Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 9.djvu/343

 us.ix.AFRiL25.i9u.-j NOTES AND QUERIES.

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Another fine specimen may be seen in Westham Church, near Pevensey, Sussex. It probably crowned the original high altar there in Norman times, and was later trans- ferred to the new chancel. There it must have remained until the sixteenth century, when, like so many others, it was removed. It was next used as a gravestone, and covered the grave of Phillis Hodgson, wife of Miles Hodgson, vicar of the parish from 1593 to 1625. It still bears her initials, but two of the crosses were then cut off to shorten the length. It would since most likely have been altogether lost but for the other three crosses which still remain. A few years ago it was thereby recognized ; it was taken up again, and now stands upon a massive oak table set up in the ancient Lady Chapel.

ALAN STEWART.

ARMS OF THE SEE OF LICHFIELD (11 S. ix. 289). For the most authoritative account of the arms of the See of Lichfield that I am aware of, I would refer MR. GRUNDY-NEW- JVIAN to the late Dr. Woodward's ' Treatise on Ecclesiastical Heraldry' (1894), pp. 182-3 ; and as this work is now rather scarce, per- haps I may be allowed to state what the reverend and learned author says upon the subject, having described the arms of the see as Per pale gules and argent, a cross potent and quadrated between four crosses patees, all counter-changed.

" The origin of these arms is unknown, but they have a certain resemblance to the arms of Jeru- salem.* This resemblance was stronger when, as formerly, the crosses patees on the argent half of the shield were painted or. As a mere conjecture, I suggest that there may be a connection between the cross which was worn by the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and the supposed derivation of Lichfield from an ancient field of the dead, or cemetery. The earliest seal on which the bearing appears (at least in the British Museum collection) is that of Bishop William Booth .(1447-1452), in which it is described as a ' cross potent ' only."

Dr. Woodward further states that the late MR. MACKENZIE WALCOTT (not Walcot), in ability that these arms were givenrby Bishop de Clinton, the Crusader, in memory of his visit to the Holy Land.
 * N. & Q.,' 5 S. ii. 462, mentions the prob-

Dr. Woodward also states that the dedica- tion of the cathedral is to the Blessed Virgin (whose effigy carrying the Holy Child appears upon the early seals) and to St. Chad, but gives no reason for this further dedication.

A cross which expands into a square in the centre is a cross quadrate. Boutell (1864,

plate iii., No. 72) gives an instance of the cross of St. George so expanded, and also (No. 91) of a cross potent quadrated ; but no mention of the name of St. Chad occurs in connexion with this latter. The connexion suggested by your correspondent may con- sist only in the fact of such a cross being the principal charge in the arms of the see of which he was the patron saint. Inner Temple. J - S - UDAL > F.S.A.

[FR. HUNTER BLAIR, LEO C. and MR. DE BER- NIERE SMITH also thanked.for replies.]

SHAKESPEARE AND THE WARWICKSHIRE DIALECT (11 S. ix. 288). A full reply to COL. PRIDEAUX'S inquiry would, perhaps, entail weeks or months of research. The ' English Dialect Dictionary ' indicates many of the words sought. Both words and customs peculiar to Mid -England may be found in Charles Knight's ' Biography of Shakespeare,' and in Rolfe's ' Shakespeare the Boy.'

The following have written specially on the subject :

Salisbury (Jesse), 'Glossary ,' 1893, 8vo.

Anders (H. R. D.), 'Shakespeare's Books,' 1904,

roy. 8vo. Farmer (R.), 'Essay on Learning of Shakespeare '

1767 (and later), 8vo.

Argent, a cross potent between four crosslets or.
 * These are elsewhere (p. 439) described as

speare,' 1774, 4to. Whalley (P.), ' Enquiry into Learning of Shake- speare,' 1748, 8vo.

The Warwickshire novels of George Morley likewise embrace many dialect words of the district.

The subject-lists, or key-references, in my ' Shakespeare Bibliography,' pp. 585-627, indicate other sources giving information on this topic.

I trust that so sound a scholar as COL. PRIDEAUX is not really in need of this matter as proof of Shakespeare's birthplace. We have had many little dust-storms of doubt raised in ' N. & Q.' and elsewhere as to the poet's ability, but never, I think, any question as to his natal spot.

Here are a few local words which show how well the playwright remembered village life and customs at Wilmcote and other local scenes : Honeystalks. "With words more sweet than

honeystalks to sheep." * Titus Andronicus,'

IV. iv.

This word is locally used for the common purple clover.

Sheep-rot." Rotted with delicious feed." 'Titus And.,' IV. iv.