Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 10.djvu/177

 9 th S. X. AUG. 30, 1902.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

169

adopted, and why ? " To this no answer was given, and I believe similar queries have since remained unanswered. May I repeat it now 1 DUNHEVED.

SIGNS. Will any reader kindly inform me as to the origin of the following signs : " Bas- sett's Pole," " Blankmakers' Arms," " Bull and Spectacles," "Gate Hangs Well," "Logger- heads," " Posada." F. J. WROTTESLEY.

[For "Gate Hangs Well" see 6 th S. ii. 164, 259, 335, 438, 524.]

AMERICAN KNEE-BREECHES. In an article on this tremendous question the Daily News of Monday seems to assume that Mr. Choate did not wear breeches at the v Abbey. Those who saw him walk up the nave to his place say he did, and we believe that as a fact the representatives of the United States Embassy, like Washington, wore "frock dress." Why not ? A. K. B.

WEIGHT OR TOKEN. I have in my posses- sion a small metal disc, apparently of brass, somewhat less in size than a farthing, but thicker. The obverse reads, " George III. 10 s 5 d "; the reverse, "2 Dwt. 16 Gr. 1772." The lettering is raised, and there is an irregular border, suggesting a rope pattern. Between the 2 and the 16 is punctured what looks like an official stamp, such as is used at Goldsmiths' Hall to mark plate. The figure therein is extremely small, and might be a covered cup or jug with handle and spout, or it might be a lion rampant with upturned tail. The disc is in a perfectly sharp and clear condition, and I should be much obliged for any information as to the source of its issue and use. WM. NORMAN.

"BARBITONSOR." I have in my possession an old parchment deed bearing date 25 Nov., 1719. The deed is in Latin, and is an appoint- ment of one William Skinner to an office of some kind in connexion with Ely Cathedral. After the usual salutation, "Omnibus Christi Fidelibus," Robert Mosse, Professor of Theo- logy and Dean of Ely Cathedral, appoints (as follows) :

" Dedisse, concess'e et per prcesentes confirmasse (Julielmo Skinner servient nostro officium Barbi- tonsoris Eccl'ise nostrse Elien' praedicta et ipsum Barbitonsorem nostrum Elien' facimus, constituimus et ordinamus per prsesentes."

The deed goes on to relate that the appoint- ment was for life, and that an annual stipend of 61. was to be paid to the appointee for his services, but I am at present in the dark as to what those services were. No Latin dictionary I have come across up to now gives the term " Barbitonsor," and the opinions of my friends are divided as- to

whether William Skinner was a barber or something to do with the orchestra" of the cathedral, the latter theory being based on the Latin word "barbiton,"a harp or lute. Enlightenment would be very gratefully received. ERNEST E. HILLS.

[" Barbitonsor passim occurrit apud Scriptores inferioris aeui. Vide si vis Lobinellum Hist. Bri tan. to. 2, p. 560," &c. ' Ducange et Carpentarii Glos- sarium,' i. 579, s.v.]

" WIG- WANDS": "FAT-HALVES."! should be greatly obliged by any one telling me the derivation of the word ivig -wands (or wag- loands). I find it used by country maids from Wiltshire and the Welsh border for the grass usually called totter-grass or quaker grass.

A maid from Hertfordshire always called the fruit of the wild rose fat-halves. I should also like to know the meaning of this word. LIESE M. SHERRING.

CHORLEY'S POEMS. Has there been any collected publication of the poems of Henry Fothergill Chorley 1 W. G. NORRIS.

Coalbrookdale.

' THE VICAR AND MOSES.' Will some reader of ' N. & Q.' supply the missing line or lines of the following song ? At the sign of " The Horse " old Spin-text,-of course,

Each night took his pipe and his pot, With a jorum of nappy, quite pleasant and happy,

Thus sat this convivial sot,

Singing down derry, down derry down.

The night it was dark when in came the clerk,

With reverence due, and submission, First stroked his cravat, and twirled round his hat,

And bowing proclaimed his petition, Singing down derry.

I 've come, sir," says he, " to beg, do you see,

Of your reverence worship and glory, To inter a poor baby with as much speed as may be,

And I'll walk with the lantern before ye," Singing down derry.

Bring Moses some beer, and me some, do you

hear ?

I hate to be called from my liquor. Uome, Moses, the King, it 's a scandalous thing Such a subject should be but a vicar," Singing down derry.

" Oh laws, sir, the corpse it does stay ! " " Thou fool, hold thy peace, since miracles cease A corpse, Moses, can't run away." Singing down derry.

When they come to the grave, the clerk hummed a

stave

While the surplice was wrapp'd round the priest, And so droll was the figure of Moses and vicar, That the parish still laugh at the jest, Singing down derry.

From the wording of the song, and the habits attributed to the vicar, it seems probable