Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/65

 one syde: theyr legges are thyn and stender, lyke a fawne or hynde; the hoofes of the fore feete are diuided in two, much like the feete of a goate; the outwarde part of the hynder feete is very full of heare. This beaste seemeth doubtlesse very wylde and fierce, yet tempereth that fiercenesse with a certaine comlinesse. These vnicornes one gave to the Soltan of Mecha, as a most precious and rare gyfte. They were sent hym out of Ethiope by a kynge of that countrey, who desired by that present to gratifie the Soltan of Mecha."

"Solamen miseris," &c.—I have searched in vain for the birth-place of the well-known line, — "Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris," Can you refer me to it?

Death of King John.—Dipping into vol. v. of Dr. Merle d'Aubigné's History of the Reformation (8vo., Oliver and Boyd, 1853), I find at p. 98. a statement of the cause of King John's death which is quite new to me, namely, that he "drank copiously of cider, and died of drunkenness and fright;" and, referring to the foot-note, I find the following quotation from Matthew Paris, as the authority for the statement in the text, viz. "Novi ciceris potatione nimis repletus." A comparison of the two might suggest that the English was only an illiterate guess at the meaning of the Latin; and there are other specimens of translation in the work which render the suspicion not uncharitable. But, waving this, my object is to ask, What was this potatio novi ciceris? It was hardly green-pease soup in October. It has no resemblance either to the decoction of toad of one author, or to the pears of another, or the peaches of a third. What was it?

[The passage in Matthew Paris is as follows:— "Auxit autem ægritudinis molestiain perniciosa ejus ingluvies, qui nocte illa de fructu persicorum et novi ciceris potatione nimis repletus, febrilem in se calorem acuit fortiter et accendit;" which is thus translated by Dr. Giles: "His sickness was increased by his pernicious gluttony, for that night he surfeited himself with peaches and drinking new cider, which greatly increased and aggravated the fever in him." The drink ciceris in Matthew Paris is called pomarium by Matthew Westminster; and by Dr. Brady, p. 517., new bracket. Foxe, following Matthew Paris, says, "His ague increased through evil surfeiting and naughty diet, by eating peaches and drinking new cider, or, as we call it, cider." Ciceris, cicer, or sicera, seems to be a general term for all intoxicating liquors, except wine, made from vegetable substances: "Est omnis potio, que extra vinum inebriare potest." (Du Cange, s. v. Sicera). Cider is probably the beverage meant, as the epithet novi is added; the king's death having happened in the middle of October, when this drink is usually made. Consult Nares's Glossary, art. Bragget.]

Dr. Clarke's "Discourse." What work is meant by Dr. Clarke's Discourse concerning the Connexion of the Prophets? It is referred to by Bishop Sherlock on Prophecy, p. 238. n. I. R. R.

[This work is entitled, A Discourse concerning the Connexion of the Prophecies in the Old Testament, and the Application of them to Christ: being an extract from the sixth edition of A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, &c. To which is added, A Letter concerning the Argument à priori. By Samuel Clarke, D.D., Rector of St. James's, Westminster. 8vo., 1725.]

The Close. At Lincoln, Salisbury, and other cathedrals, there is a place called "The Close," which is occupied by the dignitaries of the cathedral. What is the origin of it?

{{right|{{sc|Fra. Mewburn.}}

Darlington.

[The Close, Lat. clausum, an enclosed place. Cange says, "{{sc|Clausa}}, locus, seu ædes, in qua inclusi monachi degebant. Vita S. Gamelberti, cap. ii. n. 14., 'ad fenestram clause in qua latebat.' "]

{{c|Replies. MACHINE HEXAMETERS. (Vol. xii., p. 470.)}}

A short account of this "method of grinding Latin verses," written by myself, appeared, a few years ago, in Chambers's Edinburgh Journal (No. 326., New Series); I here add a few further remarks on the same subject. The tables, alluded to by I. H. A., are composed by setting down, in consecutive order, every first letter of the following words; then every second letter; then every third letter; and so on, till all the letters forming the words are thus placed. Observing, that such words as do not contain nine, or the required number of letters, must have their deficiencies supplied by blanks or asterisks. The first words of verses, thus arranged, will form the first table; the second words of verses the second table; and so on in regular succession.

{{c|HEXAMETER,}}

First Words of Verses''.— Turbida, ignca, pes- sima, horrida, aspera, martia, barbara, lurida, effera.

Second Words of Verses''.— Fata, signa, damna, bella, vincla, sistra, castra, scorta, tela.

Third Words of Verses''.- Sequi, foris, pati, tuis, domi, patet, puto, palam, ferunt.

Fourth Words of Verses.— Præmonstrant, proritant, promittunt, protendunt, producunt, mon- strabunt, progignent, prænarrant, promulgant.

Fifth Words of Verses. — Tempora, pocula,