444 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 132. 



the honesty of his countrymen (if true), he nar- 

 rated it with considerable unction, and declared 

 that it was generally believed and admired in 

 Scotland ; the patriotism displayed, the dangerous 

 nature of the enterprise, and the success which 

 attended it, palliating any stigma which might 

 attach to the want of faith, double dealing, and 

 casuistry which marked the transaction. 



The method by which the horse's title to be 

 considered the ablest in Scotland was ascertained, 

 was ingenious. The horses the most renowned for 

 ileetness and endurance were secretly collected, 

 and having been deprived of water for a consider- 

 able time, were presently, one by one, permitted 

 to bury their heads in the grateful bucket, and 

 the duration of each draught was scrupulously 

 watched and recorded ; the animal that retained 

 its nostrils for the longest time immersed being 

 selected for the honour of rescuing the royal 

 treasure, as having given proofs of its superior 

 wind and bottom. 



Is any credit to be attached to the story : and 

 if historical, can any reader inform me where it is 

 recorded ? C. A. 



St. John's Wood, 



GOSPEL OAKS. 



(Vol. v., pp. 157. 209.) 



The replies of Faber, Exox., and P. T. to the in- 

 quiry of Stephen, concerning the origin of Gospel 

 Oaks, are not very explanatory. 



The oak was consecrated to the god of thunder — 

 Ang.-Sax., Tkunor; Gallic, Taranis; Irish, Toran; 

 Anc.N. Thorr — as being more generally struck by 

 lightning than any other tree ; and the acorn was 

 called by the Romans Jovis glans, the fruit of the 

 supreme god. 



" Quercus Jovi placuit." — Phcedrus, iii. 17. 



" Magna Jovis antiquo robore quercus." 



Virg. Georg. in. 332. 



At Dodona stood the hpvs v^'ikoixos Atos. — Od. 

 XXV. 327. Woods, groves, and trees were the 

 temples and sacred emblems of the Deity among 

 the greater part of the Pagans, but especially 

 among the Teutonic and Celtic tribes. Maximus 

 Tyrius, an author of the second century, informs 

 us, concerning the worship of the Celts : 



KtXrol ffe$ov(n fxev Aia, ^yaX/xa Se 

 Aihs KeXruchf v^ri\j] Spvs. 



And Tacitus gives us the oldest testimonies con- 

 cerning the Germans, Germ. 9. : 



" Ceterum, nee coliibere parietibus Decs, neque in 

 ullam humani oris specicra assimulare, ex magnitudine 

 coelestium arbitrantur. Lucos ac ncmora consecrant, 

 Deorumque nominibus appellant secretum illud, quod 

 sola reverentia vident." — ■ Vid, Germ. 39. cap. 40. 

 cap. 43., &c. 



Also, a passage of the later Claudian is to the 

 same purpose : 



" Ut procul Hercynias per vasta silentia silv^ Venari 

 tuto liceat, lucosque vetusta Religione truces, et ro- 

 bora ICuminis instar Barharici, nostras feriant irD>- 

 pune bipennes." — Cons. Siilich. i. 288. 



From these passages it will be seen that the- 

 gods dwelt in these groves, and that sacred vessels 

 and altars were placed there, but no images ;. 

 neither were temples erected.* The practice of 

 worshipping the gods in woods and trees continued! 

 for many centuries, till the introduction of Chris- 

 tianity (Vid. Willibald, a.d. 786, in Vita Bonifacii), 

 and the converters did not disdain to adopt every 

 means to raise Christian cultus to higher authority 

 than that of Paganism, by acting upon the senses 

 of the heathen, e.g. using white robes for those 

 baptized, lighting of candles, burning of incense,. 

 &c. ; and they erected the Christian churches, for 

 the most part, upon the site of Pagan tree or 

 temple; Sulp. Severus (ed. Amst. 1665), p. 485. : 



" Nam ubi fana destruxerat (Martinus), statim ihi 

 aut ecclesias aut monasteria consiruebat." 



Dietm. V. Merseb., 7. 52., p. 859. : 



" Fana idolorum destruens incendit, et mare djBmo- 

 nibus cultum inmissis quatuor lapidibus, sacro Chris- 

 mate perunctis et aqua purgans benedicta, novam 

 Domino . . . plantationem eduxit." 



The heathen gods were represented as impotent, 

 in opposition to the true God, though not as power- 

 less in themselves, and were converted into ini- 

 mical evil powers, which must submit, but could 

 nevertheless exercise a certain hurtful influence. 



Some heathen traditions and superstitions re- 

 mained, their names only being altered into those 

 of Christ, Maria, and the saints. In this manner 

 they spared the assuefactions of the people, and 

 made them believe that the sacredness of the 

 place was not lost, but henceforth depended on 

 the presence of the true God. 



The above facts will perhaps sufficiently explain 

 the origin of the Gospel Oak. 



Professor Theodore Goedes- 



Hampden House, Reading. 



There is a tree called by this name a few miles 

 from Winchester, in the parish of Tichborne or 

 Cheriton, — I tJiink the latter, but have no means of 

 ascertaining at the present moment. Mention of it 

 is made in Duthy's Sketches of Hampsldre. L.G. 



MITIGATION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT TO A FORGER. 



(Vol. iv., p. 434.) 

 The case related by Mr. Gattt is interesting, 

 but requires sifting. Perhaps he will be good 



* Brissonius De Regno Pers. ii. 28. : " Persae diis 

 suis nulla templa vel altaria constituunt, nulla simu- 

 lacra." 



