of this phrase, which may be added to the passages cited by your correspondent S. J. H.:

that a mine near Godolphin was used to provide
the tin employed in Solomon's temple.
W. S. LACH-SZYRMA.

old Norman church. It is thought that a Sir Geoffrey de Bingham, an ancestor of his, resided in this parish in the reign of Henry I., and gave to it the name of Bingham in addition to the old name of Soten. Can G. W. M. give any particulars of the history of the Bingham family in connexion with this parish? W. H. HELYAR. Rectory, Sutton Bingham.

"And in the mornynge whan euery man made hym redy to ryde, and some were on horse-backe setting forwarde, John Roynoldes founde his companion SIR RICHARD BINGHAM (6th S. iv. 513; v. 18). syttynge in a browne study at the Inne gate, to whom-Referring to G. W. M.'s communication, I may he sayd: for shame man how syttest thou?"-Mery say that about six months ago the late Rev. Tales and Quicke Answeres, lxxii. (ed Hazlitt, 1864). W. C. BINGHAM called upon me and inspected our Hazlitt says that the supposed original impression of these tales was printed by Thomas Berthelet without date (about 1535). I cannot believe that the expression is in any way connected with O. G. braun, Aug-braun. To me it seems much more rational to suppose that the phrase is analogous with Fr. sombre rêverie, as Dr. Brewer suggests, and G. düsteres nachsinnen. Cf. also the wellknown xλwpòv Séos, Shakespeare's "green and yellow melancholy," Tw. N., II. iv. 116, and such MATRICULATION RECORDS (6th S. iv. 306, 459). Latin expressions as "livida invidia," 29 66 pallida Entering the name on the "buttery book," as it mors," &c. In each case the epithet seems to give to was styled, of a college or hall at Oxford was a the abstract noun with which it goes an appearance perfectly distinct act from entering it at matricuin accord with the effects produced; e. g., melan-lation, though the latter act succeeded the former choly produces a sickly complexion; hence its epithets, &c. F. C. BIRKBECK TERRY. Cardiff.

almost immediately. The one was the enrolment.
at the particular college or hall, whilst the other
was an admission as a member of the university
"in matriculam universitatis hujus hodie relatum
esse," as the admonition phrased it, given by the
vice-chancellor to the neophyte. It was, F
remember, a matter of doubt whether a man
matriculating on the last day of term, after con-
gregation had been dissolved, was entitled to count
that term. To show how different a register of
Oxford University matriculations would be from
one of Oxford graduates, let me say that the late
Dr. Bliss, Registrar of the University from 1824
to 1853, once told me that he did not believe
that more than one-half of those who matricu-
lated ever graduated.
JOHN PICKFORD, M.A.
Newbourne Rectory, Woodbridge.

"THE IMITATION OF CHRIST" (5th S. x. 388, 523). COL. FISHWICK says that the first edition of John Worthington's translation was published in London in 1677, but that his name was not on the title-page. I have this edition, and several others of Worthington's translation, but it cannot be the first edition, for the editor says in it "that he has taken upon himself to enlarge the preface." I have a copy which I fancy must be the first edition; the translation agrees word for word with the other editions as well as the preface, and it is easy to see where the additions have been made in the edition of 1677. It is "printed in London by J. Redmayne, and to be sold by Mr. John Clark, in New Cheapside, Moorfields." It has no date on the title-page nor name of translator, but-The only time I have met with this word in on the engraved frontispiece, which is the same in all Worthington's editions, there is a date, partially mutilated, which appears to be 1658. Where can I find any particulars of John Worthington? EDMUND WATERTON.

"GUFFIN" (6th S. ii. 448; iii. 94; iv. 115, 417)

Norrible Tale," which was sung some five-andliterature-save the mark-is in a song called "A twenty years ago by, I think, Mr. Toole. affirmed that

V.

"The father was a grim old guffin,

He never would have no fun nor nuffin."
ST. SWITHIN.

It

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT AT ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT (6th S. iv. 348).—Although it is difficult to prove a universal negative, I should be inclined greatly to doubt the existence of any ancient A SIN TO POINT AT THE MOON (6th S. iv. 407 ; legend connecting the Ark with St. Michael's 14).-We have similar superstitions in CumMount. There seems, however, from the miracle berland with regard to the new moon. It is most plays, to have been a great tendency among it at all the money ought to be turned in the unlucky to see it first through glass; and on seeing Cornishmen of the Middle Ages to connect places in their county with events in Holy Writ. Pos- pocket, or a curtsey made to it. I once saw a sibly this is the origin of the legend that the person almost in tears because she looked on the Jewish slaves taken at the fall of Jerusalem by new moon through her veil, feeling convinced Titus were employed by the Romans in the that misfortune would follow. Cornish tin mines. I recently heard a legend The belief that it is unlucky to look at the new

B. J.

moon through a window also obtains in Yorkshire;
but, according to my experience, the belief has
reference only to the first new moon of the new
year. This is alluded to in Henderson's Folk-
Lore of the Northern Counties, p. 114, ed. 1879,
which compare.
F. C. BIRKBECK TERRY.
Cardiff.

ROBERT PHAIRE, THE REGICIDE (5th S. xii. 47, 311; 6th S. i. 18, 84, 505; ii. 38, 77, 150; iv. 235, 371, 431, 495).-My best acknowledgments are due for valued information relating to the family of Ferre of early days, and to that of Robert Phaire, who is styled of Rostillon, in co. Cork, Ireland, in Dugdale's Visitation of York, in the year 1665, as also in the epitaph, "posteritati sacrum," of Sir Thomas Herbert, Bart., attached to a pillar on the south side of the chancel of St, Crux Church, York :

HIBERNIA.

planation is easy. Going into one of the wards of Guy's Hospital about thirty-five years ago, I found the nurse_removing the pillow from under the head of a dying man. Upon my taking her severely to task, she replied, "Poor dear, I pitied him, he is so hard a-dying!" When the head is thus made to fall back, the reverse of "Marshall Hall's position" is effected, and the occurrence of asphyxia is greatly hastened. The notion of game feathers went side by side with this practice. CALCUTTENSIS.

LINCOLNSHIRE PROVINCIALISMS (6th S. iii. 364, 514; iv. 238).—Your correspondent R. R., in his reply at the second reference, seems not to have noticed the fact that the word mess has two different derivations, with the following meanings:I. 1. A dish of meat, as a mess of pottage. 2. A course for the table. 3. A course sufficient for four persons. 4. By extension, a course sufficient for any number of persons who meet for the pur

(Stratmann), I. messa (Florio, 1688), M.I. messo, a mess of meat, from L. missum, though Coleridge gives "mes meal, mess; A.-S. mesan, to eat."

II. "Properly mesh, a mixture disagreeable to the sight or taste, untidyness or disorder" (WedgThe word in the second case is a variant of mash. wood).* Cf. Prof. Skeat's Dict. for both forms.

The will, dated Sept. 13, 1682, is headed "Testa-pose of eating together. Derived from O.F. mes mentum et codicillum Roberti Phaire, nuper de Grange in com' Corcagno." The fact that he and his widow Elizabeth sealed their wills with their armorial bearings seemed conclusive that they were not of the Society of Friends. By searching the baptismal register of the parish of the Rev. Emanuel Phaire, the names and dates, if found, may throw light on the parentage of Robert. Allusion has been made to Thomas Phaer or Phayer, of Kilgerran, co. Pembroke, Bachelor of Physic, February 6, and M.D., March 10, 1558 (Wood's Fasti). His will is dated Aug. 12, 1560. The said doctor left behind him a widow named Anne, and two daughters, Eleanor, the wife of Gryffith ap Eynon, and Mary" (Wood's Athena Oxonienses). As Colonel Phaire erased his name from the list of those who were to assist at the execution of King Charles, and his life was spared, I do not call him "regicide."

C. A. BUCKler.

SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT FEATHERS (6th S. iii. 165, 339, 356, 418; iv. 236).-Those who justly find fault with the Hindoos for carrying their moribunds to the margin of the sacred Gunga, and filling their mouths with mud, overlook the fact that not very dissimilar methods of "happy despatch" have been employed in England by the educated within the last fifty years, and probably by the ignorant up to the present day. It was, within my own recollection, a general practice to offer a narcotic to the dying. In the case of Dr. Johnson the patient refused, saying that he would enter the presence of his Maker with a clear brain. I have often wondered how Dr. Radcliffe, of Queen Anne's time, who was not a great physician, was able to predict the precise hour of a patient's death, which medical men of the present day can seldom do. If he followed this practice the ex

The use of mess to denote number or quantity As examples of the usage of 3, cf. "For at everye would appear to have been taken from I. 3 and 4. table they sit foure at a messe" (More, Utopia, "The Seconde Booke"). "Foure makes a messe, and wee have a messe of masters that must be cozened" (Lilly, Mother Bombie, II. i.).

"A messe of Russians left us but of late."

Shakespeare, L. L. L., V. ii. 361. Shakespeare also uses the word for a small quantity. Cf. "Coming in to borrow a mess of vinegar" (2 Hen. IV., II. i. 103). I will chop her into messes (Othello, IV. i. 211). The usage I. explains such expressions as (I quote from Miss Baker's Northamptonshire Glossary) “ a nice mess of pears," 99 66 99.66 a mess of people," a mess of sheep," a mess of buildings," a mess of mullock"; whilst ""to mess about," "to mess to get into a mess,' one's dress," "to mess one's money away," and such phrases, will be explained by II.'

Roäky and roak, both as verb and noun, are heard the expressions "hadder and rock,” and “it common words in North Yorkshire. I have often hadders and roäks," roäk meaning a thick mist, and hadder the drizzling rain which accompanies it.

Can any one give me the derivation of hadder, a word which is used also in Cumberland? Roäk

"Mescolánza, a mesh, a medly, a mingling, a mixing. a blending, a melling, a hotch potch, and mish-mash of things confusedly, and without order put together" (Florio, 1688).

is supposed to be the remains of a Roman Pharos,
corresponding to the one in Dover Castle. Darell
gives a drawing of it temp. Elizabeth. Dr. Harris
says upon this stone were sworn the Lord Wardens
of the Cinque Ports. The last grand court of Shep-
way was held here, in accordance with ancient
usage, in 1861, when Lord Palmerston was sworn
in. Some alterations were being made in the
earthworks of the adjacent redoubt, and thus the
foundations of the original structure became
exposed; a platform of rubble concreted with red
mortar interspersed with Roman tiles showed
its origin. That part which Darell saw, and
which he called the Ara Cæsaris, or the Devil's
Drop, was not unearthed. The name is retained,
however, in the Drop Redoubt. The authorities
have left a part uncovered, and a tablet shows
the spot. Dr. Harris, Sir Thomas Mantell, Mr.
Lyon, Mr. E. Knocker, and the Rev. Canon Puckle,
who have written upon the grand courts held upon
this stone, all call it the Breden or Braidenstone.
One ancient court was the Court of Brotherhood
and Guestling. Does this offer any clue to the
origin of the name?
LAMBERT WESTON.

says,

"STARK NAUGHT" (6th S. iv. 89, 275).-Besides the familiar phrases "stark mad" and "stark naked," the following are no less common, “stark nonsense," ""stark blind." Collier He pronounces the citation stark nonsense." Shakespeare uses the adverb “starkly ” in Measure for Measure, IV. ii.: "As fast locked up in sleep as guiltless labour, when it lies starkly in the traveller's bones." Halliwell gives stark giddy," Lanc. When applied to madness the more usual phrase is "stark staring mad." Roget gives the word "stark" as a synonym of "absolute, positive, decided, unequivocal," &c. In boyhood, "stark nonsense was quite a household phrase in our family. E. COBHAM BREWER. "TO MAKE A LEG" (6th S. iii. 149, 337, 375 THE ARMS OF COLONIAL AND MISSIONARY iv. 215)." Answer me not but with your leg' "BISHOPRICS (6th S. iii. 241, 286, 467; iv. 310). (Ben Jonson, Epic., II. i. and v.). Compare MR. WOODWARD refers at the last reference to Plutarch (Life of Cicero, the Langhornes' trans- time "giving prescriptive authority" for using lation, vol. v. p. 322, Lond., 1819):armorial bearings. This seems open to question.. The sole right to arms is a grant from the College Boutell (English Heraldry, 3rd edit. p. 309) says, or the Crown, or inheritance by lineal descent from an ancestor to whom a grant was made." In recent charters of incorporation to boroughs in England power is given to assume arms, the same being duly registered in the College of Arms. Colonial bishops, as corporations sole, could only acquire the right to use arms by grant or licence.

;

“Lentulus came up in a very careless and disrespectful manner, and said, 'I have no account to give, but I present you with the calf of my leg': which was a common expression among the boys, when they missed their stroke at tennis. Hence he had the surname of Sura,' which is the Roman word for the calf of the leg."

ED. MARSHALL.

In Sir Walter Scott's humorous poem, The
Search after Happiness; or, the Quest of Sultaun
Solimaun, the phrase “To shake a leg" occurs :-
"Next door to John there dwelt his sister Peg,
Once a wild lass as ever shook a leg
When the blithe bagpipe blew."
And in the same poem is also the other phrase,
"To make a leg":

:

"The Sultaun enter'd, and he made his leg, And with decorum curtsy'd sister Peg." "Verbum non amplius addam."

Ashford, Kent.

FREDK. RULE.

BOOKS PRINTED PREVIOUSLY TO 1550 (6th S. iv. 147, 195, 251, 457).—I may add to your list the following, which are in my library :

Eusebius, De Evangelica præparatione, fol., 1473. Leonhardus Aurl.

Theophylactus in IV Evangelia, fol., 1525.

Divi Thomae Aquinatis in Omnes Beati Pauli Apost. Epist. Commentaria, fol. Paris, Jehan Petit, 1541. Quidam Fructuosus libellus de modo Confitendi et Penitendi, 8vo., Imperfect. Gerard Leeu, 1500. (See "N. & Q." 4th S. iv. 276.)

Brighton.

FREDERICK E. SAWYER.

"SWEALING" (6th S. iii. 327, 495; iv. 258):—

"Before the Aryan nations separated, before there was a Latin, a Greek, or a Sanskrit language, there existed a root svar, or sval, which meant to beam, to glitter, to warm. It exists in Greek, oéλag, splendour; σελývn, moon: in A.-S. as swélan, to burn, to sweal; in modern German, schwül, oppressively hot. From it we have in Sanskrit the noun svar, meaning sometimes the sky, sometimes the sun; and exactly the same word has been preserved in Latin as sol; in Gothic as sauil; in A.-S. as sol. A secondary form of svar is the Sanskrit surya for svarya, the sun, which is the same word as the Greek Atos."-Max Müller, Selected Essays, x. 603. MERVARID.

"BUNKER'S HILL" (6th S. iv. 48, 255).-There Ribble, in Lancashire, to which this term is applied. is a bank on the north shore of the estuary of the How long the name has attached to the place I cannot say. W. DOBSON.

Preston.