Notes and Queries, Number 54, November 9, 1850 | Page 9

this name? and if so, when were they disused for their original purpose?
CLERICUS.
Martin, Cockerell, and Hopkins Families.--Can any one give information respecting the families of Martin, Cockerell, and Hopkins, in or near Wivenhoe, Essex?
CLERICUS.
Camden's Poem on Marriage of the Thames and Isis.--I should esteem it a favour if any reader of the "NOTES AND QUERIES" would inform me where I can find a Latin poem of Camden's on the "Marriage of the Thames with the Isis." In his work styled Britannia (which was enlarged by Richard Gough, in 3 vols., fol. Lond. 1789), in vol. i. p. 169., under Surrey, Camden himself quotes two passages; and in vol. ii., under Middlesex, p. 2., one passage, from the above-mentioned poem. I have in vain made many endeavours to find the entire poem. I have examined the original work, as well as all the translations of Britannia, sive Florentissimorum Regnorum Angli?, etc., chorographica descriptio; Gulielmo Camdeno, authore, Londini, 1607, folio. All these contain the quotations I have specified, but no more, and I am anxious to see the whole of the poem.
?S.
National Airs of England.--Among the national gleanings which are sent to your journal, I have not seen any that relate to the traditional music of England. We allow our airs to be stolen on all sides, and, had not Mr. Chappell acted the part of a detective, might never have recovered our own property. Ireland has taken "My Lodging is on the cold Ground" and "The Girls we leave behind us," while Scotland has laid claim to all her own at least, and Germany is laying violent hands on "God save the Queen."
Under these circumstances, would it not be a good thing, for those who have the power, to communicate the simple air of any song which appears native to our country, together with the words? I fancy that in this way we should gain many hints, besides musical ones, highly interesting to your readers.
? (3.).
{393}
P.S. It has struck me that the origin of the word mass may be found in the custom, referred to in an early number of "NOTES AND QUERIES," of messing persons together at dinner in former times.
Poor Pillgarlick.--Whence comes the expression, "Poor Pilgarlick," and how should the words be spelt?
H. P.
Exeter.
Inscription on a Portrait.--Can any of your correspondents explain the meaning of the following inscription:--
io par. pla vx
placed at the top left-hand corner of an old portrait in my possession, supposed to be that of Philip II. of Spain?
C. EDWARDS.
Burton's Parliamentary Diary.--The sale of clergymen for slaves is alluded to in vol. iv. of Burton's Diary. This has received elucidation at p. 253. of your present volume.
Tobacconists.--At p. 320, vol. i., of Burton's Parliamentary Diary it is stated, that
"Sir John Reynolds said he had numbered the House, and there were at rising at least 220 present, besides tobacconists."
What and who were the persons designated as tobacconists?
P. T.
"The Owl is abroad."--On what ground is the fine base song, "The Owl is abroad," attributed to Henry Purcell? Dr. Clarke has done so in his well-known selections from Purcell's works; and Mr. G. Hogarth, in his Memoirs of the Musical Drama, speaking of Purcell's Tempest, says:
"There is a song for Caliban, The Owl is abroad, the Bat and the Toad, which one might suppose Weber to have imagined."
Is it not really the property of John Christopher Smith, the friend of Handel? Amongst the few books of printed music in the British Museum Catalogue is The Tempest, an Opera, composed by Mr. Smith, in which is the base song in question. On the other hand, I do not find it in Purcell's Tempest. If, as I imagine, it belongs to Mr. Smith, it seems peculiarly hard that the credit of the composition should be taken from him, to be given to one who stands in no need of it.
A. R.
Scandal against Queen Elizabeth.--The following note occurs in vol. iv. p. 135. of Burton's Parliamentary Diary:--
"Osborn,--see his works (1673), p. 442,--says, 'Queen Elizabeth had a son, bred in the state of Venice, and a daughter, I know not where or when;' with other strange tales that went on her I neglect to insert, as fitter for a romance than to mingle with so much truth and integrity as I profess."
Is this rumour any where else alluded to? and if so, upon what foundation?
P. T.
Letters of Horning.--What is the meaning of "letters of horning," a term occasionally, though rarely, met with in documents drawn up by notaries? And, �� propos, why should "notaries public," with regard to the noun and adjective, continue to place the cart before the horse?
MANLEIUS.
Cromwell Poisoned.--At p. 516. vol. ii. of Burton's Parliamentary Diary it is stated, in a note upon the death of Oliver Cromwell, that his body exhibited certain appearances "owing to the disease of which