1830.] Prior of Lewes' Inn, Southwark. Mr. URBAN, April 21. THE THE subject of the accompanying print (see Plate 1.) is the crypt of the Inn of the Prior of Lewes in Southwark, which has lately been rendered accessible to public inspection by the alterations necessary to form the approaches of the New London Bridge, and which has been described in your Magazine for January, p. 67. I suppose that the remains of this building were more considerable in the time of the historian and topographer Stow, who notices it, as you have already quoted. The crypt is an apartment about forty feet in length, by seventeen in width, and about fourteen in height, from the original floor to the crest of the vaulting, which is supported by short semicircular pilasters placed on either side of the chamber; three on the east, and three on the west. The capitals of these columns are in the earliest style of Saxon or Anglo-Norman sculpture; from them spring boldly-turned semicircular arches, faced with squared masonry. The intercolumniation or space between pillar and pillar, is about nine feet. The corresponding intervening spaces between the arches, form the cieling, which is accurately groin ed. The walls are of rag-stone, with an admixture, especially in the groius, of chalk. There are no pilasters in the angles forming the ends of the chamber. One circumstance in this edifice is peculiarly worthy of observation; in the intervening lateral spaces between the pillars, where the groining would naturally form a pointed arch, the arch is not pointed but elliptical. Two small circular-headed windows, neatly faced with squared masonry, and scarcely twelve inches asunder, * are placed at the south end of the building, and one at the north. There is an oblong opening in the first intercolumniation of the west side of the room, which led I think to a small staircase; in the second and third, between the pilasters, were two circular-headed windows, similar to the rest. So that the apartment was illuminated by five apertures exclusive of the doors. At *Your artist has made an error in these windows in: his view of the crypt. I correct it in an enlarged sketch of them, with which I send a plan of the building. GENT. MAG. April, 1880. 297 -the north-east end is a projection, making a right angle with the chamber, and forming the centre, as I think, of a mansion in the shape of an half H, the hollow side facing to the south. In the middle of the north front were probably the "arched gates" mentioned by Stow. I am strongly of opinion that these remains are a portion of an edifice, erected on his own land, by William de Warren, first Earl, or rather (as earldoms at that time had a real dominion over counties) Viceroy of Surrey, who married the sister of William Rufus, and who, founding an alien Priory of the Cistercian order at Lewes in Sussex, among other marks of his bounty, conferred perhaps a mansion of his own on the Priors, as their town residence. The Earls of Surrey certainly held a Court in their manor of Southwark. The building under consideration was not, I conceive, a place of worship, as it has been designated by Wilkinson, but rather the sub-aula of some stately mansion. It appears, indeed, from a passage of Matthew Paris, in his Lives of the Abbats of St. Alban's,‡ that houses furnished with crypts were of the order appropriated to nobility: "Aula nobilissima picta cum conclavibus et camino et atrio et subaulâ quæ palatium regium (quia duplex est et criptata) dici potest.' Several fragments of architectural carving were discovered in the upper parts of the building, strictly of the Saxon style, and some much resembling the ornaments on the font at Darent Church, Kent, which I have described in vol. xcvi. ii. p. 497, of your Miscellany. Portions of Roman tiles, a sure mark, when coupled with other circumstances, of high antiquity, were found worked into the walls. Under the floor of the school-room above, many tradesmen's tokens were discovered, and I have a small brass coin of Constantius, picked out of the rubbish.§ The quantity of earth which at present fills this vault, up to the capitals of the columns, was probably introduced to bring it to a level with some Londina Illustrata. Vitæ viginti trium Sancti Albani Abbatum, p. 142, edit. Watts. § Obverse, Constantius Nob. Cæsar.Reverse, Gloria Exercitus (two soldiers). 298 On the Origin of Proper Names. adjoining modern cellars, for the convenience of removing casks, &c. Indeed it is said that this ancient vaulting was unknown to the possessors of the upper part of its site, and was occupied for a century by persons who had casually broken into it from an adjacent souterrein. A little historical taste, and a little respect for the vestigia subterranea, now indeed almost the only tangible evidence of old London, might have still preserved this most curious and early specimen of architecture for ages to come, and the new road, or any other superstructure, might have been formed over the vault; but the Vandalism which sometimes marks the march of modern improvement, in a few days will, I fear, sweep the residence of Earl Warren, or the Inn of the Prior of Lewes, from the surface of the earth. Yours, &c. A. J. K. Mr. URBAN, Grimsby, Jan. 27. I you the analysis of a theory which I am preparing for the press, in hopes that some of your ingenious Correspondents may be induced to pursue the subject, and, through the medium of your columns, give me the benefit of their investigations. Dr. Whitaker says, "if any antiquary should think fit to write a dissertation on the antiquity of nicknames in England, he may meet with ample materials in the Compotus of Bolton Abbey; for here are found Adam Blunder, Simon Paunche, Richard Drunken, Tom Noght, and Whirle the Carter; the last, I suppose, by an antiphrasis, from the slowness of his rotatory motion." * The general doctrine of surnames, however, is too complex to be reduced to any simple theory; too arbitrary to be methodically arranged and systematized to the entire satisfaction of the theorist; and too confused, both in its nature and design, to afford any certain clue by which he may be safely guided through the mazy la byrinth, whether his design be to trace their origin, or to pursue the ramified theme through all its complicated windings and sinuosities. If our researches be commenced at that period when, surnames were first assumed by our nobility as marks of distinction and pre-eminence, we are still enveloped in doubt and uncertainty; for the few names of that era * History of Craven, p. 342. [April, which may be considered as originals, afford no specific rule to account for the myriads which are in existence at the present time. For an approxima tion to truth, therefore, we must look to contingencies, both of ancient and modern occurrence; for there does not exist a title of honour, or an epithet of disgrace; an appellation of scorn, derision, or contempt; a learned profession, a menial employment, an article of common utility, a trade, a handicraft, a locality, an excellence, or a misfortune, but has given rise to a family name; which, receiving various changes and modifications from the effects of a provincial dialect, vicious pronunciation, and pun, has produced the unlimited number of surnames with which the world now abounds. I am persuaded, however, that the surname is not an assumption of these comparatively modern times; for the remotest ages of antiquity furnish unquestionable evidence of the use of patronymics, how much soever they may have been blended or confounded with the cognomen; although it may be worthy of a passing remark, that theoretically, the family name being unalterable, the additional one, in strict propriety of speech, should be denominated the surname. Taking Selah for a surname, however, in its usual acceptation, we find Methu-Selah several hundred years before the flood: and shortly after that event, we perceive unequivocal traces of surnames. Melchi-Zedek, king of righteousness, is evidently a name compounded of two distinct parts, the one expressive of earthly dignity, the other of a peculiar mental quality by which the individual was distinguished. Joseph in Egypt was surnamed Abrech, the king's father; and to the same effect we find Hiram Abif, Ben Ammi, and many others of common occurrence in the sacred writings. In the mythology of pagan nations, according to Bryant and Faber, the names of the gods and heroes were generally compounded of two or more radicals, which, like the origin of many of our modern surnames, expressed the nature, character, or qualities of the personage to whom they were applied. Thus Apollo was Ab-Baal-On, the father of Baal, the sun; Phœbús was Ph'Ob-As, the fiery serpent ; Pallas, P'Al-As, the god of fire; Deucalion was Du-Cal-Jonah, the god of 1830.1 On the Origin of Proper Names. the white dove; Atlas, At-Al-As, the fiery god of heat; Dagon, Dag-On, the solar fish, god, &c. &c. Amongst the Romans surnames were probably adopted at the period when the treaty with the Sabines was ratified and confirmed; that the family pride of each nation might be gratified by transmitting its peculiar designations to posterity; and it has been remarked by some writers, that amongst both Greeks and Romans there existed an ancient and superstitious belief, that individual prosperity depended much on the signification of the proper name. The Roman system of family names is too notorious to need a comment here, and I pass on to that of our own country, which is the more immediate object of the present essay. Many names amongst the ancient Britons were compounded from personal qualities, influence, or dignity; as Llywarch Hen, or Llywarch the aged; Uthyr Bendragon, the wonderful supreme leader; Cyn-Felyn or Melyn, he with the golden hair; Garan-Hir, the lofty crane; Pen-Daran, lord of thunder Rhuddlwm-Gawr, the red, bony giant; Gwydion-ab-Don, Gwydion the son of Don; Cyn-Llo, calfhead, a silly fellow, &c. &c. The Saxons also used compound names; sometimes from personal peculiarities, as Wulfsic-se-Blaca, or the pale; Thurceles Hwitan,or the white; Ethelwerde-Stameran; Godwine-Dreflan, &c.; or from mental qualities, as, Ethel-Bald, noble and valiant; Cyning Gund, a royal favourite; Lud-Wic (Ludovic or Lewis) the refuge of the people; Sige-Bald, bold in victory, &c. Sometimes a person was designated from his habitation, which in process of time might become the confirmed name of the family; as Elfric at Bertune; Leonmære at Biggrafan; and sometimes from the name of his father, as Elfgare-Elfan-sun; SiredElfrides-sun; and these were subsequently converted by the Normans into a single name; as, for instance, William the son of Walter became William Fitzwalter; John the son of Paine was John Fitzpaine, &c.; and from this period the theory of proper names becomes still more diversified. Some individuals were distinguished by a territorial appellation, as Wal *Turner's Anglo-Saxons, vol. iv. p. 5. Verstegan, c. 8. 299 terus de Grymesby, Johannes de Cave, Ricardus de Ravenser, Petrus de Newton others have been graced with a double name, the one referring to the place of their birth, and the other to their residence, as, Willielmus de Holm de Beverlaço, Johannes de Scardeburg de Beverlaco; some were designated from certain prominent features in their bodily appearance, as Adam Greyhaires; Johannes Pinguis; some from their colour, as Williel. mus Niger; Alanus Albus; some from field sports, as Robertus Auceps; Willielmus Arbalistarius; Francis Forestarius; while domestics and retainers were usually surnamed according to the nature of their employment; as Simon Ironmonger, Robertus de Bakester, Walterus de Buttiler, John Daylaborer, or Willielmus Camerarius, Radulfus Pincerna, Ricardus Stabularius, Johannes Tinetor, &c. These classes I could extend indefinitely from Charters and Compoti in which they abound. "Divers of our ancestors," says Verstegan, "took their surnames by reason of their abode in or neer some place of note, where they settled themselues and planted their ensueing families, as within tunes or fensed places, or at a wood, a hil, a feild, a green, a brook, a bourn, a foord, a great tree, and sundry the lyke. Whereby for example, Robert of, or at the Green, was so called because hee dwelt on or by a green; and afterwards the preposition of became by vulgar hast to be a, when of Robert of Green, he was called Robert a Green; and the a lastly quyte left. out, hee remayned only Robert Green; and the lyke may bee sayd of others in the lyke manner." In modern times we find some particular names disseminated through all ranks and gradations of society, spread over every part of the habitable globe where surnames prevail, and insinuating themselves into the most obscure recesses of mankind; whilst others are of very rare occurrence. Of the former description is the name of Smith, with all its variations of nation, province, and family; and of the latter are Ellerker, Legard, and Wilberforce, which are peculiar to the county of York, and families of these names have been established there for many centuries. This class is seldom to be met with out of its own district, except from family migrations, as though the names were |