Notes and Queries, Number 81, May 17, 1851 / A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.

Minor Queries Answered.

The Fifteen O's.—In the third part of the "Sermon of Good Works" is this passage:

"Let us rehearse some other kinds of papistical superstitions and abuses; as of beads, of lady psalters and rosaries, of fifteen oos, of St. Barnard's verses, of St. Agathe's letters, of purgatory, of masses satisfactory, of stations and jubilees, of feigned relics, of hallowed beads, bells, bread, water, palms, candles, fire, and such other; of superstitious fastings, of fraternities, of pardons, with such like merchandise, which were so esteemed and abused to the prejudice of God's glory and commandments, that they were made most high and most holy things, whereby to attain to the eternal life, or remission of sin."

I cite the above from the Parker Society's edition of Archbishop Cranmer's Miscellaneous Writings and Letters, p. 148. It occurs also in Professor Corrie's edition of the Homilies, p. 58. I shall be glad to be informed what is meant by the "fifteen Oo's," or "fifteen O's" (for so they are spelt in the above edition of the Homilies).

C. H. Cooper

Cambridge, April 14. 1851.

[The fifteen O's are fifteen prayers commencing with the letter O, and will be found in HorÆ Beatissime Virginis Marie, secundum usum ecclesiÆ Sarum, p. 201. edit. 1527.]

Meaning of Pightle.—As I dare say you number some Suffolk men among your readers, would any of them kindly inform me the meaning and derivation of the word "pightle," which is always applied to a field adjoining the farm-houses in Suffolk?

Philo-Stevens.

[Phillips, in his New World of Words, has "Pigle or Pightel, a small Parcel of Land enclosed with a Hedge, which in some Parts of England is commonly call'd a Pingle."]

Inscription on a Guinea of George III.—Round the reverse of a guinea of George III., 1793, are the following initials:—"M. B. F. ET H. REX—F. D. B. ET L. D. S. R. I. A. T. ET E." The earlier letters are sufficiently intelligible; but I should be glad to learn the meaning of the whole inscription.

J. H. C.

Adelaide, South Australia.

[Of the Faith Defender, of Brunswick and Lunenburg Duke, of the Holy Roman Empire Arch-Treasurer and Elector.]

Meaning of Crambo.—Sir Thomas Browne (Religio Medici, part ii. § 15. ed. 1678) says:

"I conclude, therefore, and say, there is no happiness under (or, as Copernicus will have it, above) the sun, nor any Crambo in that repeated verity and burthen of all the wisdom of Solomon, All is vanity and vexation of spirit."

Query, What is the meaning of crambo here, and is it to be met with elsewhere with a similar meaning?

J. H. C.

Adelaide, South Australia.

[The words "nor any Crambo" mean that the sentiment expressed by Solomon is a truth which cannot be too often repeated. Crabbe says, "Crambo is a play, in rhyming, in which he that repeats a word that was said before forfeits something." In all the MSS. and editions of the Religio Medici, 1642, the words "nor any Crambo," are wanting. See note on the passage in the edition edited by Simon Wilkin, F.L.S.]

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