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{364} Replies to Minor Queries

_Symbols of the Evangelists_ (Vol. i., pp. 375. 471.; vol. ii., pp. 13. 45.
205.).--Should the inquirer not have access to the authorities which, as is
stated in p. 471., are referred to by DR. WORDSWORTH, or not have leisure
to avail himself of his copious references, he may be glad to find that in
the _Thesaurus Theologico Philologicus_ (vol. ii. pp. 57.-62.), there is a
dissertation containing an analysis of more than fifty authors, who have
illustrated the visions of Ezekiel and St. John, and an explanation of the
Sententiarum Divortia of Irenaeus, Jerome, and Augustine, respecting the
application of the symbols, or of the quaestio vexata--quodnam animal cui
Evangelistae comparandum sit. Thomasius, the author of this dissertation,
suggests that to recall to mind the symbol applied to Luke, we should
remember the expression denoting elephantes, _boves lucas_. Abundant
information is also supplied on this subject by that hierophantic
naturalist, Aldrovandus, _de Quadrup. Bisulcis_, p. 180. et seq. Nor should
Daubuz be neglected, the learned commentator on the Revelations.

T. J.

_Becket's Mother_ (Vol. ii., pp. 106. 270.).--In support of the view of MR.
FOSS with regard to Becket's mother, against that propounded by J. C. R.
(Vol. ii., p. 270.), I would mention that _Acon_ is the ordinary mediaeval
name for the city of _Acre_, and appears in the earlier deeds relating to
the hospital in Cheapside, while the modern form occurs in those of later
date; _e.g._ Pat. 18 Edw. II., "S. Thomae Martyris _de Aconia_;" Pat. 14
Edw. III., "S. Thomae Martyris Cantuarensis de _Acon_;" but Rot. Parl. 23
Hen. VI., "Saint Thomas the Martir of _Acres_," "the Martyr of Canterbury
of _Acres_." (Deeds in Dugdale, _Monast._ vi. 646, 647.)

This would seem to identify the distinctive name of the hospital with the
city in the Holy Land but the following passage from the _Chronicle_ of
Matthew of Westminster (p. 257.) seems quite conclusive on this point, as
it connects that city with Becket in a manner beyond all dispute:--

"Anno gratiae 1190. Obsessa est _Acon_ circumquaque Christianorum
legionibus, et arctatur nimis. _Capella Sancti Thomae martyris ibidem
aedificatur_."

If, as J. C. R. supposes, there was no connexion between the saint and Acre
in Syria, the foundation of a chapel to his honour in or near that city
would seem quite unaccountable. H