86
NOTES AND QUERIES. [io* s. n. JULY ao, MM.
the latter end of the sixteenth century:
" He was, in short, a veritable typical turn-
coat, a salamander, ready to eat his own
words, however scorching." The idea of an
articulating salamander feeding on its own
utterances is very striking. Had such a
wondrous creature addressed Giovanni Cel-
lini on a memorable occasion, Benvenuto
would hardly have needed a box on the ear
to impress the fact on his memory.
ST. SWTTHIN.
BOHEMIAN VILLAGES. DK. H. KREBS re- cently drew my attention to the expression ' Bohmischen Db'rfer" in Grimm's * Deutsches Worterbuch,' where Bohemian villages are singled out for special notice, along with Bohemian garnets, glass, <kc. The latter speak for themselves and enjoy a national reputation, but it is not clear why the villages are considered distinctive. I am familiar with the bitter Cech-Teuton rivalry by per- sonal witness, and appealed to Dr. V. E. Mourek, Professor of Germanic at Prague (Cech) University, a good friend to English scholars, who writes :
" As to Bohemian villages, 1 know what is meant by them, but am not quite so sure about how they became a by-word. If a German wants to say, * I have not the least idea about such and such a matter,' he says, ' That is a Bohemian village to me.' I think the origin of the saying was the miserable state Bohemia was left in after the Thirty Years' War, when the villages there were few and far between and laid waste. But it is remarkable that we in Bohemia say in such a case, ' That is a Spanish village to me,' and I have read this also in German books. It can only mean that Spanish villages are so far away from the speaker that he cannot know anything about them."
Count Liitzow tells me that Schiller's 'Rauber'may afford some explanation. As to Spanish villages, there is considerable poli- tical connexion between Spain and Austria, but Prof. Mourek's conjecture seems more probable. Prof. W. R. Morfill compares the German expression with the English " That is all High (or double) Dutch to me " ; and DR. KREBS refers to the saying, "Wie die Kuhe Spanisch reden."
FRANCIS P. MARCHANT.
106, Pathtield Road, Streatham Common.
OWEN BRIGSTOCKE. (See 8 th S. xi. 168, 257.) I can add that Owen Brigstocke was elected F.R.S. on 30 November, 1710, and F.S.A. on 6 January, 1720, as of Carmarthen, where he died apparently in 1746. His will, bearing date 14 April, 1746, is registered in the Pre- rogative Court of Canterbury. On 20 Decem- ber, 1748, administration with the will annexed was granted to William Brigstocke (testator's nephew), the father of and guardian assigned to
Owen Brigstocke, an infant, the great-nephew
and sole residuary legatee named in the will
Richard, Lord Bishop of St. David's, sole
executor and sole residuary legatee in trust,
first renouncing as well the execution thereof
as the said trust. Most of his property came
to him through his marriage. His estate of
Tyr Isha in Llandeveilog, Carmarthenshire,
he received from his brother William in
exchange for a property of greater value in
Cardiganshire.
His nephew William Brigstocke, who was J.P. for Cardiganshire, died 11 March, 1751 (Gent. Mag., p. 140). His will (also in the Prerogative Court) was proved by his widow Mary 27 March following. His real estate in the several counties of Carmarthen, Cardigan, and Pembroke, and the county borough of Carmarthen, was bequeathed to his eldest son, Owen Brigstocke, a minor. ITA TBSTOR.
THE SPANIARDS OF ASIA. When every one is admiring the progress and the martial courage of the Japanese people, it is inter- esting to call to mind a description of them which was given in the seventeenth century.
On p. 175 of "El Critic6n, Segunda Parte
por Lorenzo Gracian (En Huesca : por luan Nogues. Aiio 1653)," in the chapter headed
- Armeria del Valor,' one reads :
"A los Africanos los huesos, que tengan que roer como quien son ; las espaldas a los Chinas, el coracon a los lapones, que son los Espafioles del Asia ; y el espinazo a los Negros."
This is an item in the 'Testamento del Valor/ to quote the marginal description of the section. In the same distribution of her " lastimoso cadauer," Valor is made to say, a few lines above :
"Iten mas dexo el rostro a los Ingleses, sereis lindos, vnos Angeles, mas temo, que como las hermosas aueis de ser faciles en hazer cara a vn Calbino, a vn Lutero, y al mismo diablo : sobre todo guardaos no os vea la vulpeja, que dira luego aquello de hermosa fachata, mas sin celebro."
So the Japanese got the heart of valour for being the Spaniards of Asia ; and the Musco- vites got the lung. E. S. DODGSON.
IRRESPONSIBLE SCRIBBLERS. (See 9 th S. xi. 461.) I think the pernicious custom of scribbling signatures upon public buildings, monuments, and other objects of interest by British holiday-makers is largely on the in- crease. Many historical memorials have been quite spoilt by this practice. Apparently the only object some people have in visiting a picturesque or historic spot is to record their signatures or initials upon the principal feature or relic which has rendered the place famous. I do not know that I have ever
