Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 1.djvu/462

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

[9 th S. I. JUNE 4, '98.

F. E., meant in the fourteenth century and later "admitted members of the Guild of Corpus Christi." This was a very influential corporation throughout the northern counties, and especially in Yorkshire. In York it was instituted in 1508. Your correspondent will find a good deal about it in the writings of the well-known antiquary of York, Mr. Robert Davies, F.S.A. ; some of them were published by the Surtees Society.

OSWALD HUNTER BLAIR, O.S.B. Fort Augustus, N.B.

May it not have been simply the emphasizing of the date on which Corpus Christi fell? This feast is always observed on the Thurs- day following Trinity Sunday, and therefore it is a movable festival, as is Trinity Sunday itself, depending upon the date of Easter. GEORGE ANGUS.

St. Andrews, N.B.

The persons referred to were no doubt admitted into one of the guilds entitled of Corpus Christi in York or Beverley, or some other Yorkshire town. W. D. MACRAY.

See the Surtees Society edition of the roll of the Corpus Christi Guild of York.

Q. V.

WEST WINDOW, NEW COLLEGE, OXFORD (9 th S. i. 288). The use of the mirror in the hand of Prudence, " the convex mirror showing her power of looking at many things in small compass," as adopted by Giotto, is noticed in Mr. Ruskin's 'Stones of Venice,' i. 247, ed. 1892. EDWARD H. MARSHALL, M.A.

Hastings.

WALTER SCOTT'S 'ANTIQUARY' (9 th S. i. 267). Attention is drawn to the description of the sun setting on the sea, though the scene of the story is laid on the east coast of Scotland. Is it not more than probable that the author was correct ? At Hunstanton, at Margate, and I have no doubt at other places on the east coast which really look north, the sun can be seen both rising and setting in the sea. E. H. P.

" SHOT " OF LAND (9 th S. i. 308)." Shot " is the O.E. sceat, meaning a bit, portion, corner. " Shots " doubtless were the " offshoots," the bits outside the balks or ridges in plough- lands, varying in shape, and called in some parts by distinctive names. Hereabouts, e. g., " pikes" are the "peaked" bits "slings" or "slingety bits " are the " long " bits. Else- where "corner bits" would be called "cants," though " cant " has sometimes a wider mean- ing. A " cant " of wheat, e. </., in Kent, is the

measured bit which a harvestman under- takes to reap for a certain price. " Butts " is another Worcestershire word for "ends" of land. HAMILTON KINGSFORD.

Stoulton Vicarage, Worcester.

This term in this district means a straight furrow from one end of the field to the other. Should a side of the field be irregular, bowing, or making angles, those parts as they are ploughed are called " gores " or " scootes " (Anglo-Saxon sceote ?). In these matters MR. HOLLAND cannot do better than consult 'The English Village Community,' by Frederic Seebohm, 1883. There is plenty about the fields near Hitchin in it.

WM. GRAHAM F. PIGOTT.

Abingdon Pigotts.

An article in the Gentleman's Magazine for March, entitled ' The English Township,' gives on p. 263 the derivation of " shot " from sceot = & contribution or share. Bosworth's 'Anglo-Saxon Dictionary,' however, does not attribute this meaning to the word.

I. C. GOULD.

A " shot " is a plot of arable land lying in the same cultura, usually one that is ploughed with the furrows all parallel, by which one may recognize old "shots" in undulating downs. ISAAC TAYLOR.

CARMICHAEL OF MAULDSLAY (9 th S. i. 248). The arms of the Carmichaels of Maudsley, descendants of Daniel, the third son of John, first Earl of Hyndford, were : Argent, a fess of five pieces wreathed gules and azure within a bordure of the second, charged with a mullet in chief or. Crest : same as Hynd- ford, charged with the same for difference. Motto : " Tou jours prest." The last-named Daniel died in Portugal unmarried.

JOHN KADCLIFFE.

WILLIAM BLAKE (8 th S. xi. 302). I must confess to some surprise that my note has not resulted in eliciting any opinion on this subject from one of our collectors of Blake's engrav- ings. It will be recollected that my point was this that Salzmann's ' Gymnastics ' has a number of plates which our booksellers have been in the habit of attributing to Blake, charging for the book accordingly. I contended that there could be no doubt these engravings are not the work of Blake, neither drawing nor engraving. The proofs at the Print Room that were formerly loose have now been inserted in the book, so that comparison is much facilitated. I have since been favoured with the opinion of the Keeper of the Prints at the British Museum, Mr. Sidney Colvin, who writes to me :