QUESTOR.

Athenaeum, Nov. 20. 1850.

Chaucer’s Portrait by Occleve.—­Is the portrait of Chaucer which Occleve drew in his translation of Egidius de Roma to be found in all the MSS. of that work? and, if so, has it ever been engraved.  I have not Urry’s Chaucer by me, or perhaps he could save you the trouble of answering the question.

On reference to Watts, I find he does not even mention this work of Occleve, but contents himself with a piece of supercilious criticism; whereas the notices which Occleve takes of passing events (of which the character of Chaucer is one) are at least valuable (although his poetry may not be the best in the world), and his work is also valuable in giving us the phraseology of the fourteenth century.

P.

John o’Groat’s House.—­Does any authenticated view of the building called John o’Groat’s House in Caithness exist, and are any traditions respecting it known beyond the certainly ridiculous account in the fifth volume of Beauties of Scotland, p.83.?

Can any of your readers point out an engraving of the old Konigs or Kaiserstuhl, at Rheuse, on the Rhine, as well as of its restoration in 1848, after being destroyed by the hordes of revolutionary France, in 1792?  It is not in Merian or Zeiler.  I have seen it, but cannot call to mind the author.  Perhaps Alsatia Illustrata?

WILLIAM BELL, Phil.  Dr.

Dancing the Bride to Bed—­Old Hewson the Cobler.—­I have a tune called “A round dance to dance the bride to bed.”  Can any of your readers favour me with notices of such a custom prevailing?  The tune dates about 1630 or earlier, and resembles that of “The Hunt is up.”

Another, printed about 1730, is called, “My name is Old Hewson the Cobler.”  Is this a cavelier’s song in ridicule of the Roundhead Colonel Hewson; and are the words to be found?

WM. CHAPPELL.

    [We trust these Queries may be regarded as a sign that Mr. Chappell is
    preparing a new edition of his valuable collection of National English
    Airs.—­ED.]

Duke and Earl of Albemarle.—­Albemarle has given a title of duke to the celebrated General Monk, and that of earl to the family of Keppel.  Will some of your correspondents tell me where {443} there is any place called Albemarle, which gives rise to these dignities, or why this title was assumed by these families?

J.

* * * * *

REPLIES.

JULIN, THE DROWNED CITY.

(Vol. ii., p. 282.)

It does not at all follow, that if a city perished by the encroachment of the sea, it was a very striking event at the time:  it might have happened gradually, not suddenly.  Instances both ways seem to have occurred on the shores of the German Ocean (see Lyell’s Principles of Geology, ch. 16.).  A great flood happened in 1154 (Helmold, p. 216. b. ii. c. 1. s. 5.), but it is mentioned with respect to the oceanic rivers only, and not as to the Baltic, or destruction of houses or buildings.