234
NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s, i. MAE. 19,
line," but acquiring my opportunity with
great difficulty, as it was always surrounded
by a host of anxious spectators. And I can
recall the verse by which Albert Smith
characterized it in his musical critique in-
troduced into his lecture ' Mont Blanc/ " and
Solomon's 'Waiting for the Verdict' first
rate." I have not the cut and reminiscences
of Madam Blaize at hand. M. D.
THE LAST LETTER OF MARY, QUEEN OF SOOTS (9 th S. i. 64, 155). Precious stones, as is well known, were formerly as much worn for their magical and (supposed) medicinal virtue as for their beauty. The diamond, for instance, if worn on the left side, would, according to Albertus Magnus, preserve one from madness, from the malice of enemies, and particularly from assassination ; would put to flight savage and venomous beasts, and was good against poisons and hobgoblins. Cardan, however, says this stone brings mis- fortune to the wearer. Taken internally it was accounted a virulent poison, causing, says William Ramsey, "grievous paines in the stomack and intralls." Clearly Mary meant the stones she sent to be worn ; and one that would preserve the wearer from poison and the dagger would probably be acceptable to Henri III. There was a stone known as draconite which had these properties, and was probably rare, seeing that it was to be found only in the head of the dragon. One had, of course, first to catch one's dragon. See 'Les Admirables Secrets d' Albert le Grand,' Cologne, 1707, for more on this subject. C. C. B.
Apart from any question about Schiller's play, MR. PICKFORD'S statement may be found in Miss Strickland's 'Life' (ii. 448),*made on the authority of Brantome.
EDWARD H. MARSHALL, M.A.
PORTRAITS OF CHRIST (9 th S. i. 107). These portraits were produced in great numbers, as may be seen by referring to *N. & Q.', 1 st S. iii. 168, 228 ; 2 nd S. iii. 289 ; 3 rd S. v. 74, 157, 290; Gent. Mag., 1793, p. 1177; 1795, p. 370, On the title-page of "The Truth of Revelation, demonstrated by an appeal to existing monu- ments By a Fellow of several learnec
Societies" (J. Murray), 1831, is engraved a similar portrait and inscription, explained al p. 259 as copied from an engraving publishec oy Mr. Bagster from a piece of tapestry in his possession. An aunt of mine (who died in 1887 aged eighty-six) had one of these portraits as far back as I can remember. It was on a panel about six inches by four, the figure on a golc ground, head and bust to left, short thick
>eard, slight moustache, long dark browrt
lair, the inscription in yellow letters on a
ground nearly black : -
"This present figure is the syftiylytude of | our orde iesus our sauiotir inprinted | in amyrald by he predecessours of the great turke ana sent to jope | inoccent the eight at the cost | of the great urke for a token | for this cause to redeme his
brother that was taken | prisoner."
Observe that " imprinted in emerald " gives nother sense than " found in Amarat."
W. C. B.
The January number of the Magazine of Art has a contribution on ' The Face of Christ n Art,' by Sir Wyke Bayliss, winch throws some light on the case. One gathers from it
- hat the conventional face is historic, and
ihat sketches in the catacombs were the means of preservation of the portrait.
ARTHUR MAYALL.
'RANTER" (8 th S. xii. 386 ; 9 th S. i. 134). Fifty years ago in Derbyshire the Primitive Methodists " Prims " for shortness were called " Ranters," and this was on account of the earnest and exceedingly boisterous way in which the meetings were carried on. In those days there were no half-measures in the doctrines of the body, and with them the extremes of the hereafter met. Primi- tive Methodists of to-day consider the term "Ranter" offensive, and have passed it on to the Salvation Army. Fifty years ago the "Prims" as a body gloried in the name "Ranter." Their favourite exclama- tion at prayer - meetings, love -feasts, and camp- meetings was " Glory ! hallelujah ! ' : and men and women at such meetings, seated, kneeling, or standing with rapt expression, shouted this for minutes together, sweat pour- ing from their faces. This, with much action of body, was "ranting." In this way, with "brothers and sisters" at "the penitent form," they "wrastled with the Lord" for hours together, often far into the night, with a fervour which left no doubt as to the amount of earnestness involved. I well remember one, a diamond in the rough truly Billy Higgin bottom who was the leading spirit in a large circle of Derbyshire " Ranters," a " Bible thumper " in actual fact. I have seen him turn round in the pulpit and beat the wall behind with his fist, and then turn and do the same with the Bible on the cushion, in his denunciations and pleadings raising his congregation to the nighest pitch a good, earnest old soul, who after hard labour- ing work all the day would joyfully sit all night with a "sinner" at the "penitent form,' a big band assisting. THOS. RATCLIFFE.
Worksop.
