Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/280

 NOTES AND QUERIES.

S. NO 14., APRIL 5. '56:

ing the families of Thomas and James Hooper, mentioned in the list of those who obtained the royal pardon (in the " Illustrations of Macaulay," 2 nd S. i. 228.}, where they came from, whither they went, and if any of their descendants are in existence ? CLERICUS.

" Beilbys Ball." What is the origin of the following synonym for being hanged ? " He will dance at Beilby's Ball, where the Sheriff pays the music." HENEY KENSINGTON.

The Convocations of York and Canterbury.

" The author of Antiquitates Britannicee tells us that in the third year of King Henry I.'s reign, the clergy at York unanimously rejected Archbishop Anselm's synodical constitut-'ons, and the issue is very remarkable ; for here- upon, st< tim spreta atque contemptee fuerunt. I could give soire other instances wherein it appears that we have not always been implicit transcribers of the copy set us by our brethren of Canterbury." Nieolson's Letter in Defence of the English Historical Library, p. 6..

I should be glad of some of the instances in which the Convocation of York has dissented from that of Canterbury. WILLIAM FRASEE, B.C.L.

Alton, Staffordshire.

Fight at Riby Gapp, North Lincolnshire. The parish register of Riby contains the follow- ing entries in the year 1646 :

" Nine soldiers slaine in a skirmish in the field of Riby the day before, buried June the XIX th ."

" Charles Skelton, a soldiour wounded in the same skirmish, buried June the xx th ."

" William Willoughbie, a soldier wounded' in the skir- mish above named, buried July the iiii."

The register of the adjoining parish of Stalling- borough gives the following burials as occurring in the year above mentioned :

" John Harrington, Esq., Lieveten'-Colonel, slaine at the fight at Ryeby gapp, the 18 th day of June, was buried the 19 da}' of the same month."

" John Pugson, a Cavileere, wounded at the fight of Ryeby gapp, buried the 20 day of June."

Can any of your numerous readers kindly fur- nish any information respecting this engagement, or direct me to any source from whence such in- formation is likely to be obtained ?

J. BYRON, M.A.

Killingholme.

The great Comet (comcth*). The great comet of 1556 will probably re-appear between the years 1856 and I860. 'For the exact calculation of this event the original observations of the (then Imperial) Mathematicus, Paul Fabricius, would be of the utmost importance. But although it is known that they were printed, and are quoted by contemporaneous authors, and much research has been made after them, not even one copy could be discovered hitherto. This has been found, however, in the Parliamentary Archives of the Honourable the States of Austria, a printed letter

of Paul Fabricius relative thereto, which contains some prophetic allusions to that event, all fulfilled. It concludes with the following passage : " Who wishes for more information may read my Latin Judicium on that comet, which contains my daily and hourly ^observations." It is hoped that this notice will induce the gentlemen who are at the head of the national and private libraries of this country to inquire after this unique and important document of medieval astronomy.

DR. J. LOTSKT, F. K. Bot. Soc. of Bavaria. 15. Gower Street.

Strachan of Craigcrook. Can your corre- spondent I. G. S. give us any information as to the family or pedigree of John Strachan of Craig, crook, who " mortified " his property at the be- ginning of the last century for the benefit of the poor of the parish of Cramond ? Craigcrook House was long occupied by Lord Jeffrey. Some account of it is given in Wood's History of Cra- mond, but I think no account of the family of Strachan is there given. Any information on this point would oblige R. S.

Minat

tot'tfi

Robert Nelson and Religious Societies. In the preface to the first edition of Nelson's Companion to the Festivals and Fasts occurs this passage :

" Upon this occasion I think it a great piece of justice to acknowledge and commend the pious and devout practices of the Religious Societies, who in this point, as well as in many others, distinguish themselves by their regular conformity and obedience to the laws of the church ; for they constantly attend the publick assemblies upon such holy seasons. And till they can communicate regularly in their own parish churches upon such days, they embrace those opportunities that are provided, there being two churches in London employed for that pur- pose*; where they as duly receive the Blessed Sacra- ment upon all festivals as they perform all the other acts of public worship. How they spend the vigils, in pre- paring their minds for a due celebration of the ensuing solemnity, is more private but not less commendable. And the great care they take to suppress the dawnings of enthusiasm, and to discountenance the first appearance of any vicious practices amongst their members, and the method they impose before delinquents are entirely re- conciled or totally rejected, is such a preparation of the minds of the laity for the reception of that discipline that is wanted in the Church, that if ever we are blessed with what good men wish for, and what bad men fear, these Religious Societies will be very instrumental in intro- ducing it, by that happy regulation which prevails among them. And while they pay that deference they profess to their parochial ministers f, and are ready to be governed by their directions, and are willing to submit their rules and orders to the judgment of the reverend clergy, I cannot but apprehend that they must be very serviceable to the interest of religion, and may contribute very much

f Vieio of Religious Societies, Ord. 3.
 * St. Mary-le-Bow and St. Dunstan's in the West,