Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 3.djvu/420

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io* s. in. MAY 6, 1905.

they read ; the big ones showed a bit of leg at the bottom. I think in our day the wearing silk gowns and bands (by the Prebendaries, at dinner) was becoming optional. I am sure I remember Dr. Townsend's voluminous appearance at his prebendal

dinners Mr. F, must not forget the Residence

possets, which alternated with jellies in glasses on the two-tiered glass stands, and were de rigueur at all residence parties (two of them). The possets were very good, but not meant for total abstainers."

The choristers then wore throughout the day a livery of brown faced with scarlet, shown In a picture now at the Chapter Library as .appearing above the tops of the surplices.*

The grace-cups are sometimes said to have been given by Bishop Cosin, but this is pro- bably a mistake due to confusion with the Communion plate. In any case the present grace-cups bear the hall-marks of 1764 (p. 2).

The last college cook was a man of the name of Yarnell. J. T. F.

JOHN ALEYN, LAW REPORTER. In 1681 there appeared in London, in a slender black- letter folio, ' Select Cases in B. R. 22, 23, & 24. Car. I. Regis, Reported by John Aleyn, late of Greys Inn, Esq." According to those -competent authorities Marvin and Wallace, these reports, like too many of the old "' books," are worthless ; while " of the re- porter himself nothing is known."

Aleyn must have been a man of some note in his day, as he was chosen one of the original Fellows of the Royal Society on 20 May, 1663. It is conceivable that his notes of cases when published eighteen years after 'his death had become " mixed " and other- wise confused ; hence the badness of the reports put forth under his name. He was born on 2 March, 1621, at Little Waltham, Essex, the fourth son of Giles Aleyn, then rector of that parish ; was admitted of Gray's Inn on 29 January, 1641/2, and died in his chambers there on 26 June, 1663, a bachelor. Most of these particulars are inscribed on a mural tablet to him in Little Waltham 'Ohurch, where he desired to be buried. In the inscription he is characterized as " one not more famous for his eminent Learning and Knowledge in the Lawes than for his great Integrity and Uprightnesse, and his exemplary Charity, both living and dying." Reference is herein made to Aleyn's bequest

' "St. Cuthbert's" crosses, and their ordinary dress, j -but on Sundays uniform Eton jackets and grey trousers in going to and from service on all days, square caps with purple tassels, patent leather boots, and black cassocks. The King's Scholars -wear surplices at Cathedral, but no cassocks, so that when they have outgrown their surplices they ex- ' hibit a considerable amount of leg.
 * They now wear purple cricket caps with gold

of 500Z. to be employed for the benefit of hi native place (cf. his will registered in th e Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 76 Juxon)- The money was at first invested in sixty-five acres of land in Broxted parish, since sold, and the proceeds invested by the Charity Commission. It is now appropriated to apprenticing poor boys of the parish and assisting girls going out to service; to the repairs of the church and chancel; and to the benefit of the poor, all in accordance with the wishes of the amiable donor.

GORDON GOODWIN.

MAY DAY : Two POETICAL TRACTS. The First of May, a New Version of a celebrated Modern Ballad. By Anna Harriet Drury. London W. Pickering, 1851 ; printed by C. Whittingham, Chiswick. 12mo, 8 leaves.

On the opening of the Great Exhibition. It begins

Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg, By the Cinque Ports he swore. May Morning at Magdalen College. By A. Cleve- land Coxe. 1851. 12mo, 4 leaves, no imprint- woodcut of Magdalen Tower.

W. C. B.

GOOD FRIDAY CUSTOM AT Bow. The Standard of 22 April reports the following custom, which does not appear to have been recorded in *N. & Q.,' where, I think, it should be found :

"Crowds of people were attracted to ' The Widow s Son' public-house, in Devon's Road, Bow yesterday, by a curious custom which has been observed there for many years. Suspended in one of the rooms may be seen a large number of buns blackened by age, and on each Good Friday another bun is added. Tradition says that many years ago the house was kept by a widow whose only son determined to adopt a seafaring life, and commenced his first voyage on a Good Friday. On receiving news that her son would return home on the follow- ing Good Friday, the widow put aside a bun for him. The son never returned, but the widow con- tinued the practice of hanging up a bun each year, and the curious custom has been retained by suc- eeding landlords."

EVERARD HOME COLEMAN. 71, Brecknock Road.

DOLLIS HILL, WILLESDEN. A great deal ms been written recently about Uollis Hill, now converted to a public recreation ground] and named Gladstone Park, in memory of
 * he great statesman who for a time resided

there. In these notices of the place the origin of the name of Dollis lias not been explained, and facts affording some light on the subject would be welcomed. In the east and south of England dole often represents a boundary, while in the west of England it signifies a low-lying ground. It is evident