Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/431

 i is. vi ii. NOV. 29, i9ia] NOTES AND QUERIES.

425

In his text (pp. 29-30) Dr. Stoll writes : "Orazio Busino, chaplain to Pietro Contarini, Venetian Ambassador, left among his manuscripts, now preserved in the Library of St. Mark, one entitled ' Anglipotrida,' a miscellaneous collection of notes on his experiences in England. In the ' second appendix ' there is this. [Here follows the letter quoted from the Italian original]."

Dr. Stoll discusses the letter, and comes to the conclusion:

"True, the evidence is not conclusive; though ' Main" ' fits the description far better than any other known play, the real play may not have come down to us."

For all this information I am indebted to the kindness of MB. SYKES.

G. C. MOORE SMITH. Sheffield.

HERTFORDSHIRE SUPERSTITIONS. The widespread belief in judgments on impiety which prevails throughout Hertfordshire is evidenced by the extraordinary legends regarding trees growing from graves, held to indicate a belief that the persons interred therein denied the possibility of a resurrec- tion. So far is this opinion held that post- cards portraying the trees in question and inscribed ' The Atheist's Tomb ' are obtain- able.

There are three instances of it at Alden- ham, Tewin, and Watford. That at Alden- ham, from which three lofty sycamores are growing, is to the memory of William Hutchinson and Margaret his wife, the former dying in 1697, the latter in 1706. He is said to have declared his disbelief in the Resurrection, and ordered a heavy stone tomb to be enclosed within iron railings, so that it should not be tampered with, and left word that future generations might believe in a life beyond the grave if a tree grew out of his tomb.

The one at Tewin commemorated Lady Anne Grimston, who died in 1713. From her tomb an ash tree having seven distinct stems and a sycamore with three stems flourish. The story here told is that when Lady Grimston lay upon her death-bed, she called to those around her : " Bear witness, my friends, what I say. If there is any truth in the Word of God, may seven trees grow from my grave."

At Watford an altar-tomb on the south side of the church, without any inscription, has growing therefrom a well-developed fig tree. The story respecting this is that a lady (or, as some say, a farmer well known in Watford market) lies buried therein, and that she (or he) asked that a fig should be placed in her (or his) hand at death, and

if it were true that there was another world beyond the tomb, a tree would grow^out of 'it.

It would be a waste of time to criticize these stories in detail. Suffice it to say that in this class of local legend we have evidence of the natural human tendency to invent reasons to account for facts. These unusual growths called for some explana- tion other than a natural one, and thus irk the earliest instance the narrative was probably invented by a,n inhabitant, perhaps the sexton ; and this same story, with variations, was transferred to the other examples. W. B. GERISH.

Cgwrus.

WE must request correspondents desiring in- formation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries,. in order that answers may be sent to them direct..

WORDS AWAITING EXPLANATION.

THE following occur in the various docu- ments cited :

1. " Et porta juxta altam turrim est allochata et multum assarta [?]", 1327, Exch. K.R. 492, 22. "Allochata" may be for "elocata," dislocated. What can " assarta " be ? Reading doubtful.

2. Aurum benevolum, mentioned^ with pigments,. &c., under " Empcio colorum." Pipe Roll 40 Edw. III. (1366777), m. 37. Must mean leaf gold or else " gold paint." Is the term known elsewhere?

3. "Wainscot with Belexivns mitred up and downe." Declared Accounts, P.R.O., Roll 3453- (1686-8). 'N.E.D.' in 1887 gave " Bolection," "of uncertain form and unknown origin," as applied to> projecting mouldings. Is there any further light?

4. " Pro vitriacione fenestrarum supra summita- tem camerarum canonicorum vocatarum Capyers,"

" operancium super capiers." Exch. K.R. 492, 27

(1350). " Factura cujusdam fenestre vocate Ga- pier." Exch. K.R., 405, 17, or 495, 18 ? The Gapier is supposed to be the same window as one described as if glazed above and shuttered below a transom,, as many low-side windows were. The Capiers may perhaps have been dormers. Both words await explanation.

5. "A sideboard, and a Claptable under y e Large- Looking Glass between the windows." Circa 1710. Celia Fiennes, 'Diary' (1888), 581.

6. "Cum vitriariis depictantibus conjungen-

tibus clorantibiis vitrum pro dictis fenestris " t " xj vitriariis vocatis clorours et joynours." Exch. K.R. 492, 27 (1350).

7. Beside the bell called Wyrun there were others ; also a copebelle, whatever that may mean. (1397). Can it have been a bell to remind the canons to put on their quire copes ?

8. " Archebotens [arcs botitantx, flying buttresses],, crestys, cwses (and) beasts above." Contract 1506. The " corses " were the square pedestals to support the figures of the royal beasts carrying vanes- outside the chapels at Windsor. Whence come* the term corses?