Notes and Queries, Number 62, January 4, 1851. Various
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to decide whether it was founded upon Greene's novel, Shakspeare's play, or upon some independent, possibly foreign, narrative. I am by no means satisfied that Greene's novel was not a translation, and we know that he was skilful in Italian, Spanish, and French.
I cannot find the particular Number of NOTES AND QUERIES, but unless I am greatly mistaken, in one of them, a correspondent gave praise (I am the last to say it was not deserved) to DR. MAGINN for suggesting that miching mallecho, in Hamlet, Act III. Sc. 2., was from the Spanish mucho malhecho. I never heard of DR. MAGINN's opinion until I saw it in your pages; but if you happen to be able to refer to the Shakspeare I superintended through the press in 1843, vol. vii. p 271., note 9., you will see that I propose the Spanish word malhecho as the origin of "mallecho." I did not think this point worth notice at the time, and I doubt whether it is worth notice now. If you leave out this postscript, as you are at perfect liberty to do, I shall conclude that you are of my opinion.
[The passage to which our valued correspondent refers is in our Second Volume, p. 358., where J.M.B. points out that the suggestion of a writer in the Quarterly Review for March 1850, that Shakspeare's miching mallecho was a mere misprint of the Spanish words mucho malhecho, had been anticipated by DR. MAGINN. It now appears that he had also been anticipated by MR. COLLIER.]
CROSSING RIVERS ON SKINS
The mode of crossing a river on skins, mentioned by Layard (Nineveh and its Remains, 5th edition, vol. i. p. 129., vol. ii. p. 381.) is also referred to in the works of the following ancient writers. I quote Facciolati Lexicon Totius Latinitatis, in vocibus Uter et Utricularius. [Edit. Furlanetto, 4to.]
"Frequens fuit apud veteres utrium usus ad flumina trananda, Liv. 21. 27. Hispani, sine ulla mole, in utres vestimentis conjectis, ipsi cetris suppositis incubantes, flumen tranavere, Cæs. B.G. i. 48. Lusitani, peritique earum regionum cetrati citerioris Hispaniæ, consectabantur, quibus erat proclive transnare flumen, quod consuetudo eorum omnium est, ut sine utribus ad exercitum non eant, (Cf. Herzog., qui longam huic loco adnotationem adscripsit), Curt. 7. 5. Utres quam plurimos stramentis refertos dividit; his incubantes transnavere amnem, Plin. 6. 29. 35. Arabes Ascitæ appellati, quoniam bubulos utres binos sternentes ponte piraticam exercent, h.e. utribus junctis tabulas instar pontis sternentes. Adde Front. Strat. 3. 13., et Ammian. 30. 1. med."
"Utricularii vocabantur qui utriculos, seu utres inflatos ratibus ita subjiciebant, ut iisdem flumina transnare possent. Eorum collegium in quibusdam urbibus ad flumen aliquod sitis habebatur, ideoque utricularii sæpe cum nautis conjunguntur, Inscr. ap. Mur. 531, n. 4. Ex voto a solo templum ex suo fecerunt collegio utriculariorum."
Manpadt House, near Haarlem.
FOLK LORE OF SOUTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, NO. 3
Hedgehog.—Among other animals looked upon in a superstitious light, we have the hedgehog, who, in addition to his still credited attribute of sucking cows, is looked upon by our rustics as the emblem of craft and cunning; playing the same part in our popular stories as Reynard in the more southern fabliaux. They tell concerning him, the legend given by M.M. Grimm, of the race between the Hare and Hedgehog. The Northamptonshire version makes the trial of speed between a fox and hedgehog. In all other respects the English tale runs word for word with the German.
Hares.—Besides the ancient superstition attached to the crossing of the path by one of these animals, there is also a belief that the running of one along the street or mainway of a village, portends fire to some house in the immediate vicinity.
Toads.—Belief in their venomous nature is yet far from being extinct. This, added to the ill-defined species of fascination which they are supposed to exercise, has caused them here, as elsewhere, to be held in great abhorrence. I have heard persons who ought to have known better, exclaim on the danger of gazing upon one of the harmless reptiles. The idea respecting the fascinating powers of the toad, is by no means confined to our district. Witness the learned Cardan:
"Fascinari pueros fixo intuitu magnorum bufonum et maximè qui è subterraneo specu aut sepulchris prodierint, utque ob id occulto morbo perire, haud absurdum est."—De Rerum Varietate, lib. xvi. c. 90.
Crickets, contrary to the idea prevailing in the western counties, are supposed to presage good luck, and are therefore most carefully preserved. Their presence is believed to be a sure omen of prosperity; while, on the other hand, their sudden departure from a hearth which has long echoed with their cry, betokens approaching misfortune, and is regarded as the direst calamity that can happen to the family.
Magpies.—To see one magpie alone bodes bad luck; two, good luck; three, a "berrin;" four, a wedding. This is our version of the saying: Grose gives it differently.
Spiders.—When a spider is found upon your clothes, or about your person, it signifies that you will shortly receive some money. Old Fuller, who was a native of Northamptonshire, thus quaintly moralises this superstition:
"When a spider is found upon our clothes, we use to say, some money is coming towards us. The moral is this: such who imitate the industry of that contemptible creature may, by God's blessing, weave themselves into wealth and procure a plentiful estate."—Worthies, p.58. Pt. 2. ed. 1662.
Omens of death and misfortune are also drawn from the howling of dogs—the sight of a trio of butterflies—the flying down the chimney of swallows or jackdaws; and swine are sometimes said to give their master warning of his death by giving utterance to a peculiar whine, known and understood only by the initiated in such matters. Gaule, in his Mag-astromancers Posed and Puzzled, Lond. 1652, p. 181, ranks among evil omens "the falling of swallows down the chimney" and "the grunting of swine."
MINOR NOTES
Kentish Town in the last Century—
"Thursday night some villains robbed the Kentish Town Stage, and stripped the passengers of their money, watches, and buckles. In the hurry they spared the pockets of Mr. Corbyn, the druggist; but he, content to have neighbour's fare, called out to one of the rogues, 'Stop, friend, you have forgot to take my money'."—Morning Chron. and Land Advertiser, Jan. 9. 1773.
Murray's Hand-book for Devon and Cornwall.—The author does not mention Haccombe Chapel or the Oswell Rocks, both near Newton; the latter is a most picturesque spot, and the view near and far most interesting!—A notice of the tiles, and of the 2ft. 2in effigy at Haccombe, appears in the Arch. Journal, iii. 151. 237.—The monuments are in fine preservation up to the last of the "Haccombes" ante 1342, which is perfect. The chapel would be improved by the removal of the two pews and of the family arms from the velvet cloth on the communion-table!—Tavistock Church has an east window by Williment; pattern, and our Saviour in the centre.—The church by Dartmouth Castle contains a brass and armorial gallery; the visitor should sail round the rock at the harbour entrance, it's appearance from seaward is fine.—Littleham Church has a decorated wooden screen, very elegant.—A work on the Devonshire pulpits and screens would be valuable.
Judges Walk, Hampstead.—A friend of mine, residing at Hampstead, has communicated to me the following information, which I forward to you as likely to instruct your readers.
He states that the oldest inhabitant of Hampstead, Mr. Rowbotham, a clock and watchmaker, died recently, at the age of ninety. He told his son and many other persons, that in his youth the Upper Terrace Avenue, on the south-west side of Hampstead Heath was known by the name of "The Judges' Walk," from the circumstance of prisoners having been tried there during the plague of London. He further stated, that he had received this information from his grandmother.
Somerset House.
Gray's Alcaic Ode.—A question asked in Vol. i., p. 382, whether "Gray's celebrated Latin Ode is actually to be found entered at