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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9* s. x. AUG. 9, 1902.

idea that he was a carpenter has probably been evolved from it.

ME. BAYLEY apparently rejects Glover's conjecture as to the origin of the bishop's arras, because a writer in Archceologia Ox- oniensis has stated that the Wickhams of Oxfordshire " are found bearing the present arms of New College with red chevronels," and that William of Wykeham "adopted" these arms, " with black ordinaries for a dis- tinction," for both his colleges. I should be grateful for further "information about this discovery of the red chevronels. When and where was the discovery made 1 And what is the evidence, if any, that red chevronels were borne by Wickhams of Oxfordshire in the fourteenth century, when the two colleges were founded 1 In support of his unsuccessful claim to be founder's kin, Humphrey Wick- ham relied (inter alia) upon the fact that his own arms (which had been allowed to him by heralds) were absolutely identical with those borne by the bishop and his colleges. A collection of documents relating to this claim was printed in Collectanea Top. et Gen., vols. ii. 225, 368, and iii. 178, 345 (1836-7).

H. C.

MERRY ENGLAND AND THE MASS (9 th S. ix. 508 ; x. 55). I have for some time past been making notes for a short account of the folk- lore and minor antiquities of the Mass, and was struck, at an. early stage in my research, with the great importance anciently attached to a sight of the elevated Host. The hearing of Mass is often spoken of as " seeing God," both in Welsh and English manuscripts of pre-Reformation date ; and in probably every country of Christendom there was a popular belief that if one missed Mass on a Sunday he ought not to smile until the Sunday following. Joyousness was certainly associated with the Mass in the popular mind.

JOHN HOBSON MATTHEWS.

Town Hall, Cardiff.

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (9 th S. x. 29). 'Christ's Hospital,' by R. Brimley Johnson, 1896, contains a reduced facsimile of the petition of Ann Coleridge, widow of the Rev. John Coleridge, of the parish of Ottery St. Mary in the county of Devon, who died in the month of October, 1781, leaving her with a family of eleven children. This petition, which was dated 1 May, 1782, prayed that her son Samuel Coleridge, aged nine years and six months, might be admitted into Christ's Hospital. It required the signa- tures of the minister, churchwardens, and three householders. One of the latter was a Samuel Taylor. It is, therefore, probable

that he was either a relative, intimate friend, or maybe godfather after whom the boy was named. This is only a suggestion.

EVERARD HOME COLEMAN. 71, Brecknock Road.

In a letter from S. T. Coleridge to Thomas Poole, Sunday, March, 1797, occurs the fol- lowing : " Christened Samuel Taylor Cole- ridge my godfather's name being Samuel Taylor, Esq." R. A. POTTS.

CHAIRMANSHIP OF GOVERNING BODIES OF ENGLISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS (9 th S. x. 67). In reply to PERTINAX, the governing bodies of most of our public schools are composed of distinguished public men, some of whom are alumni of the school, while others are terri- torial magnates of the district or educational authorities, the chairman usually being the most distinguished or influential. Many of the heads of colleges at Oxford and Cam- bridge are, ex officio, on the governing body or council of one or other of the large public schools. I know of no instance where the head master has a seat on the governing body. He is appointed by it, his reports are made to it, and probably he is often called in to assist at its deliberations. PERTINAX will find particulars of the governing bodies in the various histories which have been published of most of the large public schools. I shall be happy to send a list, and to give further information if needed.

ARTHUR GROVES.

Alperton Park, Wembley.

" YE GODS AND LITTLE FISHES ! " (9 th S. ix.

369 ; x. 77.) I beg that I may be allowed to correct a slight mistake in my reply on this subject. The word "were" was printed instead of was in my communication. I believe I stated that Charles Lever, the creator of Charles O'Malley and the inimitable Micky Free, was (not were) very fond of amateur theatricals in Dublin.

HENRY GERALD HOPE. 119, Elms Road, Clapham, S.W.

[If " creator " had been written, the mistake would have been saved, but " author" is the word in our contributor's MS. Loose writing is difficult to correct, yet can hardly be left as it is.]

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF A CELEBRATED BANKING FIRM (9 th S. x. 27). It may be noted in connexion with MR. HARLAND-OXLEY'S communication that in 1874 a cast-iron slab, probably an old Sussex iron fireback, repre- senting a cock and a snake, was found during alterations made on the premises of Messrs. Smith, Payne & Smith's bank, then No. 1, Lombard Street. It bore the date 1652. It