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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. XL JUNE 13, IMS.

de Thoyras, in his ' History of England,' thus accounts for these repeated coronations :

" These superfluous coronations, which were very frequent in those days, seem to be designed only to amuse the people and to let them see that the king really intended to keep the path which was taken on those occasions. At this last solemnity, the king and queen, coming to the Oblation, laid their crowns upon the altar, and vowed never to wear them more."

EVERARD HOME COLEMAN.

71, Brecknock Road.

SKULLS (9 th S. xi. 287). I believe it is now generally considered by the most competent antiquaries that collections of skulls, such as are alluded to by MR. EDWARD PEACOCK, have been so preserved (as the most important part of the human frame) in overcoming the difficulty that arises when graves are neces- sarily disturbed in making architectural addi- tions to, or alterations in, an ecclesiastical building. But this does not, of course, apply to peculiar instances like that of the crania preserved in the crypt of Hythe Church, Kent, which exhibit unmistakable evidence of some desperate conflict or other.

J. H OLDEN MAcMlCHAEL.

COLLINGWOOD (9 th S. xi. 287). Although no answer to the query, it may interest your correspondent to know that a biographical notice of the Collingwood family has already appeared in 5 th S. ii. 48, 96, 177, 377 ; xii. 41. EVERARD HOME COLEMAN.

71, Brecknock Road.

" PEELER " (9 th S. xi. 265, 358, 415). K. P. D. E. quotes so well from memory that 1 send the correct verse from Hamilton's ' Parodies ' (vol. v. p. 154), where it is quoted from Punch of 11 April, 1846 : But he was rusticated

By the Dons that very night ; And when he show'd them his black eye

They said " It served him right." But long at our wine-parties ^ We'll remember how, like bricks, Stout Noddy kept the Crescent

In eighteen-forty-six !

Oddly enough the word "peelers," for which the verse was given, is conspicuous by its absence, but occurs in verses 11 and 12.

V. W. DOWELL. Choir House, E.C.

RUSSELL FAMILY (9 th S. v. 187). I have dis- covered that Joanna Russell, who married William Stedman, of Frith Street, Soho, about 1750, was born 24 May, and baptized 21 June, 1724, at St.-Martin-in-the-Fields. fehe was daughter of Israel Russell, of New | Bond Street, painter-stainer, who was buried I April, 1748, at St. George's, Hanover

Square, and whose will, dated 18 August, 1742, was proved 7 April, 1748, in P.C.C. (128 Strahan). In the Ancestor for April I have given all the information I have traced of him and his family. I am now anxious to trace his parentage, and the maiden name of his first wife Anne and his second wife Mary.

ALEYN LYELL READE. Park Corner, Blundellsands.

" THAT IMMORTAL LIE " (9 th S. xi. 167, 391). I beg to thank MR. LATHAM for his reply, which has reminded me of the book where I found the expression. It is the life of " Le Reverend Pere de Ravignan : sa Vie, sea (Euvres, par M. Poujoulat," second edition, 1862. The first was published in 1858. The passage runs thus :

" Dans la cpntroverse des cinq propositions, il n'etait pas facile au public de de"meler en quoi con- sistait "exactitude theologique ; ce qu'il comprenait le mieux dans ce debat, c'etait ce qui Pamusait ; or, il arriva que Tenjouement comique et la raillerie eloquente coulerent en flots intarissables, aux de"pens des jesuites, dans ce mensonge immortel intitule" : Us Provinciales."Pp. 80-1.

M. Poujoulat does not give the words as a quotation ; I therefore consider him to be the author of the phrase, which is very suggestive in whatever way we look upon it. I am most grateful to the Editor and his learned con- tributor for the information so kindly given.

PRE - REFORMATION PRACTICES IN ENGLISH CHURCHES (9 th S. x. 468 ; xi. 55, 134, 291). No better illustration of the gradual dying out of ancient beliefs and practices can be found than those which appear in the wills and inventories published by the Surtees Society. These wills were often written by the clergy themselves, and they show how slow and gradual was the work of the Re- formation within the Church and among the faithful laity. In the 'Durham Wills '(Sur- tees Soc. Pub., vol. ii.), for example, it is not until the year 1567 that we meet with a decidedly Protestant declaration. On 20 May in that year William Brown, of Gateshead, making his will, or rather having it made, expressed his religious views at length thus :

' I will'm broune callinge to remembrannc the

transitorie stat of man to gither with the p'swasions of sathan is a enemye to the saluac'on of man do not only declare this my last wyll and testament in man' as a stay to my conscienc my wyffe & chyldrein but also in few wordes declare y e some of my pro- fession as a testimonie of my ffayth and confusione of the deuyll. ffirst I p'fesse and confesse one god in trinitie & that ther is no sauio r no mediator nor advocat butt onlye Jesus Christ god and man & y* he allon by y e sheddinge of his most precius blodd