Notes and Queries, Number 187, May 28, 1853

In consequence of this appeal, Mr. Lawson was speedily in correspondence with several of the most able geometers then living, and amongst the rest, Messrs. Ainsworth, Clarke, Merrit, Power, &c., appear to have furnished him with original solutions to his collection of theorems and problems. The manuscript containing these solutions must have been of considerable size, since a portion of it was sent down to Manchester about July, 1777, for the purpose of obtaining Mr. Ainsworth's remarks and corrections; and Mr. Lawson is requested, in a letter bearing date "August 22, 1777," to "send the next portion when convenient." Whether Mr. Lawson did so or not, I have not yet been able to ascertain; but this much is certain, the manuscript was never printed, and would most probably either be disposed of at the death of its compiler, or previously transferred to the possession of some geometer of Mr. Lawson's acquaintance. Several of the original letters which passed between the respective parties relating to this manuscript are at present in the hands of two or three of the Lancashire geometers, but no one seems to know anything of the manuscript itself. May I then request that the fortunate holder of this yet valuable collection will make himself known through the medium of the widely circulated pages of "N. & Q."

T. T. Wilkinson.

Burnley, Lancashire.

Minor Queries

"Wanderings of Memory."—In Brayley's Graphic and Historical Illustrator, p. 293., is a quotation from the Wanderings of Memory, as a motto to an account of the ancient castle of the Peverils at Castleton, in Derbyshire: can any of your readers tell me who was the author of the poem in question?

W. R.

Camden Town.

"Wandering Willie's Tale."—Has the scene that presented itself to the view of Piper Steenie Steenson, when he was ushered by the phantom of his old friend Dougal McCallum into the presence of the ghastly revellers carousing in the auld oak parlour of the visionary Redgauntlet Castle, ever been painted? (See Redgauntlet, Letter xi.) If it has, is there any engraving of the picture extant or on sale?

C. Forbes.

Temple.

Chapel Sunday.—I had the pleasure of spending a Sunday in the course of the last summer in the neighbourhood of Keswick, among the delightful lake scenery of England. I there learned that in the village of Thornthwaite it was Chapel Sunday, and on inquiry I was told that there were a few other villages in the neighbourhood where there was also a Chapel Sunday. Upon this day it is the custom of young people to come from neighbouring places to attend worship at the village church or chapel, and the afternoon partakes of a merry-making character at the village inn. There appeared, as far as I could see, no excesses attending the anniversary, all being respectable in their conduct. Can any of your Cambrian readers inform me the origin of this anniversary?

Prestoniensis.

Proud Salopians.—I have never heard a satisfactory account of the origin of this title, given to persons belonging to my native county.

In the neighbourhood the following story is frequently related, but with what authority I cannot tell, viz. "That upon the king (Query which?) offering to make Shrewsbury a city, the inhabitants replied that they preferred its remaining the largest borough in England, rather than it should be the smallest city; their pride not allowing them to be small among the great."

If this history of the term be true, it would appear that the name should only be applied to burgesses of Shrewsbury.

Salopian.

George Miller, D.D.—In the year 1796, George Miller, subsequently the author of Modern History Philosophically Illustrated, and many other well-known works (of which a list appears in a recent Memoir), was appointed Donnelan Lecturer in Trinity College, Dublin; and delivered a course of sermons or lectures on "An Inquiry into the Causes that have impeded the further Progress of Christianity." I should be very glad indeed to know whether these Sermons have appeared in print; and if so, when and where published? I have not been able to procure a copy.

With regard to the Donnelan Lectureship, I may add, that a legacy of 1243l. was bequeathed to the College of Dublin by Mrs. Anne Donnelan, of the parish of St. George, Hanover Square, in the county of Middlesex, spinster, "for the encouragement of religion, learning, and good manners." The particular mode of application was entrusted to the Provost and Senior Fellows; and accordingly, amongst other resolutions of the Board, passed Feb. 22, 1794, are to be found the following: "That a Divinity Lecture, to which shall be annexed a salary arising from the interest of 1200l., shall be established for ever, to be called Donnelan's Lecture;" and "That one moiety of the interest of the said 1200l. shall be paid to the Lecturer as soon as he shall have delivered the whole number [six] of the lectures; and the other moiety as soon as he shall have published four of the said Lectures."

Abhba.

Members of Parliament.—Pennant, in The Journey from Chester to London, p. 94., says:

"The ancient owners of Rudgley were of the same name with the town: some of the family had the honour of being sheriffs of the county in the reign of Edward III. Another was knight of the shire in the same period."

Can any reader of "N. & Q." verify the last portion of Pennant's statement?

J. W. S. R.

St. Ives, Hunts.

Taret.—I have lately met with mention of a "small insect called the Taret." What may this be?

Tyro.

Jeroboam of Claret, &c.—Could any of your correspondents inform me what a Jeroboam of Claret is, and from what it is derived: also a Magnum of Port?

Winebibber.

William Williams of Geneva.—In Livre des Anglois, à Génève, with a few biographical notes by J. S. Burn, Esq., pages 5, 6. 12, 13., mention is made of Guillaume—Willm Willms, and Jane his wife,—Willm Willms, a senior of the church there in 1555, 1556, 1557, 1558; and some of the years he was a godfather. I shall be glad to have some further account of such William Williams, or references to where to find such?

Glwysig.

The First of April and "The Cap awry."—Tom Moore, in his Diary, 1819, says:

"April 1st. Made Bessy turn her cap awry in honour of the day."

What was the origin of this custom? Was this the way a fool was supposed to show that his head was turned?

C. R.

Paternoster Row.

Sir G. Browne, Bart.—Sir George Browne, Bart., of West Stafford, Berks, and Wickham, is said to have had nineteen children by his wife Eleanor Blount; and that three of those children were sons, killed in the service of Charles I.

Was either of those sons named Richard; and was any of them, and which, married? If so, where, and to whom?

Newbury.

Bishop Butler.—Will any of our Roman Catholic friends tell us on what authority they assert that Bishop Butler, the author of The Analogy, died in their communion? That he was suspected of a tendency that way during his life is acknowledged by all, though the grounds, that of setting up a cross in his chapel, are confessedly unsatisfactory. But, besides this, it is alleged that he died with a Roman Catholic book of devotion in his hand, and that the last person in whose company he was seen was a priest of that persuasion. One would be glad to have this question sifted.

X. Y. Z.

Oaken Tombs.—In Dr. Whitaker's noble history of Loidis and Elmete, p. 322., is the following passage:

"Next in point of time is a very singular memorial, which has evidently been removed from its original position, between the chapel and the high altar, to a situation at the south side and west end of the chapel.... The tomb is a messy frame-work of oak, with quarter-foils and arms on three sides, and on the table above three statues of the same material, namely, of a knight bare-headed, with rather youthful countenance and sharp features, and his two wives. On the filleting is this rude inscription in Old English:

'Bonys emong Stonys, lyes here ful styl,Quilst the sawle wanders wher God wyl.Anno Dni MCCCCCXXIX.'

This commemorates Sir John Savile, who married, &c.

"Over all has been a canopy, or rather tester, for the whole must have originally resembled an antique and massy bedstead, exhibiting the very incongruous appearance of a husband in bed with two wives at once."

The Doctor adds:

"Oaken tombs are very rare; that of Aymer de Valence in Westminster Abbey has been and still is in part coated over with copper, gilt, and enamelled, and I have seen another in the church of Tickencote in Rutlandshire. I do not recollect a third specimen."

Query, How many have been discovered since the great historian's day?

St. Bees.

Alleged Bastardy of Elizabeth.—In the State Paper Office (Dom. Pap., temp. Jac. I.), there is, under date of 1608, a letter from Mr. Chamberlaine to Sir Dudley Carleton, of October 28, in which Chamberlaine says:

"I heare of a Bill put into the Exchequer, concerninge much lande that shd be alienated on account of the alleged bastardy of Queen Elizabeth."

P. C. S. S. is desirous to know whether there be any record in the Court of Exchequer which bears out this singular statement.

P. C. S. S.

"Pugna Porcorum."—Where may be found some account of the author, object, &c. of this facetious production?

P. J. F. Gantillon, B.A.

Parviso.—Can any of your readers inform me as to the meaning of the word parviso; it occurs in the usual form of the "Testamur" for Responsions. On reference to Webster's Dictionary, I find that parvis is a small porch or gateway; perhaps this may throw some light upon the question.

Oxoniensis.

Mr. Justice Newton.—There is a very stiff Indian-ink copy of a portrait in the Sutherland Illustrated Clarendon, in the Bodleian Library, the original of which I should be glad to trace. It is described in the Catalogue to be "by Bulfinch," which is probably a mistake. It bears the following inscription:

"This is drawn from the painting in the hands of Mr. Justice Newton of the Middle Temple."

Can any one inform me when this learned justice lived; or rather, for it concerns me more, when he died? And farther, if it be not too hopeless an inquiry to make, who his existing representatives (if any) may be?

F. Kyffin Lenthall.

36. Mount Street, Grosvenor Square.

Mufti.—I hear military men employ this term, "we went in mufti:" meaning, out of uniform. Whence is it derived?

Maria.

Ryming and Cuculling.—In that very curious volume of extracts from The Presbytery Book of Strathbogie, A.D. 1631-54, which was printed for the Spalding Club in 1843, occurs the following passage:

"George Jinkin and John Christie referred from the Session of Abercherder, for ryming and cuculling, called, compeird not. Ordained to be summonded pro 2o."—P. 242.

Accordingly, on—

"The said day, George Jinkin in Abercherder, being summonded for his ryming and cuculling, being called, compeired; and being accused of the foresaid fault, confessed he only spoke three words of that ryme. Being sharpely rebuked, and instructed of the grosnes of that sin, was ordained to satisfie in sackcloth, which he promised to do."—P. 245.

What was the "fault" here alluded to, and visited with a species of discipline with which the presbytery, and those under its jurisdiction, appear to have been very familiar?

D.

Custom at the Savoy Church.—At the Savoy Church (London), the Sunday following Christmas Day, there was a chair placed near the door, covered with a cloth: on the chair was an orange, in a plate.

Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." inform me the meaning of this?

Ceridwen.

Minor Queries with Answers

Faithfull Teate.—I lately fell in with a small work by this divine, entitled Ter Tria, and on the fly-leaf is a MS. note, stating that some years ago a copy of the same book was priced, in a bookseller's catalogue in London, at 1l. 7s. 6d. I wish to learn some particulars relative to the author, and if the work is valuable, or scarce, or both.

J. S.

[Neither Calamy nor Brook has furnished any biographical notices of Dr. Faithfull Teate. When he wrote Ter Tria, in 1658, he was a "Preacher of the Word at Sudbury in Suffolk." A second edition of it was published in 1669. In 1665 appeared his Scripture Map of the Wildernesse of Sin," 4to. In a discourse on Right Thoughts, the Righteous Man's Evidence, he has the following passage, accommodated to his own destitute state after his ejectment: "The righteous man, in thinking of his present condition of life, thinks it his relief, that the less money he has he may go the more upon trust; the less he finds in his purse, seeks the more in the promise of Him that has said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee;' so that he thinks no man can take away his livelihood, unless he can first take away God's truth." Lowndes has given the following prices of Ter Tria: Sir M. M. Sykes, part iii. 626., 5s.; Nassau, part ii. 682., 8s.; White Knights, 4068., 1l.; Bibl. Ang. Poet., 764., 1l. 11s. 6d.]

Kelway Family.—Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." guide me to anything like a pedigree of the family of Kelloway, Kaloway, or Kelway; which I find from Lysons' Devonshire possessed the manor of Mokesbean in that county from the time of Henry II.?

In the first year of Edward III., when the property of those who suffered after the battle of Boroughbridge was restored, John de Keilewaye was found "hæres de integro sanguine" to Lord Gifford of Brimesfield.

The last of the family appears to have been John Kelloway of Collampton in Devon, who married Joan Tregarthian; and dying in 1530, left co-heiresses married to Greville of Penheale, Codrington of Codrington, Harwood, and Cooke.

The arms of the family are singular, being, Argent within a bordure engrailed sable, two groving irons in saltire sable, between four pears Or.

R. H. C.

[The pedigree of this family will be found in two copies by Munday of the "Visitation of Devonshire," A.D. 1564, in the Harleian MSS. 1091. p. 90., and 1538, p. 2166. The only difference in the arms is, in both copies, that there is no bordure engrailed; but this has probably been added since as a difference, as was often done to distinguish families. The name is here spelt Kelloway, and the pedigree begins with "Thomas Kelloway of Stowford in County Devon, who married Anne, daughter of – Copleston, of –, in county Somerset," and ends with "John Kelloway, who married Margery, daughter of John Arscott of Dunsland, and left issue Robert, who married –, and Richard."]

Regatta.—What is the etymology of the word regatta? From whence is it derived, and when was it first used in English to mean a boat-race?

C. B. N. C. J. S.

[Baretti says, "Regatta, palio che si corre sull' acqua; a race run on water in boats. The word I take to be corrupted from Remigata, the art of rowing." Florio, in his Worlde of Wordes, has "Regattare, Ital. to wrangle, to cope or fight for the mastery." The term, as denoting a showy species of boat-race, was first used in this country towards the close of the last century; for the papers of that time inform us, that on June 23, 1775, a regatta, a novel entertainment, and the first of the kind, was exhibited in the river Thames, in imitation of some of those splendid shows exhibited at Venice on their grand festivals. The whole river, from London Bridge to the Ship Tavern, Millbank, was covered with boats. About 1200 flags were flying before four o'clock in the afternoon, and vessels were moored in the river for the sale of liquors and other refreshments. Before six o'clock it was a perfect fair on both sides the water, and bad liquor, with short measure, was plentifully retailed. Plans of the regatta were sold from a shilling to a penny each, and songs on the occasion sung, in which "regatta" was the rhyme for "Ranelagh," and "royal family" echoed to "liberty."]

Coket and Cler-mantyn.—Piers Plowman says that when new corn began to be sold—

"Waulde no beggar eat bread that in it beanes were,But of coket and cler-mantyn, or else of cleane wheate."

What are coket and cler-mantyn? Also, what are coronation flowers, and sops in wine?

Ceridwen.

[Both coket and cler-mantyn mean a kind of fine bread. Coronation is the name given by some of our old writers to a species of flower, the modern appellation of which is not clear. Sops-in-wine were a species of flowers among the smaller kind of single gilliflowers or pinks. Both these flowers are noticed by Spenser, in his Shepherd's Calendar for April, as follows:

"Bring coronations and sops-in-wineWorn of paramours."]

Replies

CURFEW

(Vol. vi., pp. 53. 112.)

It will be remembered that when Mr. Webster, one of the greatest of American statesmen, was on his death-bed, in October last, he requested his son to read to him that far-famed "Elegy" of Gray:

"The curfew tolls the knell of parting day."

The editor of the Boston Journal, after referring to this circumstance, which he says has caused an unexampled demand for the works of Gray in the United States, goes on to give the result of his researches in many old English works, respecting the origin and meaning of the word curfew, which I trust will interest not only your correspondents who have written on the subject, but also many of your readers. I glean from the clever article now before me the following brief notices, which I have not yet met with in "N. & Q."

In King Alfred's time the curfew was rung at eight o'clock, and called the "cover fire bell," because the inhabitants, on hearing its peals, were obliged to cover their fires, and go to bed. Thomson evidently refers, in the following lines, to this tyrannical law, which was abolished in England about the year 1100:

"The shiv'ring wretches at the curfew sound,Dejected sunk into their sordid beds,And through the mournful gloom of ancient time,Mused sad, or dreamt of better."

On the people finding that they could put out their fires and go to bed when they pleased, it would appear, from being recorded in many places, that the time of ringing the curfew bell was first changed from eight to nine o'clock, then from nine to ten, and afterwards to the early hours of the morning. Thus we find in Romeo and Juliet:

"The curfew bell hath rung:'Tis three o'clock."

In Shakspeare's works frequent mention is made of the curfew. In the Tempest he gives the following:

"You whose pastimeIs to make midnight mushrooms—that rejoiceTo hear the solemn curfew."

In Measure for Measure:

"Duke. Who call'd here of late?Provost. None since the curfew rung."

In King Lear:

"This is the foul fiend Flibertigibbet;He begins at curfew, and walks to the first cock."

This old English custom of ringing the curfew bell was carried by the Puritan fathers to New England; and where is the Bostonian of middle age who does not well recollect the ringing of the church bell at nine o'clock, which was the willing signal for labourers to retire to bed, and for shopmen to close their shops?

Before closing this Note, may I be allowed to inform Mr. Sansom, that Charlestown is in Massachusetts, and only separated from Boston by Charles River, which runs between the two cities. The place to which he refers is Charleston, and in South Carolina.

W. W.

Malta.

THE "SALT-PETER-MAN."

(Vol. vii., pp. 377. 433. 460.)

The statute against monopolies (21 Jac. I. c. 3.) contains a clause (sec. 10.) that its provisions should not extend to any commission grant or letters patent theretofore made, or thereafter to be made, of, for, or concerning the digging, making, or compounding of saltpetre or gunpowder, which were to be of the like force and effect, and no other, as if that act had never been made.

In the famous "Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom" agreed upon by the House of Commons in November, 1641, there is special allusion to the vexation and oppression of the subject by purveyors, clerks of the market, and saltpetre men. (Parliamentary History, x. 67.)

Shortly afterwards was passed an act (which obtained the royal assent) giving liberty for importing gunpowder and saltpetre, and for making of gunpowder. The preamble asserts that the importation of gunpowder from foreign parts had of late times been against law prohibited, and the making thereof within this realm ingrossed; whereby the price of gunpowder had been excessively raised, many powder works decayed, this kingdom very much weakened and endangered, the merchants thereof much damnified, many mariners and others taken prisoners and brought into miserable captivity and slavery, many ships taken by Turkish and other pirates, and many other inconveniences had from thence ensued, and more were likely to ensue, if not timely prevented. (17 Car. I. c. 21.)

Lord Clarendon, in reviewing the various "important laws" of the Long Parliament to which the king assented, makes the following observations with reference to this particular act:

"'An Act for the free making Saltpetre and Gunpowder within the Kingdom:' which was a part of the prerogative; and not only considerable, as it restrained that precious and dangerous commodity from vulgar hands; but, as in truth it brought a considerable revenue to the crown, and more to those whom the crown gratified and obliged by that license. The pretence for this exemption was, 'the unjustifiable proceeding of those (or of inferior persons qualified by them) who had been trusted in that employment,' by whom, it cannot be denied, many men suffered: but the true reason was, that thereby they might be sure to have in readiness a good stock in that commodity, against the time their occasions should call upon them."—History of Rebellion, book iii.

On the 3rd April, 1644, the Lords and Commons passed an ordinance for the making of saltpetre, &c. This was grounded on the following allegations:

"1. The great expence of gunpowder, occasioned by the then war within his Majesty's dominions, had well near consumed the old store, and did exhaust the magazines so fast, that without a larger supply, the navy forts and the land armies could not be furnished.

"2. Foreign saltpetre was not in equal goodness with that of our own country, and the foreign gunpowder far worse conditioned and less forcible than that which is made in England.

"3. Divers foreign estates had of date prohibited the exportation of salt-peter and gunpowder out of their own dominions and countries, so that there could be but little hope or future expectation of any peter or powder to be brought into this kingdom, as in former times, which would enforce us to make use of our own materials."

From these circumstances, it was held most necessary that the digging of saltpetre and making of gunpowder should by all fit means be encouraged, at that time when it so much concerned the public safety; nevertheless, to prevent the reviving of those oppressions and exactions exercised upon the people, under the colourable authority of commissions granted to salt-peter-men; which burden had been eased since the sitting of that Parliament. To the end there might not be any pretence to interrupt the work, it was ordained that the committee of safety, their factors, workmen, and servants, should have power and authority, (within prescribed hours) to search and dig for saltpetre in all pigeon-houses, stables, cellars, vaults, empty warehouses, and other outhouses, yards, and places likely to afford that earth.

The salt-peter-men were to level the ground and repair damage done by them; or might be compelled to do so by the deputy-lieutenants, justices of the peace, or committees of parliament.

The salt-peter-men were also empowered to take carts, by the known officers, for carriage of the liquor, vessels, and other utensils, from place to place, at specified prices, and under limitations as to weight and distance; and they were freed from taxes and tolls for carriages used about their works, and empowered to take outhouses, &c., for their workhouses, making satisfaction to the owners.