Notes and Queries, Number 44, August 31, 1850Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 44, August 31, 1850
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
_Wood-carving, Snow Hill_ (Vol. ii., p. 134.).--The carving alluded to
by A.C. is, I believe, of artificial stone, and represents Æsop attended
by a child, to whom he appears to be narrating his fables. It is or
rather _was_, a work of some merit, and is, as A.C. observes, "worth
preserving;" but, alas! of this there is but little chance. The house in
question (No. 41. Skinner Street), and also the one adjoining, have been
tenantless for many years; they belong to two old ladies, who also own
the two deserted houses at the corner of Stamford Street, Blackfriars
Road. It is scarcely necessary to speak of the now somewhat picturesque
condition of the houses alluded to in either locality, for the pitiably
dilapidated condition of them all must have been matter of remark for
many years past to any one at all acquainted with London. {221} The
house, 41. Skinner Street, is also worthy of remark from another
circumstance. It was formerly occupied by William Godwin, the well-known
author of _Caleb Williams, Political Justice_, &c. It was here he opened
a bookseller's shop, and published his numerous juvenile works, under
the assumed name of Edward Baldwin.
E.B. PRICE.
_Waltheof_ (Vol. ii, p. 167.).--I believe that Waltheof (or Wallef, as
he is always styled in Doomsday Book) never appeared at the court of
William the Conqueror in the character of an envoy; but in 1067, little
better than six months after the first landing of the Normans, we find
him, in conjunction with Edgar Atheling and others, accompanying the
Conqueror in his triumphal return to Normandy, as a hostage and
guarantee for the quiescence of his countrymen. At this period, it is
probable he might have first become acquainted with Judith; but this
must rest on conjecture. At all events, we have the authority of William
of Malmsbury for saying that Waltheof's marriage did not take place
until the year 1070, soon after his reconciliation with the king on the
banks of the Tees. Your correspondent errs in ascribing 1070 as the date
of Waltheof's execution; the _Saxon Chronicle_ distinctly states May
31st, 1076, as the date of his death; while the chronicle of Mailros,
and Florence of Worcester, assign it to the preceding year: in which
they are followed by Augustin Thierry. T.E.L.L. has also fallen into an
error as to the cause of Waltheof's execution, which he states arose
from his participation in a conspiracy at York. Now the crime for which
he was accused, and condemned (on the evidence of his wife), was his
inviting over the Danes to the invasion of England. This was the primary
cause; although his being present at the celebrated marriage-feast at
Norwich was doubtless a secondary one. According to Thierry, he left two
children by Judith.
DAVID STEVENS.
Godalming.
_The Dodo_ (Vol. i., pp. 261. 410.).--I have the pleasure to supply Mr.
Strickland with the elucidation he desires in his Query 7., by referring
to Hyde, _Historia Religionis Vet. Persarum_, p. 312.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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