Feb. 14. 1852.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



157- 



WEARING GLOVES IN PRESENCE OF ROYALTY. 



(Vol. i., p. 366. ; Vol. ii., pp. 165. 467.; Vol. v., 

 p. 102.). 



_ Mb. Singer's explanation (Vol. ii., p. 165.) is 

 simple, and, I believe, correct. The covered hands 

 might be considered as discourteous as a covered 

 head : but why should uncovering either be a 

 mark of respect? The solution of this question 

 seems to me of some curiosity, and may perhaps 

 be to many of your readers of some novelty. 

 These and most other modern forms of salutation 

 and civility are derived from chivalry, or at least 

 from war, and they all betoken some deference, 

 as from a conquered person to the cgnqueror; just 

 as in private life we still continue to sign ourselves 

 the " very humble servants " of our correspondent. 

 The uncovered head was simply the head un- 

 armed; the helmet being removed, the party was 

 at mercy. So the hand ungloved was the hand 

 ungauntleted, and to this day it is an incivility to 

 shake hands with gloves on. Shaking hands itself 

 was but a token of truce, in which the parties took 

 hold each of the other's weapon-hand, to make sure 

 against treachery. So also a gentleman's bow is 

 but an offer of the neck to the stroke of the ad- 

 versary : so the lady's curtseij is but the form of 

 going on her knees for mercy. This general prin- 

 ciple is marked, as it ought naturally to be, still 

 more strongly in the case of military salutes. 

 Why is a discharge of guns a salute ? Because it 

 leaves the guns empty, and at the mercy of the 

 opponent. And this is so true, that the saluting 

 with blank cartridge is a modern invention. For- 

 merly salutes were fired by discharging the cannon- 

 balls, and there have been instances in which the 

 compliment has been nearly fatal to the visiter 

 whom it meant to honour. When the officer 

 salutes, he points his drawn sword to the ground ; 

 and the salute of the troops is, even at this day, 

 called " presenting arms" — that is, presenting 

 them to be taken. 



There are several other details both of social 

 and military salutation of all countries which might 

 be produced ; but I have said enough to indicate 

 the principle. C. 



gospel oaks. 



(Vol. ii., p. 407.) 



The inquiry of Stephen into the origin of " this 

 delightful name," applied to some fine old oak trees 

 in different parts of the country, has not elicited 

 one answer, nor an additional note of other trees 

 so designated. Oaks are not the only trees so 

 honoured ; for I remember reading of a " gospel 

 elm" but where situate I do not recollect. Had 

 your valuable publication been then in existence, 

 1 should most probably have made a note of it. 



It would be desirable to elucidate this interesting 

 subject ; and if your correspondents would send 

 you a note of such as may be in their neighbour- 

 hoods, with the traditions attached to them, much 

 curious and interesting information would be accu- 

 mulated ; and it is possible that some approxima- 

 tion to their date and origin might be arrived at. 

 The Rev. A. G. H. HoUingsworth, in his History 

 of Stowmarket, gives an account of a very fine one 

 still remaining in the park of Polstead Hall, Essex, 

 the seat of Charles Tyrell, Esq. : 



" It stands (he writes) almost in front of the house, 

 at a distance of about 150 yards, and close to the ad- ' 

 joining early Norman church. It rises like a small 

 feudal tower out of the green field, to the height of 

 twenty feet, and still possesses vigorous remains of the 

 three enormous stems into which it was divided above. 

 This earth-born giant is forty-three feet in circum- 

 ference four feet from the ground, and the base slopes 

 gradually outwards as the sides bury themselves in the 

 earth, giving one the idea of a skilful architect's hand 

 having systematically planted an enormous foundation 

 for that stupendous mass of wood, with which 1000 or. 

 1500 years must have loaded its shoulders. It is hollow 

 within, and could seat eight or ten persons. The bark 

 is generally gone, except in one or two places, where it 

 winds like a stream of rough verdure to supply the 

 branches, which still drop their acorns into your face as 

 you gaze upwards, and are thus reminded of the pass- 

 ing seasons. Its wood is seared, knotted, and in some 

 places looks like a piece of sculpture smoothed and 

 wrought by hand into waving channels. By its side, 

 and at a distance of some eight feet, is a tall oak of 

 eighty years' growth, — a scion, no doubt, of such a 

 mighty tree. But it looks puerile, and a child, when 

 compared with its parent. And some idea may be 

 formed of this, perhaps one of the last fast departing 

 memorials of Roman and Saxon times, when on com- 

 parison it would take twenty or more such trunks of a 

 hundred years' growth, to make up the bulk of the 

 glorious size of this mighty pillar, thus erected by the 

 hand of nature to the memory of past generations." 



Mr. HoUingsworth appears to consider them, 

 relics of Druidism : 



" When Christianity was first introduced into 

 England, it was customary for the missionaries to select 

 some one known gigantic tree as their place of assem- 

 blage. These leafy tabernacles were generally oaks of 

 vast size and stature. Nor is it at all unlikely that 

 some of them were thus chosen because from their 

 gigantic bosoms the sacred mistletoe of the Druids had 

 been cut, and they were consecrated by superstitious 

 veneration in the minds of the people as sacred places. 

 Nor were they inappropriate pulpits for the apostolic 

 bishops and priests, who thus, in making their shades 

 vocal with the gospel words, proclaimed by their voice 

 and presence the victory of Christ over darkness and 

 idolatry." — P. 18. 



Can the following item in the will of John Cole, 

 of Thelnetham, dated May 8, 1527, be considered 

 as throwing any light upon their origin and use ? 

 " Item, I will have a newe crosse made according to 



