Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 6.djvu/159

 ii s. vi. AUG. 17, 1912.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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of this barony, and it rests with the Crown to call up from abeyance, or to refrain from calling up, any one of them. This is entirely a matter for the discretion of the advisers of the Crown.

But the point to which I wish to call attention is the peculiarity of this title being derived from an occupation, and being, therefore, analogous to the baronies of Boteler and Marshal, and perhaps one or two other ancient dignities. The word " Latimer " is derived from the Old-French " Latimmier," which is a corruption of " Latinier," and signifies a person with a good knowledge -of the Latin language, or, in other words, an interpreter. In later days the duties of the latimer extended further than the Latin language, as one of them was called on to explain to the King the meaning of the word " wassail."

The first holder of the barony was Sir William le Latimer, called the Rich, who was summoned to Parliament from 29 Dec., 28 Edw. I., 1299, to 22 Jan., 33 Edw. I., 1305. The Latimers became extinct, and the right to the barony vested in the Nevills of Raby, one of whom was summoned to Parliament in 1432 in the barony of which Mr. Coutts has now been declared a coheir. These facts seem to show that the King's latimer must have held an important and lucrative appointment in early days.

W. F. PRIDEAUX.

" AIRPLANE." The word " aircraft " is rightly recommended in 'N. & Q.,' ante, p. 45. But we also want "airplane." The French " aeroplane " is a stupid, hybrid form, half Greek and half Latin, and not fit for use in England, where the word air is so much better known ; and the com- pound " airplane " is so much simpler. I have suggested it once already, but no one has the courage to use it.

The word " bicycle " was likewise made in France ; but the right form would have been " dicycle." By a similar error " bi- gamy " is used for " digamy."

WALTER W. SKEAT.

Two SCOTTISH SONGS. In a well- written and thoroughly interesting book, entitled ' The Gateway of Scotland,' Mr. A. G. Bradley gives a characteristic delineation of Berwickshire and East Lothian. Naturally he refers here and there to Border literature, and when he does so his remarks are visually both appreciative and accurate. With regard, however, to the songs ' Tibbie Fowler '

and ' Leader Haughs and Yarrow,' he fails to display his wonted discrimination, and as his statements may serve to foster a popular error it seems well to discuss them here.

On p. 99 of his volume Mr. Bradley writes thus :

" The Whiteadder runs through ' Tibby Fowler's ' Glen, that lady being a heroine of sorts in Border poetry, and celebrated by Allan Ramsay in a familiar ballad."

It is true that both in the ' Tea-Table Miscellany ' and in Ramsay's collected poems there is a song entitled ' Genty Tibby and Sonsy Nelly,' and that in the former work, published in 1724, this is said to be written to the tune ' Tibby Fowler in the Glen.' But, like Ramsay's treatment of ' Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,' this is a lyrical study of contrasts, and quite distinct from the real and more famous ' Tibbie Fowler.' The latter in a fragmentary form first appeared in David Herd's ' Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs,' 1776, and came forth anonymously in its definite and final glory in Johnson's 'Scots Musical Museum,' 1787-1803. It begins by naming the heroine and stating that " there 's o'er mony wooin' at her," the reason for this criticism being signi- ficantly indicated in the penultimate stanza, which has become proverbial and runs as follows :

Be a lassie e'er sae black,

An' she hae the name o' siller,

Set her upo' Tintock-tap,

The wind will blaw a man till her.

At p. 445 of ' The Gateway of Scotland ' we find this passage :

" Much of it [the Trader] runs through the estate made familiar by the .well-known Scottish ballad, ' The Broom of the Cowdenknowes, which, together with that of ' Leader Haughs and Yarrow,' was written by Crawford 200 years ago."

Robert Crawford (d. 1733) is the author of the second of two songs on ' Cowden- knowes ' and of the sweetly haunting pastoral ' The Bush aboon Traquair '- warmly recalled by the late Principal Shairp in his tender lyric with the same title but all that can be said for his connexion with ' Leader Haughs and Yarrow ' is that he has been credited with the anonymous ' Sweet Susan,' to the tune of ' Leader Haughs.' Ramsay gave in the ' Tea-Table Miscel- lany.' and Johnson transferred it thence to the ' Scots Musical Museum.' The original ballad devoted to the two rivers,