Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 2.djvu/111

 ii. JULY so, 1904.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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heard of any one being prosecuted for such an act, and yet it would seem a very easy matter to run some of the culprits to earth, for I have often observed a name and full address recorded. Is it because the custo- dians of such places usually care so little about them that they take the least possible notice of the desecration accomplished by the scribbling fiend ? The other day I walked over from Crpmer to the " Garden of Sleep." Pausing awhile amid the ruins of Overstrand Church, I noticed that the flint facing of the walls had been covered with signatures and initials wherever available. This was par- ticularly the case under the east window. When I reached Sidestrand I found the soli- tary old church tower desecrated in a similar manner. On an old board had been painted many years ago the following :

"Notice. Ruins of St. Michael's Church. Visi- tors to this spot are reminded that it is consecrated ground, and are requested not to damage either the tower or the churchyard. By Order, the Rector and Churchwardens."

Will it be believed that this notice was rendered nearly illegible by numberless names and initials carved, scratched, and written all over it ? Apparently nothing is sacred in the eyes of these irresponsible scribblers but their own signatures.

JOHN T. PAGE.

West Haddon, Northamptonshire.

WE must request correspondents desiring in- formation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that the answers may be addressed to them direct.

FINGAL AND DiARMiD. In the old edition of Black's guide to Scotland I find the follow- ing reference to the Spital of Glenshee : which Fingal threw his golden goblet to tantalize the dying Diarmid, whose grave is near at hand."
 * ' Across the glen is the Boar's Loch, into

I have been anxious to trace the source of this, but so far have failed to do so, though I have searched Macpherson's * Ossian ' with care. I shall be very greatly obliged if any of your readers can enlighten me as to its origin, and where I may find an account of the scene. In Ossian, Diarmid only appears on the scene in Ireland. G. 1C. MITTON.

" PAULES FETE." Can any of your readers explain the origin and nature of this standard of length ? Dr. Murray has only two in- stances of its use, both belonging to the

same decade. The first relates to the build- ing of a bridge, to replace "a Brigge of Tymbre called Turnbrigg, in the Parisshe of Snay th in the same Countie ' (Yorks), by "anothir Brigge there, lengere in lengthe by the

quantitie of v. yerdes called the Kynges standard

The seide newe brigge so to be made with a draght lef cpntenyng the space of iiii. fete called Paules fete in brede, for the voidyng thorugh of the mastes of the shippes passinge vnder the seide new brigg."* In 1447 one Shiryngton, in his will (now at Somerset House), wrote of some object of the "height of two poules fete." Dr. Murray has no further context, and he would be glad to have this, and information as to the testator's place of residence. Any further quotations which would throw light on the phrase (addressed "Dr. Murray, Oxford") would be welcome. ROBT. J. WHITWELL. Oxford.

"A SINGING FACE."

I see you have a singing face. Fletcher's * The Wild Goose Chase,' II. ii.

Does not this also occur in 'Bombastes Furioso,' or some other familiar eighteenth- century play ? H. T.

"AN OLD SHOE." In 'The Wild Goose Chase,' II. i., Belleur says : I am then determined to do wonders. Farewell, and fling an old shoe. How my heart throbs !

Is this an early instance of the practice at weddings 1 ? H. T.

BREECHES BIBLE. Would some one kindly inform me whether there was more than one edition of the " Breeches " Bible ? If so, at what dates were they printed? Is the number of copies in existence known ? What would be the cost of a copy ? J. W,

[The first edition appeared at Geneva in 1560, and fifty editions were issued in the course of the next thirty years. The first edition fetches, accord- ing to condition, from three to twenty pounds. Early editions sometimes fetch four or five pounds, and later anything from ten shillings to three pounds. It is impossible to say how many copies are in existence. Copiea of the first edition are in the British Museum, the Lambeth Library, in St. John's College and Balliol College, Oxford, in the Public Library, Cambridge, and in some private libraries.]

" SAINT " AS A PREFIX. The form of Sel- linger, for St. Leger (10 th S. i. 428, 491), is only one of many cases where the prefix is merged in the name in colloquial usage. Other instances such as Simmery for St.

Printed in ' Rot. Par!.,' v. 44. I have verified the last sentence only with the original roll.
 * 'Parliament Roll,' 20 Hen. VI. [1442], m. 11.