A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION FOR LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC. Music of the Spheres CONTENTS. Origin of various Books SATURDAY, AUGUST 21. 1852. Monumental Brasses abroad, by W. Sparrow Simpson Notes on Old London Proverbs from Fuller Misprint in Prayer-books, by W. Sparrow Simpson Minor Notes:- Remarkable Epitaph. Page 167 167 168 169 170 - Deferred Execution in Spain -More Gold: Meaning of " Nugget" Acrostic on the Napoleon Family-Literati-Names 170 171 172 · 172 Another Dodo Query, by W. Pinkerton Minor Queries:- Etymology of "Quarrel "- Relics of Charles I. Lady Gerrard's second Marriage "To be in the wrong Box" - Sir Kenelm Digby -Was Sir Kenelm Digby a Painter ?-St. Mary of the Lowes, or De Lacubus-Peleg in Germany-Public Whipping of Women in England Henry MortimerPassage in Jeremy Taylor-Locke on Romanism Lancashire Sayings- Passage in the Somnium Scipionis-Walter Parsons, Porter to James I.- Furye Family MINOR QUERIES ANSWERED:- Barefooted Friar - Lord Delamer British Critic or Theological Review Psalm-singing at Paul's Cross- George Thomason Thomas Goffe Beef eaters REPLIES: Rates. MUSIC OF THE SPHERES. "How sweet the moon-light sleeps upon this bank! Sit, Jessica: Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold; There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st, But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins: Such harmony is in immortal souls; But whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it." Merchant of Venice, Act V. Sc. 1. For anything I know to the contrary, Pythagoras was the first who advanced this doctrine of the music of the spheres; and Fenton, in his observations appended to Tonson's edition of Waller's Poems (page xcii. Lond. 1730), supposes him to have grounded his belief on the words of Job literally understood: "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for 175 joy," chap. xxxviii. 7. I shall have to refer to Milton more than once; but his "Christmas Hymn" is here quite to my purpose: 173 176 176 - 177 177 178 178 180 · 180 181 131 181 Royal Arms in Churches, by Wm. Sydney Gibson, &c. The Gregorian Tones, by Matthew Cooke and William Sparrow Simpson, B.A. The True Maiden-hair Fern "The Good Old Cause " Mémoires d'une Contemporaine Fishing by Electricity, by W. Fraser Spanish Replies to Minor Queries:- The Man in the Moon Collar of SS. Reverence to the Altar Vessels wrecked on Irish Coast Dress of the Clergy Virgilian Lots - General Lambert-"Sic transit gloria mundi"-Lines on the Succession of the Kings of England-Aghindle or Aghendole-Sinking Fund -Punch and Judy. Rhymes on Places - Sleep like a Top-More recent Corruptions- KnightsbridgeWedgwood Family-" Vox populi, vox Dei"-" Dieu et mon Droit"-Coral Charms, &c. MISCELLANEOUS : 182 186 186 187 XII. "Such music (as 'tis said) Before was never made, But when of old the sons of morning sung, While the Creator great His constellations set, And the well-balanc'd world on hinges hung, And cast the dark foundations deep, And bid the welt'ring waves their oozy channel keep. XIII. "Ring out ye crystal spheres, Once bless our human ears, (If ye have pow'r to touch our senses so ;) And let your silver chime Move in melodious time, And let the base of Heaven's deep organ blow; And with your ninefold harmony Make up full consort to th' angelic symphony." Milton speaks also of the "mystical dance" of the spheres, and further adds: "And in their motions harmony divine So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear Listens delighted."- Par. Lost, lib. v. 620. I remember also a passage in Buchanan : "Quid solem loquar aut lunam? quid cætera cœli Sidera, quæ peragunt non æquo tramite cursum, Inque chori ludunt speciem, et nunc lumine juncto Mutua conspirant, spatiis nunc dissita longis, Quæque suum servant diversa lege tenorem?" De Sphæra, lib. i. p. 420. Amstelædami, 1687, 12mo. Cowley also sings: "Quales (crediderim) divum edidit auribus olim Planturum, lib. v. page 306. Lond. 1688, 8vo. And though in the notes to his Pindaric "Ode on the Resurrection" he seems to think such Pythagorean ideas as more befitting poetry than sound philosophy, I must adduce a very quaint passage from his Davideis likewise: "Th' ungovern'd parts no correspondence knew, "Her voice, the music of the spheres, As wise philosophers have thought, Part II. canto i. 1. 617. vol. i. pp. 316-7. Shakspeare, as already quoted, has assigned a different reason; and Milton closely follows him in the "Arcades." "After the heavenly tune, which none can hear Of human mould, with gross unpurged ear." Indeed Milton had written an academic exercise at Cambridge, "De Concentu Sphærorum," in which he explains the theory of Plato. Thomas Warton gives much additional information in his notes upon the "Arcades," and illustrates Milton by himself: he gave some further description of this music, Par. Lost, lib. vii. 558. And as Beaumont's Psyche is less known, I may as well extract a passage from it : 294. "With that the musick of the spheres burst out, 295. "Indeed those airs are so refin'd, that none Page 241: Cambridge, 1702, folio. I have one quotation more to make, but it must be a long one, as it seems to contain almost all that can be said upon the subject. It is from Bishop Martin Fotherby, and includes the opinions of the more ancient writers, as well as of Bede, St. Anselm, Boethius, and Du Bartas. It is strange to find such an argument pressed into the controversy with atheists: but the whole chapter is worth reading. He says: "And therefore, divers of them, as they ascribe a rythmical motion unto the starres; so doe they an harmonicall unto the heavens; ymagining that their moving produceth the melodie of an excellent sweete tune. So that they make the starres to be dancers, and the heavens to be musitians. An opinion which of old hath hung in the heads, and troubled the braines of many learned men: yea, and that not onely among the heathen philosophers, but also even among our Christian divines. The first author and inventor of which conceited imagination was the philosopher Pythagoras. Who broched his opinion with such felicitie and happinesse, that he wonne unto his part divers of the most ancient and best learned philosophers, as Plutarch reporteth. Plato, whose learning Tullie so much admireth, that hee calleth him The God of all Philosophers, Deum Philosophorum, he affirmeth of the heavens, that every one of them hath sitting upon it a sweet-singing syren, caro..ing out a most pleasant and melodious song, agreeing with the motion of her own peculiar heaven. Which syren, though it sing of itselfe but one single part, yet all of them together, being eight in number (for so many heavens were onely held by the ancients) doe make an excellent song, consisting of eight parts: wherein they still modulate their songs, agreeable unto the motions of the eight celestial spheres. Arist., 1. ii. De Cœlo, c. ix. to. i. p. 588.; Cic., 1. iii. De Nat. Deor., p. 229.; Plut., 1. De Musica, to. ii. p. 707.; Cic., ii. De Nat. Deor., p. 205.; Which opinion of Plato, 1. x. De Rep., p. 670. Platoes is not only allowed by Macrobius (lib. ii. De Som. Scip., c. iii. p. 90.), but he also affirmeth of this syren's song, that it is a psalme composed in the praise of God. Yea, and he proveth his assertion out of the very name of a syren: which signifieth (as he saith) as much as Deo cunens, A singer unto God. But Maximus Tyrius (Serm. xxi. p. 256.) he affirmeth of the heavens, that (without any such helpe of. these celestial syrens) they make a most sweete harmonie, even by their proper motions, wherein they doe omnes symmetria numeros implere; contrarioq; nisu, divinum sonum perficere: They by their contrary moving doe fil! up all the parts of a most divine and heavenly song. Which hee affirmeth to be most pleasant unto the eares of God, though it cannot be heard by the eares of men. Yea, and the sages of the Greekes (Lucian, lib. De Astrologia, p. 166. B.) insinuate also as much, by placing of Orpheus his harpe in heaven: implying, sweete tune and harmonie which is made in heaven by in the seaven strings of his well turned harpe, that the divers motions of the seaven planets, as Lucian interprets it. Unto which his opinion there may seeme to be a kinde of allusion in the Booke of Job, as the text in the vulgar translation is rendered (xxxviii. 37.): Concentum cœli quis dormire faciet? Who shall make the harmony of the heavens to seepe? For so, likewise, the divines of Doway translate it." Atheomastix, pp. 315, 316: London, 1622, fol. The incidents and thoughts which have induced various authors to commence their works are, in many cases, somewhat interesting, and I think a Note on this subject may be well adapted for "N. & Q." And if I may be allowed to throw out a suggestion, I would say that it would be far from useless if correspondents were to embody in a note what they might know of the immediate motives and circumstances which may have in duced various authors to write certain works. Thus, Milton's Comus was suggested by the circumstance of Lady Egerton losing herself in a wood. The origin of Paradise Lost has been asscribed by one to the poet having read Andreini's drama of L'Adamo Sacra Representatione, Milan, 1633; by another, to his perusal of Theramo's Das Buch Belial, &c., 1472. Dunster says that the prima stamina of Paradise Lost is to be found in Sylvester's translation of Du Bartas's Divine Weekes and Workes. It is said that Milton himself owned that he owed much of his work to Phineas Fletcher's Locusts or Appolyonists. Paradise Regained is attributable to the poet having been asked by Elwood the Quaker, what he could say on the subject. Gower's Confessio Amantis was written at the command of Richard II., who, meeting Gower rowing on the Thames, invited him into the royal barge, and after much conversation, requested him to "book some new in his Canterbury Tales, to imitate the Decameron thing." Chaucer, it is generally agreed, intended, induced by Mrs. Unwin to write a poem, that of Boccaccio. When Cowper was forty-five he was lady giving him for a subject The Progress of Error. The author of The Castle of Otranto says in a letter, now in the British Museum, that it was suggested to him by a dream, in which he thought himself in an ancient castle, and that he saw a gigantic hand in armour on the uppermost banister of the great staircase. Defoe is supposed to have obtained his idea of Robinson Crusoe by reading Captain Rogers' Account of Alexander Selkirk in Juan Fernandez. Dr. Beddoes' Alexander's Expedition down the Hydaspes and the Indus to the Ocean originated in a conversation in which it was contended that Darwin could not be imitated. Dr. Beddoes, some time afterwards, produced the MS. of the above poem as Darwin's, and completely succeeded in the deception. UNICORN. MONUMENTAL BRASSES ABROAD. A list of all the brasses existing on the continent has long been a great desideratum to the archæologist: if you will devote some little space in your columns to notices of any examples which may fall under the observation of your correspondents, I have no doubt but that a complete list might soon be formed; foreign_brasses being comparaFrance and Belgium, I added rubbings of the tively few in number. During a recent tour in following memorials to my own collection : France. Amiens Cathedral. Bishop John Avantage, 14... Belgium; Ghent. St. Bavon. Franchoys Van Wychhuus, 1599 (with the arms of the family connexions coloured). Belgium; Bruges. St. Sauveur. Magistr. Bernardinus de Curia, and others, 1517. St. Jacques. At Constance is a brass to Robert Hallum, Bishop of Sarum, of English workmanship, 1416 (see Archæologia, vol. xxx.) At Meissen and Aix-la-Chapelle are others, of which I shall be glad to learn the names. The following list is taken from a German literary gazette, containing a review by M. Kugler of the Rev. C. Boutell's Mon. Brasses and Slabs: Altenburg, 1475. Bronweiler. An Abbot, fifteenth century. 1317-50. St. Mary. Beck, Mayor, 1521. Stralsund. St. Nicholas, 1357. your Schomberg House. The centre part, which is stated to have been fitted up by Astley, was subsequently occupied by a celebrated empyric, Dr. Graham, who there delivered his philosophical lectures, in which he introduced as the goddess of health a lady named Prescott. The doctor fitted up the attics of the house for his private residence, which could only be approached by a moveable staircase. It contained a bed-room, study, kitchen, and the usual appendages; ausl here he withdrew when not inclined to be dis turbed: the staircase being removed, prevented all access. The same house was subsequently occupied by R. Cosway, R.A., the fashionable miniature painter of his day; and here his accomplished wife, Maria Cosway, was accustomed to receive the taste and talent of the day, including the nobles of the land and the representatives of foreign powers; the young and gay Prince of Wales, afterwards George IV., being frequently among the visitors of her musical parties, which were rendered attractive by the combined talents of the best performers of the day. These were, Schroeter, Dussek, Clementi, Tenducci, Marchesi, &c. Mrs. Cosway, who was herself an able artist, converted Dr. Graham's study into a painting Doubtless, your correspondent who dates from room, from the large window of which she enBruges will kindly complete the list for that in-joyed the beautiful prospect of St. James's Park, teresting city. And I hope, ere long, that all the Westminster Abbey, &c. The kitchen was conexisting memorials may be duly registered in verted into a green-house, filled with rare plants, columns. Query, Who are commemorated by and adorned with a fountain in the middle. This the brasses at Dublin and Glasgow? It is sup- lady afterwards made a pilgrimage to the shrine posed that no others exist in Ireland and Scotland of the Virgin, at Loretto, in pursuance of a vow than these three, two of which are at the former made that she would do so, if blessed with a living place. W. SPARROW SIMPSON. child. After she left England, Mr. Cosway removed to the western corner of Stratford Place, Oxford Street; and two or three years after to a house two doors higher, where he resided till the time of his death, which took place suddenly while in a carriage with his friend Mrs. Udney. Schomberg House was converted into fashionable Towards the end of last century, the E. wing of millinery rooms by Dyde and Scribe, which are now occupied by their successors, Harding and Co. In a house nearly adjoining was the original establishment of Mr. Christie the auctioneer (father to the present Mr. C.), who was the origiof auction; and who was remarkable for the nator of what may be termed the puffing system elegance of language and manner, which far surpassed that of his imitators in later times. NOTES ON OLD LONDON. The reading public are much indebted to Mr. Cunningham for his valuable and most entertaining Handbook for London, in which he has collected a multitude of records of persons and localities, which but for his diligence and perseverance must have been lost to posterity. Nevertheless, some facts and incidents have escaped his inquiries, which an old inhabitant of this metropolis, during the latter end of the last and beginning of the present century, is able to supply; and which may interest such as are still cotemporaries with the writer. If the following notices be found worthy of insertion in your pages, they may occasionally be succeeded by others of a similar nature. Pall Mall. On the south side, a few doors from Marlborough House, is that which was occupied by the bookseller Edwards, the Murray of his day; and where all the wits and notabilities of that period used to assemble, to discuss literature and the arts. Next door to the residence of the Duke of Buckingham was the Golden Bull, well known as a shop for all kinds of articles for ladies' work. A few doors still farther on was the residence of Mr. Angerstein, where was deposited the fine collection of pictures by the ancient masters, which after his death was purchased by government, and formed the nucleus of the present National Gallery. X. Lambert's Mews.-The name of Lambert was accidentally recalled to my memory this morning by seeing in Field's Memoirs of the Botanical Garden at Chelsea, 1820, that in 1732, he had made an agreement, with the Apothecaries' Society, to build a green-house and two hot-houses at the gardens for 15507. Lambert and Phillips took a plot of ground in May Fair, many years ago, upon a building lease; some of the houses were in Queen Street, many in Clarges Street; an intermediate strip of ground reached from Queen Street to Clarges Street, in which were Lambert's workshops: and this vacant ground was long known by the name of "Lambert's Mews," and these words were painted upon the crown of the arch which forms the entrance into the Mews from Queen Street. Possibly this was the only memorial of a man, who in his day had covered many an acre of ground with brick and mortar; and there seems to be no reason why the appropriate name of Lambert should have been changed after his death to "Lambeth," which, as there placed, has no meaning at all. The change was probably made by a superficial reasoner, who thought that Lambert must be wrong, and Lambeth might be right. S. M. Brook Street. PROVERBS FROM FULLER. On glancing over the Collection of Proverbs by Thomas Fuller, M.D., a number of them relate to persons and places all seemingly of English extraction, and in many points not quite so edifying to Scotch readers. Take the following as examples, in connexion with whose spirit it may be observed, that each appears to have had an origin in some particular incident, circumstance, or fact which might now be curious as far as possible to trace out; and such investigations might also elicit other glimpses, in reference to local and personal history of a past and present character, not altogether uninteresting. In the collector's Preface (London, 1732), he says: "All of us forget more than we remember, and therefore it hath been my constant custom to note down and record (a good rule still to be practised) whatever I thought of myself, or received from men or books, worth preserving." life, may yet to some extent be supplied in respect to "A Burston horse and a Cambridge Master of Arts will give the way to nobody. As crooked as Crawley Brook. As hasty as Hopkins, that came to jail overnight, and was hanged the next morning. As lame as St. Giles's, Cripplegate. As lazy as Ludlam's dog, that leaned his head against the wall to bark. As long as Meg of Westminster. As mad as the baited bull at Stamford. As wise as Waltham's calf, that ran nine miles to suck a bull. Among the people Scoggin's a doctor. Canterbury's the higher rack, but Winchester's the better manger. Dine with Duke Humfrey. Ducks fare well in the Thames. Great doings at Gregory's; heat the oven twice for a custard. He came safe from the East Indies, and was drowned in the Thames. He cannot demand a flitch of bacon at Dunmow. He claws it as Clayton clawed the pudding, when he eat bag and all. He looks like the devil over Lincoln. He sailed into Cornwall without a bark. He sendeth to the East Indies for Kentish pippins. He that takes a wife at Shrewsbury must carry her to Staffordshire, else she will drive him to Cumberland. He travelled with Mandevile. He was born within the sound of Bow-bell. Hell and Chancery are always open. Hope well and have well, quoth Hick well. Like Banbury tinkers, that mend one hole and make three. Like Wood's dog; he will neither go to the church nor stay at home. Manners make a man, quoth Will of Wickham. halter. Neither in Kent nor Christendom. Pigs play on the organ at Hogs-Norton. Shake a Leicestershire man by the collar, and you |