Notes and Queries, Number 50, October 12, 1850 | Page 5

aisle of the choir, was a most fair rood, or picture of our Saviour, _in silver_, called the _Black Rood of Scotland_, brought out of Holyrood House by King David Bruce, and was won at the battle of Durham, with the picture of our Lady on the one side, and St. John on the other side, very richly wrought in silver, all three having crowns of gold," &c. &c.
Another account, in p. 21 of the same work, seems to make them different; for, speaking of the battle of Neville's Cross (18th October, 1346), it says--
"In which said battle a _holy Cross_, which was taken out of Holyrood House, in Scotland, by King David Bruce, was won and taken," &c., p. 21.
And adds,--
"In which battle were slain seven earls of Scotland.... and also lost _the said cross_, and many other most worthy and excellent jewels ... together with the Black Rood of Scotland (so termed) with Mary and John, made of silver, being, as it were, smoked all over," &c., p. 22.
4. If they were the same, how is the legend concerning its discovery by the king, upon Holyrood day, when hunting in a forest near Edinburgh, to be reconciled with the fact of its being taken by St. Margaret into Scotland? If they were not the same, what was the previous history of each, and which was the cross of St. Margaret?
5. How is the account of Simeon of Durham, that the Black Rood was bequeathed to Durham Priory by St. Margaret, to be reconciled with the history of its being taken from the Scotch at the battle of Neville's Cross?
6. May there not be a connexion between the legend of the discovery of the "Holy Cross" between the horns of a wild hart (_Rites of Durham_, p. 21.), and the practice that existed of an offering of a stag annually made, on St. Cuthbert's day, in September, by the Nevilles of Raby, to the Priory of Durham? May it not have been an acknowledgement {309} that the cross won at the battle of Neville's Cross was believed to have been taken by King David from the hart in the forest of Edinburgh? In the "Lament for Robert Neville," called by Surtees "the very oldest rhyme of the North" we read--
"Wel, qwa sal thir hornes blaw Haly rod thi day? Nou is he dede and lies law Was wont to blaw thaim ay."
7. Is it known what became of the "Holy Cross" or "Black Rood" at the dissolution of Durham Priory?
P.A.F.
Newcastle-on-Tyne.
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MINOR QUERIES.
_Trogus Pompeius._--In Hannay and Dietrichsen's Almanuck for the Year 1849, I find the following statement under the head of "Remarkable Occurrences of the Year 1847:"--
"July 21. A portion of the history of Trogus Pompeius (the author abridged by Justin) is discovered in the library of Ossolinski at Berlin."
Not having noticed any contemporary account of this occurrence, I should be glad of any information respecting the nature and extent of the discovery.
E.L.N.
_Mortuary Stanzas._--Could any of your readers supply me with information respecting the practice of appending mortuary stanzas to the yearly bills of mortality, published in many parishes; whether there are any extant specimens of such stanzas besides those memorable poems of Cowper written for the parish clerk of Northampton; and whether, also, the practice is still kept up in any parts of the country?
[Greek: Philopatris].
_Laird of Grant._--In the north of England, I have repeatedly heard the auld wife remark, on observing any unwonted act of extravagance, such as burning more than the ordinary number of candles, &c. &c.,--"Who is to be Laird of Grant next year?" As this saying appears to be used only in the north, I have no other medium at present than to seek a reply through the aid of your valuable little work.
SENEX.
[A similar "saw" was formerly current in the metropolis,--"What, three candles burning! we shall be Lord Mayor next year."]
_Bastille, MS. Records of._--Are there amongst the MSS. of the British Museum any documents relating to spies, or political agents, employed by the French and English governments from 1643 to 1715, who were incarcerated in the Bastille?
M.V.
_Orkney under the Norwegians._--Torf?us (_Orcades_), under the transactions of the year 1430 (p. 182-3.), has an incidental mention of the Orkneys as among the forbidden islands, "vetit? insulas," of which the commerce was forbidden to strangers, and confined to the mother country, as to this day it is with Denmark and her possessions of the Faroe Islands and Iceland, both mentioned in the paragraph of the historian among the islands whose commerce was restricted. It would be very desirable to know of the social state of Orkney under the government of Norway and its native Jarls of the Norwegian race, and or its connexion with Norway and Denmark; and some of your correspondents may take