Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 6.djvu/376

 808

NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii & vi. OCT. 19, 1912.

POBTBAIT OF SlR PETER LELY. In the

will of Richard Lely of Lincoln's Inn, barrister-at-law, proved in P.C.C. 22 Dec., 1736 (273 Derby), is the following bequest :

" To my friend Richard Backwell, esquire, of Great Billing, Northamptonshire, a three-quarter head of Sir Peter Lely painted by himself." Where is this portrait now ?

The testator, Richard Lely, was son of John Lely and grandson of the great painter. He mentions in his will his eldest son John Maecenas Lely, his youngest son Francis Scrope Lely, his daughter Rebecca Lely, and his brother Peter Lely.

Is not this Peter Lely the same person as Peter Lely of Lincoln, attorney-at-law, who was buried at Fiskerton, 8 Aug., 1761 ? See pedigree in ' Lincolnshire Pedigrees ' (Harleian Society), p. 594. Mr. Larken and Canon Maddison seemed unable to trace the connexion between Peter Lely of Lincoln and the painter, but this will was unknown to them. W. G. D. F.

" COMMUNION HALPENS." In the Church- wardens' Accounts of St. Nicholas's, Warwick, an entry similar to the following constantly appears on the receipt side :

" Item for the Recette of the com- munion for the hoolle yere . . . . iiijs. vjd." This is occasionally followed by " Item Receiued at the Communion at

Easter the summe off. . . . xijs. jd.,"

but more frequently (as in 1577) by

' Item Receauyd at Easter for the communion halpens. . . . xs. xjd.,"

and in the following year :

" Item Receiued at Easter for the Com- munion halpens of the parisshe . xiijs." In 1580 :

" Item Receiude towardes breade &

wyne at Easter ^,. . ,. xs. viijrf."

In 1581 :

' ' Item Receaued off the parisshe by custom as the receue at the com- munion for the hoolle yere. . . . x.,"

but in the next year there is a repetition of the expression " communion halpens, xjs. iiije?."

I am not at all clear as to the correct inference to be drawn from these entries, and shall be much obliged to any of your readers who will kindly enlighten me. Is the word " halfpence " loosely applied to the total of the " Communion money " collected on the Sundays (other than Easter Day), with or without a celebration ? or were " halfpence " contributed by the

parishioners during the year to enable the churchwardens to purchase bread and wine for the Easter Communion ? A. C. C.

[This subject has been discussed at the following- references : 2 S. vi. 432, 506 ; vii. 58 ; 5 S. ix. 248, 398 ; x. 39, 77, 108 ; xi. 14, 51, 515 ; 6 S. v. 475.]

"HONEST" EPITAPH: ROYAL SOCIETY'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY. (See ante, pp. 181, 202, 223, 243, 261, 282.) May I ask a question respecting the epitaph quoted by MR. J. C. FRANCIS at the penultimate reference ? Is it known from whom it emanated, and does it refer to a genuine tombstone memorial ? If so, I shall be glad to know its location.

In Southam Churchyard, Warwickshire, the following version of the last four lines appears on a stone to the memory of " John Dixon, who died April 26th, 1831, aged 76 years " :

This monumental stone will show

Where lies an honest man ; Let monarchs who are laid as low

Rise higher if they can.

I am specially interested in " honest '* epitaphs, as will appear from a reference to 9 S. x. 306. JOHN T. PAGE.

Long Itchington, Warwickshire.

JOHNSON'S ' DICTIONARY : : " OCEAN. "-

In his 'Life.' John Taylor, oculist to George III. and George IV., states (vol. i. p. 7) that Derrick the poet suggested to Dr. Johnson the omission of the word " ocean " from the first edition of the ' Dictionary.' Is there any known corroboration or explana- tion of this suggestion ?

MARGARET LAVINGTON.

JENNER FAMILY. A Robert Jenner was .presented to the living of Lydiard Millicent, Wilts, 1665, by William Jenner of Marston r Wilts (see ' Church Plate of Wiltshire,' by J. E. Nightingale, F.S.A.). A memorial slab on the floor of the church on left of the south entrance records his death on 20 March, 1723, aged 88, with arms, A fesse between three fleurs-de-lis. According to Foster's ' Alumni Oxon.' he was described as " plebs " on matriculating at Magdalen, 1651. He held a living in Worcestershire ( ?), 1663-70. It may be that he is identical with Robert, son of William Ginner, of Marston Meysey, baptized on 1 Dec., 1636, at Meysey Hampton Church.

On 29 May, 1671, there is an entry in the Lydiard Millicent register of the baptism of a son of the rector, another Robert, who also matriculated at Magdalen, 1687, aged 16 ;