Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 8.djvu/159

 10 s. VIIL AUG. 17, loo?.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

129

jamin Constant, I find that he was the friend of Madame Recamier and Madame de Stael, a politician exiled by Napoleon in 1802. The place and date of his birth were given as Lausanne, 23 Oct., 1767. In the ' Memoirs of Constant,' valet de chambre to the Emperor, he distinctly says, " I was born 2 Dec., 1778, at Peruelz." I find in the ' Memoirs of Madame de Remusat,' p. 138, a note by her grandson in which he refers to an L. Constant.

This may throw a little light on the first name of this Constant, and help to identify the real author of the ' Memoirs.' The question has proved too complicated for me, and I shall be very grateful if you can solve the problem for me. M. T. L.

Omaha, Nebraska.

[International courtesy leads us to insert this letter, but Benjamin Constant plays too great a part in history to allow much risk of confusion between him and less distinguished bearers of the name of Constant.]

BAXTER FAMILY OF SHROPSHIRE. William Baxter, nephew of the Rev. Richard, was born at Lanlugany, Shropshire, in 1650, and died 31 May, 1723.

The Rev. Richard was born at Rowton,

Shropshire, 12 Nov., 1615. Names of

Richard's brothers and William's children

are wanted. J. P. BAXTER.

Care of New England Hist. Gen. Society,

18, Somerset Street, Boston, Mass.

GARDEN SONG IN ' QUALITY STREET.' I should be glad if any reader would tell me where the words of the Garden Song in ' Quality Street ' could be found. The only line I remember is

They are her pleasant ways.

ZEPHYR.

DEODANDS : THEIR ABOLITION. When was the curious custom abolished of levying a fine on goods and chattels in connexion with inquests ? I find an instance as late as 1843. HENRY JOHNSON.

[Deodands were abolished by statute in 1846 (9 and 10 Viet. c. 62). See ' Encyc. Brit.,' s.v.]

RAVENSHAW, RAYNSHAW, OR RENSHAW FAMILY. I shall be much indebted to readers of ' N. & Q.' who may take an interest in the records of the Palatinate for assistance with regard to the parentage of any of the following persons :

1. Giles Reynshall, Constable of Clitherow Castle, Lanes, 1524, to 15 Oct., 1534, when he died at Aylesford, Kent. He was by right of his wife Lord of the Manor of Radwinter, Essex, where she, the Lady Eleanor Cobham, is buried. On 20 Sept.,

1 Ed. VI., there was a lease of Higham Manor and parsonage, with Lillichurch Manor in Higham, with lands and rights in Higham, Cobham, and other places in Kent, for thirty years, at a rent of 501. , to Richard and Gyles Raynshawe (v. Baker's ' History of St. John's Coll., Camb.,' pp. 368-9).

2. Richard Raynshaw, probably Giles's brother, who was sergeant-at-arms to King Henry VIIL, and a considerable benefactor to the town and school of St. Albans, giving his name to the almshouses there still bearing his name, where he was buried in 1560. In his will, which is of consider- able length, he mentions Urmston, on the borders of Lancashire and Cheshire, as the place where he was born. Probably, there- fore, he is identical with the Richard Rayn- shaw, Receiver of the Suppressed Monasteries in Lancashire and Cheshire, who is frequently mentioned about this- time.

3. Randle Ranshaw or Ravenshaw (will 1572), of Badington, Cheshire, whose only son, John Ravenshaw of Badington, married Isabel, daughter and coheiress of Rogetf Hockenhull of Duddon (v. Mainwaring pedigree in Earwaker's ' History of Sand- bach '), and left present-day descendants.

J. RAVENSHAW, B.A., F.R.H.S. 10, West Hill, Highgate.

" PRIMROSE " = PRIME, OF AGE. In

" Apples of Gold By Thomas Brooks

The Second Edition .... London, 1657," one finds, p. xvi, " my request to you, who are in the Primrose of your dayes " ; p. xxiv, " when he was in the primrose of his age " ; p. xxv, " and serve the Lord in the prim- rose of their dayes " ; p. 171, " and serve the Lord in the prime-rose of your daies." On p. 106 the passage indicated on p. xxiv in ' The Contents ' runs " when hee was in the prime and flower of his age." Can instances of this flower of speech be found in earlier writers than T. Brooks, or was he the first to use it ? One knows that in Castilian primavera means both primrose and spring, like primevere in French.

In the Bodleian copy of this book pp. 177 and 178 are missing. A copy of their contents supplied from a perfect copy would be welcomed there. E. S. DODGSON.

SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE'S Swiss VISITOR. Moriarty's ' Life of Swift ' begins thus :

"A Swiss gentleman, who travelled through Eng- land in 1695, gives an interesting account of ms visit to Sir William Temple at Moor Park, in Surrey."

Who is the " Swiss gentleman, and wnat is the title of his book ? KOM OMBO.