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NOTES AND QUERIES, [ii s. vn. APRIL 19, 1913.

WOODROFFE. Can any of your readers give me information concerning Richard Woodroffe of Basingstoke and Stephenton, who died February, 1667/8 ? Was he con- nected with the Woodroffes of Poyle Park in Surrey (e.g., son of Stephen Woodroffe of Tongham in Surrey, the younger brother of Sir David Woodroffe of Poyle, d. 1603), or with the Woodroffes of Barnstaple, Devon ?

When living at Stephenton, Hants, he gave money to the King's cause in 1626. He was twice Mayor of Basingstoke ; his son Richard was Mayor four times ; his grandson Henry three times; his great- grandson Charles twice. He was 'evidently the first member of that branch of the family to settle in the district. Please communicate any information direct.

G. A. WOODROFFE PHILLIPS. 21, Barkston Gardens, S.W.

" DOMICELLUS." The translation of this word is difficult. Does it generally mean one of a family who, though not necessarily the heir, has set up for himself in one of the manor houses of the estate ?

DANIEL HIPWELL.

" YEOMAN " OF THE SIGNALS. I have been trying to obtain a satisfactory explana- tion of the word " yeoman " in this naval rating. Is it a corruption of some foreign word Dutch, for instance ? Also, can any one help me to the earliest use of it ?

E. E. STREET.

OLD - TIME CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND STORIES. Can any one supply references to articles or books dealing with the above ?

W. B. GERISH.

[The late Andrew Tuer published a number of delightful books on this subject. A list of his works may be- seen. ' Forgotten Children's Books ' and ' Old-fashioned Children's Books ' might give our correspondent what he requires.]

THE ASSYRIANS AND FISH AS RELIGIOUS SYMBOL. (See ante, p. 234.) At this reference it is stated, as of course is well known, that the fish, as a religious symbol, was often identified with Brahma. This reminds me of a point I have often wished settled that is, whether the Assyrians also depicted the fish as a religious symbol. In my book on ' Swimming ' (1904) are repro- duced several Assyrian pictures from slabs in which fish play a part as decoration. On p. 79 I suggest the question whether there was any religious symbolism in this use of

the fish, a question which may, perhaps, be answered some day, though it is 2,600 years since the sculptures were carved, these marbles all having been executed between 880 and 650 B.C.

Perhaps one of your readers can settle the question.

I notice that Mr. W. R. Lethaby in his most delightful book, ' Westminster Abbey and the King's Craftsmen ' (1906), has a fish (of an heraldic kind ?) on the back of the binding as an ornament.

RALPH THOMAS.

ST. KATHARINE'S-BY-THE-TOWER, (US. vii. 201.)

MR. ALECK ABRAHAMS in his very interesting article says (ante, p. 203) :

"It is remarkable that Carter, Schnebbelie, Buckler, and other topographical artists of the period did not devote more attention to the pic- turesque buildings."

I enclose a copy of a letter in my possession written by Mr. Buckler to Mr. J. B. Nichols only a few weeks before the publication of the latter' s book, which will indicate that Mr. Buckler had paid some attention to the subject. The foot-notes are those in the original. The letter is interesting, not only in regard to St. Katharine's, but as showing the " savage havoc " of the times in other directions, including Westminster Abbey. One would like to know who was the Rev. Mr. Allen referred to, and what became of any notes or documents he had relating to St. Katharine's.

MY DEAR SIR, A man possessed of much taste and antiquarian feeling is sure, in these days, t( meet with many mortifications. This is, 1 fear, very much my condition at present. I am continually hearing of the mutilation, or entire destruction ot some curious building or other, and I sincerely declare that if as much time and trouble would dispossess me of my taste and zeal, (contemptible as they may be) for our ancient architecture, as their acquisition has cost me, I would lose no time in undoing all that I have taken so much pains to accomplish.

I have been almost mad at the thoughts of losing the three glorious monuments on the North side of the Choir of Westminster Abbey, a piece of savage havoc which I am sorry to say t Dean would have perpetrated merely to save the expense of their repair, had not Mr. Bankes* (whose name let every antiquary


 * W. J. Bankes, Esqre., M.P.