Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 94, August 16, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 94, August 16, 1851: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
_Superstitions with regard to Glastonbury Thorn._--It is handed down,
that when Joseph of Arimathea, during his mission to England, arrived at
Weary-all-hill, near Glastonbury, he struck his travelling staff into
the earth, which immediately took root, and ever after put forth its
leaves and blossoms on Christmas Day, being converted into a miraculous
thorn.
This tree, which had two trunks, was preserved until the time of Queen
Elizabeth; when one of the trunks was destroyed by a Puritan, and the
other met with the same fate during the Great Rebellion.
Throughout the reign of Henry VIII., its blossoms were esteemed such
great curiosities, and sovereign specifics, as to become an object of
gain to the merchants of Bristol; who not only disposed of them to the
inhabitants of their own city, but _exported_ these blossoms to
different parts of Europe. There were, in addition to these, relics for
rain, for avoiding the evil eye, for rooting out charlock, and all weeds
in corn, with similar specifics, which were considered, at this time,
_the best of all property_!
T. W.
_The miraculous Walnut-tree at Glastonbury._--This far-famed tree was at
the north of St. Joseph's chapel, in the abbey churchyard. It was
supposed to have been brought from Palestine by some of the pilgrims,
and was visited in former days, and regarded as sacred by _all ranks_ of
people; and, even so late as the time of King James, that monarch, as
well as his ministers and nobility, paid large sums for sprigs of it,
which were preserved as holy relics.
T. W.
_The Three Estates of the Realm._--Some, even educated persons of this
day, if asked which are the three estates of the realm, will reply, the
Queen, Lords, and Commons. That the three estates do not include the
Queen, and are therefore the Lords, the Clergy in Convocation, and the
Commons, is obvious from the title of the "Form of Prayer with
Thanksgiving to be used yearly upon the 5th day of November, for the
happy Deliverance of _King James I._ and the Three Estates of England
from the most Traitorous," &c.; and also from the following passage of
the Communion Collect for Gunpowder Treason:--
"Eternal God, and our most mighty Protector, we Thy unworthy
servants do humbly present ourselves before Thy Majesty,
acknowledging Thy power, wisdom, and goodness, in preserving _the
king_, AND _the three estates_ of the realm of England assembled
in Parliament, from the destruction this day intended against
them."
W. FRAER.
Queries.
BENSLEYS OF NORWICH.
As I am much interested in the above family, which I know to have
existed at Norwich, or the vicinity, for a century or more, and have
reason to think was one of some consequence, will you, through the
medium of your useful columns, allow me to ask some of your intelligent
correspondents who reside in that neighbourhood the following Queries?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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