explain the meaning and derivation of these words? A. B. Y. Z. [In the Etymons of English Words, by John Thomson, Edinb. 4to, 1826, it is stated that "Tag, Rag, and Bobtail, were three denominations of ignoble dogs." The phrase, as applied colloquially to the common people, is noticed in Todd's Johnson and in Nares's Glossary. In Ozell's Rabelais, iv. 221, it is "Shag, rag, and bobtail."] ARABELLA FERMOR.-Who were the parents of Mrs. Arabella Fermor, the heroine of Pope's Rape of the Lock?

M. P.

[Mr. Carruthers (Pope's Works, ed. 1858, i. 224) states that Arabella Fermor, Pope's Belinda, was the daughter of James Fermor, Esq., of Tusmore, co. Oxford, who married Mary, daughter of Sir Robert Throckmorton, of Weston Underwood, Bucks. This, however, does not agree with the pedigree of the Fermor family, drawn up by a descendant, and printed in the Gent.'s Mag., vol. xcvii. pt. i. p. 580, where we read that Arabella was the daughter of Henry Fermor, Esq., of Tusmore, who married Ellen, daughter and co-heir of Sir George Browne, K.B.]

Replies.

SIGNET RING FORMERLY ATTRIBUTED TO MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.

(3rd S. iv. 396, 418.)

When, on the 14th of November last, I submitted a query concerning the above, I was not aware that it had been noticed before in this work, (for I find that the allusion to it to which I referred had appeared in The Times,) or that it had formed a topic of discussion at meetings of the British Archæological Association. Nor, consequently, was I aware that its true origin had been ascertained. Of this I was first apprised by the reply of M. D. herein on Nov. 21. Since that time, I have sought and obtained the advantage of private communications from the correspondent under that signature, from H. Syer Cuming, Esq., to whose discovery of the indicative monogram ("M.-H.") he refers, and from G. Vere Irving, Esq., who also had engaged in the previous investigations; with the perusal of reports of which, in the Journals of the British Archaological Association for March 1855, and Sept. 1861, I have been favoured.

Thus furnished with additional intelligence on the subject, and having, moreover, made fresh inquiry among members of the Buchan family, I beg leave to offer a few remarks in rejoinder to the various obliging answers which my question in "N. & Q." has elicited.

With respect to that which is generally acknowledged to have been the original of all the lozengeshaped signets of this character, (said to be now in the possession of Cardinal Wiseman,) I have

been confirmed in my statement that it was carefully preserved by David Stewart, Earl of Buchan, as having belonged to the Scottish queen, and as having been presented by her majesty to some ancestor of his. Indeed, his lordship showed the trinket to myself as such; together with an old tortoise-shell comb, and other reputed Marian relics, at Dryburgh Abbey, in 1827, about a year before his death. My own ring, too, had been given as its fac-simile, and under that description, by the earl to a lady who gave it to me; but whether it was a modern imitation, (its seal is somewhat larger,) or a supposed co-original, I have never exactly learnt.

I was correct likewise, I am assured, in my assertion that Lord Buchan's signet had been lost to his representatives for many years, (though not for so many as I intimated,) without having been accounted for by any known gift, bequest, or "sale," authorised by his lordship, or by his immediate successor to the title, into whose hands it

never came.

It is singular, indeed, that the founder of the Society of Antiquaries in Scotland should have been mistaken in this instance. Nevertheless, there seems no room for doubt that Mr. Cuming has demonstrated the insignia and lettering of this seal to have been those of Queen Henrietta-Maria, consort of King Charles I.; and in this conclusion Mr. Irving, who had previously ascribed it to Mary of Modena, consort of James II., fully coincides. The hypothesis, which has sometimes been suggested, that "H.-M." may stand for Henry (Darnley) and Mary (Stuart,) even if the adoption of the Irish harp into the royal arms were synchronical, cannot hold good; as, in that case, there would have been two Rs ("R. R.") on the sinister.

The question then arises, as regards its originality, whether there is any likelihood of such a token of her royal favour having been conferred by this queen (who, it is known, had many such "pledges" made, to different set patterns,) upon an ancestor of Lord Buchan. And a not improbable solution of it is to be found in the circumstance that Sir James Erskine, second son of the Lord Treasurer Mar, who became sixth Earl of Buchan through marriage with the heiress of that dignity, was, says Douglas, "highly esteemed by James VI. and Charles I., who appointed him one of the lords of his bedchamber; and, being a great favourite at court, lived most of his time in England." This earl besides had, in his youth, been despatched by King James, with the Duke of Buckingham, in attendance upon Prince Charles on the occasion of his journey into Spain for the purpose of wooing the Infanta; when, Paris having been taken in their way, the foundation of the prince's marriage with the beautiful daughter of France was laid. It appears, therefore, by no

means improbable that an early acquaintance of the queen with the earl (whose grandmother, the Duchess of Lennox, was of a noble French family) resulted from this incident; that her majesty, in consequence, may have afterwards thus personally distinguished him in England; and that her signet ring was transmitted from him, as an heir-loom, down to his collateral descendant David Stewart, eleventh earl.

There have been, I find, various imitations in glass, of different sizes, of the seal of the ring in question: all of which have, I believe, been traced to an impression from Lord Buchan's, which many years ago fell into the hands of an eminent seal engraver in Edinburgh. These, of which I have obtained a sample, are still sold there in boxes, labelled "The Signet of Mary, Queen of Scots, from a Ring in the possession of the late Earl of Buchan:" which renders it the more desirable that the history of their prototype should be cleared up as far as is now practicable. Possibly some persons of an older generation than those now treating of this subject may yet survive in Scotland who might be able to throw additional light upon it.

Of other, always undoubted and oval-faced seals of Queen Henrietta-Maria, (of which I have received beautiful impressions by the courtesy of my recent correspondents,) it is not my province to make mention farther than to intimate that I am aware of their existence. Of one of these, however, in sapphire and gold, belonging to Miss Hartshorne of Holdenby Rectory, the matrix is about the same diminutive size, and as exquisitely engraved as that of the Buchan signet; and has the same monogram, though but faintly defined, and the "R." on their respective sides.

PEDIGREE.

(3rd S. v. 459.)

T. A. H.

A full answer to the query of K. R. C. would fill many pages of "N. & Q." I will, however, endeavour to answer it as shortly as I can. Lord St. Leonards, in his Vendors and Purchasers (10th edit. vol. ii. p. 76), observes, that every link in the chain of the pedigree should be proved: as the marriage of the parents, and the baptism of the son, and the certificate of the burial of the father, or the probate of his will, or letters of administration to him, in order to prove the son's right to an estate by descent from his father; and when she was dowable, proof of the mother's burial and the discharge of her arrears of dower, if recently dead, should be required; and inquiry should be made after any settlement executed by either father or son. The proof of failure of issue of an elder branch, as of a first son, is often slight and

depending upon affidavits; but weight may be given to such evidence, where the possession of the estate has gone with the pedigree produced. The fact of a birth, marriage, or death, which took place in and since the year 1837, may be proved by a certified extract from the Genera! Register at Somerset House, established by statute 6 and 7 William IV. c. 86; and by statutory declarations (which have superseded affidavits) as to the identity of the parties.

I may add, that if the before-mentioned means of evidence should fail, entries in family books by members of the family, monumental inscriptions, coffin plates, old statements of pedigree, and even a pedigree preserved in the family library, or hung up in the mansion, and also statutory declarations by members of the family, are admitted as evidence to prove a pedigree, though such evidence is inadmissible, if it be not made "ante litem motam,"-that is, if it be made during existing, or with a view to anticipated litigation_or controversy, involving the point in question. For more minute information on the proof of pedigrees, I refer K. R. C. to that section of Lord St. Leonard's work, which relates to perusing abstracts of title; and also to chapter viii. of the second edition of Dart's Vendors and Purchasers, W. J. TILL.

Croydon.

--

Your correspondent's query "What evidence is accepted as proof in a pedigree?"—cannot well be answered without a particular statement of a case in point. However, a general answer will perhaps be found in the following notes from law books:

The oral, or written declarations of the deceased members of the family, are admissible to prove a pedigree. Old statements of pedigree are held admissible on account of their public exposure to, and recognition by, the family; even although they cannot be distinctly attributed to any particular member of it. Pedigrees hung up in a family mansion, or preserved in the family library, are admissible. A pedigree presented by a third person to a member of the family, and recognised by him, is admissible in proof of the relationship of persons therein described as living, and who might be presumed to be personally known to him; even although the general pedigree is inadmissible by reason of its purporting to be collected from registers, wills, monumental inscriptions, family records, and history. The declarations in a pedigree, so far as they relate to persons presumably known to the party making them, are admitted as evidence; upon the principle, that they are the natural effusions of a party who must know the truth, and who records it upon an occasion when the mind stands in an even position, without any temptation to exceed

or fall short of the truth. Pedigree evidence is generally inadmissible if made during existing, or with a view to anticipated litigation or controversy, involving the point in question.

A pedigree, deduced from the Heralds' Visitation books, and drawn up by a herald, is not evidence so a written pedigree, purporting to be made by one of the family, and entered in the heralds' books, is not evidence. EDWARD J. WOOD.

second reference mentions that Jackson of Exeter, when composing an anthem for the opening verses of the prayer of Habaccuc, considered the word as an exclamation of praise, and set it to music accordingly; but he assigns strong reasons for the opinion generally adopted, that it was a mere direction to the musicians, having no immediate reference to the sacred text. F. C. H.

66

MEANING OF THE WORD "SELAH."

(3rd S. v. 433.)

This is well called by CANON DALTON a "hopeless subject." St. Jerome, with all his knowledge and opportunities, is uncertain and unsatisfactory. He adopts, in the Psalms, the eis réxos of the Septuagint, and renders it "in finem;" but when he comes to the same word, in Habaccuc iii. 3, he follows the ae of Aquila, and translates it by semper." He refers it, in the Psalms, to Christ: "In finem, id est, in Christo, Finis enim legis Christus." In Habaccuc, he merely says that the Septuagint translate it by "diάaxua, et nos posuimus, semper." St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory of Nyssa suppose the word to indicate some extraordinary emotion of the Psalmist, or inspired writer, at certain passages. Eugubinus understands it to be used something like Amen, meaning certainly, truly, or always. Lorinus thinks it directs repetition by a second choir. Eusebius supposes it to direct cessation on the part of one, and commencement by another. Genebrardus and others regard it as a note of exclamation and attention, exciting to more careful consideration of what is sung and Cornelius à Lapide thus paraphrases the word "Selah" in Habaccuc: Attendite, expendite, stupete, celebrate jugiter hanc Dei excelsi in nos dignationem et beneficentiain."

66

Perhaps the occurrence of this word "Selah," in the canticle of Habaccuc, has hardly received due consideration, in attempts to determine its meaning. Yet its introduction there would seem to throw great light upon its appearance in the Psalms. If it were an admonition to increased attention, and elevation of the mind and heart, it would be difficult to account for its never appearing in so many sublime passages in other books of Holy Scripture. The prayer, or canticle of Habaccuc, being intended to be sung like a psalm, the word "Selah" is introduced there likewise; and the legitimate inference will be, that it is some musical direction, the meaning of which is now hopelessly lost.

This solution has been already pointed out in "N. & Q." (1 S. ix. 423, and x. 36), and, as I think, very satisfactorily. The writer at the

THE MISS HORNECKS. (3rd S. v. 458.)

The J. M. of this query is, I presume, the same who asks other questions in the second column of the same page. He will find one of these incidentally answered below. As far as my knowledge of his works extends, Sir Joshua painted six portraits of the Horneck family:

1. Captain W. Kane Horneck, Royal Engineers, the father. This is a small picture, and was painted before Sir Joshua went to Italy. It is engraved in little by S. W. Reynolds.

2. Mrs. Hannah Horneck, the mother, sitting; her left hand to her face, leaning on a book; veil from the head over the shoulders; hair to the waist. It was engraved by M'Ardell, without name of subject, and immediately afterwards pirated by Purcell. The spurious plate shows the whole of the right hand, the genuine, only a small portion of it. Under one of these plates (I am not sure which), the lettering "Plymouth Beauty" was afterwards inserted. The test of the hand will tell J. M. whether his print is engraved by M'Ardell or Purcell,

3. Miss Katherine Horneck, the elder daughter. She is the "Little Comedy" of Goldsmith, and married Henry Bunbury, the caricaturist. The present Sir Charles Bunbury, Bart., is her grandIt is beautifully engraved on a large scale by James Watson, 1778. The prints are lettered "Mrs. Bunbury."

son.

4. Miss Mary Horneck, the younger daughter. She is the "Jessamy Bride" of Goldsmith, and married Colonel Gwyn. She died so recently as 1840, at the great age of ninety-two. Sir Joshua painted her, seated in oriental fashion, and retained the painting in his own studio till his death, bequeathing "to Mrs. Gwyn her own picture with a turban." It is most beautifully engraved on a large scale by Dunkarton. The face, in a fine proof, is exquisitely refined and pretty, and sweet in expression; and no fault can be found, except with the right hand, which is ill-drawn and doughy. The prints are lettered "Miss Horneck."

5. The two sisters, in profile, in one chalk drawing. It has been engraved by S. W. Reynolds, on a scale somewhat larger than the rest of

"The Ladie Bridget Markham, who dyed in the Ladie of Bedford's House in the Park, was interred May 19th, 1609."

A very long epitaph is on her tomb, which I suppose may still be seen on the south wall of Twickenham church, under the gallery.

This Lady Markham was the mother of Sir Robert Markham of Sedgebrook; who was a zealous Royalist, although his younger brother Henry did good service to the Parliamentarians. M. P.

P.S. Lucie, Countess of Bedford, was a great benefactress of Donne; who seems to have received much pecuniary assistance from her in his troubles.

LADY ELIZABETH SPELMAN (3rd S. v. 482.) The following pedigree shows the descent from the learned antiquary:

Sir Henry Spelman, Knt., the famous antiquary, born 1562. High Sheriff of Norfolk, 1605. Burd. in Westminster Abbey, Oct. 24, 1641.

Eleanor, dau. and coh. of John Le Strange, of Sedgeford, in Norfolk, Esq. Marrd. at Sedgeford, April 18, 1590. Bur. July 25, 1620, at the entrance of St. Benedict's, Westminster Abbey.

Martha, dau. and coh. of Francis Mason, Esq.

James Spelman Emma, da. of Sir William Bowles, of Berkshire.

William Spelman, of Wickmere, Elizabeth, da. of the Lady Martha heir to his uncle Henry. He died 1713.

Carey, 2nd wife of John Earl of Middleton, and da. and h. of

Henry Earl of Monmouth.

"He set as sets the morning star, which goes Not down behind the darkened west, nor hides," &c. This is from Pollok's Course of Time. Not having the book at hand, I cannot give nearer particulars. S. SHAW.

LOYALTY MEDALS (3rd S. v. 479.)-The quotation from the note to the Diary of Sir Henry Slingsby is given so incorrectly that it seems desirable to mention the mistakes. The words "Residvs," "Primmiana," "Belasyze" appear in the query of ANON, instead of Residvis, Pimmiana, and Belasyse, which are the words printed in the Diary. The following part of ANON'S quotation must have surprised heraldic readers: "And it is remarkable that the baron coat is dimidiated, so that Scriven appears once at top, and once below barwise." Of course this would not be the result of dimidiating a coat of four quarters. But the statement of the note in the Diary is: "And it is remarkable that the baron coat is dimidiated, so that Scriven appears once at top, and Slingsby once below, barwise."

It is painful to reflect that Sir Henry Slingsby, one of the bravest and most incorruptible servants of the two kings Charles, should have been brought into peril of his life so late in Cromwell's life. That person survived Sir Henry's murder only three months. After his death such a senD. P. tence could scarcely have taken effect.

Stuarts Lodge, Malvern Wells.

LITERARY PLAGIARISMS, ETC. (3rd S. v. 432.)Allow me to refer MR. REDMOND to a pamphlet entitled Literary Piracies, Plagiarisms, and Analogies, Dublin, 1863. It contains the substance of two lectures delivered about twelve months since, by Stephen N. Elrington, Esq. (known to many as "S. N. E."), before the Booterstown Young Men's Christian Association; and it well deserves an attentive reading. Within the moderate compass of fifty-six pages, a large amount of useful and interesting information may be found. Авива.

LASCELLS (3rd S. v. 400.)- In the pedigree of Ryther given in Whitaker's edition of Thoresby's Leeds, it is stated that Susanna, seventh daughter of Robert Ryther, Esq. of Belton, baptised in 1668, and sole executrix of her father's will in Lascells of Crowle, co. Lin1693, married coln. Perhaps this may be the lady, whose descent R. C. H. H. wishes to ascertain. Did John Lascells of Horncastle leave any descendants?