Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 1.djvu/262

256 matter, containing as they do the actual signatures of the deponents. In one of them occurs that of Michael Drayton, the poet, in 1627. It is possible that Shakespeare's might be found amongst them, as he was sometimes involved in litigation. A fairly complete list of the ancient inns or hostelries of London might be constructed out of one of these series, especially in connexion with contracts of marriage. Thither it appears to have been customary for the contracting parties to resort with a troop of friends or chance acquaintances as witnesses, and there drink and make merry and plight their troth to each other. Some very carious pictures of those times are conjured up in this way."

This passage seems worth directing attention to in any discussion on old London inns.

(12 S. i. 166).— might, perhaps, consult, with interest 'Testamenta Cantiana' (p. 14); 'Bells of Kent' (p. 246 and passim): and, above all, the splendid collection entitled 'Topography of Kent' in the British Museum (MSS. Section). I take the liberty of recommending him the twenty-three volumes of 'Illustrations' (Add. 3253). He would do me a service if he were able to verify the following assertion in Mr. Philip Nelson's book: "There is in the church [of St. Mary Cray] a shield of Bowes and a merchant's mark dated 1562."

(12 S. i. 150).—I have had the following lines pasted inside the door of my long-cased clock several years, but I do not know the name of the author:—

The lines [ut supra] are by "Dr." J. Byrom, and appeared in The Scots Magazine for October, 1747.

It became the custom about 1780, when pair-cased watches were first introduced, to insert in the outer case a thin pad of velvet, muslin, or silk with fancy needlework of the initials of the owner worked in gold thread or hair from the head of his fair one. "Watch papers" formed an alternative pad, and these were sometimes cut to geometrical designs of more or less intricacy. Papers of this kind had a backing of bright-coloured silk or satin to give the best effect to the perforation. During the prolonged frost of 1814, when the Thames was frozen, watch papers were printed there as a cheap novelty, and commanded a ready sale. They usually contained an advertisement of the watch-maker, and occasionally admonitory or sentimental verses in addition.

For examples of verses see W. H. Moore's 'The Old Clock Book* and Britten's 'Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers.'

(12 S. i. 147).—I find it a little difficult to see the point of the satire or criticism at this reference. If the legend were in the singular "A Ten Shilling Currency Note is Legal Tender for the payment of any amount" the absurdity would be obvious. But the statement, being in the plural, seems to me to be quite correct. Currency notes, whether one-pound or ten-shilling, are legal tender for the payment or any amount if you have enough of them What objection could Lucis take to the statement that "sovereigns" or "half-sovereigns are legal tender for the payment of any amount"? The statement, like the legend on the notes, being in the plural, is perfectly correct.

Another curiously worded legend is the shop sign occasionally to be seen: "Glass cut to any size."

(12 S. i. 207).—'s sympathetic "Nachruf," or short memoir of Count Lützow, deserves, perhaps, a brief bibliographical memorandum to be added to it. The principal original works of this eminently patriotic author (who flourished from March 21, 1849, till January, 1916) are written in English instead of his native Chekh or Bohemian language (no doubt with the prospect of rendering them more accessible to wider circles), and appeared chronologically as follows: (1) 'Bohemia,' 1896; (2) 'History of Bohemian Literature,' 1899; (3) 'Prague,' 1902; (4) 'Lectures on the Historians of Bohemia delivered in 1904,' 1905; (5) 'Life and Times of John Hus,' 1909; and (6) 'The Hussite Wars,' 1914. But besides them, especial mention must be made of the classical English version of a celebrated book of devotion which has often been compared with 'The Pilgrim's Progress' of John Bunyan, and preceded it in its origin. I mean Count Lützow's English translation. of J. Amos Komensky's (Comenius in his Latin name) great allegorical story, 'The