Various

“ This custom of handfasting does not seem to have been peculiar to your parish. Mention is made in some histories of Scotland that Robert II. was handfasted to Elizabeth More before he married Euphemia Ross, daughter of Hugh, Earl of that name, by both of whom he had children; his eldest son John, by Elizabeth More, viz., King Robert III., commonly called Jock Ferngyear, succeeded to the throne in preference to the sons of Euphemia, his married wife. ”

“ There is not a syllable of King Haco or his expedition in the Orkneyinga Saga; and as I cannot reconcile this reference of Torfæus (2nd edition, 1715, book ii. p. 170.) with the Saga, the favour of information is desired from some of your antiquarian correspondents. The Codex Flateyensis has been ascribed to a pensioner of the king of Norway resident in Flottay, one of the southern isles of Orkney, but with more probability can be attributed to some of the monks of the monastery built on the small island of Flatey, lying in Breida Fiord, a gulf on the west coast of Iceland. ”

“ Charles and Margaret complained of the insult, and the cardinal explained as well as he could: at the same time protesting against the misinterpretation of De Præt, and assuring them that nothing could be further from his wish than that any disunion should arise between the king his master and the emperor; and notwithstanding the suspicious aspect of this transaction, his dispatches, both before and after this fracas, strongly corroborate his assertions. Wolsey suspected that the Pope was inclined toward the cause of Francis, and reminded him of his obligations to Henry and Charles. ”

“ This would show that the Codex Flateyensis was the most valuable manuscript of the work published under the name of the Orkneyinga Saga, of which its editor, Jonas Jonæus, in his introductory address to the reader, says its author and age are equally unknown: "auctor incertus incerto æque tempore scripsit." The Orkneyinga Saga concludes with the burning of Adam Bishop, of Caithness, by the mob at Thurso while John was Earl of Orkney, and according to Dalrymple's Annals in A.D. 1222 ”

“ That Edward the Outlaw returned to England in 1057, having had five children, of whom three survived: Edgar; Margaret, who in 1067 married King Malcolm of Scotland, and another daughter.
Now this account is manifestly incorrect. The Emperor Henry II. died childless: when on his death-bed he restored his wife to her parents, declaring that both he and she had kept their vows of chastity.
Solomon did not ascend the throne of Hungary until 1063, in which year he had also married Sophia, daughter of the Emperor Henry III. ”

“ Indeed, after Euphemia's death, he married his former handfasted wife Elizabeth."
Sir J. Chardin observes that contracts for temporary wives are frequent in the East, which contracts are made before the Cadi with the formality of a measure of corn, mentioned over and above the stipulated sum of money.
Baron du Tott's account of "Marriages by Capin," corroborated by Eastern travellers, corresponds with the custom of Handfasting. He says:
"There is another kind of marriage which, stipulating the return to be made, fixes likewise the time when the divorce is to take place. ”

“ Earl's Court, Kensington.
HANDFASTING. (Vol. ii., p. 151.)
Your correspondent J.M.G. has brought forward a curious subject, and one well deserving attention and illustration. A fair is said to have been held at the meeting of the Black and White Esks, at the foot of Eskdalemuir, in Dumfriesshire, when the singular custom of Handfasting was observed. The old statistical account of the parish says:
"At that fair it was the custom for unmarried persons of both sexes to choose a companion according to their liking, whom they were to live with till that time next year. ”

“ Huzzas {274} and "Go on, coachee!" were shouted from the crowd and with no other obstruction than the full streets presented, we reached Beaufort Buildings, in the Strand, the street in which we resided.
There a new scene presented itself, which was very impressive to our young minds. The street was full of soldiers, and the coachman said to my mother, "I cannot go down." A soldier addressed my mother: "No one, ma'am, can go down this street:" to whom my mother replied, "I live here, and am going to my own home." ”

“ An urn of bronze, gilt, containing the king's brains, formerly {282} stood on the crown of this monument. The urn was smashed and the contents scattered over the ground, during the French Revolution. A much more important loss to posterity was incurred by the destruction of the manuscripts entrusted by James to the keeping of the brotherhood he loved. The trust is alluded to with mingled pride and affection in the noble and touching inscription on the royal monument. ”

“ The Committee disclaim all unfriendly feeling towards the Association: they are of opinion that the field of Archæology is sufficiently wide for the operations of several societies without discord; but if the members of the Archæological Association should be disposed to unite with the Institute, the Central Committee will cordially receive them on the terms announced in their advertisement of September 9th, which was intended to be conciliatory, feeling assured that such a course cannot fail to meet with the entire approbation of the members of the Institute. ”

“ Their eldest child, Francis Bosvile, left only daughter, Grace Bosvile, who died young. His three sisters became coheirs, but the estate of Gunthwaite went to an uncle, ancestor of the present Godfrey Bosvile, Lord Macdonald. Of these sisters, Frances Bosvile married John Savile; Dorothy Bosvile, John Lacy; and Elizabeth Bosvile, John Copley: either they had no children, or these died young. Mary Bosvile, the second daughter and coheir, married Richard Burdett, of Derby, living 1612. Their son, George Burdett, had by his first wife a son, whose issue failed ”

“ This contract is a regular form of marriage, and is so regarded generally in the East.
The Jews seem to have had a similar custom, which perhaps they borrowed from the neighbouring nations; at least the connexion formed by the prophet Hosea (chap. iii. 2.) bears a strong resemblance to Handfasting and Capin.
JARLTZBERG.
ADAM OF BREMEN'S JULIN.
In reply to V. from Belgravia (Vol. ii., p. 230.) , I am partially at a loss to know the exact bearing of his Query. Adam of Bremen's account of Julin is no legend, nor does he mention it at all as a doomed city. ”

“ That he having no estate at present, and but little in expectancy after his father's death, he having ten children, and all nine to be provided for out of y'e petitioner's small estate." In a similar petition, dated about two years later, from "Grace, the wife of Humphry Walrond, of Sea, in the county of Somerset, Esquire," she states "herself to be weake woman, and having TEN children (whereof many are infants) to maintain." That he was married to this Grace, and not to Elizabeth (as stated by Burke) , as early as 1634, is clear from a licence to alienate certain lands at Ilminster, 10 Ch. ”

“ I will trespass yet further on your pages to recite one other incident of the riots that occurred in connexion with the attack on the King's Bench prison, and the death of Allen, which made a great stir at the time. The incident I refer to happened thus:—At the gate of the prison two sentinels were placed. One of these was a fine-built young man, full six feet high: he had been servant to my father. ”

“ In Mr. Stamp's reprint of the Rev. C. Elliott's Delineation of Romanism (London, 8vo. 1844) , I find (p. 471., in note) a long paragraph on Pascal's Lettres Provinciales:—
"This exquisite production," says the English editor, "is accompanied, in some editions of it, with the learned and judicious observations of Nicole, who, under the fictitious name of Guillaume Wendrock, has fully demonstrated the truths of those facts which Pascal had advanced without quoting his authorities ”

“ A wealthy noble from the north might express his admiration for the luxuries of Paris by the Russian word [Cyrillic: roskosha] , or Polish roskosz. A Frenchman, catching the sound, might apply it to anything extravagant enough to astonish a barbarian.
4. Cad.—The letters from Scotland ascribed to a Captain Burtt, employed in surveying the forfeited estates, give an account of the "cawdies," or errand boys, of Edinburgh.
5. Fun, perhaps Irish, fonamhad, jeering, mockery (Lhuyd, Archæologia Britannica) . ”

“ Query, Might not Mr. Bohn with advantage include this work in his Standard Library?
IOTA.
REPLIES. CAVE'S HISTORIA LITERARIA.
I do not know whether the notices respecting Cave's Historia Literaria (Vol. ii., pp. 230. 255.) hold out any prospect of a new edition. It is much to be desired; and as it may be done at some time or other, you will perhaps allow me to make a Note of a circumstance which accidentally came to my knowledge, and should be known to any future editor. ”

“ Of these MARY HARDWICK married (his first wife) Richard Wingfield, of Wantisden, seventh son of Sir Anthony Wingfield, of Letheringham, co. Suffolk, K.G. His will was proved in London 14th August, 1591. Their eldest son Henry was of Crowfield, co. Suffolk. His great-grandson, Harbottle Wingfield, of Crowfield, was living 1644, and his descendants, if any, may quarter Hardwick. Their second son, Anthony Wingfield, was the well-known Greek reader to Queen Elizabeth ”

“ After Father Paul's death, he was thought to be the author of these extracts and hence the story which your correspondent quotes. It might occasionally be convenient if your correspondents could make a little inquiry before they send off their letters to you.
Beruchino.
MISCELLANEOUS. NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.
All who love the shady side of Pall Mall, and agree with Dr. Johnson that the tide of human enjoyment flows higher at Charing Cross than in any other part of the globe, will gladly welcome Mr. Jesse's recently published volumes entitled London and its Celebrities. ”

“ Its adoption as a contraction for the English word "and", arose, no doubt, from the facility of its formation; and the name it acquired was "and-per se-and", "and by itself and," which is easily susceptible of the corruptions noticed by MR. LOWER.
[Greek: PHI] .
Walrond Family (Vol. ii., p. 206.) .—Burke, in his History of the Commoners, only gives the name of George, one of the sons of Colonel Humphry Walrond. He also states that the colonel married Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel Napier, Esq., of More Critchel. ”

“ Gibbon's chapter on Mahomet seems to be particularly superficial; it is to be hoped that a future editor will correct it by the aid of Von Hammer's labours.
J.E.B. MAYOR.
Marlborough College.
MINOR NOTES
"Ockley's History of the Saracens," and unauthentic Works.—At the end of a late edition of Washington Irving's Life of Mahomet, those "who feel inclined to peruse further details of the life of Mahomet, or to pursue the course of Saracenic history," are referred to Ockley. Students should be aware of the character of the histories they peruse. ”

“ The arms S.S.S. inquires about on the monument {285} of Humphry Walrond, Esq., in Ilminster Church, are those of the family of Brokehampton. Humphry Walrond (who died 1580) married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of John Brokehampton., of Sea, and so obtained that estate.
W. DOWNING BRUCE.
Middle Temple.
Blackguard (Vol. ii., p. 134.) .—An early instance of the use of this word occurs in a letter from Richard Topcliffe (Aug. 30, 1578) , printed in Lodge's Illustrations, vol. ii. p. 188. I quote from Mr. Jardine's Criminal Trials, vol. ii. p. ”

“ But direct authority seems sadly wanting.
SANDVICENSIS.
"Noli me tangere" (Vol. ii., pp. 153. 219. 250.) .—In a New Testament published by the Portusian Bible Society is a small ill-executed print, called "Christ appearing to Mary," copied from a picture by C. Ciguani.
WEDSECNARF.
Partrige Family (Vol. ii., p. 230.) .—Mr. Partrige's reference to Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials is quite unintelligible to those who have not access to the Oxford reprint of that work. The reprint (I wish that in all other reprints a similar course was adopted) gives the paging of the original folio edition. ”

“ The Duke of Portland, representing Margaret Pelham, the Duke's eldest coheir;
3. The Marquis of Salisbury from Catherine, and second coheir;
4. The Earl De la Warr; and
5. The Earl of Aboyne, are the coheirs of Sir Charles Cope, Baronet, of Orton; who represented Arabella, Countess of Sunderland, third coheir. These five all quarter Hardwick.
ALICE HARDWICK, next daughter, married Francis Hercy, according to some pedigrees. No issue recorded.
There are therefore descendants certainly known of only two of the children of John Hardwick. ”

“ Gibbon, speaking of this Book of Sentences, in a note on his 54th chapter, says, 'Of a list of criminals which fills nineteen folio pages, only fifteen men and four women were delivered to the secular arm.' Vol. ”

“ The third sister, Elizabeth Burdett, married, at Hoyland, 6th Feb., 1636, the Rev. Daniel Clark, A.M., and died 27th Aug., 1679, at Fenney-Compton. Their great-grandson and sole male representative was the late Joseph Clark of Northampton, whose descendants also quarter Hardwick.
ELIZABETH HARDWICK, the next daughter, was the celebrated Countess of Shrewsbury. Her representatives are all noble, and their pedigrees may be found in the Peerages. They are—
1. The Duke of Devonshire, representing Wm. Cavendish, first earl. ”

“ Guiseppe Dolini d Città di Castello a tutti i dotti, e ricchi nazionali, stranieri. 8vo." pp. 16. Oxford.
J.M.
Aërostation.—Your correspondent C.B.M. (Vol. ii., p. 199.) will find some curious matter of aërostation in poor Colonel Maceroni's Autobiography, 2 vols. 8vo.
W.C.
Pole Money (Vol. ii., p. 231.) .—The "pole money" alluded to in the extracts given by T.N.I., was doubtless the poll tax, which was revived in the reign of Charles II. Every one {286} knows that at an earlier period of our history it gave rise to Wat Tyler's insurrection. ”