Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 12.djvu/467

 10 s. XIL NOV. is, 1909.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

383

These refer to " trial by battle," when trained pugilists were employed, as counsel are now, to champion the client's cause.

5. ' Hamlet,' I. ii. 157. The illegality of marriage with a deceased husband's brother is summed up in the word " incestuous."

6. Leontes ('Winter's Tale,' II. i. 88), suspecting Hermione of adultery, calls her a traitor. The term " traitor," used of an unchaste queen, is literally correct (Statute of Treasons, 25 Ed. III., stat. 5, c. 2) ; see, too, III. ii. 12-22, where the indictment covers two of the acts of treason specified in the statute compassing the death of the king, and violating the king's consort. It was on the latter count that Anne Boleyn was convicted and executed. See 1 State Trials, 418.

Leontes calls Paulina a witch (II. iii. 67) and a traitor (II. iii. 82), and threatens to burn her (II. iii. 113). The punishment was the legal one. Witches and women guilty of treason suffered death by burning.

7. The wolf " hanged for human slaughter" (' Merchant of Venice,' IV. i. 134) is of course an allusion to the mediaeval law under which things and animals which had caused the death of a human being were forfeit. The animals were executed.

P. A. MCELWAINE.

[1. For ''benefit of clergy" see 6 S. i. 37, 160; ii. 73 ; 7 S. v. 268, 377 ; 8 S. xii. 329, 409.

7. For deodands see 7 S. x. 446; 8 S. v. 509; vi. 73.]

WILLIAM WYNNE RYLAND AND HIS FAMILY.

IN a publication entitled ' Some Dis- tinguished Victims of the Scaffold ' (Kegan Paul, 1905), written so long ago that I think I may venture to cite the book without being suspected of " log-rolling," I devoted an article to William Wynne Ryland, " the King's Engraver," who was hanged at Tyburn for forgery on 29 Aug., 1783. Pre- viously, the exact date of his birth had not been given by any of the authorities ; and ai it was known that the unfortunate man's father, Edward Ryland, was for many years a printer and publisher in the Old Bailey ; I naturally consulted the registers of the neighbouring parishes. At St. Sepulchre's Church I came across the following records o baptism :

30 Nov., 1725. Edward, son of Edward arid Mary Ryland in St. John Street, born 29 Oct.

5 Sept., 1727. Leticia, daughter ot the same, bori 4 Aug.

13 Oct., 1730. Edward Grigg, son, born 3 Oct.

25 Jan., 1733. Mary, daughter, born 25 Jan.

1 Nov., 1736. Richard, son, born 31 Oct.

My first inquiry at the adjacent parish of St. Martin's, Ludgate, elicited what I sought, for here I found an entry of the baptism of William Wynn (sic), son of Edward and Mary Ryland, on 2 Dec., 1733. Unluckily, I made no further search ; but as it did not seem probable that there could be two contemporary husbands and wives, who bore the names of Edward and Mary Ryland, living in adjoining parishes, and both having children at the same period, I concluded that William Wynn was the son of Edward and Mary Ryland of St. John Street, and that while he, owing to some unknown reason, had been christened at St. Martin's, the rest of his brothers and sisters had been

hristened at St. Sepulchre's. It was too

asty a surmise, which further research

have caused me to modify. A few months ago I received a letter

rom Mr. Alfred H. Mumford of Manchester, who, following up my investigations at

It. Martin's, Ludgate, made the discovery

hat seven children of Edward and Mary Ryland were baptized at this church. The

aptismal register runs thus :

2 Dec., 1733. William Wynn, son of Edward and Mary Ryland, born 2 Nov.

7 Feb., 1734 [1734/5]. Edward, son of the same, aorn 27 June.

18 Nov., 1736. Robert, son, born 27 June.

27 Aug., 1738. Joseph, son, born 26 Aug.

24 Oct., 1740. Edward, son, born 17 Oct.

22 Aug., 1742. John, son, born 18 Aug.

22 Oct., 1744. Robert Holt, son, born 25 Sept.

Thus the tradition that the clever and unlucky engraver was the eldest of seven children (all sons) seems to be amply corro- borated, and there were two Edward Rylands and two Mary Rylands respectively husband and wife, living at the same time in the parishes of St. Sepulchre and St. Martin, though what relationship the two ouples bore to each other (if any) I am unable to decide. I hasten to correct the mistake into which I was led by this odd coincidence, lest I should lead astray others ; and at the same time I wish to return my best thanks to Mr. Mumford (whose per- mission I have to make this communica- tion) for taking the trouble to acquaint me

with my error.

HORACE BLEACKLEY.

" THE ANTIQUARY'S BOOKS " : CHURCH- WARDENS' ACCOUNTS. May I tender the suggestion to Messrs Methuen, through the columns of ' N. & Q.,' that they should include as an early number of their valuable series a volume on the subject of old-time churchwardens' accounts ? At present there