Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 1.djvu/277

 9 th S. I. APRIL 2, '98.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

269

Cession of these lost provinces. It is strange that so little is related in current Danish listorical works of men who enforced their ight of autonomy on Christian I. in 1460 in
 * he old Biberhus, and maintained it so long.

AEMS OF DE KELLYGREW. Could any of pour readers inform me what are the arms of De Kellygrew (Cornwall) 1 ? There is no mention of the name in Burke's 'Armorial Bearings,' although it is a very ancient family. EGBERT GLYNN.

HUGH MASSEY. Who was Hugh Massey, Sheriff of Limerick, 1674, founder of the Duntryleague family 1 Collins says that he was descended from John Massey, of Codding- ton, 1534-1590, in which case he must have been a son of William Massey, of London. If so, why do the Irish Masseys use the arms of Massey of Sale, and not those of Massey of Coddington ? Who was Hugh Massey who was involved in Love's conspiracy, 1651 ?

F. J. P.

HERALDIC CASTLES. Will any one be kind enough to refer me to good drawings of these ? All that 1 have seen are very ugly, and I want to draw arms containing a castle argent, inflamed proper, and a castle with two towers domed. THORNFIELD.

BATTLE-AXES AND KOMANS. I have heard it frequently stated that the Romans used battle-axes, but cannot find any authority for the statement. Can any reader solve the question? J. HOLLAND.

LATIN AMBIGUITIES. In my early school- days, about 1856, it was usual to test new- comers by putting to them some terrible bits of nonsense in Latin. Of these I can remember only one, " Mea mater mala est sus," which is capable of two incongruous interpretations. Are there other such sentences, and is any- thing known of their date and origin 1

W. C. B.

THE WOODLANDS, BLACKHE ATH. This house, built by John Julius Angerstein, formerly had two carved panels outside, which have lately been removed, and concerning which there is an absurd legend in the locality. Can any one give me the subject of the panels and say where they came from originally ?

AYEAHR.

NOVELS WITH THE SAME NAME. An interesting article in the Spectator of 5 February, on 'A Forgotten Novel,' reminded me of ' Across the Zodiac,' by Percy Greg, regarding which an appreciative entry had been made in my diary of October, 1883. On writing to

my bookseller for ' Across the Zodiac,' I duly received a novel of that name, but by another author, and bearing no resemblance to the book required. Does no rule exist forbidding the use of a name already adopted by another author? J. H. B.-C.

HOGARTH. Hogarth is said to have painted a sign " The Man loaded with Mischief." Is there any evidence of this ; and is the picture in existence ? I should be much obliged if some one would kindly answer these ques- tions. ARTHUR SIEVEKING.

[See. under 'A Man loaded with Mischief,' 'N. &Q.,'5 th S. vii. 36.]

MESSRS. HOWARD & GIBBS. These "once ci vilest of men " made Sir Rupert the Fearless " bitterly rue it he 'd ever raised money by way of annuity." Presumably these were the firm of Edward Howard and James Gibbs, who carried on business as scriveners at Golden Square. Howard apparently had succeeded to the wealth of Messrs. White- head, of Basinghall Street. He carried on his monetary transactions first with Diggles, then alone, having James Gibbs as his law clerk. Then they opened in 1814 at 18, Cork Street, Burlington Gardens, under the above style. They became bankrupt in 1822, but paid, I believe, twenty shillings in the pound. What became of all their documents, warrants of attorney, cognovits, &c. 1 What was the precise practice in regard to the safe custody of these documents ? I fancy the perpetual annuity bonds bound assets in the hands of executors and administrators, as well as the lands of the heir. Was it customary in such cases to file a copy of the pedigree of the family, and to refer in the annuity deed to some other deed in the possession of the other party, which should be handed down in the family as a means of identifying the heir for the time being 1 P. B. WALMSLEY.

90, Disraeli Road, Putney.

CHRISTENING NEW VESSELS. In an article in one of the monthly magazines on this subject the writer remarks :

" For many years the christening of a vessel has been accomplished by breaking a bottle of wine on her bow as she glides into the water from the place where she is bum,."

Can any reader of ' N. & Q.' tell me the origin of this ceremony ; what time it was first introduced ; and what was the custom pre- viously? G. PETRIE.

Dundee.

" STRONGULLION." What is this, which ap- pears in some of the weekly bills of mortality in 1720 as a cause of death 1 K.