Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/418

 410

[24S. NO 2!., MAY 24. '56.

Reynall, Richmond, Robinson, Robyns, Rochcourt, Rochdale, Rogers, Rothe^, Rowles, Rythe.

Saunclers, Scory, Seborne, Seymour, Jane Seymour, Shelton, Skynner,' Smith, Smyth, Sneyd, Somerset, So- mcrton, Standon, Stokes, Stone, Sutherland, Swift.

Thorpe, Thwaites, Touarst, Twenge, Tylley.

Vincent.

Walbe, Walsell, Walton, Wameldon, Waniell, Warme, Warrington, Washingley, Wateborough, Welby, "Welves, Wennis, Wingo, Wiglv.

C. II. P.

Fleur-de-lis: Sir Stephen Fox. With refer- ence to the notes on the fleur-de-lis (2 nJ S. i. 348.), I do not see the name of Sir Stephen Fox, who was permitted to place a fleur-de-lis in his coat of anas in the upper left, hand corner. This honour is preserved in his family, and still decorates the shield of Lord Holland, his great- great- grandson.

A tradition in the Fox family existed, and the late Lord Holland used to mention it, that when in exile Charles II. borrowed 5,OOOZ. of Mr. Stephen Fox, who was attached to his family ; and that that prince graciously permitted him to place tin's fleur-de-lis in his escutcheon. The money, ifc was added, was never repaid, though some of the descendants would have willingly re- signed the badge for the money.

In the Memoirs of Sir Stephen (London, 1717) may be seen the arms with the fleur-de-lis. Per- haps some of your readers may add information.

VOLPONE.

I have the following, whence culled I know not :

" Nothing could be more simple than the lily, which was the distinctive badge of the French monarchy ; nor, at the same time, could anything be more symbolic of the state of the nobility and gentry, exempted from the neces- sity of working for a livelihood or for dress, than lilies, of which it is said : ' They toil not, neither do they spin,' neqiif. lalorant ne.que nent, which was the motto to the royal arms of France."

K. W. HACK WOOD.

Jamaica: Interesting Discovery. The hurri- cane which passed over Jamaica on April 24, led to many discoveries. Among others, and that probably of the greatest interest, was the iron cage in which the Spaniards, when masters of the island, used to put criminals who were sentenced to death, and hang them alive. It was washed up with the bones inside, about three miles from Uppark Camp, near Kingston ; and was examined with great curiosity by the officers of the regi- ment quartered there. F. G.

Time taken in writing Slack Letter. I have recently been copying an old legend in the black letter, and have kept a note of the time consumed,

thinking it would be interesting to fellow anti- quaries. My work took seventy-nine hours, and consists of twenty* two pages, each page measuring without margin 6 inches by 4j inches broad ; the letters are th of an inch high, and the lines (twenty-four to a page) are ith apart. Each of these pages took three hours, thirty-five minutes. This is without taking into account illuminated letters ; for these allowance must be made accord- ing to intricacy and finish. I think also the old monks might work a little, but not much faster than I. We often talk of their perseverance in writing MSS., and shall now be able to make some calculation as to their labours. Like them I had one to read to me the while. LX.

Sad Advice.

" Enquire out those tauerncs which are best custom'd, whose maisters are oftenest drunk; for that confirmes their taste, and that they choose wholesome wines." Decker's Ilornboolte, 1G09.

11. W. HACK WOOD.

" The Image that fell down from Jupiter" Acts, xix. 35. Pausanias (i. 26.) speaking of the statue of Minerva at Athens, says : " It is re- ported that this statue fell from heaven ; but whether this was the case or not I shall not at present attempt to prove." He took the ex- pression literally ; but the figurative sense given by Herodian (bk. i. p. 37.) appears to be the most exact ; for when speaking of the image of the mother of the gods at Pessinus, he says they call it SioTreTes, " because the material and the artist are unknown, and it must not be touched by human hand." Jamblicus (apud Phot., p. 554.) also savs the statues were so called " because the occult art by which they were fabricated by human hands was inconspicuous." Dr. Kitto observes, on the authority of Muci anus, that the statue of Diana was of wood, and not of stone, and could not have been an aerolite. The statue at Pessinus, however, was most probably of stone ; and that mentioned by Herodian, bk. v. p. 114., was an aerolite. T. J. BUCKTON.

Lichfiejd.

Grantham Steeple used as a Simile. In The Character of a London Diurnall : with severall select Poems, by the same Author. Printed in the Yeere 1647, there is a poetic address, of fifty lines, to the Archbishop of Canterbury, which thus concludes :

" How could successe such villaines applaud ? The State in Stratford fell, the Church in Laud : The twins of publike rage adjudged to dye, For treasons they should act, by prophecy. The facts were done before the lawea were made, The trump turned up after the game was plai'd. Be dull great spirits, and forbeare to climbe, For worth is sin, and eminence a crime. No churchman can be innocent and high, 'Tis height makes Grantham steeple stand awry."