of a place in 'N. & Q.' One would like the testimony of an educated eye-witness too : "A remarkable_scene was witnessed in the parish of Woodham Ferris, Essex, on old Christmas Eve. On that night a number of persons went on a pilgrimage to the village to witness the bursting into leaf of a bush locally known as the 'Holy Thorn.' It is a fact that at midnight the bush did burst into leaf. The peculiar features of the phenomenon are that the bush assumes its normal condition a few hours afterwards, and breaks forth with renewed vigour in the spring." C. MOOR. The Essex County Chronicle of January 20 states that the holy thorn which was reported to have bloomed in so remarkable a manner on the eve of Old Christmas Day at Woodham Ferris, was imported some years ago from Palestine. It is a species of blackthorn. THOMAS BIRD. Romford. fellowships were ordered each one to lay in a 66 13, Paternoster Row, E.C. SLANG "PAINT THE TOWN RED." DENTON MSS.-It is a recognized fact that the old-fashioned county histories of Cumberland are based upon the two manuscript compilations of John and Thomas Denton. John Denton's MS. is well known, as many copies exist; but Thomas Denton's has long been missing, though diligent search has been made for it in the muniment - rooms at "I say,' suggested George, I have finished my book, Lowther and Whitehaven Castles. Its very ex- and you have nothing to do. Let us pack up our trape istence had been doubted till quite recently, when What?' asked Jonah Wood, to whom slang had always and go to Paris and paint the town a vivid scarlet.' two vellum-bound MS. books, which appear to be been a mystery. 'Paint the town red,' repeated George. the John and Thomas Denton MSS., were accident-In short, have a spree, a lark, a jollification, you and ally discovered in Lord Lonsdale's town house. I.'"'The Three Fates,' by F. Marion Crawford, 1892, It is clear that Messrs. Lysons, who had the loan P. 386. of these MSS., must have returned them to the Earl of Lonsdale, at his house in London, where they have remained forgotten for nearly eighty years (1816), instead of Ruding their way back to the well-arranged muniment-room at Lowther Castle. DANIEL HIPWELL. "To paint the town red" seems generally to be considered modern slang from America; but if Jonah Wood had known his Shakspere he might have got some light by recalling Prince Henry's narrative of his friendship with the leash of drawers, of whom he says : CHAUCER'S "STILBON."-In Chaucer's 'Pardoner's Tale,' group C, 1. 603, we find: "Stilbon, that was a wys ambassadour." It is quite certain that, as Tyrwhitt showed, Chaucer's memory played him a trick, and that "Stilbon" means Chilon; see my note. But whence "Stilbon"? The answer is, that one "Stilbon" is mentioned in his favourite book, 'Valerius ad Rufinum ne ducat uxorem,' cap. 28, in another connexion. A note in Migne's edition says that Stilbon was a philosopher who, having lost his wife and children, rejoiced that all his wealth now belonged to himself. WALTER W. SKEAT. ABRAHAM RAIMBACH (1776-1843), ENGRAVER. -It may be noted that Abraham Raimbach, son of Peter Raimbach (ob. 1805), by Martha, his wife, died at Greenwich, co. Kent, Jan. 17, 1843, aged sixty-seven, and was buried in the family grave at Hendon, co. Middlesex. DANIEL HIPWELL. 17, Hilldrop Crescent, N. Queries. We must request correspondents desiring information on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that the answers may be addressed to them direct. "CROCODILE."-In reference to the slang or humorous use of this as a name for a long file of boarding-school girls walking two and two, a correspondent suggests to me that it may have originated in the once popular song of 'The Bashful Man,' one line of which, he says, runs— I'd rather face a crocodile than meet a ladies' school (or perhaps with transposition of meet and face). This he dates from memory about 1850. His suggestion seems not unlikely, unless it can be shown that "crocodile" in this application is earlier. I first heard it in London in 1868 or 1869. It has since then generated a verb; a distinguished lecturer, according to the Pall Mall Gazette of April 25, 1889, urged the desirability of substituting lawn tennis, and even cricket, for the everlasting crocodiling' about the streets which is so dear to the hearts of all schoolmistresses." Further historical notes will be welcomed by J. A. H. MURRAY. Oxford. JUDGES' ROBES COUNSELS' Gowns.- Will any of your readers kindly give or refer me to authentic information on these matters? Why do the judges' robes differ; and why do the Common Law judges appear sometimes in one kind of robe and sometimes in another? Why and when was a distinction made between silk and stuff gowns? The gown, I suppose, has an academical origin; but I am told the stuff gownsman of antiquarian tastes can give interesting details of its make and uses. P. "EX AFRICA SEMPER ALIQUID NOVI."—I shall be very glad if you can give me chapter and verse of the well-known quotation, "Ex Africa semper aliquid novi." I believe the substance of it originally occurs in Herodotus, but, at any rate, was frequently quoted by one or more of the Latin authors. W. A. WILLS. "OMERIFICAN."-On the title-page of "Novum Testamentum Græcum, ex officinâ R. Stephani, Lutetiæ, 1549," is a written extract, specifying it as the "Omerifican" edition. What is the meaning of the word? Is this a rare or valuable edition? G. L. FENTON. "Sir Wm. Stanley-it is 1579 before Stanley's name occurs in history-being one of Sir William Drury's captains, and assisting in an inroad into Limerick, he was, for his conduct, knighted by Drury at Waterford. Stanley took part in the battle of Monasta Neva, and distinguished himself in the defence of Adare. At this time Barnaby Rich, who poured such a profuse lachrymatory over Drury, was in Munster, also Captain Walter Raleigh." Can any reader kindly inform me where I could find a copy of this "profuse lachrymatory," or, more kindly still, furnish me with a copy of it? CHARLES Drury. DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS À BECKET.-Can any reader of N. & Q.' supply me with information concerning the descendants of the family of Thomas à Becket? There was a Thomas Becket, at Westerham, in Kent, towards the end of the supposed to be a kinsman of the archbishop, living seventeenth century. I am endeavouring to prove his connexion with the family of Thomas à Becket. The arms of the Beckets, of Westerham, were Or, on a chevron between three lions' heads erased gules, a fleur de lis between two annulets of the field. The arms at Lambeth Palace, supposed to be those of the archbishop, are Argent, three bechets (or choughs) sable. Datchet. F. PALMER. MITCHELL FAMILY.-Can any one oblige me with pedigrees of any of the following? Margaret Gordon, daughter of Gordon of Ellon, in Scotland, who married Hugh Henry Mitchell, of Dublin; also, Mary Webber, who married Hugh Henry Mitchell, of Glasnevin, who was father of the above Hugh Henry; also, Hugh Henry Mitchell, of Glasnevin. D. R. PACK BERESFORD. Fenagh House, Bagenalstown. PIGOTT.-Can any correspondent of 'N. & Q.' tell me who the Pigott, Esq., was, who married Susan, daughter of Alex. Telfer Smollett (died 1799), of Bonhill, co. Dumbarton? This lady married secondly Edmund Nagle, of co. Cork. PIGOTT. MINIFIE. Can any one give me the origin of this surname? Prince, in his 'Worthies of Devon,' mentions a Jerom Minify, who settled near Honiton about 1600, from Burwash, Surrey, and Tuckett, in his Devonshire pedigrees, mentions a family named Menifie, of Polhill, in Kent, which settled in Devon in the sixteenth century. What is the likeliest derivation? R. M. PRATT. 254, Cowbridge Road, Cardiff. HERALDRY.-Can any of your readers inform me in what publication an article recently appeared on A COFFEE-HOUSE IN CHELSEA.-The following passage will be found in the description of his prison lodging at Newgate by the author of "The History of the Press-yard......London, 1717, 8vo.": "The Table and Chairs were of the like Antiquity and Use; and Potiphar's Wife's Chambermaid's Hat at the Coffee-house in Chelsea, had as fair a Claim to any Modern Fashion, as any one Thing in the Room." What does he mean? DRUMMOND-MILLIKEN. GIRTON, CO. CAMBRIBGE, COURT ROLLS.-I shall be glad of information as to the whereabouts of such of these records as relate to the period between, say, 1516 and 1720. I shall be further greatly obliged for information as to deeds or records prior to 1650 relating to Girton. Barnard Castle. MARK W. BULLEN. PEG WOFFINGTON'S ALMSHOUSES.-One of the last acts of Peg Woffington's life was to build and endow a number of almshouses at Teddington, in Middlesex, where she died and is buried. This is mentioned by Doran and even later writers. The cottages still stand, but have become private property. Can any of your readers tell me the date and under what circumstances the charity was abolished or transformed? A reply direct would be greatly esteemed by Č. W. PITT. 25, Water Street, Boothen, Stoke-on-Trent. "SACERDOTES CORONATI."-Can any of the readers of N. & Q.' refer me to a fuller account of the following custom, mentioned by Polydore Vergil? He says that in various countries, including England, it was the custom for the priests on great festivals to wear crowns or garlands during divine service, and especially in London, where the priests of St. Paul's, on the apostle's festival in June, wear crowns while performing the sacred rites of the day ('De rerum Inventoribus,' bk. ii. E. W. ch. 17). "" com in the summer of 1854, reached the village of "BOXING HARRY."-When George Borrow, Pentraeth Coch, in Anglesey, Mrs. Pritchard, the hostess, could offer her hungry guest no fresh meat, and, of course, suggested bacon and eggs, whereupon the Romany Rye exclaimed, "I will have the bacon and eggs with tea and bread-and-butter, not forgetting a pint of ale-in a word, I will box Harry." Later on he explained that a great many years ago, when he was much amongst mercial gents," those whose employers were in a small way of business, or allowed them insufficient salaries, frequently used to "box Harry," that is have a beefsteak or mutton-chop, or perhaps bacon and eggs, with tea and ale, instead of the regulation dinner of a commerical gentleman, namely, fish, hot joint and fowl, pint of sherry, tart, ale and cheese, and bottle of port at the end of all (Wild Wales,' chap. xxxiii.). This phrase is probably extinct now; at any rate, I have never heard it. Can any origin for it be suggested? Norwich, JAMES HOOPER. "LARGE AND SMALL PAPER COPIES."-Where can I find full particulars of the origin of the terms "large paper" and "small paper" as applied to books; and what work was the first so published? W. B. GERISH. THE QUEEN AND ROBERT OWEN.-Some short time ago I came across the following paragraph, in a weekly contemporary, signed "C. D.": "The Victorian era fairly commences with the birth of the Queen. Robert Owen, the Socialist, was the first man who had the infant Queen in his arms, placed there by her father, his friend, the Duke of Kent-an incident as deserving record as much else we find in print." Can any correspondent substantiate this from any trustworthy source? JOSEPH COLLINSON. Wolsingham, co. Durham. ARABELLA FERMOR.-Is it known whether this lady, the passive cause of the composition of the 'Rape of the Lock,' was in any way related to Thomas Fermor, Lord Leominster, who was created Earl of Pomfret in 1721 (a title which became extinct in 1867), the year after he married the granddaughter of the famous (or infamous) Judge Jeffreys? W. T. LYNN. Blackheath. 'CHAMBERS'S LONDON JOURNAL.'-Can any one inform me when this weekly periodical ceased, and how long its career ran? The name was, I suppose, adapted from its Edinburgh contemporary, and it was issued in much the same form (small folio) as was the first series of that journal, Beylies. PORTRAITS AS BOOK-PLATES. and patterned on the same lines. It was in existence about 1845, was edited, I believe, by Laman Blanchard, and contained much good and useful information in its pages. Prior to his death my friend Cornelius Walford was engaged upon the compilation of a 'Dictionary of Periodical In placing the portrait-plate of Pepys in his colLiterature-a magnum opus indeed. He had collection of "book-plates," one might easily imagine that Mr. Egerton Castle had been led astray. Yet I am informed by my friend Mr. Wheatley that Pepys's portrait was used as an ex-libris, and was pasted in Pepysian volumes, which I cannot help thinking a pity, it having the appearance of a frontispiece. It is a line engraving, and a good work of art, digne to face a title, but hardly suited to grace an opening coverture of millboard backed by marbled or other tinted paper. lected an immense amount of materials when death put an end to his work. Many of his valuable MSS. left behind were destroyed or damaged by a disastrous fire which took place at the house where his widow resided at Seal, near Sevenoaks. JOHN PICKFORD, M.A. EY ABBEY.-I take Ey to mean Eye. To which Eye-that of Hereford, Northampton, or Suffolk does this "celebrated ruin" belong? There is no mention of a topographical history of either Eye in Anderson, the only reference book I have by me just now. W. F. WALLER. ST. JERON.-The Rev. G. G. Honig, the parish priest of Noordwyk, near Leiden, Holland, has written to the Catholic News to inquire if any thing is known in this country as to the life of St. Jeron. He was a missionary in Frisia and Holland, and was martyred at Noordwyk in or about the year 856. He is believed to have been a native of England or Scotland. EDWARD PEACOCK. Dunstan House, Kirton-in-Lindsey. HERALDIC.-Whose are the following arms? Quarterly: 1. Sable, an eagle displayed argent, crowned with an electoral bonnet gules, guarded argent (or ermine). 2. Quarterly, 1 and 4, Argent, three archers' bows (?) gules, on a chief azure, three besants; 2 and 3, Parted per saltire, or and azure, two cinquefoils or (or perhaps besants) in pale. 3. Quarterly, 1 and 4, Or. on a bend azure three fleurs-de-lys (or perhaps eagles displayed) or, a torteau at sinister chief; 2 and 3, Gules, a chevron between three crosses or. 4. As 1, impaled with Argent, a fess gules between three wolves' heads proper, langued of the second, a crescent gules for difference. Crest, on a torce arg. and sa., an eagle displayed argent, crowned with electoral bonnet gules, guarded ermine (or argent). The above arms are on a three-quarter panel picture of a knight, signed by Cornelius Jansen, now in possession of a gentleman in Oxfordshire. S. C. L. CLOSE. ST. VICTOR.-What is known of the life and history of this saint? Can any correspondent describe his symbols, mottoes, arms, or characteristics? PHILOTECHNIC. DRESS IN 1784.-What was the usual colour of the coat worn by gentlemen in the year 1784; and had the profession of the wearer anything to do with the colour? E. S. P. I do not say that such portrait-plates of the "frontispiece" order have not been used to denote book ownership, for I know that they have, yet the Kneller-White looks as if asking to face a title-page, and that alone. In the Plantin Museum at Antwerp there is evidence of an owner's portrait from a copper-plate having been worked upon the blank back of a title-page, an indelible imprint, not easy to detatch, or possible to deface, by any means short of splitting the paper. On the backs of titles book-plates are sometimes found affixed. The Musée Plantin is particularly sparse in specimens of the ex-libris order, a fact M. Max Roses, the custodian, considers due to the collections being the creation of the imprimerie, and not to a selection. Regarding the Pepys "kit-cat," I can see nothing to connect it with the Bibliothèque-no arms, view, legend, livre, or device-hence it appears reasonable to delete it to the frontispiece, or to the picture-frame. I can remember the time when all books of standing could be purchased in the sheets, and it was then that such plate printing must have been done upon the back of the bastard or the full title itself. Portrait book-plates are rare. I have a few, of which I will take three as types. First, Robt. Udny, of Udny, Esq., F.R.S. and S.A. Above is a medallion portrait by Robt. Cosway, R.A., engraved by W. H. Gardiner, and below, occupying equal space, the arms with supporters, temp. 1810-20. Secondly, I have that of Joseph Knight, etched by W. B. Scott, who was here at his best in portraying the literal, and not the imaginative. Many of the plates by H. S. Marks, R.A., are portraits; and those that are not, posterity will put down as such, as it is a great deviser of meanings never meant. The third example I would mention is my own, an older, and a newer, plate than either, the border being both bookish and heraldic, of eighteenth century origin, engraved by Kitchen, the centre portrait being by "Sol" ("c'est à dire photogravure"), an effigy that when worn in the hat has perilled an election, though on the shelf proved a protection. Portrait ex-libris is a personality that becomes still more pleasing when placed in a library perspective, with all its surroundings. Can any examples be added? The citation of such of seventeenth or eighteenth century portraiture will be very welcome to collectors. JOHN LEIGHTON, F.S.A., V.P. X.L.S. Ormonde, Regent's Park. MR. HENDRIKS is sceptical on two points which do not admit of doubt, and he questions statements made by Mr. Egerton Castle which are absolutely correct. The book-plates of Pepys, although scarce, are well known to collectors. The late Dr. Diamond told me some years ago that he had found a large number of these portrait bookplates in an old tobacco-box, but he had given them all away. I never before heard any one doubt that Pepys pasted his portrait into his books, and every one who has had the privilege of visiting the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, has seen them there. It will, therefore, astound those who know to read such a sentence as this: "If it could be ascertained as a fact that this portrait was really pasted by Pepys in the books of his library, as well as employed by him, as is certain, for a frontispiece to his book above referred to, the discovery would be curious as well as convincing." MR. HENDRIKS might have taken the trouble to look at available sources of information before writing about "discoveries" still to be made. In my 'Samuel Pepys and the World he lived in,' p. 239, I describe the two portrait book-plates as follows (MR. HENDRIKS does not allude to more than one, although Mr. Castle mentions both):: 1. Robert White. Kneller, painter. Portrait in a carved oval frame, bearing inscription, "Sam. Pepys. Car. et Jac. Angl. Regib. a. Secretis. Admiraliæ." Motto under the frame, "Mens cujusque is est quisque." Large book-plate. 2. Robert White. Kneller, painter. Portrait in an oval medallion on a scroll of paper. Motto over his head "Mens cujusque is est quisque "; underneath the same inscription as on No. 1. Small book-plate. called upon to make this remark, as MR. HENDRIKS refers to me in quoting from Mr. Castle, and then puts my testimony aside as quite unworthy of credit. Being so sceptical, I think MR. HENDRIKS, before writing his letter, might as well have taken the train to Cambridge or the omnibus to Burlington House. At both those places he might have satisfied his mind. HENRY B. WHEATLEY. 66 No doubt these are very uncommon for the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but they have existed, although MR. HENDRIKS may be quite right in saying that the fact has not been so far proven." I have in my collection of ex-libris a very good specimen, which I took from the cover of a book myself, and if this be thought insufficient evidence, on the ground that a later possessor might have inserted it, I fortunately have another still in situ, the cover being stamped with the arms and name of the nobleman whose portrait appears in the ex-libris. So may we not take it as "proven " that portraits were used as personal book-plates in the seventeenth century? for luckily both mine are dated ex-libris, the first doubly dated, by chronogram of 1668, and by the engraver, who adds to his name the date 1667. The second is dated 1609. I have also one dated 1614, with a fine portrait, head of a man with flowing beard; but as this is the ex-libris of Michael Bardt von Harmading und Basenpach, it may be only a punning device on his name, and not really his portrait. But surely most collectors know of the beautiful engraved portrait of John Hacket, Bishop of Lichthe inside cover of every book bequeathed by the field, by W. Faithorne, dated 1670, and placed on learned bishop. This may be more of an ex-dono than an ex-libris, but at least there is here the using the likeness of the owner as a personal mark in all his books, and this is the very thing that is doubted or in question. NE QUID NIMIS. East Hyde. LONGFELLOW's 'SONG OF THE SILENT LAND' (8th S. ii. 507; iii. 14).—In the original German poem by J. G. von Salis, simply entitled 'Lied' ("Song "), we read : Der mildeste von unsers Schicksals Boten without saying that by this herald with torch inverted the poet meant Death (cf. Lessing's splendid essay, 'How the Ancients represented Death' = These words would run thus in a literal transThe point respecting Pirckhey mer's portrait is lation: "The mildest (or kindest) herald of our not so well known; but as every one of Pirck-fate beckons us with inverted torch." It goes heymer's books in the old Norfolk library at the Royal Society has passed through my hands, I can say from actual inspection that the large portrait was pasted in many of the books. I hope I shall not be considered discourteous if I say that MR. HENDRIKS's last sentence, "The affirmative of the proposition would appear to be still not proven by the ordinary laws of evidence," is quite monstrous. The statements rest on evidence which would be accepted in any court of law. I feel Wie die Alten den Tod gebildet'). It is also clear now that those editions of the American poet's works which have faith instead of fate are undoubtedly wrong. It may be further observed that Longfellow has allowed himself an occasional liberty with the original. The opening lines of the second stanza, "Into the Silent Land! To |