Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/443

 2< S. NO 22., MAY 31. '56.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

435

A "Paalstab" What is a paalstab? X.

[In Worsaae's Primeval Antiquities of Denmark translated, &c., by Thoms, on a passage at p. 25., which speaks of Paalstabs as instruments of bronze "from three to nine inches in length, of the shape of a chisel expanded towards the edge," we have the following note:

"This term Paalstab was formerly applied in Scandinavia and Iceland to a weapon used for battering the shields of the enemy, as is shown by passages in the Sagas. Although not strictly applicable to the instrument in question, this designation is now so generally used by the antiquaries of Scandinavia and Germany, that it seems desirable, with the view of securing a fixed terminology, that it should be introduced into the Archæology of England."]

ftttftal.

QUEEN OF BOHEMIA'S JEWELS. (1 st S. xii. 494. ; 2 nd S. i. 195.)

I now send the result of some additional in- formation I have obtained since my last commu- nication. These jewels were the subject of a litigation in the Court of Session in Scotland, in 1665,* from the reports of which it appears that Col. Cunningham was in possession of them in 1636, when, on the occasion of his return to Germany, he gave them in charge to Mr. James Aikenhead, advocate, who granted an obligation to restore them, according to an inventory which he made out. Soon after going abroad, he drew bills on Aikenhead, who honoured them, and thereafter assigned the bills and jewels to his brother-in-law, John Ramsay, who, along with Mr. Robert Byres, advocate, son-in-law of Aiken- head, granted a bond for the colonel's use, to make the jewels forthcoming. Col. Cunningham having died abroad, Ramsay was in 1646 confirmed ex- ecutor qua creditor to him, in order that he might be repaid for his advances to Aikenhead out of the value of the jewels. In 1650, "after the in- coming of the English," Byres abstracted the jewels from a coal-cellar in Ramsay's house, in Edinburgh, where they had been concealed, and some years after, being in necessitous circum- stances, pledged them to several persons. After liis death, Ramsay raised an action against those in- dividuals for exhibition and delivery of the jewels, on the ground that Byres had no right to dispose of them, as they had come illegally into his pos- session. It was objected, inter alia, that Ramsay was in mora in not having claimed them sooner, and he alleged in answer that he did not do so, " because he feared the English should have seized upon them, if he had pursued for them." The Court decided in his favour, and ordered delivery of the jewels, which are described as " certain

dent Gilmour, Vise. Stair, and Lord Newbyth,
 * Ramsay v. Wilson, Dec. 12, 1665, reported by Presi-

jewels of considerable value." Nothing appears as to how they came into the colonel's hands. He seems to have served under Gustavus Adol- phus, King of Sweden, as in the list of Scottish officers who served under that prince, mentioned in Monro his Expedition (Lond. 1637), is the name of " Alexander Cunninghame, Lieuetenant- Colonell, since a Colonell to foote."

It would be curious to ascertain what was the final destiny of these jewels, which must have passed through so many hands. It is probable that the five pieces of gold coined at the battle of Leipsick, mentioned in the Inventory (p. 196.) were received by the colonel in consequence of his presence at that engagement. R. R.

HANGMAN STONES.

(2 nd S. i. 282. 402.)

Some years ago, there was still to be seen in a meadow belonging to me, situate near the north- western boundary of the parish of Littlebury, in Essex, a large stone ; the name of which, and the traditions attached to it, were identical with those recorded by your correspondents treating of " Hangman Stones."

This stone was subsequently removed by the late Mr. Jabez Gibson to Saffron Walden, and still remains in his garden at that place. I have a strong impression, that other "hangman stones" are to be met with elsewhere, but I am unable to point out the exact localities. There are a great many stones of different sizes called Boulders, in North Essex, generally to be met with near the road side. The common idea is, that they have been disinterred, and left near the spot where they were discovered.

A very large one occasioned lately a good deal of trouble to the vicar of Rickling, who met with it in sinking a well, at a considerable depth from the surface ; and was obliged to have recourse to puncturing a hole through it, before he could get rid of the obstacle.

The largest Boulder stone in that neighbourhood may be observed on the east side of the turn- pike road, leading from Audley End to Newport, at the entrance of that village ; but I never could hear anything of its history, nor does any tradi- tion exist on the subject ; but from its situation, it may have been placed there to mark the boiin- dary between the parishes of Newport and Wen- den. I hope some of your readers may be able to furnish information of a more satisfactory na- ture. BBAYIJROOKE.

On the right hand side of the road, between Brighton and Newhaven (about five miles,^ I think, from the former place,) is a stone desig*