Hermit Queries.—1. Some years ago a hermitage existed in certain grounds at Chelsea, the proprietor of which frequently advertised for a hermit, and, I believe, never got one. Who was the proprietor of the said hermitage; and did he ever succeed in getting his toy tenanted?

2. In Gilbert White's poem, Invitation to Selborne, the following lines occur:

The only edition of the "Letters" which I possess, is that by Sir William Jardine and Mr. Jesse, which affords a note on the passage, to the effect that the hermitage referred to was used by a young gentleman, who appeared occasionally "in the character of a hermit." What was the name of the eccentric, and what is known of his hermit life? Is the hermitage still in existence?

3. Where is to be found the best account of anchorites, real and fictitious?

Shirley Hibberd.

Derivation of "Cobb."—What is the derivation of the word Cobb? There is but one harbour of that name in England, that of Lyme Regis: there was once another at Swanage. This was also styled, some three centuries ago, the "Cobb or Conners."

Query: What is the derivation of the family name "Cobham?"

G. R. L.

Play-bills.—Will any of your correspondents inform me in what year play-bills were first introduced; and at what period the year was added to the day of the month and week, which only is attached to the early bills?

J. N. G. G.

Sir Edward Grymes, Bart.—A correspondent in a recent number of the Naval and Military Gazette, asks who was Sir Edward Grymes, Bart., whose appointment appeared in the War Office Gazette of December 10, 1776, as surgeon's mate to the garrison at Minorca, when the baronetcy came into the family, when he died, and whether a gentleman of the same rank has ever, before or since that period, served in a similar situation in the English army?

I have transferred these Queries to the columns of "N. & Q.," supposing that they might be answered by some of its correspondents.

W. W.

Malta.

Smollett's Strap.—In "N. & Q.," Vol. iii., p. 123., is an extract from the Examiner, March 26, 1809, relating to Hugh Hewson, who is there mentioned as being "no less a personage than the identical Hugh Strap."

Mr. Faulkner, in his History of Chelsea, vol. i. p. 171., states that Mr. W. Lewis, of Lombard Street, Chelsea, was the original of this character. He established himself in Chelsea by Smollett's advice, and died there about 1785. Faulkner states that he resided with his widow for seven years, and thus having opportunities of being acquainted with the facts, I am inclined to give his account the preference. Now that these different accounts are brought forward, some reader of "N. & Q." may be enabled with certainty to fix who was the identical.

H. G. D.

The Iron Mask.—Mr. James Cornish (Vol. v., p. 474.) says, that "after half a century's active exertions, the Iron Mask was unveiled," and this sanguine person gives it also as his opinion that the author of Junius's Letters will "eventually be unearthed." The last event may perhaps happen; but what authority has he for asserting that the mysterious secret of the "Masque de Fer" has ever been satisfactorily explained? Numerous, learned, and ingenious, as many of the hypotheses on the subject have been for upwards of a century, I have always imagined that an impenetrable veil of secrecy still continued to cover this wonderful historical mystery.

A. S. A.

Wuzzeerabad.

Bland Family.—In the Carey pedigree in the Ducatus Leodiensis, it is stated that Sir Philip Carey of Hunslet, near Leeds (brother of the first Visct. Falkland), married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Rich. Bland of Carleton (about A.D. 1600). Can any of your numerous readers inform me who this Mr. Bland was, whom he married, and which Carleton is meant?

I have searched the Yorkshire Visitations at the Museum, and consulted Nich. Carlisle's History of the Bland Family, with no result.

Possibly Mr. Hunter, who is so deeply versed in Yorkshire matters, might throw some light on the subject.

G. E. Adams.

Oxford and Cambridge Club.

Thomas Watson, Bishop of St. David's, 1687-99, &c.—No notice of the period or place of his death has yet appeared, nor of the age of Bishop Turner of Calcutta, 1829-31, as also that of Bishop Gobat. Regarding, the latter prelate, as he is styled D.D. in the ecclesiastical almanacks and directories, I am anxious to learn whether that degree was conferred upon him by any English university on his consecration in 1846?

A. S. A.

Wuzzeerabad.

Crescent.—The article under this head in the EncyclopÆdia Metropolitana, asserts that the crescent was first adopted by the Ottomans as a symbol after the taking of Constantinople in 1446. If so, the device must have been unknown to the Saracens at the time of the Crusades. Can any of your readers inform me whether this statement is correct?

Ficulnus.

"Quod fuit esse."—I should be glad to know the sense of the following epitaph, copied at Lavenham Church, Norfolk, many years since; it has long lain in my note-book, waiting for such a publication as "N. & Q.," through which to inquire its meaning:

A. B. R.

Belmont.

"Coming home to men's business."—Where does the phrase "coming home to men's business and bosoms" first occur? I find it said of Bacon's Essays in Baconiana, 1st edit. 1679?

J. P.

Birmingham.

Thomas Gibbes of Fenton.—Can any of your genealogical readers tell me what other issue (if any) there was of the marriage of Thomas Gibbes of Fenton, in the parish of Dartington, in the county of Devon, and Anne, daughter of Sir William Courtenay of Powderham, besides their son William Gibbes, who died in London A.D. 1570?

Also whether John Gibbes of Fenton, father of the above-named Thomas Gibbes, who married the heiress of William May or Mey, had any other issue?

Henry H. Gibbs.

Frognal, Hampstead.

"The Whipping Toms" at Leicester.—A singular annual custom, under the above designation, formerly prevailed in this town, from time immemorial, on Shrove Tuesday. It is unnecessary to take up your valuable space with a detailed account of it, as it is fully described in Throsby's History of Leicester, p. 356., and in Hone's Year-Book, p. 538.

My object is to inquire if any custom at all analogous to it is known to have existed elsewhere, and, if so, what is the supposed origin of it?

Nothing whatever is known of the origin of the custom in this town, beyond a vague popular tradition that it was instituted (like several other curious customs) by John of Gaunt, during his lengthened residence in the castle within what was then termed "The New-Works" of which (now called "The Newarke") the gathering was held.

However venerable from its antiquity, it was, like too many of the sports of the Middle Ages, a custom "more honoured in the breach than the observance," and, as such, was put down in the year 1847 by a local act of parliament; not, however, without a serious affray between the police and the people.

Leicestriensis.

The Trial of Our Lord.—I have lately seen an old picture of the Trial of Our Lord before Pilate, who sits in the midst of the Jewish Sanhedrim, each member of which has a scroll over his head, giving his name and the sentence he is said to have uttered on that occasion. I have been told there is a large coarse engraving of this picture sometimes to be found in cottages, but I have not been able to procure one. The names and sentiments are of course fictitious; is anything known of their origin?

P. P.

Olney.—Can any correspondent state what is the signification of this name? The ancient spelling is Olnei or Olney, not Oulney, as it has sometimes been spelled of late years. The difficulty is not as to the termination ey, but as to the first syllable.

The parish church, which stands at the southern extremity of the town, on the banks of the Ouse, is entirely (modern alterations excepted) of the fourteenth century. There is not a trace of any earlier work. Tradition says that the church was formerly at the other, or northern end of the town, where there is a place which is, as I am informed, described in the deeds of some of the adjoining premises as the old churchyard, though it has been desecrated time out of mind. Closely adjacent is a clear spring, still called "Christenwell," and also the trunk of a very ancient elm. Human bones are stated to have been occasionally dug up within the enclosure.

There is a vague tradition that the town as well as the church has been removed southward, i. e. nearer the river. Readers of "N. & Q." who can supply any information respecting the removal of the church and town, or any other particulars (in addition to those contained in Dr. Lipscomb's History of Bucks) concerning the parish of Olney, including the hamlet and manor of Warrington, and the now district parish of Weston-Underwood, will greatly oblige

W. P. Storer.

Olney, Bucks.

Album.—What was the origin, and where do we find the earliest notice of the kind of friendly memorial book so well known among us as an album? Was it not first used by the learned men of Germany as a repository for the complimentary tributes of their foreign visitors? Is there any mention of it in any English author earlier than Izaak Walton, who tells us that Sir Henry Wotton, when ambassador at Venice, wrote in the album of Christopher Flecamore a Latin sentence to the effect that "an ambassador is an honest man, sent to lie abroad for the good of his country?" Where is the earliest specimen of an English album, according to the modern form and use of the scrapbook so called?

D.

The Lisle Family.—Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." give me some fuller information than is to be found in Lyttleton's History of England, or refer me to any authorities for such, concerning the family and connexions of the following personages?

There was a Lady Lisle, who, temp. Jac. II., was tried at Winchester by the notorious Judge Jeffries, and afterwards executed, for harbouring two rebels after the battle of Sedgemoor. I believe she was beheaded as a favour, instead of being burnt. She was the widow of one of the judges who consented to the death of that ill-fated monarch Charles I.

I observe the barony of Lisle has been extinct, or in abeyance, on four or five different occasions; was either about this time? The present peerage appears to have been created circa 1758. Are these descendants of that family?

I possess portraits of Lord and Lady Lisle (size six feet by four), and much wish to learn the above, together with any other particulars relating to the family.

John Garland.

Dorchester.

Wards of the Crown.—I find the origin of this ancient prerogative of royalty thus quaintly explained at p. 132. of King's Vale Royall of England, 1656. Hugh Lupus, first Norman Earl of Chester, and nephew of the Conqueror, at his death in 1101, left his son

"Richard, then an infant of seven years of age, entituled then to his Earldome of Chester, and married to Matilda, daughter to Stephen, Earl of Blois. And this Matilda was niece to King Henry I., by reason whereof the said king took into his tuition and custody the said young earl; from whence, they say, this of a custome grew to be a law, that young heirs in their nonage became pupils, or wards, unto the king. A very tender care had this king over this princely child, and brought him up in the company of his own children, with whom he sent him into Normandy, and with them there provided the most princely and best education for them."

Their after-history is well known. Having duly arrived at man's estate, these promising young princes and their companion, Richard, the royal ward, were sent for from Normandy by the affectionate king, whence, taking ship at Harfleur, they set sail for England; but, through some mismanagement, the vessel striking upon a rock, the entire company perished except one butcher, who, by the help of a mast, swam safe to land. This tragedy happened about December 7, 1120.

I believe this to be the first instance recorded in English history of a ward to the king, but shall be happy to receive correction from any better-informed correspondent of "N. & Q."

T. Hughes.

Chester.

Tate, an Artist.—A friend of mine has a very fine family portrait, very much admired by judges, and generally ascribed to Reynolds, whose style it greatly resembles. But I believe it has with some confidence been stated to be the work of a pupil of Sir Joshua's, named Tate. The picture is about seventy years old. Would you, or any of your readers, kindly inform me whether an artist of that name lived at that time, and whether he was a pupil of Sir Joshua Reynolds?

A. W.

Kilburn.

Philip d'Auvergne.—

"On the 12th of March, 1792, the King of Great Britain granted to Captain Philip d'Auvergne, R. N., his licence to accept the succession to the said duchy (Bouillon), in case of the death of the hereditary prince, only son of the reigning duke, without issue male, pursuant to a declaration of his Serene Highness, dated June 25th, 1791, at the desire, and with the express and formal consent of the nation."

I find this in Brooke's Gazetteer, under the heading of "Bouillon." Can any of your correspondents give a further account of Captain d'Auvergne? I suppose the troubles consequent upon the French Revolution would prevent his accession to the duchy, even if he survived the hereditary prince?

E. H. A.

Somersetshire Ballad.—I have a note of the following verse of an old ballad. Where can I find the remaining verses?

"Go ask the vicar of Taunton Deane,

And he'll tell you the banns were askit,

And a good fat ceapun he had for his peains,

And he's carrit it whoom in his baskit."