Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/140

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

a S. N 7., FfiB. 16. '5(5.

Judea and Jerusalem, seems to afford us the real clue to the term. Du Cange inclines to this explanation.

To the mere conjectures contained in the other three explanations, we may add a sixth, that sug- gests itself as affording as plausible an explanation as any of the above, except the second. As this building was erected at Durham expressly for the use of females, and as, according' to Gervase, all interviews between the monks and their female relatives took place in these porches or chapels, the name may have been given to denote that the monks in their occasional interviews with women, were to be as cautious and guarded as the Jews, who dwelt in Judea in the south, and in Samaria in the centre of Palestine, were, in their communi- cations with the people of Galilee, termed " G;ililee of the Gentiles," because it was peopled chiefly by Phoenicians, Syrians, and Arabians. CEYBEP.

VISCOUNTESS CORBET'S PEERAGE FOB LIFE.

At a time when the question of peerages for life has attracted more than Usual public interest, I am induced to lay before the readers of " N. & Q." a precedent of a similar creation, which, though it was not noticed by the eloquent speakers in the late debate (probably because, as relating to a female, it was not politically apposite), still combines in itself some curious circumstances that should invite inquiry.

Sarah Lady Corbet was on the 23rd Qpt., 1679, created a viscountess for her natural life, in con- sequence (according to the patent, an extract of which exists in the College of Arms) of

" His Majesty having taken into his royal considera- tion the great worth and merits of the trusty and well- beloved Sarah Lady Corbet, together with the faithful services of the late Sir Vincent Corbet."

Sir Vincent, it is true, had taken an active part in the beginning of the civil war on the side of Charles I., but his military exploits seem to have been confined to two narrow escapes of being taken prisoner in 1643, first at Nantwicb, and afterwards at Drayton. His property was sub- sequently sequestrated, and a fine set of 2022/., or, according to Bring, of 1588/. 13s. 4d.; but in this he only shared the fate of many other at least as eminent Cavaliers. He"died about 1676, sixteen years after the Restoration, and whatever had been his services, up to that time there had been no royal recognition or recompense ; though this was too common a case to be remarkable.

Three years after Sir Vincent's death, his widow was ennobled partly (as tlie patent implies) out of gratitude to his "faithful services;" and yet, though this loyal gentleman left by his wife two sons, succeeding to an estate that had suffered in the royal cause, they are expressly excluded from

the reversion of that title which was to be the guerdon to their father's memory. The latter plea of the patent is therefore very doubtful. As for her ladyship's own " great worth and merits," it is difficult, of course, to avoid a surmise of what this might mean at the court of our " merry mo- narch;" but in 1679 the lady was sixty-six years of age, a fact which appears to vindicate her reputation ; unless, indeed, there were antecedents in the early life of both Charles and Lady Corbet that might explain this tardy mark of gratitude.

Having in vain sought authentic grounds of explanation, I took the liberty of inquiring, from a lineal descendant of the Corbet family, if any traditional account existed of the origin of this singular peerage. .The reason handed down has been, that the Dowager Lady Corbet was a very proud woman ; and being annoyed by her daugh- ter-in-law taking precedence of her, she com- plained to the king, who said he could quickly remedy the evil, and made her a peeress for life. Now the story has this air of probability, that while the title vindicated Lady Corbet's own posi- tion, the limitation of it gave her the satisfaction of Chinking the rank would never descend to her rival. All very likely then, as far as concerns the lady; but this is no explanation of the motives of the king. He may, no doubt, have consented to minister to Lady Corbet's vanity; but why? She must have had great personal influence, or great interest at court, or great claims from past occur- rences ; and this is just the information I hope may be supplied by the numerous and intelligent investigators of history, who are subscribers to " 1ST. & Q." MONSON.

Gatton Park.

Ged Duncan. Wanted information regarding Ged Duncan, author of The Constant Lovers, or the Sailors Return, a play, 8vo., 1798. R. J.

James Norral. Can any of your readers, ac- quainted with the history of the Scottish drama, give me any information regarding the following piece and its author ? The Generous Chief, a tragedy, acted at Montrose, 1792, by James Nor- ral, A.M. . R. J.

Latin Pentateuch. I have a small Latin work, containing the Pentateuch and the Books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, which seem to be all that was printed, as it is there marked Jinix. The date, 1541 ; the printer, Peter Regnault. I should feel obliged, if some of your correspondents could give me an idea of its value, and whether it is rare ? It has a dedication Preface, Hieronymvs Pavlino. NEIRBO.

Cork,