Notes and Queries, Number 54, November 9, 1850 | Page 6

found in the Old Testament, otherwise
some light might be thrown on the matter by a reference to the cognate
Hebrew word.
But here an interesting question presents itself. The word freight in
Greek is [Greek: naulos] or [Greek: naulon], and in Latin naulum. Have
these any connexion with the Arabic word, or are they to be traced to
an independent source, and the coincidence in sense and sound with the
Arabic merely accidental? If distinct, are the words now in use in the
Mediterranean ports derived from the Greek or the Arabic? If the words
be not identical, may not the Greek be derived from the Sanscrit, thus
[Sanskrit: nau], nau, or in the pure form [Sanskrit: nawah], nawah, or
resolved, naus, a ship or boat; [Sanskrit: nauyayin], nauyáyin quasi
nouyáyil, or abbreviated naul, that which goes into a ship or boat, i.e.
freight, fare, or, by metonyme, the price of freight, or passage-money.
It is to be noted that nolis, though in general use in the Mediterranean
ports (Marseilles, for example) to denote the price of freight, or of
carriage, is not so in the northern parts of France. At Havre the word is
frêt, the same as our freight, the German fracht, viz. that which is
carried or ferried, and, by metonyme, as before, the price of carriage.
J. SH.
Bombay.
* * * * *
Minor Notes.

Smith's Obituary.--One of the publications of the Camden Society for
the year 1849 is the Obituary of Richard Smyth (extending from 1627
to 1674), edited by Sir Henry Ellis. It is printed from a copy of the
Sloane MS. in the Brit. Mus., No. 886., which is itself but a transcript,
later than Smyth's time. The editor states that "where the original
manuscript of the obituary is deposited is not at present known."
I am glad at being able to supply the information here wanted. The
original manuscript is in the University Library at Cambridge, marked
Mm. 4. 36. It consists of twenty-nine leaves, foolscap folio; and, except
that the edges and corners of the leaves are occasionally worn by
frequent perusal, is otherwise in excellent condition. It is well and
clearly written, but the latter part of it marks the alteration of the hand
by the advancing years of the writer. There are many variations in {390}
the orthography, and some omissions, in the Camden Society's
publication, but perhaps not more than may be accounted for by
supposing the Sloane copy to have been made by a not very careful
transcriber.
Here again is seen the valuable use which might be made of your
excellent publication. Had a "Hue and Cry" been made in the "NOTES
AND QUERIES" after the original MS. of this obituary, information
might have been immediately given which would have added greatly to
the value of this number of the Camden Society's publications.
GASTROS.
Cambridge, Oct. 28. 1850.
George Wither the Poet, A Printer.--In the "Premonition to the Reader"
prefixed to George Wither's Britain's Remembrancer, 12mo. 1628, the
author acquaints us with some circumstances relative to his work which
are not generally known. While craving some apology for his writing,
Wither observes:
"It is above two years since I laboured to get this booke printed, and it
hath cost me more money, more pains, and much more time to publish
it, than to compose it, for I was faine to imprint every sheet thereof with

my owne hand, because I could not get allowance to doe it publikely."
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
Corruption of the Text of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall."--A corruption,
which seems to have arisen from an attempt at emendation, has crept
into Note 17. on the 55th chapter of Gibbon's History. Root is twice
printed instead of roof in the later editions, including, Mr. Milman's.
"What comes from the roof," may not be very intelligible; still roof is
the word in the original edition of Gibbon, where it corresponds to toit
in Gibbon's authority, Fleury, and to tectum in Fleury's authority.
J. E. B. MAYOR.
Traditional Story concerning Cardinal Wolsey.--In David Hughson (Dr.
Pugh's) Walks through London and the surrounding Suburbs, 12mo.
1817, vol. ii. p. 366., I find the following:--
"Passing on to Cheshunt: here is a plain brick edifice, in which
Cardinal Wolsey is said to have resided. It has been nearly rebuilt since
his time, but is still surrounded by a deep moat. In the upper part of this
house, called Cheshunt House, is a room, the door of which is stained
with blood: the tradition is--an unfortunate lady became a victim to the
Cardinal's jealousy, and that he dispatched her with his own hand. If so,
it is unaccountable that the murderer should have suffered those marks
of his violence to have remained."
Is there any old authority for this