Notes and Queries 1850.04.06 by Various
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Various >> Notes and Queries 1850.04.06
For these reasons, and considering that Sir William Blackstone's
knowledge of English history was rather superficial, I incline to the
belief, that the [Old English: dom bec] referred to in the laws of
Edward the Elder, was some collection of laws made _prior_ to the time
of Alfred: this might clearly be the case, as Sharon Turner informs
us that the Saxon laws were committed to writing as early as the
commencement of the 7th century.
The opinions of your learned correspondents on this disputed point may
be of much interest to many of your readers, and to none more than to
George Munford.
East Winch.
* * * * *{366}
MINOR QUERIES.
_MSS. of the Wycliffite Translations of the Scriptures_.--The Add. MS.
15,521., in the British Museum, contains a copy of Lewis's edition
of the _Wycliffite New Testament_, printed in 1731, with manuscript
notes by Ames and Lewis, and the former has transcribed into it some
_additional prologues_, prefixed to each book of the New Testament,
which had not been printed by Lewis, and were taken by Ames from a MS.
of the New Testament, written in 1424, and in 1731 in the possession
of Thomas Granger. It would be very desirable to learn what became of
this MS. subsequently. Granger died in the following year, but the
MS. does not appear in the sale catalogue of his library, nor is it
found in the catalogue of Ames's own library, dispersed in 1760. Any
information relative to this remarkable copy of the New Testament,
would be very acceptable to the Editors of the _Wycliffite Versions
of the Scriptures_, who are now, after a literary labour of more than
twenty years, about to bring the work to a conclusion. They would
also feel much obliged by the communication of any notices of MSS. of
the Wycliffite versions, _existing in private hands_, exclusive of
those copies of which they already possess descriptions, existing in
the libraries of the following individuals:--Mrs. Allanson of Farn,
Flintshire, the Earl of Ashburnham, Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., Sir
Peregrine Ackland, Bart., Sir David Dundas, H.M. Judge Advocate, Dr.
Cardwell, Principal of St. Alban's Hall, Oxford, and Thomas Bannister,
Esq.
F. Madden.
British Museum, March 28.
_Why are Gloves not worn before Royalty?_--Can any of your readers
inform me what is the origin of the custom observed at Court, of
persons in the royal presence not wearing gloves? Is it a matter of
pure etiquette, or does the observance of it derive its origins from
barbarous times, when chivalry was little else than barbarism in
armour?
F.E.
_Law Courts at St. Albans_.--Can any of your correspondents give
me the reference to a communication in the _Gentleman's Magazine_
(between, I think, the years 1815 and 1836), in which a passage
in Massinger, which alludes to lawyers going to St. Albans, is
illustrated by an inscription in the nave of St. Alban's Abbey Church,
which records that the courts were held there on account of the
sweating-sickness in the reign of Elizabeth?
[Greek: Sigma.]
_Richard Haley, or Hales.--Milton Pedigree_.--I should feel obliged
by any particulars respecting Richard Haley, or Hales, of Idlestreete,
otherwise Ilstreyd, in com. Hertford, yeoman; my object being to
ascertain the nature of some transaction he had with Milton, in July
1674, referred to in a bond which the former executed, dated the
27th of that month, for performance of the covenants contained in an
indenture of even date.
Is any thing known of Richard Milton, who signs his name as the
attesting witness to the releases given by two of the poet's daughters
for their share of his estate? Is there any pedigree of the family of
Sir Christopher Milton, the poet's brother, drawn up with sufficient
apparent accuracy to exclude the probability of Richard Milton being
his son? I have referred to the pedigree in the British Museum (Harl.
MS. 5802. fo. 19b.), which makes no mention of the letter; but it is
evidently so imperfect a notice, as to be of little authority one way
or other.
J.F.M.
_Sapcote Motto_.--Over the old gatehouse of Elton, co. Hunts., built
by the family of Sapcote, is their coat of arms, namely, "three
dove-cotes;" and upon a scroll, surrounding the lower part of the
shield, is carved a motto, evidently French, and as evidently cut by
a person ignorant of that language. So far as I can decypher it, the
letters appear to be
sco toot X vinic [or umic]
X poncs.
Possibly the first and last letters _s_ are only flourishes. I shall
be glad of any suggestion as to its meaning.
I have not been able to find the Sapcote motto on record; and I
believe the Carysfoot family, the possessors of Elton, and the Duke
of Bedford, the heir in blood, to be ignorant of what this scroll is
intended to represent.
Erminois.
Athenaeum Club.
_Scala Coeli_.--In a will, dated 12 Hen. VIII., the testator directs
that there shall be four trentals of Saint Gregory said for his soul
at London at "Scala Coeli." Can any of your readers explain what place
is meant by "Scala Coeli?"
A Subscriber.
_Illustrations of Gresset's "Vert Vert," painted on Enamel, &c._--In
a Paris edition of Gresset's Works (Janet et Cotelle, 1823), in the
preface is the following passage.--
"Vert-vert fut bientot dans toutes les mains. Le suffrage de
la multitude se joignit a celui des connoisseurs; la mode, qui
est aussi en possession de donner son suffrage, s'empressa de
parer les ajustemens d'invention recente, du nom de l'illustre
perroquet; _les vases d'ornement, les vases usuels_ qui
sortoient des fabriques francoises, retracoient presque tous
quelques episodes du petit poeme. Un artist dont le nom est
venu jusqu'a nous, Raux, en _peignit sur email les sujets
les plus marquants_; et tandis qu'on faisoit passer dans une
version latine les vers elegants du poete jesuite, M. Bertin,
ministre d'etat, le gratifioit d'un magnifique _cabaret_ de
Sevres, dont toutes les pieces reproduisoient les aventures
de son heros, ce qui fit dire a Gresset, _qu'on le traduisoit
aussi en porcelaine de Sevres_." {367}
The _Query_ I wish to make is, Have any of these illustrations or
designs from Gresset's poem of Vert-vert, painted on enamel china, or
earthenware of any sort, of French or any other manufacture, come to
light of late years? or more lately still, among the articles that
have been dispersed among various buyers of almost all nations, in the
sales within these few weeks effected at Paris?
Robert Snow.
_Urbanus Regius_.--A friend of mine, a delightful old lady, fresh,
genial, and inquisitive, has in her possession an old volume, a family
heir-loom, which is not the less dear to her for being somewhat dingy
and dilapidated, and touching which she would gladly receive such
information as your correspondents can supply.
It is made up of three apparently distinct treatises; the first
(of which several leaves are wanting) on the twelve articles of the
Apostles' Creed. The second is "The ryght foundation, and pryncypall
common places of the hole godly Scripture," &c., by Doctor Urbanus
Regius. Prefixed is an epistle to Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury
(evidently Cranmer), to whom "Hys dayly oratoure, Gwalter Lynne (the
writer of the epistle), wyssheth lyfe euerlastynge." Between this
second treatise and the third, and apparently belonging to the latter,
is a title-page with the following inscription:
"Imprinted for Gwalter Lynne, dwelling upon Somers Kaye, by
Byllinges gate. In the yeare of oure Lorde. MDXLVIII. And they
by [_sic_] to be solde at Poules church yarde at the north
doore, In the signe of the By-bell, By Richard Jugge."
This last treatise is in smaller type than the others, and has no
general designation: it contains chapters on various subjects, e.g.
"The Signification of Baptism," &c.
Query 1. Is this volume well known? 2. Who were Urbanus Regius and
Walter Lynne?
G.P.
March 16. 1850.
* * * * *
REPLIES.
THE ARABIC NUMERALS AND CIPHER.
I might, with a little more consideration, have referred "E.V." to
several other authorities which he will do well to consult.
9. Wallis's _Algebra_, p. 9. and p. 153. of the additions.
10. _Phil. Trans._, Nos. 439. and 475.
11. Montucla, _Histoire des Mathematiques_, tom. i. chap. 2.
12. Baillie, _Histoire de l'Astronomie_.
13. Delambre[1], _Hist. de l'Astr. du moyen age_.
14. Hutton's _Tracts_ (8vo. ed. 1812.), vol. ii. (subject "History of
Algebra")
15. Huet, _Demonstratio Evangelica_.
16. Dr. John Taylor's Translation of the _Lilawati_. (Bombay, 1816.)
17. Strachey's Translation of the _Bija Ganita_[2].
18. Colebrooke's _Algebra of the Hindus_.
Would it not be worth while to give a _facsimile_ of the "Tabel for
all manere of merchauntes," in the "Notes and Queries"? It is not only
a curiosity, but an important element (and unique as far as is known)
in the philosophic history of our arithmetic. It was, no doubt, an
actual instrument in constant use in the merchant's office, as much so
as an almanac, interest-tables, a "cambist" and a copying-press, are
now.
As regards the cipher, the difficulty only commenced with _writing
numbers_ in the new symbology. With persons accustomed to the use
of this instrument, there is no doubt that the mode of obviating the
difficulty of "keeping the place," would suggest itself at once. In
this instrument an empty hole (without its peg) _signified_ "none of
this denomination." What then more simple than to make the outline
of the empty hole which occupied the "local position" of any
denomination, when none of that precise denomination occurred in the
number itself? Under this view the process at least becomes simple
and natural; and as the early merchants contributed so largely to the
improvement of our arithmetical processes, such a conclusion is wholly
divested of improbability on any other ground. The circle would then
naturally become, as it certainly has practically become, the most
appropriate symbol of _nothingness_.
As regards the term _cipher_ or _zero_ (which are so obviously the
same as to need no remark), it is admitted on all hands to be derived
from one or other of the Semitic languages, the Hebrew or the Arabic.
It is customery with the mathematical historians to refer it to the
Arabic, they being in general more conversant with it than with the
Hebrew. The Arabic being a smaller hand than the Hebrew, a dot was
used instead of the circle for marking the "place" at which the hiatus
of any "denomination" occurred. If we obtained our cipher from this,
it would be made hollow (a mere _ceinture_, girdle, or ring) to
save the trouble of making a dot sufficiently large to correspond in
magnitude with our other numerals as we write them. Either is alike
possible--probability must be sought, for either over the other, from
a slightly different source.
The root-words in Hebrew and in Arabic are precisely the same
(_ts-ph-r_), though in the two {368} languages, and at different ages
of the same language, they might have been vowelised differently.
In some shape or other, this name is used in all countries that have
derived their arithmetic from mediaeval Italy, or from the Saracens. It
is with some _cipher_, with others _chiffre_, and with all _zero_. The
word is certainly no more Italian than it is French or English. Be it
remembered, too, that _ezor_ (quoted at p. 268.), as a _girdle_, is
radically the same word, somewhat mutilated. The cardinal meaning of
the word (denuded of the conventional accretions of signification,
which peculiar applications of it adds to the cardinal meaning)
appears to be _emptiness_, _hollowness_, _nothingness_. It may be
further remarked, that in the fine Chartres MS. of Boetius, described
by Chasles, the 0 is called _sipos_:--the same name, he remarks,
that Graves found in use in the East. The modern Turks call the 0,
_tsifra_.
It is curious enough that in all languages, the term _ciphering_ is
popularly used to denote all arithmetical operations whatever.
Our schoolboys do their "ciphering," and write carefully in their
"ciphering-books." This all seems to point to the art of dispensing
with the use of the abacus or counting table.
T.S.D.
Shooter's Hill, March 5.
[1] The best account, because the most consistent and
intelligible, of the Greek arithmetic, is that by Delambre, affixed to
Peyraud's edition of Archimedes.
[2] At a period of leisure I may be tempted to send you a few
extracts, somewhat curious, from some of the papers of Mr. Strachey in
my possession.
_Arabic Numerals_.--I had replied to "E.V." (No. 15. p. 230.), when
I saw by your "Notice to Correspondents," that the question was
answered. I therefore waited the publication of the replies, which I
find do not embrace any one of the points to which I would call the
attention of "E.V."--Diophantus of Alexandria, who flourished about
150 years after Christ, and who wrote thirteen books of algebra or
arithmetic in the Greek language, is generally supposed to be the
oldest writer on the subject that has come down to our time; but it
was not from him that we received the knowledge of algebra in Europe.
It appears certain that the first knowledge of this science in
England was from Italy or Spain, after the Moors settled in the latter
country; and the Arabians and Persians appear to have derived their
arithmetical method of computing by ten characters from the Indians:
who, in their turn, have most probably borrowed from the Chinese, and
improved on their method by the adoption of a zero, which was one of
the most important improvements effected by the Hindoos. In China,
the words ancient and modern are almost synonymous; their usages
and customs being so unchangeable, as appears by their instrument
of computation, the _swanpan_, which is still used in all their
calculations. The Oriental scholar will find much curious and
interesting information connected with this subject in the Sanscrit
_Vija Ganita_ and _Lilivati_ of Bhaskara Acharya: the former
was translated into Persian at Agra, or Delhi, in 1634, and the
latter by Fyzee in 1587; but there are also English translations,
all of which are in the library of the Royal Asiatic Society. The
_Khalasah-ul-Hisah_ is another work of repute in India. Mr. Strachey
wrote and printed in India, for the _Asiatic Researches_, a valuable
paper, which contains most conclusive evidence of the Indian (if not
Chinese) origin of our numerals. See also _Astronomie Indienne_,
of M. Bailly; 2d vol. _Asiatic Researches_, "On the Astronomical
Computations of the Hindoos," by Saml. Davis; "Two Dissertations on
Indian Astronomy and Trigonometry," by Professor Playfair, in the 2d
and 4th vols. of the _Edinburgh Philosophical Transactions_. And many
others might be referred to; but all tending to prove that our numbers
came originally from China and India, through Persia, Arabia, Africa,
Spain, and Italy, by gradual and successive changes in form, several
of them still retaining a close resemblance to the ancient and modern
Sanscrit, Chinese, Arabic, Persian, and Hindoo numerals.
Henry Wilkinson.
* * * * *
REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES.
I send you a few Notes on Queries scattered through some of the later
numbers of your very valuable publication:
_Anonymous Ravennas_.--In the library of the Royal Geographical
Society, I believe there is a copy of an 8vo. edition of that
cosmography.
_Selago_.--This plant, I should think it probable, is the _Lycopodium
clavatum_ of modern botanists; the seeds of which, when ripe, and when
the plant is struck, rise like smoke ("fumum" of Pliny), and may have
been supposed, from their remarkable inflammability when dashed into
a flame, igniting with a sudden flash, to have possessed wonderful
virtues. The species known as _Lycopodium selago_ is rare in
comparison to the other.
_Portugal_.--In the library of the Geographical Society are some of
the more recent works published in Lisbon on the topography of that
country, but they are generally very meagre and unsatisfactory. In a
periodical published in Lisbon in numbers, on the plan of the _Penny
Magazine_, there is a good deal of information, with engravings,
regarding many places of interest in Portugal. I think it is called
_The Album_, but I am sorry I have not at present the power of sending
you more correct particulars concerning it. It is in 4to.
Portugal is a country that is so little travelled in either by natives
or foreigners, that information regarding places in the interior
is not easily obtained; and facilities for travelling, as well as
accommodation for travellers, is of a very limited description.
_Sir Roger de Coverley_.--In one of your early numbers was a query on
this subject, which I do not think has been yet answered. I have a MS.
{369} account of the family of Calverley, of Calverley, in Yorkshire,
an autograph of Ralph Thoresby in the year 1717, in which occurs the
following passage:--
"_Roger_, so named from the Archbishop" (of York), "was
a person of renowned hospitality, since, at this day, the
obsolete known tune of _Roger a Calverley_ is referred to
him, who, according to the custom of those times, kept his
_minstrells_, from that their office named _harpers_, which
became a family and possessed lands till late years in and
about _Calverley_, called to this day _Harpersroids_ and
_Harper's Spring_.... He was a knight, and lived in the time
of K. Richard 1st. His seal, appended to one of his charters,
is large, with a chevalier on horseback."
W. CALVERLEY TREVELYAN.
* * * * *
DERIVATIONS OF "NEWS."
It is not declared with what motive "Mr. GUTCH" (No. 17. p. 270.) has
laid before the readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES" the alleged derivation
of N.E.W.S.
It must therefore be supposed, that his object was to have its
justness and probability commented upon; and it is quite time that
they should be so, since the derivation in question has of late become
quite a favourite authoritative dictum with etymology compilers.
Thus it may be found, in the very words and form adopted by your
correspondent, in Haydn's _Dictionary of Dates_, and in other
authorities of equal weight.
This sort of initial-letter derivation was probably brought into
fashion in England by the alleged origin of "Cabal," or, perhaps, by
the many guesses at the much disputed word "AEra." I shall take the
liberty of quoting a few sentences with reference to such etymologies,
_as a class_, which I find in an unpublished manuscript upon a kindred
subject.
"Besides, such a splitting up of a word of significant and
perfect meaning in itself is always a bad and suspicious mode
of derivation.
"It is generally an after-thought, suggested by some
fortuitous or fancied coincidence, that appropriateness of
which is by no means a sufficient proof of probability.
"Of this there can scarcely be a better example than the
English word 'news,' which, notwithstanding the felicity of
its supposed derivation from the four cardinal points, must,
nevertheless, so long as the corresponding words 'nova,'
'nouvelles,' &c. exist, be consigned to its more sober and
common-place origin in the adjective '_new_.'"
To this it must be added that the ancient orthography of the word
_newes_, completely upsets the derivation Mr. Gutch has brought before
your readers. Hone quotes from "one Burton, printed in 1614: 'if any
one read now-a-days, it is a play-book, or _a pamphlet_ of _newes_."
I had been in two minds whether or not to send this communication,
when the scale is completely turned by the apropos occurrence of a
corroboration of this latter objection in "NOTES AND QUERIES" of this
day. Mr. Rimbault mentions (at p. 277.), "a rare black letter volume
entitled _Newes from Scotland_, 1591."
Here is one more proof of the usefulness of your publication, that I
am thus enabled to strengthen the illustration of a totally different
subject by the incidental authority of a fellow correspondent.
A.E.B.
Leeds, March, 1850.
* * * * *
REPLIES TO MINOR QUERIES.
_Swot_ is, as the querist supposes, a military cant term, and
a sufficiently vulgar one too. It originated at the great
slang-manufactory for the army, the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
You may depend upon the following account of it, which I had many
years ago from the late Thomas Leybourne, F.R.S., Senior Professor of
Mathematics in that college.
One of the Professors, Dr. William Wallace, in addition to his being a
Scotchman, had a bald head, and an exceedingly "broad Scotch" accent,
besides a not very delicate discrimination in the choice of his
English terms relating to social life. It happened on one hot summer's
day, nearly half a century ago, that he had been teaching a class,
and had worked himself into a considerable effusion from the skin. He
took out his handkerchief, rubbed his head and forehead violently, and
exclaimed in his Perthshire dialect,--"_It maks one swot_." This was
a God-send to the "gentlemen cadets," wishing to achieve a notoriety
as wits and slangsters; and mathematics generally ever after became
_swot_, and mathematicians _swots_. I have often heard it said:--"I
never could do _swot_ well, Sir;" and "these dull fellows, the
_swots_, can talk of nothing but triangles and equations."
I should have thought that the _sheer disgustingness_ of the
idea would have shut the word out of the vocabularies of English
_gentlemen_. It remains nevertheless a standard term in the vocabulary
of an English soldier. It is well, at all events, that future ages
should know its etymology.
T.S.D.
_Pokership_, (_ante_, pp. 185. 218. 269. 282. 323, 324.)--I am sorry
to see that no progress has yet been made towards a satisfactory
explanation of this office. I was in hopes that something better than
mere conjecture would have been supplied from the peculiar facilities
of "T.R.F." "W.H.C." (p. 323.) has done little more than refer to the
same instruments as had been already adverted to by me in p. 269.,
with the new reading {370} of _poulterer_ for poker! With repect to
"T.R.F.'s" conjecture, I should be more ready to accept it if he
could produce a single example of the word _pawker_, in the sense of
a hog-warden. The quotation from the Pipe-roll of John is founded on
a mistake. The entry occurs in other previous rolls, and is there
clearly explained to refer to the _porter of Hereford Castle_. Thus,
in Pipe 2 Hen. II. and 3 Hen. II. we have, under Hereford,
"In liberatione portarii castelli ... 30s. 5d."
In Pipe 1 Ric. I. we have,
"In liberatione constituta portarii de Hereford, 30s. 5d."
Again, in Pipe 3 Joh.
"In liberatione constituta portario de Hereford, 30s. 5d."
A similar entry is to be found in other rolls, as well printed as
inedited. I could indulge some other criticisms on the communication
of your correspondent in Spring Gardens, but I prefer encouraging
him to make further inquiries, and to produce from the records in
his custody some more satisfactory solution of the difficulty. In the
meantime, let me refer to a Survey of Wrigmore Castle in the Lansdowne
Collection, No. 40. fo. 82. The surveyor there reports, that the
paling, rails, &c. of the park are much decayed in many and sundry
places, and he estimates the repairs, with allowance of timber from
the wood there, "by good surveye and oversight of the _poker_ and
other officers of the said parke," at 4l. The date of the survey is 13
May, 1584.
Comparing this notice of the office with the receiver's accounts
tempore Hen. VII. and Hen. VIII. (_ante_, p. 269.), in which the
officer is called "pocarius omnium boscorum," I cannot doubt that his
duty, or at least one of his duties, was that of woodward, and that,
as such, he assigned timber for repair of the premises. How he came by
his local title and style of poker is a mystery on which we have all
hitherto failed to throw any light.
E.S.
_Vox Populi Vox Dei_,--about the origin of which saying "QUAESITOR"
asks (No. 21. p. 321.),--were the words chosen by the Archbishop of
Canterbury, Simon Mepham, as his text for the sermon which he preached
when Edward III. was called to the throne, from which the nation had
pulled down his father, Edward II. This we learn from Walsingham, who
says:
"Archiepiscopus vero Cantuariae praesenti consensit electioni,
ut omnes praelati et archiepiscopus quidem assumpto themate,
_Vox populi Vox Dei_, sermonem fecit populo, exhortans
omnes ut apud regem regum intercederent pro electo."--Tho.
Walsingham, _Hist. Angl._ ed. Camden, p. 126.
DANIEL ROCK.
_A living Dog better than a dead Lion_.--I no not know whether your
correspondent (No. 22. p. 352.) ever goes to church; but if he is not
prevented by rain next St. Swithin's day, he will learn who was the
author of this proverb. It will be a good thing, if your work should
sometimes lead your readers to search the Scriptures, and give them
credit for wisdom that has flowed from them so long, and far, and
wide, that its source is forgotten; but this is not the place for a
sermon, and I now only add, "here endeth the first lesson" from