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

is
followed by a shorter poem, entitled "A Comfortable Exhortation to the
Christian in his Self-conflict."
Do any of your correspondents know of the existence or authorship of
this little work? It is not in the British Museum, nor could the curators
of the library there, to whom it was shown, make out anything about it.
The discovery of its authorship might tend to throw some light on that
of "The Pedlar's Song," attributed to Shakspeare, and appearing in Vol.
i., p. 23. of "NOTES AND QUERIES." The song contains the line--
"Such is the sacred hunger for gold."
And in the Automachia I find the "auri sacra fames" described as--
"Midas' desire, the miser's only trust, The sacred hunger of Pactolian
dust."
A. M.
Poa cynosuwides.--Poa cynosuwides, the sacred grass of India, is
mentioned in Persoon's Synopsis, as also an Egyptian plant: does it
appear on the Egyptian monuments? Theophrastus, quoted in the
Præparatio Evangelica of Eusebius, mentions the use of a certain
[Greek: poa] in the ancient sacrifices of Egypt.
F. Q.

Vineyards.--Besides those at Bury St. Edmonds and Halfield, are there
any other pieces of land bearing 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 Angliæ, 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