Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 6.djvu/76

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. vi. MARCH, 1920.

the parish records have no reference to this incident ; and Mr. Bosworth believes there is no foundation for the tradition. It is in fact a common form of the myths which have grown up around the personality of one who was a specially vulgar and brutal rogue without a spark of chivalry or gallantry in him.

WALTHAMSTOW' s ST. MARY'S.

The compiler of the Walthamstow mono- graphs is justly express in acknowledging his indebtedness to the vicar (the Rev. . H. D. Lampson, M.A.) for guidance and encourage- ment in the work of recounting the history of Walthamstow St. Mary's Church. Mr. Bosworth says :

" When we remember that the Church has stood for more than 800 years we realise that it holds the chief place in the historical associations of Walthamstow. The Church and Churchyard are the links that join the Walthamstow of to-day with the pre-Norman Wilcumstow, and remind us of our long and eventful history with all its tender memories of the past."

The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is probably on the site of an earlier building which was raised when Essex was converted to Christianity in the seventh century. St. Mary's Church is not mentioned in Domes- day Book, and the earliest reference to it is about 1108 when it was conveyed to the Prior and Canons of the Holy Trinity, founded near Aldgate by Queen Maud, thus linking it with some of the earliest East London history. At that time the Manor of Walthamstow had come into the possession of Ralph de Toni by his marriage with Alice, daughter of Judith, the niece of William the Conqueror.

WIGRAMS OF WALTHAMSTOW HOUSE.

The Walthamstow Antiquarian Society will no doubt note that it is on the way to be forgotten, except in Poplar and Lime- house, that Walthamstow House was for- merly the seat of the numerous Wigram family of which Sir Robert of Blackwall and alongshore fame was the head. It was from this house that Sir Robert Wigram rode (armed in anxious times) with six of his sons to the great shipyard and dock at Blackwall, or to the city offices of his various enterprises ; and, returning, enjoyed the principal meal of the day at one or other of the great inns on the Woodford Road. Walthamstow House afterwards became a famous school under the successful headship of John Glennie Greig, LL.D., who died at Walthamstow, March 6, 1860, in his 58th year.

SOME CHURCHYARD MEMORIALS.

A muser in and around St. Mary's, Walthamstow, will recall that the following inscription was formerly on a window of the south aisle of the church :

" Christen people praye for the soule of Robert Thorne, citizen of London, with whose goods thys- chirche was newe edyfyd and fynyshed in the yeare of our Lord 1535."

This was the Robert Thorne whose con- tribution towards the discovery of the North-East Passage is commemorated in Hakluyt's Voyages.

The inscriptions on the tombs of St. Mary's churchyard include the following in relation to one who, as aforesaid, was prominent in? the history of Poplar ships and shipbuilding,, in ropemaking, in sailmaking, and in the brewing of strong beer :

" To the Memory of Ann Pearce, who died' Feby. 22nd, 1822. at the house of Sir Robert Wigram, Bart., in whose family she lived forty- eight years and faithfully discharged her duty a& Nurse to his twenty-three children, of whom nine- teen survive her, and retain a grateful, and affec- tionate remembrance of her tender care and love- towards them."

" Lord now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in> Peace, according to Thy Word."

Me.

SHAKESPEARIANA.

AN OMISSION IN MRS. COWDEN CLARKE'S- CONCORDANCE. After having had this won- derful book in use for many years I have- detected but one omission in it. I am sure that Mrs. Cowden Clarke would have herself wished this to be pointed out, that it might be included in the " Addenda " in future- reprints of the work. Under the word " chide " should have been recorded the line :

But I can give the loser leave to chide.

4 2 Hen. VI.,' III. i. 182.

It is, however, registered under " loser." ALEX. LEEPER. South Yarra, Melbourne.

' KING JOHN,' IV. ii. What is the gener- ally accepted version of King John's remark to Hubert ?

How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds Make deeds ill done.

I find this in some of the modern editions,- as well as in that of 1695. This is neither sense nor grammar, though the meaning is clear enough. Surely " make " (of whieh the antecedent is "sight") is singular, and