_Barrister_ (Vol. iv., p. 472.).--The derivation of this word proposed by W. Y. can only be looked upon as a joke, as he himself seems to regard it. "Roister" can have no more to do with it than "oyster" has with such words as "songster, spinster, maltster, punster, tapster, webster," &c., in which "ster" is the A.S. termination to denote one whose business is "song, or spinning," &c. Thus from the Mediæval Latin "barra" we get "barraster, one whose business is at the bar;" this is confirmed by the old mode of spelling the word, viz., "barrester and barraster." See Spelman's _Glossary_, v. Cancellarius-- "Dicuntur etiam _cancelli_ septa curiarum quæ _barras_ vocant; atque inde Juris candidati causas illic agentes, Budæo _Cancellarii_, ut nobiscum _Barrestarii_." And again-- "_Barrasterius_, Repagularis Causidicus." J. EASTWOOD. _Meaning of Dray_ (Vol. iv., p. 209.).--_Dray_ is a squirrel's nest. "A boy has taken three little young squirrels in their nest or _drey_."--White's _Selborne_, p. 333. Bohn's edition. To which is appended the following note:-- "The squirrel's nest is not only called a _drey_ in Hampshire, but also in other counties; in Suffolk it is called a bay. The word _drey_, though now provincial, I have met with in some of our old writers."--_Mitford_. PANTAGRUEL. _Tregonwell Frampton_ (Vol. iv., p. 474.; Vol. v., p. 16.).--In the _History of the British Turf_, by James Christie Whyte, Esq. (London, Colburn, 2 vols. 8vo. 1840), T. R. W. will meet with a sketch of the life of Mr. Frampton, together with an inquiry into the truth of the well known anecdote respecting his cruelty to his horse Dragon. Mr. Chafin, in his _Anecdotes of Cranbourne Chase_ (London, 1818), p. 47., refers to him, and prints one or two curious original letters from him. Mr. Whyte illustrates his first volume by a portrait of Mr. Frampton. CRANMORE. _Vermin, Parish Payments of, &c._ (Vol. iv., p. 208.).--There is no doubt but that nearly all country parishes paid at one time for the destruction of different kinds of vermin; but this practice is now entirely discontinued. The following are the prices paid twenty-five years ago by the parish of Corsham, Wilts:-- Vipers, 6_d._ each; slowworms or blindworms, 3_d._ each; rats, 1_d._ each (the tails only were required to be brought); sparrows' heads, 6_d._ per dozen, (meaning the old birds); sparrows' eggs and young birds, 4_d._ per dozen.