Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 8.djvu/331

 12 s. viii. APRIL 2, 1921.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 269 " SINGING -BREAD." In his ' Popular Anti- quities ' vol. i, p. 131, Brand refers to the custom of laying " Singing-bread " in the grave : And, least in grave he should remain without some companie. The mmging bread is layde with him, for more idolatrie. Will any reader of ' N. & Q.' help by ex- plaining the term " Singing-bread ? " S. A. THE RABBIT IN COMPARATIVE RELIGION. Among the ancient Mexicans the rabbit (Tochtli) was regarded as a drink-god. The rabbit also figures in the Sforza Hour-book and in the beautiful Rheims tapestries. Will readers furnish other instances of the rabbit in religious symbology ? S. A. IRELAND FAMILY HISTORY. Various branches of this family are settled in Eng- land, Scotland, and Ireland ; and it is curious that the territorial name appears to have been conferred before any members of the family had settled in Ireland. The origin of the name is a family legend, accord- ing to which a king of England summoned an Irish chieftain to his presence and, for- getting or being unable to pronounce the native name of the representative, called for "Ireland." Historical evidence of the authenticity of this legend would be wel- come. The arms of the family gules six fleur-de-lis, two and one, on a shield argent suggest that the Irelands are of Korman origin. A faded photograph of a pedigree traces the descent of the knightly house of de Courcy -Ireland from Charlemagne, Emperor of the West and King of France. Unfortunately, the letterpress is illegible, but the coats of arms are distinct. The Ireland crest is : proper a dove with an olive branch ; and the motto is : Amor et pax. Information is sought in connection with the compilation of a history of the family. ARTHUR J. IRELAND. 36 Stanhope Road, St. Albans, Herts SHAKESPEARE QUERY. In Act I. sc. iii- 1. 33 of ' Troilus and Cressida,' Nestor says to Agamemnon : In the reproof of chance Lies the true proof of men. Does " the reproof of chance " mean the resistance offered to chance, or the blow or buffet inflicted by chance ? Something may be said for each interpretation. Have the great critics ever thought the point worthy of their consideration ? NINGHA. BRINSMADE. I shall be interested to discover any information regarding the English home of this family, members of which emigrated to America early in the seventeenth century. Of these John Brins- made was a freeman of Dorchester, Mass. in 1638, and William, probably his brother, graduated from Harvard, preached for a time to the Plymouth Pilgrims, and sub- sequently held a pastorate at Marlborough, Mass, for 40 years. CHAS. FENTON. 10 Vineyard Hill, Wimbledon, S.W.19. AUSTRALIAN JUDICATURE. Rolf Boldre- wood in his novel ' Nevermore ' referring to the attendant concomitants of a criminal trial inf^ Australia mentions a Quarter Ses- sional Court presided over by a judge and addressed as " His Honour." Barristers plead and the acting sheriff, bailiff and retinue of minor officials attend these juris- dictional courts where Crown prosecutors appear. In what way do colonially consti- tuted courts deviate from precedents appli- cable to English tribunals ? ANEURIN WILLIAMS. Menai View, North Road, Carnarvon. TENNYSON QUERIES. : In ' Locksley Hall * (in the vision of the word) : 1. Far along the world-wide whisper of the south- wind rushing warm. With the standards of the peoples plunging through the thunderstorm. Why the south wind ? Is there any special reference ? 2. Ring out a slowly dying cause. ('In Memoriam.') Is any special " cause " referred to ? T. HENDERSON. Mapumulo, Natal. CLASSICAL QUOTATIONS IN POE'S WORKS. I am anxious to locate the sources of three of E. A. Poe's quotations : 1. From. ' Politian ' : To gaze upon that veiled face, and hear R^F Once more that silent tongue. This is similar to Catullus Ixv. 9-11, but has not been definitely located. 2. " Vox et praeterea nihil." Poe wrongly says this is from Catullus. 3. The motto to 'The Purloined Letter,' " nil sapientiae odiosius acumine nimio." Poe ascribes this to Seneca, whether rightly or not, I cannot say. THOMAS OLLIVE MABBOTT. 14 Fifth Avenue, New York City. [2. On " vox, et praeterea nihil " Prof. Bensly wrote at 10 S. ii. 281 : " Mr. King [King's ' Classical and Foreign Quotations '] says : ' It is probable that the