Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 3.djvu/159

 n s. m. FEB. 25, mi.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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2. David of Logie, who d. before his nephew John, having m. Jean Maule, his first cousin once removed of the half-blood sister of Patrick, 1st Earl of Panmure, and of Margaret, wife of David's uncle Mr. Arthur Erskine. He left issue

(1) John Erskine of Dun, poisoned, it was alleged, by his uncle Robert Erskine. He d. 23 May, 1613, setat. about 12 years.

(2) Sir Alexander Erskine of Dun, d. 1667 having m. Margaret Lindsay, dau. of Alex- ander, 1st Lord Spynie, and left issue, from whom descend the present families of Kennedy-Erskine of Dun, West (Erskine), late of Balhall, and Scott-Erskine of Bal- hall.

3. Robert, executed 1 Dec., 1613, for the alleged poisoning of his nephew John (see Pitcairn's ' Criminal Trials ').

ERSKINE E. WEST. Cowper Gardens, Dublin.

COWPER'S " GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY" (11 S. iii. 10, 58). At the latter reference a correspondent states that " Julian's ' Dictionary of Hymnology,' p. 1642, says that the verse in MS. runs, The bud may have a bitter taste, But wait to smell the flower.

What edition of the ' Dictionary ' is meant ? In my copy there are not 1642 pp. Further, I cannot find in the ' Dictionary ' any such statement as that above quoted. SCOTUS.

[The quotation is from p. 1642 of the 1907 edition, in the New Supplement. The line,

But wait to smell the flower,

h cited in the ' Dictionary of Hymnology ' on the authority of the late PROF. J. E. B. MAYOR'S con- tribution at 10 S. ii. 244.]

DICKENS: "SHALLABALAH" (11 S. iii. 68, 111). May I venture to suggest an explanation of this word, somewhat in the line indicated in the query ? Probably the word was coined by Dickens, but was not intended to have any intelligible meaning. It possibly occurred to him through his recollection of a word used in the Bible. In Isaiah, chap, viii., the prophet was directed to write in a great roll, or, perhaps, on a large smooth board, with a man's pen, that is, in the character familiar to the common people, the sonorous-sounding word " Maher- shalal-hash-baz." It was not a word under- stood by the people, but was designed to attract their attention and excite their curiosity. As Biblical scholars tell us, it was intended to prepare them for coming invasion and an impending overthrow of j their enemies. Probablv the recollection of i

this word " Maher-shalal-hash-baz," and the purpose it was designed to serve, suggested to Dickens the word " shallabalah." Like its Biblical prototype, " shallabalah " was meant to attract attention and excite curiosity as to something that was soon to happen. W. SCOTT.

"THE OLD MOGUL," DRURY LANE (11 S. iii. 86). This old sign evidently com- memorates the " Great Mogul," the chief of the Moguls or Monguls, who as Emperor of Delhi ruled over the greater part of Hindo- stan. In this particular instance the sign probably dates from the time when Drury Lane was a fashionable residential neigh- bourhood, and celebrates the last of the energetic sovereigns who occupied the Mogul throne during the seventeenth cen- tury, namely, Aureng-zebe, whose wealth and power induced many of the European sovereigns to send embassies to him with a view to commercial advantages. The last nominal Emperor of Hindostan, however, was dethroned in 1857. Dryden's tragedy of ' Aurung Zebe ' (1676) is founded on the great and profoundly hypocritical prince who reigned from 1658 till 1707, the year of his death, and it was no doubt during the latter part of this period that the sign was set up. J. HOLDEN MACMICHAEL.

OUNDLE (11 S. iii. 9, 137). Please allow me to explain that the information given 3y MR. EDWARD SMITH at the last reference s incorrect in three particulars. First, the ipelling in the charter referred to is not Jndela, but Undale (Birch, 'Cart. Saxon.,' 36, lines 8 and 12). Secondly, the date 664 is a clear forgery, as the harter contains the French word lestage, e., lastage ('N.E.D.'). And thirdly, Mr. M'Clure's suggestion that it is "a worn orm " of Avondale is wholly out of the question. No one ever yet pronounced the word avon as oun. What are the imaginary intermediate forms ?

WALTER W. SKEAT.

THREAD PAPERS (US. iii. 8, 90). Before

he advent of spools, thread was supplied in

keins. The housewife then cut through

he skein at one end and wrapped it in a

riece of paper with the loop projecting.

["his wrapping was secured by a pin, and the

hreads, thus protected, could be extracted

ingly by their looped ends. Poor Strephon's

verse being probably written on superfine

paper would be appreciated at least for

this purpose; and think of the sentiment,