Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 3.djvu/242

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [n s. in. MA*. 25, 1911.

I suggest that this M.L. susanna, of which Du Cange (ed. Henschel) gives a variant suseinna, is simply the O.F. adj. susain. This is a fairly common word, explained by Godefroy as meaning " higher." The fact that he quotes variants in soz-, souz-, soubz-, suggests that it also means "lower," or rather that two adjectives one from susum (for sursum), and the other from subtus f,re confused in one article. The formation is quite normal ; cf. F. forain, souverain, and O.F. deinzein (denizen), from foris, super, de-intus, respectively. The colloca- tion of terra susanna with " marshes " suggests either a contrast or a likeness, i.e., that it was either an upland or a " bottom." ERNEST WEEKLEY.

If PBEBENDABY DEEDES will consult Littre again, he will see that suranne is thus explained under its second meaning : " vieux, hors de mode"; and under suranner the following example from the year 844 is given : " Difficilement se peuvent bien engraisser les bestes surannees, leur defaillans les dents pour paistre."

From this it follows, I think, that terre susanee (surannee) means waste land, or marsh which has grown impoverished by repeated flooding from the sea, as in the in- stances quoted from the ' Decem Scriptores.'

N. W. HILL.

SHEBSONS OF ELLEL CBAIG AND LANCASTEB (11 S. iii. 167). Bridget (b. 1677), daughter of Alex. Nowell, married TJiomas Sherson of Ellel Craig, and their son Alexander married Bridget (b. 1703), daughter of Roger Nowell, son of Alexander Nowell. The will of Elizabeth Sherson of Hurrickford, formerly of Lancaster, was proved at Chester in 1751. Mrs. Sarah Sherson lived in Dalton Square, Lancaster, in 1825. John Herdman Sherson was Mayor of Lancaster in 1851.

R. S. B.

COBONEB OF THE VEBGE (11 S. iii. 30, 96).

In the replies to this query the meaning of "verge" as compass or extent is correct, but it has nothing to do with the marshal's staff or verge. He takes cognizance of "trespas faitz dedenz la verge" (within the compass of his jurisdiction). In this sense the term is one of the curious extensions o" the original sense of Fr. verge, a rod. Thir sense branches into two series of meanings one to land-measures, parallel with the English equivalent " yard " ; the other to compass, material or figurative. The first step is from Fr. verge, a flexible rod, a " yerde,'

x> a finger -ri ng : " Panurge . . . . luy mist n doigt medical line verge d'or bien belle " ' Pantagruel,' iii. 17) ; then but in English >nly to successive senses which are seen in. Shakespeare :
 * o a rod bent into a ring, a " gird," especially

1. The ring of a crown :

O, would to God that t,he inclusive verge Of golden metal that must round my brow Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brain.

' Rich. III.,' IV. i.

2. A larger circle :

Vladam, sit you and fear not ; whom we raise We will make fast within a hallowed verge

(Here they make a circle.)

4 2 Hen. VI., 1 1. iv.

3. The horizon or other large compass :

to the furthest verge

That ever was survey'd by English eye.

'Rich. II.,' Li.

4. The compass of the sea or land :

Timon hath made his everlasting mansion Upon the beached verge of the salt flood.

' Timon,' V. ii.

EDWABD NICHOLSON. Paris.

HAMPSHIBE MAP (11 S. iii. 89). Perhaps the map referred to may be John Gary's map of Hampshire, issued in his ' English Atlas.' He published a series of mapsjfpf all the counties of England and Wales in 1787. Quarto and folio sets were brought out. The quarto maps are exceedingly well executed. The engravings round the map, however, referred to in the query, seem rather to indicate an earlier date than 1787. It was a characteristic of Bleau's maps to have such adornments. Possibly MB. OPPE'S map may belong to the seven- teenth century rather than the eighteenth.

SUTOCS.

" To THE WEST ! To THE WEST ! " (11 S. iii. 187.) This is No. V. of ' The Emigrants : a Series of Songs for a Musical Entertain- ment,' written about the middle of last century by Dr. Charles Mackay. The singer, and presumably the musical com- poser, was Henry Russell, who had pre- viously made the author's Corn Law lyric ' There 's a Good Time Coming ' famous throughout the world. He did this also with ' Cheer, Boys, Cheer ! ' the second of the musical entertainment group, to the great popularity of which the author, with pardonable pride, refers in the sixth chapter of his book of memories, entitled ' Through the Long Day.'

The vogue attained by ' To the West ! ' was, perhaps, never quite so remarkable as