Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/81

 2nd g. NO 4., JAN. 26. '56.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

73

Fiorina, a Tale of the first Crusaders, that she gives the name to the translation into French of my book, it being there entitled La fills du Renegat.

I must own that I am quite shocked "severely shocked by hearing" that 1 have been trench- ing on the same ground as Tasso. I thought I had avoided the risk of doing so, by keeping closely to the original narrative of the Crusader- writers, and by confining myself to the siege of Antioch, not venturing to go farther than, that city with the first Crusaders.

Tasso's description of Erminia would lead one to suppose that she was the daughter, not of a simple Emir, but of Baghi Sian, the supreme ruler of Antioch :

"Voile chc quivi seco Ermiuia andasse, Erminia bella ch' ei niccolse in corte, Poich' a lei fu dalle cristiane squadre, Pressa Antiochia, e morto il re suo padre."

Cant. in. S. 12.

It is a great many years since I read the Gerusa- lemmc Liberata ; and as the copy in which I studied it was without notes, there may be an authority for Xiv.'s statement with which I am unac- quainted. He will oblige me by mentioning it.

I may observe, however, that Michaud (no mean authority), in his History of the Ci-usades, maintains that the " Erminia," as well as " Clo- rinda," of Tasso, " are the invention of the poet." (See vol. i. p. 205., English Translation, London, 1852.)

As the book Fiorina, in which I have intro- duced " the daughter of the Emir of Antioch," is certain to reach a second edition ; and, as it is my intention to affix historical notes to that edition, I hope Xiv. will supply me with the information I seek for. Should he be so kind as to comply with my request, it will be an additional advan- tage to the many already conferred upon me by a perusal of the "N. & Q." W. B. MAC CABB.

Etymology. Can you favour some of your country readers with the derivation of two well- known and long-used words, erysipelas and theo- dolite f Also, with the derivation and exact, meaning of a few others of modern date, and re- cently admitted by naturalization into the English language, viz. platitude, caucus, clique, jacquerie f

Q-T.

" Seal." What is the meaning and derivation of the word seal in Hexham Seal, a spot of ground to the west of the abbey ; and in Sanson Seal, two miles north-west of Berwick, on the Dunse Road ? CETHEP.

London Architecture. Which is the most an- cient piece of architecture in London ? H.

Handbills, fyc. There are, I am sure, several of the readers of " N. & Q." who, like old Pepys, take pleasure in collecting handbills, placards, and broadsides the frailest of the children of the press ; they are valuable as expressions of popular opinions and doings of the hour.

The historians of the social and domestic life of the nineteenth century, will find such sheets his most valuable aids next to a tile of The Times; the latter is frequently found ; there are not, that I am aware of, any public collections of the former.

I wish to suggest, that now the postage on printed matter is reduced, there is every facility for the exchange of such papers. Will the Editor of "N. & Q." give collectors' names " a local habi- tation " in his pages ? HANDBILL.

OVTOS. Guros is sometimes applied, with special emphasis, to persons who are well known, famous, or notorious. Thus, " 'ITJCTOVS 6 Na"u>pa?os OUTOS," " the well-known Jesus of Nazareth " (Acts vi. 14.). See Lidclell and Scott's Greek Lexicon, v. OVTOS. I am desirous of ascertaining whether OVTOS is ever so used of things, or events in history, which may be supposed well known to the persons concerned. For example, would OVTOS b Kma.K\v- ff/j.6s, OVTOS 6 \oi/j.6s, avTi] 1] (fj.Trpf]ffts, OVT/J rj ira.potfj.ia, be good expressions for the great Deluge, the great Plague, the great Fire, the 'well-known adage, sup- posing the allusions would at once be understood, and especially if floods, plagues, fifes, and adages respectively, were the topics under consideration at the time ? I should feel greatly obliged to any of youij correspondents who would produce ex- amples of such a use of OVTOS from the Greek writers, as they would enable me to illustrate what I conceive to be the meaning of a difficult passage in the Greek Testament. J. P.

The two-headed Eagle. Russia, Austria, and Prussia have each a double-headed eagle for their arms. What is the meaning of this fabled bird as an armorial ensign ? and how happens each country, so sympathetic with each other on many questions, the partition of Poland for example, to have the same arms ? PHESTONIENSIS.

The Eagle in Heraldry. It is stated in the Book of Family Crests, 7th ed. vol. i. p. 154., that

" William Rufus, King of England, gave for a device, an eagle looking against the sun. From this we may infer its use in heraldry."

To whom, and under what circumstances, was this device given ? And where may be found the authority for the above statement ? T. H.

Andrea Ferrara. What is the value of an Andrea Ferrara sword-blade, in fair condition ? Is there any work, besides Meyrick, giving a de- scription of the various kinds of old sword-blades ?

CLEBICUS.