Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 4.djvu/409

 n s. iv. NOV. is, 1911.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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a settled thing, and was much elated. Robert Cecil, however, seems to have inter- vened, and the scheme fell to the ground. The King had the idea that the best way to get at the gold was to level all the moun- tains, " hills and mountaines be turned into dayles and vallies." Bulmer agreed that this was a sure way, but " chargeable." Nothing is known of the fate of Bulmer's book, but from Atkinson's account it must have been a mine of information. Nor is anything known of Bulmer's birth and parentage. He died, as Atkinson relates, at Awstin-moor, i.e., Alston Moor, Cumber- land, and according to Surtees (' History of Durham ') in 1615. Surtees refers to an inventory of his possessions, and states that administration was granted to his son John. A recent search at the Probate Registry in Durham failed to bring this inventory to light. RHYS JENKINS.

PONTEFRACT CASTLE : AN UNKNOWN PICTURE AT HAMPTON COURT.

IN the Official Catalogue of the pictures at Hampton Court Palace, turning to the list of those hung in the " Outer Lobby of Cardinal Wolsey's Closet," we find an oil painting numbered 916, and styled simply

" A Castle J de Momper."

The first time now several years ago I noticed this work, the resemblance to Pontefract Castle as it was before it was razed to the ground by order of Parlia- ment in 1649 struck me as most remark- able. Although it is supposed to be a view of a castle in France or Germany by that Dutch artist, when I saw the painting again on 26 September last, and examined it more carefully, I found I was not mis- taken after all, for it is Pontefract Castle beyond a doubt. This picture is a most valuable and interesting one because by a skilled artist, who truthfully delineated just what he saw and nothing more. This cannot be said of the enlarged fantastic and embellished bird's-eye view engraved for the ' Vetusta Monumenta,' printed by the Society of Antiquaries in 1736, nor of a slightly altered copy made at the expense of Lord Rockingham. There are, however, several copies existing of a ' Plan of Ponte- fract,' showing the lines and forts made by the besiegers round the Castle, of which a bird's-eye view is given, much superior to the engravings mentioned as a reliable representation of this grand old fortress. The original, it is said, was made to be sent to General Fairfax.

The Hampton Court picture is, however,, much more trustworthy than any of these ; it is not a bird's - eye view, but shows the Castle in true perspective from the artist's position on Bag Hill to the south. All the other views are from the same side. There are reduced copies of these in the late Mr. Richard Holmes' s book, ' The Sieges of Pontefract Castle,' 8vo, 1887. The grand appearance of this historic English castle is well preserved in this fine old painting, but utterly destroyed and dwarfed in the other views by the details put in being all out of scale with the building. This fault- is common to all mediaeval attempts to delineate either a church or a castle.

The artist, Josse de Momper, was a Dutch, landscape painter and engraver of some fame, but this picture is, I suspect, the only evidence of his ever having been in England. We learn from Bryan's ' Dictionary of Painters and Engravers ' (new edition) that he was "born at Antwerp in 1564, inscribed in the guild as early as 1581, and died in 1634." Seven of his pictures are at Dresden, and no fewer than twelve at Madrid.

So this picture must have been painted at least fifteen years previous to the demoli- tion of the Castle, and ten before the first siege. A. S. ELLIS.

Westminster.

INSCRIPTIONS IN BURIAL-GROUND

OF ST. JOHN'S, WESTMINSTER.

(See ante, p. 302.)

1 CONTINUE my list of the inscriptions on the east side of this burial-ground :

90. Judith Brooks, d. Sept., 1814, a. (7)6,

Also Elizabeth Brooks Mr. Robert Brooks,

d. June 6, 1830, a. 63.

91. Frances, w. of William Harris, of this p., d. Oct. 14, 181(7), in her 59th year. Also the above William Harris, d. May 8,. . . .a. 66.

92. Mary, w. of William Newton, of this p., d. 13 Aug., 1824, in her 37th year. Also chn. of the above : Mary, d. 13 May, 1813, a. 2 yrs. 8 mths. William, d. 21 March, 1816, a. 4 yrs.

2 mths. Charles, d. 2 Jan., 1824, a. 18 mths. Joseph, d. 19 March, 1826, a. 6 yrs. 7 mths.

93. [Blank)

94 Vincent, \v. of ... .ent, of Millbank. . ..

a. 39. (Also) ... .a and Eliz. . . ., ... .n of the above .... Elizabeth .... in the ....

95. Mr. James Goombes April 14, 1801,

... .-9 yrs. . .nces Coombes, .... of the above

"9" 6. Mrs. Elizabeth Newall, w. of Mr. John Newall, of St. Margaret's p., d. 25 Feb., 1816, a. 52. Mr. John Newall, (died) Aug., 1828.

Also G. . . . who d a. 2 yrs. Also Mr. J.

N(ewall), d. August .... a. 70.