NOTES AND QUERIES: A Medium of Intercommunication FOR LITERARY MEN, GENERAL READERS, ETC. “When found, make a note of.” —CAPTAIN CUTTLE. FIFTH SERIES. – VOLUME ELEVENTH. JANUARY-JUNE, 1879. LONDON: PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE, 20, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND, W.C. BY JOHN FRANCIS. Supplement to the Notes and Queries, with No. 200, July 19, 1879. 5th S. XI. Jan, 4, '79.] NOTES AND QUERIES. LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1879. Persian Empire. Wherein are related many a conditions of those Countries and People he pa with his returne into Christendome. Written by The company started from Venice in Ma Hydrophobia, 6-Arms of Cyprus, 7. reached Cyprus may account for their glad QUERIES:-Major André - Bacon on Hudibras.”—The departing from it :- Society of Jesus in India - Decoys, 7–Dr. S. Musgrave- nine dayes passing: where (as the saying is) the (with whom we passed to Zant) did our err - Title of Book Wanted-Authors Wanted, 9. knights errand) against our coming. They mad to the Turkes inhabiting the same lle, that we REPLIES:-Elizabeth Blunt, 9—Ancient Monuments of the pirats, and that they sliould do wel to lay han Moreton Family, 11-Epigram on Beau Nash, 12-Rev. R. and to carry vs to the great Turk, their emperor besides that, we were pirats, and came into Tur known acre" of Newbury, The Beaumonts of Folkingham- spies. Wherevpon the Turkes laid handes vpor a Peer, 17-Renton Family-Rosemary r. Mint-Trin. Coll. daies, in which time they were indifferen Shipley-Weather Lore -“The Fair One with the Golden qualified in hope of money we promised them, a Locks "-"Piece"-Yankee, 18-Watch-case Verses —"A they had to their full contentment ere we pa- house to let "--Milton's "Paradise Lost," 19. NOTES ON BOOKS:-Pascoe's “Dramatic List" - Home's From Cyprus Sir Anthony and his passed over, in a ten-ton boat, to the Syri Notices to Correspondents, &c. and in due time reached Aleppo. At t “remayned about some sixe weekes at th houses, and feasted (for the most parte) while continued.... ... Leauing heere awhile to pros iorney, I will speake somewhat of the fashio WILLIAM PARRY'S NARRATIVE OF SIR position of the people and country, whose bel point of ciuilitie (besides that they are damne and zodomiticall Mahomets) doe answer th beyond all measure, a most insolent, superbo a part of Asia Minor and Persia. Parry, who was christian, if he be not well guarded with a ! one of Sir Anthony's company, returned to Eng- Janizaries. They sit at their meat (which i land in the middle of September, 1601, and on them vpon the ground) as Tailers sit vpon November 11 succeeding the following entry crosse-legd; for the most part passing the day appears in the Stationers Registers (Mr. Arber's liquor which they do call Coffe, which is made Transcript, vol. iii. p. 195): much like mustard seede, which wil soone int “11 Nouembris (1601). braine, like our Metheglin. They will not pe with an exalted voyce cries out, and inuocato to come in post, for they haue long expected privately-printed Illustrations of Early English come not (being the vtmost time of his appoy Popular Literature (2 vols., 4to., 1862-64), and it promise made in that bebalfe) they haue no is from this source that the extracts now given comming. But they feare (according to a pro Its contents are at present of baue) the Christians at the end therof shals all, and conuert them to christianitie....... I considerable interest when that part of the world is aboundeth with great store of all kinds of f Muttons haue huge broade fatte tailes. most commonly they haue but once in the “A new and large discourse of the Trauels of sir rest they eate fruite as aforesaide. They eat 27960 1 carriage they baue in great abundance, but when both and Persia. In a lengthened communication to them and their horses are past the best, and vnfit the Times of July 25, 1878, Mr. Grattan Geary for carriage, the poorest of their people eate states that in the immediate vicinity of Erbil them.”- Pp. 15-17. The next stage further inland involved the (Arbela)“ are fountains of petroleum which have travellers in some trouble : been running ever since Alexander the Great's time.” That it is to this excellent and useful From Aleppo we set forwards in the middest of illuminant Parry refers in the following extract is August, accompanied with our English merchants three dayes, to wit, vntill we came to a town called Beerah beyond doubt :or Birrah, by which runnes the most famous riuer “Neere vnto a towne called Backo, in Persia, there Euphrates, parting Mesopotamia and Syria; where we issueth out of the earth, in the manner of a water-spring, rested sixe or seauen dayes, whilest boates were pre- a certaine kind of oyle in great abundance, which they paring for vs and other Turkish merchants : that being (from all parts of the Persian dominions) do fetch vpon done, we parted from our merchants, and betooke our Camels, Kine and Asses, to burne in lamps, which are selues to the saide riuer of Euphrates, on the which we the lights they vse in their houses."'- P. 37. were some three and twenty dayes passing downe the same. In which time we came by a castle called Racca, companions received from the Persian monarch and The reception which Sir Anthony Sherley and his where we were to take in fresh meate, and inen to row. But loe ! there happened that a Turke, being in one of his subjects was of the most flattering description. the boets in our company, discharged his peece towards In returning home, which they did by the way of the shoare at randon, where he most ynhappily slew the Caspian Sea, our countrymen passed through a Turke of the towne (the bullet entring his braine); by Russia, and without further extending these reason whereof our boate, aswell as the rest was stayed, and we constrained to make satisfaction for the mans extracts I shall conclude with the following: death: which cost sir Anthony for his company some “But the day before wee left Muscouin, it was my hundred crownes. Which being payed, and wee dis- fortune to see the King and his Queene in cerimonious charged, we held on our course from thence some two or and triumphant manner passing out of the Citty three dayes passage; where we were eftsoones stayed by [Moscow), with a great Imaze and a huge Bell to offer the King of the Arabs, there liuing vpon the rivers side to a certayne Friery, some thirty miles off, which was in tents : before whome we were brought, whose handes performed in this sorte. First, all the morning diuers we kist; and demaunding what we were, and what troupes of horse passed out of the Citty, to stand ready businesse we had in those partes, we replied we were to receiue him at his comming out of the gate. About Engliehmen and Merchants by our trades, comming for midday, the King setting forwards, his guard forinost, traffike into those partes of the world. Wherevpon this all on horsebacke to the number of fiue hundred, all clad good king tolde vs that he must needes see our mer- in stammel coats, riding in ranke, three and three, with chandize, which we (God wot) durst not contradict; and bows and arrowes, and swords girt to them, as also so he borrowed (without a priuy seale, or bill of his hand) hatchets under the one thigh. After the guarde were some thirtie yardes of cloth of siluer votill our returne. ledde by twenty men twenty goodly horses, with very That being done, we had licence to departe to our boate. rich and curious saddles, and ten more for bis sonne and In whose campe we sawe nothing but a multitude of heire apparant, beeing a childe of twelue yeeres of age. cammelles, mules, asses, horses, sheepe and goats: from After which was ledde, in like sorte, twenty beutifull thence wee passed to another called Anna.”—Pp. 19-20. white horses for the Queenes chariots, hauing onely Hitherto we follow our travellers down the vppon them a fine sheete, and on theyr heades a crimson veluet bridle. After them came a great number of Friers Euphrates to its junction with the Tigris and in theyr rich coapes, singing, carrying many pictures towards the Persian Gulf ; but all at once we are and lights. After them followed the greatest parte of sent back to the town of Deir, or, as Parry calls the merchants of the Citty. Next them was ledde the it, the town of Dire. He tells us that leaving Anna Kings horse for that day, together with his sonnes : the (or Anah) they came next to the town of Dire. Kings saddle and furniture most richly besette with A reference, however, to any modern reliable map Patriarch, wyth all the Archbishoppes, Bishoppes, and stones of great price and beauty. Then followed the will show that the last-named town is much great Prelates, singing in their coapes, very rich and further up the river--that is, nearer Aleppo. The glorious, hauing huge Images borne before them, beeing inference I gather from this is that Parry, after very richly inlayed with pretious Jems of diuerse colours, his return to England, wrote his narrative from and lights about them. Then followed the King him selfe, who had in his left hand his sonne, aboue menmemory, which would account for the confusion of tioned, and in his right hand his cappe. Next him came places. This, however, is of little consequence, as the Queene, supported on eyther side by two olde Ladies, the fact now to be quoted is of some interest from her face euen thickly plaistered with painting, as were a scientific point of view : other Ladies (according to the custome of the Countrey); “ From thence to a towne called Dire, by which there head, attended with some three score very fayre women hir body very grosse, hir eyes hollowe and far into bir is a lake or poole of very pitch, which in their language (if painting (which they holde a matter religious) they call the mouth of Hell. It swelles in the middest deceiued not the iudgement of mine eie)., All whose thereof to the bignesse of an hogshead, and so breaketh apparel was very rich, beset with pearle curiously with a great puffo, falling flat, and thus continually it wrought, hauing white hattes on theyr heads, with great worketh : whereof there is no bottome to be found, albeit round bands laden with pearle. We neuer saw hattes it often hath beene tried by all meanes."-P. 20. worne by any women in the Country, but by them This “lake or poole of very pitch” could be no onely." --Pp. 50-52. other than one of the many bitumen springs which Sir Anthony Sherley's own narrative of this have been known to exist for ages in Asia Minor expedition was not published until 1613, for * At a review of which Mr. Collier's Bibliographical of the officiating clergymen a red bag, which is Account, 1865 (vol. ii. p. 343), may be consulted. placed in an offertory basin. This is understood S. to contain the Queen's offering of gold, frankin cense, and myrrh, in commemoration of the gift of TWELFTH DAY. the Magi to the infant Saviour. This day is rich As a popular festival Twelfth Day stands only in proverbs. Thus, in Dalmatia they say, “ If you inferior to Christmas, the leading object being to were to ask a wolf when he felt the cold most, he do honour to the three Magi, or, as they are com- would reply, 'At the winter solstice,'” which is at monly called, the three kings of Cologne. The Epiphany. In Italy it is thought to be one of the name Twelfth Day itself dates as far back as the coldest days. Thus, at Milan they say, time of King Alfred, who established the twelve Epiphany is the greatest cold we can have.” At days after Christmas as holidays, of which the Florence there is a popular saying, “Show me the Epiphany was the last. These twelve days were man who does not shiver on the Epiphany, and I dedicated to the twelve apostles, and in some will show you an honest man." Lastly, on the parts of England it is still customary to light, on Rhine there is a proverb, “ The three holy kings the eve of Twelfth Day, one large and twelve build a bridge or break one,” implying that either small fires, which are intended to represent our a hard frost or a thaw comes at this season. Lord and the twelve apostles. In days gone by T. F. THISELTON DYER. this festival was chiefly marked by the custom of drawing for king and queen by lots-a practice, MANUS CHRISTI, &c. according to some, derived from the Roman Saturn I subjoin a few notes on some names of plants alia, when at its completion children drew lots and specifics, which show the influence of the with beans to see who would be king. In Lincolnshire there is always a dance on Twelfth Day, religious houses in the Middle Ages on popular called the “ Cake Ball," at which the old custom irreverence was intended when the names were nomenclature. We need not suppose that any of choosing the king and queen by lot is still kept up. In France the sovereign thus elected is called originally bestowed, though some of them rather ** Le Roi de la Five," and the importance of this jar upon our more sensitive modern religious sentiment. The instances which I have selected ceremony is indicated by the proverbial phrase for are either imperfectly explained or omitted by good luck, “Il a trouvé la fève au gâtean,"-he Nares and Halliwell. has found the bean in the cake. Twelfth Day appears to have been observed in this country by rosewater or that of violets or cinnamon ; a sort of Manus Christi. — “Refined sugar boild with royalty from time immemorial. In the eighth year cordial for very weak persons” (Phillips, New of the reign of Edward III. the title of "King of World of Words, sixth edit., 1706); Take as the Bean" was conferred upon one of the king's much sugar as will fill your mold and boyl it in minstrels ; and we read, too, how Henry VII. with much pomp kept this ceremony at Court. In a manus christi, then pour it into your mold 1503 Mary Queen of Scots celebrated the pastime Delight, or the Art of Preserving, Concerring and suddenly, and clap on the lid," &c. (A Queen's of the king of the Bean at Holyrood, but with a queen, Miss Strickland tells us (Lives of the Queens Halliwell' merely says (Arch. and Prov. Dict.), Candying, &c., London, 1655, 12mo., p. 264). of Scotland, vol. iv. p. 20), " instead of a king, “Manus Christi, a kind of lozenge.” Ducange as more appropriate, in consideration of herself being a female sovereign.” Indeed, down to the (Supplement, Paris, 1766, fol.) gives us, “Manus Christi, massa quædam saccharo condita.” I suptime of the civil wars, this festival was observed with much enthusiasm, not only at Court, but at pose, therefore, that Manus Christi was a sort of the ľniversities and the Inns of Court. Formerly sugar candy, and was so called in some conventual the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and the guilds of refectory because its supposed cordial properties London attended St. Paul's Cathedral on Twelfth raised up sick people like the divine hand. Day to hear a sermon-a custom alluded to in the because it cures 'diseases of the eyes (N. Cul Oculus Christi, wild clary or Christ's eye, early part of Queen Elizabeth's reign. Of late years the celebration of Twelfth Day has been on pepper's English Physitian, edit. 1671). Orvale sauvage, wild clarie, double clarie, ocle the decline, and many of the customs once con- Christi (Cotgrave). This is our Salvia verbenaca. Dected with it have fallen into disuse. One, how Lacrima Christi, a kind of excellent wine about ever, of medieval origin is still observed at the Naples (Torriano, edit. 1659). This wine is still Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace. On the festival of the Epiphany, after the reading of the sentence at made on the slopes of Vesuvius, and remains in some request. the offertory, “Let your light,” &c., while the organ is played, two members of Her Majesty's house “God's Good. A blessing on a meal? "Let the cook be thy physition, and the shambles thy hold descend from the royal pew and advance to apothecaries shop: hee that for every qualme will take the Communion rails, where they present to one a receipt, and cannot make two meales, unless Galen be |