Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 9.djvu/260

 210 NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s.ix. SEPT. 10,1921. He was ridiculed in ' Virgedemiarum ' (1567), i. 13, 14. The Biblical instances are remarkably smooth and contrast in this respect with many of Harvey's lines. The experiment was " in the air " at Cambridge shortly before King James's version appeared ; and I apprehend that some of the translators were Cambridge men. Can anyone give us more light ? RICHARD H.. THORNTON. Portland, Oregon. MARQUESS OP DOWN, c. 1700. Is any- thing known of this nobleman, who nourished in the period of William III.? What was his family name ? I do not find him in the * D.N.B.' He seems to have been something of a book-collector. RICHARD H. THORNTON. Portland, Oregon. CURTEIS ( CURTIS) OF ENFIELD, MIDDLE- SEX. I should be very grateful for informa- tion concerning this family. Two of its members were : 1. Sir Thomas Curteis, son of John of Enfield ; Pewterer, and later translated to the Fishmongers'; Lord Mayor of London, 1557 ; buried in St. Dionis Backchurch. 2. John Curteis, stated by The Gentle- man's Magazine to belong to a family long resident in Enfield, the most famous member of which was the Sir Thomas CurteL, men- tioned above. He was an eminent fish- monger and lived at Bull's Cross, Enfield, and died, aet. 86, in 1780. Arms (granted to Sir Thomas Curteis) : Barry wavy of six sable and argent, a chevron or between three plates, on a chief of the third two dolphins addorsed azure between as many anchors gules. Crest : Out of a crescent or an arm erect habited azure, holding in the hand proper a branch of columbines azure leaved and slipped vert. W. HAYTHORNE. 83, Abbey Road Mansions, N.W.8. WILLIAM COLLINS. Can any reader of ' N. & Q.' tell me if a copy of the poet Wm. Collins' s ' Proposals for a History of the Revival of Learning ' exists ? Also, who is the author of the beautiful epitaph on Collins in Chichester Cathedral ? THOS. OLLIVE M ABBOTT. 14, Fifth Avenue, New York City. [Collins's epitaph was composed by William Hayley and John Sargent.] THE MARGATE GROTTO. In a street off Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate, there is an excavation in chalk called the Grotto. It consists of a number of narrow winding passages with a small central chamber, all the walls being closely covered with sea-shells which, it is alleged, on what authority I do not know, cannot be found on the neighbouring Thanet sands. I should be glad to know whether the Kent Archaeological Society or any competent authority has ever investigated the origin and age of this excavation, and what con- clusions have been arrived at. It would also be interesting to know whether any county newspaper contains in its files any record of the alleged " discovery " of this Grotto, which is said to have taken place about 1837. At that time I understand there was no local newspaper published in the Isle of Thanet, but there were news- papers at Maidstone and at Canterbury which might have some record. Many chalk caves were hollowed out for smuggling purposes, but the narrowness of the passages and the small size of the central chamber make it improbable that this is the explana- tion in this case. R. S. PENGELLY. 12, Poynders Road, Clapham Park, S.W.4. ALLUSION IN ' LONDON LYRICS.' I miss the curls of Cantilupe The laugh of Lady Di. From ' Rotten Row,' in Frederick Locker's ' London Lyrics.' Were these real people ? If so, who were they ? G. H. D. THE SEA-SERPENT. I should be grateful for any suggestions towards the bibliography of the various " sea-serpent " tales which have been current in England. Any notes as to the position of this creature in folk- lore would be appreciated. WILFRED J. CHAMBERS. South View, Wellington Road, Lowestoft. WALTER BLANDFORD, " POSTEA OXONI- ENSIS." Why is WalterBlandford(1619-75) thus described on his monument in Worcester Cathedral as Warden of Wadham " Guardi- anus, postea Oxoniensis " ? What does postea mean ? According to the ' D.N.B.' he was Scholar of Wadham in 1638, Fellow in 1644, Warden in 1659, Vice -Chancellor in 1662, and Bishop of Worcester in 1671. Is " Oxoniensis " " short for " episcopus Oxoni ensis (as he became in 1665) ? H. C. N. !