Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/485

 12 S. IU. Nov., 1917.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

479

was specified, though it was stated that the deceased was a native of Somersetshire, and claimed direct descent from the renowned Dutch admiral.

A Mr. E. H. Van Tromp lived in Shrews- bury towards the end of last century. He was G.W.R. district goods manager, and died about 1886, 1 think.

HERBERT SOUTHAM.

EVENING DRESS. Several members of the Garrick Club would like to know when the present evening dress for men was intro- duced into England. H. V. HIGGINS.

Garrick Club.

[The introduction of black for evening dress is generally attributed to the influence of Bulwer Lytton's ' Pelham,' published in 1827. See the quotations supplied at 10 S. vii. 48, 95.]

IRISH PEASANT COSTUME. Do any dis- tinctive peasant costumes still exist in Ireland ? If so, where may the various types be seen, and of what do they consist ?

COLLECTOR.

PEERAGES : THEIR SALE. Can any in- stances be given of the sale of peerages in the seventeenth or eighteenth century ? It is, of course, well known that James I. sold baronetcies, but I want light thrown upon the history of the sale of peerages.

W. A. HZRST.

REDDLE BY CHARLES Fox, 1856. I have been unable to find out the answer to the following riddle, and should be very grateful for help in the matter :

What though some boast through ages dark

Their pedigree from Noah's Ark,

Printed in parchments nice ?

I'm older still, for I was there,

And before Adam did appear

With Eve in Paradise.

For I was Adam, Adam I,

In spite of wind and weather ;

But mark me, Adam was not I,

Nor was Mrs. Adam I,

Unless we were together.

Suppose then Adam and Eve were talking

With all my heart, but if they were walking

There ends my simile.

For though I've tongue and often talk,

And though I've legs, yet when I walk

It puts an end to me.

Nor such an end but that I've breath,

Therefore to such a kind of death

I make but small objection.

For soon I'm at my post anew,

And though a Christian oft, 'tis true

I die by resurrection.

The riddle was handed to me by a lady who did not know the answer, and though I have submitted it to several others, we have none j of us been able to solve it.

CECIL G. HILDYARD.

" PACIFICIST " : " PACIFIST." Which, if either, is the right form of this new word ? Neither is in the ' N.E.D.' The latter seems to be the form in use, but it offends ; and by analogy with " pacificate " and " pacifi- cator," I feel somehow that it must be wrong.

Lucis.

ROBERT HUBERT alias FORGES, GENT. I should be much obliged for any informa- tion concerning Robert Hubert alias Forges, Gent.

Strickland and Melville in ' The Dodo Mid its Kindred' (London, 1848), p. 25, cite two tracts as being among the Ash- molean printed books. The first is :

" A Catalogue of part of those Rarities col- lected in "thirty years time, with a great deal of Pains and Industry, by one of his Majestie's sworn Servants, R. H. alias Forges, Gentleman. They are to be seen at the place formerly called the Musique House at the West end of Paul's." (No date.)

The second edition is entitled :

" A Catalogue of many natural rarities with great industry, cost, and thirty years travail in foraign Countries collected by Robert Hubert alias Forges, Gent., and Sworn Servant to his Majesty. And daily to be seen at the place formerly called the Music House near the West end of St. Paul's Church." 1 vol. 12ino, London, 1665.

W. H. MULLENS.

Westfield Place, Battle, Sussex.

HESTER HEATHCOTE. Was Hester, daughter of Sir John Heathcote, Bart., of Normanton, co. Rutland, married before she became in 1775 the second wife of Sir Robert Hamilton, Bart., of Silverton Hill, co. Lanark ? WM. JACKSON PIGOTT.

Manor House, Dundrum, co. Down.

Low FORD : ITS LOCALITY. I have in my possession a mug of Liverpool ware, decorated in black transfer with a full-rigged ship and various commercial emblems. It is inscribed " Dawson & Co., Low Ford."

I am unable to find Low Ford in any gazetteer, and I shall be much obliged if any one can tell me where that place is or what place bore that name a hundred years ago. A. B N.

" LOAFNER " : MEANING AND DERIVA- TION. Can any of your readers explain the meaning of the word Loafner ?

There are here the fairly extensive ruins of an old abbey ; and running past the old Gate-house and the mill and bakery is a field still called Loafner's Yard. Various explanations have been suggested, but so far nothing very conclusive or satisfactory