Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/229

 .V.MARCH 10, 1906.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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MOON : FORTUNATE OR UNFORTUNATE. In 10 th S. iv. there is a good deal of moon folk-lore. Perhaps the following is worth inserting in ' N. & Q.' :

"The Pious Women [i.e., of the Jews] take especial care of the Lights, which they set up, on the Eve before the Sabbath, that they may burn

clearly They were of old, and at this day are

wont to promise to themselves Good, or Evill Fortune, according as they find these Lights, to burn, either cleerly, or dimly : which, certainly, is, a kind of Pyromancy. These women are very careful also, to see that these Lights be every way Pellucid, and shine with an Equal Flame : which is the True Reason also, as I conceive, why they do so much abhor Levanah,* the Moon, when it is Horned ; and also forbear to do any manner of Business, or Worke, in the New-Moones, when as but a Part of it is enlightened, towards us : and this was the Reason, that there was Anciently a Propitiatory Sacrifice used to be offered, in the Temple, at this time, which was supposed might be a means of diverting the bad Influences of the New Moons from them*.. ...The New Moons then were accounted Unfortunate, by the Jewish Women, unlesse they chanced to happen upon the Monday : upon which day, Rabbi Chomer, a Learned Jew, and a very great Astronomer, ac- counts them to be most Fortunate ; especially if they happened after Sun-rising: although neither He gives any Reason, why it should be so ; nor any other Author, that I ever remember to have seen.

If a man might have libertie to give a guesseat

the reason, why they accounted the New-Moon, falling upon a Monday, to be Fortunate, I should conceive this to be most probable ; namely, be- cause that the Generation of Mankind being much governed by Moisture, This day having a Moderate proportion of it, is therefore thought the more Fortunate : and also, because it is the second day of the week ; which number the Pythagoreans con- ceive to be, &c. Primus yenerans, the First in Generation : and therefore, it being so Fortunate, and of so good Omen, to the businesse of Genera- tion, which Women, by reason of the Blessing promised by God upon it, do so much desire ; they observe every New Moon, falling upon a Monday, as a Holy day ; and celebrate it, as being a Fortu- nate day, as to the businesse of procreation of Children ; that so, by this means, they may be fruitful] and happy in Childbearing."

The above is taken from an epistle headed "To His most Learned, and Knowing Friend, Leo Modena, A Rabbine of Venice, James Gassarel wisheth all Health," and dated "From Paris, Mart. 31. An. Dom. 1637," which is in the prefatory matter of "The History of the Rites, Customes, and Manner of Life, of the Present Jews, throughout the World. Written in Italian, by Leo Modena, a Ilabbine of Venice. Trans- lated into English, by Edmund Chilmead, Mr. of Arts, and Chaplain of Christ-Church Oxon.," London, 1650.

It is interesting to note that Gassarel

Levanah is also given in Hebrew characters.

ends his epistle to the Rabbine Leo Modena. thus :

" Wishing you all True health, which is to be found, onely, in the Faith of Christ ; and beseeching God, that he would at length bring you home to the sacred Banner of our Mediator, and Saviour Christ ; without which, the holy Scriptures pro- claim, that there is no way, or Passage to Heaven, and the Joyes thereof."

Leo Modena ends his reply by saying : " It remaineth, Sir, that I commit you to the- protection of God, the Great Creator, and Former of All things : beseeching Him that he would pre- serve you in Health," &c.

Leo Modena apparently submitted his- manuscript to James Gassarel, who " caused it to be printed." The latter's epistle is- chiefly concerned in drawing Leo Modena'* attention to subjects which he had omitted. ROBERT PIERPOINT.

NEWMAN'S * LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT.' It may be worth a note, in connexion with the third line of this hymn :

The night is dark, and I am far from home, that almost the same phrase occurs in Henry Porter's * Two Angry Women of Abington *" (1599), Act. V. sc. i., where Mistress Barnes, one of the two angry women, lost in trie- fields on a dark night, exclaims :

What shall I do ?

'Tis late and dark, and I am far from home,

May there not thieves lie watching hereabout,.

Intending mischief unto them they meet?

There may ; and I am much afraid of them,

Being alone without all company.

I do repent me of my coming forth.

RICHARD HORTON HORTON-SMITH. Athenaeum Club.

MAYNARDS OF CURRIGLAS. (See 4 th S. x. 206 ) John Maynard, of London, married Jane, daughter of William Ffloyer, of Ffloyer Hayes, co. Devon ('Visitation of Middlesex,'

1551), and his son Maynard, of Fulham,.

co. Middlesex, married Margaret Goddard, daughter of Thomas Goddard, of Holborn. His son William Maynard, of Fulham. married Angel, daughter and coheir of Humphrey Baskerville, Alderman of London, armiger. His son William Maynard, of Drumglas, near Tullow, Ireland, married Mary, daughter of Samuel Bowen, of Bricken- bury, in the county of Hertford. His son Sir William Maynard, Knt., of Curriglas, co. Cork, married in 1630 Mary, daughter of - Newce, sergeant- at-arms for the pro- vince of Munster. His son Sir Boyle Maynard (died 1698) married Anne Lawrence; his sister Mary married Sir George Hume, Bt. His only son was Samuel Maynard, of Curriglas, who married Jane, daughter of