Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 7.djvu/50

 38 NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. vn. JULY 10, 1920. in case of poison. Elderberry tea is con- sidered a fine refreshing stimulant. Sprigs of elder will drive away mice, but 1 never heard it to be tried for rats, though if for mice it stands good for the other. The elder has many good qualities and in it is a whole "chemist's shop." THOS. RATCLIFFE. Southfield, Worksop. HORSE-BLOCKS (12 S. vii. 7). I have an affectionate remembrance of one of these erections, which stood, more than a hundred years after 1740, on the Great North Road between Grantham and Great Gonerby, about a quarter of a mile from the foot of the hill which the host at Newark would not have objected to Jennie Deans carrying away in her lap ('Heart of Midlothian,' chap, xxviii.). ST. SWITHIN. WOODHOUSE'S RIDDLE (12 S. vi. 277). By an inadvertence next was written by me instead of near in the fourth line. The full reference is p. 182 in vol. ii. of ' The New Foundling Hospital for Wit ' (1784). EDWARD BENSLY. ' ITINERARY ' OF WILLIAM OF WORCESTER (12 S. vii. 8). The ' Itinerarium sive liber rerum memorabilium ' of William Botoner of Worcester is among the MSS. in the library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. It is one of those not bequeathed by Arch- bishop Parker. An account of its contents is given by Dr. M. R. James in his ' Descrip- tive Catalogue ' of the C.C.C. MSS., vol. i. pp. 500-507, the items which were omitted in Nasmith's edition being marked by an asterisk. EDWARD BENSLY. The portions of historical and topo- graphical interest were printed by James Nasmith in 1778 from the MS. in Worcester's hand in the library of Corpus Christ i College, Cambridge. A. R. BAYLEY. A LATE BRASS (12 S. vii 5). It would be worth while to make a collection of eighteenth century brass rubbings, not so much on account of their decorative qualities, which are usually inconspicuous, but rather with the object oi lifting them from the obscurity into which they have sunk. Writers on the subject of brasses rarely accord the eigh- teenth century more than a passing glance. In most cases, they stop short at the close of the preceding epoch. Brasses with effigies in civil costume of Philadelphia Greenwood (1747), and Benjamin Green- wood (1773), exist at St. Mary Cray, Kent. These are by no means unique, but they are interesting as a link between the earlier brasses and those of to-day. When J. W. F. observes that 1710 is- " an unusually late date for a brass," he- appears to forget that Westminster Abbey (amongst other places) contains some im- portant nineteenth-century specimens. The craft is still practised. I should imagine, however, that 1710 would be late for a shrouded figure. F. GORDON ROE. Arts Club, 40 Dover Street, W.I. At the Victoria and Albert Museum are- rubbings of brasses both at St. Mary Cray to P. Greenwood, 1747, and B. Greenwood, 1773. Writing from memory I believe one of these is engraved with an effigy of a man in frock coat, fancy waistcoat and knee breeches. The work is very poor both in design and execution. In Westminster Abbey, General Sir R. T. Wilson (died 1849) is engraved as a knight in armour of c. 1405 5 with wife and seven sons and six daughters, c. 1420. WALTER E.'GAWTHORP. 16 Long Acre, W.C.2. SIGN PAINTING (12 S.vi. 310, 342 ; vii. 16). The sign of the King Harry at St. Stephen's, near St. Albans, has been repainted by another artist within the last few years, and the sign of the Man loaded with Mischief, formerly in Oxford Street, is said to be at St. Albans. ANDREW OLIVER. MANOR OF FRINTON (12 S. vi. 313). I possess a brass piece, slightly larger than a shilling, having on the obv. "Manor of Minster" the rev. "John Rice" /with floral device above and below both ins crip- tions. Have assumed it to be a " hop- token " or " tally " but have been unable to learn w r hether of MrSster in Thanet or Sheppey. W. J. M. A SECRET TIDE (12 S, vi. 335). In the thirteenth edition, 1867 (the only one to which I have access) the line runs : Men say it was a stolen tyde. But the word " stolen " seems itself to require elucidation C. L. S. GROVE HOUSE, WOODFORD, ESSEX (12 S. vi. 249, 339). John Lambert was elected Master of the Grocer's Company, July 13, 1579, and was presumably alive at the date of election of his successor July 4, 1580. A. H, S.