Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/412

 404

NOTES AND QUERIES.

20., MAT 17. '56.

Etymology *,of Winchelsea (2 nd S. i. 190. 241.)

As the etymology of Chelsea, near London may assist W. S. and MR. LOWER, in ascertaining the etymology of Winchelsea, I beg leave to refer them to the commencement of the account of Chelsea in the second volume of Lyson's Environs of London; and pages 2. to 5. in the first volume of Faulkner's History of Chelsea, in which works, especially the latter, will be found the various etymologies that have been given of Chelsea. The accounts are too long for insertion in " N. & Q ," and could not perhaps be satisfactorily abridged, and therefore had better be seen in the books above mentioned, which are by no means un- common. W. H. W. T.

Somerset House.

" Starboard" "Larboard," "Port" (2 nd S. i. 335.)

G. A. J., who inquires about the derivation of these nautical terms, will recollect that the Vene- tians and Genoese were among the earliest Euro- pean navigators, and formed during the Middle Ages, and even later, the most powerful maritime states. It is, therefore, extremely probable that the Italian language is that in which we are to look for the origin of most of our nautical terms of old standing. I have long supposed that the terms "starboard," "larboard," and "port" had an Italian origin.

Thus we have " questo bordo," this side of the vessel, or the side on which the helmsman stood ; " quello bordo," that side, or the one opposite to him ; bordo, being " tutta quella parte del vascello, che dai fianchi sta fuor dell' acqua." These terms would naturally come to be abbreviated to 'sto bord\ 70 bord\

Then, again, the master, when directing the helmsman to put the tiller over to the larboard side of the vessel, or that opposite to him, would naturally indicate it by the word portare, to carry or push : " porta il timone," " port your helm,'' as distinguished from tirare, to pull.

In process of time, in order to obviate the risk of confusion between the sounds 'sto bora", 'to borcT, " starboard," " larboard, " inasmuch as porting the helm always indicated the larboard side of the vessel, the word port came to express it altogether.

It is a mistake to suppose, as MR. BOSWORTH does, that the Anglo-Sax., steorbord, is from styran, to steer. H. C. K.

Rectory, Hereford.

existence of " N. & Q.," would probably never have been given to the world. The first is Charles I. in 1646. Letters of Charles I. to Queen Henrietta Maria. Now first printed from a MS. in the Possession of Joseph C. Witlon, Esq. Edited by John Bruce, Esq. This valuable and highly curious series of Letters was originally brought under our notice by the gentleman who owns the MS., from which they have been printed. One Letter was printed in our columns (1 st S. xii. 219.), when, at our suggestion, Mr. Witton with great kindness and liberality submitted the collection to The Camden Society, with permission to place it in the hands of a competent editor. The task was entrusted to Mr. Bruce ; and the result is a volume which has been pronounced, by a distinguished historian, one of the most valuable contributions to the history of Charles I. which has yet been given to the world. The second book illustrates an earlier period of our history. It is An English Chronicle of the Reigns of Richard IL, Henry IV., Henry V., and Henry VI., written before the Year 1471, edited by the Rev. John Silvester Davies, M.A. of Pembroke College, Oxford. The original MS. of this valuable addition to our English Chronicles had been used by Stowe, thence passed into the possession of Speed ; and is now the property of Speed's representative, John Speed Davies, Esq., the father of the editor. This Chronicle, after forming the subject of several communi- cations in our eleventh volume (pp. 103. 139., &c.), was most liberally placed at the disposal of The Camden So- ciety for publication, if it should be thought desirable. Mr. Davies's offer to edit it was at once accepted ; and he devoted himself with great zeal and intelligence to pro- duce it in a satisfactory form. Sir Frederick Madden has kindly contributed some important materials to the volume ; which is one which reflects great credit both upon the editor and the Society, which has been the means of placing these new illustrations of an obscure period of our annals in the hands of historical students.

NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.

We have this day to notice two books recently pub- lished by The Camden Society, which books, but for the

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES

WANTED TO PURCHASE.

Particulars of Price, &c. of the following Books to be sent direct to the gentlemen by whom they are required, and whose names and ad- dresses are given for that purpose :

BAILEY'S TOWER op LO.VDO.V. Part 2.

Wanted by Messrs, Jackson fy Walford, St. Paul's Churchyard.

ta

We propose next week to record particulars mid prices of some of th e, mnr< valuable tiutiir/rniJa and MSS. of the Moore Collection, lately sold by Messrs. Pttttick and Simpson.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF MACADLAT. We Tiave by accident omitted this week our usual article under this head, tt't sltall resume the scries next week, having several very curious illustrations waiting for insertion.

G. T,. S. The Rime of the new-made Baeealere teas attributed to George John JJavie of Exeter College. See " If. & Q." 1st S. xii. 35.

Answers to other Correspondents and Notes on many Books omitted this week in our next No.

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