Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 11.djvu/592

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io s. xi. JUNE 19, im

of Sandgate Castle, 4 Ed. VI. (1550); Thomas Boys, captain of Deal Castle, 5 Ed. VI. (1551). The one commemorated on the monument in Deal Church was two years mayor of Calais (query dates), and aged 60 at his decease in 1562.

Where can I find a list of the captains of Deal Castle ? B. J. FYNMORE.

Sandgate.

JOHN SLADE, DORSET. Can any reader give me information respecting John Slade rector of South Perrot, Dorset, died 1574 ; also of his second son Matthew Slade, B.A. (1569-1628) ? Matthew Slade matriculated at St. Alban Hall 1585, and afterwards lived in Holland, where he was engaged in theological matters. Particulars of the descendants of John and Matthew Slade would be welcomed. G. SLADE.

THOMAS BENNET, BOOKSELLER. Will any one tell me the ancestry of Thomas Bennet, the bookseller at " the sign of the Golden Lyon in Fleet Street," who figures in the Boyle-Bentley controversy over the epistles of Phalaris ? He was a friend of Francis Atterbury, who preached his funeral sermon ; he married in 1694 Eliz. Wittewronge, and was the ancestor of the present Sir Chas. Bennet Lawes Wittewronge, Bart. ; he died 26 Aug., 1706, a>,t. forty-two, and was buried in St. Faith's Church. W. L. B.

HOCKTIDE AT HEXTON. In this remote corner of Hertfordshire the observance on the first Monday after Easter was not a little remarkable. The chief feature of the festivities comprised the fixing of a tall ash pole in a mound upon Wayting Hill, which pole had to be pulled up (presumably with ropes) by the women of the town, notwith- standing the real or pretended resistance of the men. It was dragged down hill and into the Town House, where a feast was prepared of which the participants in the fray par- took, afterwards renewing the contest in the form of a game at base (prisoners' base) in the Plaistow.

The generally accepted theory of the origin of the Hocktide observance was that it commemorated the destruction, or mas- sacre, of the Danes on St. Brice's day, an event said to have commenced at Welwyn, Herts. But this was no cause for rejoicing, save temporarily, as retribution followed quickly, and the country was ravaged and pillaged unmercifully ( vide Green's ' History ' ).

Other writers suggest that it commemo- rated Hardicanute's death and the final freeing of the country from the Danish yoke.

But neither the date of this event, 18 June, nor that of St. Brice's day, 13 November, coincides with the date of the festival, nor is it easy to trace any connexion between the struggle of the sexes for the possession of a definite object, with the consequent feast, and either the temporary triumph over the foe or the final break-up of their dominion.

The question arises : What did the pole symbolize for a symbol it surely was and its erection upon the highest point in the district ? It would seem to typify power or sovereignty, and its uprooting deposition ; but why should this downfall be caused by the weaker sex ? The whole perform- ance is perplexing; but that it has reference to some historic or prehistoric occurrence one cannot well doubt. Any suggestions tending to elucidate its origin will be welcomed. W. B. GERISH.

Bishop's Stortford.

WILLIAM O'BRIEN was elected a Bang's Scholar at Westminster in 1736, aged 14, and left in 1740. Further particulars con- cerning him are required. G. F. B. B.

JOSEPH YOUNG was elected to Trinity College, Cambridge, from Westminster in 1662. Can any correspondent of 'N. & Q.' give me particulars of his parentage and career, and the date of his death ?

G. F. B. B.

' ABRIDGEMENT OF CALVIN'S INSTITUTION.' I possess a copy of this work printed at Edinburgh in 1586. The names of the Bev. William Lawne and the Bev. Christopher Fetherstone occur on the title-page. Fether- stone's ' Epistle Dedicatorie ' to the Lady Judith Pelham is dated from " Miaghfield in Sussex," April, 1586 no doubt the present Mayfield. Lawne's dedication of his part of the work is to M. Bichard Martin (Master of the Mint and Lord Mayor of London), and is dated London, February, 1583. An edition of the ' Abridgement ' was printed at Edinburgh by Vautrollier in 1585. Will some reader kindly tell me who the Lady Judith Pelham was, and who were Lawne and Fetherstone ? W. S.

THE STORM SHIP. Washington Irving, in his ' Bracebridge Hall ' (London, George Bell & Sons, 1878, p. 288 seqq.), makes Heer Antony relate the old legend of a navicular phantom known by all the voyagers of the Hudson by the name of the Storm Ship. Sometimes one could get quite close to her, so as to be capable of well discerning the dresses of her crew, but then, in a twinkling,