270 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[2"* S. VI. Hi., Oct. 2. '58. 



liaphaeVs Galatea. — I find in Lanzi that Ra- 

 pliael painted the well-known fable of " Galatea" 

 for the gallery of Agostino Chigi, and have seen 

 an engraving of one picture on this subject which 

 I have reason to believe is only one of a series. 



Can you, or any of your correspondents inform 

 me if any such series of engravings exists ? and 

 if so, where it is to be seen ? 



I find also a reference to a letter to Castigllone 

 on the " Galatea" of the Palazzo Chigi, which is 

 said to be found in Lett. Piitor., torn. i. p. 84. 

 Any information on this point will likewise oblige 



C. P. 



[From the manner in which the fresco, known by the 

 name of the " Galatea,'* painted by Raphael in 1514, in 

 the Roman villa of Agostino Chigi, is mentioned by 

 Eastlake, Hamlbonk of Painting — The Italian Schools, 

 p. ."92., it would seem that it is one painting only, and 

 not a .series. It is therefore probable that our corre- 

 spondent is in error in supposing that the engraving 

 seen bv him was but one of a series. Cf. Vasari's Lives 

 of Painters (Bohn's), iii. 24.] 



Rev. William Spicer. — Is there any definite 

 knowledge of the antecedents of the Rev. Mr. 

 Spicer, who died a.d. 1656 ? An inscription on 

 his tomb at Stone, near Kidderminster, records, 

 or did record, that martyrs' blood flowed in his 

 veins. Spicer himself appears to have been " de- 

 prive<l," and to have been succeeded by his 

 son-in-law, Richard Sergeant, who (became Bax- 

 ter's curate ? but) was subsequently " ejected." 

 The arms of the Spicers are seen on a tablet in the 

 church of Ashchurch near Tewkesbury. Sigma. 



[It is probable the Rev. Wm. Spicer was a descendant of 

 John Spicer, one of the Marian martyrs, who suffered at 

 Salisburj-, April, 1556. See Voyi.ei'B Acts and Monuments, 

 by Townsend, viii. 725, 726.] 



Bridget Bostock. — AVhere can I obt.ain infor- 

 mation concerning Bridget Bostock, the " Cheshire 

 Pythoness ? " She is mentioned by Pennant in 

 his Tour in Wales, ii. 37-3, edit. 1784. 



T. TOPHAM. 



[Some notices of Bridget Bostock's marvellous cures 

 will be found in The Gent. 3Iag. xviii. 413,414.448, 450. 

 513; six. 176. 343; xsviii. 627; lix. 899.] 



Gipsies. — Wanted a list of such authors as 

 have treated on gipsies of all parts of the world, 

 but especially of Great Britain and Ireland. An 

 account of the celebrated " Norwood Gipsy " is 

 also requested. Meg Meekilies. 



[The following works concerning this strange race may 

 be consulted: — Historical Survey of the Customs, habits, 

 and preserit State of the Gipsies, by J. Hoyland, 8vo. 

 York, 1816. Hoyland has largely made use of a work by 

 Heinrich Moritz Gottlieb Grellman, entitled Dissertation 

 on the Gipsies, being an Historical Enquiry concerning the 

 Manner of Life, Economy. Citstoms, and Conditions of these 

 People in Europe, and their Origin, translated by Matthew 

 liaper. Lond. 4to. 1787. — The Zincali, or an Account of 

 the Gipsies of Spain, with an Original Collection of their 

 Songs and Poetry, and a Copious Dictionary of their Lan- 

 guage, by George Borrow, 2 vols. 12rao. 1841i and 12mo. 



1846. — Observations on the Language of the Gipsies, a paper 

 by Wm. Marsden, F.R.S. in Archieologia, vol. vii. 1785; 

 and " N. cSc. Q." 1st S. iv. 471. ; v. 395. ; and xi. 326.] 



Mcplt'pj*. 



THE KOOD LOFT. 



(2"* S. vi. 141. 193.) 



Your readers in general must deeply regret 

 that your able correspondent F. C. H. (p. 193.) 

 should have overlooked the main question, and 

 have given his attention lo an accidental omission 

 in copying an inscription, if not irrelevant, cer- 

 tainly only an accessory, and which might liave 

 been detected by a far less erudite writer. This 

 omission is a matter of regret, but hov/ it escaped 

 the observation of many reading men is difficult 

 to determine ; but, under any circumstances, the 

 correction is thankfully received. 



To the remark, that the words copied from the 

 lectern were used at the end of the Epistle and 

 Gospel, F. C. H. has added, " but this has no 

 foundation in truth ;" this very decided assertion 

 may be correct, but a very little examination into 

 the matter will probably justify that assumption 

 in the opinions of many. 



The positive uses to which the lecterns were 

 applied are well understood, and do not require 

 to be repeated here, but those uses must be borne 

 in mind. 



On the side of this celebrated lectern, beneath 

 the slant on which the scriptures rested, and con- 

 sequently before the priest, is beautifully painted 

 the eagle of St. John, holding in his talons a 

 scroll on which are the words in legible order : 

 " In principio erat verbum." 



On the opposite side, and consequently fronting 

 some persons, are the words painted in Old Eng- 

 lish characters, black upon a white ground, and 

 within a red border (which have led to this cor- 

 respondence) ; but not in a readable form, but 

 musically arranged. 



F. C. H. says they were painted " not for actual 

 use." It must be difficult to reconcile this rea- ' 

 soning with the large square notes and the divi- 

 sions of the words; to make a position like this 

 tenable, sure some example is required. 



In copying this inscription, your readers will 

 observe, at p. 143., the word gloria is rendered 

 "glori-a" — this I presume is not questioned; 

 why, therefore, was not the exact form adhered 

 to at p. 193.? Sure this would have carried con- 

 viction home, and removed whatever doubts might 

 possibly have been entertained that this chant 

 was intended for the use of persons so placed as 

 that they could at a convenient distance read both 

 the words and music. • 



As a "significant motto," the addition of the 

 music again obtrudes itself; and is a sufficient 



