May 11. 1850.] 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
451 
Catherine Street, Strand. —In 1714, a tract was 
published with the following title: — The May- 
Pole’s New Year's Gift, or Thanks returned to his 
Benefactors, humbly inscribed to the Two Corners 
of Catherine Street, Strand; written by a Parish- 
toner of St. Mary, Savoy. 
Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.—The well known 
“Cider Cellar” in this lane was opened about 
1730. There is a curious tract, entitled Adven- 
tures under Ground, 1750, which contains some 
strange notices of this “ Midnight Concert Room.” 
Salisbury Change.—Cibber, in the amusing 
Apology for his Life, has the following :— 
*« Taste and fashion, with us, have always had wings, 
and fly from one public spectacle to another so wan- 
tonly, that I have been informed by those who re- 
member it, that a famous puppet-show in Salisbury 
Change (then standing where Cecil Street now is), so 
far distressed these two celebrated companies, that they 
were reduced to petition the king for relief against it.” 
The New Exchange.—A good description of 
this once popular mart may be found in Lodwick 
Rowzee’s Treatise on the Queene’s Welles, Lond. 
1632. It is as follows :— 
«“ We went to see the New Exchange, which is not 
far from the place of the Common Garden, in the great 
street called the Strand. The building has a facade of 
stone, built after the Gothie style, which has lost its 
colour from age, and is become blackish. It con- 
tains two long and double galleries, one above the 
other, in which are distributed in several rows great 
numbers of yery rich shops, of drapers and mercers, 
filled with goods of every kind, and with manufactures 
of the most beautiful description. These are, for the 
most part, under the care of well-dressed women, who 
are busily employed in work, although many are served 
by young men, called apprentices.” 
The Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden.— 
In 1763 appeared a small volume under the title 
of Memoirs of the Bedford Coffee House, by 
Genius, dedicated to the most Impudent Man alive. 
Epwarp F. Rimpavrr. 
@RIGINAL LETTER OF PETER LE NEVE. 
The following was a letter from Le Neve toa 
Mr. Admall, a herald painter at Wakefield, found 
in a book of arms belonging to the latter, which 
came into my possession a few months ago. 
E. Harrstrone. 
* Mr. Admall, 
“IT understand by Mr. Mangay, my deputy at Leeds 
for the West Riding, that you contemn my lawfull 
autority of Norroy King of Arms, and have done and 
- will doe as you say, things relating to heraldry, contrary 
to my prohibition, &c. ; these are therefore to acquaint 
you, that if you continue in the same mind and will 
usurp on my office, intend to make you sensible of the 
wrong you doe me in my office, by taking out process 
against you, and making you pay for your transgres- 
sion. I shall give you no hard words, but shal be as 
good as my word if there is Jaw in England to restrain 
you; so chose whether you will doe to me good or evill; 
you shall find me according your friend or open enemy, 
Prerer Le Neve, Norroy. 
College of Arms, in London, 
28th May, 1719. 
FOLK LORE. 
Superstitions of the Midland Counties.—It is 
believed a sign of “bad luck” to meet a white 
horse, unless the person spits at it; which action is 
said to avert the ill consequences of the rencontre. 
A rainy Friday is believed to be followed, as 
a natural and invariable consequence, by a wet 
Sunday ; but I am not aware that the contrary is 
believed, viz., that a fine Friday produces a fine 
Sunday. 
If the fire burns brightly when a person has 
ene or stirred it up, it is a sign that the absent 
over, wife, or husband (as the case may be) is in 
good spirits, and in good humour. 
The itching of the right hand palm is said to 
portend the reception of a gift; which is rendered 
more certain if the advice in this distich be fol- 
lowed :— 
“ Rub it ’gainst wood, 
*Tis sure to come good.” 
Persons with much hair or down upon their 
arms and hands, will at some future period enjoy 
great wealth ; or, as the common expression has 
it, “are born to be rich.” Henry Kersey. 
Corp. Chris, Hall, Maidstone. 
A Rainbow in the Morning, §c.—“ Mr. Tooms” 
(No. 26. p.413.) says that he believes no one has 
remarked the philosophy of this proverbial rhyme. 
Sir Humphry Davy, however, points it out in his 
Salmonia. 
ERROR IN JOHNSON’S LIFE OF SELDEN. 
In Johnson's (Geo. W.) Memoirs of John Selden, 
London, 1635, 8vo. pp. 128, 129, is a notice of Dr. 
Sibthorpe’s celebrated Sermon preached at North- 
ampton, and printed in 1627 with the title of 
Apostolike Obedience. After stating the difficulty 
experienced in obtaining the necessary sanction 
for its publication, owing to Abp. Abbot refusing 
the requisite imprimatur, the author says that ulti- 
mately the licence was “signed by Laud himself, 
and published under the title of Apostolical Obe- 
dience.” A reference at the foot of the page to 
“ Rushworth, p. 444,” leads me to conclude that it 
is on his authority Mr. Johnson has made this 
statement; but not having access to the “ Historical 
Collections,” Iam unable toexamine. At any rate, 
Heylin, in his Cyprianus Anglicus, Lond., 1671, fol. 
p. 159., may be understood to imply the correct- 
ness of the assertion. 
A copy of this now rare sermon before me 
