HAWISIA DOMINA DE KEVEOLOC.

A word upon her seal, described (1st S. vii. 292) by John ap William ap John, in his learned dissertation upon Owen Glyndwr's arms, and there ascribed by him to Hawise (Gadarn), heiress of the Wenwynwyn line, and wife of Sir John de Charleton. From a note of John ap William ap John's, in Archaiologia Cambrensis (New Series, iv. 200) upon this seal, he appears to have agreed in opinion with the late eminent Shropshire genealogist, Mr. Joseph Morris, so far as regards the ascribing of it to this lady; though (in "N. & Q.") differing from Mr. Morris in reference to the shield in the left hand of the figure on the seal. In the Archaiological Journ. (x. 143) there is an account of this seal, in which, with unquestionable correctness, it is assigned not to Hawise (Gadarn), but to her grandmother, Hawise, daughter of one of the Johns le Strange, of Knockyn, and wife of Griffin ap Wenwynwyn (who has been styled as de Keveoloc), ap Owen de Keveoloc. According to this account, the lady on the seal holds in her right hand her husband's shield, the lion rampant of Powys, and in her left her father's, the two lions passant of Strange, thus affording an interesting instance of an early step in the united displaying of a husband's and wife's arms, eventually resulting in the more modern empalement. In the Arch. Journ. it is surmised this Hawise, the grandmother, may have held Keveoloc (an important central district of Wales) for life, by some family arrangement, after her husband's decease (she does not appear to have obtained it in dower). I would rather, however, conjecture, that the "de Keveoloc" on the seal may not refer to any actual ownership of that part of her deceased husband's territory, but rather, that as he, following his father's and grandfather's example, may have appended this Welsh designation to his name, so that his widow, Hawise, also may have thus retained the same addition to her name, though styled, as her husband, in English records, "de la Pole," Pole or Welshpool being the family residence. As

to the origin of the additional designation "de Keveoloc," or simply "Keveoloc," as applied first to Griffin's grandfather, Owen, it is to be observed, this Owen and Owen Gwynedd were cotemporary princes, and each Owen ap Gryffydd, hence to prevent confusion, these respective territorial designations may have been appended to their names, Gwynedd being North Wales. Referring the seal to Hawise, the grandmother, it would clearly belong to her period of widowhood, from her husband's to her own decease, 1285 to 1310, about, and the dress of the figure may be supposed to be that of a widow of those days. Engravings of the seal are in both Arch. Journ. and Arch. Cambrensis. I would add, the pedigree in which some of the foregoing names appear in "N. & Q." (2nd S. xi. 77), is a mixture of truth and fiction; the family of Pole, Dukes of Suffolk, was not derived from the Lords of Welshpool. E. K. J.

MRS. WILLIAMS'S MISCELLANIES. Since I wrote the article on "Mrs. Anna Williams," which appeared in " N. & Q." (3rd S. i. 421), I have procured the volume of Miscellanies, the publication of which, and the literary assistance received by Mrs. Williams, is alluded to by Boswell in his Life of Johnson. The biographer states that Johnson furnished "the preface," an "Epitaph on Phillips," Translation of a Latin Epitaph on Sir Thomas Hanmer; "Friendship, an Ode"; and "The Ant, a paraphrase from the Proverbs." Johnson also wrote "The Fountains, a Fairy Tale, in prose," and Mrs. Thrale contributed that admirable poem, "The Three Warnings;" perhaps the best remembered of all the contents of the volume. There are two epitaphs on persons of the name of Phillips- one on a musician called Claudy Phillips, has this neatly expressed thought:

"Phillips, whose touch harmonious could remove The pangs of guilty pow'r and hapless love, Rest here distrest by poverty no more, Find here that calm thou gav'st so oft before; Sleep undisturb'd within this peaceful shrine, Till angels wake thee with a note like thine." The other is in memory of Sir Erasmus Philipps, portions of whose Diary have appeared from time thus:to time in the pages of "N. & Q.," and runs

"On the Death of Sir Erasmus Philipps, unfortunately drowned in the River Avon, near Bath, October 15th, 1743.

"Why dash the floods? What cries my soul affright!
How steep the precipice! How dark the night!
Then Virtue sunk in Avon's fatal wave,
No friend to succour, no kind hand to save;
The circling waters hide his sinking head;
The treach'rous bottom forms his oozy bed.
Behold the floated corpse, the visage pale;
See here what virtue, wealth, and birth avail.

What now remains? It yet remains to try
What hope, what peace, religion can supply:
It yet remains to catch the parting ray,
To note his worth ere mem'ry fade away;
To mark how various excellence combin'd-
Recount his virtues, and transcribe his mind;
It yet remains with holy rites to lay
The breathless reliques in their kindred clay.
Ye wise, ye good, the holy rites attend:

Here lies the wise man's guide, the good man's friend;
Awhile let faith exalt th' adoring eye,
And meditation deep suspend the sigh;

Then close the grave, and sound the fun'ral knell,
Each drop a tear, and take a last farewell;
In peace retire, and wish to live as well."

Although it would give me much pleasure to think that the foregoing eulogy on a member of the family from which I sprung should have been penned by such a man as Samuel Johnson, I think the first epitaph bears the strongest impress of the "fine old Roman hand." Besides, Mrs. Williams had been upon terms of the most familiar intimacy with the family of Sir John Philipps from her childhood; and if any thing could give an impulse to the chords of her lyre, it would be the untimely fate of a friend and a benefactor. It may, however, be like the poem "On the Death of Stephen Grey, the Electrician," contained in the Miscellanies. Boswell, on reading it, maintained the poem to be Johnson's, and asked Mrs. Williams if it were not his. "Sir," said she with some warmth, "I wrote that poem before I had the honour of Dr. Johnson's acquaintance." Boswell, however, was so much impressed by his first notion, that he mentioned it to Johnson, repeating at the same time what Mrs. Williams had said. His answer was, "It is true, Sir, that she wrote it before she was acquainted with me; but she has not told you that I wrote it all over again, except two lines." JOHN PAVIN PHILLIPS.

Haverfordwest.

PUNISHMENT: "PEINE FORT ET DURE." It has generally been supposed that Mr. Walter Calverley, who was arraigned at York for murder and refused to plead, was one of the last persons who suffered the horrible punishment, and that, although the law remained, it was never put in execution.

In an old 4to newspaper called the Nottingham Mercury of Thursday, January 19, 1721. The following paragraph is given as part of the London news, from which it appears that as late as that year the law was practically put in force:

"Yesterday the Sessions began at the Old Bailey, where several persons were brought to the bar for the highway, &c., among them the highwaymen lately taken in Westminster; two of which, viz. Thomas Cross, alias Philips, and Thomas Spigot, alias Spigat, refusing to plead, the Court proceeded to pass the following sentence upon them:

"You that are prisoners at the bar, shall be sent from hence to prison from whence you came, and put into a mean house stopped from light, and there shall be laid upon the bare ground without any litter, straw, or other covering, and without any garment about you saving something to cover your privy members, and that you shall lie upon your backs, and your heads shall be covered, and your feet bare, and that one of your arms shall be drawn with a cord to one side of the house, and the other arm to the other side, and that your legs shall be used in the same manner, and that upon your bodies shall be laid so much iron and stone as you can bear, and no more; and the first day after you shall have three morsels of barley bread, without any drink; and the second day you shall drink so much as you can three times of the water which is next the prison door, saving running water, without any bread, and this shall be your diet until you die.'

"The former, on sight of the terrible machine, desired to be carried back to the Sessions House, where he

pleaded Not Guilty; but the other, who behaved himself

very insolently to the ordinary who was ordered to attend him, seemingly resolved to undergo the torture. Accordingly, when they brought cords, as usual, to tye him, he broke them three several times like twine thread, and told the same manner; but, however, they found means to them if they brought cables he would serve them after tye him, and chain him to the ground, having his limbs extended; but after enduring the punishment an hour, and having 300 or 400 weight put on him, he at last submitted to plead, and was carried back again, when he pleaded also Not Guilty."

The form of the judgment is the same as given by Cowel and Blount in their works. The law was not repealed until a much more recent date than above-named. EDWARD HAILSTONE. Horton Hall.

PRE-DEATH COFFINS AND MONUMENTS..

Having occasion, in 1857, to visit the coast town of Wester-Anstruther, in Fifeshire, Scotland, I was induced to step into a dwelling-house of two stories or floors, which stands on the east side of the burgh, in consequence of noticing this curious invitation painted on each side of the entrance door:

"Here is the splendid Grotto-room,
The like's not seen in any town;
Those that it do wish to see-

It's only Threepence asked as fee."

The "grotto-room," which is upon the second floor, is an apartment of about seven or eight feet square. The ceiling and walls are covered with marine-shells of great variety, disposed in many curious and ingenious devices. A mirror and several prints are set in frames ornamented by the same interesting objects. But the most extraordinary piece of furniture (if it may be so called) is a coffin or chest for a dead body, the top, sides, and ends of which are also closely covered with sea-shells, and painted black, except that the masonic signs of the sun, moon, and seven stars, the figure of a human heart, and the initials of the artiste, whose body the coffin is intended to

contain some day, are in gold-gilt upon the top or lid. The coffin lies upon two black painted stools, and stands before a bed-the "grotto-room" being used as a sleeping apartment.

In the same room, enclosed in a shell-covered frame, was the following curious notice written in a neat ornamental style: -

"This room was done by my own hand;
The shells I got from many a strand;
For all the labor that you see,
Seven white shillings was my fee.

The outside work,

both rich and good,

was seven shillings

for each rood.

Across the Bridge,
a gable nice;
for such a job
£2 the price.

The work I'm sure was almost lost,
When, as above, was all the cost.

Anstruther Wester, 1836.

ALEX. BACTHLOR, slater."

A photographic portrait of "Bacthlor" exhibited the happy countenance of a man of about threescore and ten, with a fur cap upon his head. He had been twice at the hymeneal altar; and the strangely-ornamented coffin of his own workmanship was "shown off" by his second wife, to whom he had been married only a few weeks before the time of my visit. Whether "Bacthlor" is still alive I am not aware; but, as above seen, he was a slater by trade, and he contrived to eke out a living by ornamenting houses in the way above noticed, of which there were several examples both in Easter and Wester Anstruther.

Although the idea of having one's coffin made during life is not uncommon, I have never before heard of it being made for public exhibition. Not many years ago an eccentric cart and ploughwright on the north-east coast of Scotland made his own coffin, and used it for a considerable length of time as a press for holding working tools; it being fitted up with slip-shelves, and the lid or top of it went upon hinges.

above quoted, as well as instances known of people having their coffins made during their lifetime. A. J.

"LA LANGUE ROMANE."

In an interesting Memoir on La Langue Romane (Trans. R. S. of Lit.), M. le Duc du Roussillon is of opinion that the Latin, as well as other languages, is largely indebted to that in question, and he illustrates the subject by many ingenious references; and seems to be of opinion that the latter should be reckoned amongst the original tongues, if it be not indeed the true Pelasgic itself, modified by local circumstances and the lapse of ages through which, so to speak, it has been percolated.

The paper referred to has another significance, in connection with the much-vexed question of the gipsies, and possibly it may tend to unravel culiar race; and there are many resemblances the mystery that surrounds that ancient and pebetween words in this and the gipsy language, which will readily be recognised by even a casual reader: still this is rather a secondary consider

ation.

The Pelasgic race, it is known, disputed preceHerodotus seems to leave the question open, notdence in antiquity with the Egyptians; and withstanding his leaning towards the latter.

syllabic names, as being less exposed to corrupAccording to M. le Duc du Roussillon, monotions, are the sources from which we must derive our knowledge of those ancient races whose records have perished; if indeed they had any susceptible of preservation, beyond the brief traditions of the remotest period of human history.

In a study of the present oriental languages, including those of China and Japan, the principle results the most satisfactory. laid down would in all likelihood be productive of We would thus perhaps determine the relative antiquity of the two last-named races more accurately than at

mate frame:

"The handicraft that lieth here

For on the dead truth should appear-
Part of his bier his own hands made,
And in the same his body is laid."

In the neighbouring burial-ground of St. Braoch, the inscription of a tombstone, dated 1802, after the usual record of the period of the death, &c., of a stonemason named Turnbull, concludes by stating that

"This humble memorial of James Turnbull was the work of his own hands during his leisure hours."

Although, unknown to me, facts may be recorded upon gravestones in other parts of the country similar and equally curious to those

passing from the Old to the New World-to solve the problem of the origin of the ancient tribes of Mexico, Peru, and those who are now only recognisable in the ruins of their ancient cities, which have been preserved in the depths of almost inaccessible forests.

In pursuing the geological inquiry as to the remains of pre-historic man, philology would probably tend to correct too hasty conclusions; and, hand-in-hand with physiology, might perhaps indicate physical peculiarities in the anatomy of the human organs of speech, which would still further throw light on the origin of one primitive language. S.

"Mr. Kettleby moved for an information against the printer of one of the newspapers for inserting in it Mr. Hungerford's will. He said this was a practice that might tend to great confusion by discovering men's private affairs in their families; and, therefore, he made this motion in behalf of the widow. On June 31, 1721, the House of Peers made an order that no person should take upon him to print the will of one of their Members."

The Court did not see their way to granting the relief requested; but I cannot help thinking that the present practice is a very unwarrantable violation of the sanctity of private life.

JOB J. B. WORKARD.

THE" NIELS JUEL."-This name has been lately before the public as that of the Danish frigate cruising off our coast. The origin of the name, as applied to a ship, may be interesting to some of your readers.

Niels Juel, or Juul, was descended from an old Danish family, and was distinguished as an Admiral in the seventeenth century: for his services he was ennobled, and the beautiful island of Taasinge, south of Fühnen, was awarded to him by his country. The name is as familiar in Denmark as that of Nelson in England.

Medals were struck in honour of one of his victories. The largest of gold, of the value of 607.; and two other sizes of silver. I saw a copy of the largest, made of copper, at the Exhibition last year. On one side, fleets were represented in action. It is a very beautiful work of art.

I may add that, in the comprehensive collection of portraits at Evans's in the Strand, I obtained a group of the Juel family. SASSENACH.

ANCIENT GREEK PARAGRAM. -The following paragram (apaypaμua, calembour), mentioned by Theseus, the Grecian sophist, is worthy of being noticed: :

Αὐλητρὶς πεσοῦσα ἔστω δημοσία, which, differently pronounced, has also the two following meanings: Αὐλητρὶς παῖς οὖσα ἔστω δημοσία, and Αὐλὴ τρὶς περ σοῦσα ἔστω δημοσία.

RHODOCANAKIS.

:

"The present poverty of our choirs is mournfully apparent by a reference to some of the noblest compositions of the church. Take one of the earliest, for example, the Service of Tallis: the preces and responses of this Service are of unequalled propriety of expression, majesty of style, and grandeur of harmony. They have never been reset, and probably never will; but they demand the aid of a Minor Canon educated as all such were in Tallis's time he intones the prayers to a prescribed form of notes; he leads the choir from key to key; he is the master-spirit who guides the movements of a finely-constructed machine. The power of performing this noble Service is now approaching its period of extinction: one priest-vicar alone in the metropolis is able to fulfil his duty as its conductor, and when Mr. Lupton is gathered to his fathers, Tallis's Service will be heard no more. The public seem to be aware of this fact, for whenever the Tallis Day' occurs, Westminster Abbey is thronged with hearers."-Article on "English Cathedral Music " in The British and Foreign Review, vol. xvii. pp. 113 and 114,

published in 1844.

OXONIENSIS.

P.S. Long indeed may Mr. Lupton live, whose beautiful voice must be familiar to many frequenters of Westminster Abbey; but still let us hope that he is not ultimus Romanorum.

ENIGMATA. In one of your January numbers (p. 93), I met with the Latin ænigmata of Bisschop, of which "N. & Q." does not express a very high opinion. I was tempted to try my hand at the three which follow, and which you may perhaps be disposed to submit to the judgment of those among your readers who fancy such trifles. The first two were suggested by those quoted from Bisschop :

1.

Si titulo dignus tali mea prima vocaris,

Proxima Diis (hominem te memor esse) feras. Inde ubi prima perit, post funus tota vigebit, Ut nihilo spirent suave secunda magis.

2.

Hei mihi, demonstret quod te pars prima fuisse? Quanquam homines (totum est) nomen inane ferunt.

Res nihili est-minima est-vitâ sed proxima gaudet,

Dum tibi facundo pulvis in ore jacet.

3.

Rhetoribus mea prima subest, et grande poetis
Auxilium laudat, convocat, orat, amat.
Hanc vocites, vexet si sub cute proxima vulnus:
Quæ sint, scire tibi totum, ut opinor, erit.
C. G. PROWETT.

LONG TENURE OF VICARAGE AND CURACY. The present vicar of Basingstoke, Hants, who is now, I believe, in his ninetieth year, has held his vicarage for fifty years; and the present curate of Basingstoke has held his curacy for forty years. Can any of your readers mention a more remarkable instance of longevity among rectors, and of long service among curates?

M. B. M.

Queries.

BROWN OF COALSTON. Where can I obtain full particulars of the ancient family of Brown of Coalston, in Haddingtonshire? I am aware that the pedigree in Burke's Baronetage is incorrect; and I am seeking information for a literary purpose, and wish to know if a genealogical tree, or pedigree, with all the family alliances, is in existence at the ancient seat of Coalston or elsewhere; and also, if a view of it can be obtained, or a copy? GEORGE LEE.

A CENTENARIAN AND SOMETHING MORE. - The Stamford Mercury of Feb. 26, 1864, says :

"There has really been found an authentic case of 'aged 112,' certified by baptismal register book of Prescot church, stating that the old lady was born on the 24th of May, 1751."

Can this be true? It would be very interesting to see the evidence on which so extraordinary an assertion is based perpetuated in “ N. & Q." K. P. D. E.

66

CIRCLE SQUARING. In the Life of Thomas Gent, Printer, York, under the date A.D. 1732, I find the following entry:

"I printed a book for Mr. Thomas Baxter, schoolmaster, Crathorn, Yorkshire, intitled The Circle Squared, but it has never proved of any effect; it was converted to waste paper, to the great mortification of the author." Is anything known of this work, or of the method employed by the squarer? T. T. W. Burnley.

JOSEPH FORSTER, of Queen's College, Cambridge, B.A. 1732-3, M.A. 1736, was author of two essays: the one on the origin of evil, the other on the foundation of morality; to which is annexed, "A short Dissertation on the Immateriality of the Soul." Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 8vo, 1734. We much desire to know more respecting him. C. H. & THOMPSON COOPER.

duis.'" Beneath is a quartered coat of arms. Wanted any information concerning the family and descendants of this Thomas Harrison. What was the relationship between him and Hannah? Perhaps some Norfolk correspondent will furnish copies of monumental inscription, or other records extant, of the Harrisons and Farrs of Great Plumstead. P. S. FARR.

HAYDN'S SYMPHONIES: "THE SURPRISE," etc.

Is anything known to account for the titles prefixed to many of Haydn's symphonies? There is but one biography of this composer in the English language, Bombet's Letters on Haydn, which is very meagre in many parts. I should be thankful to be made acquainted with the history of such curious titles as "The Surprise;" "The Poltroon;" "The Shipwreck;" "The Fair Circassian," &c. Haydn is great in descriptive music; but in most of these fine compositions, the connexion between music and title is very obscure, and must have existed only in the acute brain of the composer. Certainly, it is rarely discoverable by a mere auditor, however well educated in music.

JUXTA TURRIM.

"HERE LIES FRED," ETC.-Professor Smyth, in his Lectures on Modern History, used to quote the well-known epitaph on the Prince of Wales, "Here lies Fred," &c.,* and call it a good version of a French epigram, which he read. This, and many other matters too good to be forgotten, are omitted from the printed copy. Can any of your readers oblige me with the French verses?

C. E. P.

"THE KEEPSAKE," 1828. - Can the author of Dreams on the Border-land of Poetry in the above be identified? I acquired the MS. through Dawson Turner's sale, and there a pencil note attributes the authorship to Charles Lamb. The writing is certainly not his, but is very like that of Leigh Hunt. J. D. CAMPBELL.

LONDON SMOKE AND LONDON LIGHT.-Many years ago, while residing on high ground at Crayford, near Dartford, in Kent, I was occasionally able, when the wind was westerly, to trace a bank of London smoke, extending along the low hills of Essex, north of the Thames, apparently as far down as the Nore. Gilbert White, in his Meteorological Observations, writes thus:

-

"Mist called London Smoke. This is a blue mist, which has somewhat the smell of coal smoke, and as it

to come from London. It has a strong smell, and is supposed to occasion blights. When such mists appear they are usually followed by dry weather."— Works, ed. 1802, p. 262.

Recently I have been told that the light of London, reflected in the sky, is under certain

[* See "N. & Q." 2nd S. x. 2, 56.]