Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/529

 12 8. III. DEC., 1917.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

523

on 18 oaks,

iRegisira Antiqua de Llantilio Crossenny et Penrhos in Comitatu Monumethensi, 1577-1644. Tran- scribed nnd edited by Joseph Alfred Bradney, C.B. (Mitchell, Hughes & Clarke, 10s. 6d.)

TOR the preservation of records relating to the churches of Llantilio Crossenny and Penrhos, Monmouthshire, we are indebted to Walter Powell, whose uncle and brother were incumbents of these parishes. Walter Powell, who died in 1655-6, was an attorney, and steward of several manors for the Earl of Worcester ; and his transcript (bound in leather and in good pre- servation) from the " ould mouseaten Register booke " became by purchase in 1881 the property -of the Bodleian Library, where it is catalogued as " MS. Top. Monmouth, C. 1." The Penrhos entries include two baptisms of the year 1560 and two of 1565 ; one burial of 1565, another of 1604 ; baptisms, marriages, and burials, 1573-98 ; baptisms, 1606-41 ; marriages, 1611-39 ; burials, 1611-40. The Llantilio Crossenny Register con- tains burials, 1609-28; baptisms, 1629-44; the latter terminating abruptly with the note, " Here =are noe more entered it may bee by reason of the warre."

Under the title ' Registra Antiqua de Llantilio Crossenny et Penrhos in Comitatu Monumethensi, 1577[sic]-1644,' Powell's transcript has now been copied, edited, and annotated by Mr. J. A. Bradney, the well-known Monmouthshire anti- quary. Mr. Bradney's introduction contains all "that is necessary to make the Latin text clear and intelligible to the student. At this period the use of surnames was only just beginning to come into vogue in Wales. The entries comprise Welsh trade-names, nicknames, and contractions. For example, the cognomens Giveydd, Meddyg, Saer, Rhodwr, Gwegrydd, are given for weaver, doctor, carpenter, wheelwright, and sieve-maker ; John Philip, the fat or gross man, appears as John Philip Tew ; Howell, the tall man, as Howell Eir ; and so forth. Ap, the contracted form of tnab (son), is often omitted, and, as surnames -gradually came into use, appears in the form of a P at the commencement of a name ; thus Watkin Powell Prawling means " Watkin, the son of Howell, the son of Rawling." The word Verch (often spelt vergh) for " daughter of " is irequently contracted, and sometimes omitted, e.g., Jeoneia William Howell signifies " Jenet, the daughter of William, the son of Howell." Mr. Bradney is doubtful of the meaning of the word diver, which may mean " butcher." Badagar (p. 10) may signify "badger," i.e., a licensed 'huckster.

Members and friends of the Powell family are shown in the text by indicators. Walter Powell's ' Diary,' it may be remembered, was excellently "transcribed and edited by Mr. Bradney in 1907, and printed by Messrs. John Wright & Co. at Bristol.

The Folk-Element in Hindu Culture. By Benoy

Kumar Sarkar. (Longmans & Co., 15s. net.) THE material here brought together is of high interest, alike for the folk-lorist, the anthropo- logist, and the student of India in particular. It consists largely of a careful account of the

ceremonial connected with popular religious festivals principally of the Gambhira in Bengal and includes extensive translations of some of the more important chants used in these. The writer is also concerned with the interpenetration, in folk-religion, of Hinduism and Buddhism, and to a slighter extent with the influence of Islam ; and he indicates, in some detail, the relation between religious institutions and functionaries and those belonging to the civil life of the village. We agree with Mr. Sarkar in his conviction that the part played by the masses of the country in determining the character of Indian civilization is an important subject for research, which has received, hitherto, attention so inadequate that the study of vernacular literature its first desideratum is of quite modern growth, and has not, as yet, arrived at any systematic utilization of its results. Without pressing for generaliza- tions, which would be premature, and fully recognizing the value of this work as a contri- bution to the folk-lore of India, we may wish that Mr. Sarkar had contrived to arrange his notes upon a somewhat less confused method. When we had once " got into " the book we were rewarded for our pains, but the " getting into" it was troublesome enough to have discouraged all but fairly pertinacious readers.

Two Christmas issues which we have received deserve a word of notice. The Christmas number of Punch shows that journal's happy felicity in creating humour out of tragedy ; and Winter's Pie will also serve to lighten dark hours.

BOOKSELLERS' CATALOGUES.

MESSRS. MAGGS might well take as the motto of their Christmas catalogue, ' Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Fine Bindings,' the verse on the title-page of Peele's ' Merrie Conceited lests,' which is reproduced in facsimile :

Buy, read, and .iudge,

The price doe not grudge :

It will doe thee more pleasure,

Than twice so much treasure.

Peele was no doubt right in his conclusion, but a deep pocket will be needed for the enjoyment of many of the treasures offered here. Thus Peele's book, black-letter, in purple morocco, is priced 951. ; the first entry in the catalogue a set of Ackermann's histories of Oxford and Cambridge, the Public Schools, and Westminster Abbey, 7 vols. in crimson morocco costs 100 guineas ; while the vellum manuscript which is represented in the frontispiece, and is enriched with many beautiful illuminations, is the most expensive of them all, being 500 guineas. One section is devoted to Papal Bindings, containing several fine specimens, and followed immediately by a copy of ' Horae Diurnae ' from the library of Cardinal York, the second son of the Old Pre- tender, in red morocco, his arms on the cover being excellently reproduced in one of the plates included in the catalogue (651.). There are some things of special interest to readers of ' N. & Q.,' such as the ' Opera Joannis Pici Mirandule,' 1504, in oak boards covered with leather, and having still attached to it the staple and chain marking its mediaeval origin (4:21.) ; the collection of first editions of works by our old contributor CUTH- BERT BEDE, 10 vols., polished calf by Riviere