_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 "[Greek: TO PREPON]." 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? 1170. Robert Fitzhardinge = Eva. | ------------------------- | | Maurice Robert = Hawisia de Gurney. | -------------------------------------- | | | 1230. Maurice = Alice de Henry.[1] Matthew = Gaunt. | | ----------------------- | 1269. Robert de Gurney.[2] Who was the father of Simon de Gaunt, Bishop of Salisbury in 1300? E. W. GODWIN. [Footnote 1: First Master of the Hospital of St. Mark in Bristol.] [Footnote 2: Heir to Maurice, his uncle.] "[Greek: Pistis]," _unde deriv._--Scapula and Hederic both give [Greek: peitho] as the root; but by what process is [Greek: pistis] so obtained? What objection is there to taking [Greek: histemi] as the root? whence [Greek: ephistamai, epistas, pistos]. No doubt one of your learned readers will kindly aid the inquiry. [Psi]. _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.