Notes and Queries, Number 46, September 14, 1850 | Page 8

avail
themselves of new models until they are no longer new, will,
undoubtedly, exercise the usual influence over giving this powerful
weapon even a chance in England. It is scarcely necessary to point out
the great advantages that these weapons, carrying, let us say, 800 yards

with perfect accuracy, have over our muskets, of which the range does
not exceed 150, and that very uncertain. Another great advantage of the
zünd-nadel is, that rifles or light infantry can load with ease without
effort when lying flat on the ground. The opponents of the zünd-nadel
talk of over-rapid firing and the impossibility of carrying sufficient
ammunition to supply the demands. This is certainly a drawback, but it
is compensated by the immense advantage of being able to pour in a
deadly fire when you yourself are out of range, or of continuing this
fire so speedily as to destroy half your opponents before they can return
a shot with a chance of taking effect."
This was the first intimation I ever had of the zünd-nadel guns. I should
like to know when and by whom they were invented, and their
mechanism.
JARLTZBERG.
_Bacon Family, Origin of the Name._--Among the able notes, or the
_not_-able Queries of a recent Number, (I regret that I have it not at
hand, for an exact quotation), a learned correspondent mentioned, _en
passant_, that the word bacon had the obsolete signification of "dried
wood." As a patronymic, BACON has been not a little illustrious, in
literature, science, and art; and it would be interesting to know whether
the name has its origin in the crackling fagot or in the cured flitch. Can
any of your genealogical correspondents help me to authority on the
subject?
A modern motto of the Somersetshire Bacons has an ingenious rebus:
ProBa-conSCIENTIA;
the capitals, thus placed, giving it the double reading, Proba
coniscientia, and Pro Bacon Scientia.
NOCAB.
_Armorials._--Sable, a fesse or, in chief two fleurs de lis or, in base a
hind courant argent. E.D.B. will feel grateful to any gentlemen who

will kindly inform him of the name of the family to which the above
coat belonged. They were quartered by Richard or Roger Barow, of
Wynthorpe, in Lincolnshire (_Harl. MS._ 1552. 42 _b_), who died in
1505.
E.D.B.
_Artephius, the Chemical Philosopher._--What is known of the
chemical philosopher Artephius? He is mentioned in Jocker's
_Dictionary_, and by Roger Bacon (in the Opus Majus and elsewhere),
{248} and a tract ascribed to him is printed in the Theatrum Chemicum.
E.
_Sir Robert Howard._--Can any reader assist me in finding out the
author of
"A Discourse of the Nationall Excellencies of England. By R.H.,
London. Printed by Thomas Newcomb for Henry Fletcher, at the Three
Gilt Cups in the New Buildings, near the west end of St. Paul's, 1658.
12 mo., pp. 248."
This is a very remarkable work, written in an admirable style, and
wholly free from the coarse party spirit which then generally prevailed.
The writer declares, p. 235., he had not subscribed the engagement, and
there are internal evidences of his being a churchman and a monarchist.
Is there any proof of its having been written by Sir Robert Howard? A
former possessor of the copy now before me, has written his name on
the title-page as its conjectured author. My copy of Sir Robert's
_Poems_, published two years after, was published not by _Fletcher_,
but by "Henry Herringman, at the sign of the Anchor, in the lower walk
of the New Exchange." John Dryden, Sir Robert's brother-in-law, in the
complimentary stanzas on Howard's poems, says,
"To write worthy things of worthy men, Is the peculiar talent of your
pen."
I would further inquire if a reason can be assigned for the omission

from Sir Robert Howard's collected plays of _The Blind Lady_, the
only dramatic piece given in the volume of poems of 1660. My copy is
the third edition, published by Tonson, 1722.
A.B.R.
_Crozier and Pastoral Staff._--What is the real difference between a
crozier and a pastoral staff?
I.Z.P.
_Marks of Cadency._--The copious manner in which your
correspondent E.K. (Vol. ii., p. 221.) has answered the question as to
the "when and why" of the unicorn being introduced as one of the
supporters of the royal arms, induces me to think that he will readily
and satisfactorily respond to an heraldic inquiry of a somewhat more
intricate nature.
What were the peculiar marks of cadency used by the heirs to the
crown, apparent and presumptive, after the accession of the Stuarts?
For example, what were the changes, if any, upon the label or file of
difference used in the coat-armour of Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest
son of James I., and of his brother Charles, when Prince of Wales, and
so on, to the present time?
_Miniature Gibbet,