Notes and Queries, Number 201, September 3, 1853 | Page 4

was observed in y^e Kalends of March. (See page 324. of
this book.)"
"In y^e churchyard:
'Joannes Pocklington, S. S. Theologiæ doctor, obiit Nov. 14, A. D^i.
1642.'
'Anne Pocklington, 1655.'
'Mary, y^e wife of John Towers, late Lord Bp. of Peterborough, dyed
Nov. 14, A.D. 1672.'
'Quod mori potuit præstantissimæ foeminæ Compton Emery Filiæ
Joannis Towers S. T. P. Hujus Ecclesiæ quondam Episcopi Viduæ
Roberti Rowell LL. D. Nec non charissimæ conjugis Richardi Emery
Gen: In hoc tumulo depositum: Feb. 4. A^o Ætatis 54, A^o Domini
1683.'"
A marginal note states that "The Chapter-house and Cloyster sold in
1650 for 800l., to John Baker, Gent., of London."
H. THOS. WAKE.

* * * * *
FOLK LORE.
Superstition of the Cornish Miners (Vol. viii., p. 7.).--I cannot find the
information desired by your correspondent in the Cornish antiquaries,
and have in vain consulted other works likely to explain this tradition;
but the remarks now offered will perhaps be interesting in reference to
the nation alluded to. The Carthaginians being of the same race,
manners, and religion as the Phoenicians, there are no particular data by
which we can ascertain the time of their first trading to the British coast
for the commodity in such request among the traders of the East. The
genius of Carthage being more martial than that of Tyre, whose object
was more commerce than conquest, it is not improbable that the former
might by force of arms have established a settlement in the Cassiterides,
and by this means have secured that monopoly of tin which the
Phoenicians and their colonies indubitably enjoyed for several centuries.
Norden, in his Antiquities of Cornwall, mentions it as a tradition
universally received by the inhabitants, that their tin mines were
formerly wrought by the Jews. He adds that these old works are there at
this day called Attal Sarasin, the ancient {216} cast-off works of the
Saracens, in which their tools are frequently found. Miners are not
accustomed to be very accurate in distinguishing traders of foreign
nations, and these Jews and Saracens have probably a reference to the
old merchants from Spain and Africa; and those employed by them
might possibly have been Jews escaped the horrors of captivity and the
desolation which about that period befel their country.
"The Jews," says Whitaker (Origin of Arianism, p. 334.), "denominated
themselves, and were denominated by the Britons of Cornwall,
Saracens, as the genuine progeny of Sarah. The same name, no doubt,
carried the same reference with it as borne by the genuine, and as
usurped by the spurious, offspring of Abraham."
BIBLIOTHECAR. CHETHAM.
Northamptonshire Folk Lore (Vol. vii., p. 146.).--In Norfolk, a ring
made from nine sixpences freely given by persons of the opposite sex is

considered a charm against epilepsy. I have seen nine sixpences
brought to a silversmith, with a request that he would make them into a
ring; but 13½d. was not tendered to him for making, nor do I think that
any threehalfpences are collected for payment. After the patient had left
the shop, the silversmith informed me that such requests were of
frequent occurrence, and that he supplied the patients with thick silver
rings, but never took the trouble to manufacture them from the
sixpences.
A similar superstition supposes that the sole of the left shoe of a person
of the same age, but opposite sex, to the patient, reduced to ashes is a
cure for St. Anthony's fire. I have seen it applied with success, but
suppose its efficacy is due to some astringent principle in the ashes.
E. G. R.
* * * * *
SHAKSPEARE CORRESPONDENCE.
On Two Passages in Shakspeare.--Taking up a day or two since a
Number of "N. & Q.," my attention was drawn to a new attempt to give
a solution of the difficulty which has been the torment of commentators
in the following passage from the Third Act of Romeo and Juliet:
"Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Towards Phoebus' mansion;
such a waggoner As Phaeton would whip you to the West, And bring in
cloudy night immediately.-- Spread thy close curtain, love-performing
Night, That runaways' eyes may wink, and Romeo Leap to these arms,
untalk'd of and unseen."
"Runaways'" being a manifest absurdity, the recent editors have
substituted "unawares," an uncouth alteration, which, though it has a
glimmering of sense, appears to me almost as absurd as the word it
supplies. In this dilemma your correspondent MR. SINGER
ingeniously suggests the true reading to be,--
"That rumourers' eyes may wink, and Romeo Leap to these arms,

untalk'd of and unseen."
No doubt this is a felicitous emendation, though I think it may be fairly
objected that a rumourer, being one who deals in what he hears, as
opposed to an observer, who reports what he sees, there is a