Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 6.djvu/92

, NOTES AND QUERIES. tns.vi. JULY 27, 1912

any of his clever " schemes " to a successful issue.

I need hardly say I have no idea how nearly, if at all, this dye which the May hews tried to foster may have resembled the mauve and magenta of 1858-9. Probably it was a totally different process, " hit upon," it may be, by Henry Mayhew when attempt- ing to manufacture " synthetic rubies." But many friends inclined to the belief that the new dyes were closely allied to the " big discovery " pushed unsuccessfully by Gus Mayhew. HERBERT B. CLAYTON.

39, Renfrew Road, Lower Kennington Lane.

BENGEWORTH (11 S. v. 489). This name is duly considered in Duignan's ' Place- Names of Worcestershire,' which deals with the whole county. I am quoted for the explanation ; but the author has slightly misunderstood me. He says that I explain it as " the farm or estate of Benning," or "son of Benna." Certainly not so ; but rather " the farm or estate of the Bennings," or " sons of Benna." It is only in the genitive plural that the sound of ng becomes nj. Similarly, in my ' Place-Names of Herts,' I explain Bengeo, formerly Beninge- ho, as " the hill-spur (or hoe) of the Ben- nings." WALTER W. SKEAT.

In ' Worcestershire Place - Names,' by W. H. Duignan (Frowde, 1905), the ancient spellings are given as Benigwrthia, Benincg- wrthe, Benincguurthe, Benincwyrthe, Ben- ningcwyrd, Bennincweord, Benningewyrth, Bynnyncgwyrthe, Benningeorde, Bennic- worte. The A.-S. personal name Benning = Benna + ing son of Benna. Compare Bengeo in Herts, anciently Beningeho, and the common A -S. worth, weorth, wurih, wyrth, wierth (homestead, farm, estate, property). A. C. C.

"HIT": TENSE IN CHATTCER (11 S. v. 465). In a recently published work, entitled ' The Mystery of Francis Bacon,' we find the fantastic theory as to " hit " utilized. Arguing that Bacon probably wrote the ' Academie Franeoise par Pierre de la Primaudaye Esceuyer,' &c., the author gives an extract from the English version of 1586, which includes this passage :

" I will therefore call them [the academical associates] by names very agreeable to their skill and nature : the first ASEB which signifieth Felicity : the second AMANA which is as much to say as Truth : the third ARAM which noteth to us Highness ; and to agree with them as well in name as in education and behaviour, I will name myself ACHITOB which is all one with Brother of goodness."

On this the writer of ' The Mystery of Francis Bacon ' has an explanatory foot- note. " Hit," he says, " is used by Chaucer as the past participle of ' hide.' The name thus yields a suggestive anagram, ' Baco- hit.' ' : If Bacon were the eminent Chau- cerian he is called elsewhere in this book, he would not be likely to make such an uncritical suggestion as his eulogist thus imputes to him. For the eulogist himself there is no excuse in these days of Chaucer glossaries and other trustworthy aids to the knowledge of early English. The reputation of Bacon is not likely to be* enhanced by reckless tributes. THOMAS BAYNE.

SHAKESPEARE'S SIGNATURES (11 S. v. 490). The statements contained in the seven paragraphs culled from Sir Edwin Burning Lawrence's pamphlet by D. J. are not generally supported by facts.

Take the statement about the will (No. 6). The writer is led into making an error which is at once evident to any one who has studied the original document.

The will is not sealed ; so the word " seal " is struck out. But it is signed, so the word " hand " is carefully substituted for " seal," proving incontestably, as it seems to me, that the testator, William Shakespeare, signed the will with his own hand.

Taking the paragraphs in order :

1. There are six Shakespeare signatures on legal documents. All, as it seems to me, were written by Shakespeare himself. There is no evidence that he did not write these signatures ; while, from comparison, it is clear that all the signatures were written by the same person. A man who makes his will, buys a house, or has a legal deposi- tion to make, does not get somebody else to sign his name for him ; he usually does this himself. Shakespeare did so.

2. Two hands are clearly visible on the document Answers to Interrogatories, 1612. The signature of Shakespeare is absolutely distinct from both, the letters being formed in quite a different manner.

3. It is clear that the signatures on the purchase and mortgage deeds of the Black - friars property are in Shakespeare's hand- writing. They have peculiarities common to the other four signatures, and differ from the writing in the body of the deeds. There are other signatures attached, proving that the various parties to the transaction signed in the usual way.

4. It is quite possible that these two signatures were signed at the same time.