corporeal and mental, the teachings of astrology are certainly of a most extraordinary kind. To mention but a small portion of the "ills flesh are heir to," of which Luna gets the blame, as enumerated in Livre D'Arcandam par Avger Ferrier, Medecin, Lyon, 1625, would of itself be sufficient for us to pray that she might be obliterated from the face of heaven: "Apostumes de matieres humides, fistules, imbecilité d'estomach et de reins, folie provenante de trop aimer, mal de Naples avec ses supposts, et de venins - sur l'eau, sur le phlegme, sur ses sueurs; et semblables superfluitez, vertigo ou tournement de tete, legereté de cerveau semblable a folie, folles imaginations, empeschemens de langue, phthisis, excoriations des jambes, pieds et mains, et autres qui ont causes latentes, et reviennent par certain temps," &c. the I It is no doubt from the remnants of such a wretched philosophy that many yet will not administer medicines to themselves, nor let blood except under a particular state of the moon. believe no intelligent physician would now hesitate to prescribe to his patient till he had consulted and aspect of the planet, and as in bodily age diseases, so may it be similarly predicated in reference to those of the mind. A gentleman of the highest information who had long the superintendence of a large asylum for the insane, stated to me that he could never discern any difference in the condition of those afflicted with this malady when the moon was at the full more than at any other of her periods, and that he had no faith in the common dogmas entertained. This being the case, may not such phrases as "lunatics" and 66 moon-struck" with propriety be discarded from our language, in their usual acceptations? G. N. JESSE ALTAR IN ST. CUTHBERT'S CHURCH, WELLS. The church of St. Cuthbert in Wells is a large building chiefly of the Third Pointed Period, and consists of a nave, aisles, chancel, and north and south transepts. The western tower is known as one of the finest examples of tower architecture in Somersetshire. On each side of the chancel, and in each transept, are chantry chapels with separate dedications. In the year 1848, Mr. H. Powell, the then churchwarden, commenced some extensive restorations, and in the course of his labours made some most interesting discoveries. Against the eastern wall of each of the transeptal chapels were found reredos, brought to light on removing the plaster from the walls. Each reredos consisted of tiers of niches with canopies, &c., the sculptured ornaments of which were of the richest and most elegant designs. That in the south transept was apparently of a later date than the other, and not so elaborate in its details. It was intended to illustrate the genealogy of our Lord. At the base was the recumbent figure of Jesse, from whose body the stem could be traced, and no doubt ran through the whole series of statues which formerly stood in the niches above. The figure of Jesse was boldly and beautifully carved; but portions of this, as well as the ornamental canopies, &c., where they projected from the wall, had been chopped off, the figures broken into fragments, thrown into the niches, and then plastered over, so as to present an even surface,— an example of the mischiefs effected by the iconoclastic Vandals of the Reformation. Nothing was known of the history of these beautiful remains until a short time since, when the following curious document was found among the city re cords : "The Model of ye Blessed Virgin's Alter Piece. "An Indenture made betwixt Mr William Vowell, Master of ye Towne of Wells, Willyam Stekylpath and Thomas Coorset of the one parte (Chosen Wardens for Our Ladye's Alter) and John Stowell ffreemason of the othor parte; For the makinge of the frounte of the Jesse at our Ladyes Alter at St. Cuthbert's Church in Welles aforesaide. "This Indenture made at Welles in the Shire of Somer set ye 25th daye of Feby in ye yeare of our Lord 1470 and ye yeare of Kinge Henrye ye VI from ye beginninge 49 betweene Mr William Vowell Master of ye City of Welles, William Stekylpath and Thomas Coorset, Wardens of our Ladye's Alter in the Church of St. Cuthbert in Welles foresaid on that one parte, and John Stowell of Welles foresaid ffreemason on that other parte. Witnesseth that the said John Stowell hath take to make and shall make pleymorly performe and within 16 Moneths next suing or do to be made well sufficientlye and workemanly and the date of this Indenture. All the Workmanshipp and Masonry Crafte of a Frounte Innynge to y Alter of our Ladye within ye Churche of St. Cuthbert in Welles foresaid in ye South Ile of the same; The which Frounte shall extend in breadth fro the Koyne of the Arch beinge the North parte of the said Alter unto the Augill beinge in ye south side of the Alter foresaide. Alsoe ye said Frounte shall arise in heighte from the groundinge of yo saide Alter unto the Wall plate of ye yle foresaid or else littlelake so as it may moste convenyentlye be proportioned and moste stablish'd. In which Frounte shal stand three stagis of Imagery accordinge to ye geneology of our Ladye wyth theire basyngs, hovelis and tabernaclis, well and workmanlye made and wroughte. There shal alsoe arise from the basyngs of ye said Frounte bytwene Image and Image, Coorses well and workemanlye wroughte trayles runninge in the said Coorses accordinge to the workes foresaid with two wyngis comyinge out from the said frounte after the bredth of the Alter, freight with Imagery such as can be thought by the Master and his brothers moste accordinge to the story of ye saide frounte. In ye lowest p'te of ye whiche stagis shall be a Jesse; the which Jesse shall linially runne from Image to Image through all the foresaid frounte and coorses as workes and businesse the foresaid John Stowell shall workmanly as it can be wroughte. To all the whiche finde or do finde all maner of Stuffe, as well freeston fair and profitable as rough stone, lyme, sand, yron, lead and scafold Tymber and all other stuffe necessary to the said For the which workmanship and stuffe as it is above writ the foresaid John Stowell shall have and receyve of the said Maister or Wardens or theire deputies Forty poundes in good and lawful money workis to be had. of England, in suche wise and at suche tymes as it sayth hereafter: First at the sealinge of this Indenture, forty shillinges and after that weekly as it may be understood that the worke goeth forth. All the residue to be paid at the end of the foresaid weeks, save alwayes before that the said Maister and Wardens have remayninge in their hands till the foresaid workis bee perfectlye ended five pounds. For all the whiche Covenants well and trulye to be performed the said John Stowell bindeth himselfe his eyres and his executors by obligation in Twenty pounds to be payd to ye said Mr. William Vowell or to his assignees so that the sayd John breake any of the Covenants foresaid. In witnesse whereof the said partys foresaid have putt theire seales &c." THE TWELVE SIXES OF MAN'S LIFE. INA. I copy the following quaint and curious verses from a Salisbury Primer, with this title : "This prymer of Salysbury vse is set out a long withoutony serchyng, with many prayers, and goodly pyctures in the kalender, in the matyns of our lady, in the houres of the crosse, in the vii psalmes, and in the dyrge. And be newly enpryted at Parys. M,D,XXXiij." It is, of course, black letter. Each month in the calendar at the beginning has a verse on a separate page, embellished with an appropriate woodcut. "Janvarivs. The fyrst vi. yeres of manes byrth and aege. The other vi yeres is lyke Febrvary. Marche betokeneth te vi yeres folowynge. And without thought dooth his sporte and pleasure. "Mayvs. As in the month of Maye all thyngis in myght. In June all thyng falleth to rypenesse. At xl yere of aege or elles neuer. The goodes of the erthe is gadred euermore. In August so at xlviij yere. Man ought to gather some goodes in store. To susteyne aege that than draweth nere. September. 66 Lete no ma thynke for to gather plēty. By Octobre betokeneth 1x yere. Whan man is at lxvi yere olde. The yere by Decebre taketh his ende. Minor Notes. "The Proverbs as illustrating National Character. As commentary upon Bacon's remark, genius, wit, and spirit of a nation are discovered by their proverbs," may I propose a collection of proverbs illustrative of national and local characteristics? I collect the following (e. g.) from the pages of D'Israeli : Roman (applied to their last stake at play). "Rem ad triarios venisse." (Military.) Hebrew. "When the tale of bricks is doubled, Moses comes." (Historical.) Arab. 66 Vinegar given is better than honey bought." (Showing poverty.) Briton (early). "The cleanly Briton is seen in the hedge." (Agricultural.) Chinese. "A grave and majestic outside is the palace of the soul." (Civilised.) Bengalese. "He who gives blows is a master, he who gives none is a dog." (Slavish.) Spanish. "Con el rey y la inquisicion, chiton!" With the king and the inquisition, hush! (Oppressed.) Venetian. "Pria Veneziani, poi Christiane." First Venetian, and then Christian. (Mistaken patriotism?) Italian. "Il viso sciolto, ed i pensieri stretti." An open countenance but close thoughts. (Cunning.) French. "Tel coup de langue est pire qu'un coup de lance." The tongue strikes more than the lance. Scotch. "Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them." (Selfish closeness.) Japanese. "A fog cannot be dispelled with a fan." (Drawn from frequent objects.) To take examples from England: Isle of Man. "As equally as the herring-bone lies between the two sides." Cheshire. "Better wed over the mixon than over the inoor." Cornwall. "Those who will not be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock." THRELKELD. Letter Writers.—Artists have gratified us with their representations of the Italian letter-writer, the Spanish, the oriental, and others. Why should the profession be unknown in this country? In a market town or large village, if a worthy individual, backed by influential friends, would boldly display the inscription, "Letters written here, charge one penny," a sufficient remuneration would probably be soon obtained. 66 C. T. The "Bell Bastard," a term of reproach. illegitimate child of a woman who is herself illegi timate, is styled by the vulgar in this town and neighbourhood, a bell bastard." Can this term of reproach have the same etymological signification as the phrase "to bear away the bell," in respect of its chief and crowning ignominy? Haverfordwest. JOHN PAVIN PHILLIPS. 66 Any they dare chalenge for to throw the sleudge, To wrastle, play at stooleball, or to Runne, At shove groate, or venterpoynte or crosse and pile, Z. z "Knowledge is Power."-I send you a happy epigram, struck off many years ago by no less a person, I believe, than the present Archbishop of Dublin, when a resident at Oriel College, Oxford. A student having been somewhat officiously interfered with by a Proctor of the College of All Souls, and, as it seemed, unjustly fined for the offence of frequenting taverns, when it seemed that he had been there only in search of a parcel which was to come by the coach, was waited upon by the friends of the supposed delinquent and expostulated with, but to no purpose. The only answer received was: "I have the power to fine him, and I shall do so." This being mentioned to the Archbishop produced the following lines: "Knowledge is Power,' so saith the learned Bacon, And sure in that, the Sage was not mistaken; But happy would it be for All Souls' College, If, on the contrary, Power gave Knowledge." The sting of the epigram, which was sufficiently sharp forty years ago, has long since lost its point. R. W. B. Queries. QUERIES RESPECTING CERTAIN THEOSOPHISTS AND MYSTICS. The Lectionum An 1. CELIUS RHODIGINUS. tiquarum Libri Triginta has long been a favourite with me as a vast repertory of profound and valuable learning; and I would fain know something about the compiler or compilers; for it appears that Vindex Ceselius originally compiled these "Commentaries," and that Cælius of Rhodes re-arranged, enlarged, and re-edited them. The title of the Aldine edition (Venetiis, MDXVI.), which in that of Geneva (1620) is given in its proper place as the advertisement Ad Lectorem, is worth quoting: "Sicuti Antiquarum Lectionum Commentarios concinnarat olim Vindex Ceselius; Ita nunc eosdem per incuriam interceptos reparavit Lodovicus Cælius Rhodiginus, in corporis unam velut molem aggestis primum linguæ utriusque floribus; mox advocato ad partes Platone item ac Platonicis omnibus, necnon Aristotele ac Hæreseos ejusdem viris aliis, sed et Theologorum plerisque, ac Jureconsultorum, ut Medicos taceam, et Mathesin professos. Ex qua velut Lectionis farragine explicantur linguæ Latinæ loca, quingentis haud pauciora fere, vel aliis intacta, vel pensiculate parum excussa. Opto valeas, qui leges, livore posito, αὕτη γὰρ ἀντιπελαργῶσις ἱκάνη.” The last and best edition of this noble work * with which I am acquainted, is that of Geneva, 1620, a stout folio of 1720 numbered columns, or 860 closely printed pages. It is thus entitled: "Ludovici Cælii Rhodigini Lectionum Antiquarum Libri Triginta, Recogniti ab auctore, atque ita locupletati, ut tertia plus parte auctiores sint redditi: Ob omnifariam Abstrusarum et Reconditiorum tam rerum quam vocum explicationem (quas vix unius hominis ætas, libris perpetuo insudans, observaret) merito Cornucopiæ seu Thesaurus utriusque linguæ appellandi." There is another edition which I have not met with, viz. Francof. 1666, folio. 2. THOMAS WILLIS, M.D.- Samuel Pordage translated "all the Medical Works of that Renowned Physician," and published them under the title, Practice of Physic, Lond. 1681, folio. Pordage also translated his De Anima Brutorum, Oxon. 1672, 4to., Two Discourses concerning the Soul of Brutes, which is that of the Vital and Sensitive of Man, &c., 1683, folio.* any I shall be glad to get any particulars respecting Dr. Willis, and the title of other philosophical or miscellaneous work by him. I see that Dr. Greenhill, the editor of that excellent series of Medical Ethics and Biography issued from Oxford, contemplates a life of Willis, and is desirous of information on the subject. 3. THOMAS TRYON, M.D.-Tryon, like Cheyne, was distinguished by his love of dietetics and mystical writers; like Cheyne, too, he was very fond of appearing original, and disliked quoting or referring to the source of his eccentric flights. Both writers were well read in Böhme and Poiret, and neither acknowledge their obligations; both were more or less Pythagoreans in doctrine. Tryon affected an uncouth and cumbrous phraseology, and was tinctured with that chemical theology which disfigured Böhme. In his chief work (Knowledge of a Man's Self) the three ideas he is always harping on are, 1. The Seven Fountain Spirits (which he stole from Böhme, as Cheyne did the Doctrine of the Three Principles); 2. An insane notion that the gist of philosophy and selfculture lies in diet, or what we eat and drink; 3. The power, blessedness, and glory of silence, which he enlarges on in a way that would delight (or, perhaps, has often delighted) the heart of Mr. Carlyle. Tryon was a voluminous writer, and it is not worth while giving a list of his writings, of which I have a tolerably complete collection. I shall feel much obliged to any one who will sell or lend me Memoirs of Thomas Tryon, Lond. 1705, 18mo., or give me a sketch of his life; especially as Tryon is not included in Dr. Greenhill's list of proposed biographies. 4. THOMAS BROMLEY, a member of Pordage's Philadelphian Society, was born at Upton-uponSevern in Worcestershire, and — "became a member of All-Souls College in Oxford, when God was pleased to reveal His Son in him, and to make great and glorious discoveries of Himself unto him, such as it may be, should they be here related, some would scarce be able to understand or bear. And from that time. he became a true minister of the Gospel, not of the letter but of the Spirit." He died in 1691. This scanty notice is gleaned in part from the publisher's preface to — * I have seen the Theophisical Alchemy, Lond. 1616, 8vo., of a namesake, attributed to Dr. Willis; but erroneously, as he was not born until 1622. What is known of the other Thomas Willis? "The Way to the Sabbath of Rest: or the Soul's Progress in the Work of the New Birth. To which are now added, Two Discourses of the Author never before printed, viz. The Journeys of the Children of Israel, as in their Names and Historical Passages they comprise the great and gradual Work of Regeneration. And A Treatise of Extraordinary Divine Dispensations, under the Jewish and Gospel Administrations; with the Various Ways of God's manifesting Himself to Man. By Mr. Thomas Bromley. London: 1761, pp. 252., sm. 8vo." The Sabbath of Rest had been printed before, Lond. 1710, 8vo., and Lond. 1730, 12mo. The publisher of the three treatises which appeared in 1761 informs the reader "that the Author has left several other excellent Spiritual Discourses behind him, which, if this be well received, are intended to be made public for the use of the Church in her present wilderness condition." Have any of them been published ? * 5. AUTHOR OF "MEMOIRS OF A DEIST," &c. Who wrote the remarkable work thus entitled? "Memoirs of a Deist, written first A.D. 1793-4; being a Narrative of the Life and Opinions of the Writer, until the period of his Conversion to the Faith of Jesus Christ, which took place in the course of the Developments of an Essay written by the Deist, to prove that pure Deism was the only true Religion. (Luke, viii. 16.; Ps. lxvi.) London. Hatchards, 1824, pp. 227, 8vo." The preface contains a letter from the well-known John Newton to the author, dated Nov. 1796; and it appears that by his advice the Memoir was cut down to half the original size. The writer was born in the year 1756 or 1757, and went out to India as a cadet in the Company's service in 1776. The Memoirs evince a strong predilection for mathematical science, united with an extraordinary aptitude for idealism and analogy. In 1826 or 1827 our anonymous author published the first of a series of Essays on Universal Analogy between the Natural and the Spiritual Worlds, Essay I. Sect. 1., Parallel between the Soul and Body of Man." I have advertised for this work, but have not yet succeeded in getting a copy of it, which I am very anxious for. The second section of Essay I. was published in 1828, with this title: "Essays on the Universal Analogy between the Natural and the Spiritual Worlds, as applicable to the Parallels of the following Subjects: -- Essay I. Sect. 1. — Parallel between the Soul and Body Essay III. - Parallel between Mexico and Peru, Natural and Spiritual. * I am not within reach at present of any bibliographical works or books of reference. In Mr. Barry's forthcoming work on The English Mystics, I trust Thomas Bromley may find due consideration. Cf. "N. & Q.," 2nd S. i. 93. By the Author of Memoirs of a Deist. In this essay the author, assisted, as it appears, solely by the analogical bias of his own mind, the Bible, and some scientific works, arrives at much the same conclusions with the Mystics, especially Böhme and Swedenborg, without impugning the orthodox faith; and many parts of it remind one of Dr. Cheyne's, Philosophical Principles of Religion, Natural and Revealed. The six remaining essays, or most of them, were written and prepared for the press, as they are frequently quoted and referred to, but they were never published. I should be very glad to know if the MSS. be still in existence, and I much regret their not having been published, especially Essays IV. V. and VÏ. 6. THOMAS TAYLOR. Few people know more of "Taylor the Platonist," or "Taylor the Pagan," as he is sometimes called, than that he was a self-taught man, who devoted himself for forty years or more, with incessant application, to the study of the Platonists, and especially the Later or Alexandrian Platonists; and that he threw himself with such spirit and enthusiasm into his studies, and gave up his mind so entirely in this one-sided pursuit, that at length he embraced this refined and philosophical Paganism as his religion; for Taylor, as for Goethe, Hegel, and others*, the fascinating mythology of ancient * "There are four things," says Goethe, "that I detest equally, tobacco and bells, bugs and Christianity." This sentiment, according to La Liberté de Penser, "is the most natural expression of the invincible repugnance that the Olympic Jupiter of modern times felt towards the æsthetic Christian. It is by instinct Goethe hates the moral revolution which has substituted the pale and sickly Virgin for the antique Venus; and for the ideal perfection of the Human Body, represented by the Gods of Greece, the meagre image of a Crucified Man whose limbs are distorted by four nails. After this it is not surprising that we find the colossal head of Jupiter placed before his bed and turned towards the rising sun, in order that he may address his morning prayers to him on waking. Inaccessible alike to tears and fear, Jupiter was truly the God of this great man. Hegel pronounced with equal decision in favour of the religious ideal of the Hellenists, and against the intrusion of the Syrians or Galilæans. The legend of Christ appeared to him conceived in the same system as the Alexandrian biography of Pythagoras. It is the same theme that has so often excited the mirth and humour of Henry Heine. But M. Louis Feurbach, chief of the young German school, is perhaps the most complete expression of this antipathy Greece was still a living reality, and Schiller's lament, did not extend to him. "Die alten Fabelwesen sind nicht mehr, Das reizende Geschlecht ist ausgewandert," Emerson, in recording a conversation he had with Wordsworth in March, 1848, continues: "We talked of English national character. I told him, it was not creditable that no one in all the country knew anything of Thomas Taylor, the Platonist, whilst in every American library his translations are found."English Traits, p. 166. There is, I believe, a sketch of Taylor's life in Knight's Penny Cyclopædia; however, I have never seen it, and I would feel much obliged for any particulars respecting this remarkable man, especially as I have a number of his translations, &c., and am under many obligations to him. A reprint in a compact form of his scattered pieces, contributions to the Classical Journal, Old Monthly Magazine, The Pamphleteer*, &c., would be very acceptable to Taylor's readers at both sides of the Atlantic. 7. LETTERS OF BROTHER LAURENCE. I re member somewhere meeting a strong eulogium on this work, characterising it as mystical and deeply spiritual. I have never since met with this book, or gained any intelligence respecting it; some of your readers, perhaps, may supply the deficiency. In concluding these Notes and Queries, allow me to remind your correspondent ANON. that he has not completed, as he promised he would, his valuable and interesting Note on Böhme, "N. & Q.," EIRIONNACH. 2nd S. i. 513. Minor Queries. How is it that this ode, which is usually ascribed Collins's Ode: "How sleep the brave," &c. to Collins, and is always, I believe, inserted among his poems, is also found in the Oratorio of " Alfred the Great," to which the following "advertisement" is prefixed? "This Oratorio is altered from 'Alfred,' a Masque, represented before their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, at Cliefden, August 1, 1740; being the birth-day of the Princess Augusta. Written by the late Mr. Thomson and Mr. Mallet, and afterwards new written by Mr. Mallet, and acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane in 1751." The edition of the Oratorio from which this "advertisement" is copied was printed at London in 1754. J. M. Oxford. against Christianity," &c. See Liberté de Penser, Nov. 20, 1850, and Le Ver Rongeur des Sociétés Modernes par L'Abbé Gaume, cap. xvi. *Such dissertations, too, as are attached to his larger works; for instance, the History of the Restoration of the Platonic Theology, by the genuine Disciples of Plato, appended to the second volume of Proclus on Euclid. |