Notes and Queries, Number 41, August 10, 1850

The bar of Michael Angelo."

To what does this allude? In the fine profile portrait by Julio Bonasoni, Michael Angelo appears to have had a protuberant brow; and Condivi says, in his very interesting and detailed account of his person, that his forehead was square, and that, seen in profile ("quasi avanza il naso"), it projected almost beyond the nose. It is remarkable that the same spirit pervades these verses which we find in the Platonic breathings of the Rime of the great artist; but we are most forcibly reminded of the poet of Vaucluse. The grief of the poet for the loss of his friend has however had a happier effect on his mind than the more impassioned nature of that of the lover of Laura produced: yet a kindred feeling, of spiritual communion with the lost one, pervades both poets; and this might have been the motto of Mr. Tenyson's volume:—

"Levommi il mio pensiero in parte ov' era
Quello eh' io cerco, e non ritrovo in terra;
… in questa spera
Sarai ancor meco, s' el desir non erra."

Foscolo has remarked that "when a great poet describes his own heart, his picture of Love will draw tears from the eyes of every sensitive mortal in every age." And no one can read these effusions of deepfelt virtuous affection without emotions of a happy tendency.

    S.W. SINGER.

ANNOTATED COPIES OF BISHOP ANDREWES' WORKS

Acting on a suggestion given in previous number, I beg to state that I shall be much obliged by the use of any annotated copies of the following works of Bp. Andrewes, which I am engaged in taking through the press:—Tortura Torti; Responsio ad Apolog. Cordius Bellarmini; Opuscula Posthuma; Two Answers to Cardinal Perron, &c.; Preces Privitæ.

    JAMES BLISS.

Ogburne St. Andrew, near Marlborough.

Minor Queries

Robert Innes, a Grub Street Poet.—Is there anything known respecting a strange "madcap," one Robert Innes, who, according to a printed broadside now before me, was a pauper in St. Peter's Hospital, 1787? He was in the habit of penning doggrel ballads and hawking them about for sale. Some of them have a degree of humour, and are, to a certain extent, valuable at the present time for their notices of passing events. In one of these now rare effusions, he styles himself "R. Innes, O.P.," and in explanation gives the following lines:—

"Some put unto their name A.M.,
And others put a D. and D.,
If 'tis no harm to mimick them,
I adds unto my name O.P.
"Master of Arts, sure I am not,
No Doctor, no Divine I be
But OAKUM PICKING is my lot,
Of the same clay are we all three."

The "works" of this "rogue and vagabond," now in my possession, were given me by the late Mr. Catnach of Seven Dials.

    EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

The Sicilian Vespers.—In what English work can a full and correct narrative of this event be found?

    C.H. COOPER.

Cambridge, July 29. 1850.

One Bell.—Can any of your readers favour me with a reference to some authority for the following, which may be found in Southey's Book of the Church (vol. ii. p. 121.)?

"Somerset pretended that one bell in a steeple was sufficient for summoning the people to prayer; and the country was thus in danger of losing its best music."

What follows is so beautiful and appropriate, that I may perhaps be excused for lengthening my quotation:

"—a music, hallowed by all circumstances, which, according equally with social exultation and with solitary pensiveness, though it falls upon many an unheeding ear, never fails to find some hearts which it exhilarates, and some which it softens."

It is a curious fact, that in many towers there may be often found a solitary black-letter Bell (if I may so call it), evidently of ante-Reformation date, making one of the peal.

    H.T.E.

Treasure Trove.—The prejudicial effect which the law of Treasure Trove, as it now exists in this country, has been found to exercise upon the preservation of objects of archaeological interest, especially if such articles happen to be formed of either of the precious metals, is just now exciting the attention of the antiquarian world. Any notes upon the state of this law upon the Continent, any references to instances of valuable "finds" which have been lost to archaeological investigation through the operation of this law, or to cases in which the decisions of the courts have been given upon questions of this law; in short, any hints or information upon any points connected with the subject of Treasure Trove will be thankfully received by,

    EFFESSA.

Poeta Anglicus.—The gloss on the Prooemium to the Constitutions of Clement V., col. iv. "Corp. Jur. Can." t. iii. Lugd. 1671, has the following remark:—

"Et dicitur a Papæ, quod est, interjectio admirantis, et vere admirabilis: quia vices Dei in terris gerit. Inde dixit ille Anglicus in poetria nova: Papa stupor mundi. Et circa fin., Qui maxima rerum, nec Deus es nec homo, quasi neuter es inter utrumque."

Who is the Anglicus Poeta? What is the name of his poem?

    J.B.

Hornbooks.—Can either of your numerous intelligent readers give me an account of the hornbooks from which our ancestors learned their letters? If so, I shall feel especially obliged for the information.

    JOHN TIMBS.

Ben Jonson, or Ben Johnson.—Among some papers I possess of the Digby family, I have an autograph poem on The Picture of the Minde of the Lady Venetia Digby, by Ben "Johnson." Is this the same as Ben "Jonson?" and if so, how comes it the "h" has been dropped from his name? Or was there some other Ben "Johnson," a poet of that period?

    N.A.B.

MS. Book of Prayers belonging to Queen Catherine Parr.—In vol. ix. of the Gentleman's Magazine is a description of a MS. book of prayers, bound in silver, which probably belonged to Queen Catherine Parr. Can you or any of your numerous readers inform me in whose possession the volume is now?

    J.L.W.

Waltheof—De Combre Family—Ilda.—In Waltheof, or the Siege of York, an historical drama published at York, 1832, one of the dramatis personæ, Judith, the niece of the Conqueror, and daughter of the Countess of Albemarle, is made to say,—

"When gallant Waltheof, as his country's champion,
On bus'ness of high import and high matters,
Oft at my royal uncle's court appeared,

…

"We married privately.
Two years and more have passed since this has happened,
And one sweet pledge of love has crowned our vows."

Now I am anxious to know,

1. Whether there be any historical authority for Waltheof being sent as envoy to William? and, if so, on what mission?

2. Is it not the more correct account, that the Conqueror gave his niece Judith in marriage to Waltheof after the surrender of the city, [at the same time that he conferred other honours upon him, out of respect for his brave defence of the city; creating him, first, Earl of Northhampton and Huntingdon, and afterwards Earl of Northumberland, A.D. 1070.] And if so, as Waltheof could certainly not have had any "pledge of love" before the siege of York; so neither is it probable that he had any issue at all by Judith, as in the same year, 1070, he was beheaded by William, for supposed participation in a conspiracy at York.

The above drama is said to be "by a descendant of one of the dramatis personæ," viz. of "De Combre, one of William's generals;" being written by Rev. Thomas Comber, of Oswaldkirk, Yorkshire. This De Combre is represented as having married Ilda, a daughter of King Harold, and sister of Edgar. Can any of your correspondents furnish me with information as to the origin and antiquity of this family of Comber? I learn from the present representatives of this family, that they have no recorded pedigree which goes higher than the reign of Henry VI., but that the family tradition has always been, that their ancestor came over from Normandy with William, and married Ilda, daughter of Harold. It seems that the name of Ilda is at this very day borne by one of the family. In the Memoirs of Dr. Thomas Comber, Dean of Durham, this De Combre is said to have had the manor of Barkham, in Sussex, given to him by the Conqueror. What family had King Harold II.? Had he any daughter Ilda? and, if so, is there any record or mention of her husband's name?