Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 2.djvu/475

 ii s. VIIL DEC. is, 1913.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

469

APHRA BERN'S COMEDIES. In Mrs Behn's comedy ' The City Heiress ' (4to 1682), a play teeming with political allusions the Whig Sir Timothy mentions in conjunc tion with ' Absalom and Achitophel ' dam'd libel, call'd, ' A Warning to all gooc Xtians against the City-Magistrates.' " Con siderable search has failed to find a book o: pamphlet bearing this title. Does it reallj exist ? or did Mrs. Behn compose the title for the nonce ?

In 'The Feign'd Courtezans' (1679) Act III. sc. i., a ridiculous traveller appears with a huge tome under his arm, and is asked, "What folio have you gotten there Sir, Knox or Cartwright ? " " Knox " is of course, Robert Knox's ' Historical Rela tion of the Isle of Ceylon,' folio. To what however, does the " Cartwright " refer ?

M. S.

ANDREA FERRARA AND THE FREEMASONS STATE SWORD OF SHREWSBURY. A swore made by this celebrated maker is used as the state sword of the " Royal Arch Con- stitutional Sols."' It measures 58 in. in length over all. The handle, which is alto- gether 17 in. long, is formed from a piece of ivory 10 in. long, decorated with gold wire ; on the knob is a representation of the sun. The blade is 41 in. in length, and was pre- sented to the Lodge by the late Bro. William Henry White.

Is there any biography published of Andrea Ferrara ? I know all the articles that have appeared in ' N. & Q.,' and also the one published in The Cornhill Magazine for August, 1865. H. T. BEDDOWS.

Public Library, Shrewsbury.

OLD LONDON STREETS. I shall be grateful for any information relating to residents in Fish Street Hill, Pudding Lane, and Botolph Lane. The first-named thoroughfare, which gave direct access to old London Bridge, must have been of some importance, but I am unable to trace any particular items of interest regarding it, except, of course, the Monument. REGINALD JACOBS.

ROOKS' JUSTICE. In his last novel Mr. Hall Caine has brought into literature for the first time, to the best of my knowledge rooks judging and executing culprits (pp. 248 and 251).

Familiar as I have been for some forty years with the rumour that rooks do act in this way, I should be glad if your readers would furnish any corroboration of it.

H. H. JOHNSON.

" DUNSTABLE LARK." In * Gulliver's Travels' ("World's Classics" ed.. p. 94, 1. 36) occurs the expression " as big as a Dunstable lark." I should be greatly obliged for information whether the words have, or had, any local significance. Could Swift, with equal relevance, have made allusion to a Bridgewater duck or an Aspatria sparrow, or is he relying on some piece of folk-lore ? RUDOLF PICKTHALL.

New Milton, Hants.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION WANTED. I should be greatly obliged by any informa- tion concerning the following boys, who were educated at Westminster School: (1) An- drew Duany, admitted 1719, aged 15

(2) Dubnisson, at school 1795-7

(3) William Duff, admitted 1720, aged 15

(4) William Duff, admitted 1737, aged 13

(5) Dun, at school in 1797 ; (6) Thomas

Duncombe, admitted 1722. aged 6 ; (7) An- drew Durell, K.S. 1670 ; and (8) Thomas Dyke, admitted 1738, aged 9.

G. F. R. B.

MANDERVILLE : MANFIELD. I should feel obliged for any instances of the change from Manderville to Manfield. Keinton Mander- ville, in co. Somerset, was called in the old register of the parish Keinton Manfield, as also in other Somerset parish registers and records. Any notes on the Manville or Manfield family of Bristol or elsewhere will be gratefully accepted. The Manfields of co. Bucks, I have reason to think, were originally of Somerset. G. RICHARDS.

6, King's Parade, Church End, Finchley.

SCOTTISH DATE-LETTERS. In many Scot- tish documents of the late seventeenth century I find many dates, both official and private, written thus : " Jaj vie and nynty ive years " or " ja' c vi nyntie six years," The c, of course, represents 100, but what s the origin and meaning of " Ja," as stand ng for 1,000 ? In no case have I found M used. A. W. ANDERSON.

POLYGLOT ' RUBAIYAT.' A correspondent sends me this query :

" Some ten years ago (1903 ?) I saw a book, ibout 8 in. by 6 in. by J in., bound in green cloth, >robably published by some English or American oncern. It contained the ' Rubaiyat ' in English ,nd German verse (latter by Bodenstedt, I think), ,lso in French prose by Nicolas. What is the mblisher's name ? "

W T ill some kind reader answer ?

EUGENE F. McPiKE.

135, Park Row, Chicago.