Notes and Queries, Number 42, August 17, 1850

The discussion of Gregory St. Vincent will be found at pages 101-3. of his Opus Geometricum, Antw., 1647 fol. The principle is the same as that which Aldrich afterwards gave, as above referred to by Dr. Whateley. I can only speak from memory of the discussion of Leibnitz, not having his works at hand; but I am clear in this, that his principle again is the same. [Greek: Idiotaes] is in error, however, in calling St. Vincent's "a geometrical treatment" of it. He indeed uses lines to represent the spaces passed over; and their discussion occurs in a chapter on what is universally (but very absurdly) called "geometrical proportion." It is yet no more geometrical than our school-day problem of the basket and the hundred eggs in Francis Walkinghame. Mere names do not bestow character, however much philosophers as well as legislators may think so. All attempts of the kind have been, and must be, purely numerical.

T.S.D.

Shooter's Hill, August 3.

Achilles and the Tortoise.—Your correspondent will find references in the article "Zeno (of Elea)" in the Penny Cyclopædia. For Gregory St. Vincent's treatment of the problem, see his Quadratara Circuli, Antwerp, 1647, folio, p. 101., or let it alone. I suspect that the second is the better reference. Zeno's paradox is best stated, without either Achilles or tortoise, as follows:—No one can go a mile; for he must go over the first half, then over half the remaining half, then over half the remaining quarter; and so on for ever. Many books of logic, and many of algebra, give the answer to those who cannot find it.

M.

REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES

"Barum" and "Sarum" (Vol. ii., p. 21.)—The formation of the first of these words has not yet been accounted for. I must premise my attempt to supply an explanation by admitting that I was not aware it was in common use as a contraction for Barnstaple. I think it will be found that the contracted form of that name is more usually "Berdest," "Barnst". In trying further to contract the word, the two last letters would be omitted, and it would then be "Barñ", with the circumflex showing the omission of several letters. Having reduced it to this state, an illiterate clerk would easily misread the circumflex for the plain stroke "-," expressing merely the omission of the letter "m", and, perhaps ignorant of the name intended, think it as well to write at full length "Barum."

J. Br.

Countess of Desmond (Vol. ii., p. 153.)—It is stated in Turner's Sacred History, vol. iii. p. 283., that the Countess of Desmond died in 1612, aged 145. This is, I presume, the correct date of her decease, and not 1626 as mentioned by your querist K.; for in Lord Bacon's History of Life and Death, originally published in 1623, her death is thus alluded to:—

"The Irish, especially the Wild Irish, even at this day, live very long. Certainly they report that within these few years the Countess of Desmond lived to a hundred and forty years of age, and bred teeth three times."

The manner of her death is recorded by Mr. Crofton Croker, in his agreeable volume of Researches in the South of Ireland, 4to. London, 1824. Speaking of Drumana, on the Blackwater, a little above Youghall, as the "reputed birth-place of the long-lived Countess of Desmond," he says,—

"In this part of the country, her death is attributed to a fall whilst in the act of picking an apple from a tree in an orchard at Drumana."

In the Olla Podrida, a volume of miscellanies, printed for private distribution, by Mr. Sainthill of Cork, there is a portrait of the "old countess," from an etching made by Mr. Crofton Croker (if I mistake not) in his early days.

J.M.B.

Michael Servetus, alias Reves.—The manuscript, the character and fate of which S.H. (Vol. ii., p. 153.) is anxious to investigate, contained books iii.-vii., inclusive, of the work of Servetus De Trinitate; and as these fragments differed somewhat from the printed text, they were probably the first, or an early, draft (not necessarily in the author's handwriting) of part of the Christianismi Restitutio. The purchaser of this MS., at the sale of Du Fay's library in Paris in the year 1725, was the Count de Hoym, ambassador to France from Poland. I beg to refer your correspondent to pp. 214-18. of the Historia Michaelis Serveti, by Henr. ab Allwoerden, published with Mosheim's approbation, Helmstad 1728.

Both a "Note" and a "Query" might be founded on a memorable passage in the fifth book De Trinitate, in which Servetus, long before Harvey, explains the circulation of the blood.

R.G.

Caxton's Printing-office (Vol. ii., pp. 99. 122. 142.).—It is a pity MR. NICHOLS did not take the trouble to see, and, having seen, to notice in his first communication, that Abbot Islip was mentioned in the passage from Stow's Survey cited by MR. RIMBAULT. As that gentleman quotes from, I believe, the second edition of the Survey, I may be allowed to doubt, until it is clearly shown, that "Islip's name has been introduced by the error of some subsequent writer." But supposing this to be so, it would in no way affect the only question which is material, Who was Caxton's patron? nor touch the accuracy of the Life of Caxton, which MR. NICHOLS seems desirous of impeaching. I am anxious to point this out, because I feel it right to vindicate to the utmost, where they deserve it, useful works, which, like the little volume I am writing of, are published at a price that ensures for them a circulation of almost unlimited extent.

ARUN.

Somagia (Vol. ii., p. 120.).—This is the plural of "somagium," "summagium," and means "horse-loads." It is a word frequently found in documents relating to agrarian matters, and may signify the load packed upon the horse's back (whence the name "sumpter-horse"), or in a cart drawn by a horse. MR. SANSOM will find a full explanation of the derivatives of its root, "sagma," at p. 50., vol. vii., of Ducange.

J.BT.

Various Modes of Interment among the Ancients (Vol ii., pp. 8, 9. 22. 41. 78.).—In modes of interment some nations have been distinguished by an idiosyncrasy almost incredible from their inhumanity.

"Barcæi, populi inter Colchos et Iberos morbo absumptos igni comburebant, sed qui in bello fortiter occubuissent, honoris gratia vulturibus devorandos objiciebant."—.AElian. Hist. Anim. lib. x. "In Hyrcania (refert Cicero in Tusc. Quæst. lib. i. 45.) ali canes solitos fuisse, a quibus delaniarentur mortui, eamque optimam Hyrcanos censuisse sepulturam."—Kirchmannus de Funer. Romanorum.

The appendix to this work may be consulted for this, and yet greater violations of the law of nature and nations.

"Apud saniores barbaros ab animalibus discerpi cadavera foedum semper ac miserabile creditum fuit. Foetus abortivi feris alitibutsque exponebantur in montibus aut locis aliis inaccessis, quin et ipsi infantes, &c. Fuit hæc Asinina sepultura poena Tyrannorum ac perduellium. (Spondan. de Coemet. S. pp. 367. 387. et seqq.) Quam et victorum insolentia odiumque vulgi implacabile in hostes non raro exercuit."—Ursinus Arbor. Biblicum.

Hyde accounts for the Persians who embraced the religion of the Magi not having adopted the two contrivances of corporal dissolution prevalent among civilised nations—cremation or burning, and simple inhumation—by the superstitious reverence with which they regarded the four elements. Sir T. Browne remarks that similar superstitions may have had the same effect among other nations.

Of the post-mortem punishments described by Ducange, the former was the customary sepulture of the Trogloditæ; the latter corresponds with the rite of some of the Scythians recorded by Statius:

"At gente in Scythica suffixa cadavera truncis,Lenta dies sepelit putri liquentia tabo."

I shall be obliged if you or a correspondent disposed "not only to teach but to communicate," will kindly throw light on a passage, relating to the Troloditæ, in Strabo, book xvi., where he relates, "Capræ cornu mortuis saxorum cumulo coopertis fuisse superimpositum."

T.J.

Guy's Porridge-pot (Vol. ii., p. 55.).—Your correspondent is quite correct, when he says "neither the armour nor pot belonged to the noble Guy." He would have been a guy if he had worn the armour, seeing that it was made for a horse, and not for a man.

What the stout old lady who showed us the "relics of old Guy" in 1847 called "Guy's breastplate," and sometimes his helmet! is the "croupe" of a suit of horse armour, and "another breastplate" a "poitrel." His porridge-pot is a garrison crock of the sixteenth century, used to prepare "sunkits" for the retainers; and the fork a military fork temp. Hen. VIII.

The so called "Roman swords" are "anelaces," and a couteau de chasse of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

The "British weapon" is a hammer at arms temp. Hen. VIII., and "the halbert" a black bill temp. Hen. VII. The only weapons correctly described are the Spanish rapiers.

The shield with the "sight" is very curious; it weighs thirty pounds, and is of the temp. of Henry VIII.

It is impossible to describe the horror of the old lady at our doubting her version; she seemed to wonder the earth did not open and swallow us for our heresy.

NASO."Welcome the coming, speed the parting Guest"(Vol. ii., p. 134.).—"Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest,"

is from Pope (Imitations of Horace, book ii. sat. ii.).

Pope's distich, whence the line is taken, runs,—

"For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best,Welcome the coming, speed the going guest."

Query. Where is "sage Homer's rule" to be found?

RUSTICUS.

[The following additional reply furnishes a solution of the Query of RUSTICUS:—

"True friendship's laws are by this rule express'd,Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest."These lines are from Pope's Homer, the Odyssey, Book xv., lines 83 and 84.E.H.]

"A Chrysostom to smoothe his Band in" (Vol. ii., p. 126.).—This Query by Rev. ALFRED GATTY is answered by referring him to the Happy Life of a Country Parson, by Swift, beginning with—

"Parson, these things in thy possessing,Are worthy of a bishop's blessing."

And enumerating amongst them

"A large Concordance bound long since,Sermons to Charles the First when prince,A chronicle of ancient standing,A chrysostom to smoothe thy band in;The polyglott—three parts—my text,Howbeit—likewise—to my next."T.H.Q.

[C.I.R. (to whom we are indebted for a similar reference) adds the concluding line—

"And shake his head at Doctor Swift."

which would show that the verses were written not earlier than 1701, as Swift, the author, took his D.D. degree in that year.]

William of Wykeham (Vol. ii., p. 89.).—

"Historica descriptio compleetens vitam ac res gestas beatissimi viri Guilmi Wicanii quondam Vintoniensis episcopi et Angliæ Cancellarii et fundatoris duorum collegiorum Oxoniæ et Vintoniæ."

is the title of a biography of William of Wykeham attributed to Thomas Martin, published in 4to. Oxford, 1597.

There is also a little work which may come under the head of biographies, viz.:

"Uvedale (Robert) Examination of Lowth's objections to the account given by Leland of the parentage of William of Wykeham," 8vo. 1801.

Vide Oettinger's Bibliographie Biographique.

S.W.

Dutch Language (Vol. ii., p. 77.).—H.B.C. recommends, among other works, Hendrik Conscience's novels. These are in Flemish, not Dutch. The difference may not be great between the two; but one would hardly recommend to a learner of English, Burns's Poems as a reading-book. In 1829 Dr. Bowring wrote an article, being a sketch of Dutch literature, in the Foreign Quarterly Review; which article was reprinted in Amsterdam in the form of an 18mo. volume, and which I believe is still to be got, and is a very useful guide to Dutch literature.

S.W.

"A frog he would" &c. (Vol. ii., p. 45. and elsewhere).—I remember, when a boy, to have heard an old aunt repeatedly sing this song; but the chorus was very strange.

"A frog he would a-wooing ride,With a rigdum bullydimy kymy;With sword and buckler by his side,With a rigdum bullydimy kymy.Kymyary kelta cary kymyary kymy,Strimstram paradiddle larrabona ringting,Rigdum bullydimy kymy."A.

City Sanitary Laws (Vol. ii., p. 99.).—The act of Parliament prohibiting the slaughter of cattle within the city, referred to in the passage from Arnold's Chronicle, extracted by your correspondent T.S.D. is the 4 Hen. VII. c. 3., which enacts that—

"No butcher shall kill any flesh within his scalding-house, or within the walls of London, in pain to forfeit for every ox so killed 12d. and for every other beast 8d., to be divided between the king and the prosecutor."—Bohun's Privilegia Londini 1723, p. 480.

Brydall, in his Camera Regis (Lond. 1666, p. 114.), quotes the statute of 11 Hen. VII. c. 21, as the authority for the "singularity" attaching to the city, that "butchers shall kill no beasts in London." I believe, however, Bohun's reference will be found to be the correct one. The statute in question has, I think, never been repealed; but in the absence of abbatoirs, or other proper provision for the slaughtering of cattle without the walls of the city, it seems doubtful whether the pains and penalties to which the "contrary doers" were liable, were at any time strictly enforced.

JAMES T. HAMMACK.

Sanitary Laws of other Days (Vol. ii., p. 99.).—The statute referred to by T.S.D. in his article, by which "it is ordeigned y't no such slaughter of best shuld be used or had within this cite," was no doubt 4 & 5 Henry VII. c. 3., intituled "An Act that no Butcher slea any Manner of Beast within the walls of London." The penalty is only twelvepence for an ox or a cow, and eightpence for any smaller animal. The act itself seems unrepealed, but the penalties are too small at the present day to abate the nuisance.

C.R. SOC.

Michael Scott, the Wizard (Vol. ii., p. 120.).—I have now lying before me a small duodecimo, Lugdini, 1584, entitled—

"Alberti Magni de Secretis Mulierum libellus, scholiis auctus et a mendis repurgatus,"

to which is appended a work of the wizard's "ob materiæ similitudinem,"

"Michaelis Scoti philosophi De Secretis Naturæ Opusculum."

E.S.T.

Clerical Costume (Vol. ii., p. 22.).—Possibly the answer to this Query may be found in the passage from Bacon's History of Life and Death, in the third part of the Instauratio Magna, which I copy below from Craik's Bacon and his Writings, vol. iii. p. 45.:—

"Some report that they have found great benefit in the conservation of their health by wearing scarlet waistcoats next their skin and under their shirts, as well down to their nether parts as on the upper."

From the quantity of serge bought, as well as from the nature of the material, I think it likely it might be required for the purpose here noticed by Bacon, and not for an outer waistcoat.

ARUN.

The Curfew (Vol. ii., p. 103.).—As NABOC can, I imagine, only get a perfect list of the places where the curfew is still rung by the contributions of scattered correspondents, I will furnish my mite by informing him that a very short time ago it was rung at Sturminster Newton in Dorsetshire.

J. BT.

Welsh Language; Armenian Language (Vol. ii., p. 136.).—JARLTZBERG will find no Welsh dictionary with the part reversed. I possess a dictionary in Welsh and English, in two volumes, by Pugh, published in 1832, which is one of the best. The one in two volumes by Walters is in English and Welsh, and is also one of the best. The four volumes would make a good dictionary. The best grammar is, I think, Pugh's. See the Welsh bookseller in Holywell Street: I believe his name is Williams.

Father Chamick compiled the History of Armenia from the historical works of several authors, which was published at Venice in 1786; and in 1811 an abridgment thereof, which was translated by Mr. Acdall, of Calcutta, in 1827. See Messrs. Allen and Co.'s Catalogue of Oriental Works, at whose house these, and translations of other works (particularly the History of Vartan and the Memoirs of Artemi), may be procured. I think JARLTZBERG will find a dictionary in Armenian and French. I saw a notice of one a short time since. (See Bernard Quaritch.) In 1841, Peterman published at Berlin, Porta Ling. Orient., sive Elementa Ling. Syr., Chald., Arab., &c. &c., which I think contains an Armenian grammar. See Williams and Norgate; also a list of Klaproth's works.

AREDJID KOOEZ.

Armenian Language (Vol. ii., p. 136.).—In reply to JARLTZBERG, I can answer that Lord Byron did not compose the English part of Aucher's Armenian and English Grammar. A very learned friend of mine was at St. Lazero, in Venice, and knew both Aucher and Lord Byron. Lord Byron was taking lessons in Armenian, and a few of his exercises were introduced into Aucher's Grammar, which was written for Armenians to learn English, with which language Aucher was quite familiar, having resided four years in London. But a new Armenian and English Grammar has recently been published. There is one, very rare, in Armenian and Latin, and another in Armenian, modern Greek, and Italian. I have just seen John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress in vulgar Armenian, with plates, published at Smyrna; and the Prayers of St. Nierses, in twenty-four languages, Venice, 1837, of which Armenian is one. Several works in Armenian have been published at Calcutta.

HENRY WILKINSON.

Brompton.

North Sides of Churchyards unconsecrated (Vol. ii., p. 55.).—The strong preference given to the south side of the churchyard is traceable to two principal causes; first and chiefly, because the churchyard cross was always placed here; secondly, because this is the sunny side of the churchyard. The cross, the emblem of all the Christian's hopes, the bright sun shining on the holy ground, figurative of the sun of righteousness, could not fail to bring to mind the comforting assurance that they who slept around would one day rise again. And as the greater part of the congregation entered the church by the south and principal door, another cause of the preference was the hope that the sight of the resting places of those of their friends and neighbours who had died in the communion of the church, might remind the survivors each time they repaired to the house of prayer to remember them in their supplications. There is not, however, I believe, the slightest reason for considering that the north side of the churchyard was left unconsecrated, nor do I think it possible that such could ever be the case, inasmuch as all consecrated ground was required to be fenced off from that which was unhallowed. But the north side has always been considered inferior to the south. For example;—excommunicated persons were at one time buried outside the precincts of the churchyard, which, of course, would not have been necessary if any part had been left unconsecrated, nor are instances of this practice wanting since the Reformation.1 And when discipline began to be relaxed, and murderers were interred even within the church itself, it was still on the north side.2 It is very usual in small country parishes to find the north side of the churchyard without a single grave, nor is it generally resorted to until the south side is fully occupied. It would be difficult to mention another instance of a prejudice so universal, existing so long after the causes of it have mainly passed away.

I cannot conclude without expressing the extreme interest which, though he seems not to be aware of it, attaches to the statement of your correspondent, to the effect that he had on two occasions, namely, on the Revel Sunday, and on another festival, observed the game of football in a churchyard in the West of England. It is, indeed, interesting to find that relics of a custom which, however repugnant to our notions, was sanctioned by the highest authority in the best days of our church, still linger in some of our rural districts; thus amply bearing out the mention made by Bishop Peirs more than two centuries ago, of the attachment of the people of the west to, and "how very much they desired the continuance of," these ancient celebrations. For the letter of the prelate, which was addressed to Archbishop Laud, and for many valuable details with respect to dedication festivals, and the observance of Sundays in former times, I would refer those who take an interest in the matter to the Hierurgia Anglicanæ.

ARUN.

"Sir Hilary charged at Agincourt."—Your correspondent B.H.C, who, at Vol. ii, p. 158., inquires after the author and answer to this charade, might leave easily ascertained that the author was the late Mackworth Praed, and that the answer is "Good-night." I believe your correspondent has been guilty of some verbal inaccuracies, which makes the answer appear not so pertinent to his version as it really is; but I have not the original at hand. Some few years ago, the charade appeared in a Cambridge paper, with a story about Sir Walter Scott having sent it anonymously to Queen Adelaide. This was contradicted, and the real author named in a subsequent number of the newspaper, and a metrical solution given, amongst others, of the charade, with which, though I believe I could recollect it, I will not trouble the Editor of "NOTES AND QUERIES." I think the charade first appeared in a cheap periodical, which was set on foot by the parties concerned in Knight's Quarterly.

J.H.L.

"Sir Hilary charged at Agincourt" (Vol. ii., p. 158).—This enigma was written by the late Winthrop Mackworth Praed, and appeared in Knight's Quarterly Magazine, vol. ii. p. 469.: whether solved or soluble, I cannot say.

May I here express my concurrence in an opinion expressed in a very recent number of the Examiner, that a collected edition of Mr. Praed's poems is wanted?

C.H. COOPER.

Cambridge, August 5. 1850.

Unicorn (Vol. ii., p. 136.).—King James I. abandoned the red dragon of Henry VII. as one of the supporters of the royal arms of England, and substituted the unicorn, one of the supporters of the royal arms of Scotland.

S.S.S.

Abbey of St. Wandrille, Normandy (Vol. i., pp. 338. 382. 486.).—As the Vicar of Ecclesfield appears interested in the history of this abbey, in the immediate neighbourhood of which I am at present living, I forward the following list of works which have relation to the subject, including the Chronicle, extracts from which have already been given by GASTROS:—

"Briefve Chronique de l'Abbaye de St. Wandrille, publiée par la première fois, d'après le Cartulaire de St. Wandrille, de Marcoussis M.S. du XVI. siècle, de la Bibliothèque de Rouen par M.A. Potter."—Révue Rétrospective Normande, Rouen, 1842.

"Le Trisergon de l'Abbaye de Fontenelle (or St. Wandrille), en Normandie, par Dom Alexis Bréard. M.S. du XVII. siècle."—Bibliothèque de Rouen, M.S.S.Y. 110.

"Appendix ad Chronicon Fontanellense in Spicileg." Acherii, t. ii. p. 285.

"Gallia Christiana," vol. ii., in fo., page 155., (containing the Ecclesiastical History of Normandy).

"Acta sanctor ord. St. Bened," tom. v.—Miracula Wandregisili.

"Essais sur l'Abbaye de St. Wandrille, par Langlois," in 8vo. Rouen, 1827.

Several books formerly belonging to this monastery, are now in the public library at Havre.

W.J.

Havre.

Russian Language (Vol. ii., p. l52.).—A James Heard wrote a grammar of this language, and published it at St. Petersburgh, in 1827. Mr. Heard also published a volume of Themes, or Exercises, to his grammar, in the same year. I am not acquainted with any other Russian grammar written in English.

Hamonière published his Grammaire Russe at Paris in 1817; and Gretsch (not Grotsch) published (in Russian) his excellent grammar at St. Petersburgh about thirty years ago. A French translation appeared at the same place in 1828, in 2 vols. 8vo., by Reiff.

In the Révue Encyclopédique for 1829, p. 702., some curious details will be found respecting, the various Russian grammars then in existence. Jappe's Russian Grammar is possibly a misprint for Tappe, whose grammar, written in German, is a good one. Besides these, the titles of some twenty other Russian grammars, in Russian, French, or German, could be mentioned.