EPITAPH.

(Vol. vi., p. 340.)

A. A. D. makes inquiry about an epitaph of a rather curious character having a local habitation; which Query I cannot solve, but can give him a few. I think, equally remarkable, whose genuine local habitations I can vouch for. The two following I have just copied within Ashburton Church, Devonshire; and the third had an existence there also about thirty years ago, since which time, it being engraved on slate, it has become almost obliterated, in consequence of the water finding its way within the crevices of the stone, becoming frozen in the winter months, and consequently enlarged in volume, which has caused the slate to desquamate in large scales.

1. On Thomas Harris, tanner, who died September 30th, 1637:

"Fear not to die;

Learn this of me,

No ills in death,

If good thou be."

SHAKSPEARE EMENDATIONS.

(Vol. vi., pp. 135. 423.)

The doubt your correspondent C. expresses factorily answered from the pages of the poet, who about the phrase "I am put to know," may be satisuses similar phraseology in other places. It evidently, significs "I am obliged or constrained to know." Thus in Cymbeline, Act II. Sc. 3.:

"I am much sorry, Sir,

You put me to forget a lady's manners,
By being so verbal."

So in Coriolanus, Act III. Sc. 2.:

"You have put me now to such a part, which never I shall discharge to the life."

And in 2 King Henry VI., Act III. Sc. 1.: "And, had I first been put to speak my mind,

I think I should have told your Grace's tale." I was much pleased to see the Query respecting the passage in As You Like It, Act III. Sc. 5., respecting the words "all at once." It was one of the passages I had marked as requiring attention.

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Within this space two brothers heere confin'd, Though by death parted, yet by death close join'd: The eldest of these two, plac'd in his tomb, Greeted the younger with a welcome home. They liv'd, they lov'd, and now rest in tomb, Together sleeping in their mother's womb." The third, which is still fresh in the recollection of the sexton, ran thus (I should have said that a

part of the stone (slate) still exists, imbedded in the wall, just outside the chancel door):

it stands, "not merely surplusage, but nonsense." It is somewhat singular that it should hitherto escaped the attention of the two acute and able have passed unquestioned, and that it should have correspondents who discussed the passage for other purposes.

I now feel assured that it is to be placed in the numerous list of printer's errors, and is not without a remedy, and that not so forced and improbable as the substitution of à l'outrecuidance, proposed by MR. FORBES. The printer, misled probably by a blurred or illegible manuscript, has substituted the word all for rail, and we should undoubtedly read,

"And why, I pray you? who might be your mother? That you insult, exult, and rail, at once Over the wretched?"

Should any exception be taken to the phrase "rail over the wretched," I answer that the poet uses to rail on and to rail upon in other places.

The printer does not seem to have been more vigilant here than elsewhere; for just above, in Phoebe's speech, he has given us capable instead of palpable. I read:

"Lean but upon a rush, The cicatrice and palpable impressure Thy palm some moment keeps ;"

not being content with the attempts of Johnson and Malone to make sense of "capable impressure," or with Mr. Knight's gloss which interprets it able to receive! S. W. SINGER. Mickleham.

As I started the doubt which MR. C. FORBES of the Temple has attempted to clear up, I may be

permitted to say that his proposition does not at all satisfy me. C.

TUMBLE-DOWN DICK.

(Vol. vi., p. 391.)

When old London Bridge was standing, there was, very near to the southern extremity, and on the western side of the street, a tavern displaying this sign. Perhaps an inquiry into the history of that house may give L. B. some information. I never heard that it had any reference to the Re storation. The sign merely represented a man falling intoxicated from his chair. It is to be observed that the lines quoted from Butler, though by no means respectful to Richard Cromwell, do not connect the epithet "Tumble-down" with his F. S. Q.

name.

Your correspondent L. B. asks if any other signs called "Tumble-down Dick" are known. I am familiar with one in Norfolk, at Woodton, on the high road between Norwich and Bungay, about five miles from the latter place, and I have heard it spoken of as a memorial of the overthrow of Richard Cromwell. A few years ago the sign was repainted; but with the old design, a very redwaistcoated John Bull, bottle and glass in hand, toppling off his chair, in a fashion indicative of as gross a violation of the law of gravitation, as the act was intended to express respecting the rules of sobriety. In this region, where Puritanism and Nonconformity were deeply rooted, the antagonist spirit was correspondingly strong. The celebration of the 29th of May, in a very High Church has not been discontinued above a single generation; and the children still observe it, by bumping," with right rustic good-will, their companions who are unadorned with oak-leaves, with the same gusto and ignorance that the 5th of November was kept withal, till the recent movement of Pius IX. revived the ancient spirit. I once saw the children attending an Independent Sunday School, keeping the day in this fashion; and on inquiring, discovered that they had the custom from their elders, but what they were celebrating they did not at all know; nor did a boy from the Church School, who was joining in the sport. This illustrates the existence of the temper which would set up a "Tumble-down Dick" over a tippling house, and would retain the sign thus "thro' age after age revolving."

manner,

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DARIDIANUS.

B. B. WOODWARD.

INSCRIPTION AT BAVENNO.

(Vol. vi., p. 359.)

I am afraid your correspondent A. B. R. is putting himself and others to useless trouble in

inquiring for "an explanation of the word Daridianus," as well as in seeking for "any note of the erection of a church, which would certainly seem to date from the first century." The inscription observed by A. B. R. in the Church of Bavenno says nothing about that or any other church; it merely informs us that Trophimus Daridianus, a slave of the Emperor Claudius's, dedicated the inscription to Memoria and Tarpeia.

blunder for Dardanianus, a name which is reguAs to Daridianus, I suspect it to be a mason's larly formed from Dardanius, though I am not

aware that it is to be found in books.

In the latter part of the inscription a proper Memorie, and perhaps, if this Note comes to the name seems to have been obliterated by time after knowledge of A. B. R., he may tell us something of the state of preservation in which he found the inscription : : but, whether it be perfect or not, he may rest assured (unless he can produce further evidence) that Trophimus had no more to do with founding the church at Bavenno than M. Ulpius Cerdo, Lucretius Lucretianus, and others, who set up ancient inscriptions now preserved in the British Museum, had to do with erecting that great national building.

L.

P.S.-I subjoin two inscriptions, which I copied some years ago at the British Museum; the first on account of its form; the second, to show that blunders are not uncommon in ancient inscriptions:

The variations noticed by MR. COLLIER between his copy of the folio edition of 1632 and other copies of the same edition (proving that corrections were made of the text whilst the edition was actually in the press), reminds me of a similar instance, pointed out to me by MR. HENRY FOSs in his copy of the edition of 1623. The passage occurs in Twelfth Night, Act V. Sc. 1., in which the Duke says,

"O thou dissembling cub! what wilt thou be, When time hath sow'd a grizzle on thy case?" This is the reading of many (how many?) copies of the first folio edition, and has been received without suspicion by every modern editor, including MR. KNIGHT and MR. COLLIER himself, who

explain case by skin or exterior. The latter notes, "The skin of a fox, or of a rabbit, is called its case." The expression, to say the least, is incorrect and forced; but in MR. Foss's copy, we are at once led to the true and obvious rendering, for the text stands thus:

"Du. O thou dissembling cub! what wilt thou be,

When time hath sow'd a grizzle on thy cafe?"

Proving, beyond doubt, that the word in question should be face; but by transposition of the letters became cafe, and was then altered into case. May not this easy confusion of s and ƒ throw light upon some other passages, hitherto unsuspected? F. MADDEN.

I send you an account of a first folio which is in my possession. It is unfortunately an imperfect copy, and I should be exceedingly obliged to you if you could put me in the way of perfecting it. I am afraid separate leaves of the first folio are difficult to meet with; but should you know where any are to be found, perhaps you would inform me. I presume it would be impossible to procure the title with portrait. I must content myself with a fac-simile.

To copy Collodion Negatives on Collodion positively. Paste two strips of letter paper on the collodioned side of the negative proof; superimpose this on a prepared glass plate, and expose it to the influence of light, either natural or artificial, during half a second or a second, and develope in the usual manner. If required only for magiclanthorn slides, it is advisable to substitute for the hypo. a solution of common salt, 1 drachm to the ounce of water; this leaves the transparent portions opalescent, and produces a better effect than ground glass. J. B. HOCKIN.

dearer in price, and certainly not more sensitive than that produced according to the form given in your former Number of "N. & Q." (vide p. 277.) I may here observe that I find the sensitive qualities of the collodion may, to a great extent, be tested without the use of the camera, by looking through the film of collodion on the glass, after immersion in the nitrate of silver bath, when, if

good, it will be found to be of a bright orange through it, the appearance should be a bluish, colour, although, looking upon the surface and not opal-like, semi-opaque tint. If the collodion is over iodized, it is more opaque, and is apt to flake off in small films in the bath, leaving uneven surfaces, and consequent destruction to the picture. The sensitiveness is not increased by carrying the H. W. D. iodization beyond a certain point.

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Mr. Crookes' Wax-Paper Process.— There is a slight typographical error in the description of my wax-paper process, page 443., line 7 from bottom, where, with the addition of as much free iodide the addition of as much free iodine as will give it as will give it a sherry colour," should be, "with a sherry colour."

I should feel obliged by your causing this to be corrected, as it is one of the most important points in the whole process, but, as now worded, might lead those who are devoting much valuable time to this pleasing and important study astray.

WILLIAM CROOKES.

Ross' Lenses.—We have received from H. W., a gentleman whose acquirements entitle him to speak with authority on a point of science, a letter, praising in the highest terms the lenses made for photographic purposes by Ross of Featherstone Buildings, Holborn; and no doubt most deservedly. We do not insert the letter for three reasons: 1. Because it would have an appearance which the writer never intended, namely, to puff a man of science; 2. Because it contains no new facts; and 3. Because we fear the closing paragraph would tend to discourage the practice of an art which we agree with H. W. in considering “one of the most delightful occupations it is possible to conceive, for an artist or a man of leisure."

Replies to Minor Queries.

Coins placed in Foundations (Vol. vi., p. 270.).— The following passage shows this practice to have prevailed as early as 1658, though it may probably be traced to an earlier date :

But the ancient custome of placing coyns in considerable urns, and the present practice of burying medals in the noble foundations of Europe, are laudable ways of historical discoveries in actions, persons, chronologies; and posterity will applaud them.”Browne's Hydriotaphia, ch. iv.

ΑΝΟΝ.

Lady Day in Harvest (Vol. vi., p. 399. &c.). The following extracts from Wilkins's Concilia may, perhaps, be of some use to MR. EDWARDS in determining the day meant by this phrase. In vol. iii. p. 823. he will find "A copy of the act made for the abrogation of certain holydays, according to the transumpt lately sent by the king's highness to all bishops," &c., A.D. 1536, which received the assent of Convocation, and in which it is said:

"Also that all those feests or day holydays which shall happen to occurre eyther in the harvest time, which is to be compted from the fyrst day of July unto the 29 day of Septembre, or elles in the terme time at Westmynster, shall not be kepte or observed from henceforth as holydayes, but that it may be lawful for every man to go to his work or occupacyon upon the same as upon any other workyeday, excepte alwayes the feests of the apostles, of our blessed Lady, and of saynt George," &c.

Also at page 827. there is an "ordinatio in synodo provinciali, die 19 Julii, anni 1536, edita," wherein it is said,

-

"Item, quod a festo nativitatis S. Johan. Bapt. usque festum S. Michaelis archangeli nulli dies sanctorum in posterum celebrabuntur pro festivis aut feriatis, nisi dies apostolorum, Assumptionis, et Nativitatis B. Mariæ."

In these passages we have the legal definition of harvest time, viz. from July 1st (the octave of St. John the Baptist) to September 29th (St. Michael's Day), and also two Lady Days, mentioned within that period. The question, therefore, is reduced to the selection of one of these two.

F. A.

Quotations in Locke wanted (Vol. vi., p. 386.).— Probably the last of these quotations, supposed to be taken from Tertullian, is this, which is thus quoted by Wilberforce in his Doctrine of the Incarnation, ch. v. p. 114. 3rd edition:

"Crucifixus est Dei filius: non pudet, quia pudendum est; et mortuus est Dei filius: prorsus credibile est, quia ineptum est: et sepultus resurrexit: certum est, quia impossibile est.". Tertull. de Carne Christi, sec. v.

F. A.

Singing Bread (Vol. vi., p. 389.). Amongst the effects belonging to Sir John Fastolfe, one of the heroes of Agincourt (of which an inventory is given in the Archæologia, vol. xxi. p. 238.), will be found in the chapel, "One box for syngyng brede weyng 4 oz." To this item the following note is attached by the late Mr. Amyot:

"Pain à chanter,' i. e. the host or unleavened bread, consecrated by the priest singing. In Caxton's Doctrinal of Sapyence, there is a direction to the priest, that if in the host be any form of flesh, or other form than bread, he might not to use that host, but ought to

sing again.' In Queen Elizabeth's injunctions it is. ordered that the sacramental bread shall be of the same fineness and fashion, though somewhat bigger in compass and thickness, as the usual bread and water heretofore named singing-cakes, which served for the use of the private mass.' It was made into small Page 239. Davies, in his Monuments, &c. of the Church of Durham, 1593, speaks of an almery near one of the nine altars in that cathedral,

round cakes, impressed with the cross.

“Wherein singing-bread and wine were usually placed, at which the Sacristan caused his servant or scholar daily thereat to deliver singing-bread and wine to those who assisted in the celebration of mass."

In Strype's Life of Archbishop Parker is given a certificate from the Cathedral of Canterbury concerning the conformity to the rites and ceremonies of the church, in which it is stated (inter alia):

"For the ministering of the Communion we use

bread appointed by the Queen's Injunctions.” A marginal note, referring to the word "bread," repeats what has been quoted, viz. that it was to resemble the singing-cakes formerly used in priJ. H.M.

vate masses.

Profane Swearing by the English (Vol. iv., p. 37.; Vol. vi., p. 299.).—Long before "the mass went down," our countrymen appear to have been as much addicted to this profane swearing as in times of a more recent date. Of this the trial of Joan of Arc (ann. 1429) affords us a distinct proof. One of the witnesses, Colette, being asked who "Godon" was, made answer that the term was a nickname generally applied to the English on account of their continual use of the exclamation “G―d d―n it,” and not the designation of any particular individual. I derive this fact from Sharon Turner's Hist. Middle Ages, 8vo. edit. vol. ii. p. 555. W. B. M.

Dee Side.

Raspberry Plants from Seed found in the Stomach of an Ancient Briton (Vol. vi., p. 222.). — Some time ago I put a Query to your readers on the subject of the vitality of mummy wheat, which had been pronounced by Professor Henslowe to be erroneous. Your correspondent CERIDWEN appears, according to the same learned gentleman, to share in another popular delusion; he is reported to have remarked to the British Association (1852) that

"The instances of plants growing from seeds found in mummies were all erroneous. So also was the case, related by Dr. Lindley, of a raspberry-bush growing from seed found in the inside of a man buried in an ancient barrow."

H. W. G.

Since communicating on the above subject, I have been reading the Athenæum, and find by that

periodical, that the doubt of Professor Henslowe on the long vitality of seeds had led "a committee appointed to make experiments on the growth and vitality of seeds" to re-investigate the case of the raspberry seeds. Dr. Lankester and Dr. Royle both state that they saw no reason to doubt the correctness of the conclusion that the seeds which had been swallowed and buried in the stomach of a human being, had germinated after the lapse of centuries. (Athenæum, September 18. Meeting of the British Association, section Zoology and Botany.) H. W. G. Elgin.

Pompey the Little (Vol. vi., p. 483.). I would request that two misprints, arising probably more from illegible writing than from the printer's oversight, may be corrected.

1. Lady Sophister was Lady Orford, not Oxford, viz. Margaret, the daughter and sole heir of Samuel Rolle. She became Baroness Clinton in 1760, married, first, Robert, second Earl of Orford; secondly, the Hon. Sewallis Shirley, from both of whom she was separated, and died in 1781.

Many scattered notices of this eccentric woman will be found in H. Walpole's Letters. Lady M. W. Montagu admits that she had "talents with an engaging manner," but from her scepticism, and for other good reasons, she would not associate

with her.

attributes to Florus, Deacon of Lyon, that by Bede himself not having come down to us. He mentions an edition of some other treatises of Bede, and Letters imprinted at Dublin 1554. The following is the epitaph given by the same author:

"Beda Dei famulus, Monachorum nobile sidus,
Finibus è terræ profuit Ecclesiæ;

Solers iste Patrum scrutando per omnia sensum,
Eloquio viguit, plurima composuit.
Annos hâc vitâ, ter duxit ritè triginta.
Presbyter officio, utilis ingenio.
Jam septenis viduatus carne Calendis,

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Angligena Angelicam commeruit Patriam." Moreri gives the line quoted by your correspondent CEYREP; but as he speaks of it as beaucoup plus concise," it appears that the epitaph is contained in this one line.

Ussher, Hist. Dogmatica, p. 356., edit. 1689, says:

"Extat MS. in Bibliothecâ Lambethanâ Bedæ Expositio Geneseos, ad Accam, libris iii. In eâ explicantur 21 priora Geneseos capita. Expositio capitis primi duntaxat habetur inter Opera Bedæ, tom. iv. titulo Commentarii in Hexameron. Reliqua nondum prodierunt."

He quotes in the next page "Exposit. super Canticum Abacuc Propheta, MS. ibid.," p. 358. “ Lib. de Templo Solomonis." Epistola ad Egbertum Archiepiscopum Eboracensem, cf. pp. 105-107.

R. J. ALLEN.

[The article" BEDA " in Kippis' Biographia Britannica is worth consulting, especially for the notices of

Bede's works. The distinct titles of his various small

pieces, whether printed or in manuscript, may be seen in Tanner's Bibliotheca Britannico-Hibernica, pp. 86— 92.-ED.]

Hermits, ornamental and experimental (Vol. v., pp. 123.207.).—In Blackwood's Magazine for April, 1830, it is stated by Christopher North in the Noctes Ambrosiana, that the then editor of another magazine had been

and sate in a cave in that worthy baronet's grounds "For fourteen years Hermit to Lord Hill's father; with an hour-glass in his hand, and a beard once belonging to an old goat, from sunrise to sunset; with orders

like Giordano Bruno." to accept no half-crowns from visitors, but to behave

This is certainly strange training for a future editor; and no wonder that, when he emerged from his retirement, he found himself rather behind his age in matters of taste, as well as of general information; but no doubt a Pythagorean publisher was well matched with a hermit editor. Perhaps some of your contributors can tell whether Sir John Hill really kept such an appendage at Hawkestone, or if it be merely a joke of old Christopher's. J. S. WARDen.