178 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 147. 



It is true that Cowper has been often spelt Cooper, 

 and I could give some curious examples of it, but 

 I have never found a family in the habit of writing 

 their own name both ways ; nor have I learned that 

 a Cooper family has even occasionally called itself 

 Cowper. WJiatever others have done, the different 

 fixmilies seem to have kept their own names distinct. 



I do not think the question ' one merely of 

 antiquity, but of philology. True it is an old 

 question, for I find it referred to in a MS. dated 

 1742, but there both the spelling and pronunciation 

 of Cowper, as different from Cooper, are main- 

 tained. And this is my own opinion. I hold the 

 name to be Scotch, and not English ; it is derived 

 from the verb to cowp (etymologically), the same 

 as Eng. cheapen, and Germ, kaufen, from which 

 come Chapman, Kaufmann, and these are syno- 

 nymous with Cowper. 



In accordance with this view we have a tra- 

 dition that our family is of Scottish origin. 



As it regards the pronunciation, analogy and 

 convenience favour a different one for Cooper, and 

 this is favoured by usage also, so far as those who 

 bear the name are concerned, and they ought to 

 have an opinion in the matter. But doubtless the 

 confusion will continue, for the more common and 

 closely similar name of Cooper is sure to dictate 

 to its less frequent neighbour, but not kinsman, 



COWPEE. 



SOYAL AKMS IN CHURCHES. 



(Vol. v., p. 559.) 



I cannot turn to the references which I thought 

 I had made to some entries in registers that 

 would illustrate the question. When were the 

 " Royal Arms" first put in churches ? At present, 

 therefore, I do not mean to attempt anything like 

 a reply to the Query of your correspondent ; but 

 I may remark that many instances could be ad- 

 duced in which the royal arms were set up soon 

 after the Restoration ; and I believe they were not 

 p:enerally, if at all, displayed before that time. 

 Here is an entry which, as I have said, could be 

 found in many parish registers about the same 

 time : 



" A.D. 1662. P'l for carveing, glldinge, and setting 

 up the King's Arms, 12Z. 6s." — Account of Disburse- 

 ments of Churchwardens of All Saints, Newcastle. 



The royal arms seem to have to the eye the 

 same office that a statement in the prayer bidding 

 has to the ear, namely, to assert the Queen's 

 supremacy over causes and persons. This it was 

 formerly considered necessary to do every Sunday 

 in every parish church in England, and by sermons 

 four times in every year. 



The kings of England seem in former times to 

 have desired the praise of being defenders, pro- 

 tectors, patrons, of her holy church ; but the 



armorial bearings of the sovereign were not ex- 

 hibited in churches (save in stained glass, and on 

 monuments, where they were placed only for com- 

 memorative and heraldic purposes), until long 

 after the Reformation, as far as I am aware. When 

 the cold blast of puritanical violence had swept 

 away the insignia of royalty, and had involved the 

 church and the crown in a common ruin, it was 

 natural that on the restoration of monarchy, and 

 on people beginning again to stand upon the 

 ancient ways, the insignia of the restored sovereign 

 should be displayed before congregations in the 

 parish churches. But they have long fulfilled 

 their office ; and the true nature and limits of the 

 ecclesiastical supremacy of the crown being well 

 understood by educated churchmen, the royal 

 arms have come to be a symbol to which the 

 Erastian party alone attaches any value. However, 

 your excellent publication has to deal only with 

 the historical question, and the answer I believe 

 to be much as i have stated it. 



Wm. Sidney Gibson. 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne. 



In reference to the placing of the royal arms in 

 churches, I forward you the following extracts 

 from the parish books of St. Martin's, Leicester : 



" 1635. For painting the king's arms, porches, and 

 pillars, 3/. 7s. 2rf. 



" 1661. For painting the king's arms and mayor's 

 seat, 61. ISs. Ad. 



" 1681. For the king's arms over the mace case, 2/." 



I also find the following relating to burying in 

 woollen : 



" 1679. Paid for two acts for burying in woollen, 

 Is." 



St. Martin's being the central parish in Lei- 

 cester, has always occupied a leading position, and 

 its church has been the scene of many interesting 

 incidents. The progress of the Retbrmation is 

 traceable In a remarkable manner by the entries 

 made in the parochial books, which show when 

 the draperies, vestments, and appointments of the 

 Roman Catholic system were sold in Henry VIII.'s 

 reign, re-purchased in Queen Mary's, and re- sold 

 in Queen Elizabeth's. Jay tee. 



THE GREGOKIAN TONES. 



(Vol. vi., p. 99.) 



In reply to your correspondent, who inquired in 

 the last Number of N. & Q. for information re- 

 specting these venerable songs of the Church ; 

 though this account may not " satisfy" him, yet I 

 am inclined to hope it may prove of some slight 

 service to him. 



It is very true, as Mr. Dyce so admirably re- 

 marks in his Introduction to his Book of Common 

 Prayer, that^ the history of ecclesiastical music 



