  Was Hugh Peters ever on the Stage?—In a pamphlet entitled Arbitrary Government displayed to the Life, in the illegal Transactions of the late Times under the tyrannick Usurpation of Oliver Cromwell, ed. 1690, p. 98., we are informed that Hugh Peters, after he had been expelled the University of Cambridge, went to London, and enrolled himself as player in Shakspeare's company, "in which he usually performed the part of Clown." Is there any other authority for this statement? English Synonymes.—What are the books of best authority for the synonymes of the English language? Christmas Day.—Which of the popes fixed dogmatically the 25th of December as the birthday of our Saviour? Was it not either Julius I. or II.? and what grounds had he for his decision? A Coggeshall Job.—"Saffron Walden, God help me."—Has the old saying of "A Coggeshall Job" occupied the attention of your readers? And why is it that many of the mendicants who ramble the county of Suffolk in search of relief, when asked where they come from, reply in a pitiful tone, "Saffron Walden, God help me." Easton. T. Gilburt on Clandestine Marriages.—I have a MS. against the validity of clandestine marriages, dated from Oxford, June 23rd, 1682, signed T. Gilburt. It is a learned and argumentative treatise on this subject. It is entitled:
I am anxious to know who this T. Gilburt may have been. Father Hehl, and Cahagnet.—If any of your numerous readers can say where any account of Father Hehl, who in 1774 discovered animal magnetism, may be found; and whether such a person as M.L. Alph. Cahagnet is living in Paris or elsewhere, whether he is a doctor or pharmacien, what his age may be, and whether the persons whose letters are given in his book, Arcanes de la Vie future dÉvoilÉs, are real or imaginary beings, they will greatly comfort Roman Catholic Bishops in Ireland.—Can any of your readers refer me to any printed or manuscript account of the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland by the Stuart family subsequent to the death of James II., containing names, dates, &c.? Derivation of the Word Fib.—Can any of your readers suggest a proper derivation of this word? Old Bailey, to whom a reference would occasionally save many doubts and inquiries, connects it with "fable." Johnson says nothing as to the etymology, but explains it as "a cant word among children;" while, at the same time, he inserts it on the authority of Pope and Arbuthnot. In reading the works of that very learned and instructive author, Samuel Werenfels, I was struck with a passage in his Diatribe de Meteoris, p. 272. (Amstel. Wetstein, 1702), which seemed to furnish a probable solution of the question:—"Propter abusum nominis Phoebi evenit, ut omnes qui, altius in oratione, quam decet, se extollere volunt, Gallis hodiernis f??????e?? Phoebum loqui, Parler Phebus, dicantur." So far as the sound is concerned, this seems a nearer approximation to "fib" than the word "fable." The sense, too, is not very remote from the accepted one of "talking fibs." Query, as to this conjecture? Brighton, Feb. 10. 1851. Thomas May, the Author of the Supplement to Lucan.—Who was this Thomas May? To an Elzevir edition of Lucan, 1658, Amsterdam, "accuranto Cornelio Schrevelio," there is added "Supplementum Lucani Libri Septem; authore Thoma Maio, Anglo." In the preface it is stated, "Supplementum Lucani ab Anglo quodam antehÂc seorsim editum, et huic materiÆ aptissimum adjunximus, ne quid esset quod hic desideraretur." In the fourth book of this Supplement, Cato is represented as soliloquising before his death as follows:— "Quam diversa, inquit, restant post funera sortes! Credo equidem, divine Plato, te dogmata vera HÆc ipsum docuisse Deum. Deus ipse sequendam (Aut Natura homines ratioque innata fefellit) Proposuit virtutem, et prÆmia debita justis HÆc quonian justos injusta potentia fraudat SÆpius in terris, et gens humana rebellat Solvere post mortem justissimus ipse tenetur." The famous soliloquy in Addison's Cato seems to resemble this, in its general tone of thought. In a former passage occur these lines:— "Solatia sola hÆc, Quod meliore frui post mortem lumine sperat. Immortalem animam spes hÆc probat." The idea is similar to that contained in— "Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire, This longing after immortality?" Addison seems to me to have had May's description of Cato's death in his mind, when he wrote the soliloquy. Bunting's Irish Melodies.—This admirable musical scholar many years since promised a new edition of the first two volumes of his Irish Airs. Is there any hope of this being soon accomplished? Stockholm. Rudbeck, Campi Elysii.—A copy of this work is said to exist in Sherard's[6] Collection, in the Botanical Garden, Oxford. It must have been acquired before 1797. (See Bibliotheca Banksiana, iii. 67.) Vol. I.—The title and some following leaves are written. Does any note exist as to who copied these leaves, or when, or where? Is any name of any former owner written on the book-back, title, or elsewhere; or is it known when it was purchased, or at what price? Does any library-mark, auction-number, or other identifying signature occur? Is it quite complete at the end, or is anything missing after page 224.? Does the whole consist of figures, or have some leaves an introduction, text, or corrections, &c.? Vol. II.—Does anything in this volume illustrate any of the above questions? Stockholm. Prince of Wales' Motto (Vol. iii., p. 106.).—The Query of Effessa is one of great interest to us "Taffies," but I wish to add the following to it. Is there any foundation for the idea, which we so strenuously maintain, that "Ich Dien" is a misspelled edition of "Eich Dyn," "Behold the man:" and that the motto was bestowed on Edward of Carnarvon in consequence of his royal father having learned these two Welsh words, and made use of them when he presented his infant to the assembled tribes as a prince who could "speak no word of English?" Borrow's Danish Ballads.—The singular author of Lavengro, Mr. Geo. Borrow, some years ago published certain translations of Danish or other northern ballads, with which I have never been able to meet. Can you or any of your readers furnish me with the title of the book and publisher's name? My curiosity respecting it has again been aroused somewhat strongly by the account in Lavengro of the way in which he began to study Danish. It might afford a good lesson to all young "philologers." I presume that, at the mature age of "Notes and Queries," commonplace compliments as to its usefulness and high general value, begin to be very stale; but I cannot close without a hearty "God speed" to you in your labours. Head of the Saviour.—Can any of your readers give me some information about an engraving of our Saviour, which may just now be seen in many of the London print-shops? It represents the side-face, and is said to be a fac-simile of a likeness engraved on an emerald by order of some Roman Emperor, and which served as the ransom of some other famous person (who, I quite forget). Is this really the truth? Lines on English History.—The Sword Flamberg.—I shall be greatly obliged to any of your correspondents who can inform me where I can procure a copy of some lines on English history, commencing: "William the Norman conquers England's state— In his own forest Rufus meets his fate," &c. They are said to be written by a Roman Catholic gentleman named Chaloner. I also wish to know something about the old German sword called the "Flamberg." I have seen it represented as twisted like a column of flame, and should like to know its history, and whether there was any allusion in it to the flaming sword that kept the gate of Paradise. Mention is made of it by KÖrner in his poem, "MÄnner und Buben:" "Stosst mit an Mann fÜr Mann Wer den Flamberg schwingen kann." Can your correspondents tell me, also, whether there is such a phrase, expressive of the place where four roads met, as a "four warnt way," and whence its origin, and how properly spelt? Denarius Philosophorum.—Can you inform me what the inscription "Denarius Philosophorum" means, on Bishop Thornborough's monument in Worcester Cathedral? "Sees Good in everything."—Where does the line, "Sees good in everything, and God in all." come from? Christchurch, Oxford. Oxford Friar's Voyage to the North Pole.—In a book I have, entitled Prospects of the most famous Parts of the World, date 1646, occurs the following:
Query, Who was the friar? and where is the account of his voyage to be found? Roman Catholic Church.—The Rev. J. M. Neale has just published an appendix to his Introduction to the History of the Holy Eastern Church, containing a list of all the sees in that communion, with the names of the present possessors. Can any of your correspondents inform me where I can meet with a similar notitia of the sees in the Roman Catholic Church? [The Almanach du ClergÉ de France contains a catalogue of Roman Catholic bishops throughout the world, complied from documents furnished by the Congregation De Propaganda Fide of Rome.] Cor LinguÆ.—May I ask who is the author of the following epigram, quoted by Coke on the trial of Garnet? "Cor linguÆ foederat naturÆ sanctio, Veluti in quodam certo connubio; Ergo cum dissonent cor et locutio, Sermo concipitur in adulterio." Bishop Hooper's Godly Confession, &c.—Being engaged in editing Bishop Hooper's works, and finding myself impeded by want of the original edition of his Godly Confession and Protestation of the Christian Faith, printed at London by John Day, 1550, I am induced to seek your assistance, and to ask whether you can inform me where a copy of the above work may be found? Browne's Hospital, Stamford. Extradition, Ignore, Diamagnetism.—In pursuance of my note to you regarding the definition of words in science and literature which may have sprung up of late years, will you allow me to quote, as instances in the latter department, the two words "extradition" and "ignore?" 1. Is the following a correct definition of "extradition," viz., "the surrender by a state, of a political refugee, at the request of a foreign power?" 2. Is the etymology of the word made up of "extra" and "ditio" put for "deditio," a giving up or surrendering? Does "ignore" mean to "treat as non-existent;" and are there no other words in the language which express exactly the meaning conveyed by these two? In science, I would ask, is "diamagnetism" correctly explained by terming it "the property of any substance whereby it turns itself, when freely suspended, at right angles to the magnetic meridian." Cinquante Lettres d'Exhortation.—Can any of your readers inform me who is the author of the following work?—
The copy which I have seen is lettered on the back "Beringke-Lettres;" but I can find no account of any person of that name at all likely to have written the letters, nor any authority for ascribing their authorship to a person of that name. Dublin. Old Tract on the Eucharist.—Can any of your readers tell me the name of the author of the following tract?—
Wishing to procure a copy, I have asked several booksellers, but without success. It has been most strongly recommended by a writer of the present day. |
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