The legend of the Aspen-tree (Populus tremula) is thus beautifully told by Mrs. Hemans:

"Father. Hast thou heard, my boy,

The peasant's legend of that quivering tree?
Child. No, father: doth he say the fairies dance
Amidst the branches?

Father. Oh! a cause more deep,
More solemn far the rustic doth assign

To the strange restlessness of those wan leaves.
The Cross, he deems, the blessed Cross, whereon
The meek Redeemer bow'd His head to death,
Was form'd of aspen wood: and since that hour
Through all its race the pale tree hath sent down
A thrilling consciousness, a secret awe
Making them tremulous, when not a breeze
Disturbs the airy thistle-down, or shakes
The light lines of the shining gossamer."

Wood Walk and Hymn. Lightfoot ascribes this legend to the Highlanders of Scotland. Another legend runs thus:

when earth, shaken with horror, rung the passing bell for Deity, and universal nature groaned; then from the loftiest tree to the lowliest flower all felt a sudden thrill, and trembling, bowed their heads, all save the proud and obdurate aspen, which said, Why should we weep and tremble? we trees, and plants, and flowers are pure and never sinned!' Ere it ceased to speak, an involuntary trembling seized its every leaf, and the word went forth that it should never rest, but tremble on until the day of judgment."

With regard to the Passion Flower, I need but refer to Mrs. Hemans' lines in the poem above quoted. The legend of the Arum maculatum is similar to that of the Robin Redbreast:

"These deep inwrought marks

The villager will tell thee (and with voice
Lower'd in his true heart's reverent earnestness)
Are the flower's portion from the atoning blood,
On Calvary shed. Beneath the Cross it grew,
And in the vase-like hollow of the leaf,
A few mysterious drops transmitted thus
Unto the groves and hills their sealing stains
A heritage for storm or vernal wind

Never to waft away."-Wood Walk and Hymn.
The beautiful shrub, Cereis silignastrum, or
Arbor Judæ,

"Is thought to be that whereon Judas hanged himselfe, and not upon the elder-tree as it is vulgarly said." Gerarde's Herbal (by Johnson): Lond. 1633, folio.

Of Adam's Apple-tree, or West Indian plantain (Musa serapionis), the same writer says:

"If it (the fruit) be cut according to the length, oblique, tra se, or any other way whatsoever, may

be seen the shape and forme of a Crosse, with a man fastened thereto. Myselfe have seene the fruit and cut it in pieces, which was brought me from Aleppo in pickle. The Crosse I might perceive as the forme of a Spred Egle in the root of Ferne; but the man I leave to be sought by those who have better eies and judgment than myselfe.... The Grecians and Christians wh inhabit Syria, and the Jews also, suppose it to be that tree of whose fruit Adam did taste."

In a work by a bright star of the dreary eighteenth century, Jones of Nayland, entitled Reflections on the Growth of Heathenism among modern Christians, the following passage occurs:

"Botany, which in ancient times was full of the blessed Virgin Mary, and had many religious me morials affixed to it, is now as full of the heathen Amongst Venus, the Mary of our modern virtuosi. the ancient names of plants, we found the Calceolus Maria, Carduus Mariæ, Carduus benedictus, Our Lady's Thistle, Our Lady's Mantle, the Alchymilla, &c. ; but modern improvements have introduced the Speculum Veneris, Labrum Veneris, Venus's Looking-Glass, Venus's Basin, Venus's Navelwort, Venus's Flytrap, and such like; and whereas the ancient botanists took a pleasure in honouring the memory of the Christian saints with the St. John's Wort, St. Peter's Wort, Herb Gerard, Herb Christopher, and many others, the modern ones, more affected to their own honour, have dedicated several newly discovered genera of plants to one another, of which the Hottonia, the Sibthorpia, are instances, with others, so numerous and familiar to men of science, that they need not be specified."

Sir Thos. Browne, in one of his Dialogues, makes the Puritan Prynne say,

"In our zeal we visited the gardens and apothecaries' shops. So Unguentum Apostolicum was commanded to take a new name, and besides, to find security for its good behaviour for the future. Carduus benedictus, Angelica, St. John's Wort, and Our Lady's Thistie, were summoned before a class and forthwith ordered to distinguish themselves by more sanctified appellations."

Quoted in Southey's Colloquies, i. p. 373., and is Teale's Life of William Jones, p. 367.

"Ah! what ravages Botany has made in the poe of flowers! Truly there was exquisite beauty in mary of our old-fashioned country appellations. How many a tale of rustic love yet lives in some of their names! Who can doubt whence arose such as Sweet William, Mary-gold, Herb Robert, None-so-pretty, Goldilocks, or Timothy-grass? And by the very name were village maidens warned against Love-in-idleness and Londo Pride; and long delicious walks in the deep summer

* As I have quoted this pretty passage of Warden Neale's, I must correct a little error he has fallen into. Some of the plants here mentioned are holy or conse crated: the Dianthus barbatus is sacred to St. William of York, June 8; the Geranium, or Cranesbill, to St. Robert the Benedictine; the Phleum pratense to St. Timothy, January 24; and the Anthyllis rulneraria, a May flower, was anciently called "Our Ladie's Fingers."

twilights, and lingerings before the old grey cottage, and partings at the wicket-they all live in one little plant, Kiss-me-at-the-garden-gate! Some extravagant lover, I suppose, invented the name of Ladies' Finger. The Forget-me-not is so called in every Christian tongue. In village botany, too, lingers many a quaint and lovely superstition; look, for example, at the Fox-glove, that is, Folks'-glore or Fairies'-glove. What needed the villager to lament his poverty, when his meadows gave him Money-wort, and Shepherd's-purse flowered in the waysides? Why needed he to envy the skill of the physician, when for his sight he had Eye-bright, for his hurts he had Wound-wort, for ointment Ploughman'sspikenard, for sprains Chafe-weed, against infection Pestilent-wort, in the burning summer Fever-few, in the unhealthy autumn Spleenwort; if hurt by poison Adderwort, for condiments Poor-man's-pepper, finally, against all possible accidents All-heal? Merrily might the traveller wend on his way when there was the little Speedwell to cheer him, Waybread to support him, Goldof-pleasure to enrich him, Travellers'-joy to welcome him; when, though Dent-de-lion and Wolf's-claw might meet his eye, he would find no further trace of those evil beasts. Animals, too, have left their names; so we have Snake-weed, and from its sweetness Ox-lips or Cows'-lips; and how pretty are the names Day's-eye and Night-shade! Sage men, too, have given such titles as Honesty and Thrift, and Heart's-ease, and Loose-strife; and even in this cold age we have St. John's Wort, St. Peter's Wort, St. Barnaby's Thistle, ay, and best of all, Everlasting!

"Palæophilus. Yes, our boasted wisdom has fallen very short here in the unpronounceable and hideous names which we fasten on our delicate plants." — Hierologus, p. 171.: Lond. 1846.

Another instance of what Jones of Nayland remarks, is afforded by the Capillus Veneris, which

lib. xxii. c. 30.

This Maiden-hair (the chief of the five capillary herbs mentioned in the Dispensatory) is brought to us from the southern parts of France, though it is said to

grow plentifully in the county of Cornwall. This, being the true Capillus Veneris, is what ought to be used in making the syrup of Maiden-hair, and everywhere else when the true is prescribed. But for want of it, it not being to be had in any quantity, we generally use the Trichomanes."- Miller's Herbal, p. 14.: London, 1722, 8vo.

Mr. Newman mentions St. Ives and Carclew among the Cornish habitats of this fern.

Gerarde's derivation of Polypody is taken from Pliny. Miller says, "The root is slender, and full of small knots, which appear like the feet of an insect, whence it takes the name of Polypodium."

(as well as the Asplenium trichomanes) was anciently called "Our Ladye's Haire," and by the French to the present day, Cheveux de Nôtre Dame. The Asplenium trichomanes is also styled "St. Martina's Fern."

Mr. Newman expresses his doubts as to the woodcut given in Gerarde's Herbal for the True Maiden-hair Fern, but seems not to have remarked that Gerarde and Johnson describe an entirely different plant, being ignorant of the true Adiantum :

"Chap. 473. Of true Maiden-haire. . . . Venushaire, or Maiden-haire, is a low herb growing an hand high, smooth, of a darke crimson colour, and glittering withall," &c. "It is called Adianton, because the leafe, as Theophrastus saith, is never wet, for it casteth off water that falleth thereon, or being drowned or covered in water, it remaineth still as if it were dry, as Pliny likewise writeth: and is termed Callitricon and Polytricon, of the effect it hath in dying haire and maketh it to grow thicke."

But for this I should have supposed the epithets "Beautiful-haired" and "Many-haired" to have been given from the appearance of this lovely fern. In the same way one would suppose that the fern Polypody was so styled from the numerous roots, or segments of the fronds; but Gerarde tells

us:

"The Grecians call it Пoλvodov, of the holes of the fishes Polypi appearing in the roots."

In my next note I shall probably give a list of the ecclesiastical names of plants, with the botanical appellations, and a selection of the rustic pet names, if I may so call them.

I shall but add a Query at present. A little work called The Catholic Florist, edited by the Rev. F. Oakley, appeared last year. In the preface the editor speaks of "its excellent predecessors in the same line of authorship:" will some kind correspondent favour me with a list, which would be much more satisfactory than this bare mention of the fact? The chief value of the book lies in the copious quotations given from two works, the titles of which are not in a single inrealis et Australis, and the Florilegium Sanct. Asp. stance given at full length: the Anthologia BoI should be very glad to know something about this Anthology and the Aspirations, and if possible procure copies of them; and would express a hope that if this work reach a second edition, references may be appended to the numerous quotations reEIRIONNACH. quiring them.

WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM AND SIR WILLIAM

WALWORTH.

The accompanying document, as suggestive of more than a single Note, may be not without interest to the readers of "N. & Q.":

Sir John de Cobeham obtained letters-patent, 10th February, 4 Richard II. (1380-1), "quod ipse mansum manerii sui de Cowlyng in Comitatu Kancie muro de petra et calce fortificare firmare et kernellare, &c., possit." I have numerous receipts from masons, carpenters, plumbers, &c., for work done at Cowling Castle for Sir John de Cobeham, ranging from 1374 to 1385. Although the following charter bears date a few years earlier than the letters-patent, does it not suggest that the debt to William of Wykeham was contracted by Sir John de Cobeham, for plans and architectural designs for his proposed works at Cowling, and furnish a not improbable guess that we may add Cowling to the other works of this great bishop? Queenborough Castle, situated at no great distance from Cowling, was certainly the work of Wykeham. At all events, here is a hint that may be worked out by abler hands than mine.

Walworth, it appears, was the bishop's agent. I am not aware whether any other instance of his signet is known. It is rather less than half an inch in diameter-apparently a signet ring-the device beautifully cut; a cock crowing, with the legend, "Ter gallus cantat" (cantet?).

St. Peter was, I believe, the patron saint of the Fishmongers' Company, of which Walworth was a member; hence, perhaps, he was induced to adopt this device; but some of your correspondents, better acquainted with Walworth's history, may supply a more satisfactory suggestion.

"Sachent touz gents moi Willm Walworth scitesein & marchaund de Loundres auoir resseu en le nou de hono'able Piere en dieux Euesq. de Wyncestre, de mons. John de Cobeham Chir. dil Counte

de Kent, Cent marcs desterling en ptie de paiement de deux Cent marcs en les quex la'untdit mons. John est obliges a hono'able Piere en dieux Euesq. de Wyncest' susdite, come une l're obligat' oue les diffesaunces sur icelle, fet plus pleyn mensiou. Des qeux Cent marcs, en ptie de paiement, come a'unt est dit me reconusse estre paietz et moi a'unt dit Willm come ato'ne la'untdit hono'able Piere Euesq. susdite me conuz p icestis p'sentes de acquiter la'untdit mons. John dil paiement de les Cent m'res susditz. En tesmoign' de qele chose a ceste lre acq'tance moi a'untdit Willm Walworth ay mys mon seal.

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Don' a Loundres, le sezime io' de moys de Julii, Lan du regne le Roy Edward tierce puis conq' quarante oytisme." LAMBERT B. LARKING.

PLAGIARISM.

Some remarks on this topic have already apared in "N. & Q.," and I shall be glad of the on of more experienced authors than myself following case.

at three months ago I received a note from

the Rev. C. Badham of Sudbury, Suffolk, who stated that he had read my Notices of Sepulchral Monuments and Churchyard Manual with much pleasure, and had mentioned the former in his (forthcoming) book on All Saints' Church, Sudbury, to which he then invited me to subscribe. Consequently I became a subscriber, and last Saturday received a copy of his work, accom panied by a circular, calling on the generosity of the subscribers to increase their subscriptions. I make no comment on this always unsatisfactory procedure, but pass on to the subject of my inquiry. On looking over Mr. Badham's work, I found at pages 44. 59—62., long extracts from my book on sepulchral monuments appearing as his own writing, without the slightest acknowledg ment of the source from which he had derived his information and observations. Occasionally slight changes have been made; but I ask whether, in such as the following instances, I am not justified in complaining of plagiarism?

KELKE'S Sepulchral Monuments. BADHAM'S History of All Saists.

"Additional space was soon required as interments multi

plied, or persons of rank desired

separate burial-places for their family. To meet such cases, added to churches, and excludistinct aisles and chapels were sively devoted to this purpose, and were oftentimes endowed with an annual stipend in perpetuity, or for a limited period, to ensure the daily services of a priest, to chant requiems for the souls of those buried there. in."- Page 4.

"This destruction of sepulchral monuments, which was

"As interments and monuments multiplied, and became

inconvenient from the space

they occupied, additional room was soon required. To meet chapels were added to churches, such cases, distinct aisles and and exclusively devoted to this purpose; oftentimes, as we have had occasion to notice, with an additional stipend in perpetuity, or for a limited period, to ensure the services of a priest, to chant requiems for the souls of those buried therein.". Page 44.

"This destruction of sepulchral monuments, unsanctioned

neither in accordance with the as it was by the leading pro

principles of the Reformation, nor sanctioned by its leading promoters, was effectually arrested in the second year of Elizabeth's reign, by a proclamation commanding the severe punishment of such offences. (Weever gives a transcript of

the proclamation.) During the Puritanical ascendancy at the Rebellion, the havoc ainong sepulchral monuments was more extensive, and sanctioned, or at least not restrained, by the authorities of the time." Pages 41, 42.

moters of the Reformation, was effectually arrested in the second year of Queen Elizabeth, by a proclamation commanding the severe punishment of such of fences. Weever gives a transcript of the proclamation. Du ring the ascendancy of the Pun tans at the Rebellion, the havo

was extensive, and unrestrained by the authorities of the time." - Page 60.

Instances of passages which have been copied without the slightest variation might be adduced ; but sufficient has been shown to prove that an act of plagiarism has been committed. Mr. Badham gives me credit, indeed, for two short sentences which occur in pages 61. and 62.; but he simply mentions my name, without reference to the book from which he quotes; and though the passages before and after these two sentences are from my pen, they appear as the copyist's own. He has also adopted my quotations from Keble, Scott, Petit, Mrs. Tindal, Weever, Roger's Ecclesiastical Laws, and Prideaux. That he has copied my

quotation from Weever, although he refers to the original, is evident, by the quotation beginning and ending precisely as mine, and containing the same mistakes, in copying Weever's obsolete spelling.

I have two cogent reasons for bringing this subject before the readers of "N. & Q."

In the first place, it appears exceedingly desirable to cultivate a more generous spirit among those who are engaged in the same field of literature. Nothing, in my opinion, is lost in the long run by a candid and generous reference, not only to the author's name, but to his specific work, from which the writer is quoting or deriving valuable assistance; and, if extracts from documents or other authors are copied second-hand, reference to the originals should be given as cited in such a work.

In the next place, I wish to inquire whether there is any means of restraining plagiarism, beyond the mere censure of reviewers, who frequently fail to detect the offender. W. HASTINGS KELKE.

THE SISTER OF GEORGE III.

Adopting the suggestion of J. MD., as to "waifs and strays which are occasionally found in the sea of newspaper print (Vol. vi., p. 385.), I send you the following interesting cutting from The Times of January 27, 1852, which I think ought to be transferred to the pages of "N. & Q." :

"The Sister of George III.- The official journal of Copenhagen of the 17th instant gives an interesting document, hitherto unpublished, the original of which is in the secret archives of the State of Copenhagen. It is the letter which Queen Caroline Matilda, wife of Christian VII., King of Denmark, wrote during her exile, and on the day of her death, to her brother, George III. of England. The letter is as follows:

"Sire, In the solemn hour of death I address my. self to you, my royal brother, in order to manifest to you my feelings of gratitude for the kindness you have shown me during my life, and particularly during my long misfortunes. I die willingly, for there is nothing to bind me to this world-neither my youth (she was then in her twenty-third year) nor the enjoyments which might sooner or later be my portion. Besides, can life have any charms for a woman who is removed from all those whom she loves and cherishes - her husband, her children, her brothers and sisters? I, who am a queen, and the issue of a royal race, I have led the most wretched life, and I furnish to the world a fresh example that a crown and a sceptre cannot protect those who wear them from the greatest misfortunes. I declare that I am innocent, and this declaration I write with a trembling hand, bathed with the cold sweat of death. I am innocent. The God whom I invoke, who created me, and who will soon judge me, is a witness of my innocence. I humbly implore Him

that He will, after my death, convince the world that I have never merited any of the terrible accusations by which my cowardly enemies have sought to blacken my character, tarnish my reputation, and trample under foot my royal dignity. Sire, believe your dying sister, a queen, and, what is still more, a Christian, who with fear and horror would turn her eyes towards the next world if her last confession were a falsehood. Be assured I die with pleasure, for the wretched regard death as a blessing. But what is more painful to me even than the agonies of death, is that none of the persons whom I love are near my death-bed to give me a last adieu, to console me by a look of compassion, and to close my eyes. Nevertheless, I am not alone. God, the only witness of my innocence, sces me at this moment, when, lying on my solitary couch, I am a prey to the most excruciating agonies. My guardian angel watches over me: he will soon conduct me where I may in quiet pray for my well-beloved, and even for my executioner. Adieu, my royal brother; may Heaven load you with its blessings, as well as my husband, my children, England, Denmark, and the whole world! I supplicate you to allow my body to be laid in the tomb of my ancestors; and now receive the last adieu of your

unfortunate sister.

CAROLINE MATILDA. "Celle (Hanover), May 10, 1775.'”

PHILIP S. KING.

CAMPBELL'S IMITATIONS.

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The adoption, whether unconscious or intentional, of other men's thoughts and modes of expression, continues to receive much varied illustration in the pages of "N. & Q." Instances of it, under the heads of "plagiarisms," parallel passages," "borrowed thoughts," "poetical coincidences," similarities," "imitations," &c., have been adduced and commented upon by your corThe following are a few samples respondents. from the poet Campbell, which I do not remember to have seen noticed elsewhere.

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And there is a line in Collins's Ode to the Passions, which ascribes to sound the effect attributed by Campbell to sight:

"Pale Melancholy sat apart,

And from her wild sequester'd seat,

In notes by distance made more sweet, Pour'd thro' the mellow horn her pensive soul." The passage in Campbell, however, appears to me to have been appropriated from these lines in Otway's Venice Preserved:

"Ambition is at distance

A goodly prospect, tempting to the view; The height delights us, and the mountain top Looks beautiful, because 'tis nigh to Heav'n." Another example is the famous line in Lochiel's Warning:

"And coming events cast their shadows before." The origin of this will be found in Leibnitz's remark, "Le présent est gros de l'avenir," and in the comments made thereon by Isaac D'Israeli; the latter, referring to Leibnitz's words, says, "The multitude live only among the shadows of things in the appearances of the present;" and in another passage he couples the word "shadow" with the word "precursor" in such a manner as to express, in the clearest language, the whole thought in Campbell's line. These are his words: "This volume of Reynolds seems to have been the shadow and precursor of one of the most substantial of literary monsters, the Histriomastix, or Player's Scourge, of Prynne in 1663."

An instance of the same thought occurs in Chapman's tragedy of Bussy d'Ambois, his Re

venge:

Mr. Hazlitt says this is an admirable simile; and Mr. Jeffrey deems it somewhat fantastical. But whether it be admirable or fantastical, or neither, certain it is that, in so far as Campbell is concerned, it is not original. Two hundred years ago Cowley, in his Hymn to Light, compared darkness to an old negro, and light, its offspring, to a fair child. He is addressing the light:

"First-born of chaos, who so fair didst come From the old negro's darksome womb,

Lich, when it saw the lovely child,

Thomas Yalden, too, has borrowed this from Cowley:

"Parent of day, whose beauteous beams of light Spring from the darksome womb of night, And 'midst their native horrors show, Like gems adorning of the negro's brow." To these instances may be added the line in The Soldier's Dream:

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"And the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky." which has been adopted from Lee's Theodisius: The stars, heav'n sentry, wink and seem to die." Mr. R. Montgomery has the same image in s Omnipresence of the Deity:

"Ye quenchless stars, so eloquently bright, Untroubled sentries of the shadowy night." And I have met with it in one of Abbé De La Mennais' works; but having no access to them here, I am unable to quote the exact words. HENRY H. BREEN.

St. Lucia.

THE ORIGINAL REAPING MACHINE.

It may interest your readers, and be worth recording, that the original reaping machine is the invention of a Scotch clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Bell, of Carmylie, Forfarshire, and that it has been worked by his brother, Mr. G. Bell, on his farm of Inch michael, Perthshire, for more than twenty years.

On the 4th September, 1852, pursuant to a challenge given by Hugh Watson, Esq., and Mr. Keillor Farm, Forfarshire, when Hussey's AmeG. Bell, a trial of reaping machines took place at rican machine, and a similar machine, with some important improvements, exhibited by Lord Kin naird, competed with that invented by the Rev. Mr. Bell, and the decision of the judges at the trial was unanimously given in favour of the ori ginal Scotch machine. It did one-third more work than the others, its machinery was considered more effective, and less liable to damage; it coul be managed by a single man, and was propelled before the horses, who could thrust it into the heaviest

feet wide. It also disposed the corn conveniently crop of grain, and at once open a lane six for the shears to cut it, and laid the corn, when cut, so as to be easily gathered into sheaf. Mr. Love, as the agent of Mr. Crosskill, superintended the working of Hussey's machine, and Mr. M'Cormack, from America, is said to have witnessed the trial, but the machine which bears his name did not compete.

Mr. Bell's original discovery will, no doubt, be duly estimated by the agricultural community. The fact of its dating so much earlier than the American inventions, seems to me to be a point in harmony with other valuable memoranda in ALFRED GATTY.