Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

OFFICIAL BADGE : IDENTIFICATION again. This man was attired in a black SOUGHT. When turning out a lot of old coat and broad dark hat and wore buckles family things, I came on the following: on his shoes. They also saw ladies wearing a silver-gilt badge, with chain, inscribed as old-fashioned dresses; an obsolete plough follows: "James Mitchell Cock and Crier outside some deserted-looking farm buildto the verge of the Palace." The badge is ings, &c., in short, they were supposed to oval, about 24in. high, with a cock, "C.C." have revisualized the Petit Trianon as it and G.R. IV. on the obverse. The before- was in the days of Marie Antoinette. mentioned inscription is on the reverse.

Accompanying the badge was a miniature truncheon (8in. long), also surmounted by a cock, and painted with the Royal Standard round the stem.

The James Mitchell aforesaid was my grandfather. He had an appointment in the Vote Office of the House of Commons, and lived in Great George Street, Westminster. He died in 1833.

Can any of your readers kindly inform me to what office these insignia belonged? A. J. MITCHELL (Lt. Col.).

Now, in Le Figaro of June 17 last, M. Jacques Théry, in an article entitled Les Fantômes de Trianon,' dealing with this adventure, the date of which he gives as 1905, so that he is four years out, tells the following story. He says that on the evening of the recent election of M. Pierre de Nolhac to the Academy, a cinema operator went up to M. de Nolhac and said :

Ne sortez pas du champ, monsieur de Nolhac!
A propos, me reconnaissez-vous?
Il me semble . . .

[ocr errors]

- En effet.

- Rappelez-vous. quinzaine d'années.

Cela remonte à une Vous m'avez donné l'autori

sation de tourner à Trianon la vie de Marie

Antoinette.

MINERS' MILITIA.-The Act 38 George III., cap. 74, was passed for raising a corps of Militia, to be composed of the Miners What I should like to know is whether it of Cornwall and Devon, and to be raised is possible that the life of Marie Antoinette through the agency of the Warden of the could have been filmed in 1901 ? How long Stannaries. In the year 1802 (June 22) has the cinema been in existence? If it the above Act was repealed, and other be possible, then here is another spiritualistic means taken to ensure a corps being raised story food for laughter. from the miners, subject to the Stannary Court. Why was it necessary to sub

stitute the second for the first Act? Did
not the Stannaries support or comply with
the first claim for their services, or did they
claim to be exempt in spite of the Act of
Parliament ?
W. S. B. H.

THE DUTCH A NATION OF SEOPKEEPERS. -It has been stated that Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, called the Dutch a nation of shopkeepers, and that the same language was used of them by Louis XIV. What are the original authorities for these statements ?

HARMATOPEGOS.

W. A. HUTCHISON.

REFERENCE WANTED.-Sir David Hunter-Blair, in his recently published A New Medley of Memories,' mentions (p. 145) a pretty old house in a careless-ordered garden' of which Tennyson would have approved."

F.

Gerrards Cross.

What is the reference?
FRED. R. GALE.

[From the fourth stanza of Tennyson's poem to D. Maurice (1854):—

[ocr errors]

'Where, far from noise and smoke of town,

I watch the twilight falling brown

All round a careless-ordered garden
Close to the ridge of a noble down."]

AUTHORS WANTED.-1. The motto to Jane Austen's Love and Freindship,' 1790 (1922), THE ADVENTURE.'-The late Mr. Andrew" Deceived in Freindship and Betrayed in Love." Lang wrote two articles on the book bearing It is not in Cato, Venice Preserved,' or The this title in The Morning Post of Feb. 3, 1911, Orphan.' R. W. CHAPMAN. and July 7, 1911. The book relates the adventure of two English ladies who, on a gloomy day in August, 1901, set out from the Palace at Versailles to find the Petit Trianon. They missed their way and met two officials dressed in long greyish-green coats and small three-cornered hats, of whom they inquired. The ladies walked on and heard a man running behind them, who gave them fresh directions and then ran away

[graphic]

50

Replies.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

HANGMAN'S STONES.

(2 S. i. 15, 282, 402, 435, 502; 12 S. ix. 446,

493, 536.)

IT may be useful to sum up the notes which
have appeared in N. & Q. with reference
to this strange piece of folk-lore; and to
give
a descriptive list of all known instances.
In compiling this list I have found that some
instances described differently turn out to

be one and the same.

Briefly, the story told of each is that a man
had stolen a sheep and was carrying it home
slung over his shoulders.
against a stone (or slept by it, or was getting
over it, or placed the sheep on the stone in
As he rested
other versions) the sheep struggled and en-
tangled the rope, by which its legs were se-
cured, round the thief's neck and strangled

him.

between

Berkshire, 19, S.E.*-Hangman's Stone, Lam-
bourn Downs, parish of Lambourn;
Upper Lambourn and the Seven Barrows, on a
hill where four old tracks meet; height above
sea-level, 607ft. Legend: Berks, Bucks and Oxon
Journal, vii. 57.

of parishes of Boxford, Leckhampstead and Wel-
26, S.E.-Hangman's Stone, at junction
ford, at the point where Hangman's Stone Lane is
entered by an old road from the south-west;
height above sea-level, 386ft. Legend:
Harold Peake, F.S.A., informs me that the Hun-
dred Court met near this stone.

21, S.W.-Hangmanstone, on footpath along parish boundary between East and West Ilsley, between Gore Hill and Woolvers, possibly where it crosses the road between East and West Ilsley villages. Survey maps, but shown on the map opposite Not marked on the Ordnance p. 1 of William Hewett's History and Antiquities of the Hundred of Compton, Berks,' (Reading 1844).

Derbyshire, 57, N.E.-Hangman's Stone at junction of parishes of Ticknall, Foremark and Ingleby and meeting-place of four tracks; height above sea-level, 340ft. Legend: N. & Q.,

2 S. i. 15.

Devonshire, 83, S.W.-Hangman's Stone, at junction of parishes of Beer, Branscombe and Southleigh, at junction of six ways, one being the so-called Roman road; height above sea-level, Legend: 12 S. ix. 493 (Colyford),

about 480ft.

536.

the east side of Combe Martin Bay, 769ft. high. 1, S.E.-Little Hangman, the hill on east Great Hangman, hill one mile to the of the preceding, also height, 1,044ft. It is 5 miles east of Ilfracombe and 74 miles west of Lynton. Legend: 2 S. i. 402; 12 S. ix. 493; Westcote's View of Devonon the coast; shire' (1630), 252.

There seems to have been an actual stone, * These figures refer to the 6in. Ordnance Map.

[12 S. XI. JULY 15, 1922.

which perhaps gave its name to the hills. Westcote says (op. cit. supra, p. 252): "This parish [Tatchcombe] is separated from Combe Martin by boundary stones, one of which they term HangThe boundary stones still exist and

manstone.

are marked on the map. Perhaps Mr. W. G.

at the next revision of the Ordnance Survey maps
of Devonshire.
Willis-Watson could discover which of them was
so designated, in order that it might be recorded

[graphic]

485ft. Legend:

[ocr errors]

Cross and Widdicombe Cross, at junction of parishes of Cockington, Marldon and Kingskerwell, and meeting-place of three roads; height, 115, S.E.-Gallows Gate, between Moles falling on one side of the gate and the thief on the other the gate was hanged by the sheep he had taken Paignton and Marldon meet, and at the junction Sheep-stealer in getting over of many roads, 469ft. above sea-level, on Sheet Gate on the old edition of the lin. Ordnance Map (12 S. ix. 493). There is another Gallows 121, N.E. (1809) where the parishes of Berry Pomeroy, isted at Littlebury, but was removed (2 S. i. 435). Stowell, and the crossing-place of four old tracks; Essex. A stone with this legend formerly exGlazegate Cross." long, ldeg. 52mins. 23secs. the writer, but stone could not be discovered, Gloucestershire, 36, S. W.-Hangman's Stone, at junction of parishes of Hampnett. Yanworth and unless it is used in a stile (12 S. ix. 446). height, 705 ft.; lat. 51 degs. 50 mins. 04 secs., Legend: Told to

It is now called

..

[graphic]

Roman road from Cirencester south-eastwards. on the south-west boundary of the parish of 51, S.E.-The second milestone on the locally, but site haunted by Betty Bedlam, as 1 Preston; height, Gloucestershire,' p. 606. Legend 380ft. Legend: am informed by Mr. A. D. Passmore, Rudder's lost

of Whitwick, 500ft. from (modern?) boundary between Whitwick and Charley; height, about 650ft. Legend: (in verse) Potter's Charnwood Forest' (1842), 179, quoted in 2 S. i. 15; Gomme, Leicestershire, 17, S.W.- Hanging Stone, parish of the lordship of Sheepshed in Charnwood Forest met, lies at the foot of Iveshead, and a Primitive Folk-moots' distant from it stands the Hangman's Stone." Swainshill, the spot where the Swanimote Court (1880), 137, says: Brighton. Legend: 2 S. i. 435. [I cannot find Sussex. On the right-hand side of the from Brighton to Newhaven, about 5 miles from little this on any Ordnance Map.] road

little under 400ft.; 100yds. from the parish boundary and less than half a mile from Ridgeway. In the Name Book of the Ordnance south-west of Alton Barnes Church; height, Wiltshire, 35, S.W.-Hanging Stone, one stone situated in a field called Hanging Stone mile thick.... It has not been visited by Survey, dated 1885, it is described as a "standing Hurst. It is about 7ft. wide, 5ft. high and 3ft. the ay

antiquary of repute, so no information is obtainable. The local tradition as to the origin of the name is said to be derived from a man who, having stolen a sheep, placed it on the stone to rest, the rope which he was carrying it with being around his neck; the sheep slipped off on the opposite side to that on which the man was standing, tightening the rope around his neck and so hanging the man.'

Yorkshire, 282 (edition of 1854).-Hangmanstone Bar, between Sheffield and Barnsley, about 3 miles south of Barnsley, parish of Tankersley, about 600yds. from convergence of several roads; lat. 53degs. 29mins. 48secs., long. 1deg. 28mins. 30secs.; height, 476ft. Legend: 12 S. ix. 494 (references).

T

of the days when men were hung for stealing sheep. In this connexion it is highly significant that in Charnwood Forest the sheep in the legend is replaced by a deer; this exception really proves the rule, for in Forest Courts, like that of Swanimote, deer-stealing was by far the commonest offence and was capital.

In order to prove this hypothesis it would be necessary to show that for both hundred courts and gibbets it was usual to select the meeting-point of several roads and parishes, especially when this fell on high ground. I 276 (edition of 1854).-At junction of believe it would be possible to do this. But parishes of Barnborough, Melton and Marr, and I only know of one medieval gibbet which close to boundary of Hickleton ; lat. 53degs. can be located exactly from contemporary 31mins., long. 1deg. 14mins. 40secs. ; height, 350ft., at junction of at least four ways, one called records, and that is the gallows of the Prior Hangmanstone Road. Legend: Written down of Bradenstoke. In a Perambulation of

in Charles II.'s reign; 12 S. ix. 494 (references).

66

Savernake Forest of A.D. 1259 (?), the Glamorganshire, 31.-Hangman's Cross, one following passage occurs: "Inde ad furcas mile west of Oxwich, Gower, on boundary between Prioris de Bradenstok ad Wippeshull."* parishes of Penrice and Oxwich, at meeting-place This gibbet stood at the cross-roads 2,200ft. of four old tracks, one significantly called Old Sheep Lane; height, 360ft.; about 200yds. to north-east of Wilcot Church, in the Vale of the south is "Beggar's Pit.' Pewsey (Wilts, 35, S.E.), on the boundary Pembrokeshire, 27, S.W.-Hang Stone Davie, between the parishes of Wilcot and Pewsey. on Lamber Common, between the meeting-place One of the two old roads which cross here of the parishes of St. Thomas, Lambston, Harolds- is still called Hare Street; and in the bounds ton West and Steynton (1,650ft. to the north of Pewsey of A.D. 940 the spot is called east), and the parishes of Steynton, Walton West and Haroldston West (800ft. to the south-west). Wippes thorn." It is 468ft. above seaMany old tracks meet on the common. Height, level and forms the summit of a low knoll. about 304ft. The stone itself is about 4ft. high. It was obviously convenient to select such Legend: 28. i. 282; 12 S. ix. 493-4; H. Thornhill places for a gibbet since it was customary Timmins, Nooks and Corners of Pembrokeshire,' to carry out the sentence immediately it had p. 114 (quoted in loc. cit. ult.). been passed, and if it was usual to hold courts at an accessible central position, the gibbet also would be erected near. It was should see the body hanging, and take an advantage that as many as possible warning, and this would best be secured at a convergence of ways. At such "nodal points there was always waste ground to spare; and such spots were seldom unpleasantly near centres of habitation.

4

sites enumerated.

From the above list it appears that certain characteristics are common to most of the Many of them are on high ground, generally on the top of a ridge, where three or more parishes meet. Such spots are generally also the meeting-place of

many old tracks. In three instances there

is a definite association with open-air Courts (Boxford, Berks; Charnwood Forest, Leicester; and Gallowsgate, Devon). The fact that the tale is told of Gallows-gate, where the Hundred Courts the power of hanging In conclusion, I must add a query: Had probably, according to Mr. Watkin, a medieval court was held, or where its sentences were carried out, is of great interest in seeking for an explanation of the legend; and the hypothesis here put forward (suggested by Mr. Watkins's letter) is as follows: Originally the Hangman's Stones cited were nothing more than the boundary stones of parishes or hundreds. When such boundary stones happened to be near the public gibbet, they were distinguished by the prefix "The offences were chiefly of the minor sort, "Hangman's" stone. The legend attached nuisances and annoyances, such as selling of to them is in part a later attempt to explain corrupt victuals, keeping false weights and meathe name, in part a genuine traditional echo roads and the lil

a man? From the records of the Wiltshire Hundred Courts (A.D. 1439), it appears that matters as road repair† (see W.A.M.,' xiii. they were mainly concerned with such (1872), pp. 105-118, The Sheriff's Turn, Co. Wilts). If they had not this power, which

*Exchequer K.R., Forest Proc., Bundle ii. 25 (Presentments of Henry III's reign).

† Canon Jackson says in the reference given:

[graphic]

courts had? For it is to such courts only that we must look if my hypothesis is correct. Having found them, it will then be necessary to identify their meeting-places; and if these are found to be at "nodal points (as those of the Hundred Courts certainly were), their connexion with Hangman's Stones will become more than probable. Such points would naturally be used for the assembly of courts of all kinds. O. G. S. CRAWFORD.

BRETEL.

(12 S. x. 170, 295 ; xi. 17.)

I SEE that MR. N. W. HILL regards my derivation of this name, from A.S. Beorhtweald, as "pseudo-scientific." As Brettle, occasionally Brittle, Brettall, it is not uncommon in some parts of England and has two probable origins. It may be sometimes local, from one of the Brightwells or Britwells which may be found in the Gazetteer, or from some unidentified Bretwell (for the phonetics cf. the local pronunciation of Southwell). The name of Randolf de Bretewell occurs in the Patent Rolls, temp. Henry III. Brettle is also a personal name, as exemplified by William Bretel, in the same volume (v.s.), who is, I fancy, though I cannot at the moment verify it, identical with William Britwald, mentioned in the Fine Rolls, temp. Edward I., and whose name is pretty obviously A.S. Beorhtweald, approximately "bright wielder."

Old High German had the corresponding name Beraht-wald, whose descendants will be found in the Paris Directory as Bertault and Bretault, with many variant 'phonetic spellings. The metathesis of the r is elementary phonetics (cf. Fr. Albert and Albret).

It

There is, of course, a well-established French surname Bretel, though its origin is not so simple as MR. HILL imagines. In the first place it is not likely to mean Breton. is true that both the O.F. nominative and objective of this racial nickname have survived as surnames (Bret, Lebret, Breton, Lebreton), but it is normally from the objective that O.F. diminutives are formed, e.g., the diminutive of gars (nom.), garçon (obj.), is garçonnet. It is possible that such names as Bretonneau, Bretonnet mean "little Breton," but it is very improbable. The element bert or bret occurs in a very large number of early French personal names of Teutonic origin (Bertrand, Berthoud, Hubert, Foubert, &c.), and, as pet forms were created both by aphesis and apocope, it is impossible to say from what name any modern Bert takes his origin. From these monosyllabic forms the most complicated series of later diminutives were built up, so that Bretonneau or Bertonneau is in all probability a double diminutive of Bert or Bret, which in its turn ultimately represents the beraht of some old Teutonic dithematic. Of similar formation.

are Bertillon, Berthelot, Bertholet, Berthelin and many more.

It will be seen from what has been said that there is a possible ultimate relationship, or even occasional identity, between our Brettle and Fr. Bretel, but to describe the English name as borrowed from French is like describing A.S. Beorhtweald as "borrowed " from O.H.G. Berahtwald.

In dealing with these Teutonic dithematic names, two points should be noted: (1) In their modern surname form the second element is, owing to the accent on the first syllable, normally obscured, so that we find Everett from Eoforheard, boar strong, more usual than Everard; Bardell from Beorht- The alternative derivation put forward by wulf, bright wolf, quite replacing Bardolph; MR. HILL, that Brettle represents broad hill, Goble from Godbeald, god bold, commoner can hardly be meant seriously. A.S. brud or than Godbolt. (2) In this country they brad became brad or braid in the north, commonly assume two sets of forms, accord-broad in the south, these forms being copiously ing as the native or Anglo-French pronuncia- exemplified in place-names and resultant tion prevailed: thus Theodbeald, people surnames (Bradford, Braidwood, Broadley). bold, survives as Theobald (native) and, more M.E. brade-hul gave the well-known Lancausually, as Tibbles, Tibbets, Tebbut, &c. shire surname Braddell, spelt indifferently (Anglo-French; cf. Fr. Thibaut). In an Braddyll and Bradehul in the Lancashire Anglo-French mouth Beorhtweald would Assize Rolls, 1176-1285. It could only tend to become Birtwell, Birtle, Bretel, &c., while the native form may occasionally be represented by the local-looking Brightwell, e.g., Brightwell's Barrow (Glos.) is in Domes- hill. day Book Brictwoldesberg (see Baddeley,' I note that MR. HILL warns readers Place-names of Gloucestershire,' p. 31). against accepting everything that appears

become Brettle by phonetic epilepsy. Cf. the Lancashire names Windle from Windhill, Wardle from Wardhill, Hindle from Hind

[blocks in formation]

étonnant, ensuite de la fortune et avec elle l'envie et la haine des Esculapes de cette ville, qui, dit-on, Par ses nouvelles expériences des sept couleurs de ne passent pas pour les plus tolérants des hommes. Newton il n'en retient que trois, et il a l'audace de placer le Soleil et par conséquent toutes les étoiles au rang des planetes en lui ôtant sa matière embrasée pour la donner au fluide igné, etc. L'on verra ses expériences et ses preuves dans des ouvrages qui vont paraître. Si cela est, ne croyez-vous pas, Monsieur, que bien des auteurs se verront forcer à jeter leurs ouvrages au feu? HENRY F. MONTAGNIER.

Champéry, Valais.

MARAT IN ENGLAND (12 S. x. 381, 403, 422, 441, 463, 482; xi. 24).-MR. PHIPSON writes, in his fascinating paper on this subject, that I have read with the greatest of "on March 10, 1741, the records show that "interest the remarkable series of articles Marat's father" was formally admitted to the of MR. SIDNEY L. PHIPSON, and sincerely citizenship of Geneva." But as a matter of hope a French translation will be pubfact the name Marat (or Mara) does not appear in the Livre des Bourgeois de l'Ancienne République de Genève,' according to which, moreover, no new citizens were admitted in that year. So the truth would seem to be that Marat père merely received permission on that date from the Genevese Senate to reside in Geneva as a natif.

6

Under the old regime the inhabitants of the Republic of Geneva were divided into three distinct classes: the natifs, who, although allowed to reside in the city, enjoyed no political rights whatever; the bourgeois, who, although naturalized citizens, were ineligible for election to the Senate or the higher offices of State; and the citoyens, who were the sons of either bourgeois or citoyens born within the walls of the city.

The name of Marat's brother appears in the Livre du Recteur,' p. 266 (the list of students at the Académie de Genève from 1559 to 1859), as follows: "David Mara Neocomensis (Theol. 1777)," in other words, he is described as a native of what was then the Principality of Neuchâtel. Had his father become a citizen of Geneva in 1741, David Marat would naturally have been

entered as a Genevese.

In an unpublished letter from the Genevese Alpine traveller Marc Théodore Bourrit to his illustrious fellow-countryman Horace Benedict de Saussure, dated Paris, Nov. 15, 1779, I find the following interesting reference to Jean Paul Marat :

lished in pamphlet form. My father, the
late Victor de Ternant, about forty years ago
purchased a copy of Marat's 'Les Chaînes
de l'Esclavage' (Edimbourg, 1774, in-8vo)
in a Lancashire town, with two autograph
letters addressed to Dr. John Aikin inserted.
In the letters Marat not only made proposals
to Dr. Aikin to become his authorized
English translator, but also announced that
his ambition was to become a naturalized
Englishman and a suitor for the hand of the
doctor's sister (the future Mrs. Barbauld).
Jean Paul Marat had no objection to become
a Protestant "to please his brother-in-law
and English wife!" In the matter of re-
ligion, Jean Paul Marat seems to have been
as accommodating as another celebrated
Frenchman, Marshal Bernadotte, on accept-
ing the double crowns of Sweden and
Norway.
Marat likewise informed Dr.
Aikin that the sale of his pamphlet
entitled Plans for International Scientific
Academies in London and Edinburgh' more
than paid for its printing and incidental
expenses. The pamphlet must have had
some circulation in England and Scotland,
but there is no trace of it in the British
Museum catalogues. My father often said
Marat played a more prominent part in
England than was generally supposed, and
MR. PHIPSON has proved this up to the very
hilt. I do not know what became of the
Marat book and autograph letters, not having
been consulted in the dispersion of my
father's once extensive library.

ANDREW DE TERNANT. 36, Somerleyton Road, Brixton, S. W.

On parle beaucoup d'un nouveau Newton qui est fils de Mr Marat de Genève. Ce Physicien a inventé une nouvelle manière de voir les secrets de la Nature, il a d'abord eu toute l'Académie contre lui, mais il la scut forcer à être elle-même LOVELOCK (12 S. xi. 12).-I have seen le témoin de ses découvertes et qui est plus à les signer. Ce Physicien extraordinaire a instances of this surname in Surrey and mencé à être Médecin à Londres, puis à Pari. où Berkshire. I have not seen it in any other par des cures savantes il s'est attiré un concours part of England. W. D. READ.

com

« FöregåendeFortsätt »