Notes and Queries, Number 41, August 10, 1850 | Page 7

anything known respecting a strange "madcap," one Robert Innes, who, according to a printed broadside now before me, was a pauper in St. Peter's Hospital, 1787? He was in the habit of penning doggrel ballads and hawking them about for sale. Some of them have a degree of humour, and are, to a certain extent, valuable at the present time for their notices of passing events. In one of these now rare effusions, he styles himself "R. Innes, O.P.," and in explanation gives the following lines:--
"Some put unto their name A.M., And others put a D. and D., If 'tis no harm to mimick them, I adds unto my name O.P.
"Master of Arts, sure I am not, No Doctor, no Divine I be But OAKUM PICKING is my lot, Of the same clay are we all three."
The "works" of this "rogue and vagabond," now in my possession, were given me by the late Mr. Catnach of Seven Dials.
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
_The Sicilian Vespers._--In what English work can a full and correct narrative of this event be found?
C.H. COOPER.
Cambridge, July 29. 1850.
_One Bell._--Can any of your readers favour me with a reference to some authority for the following, which may be found in Southey's Book of the Church (vol. ii. p. 121.)?
"Somerset pretended that one bell in a steeple was sufficient for summoning the people to prayer; and the country was thus in danger of losing its best music."
What follows is so beautiful and appropriate, that I may perhaps be excused for lengthening my quotation:
"--a music, hallowed by all circumstances, which, according equally with social exultation and with solitary pensiveness, though it falls upon many an unheeding ear, never fails to find some hearts which it exhilarates, and some which it softens."
It is a curious fact, that in many towers there may be often found a solitary _black-letter Bell_ (if I may so call it), evidently of ante-Reformation date, making one of the peal.
H.T.E.
_Treasure Trove._--The prejudicial effect which the law of _Treasure Trove_, as it now exists in this country, has been found to exercise upon the preservation of objects of archaeological interest, especially if such articles happen to be formed of either of the precious metals, is just now exciting the attention of the antiquarian world. Any notes upon the state of this law upon the Continent, any references to instances of valuable "finds" which have been lost to archaeological investigation through the operation of this law, or to cases in which the decisions of the courts have been given upon questions of this law; in short, any hints {167} or information upon any points connected with the subject of Treasure Trove will be thankfully received by,
EFFESSA.
_Poeta Anglicus._--The gloss on the Prooemium to the _Constitutions of Clement V._, col. iv. "Corp. Jur. Can." t. iii. Lugd. 1671, has the following remark:--
"Et dicitur a _Pap?_, quod est, interjectio admirantis, et vere admirabilis: quia vices Dei in terris gerit. Inde dixit ille Anglicus in poetria nova: _Papa stupor mundi._ Et circa fin., _Qui maxima rerum, nec Deus es nec homo, quasi neuter es inter utrumque_."
Who is the Anglicus Poeta? What is the name of his poem?
J.B.
_Hornbooks._--Can either of your numerous intelligent readers give me an account of the hornbooks from which our ancestors learned their letters? If so, I shall feel especially obliged for the information.
JOHN TIMBS.
_Ben Jonson, or Ben Johnson._--Among some papers I possess of the Digby family, I have an autograph poem on _The Picture of the Minde of the Lady Venetia Digby_, by Ben "Johnson." Is this the same as Ben "Jonson?" and if so, how comes it the "h" has been dropped from his name? Or was there some other Ben "Johnson," a poet of that period?
N.A.B.
_MS. Book of Prayers belonging to Queen Catherine Parr._--In vol. ix. of the _Gentleman's Magazine_ is a description of a MS. book of prayers, bound in silver, which probably belonged to Queen Catherine Parr. Can you or any of your numerous readers inform me in whose possession the volume is _now_?
J.L.W.
_Waltheof--De Combre Family--Ilda._--In _Waltheof, or the Siege of York_, an historical drama published at York, 1832, one of the _dramatis person?_, Judith, the niece of the Conqueror, and daughter of the Countess of Albemarle, is made to say,--
"When gallant _Waltheof, as his country's champion_, On bus'ness of high import and high matters, _Oft at my royal uncle's court appeared_,
...
"We married privately. Two years and more have passed since this has happened, And one sweet pledge of love has crowned our vows."
Now I am anxious to know,
1. Whether there be any historical authority for Waltheof being sent as envoy to William? and, if so, on what mission?
2. Is it not the more correct account, that the Conqueror gave his niece Judith in marriage to Waltheof after the surrender of the city, [at the same