Chapter M

_Wessel Cup Hymn._--The following Wassail Song is taken from a little chap-book printed at Manchester, called _A Selection of Christmas Hymns_. it is obviously a corrupted version of a much older song:--

"Here we come a wesseling,
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a wandering,
So fair to be seen.

"_Cho._--Love and joy come to you,
And to your wessel too,
And God send you a happy new year,
A new year,
And God send you a happy new year.

"Our wessel cup is made of the rosemary tree,
So is your beer of the best barley.

"We are not daily beggars,
That beg from door to door,
But we are neighbours' children,
Whom you have seen before.

"Call up the butler of this house,
Put on his golden ring,
Let him bring us up a glass of beer,
And the better we shall sing.

"We have got a little purse,
Made of stretching leather skin,
We want a little of your money,
To line it well within.

"Bring us out a table,
And spread it with a cloth,
Bring us out a mouldy cheese,
And some of your Christmas loaf.

"God bless the master of this house,
Likewise the mistress too,
And all the little children,
That round the table go.

"Good master and mistress,
While you'r sitting by the fire,
Pray think of us poor children,
Who are wand'ring in the mire.

"_Cho._--Love and joy come to you,
And to your wessel to,
And God send you a happy new year,
A new year,
And God send you a happy new year.

Our wessel cup is made of the rosemary tree,
So is your beer of the best barley."

It is a song of the season which well deserves to be preserved. Its insertion will at least have that effect, and may be the means of our discovering an earlier and purer text.

AMBROSE MERTON.

_Portrait of Charles I._--In Sir Henry Ellis's _Original Letters_, 2d series, vol. iii. p. 254., amongst the prefatory matter to the reign of Charles I., there is a notice of a sermon, entitled "The Subject's Sorrow, or Lamentations upon the Death of Britaine's Josiah, King Charles."

Sir Henry Ellis says it is expressly stated, in this Sermon, that the King himself desired "that unto his Golden Manual might be prefixed his representation, kneeling; contemning a temporal crown, holding our blessed Saviour's crown of thorns, and aspiring unto an eternal crown of happiness."

Note _b_. upon this passage is as follows:--

"This very portrait of King Charles the First, engraved by
Marshall, adorned the original edition of the [Greek: Eikon
Basilikae]. 8vo. 1648. _The same portrait, as large as life, in
oil painting, was afterwards put up in many of our churches._"

When I was a boy, such a portrait, in oil painting, hung upon the south wall of the body of St. Michael's Church, Cambridge, between the pulpit and a small door to the west, leading into the south aisle.

Out of the window of the chamber in which the King was kneeling was represented a storm at sea, and the ship being driven by it upon some rocks.

A few years ago, upon visiting Cambridge, I went purposely to St. Michael's Church to see this picture, which had been so familiar to me in my boyhood. The clerk told me it had been taken down, and was in the vestry. In the vestry I found it, on its side, on the floor against the wall. {138}

You are probably aware that this St. Michael's Church was nearly destroyed by fire not many weeks since; that a committee is established to arrange its restoration.

Would it not be worth while that some inquiry should be made about the fate of this picture?

R.O.

Dec. 17. 1849.

P.S.--I may add, that there was affixed to the bottom of the frame of the picture a board, on which was painted, in conformably large letters--

"LORD, remember David and all his trouble."

_Psalm_ cxxxii. 1.

The italics in part of the Note above quoted are mine.

_Autograph Mottoes of Richard Duke of Gloucester, and Henry Duke of Buckingham._--In the volume of the Cottonian MSS. marked Vespasian F. XIII., at fol. 53., is a slip of parchment, upon which is written by the hands of Richard Duke of Gloucester, and Henry Duke of Buckingham, the following couplet:--

"Loyaulte me lie
Richard Gloucestre

"Souente me souène
Harre Bokingh'a'm."

A fac-simile is engraved in _Autographs of Royal, Noble, Learned, and Remarkable Personages in English History_, engraved by C.J. Smith, and edited by Mr. John Gough Nichols, 1829, 4to., where the editor suggests that this slip of parchment was "perhaps a deceitful toy," or it may have been attached to some present offered by the Duke of Gloucester to his royal nephew Edward the Fifth. The meaning of Gloucester's motto is perfectly free from misapprehension; but he asserts his fidelity to the crown, which he soon so flagrantly outraged--"Loyalty binds me." In the work above mentioned, the motto of Buckingham is interpreted by these words, in modern French:--"Souvent me souviens." This does not appear to me perfectly satisfactory; and I have to request the opinions of such as are conversant with old manuscripts, whether the true meaning, or even the true reading, of the Duke of Buckingham's motto has as yet been ascertained?

H.

* * * * *

NOTES IN ANSWER TO QUERIES.

_Lord Erskine's Brooms._--"G.B." informs us, that the anecdote about Lord Erskine's brooms, and the apprehension of his servant for selling them without a licence, will be found in his Life by Lord Campbell (_Lives of the Chancellors_, vol. vi. p. 618.). Erskine himself attended the sessions to plead the man's cause, and contended that the brooms were agricultural produce, or, as he jocosely observed, "came under the _sweeping_ clause." The _when_ is about 1807, and the _where_ an estate in Sussex, which proved rather an unprofitable speculation to its owner, as it produced nothing but birch trees, and those but stunted ones. To which information "W.J." adds, that about the same period Lord Erskine printed, for private circulation, _An Appeal in favour of the agricultural Services of Rooks_; a production probably scarce now, but full of humanity, and very characteristic.

_Scarborough Warning._--In a postscript to a letter written from court on the 19th January, 1603, by Toby Matthew, Bishop of Durham, to Hutton, Archbishop of York, I find the term _Scarborough warning_. Can any of the correspondents of your valuable paper inform me of the origin and prevalence of this saying? The postscript is--

"When I was in the middest of this discourse, I received a
message from my lord chamberlaine, that it was his majesty's
pleasure that I should preach before him upon Sunday next; which
_Scarborough warning_ did not perplex me, but so puzzled me, as
no mervail if somewhat be pretermitted, which otherwise I might
have better remembered."

Quoted in Caldwell's _Conferences_, p. 166.

W.M.C.

[NARES tells us, that Ray, on the authority of Fuller, states
that this saying took its origin from "Thomas Stafford, who, in
the reign of Mary, A.D. 1557, with a small company, seized on
Scarborough Castle (utterly destitute of provision for
resistance), before the townsmen had the least notice of their
approach;" but shows that it was probably much older, as, in a
ballad written by J. Heywood on the taking of that place by
Stafford, the following more probable origin is given to the
proverb:--

"This term _Scarborow warning_ grew (some say),
By hasty hanging for rank robbery theare.
Who that was met, but suspect in that way,
Straight he was trust up, whatever he were."

This implies that Scarborough imitated the Halifax gibbet law.
Is any thing known of such a privilege being claimed or
exercised by the men of Scarborough? We should be glad to hear
from any local antiquary upon this point.]

_Gray's Elegy._--In answer to your correspondent, J.F.M. (p. 101.), who asks for information respecting the competition for the best translation of Gray's _Elegy_, in which Dr. Sparke was a candidate, I would beg to refer him to the satirical poem attributed to Mr. T.J. Matthias, formerly Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, entitled _The Pursuits of Literature_, in which a ludicrous account is given of the affair. It does not appear who offered the prize, but Mr. Nares, the editor of _The British Critic_, was the judge, and the place of meeting "The Musical Room in {139} Hanover Square," which was decorated for the occasion with appropriate scenery--at least so says _The Critic_. He thus describes the solemnity (p. 174 8th edit. 1798):--

"Lo, learned clerks in sable stole,
Graceful in years, pant eager for the goal.
Old Norbury starts, and, with the _seventh-form_ boys,
In weeds of Greek the church-yard's peace annoys,
With classic Weston, Charley Coote and Tew,
In dismal dance about the mournful yew.
But first in notes Sicilian placed on high,
Bates sounds the soft precluding symphony;
And in sad cadence, as the bands condense,
The curfew tolls the knell of _parting sense_."

The distribution of prizes is thus recorded, Dr. Norbury being apparently the "conqueror:"--

"Nares rising paused; then gave, the contest done,
To Weston, Taylor's Hymns and Alciphron,
And Rochester's Address to lemans loose;
To Tew, Parr's Sermon and the game of goose;
To Coote the foolscap, as the best relief
A dean could hope; last to the hoary chief
He filled a cup; then placed on Norbury's back
The Sunday suit of customary black.
The gabbling ceased; with fixed and serious look
Gray glanced from high, and owned his rival, COOK."

W. Lincoln's Inn, Dec. 17.

_Coffee, the Lacedæmonian Black Broth._--Your correspondent "R.O." inquires what modern author suggests the probability of coffee being the black broth of the Lacedæmonians? The suggestion, I think, originated with George Sandys, the translator of Ovid's _Metamorphoses_. Sandys travelled in the Turkish empire in 1610. He first published his _Notes_ in 1615. The following is from the 6th edit. 1652, p. 52.:--

"Although they be destitute of taverns, yet have they their
coffa-houses, which something resemble them. Their sit they,
chatting most of the day, and sip of a drink called coffa (of
the berry that it is made of), in little _China_ dishes, as hot
as they can suffer it; black as soot, and tasting not much
unlike it (why not that black broth which was in use among the
Lacedæmonians?) which helpeth, as they say, digestion, and
procureth alacrity," &c.

Burton also (_Anatomy of Melancholy_) describes it as "like that black drink which was in use among the Lacedæmonians, and perhaps the same."

E.B. PRICE.

* * * * *

QUERIES.

THE LAST OF THE VILLAINS.

It would be an interesting fact if we could ascertain the last bondsman by blood--_nativus de sanguine_--who lived in this country. The beginning of the seventeenth century is the period usually referred to as the date of the extinction of personal villenage. In the celebrated argument in the case of the negro Somerset (_State Trials_, vol. xx. p. 41), an instance as late as 1617-18 is cited as the latest in our law books. (See Noy's _Reports_, p. 27.) It is probably the latest recorded _claim_, but it is observable that the claim failed, and that the supposed villain was adjudged to be a free man. I can supply the names of three who were living near Brighton in the year 1617, and whose thraldom does not appear to have been disputed. Norden, from whose unpublished _Survey of certain Crown Manors_ I have extracted the following notice, adverts to the fact, but seems to think that the times were rather unfavourable to any attempt by the lord of the manor to put his rights in force.

"There are three bondmen of bloude belonginge unto this manor,
never known to be anie way mannumissed, namely, Thomas Goringe,
William and John Goringe. Thomas Goringe dwells at Amberley,
William at Piddinghow, and John Goringe at Rottingdean. What
goods they have the Jurie know not. All poor men. Thomas hath
the reversion of a cotage now in the tenure of William Jefferye.
But mee thinks this kinde of advantage is nowe out of season;
yet, were they men of ability, they might be, upon some
consideration, infraunchized." (_Survey of the Manor of Falmer,
Sussex_.)

I shall be glad to know whether any more recent instance can be pointed out.

E. SMIRKE.

* * * * *

THE DORE OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

In Herbert's edition of Ames's _Typographical Antiquities_, 1785, vol. i. p. 492., is noticed _The Dore of Holy Scripture_, 12mo., printed by John Gowghe in 1536; and, at p. 494., a reprint of the same work is mentioned in 1540, by the same printer, and a description of a copy given from one then in the possession of Herbert himself. In the preface prefixed by the printer, he calls the work "the prologue of the fyrste translatoure of the byble out of latyn in to Englyshe;" and at the end of the work is this note:--"Perused by doctor Taylor and doctor Barons, Master Ceton and Master Tornor." As I am much interested in the subject to which this publication refers, may I ask for information on three points?--1. What evidence is there of this edition of 1536, beyond the statement in Ames? 2. What has become of the copy of the edition of 1540, formerly belonging to Herbert? and, 3. Who are the persons who _peruse_ and revise the latter edition? There is not copy of either edition, as far as I can trace, in the British Museum, in the Bodleian, or at Lambeth.

I may add to these queries the following remarks:--

1. Ames asserted that _The Dore of Holy Scripture_ was among the books prohibited to be read {140} by the injunctions of Henry the Eighth, and refers, as his authority, to Foxe's _Acts and Monument_, ed. 1562, p. 574. Herbert, in a note, questions the fact, and raises a doubt as to the existence of the passage in Foxe, since it is not in the edition of 1641. I have, however, the first edition now before me of 1563 (_not_ 1562), and at p. 574., among "the names of certen bokes whiche after this injunction [namely, of 1539], or some other in the said kinges dayes were prohybited," occurs, "Item, _the doore of holy scripture_. made by Jhon. Gowghe."

2. This work was again printed by Crowley in 1550, 12mo., under a different title, namely, _The Pathway to Perfect Knowledge_; and in the preface, he falsely ascribes it to John Wycliffe, and adds, "the original wherof is in an olde English Bible, betwixt the Olde Testament and the Newe, which Bible remaineth now in the Kyng his Majesties chamber." This Bible appears to be the identical manuscript copy of the later Wycliffe version of the Scriptures, now preserved in the University Library, Cambridge, and marked Mm 2. 15. A copy of Crowley's edition is in the British Museum, but the orthography and language of the tract are modernised.

F.M. B.M., Dec. 19.

* * * * *

TURNER'S MS. HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER--CRUCIFIX OF EDWARD THE CONFESSOR.

On April 6. 1708, Henry Turner was elected, by the vestry, organist of St. Margaret's, Westminster, in the room of the famous "Father Smith" (Bernard Schmidt). As regards his musical capabilities, Hawkins does not assign him a niche in his _Temple of Worthies_, although he names some of his predecessors and successors in that office. One merit we must accord him, that of true antiquarian love and zeal in all matters regarding "this renowned city." "Great materials are said to have been collected for a full description (of Westminster), by a parish-clerk of St. Margaret's. I presume this is Henry Turner, mentioned in Widmore's _Account of the Writers of the History of Westminster Abbey_.... His book was only a survey of the city of Westminster, purposely omitting the history of the (collegiate) church."--Gough, _Brit. Top._ vol. i. p. 761. Lond. 1780. "The man's natural parts were very good; he was also very diligent in making enquiries relating to his subject, and he had collected a great deal."--Widmore's _Acc. of Writers of the Hist. of Westm. Abbey_, pp. 6, 7. Lond. 1751. As regards his personal history, I alighted on some curious notes on a fly-leaf of a transcript of a register: "Henry Turner, borne at Yearely, Derbyshire, 12. July, 1679: married Eliz. Sabin, of Clement Danes, in St. Margrts. Westmr. Feb. 26. 1701. by Dr. Onley."

In 1697 it was discovered that some valuable MS. records belonging to the parish, and taken out of the Tower of London, had been lost by their keeper. This history in its time appears to have suffered the same fate. However, there is this entry in the _Harleian MSS._ 7045. fol. 361.: "From the learned Dr. Kennet, Dean of Peterborough's Collection. MSS. MS. H. On Aug. 2. 1708, at Windsor, I read over the _History of the Parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster_, drawn up in MS. by one of the parish clerks." Some interesting extracts follow. Compare _Aysc. Add. MSS. Brit. Mus._ 4163. fol. 5. Bishop Kennet resided in St. James's Street, in this parish, and died there on Dec. 19. 1728. I have applied in vain for any account of this MS. to the librarians of Windsor Castle and Eton College.

Can any of your readers give a clue to its recovery? Are any aware that this survey, which would be valuable now, still exists? There is an instance, as early as the fifteenth century, of the union of the offices of lay-clerk and organist in St. Margaret's, in the person of one Metyngham, and H. Turner also held them at the same time; since, on July 28th, 1713, he was elected parish-clerk by the vestry, in "consideration of the experience they had of fitness and diligence in executing the office of deputy-clerk of this parish for several years last past;" and he did not resign the place of organist until 2nd October, 1718.

May I make another Query?--The gold chain and crucifix, laid in the grave of K. Edward the Confessor, were removed by Charles Taylor, and given into the hands of King James II. On the reverse of the same cross was pictured a Benedictine monk, in his habit, and on each side of him these capital Roman letter,--

On the right limb thus: and on the left thus:
(A) P.
Z. A. X A. C.
A H.

_Antiq. of St. Peter's_, vol. ii. App. n. iij, Ed. 1722.

What does the inscription mean? Is the former portion to be understood "[Greek: A. O. Zoae agion Christos]"? What is the import of the latter?

MACKENZIE WALCOTT, M.A.

* * * * *

THE TALISMAN OF CHARLEMAGNE.

Many years back, "Prince" Louis Napoleon was stated to be in possesion of the talisman of Charlemagne;--"a small nut, in a gold filigree envelopment, found round the neck of that monarch on the opening of his tomb, and given by the town of Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) to Buonaparte, and by him to his favourite Hortense, _ci-de-vant_ Queen of Holland, at whose death it descended to her son," the present President of the French Republic. {141}

The Germans have a curious legend connected with this talisman. It was framed by some of the magi in the train of the ambassadors of Aaroun-al-Raschid to the mighty Emperor of the West, at the instance of his spouse Fastrada, with the virtue that her husband should be always fascinated towards the person or thing on which it was. The constant love of Charles to this his spouse was the consequence; but, as it was not taken from her finger after death, the affection of the emperor was continued unchanging to the corpse, which he would on no account allow to be interred, even when it became offensive. His confessor, having some knowledge of the occult sciences, at last drew off the amulet from the inanimate body, which was then permitted to be buried; but he retained possession of it himself, and thence became Charles's chief favourite and prime minister, till he had been promoted to the highest ecclesiastical dignity, as Archbishop of Mainz and Chancellor of the Empire. At this pitch of power, whether he thought he could rise no higher, or scruples of conscience were awakened by the hierarchical vow, he would hold the heathen charm no longer, and he threw it into a lake not far from his metropolitan seat, where the town of Ingethüm now stands. The regard and affection of the monarch were immediately diverted from the monk, and all men, to the country surrounding the lake; and he determined on building there a magnificent palace for his constant residence, and robbed all the ancient royal and imperial residences, even to the distance of Ravenna, in Italy, to adorn it. Here he subsequently resided and died: but it seems the charm had a passive as well as an active power; his throes of death were long and violent; and though dissolution seemed every moment impending, still he lingered in ceaseless agony, till the Archbishop, who was called to his bed-side to administer the last sacred rites, perceiving the cause, caused the lake to be dragged, and, silently restoring the talisman to the person of the dying monarch, his struggling soul parted quietly away. The grave was opened by the third Otto in 997, and possibly the town of Aachen may have been thought the proper depository of the powerful drug, to be by them surrendered to one who was believed by many, as he believed himself to be, a second Charlemagne.

So much for the introduction to the following Queries:--1. Can any of your readers say whether this amulet is still in possession of the President of the French Republic? 2. If so, might not the believers in the doctrines of Sympathy attribute the votes of the six millions who, in Dec. 1848, voted in favour of his election, to the sympathetic influence of his "nut in gold filigree," and be justified in looking upon those who voted for his rivals as no true Franks? It was originally concocted for a Frankish monarch of pure blood, and may be supposed to exercise its potency only on those of genuine descent and untainted lineage.

WILLIAM BELL, Phil. Dr.

* * * * *

DICK SHORE--ISLE OF DOGS--KATHERINE PEGG.

I entirely concur in the opinion of your able correspondent, Mr. P. Cunningham, that Pepys's _Diary_ is well deserving all the illustrative light which may be reflected upon it from your useful pages. In submitting the following Query, however, my object is to glean a scrap of information on a point connected with the neglected topography of the east end of London, taking Pepys for my text. In the _Diary_, the entry for January 15th, 1660-61, contains this passage:--

"We took barge and went to Blackwall, and viewed the Dock and
the new west Dock which is newly made there, and a brave new
merchantman which is to launched shortly, and they say to be
called the Royal Oake. Hence we walked to _Dick Shoare_, and
thence to the Towre, and so home."--Vol. i. p. 178. new Ed.

I shall be glad to learn from any of your readers what part of the northern bank of the river, between Blackwall and the Tower, was called _Dick Shore_. It is not marked on any of the old maps of London I have been able to consult; but it was probably beyond the most easterly point generally shown within their limits. The modern maps present no trace of the locality in question.

The dock-yard visited by Pepys was long one of the most considerable private ship-building establishments in England. For may years it was conducted by Mr. Perry, and subsequently, under the firm of Wigram and Green, the property having been purchased by the late Sir Robert Wigram, Bart. The extensive premises are still applied to the same use; but they have been divided to form two distinct yards, conducted by separate firms.

The origin of the name (Isle of Dogs), given to the marshy tract of land lying within the bold curve of the Thames between Blackwall and Limehouse, is still undetermined. The common story is, that it receives its name from the king's hounds having been kept there during the residence of the royal family at Greenwich. This tradition is wholly unsupported; nor is it very probable that the king's hounds would be kennelled in this ungenial and inconvenient place, while they could be kept on the Kentish side of the river, in the vicinity of Greenwich Castle, then occupying the site of the present Observatory.

The denominations "isle" and "island" appear to have been bestowed on many places not geographically entitled to them. The Isle of Dogs, before the construction of the canal which now crosses its isthmus, was in fact a peninsula. Pepys {142} spent a night in the "isle of Doggs," as appears by his entry for July 24th, 1665, and again, on the 31st of the same month, he was compelled to wait in the "unlucky Isle of Doggs, in a chill place, the morning cool and wind fresh, above two if not three hours, to his great discontent."

To the account of Katherine Pegg, given by your correspondents, pp. 90, 91, may be added, that, besides Charles Fitz-Charles, Earl of Plymouth, she had, by Charles II., a daughter, who died in her infancy. Mrs. Pegg was one of the _three_ wives of Sir Edward Greene, of Sampford (not Samford), near Thaxted, Essex, created a baronet 26th July, 1660 (within two months of the Restoration), to whom she seems to have been not unfitly matched; for it is recorded of him that, "by his extravagancy and love of gambling, he entirely ruined his estate, and his large inheritance passed from his family." He had issue two daughters, who married.--See Burke's _Extinct Baronetage_.

I do not think that Katherine Pegg, whose son by the King was born in 1657, was "the pretty woman newly come called Pegg," saluted by Pepys, 7th May, 1668, as Mr. Cunningham surmises.

J.T. HAMMACK.

December.

* * * * *

MINOR QUERIES.

_The Strand Maypole._--"E.F.R." inquires what was the ultimate fate of the "tall Maypole" which "once o'erlooked the Strand"? It was taken down about the year 1717, when it was found to measure a hundred feet. It was obtained by Sir Isaac Newton, and borne on a carriage, for timber, to Wanstead, in Essex, the seat of the Earl of Tylney, where, under the direction of the Reverend Mr. Pound Breton, it was placed in the Park, for the erection of a telescope, the largest then in the world, presented by a French gentleman to the Royal Society.

_To Fettle._--What is the derivation of the verb "to fettle?" In the North it means to amend--to repair--to put a thing, which is out of order, into such a state as to effectuate, or to be effectual for, its original, or a given purpose; e.g. a cart out of order is sent to the wheelwright's to be fettled. It has been suggested that the word is a verbalised corruption of the word "effectual." Bailey, in his _Dictionary_, has designated it as a north country word: but it is evident that he misunderstood its entire meaning; for he has merely "to fettle _to_," and seems to have been ignorant of the use of the word "fettle" as a verb active. To revert to my former example of its use--An injured cart is fettled by the wheel-wright; the wheelwright fettles the injured cart.

L.C.R.

_Greek Verse._--Can any of your readers inform me who is the author of the line--

"[Greek: Pollai men thnaetois glottai, mia d' athanatoisi]?"