Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 12.djvu/191

 ii s. XIL SEPT. 4, i9io.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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country people wherever it is heard. Is there any land in which the agriculturist who is unaffected by " book-learning " speaks lightly of it ? The^kokil or Indian uckoo is respected by the Hindus.

M. P.

MR. RAINEY: A BIBLE BEFOBE 1611. In August, 1603, it became the duty of the Provost of Queen's to petition the new Queen Consort to undertake the office of patron of the College. He took with him a Bible to present to her Majesty, and in the current Long Roll 42s. 04rf. is paid " Magistro Rainey pro biblio dato reginse." I have good ground for believing that Mr. Rainey was not an Oxford bookseller or stationer. I should be glad to have a suggestion as to who he might have been, and also as to the edition of the Bible likely at that time to have been chosen for presentation. JOHN R. MAGBATH.

Queen's College, Oxford.

ATJTHOBIZED VEBSION OF THE BIBLE. Can the precise date be ascertained, in the course of the year 1611, at which the A.V. was first published and offered for sale ?

A. INGLEBY.

West Worthing.

MEDIEVAL FUR-NAMES. Could any one explain from what animals the furs men- tioned in mediaeval inventories under the names " cole," " minevere," and " calaber " were taken ? The canons of Ripon peti- tioned that they might wear ah almuce of " calaber " as at York, and the York almuce (as shown in the St. William Window, Ac.) was evidently ermine, white with black tails. J. A. K.

WILLIAM NICOL. He was the son of George Nicol (1740-1828), the bookseller of Pall Mall. When did he die ?

HOBACE BLEACKLEY.

THE REV. WILLIAM JACKSON, known as " Viper " Jackson, and an Irish revolutionary, died in 1795 (v. ' D.N.B.'). He is said to have married twice. I should like to know the names of his wives.

HOBACE BLEACKLEY.

CAT QUEBIES. 1. Is it a fact that a cat is usually more attached to a house than to its owner, and if so, why ? 2. Does the putting of butter on a cat's paws really prevent it from straying from a new home ? 3. Is it true that the eating of flies by cats causes them to become thin ? Or is it not simply that cats (at least Toms) become thin in the summer, and that it is merely a coin- cidence that there are many flies at the same

time ? Milk is said to correct the thinning effect of flies. 4. Are all tortoiseshell cats females ? And is there any explanation for this ? 5. Are all white cats deaf, and if so, why ? A. S. E. ACKEBMANN.

SITE OF AN OLD PLAGUE-PIT. I have often heard it stated that the triangular plot of ground in front of St. John's Church, St. John's Wood, at the top of Park Road, marks the site of one of the old plague-pits of London. Is there any confirmation of this ? REGINALD JACOBS.

6, Templars' Avenue, Golder's Green.

REV. DR. ROGEB MANDEB. Master of Balliol College, Oxford, circa 1699. Where can I find an account of his life ? What are the dates of his birth and death ? He is not mentioned in the D.N.B.'

ISBAEL SOLOMONS.

PUBLIC FASTS, 1756 AND 1776. (11 S. xii. 86, 125.)

WHEN the calamity of the great earthquake at Lisbon occurred on 29 Nov., 1755, Parliament voted 100,0007. for the relief of the Portuguese. The whole of Europe felt stricken by the catastrophe, and on 18 Dec., 1755, the King (George II.) issued a proclamation from which the following is an extract :

By the King.

A Proclamation, For a General Fast. GEORGE R.

Whereas the manifold Sins .... of these Kingdoms, have most justly deserved. . . .Punish- ments from the Hand of Heaven ; and the Al- mighty, out of His Great Mercy. .. .hath pro- tected Us at this Time, when some

neighbouring Countries .... have been visited with a most dreadful. . . .Earthquake. . . .We. . . . send up our Prayers. . . .to avert all those Judg- ments which we most justly have deserved,. . . . and. . . .by the advice of our Privy Council. . . . hereby appointing and commanding That such General and Publick Fast be observed throughout

England Wales, and Berwick upon

Tweed, on Friday the Sixth Day of February next ensuing. And for the better. . . .solemnizing the same We have given directions to the Arch- bishops, and Bishops of England to compose a Form, of Prayer suitable to the Occasion, to be

used in all Churches and Chapels upon Pain

of Suffering such Punishment as We may justly inflict upon all such as shall roiitemn or neglect the Performance of so religious and necessary a Duty.

Given at our Court at St. James's, the 18th December, 1755.