13. William Lodge, of Leeds, painter, engraver, and traveller; born 1688.

With the engraved portraits I am acquainted; but any information respecting portraits in oil of the above-named persons, either through your columns or direct, will be a favour.

EDWARD HAILSTONE.

Horton Hall, Bradford, Yorkshire.

LORD DARNLEY.-Sandford says, in his useful work, that Darnley was not five months in Scotland before his marriage with the queen; and that he, "at the time, did not exceed his nineteenth year."

Can you inform me what was the exact date of his birth, which is said to have occurred at Temple Newsome in 1545, as I am desirous of ascertaining his age at the time of his assassination?

Mary's marriage with Darnley was most probably political. He was a dangerous rival: his descent from Margaret Tudor had placed him too near the crown of England. Had he remained in the South, and propitiated Elizabeth, it is very probable he would have been her successor.

That Darnley passionately loved Mary, appears certain. He was young, accomplished, and, unfortunately for himself, credulous. This was soon found out; and the whispers as to Rizzio's intercourse with his wife brought about the catastrophe that ultimately ended in his own murder. J. M.

DEPLEDGE.—I wish to learn, through your instructive journal, the meaning of a term used by the villagers for a portion of the place in which I live. It is called "the depledge." I find nothing to help me in the dictionaries but the obsolete word "pleached," used by Shakspeare, and reintroduced into poetry by Emerson in his last volume of verses, where he writes of his "pleached garden"; while Shakspeare had written "the pleached bower," and of "pleached In my deeds the field is called the "depleach," which comes nearer to the ancient term for woven or plaited work. My "depledge" used to be a "boggart place' -a dark mass of trees; and I wonder often whether the term "depledge," or "depleach," arose from this circumstance: if so, why the prefix de-? None of the old inhabitants can tell me why the place is called the "Depledge"; so I ask you, Mr. Editor, is the name elsewhere used for a tangled collection of trees, a pleached "natural" bower?

arms."

Cheadle, Cheshire.

D. S.

ERMINE IN HERALDRY.I am told that an ermine field in a coat armorial is indicative of regal descent; but I can find nothing, in any

heraldic work within my reach, at all confirmatory of such an origin. May I beg for any specific information upon this point? M. D.

PASSAGE FROM FORTESCUE.-In an unpublished treatise by Sir John Fortescue, the author of the De Laudibus Legum Angliæ, which bears the title of De Natura Legis Naturæ, the following passage occurs as part of a statement intended to prove that a woman has no right of succession to a kingdom:

"Philosophus" (meaning, I take for granted, Aristotle) "in libro de Animalibus dicit quod mulierum membra quæ ad actus generationis, gestus, et nutrimenti prolis ordinantur grossiora sunt quam virorum, sed cetera earum membra. minora existunt quam virorum; scilicet ossa et nervi minora sunt, debiliora, et minus virtuosa in fœminis quam in viris; dicit etiam quod mulier est mas occasionatus."

66

What is the sense of this phrase? I have looked through the De Animalibus in vain for the original passage. One is tempted to render "occasionatus", with a specialty." But the word is not to be found in Facciolati, and is found in Ducange, with the sense of tributis gravatus, taxed for the king's "occasions." Should I therefore translate "a mulcted male " ?—a male with something taken away-an imperfect male?

C. P. F.

EARL OF HOME. - In Lodge's Genealogy of the Peerage, voce "Home," occurs this statement: "Maldred left three sons, of whom Dolphin, the eldest, was ancestor of the Nevilles and Cospatrick, the youngest, who, with his descendants, are styled Earls, was great-grandfather of Waldave, Earl of Dunbar .. which title was forfeited in 1435 by George eleventh earl," &c.

My object is not to put forward my own opinion, but to call in the aid of others to rectify what seems like a succession of mistakes

1. Was Dolphin the eldest son? 2. Was Cospatrick the youngest?

-

3. Were they not "called Earls" (the descendants of C.), and as good titles as any other earls; nay more, as kings of Northumbria, were they not, previously to their exile, of superior rank?

4. Were not these Earls of Dunbar, at that early period, what the Douglases afterwards became?

5. Was not the royal House of Stuart descended from "Alan the Steward" of the then Earl of Dunbar?

6. Did George, eleventh Earl of Dunbar, really forfeit his title, and was it not rather unjustly taken from him, and the inferior one of Earl of Buchan (which he refused to accept) offered in exchange?

Setting aside Drummond's Noble Families, there is a pedigree of this Northumbrian family in a work generally admitted to be comparatively accurate-I allude to Surtees' Durham, and Lord Kame's well-known Essay on a cognate subject

(so to speak) seem to confirm my impressions. However, I should be glad to know how the ancient earldom of Dunbar stands in the estimation of Scottish antiquaries, for I am at a loss to discover any more noble or ancient, and yet the statements quoted are at least equivocal. SP. "FRIGHTENED ISAAC."-In what book, play, or song does this once proverbial phrase first occur? I dare say yourself, or some of your readers, can instruct me as to the origin of a comparison"You look like frightened Isaac"-which I can remember to have heard as many as thirty years ago. C. T. B.

SIR GODFREY KNELLER. Can any of your readers inform me if a list exists of the paintings of the above artist? I am anxious to identify a painting (evidently a portrait), of which the subject is a child playing with a lamb. H. G. M.

Whitehall Yard.

Pink, or lake, is another transitory colour. This is rather an important one, as it is a component part of the purples and grays. What is the best recommended at the present time to stand, without waiting for our great-grandchildren? A year or so ago, I recollect that some correspondent of "N. & Q.," who was amusing himself with illuminating, made some inquiry on the subject of a heraldic decoration of the panels of a flat Gothic brilliant scarlet. My own object just now is the ceiling, where a good scarlet is a necessary colour. I think that DR. HUSENBETH recommended a particular scarlet, on the assurance of his own personal experience. If this article should meet his eye, would he mind repeating the name of that particular scarlet, as I have not got a file of "N. & Q." by me ?* There is a pigment in powder known in the trade as 66 pure scarlet," some of which I have obtained, and its appearance is very good. Can this be the same as that recommended by the learned D.D. ? P. HUTCHINSON.

"Newton (that proverb of the mind), alas!

Declared with all his grand discoveries recent, That he himself felt only like a youth

Picking up shells by the great ocean, Truth."

JAYDEE.

PERMANENT COLOURS.-It is as easy for a painter to put good colours on his canvass as bad, if he has them. It is satisfactory for a painter who expends a deal of time and trouble upon a large subject, especially if it be of a historical nature, to feel that his work will last. There is no doubt that in many of the old paintings, executed by most of the greatest names of past ages, some of the colours have blackened by time, some have altered, and some have faded out. Warned by these changes, modern artists and modern chemists have more or less turned their attention to the discovery of new pigments which it is hoped shall be of a more permanent nature. As I am only an amateur, I have not advanced to the higher walks of artistic knowledge; but my present object is directed rather to the chemistry of colours than to their manual application to canvass. All the yellows made of that cheap and common but beautiful substance, chrome, I believe are very evanescent. I should like to know what yellow was used by the ancients. Cadmium yellow, strontian yellow, and one or two others, are vaunted in the present day; but what do chemists and the best painters think of their permanency? Perhaps it may be said that sufficient time has not yet elapsed to have enabled artists to judge and decide on this particular subject, and that nothing but a long space of time can settle it. I dare say I am an unreasonable and an impatient fellow, but I cannot wait till our great-grandchildren have given their opinion.

B. J. T.

POEM CONCERNING ST. SEPULCHRE'S, LONDON.-Perhaps some of the numerous readers of "N. & Q." might be able to inform me where I shall find a poem concerning the above church, respecting a culprit repeating over the acts of injustice of the law which brought her to crime. I think it is entitled "Legends of St. Sepulchre," and part of the poem runs some way thus: "England robbed me of my son, I robbed enough to save my life. And for this I hung and for This I swung," &c. &c. &c. The author's name also will oblige

Dublin Friends Institute.

CHARLES JAS. HILL.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING.-Can any of your readers afford me a complete list of qualifications for voting under the old system? In Preston, &c., the suffrage was practically universal. In Andover, &c., the town council were the electors. In Dowton, &c., the burgage holders. In London, liverymen. In Wootton Bassett, scot and lot. In counties, freeholders. Were there any other rights? If so, what were they? ANTIQUARY.

volumes, Sketches of Young Ladies, and Sketches of "QUIZ." Who is the author of two little Young Gentlemen, both illustrated by "Phiz”? The former is said to be by "Quiz"; the latter is anonymous, but obviously written by the same Hall; and the date of publication of the copies person. The publishers are Messrs. Chapman and before me, which are each of the second edition,

[* See "N. & Q." 3rd S. x. 116.]

is, of the former 1837, of the latter 1838. I remember, when they came out, they were commonly attributed to the then young author of Pickwick; but as they have never, I think, been included by Mr. Dickens in his collected Works, I suppose common belief was incorrect. Perhaps some of your readers can answer my question. C. T. B. ROYAL CHRISTIAN NAMES. - The Times of July 29 announced the baptism of the daughter of the Prince of Teck, who received eight Christian names. When did the custom of giving so many names to royal children come into vogue? In Spain the absurdity is carried to a greater height than in any other country. In Germany six or eight names are commonly given; but four is the largest number hitherto bestowed upon the infants of our royal family. Private persons often give several baptismal names to their children; but of these one or two are generally surnames, for the purpose of marking the connection with the mother's or paternal grandmother's family. As princes are not known by their surnames, can any reason of a similar character be assigned for giving a string of ordinary Christian names to royal children? At the marriage of princes and princesses who rejoice in many names, is it usual (as in the case of private persons with only two or three names) for the officiating clergyman to pronounce them all at the appointed places in the

service?

H. P. D.

SAMUEL SMITH, OF PRETTLEWELL, ESSEX. Wanted any sources of information on this worthy

and voluminous writer. I know Wood's Athena, Calamy, Palmer, and Davids' Essex. He died and was buried in Dudley, Worcestershire, after the Restoration. Shropshire and Worcestershire readers of "N. & Q." will kindly aid.*

STUDENT.

SCOTISH PEERS: EGLINTON EARLDOM. In looking carefully over the Articles of Union, I have been unable to find any clause annulling or superseding the previously existing jurisdiction of the Court of Session in questions of Scotish peerages. I have been told that, during the discussion which preceded the framing of these articles, it was proposed to introduce a clause transferring the jurisdiction in such matters to the future House of Peers of Great Britain; but this idea was abandoned in the apprehension that such an attempt would have led to the breaking off of the Union altogether. Thus the Court of Session remained untouched, and retained precisely the same jurisdiction it possessed before the union of the two crowns. This is distinctly proved by the clause relative to the College of Justice.

[A short account of Samuel Smith is given in *N. & Q." 3rd S. iv. 501.-ED.]

It is not generally known that James VI., about a century before, had made an attempt to tamper with the laws of his country in relation to the Earldom of Eglinton, which had originally belonged to the family of Montgomery; but which the last heir male had transferred by a territorial charter to his cousin, a Seton-who took the name of Montgomery, and assumed the earldom upon the death of his relative.

James, who had begun to relish the English fashion of patents, took umbrage at this, and in

sisted that the new earl should abandon his

peerage. This he boldly but respectfully refused Council to take the refractory nobleman to task. to do, whereupon the monarch desired the Privy After giving the matter their deliberate consideration, the members unanimously refused to interfere, as they had no jurisdiction; and said that, if his majesty wished to take further steps, he however he did not venture to do; and it is under must proceed before the Court of Session, which the original charter, infeftment and retour, that the Seton Montgomeries now hold the peerage. The books of the Privy Council, and the protest of the earl, distinctly prove the above statement.

What I am desirous of knowing, is, at what time was any statute passed in the British Parliament removing the original jurisdiction in such question of the Court of Session to the House of Lords?-for I have not been able to find any one.

are

J. M. SHENSTONE'S INN VERSES. The verses beginstated, in the collection of Shenstone's poems, to ning "To thee, fair Freedom, I retire". have been "written in an inn at Henley-onThames." They are inscribed on the centre pane of the second row (from the bottom) of a room on the first floor of the Red Lion-the large old inn by the church at Henley. But is this copy of the verses in Shenstone's handwriting? Many a pane of glass has endured more than a hundred years, but the chances against a pane in the window of a much frequented hotel are heavy. Comparison with a letter of Shenstone's would nearly settle the question.

ABRAHAM DE REMENHAM.

VENT. Narrow roads are called vents in some parts of Kent. Thus, at Ightham, Seven Vents is the name of a spot where seven roads meet. Huntington, S. S. in his Kingdom of Heaven taken by Prayer, tells us of "a place called the Four Wents, where four roads or ways meet," near Cranbrook. Is this word vent one of the "Holmesdale provincialisms," or is it common in other counties? Huntington gives a new rendering of the Weald of Kent. In many parts of his book from which I have quoted, he calls it the Wild of Kent-a name perhaps not inappropriate to this wooded and remote tract of the county.

EDWARD J. WOOD.

WELLS IN CHURCHES.-In the church of Saint Eloi at Rouen (now used for Protestant worship), there was formerly in the choir a well, now filled up, from which the water was drawn by means of a chain. From this is derived the proverb still used in Rouen, "It is cold as the chain of the well of Saint Eloi." The doors of this church were closed, although I visited it on Sunday, so I could not enter, though I found no difficulty in seeing any of the Roman Catholic places of worship. Would any correspondent inform me if any other instance of a well in a church is known, and whether the church of Saint Eloi contains any other object of interest? JOHN PIGGOT, JUN.

Queries with Answers.

THE FOOL IN PAGAN TIMES."You know,' says Seneca, writing to Lucilius, 'that Harpaste, my wife's fool, lives upon me as an hereditary charge; for, as to my own taste, I have an aversion to those monsters; and if I have a mind to laugh at a fool, I need not seek him far-I can laugh at myself. This fool has suddenly lost her sight."-Quoted from Montaigne's Essays, book ii. ch. xxv., W. Hazlitt's ed. 1842.

Much has been written of the fool of the middle ages; but what is known of that usher of mirth in earlier times, particularly among the Greeks and Romans? A lady's fool, and this fool a female, are peculiarities, it appears to me. Should the subject have an interest for others, I confess I should much like myself to have it developed by some of the learned pens of "N. & Q." The buffoonery of Thersites, and the clever mimicry of the Athenians, have nothing to do with my query any more than the Pasquin of papal Rome.

Carisbrooke.

J. A. G.

[The Philistines sent for Samson that he might "make sport," and David feigned himself foolish at the court of Achish. Patroclus is represented by Shakspeare as performing the part of a mimic for the amusement of Achilles, and Thersites as doing the same for Ajax. In Greek we have the name μwpiwv (as distinguished from the natural fool, μ@pos), but no good authority for its Under the Empire, but not in earlier times, professed fools or jesters appear to have been frequent among the Romans: the difficulty is to distinguish with accuracy between the various terms, balatrones, fatui, copreæ, scurræ, moriones, &c.-the meaning of which, though they may be verbally defined, appears to have been occasionally convertible.

use.

On the passage cited from Seneca by Montaigne, the commentator in Lemaire remarks: "Hæc fatua, vernula ut videtur, joci causa alebatur, yeλ@Tоñolovσa, hæreditate tamen ad Senecam transmissa. Luxus enim ambitionisque [causa?] nanos, nanas, copreas, etc., in familiis habuisse Romanos, præsertim hujus ævi, patet." Martial bought a man for a fool; but the fool turned out

to have as much sense as other people, and the poet wanted his money back,

"Morio dictus erat: viginti millibus emi.

Redde mihi nummos, Gargiliane: sapit."

On this epigram the scholiast savagely remarks, that "fools and jesters were bought either for pleasure and amusement, or else, as now, that the house may contain some bigger fool than its master" (" vel, sicut hodie, ut sit in ædibus aliquis domino ipso stultior").

Foolishness, in fact, appears to have been so much in request amongst the Romans, that there were some persons who feigned themselves simpletons, in order to raise their own selling price: "Hæc addemus, quum in deliciis apud divites essent stupidi et hebetes viri, simulasse mox quosdam, ut magno venirent, stultitiam" (Commentator on Martial, xiv. 210.)

We may remark that, in addition to those fools or jesters who formed part of the household, there were others who used to drop in, or were introduced by the Romans at their feasts :

"Balatrones were paid for their jests, and the tables of the wealthy were generally open to them for the sake of the amusement they afforded."-Dr. Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities.

It has been suggested that the medieval practice of having a fool or jester attached to the household came in from the East after the time of the Crusades.-Meyer, Conv. Lex. on " Hofnarren." See more particularly Flögel's Geschichte der Hofnarren, s. 90, et seq.]

ST. JOHN OF BEVERLEY.

Mr. Trollope, in his address at Hull, says, speaking of St. John of Beverley, that

"Henry V. attributed his victory at Agincourt to the intercession of the saint, on whose day the battle was fought, and whose festival the monarch afterwards directed to be kept over all England."

In King Henry V. Act IV. Sc. 3, Henry says:— "This day is call'd the feast of Crispin." "And rouse him at the name of Crispin." "These wounds I had on Crispin's day." Which is correct?

S.

[Mr. Trollope's statement is quite correct. In 1037 the bones of St. John of Beverley were translated from his grave at York to his monastery at Beverley by Alfric, Archbishop of York, and the anniversary of this translation was celebrated in the province of York on the 25th of October, the feasts of SS. Crispin and Crispinian. (See Calendar prefixed to the Sarum Use.)

As King Henry V. attributed to the intercession of St. John of Beverley the glorious victory of Agincourt, it was ordered in a synod held in the year 1416, that his festival should be solemnly kept throughout England on the 7th of May, the day of his death in 721.-Lyndwood, Provinciale, ed. 1679, p. 103, and Appendix, p. 70. An English translation of Archbishop Chichley's Constitution for the change of the festival is printed in John Johnson's Laws and Canons of the Church of England, ed. 1851, ii. 485.]