Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 10.djvu/242

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [ii s. x. SEPT. 19, uu.

Victoria's third issue, the representations of the lighthouse and the ship were omitted. Their omission undoubtedly gives us a more artistic reverse, although on senti- mental grounds some regretted their dis- appearance. A. R. BAYLEY.

The ship first appeared on the copper coinage of George III. issued in 1797, but was omitted on the coinage of George IV. and William IV., and on the copper coinage of Victoria. On the issue of the bronze coinage in 1860 the ship reappeared, and was accompanied by a representation of Eddystone Lighthouse, the design being by Mr. Leonard C. Wyon ; and this type con- tinued until 1895, when a new design (by Mr. T. Brock) with a draped bust made its appearance. On the reverse (designed by Mr. de Saulles) the ship and lighthouse were omitted, and have not been placed on the bronze coinage since. The omission, for which no special reason is apparently known, is regretted by numismatists, and letters on the subject appeared in various journals in 1895 and 1896, but without effect.

WILLIAM GILBERT, F.R.N.S.

35, Broad Street Avenue, B.C.

HENRY IV. 's SUPPER OF HENS (11 S. x. 150, 194, 218). The story here alluded to is very old, being found in the ' Seven Sages ' and ' The Thousand and One Nights,' and is told of King Solomon and Aphikia, wife of Jesus, the son of Sirach, King Solomon's Vizier ; it is in the ' Comedia Milonis ' of Matthieu de Vendome (died in 1286); also in Boccaccio's 'De- cameron,' Day I., Nov. 5. For a full discus- sion of the various analogues, perhaps I may be allowed to refer to my ' The Decameron : its Sources and Analogues,' 1909, pp. 17-22.

A. COLLINGWOOD LEE. Waltham Abbey, Essex.

OLDBOY (11 S. x. 108). Col. Oldboy is one of the characters in the play ' Lionel and Clarissa,' by Isaac Bickerstaff, first pro- duced in 1768.

SLOE FAIR (11 S. x. 90, 152, 174). Prob- ably the Chichester Sloe Fair took its name from a commodity largely dealt in thereat, in the same way as Birmingham Onion Fair, Nottingham Goose Fair, and many others which obtain locally. On the other hand, if " Slow " be correct, some local occurrence, such as gave rise to Pack- Monday Fair at Sherborne, Dorset, would have to be looked to. W. B. H.

FLOWER-WOMEN IN LONDON (11 S. x. 188). The regrettable change from bonnet to the hard, shiny sailor-hat marks the dis- continuance of the custom of carrying the basket of flowers on the head.

The women-portersof the Wholesale Flower Market and a few itinerant vendors still wear a bonnet and carry their baskets on the head a ring-shaped pad visually being placed under the basket. The weight i frequently considerable. A dozen gera- niums in 48's, six boxes of pansies or large aspleniums, are common burdens.

The women "old clo' " buyers a dis- appearing race also carried a basket on the head, a bonnet being invariably worn.

ALECK ABRAHAMS.

RICHARD HENRY WOOD, F.S.A. (11 S. x. 171). He was from about 1870 to 1880 Honorary Secretary of the Chetham Society, and was then living at Crumpsall in Man- chester. He removed to Penrhos House, Rugby, where he died some years ago. He was a collector of ancient charts, &c.

THE " DUN Cow's RIB " IN STANION CHURCH (11 S. x. 168). There is a farm house in Goosnargh, co. Lanes, to which a similar tradition is attached. Over the door of the hoxise is hung a bone now about 4 ft. long. Formerly it was much longer, but, as- it was considered lucky to have possession of a piece of it, its original length has been much reduced.

Needless to say, it is not a cow's rib, but probably a portion of the anatomy of a whale. The jawbones of whales are not uncommon in this district.

HENRY FISHWICK.

' AUT DIABOLUS AUT NIHIL ' ( 1 1 S. ix. 270 ; x. 139, 173). The Harrow School Register for 1911 has the following entry :

" Julian Osgood Field, son of M. B. Field, Esq., New York, U.S.A. In Mr. Middlemist's house 1867 2 -1868. Merton Coll. Oxf. ; author of various novels (' Aut Diabolus,' &c., ' The Limb/ &c.) under the nom-de-plunie [sic] of ' X. L.,' and of numerous plays ; the only foreigner who has ever had a play accepted by the Comedie Fran- caise ; resides chiefly in Paris."

FRIAR TUCK (11 S. x. 170). Chaucer, in ' The Prologue,' speaking of the Reve, says : " Tukked he was, as is a frere, aboute." A friar seems to have been nicknamed Tuck because his habit was tucked by a girdle at the waist. Chaucer's Frere was " a wantown and a merj^e." The first mention of Robin Hood appears to be that made by the author of ' Piers Plowman,' c. 1377 (Pass. V. 11. 401-2). A. R. BAYLEY.