aas.vii.ocT.23 f i92o.j NOTES AND QUERIES,
337
THE HOROSCOPE OF JAMAICA (12 S. vii.
190). The sign =a= stands for Libra. There
- -are plenty of precedents for the horoscopes
of towns." Nos. 60 to 63 in Cardan's ' De exemplo centum geniturarum, ' ('Opera,' 1663, torn. v. pp. 488 sq.), are those of Venice, Milan, Florence and Bologna. Both Cicero, 'De Divinatione, ' ii. 47, 99, and Plutarch,
- Romulus,' 12, in speaking of the foundation
-of Rome, refer to the ancient belief in the influence of the stars on a city's future.
EDWARD BENSLY.
"The scales "or =2= is the zodiacal sign of Libra. It is governed by the planet Venus which is generally supposed to cast a ^beneficent influence upon all who are said to "come under" the sign. Why the people of Jamaica should be considered unfortunate in having Libra for their " Rising 'Sign " is difficult to understand, except that
- a misapplication or an abuse of Venusian
qualities is likely to lead to excessive pleasure- rseeking and its consequent demoralization.
S. T. HARRIS.
11 Bream's Building?., E.C.4.
NUNC DIMITTIS ( 12 S. vii. 290). According to Dr. Julian's 'Dictionary of Hymnology,' a paraphrase of Simeon's Song in the 1745 Draft of the ' Translations and Paraphrases ' of the Church of Scotland began.
Now let thy Servant die in Peace.
JOHN B. WAINE WRIGHT.
A correspondent at the above reference asks whether any Latin version gives the subjunctive, dimittas, " Let thou thy servant depart." Perhaps no version does, but the imperative dimitte, with the same meaning, is found in a whole set of Western MSS. from the seventh century on, including the Book /of Kells, the Book of Armagh, St. Ch&d's Gospels at Lichfield and the Rushworth "Gospels. FAMA.
HODGES FAMILY (12 S, vii. 249). The 'following references will probably be suffi- cient for a foundation: Marshall's ' Genea iogist's Guide.' latest edition, gives Rudders 1 Gloucestershire, ' 653; * Visitation Middle .sex ' (Salisbury, 1820 fol.) 15; 'Visit -Somerset,' Sir Thomas Phillip's printec 100-101; B.L.C. 2.3; ' Harleian, ' ii. 154 .xi. 53; Nichol's 'Hy. of Co. Leicester,' iii 516; Hutchins's 'Dorset,' iv. 460; Baker's 'Northampton,'!. 5 15; Fosbrooke's Gloucester shire, 'ii. 44 ; Burke's ' Extinct Baronetcies ' JMetcalfe's 'Worcester,' 1683-59 (G.E.C.'s
Complete Baronetcy ') ; Gloucestershire
Notes and Queries, i. 455 ; Gent's Magazine,
.826, i. 291. v. also for the special
amily alluded to by queriest Phillemore's
jook on ' Lord Mayors arid Sheriffs
f London.' The original Hodge's coat
was probably "Or 3 crescents sable " from
-his were possibly derived the arms of the
amilies resident in Dorset and Gloucester.
}amden based his grant en these. Thomas
Law Hodges using these arms corresponded
with the Irish Hodges in 1823 and claimed
dndred. There are several families of the
lame in Ireland and some years ago a
Mr. Eyre made copious notes on all families
of the narr.e. He intended to publish a
listory ; I sent him many extracts from my
V1SS. The Hodges of Old Abbey are, I
relieve, descendants of the High Sheriff of
London. Col. Sir George Hodges, K.C.B.,
K.C.B., was their best-known representative.
[ shall welcome any information additional
to my pedigrees and notes.
JOHN WARDELL. The Abbey, Shanagolden, co. Limerick.
FRANCIS LHERONDELL (12 S. vii. 289). Joseph Foster's 'Alumni Oxenienses ' gives the following :
"Francis L'herondell, s. Francis of Dublin, Ireland, cler., Magdalen Coll. matric. Oct. 22, 1746, aged 20 (? his father perp. curate Shields, 1748 ; Dr. L. died at Chelsea, Oct. 1, 1752)."
A. R. BAYLEY.
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA (12 S. vii. 31, 98, 152, 215, 253, 296). I did not mean to suggest that the custom of invoking St. Anthony when in search of lost articles, was modern ; but I did fancy that it might have originated in France. It was in that fair land that his host saw the vision of him embracing the Child Jesus, who is commonly represented in his arms. ST. SWITHIN.
GNATON OR GUNTON (12 S. vii. 108, 136). The place-name Gnaton has been transcribed as " Ganton " and "Gunton," but the owners of both these properties assure me that, as far as they know, Admiral Sir Houston Stewart never visited or resided there, and that no such ponderous bird has ever been killed on their estates. Through the medium of N. & Q.' I have ascer- tained that Gnaton, or Gnaton Hall, is near Yealmpton, S. Devon, and that Sir Houston Stewart was resident there some- where about 186070. Although I have been unable to obtain any modern evidence as to the giant pheasant-cock I think it may
