other matters sold was 66 quædam petra [super] quam Judei ante humationem eorum post eorum obitum erant lavati appreciata est ad quatuor solidos," (a certain stone on which dead Jews, before their interment, were washed, was valued at four shillings.*) Mr. Davis, in a letter to me in answer to an inquiry about the Gloucester fireplace, says, "No doubt the fireplace was used to wash the dead." The inscriptions are mostly in Hebrew; but there are two or three in English, and about thirty-five in all. The earliest date I made out corresponds with A.D. 1785; the latest with 1886. Some of the persons buried had been brought from Ross, Stroud, and other places. I was told that the nearest Jewish burial-ground is at Cheltenham. What seemed to me to be the earliest inscription is in the south-east corner, and I read it thus :

:

פייט

הילד אורי המכונה

פייס בר יעקב הלוי שנפטר ביום

שק" פרשות + בראשית

ונקבר ביום אחת

מרחשון בראשוני

בבית עלמן זאת

תקמה לפק"

חנעברח עם

שע שבגן עדן

אמן

A literal translation may be as follows:

"Here is buried the child Uri surnamed Feiss, son of Jacob the Levite, who was released on the Holy Sabbath, section In the beginning, and was buried on the first day of Marcheshvan, among the first in this long home, '545 by the short number [i.e., 5545 = Oct. 1784]. May his soul be bound in the bundle of life [1 Sam. xxv. 29] with the rest of the righteous who are in the Garden of Eden. Amen."

The latest inscription is in memory of the "old Gloucester Jewess," about whom there is a note in the present volume, p. 163. There is also a small footstone inscribed "A.A. 1886." The headstone has two inscriptions, one in Hebrew and one in English,

• Record Office, Q.R. Jews' Rolls 55 mem. 1.

פרשת Should be +

the latter being in black-letter; and both the stones are Gothic in design. The Hebrew inscription is:

טוב שם משמן טוב

פייט"י

בתולה מיכלה בת ר'

ישעיהו צו גלאסטר

נולד בא' אב תקנב" שבקה חיים ביום ד' אב והובאה למנוחת" ביום

ו' אב תרמו" בת צב"

שנה במותה ת"נצ"בה"

This may be translated as follows:

Here is buried the

"Better is a name than good ointment. virgin Amelia, daughter of R. [Mr.] Isaiah of [German zu] Gloucester. Born on the 1st of Ab, 552 [1792]; departed life on the 4th day of Ab, and brought to her resting-place on the 6th day of Ab, '646 [1886]. A daughter of 92 years in her death. May her soul be bound in the bundle of life."

The following is the English inscription:

"Sacred to the memory of Amelia, youngest daughter of the late Israel and Sarah Abrahams, who departed this life August 4th, 5647,+ 1886, aged 92 years. May her soul rest in peace. She was the last surviving member of the Gloucester Jewish Congregation. A good name is better than riches."

It may be noticed that the father of the deceased is called "Isaiah" in the Hebrew inscription, and "Israel" in the English. The Jews have each two names, the shem haqqodesh, or holy name, given at circumcision (or to a girl when her mother first goes to the synagogue), and under which they perform any religious acts, and the duplicate name, called kinnui, or surname, by which they are known in the world. The former would more fitly appear in the Hebrew inscription, and the latter in the English.

The note on Amelia Abrahams, p. 163, was what directed my attention to the burial-ground. J. T. FOWLER, M.A., F.S.A.

Durham.

1754.-STRANGE DISCOVERY IN ST. MARY-LE-PORT CHURCH, BRISTOL, 1814.-On the 15th instant, on breaking up a vault in the north aisle of St. Maryport Church, Bristol, a leaden coffin

נולדה Should be *

+ Should be 5646.

was discovered about 15 feet below the surface, without any inscription. It was taken up and examined next morning in the presence of several gentlemen. The leaden coffin contained a thick shell of red deal; when the lid was lifted up, some gas of a soapy odour escaped, and the whole became perfectly inoffensive. A very interesting spectacle now presented itself. There lay, in a most perfect state of preservation, the body of a robust man, measuring 6 feet 2 inches. The flesh in some parts resembled supple brown leather; in others it was white, and bore a natural appearance. The features were perfectly distinct, the teeth regular, the nose projecting, the eye so little injured, that the transparent part was still pellucid, like horn. The hands, in admirable preservation, rested upon the upper part of each thigh; and scarcely a bone of the toes was wanting. The throat was swollen very much under the lower jaw, giving the idea of strangulation. The hair was cut off in a ragged manner over the whole head, and was not to be found at all. The body was wrapped up in a quilted counterpane, blue outside, and worked within, curiously, with red roses in bud. Under the counterpane was a wove doublet, buttoned down in front with small wooden buttons worked with thread; with long skirts, and an over flap collar, in the costume of Oliver Cromwell's time. Under this was a fine linen shirt with a worked neckpiece. The body was minutely examined by two professional gentlemen; the lungs were found to be shrivelled and black; but the heart was in such a perfect state, that its vessels, cavities, and valves would have admitted of an anatomical demonstration as easily as a recent one. The muscles were converted into a brown fatty substance. The gristles were elastic; and the bones. quite firm, fresh, and sound. The weight of the body had been apparently a good deal diminished, although the limbs had yet considerable plumpness. The high state of preservation of the body and garments has created great astonishment, as no wax, gums, spices, or embalming materials appear to have been used. There is, however, an oblong hole, 10 inches by 4, in the wooden shell, closed by a piece of wood, which has led to a conjecture, that some ardent spirit had been poured upon the corpse; this opinion was strengthened by its flexibility, as, when raised forward, it retained the sitting posture. Very great curiosity is excited respecting the history of this body, but at present it remains in total obscurity.-Trewman's Exeter Flying-Post, March 31, 1814. Budleigh Salterton. T. N. BRUSHFIELD, M.D.

1755.-A SINGULAR WEDDING IN CHEDWORTH CHURCH, 1815. -On the 24th ult. was married at Chedworth, Gloucestershire, by the Rev. T. Nutt, Mr. George Payne, late of the parish of Terrington, to Unity, second daughter of Henry Locke, a gypsy. An immense concourse of spectators of all ranks assembled from the neighbouring villages; and during the performance of the

marriage ceremony the body and galleries of the church were completely crowded. When the sacred rite was completed, they adjourned to the gypsy encampment, about half a mile distant, the bells ringing a joyful peal. About two o'clock a plentiful dinner was prepared, of which the party partook on the Downs. A great quantity of provisions was distributed to the poor, and strong beer and spirits were handed about in abundance. Dancing and singing succeeded the dinner, and the party did not break up till a substantial supper had concluded the festive day. It is not known exactly what fortune the lady has; but the father offers 500 guineas with each of his two other unmarried daughters, provided they be united to men of good character and householders.—Ib., Nov. 16, 1815. T. N. BRUSHFIELD, M.D.

1756.-MARSHFIELD CHURCH CHOIR, 1818.-Sunday s'ennight, during the evening service, was performed in Marshfield Church, Gloucestershire, by the choir of that town, Handel's Coronation Anthem, in a style which reflected great credit upon the several performers; and it is not more extraordinary than true, that five of the members of the choir assisted in the performance of this anthem in the same church at the coronation of his present Majesty in 1760.-Ib., July 30, 1818. T. N. BRUSHFIELD, M.D. CHILD-STEALING IN GLOUCESTER,

1757.-PUNISHMENT

FOR

1821. On Tuesday last a man underwent the sentence of the law in Gloucester, by being flogged at the cart's tail through the principal streets of that city, for the crime of child-stealing to an extent, probably, that never before was practised in this country, having stolen no less than five children, three of them of one family, the oldest only four years old. An incalculable concourse of people was collected to see the punishment inflicted. The pinmanufactory and other places of business were deserted during the time. The women were particularly outrageous in their execrations against him; they called out to the executioner that he did not flog him sufficiently severe; and at the conclusion of the flagellation, and on his being untied from the cart, it was with the greatest difficulty he was kept from the women executing their vengeance upon him on his way back to the prison. It is understood that the cruel and unfeeling wretch said that he had been employed to steal children, but refused to tell the motive.-Ib., Sept. 27, 1821.

T. N. BRUSHFIELD, M.D,

1758.-WILL OF JOHN PYNKE, OF BRISTOL, 1494.-(Reply to No. 1714). The will of John Penke, merchant of Bristol, is registered in the Great Orphan-book at the Bristol Council House, as well as in "Vox" at Somerset House. The note of probate appended to the Bristol copy states that the will was proved at Lambeth, April 26, 1494, and before the mayor and sheriff of

VOL. IV.

Bristol, on Friday, March 3, 12 Henry VII. The testator had a brother, Thomas Penke. John Pynke is named in the will of Simon Algode, burgess of Bristol, Dec. 28, 1405; which will is the 149th in the Orphan-book. John Penk was an apprentice of Robert Sturmy, merchant of Bristol, in 1457. John Younge of Bristol, shearman, who made his will in Feb., 1624, according to the Council House copy, desired therein to be buried "in the Church yard of Temple neare the Tombe stone that William Dyer sett on the farther side of it towardes M. Pinkes his ground." The name Penke, or Pinke, does not occur on the index to wills in the Bristol Probate-office, so far as I have searched, viz., between 1571, the earliest date for the letter P, and 1780.

Naunton Rectory, Pershore.

THOMAS P. WAdley, M.A.

1759.-A TWOPENNY BANK-NOTE.-(Reply to No. 1720.) Major Cowburn, of Dennel Hill, near Chepstow, has very kindly sent particulars of one of these notes in his possession, which will suffice to explain their object and character. In the left-hand corner there is an engraved figure of a man, sitting in a chair, and having a tooth extracted, with the motto "Nunquam non paratus"; and excepting the portions here enclosed within square brackets, which are written, the contents are well engraved. They are as follows "Woodmancoat Bank, Gloucestershire. No. [A. 380.] I promise to pay to Mr [Edward Mason] or bearer on demand the sum of Two Pence for Sir Wm Dentist Hellebore, Camphire, & self, [3rd day May, 1792,] JN° SPENCER. Two-PENCE. Ent Bishops Cleeve." The mention of Bishops Cleeve leads one to conclude that the Woodmancoat in question was the hamlet in that parish, not far from Cheltenham, and not the place of the same name near Dursley. In Notes and Queries (6th S. xii. 69), July 25, 1885, this communication appeared :-" Fivepenny Bank-note. Five. King's Bench and Fleet Bank in England, 1811. I promise to pay Mr. [name illegible, apparently filled in with ink] or Bearer on Demand the sum of Five Pence for Value Received. For Plaintiff, Attorney, and Compa. No. 11641. JOHN LADD, No. 11641.' The numbers are printed over the promise to pay and the name. In the lefthand corner is a picture of Justice. The above is a copy of an engraved bank-note of the ordinary size. Can any of your readers tell me if such notes were ever in use?"

No reply apparently has been as yet received by the querist, but he may, we think, rest satisfied in the matter. EDITOR.

1760.-ST. MARY REDCLIFFE CHURCH.-(Reply to No. 1736.) The following "measurements," taken from p. 4 of Archdeacon Norris's Account of the Church of St. Mary Redcliffe (revised edition, Bristol, 1888), may interest your correspondent and other readers :