Notes and Queries, Number 42, August 17, 1850

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 The statute in question has, I think, never been repealed; but in the absence of abbatoirs, or other proper provision for the slaughtering of cattle without the walls of the city, it seems doubtful whether the pains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 - See Parish Register of Hart, Durham, December 17th, 1596; of St. Nicholas, Newcastle, December 31st 1664.] And when discipline began to be relaxed, and murderers were interred even within the church itself, it was still on the north side.[2 - Parish Register of St. Nicholas, Newcastle August 1st, 1616, and August 13th, 1620.] 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.

The anthologies published by Dr. Bowring, besides his Russian, Dutch, and Spanish, are the Magyar, Bohemian, Servian, and Polish.

Writing from Oxford, where the first Russian grammar ever published was printed, as your correspondent JARLTZBERG correctly states, perhaps it may interest him, or his friend, who, he says, is about to go to Russia, to be informed (should he not already be aware of the fact) that a "Course of Lectures on Russian Literature" was delivered in this university, by Professor Trithen, at Sir Robert Tayler's Institution, in the winter of 1849.

    J.M.

Oxford, Aug. 6. 1850.

MISCELLANEOUS