Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 2.djvu/333

 9 th S. II. OCT. 22, '98.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

325

"La Reina dona Blanca, mujer del Rey don Sancho VI. de Navarra, e hija del Duque Ricardo de Normandia. Muerto su marido, se recogio a los palacios de Najera, donde dicen que paso su viuoez muy santamente."

This lady's tomb, like the others in the crypt, was modernized in the style of the Renaissance. This tasteless transformation took place, according to] Dr. Garran, while Rodrigo de Gadea was abbat, A.D. 1556-9. The sarcophagus then received the following inscription : " La Reyna Dona Blanca mvjer de Don Sacho [sic] Rey." Queen Mencia of Portugal was also buried here.

PALAMEDES.

DRYASDUST. There was, it seems, another Dryasdust as well as the mighty giant to whom I have directed attention in a previous number (8 th S. xii. 286). I have just come upon an entry in Bohn's Lowndes's 'Bibl. Manual ' of " Wit Revived by As-dry-as-dust Toss-off-a-can. London, 1674. 8vo."

EDWARD PEACOCK.

AMBRESBURY OR AMESBURY. This place was much heard of recently during the manoeuvres. In my childhood it was spelt on all mile- stones and fingerposts Ambresbury, as named after the British Ambrose, father of King Arthur, and, according to Geoffrey of Mon- mouth, finisher of Stonehenge as a monu- ment. It had a nunnery, which seems to have lately got the name Almsbury. The spelling, like the pronunciation Amesbury, is plainly very modern and misleading.

E. L. G.

IN MEMORY OP A FAVOURITE HORSE. I copied the following lines from a tablet in the grounds at the back of the Hotel Dix- cart, in Sark :

Underneath this stone doth lie, Once breathing with sagacity, The shell of Robin, late departed With all the vigour life imparted. If a single fault had he, Let it forgotten-buried be.

WALTER HAMILTON. Clapham Common.

PICTURES TAKEN ON THE SPOT. Should any student wish to realize " how history is written," or delineated, let him examine the representations of the Gordon Memorial Service at Khartum which appeared on 1 October in the Graphic, Black and White, and the Illustrated London News. They are all stated to be from drawings or photographs taken on the spot. To mention only one point of difference, the shape of the windows in Gordon's ruined palace is shown with a variance quite amusing. DEE.

A DESCENDANT OF JONATHAN SWIFT. I lately saw exhibited in a case in the Forster Room, South Kensington Museum, the copy of Aulus Gellius, 1706, given by Erasmus Lewes, Lord Oxford's secretary, to the great Dean. It contains the book-plate of Mr. E. L. Swifte, and a note in the writing of John Forster stating that he purchased the book from Mr. E. L. Swifte. An^ official of the Museum has placed a label on* the inter- esting work, and has written thereon the very extraordinary announcement that Mr. E. L. Swifte is "a descendant of the Dean." HENRY GERALD HOPE.

Clapham, S.W.

A "CHESTNUT." Among some Irish bull contributed to the Spectator a few weeks ago appeared the following anecdote, amusing, although one may question the accuracy of its classification. I quote it from the Itecord, which secured the snippet :

"Two British tourists chanced to find at 'The Meeting of the Waters ' a girl bearing a pitcher of water, of whom they inquired the name of the river. ' The Meeting,' was the prompt reply. 'Oh ! we know that,' quoth the tourists ; 'out wha^ river is it what name do you call it by ? ' ' Och ! ' said the girl, ' I never call it at all ; it always cornea of itself.' "

In a letter of Howell's, dated London, 25 July, 1629, we may read :

" I may answer you as my Lord Coke was answer'd by a Norfolk Countryman who had a Suit depending in the King's Bench against some Neigh- bours touching a River that us'd to annoy him, and Sir Edw. Coke asking how he call'd the River, he answer'd, My Lord, I need not call her, for she is forward enough to come of herself." ' Epistolse Ho-eliante ' (Jacobs's edition), p. 268.

ST. SWITHIN.

A MODERN CLERICAL MYTH. The interest- ing note on Crockford's ' Clerical Directory ' by W. C. B. reminds me that in the earlier editions the name appeared of a clergyman who had no existence. I refer to Rev. Edward Ellis, vicar of Wharram-in-the-Street. His name was also printed for many years in the ' Clergy List,' but when it was removed from both I have not ascertained. I find it in the edition of the latter for 1843, and of the former for 1865. I have a letter from the late Rev. Robert Ellis, of North Grimston, 18C56, in which he says, "There is no such person as the Rev. E. Ellis vicar of Wharram- le-Street ; the vicarage is mine." This is not all, for in Foster's 'Alumni Oxon.,' to the name of "Edward Ellis, B.A., St. J9hn's Coll., Oxon. (mat. 1827, set. 19)," we find this unwarrantable addition, "Vicar of Wharram-in-the-Street, Yorks, 1832." So much for the value of compilations; but there must be very few