Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/287

 ii s. vm. OCT. ii, 1913.1 NOTES AND QUEEIES.

281

LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1913.

CONTENTS. No. 198.

NOTES : ' Memoirs of Sir J. Langham, Baronet,' 281 Webster and Sir Thomas Overbury, 282 Forged 'Speeches and Prayers ' of the Regicides, 284 Statues and Memorials in the British Isles, 285 Wilkes and La Rochefoucauld at Rornsey Consecration Crosses at Throcking, 286 "Marriage" as Surname The Guildhall Execution of Earl Ferrers, 287.

QUERIES : " Transept " Napoleon's Army, 287 Mr. Dennis and 'The Conscious Lovers' Throwing a Hat into a House, 288 Sir John Platt Mary Astell Helmets in Churches ' Lettere del Sig. Girolamo Magagnati ' 'Galerie des Arts' Martin Norman Source of Quota- tion Wanted Ancient Wit and Humour Mansions given by the Crown -Heart - Burial in Church Walls, 289 "Gadareilie" W. McCartney Ralph Beilby Sundial Clockmakers Flemish Oil Painting Goodameavy House, South Devon" Gas " as a Street- Name, 290.

REPLIES : Cathedral Bell 'stolen, 290 - Panthera Derived Senses of the Cardinal Points, 291 Johnson Bibliography Chester's ' Westminster Abbey Registers ' " Trailbaston " Books on London : Great Chart, 292 "Seen through glass" The Second Folio Shakespeare, 294 " Ask "=Tart Sons of the Clergy Colour of Liveries Biographical Information Wanted Inwood or Inward Family Redcoats, 295 Robin Hood Romances Smuggling Queries Bishop "Sever" of Durham, 297 Octagonal Meeting - Houses "Fairy - Tales" Authors Wanted Smallest Square in London, 298.

NOTES ON BOOKS :-' Place-Names of South- West York- shire ' ' Archaeologia ^Eliana ' ' Nineteenth Century.'

Notices to Correspondents.

4 MEMOIRS OF SIR J. LANGHAM, BARONET.'

I FOUND the manuscript, from Which the following memoir is printed, bound up with a copy of Richard Brett's " Vitae Sanctorum Evangelist. Johannis, et Lucae, Metaphraste, &c. Oxford, 1597." No author's name is appended to the manu- script, and no date is given. It may have been written in the latter part of the seven- teenth or the early part of the eighteenth century.

Sir John Langham is not mentioned in the ' Dictionary of National Biography ' ; nor does he appear in the Diaries of Pepys and Evelyn. In the latter, however, under date of 28 Oct., 1654, there is the following entry : " Came Lady Langham, a kins- woman of mine, to visit us." This refers, perhaps, to Langham's wife. No doubt there must be somewhere references to a man so remarkable (if this memoir is to be trusted, as I think it may be) as the subject

of this memoir. Probably some corre- spondent of ' N. & Q.' will be able to tell us something more about him.

S r JOHN LANGHAM was born at Northampton > his Father was a Linen Draper at that Town, but afterwards removed to Guilsborough and dwelt where y 6 School-House now stands, which was afterwards erected by S r John. He died & left a Widow with several small Children ; his eldest Son not being well used by his Mother, resolved to leave her & not to return till he should do it with a considerable Fortune. Accordingly he left her and went to London where he put himself Apprentice, having 100Z. left him by his Father, to S r Rob* Napier, alias Sandy, Turkey- Merchant. His Mother [Master ?] sent him Factor abroad he succeeded well and made such a Return as highly pleased his Master He was sent a second Time Factor & returned with Increase both for his ^ Master & himself, & continu'd trading : And tho' he met with some Disappointments which made his Friends & Relations advise him to sit down contented with what he had acquired, yet he resolved to push the Matter on, & did not leave of, till he had gained a great Estate He married the Daughter of James Bunce Esq r sometime Member of Parliament for the City of London, & Sister to S r James Bunce. His Father in Law advised him to trade with half his Fortune,

& to leave the other to provide for Accidents

He and another Merchant having bought the whole Produce of the Country which was Currants, sailed with a Fleet of Merchant Men for England' but were seperated by a Storm, in which his Vessels sunk He got safe home & was received

with great Joy, but did not mention his Loss

When he heard the Vessels that escaped were in the River, he went to meet them & contracted with the Merchant who had the other half of the Currants for his whole Stock, a very short Time was allowed him for the Payment of the Money which was 30,OOOZ. all which he borrowed on his own Credit, & then he told his Father Bunce of

his Loss, & what he had done to retrieve it

when it was known that all the Currants were in one Hand, & no more to come that Year, all hastened to buy, & he soon paid his Debts raised his Fame, & cleared 30,OOOZ. for himself. He lived in Bishop-Gate Street in Crossly [sic] House, now turned into a Square. He was an Alderman of the City of London, & being a Member of Parliament was subdued when Rebellion had got the Ascendant And tho' it was Death to aid Charles Stuart he conveyed 500Z. yearly to him during his Exile. He kept a most hospitable House, & the Remainder of the Daily Provision was distributed to the Poor, as were large Quan- titys of Bread to the several Prisons. He was very bountiful to the sequester'd Clergy The Rump Parliament being turned out and a free one was called. Alderman Langham took his Seat as formerly, & when they had determined X3 bring home the King, & an Estimate was made of the Expence, which amounted to 60,OOOZ. raise that Sum the Alderman stood up & said all Parliamentary Ways take up more Time than /his Occasion will allow Many Things happen betwixt the Cup & the Lip I will lend 30,000?. if any one here will lend the other 30,OOOZ. upon which Lord Graven said I will not be out-done
 * he House being to debate on Ways & Means to