Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/281

 2 nd S. N 14., APRIL 5. '56.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

273

to revive that true spirit of Christianity, which was so much the glory of primitive times. And I see no reason why men may not meet together to improve one another in Christian knowledge, and by mutual advice take mea- sures how best to farther their own salvation, as well as promote that of their neighbours, when the same liberty is taken for the improvement of trade and for carrying on the pleasures and diversions of life."

I have quoted the passage at length, because this preface is totally omitted in many modern re- prints ; and my object is to inquire for some in- formation respecting the Religious Societies here alluded to. Where can the View of the Religious Societies mentioned in the margin be seen ?

While on the subject of Nelson's admirable book, may I also ask on what authority the head- ings of "the collects and prayers for each so- lemnity " rest ? There are none in the edition of 1704, the second edition ; and therefore, I sup- pose, none in the original edition of 1703 : but in modern reprints headings appear. In a recent edition from the S. P. C. K., the collect for Christmas Day bears the title "A Prayer for Regeneration : " this surely does not betoken Nelson's own hand. A. A. D.

[The allusion in Nelson's preface is to the Orders of* one of the numerous Societies which sprung up between 1684 and 1712 for the Reformation of Manners, and which occasioned the publication of the following works : 1. An Account of the Societies for Reformation of Manners in London and Westminster and other parts of the Kingdom, 8vo. and 4to., 1699, frequently republished. 2. An Ac- count of the Rise and Progress of the Religious Societies in the City of London, 8fc. Bv Josiah Woodward, D.D., 12mo., fourth edition, 1712. "At p. 107. the Orders of the Poplar Branch are quoted. Watt in his B'Miotheca notices sixteen sermons preached for these societies. Nelson's Fasts and Festivals first appeared in 1703, and eight or nine editions, with considerable additions, were published before. his death, which took place on Jan. 16, 1714. The fourth edition contains the heading of the collects and prayers as now printed by the Christian Knowledge Society. (See Mr. Marriot's letter in the British Magazine, vol. xxi. p. 417.) Although " renova- tion " is a more correct heading than " regeneration " for the Christmas Day collect, it is a singular coincidence that the latter word is the heading to the same collect in the new edition of Bishop Wilson's Sacra Privata, pub- lished from the bishop's own manuscript in Slop College.]

Hanging for Nonconformity. Not a mile from this town is a spot of ground, till three winters ago common or waste land, called Gallows Green. Tradition says that there two men were hanged, their crime nonconformity to the established re- ligion. Will any one kindly say in what year this tragedy was enacted, and what were the names of the victims ? JOHN P. STILWELL.

Dorking.

[The following extract relating to this spot may assist in the solution of our correspondent's query : " By the Dorking parish registers of burials, it appears that the assizes were held here in 1625, 1636, 1637, 1639, 1647, 1668, and 1669, in which years several criminals who had been condemned were executed here, and buried in the

churchyard. The place of execution was in a sandy ane at the south end of the town, leading to Boar Hill, ind which is now sometimes called Gallows Lane. There s no similar entry since 1669." Manning and Bray's

Surrey, vol. iii. p. cxxx., Apppdix. ]

Galway Juries. In what way, and when, did

alway juries acquire a character for intelligence

and integrity beyond that of any other juries in

[reland ? ABHBA.

[The Galway jurors are celebrated in Irish history for resisting the commission of the Earl of Stratford in 1635, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo, and Mayo, found the king's title without scruple; but this arbitrary measure met with the most determined opposition at Galway; for upon their refusing to find a title in the crown to the estates of their countrymen, the sheriff was fined in 1000/., the jurors in 4000/. each, and to be imprisoned until the fines were paid. This circumstance is noticed in Hardi- man's History of Galway, p. 104., and in Dr. Curry's Review of the Civil Wars in Ireland, vol. i. p. 153. ]
 * o inquire by the oaths of a jury what estate, right, or
 * itle, the king had to every county in the province.

" Nolo episcopari" When and by whom was this phrase first used ? I am told that an im- pression prevails among certain classes, that when a bishop is consecrated, he pronounces the wocds " Nolo episcopari." B. H. C.

[Mr. Christian, in a note on Blackstone's Commentaries, book i. ch. xi. vol. i. p. 380., says, " It is a prevailing vulgar error that every bishop, before he accepts the bishoprick which is offered him, affects a maiden coyness, and answers ' Nolo episcopari.' The origin of these words and this notion I have not been able to discover; the bishops certainly give no such refusal at present, and I am inclined to think they never did at any time in this country."]

PROGNOSTICATIONS DRAWN FROM THE DAT OP THE WEEK ON WHICH THE NEW YEAR COMMENCES.

I shall, perhaps, comply with the request of E. G. R. (2 nd S. i. 203 ) most effectually by tran- scribing the whole series of prognostications con- tained in the Cambridge MS. Ff. v.48. fol. 74, b.sq. They are very curious, and had already arrested my attention while engaged, with others, in pre- paring the new Catalogue of our University MSS.

" A man J>* will of wisdam lere Herkyn to J> boke of profetts here, Listene swithe and vnderstonde Off prophecy and lawe of londe. Ther was sum tyme an olde prophett Ezechiel forsoth he hett He was in \> e lond of byhest Gode and gret clerk with J> best. He cowthe speke well latyne, He went to c scole of devyne ; J>erin he sped hym right well Of J> c maist of law sy veil ; Off astronomy he couthe inough, His wisdam into a boke he drogh,