Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 4.djvu/120

114 G. H. J.'s second quotation, ante, p. 28, is from "Josh Billings" (Henry W. Shaw, 1818-85). I think the original form of the aphorism is "It's better not to know quite so mutch than to know so mutch that ain't so." The best proof of the real acuteness of this humorist is the fact that his epigrams read far better in correct English than in his motley. Pages of them together would scarcely discredit Rochefoucauld.

(11 S. iv. 68) was appointed a Master in Chancery 10 December, 1670, and resigned in June, 1680. He married (1) Mary, dau. of Joseph Henshaw, D.D., Bishop of Peterborough, by whom he left one daughter; (2) Mary, eld. dau. and coheir of John Lisle of Moxhull, co. Warwick, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. He was knighted 16 January, 1670-71; M.P. for Tamworth 1679-81; Sheriff of Warwickshire 1684-5. According to Le Neve, he died 26 March, 1709.

Sir Andrew Hacket was made a Master in Chancery in December, 1671, according to Beatson's 'Political Index.' He obtained an Act of Parliament to settle a portion of money on his daughter Mary in 1671.

(11 S. iv. 67).—In the Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary (published in New York) "swale" is defined as "a piece of low marshy ground, as in a rolling prairie, commonly wet at seasons." The following extract from 'American Law of Easements' (vol. i. p. 359), by Emory Washburn, is given in the same work: "There are often more or less extensive tracts of land in which water rises or collects in a stagnant state, forming swamps or swails."

Farmer's 'Dictionary of Americanisms' is responsive in this case. "Swale" is "a valley, a tract of bottom land." Possibly the surnames Swale and Swales may be synonymous with Dale, &c., though Bardsley interpreted them as meaning "of Swallow Hill," or as being the same as Swale, the river ('Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames').

Though seldom used, "swale," in the sense of land sloped to a shallow, is not quite unknown. I have heard men who work out of doors speak of ground "swaling down," that is, sloping. A candle in a draught "swales" on the opposite side of it. A consumptive person may be seen gradually to "swale away."

There does not seem much reason to doubt that "swale"=clearing in the passage cited. To "swale" is to burn furze and heather in order that grass may spring up and afford pastorage for cattle. On Dartmoor the practice is restricted to March and April; see W. Crossing, 'Guide to Dartmoor,' 1909, p. 37. The same term is found in the Highlands in connexion with the burning of heather in order to promote the growth of new heather for the benefit of grouse.

I do not know what, if any, special American meaning "swale" may have. On Dartmoor the word is considered good English, and is applied to gorse, furze, heather, and similar moorland shrubs. I subjoin a cutting from The Western Morning News of 21 July on the subject of "swaling," or removal of swale, which may perhaps be of interest to Mr. :—