Notes and Queries, Number 11, January 12, 1850 — John Shaqi
Notes and Queries, Number 11, January 12, 1850Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 11, January 12, 1850
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
In explanation of part of this stanza, Dr. Percy is stated to have
considered "Mirry-land toune" to be "_probably_ a corruption of Milan
(called by the Dutch Meylandt) town," and that the Pa' was "_evidently_
the River Po, though the Adige, not the Po, runs through Milan;" and it
is observed that it could not have occasioned Dr. Jamieson _much
trouble_ to conjecture as he did that "Mirry-land toune" was a
corruption of "Merry Lincolne," and that, in fact, in 1783, Pinkerton
commenced his version of the ballad thus--
"The bonnie boys o' merry Lincoln;"
and it is added, very truly, that with all his haste and petulance,
Pinkerton's critical acumen was far from inconsiderable. Now, there
appears to me to have been a very simple solution of the above words, so
simple that perhaps it was beneath the critical acumen of the said
commentators. My note on the subject is, that Mirry-land toune means
nothing more than Miry-, Muddy-land Town, a designation that its
situation certainly entitles it to; and Pa' is certainly not the Po, but
an abbreviated form of Pall, i.e. a place to play Ba' or ball in, of
which we have a well-known instance in Pall Mall.
Since writing the above, I recollect that Romsey, in Hampshire, has been
designated "Romsey-in-the-Mud."
J.R.F.
_Richard Greene of Lichfield_.--H.T.E. is informed that there is a medal
or token (not difficult to obtain) of this zealous antiquary. Obv. his
bust, in the costume of the period; legend, "Richard Greene, collector
of the Lichfield Museum, died June 4, 1793, aged 77." Rev. a Gothic
_window_, apparently; legend, "West Porch of Lichfield Cathedral, 1800."
B.N.
_The Lobster in the Medal of the Pretender_.--The "Notes" by your
correspondents, Mr. Edward Hawkins and Mr. J.B. Yates, relative to this
medal, are very curious and interesting, and render it probable that the
device of the Lobster has a religious rather than a political allusion.
But it strikes us that the _double_ introduction of this remarkable
emblem has a more important signification than the mere insidious and
creeping characteristics of Jesuitism. The lines beneath the curious
print in Brandt's _Stultifera Nuvis_ throw no light on the meaning of
the Lobster. We think the difficulty yet remains unsolved.
B.N.
_Marescautia_.--Your correspondent "D.S." who asks (in No. 6.) for
information upon the word "Marescautia," may consult Du Cange with
advantage, _s. v._ "Marescallus;" the "u," which perhaps was your
correspondent's difficulty, being often written for "l," upon phonotypic
principles. It was anciently the practice to apportion the revenues of
royal and great monastic establishments to some specific branch of the
expenditure; and as the profits of certain manors, &c., are often
described as belonging to the "Infirmaria," the "Camera Abbatis," &c.,
so, in the instance referred to by "D.S." the lands at Cumpton and
Little Ongar were apportioned to the support of the royal stable and
farriery.
J.B.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account