vocalists with this word, so that they read it also in the same manner. I am aware that the poets sanctioned or suggested the practice; but were they not driven to it from the paucity of rhymes to the colloquial sound of that useful factor of theirs, the wind? Herbert in his Affliction was forced to resort to "friend" to finish a couplet, and Tennyson in our day has accepted the situation, never once deviating to the lay and legitimate reading. Musicians, I fear, have thus been led to adopt a blemish for a beauty, robbing an eminently descriptive word of its force and character by a conventional agreement for which I submit there is no sufficient warrant or excuse. VINCENT S. LEAN. Windham Club. SELDEN'S "TABLE-TALK."-In the Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme, recently printed by the Folk-lore Society, Aubrey, in the part dated 1688, p. 55, says : "Mr. J. Seldon writt a 4to booke called Tabletalke; weh will not endure the Test for y Presse...... The Earle of Abingdon hath a copie of it in MS.: as also y Earle of Carbery it will not endure the Presse." This quotation, perhaps, explains why the TableTalk was not published till 1689, nine years after the death of the Rev. Richard Milward, the recorder of its contents. Many things in it would be distasteful to a censor in Stuart times, but in 1689 there would be no such difficulty. Milward, in the dedication prefixed to the first edition, says that "lest all those Excellent things that usually fell from him [Selden] might be lost, some of them from time to time I faithfully committed to Writing"; and Mr. Arber, in the introduction to his reprint, "We should not forget that we have but stray fragments of talk......collected-probably without the Speaker's knowledge-one, two, or three at a time, over a period of twenty years; and classified long afterwards, as seemed best to their Preserver." But do not Aubrey's words imply that Selden himself had at least some share in preparing the work? The quotation is, I think, worth noting, for the Table-Talk, though much neglected, is a very interesting and valuable book. Wimbledon. GEO. L. APPERSON. "ALL WISE MEN ARE OF THE SAME RELIGION, AND ALL WISE MEN KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES."An article upon Russel of the Scotsman in Fraser's Magazine for September, 1880, has a note on p. 316, in which this saying is traced to its origin :"It is useful to track a story to its origin; and as many attribute the saying to which we refer to Samuel Rogers and others, here is the true source, which is found in John Toland's Clidophorus, c. xiii.:-This puts me in mind of what I was told by a near relation of the old Lord Shaftesbury. The latter, conferring one day with Major Wildman about the many sects of religion in the world, they came to this conclusion at last: that notwith "CUCKOO "THE PURPLE ORCHIS. Various cuckoo-flowers have been mentioned, from time to time, in "N. & Q.," but I have searched every volume of the General Index without being able to find that the early purple orchis (Orchis mascula) is called "cuckoo." I am aware, however, that it is referred to by the poet Clare in the following lines: "These blue-bells all Seem waving to the beautiful in song, And gaping cukoo-flower with spotted leaves Seems blushing at the singing it has heard." This orchis is surmised to have been Shakspeare's "long purples" ("N. & Q." 1st S. x. 226, where also see notes on the "cuckoo-buds of yellow hue"). The arum plant, known as "lords and ladies," is also known as cuckoo-pint." But I called "cuckoo" (and not "cuckoo-flower") until never remember to have heard the purple orchis Saturday, April 30th, when the children in the Rutland village where I live had been to the woods to get wild flowers for the "garland," which May 2nd, and carried round the parish by the Maywas made early on the following Monday morning, queen and her attendants. I asked one of the girls what flowers she had got, and she answered, Primroses, cowslips, voilets, 'nemmonies, bluebells, and cuckoos." The so-called "blue-bells," I need hardly say, were the miscalled hyacinths— the first that I had seen this year; and the "cuckoos" were the purple orchis. CUTHBERT BEDE. A HORN BOOK.-The following account of a horn book recently found when pulling down an old house at Newbury, Berks, may interest some of your readers. It consists of a page of letter-press which measures 2 × 2 inches, mounted on a piece of oak of slightly larger size, the lower end of which is shaped as a handle. It is covered with a sheet of transparent horn, which is kept in its place by means of narrow strips of thin brass, fastened with small nails. The letter-press, which is surrounded by an ornamental border, consists of the alphabet, preceded by a +, first in small letters and then in Roman capitals. Next are, on one side of the middle line, the vowels alone, followed by the vowels with the consonants b, c, d; on the other side the same reversed. Following, is, first, "In the name of the Father," &c., and lastly, the Lord's prayer. At the same time and place there was found one of George I.'s lead Bombay pieces. This may help to fix the date of the horn book. W. L. NASH. CENTENARIANS.-The following cases of alleged centenarians, which I have lately come across, may interest some of your readers, and I should be glad to see them confirmed by further evidence if such be forthcoming. In the churchyard of Leatherhead, Surrey, I find, "Ann Gates, of Leatherhead, died June 1st, 1848, aged 101 years," and "Ann Watson (her mother) died in August, 1811, aged 105 years." At Ilfracombe the following list is inscribed on one stone against the east wall of the church :"John Pill, died May 17th, 1784, aged 100. "Sarah Williams, died Jan. 12th, 1788, aged 107. "William Soaper, died Nov. 6th, 1804, aged 103. "John Davis, died March 4th, 1840, aged 102. "Elizabeth Brooks, died Jan. 10th, 1858, aged 100. Nanny Vagges, born June 19th, 1758, died Oct. 6th, 1859. "Jane Richards, died June 13th, 1875, aged 101. C. S. JERRAM. FOLK-LORE OF THE CUCKOO.-The Hungarians have a superstitious belief that any one hearing the cuckoo for the first time in the year during the moon's first quarter, and counting how often the bird repeats "Cuckoo" without intermission, may expect to have just so many years of life before him. I do not remember to have heard that this superstition obtains elsewhere. Dulwich, S.E. J. LORAINE HEELIS. its original vellum binding, and on a fly-leaf is written, "de l'heur cache pas, 1593"; probably either a quotation or an anagram. In this volume the last ode is that in which Ronsard foretells his own fame. As it may be unknown to many readers of " N. & Q.," I will give it here, and with it a translation, for which I must ask their indulgence :"Ode xxxvi. Plus dur que fer i'ay finy mon ouvrage, Que l'eau rongearde, ou des freres la rage Tousiours tousiours, sans que iamais ie meure. De mes Lauriers honorez & couuers: More durable than iron is the work I've done. Ever! Ever! Ever more undying, Up then, my muse! Carry my glory higher Ashford, Kent. RALPH N. JAMES. MR. W. S. FITCH'S SUFFOLK COLLECTIONS : FIREBRACE FAMILY.-This collection of books and MSS. relating to Suffolk was sold by Messrs. Puttick & Simpson on July 2 and 3, 1855, at their rooms, 191, Piccadilly. Lots 11 (MSS. 1 vol.) 12 (MSS. 2 vols.), and 165 (letters in 3 vols.) were sold to Hope, and lot 499 (MSS. thick folio vol.) to Goodyere. Will any one inform me of the addresses of Messrs. Hope and Goodyere, and who are the present possessors of these four lots, especially Nos. 11 and 165, which contained some letters written by members of the Firebrace family, all which I am most anxious to see for a literary purpose? Should this query come to the notice of collectors device? for the counties of Derby, Essex, Kent, Leicester, belong, and how was it intended to translate the and Suffolk, or of collectors of autographs, any S. T. S. H. of whom may have MSS., memoranda, documents, letters, &c., of the Firebrace, Farbrace, Fairbrass A GREEK PROVERB.-Prof. Wilkins, in his families, I should feel greatly obliged if they would edition of Cic., De Oratore, tells us (note, p. 128) kindly communicate with me direct. that the saying ἐκ τοῦ λέγειν τὸ λέγειν πορίCerai is "quoted (apparently) first by Henrichsen, without authority, and repeated from him by subsequent editors. I cannot discover its source," adds the learned professor. Has any reader of "N. & Q." been more fortunate? THOMAS POWELL. 3, Gloucester Crescent, Hyde Park, W. C. MASON. D'ALBANIE OF ENGLAND.--Shortly after the arrival of Cardinal Wiseman in England, at the time of the Papal aggression, some of the more eminent of his co-religionists presented him with an address, which was printed in the public journals. Among those who signed it were many Roman Catholic peers, and, I think, preceding the name of Lord Denbigh was that of "D'Albanie of England." A reference to a copy of the address will oblige. A. M. "THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE BIBLE."-Can you tell me who published this book, translated from the French into English? I believe the title is as above. It contains some very curious inscriptions from tombs; amongst them, one stating that Moses was the son of Pharaoh's daughter. F. H. "CHILDE HAROLD," CANTO III., STANZA 88.— I shall be much obliged if you will allow me to ask the readers of "N. & Q." if there is any satisfactory explanation of "Fortune, fame, power, life, have named themselves a star." WALTER C. BAKER. Batcombe Rectory, Evercreech, Bath. "STRETCH - LEG" FOR DEATH: COVERDALE's "REMAINS "" (Parker Soc., 1846).- In the first book "Of Death," cap. xxxix., I came across the word "stretch-leg ":" Learn to beware by the example of other men upon whom stretch-leg came suddenly and slew them, even when they thought nothing less than to die." Why so called, and where else used? W. G. P. FAYERMAN.-Who was Mr. Tucker, the father of Mary Genevieve, wife of Admiral Francis Fayerman? She was born 1762, and died 1816; buried at Pershore. CROCKER OF LINEHAM, CO. DEVON.-Is there any pedigree of this family brought down to about 1725 ? "CORVUM NE VIXIT CENSURA COLUMBAM."The portrait of a man of good family (time of William III.) represents him with a badge on his coat. The badge is black and round, about the size of a crown piece, and is on a blue bow or ribbon. The subject is a dove or pigeon rising, surrounded by the above questionable Latin. Query, to what order or society did this badge Bootle. AN UNCOMMON ANIMAL: THE "SHAH GOEST."— Can any of your readers inform me what was the species of the creature referred to in the following paragraph from the Annual Register, October, 1759, p. 119? "A very beautiful and uncommon animal, lately Kawn, nabob of Bengal, to General Clive, who sent it to arrived from the East Indies, presented by Jaffer Ally the right hon. William Pitt, esq; and of which that gentleman had the honour to obtain his majesty's acceptance, is lodged in the Tower. It is called in the Indostan language, a Shah Goest, and is even in that country esteemed an extraordinary rarity, there having been never known more than five in those parts, all which were procured for the said nabob from the confines of Tartary. It is now in the Tower, attended by a of it to England." domestic of the nabob's, who was charged with the care An old catalogue of the Tower menagerie might help to throw some light on this very vague JAMES H. FENNELL. announcement. 14, Red Lion Passage, W.C. GIBLEIO.-In Barret's Theorique and Practike of Modern Warres, 1598, p. 144, we read, "that his bands charge not too neare the front of their owne foote squadrons, for feare of inconvenience that might ensue, as it fell out at the overthrow of G bleio." Where was Gibleio, and what place is it, and when was it "overthrown"? Barret, if one may judge by his book, was an adventurer who may have served in armies other than of his own country. Nor have I been able to discover the name Gibleio, nor, as a forlorn though unlikely hope, to connect it with Gibraltar. I may add I have a better reason than mere curiosity for asking these questions. BR. NICHOLSON. SCRIPTURAL DRAMAS PRODUCED ON THE AMERICAN STAGE.-Three sacred dramas were produced at Barnum's Museum, New York, 1860 and 1866 1. Joseph and his Brethren, in three acts, produced under the direction of E. F. Taylor, performed with great success in September and October, 1860; 2. Moses in Egypt, a sacred drama, produced Feb. 19, 1866; 3. The Earthquake, a Scriptural drama, performed in 1866. Who are the authors of these plays, and are they printed? A sacred drama relating to the history of Sam son was performed about six years ago in many theatres in the western states of America, Charles Pope, the tragedian, enacting the character of Samson. Who wrote this play, and has it been printed? A drama on the subject of the Deluge was produced on the stage, about 1874, by Mr. Kiralfy. Is Mr. Kiralfy author of the libretto of the drama? Is the play printed? Mr. Jerome Hopkins (son of Bishop Hopkins) is the author of Esther, a sacred opera, produced (if I mistake not) about three or four years ago at the Academy of Music, New York. Is Mr. J. Hopkins the author of the libretto of the opera, and is it in print? Perhaps some of your American readers can favour me with the information desired. R. INGLIS. Edinburgh. "HOLPEN."-No one can have mixed much with the humbler country folk without often being made aware that they retain, in their ordinary conversation, many words that were common in former generations but have now gone out of use. The other day I had an instance of this in the word "holpen," which was used by an old Rutland cottager precisely in the signification that it bears in the Prayer Book translation of Psalm xxii. 5, they called upon thee and were holpen." Has the modern use of this word been noted elsewhere? CUTHBERT BEDE. A LEGEND OF A SAINT.-There is a wild legend, I think of an Irish saint, which tells how being at sea he had a like experience with Sindbad, that is, he came to what he conceived to be an island and landed thereon, but the supposed island turned out to be a huge fish, which in process of time sank down beneath the waters. I am anxious to find this tale, but know not where to look. Can some correspondent of "N. & Q" help me? I think, but am not sure, that the saint's name was Brendan. ANON. MRS. HOWE, DAUGHTER OF BISHOP WHITE KENNETT. It is stated in "N. & Q.," 2nd S. vii. 286, that Mrs. Howe, daughter of Bishop White Kennett, was the wife of Col. John Howe, who in 1718 was living at Great Staughton, near St. Neots. In a pedigree of the bishop I have lately come across no mention is made of Mrs. Howe. I suppose she was a daughter of the bishop by his first wife, but I shall be very glad to know any further particulars either of her or her husband. E. G. H. Can you tell me on what authority this statement with regard to the place of his birth has been made? Others have followed Chalmers in making it; but the bishop's name, I understand, does not appear in the parish register of baptisms, and Rudder and Bigland do not refer to his birth. I shall be glad to receive a reply. Авива. LOWTHER FAMILY.-Can you give me the name and date, &c., of a History of the Lowther Family, published upwards of forty years ago, professing to give a real history of the Lowthers, very different from that which passes current in the existing Peerages, and to show the real heir to the ancient title? MUS URBANUS. THE MONTH OF MARY.-Under "May Day," ante, p. 386, A. J. M. says, speaking of an old Devon custom, "The May baby, I suppose, is the B.V.M., as this is her month." Was the month of May ever sacred to Mary in the English Church? When did it become so in the churches of the Roman obedience? J. T. F. Bp. Hatfield's Hall, Durham. HUGHENDEN MANOR.-As everything about the late Lord Beaconsfield, or in any way connected with him, is interesting, will some of your correspondents give an explanation of the curious circumstances which some of the newspapers state were connected with Hughenden, and the litigation concerning it previous to its purchase by him? ECLECTIC. THE METRICAL PSALMS.-I want to know 1. By what authority certain hymns were annexed AUTHORS OF BOOKS WANTED.— St. Johnstown; or, the Days of John, Earl of Gowrie. AUTHORS OF QUOTATIONS Wanted.— ROBERT HUNTINGTON, D.D., BISHOP OF RAPHOE. It is stated in Chalmers's General Biographical Dictionary, vol. xviii. p. 337, that "Robert Huntington, a learned English divine, was born at Deorhyrst [Deerhurst], in Gloucester- business," the "business" being that of a herald. shire, where his father was minister, in 1636." To my Wife more than Twenty Years after Marriage. "I loved thee dearly in thy glow of youth When health and hope and smiles were on thy brow." M. E. "The foolish man does not know his own foolish LAPINE. Replies. JOHN READING: THE READINGS. (3rd S. i. 109; vi. 61; 4th S. i. 12; 6th S. ii. 434; iii. 49.) THE "ADESTE FIDELES." (4th S. xi. 75, 219; 5th S. xi. 265, 298, 331, 372, 418; xii. 173, 357, 457; 6th S. i. 85, 141, 160, 224; ii. 434, 487; iii. 49.) I am gratified to find that the information I first gave in "N. & Q." respecting the Reading family, has been incorporated in Grove's Dictionary. As the matter seems to be one of considerable interest, I have much pleasure in supplying new facts, the result of recent investigations. A list of the clerical and lay vicars of Lincoln Cathedral, dated 1661, includes the name of John Reading, but the first mention of the name in the "Chapter Acts" occurs thus, quendam Redding "admitted "Junior Vicar,". Oct. 10, 1667; and "John Redding" was admitted "Poor Clerk" Nov. 28, 1667, obviously the same person, as it was usual to unite the two offices. Again, on June 7, 1670, "John Reading" is appointed << Magister Choristorum," and 51. is ordered to be paid him at the next audit, to be continued yearly, for teaching the boys to cast accounts and prick-song. He was succeeded by William Holder, but when the "Chapter Acts" do not tell us. We find, however, that John Cutts was appointed "Magister Choristorum on Jan. 14, 1684, "in place of William Holder, deceased." I think Reading migrated to Winchester, and was the John Reading appointed organist of the cathedral in 1675, and in 1681 of the college, having resigned the cathedral appointment. My reason for believing Reading left Lincoln is that no trace can be found of any record of his death there. Reading died at Winchester in 1692, and was succeeded by Jeremiah Clarke (I prefer this spelling of the name, as it accords with that given by Dr. P. Hayes, who states that he obtains his information from the "College Accompt Books and School Rolls"). Clarke resigned in 1695, and was succeeded by John Bishop. Dr. P. Hayes is my authority for these statements. We now come to the John Reading who, I have suggested, was the son of the former. He was born in 1677 (there ought to be some record of this at Winchester), and was "educated in the Chappel Royal under the late famous Dr. Blow," as we learn from the title-pages of his Book of New Anthems, and also his Book of New Songs. Both of these I sent to the Caxton Exhibition, and dated them c. 1709, because of the reference to the late Dr. Blow, but the fact had escaped me when writing my last paper for "N. & Q." What Reading did on the breaking of his voice we do not know, but the records of Dulwich College have the following entry : "1702 Mr. John Reading organist above 2 years yet never admitted." So that he probably became organist of Dulwich College in 1699; why he was not admitted to the fourth fellow's place, which by right belonged to the organist, is not discoverable, but we find that the Visitor interfered, for the next entry reads thus: "Mr. Will. Howell organist March 11, 1703, by Archbishop's order." Reading having left Dulwich, we turn to the Lincoln Cathedral "Chapter Acts," and find the following entries :-Nov. 21, 1702, John Reading admitted "Junior Vicar and Poor Clerk," and on Oct. 5, 1703, John Reading complains that his salary has not been paid. On Sept. 28, 1704, he was appointed "Instructor Choristorum in musicâ vocali," Richard Hare being appointed to teach the choristers instrumental music. There is no entry respecting his resignation, but his successor, Thomas Weely, was appointed Nov. 17, 1707. The following extracts from the books of St. John's, Hackney, give us the next clue to the doings of Reading : "Jan. 28, 1707.-At a vestry then holden (after notice given in the church) to choose an organist in the roome of Alexander Johnson late organist deceased. Candidates for the place John Crowfoot, Whealey, Haywood, Reading, Greene, Magnus. The choice by a great majority fell upon John Reading. Chosen for one year to commence at Lady-day next. For the quarter to end at Lady-day next the vestry ordered the widow of the late organist to be payd." "June 1st, 1709.-At a vestry held the following matters were transacted. Present Mr. Newcome Curate (in the chair) 16 vestrymen 2 Churchwardens. Mr. John Redding organist applies for encrese of Salary being 12. per ann: and no more. Deferred till the return of Mr. Peter Newcome (Vicar)." provided by the churchwardens or some gentlemen of the vestry to view the organ in the church and that a report be made to the next vestry what will be the charge of repairing the same." "Dec. 31st, 1713-Ordered that some able Artist be "Jan. 14, 1713/14.-Agreed that the further considerathat the vestry be called for Thursday next." tion of the organ be adjourned until the next vestry and (Thursday)." Agreed that the churchwardens do enter into articles in writing according to the proposals marked No. 1 for the sum of ninety pounds, and that he engages to keep it in order for the term of seven years. after such repairs as aforsaid gratis, signed Jno. Knappell." I have not elsewhere met with the name of Knappell as an organ builder. " Ap. 19, 1717.-Mr. Jno. Reading organist of this Parish having been complained of in respect to the discharge of that place. Agreed that the election of an notice be given him to attend the same." organist be suspended till the next vestry and that "Ap. 19, 1720.-Mr. John Reading Organist, continued upon ye conditions hereunder. A representation being made to Mr. John Reading, Organist of some irregularities relating to ye execution of his office as organist ries too long, light airy and jiggy tunes, no ways proper of this parish and particularly for playing the voluntato raise the devotions suitable for a religious assembly |