Is sum of nothing." When Portia, the brightest of Shakspeare's feminine creations, starts a thought, she likes to hunt it through all its turnings. In her modest estimate of herself she was "nothing"; and though she should have her wish to be "trebled twenty times" herself, "the full sum" of her would still be "sum of nothing," as no multiplication of nothing can increase its value. But placed "in" (not "on," as some editions read) Bassanio's "account," this long list of ciphers would "exceed account," deriving from him, as the leading figure, a worth not their own. As parallel and illustrative I refer to the fine passage in the Winter's Tale, Act i. sc. 2, where Polixenes, intimating to Leontes his intended departure, says: "Like a cipher, 5. "Happy in this, she is not yet so old Globe, p. 194, col. 1. The editors have mistaken the "then" of the First Folio for a "than." As than and then are in it uniformly spelt without distinction, it is only from the context that we can discover which is meant. Thus in Portia's famous speech in Act iv. sc. 1, we find both within a few lines of each other: "It becomes the throned monarch better then his crown"; "And earthly power doth then show likest God's." In the passage under review I think there should be no doubt that the "then" of the First Folio meant "then," not "than." Portia rises step by step from positive to superlative, thus:"Happy in this, she is not yet so old 6. But she may learn; happier, then, this, I can see no difficulty here. The "it" in the last line but one refers to the "upright life" in the second line: "If he do not mean to live on earth an upright life, then in reason he should never come to heaven." 7. "Why he, a woollen bag-pipe." Globe, p. 197, col. 2. Neither do I see any difficulty here. The pipe, indeed, is not "woollen," but the bag is. If any obelus has escaped my notice I shall feel obliged if some reader of "N. & Q." will kindly direct my attention to it. Manse of Arbuthnott, N.B. R. M. SPENCE, M.A. PEDIGREES AND PEDIGREE MAKERS: THE ST.. JOHNS AND TOLLEMACHES.-Mr. Freeman has an article on this subject in the current number of the Contemporary Review. Though there is in it something of what one may style slaying the slain, and no allusion whatever to the labours of others, perhaps not altogether unknown, such as the late Mr. J. G. Nichols, the present Lyon Herald of Scotland, &c., yet there is, of course, as in all that Mr. Freeman writes, much interest. Why, however, does he treat "local" antiquaries with such lofty scorn, admitting all the while that it rests with them to furnish materials for some gods of Olympus, and reduces the chaos to order? great generalizing director, who sits amongst the Two of the families noticed in the article as requiring illustration by the "professed genealogist and local antiquary" are those of St. John and Tollemache. Mr. Freeman desires the exact relation between a Hugh Tollemache who flourished in the reign of Henry II. and the St. Johns. This may not be so easy. Yet in the MS. Cartulary of there are several writs regarding transactions beMont S. Michel (Public Library of Avranches) tween Thomas de St. John and the monks (fol. XXXV, verso), dated in 1121, in which "Hugo Tallmascha" figures as a witness, showing a close connexion with the St. Johns. These St. Johns, whose cradle is the parish of S. Jean le Thomas, within a few miles of Avranches, were, as Mr. Freeman says, "real people." They were the ancestors of the St. Johns of Stanton and Basing, of the famous Bolingbroke, and others of the name. They founded Boxgrove Priory, Sussex, and previously, in their original Normandy, the Premonstratensian house of Luzerne, about the middle of the twelfth century, conjointly with the family of Subligny, who by marriage were lords of the Breton fortress of Dol. These notices, made on the spot, though not by a "local" antiquary, in the strictest sense of the term, are placed at Mr. Freeman's disposal, as a contribution to the early history of the Tollemache family. They go to prove that "Hugo Tallmascha" must have been a Norman. His name is as distinctive as that of Gervase Ridel, which has been claimed by one of its most eminent cadets as the earliest Norman surname purely as such, and unconnected with land. What the origin of the surname Ridel was is no more apparent than that of Tallmascha; in all likelihood from some personal peculiarity. The latter surname possibly may be derived from tailler (to cut) and mache (corn salad). In this MS. Cartulary (fol. xxiiii) there is a grant by "William, by the grace of God King of the English and Prince of the Normans," and Matilda, dated in 1081, of a mill in the vill called Veim, which Abbot Suppo (1033-1048) had illegally given away to Rannulf the moneyer. In this occurs the name "Rotbertus de Vezpunt," a family once renowned in the north of England and on the Scottish border. I have never observed this form of the surname before, or indeed such an early occurrence of it. In Hodgson's Northumberland (vol. iii. pt. ii. p. 26) he only begins the Vipont pedigree with William, living in the time of King John. But the above Robert of 1081, with whom are named Geoffry, Bishop of Coutances, and Niel the son of Niel, is evidently of the same district, possibly the same stock, as the Viponts of Cuverville in Calvados, who are considered by Hodgson as the forefathers of those of Tyndale and Alston. The Archives of Calvados, to which Hodgson refers for the early Viponts, I find is by the late M. Léchaude d'Anisy, of Caen. He gives a charter by Maud de Cuverville, widow of Robert de Vieux-Pont, without date, confirming a grant of the demesne of Castillon, holden by her son Ivo de Vieux-Pont. And, in 1272, Ivo de Vieuxpont, Lord of Cuverville (probably the son), confirms a grant. The mother's seal bears fourteen annulets, that of the son nine (Extrait des Chartes du Calvados, Caen, 1834, vol. ii. pp. 27–32, plates x. and xiii.). ANGLO-SCOTUs. BRAHMA, THE FATHER.-I venture to offer the following remarks on Prof. M. Williams's recent interesting contribution to the Times (June 11), in which the fact is noticed that while the second and third persons of the Hindu Triad have numerous temples and worshippers, there are neither temples nor any direct worship of the first person, i.e. of Brahma, the Father. Is not this precisely what has happened in Christendom, by a curious coincidence, if the expression may be pardoned? For, although there are innumerable churches dedicated to the "Son" and the "Holy Spirit," I am not aware of any to the "Father," whom only the Unitarians and Jews worship direct, the Mahometans, like the Christians, addressing themselves to a mediator. Another coincidence not unworthy of notice is this, that the Vedic and Brahminical creeds (I make a distinction) closely resemble the Athanasian in their definitions of Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity. The "Preserver" of the Hindus-Vishnu-is, according to all his described attributes, the Sun, as well as mystically the Son, and the nature of his being could not be better described, according to Hindu belief, than in the actual words of St. Athanasius. A third coincidence may, lastly, be noticed. The round masonry is a peculiarity of Sun temples. and of Christian churches in the East. The church of the Templars in London is an example. Additions of angular form, corresponding with the cardinal points, led to cruciform structure, and the round was soon lost in the square. SP. LIFE AT HARROGATE IN 1731 : "SEVEN IN A HAND."-Now that Harrogate has regained so much of its ancient popularity as a watering-place, it may interest some readers to see a description of the manner in which the guests amused themselves there in 1731. Though short, it recalls. some of the graphic details of the life at Bath about the same period, given by the worthy squire in Humphry Clinker :— "I was pleased with the manner of living there. In the daytime we drank the waters, walked or rode about, and lived in separate parties, lodging in one or other of the three inns that are on the edge of the common; but the inns having the benefit of the meeting in their turn, at night the company meet at one of the public-houses, and sup together, between eight and nine o'clock, on the best substantial things, such as hot shoulders of mutton, rump steaks, hot pigeon pies, veal cutlets, and eightpence each, and, after sitting an hour and drinking the like. For this supper ladies and gentlemen pay what wine, punch, and ale every one chuses, all who please get up to country dances, which generally last till one in the morning; those that dance and those who do not drinking as they will. The ladies pay nothing for what liquor is brought in, either at supper or after, and it costs the gentlemen five or six shillings a man. At one the ladies withdraw, some to their houses in the neighbourhood, and some to their beds in the inns. The men who are temperate do then likewise go to rest." But all were not "temperate" at that time (not even the writer himself, according to his own showing); and one of the guests then on a visit to the wells, a certain Mr. Gallaspy, an Irish gentleman, a simple child of nature, possessed a remarkable accomplishment, which, if it has not already been noticed in "N. & Q.," should, I think, be recorded along with other drinking customs of bygone days. The writer says :- "He was the tallest and strongest man I have ever seen, well made, and very handsome.... He was the most profane swearer I have known, fought everything, everything, and drank seven in a hand; that is, seven glasses so placed between the fingers of his right hand that in drinking the liquor fell into the next glasses, and thereby he drank out of the first glass seven glasses at once. This was a common thing, 1 find from a book in my possession, in the reign of Charles the Second.... But this gentleman was the only man I ever saw who could or would attempt to do it, and he made but one gulp of whatever he drank; he did not swallow a fluid like other people, but, if it was a. quart, poured it in as from pitcher to pitcher," &c. With such companions as this Gallaspy, only one of a party of kindred spirits, and the chance of dancing with such partners as the beautiful Miss Spence, of Westmoreland-whom he met shortly after his arrival, and whom he describes as possessed of "the head of Aristotle, the heart of a primitive Christian, and the form of Venus de' Medici," and who afterwards became his fourth or fifth wife (but not his last by one or two)-is it any wonder that the writer, "Thomas Amory, Gent.," should thus express his mature opinion, "Of all the wells I know Harrogate is the most charming"? Vide Life of John Buncle, Esq., 1756, an autobiography of Amory, and a most entertaining work, which, treated as he would have treated one of his favourite waters, would yield an analysis something like the following:Gossip, like the above... Unitarian doctrine Anti-popish Love-making Biblical criticism Bibliography, Medicine, Chemistry, &c. 28. 25. 2. 3. 12. a concise mode of reviewing which I would commend to the attention of critics. A. FERGUSSON, Lieut.-Col. United Service Club, Edinburgh. 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.] LORD BEACONSFIELD'S CREST AND MOTTO.I always understood that, until his elevation to the peerage and attendant grant of arms from the College of Heralds, Mr. Disraeli had no arms, crest, or motto. Debrett, at least, and other authorities were silent on the subject. I was surprised, therefore, the other day, on looking through a life (or, rather, a hostile criticism of the life) of the premier, just published by Goubaud & Son, to find the following extracts given from the Shrewsbury papers of 1841 respecting Mr. Disraeli's candidature for that borough. "Besides the flags," says the Conservative paper, describing the incidents of the nomination day, "(on white silk, with blue ornaments), we noticed the crests of the two candidates: that of Tomline, a dove and olive branch; Disraeli's, a castle. The motto of the latter gentleman, Forti Nihil Difficile' ('To a brave man nothing is difficult'), was taken as indicative of the character of the honourable candidate" (Salopian Journal, June 30, 1841). The Shrewsbury News (July 3, 1841) comments on the same circumstance from an opposite point of view: "There were several flags on the Tory side, some of them rather tastefully ornamented, and one bearing a surprising proof of the industry and research of Norry (sic) King-at-Arms, viz., a thing that purported to be the crest of D'Israeli !!! and bearing beneath it the motto, 'Forti Nihil Difficile,' which, freely translated, means that the impudence of some men sticks at nothing." Now, it is a singular thing that the crest and motto thus used by Mr. Disraeli in 1841 are those which he now bears, as Earl of Beaconsfield, in 1877. Are we to suppose, then, that in 1841 Mr. Disraeli was bearing the traditional crest of his family (perhaps granted when they resided in Spain), and that his right to bear it was only confirmed by the English College of Heralds in 1876? Or had the premier, with his accustomed foresight (having long ago prophesied his elevation to the House of Lords and given prominence to his present title), fixed at so early a period as 1841 upon the crest and motto which he intended to obtain when the necessity arose for him to do so? Anyhow, the extracts above given-and which, so far as I know, appear to have escaped observation by the writers who have commented on Lord Beaconsfield's recent grant of arms-take away any originality or novelty from the grant, so far, at least, as the crest and motto are concerned. S. BARTON-ECKETT. BENNET DYER.-The author of Grongar Hill, a second son, had three brothers, Robert of Aberglasney, Thomas of Marylebone, and Bennet. From the Aberglasney muniments Bennet Dyer appears to have been the youngest son, and the poet, in writing to Robert, sends his love to "Tom and Ben." Robert, Squire of Aberglasney in 1720, married Frances Croft in that year. He was not likely to have had a brother residing at Aberglasney, unless as a bachelor or as a tenant, sixteen years afterwards. In the magazines of 1736 the Sheriff of Cardiganshire is stated to be "Bennet Dyer, of Aberglasney, Esq." The late Mr. J. W. Philipps, of Aberglasney, in one of his courteous replies to my troublesome inquiries, called the sheriff Robert, and underlined the name. The Pipe rolls will put the discrepancy of name right, but the editors of the periodicals of 1736 were clearly aware of the existence of Bennet Dyer, whether sheriff or not. Nearly thirty years ago I marked this Bennet as dying without issue, from some information or other. But what was his history? Bennet for Robert (the squire) is no mere printer's error. Bennet Dyer's maternal grandmother was CURIOUS PASSAGE IN THE "PASTON LETTERS.” Elizabeth Bennet, of Mapleton, in Herefordshire, There is a puzzling paragraph in the Paston where the poet lived at one time, undergoing much Letters which the painstaking recent editor has tribulation by reason of his "aunt Cocks," a sister forgotten to explain. In vol. iii. p. 174, Sir John of his mother Catherine Cocks, of Comins, an Paston writes, under date of "London, Feb. 14, interesting moated house near Droitwich. An-1477," to John Paston :-"Item. To my brother other aunt had a son called Bennet Joy; and Edmond. I am like to speak to Mrs. Dixon in from the intimacy between the Dyer family and haste, and some deem that there shall be conthe well-known Bennet Langton, one would infer descended that if E. P. come to London that his that there was a relationship between Bennet costs shall be paid for." This paragraph seems to Dyer and them. I am descended, not from Ben- mean that Mrs. Dixon has become a widow, that net Dyer, but from John, the second son, and yet she has money and is worth courting, and that I feel an interest in the fate of Bennet Dyer. Edmond Paston has a chance with her. At Possibly he may have married some Cardiganshire p. 258, under date of Nov. 6 in same year, John owner of acres of charms." There were ancient Paston writes from Norwich to Sir John: "In my Dyers of Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire un-conceit, the king doth but right if he grant my questionably. But how did any Dyer of Aberglasney, in Carmarthenshire, whether called Robert or Bennet, whose ancestors were decent burgesses of Kidwelly, in Carmarthenshire, for some generations, become Sheriff of Cardiganshire? In short, what sort of person was Bennet Dyer? What was his history? Where did he usually live? And when and where did he die? About Robert and Thomas there is no obscurity. Both of them left descendants. 66 Gateshead-on-Tyne. W. H. DYER LONGSTAFFE. THE REV. RICHARD HOLLINWORTH, OF MAN- I should be glad to hear where a first edition of Stretford, near Manchester. brother Edmond Clipperby's son, in recompense for taking my brother Edmond's son, otherwise called Dixon, the child's father being alive. Dixon is dead. God have his soul." Does John Paston mean that Dixon being dead, Edmond had married his widow, but that the king had taken from him the wardship of young Dixon, and that in consequence Edmond was entitled to compensation, which the wardship of Clipperby's son would be? The editor states in a note that Edmond Paston soon afterwards married the widow Clipperby. Can he tell us how Dixon's son could be called "my brother Edmond's son," unless T. W. Edmond had married the widow ? JOAN OF ARC.-In a late number of "N. & Q." (5th S. vii. 448) H. W. makes mention of a "greatgranddaughter of Joan of Arc." Would H. W. kindly let me know on whose authority he assigns posterity to the Maid of Orleans? Unless he refer to the female impostor who appeared in 1436, pretending to be Joan of Arc escaped from captivity, and who, soon afterwards, married a knight of good family, the Sire des Armoises, I am at a loss to account for his statement. I am aware that Caxton, in his Chronicles of England, and Polydor. Vergilius, in his Anglica Historia, assert that Joan of Arc pretended to be pregnant in order to obtain a respite of her sentence. Allowing it to be true that the fear of death led her to calumniate herself, it must not be forgotten that Caxton adds that her statement was found to be false. I have read most of the modern lives of the Maid of Orleans, and have had occasion to consult, I believe, all the ancient chronicles that bear on her history, but I do not remember a single passage which warrants the assertion that she ever lost her right to the surname which she bore, much less that she ever gave birth to a child. L. BARBÉ. Bückeburg, Schaumburg-Lippe. WHERE DID KING OSWALD DIE?-The Athenæum for March 17, 1877, says that Mr. C. Hard BISHOP COGAN, OF ST. DAVIDS.-Will any of your readers, conversant with Welsh archæology, give me the fullest particulars possible concerning Bishop Cogan, of St. Davids, enumerated as such by Cambrensis, Itinerary of Wales, Bohn's Antiq. Lib., p. 416? Milo de Cogan, the first of the family, is by Cambrensis indifferently called by his usual and well-known name, and that of Milo of St. Davids. From this we may infer that his connexion with St. Davids must have been very close indeed. Milo must have been a person of position among the invaders of Ireland, as his first post was as Governor of Dublin, in which office he was as remarkable for his sagacity as for his bravery. Allow me to thank those gentlemen who so kindly answered my former queries. P. J. COGAN. WETHYRLEY, WETHERLY, OR WEATHERLEY FAMILY, OF THE COUNTIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM.-Arms of wanted, and any information respecting. Leonard Wetherly, Gent., about 1690 left the interest of 201. to be paid annually to the poor of St. Nicholas's Parish, Newcastle-onTyne (see Bourne's History of Newcastle, p. 79, Newcastle, 1736). The relict of Edward Weatherley, Esq., of Garden House, in the county of Durham, died Dec. 13, 1821, aged eighty years (see Gentleman's Magazine, vol. xci. part ii. p. 574). Captain Weatherley, R.N., was sheriff of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1847 and mayor in 1848. Another member of this family was John J. Weatherley, captain in the Northumberland Militia, and afterwards captain in the Enniskillen Dragoons. He died a few years ago. I have heard that this family formerly belonged to the county of Norfolk. SIR HERCULES. ness, and the spirit of his rationalistic style is at Mayfair. "LINDABRIDES."-In Sir Walter Scott's Kenil worth, Michael Lambourne says of Amy Robsart, LLOYD OF LLWYN-Y-MAEN, CO. SALOP.-Will West Dereham Vicarage, Brandon. PARCHMENT DEEDS.-Is there any advice to be given for the cleaning of old parchment deeds, without impairing the handwriting? Also any solution for reviving illegible writing on old parchment ? PETRUS. SAWLEY ABBEY.-What were the arms of the LAMBERT FOWLER, BAGSHOT. - Where is the pedigree, and are there any descendants, of Lambert Fowler, Esq., of Bagshot, Surrey (see Burke's General Armoury), descended from Christopher Fowler, of London, and a representative of W. F. C. the barony of Fitz-Walter? BROWNING'S "SORDELLO."- Can any of the readers of "N. & Q." inform me who is the person addressed as 66 my English Eyebright," towards the end of book iii. of Browning's Sordello? GIGADIBS. THE CAXTON EXHIBITION.-In the notices of the Caxton Celebration, I see special mention is made by several newspapers of one of the exhibits, No. 239 of the London Gazette. Are earlier issues rarities? In the library here I find the Gazette for some half century from its commencement, its first few numbers being issued as the Oxford Gazette. Wherstead Park, Ipswich. MARCUS B. HUISH. PALEY'S "CLERGYMAN'S COMPANION" is said to be gathered from the writings of old divines Jeremy Taylor, Ball, Barrow, Patrick, &c. In his preface he says, "The antiquated style is improved and corrected throughout." Has anybody ever SCRIPTURAL PROHIBITION OF POTATOES.-In taken the trouble to place these passages side by White's Warfare of Science (Lond., 1876, p. 133) side to see what sort of improvement Paley could there is a casual reference to a curious pervereffect upon Taylor and the rest? Paley writes in sion" of a Biblical text, by which "many of the a clear, vigorous way, and sometimes becomes peasantry of Russia were prevented from raising witty, but he conveys a general impression of cold-and eating potatoes"! What was the text, and |