NEW MOON: FORTUNATE OR UNFORTUNATE. ends his epistle to the Rabbine Leo Modena -In 10th S. iv. there is a good deal of moon thus:folk-lore. Perhaps the following is worth inserting in N. & Q.' :— : "The Pious Women [i.e., of the Jews] take especial care of the Lights, which they set up, on the Eve before the Sabbath, that they may burn clearly......They were of old, and at this day are wont to promise to themselves Good, or Evill Fortune, according as they find these Lights, to burn, either cleerly, or dimly: which, certainly, is, a kind of Pyromancy. These women are very careful also, to see that these Lights be every way Pellucid, and shine with an Equal Flame which is the True Reason also, as I conceive, why they do so much abhor Levanah, the Moon, when it is Horned; and also forbear to do any manner of Business, or Worke, in the New-Moones, when as but a Part of it is enlightened, towards us: and this was the Reason, that there was Anciently a Propitiatory Sacrifice used to be offered, in the Temple, at this time, which was supposed might be a means of diverting the bad Influences of the New Moons from them......The New Moons then were accounted Unfortunate, by the Jewish Women, unlesse they chanced to happen upon the Monday: upon which day, Rabbi Chomer, a Learned Jew, and a very great Astronomer, accounts them to be most Fortunate; especially if they happened after Sun-rising: although neither He gives any Reason, why it should be so; nor any other Author, that I ever remember to have seen. ..If a man might have libertie to give a guesse at the reason, why they accounted the New-Moon, falling upon a Monday, to be Fortunate, I should conceive this to be most probable; namely, bẹcause that the Generation of Mankind being much governed by Moisture, This day having a Moderate proportion of it, is therefore thought the more Fortunate and also, because it is the second day of the week; which number the Pythagoreans conceive to be, &c. Primus generans, the First in Generation and therefore, it being so Fortunate, and of so good Omen, to the businesse of Generation, which Women, by reason of the Blessing promised by God upon it, do so much desire: they observe every New Moon, falling upon a Monday, as a Holy day; and celebrate it, as being a Fortu: nate day, as to the businesse of procreation of Children; that so, by this means, they may be fruitfull and happy in Childbearing." : The above is taken from an epistle headed "To His most Learned, and Knowing Friend, Leo Modena, A Rabbine of Venice, James Gassarel wisheth all Health," and dated "From Paris, Mart. 31. An. Dom. 1637," which is in the prefatory matter of The History of the Rites, Customes, and Manner of Life, of the Present Jews, throughout the World. Written in Italian, by Leo Modena, a Rabbine of Venice. Translated into English, by Edmund Chilmead, Mr. of Arts, and Chaplain of Christ-Church Oxon.," London, 1650. It is interesting to note that Gassarel ⚫ Levanah is also given in Hebrew characters. "Wishing you all True health, which is to be found, onely, in the Faith of Christ; and beseeching the sacred Banner of our Mediator, and Saviour God, that he would at length bring you home to Christ; without which, the holy Scriptures proclaim, that there is no way, or Passage to Heaven, and the Joyes thereof." Leo Modena ends his reply by saying: "It remaineth, Sir, that I commit you to the protection of God, the Great Creator, and Former of All things: beseeching Him that he would preserve you in Health," &c. Leo Modena apparently submitted his manuscript to James Gassarel, who "caused it to be printed." The latter's epistle is chiefly concerned in drawing Leo Modena's attention to subjects which he had omitted. ROBERT PIERPOINT. NEWMAN'S LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT.' - It may be worth a note, in connexion with the third line of this hymn: The night is dark, and I am far from home, that almost the same phrase occurs in Henry Porter's Two Angry Women of Abington (1599), Act. V. sc. i., where Mistress Barnes, one of the two angry women, lost in the fields on a dark night, exclaims: What shall I do?...... 'Tis late and dark, and I am far from home, I do repent me of my coming forth. RICHARD HORTON HORTON-SMITH. Athenæum Club. MAYNARDS OF CURRIGLAS. (See 4th S. x. 206 )-John Maynard, of London, married Jane, daughter of William Ffloyer, of Ffloyer Hayes, co. Devon (Visitation of Middlesex,' 1551), and his son- Maynard, of Fulham, co. Middlesex, married Margaret Goddard, daughter of Thomas Goddard, of Holborn. His son William Maynard, of Fulham. of married Angel, daughter and coheir Humphrey Baskerville, Alderman of London, armiger. His son William Maynard, of Drumglas, near Tullow, Ireland, married Mary, daughter of Samuel Bowen, of Brickenbury, in the county of Hertford. His son Sir William Maynard, Knt., of Curriglas, co. Cork, married in 1630 Mary, daughter of Newce, sergeant-at-arms for the province of Munster. His son Sir Boyle Maynard (died 1698) married Anne Lawrence; his sister Mary married Sir George Hume, Bt. His only son was Samuel Maynard, of Curriglas, who married Jane, daughter of Col. Taylor, of Ballymat, co. Limerick. His daughter Angel married Col. Digby Foulke, son of Col. Francis Foulke by Anne Gifford, of Whiteladies. His daughter Catherine married Barry Denny, M.P., 1697. Samuel Maynard's only son was William Maynard, of Curriglas, who in 1714 married Henrietta, daughter of Christopher, Baron Wandesford, and Viscount Castlecomer, and sister of Christopher, second Viscount Castlecomer, who married Frances, daughter of Thomas, Lord Pelham. and sister of Thomas, Duke of Newcastle. William Maynard died sp. His aunt Angel Maynard, above named, who married Col. Digby Foulke, had two daughters : 66 as the papers of the presentations at the recent 66 DEVON AND CORNISH SPEECH: "DIMPSY": "TEENING TIME."-In Devonshire twilight 1. Anne Foulke married John Walker, is universally known as "dimpsy " and of Gurteen, armiger, son of Col. William "dimmits." In Mrs. Hewett's Peasant Walker, of Tankardstown. Their son Cham- Speech of Devon' (1892) the use of these words berlen Walker, M.D., married Elizabeth is illustrated thus: "Ees sure! I'll be 'ome Newton, daughter of B. Newton, of Bushers-avore tha dimmits." Dawntee bide out town, co. Carlow, grand-aunt of Philip New- late-come in 'ouze avor 'tez dimpsy." ton, of Dunleckney. Their son Maynard Chamberlen Walker, barrister at-law and Commissioner of Bankrupts, Ireland, married Anne Singleton. Their son Singleton Maynard Walker, solicitor, married Anne Kennedy Thorpe. Their daughter Elizabeth Murray Walker married James Carmichael, Clerk of the Crown for the County of Tipperary. Their surviving sons are the Rev. Canon F. F. Carmichael, the Right Rev. James Carmichael, Coadjutor Bishop of Montreal, and Capt. Carmichael, late E.I.C.S. 2. Mary Foulke, the second daughter of Angel Foulke, née Maynard, married the Rev. Richard Davies, vicar of Kilcaskin, co. Cork, 1715-36. Their daughter Martha Davies married Henry White, of Bantry, from whom descend the Earls of Bantry, and in the fourth degree Lady Ardilaun and Lady Ferrers. The Barry Denny, M.P., who married Catherine Maynard, was the son of Edward Denny, of Castlelyon, co. Cork, and of Lady Elizabeth Barry, daughter of David, first Earl of Barrymore. He was the father of Edward Denny, M.P., 1695, who married Angel, daughter of Col. Digby Foulke above named, of the College, Youghal, a kinsman of the house of Boyle, and agent to the estates of the first Earl of Cork. F. F. C. DIGNITIES HEREDITARY CREATED, NOT MADE. (See 8th S. iii. 246.)-The same pettifogging attempt to draw a distinction between the creation of peerages and baronetcies, called attention to in 1893, has been again revived in the account given to When I was a boy in London in the forties, the half hour prior to lighting the candles was always called blind man's holiday, and was generally accepted as a period devoted to chat. In Cornwall it is generally known as "Teening time," as in Mrs. F. Morris's Cornish Whiddles for Teening Time' (1891), a charming little fairy-tale book for children. HARRY HEMS. Fair Park, Exeter. oF PEDIGREE. (See 9th S. ix. 245.)-May I be HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT QUESTIONS note? It is that inquirers should never omit allowed to add one suggestion to the above to send a query for insertion in these columns, pointing out any difficulty with which they offer as a quid pro quo to supply any one may be confronted. If at the same time they interested with a list of all the documents known to them relating to the family inquired for, that would undoubtedly act as a great stimulus in drawing replies. title, and will gladly send a copy to any one I have reprinted the note under the above who cares to write to me direct. G. F. T. SHERWOOD. this purpose it is proposed to revive a local place-name, Durham Yard would be preferable. John Street covers the site of Durham Yard (vide Plan of the Parish of St. Martin-in-the-Field, 1710,' Crace Collection; also The Builder, 6 Dec., 1902, p. 518). Another peculiar change of name was made in the earliest days of this great improvement. Before me is an "assignment by way of mortgage," dated 20 August, 1782, given by William, John, Robert, and James Adam to Lewis Teissier to secure a loan of 1,500l. on part of the property then built. The houses are indicated as 1, 4, 5, 8, and 9, "Royal Taras" (sic), &c. It would be interesting to know when the present name of Adelphi Terrace was first applied. The older name has escaped the notice of Mr. Wheatley (The Adelphi and its Site'). ALECK ABRAHAMS. 39, Hillmarton Road, N. BLACKGUARD AND THEN.E.D.'-I do not know whether reference has been made in this connexion to an inquisition post mortem entered on the Middlesex Sessions Rolls (J. C. Jeaffreson, Middlesex County Records,' i. [1886], 4) under date 8 Aug., 1550. It was on the body of Ralph Crofte, alias Croftes, of the said parish, "maryner," alias Ralph Crofte or Croftes, "one of the Kynges Maiesties Blake Balye," then lying dead. Q. V. "DOG'S NOSE."-This mixture of gin and beer is mentioned in 'Pickwick' by Dickens, but the quantities required of each are not given. I had it from an old tippling ostler of the Dickensian type that a true "dog's is "a haporth o' beer to a pennorth o'gin." This was the amount of each of his tots," and he did not mind how often such came in his earlier days of work as a groom on the Great North Road. nose 66 Worksop. THOS. RATCLIFFE. CENTENARIAN VOTERS. (See 9th S. vi. 366.) -The following extracts from The Daily Chronicle show that several centenarians voted at the recent general election : "Amongst those who voted in East Down was John Kelly, a man 108 years of age, whilst a voter in North Tyrone was 102." "Aged 102, an elector recorded his vote at St. Mary's School, Lewisham." "The voters at St. Columb Minor, near Newquay, Sandgate. THE GERMAN EMPEROR AND POETS LAUREATE.-Isaac D'Israeli, in his Curiosities of Literature,' speaking of Poets Laureate, says: "The Emperor of Germany retains the Laureateship in all its splendour. The selected bard is called il poeta Cesario." Taking it for granted that D'Israeli was a reliable authority on literary subjects, especially such as come under the head of curiosities," I quoted the above statement in my History of British Poetry.' 66 An eminent member of the Royal Belgian Academy has written to me on the subject, casting a doubt on the accuracy of the assertion. He also says: "It seems very doubtful to me whether the German Emperor would give an Italian title to the holder of a post of honour in his empire. Therefore I consulted a German scholar, whose answer to my question runs as follows: The passage referred to in Corbett's History of British Poetry' is, without a doubt, wrong. It is well known that the German Emperor favours a few poets, as, f.i, Wildenbruch, Jos. Lauff (author of Hohenzollern dramas, &c.). There cannot be any question whatcolleagues of whom I inquired know anything of an ever of a crowning, though. Neither did any of my institution of the kind. There must doubtlessly exist a mistake on this head. Possibly Mr. Corbett was who crowned several poets. But then the word thinking of the Emperors of the Middle Ages, "retains" would not be right. Perhaps he has been thinking of the festive performances at Wiesbaden, where every year dramas by Lauff are performed, the last time "Burggraf von Nürnberg," on which occasions the Emperor honours the author by his special attention. But of a crowning of the poet there can be no possible question. I at least can find no proof." As it is not my accuracy, but that of D'Israeli, which is called in question, the matter is interesting, and I shall be grateful if any of your readers can throw light upon the subject. Presumably D'Israeli had some consulted some of the most eminent authorireason for making the statement. I have ties on this side of the Channel, but, like myself, they are unable either to confirm or contradict the assertion. F. ST. JOHN CORBETT. The Rectory, St. George-in-the-East. "MUCKIBUS."-Writing to George Montagu from Arlington Street, on 20 April, 1756, Horace Walpole speaks of meeting Maria Gunning, Lady Coventry, "at a great supper" at Lord Hertford's : Fox Oak, Walton-on-Thames. KING'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.-Were there Commoners or Fellow Commoners, or both, at King's College, Cambridge, in the latter part of the eighteenth century? A greatuncle of mine, the Hon. Jacob Marsham, went from Eton, where he was not on the foundation, to Christ Church, Oxford, and matriculated there 25 Jan., 1777, but appears in Graduati Cantabrigienses' as having taken his degree of A.M. in 1783, being then of King's College. What can have been his status in that house, which till recently, as I believed, consisted wholly of members on the foundation, whether graduates or undergraduates. R. MARSHAM-TOWNSHEND. "GARAGE."—What is the origin of this word? Is it applicable to motor-houses only? H. F. [Garage was used in French before motor-cars became popular. Beaujean's abridgment of Littré, published in Paris by Hachette in 1875, has the entry: Garage, s.m. T. de navigation. Action de faire entrer les bateaux dans une gare.-T. de chemin de fer. Action de garer les vagons.-Voie de garage, voie dans laquelle on doit garer les vagons de service, etc."] LASSALLE'S "IRON LAW."-What was the so-called "iron law" of Lassalle concerning workmen's wages? C. 'MÉMOIRES DE ST. PETERSBOURG.'- Am I likely to find a book entitled 'Les Mémoires de St. Pétersbourg' in any public collection in London or Paris? The date of the book is unknown-probably not modern. PRO-CONSULO. "MUSIC TREE."—I should be much obliged if any of your contributors could throw any light on the meaning of the term "music tree," which occurs in the statement of properties preceding the comedy 'The Faery Pastorall in Joseph Haslewood's edition (1824), for the Roxburghe Club, of William Perey's 'The Cuck Queans and Cuckolds Errants' and 'The Faery Pastorall, or the Forrest of Elves.' The statement begins: "Highest, Aloft, and on the Top of the Musick Tree the Title The Faery Pastorall. Beneath him pind on Post of the Tree the scene Eluida Forrest. Lowest of all over the Canopie," &c. For any help I should be much obliged. Merchant Taylors' School, E.C. ARISTOPHANES: MODERN REPRODUCTIONS OF 'THE WASPS.'-Has 'The Wasps' of Aristophanes ever been staged in modern times? and, if so, where can one find any account of the performance, and any illustrations of the dresses, mise en scène, &c.? KOM OMBO. ['The Wasps' was performed at Cambridge in November, 1897. A fairly long account of the production, including a description of the dresses, 1897, p. 757.] will be found in The Athenæum of 27 November, ROYAL ARMS IN CHURCHES. – When did the custom of placing these in churches originate? I am informed that they were put up at the Restoration as tokens of loyalty, and that they are frequently found in the place of the rood. Are any specimens known, painted upon canvas or panel and framed, of an earlier period than Charles II.? The royal arms in Merton Church are temp. Chas. II., as are those at Chislehurst, which are inscribed with the curious sentence: "The Lion Roareth he hath the Strength of the Unicorn." In Morden Church, near Merton, the royal arms, painted upon the south wall, are those of Q. Anne; with her motto, "Semper eadem." It would be interesting to know how long the custom survived. WALTER LEDger. 5, Wilton Road, Wimbledon. [The custom of placing the royal arms in churches is earlier than the Restoration. At 4th S. xii. 354 24 Oct., 1631, to a "paignter-stayner" to paint the is printed a licence from Archbishop Abbott, dated royal arms in all churches in the diocese of Canterbury. Much further information will be found at 7th S. vi. 191 and ix. 317, these communications summarizing many previous articles, and giving full references to them. For Commonwealth arms in churches see 8th S. ii. 33; 9th S. xii. 194, 396. ] REBUS IN CHURCHES.-There is a legend or tradition attached to Swaffham Church (St. Peter and St. Paul), Norfolk, as to much pecuniary benefit having been bestowed upon it by a pedlar who had unexpectedly become a rich man, and who then benefited the church by building the north aisle. With his dog he was carved in effigy in stone in the chancel, and also in wood at the end of each pew as a pedlar or tinker. Sub sequent information, however, seems to show that a rebus is intended here, and that it was not a pedlar or tinker who benefited the church, but a certain John Chapman. I think that rebuses of a similar kind were very prevalent in early days, as may be seen in many churches, such as I slip, for Islip; bolt and tun, for Bolton; and the staple and tun cut on the market cross of the town of Swaffham, in memory of Stapleton. This manner of expressing the name by a rebus was practised both by the Greeks and Romans. I should be glad of examples of the rebus in other churches in the United Kingdom. JAS. CURTIS, F.S.A. COPES AND COPE-CHESTS.-Has any illustrated account ever been published of the very fine collection of copes which belonged to Archbishop Laud, and which are preserved -and shown to the public with such difficulty in the Library of St. John's College, Oxford? The Fellows refused to allow any of them to be shown at the recent Ecclesiastical Exhibition at St. Albans. Where, besides York Minster and Carlisle Cathedral, are medieval cope-chests preserved? T. CANN HUGHES, M.A., F.S A. Lancaster. "DIAMOND STATE."-How old is this Lame for the State of Delaware? And what is its rationale? I do not find it in 'The Century Dictionary' nor in the new edition of Webster. In 1875 a Philadelphia contributor to N. & Q.' (5th S. iv. 37) used it quite familiarly. Q. V. SAXON KINGS: LIVING DESCENDANTS. Can the writer of the review of the Marquis Does any English family except the Huddle- [The name Huddleston, which was borne by a tailor in Wharfedale, Yorks, was supposed to be the same as Athelstan. We forget where the information appeared.] SIR THOMAS PLAYER.-The articles in the Dictionary of National Biography' relating to the two men of this name, father and son, need a little correction, and are capable of amplification as follows: Sir Thomas Player, the elder, must have been born before 1608, and was therefore probably not the same as Thomas, son of Robert Player, of Canterbury, who took his M.A. degree at St. Alban's Hall, Here lye ye Body of Sr. Thomas Player, Jun. who dyed ye 2nd December, 1686. Sir Thomas Player, the younger, seems to CLASSICAL LITERATURE AS AN EDUCATIVE Life Teachers.' 57, Cambridge Mansions, Battersea Park, S. W. LINDO OR LINDOT, PORTRAIT PAINTER.In 7th S. ix. 267 the late REV. E. HUSSEY ADAMSON asked for information respecting "Lindo, a Portrait Painter," some of whose work is to be found in the halls of old Northumbrian families, but variously attributed to Lindo, Lindoe, and Lindot. For example, at Alnwick Castle, according to local histories, is "a full-length painting of Elizth, first Duchess of Northumberland, by Lindot, |