapel, is given in the Gentleman's Magazine, February, 1835, page 143. The meaning of the word plaster has always been a puzzle to local antiquaries, and no satisfactory derivation of it has yet been given. The first and natural notion is, that some allusion is made to the material with which it may have been coated. But this is improbable, the building being of good freestone, not requiring any such external addition. Some have interpreted it to be the chapel of the plas-trew, or "woody place." But this again is very unlikely; as the place is not only as far as possible from being woody now, but can hardly ever have been otherwise than what it is. The rock comes close to the surface, and the general situation is on a bleak exposed hill, as unfavourable as can be for the growth of trees. Leland, indeed, as he rode by, took it for a hermitage, and does also say that the country beyond it "begins to be woody." But a point of meeting of five or six much frequented roads, a few miles only from Bath and other towns, would be an unsuitable spot for a hermit; besides which, the country beyond a spot, is not the spot itself. Others have thought it may have been built by a person of the name of Plaister; one which, though uncommon, is still not entirely extinct in the county. Of this, however, there is no evidence.

A derivation has occurred to me from noticing a slight variety in the spelling and statement of the name, as it is given by one of the ancient historians of Glastonbury. He calls it "the chapell of playsters," and says that, like one or two houses of a similar kind, it was built for the relief and entertainment of pilgrims resorting to the great shrine at that monastery. This indeed is the most reasonable and probable account of it, as it lies on the direct road between Malmesbury and Glastonbury, and the prevailing tradition has always been that such was the purpose for which it was used. It is fair to presume that the name has some connexion with the use.

Now, it is well known that pilgrimages were not in all respects very painful or self-denying exercises, but that, with the devotional feeling in which they took their origin, was combined, in course of time, a considerable admixture of joviality and recreation. They were often, in short, looked upon as parties for merry-making, by people of every class of life, who would leave their business and duties, on pretence of these pious expeditions, but really for a holiday, and, as Chaucer himself describes it, "to play a pilgrimage." ("The Shipmanne's Tale.") Many also were pilgrims by regular profession, as at this day in Italy, for the pleasure of an idle gad-about life at other people's expense. May not such "play-ers" of pilgrimages have been called, in the vernacular of the times, play-sters? The termination -ster, said to be derived from a Saxon noun, seems in our language to signify a habit or constant employment. A malt-ster is one whose sole business it is to make malt; a tap-ster, one whose duties are confined to the tap; a road-ster is a horse exclusively used as a hack; a game-ster, the devotee of the gaming-table. From these analogies it seems not unreasonable to suppose that the persons who made a constant habit of attending these pleasant jaunts to Glastonbury, may have been called by the now-forgotten name of play-sters. If so, "the chapell of play-sters" becomes nothing more than "the chapel of pilgrims," according to the best tradition that we have of it. Perhaps some of your readers may have met with the word in this sense?

J. E. Jackson.

Leigh Delamere.

Minor Queries.

Martha Blount.—Is there any engraved portrait of this lady? and can any of your numerous correspondents give me reasonable hope of finding portraits of Mrs. Rackett and other connexions of Pope? I would suggest, that when we are favoured with a new edition of the little great man's works, each volume should contain a portrait, if procurable, of those who catch a reflected ray of greatness from association with the poet.

A. F. Westmacott.

Feltham House, Middlesex.

Degree of B.C.L.—In Vol. vi., p. 534., an Oxford B.C.L. asked the privileges to which a gentleman having taken this degree was entitled. Perhaps your correspondent will inform me what is the least time of actual residence required at the university, and the kind of examination a candidate for the honour has to be subjected to, before he becomes a B.C.L.? also the way for a stranger to go about it, who wants to spend as little money and time in the matter as is possible?

J. F.

Halifax.

The Word "anywhen."—Why should not this adverb, which exists as a provincialism in some parts of England, be legitimatised, and made as generally useful as anywhere, or anyhow, or anyone? If there be no classical precedent for it, will not some of the many authors who contribute to your pages take pity upon anywhen, and venture to introduce him to good society, where I am sure he would be appreciated?

W. Fraser.

Shoreditch Cross, &c.—Can any of your readers inform me where a model or picture of the Cross which formerly stood near the church of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, can be seen? Also, where a copy of any description can be seen of the painted window in the said church?

Sir Henry Ellis, in his History of the Parish, gives us no illustration of the above.

J. W. B.

Winchester and Huntingdon.—I would with your permission ask, whether Winchester and Huntingdon have at any time been more populous than they are at present, and what may have been the largest number of inhabitants they are supposed to have contained?

G. H.

La Bruyère.—What is known concerning the family of Jean de la Bruyère, author of Les Caractères? Did he belong to the great French house of that name? One of the biographical dictionaries states that he was grandson of a Lieutenant Civil, engaged in the Fronde; but M. Suard, in his "Notice" prefixed to Les Caractères, says that nothing is known of the author except his birth, death, and office. His grand-daughter, Magdalen Rachel de la Bruyère, married an officer of the name of Shrom, and died in 1780, at Morden in Surrey, where there is a handsome monument to her memory. Being one of her descendants in the female line, I should feel much obliged by any information respecting her father, the son of Jean de la Bruyère; or tending to connect that writer with the family founded by Thibault de la Bruyère, the Crusader.

Ursula.

Sir John Davys or Davies.—I am very anxious to get any information that can be procured about Sir John Davys or Davies, Knight Marshal of Connaught, temp. Elizabeth. What were his arms? Any portions of his pedigree would be most desirable; also any notices of the various grants of land given by him, particularly to members of his own family. I would also give any reasonable price for John Davies' Display of Heraldry of six Counties of North Wales, published 1716: or, if any of the readers of "N. & Q." have the book, and would favour me with a loan of it, I would return it carefully as soon as I had made some extracts from it.

Seivad.

Fleshier of Otley.—What are the arms of Fleshier of Otley, Yorkshire? They existed, not many years ago, in a window of a house built by one of the above-named family, in Otley.

B. M. A.

Bingley, Yorkshire.

Letters U, V, W.—Could any correspondent of the "N. & Q." give us any clear idea of the manner in which we ought to judge of those letters as they are printed from old MSS. or in old books. Is there any rule known by which their pronunciation can be determined? For instance, how was the name of Wales supposed to have been pronounced four hundred years ago, or the name Walter? How could two such different sounds as U and V now represent, come by the old printers both to be denoted by V? And is it supposed that our present mode of pronouncing some words is taken from their spelling in books? We see this done in foreign names every day by persons who have no means of ascertaining the correct pronunciation. Can it have been done extensively in the ordinary words of the language? Or can it be possible, that the confusion between the printed V and W and U has produced the confusion in pronouncing such words now beginning with W, which some classes of her Majesty's subjects are said to pronounce as if they commenced with V? I ask for information: and to know if the question has anywhere been discussed, in which case perhaps some one can refer me to it.

A. F. H.

Heraldic Query.—I should be greatly indebted to any of your correspondents who will assist me in tracing the family to which the following arms belong. Last century they were borne by a gentleman of the name of Oakes: but I find no grant in the college, nor, in fact, can I discover any British arms like them. Argent, a pale per pale or, and gules: between two limbs of an oak fructed proper. On a chief barry of six of the second and third; a rose between two leopards faces all of the last.

C. Mansfield Ingleby.

"Drengage" and "Berewich."—In Domesday certain tenants are described as drenches or drengs, holding by drengage; and some distinction is made between the drengs and another class of tenants, who are named berewites; as, for instance, in Newstone,—

"Huj' manerium abbrev. aliā t'rā xv hoēs quos Drenchs vocabant pro xv manerium abbrev. tenet sed huj' manerium abbrev. berewich erant."

I shall be glad if any information as to these tenures, and also as to the derivation of the words "drengage" and "berewich," or berewite, both of which may be traced, I believe, to a Danish origin.

James Crosby.

Streatham.

Sidney as a Female Name.—In several families of our city the Christian name of Sidney is borne by females, and it is derived, directly or indirectly, from a traceable source.

The object of the present inquiry is to ascertain whether the same name, and thus spelled, is similarly applied in any families of Great Britain? If at all, it should be found in the north of Ireland. But your correspondent would be pleased to learn, from any quarter, of such use of the name, together with the tradition of the reason for its adoption.

R. D. B.

Baltimore.

"The Brazen Head."—Will any reader of "N. & Q." be good enough to inform the undersigned where he can obtain, by purchase or by loan, the perusal of any part or parts of the above-mentioned work? It was published as a serial in 1828 or 1829.

A. F. A. W.

Swillington.

Portrait of Baron Lechmere.—Can any of your correspondents inform me if there is any engraved portrait in existence of the celebrated Whig, Lord Lechmere, Baron of Evesham, who died at Camden House, London, in the year 1727, and lies buried in the church of Hanley Castle, near Upton-on-Severn, co. Worcester?

While on the subject of portraits, some of your correspondents may be glad to learn that an excellent catalogue of engraved portraits is now passing through the press, by Messrs. Evans and Sons, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, of which forty-six numbers are issued.

J. B. Whitborne.

"Essay for a New Translation of the Bible," and "Letters on Prejudice."—A friend of mine has requested me to inquire through "N. & Q." who are the authors of the undermentioned books, in his possession?

An Essay for a New Translation of the Bible, one volume 8vo.: "printed for R. Gosling, 1727." Dedicated to the Bishops: the dedication signed "H. R."—Letters on Prejudice, two volumes 8vo.: "in which the nature, causes, and consequences of prejudice in religion are considered, with an application to the present times:" printed for Cadell in the Strand; and Blackwood, Edinburgh, 1822.

W. W. T.

David Garrick.—In the sale catalogue of Isaac Reed's books is a lot described as "Letter of David Garrick against Mr. Stevens, with Observations by Mr. Reed, MS. and printed." Can any of your correspondents inform me in whose possession is this letter with Reed's observations; whether Garrick's letter was published; and, if so, what public library contains a copy?

G. D.

Aldiborontophoskophornio.—Will you or some of your readers inform me in what play, poem, or tale this hero, with so formidable a name, is to be found?

F. R. S.

Quotations wanted.—Will you or some of your correspondents tell where this sentence occurs: "It requireth great cunning for a man to seem to know that which he knoweth not?" Miss Edgeworth gives it as from Lord Bacon. I cannot find it. Also, where this very superior line: "Life is like a game of tables, the chances are not in our power, but the playing is?" This I have seen quoted as from Jeremy Taylor, but where? I have looked his works carefully through: it is so clever that it must be from a superior mind. And where, in Campbell, is "A world without a sun?" This, I believe, is in Gertrude of Wyoming.

Excuse this trouble, Mr. Editor; but you are now become the general referee in puzzles of this kind.

A. B.

Arago on the Weather.—I saw some of Arago's meteorological observations in an English magazine some time ago, taken, I believe, from the Annuaire. Can any one give me a reference to them?

Elsno.

"Les Veus du Hairon," or "Le Vœu du Héron."—Is any more known of this curious historical romance than Sainte Palaye tells us in the third volume of his Mémoires sur l'Ancienne Chevalerie? He gives the original text (I suspect not very correctly) from, he says, a MS. in the public library at Berne. It is a poem in old French verse (something like Chaucer's English), of about 500 lines, descriptive of a series of vows, by which Robert Comte d'Artois, then an exile in England, engaged Edward III., his queen and court, to the invasion of France: