10 S. XI. JUNE 5, 1909.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 453
blance between the bird's beak and a hammer. The class to which the bird belongs is called in German "Amme" (bunting). Some years ago an English translator carelessly let the "unfortunate letter H" slip in, and the mistake has been copied by other authors. At the South Kensington Museum this letter has now been erased from the labels. S. D. Clippingdale.
"Tudor" spelt "Tidder" (10 S. xi. 347).—George Borrow, in his 'Wild Wales,' published 1862, makes two separate persons whom he met on his way to the reputed tomb of Owen Tudor at Penmynnydd, Anglesey, speak of "the clebber man of Anglesey, Owen Tiddir." W. B. H.
I do not know whether the following chance notes may be of any use to the inquirer.
Among the names of prisoners in the Tower of London is that of Tidir.
James Crocker in his 'Sketches of Old Exeter' states that Tudor Street (in "Exe Island") is a corruption of Teddar Street.
Oliver Cromwell's Head (10 S. xi. 349, 389).—It may be well to record in ' N. & Q.' Carlyle's judgment on this subject, as stated in the following letter:—
There does not seem the slightest sound basis for any of the pretended Heads of Oliver. The one at present in vogue was visited the other day by a friend of mine: it has, hair, flesh, beard, a written history bearing evidence that it was procured for 100l. (I think, of bad debt) about 50 years ago; it now appears to have once had resinous unguents, or embalming substances in it, and to have stood upon a spike: likely enough the head of some decapitated man of distinction; but by the size of the face, by the very width of the jaw bone, were there no other proof, it has not any claim to be Oliver's head. A professional sculptor, about a year ago, gave me the same report of it: "a very much smaller face than Oliver's, quite another face." The story told, of a high wind, a sentinel, etc., is identical with what your old neighbour heard, long since, of the Oliver Head in the shape of a Scull. In short the whole affair appears to be fraudulent moonshine, an element not pleasant even to glance into, especially in a case like Oliver's.
5, Cheyne Row, Chelsea. 21st Feb., 1849.
Before Bishop Welldon or any one else decides this question, let him apply to Sir George Womb well, Bt., at Newburgh Priory, Easingwold. Newburgh descends to Sir George from the extinct Lords Faucenberg, one of whom married Cromwell's daughter Mary. Cromwell's heart is believed to be cricked up in an inside wall of the house.
In vol. i. (facing p. 304) of Noble's 'Memoirs of the House of Cromwell,' 1787, is an engraving of a bust of the Protector said to be "in the possession of his grace the Duke of Grafton," and over the right eye is the wart. The bust is described as "an exact likeness to that at Florence." The head is perfectly bald and smooth. Facing p. 290, vol. i. is a facsimile of Oliver's coffin-plate, dated 3ᵒ Septembris, Anno 1658.
Inaccurate as Noble is, he yet records many interesting particulars of Cromwell and his family not to be found elsewhere.
Newbourne Rectory, Woodbridge.
The Farmers of Aylesbury (10 S. xi. 410).—
The farmers of Aylesbury gathered to dine.
And they ate their prime beef, and they drank their old wine.
With the wine there was beer, with the beer there was bacca:
And the liquors went round, and the banquet was crowned
With some thundering news from the Straits of Malacca.
I think Mr. Gladstone produced this masterpiece in a speech at Blackheath, 28 Jan., 1874. G. W. E. Russell.
The following, though given only from memory, will, I think, be found very nearly, if not quite accurate:—
The farmers at Aylesbury gathered to dine:
They ate their good beef, and they drank their old wine;
With the wine there was beer, with the beer there was bacca;
The bumpers went round, and the banquet was crowned
With some thundering news from the Straits of Malacca."
The lines were spoken by Gladstone in a speech during the General Election of 1874, either in January or (more probably) February of that year I think at Blackheath, for which place Gladstone was then M.P.
[Fuller reply from Mr. W. P. Courtney next week.]
"Under a Cloud" (10 S. xi. 389).—The suggested origin of this metaphor is indeed a derivation of lucus a non lucendo. The pillar of cloud in Exodus was pre-eminently a blessing, while, on the other hand, a cloud is in many, probably all, languages used
