Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/502

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ 10* S.V.MAY 26,

slightly tilt their mortar-boards to the right for quarter-cock ; the next Sunday they tilt them a little further for half-cock ; the third -Sunday they are over the right ear for three- quarter cock ; and the last Sunday of the term they carry them in their hands. The origin of the quaint custom I have not yet discovered ; but at the rear of the school buildings there still remains an old cockpit, which is the recognized arena for the settle- ment of disputes amongst the boys.

ALEX. INGLIS. iStockton-on-Tees.

I can confirm the schoolboy habit of term- Ing the last Sunday of the term Cockhat Sunday. I was at school many years ago -at Isleworth, and not only did we cock our hats in going to church, but we further dubbed the day Drown-the-Choir Sunday, because on that day (and that day only, I fear) the rank-and-file of the school in deafening chorus outsang the choir, and had things practically their own way. I feel bound to add that our rector at the time fully entered into the spirit of the thing, and always gave us some specially stirring and easily remembered hymn, such as "Jerusa- lem the Golden" or "Onward, Christian soldiers." The effect was stupendous. During the rest of the term we were vainly exhorted to "sing^out and join the choir in making your voices heard." Is Drown-the-Choir Sunday common elsewhere 1 ?

FRANK SCHLOESSER.

15, Grosvenor Road, Westminster.

VOWELS ON MONUMENT (10 th S. v. 169, 374). Capelli's * Dizionario di Abbreviature ' reads "Austria est imperator orbis universi," and states that this is the Austrian motto. The Latinity of this is possibly better than Mr. Collins's, but does not strike me favour- ably. In the absence of a definite connexion of the Petre family with Austria (as to which I know nothing), I venture to suggest that an ignorant stone cutter has made the five English vowels do duty for the Greek dei,
 * ' for ever," followed by a and w. Q. V.

"BROWN BESS" AS APPLIED TO A MUSKET <10 th S. v. 21, 91, 154). MR. DALTON'S note, though full of ingenious conjecture, and indeed of valuable information as regards cast-iron ordnance, does nothing to elucidate the origin of "Brown Bess" as applied to a musket. He says, "It must, therefore, be taken for granted that the gunfounders to Queen Elizabeth and King James cast musket- barrels as well as large ordnance " ; but mus- ket-barrels were never cast in the foundry,

but forged in the smith's shop. The two barrels mentioned by Viscount Dillon were obviously wrought, as they are described as being stamped, one with a crown, and the other with a device resembling a bird, since cast iron will not receive the impression of a stamp, being too hard, so that these barrels must have been wrought by the smith. To establish his position, MR. DALTON should produce satisfactory evidence of the actual use of " Brown Bess " in the time of Elizabeth or James I. R. B. P.

TRAVELLING IN ENGLAND, 16001700 (10 th S. v. 348). For routes and distances see John Ogilby's ' Britannia ; or, an Illustration of the Kingdom,' &c., 1675; 'The Traveller's Guide,' 1699 ; and the more familiar ' Bri- tannia Depicta.' In this connexion it is worth noting that at Garraway's, 23 Novem- ber, 1691, there was a "General Sale of the remainder of Mr. Ogilby's Books, Maps, Roads, &c." (London Gazette, No. 2714).

For general information on posts, post- masters, horses, condition of roads, &c, a very large number of works could be con- sulted, amongst others * Early Carriages and Roads.' by Sir Walter Gilbey ; 'Early His- tory of the Post Office, 3 by J. W. Hyde ; and ' Her Majesty's Mails,' by William Lewins.

I extract the following from some notes by Sir Henry Ellis :

"The Mercurius Politicus, Number 422, from June 24 to July 1, 1658, advertises Post Horses for ' riding travellers at 3cl. per mile between West- chester, Manchester, and Warrington, without the charges of a Guide.' 'This undertaking began the 28 of June, 1658, at all the places above said ' (the different towns)."

ALECK ABRAHAMS. 39, Hillmarton Road, N.

The Humber was crossed, in ancient times, by a ferry, the line of which is shown by the two villages, North Ferriby on the Yorkshire side, and South Ferriby on the Lincolnshire. At the required date, 1600-1700, there was an established ferry from Barton to Hull; and the "Barton horse- boat" was a familiar sight to people who are still living. Some particulars are given in Ball's ' History of

Barton-on-Humber. '

W. C. B.

" DOG'S NOSE" (10 th S. v. 187, 252). It would seem that the compound "dog's nose" varies in the making. Some, I find, have never known it as a hot drink, but as a drink called for by persons in a hurry, who would not have time to wait while it was made hot.

The "conical metal vessel" which H. P. L. mentions was used in the making of hot, spiced, and sugared ale when such drinks were asked