they were determined to allow no outside of the hearing, and at last, when he saw the final influence to interfere with the first dispatch judgment likely to go against him, openly dared the and consideration of cases brought before judges to oppose his will, the decision for Bruce was practically unanimous. Few things, indeed, them. Attempts must frequently have are more memorable in the annals of the Court of been made, and by no less a personage than Session than the manly behaviour on this occasion King James VI. himself, for it is found that of Lord Fyvie, and three or four other threatened an ordinance of Court was passed at a meet-judges. Lord Fyvie, Courtier and Councillor ing of the Secret Council held at Stirling on though he was, and also a reputed Roman Catholic, rose first, as President of the Court, and informed 21 February, 1578, to this effect :the King that though his Majesty might remove "The quhilk day the Lordis of Secreit Counsale them from their offices, he had no power to compel hes thocht meit and expedient that the Kingis their judgments while they sat there, and they Majestie sould not writ to the Lordis of his Hienes must and would do justice, even against his Counsale and Sessioun in furtherance or hindrance Majesty himself; Lord Newbattle and others of ony particular personis, actionis, and causis in followed in the same strain." tyme cuming, bot suffer thame to proceid and do justice in all actionis privilegit to be decydit be thame, as they will answer to God and his Hienes thair upoun."

This was certainly pretty straight talking to royalty, but undoubtedly there must have been grave reason to believe that hidden influences were being brought to bear on the judges' procedure.

In 1596 some tumultuous proceedings in the city of Edinburgh disturbed the harmony of municipal and Court life. Certain ministers, it was alleged, had been guilty of treasonable designs, and with others had forced themselves upon the King, who along with

"certane of his Nobilitie and Lordis of Sessioun, being sittand in the inner hous of the tolbuith of Edinburgh in quiet maner for administratioun of justice,"

was practically besieged in the building. Much feeling was provoked in the matter. and in consequence the Corporation of Edinburgh had to take forcible measures to bring to justice the offenders. Meantime the Courts of Justice were removed to

Perth. One of the chief offenders was a minister of the name of Bruce. Up to the time of the tumult he had been a great favourite at Court, having been at one time Privy Councellor Extraordinary. He was "an especial object of his Majesty's resentment, partly on account of his continued Presbyterian inflexibility, even in the humbled circumstances in which he had been permitted to resume his Edinburgh pastorship.'

An Act of the Parliament recited certain particulars which required to be observed by the Lords of Session. In going to the Court his lordship was to have no other retinue than his ordinary household servants, 66 seamlie and he was to go thither in a maner, on his horse with a foote cloath." But, as many of them had their dwellings near the Session House, and some of these situated "in narrow closes whair thair is not ane convenient passage for horse, and the calsay being dangerous to be ridden upoun,' ," it was found that some latitude was required, so it was understood that those lords "sall not be tryed to this necessitie of ryding." A special clause was also inserted that in appearing before the Court persons of qualitie were not to have any other following than an advocate or agent, as it was

66

"intolerable that justice should seem to be procured by threatening or convocatioun, as though justice were not so reddie for the poore as for the grite ones."

The Lords of Session had strict rules prescribed for them for church observance. In 1619 we find that James VI. issued letters directing that they were to receive the Communion at Easter "with all dew reverence efter the maner prescryved be the ordouris and actis of the last Generall Assemblie of the Kirk haldin at Perth." It appeared that some one had informed royalty that Sir James Skene of Curriehill

and left Edinburgh to partake of the Communion in a Church still using the old fashion, in which he was influenced by his wife and mother (according to Calderwood), who were both zealous Presbyterians. Accordingly his Majesty, thinking it

One means taken to show the royal dis-had declined to obey the order of the King, pleasure was the stoppage of a life pension enjoyed by Mr. Bruce of twenty-four chalders of victual out of the rents of the Abbey of Arbroath. It was transferred to one Lord Hamilton, against whom the Presbyterians had many grievances. In order to vindicate his position, Mr. Bruce appealed the case to the Court of Session. The narrative may be quoted :

"His case was irresistible; and though the King was present in the Court during the different stages

"ane unworthie pairt in ane to site as a judge under his Majestie, who by his awne goode example will not leade the way of dewtyfull obedience unto otheris,"

orders him to appear before the Court and

give explanation. His defence was that
he had been engaged in the "Utter house
for the "haill weike," and on the Saturday,
which was the day for "the sermone of
preparatioun," he was to be examined as a
witness, and could not attend the same,
"quhairupoun he awaittit frome tua of the clock
till sax of the cloke at nycht, and being thairby
distractit frome the service of preparatioune, he
could not be prepairit to communicate upoun the
morne thairefter. And tuitching his going to ane
uther kirk to communicat, he flatlie denyit the
same, afferming constantlie that he keipt his house
that foirnoone, and that he come to the afternoones
sermone, and that he satt in the ordinair plaice
with the remanent Lordis of the Sessioun."

Such evidence could not be neglected, and
the report to the King stated that, "finding
no verificatioun of the informatioun gevin,'
they could not proceed further, but
"remittit the same to your Majestie's princelie
consideratioun, humblie beseiking your Majestie
not to tak in evill pairt the said Sir James his not
communicatting the day forsaid, quhilk proceidit
not upoun wilfull contempt or disobedience, bot
upon the just and necessair occaisioun foirsaid."
The prayer of the petition impressed the
royal conscience, and though, upon the
first information supplied, we haid verrie
grite caus of suspitioun and pregnant pre-
sumptionis aganst him," this report cleared
him of any contempt or disobedience, so that
royal dignity was satisfied, and "we reteine
a goode oppinioun of him.' Thus did Sir
James, so to speak, thole his assize.

66

"That the Court of Session or College of Justice do, after the Union, and notwithstanding thereof, remain in all time coming within Scotland as it is now constituted by the laws of that kingdom, and with the same Authority and Privilidges as before the Unione."

In 1707 there was added to the duties of the Court the oversight of the regulations as to the "plantation of Kirks" and valuation of teinds. They had to determine as to any augmentation of stipends, disjunction of large parishes, erection of new churches, and such items as pertained to ecclesiastical matters. This extra work laid upon their shoulders was an opening whereby an augmentation of their own salaries might be effected. The opportunity was taken, and on the request coming up before the Privy Council, they, on the recommendation of the Lord President of Council, humbly recommended to her Majesty that some further provision should be made for her judicial servants.

MALDON RECORDS AND THE DRAMA. (See 10 S. vii. 181, 342, 422.)

THE following notes conclude my excerpts from the Maldon records :

1581. To my 1. Mountjoye's players, 58.
To my 1. Bartlett his playres, 3s. 4d.
To the erle of Oxenford his playres, 10s.

1586. 28. from certein musicions to have Mr. Bayliffs' goodwill to pleye in the towne upon the fayre daye.

Gifts and rewards to noblemen's players, pursuivants, &c., 47. 158. 7d.

1594. 15 April, ther was payed vnto the Chamberlyns 28. 6d., for a fyne assessed vpon William Gillman, for that he, in the open market, cryed a playe at the appoyntment of certen players, without Mr. Bayliffs' appoyntment, to the great reproche of the towne.

1597. 58. to the earle of Derbie his players. 10s. to other players at another tyme. 1598. 10s. in rewards unto the Queen's majestie's players.

1599. 10s. given to the Queen's maiestie's players this yeare.

1603. 158. to the King's players this year. 1611. 208. to our gracious Prince his playres. 10s. to our gracious Quene her players comyng to this town this yere.

1612. 208. unto our gracious Quene her plaires comyng to this towne this yeare.

208. given to the plaires of the right noble princes Lady Elizabeth likewise coming to this towne this year.

1613. 108. given to the plaires of the right noble princess Elizabeth comyng to this towne this year. the Revells likewise comyng to this towne this 138. 4d. given to the Children of the Master of

year.

1614. 208. to the enterlude plaiers of our right noble Prince Charles comyng to this towne this yeare.

this towne this yeare.
1615. 10s. given to the Prince's plaiers comyng to

10s. given to the Quene's maiestie's plaiers, called the Children, comyng likewise this yeare to this towne.

108. given to another companie of her maiestie's

players comyng to this towne this yeare.
1616. 228. given to the Prince his players this
yeare comyng to this towne.

228. given this yeare to the Quene's grace's players.

208. given to the Countie Palentine his players this yeare.

* Unhappily the chamberlains now give only sum

Since those days continual progress in total under this head, without details.

And vis. viiid. by Mr. Bailiffs' appointment given to players this yeere not to shewe their playes in a A. CLARK.

"William Pyke, of Greenwich, poulterer; sister Jane Day; brother-in-law Edward Day; nephew Edward Day silver tankard with my coat of arms engraved on it, to be delivered to him after the decease of my wife Elizabeth Pyke; loving niece Mary Reeve, late Mary Bland, fully provided for by my late dear father Richard Pyke; uncle John Pyke; cousin Edward Pyke; cousin Archibald Bruce. Dated Sept. 11, 1727; proved Oct. 10, 1727." -P.C.C., reg. Farrant, 240.

"John Pyke, citizen and tallow chandler, of London; to dear and loving wife Ann Pyke messuage in Crutched Friars, in the parish of St. Olave's, Hart St.; late uncle Thornbury; daughter Prudence Edmonds; son Edward Pyke; daughters Eleanor Thorpe and Ann Trew and each of their children. Dated July 8, 1729; proved Oct. 16, 1730."

"Edward Pyke, of St. Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey; to Thomas Plummer, of St. Clements Danes, woollen draper, and Richard Harling, of Red Cross, grocer, annuities and bank stock, in trust for Thomas Blagrave, son of Thomas Blagrave, deceased; lands in Wilmington and Sutton, at Lone, Kent; two freehold messuages in Crutched Friars. Dated Feb. 21, 1766; proved July 20, 1767."P.C.C., reg. Legard, 278.

The poll-list of London livery publishedì in Extra Special Daily Post of 1734 shows "James Pyke, Shoreditch, London, a member of the Weaver Company."

66

The index to register Spurway (1740) gives "Kent" after the name of Surgeon Edmond Halley, with the addition of pts." as a marginal note. It would appear that his domicile was somewhere in Kent circa 1740; his widow was buried at Greenwich in 1772, a certificate of the latter fact having been kindly supplied by Mr. A. L. Kirdel, parish clerk. It seems that she was previously married (cf. 10 S. vii. 89).

For all the foregoing inedited wills and for many other interesting items the writer is indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Ralph J. Beevor, of St. Albans. The residence of both Halleys and Pykes at Greenwich, contemporaneously, has now been established (cf. Magazine of History, New York, 1907; The Genealogist, London, New Series, xxiii. pp. 199, 272). EUGENE F. McPIKE.

1, Park Row, Chicago, U.S.

REGISTER OF WALGRAVE, NORTHANTS.

John Pyke, corn chandler, of St. Saviour's, Southwark, about twenty-seven, and Anne Thornbury, of St. Olave's, Hart Street, spinster, about twenty-four, obtained VicarGeneral's licence to marry January, 1679/80. "Thomas Pyke, of St. John's, Wapping, Middle- In looking through the registers of Rotherssex; to be buried in family vault in St. George-in-thorpe, Northants, on 6 June, 1904, I disthe-East. Freehold estate at Daddington, North covered that part of the parchment cover of Book II. is a transcript, or portion of a transcript, of the Walgrave register for the year 1587 and part of 1588.

HENRY ISHAM LONGDEN. Heyford Rectory, Weedon.

REGISTER OF BLAKESLEY, NORTHANTS.

Hants. Freehold estate in Gravel Lane to wife Ann Pike for life, then to niece Ann Freeman and her heirs. Silver plate to wife, except one silver tankard with my arms on......to sister Sarah Freeman, widow. Dated June 18, 1774; witnesses, Henry Crane, William Bowing, Samuel Ravencroft, 64, Crutched Friars. Proved Nov. 26, 1774."-P.C.C. "Isaac Pyke, of Greenwich, Esquire, late governor of St. Hellena; some friends to support the fall On 6 Aug., 1903, I was examining the books [pall?]......be chosen, most out of club......and myself belonged to, and I think...... Mr. Hally......make in the parish chest of Pattishall, Northants. up the most part......to Dr. Halley the Professor and found therein a book which did not my model of the present Christian temple at Jeru-belong to that parish. It was contemporary salem and Pangarang Mongua Raja Creese with head [perhaps equivalent to a Malay creese, kris, sword]; sister Mary Bradford and Anna her daughter; niece Buffar; nephew John Buffar. Dated Jan. 5, 1730; proved April 10, 1739.". P.C.C., reg. Henchman, 87.

An account of Isaac Pyke and the Buffar family of Greenwich is given in the Hundred of Blackheath,' Hasted's 'Hist. of Kent,' edited by H. H. Drake, p. 78. The Pyke and Buffar arms were embossed on each side of the gateway to Buffar House, Greenwich. "Ann Pyke, Aug. 10, 1710; now lieth dangerous ill; my son Isaac Pyke now gone to the East Indies. Adm. granted July 7, 1726, to Isaac Pyke, armiger, on account of his near relationship to Anna Pyke, lately of Greenwich."

"James Pyke, of Deptford, Kent; wife Catherine; sons William, George, and James; wife and eldest son executors. Dated Feb. 17, 1718; proved Mar. 11, 1718.”—P.C.C.

with part of the Pattishall register, and had been in recent years bound at the expense of the church. Needless to add it had been undiscovered at triennial inspections by the rural dean. On careful examination, however, I discovered the principal names in the register to be those of Blakesley gentle families, such as Butler, Watts, and Foxley of Foxley, in the parish of Blakesley. On visiting Blakesley, I found that the leaves of that register were all loose, and that the portion just found at Pattishall fitted in exactly. This missing portion was for the years 1614 to 1630 inclusive, and contained christenings, marriages, and burials. I am glad to say that, since then, the Pattishall authorities have restored the book to Blakesley.

I have just put in order the whole of the

first register book of Blakesley, beginning in 1538, with a view to its careful rebinding by Messrs. Birdsall of Northampton, so that Blakesley now once more has its own. It may not be out of place to put on record a note as to when and how the lost portion was found, and restored to the satisfaction of all concerned. HENRY ISHAM LONGDEN.

66

"NIT BEHAMEY," YIDDISH PHRASE.A common expression in the Yiddish jargon spoken in the East End of London is Nit behamey!" which means Don't be a fool! Visitors to the Sunday market in Petticoat Lane must often hear it. This phrase, which has not yet found its way into our slang dictionaries, is a good example of the way German and Hebrew are mixed together by jargon speakers. Nit is the German word nicht, "" not.' Behamey is the Hebrew behemah, from which we get the "behemoth " of our Old Testament. Observe the curious transition of meaning by which this, which originally denoted a large and strong animal, has come to have, in the usage of modern Jews, merely the sense of "fool." JAS. PLATT, Jun.

66

'KOTTABOS,' A DUBLIN UNIVERSITY MISCELLANY.—I happen to have in my possession a bundle of odd numbers of the brilliant little periodical Kottabos, now long extinct and unobtainable in the bookshops. I should be happy to place them freely at the service of any readers of N. & Q.' (N.B. not booksellers) who may have imperfect sets and may wish to complete them. Any such might communicate with me, and mention the numbers required and the ALEX. LEEPER.

date of issue.

of the particular (and very singular) transaction of which he is writing, for his summary of that history is misleading in every essential particular. Much of the story was told by myself in N. & Q.' at the reference above given; and the main facts were these: (1) Graham was elected for St. Ives on 10 March, 1820.

(2) At the Cornwall Assizes, which commenced at Launceston on 20 March, the grand jury found a true bill against him and others for conspiracy to secure the return by means of bribery and corruption. the House of Commons reported Graham (3) On 20 June a Select Committee of and his colleague Lyndon Evelyn to have been duly elected, but declined to consider the petitions against them frivolous and

vexatious.

(4) On 24 July the House gave leave for the production of the Select Committee's

minutes of evidence at the next Cornwall Assizes, on the trial of certain indictments for perjury.

(5) It was not until 16 May, 1821, that a new writ was issued for St. Ives consequent upon Graham's acceptance of the Chiltern Hundreds.

What, then, was the truth of the whole affair? Obviously, something different from the story related originally in 'D.N.B.' (vol. xxii. p. 329), and again put forward by Mr. C. S. Parker.

ALFRED F. ROBBINS.

ST. CHAD'S WELL, BATTLE BRIDGE.

Along the east side of Gray's Inn Road, near King's Cross, there has recently been excavated a deep trench to receive a number Trinity College, University of Melbourne. of telephone or telegraph cables. Between Britannia Street and St. Chad's Place there AN EARLY ELECTIONEERING EXPERIENCE was a slight but constant inflow of water at OF SIR JAMES GRAHAM. (See 7 S. xi. 304.) a depth of 20 feet. This was clearly a -In the recently published Life and Letters rediscovery of the springs that supplied the of Sir James Graham,' by Mr. Charles once famous St. Chad's Well--unimportant, Stuart Parker, is given a striking instance but decidedly interesting. It was necessary of modern political biography as it is written to keep a pump at work until a concrete from the purely friendly and admiring point of view. It is stated therein that Graham at the dissolution of 1820 was elected as one of the representatives of the Cornish borough of St. Ives;

"but early in 1821 petitions were presented from St. Ives against both members, and as the Committees of Parliament who then dealt with such petitions notoriously were governed in their votes by party interests, he did not care to incur the costs of defending his seat, but preferred for a time to quit political life."-Vol. i. p. 57.

It is evident from this that Mr. Parker has not troubled to investigate the history

bed and the several tiers of earthenware pipes for the cables had been laid down. ALECK ABRAHAMS.

39, Hillmarton Road, N.

ALBERT MOORE AND THE 'D.N.B.'-In the memoir of Albert Moore it is stated :—

"He executed other important decorative works, like The Last Supper' and some paintings for a church at Rochdale......and a frieze of peacocks for Mr. Lehmann."

The Last Supper' here alluded to was a design for the decoration of the east end of the Dutch Church, Austin Friars, the