'English - Latin Dictionary,' 1677: "The mother [disease] hysterica passio." MR. WILMSHURST does not tell us why he discredits the word. It would be idle to impeach Shakespeare on sexual grounds for using it; he cannot have been so grossly ignorant of anatomy as a literal interpretation of his language in the present instance would imply. He was but likening the outraged king's feeling to that of a woman affected with the hysterical passion or 66 mother." ""* It was one of the dramatist's contemporaries, Francis Holyoake, the lexicographer, born too in Shakespeare's county, who defined "the mother" as " a disease that cometh through the stopping or choking of the matrix, and causeth the mother to swoon"; and this was perhaps Shakespeare's view. The masculine heroes of ancient romance were given to swooning equally with their feminine compeers, and an inchoate neurotic manifestation of this kind may be meant in Lear's case. F. ADAMS. There is no ground for doubt or change. 66 Mother" was a well-known name for the hysterica passio; see it, e.g., in Halliwell, where the same full phrase is given, with a reference to "Middleton, i. 186.' Sir Kenelm Digby, in his 'Cure of Wounds by Sympathy,' third ed., 1660, says that when the vines are in flower the wine in the cellar sends to its surface a white fermentation, called the 66 mother," which ceases when the flowers fall, p. 79 (cp. Eng. Dialect Dict.,' s.v. 'Mother'); and again he speaks of " a very melancholy woman, which was subject to the disease called the Mother" (p. 93). So in W. Simpson's Hydrologia Chymica,' 1669, p. 129, we read of "hysterical paroxysms brought on by passions in women......fits of the Mother." A little examination will show that this is the thought in Lear's mind. There is no similarity in the two passages quoted from 'King Lear' and 'As You Like It.' Orlando goes from one tyrant to another, out of the frying-pan into the fire, from one oppressive atmosphere to another, from clouds of smoke to clouds of dust. Such a dust-cloud is still commonly called a "smother." shows that the play could not have been written before that date. Dr. Johnson in his dictionary has said that smoke and smother are the same, and, in showing that they are so, has quoted the lines spoken by Orlando in 'As You Like It'; and the words certainly have the same signification there, for Orlando says that he is going from one tyrant to another tyrant. If such alterations as that proposed are readily accepted, I fear that we shall not retain much that Shakspeare has written. E. YARDLEY. Oh how this Mother swels vp toward my heart! Surely no alteration is needed here. Shakespeare is using the common phrase of his dreds of times in such writers as Gerard day for a fit of hysterics. It occurs hunand Culpeper. Thus (to quote one instance) Culpeper says of the butter-bur (s.v.) that it "helps [that is, relieves] the rising of the mother.' Salmon thus describes the complaint : We may "THE WINTER'S TALE,' II. i. 39-42.—While "depart" has been looked upon with suspicion, and various emendations have been offered, the meaning of " one may drink, depart, and yet partake no venom seems clearly to be one may drink and go his way without harm from the draught. also note the particular purpose in using the word "depart," as shown by the context. To preclude the possibility of a discovery that a spider had been steeped in the cup, the one who drinks is supposed to leave the scene, which answers Collier's question, "Why, after the drinking, was the drinker_necessarily to depart?" E. MERTON DEY. St. Louis, U.S. 'THE WINTER'S TALE,' II. i. 50–2.— Heath explains "a pinch'd thing," &c., as being "a mere child's baby, a thing pinch'd out of clouts, a puppet ('trick') for them to move and actuate as they please." Furness: "Without denying Heath's interpretation, it is possible from the connexion of thought to suppose the meaning of Leontes to be that after the shape, the proportions, of his design have been ruined by discovery, as a bladder when it is pricked, he is reduced merely to a pinched and shrivelled thing, -then the association of ideas suggests a trick, a puppet, a toy." But was it the discovery of his design that reduced Leontes to a pinched and shrivelled thing? Rather, was it not the supposed intrigue between Polixenes and the queen? Leontes had hoped by an act of retaliation to regain something of his former dignity, but now that his plan for revenge had fallen through, he must remain, as he was before, a pinch'd thing." E. MERTON DEY. St. Louis, U.S. 'THE WINTER'S TALE,' II. i. 68.— 'Tis pity shee's not honest: Honourable. Leontes has just uttered the supposed thought of his attendant lords that the queen is " a goodly lady," honourable (as Walker puts it) by reason of her birth, dignity, and grace of person and mind; continuing, "the justice of your hearts will thereto add, Tis pity she's not honest, (being) honourable.' The pity is that, being honourable, she is not likewise honest-not honest-honourable," as given in some texts. St. Louis, U.S. E. MERTON DEY. MACBETH'S "TREBBLE SCEPTERS," IV. i. 143. -In young Mr. H. H. Furness's excellent new edition of his father's Variorum of 'Macbeth,' the editor at p. 263 adds this note : "Manly. The style and title assumed by James I. after October 24, 1604, was: 'The Most Highe and Mightie Prince, James, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith. This is the treble sceptre, and not that of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland."-Ed. ii. used strictly in that sense in Dan. iii. 30. But the substantive promotion occurs twice in the Authorized Version of the Bible, and in neither case has that meaning. The first is in Ps. lxxv. 6, where the Revisers have substituted lifting up. The Psalm probably refers to the threatened invasion of Sennacherib from the north, and the psalmist, looking around, can see no human prospect of deliverance or succour from east, west, or south. The other place is Prov. iii. 35. In this the Revisers have retained promotion, but that word, if used in its modern sense, must be taken metaphorically, with almost a native rendering in the margin, "fools carry sarcastic tone about it. They offer an alteraway shame," which is nearer the original. "Fools he alloweth to be prominent in ignoPerhaps Benisch's translation is even better, miny." If there were a neuter verb promote, in the literal sense it would exactly express the the verb advance (from the French avancer, idea, "fools move forward into shame." Though derived from ab and ante) has a neuter force, it gives too much the impression of proceeding to something better to be quite appropriate; and for the same reason we could not here use the substantive advancement. Like promotion, it does not express the idea intended. Blackheath. W. T. LYNN. D'ARCY FAMILY.-If any members of this family claiming descent from William of Arcques (Dieppe), Normandy, would care to have a fairly complete pedigree, they can write to me. Many of the members are This will not do, for James's title does but repeat those of Edward VI. and Queen Eliza-scattered about the United Kingdom, France, beth; see Holinshed (1587), iii. 979/1, and 1170/2: "The executours of the said king [Henry VIII.] and other of the nobilitie......did......cause his sonne and heire......to be proclaimed king of this realme by the name of Edward the sixt, king of England, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith......The said lords......in most solemne manner proclaimed the new queene, by this name and title: Elizabeth by the grace of God queene of England, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith," &c. The old interpretation of the "treble sceptre" as that of England, Ireland, and Scotland is surely the right one, as a compliment to James I. was evidently intended by Shakspere, and every one knew that the kingship of France was a mere fiction. F. J. F. "PROMOTION."-This word is almost equivalent to advancement, but is generally used now in the sense of being raised to a higher appointment or office. The verb promoted is and America. (Rev.) F. D. THOMPSON. 22, Blenheim Terrace, Leeds. WILLIAM SOMERVILLE.-Anthologists and literary historians have not in all cases treated the author of The Chase' with kindness. Chalmers includes him in his 'English Poets,' and Southey gives him a place in his Later English Poets,' i. 405. It is remarkable, however, to find the latter editor of opinion that "The Chase' will preserve the writer's name and reputation when his other works are neglected," and presently quoting from him as sole specimen of his accomplishment his 'Address to his Elbow-chair, Newclothed.' Campbell, in his 'Specimens of the British Poets,' v. 97, mentions only The Chase' as the work by which the poet is known, and cites his 'Bacchus Triumphant: a Tale,' as illustrative of his quality. It is odd to find the Rev. George Gilfillan, a generous anthologist, excluding Somerville altogether from his 'Less-known English Poets.' In Ward's English Poets,' iii. 189, Mr. Gosse, although a little uncertain as to one or two matters of fact, gives the author something like his due, and illustrates his work by two fairly representative extracts from 'The Chase. There appears to have been nothing in Somerville that appealed to Mr. A. T. Quiller-Couch when he compiled 'The Oxford Book of English Verse.' Language" of the West Indies. It has long In his lectures on 'The English Poets' Hazlitt dismisses Somerville with other twenty or more, including Tickell, Aaron Hill, Christopher Smart, Michael Bruce, Mickle, and so forth, as poets whom he thinks "it will be best to pass and say nothing about them." It would have been kinder, of course, to omit the reference. Mr. Gosse, as was to be expected, gives Somerville a place in his Eighteenth-Century Literature, and if he does not say very much, he at least indicates the main features of his work. There are very imperfect references to the poet in MISTAKES IN PRINTED REGISTERS: RICHARD most of the literary text-books. Prof. Spalding JUGGE, PRINTER. Transcribers of old in his little work, so admirable in many ways, records, though possessed of a high general says that "The Chase' is not quite forgotten." competency, not seldom make blunders This was written in the middle of the nine- through lack of local or special knowledge. teenth century. Prof. Morley in his First Sketch,' and Mr. Thomas Arnold in his 'Manual of English Literature,' both notice the poet, the former doing so in a somewhat inaccurate fashion. Mr. Stopford Brooke finds no room for the author of The Chase' in his marvellously comprehensive 'Primer'; Prof. Saintsbury excludes him from his 'Short History of English Literature'; and Mr. Thompson ignores him in The Student's English Literature.' Apparently, though he was remembered in Prof. Spalding's time, we now threaten to forget him. STUART AND DEREHAM. . THOMAS BAYNE. The following entries are made on the flyleaf of a copy of Riders' British Merlin' for 1709 : Many of these might have been avoided if known Dr. Hadrian Saravia. But a worse case is in the 'Register of "Simeon Stuart Esq only son of Charles Stuart Esq son & heir of Sr Nicolas Stuart Bartt of Harteley in yo county of South'ton was married to Eliza-Christ Church, Newgate Street' (xxi. 274), beth y only daughter of Sir Richard Dereham, Kt & Bartt of Dereham Abby in ye county of Norfolck deceased, on Saturday yo 14th of June, 1701 in y° Whitsontide week, at Dereham Abby." "Elizabeth Stuart born Munday Mar. 15. at 8 of y' clock morn. 1702." 66 Mary Stuart born Wednesday May 16 being ye eve to Holy Thursd. att 5 of y° clock morn. 1705.' "Anne Stuart born Munday Aprill 7, att 1 of y° clock morn. 1707." W. C. B. "MONBAIN," THE JAMAICA PLUM. This appears worthy of inclusion in the 'N.E.D.,' as being the only term in French or English derived from the much-discussed "Women's where we have the burial on 18 Aug., 1579, "UTHER AND "ARTHUR.' I should be glad if some scientific Keltologist would declare the etymology of the ancient British names Uther and Arthur. It occurred to me when I was in Wales in the summer of 1901 that the latter might be identical with the "aruthr = adjective marvellous, wonderful, amazing, strange, dire, dreadful, prodigious, stupendous "; which as a substantive masculine means a wonder or marvel; a prodigy," to quote the 'Dictionary of the Welsh Language' by the Rev. D. Silvan Evans (the continuation of which would be a great boon); and that the former might be an easier way of writing uthr, which, according to 'A Dictionary of the Welsh Language' by W. Owen Pughe, means, as a substantive masculine, that stunneth"; and as an adjective, "awful, wonderful, astonishing, terrific, horrible." Perhaps it might be thought that the reading of these meanings into the names makes for the legendary_character of the story of King Arthur. Before sending you this letter_I asked Prof. J. Rhys for his opinion of it. He says that he thought of connecting uthr with the root of German Wunder, and sees no objection to my explaining the name Uther thereby. My derivation of Arthur does not appear to him so easy to accept. But, ex hypothesi, I look upon it as a word distorted by non-Welsh foreigners, as many another name has been. E. S. DODGSON. have been for several days at the British [Has our correspondent tried Sir Bernard Burke's 'Vicissitudes of Families,' The Rise of Great Families,' Anecdotes of the Aristocracy' and 'Romantic Records of Families,' G. L. Craik's 'Romance of the Peerage,' and E. Walford's 'Tales of our Great Families'?] EDWARD ARCHER, M.D.-I shall be glad of any information as to the parentage, life, and works of Edward Archer, M.D., founder of the Smallpox Hospital. LAUNCELOT ARCHER, M.R.C.S. 82, Vincent Square, Westminster, S. W. MARRIAGE MARKETS.-Are the marriage markets (as reported) still in existence in Tunis and other Mohammedan countries; and, if so, where can any description of them be obtained? J. J. "MY ORNAMENTS ARE ARMS."-Who is the author of the following lines? CHEPSTOW SIR NICHOLAS KEMEYS AND CASTLE.-Some few years back (I think perMOTTOES: THEIR ORIGIN.-I want to know haps ten) there appeared in one of the Monthe name of a book which will tell me the mouthshire newspapers a most interesting origin (historical or legendary) of certain account of the manner of death of Sir mottoes on coats of arms. I had such a book Nicholas Kemeys at the assault and capture out of the British Museum two years ago, of Chepstow Castle by the Parliamentary but have forgotten the name of the author. forces on 25 May, 1648, and also describing It was a modern book of perhaps 150 or the exact place of interment of that gallant 200 pages. It gave short stories telling how Cavalier officer within the castle walls. I certain mottoes were first used, and what think it stated that this account had been gave rise to their being taken as family supplied by a lady who formerly held the mottoes. The only one I remember was position of housekeeper to the late Duke of "Every bullet has its billet" (family of Beaufort, and in whose family the tradition Vassall) The book was popularly written had been handed down. I took a cutting not at all from an heraldic point of view. I from the newspaper (I think either the Beacon or the Merlin) at the time, but in changing my abode, some three or four years since, it got lost or mislaid with other papers, and all search for it has proved futile. May I therefore ask through N. & Q' whether any of its readers can refer me to the newspaper in which it appeared, together with the date, or oblige me with the particulars above referred to? ST DAVID M. KEMEYS-TYNTE. SHEFFIELD FAMILY.-Has any history of this family and its branches, other than the references thereto in Stonehouse's History of the Isle of Axholme' and Grant's 'History of Cleveland,' been written? In addition to the family of Butterwick, there was also one of some note residing at Seaton, Rutland, and Navestock, Essex. The latter is said to have terminated in a female, Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Sheffield, who was married prior to 1738. But there was certainly a member of the family, viz., Hannah Sheffield, living at Navestock as late as 1769, as shown by the marriage register. Edward Sheffield was also resident at Navestock in 1688, and his son Edward was living in 1722, as he polled for the City of London in that year. ROBERT H. BROWNE. Stapleford Abbots, Essex. GOFFE OR GOFF OF HAMPSHIRE. Where can a pedigree of this family be found? Who are the present representatives? What connexion is there with the Goffes or Goffs of Hants and Kent? (Mrs.) Anne SHUTTE. Hursley, Compton, Newbury. ST. SEBASTIEN AT CAUMONT.-I am very desirous of knowing the date of the construction of the little chapel of St. Sebastien at Caumont, near Avignon. PROF. PENRETH.-Under the Act 26 Henry VIII., 1534, cap. 14, twenty-six places were named from which to give titles to suffragan bishops in England and Wales, and in 1537 John Byrde was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Penreth at Lambeth by Archbishop Cranmer, as suffragan to Bishop Holgate, of Llandaff. This place was not Penrith, in Cumberland, for that was Pereth in those days, and was also mentioned as a title. The most probable locale was Penrhys, in the Rhondda Valley, in JOHNSON.-John, rector of Farndish, co. Bedford, 1571-1625, formerly Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxon. Was he identical with Foster's (Alumni Oxon.") "John Johnson, demy Magdalen College, 1555-61; fellow, 1561-8; B.A., 10 July, 1562; M.A., 9 July, 1567; Master of Wainfleet School, 1568" I have the pedigree of the above John from the London Visitation, 1633-5,' but shall be glad of any further information sent direct. THOS. WM. SKEVINGTON. Ilkley. STREWING CHURCHES. The custom of strewing churches with grass or rushes at certain festivals may have been discussed in the erudite pages of 'N. & Q.,' but I do not think that the origin of the practice has been discovered. whether strewing is supposed to be Christian Can any folk-lorist tell me or pre-Christian in source? It may be the latter, as it is probable that no inconsiderable number of our village churches stand on the sites of heathen god-houses. B. L. R. C. [For rushes in churches see 1st S. i. 259; ii. 197 2nd S. i. 471, 521; 5th S. iv. 162; 8th S. ii. 141, 237 v. 146.] CRAWFORD.-Andrew Crawford, who lived at Brighton from 1783 to 1800, and died at the age of fifty-six, married Mary Spink and had three sons: (1) William, an East Indian merchant, and member for the City of London from 1833 to 1841; (2) Andrew, lieutenant R.N., who died in Bombay, 1821; (3) James Henry, Bombay Civil Service. The descendants of Andrew (an extensive family in the south of England, having a considerable connexion with India and the colonies) believe themselves to be sprung from an Ayrshire family, and a paper has been supplied to me which records the names of John Crawford, of Highholm, and David Crawford, grandfather and father of Andrew. The name Highholm occurs, so far as I can learn, nowhere in Great Britain save in Ayrshire. In that shire there are, or were, two Highholms: one in the parish of Dundonald and the other in the parish of Dalrymple; but, despite inquiries made, I am unable to prove a family connexion with the name. As to Andrew Crawford's whereabouts before he resided at Brighton I know nothing, but |