STOCKPORT ADVERTISER Notes and Queries. THIRD VOLUME: 1883. SATURDAY, MARCH 3RD, 1883. Lotes. THE ACTION OF CHESHIRE MEN IN THE STRUGGLES FOR THE CROWN. [1259.] The Welsh party evidently favoured the Mortimers at one time, and some of their writers of a later date have suggested that even so late as Richard the Third's time a very strong Cambrian party adhered to the York fortunes. I see on reference to a work published in 1826 that Gohdys, daughter of Llewelyn the Great, had married Sir Ralph Mortimer. Her mother, Joan, was daughter to Henry the Third, and thus the Mortimers-from that time--represented the two royal houses of England and Wales. When the great battle of Shrewsbury was fought, the Percies and Glendower certainly took the same side, and against Henry the Fourth; and it is generally held that if Glando wer hal been present with his followers the res to fight would have been different, and that the kingdom of England and Wales would probably have been divided into three great provinces, ruled over respectively by the Mortimers, the Percies, and Glendower. When Henry the Fifth came to the throne, he not only gained the goodwill and support of the young Earl of March-the Mortimer heir-but that of the Welsh also; for a considerable number of the Taffys, we are told, accompanied him to France, and fought there under his banner. But, notwithstanding that fact, it is very clear that at one tine the great Welch leader, Sir Rhys ap Thomas, favoured the pretensions of Richard the Third, and that he suddenly changed sides, and they became the avowed champions of Henry of Richmond's cause, and slew with his own hand the king-as some say-on Bosworth Field. How did the change come about? The Welsh scribes say, "Because both he and his followers thought the descendants of Goldys had a better right to the crown than Richard had ;" and thus we are naturally driven to enquire how Henry the Seventh could pretend to represent in his own person the Weish claims of that la ly, or the English ones of her Mortimer descendants ? There is a good answer, possibly, to the enquiry, but I do not myself know of it at this moment. The Boling. brokes did not, I apprehend, carry with them the sympathies of the Cheshire men. Henry the Fourth was, in their opinion, a pre'ende to the crown; and, as in these days, Cheshire induences counted for much upon the northern counts of North Wales. Many old Cheshire families, Laving their representatives in Flintsuire and ia be byshite, we may properly enquire how they acted at Shrewsbury. Dia they cast in their lot afterwards with Henry the Fifth? Did they in the last struggle of all side with Richard the Third, or with Henry of Richmond? I should be glad if some of your learned readers could make this story plain, for we may be sure that the men of Cheshire stood out bravely for the cause which commended itself to them most, and that they must also influence North Walians considerably. ANTIQUARY. A RIVER OF HOT WATER. [1260.] The great Sutro tunnel, cut to relieve the celebrated Comstock mines at Virginia City, Nev., of the vast quantities of hot water which is encountered in them, affords an outlet to 12,000,000 tons every 24 hours. Some of the water, as it finds its way into the mines, has a temperature of 195 degrees, while four miles from the mouth of the tunnel the temperature ranges from 130 degrees to 135 degrees. To obviate the inconvenience which would arise from the vapour such a vast quantity of water would give off, the flow is conducted through the entire tunnel, four miles, in a tight flume made of pine. At the point of exit the water has lost but seven degrees of heat. Sixty feet below the mouth of the tunnel the hot water is utilised for turning machinery belonging to the company, from whence it is carried off by a tunnel 1100 feet in length, which serves as a wasteway. Leaving the wasteway tunnel, the water flows to the Carson River, a mile and a half distant. This hot water is being utilised for many purposes. The boys have arranged several pools, where they indulge in hot baths. The miners and others use it for laundry purposes, and arrangements are being made whereby 1000 acres belonging to the company are being irrigated. It is proposed to conduct the hot water through iron pipes, beneath the surface of the soil, near the roots of thousands of fruit trees which are to be planted, and in a similar manner give the necessary warmth to a number of hothouses to be used for the propagation of early fruits and vegetables. C. HOPKINS, Withington. CURIOUS SERMON. [1261.] The Stockp rt Advertiser for January 5, 1823, contains the following remarkable sermon:"The Rev. Mr Dodd, a very worthy minister, who lived a few miles from Cambridge, had rendered himself obnoxious to many of the Cantabs, by frequently preaching against drunkenness; several of whom, meeting him on a journey, determined to make him preach a sermon in a hollow tree, which was on the roadside, and they gave him the word Malt by way of text. Finding remonstrance was in vain, he delivered himself as follows: Beloved, let me crave your attention. I am a little man come to a short notice, to preach a short sermon, from a small subject, in an unworthy pulpit, to a small congregation. Beloved, my text is MALT. I cannot divide it into words, it being but one; nor into syllables, it being but one; I must, therefore, of necessity, divide it into letters, which I find to be these four, M, A, L, T-M, my beloved, is moral; A, is allegorical; L, is literal; T, is theological. The moral is set forth to teach you drunkards good manners; therefore, M, masters; A, all of you; L, listen; T, to my text. The allegorical is when one thing is spoken and another meant. The thing spoken of is malt; the thing meant is the juice of malt; which you Cantabs make M, your master; A, your apparel; L, your liberty; and T, your trust. The literal is according to the letter; M, much; A, ale; L, little; T, trust. The theological is according to the effects that it works, and these I find to be of two kinds-first, in this world; secondly, in the world to come. The effects it works in this world are, in some, M, murder; in others, A, adultery; in all, L, looseness of life; and in some, T, treason. The effects that it works in the world to come are M, misery; A, anguish; L, lamentation; and T, torment: and so much for this tune and text. I shall improve this; first by way of exhortation: M, masters; A, all of you; L, leave off; T, tippling. Or, secondly, by way of excommunication: M, masters; A, all of you; L, look for; T, torment. Thirdly, by way of caution: A drunkard is the annoyance of modesty, the spoil of civility, the brewer's agent, the ale-house benefactor, his wife's sorrow, his children's trouble, his own shame, his neighbour's scorn, a walking swill-bowl, the picture of a beast, and the monster of a man, Now, to etc."" Stockport. WARREN-BULKELEY. is that known as the " Sale by Candle," which generally obtained in former times, and one that has even come down to our own period. In the county of Dorset the practice of letting by inch of candle still prevails to some extent. We learn from the Bristol Times and Mirror for March 29th, 1873, that, at the annual letting of the parish meadow of Broadway, near Weymouth, which occurred a few weeks before this date, an inch of candle was placed on the edge of a knife (a pin or peg would serve as well) and lighted by one of the parish officers. The biddings were taken down by a parish official, and the chance of taking the meadow was open to all while the candle was burning. The last bidder before the candle went out was the in coming tenant. It is recorded in the minutes of the Town Council of Nottingham, for the year 1689, that the scavengers' fee [was] to be let by "match and pin." The" scavenger," at this time, was charged with the duties of seeing that the pavements and streets of the town were kept clear and in repair, and to attend to the Mayor's wife!-a curious combination of duties. The phrase "by match and pin" is some. what analogous to that of "sale by candle," for "match" is defined by Halliwell as "the wick of a candle." Another writer affirms that the match was a spell of wood soaked in brimstone or other inflammable substance. Whichever is correct the practice remains the same. The letting continued until the "match" was burnt down to a point where a pin had been stuck in. In Hull and the East Coast towns the auctioneers sometimes sell their lots by the sand glass to this day, usually running out three glasses before the buyer is declared; and at Grimsby and Yarmouth certain kinds of fish are disposed of by Dutch auction, by which the bidding is made by the auctioneer who reduces the price until the lot is claimed. practice is adopted by itinerant auctioneers to evade the payment of the auctioneer's tax. This J. POTTER BRISCOE, F.R.H.S. Nottingham Free Public Library. FAMILY OF MORETON OF LITTLE MORFTON. (No. 1254.) [1263.] In continuation of my last paper I may say, Sir William Moreton, the eminent lawyer, found a grave in the noble Parish Church of Astbury, in which his old hall was situated under an altar tomb in a chancel at the east end of the north aisle, which was divided between the manorial proprietors of Odd Rode and Little Moreton. Ab ve the tomb his hatchment was formerly suspended, and on the top of the wall of the nave of the church was a small escutcheon on which were painted the arms of Moreton as one of the "Prepositü" or "posts" of the church, as they were called in the earlier days of the Church, argent, a greyhound couchant, sable. On paying a visit to this church some 12 years ago I found all the hatchments had disappeared from the walls before the hand of 'aodern improvement. Such things as the banners, crests, and arms of families, may by some be considered as no ornament, and quite unfitted for a sacred edisce, but they should remember the body of the church belongs to the people of the parish, and they are bound to keep it in repair, whilst the chancel is the property of the rector for the time being, and he s likewise bound to keep it in good repair. These old monuments and relics of ancient parishioners prove interesting and useful records of families once resident therein, and all those who are fond of antiquities and ancient heraldic lore must regret their removal. E.H HYMN OF THE RUSHBEARERS. [1281.] The customs and usages af bye-gone days, and those who took part in them as they passed along to the church, not in drunkenness and revelry, but singing hymns as the ancient rushbearers did, must possess considerable interest. The following hymn was originally composed by a country curate, whose name is now merged into oblivion, except the one once in use which was quite unsuitable for such occasions. It seems very appropriate to the dedication of a church or harvest thanksgiving, and I have taken the liberty to rescue it from oblivion : HYMN OF THE RUSHBEADENS. But honour still together met The Lord of earth and heaven. Sing we the good Creator's praise, To cheer our hearts with fruitful days, No doubt many such compositions are lost, as no careful hand has collected them. STUDENT. Replies. THE CHILTERN HUNDREDS. (No. 1'56.) [1265.] The office of steward for Chiltern Hundreds was established for the purpose of suppressing the depredators who, in former times, infested the forests with which the sides of the Chiltern Hills wero covered. Formerly the steward had a business office, duties to perform, and a salary for performing them. Sir Erskine May tells us that a member of Parliament after due election cannot resign his seat, hence arise certain manœuvres. If a member wishes to resign his seat he asks for and obtains an office under the Crown, usually the office of steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, and thereby forfeits his seat. The office is merely nominal-no place of business or of meeting, no responsibilities, no duties, no powers, no salaries, no fees. It is simply kept up to extricate members of the House of Commons from an occasional dilemma. RED TAPE. CURIOUS EPITAPHS. [1266.] The following will, no doubt, be interesting to churchyard gleaners : AT BRISTOL: ON MRS ELIZABETH MOODY. To wedded love gave friendship's hi hest zest. In this same grave my oly lies at rest Till Christ, my king sh 1 rai-e me to be blest; O thou, or fri These sol m Think, when CLAYBROOK, LEICESTER HIRE: ON CLUFR DICEY, 1647. Roger Snelson, citizen, and dyer, London by will, to be bestowed on six poor people of Sutton, every week for ever in bread the interest of £30. Inhabitants (landowners) of Sutton added by subscription, to be bestowed as the will of Roger Snelson directs the interest of £3 6s 8d. Interest arising from both sums is £2 per annum 1689. Catherine Nixon, widow, Macclesfield, by will, to be bestowed on the poor of Sutton about the time of Michaelmas, yearly for ever in cloth, the nterest of £60. 1738. Inhabitants (landowners) Sutton added by subscription to be bestowed as the will of Catherine Nixon directs, the interest of £6 13s 4d Interest arising from both sums is £4, with permission of the minister and wardens of St. George's Church, in memory of the donor this tablet is inscribed, by Hannah Newbold, of Foden Bank, Sutton, widow, upon whom devolves the the trust of these charities. 1728. Daniel Hulme, schoolmaster, Sutton, by will to be distributed among poor house-keepers of Sutton, not being weekly pensioners upon the township a week before Christmas, yearly for ever, according to the discretion of trustees, the interest of £90, which principal sum of £90 has been reduced by decree of the High Court of Chancery to £52 15s 1d. Interest arising from this sum is £1 17s 6d per annum. 1738. John Upton, farmer, Gawsworth, by will to be paid and applied to and amongst poor housekeepers of Sutton, not being pensioners upon the township, yearly for ever in such times and in such manner as trustees shall think proper and convenient the interest of £100, which principal sum of £100 has been reduced by decree of the High Court of Chancery to £58 12s 3d. Interest arising from this sum is £2 18s. 1857. Mr Thomas Bullock, of Byron Cottage, Sutton, Macclesfield, made a donation of £200, the interest of which sum is to be given by the minister and wardens in clothing to the poor of this congregation annually for ever. 1862. Mrs Olivia Bullock, wife of the above-named Thomas Bullock, also made a donation of £100, the interest of which is to be applied by the minister and wardens for the same purpose as the before-mentioned donation by her husband. 1828. The burial ground on the west side of the church of St. George's was the gift of the late John Ryle, Esq., M.P. for Macclesfield. ST. PAUL'S CHURCH. 1844. John Powell Swanwick, Esq., gave in trust the sum of £200, the interest to be paid to the organist and choir of this church for ever. 1851. William Briant, Esq., gave the Royal Arms to this church. THE ALMSHOUSES. 1703. Mrs Elizabeth Stanley erected and endowed with six pounds per annum, three almshouses for poor aged women of Macclesfield, which having fallen to decay, the Rev. John Thornycroft, of Thornycroft Hall, erected three on a fresh site, at a cost of £400. Mrs Brooksbank erected three others adjoining, in the year 1863. I. A. FINNEY. Macclesfield. Queries. [1268.] UNLUCKY NUMBERS.-In country places and even among some of the older inhabitants of our towns great reliance is placed on the luck of numbers. For instance, it is held to be lucky to possess any odd number of anything, this especially being the case with many betting men. Another curious supersti tion is that it is unlucky for 13 to sit down at table, it being averred that one will die before the year is out. Can any reader of Notes and Queries give any information on this subject? S. JACKSON, Macclesfield. [1269] ST. VALENTINE'S DAY.-Can any correspondent to Notes and Queries give me the information as to why the 14th of February is called St. Valentine's day, and why the sending of valentines is peculiar to that day? CUPID. [1270. SHROVE TUESDAY.-While on this subject I should be glad of a little more information as to the origin of this day. That it is a remnant of the early Catholic Church connected with the confessional, but why this day more than any other? CUPID. [1271.] DARSBURY CHURCH, CHESHIRE.-Can any information be given why Darsbury Church, in Cheshire, obtained the title of the Whitechapel of England. E.H. ABOUT DREAMS.—A frenca physician, Dr. 18. launay, has just told some facts about dreams. These are embodied in a communication to the Societe De Biologic of Paris. It is well known most when a person is lying down the blood flows most easily to the brain. That is why some of the ancient philosophers worked out their thoughts in bed. Certain modern thinkers have imitated this queer method of industry. During sleep, so long as the head is laid low, dreams take place of coherent thoughts. There are, however, different sorts of dreams, and Dr. Delaunay's purpose in his criginal communication is to show that the manner of lying brings on a particular manner of dream. Thus, according to this investigator, uneasy and dise agreeable dreams accompany lying upon the back. This fact is explained by the connection which is known to exist between the organs of sensation and the posterior part of the brain. The most general method of lying, perhaps, is on the right side; and this appears to be also the natural method, for many persons object to lying upon the side of the heart, which, it has been more than once asserted, should have free action during sleep. Nevertheless, Dr. Delaunay's statements hardly harmonize with this opinion. When one sleeps upon the right side, that is to say, upon the right side of the brain, one's dreams have marked and ra her unpleasant characteristics. These characteristics, however, are essentially those which enter into the popular definition of dreams. One's dreams are then apt to be illogical, absurd, childish, uncertain, incoherent, full of vivacity and exaggeration. Dreams which come from sleeping on the right side are, in short, simple deeptions. They bring to mind very old and faint remembrances, and they are often accompanied by nightmares. Dr. Delaunay points out that sleepers frequently compose verse or rhythmical lang inge while they are lying on the right side; this verse, though at times correct enough, is absolutely with out sense. The moral faculties are then at work, but the intellectual faculties are absen'. On Lae other hand, when a person slumbers on his left brain, his dreams are not only less absurd, they may also be intelligent. They are, as a rule, concerned with recent things, not with reminiscenices. And, since the faculty of articulated language is found in the left side, the words uttered during such dreams are frequently com brehensible. SATURDAY, MARCH 10TH, 1883. Notes. A MIDLAND MARRIAGE CUSTOM. [1272.] In some of the midland counties it is customary on the evening of the Sunday when the banns of marriage are published for the first time to announce the fact with a merry peal from the church bells. This peal is called "The spur peal," and the Sunday "Spur Sunday." To" put in the spurrings" is to give notice to the clergyman or clerk for the publication of binns Mr Hunter, in his " Glossary of Hallnshire Worls," states that "spurr" is an old English word equivalent to "ask." In one of the Martin Marpelate tracts an interlocutor in a dialogue says, "I pray you, Mr Vicker, let me spurre a question to you, if I may be so bold." A contributor to the Nottinghamshire Guardian for April 28th, 1853, called attention to a curious custom connected with the publishing of banns which formerly existed at Wellow, Notts. He says: "It has been a custom from time immemorial in this parish, when the banns of marriage are published, for a person, selected by the clerk, to rise and say, 'God speed them well," the clerk and congregation responding Amen.' Owing to the [then] recent death of the person who officiated in this ceremony, last Sunday, after the banns of marriage were read, a perfect silence prevailed, the person chosen, either from want of courage or loss of memory, not performing his part until receiving an intimation from the clerk, and then in so faint a tone as scarcely to be audible. His whispered good wishes were, however, followed by a heartyAmen,' mingled with some laughter in different parts of the church." In reply to a letter from us, the Rev. Jeremyn P. Royle, vicar of Wellow, states in a letter dated March 23rd, 1880, that "The words to which you refer ('God speed them well') were used by an old man of the name of William Crowdor, who died exactly two years ago, aged 80. He was a labouring man, and every time after the publication of banns he rose to say those words, and has done ever since I have been vicar here [since 1858], which is more than 20 years. I expostulated with him that it displayed want of reverence, but it was of no use-the old man would go on, and so I let him have his way. He was a Dissenter, but so bent upon indulging his whim that he would shirk his chapel on those occasions, and show himself in church. This custom has certainly died with him." In some of the churches in Lincol |