Barristers' Gowns.—What is the meaning of the lapel, or piece which hangs from the back of the barristers' gown? Has it any particular name? In shape it is very similar to the representations we see in pictures of the "cloven tongues." It is not improbable that it may be intended figuratively to bear reference to them.

Henry T. Riley.

"Charta Hen. 2. G.G. n.2. q."—In Cowell's Law Dictionary (ed. 1727), under the word Lusgul, I find the following reference: "Charta Hen. 2. G.G. n.2. q." I should be much obliged to any person who would suggest for what "G.G. n.2. q." stands.

K.

Albany Wallace.—Can any of your correspondents, familiar with the drama, tell me who this gentleman was? In 1827, there appeared The Death of Mary Queen of Scots, an historic drama in five acts, by A.W., Esq.: Worthing, printed for the author by W. Verrall. His name occurs again on the title-page of The Reigns of the Stuarts in England dramatised. The First Part of King James the First, a play in five acts: London, printed by the author, at his private press, Queen Ann Street, 1835.

I naturally turned up Mr. Martin's Privately Printed Books, but neither our dramatist nor his press is there alluded to. Touching the latter, Mr. Wallace says in his preface,—

"A certain picture was said by a connoisseur to be 'very well painted for a gentleman!' a species of negative praise which gave but little satisfaction to the artist. Should the amateur printer, however, meet with as much, he will be very well contented. All he can himself say for his work is 'that it is legible;' and his type being of a pretty tolerable rotundity, he does not think it will need an additional pair of spectacles to be made out."

I am farther desirous of knowing if, in pursuance of his plan, Mr. Wallace dramatised any more of the Stuarts?

J. D.

Leslie and Dr. Middleton.—In Dr. M‘Neile's Lecture on the Jews and Judaism, Feb. 14, 1854, the four rules given by Leslie as a test of historical truth are thus quoted:

"1. That the matter of fact be such that men's outward senses, their ears and eyes, may be judges of it.

"2. That it be done publicly, in the face of the world.

"3. That not only public monuments be kept in memory of it, but also that some outward actions be statedly performed.

"4. That such observances be instituted, and do commence, from the time at which such matter of fact is done.

"It is said that Dr. Middleton endeavoured for twenty years to find out some pretended fact to which Mr. Leslie's four rules could be applied, but in vain."

"It is said." Where; when; by whom?

H. B. C.

U. U. Club.

Star and Garter, Kirkstall.—What is now a large hotel, at Kirkstall Bridge, near to Kirkstall Abbey in Yorkshire, was many years ago a mere village roadside hostel, under whose sign (the Star and Garter) was inscribed in Greek capitals "?? ??????." How could such an inscription have got into such a place? Could it have been the suggestion of some "learned clerke" of the neighbouring monastery, as more suited to the genius of the vicinity than the ordinary announcement of "Good Entertainment for Man and Horse?"

J. L. S., Sen.

Shrove Tuesday.—Happening to be at Newbury on Shrove Tuesday, I was struck with the tolling of the church bell as for a death, and, on inquiry, was informed that such was the custom of the place on this day. Does such a custom exist anywhere else, and what is the origin of it?

Newburiensis.

"Tarbox for that."—On reading a book of funny stories some years ago in the British Museum (a sort of Joe Miller of Charles II.'s time), whenever any story was given that seemed "too good to be true," the anecdote ended with the words "Tarbox for that." Am I right in suspecting that this is equivalent to the expression, "Tell that to the marines," so well known in our day? "Tarbox" was probably a nickname for a bumpkin, or guardian of the tarbox, in which was kept the tar composition used for anointing sheep. Can anybody suggest another solution of the meaning of this expression?

Henry T. Riley.

De Gurney Pedigree.—Can any of your readers inform me whether the following pedigree is correct, so far as it goes?

Who was the father of Simon de Gaunt, Bishop of Salisbury in 1300?

E. W. Godwin.

"??st??," unde deriv.—Scapula and Hederic both give pe??? as the root; but by what process is p?st?? so obtained? What objection is there to taking ?st?? as the root? whence ef?staa?, ep?sta?, p?st??. No doubt one of your learned readers will kindly aid the inquiry.

?.

Snush.—When did this name cease to be used for snuff? I think I have met with it as late as the reign of Queen Anne. I believe the Scotch call snuff snish, or snishen.

Henry. T. Riley.

John Bale, Bishop of Ossory.—A complete list of the works of this voluminous writer, giving the titles in full, will be thankfully acknowledged; also any facts as to his life, not generally known. There is a very imperfect list of Bale's Works given in Harris's Ware's Bishops, and most of the Biographical Dictionaries.

James Graves.

Kilkenny.

Proxies for absent Sponsors.—Can any of your readers mention earlier instances than the following of the attendance of proxies on behalf of absent sponsors?

"My daughter, Elizabeth Burrell, was born on Thursday, 25th June, 1696 ... She was baptized on Monday, 15th February. My brother, P. Burrell (by Wm. Board, Esq.), Godfather, my Lady Gee (by my sister Parker), and my niece Jane Burrell, Godmothers."—"Extracts from the Journal and Account-Book of Timothy Burrell, Esq., Barrister-at-Law of Ockenden House, Cuckfield" (Sussex ArchÆological Collections, vol. iii. p.131.).

E. M.

Hastings.

Heraldic Query.—Names of the families bearing the following coats of arms are requested:

1. Ermine, on a chief sable, two griffins segreant combatant argent. Crest, a demylyon affrontÉe or.

2. Azure, a bend or, between three spear-heads argent. Crest, an armed arm, embowed, grasping a broken spear.

3. Barry of six or and sable (with quarterings). Crest, on coil of rope a dog sable collared argent.

E. D.

Christmas Ballad.—Perhaps some of your correspondents may be able to throw some light upon the following verses, which are sung by the waits at Christmas in the neighbourhood of Falmouth:

That the first line alludes to the fate of the twelfth apostle is evident. The meaning of the second, third, sixth, ninth, and last lines, is also apparent. The others I am quite at a loss to explain.

C. M. G.

Hay-bread Recipe.—The Query of your correspondent G.D. (Vol. ix., p.148.) has reminded me of a question which I wish to ask. By what chemical process may hay be converted into bread?

E. W. J.

Te Deum.—We read frequently of this hymn being sung in the Russian Church after victories. Can any of your correspondents inform me in what language it is used in the Eastern Churches? It is, I believe, generally admitted that it was originally composed in Latin for the use of the Western Church; but if the Emperor Nicholas, in his famous manifesto (vide Vol. viii., pp. 585. 655.), quotes from this hymn and not from the Psalms, the one being quite as likely as the other, it would almost appear that the Latin version is the one with which he is the most familiar.

HonorÉ de Mareville.

Guernsey.

Mary Queen of Scots at Auchincas.—Auchincas is an interesting ruin on the bank of the Evan in Dumfriesshire, the residence of Randolph, Earl of Murray, Regent of Scotland in 1329. I have heard tradition to the effect that when Mary Queen of Scots was fleeing towards England, she paused to rest here. Can any of your readers confirm or contradict this tradition?

And can any of them furnish farther particulars regarding the history of the same castle, in addition to those given in the ordinary gazetteers, and in Black's Guide to Moffat?

Annandale.

Right of Refuge in the Church Porch.—In one of J.H. Parker's Parochial Tales, a custom is spoken of as existing at the present time in Norfolk, by which every parishioner has a right to make the church porch his temporary home until he can find a lodging elsewhere. Is this a fact? In the parish register of Flamstead, Herts, is an entry under the year 1578, of the burial of a child and its father, "w^h bothe died in y^e church porche."

Cheverells.

Christopher Lemying of Burneston.—The undersigned would be obliged to any of the readers of "N. & Q." who would furnish him with the names of the children and grandchildren of Christopher Lemying of Burneston, nigh Lemying, in Richmondshire, com. York, who lived about A.D. 1600 and 1640? And also with any information concerning the births and deaths of the same? The Heralds' Visitations for the seventeenth century would probably afford the information, but the writer has no access to them at present.

C. P. L.

Ralph Ashton the Commander.—Your answer to my inquiry relative to "Isabella, the wife of Ralph the Commander" (Ashton, Vol. ix., p.272.), induced me to refer to the work you quoted, Baines's Lancashire; but in the list of her sons I did not find named one who is mentioned in the ancient document I have spoken of, namely, "James, the son of Isabel, the wife of Ralph the Commander." Did she survive her husband and marry a second time; and, if so, what was his name? I ask this because, probably, that would be the name of the son here alluded to. A reply to this Query would oblige^[3]

Jaytee.