Notes and Queries, Number 72, March 15, 1851

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and Queries, Number 72, March 15, 1851, by Various

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Title: Notes and Queries, Number 72, March 15, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Author: Various
Editor: George Bell
Release Date: October 27, 2007 [EBook #23212]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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NOTES AND QUERIES:
A MEDIUM OF INTER-COMMUNICATION FOR LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.
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"When found, make a note of."--CAPTAIN CUTTLE.
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No. 72.] SATURDAY, MARCH 15. 1851. [Price Threepence. Stamped Edition 4d.
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CONTENTS.
NOTES:-- Page Illustrations of Chaucer 201 Inedited Poetry, No. II., by K. R. H. Mackenzie 203 On a Passage in Marmion 203 Gloucestershire Provincialisms, by Albert Way 204 The Chapel of Loretto 205 Folk Lore:--"Nettle in Dock out"--Soul separates from the Body--Lady's Trees--Norfolk Folk Lore Rhymes 205 Minor Notes:--Note for the Topographers of Ancient London, and for the Monasticon--Gray and Burns-- Traditional Notice of Richard III.--Oliver Cromwell-- Snail-eating 206
QUERIES:-- Biddings in Wales 207 Minor Queries:--Lord of Relton--Beatrix de Bradney-- "Letters on the British Museum"--Ballad Editing: The "Outlandish Knight"--Latin Epigram on the Duchess of Eboli--Engraved Portrait-- Blackstone's Commentaries and Table of Precedence-- The Two Drs. Abercromby--Witte van Haemstede--J. Bruckner: Dutch Church in Norwich 208
MINOR QUERIES ANSWERED:--The Hereditary Earl Marshal--The Beggar's Petition--"Tiring-irons never to be untied" 209
REPLIES:-- The Meaning of Eisell, by H. K. S. Causton 210 Replies to Minor Queries:--William Chilcott--Fossil Elk of Ireland--Canes Lesos--"By Hook or by Crook"--Suem--Sir George Downing--Miching Malicho--Cor Lingu?--Under the Rose--"Impatient to speak, and not see"--Bishop Frampton--Old Tract on the Eucharist--Was Hugh Peters ever on the Stage? 212
MISCELLANEOUS:-- Notes on Books, Sales, Catalogues, &c. 214 Books and Odd Volumes wanted 215 Notices to Correspondents 215 Advertisements 215
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Notes.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF CHAUCER.
(Vol. iii., pp. 131. 133.)
I am glad to perceive that some of the correspondents of "NOTES AND QUERIES" are turning their attention to the elucidation of Chaucer. The text of our father-poet, having remained as it were in fallow since the time of Tyrwhitt, now presents a rich field for industry; and, in offering free port and entry to all comments and suggestions, to be there sifted and garnered up, the pages of "NOTES AND QUERIES" may soon become a depository from which ample materials may be obtained for a new edition of Chaucer, now become an acknowledged desideratum.
One excellent illustration has lately been added, at page 133., in a note without signature upon "Nettle in, dock out." If confirmed[1], it will furnish not only a most satisfactory explanation of that hitherto incomprehensible phrase, but also a curious example of the faithful preservation of an exact form of words through centuries of oral tradition.
And if the note which precedes it, at page 131., upon a passage in Palamon and Arcite, is less valuable, it is because it is deficient in one of the most essential conditions which such communications ought to possess--that of originality. No suggestion ought to be offered which had been previously published in connexion with the same subject: at least in any very obvious place of reference, such as notes or glossaries already appended to well-known editions of the text.
Now the precise explanation of the planetary distribution of the twenty-four hours of the day, given by [Greek: e]. in the first portion of his communication, was anticipated seventy or eighty years ago by Tyrwhitt in his note upon the same passage of Palamon and Arcite. And with respect to [Greek: e].'s second explanation of the meaning of "houre inequal," that expression also has been commented upon by Tyrwhitt, who attributes it to the well-known expansive duration of ancient hours, the length of which was regulated by that of the natural day at the several seasons of the year: hence an inequality always existed; except at the equinoxes, between hours before, and hours after, sunrise. This is undoubtedly the true explanation, since Chaucer was, at the time, referring to hours before and after sunrise upon the same day. On the contrary, [Greek: e].'s ecliptic hours, if they ever existed at all (he has cited no authority), would be obviously incompatible with the planetary disposition of the hours first referred to.
I shall now, in my turn, suggest explanations of the two new difficulties in Chaucer's text, to {202} which, at the conclusion of his note, [Greek: e]. has