Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/266

 218

NOTES AND QUERIES. [io> s. v. MARCH 17,

LORD CAMKLFORD'S DUEL (10 th S. v. 162). Since writing my note I have referred to the account of Lord Camelford which is given in Watford's 'Old and New London,' Hi. 182: iv. 302, 323, 446 ; v. 176. Whether the quarrel with Capt. Best took place at Stevens's Hotel in Bond Street, or at the Prince of Wales's Coffee-House in Conduit Street, seems doubtful. Mr. Walford mentions that the remains were deposited in the vaults of St. Anne's, Soho, after having been removed from Little Holland House to Camelford House. But the thanks of London anti- quaries are not the less due to LADY KUSSELL and MR. ALAN STEWART for settling any doubt that might exist with regard to the disposal of the remains. In addition to the accounts of the duel which are quoted by MR. STEWART, reference might be made to Brayley's ' Londiniana,' iv. 244-6 ; Faulk- ner's 'History of Kensington,' pp. 125-9; and Princess Marie von Liechtenstein's 'Holland House,' i. 184-8. All these authori- ties are silent on the point in question. Nor is it mentioned in books dealing more specially with the church and parish of St. Anne, such as Rimbault's 'Soho and its Associations,' 1895, and 'Two Centuries of Soho, by the Clergy of St. Ann's,' 1898. MR. ALAN STEWART'S categorical note completely sets this point at rest.

W. F. PRIDEAUX.

"MisiCKs" (10 th S. v. 128, 174). The statement that this word, found in a Cheshire account, is not known "localty," is somewhat surprising. A reference to the 'English Dialect Dictionary' (not consulted) shows that Cheshire is precisely the home of the word, and that it is explained in the English Dialect Society's 'Cheshire Glossary' (also not consulted).

" Misicks " is evidently meant for the name of a piece of land, so called from its boggi- ness. Cf. " Mizzick) a boggy place " ('Chesh. Glos.'). The editor adds : u In South Lanes, the sb. mizz is used, meaning a boggy place.

There is near Mobberly a place called

Mizzy Wood." See further in ' E.D.D.'

It is clearly allied to the E. Fries, ml sir/, moist, M. Du. mieselen, to drizzle, E. mizzle ; also to E. mixeji, a dunghill (lit. wet heap), and to G. mist ; all from an Idg. root *meu/h, as seen in Skt. mih, Gk. d/zi^o, L- mingerc, A.-S. mlr/an, all with the same sense. It is interesting to find that a word which is now known in so small an area has cognates in a large number of languages, as shown by Uhlenbeck in his article upon the Gothic maihstus. WALTER W. SKEAT.

NOTES ON BOOKS, &ev

Richard Peeke of Tavistock : hi* Three to One, the Commendatory Verses, and the Play of Dick of Devonshire. By J. Brooking Rowe.' (Exeter, Commin.)

THOUGH intended to some extent as an appeal to- local patriotism, this admirable reprint has an iiiterest extending far beyond Devonshire. Richard Peeke or Pike of Tavistock is one of our English worthies whose deeds might almost be enshrined in Hakluyt or Purchas. His brilliant action when, as a prisoner in Spain, he fought with a quarter-staff in the presence of the Duke of Medina Sidonia and other Spanish grandees, and defeated three men armed with rapier and dagger, slaying one and dis- arming the others, obtaining in so doing his release from imprisonment and his return to Devonshire- through France, with k ' crowns for convoy put into- his purse" by the King of Spain, he narrates in th first of the three contents of this reprint. ' Three to One' is a very scarce and equally curious work, written with some pardonable boastfulness and with much vivacity and spirit. It constitutes vastly interesting reading. ' Certaine Verses, Written by a Friend, in commendation of the author, Richard Peeke,' which follow, are signed J. D. These two publications, which are dedicated to King Charles I., are included in Prof. Arber's ' English Garner.'

Last comes 'The Play of Dick of Devonshire/ which was found by Mr. A. H. Bullen in MS. and included by him in the second volume of his magnificent collection of old English plays. This work also has inspired keenest interest. Mr. Bullen, the most capable of judges, assigns it, not very positively, to Thomas Heywood, one of whose innumerable works it might well be. Mr. Fleay says positively that it is the same play as 'The Brothers,' licensed 4 Nov., 1626- William Rowley is suggested as a probable participator in authorship by the Master of Peterhouse ; and Mr, Sidney Lee, the author of the life in the ' D.N.B..' mentions an ascription of the play to Robert Davenport. J. D.'s complementary verses are reprinted in Mrs. Bray's ' Tamar and the Tavy.' Mr. Fleay's conjecture, or rather declaration, as to 'Dick of Devonshire' seems plausible. Internal evidence is. however, of little significance in deal- ing with the plays of the minor Jacobean or Caroline dramatists, and the arguments in favour of a Shirlean ascription is confined to the three lines spoken in the last scene ::

Letters shall forthwith fly into Madrid To tell the King the storyes of Two Brothers Worthy the Courtiers reading ; and to some coincidences of date. The reprint deserves, and will doubtless obtain, a warm welcome.

The Failure of the "Higher Criticism'" of the Bible.

By Emil Reich. (Nisbet & Co.) THE present reviewer has never been a great admirer of the so-called "Higher Critics," as their method often seems arbitrary and fantastic ; but he is sure that a much more formidable onslaught might be made on their ranks than is made here. If Dr. Reich has not succeeded, it is from no lack of goodwill on his part, as he abuses his opponents,