Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 3.djvu/329

 s. IIL APRIL 29, m] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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columns from two aisles, and with an at the further end. We know from the _cts of the Apostles that the early Christians 'at first merely a Jewish sect) commonly fre- iuented the synagogues. What is more likely 3han that their churches should have been )riginally constructed on the pattern of the Buildings in which they were accustomed to vorship 1 At all events, this is more probable than that they should have adopted the model of the places associated in their minds with condemnation to horrible death.

Of very different origin is another type of church, which is cruciform, with a dome at ihe intersection of the nave and the transepts. Of this St. Peter's at Rome, the Duomo at Florence, and St. Paul's in London are pro- minent modern examples ; but an earlier instance is the sepulchral chapel of Galla Placidia at Eavenna. The type must be sought in the catacom bs at Rome, where the Christians were accustomed to assemble for worship and for the commemoration of de- parted saints. These meetings took place at the intersection of two passages, where the roof was somewhat higher, forming a sort of dome. Perhaps the subterranean sepulchres and chapels of the Etruscans may have sug- gested the type.

Thus two of the chief forms of church architecture were derived, one from the Jewish synagogue, the other from the tombs in the catacombs the two chief places where the early Christians worshipped.

Modern churches mostly belong to one of these types or to a combination of the two. Thus in York Minster the nave is basilican, while the dome is replaced by a central tower. In many churches there are elements derived from Greek temples, as at St. Pancras, in London, and in several of Wren's master- pieces. The development of the Gothic from the basilica through the Romanesque is well known, and needs not to be here dwelt upon. Writing on this subject not as an expert, but as an amateur, I expect to be corrected in details, but I hope the main thesis will be accepted as both well founded and original. ISAAC TAYLOE.

'AMERICA PAINTED TO THE LIFE.' In ' America painted to the Life,' by Ferdinando Gorges, Esq., a series of pamphlets published in 1658-9 by a grandson of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, is a somewhat neglected pamphlet, the long title of which is as follows :

" America Painted to the Life. A True History of the Originall undertakings of the advancement of Plantations into those parts, with a perfect relation of our English Discoveries, shewing their

beginning, progress and continuance, from the year 1628-1658, declaring the forms of their government, Policies, Religions, Manners, Customes, Military Discipline, Warres with Indians, the Commodities of their Countries, a description of their Tpwnes, and Havens, the increase of their trading, with the names of their Governours and Magistrates. More especially an absolute Narrative of the North parts of America, and of the discoveries and plantations of our English in New England. Written by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Knight, and Governpur of the Fort and Island of Plimouth in Devonshire, one of the first and chiefest promoters of those Plantations. Publish t since his decease, by his Grandchild Ferdi- nando Gorges Esq. who hath much enlarged it and added severall accurate Descriptions of his owne. London 1658."

The work is written in forcible and some- times very fine English. It contains several odd expressions, which may be worth your recording.

Throughout the pamphlet there is a most peculiar use of the word "Jacobites"; peculiar, but not unnatural in an intensely Puritan- minded writer, which the author of this pamphlet who cannot have been Sir Ferdi- nando Gorges, as the title-page suggests most certainly was. The Puritan refugees are constantly called " wandering Jacobites." Cf. part i. chap, xxiii. p. 46 (" Jaccobbites " is the spelling here) ; part ii. heading of chap. i. and second line of text on p. 113, where, as elsewhere, the spelling is Jacobites.

The sense attached to the word is indicated by several passages, e.g., part ii. chap. xxi. p. 172 :

" The wonderful providence of the most high God toward these his new-planted Churches, such that was never heard of since Jacobs sons ceased to be a people."

Again, the sense is still plainer in part iii. chap. ii. p. 200, where we read, a propos of the events of 1645 in England :

"This year the great troubles in our native country encreasing, and hearing that prophane Esau had mustered up all the bands he could make to come against his brother Jacob, these wandering race of Jacobites deemed it now high time to

implore the Lord they acknowledg unto the

Lord in the audience of the great Congregation the manner of his wonderful Providence extended to- ward them, that as Jacob professes, I came over this Jordan with my staff."

Cf. also part ii. chap. v. p. 107, and part i. chap, xxxvi. p. 81. There being no doubt of the sense here attached to Jacobites = a chosen people of the Lord, how are we to connect with that sense the word " Jacland," which is used in the sense of England by this same Puritanical pamphleteer? Cf. part i. chap, xxiv. p. 49 :

" They lift up their eyes and saw two ships coming in, and presently this newes came to their Eares, that they were come from Jacland ful of Victualls."