44
NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. m. JAN. 20, ion.
tions. She is invoked against thunder and
lightning, and all accidents arising from
explosions of gunpowder. According to
Husenbeth, artillerymen, architects, and
firework - makers revere her. She is one
of the tutelary saints of Ferrara, Guastala,
and Mantua, being commonly associated
with the Blessed Virgin Mary, as in Raphael's
well-known ' Madonna di San Sisto.' The
particulars of her legend easily account for
the extensions and limitations of her patron-
age, and for her popularity with classes of
men whose occupations and callings were
especially perilous. We are content now to
pray " Ex subita et improvisa morte Libera
nos, Domine."
The hymns, sequences, and other metrical compositions in honour of St. Barbara are numerous. Mone ('Hymni Latini Med. ,<Evi') gives ten, and refers to many others in his third volume, pp. 212-22, but they deal with the facts of her life, her martyrdom, or the bliss of heaven, without carrying one at all to the scenes where her intercession was held to prevail.
I have also examined a good many of the hymns edited by Guido Maria Dreves, S.J., with the same result. Take, for instance, 4 Historiae Rhythmicse ' (Leipzig, 1889), Nos. 48 and 49 ; each gives in fairly melodious verse the full life of St. Barbara, divided into Antiphons and Responsories, but they all finally conduct her to heaven and leave her there. I find no evidence of any Order of St. Barbara in the East or West. There must be many other so\irces of information, especially on the Continent, of which the present writer has no knowledge. Perhaps one or more readers may be inclined to supplement these tentative notes. Certainly a subject which combines the latest develop- ments of terrific explosive forces in war with innocuous pyrotechnics on the longed-for return of peace has some interest in these strenuous times. CECIL DEEDES.
Chichester.
THE CORRESPONDENCE OF RICHARD
EDWARDS, 1669-79.
(See ante, p. 1.)
LETTER I. Robert Elwes to Richard Eduxtrds.
(O.C. 3254.) [Robert Elwes was the second son of Sir Gervase Elwes; Kt., of Woodford, Essex (1581-1653). He was elected a factor in the East India Company's service at 3QI. per annum in Nov- ember, 1661, his brother " Sir Garvace Ellowes " being one of his securities. On his arrival in
Bengal, Robert Elwes was employed at Hugll,
where he remained until 1668. His preferment
was delayed on account of " his being indebted,"
but on " recommendation received " the Court
of Committees appointed him Second at Patna,
and to succeed Job Charnock, then Chief of the
factory. In January, 1673, Elwes was trans-
ferred to Dacca, vice John Smith, who was
dismissed. He died there on Dec. 4, 1675, and
his brother Jeremy was granted administration
of his effects in London on Oct. 25, 1676.
For the connexion of Robert Elwes with Sir Gervase Elwes (or Helwys), executed in 1615, and with Amy who married Robert Meggott, known as " Miser Elwes," see ' Diet. Nat. Biog.' ; Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, 1868, 68-9. For Robert Elwes see ' Court Minutes,' vol. xxiv. 215, 221, and xxvi. 44 ; P.C.C. Will (323 Brent), and Admon., 1676 ; Cussans's ' Hertfordshire,' pp. 110-11.]
Sir Patna March 1668/9
As Unknowne I salve* you kindly from Mr. Marchf I g[ot] A letter from my Uncle GyffardJ (Sent by one G: W: now that Person who or wher he is know not), and brought into the Bay by your selfe, and for your care therin doe returne you Sir many thankes, Assuring you Sir that you shall finde me very ready to shew you that Civility or courtesy that lyes in my Power either in Perfor[ma]nce or advice, but the truth is the distance being soe great|| feare shall not yet have the opertunity ; but Mr. March (who is a very Civill person, and well experienced in this country) know will not be wanting when you shall have occasion to make use of him &c.
And now Sir give me leave to bid you welcome into these Parts wishing Sir you may in a few yeares find a more prosperous Gayle then I have done in 7 yeares. I thought at first the very name of India sounded Hugely, but I doe a[s]sure you Sir (and hae found it soe by experience) That the g[ro]und I tred upon is but dirt still, and th[in]ke wher I am at present the worser sort too : but notwiths[tan]ding Sir be you couragious, this world has varyous even[ts on] some it frowns, o[n] other some it shines againe, and hope the latter may fall [to y]our share : at this time I dare not inlarge least I should [offe]nde as beinge as
- This use of " salve " as a verb, meaning " to
greet," is uncommon. There is no example in the ' N.E.D.'
t John March, at that time chief at Kasim- bazar, will be noticed later.
J I have not succeeded in tracing the connexion between the Elwes and Gyffard families.
G. W. = George White, who will be noticed later.
|| The distance between Patna and Balasor is roughly 300 miles.
