Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 9.djvu/411

 11 8. IX. MAY 23, 1914.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

405

Of words less habitually used in daily intercourse, distract and distraction are noticeably frequent in Webster : twice in ' The White Devil,' five times in ' The Duchess of Malfy,' three times in ' The Devil's Law Case,' four times in ' Appius and Virginia.' In ' A Cure for a Cuckold ' the noun occurs three times once in conjunction with " strange," as several times in Web- ster's acknowledged plays :

.... your departure hence

Will breed a strange distraction in your friends.

I. ii. (iv. 23). Compare :

He 's fallen into a strange distraction.

' W. D.,' V. i. (ii. 114).

What accident hath brought unto the prince This strange distraction ?

' D. M.,' V. ii. (ii. 259). See, gentlemen, what strange distraction Your falling off from duty hath begot In this most noble soldier.

' A. and V.,' II. ii. (iii. 154).

Other words conspicuous in Webster's vocabulary, e.g., fatal, fury, beastly, unmanly, equivocate, are also to be found in ' A Cure for a Cuckold.' H. DUG DALE SYKES.

( To be continued.)

THOMAS J. BARRATT. Born in 1841, the author of ' The Annals of Hampstead,' who died on Sunday, 26 April, rendered such invaluable services, both as an antiquary- collector and lavish supporter of all efforts to preserve the historical interests and rural amenities of Hampstead, that a record of him should appear in ' N. & Q.'

For nearly all his life a resident on or near Hampstead Heath, he has been rightly described as the finest type of the local patriot. The history of " his village " always appealed to him, and from an early age he assiduously collected all that related to the most charming of London suburbs. This vast gathering, named after his residence the Bell Moor Collection, includes many of the finest works of Constable, Collins, Linnell, Morland, and others ; and al- though it is possible this valuable result of many years' search will not be dispersed, it is pleasant to know that a fully annotated and descriptive catalogue was prepared by Mr. E. E. Newton and privately printed.

Of Mr. Barratt's greatest undertaking, ' The Annals of Hampstead,' much could be said. It is one of the most important con- tributions to the history of a London suburb produced in recent years, and .obviously only

authors of Mr. Barratt's position and enthusi- asm could be responsible for such an under- taking. As its special distinction is its wealth of illustration, it is likely to remain for many years unexcelled in the class of topographical literature to which it belongs. The ultimate destination of Mr. Barratt's library and many objects of national interest we may learn shortly. It is to be hoped that the life's work of 'this excellent local antiquary will be preserved as a memorial of the en- thusiasm of a worthy Londoner. A. A.

A LETTER FROM SIR ROBERT THROCK- MORTON, t. HEN. VII. The Court of Requests was founded in the reign of Henry VTI. but very few records remain of its proceed- ings. This in itself makes the following letter worth preserving. But it becomes more so when we remember that this is the Robert Throckmorton who was overseer of the will of Walter Arden of Park Hall, and who also was associated in trust in the pur- chase and settlement of Snitterfield on Robert Arden of Wilmecote, Shakespeare's- grandfather.

My duty of Recommendation made, pleaseth you to knowe that wherein by the King's order under his privy seal to William Greville, Sergeant atte Lawe, and me Sir Robert Throkmorton, Knight, directed, commanding us by the same to- examine the articles and bill' of complaint to the King's grace on behalf of John Cooke of Blockley versus William Child of the same, and to testifie to his Honourable Councell the truth by examin- acion found therein, by which Privy Seal I the said Sir Robert Throkmorton, in the absence of the said William Greville, at Blockley in co- Wbrcester, the Monday next after the feast of St. Hilary, the 23rd year of the King our Soverayn Lord,* by appointment of the said William Gre- ville, examined the said William Child and John Cooke. On the part and behalf of the said Cooke he brought before me the persons as wit- nesses, as hereinafter it appereth, which afore me testified and deposed as hereafter ensueth.

Thomas of Blockley, co. Worcester, hus- bandman, a man of good substance. [He refers to John Greville, Knight, and his deed concerning the property.] Richard White of Blockley. [Several! other witnesses. At the end :] Memorandum, the King's Almester gave to Sir Robert Throk- morton, Knight, time until he had leisure to take their examinations.

Sir Robert Throckmorton was summoned to be knighted in 10 Henry VII., but Dug- dale does not find the title attributed to him till 17 Henry VII. This letter must have been written some time before Sir Robert started for the Holy Land, whence he never returned. It is preserved among the un- calendared papers of the Court of Requests,. Various, 383. C. C. STOPES.


 * This must have been written in January, 1507/8-