C. N.

His widow, Catherine, died in Edward Street, Portman Square, 14 Feb., 1835, aged ninety-six. G. E. C.

LOCAL WORKS ON BRASSES (8th S. ix. 188; x. 30, 125).-About the best list yet compiled will be found on pp. 113-122 of 'Monumental Brasses,' by the Rev. Herbert W. Macklin, B.A. (1890). It embraces :

1. Works treating solely of the Study of Monumental Brasses :

a. Of English Brasses generally.
b. Of Brasses of single Counties.
c. Of Foreign Brasses.

2. Works on Monuments generally.
3. Works on Armour and Costumes.

4. County Histories, Heralds' Visitations, and other Antiquarian Works treating incidentally of Brasses; Local Guide-books.

5. Magazine Articles and Transactions of Antiquarian JOHN T. PAGE.

Societies.

66

5, Capel Terrace, Southend-on-Sea.

"MONTERO" CAP (8th S. x. 175).-Perhaps a description in 'N. & Q.' of the much prized montero cap, mentioned so many times in Sterne's famous satire, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gent,' may interest your correspondent, MR. E. T. LAWRENCE, viz.:

"The Montero-cap was scarlet, of superfine Spanish cloth, dyed in grain, and mounted all round with fur, except about four inches in the front, which was faced with a light blue, slightly embroidered, and seemed to have been the property of a Portuguese quartermaster, not of foot but of horse, as the word denotes."

The cap to which I draw attention is stated to have been sent from Lisbon by Tom Butler to his brother Corporal Trim, that delightful mixture of familiarity and respect, the best of soldier servants and worthy of such a master as Capt. Shandy, "thou quintessence,' as Leigh Hunt says, "of the milk of human kindness, thou lover of widows, thou high and only final Christian gentleman, divine Uncle Toby "; and of whom it can be said, "None but himself can be his parallel."

HENRY GERALD HOPE.

71, Brecknock Road.

EVERARD HOME COLEMAN.

Of course, "montéro" is the ordinary Spanish word for a huntsman. In my Abbotsford edition of Sir W. Scott (1845), vol. vii. p. 623, is an engraving of Sir Geoffrey Hudson "with a large folio volume......on the table before him......He [is] wrapped up in the dusky crimson cloak...... which served him for a morning gown......and which corresponded with a large montero-cap that covered his head.' The cap referred to is represented by the engraver as an ordinary Spanish cap, with the usual feather surmounting the crown, and the drawf wears it very much on the right side of his head. The engraving is by Dalziel.

E. COBHAM BREWER.

Has MR. LAWRENCE tried the 'Encyclopedic Dictionary,' where there is given a representation of the cap, with the following definition: "A kind of cap, properly a huntsman's cap, having a spherical crown and a flap which could be drawn down over the ears"? D. M. R.

6

"Montero is a cap made of stuffe with little or no brimmes, to weare for ease within doores (Mabbe, Aleman's Guzman,' ii. 131, 1633). It was worn by highwaymen. "Beware of him that rides in a mountier cap, and of him that whispers oft" (Head, English Rogue,' i. 390, 1665). It is mentioned as winter wear for fowlers in the epilogue to 'Widow Ranter' (Mrs. Behn, 1689). According to Cotgrave's definition, quoted by Halliwell (ed. 1865), it was a hood, apparently similar to the horseman's helmet worn now by Arctic travellers and Alpine climbers occasionally. Sets of these (knitted) were presented to the Arctic expedition of 1875 by the Empress Eugenie, and were christened " Eugenia wigs" by the bluejackets. Mabbe's definition is at variance with the others, and perhaps the original cap was also at variance with the later ones. I presume MR. LAWRENCE has referred to Nares.

H. C. HART.

GOSFORD (8th S. x. 117, 172).—MR. WELFORD'S instance is dead against his argument. Common sense tells us that Wel-ford may very well be derived from well and ford; and if any one wanted to "teach us to believe" that the initial w goes for nothing, and that "up in Northumberland" it is believed to be derived from cel-ford, we should not regard such trifling as serious.

Similarly, Gos-ford may very well be derived from goose and ford; and it must indeed require a surrender of common sense to imagine that the initial g goes for nothing, and that it "simply" stands for Ouse-ford. This is not simple at all, but contrary to all common sense and all evidence.

amuses.

BOOKSELLER OR PUBLISHER (8th S. viii. 208; ix. 30, 518).-The telling excerpts put forth by MESSRS. F. C. BIRKBECK TERRY and E. H. MARSHALL, M.A., are exceedingly entertaining to one seeking to penetrate the past ideas and methods that governed the old book-maker. Getting at publisher as a well-developed trade term so far back as 1673 was a capital find. The singular jumbling of the two occupations-viz., bookseller and publisher -in old Thos. Blount's preface of that date carries back and perhaps helps to prove my assertion as to the uniform well-kept-up indifference expressed by the learned, particularly on the part of the well bred, in regard to holding to the trade or proper meanings of these two words, probably even then thoroughly defined in the everyday vocabulary of the bookselling world, small as it must have been. Being an esquire and a man of quality, a trade phrase could have possessed no value to him, and consequently I presume it failed to be inserted in his 'New World of Words.' Minsheu's motto of "Vendibiles extant" appearing on this title page strikes me as an important clue to some old forgotten custom. Was it printed there to imply that its publisher had received special authorization to sell the entire edition of the work openly? Little is known, I think, of the peculiar methods then in vogue relative to the working off of editions, or prior to it. That is, How close was the London publisher or old-time metropolitan promoter of a book in touch with the booksellers in country districts? How did he get at them? Was it his practice to consign his new publications as they appeared to certain customers of established credit, exacting settlements at stated dates? Is it known that he ever issued or distributed trade circulars before the advent of the newspaper? What means had he outside of vessels for the getting of his goods to his choice clients; and how well did he contrive to make generally known his own particular printed wares? We can only guess, I suppose, at the inner workings of his office or counting-room, and whether it was the usage in his time to make verbal or iron-bound legally written contracts with his authors and compilers. What tales of moving pathos could be told if we but knew the contracts he made with the denizens of his contemporary Grub Street. An ancient form of contract such as he might have made I have never seen. Have any come down? In contrast with the supposed wrongs of the living author in his or her dealings with Paternoster Row surely such a deed would be very delightful reading, inasmuch as the old-time limb of the law had

Edo, emitto, typis Mando." I have an edition of Littleton (1693) has: "To publish (a book), The Pilgrim's Progress," "Printed and Published by J. Robins & Co.," 1811; also a volume of the European Magazine for 1786, "Published by I. Sewell" ("Printed" on a second title-page); and several volumes of the Universal Magazine (1778 et seq.), "Published Monthly according to Act of Parliament by John Hinton," &c. to be sold " occurs on most of the seventeenth of Pseudodoxia Epidemica' has "London, Printed century title-pages I have seen. The first edition by T. H. for Edward Dod, and are to be sold in Ivie Lane, 1646."

Are

C. C. B.

Was

STAPLE (8th S. viii. 508; ix. 94).-There must have been prehistoric markets, recognized sites for traffic before landowners or legislators had any voice in the matter. Maelor means market" in Welsh, so we have an English and a Welsh maelor. It may be that an ancient menhir, or longstonestapul if you like-succeeded in time by the recognized market cross, marks such a site. Keston Mark one such? Staploe hundred, in Cambridgeshire, is Staple-hoe, with a Chippenham parish; here Staple and Chipping accord. Was this site a precursor of the New Market adjoining? There is a mutilated Benthall stone in Alberbury parish, near Shrewsbury, which is suggested as the base of an ancient market cross.

Stapleford, in Notts, has a Saxon pillar and some rude stone remains, possibly a Celtic circle or cromlech. Some further details here may prove decisive.

A. HALL.

"COMMELINE" (8th S. ix. 327).-The order Commelinaces owes its name to John and Gaspar Commelin, the Dutch naturalists. CHAS. JAS. FÈRET.

"FACING THE MUSIC" (8th S. ix. 168, 272, 477).-A reference to my former communication will show that I quoted no authority. I said only that Lever's novels might gives instances of horses bolting when the regimental band struck up. In Aytoun's story 'How I became a Yeoman' (Blackwood, September, 1846) is a lively account of such an incident. I have not the advantage of being acquainted with Barrère's 'Dictionary,' &c.

Hastings.

EDWARD H. MARSHALL, M.A.

THE THAMES: "PONTIFEX MAXIMUS": DICKER (8 S. viii. 309, 455).-'Greater London' says that the old bridge at Hampton consisted not of seven, but of eleven arches, as mentioned by MR. E. H. COLEMAN. MUS RUSTICUS.

EARLY LUCIFER MATCHES (8th S. x. 72, 141). -The matches mentioned by MR. RATCLIFFE were not "lucifers" at all. They were the common matches lighted by the tinder, the flame obtained by the spark from the flint and steel being blown upon. As a boy I used to make them for the household. The "lucifers" at first were drawn smartly through a piece of folded sand-paper.

Alnwick.

G. H. THOMPSON.

"SKIAGRAPHY": "SKIAGRAM" (8th S. ix. 325, 415).-'The New World of English Words,' by E. P., 1658, has: "Sciagraph (Greek), a platform or description of a house, with the contrivance of every room." F. C. BIRKBECK TERRY.

OGNALL (8th S. ix. 48; x. 14, 143).-The surname of Ugnal is now very rare in Lancashire, if it is not quite extinct. In the beginning of the last century a family of this name lived at Wheelton, in the parish of Leyland. In a Pleading in the Duchy Court, in 26 Hen. VIII. (1534-5), re title to lands, &c., at Standish, one of the witnesses was Roger Ugnall, of Rivington, yeoman, aged seventy years; the name is in the depositions spelt Ugnal and Ogenall. Unfortunately, there is no complete published list of Lancashire old halls. HENRY FISHWICK.

BLESSING THE FISHERIES (8th S. x. 74, 143). -The clause inserted in the Litany by Bishop

Wilson after the "Kindly fruits of the earth" is, "and to restore and continue to us the blessings of the seas." This we still use whenever the Litany is said in the diocese of Sodor and Man.

A special service is held in Peel Church each year before the boats leave for the fishing; but I am sure that Bishop Wilson's form of prayer is not used; it takes rather the modern (and degenerate) turn of a special sermon to the fishermen, which is a very different thing.

But the men themselves are by no means prayerless. As the boats go out from Peel Harbour each man on board bares his head, if of St. Germain, to pray for a blessing on the only for a moment, as they sail by the old cathedral night's fishing; and each evening, after the nets have been shot, and before any of the crew have turned in, at a word from the skipper the men all kneel upon the deck in silent prayer. Seventeen years ago, when I was vicar of Kirk Michael, I ignorance of the ways of Manx fishermen. scandalized some of my parishioners through my going with two men in an open boat from the shore to fish for carp. We were to sail to the fishing-bank; so, after hauling the boat to the water's edge, we began to put in stones for ballast, and I naturally began to help; but I was surprised to see several stones which I had put into the boat flung out again with evident impatience and irritation; in my ignorance I had brought some white stones into the boat, and if any of these had been there when on the sea we should have had nothing but bad luck. As soon as we were sufficiently weighted the boat was pushed off from the shore, and again I made a mistake; we were no sooner clear of the ground than the men took their hats off, as I thought to cool themselves; but mine was also snatched off, with the saying, "Is the new vicar a heathen, that he can't ask God for a blessing on our work?" And then I learnt that they never The white stones and the silent prayer-a strange started from the shore without that silent prayer. mingling of superstition and reverence, one apparently as important as the other.

ERNEST B. Savage. St. Thomas Vicarage, Douglas, Isle of Man,

This custom prevails in all the Catholic countries. That it was general in England also before the Reformation is pretty certain, and probably accounts for the numerous examples of ancient chapels on the quays of our old seaports. A typical instance is the chapel of St. Leonard, at fisheries seems to have long survived the ReforSt. Ives, Cornwall, where the blessing of the mation. As abroad, the chaplain was paid by a tithe of the fish. St. Leonard's was the fishermen's chapel, and it was until recently kept in repair out of the quay dues.

Cardiff.

JOHN HOBSON MATTHEWS.

Miscellaneous.

NOTES ON BOOKS, &c.

A Student's Pastime. By the Rev. Walter W. Skeat, Litt.D., D.C.L., &c. (Oxford, Clarendon Press.) NOT a reader of 'N. & Q.' can there be insensible to the advantages derived by that periodical from the contributions, philological and literary, of Prof. Skeat. During thirty years the Professor has enriched its pages with articles which, more perhaps than any other cause, have established in the mind of the general public the fact that philology rests on a scientific basis, and is not, as long it was, a mere matter of more or less plausible and ingenious conjecture. Hard was the task at first to rout those who, trained in guesswork, guessed on, Of late years the Professor has had matters his own way, and the cases are now few in which his decisions are disputed. A selection, fairly comprehensive, of his contributions now sees the light under the pleasant and well-conceived title 'A Student's Pastime.' It constitutes a book in favour of which too much can scarcely be said. As to its solid merits philologists are agreed. It gives in a lucid and condensed form the conclusions not only of Prof. Skeat himself, but of all who-to drop into modern and familiar speech-are "in the know." The latest information derived from the closest investigation and analysis of our literature is here given in the most succinct shape. In attractiveness, moreover, the work is no less remarkable than in worth. Here, if anywhere, familiarity with essays every one of which has appeared in our columns is to be expected. Most of them have passed under personal observation before they went forth conquering and to conquer, to appeal to a large though scarcely a general public, to furnish delight to the scholarly, and in some cases rebuke to the unlearned. We do no more than common justice, however, in saying that in this collected form we have reread them from beginning to close. Taking up the book with the mere purpose of refreshing memories, we found ourselves fured into a complete reperusal. The only difficulty was to break off for a moment in order to resume work with more immediate claims upon attention. It is eminently satisfactory to find that the task of research and exposition has been "a pastime "to the writer. It will be, we promise, more than a pastime to the reader who is interested in literature, while to one who pursues a literary calling it is fruitful in instruction and sugges tion. We cannot, of course, quote matter with which our readers are familiar, nor do we well know how, when all is so excellent, to suggest contributions deserving to be read afresh. We can only counsel our readers to take the book in their hands and dip into it. If, having done this, they do not read it from cover to cover their keenest interests are not philological or they are so saturated with previous study that they have nothing to recall. Not the least interesting portion is the introduction, which is pleasantly autobiographical, disclosing the processes and influences which led to the adoption of the form of study in which Prof. Skeat has attained eminence. This has the keen interest which attends all honest personal disclosures. It is, however, much more than this, being a concise exposition of modern philological progress from darkness into light, together with a history of the establishment of the Early English Text Society and the English Dialect Society, and the inception and the execution, so far as it has gone, of the great Oxford dictionary and the 'Dialect Dictionary,' in both of which great national monuments Prof. Skeat has taken a zealous and an honourable part. The progress of his own Etymological Dictionary' is also naturally and necessarily explained, and a complete

bibliography of one of the most assiduous of students and workers is supplied. To this, which first appeared in our columns, as to some other articles, additions have been made. The closing paragraph of the introduction is as follows: "I have contributed a large number of articles, on linguistic and other subjects, to many other publications besides Notes and Queries. If the reception of the present book is sufficiently encouraging, it would be easy to produce another volume, or even two more, of a like kind.' That these will appear in due course who shall doubt? Not culpably selfish, if not wholly disinterested, is the expression of the hope that N. & Q.' may, in the course of the coming years, itself furnish matter for "another volume, or even two more, of a like kind."

By

The Ancient Crosses at Gosforth, Cumberland. Charles Arundel Parker, F.S.A.Scot. (Stock.) AMONG the many curious monuments of the blending of pagan with Christian symbolisms which are found in the North of England, Gosforth Cross is conspicuous for beauty and interest. The quaint and rude designs with which it is decorated were first traced by Mr. Arundel Parker and the Rev. W. S. Calverley after the visit to the cross of the Cumberland and Westmorland Archæological Society, and a paper on the result of their joint researches was read at Carlisle in 1882 before the Royal Archæological Institute. Much attention has subsequently been attracted to a monument which, though long neglected, Prof. Stephens, of Copenhagen, declares to be "the most elegant olden Rood in Europe." A full explanation of the significance of the carvings is now given, the carvings themselves being carefully reproduced. For this we must refer our readers to the book, which will especially commend itself to antiquaries. Mr. Arundel Parker accepts the theories of Prof. Stephens that it is, "like several of its oldest North-English compeers, of the most ancient Kelto-Anglic type known to us, pointing back to the great Kelto-Northumbrian missions of the sixth and seventh centuries," and that the homily it preaches appears to be "the fall of evil before good, the triumph of God through Christ over sin, death, and the devil." The Christian Tree of Life is, however, the Northern World Tree (Yggdrasil); Baldur is typified in Christ; and the carvings to the Scandinavian soldier would signify the crime and punishment of Loké. Further into the question we may not enter; but we commend the volume to all interested in the study of Christian antiquities and of myth and religion. Palladius De Re Rustica.

(Berlin, Ebering.)

Edited by Mark Liddell.

THE first part, containing the text, has reached us of the Middle-English translation of Palladius on Husbandry,' which is being brought out by Mr. M. Liddell, of Oxford. A text of the same work has already been edited for the Early English Text Society by Mr. Lodge in 1872 from a MS. then believed to be unique, and located in Colchester, but now in the Bodleian. Mr. Liddell, however, has selected the Fitzwilliam MS. for his basis, as being better written, better spelt, more perfect, and probably more authentic, inasmuch as it bears internal evidence of having been prepared for the translator's patron, Duke Humphrey, from his own copy. On comparing the two texts, we find that the Fitzwilliam presents many interesting variations in the lexis, besides filling up several lacunae which disfigured the older edition. In particular, the epilogues appended by the translator to each of the twelve books dealing with the country operations of the twelve months are missing in the Bodleian MS. so far as the first three books are concerned, but are here intact. Moreover, the last forty-three lines of Book XII, and the