Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 8.djvu/198

 160 NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. vm. FEB. 10, 1921. the play conveys suggestion of greater import. Pro- fessor Conway in a recent volume finds many arguments to prove that Shakespeare, at the date when he wrote ' The Tempest,' was familiar with the Aeneid. Investigation of such theories opens the way to infinite delight. And, after all, whatever be the verdict on any problem that we 'connect with it, the play itself, 'with all the magic in its poetry remains. The Composition of the Saxon, Hundred in which Hull and Neighbourhood were situate as it iva* in it* Original Condition. By A. B. Wilson- Bark worth. (Hull, Brown & Sons). 'THIS careful monograph deserves the attention of all students of the Hundred, and also of all those who are interested in the antiquities of the neigh- ' bourhood of Hull. The Hessle division of the Hessle Hundred is the tract studied. Dr. Wilson- Barkworth has been for some time occupied in dis- covering the system according to which the division of this Hundred was laid out. Having worked with- out success on the assumption that the entries in Domesday Book could be taken as representing the original condition of the district in Saxon times, he has now convinced himself that the two are widely different. In his opinion. the Saxon 'Hundred was a complete drainage area, whereas the Hessle Hundred of Domesday Book was composed of groups of drainage districts. This view, combined with a comparison of the conditions along the Humber with those along the River Hull, which has brought out sundry other points of importance, has furnished the framework of the study before us. The. book, with all its abundance of documents and detail, illustrates also most satisfactorily a contention of the writer's which must commend itself to every competent student, especially after a perusal of These pages viz., that a true solution of Domesday Book can only be arrived at through a full know- edge of localities. After a chapter on the composition of the Hundred, Dr. Wilson-Barkworth gives a closely reasoned statement of his theory of the Anglo-Saxon methods and assessments for the maintenance of the banks of the Humber and the River Hull There follow discussions of the laying of a carucate and a ten-carucate manor ; and of the Domesday league and quareritene. The four following chapters deal in detail with the topographical and other material relating to the Hessle division which, in the author's opinion, give evidence of the local govern- ment having been in a transitional state during the later years of the Saxon period. Among interesting general remarks may be noted the reasons given tor thinking the Conqueror's devastation of Yorkshire to have been largely exaggerated. They are drawn from the Domesday compilations of 1086. which seem to shew that the destruction fell on sheep-farms rather than on arable land. Dr. Wilson-Barkworth takes the " berewick" to be a sheep farm and to have been so called from the barley grown upon it. The English Element in Italian Family Names. By Signor Cesare Poma. (Hertford, Stephen Austin.) THIS short brochure, published in the Philological Society's Transactions, was read at a meeting of that Society two years ago. The subject turns out to be narrowly limited, but none the less possesses interest. After a little play with witty suggestions, as that Gromo, the Counts of Ternengo,may derive their name from "groom," a word brought in by the English archers serving at Vercelli, and that something may be made between Crollalanza in Italy and ^Shakespeare in England, and identifying, as monumental inscriptions certify, Aguto and Hawkwood, Offamiiio and "of the Mill," Signor Poma goes on to show that what English element there is in Italian surnames comes almost, exclu- sively from varieties of the word Anglius Inglese, which denotes Englishman. Scotns has similarly furnished a few surnames. Our author discusses some family names derived from the Arthurian cycle, and concludes with the words of a popular Piedmontese song called ' Moran d'Inghilterra.' Bulletin of the John Rylands Library, Manchester. Vol. 6. Nos. 1-2. January. (Manchester University Press. 4s.) IN these days of the dwindling shillings-worth it is astonishing to find that this Bulletin of well over 200 beautimlly printed pages and containing brilliant work of permanent interest may br still had for four shillings. The Librarian gives a thorough-going and most satisfactory account of the Library ; we have Professor Tout's notable article on the captivity and death of Edward II. which has already appeared separately and beei noticed in our columns and a stxidy or receni tendencies in European Poetry by Dr. Herforc which goes well to the heart of the subjec Dr. Grenfell writes on Papyrology, its presenl position and the inspiriting mass of work yet be done. "It is very unsatisfactory " he say; " that we are still quite ignorant of the natra of so many of our unpublished finds." Dr. Rendel Harris contributes an important paper o: Celsus and Aristldes ; and Dr. Mingana disc recent criticism of the Odes of Solomon. EDITORIAL communications should be addressed to " The Editor of ' Notes and Queries ' " Adver- tisements and Business Letters to "The Pub- lishers" at the Office, Printing House Square, London, E.C.4. ; corrected proofs to the Athenseum Press, 11 and 13 Bream's Buildings, E.C.4. ALL communications intended for insertion in our columns should bear the name and address o? the sender not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. WHEN sending a letter to be forwarded to another contributor correspondents are requested to put in the top left-hand corner of the envelope the number of the page of * N. & Q.' to which the letter refers. MRS. STEPHEN, Wootton Cottage, Lincoln, writes : "Many thanks to someone who sent post card and so kindly tried to help me over my queries re Bryan Stapleton on January 29. I possess the book mentioned. Dr. Stapleton, President of the College at St. Omer, was Bishou Gregory Stapleton. If the writer is interested, and would care to send his address, 1 would write him re the search I have in hand." CORRIGENDUM. "Invalid Office" (ante p. 130) for "late seventeenth " read late eighteenth century