Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 10.djvu/34

 NOTES AND QUERIES. [9* s. x. JTOY 12, iwa.

over the accomplishments of his mythical author, warmly apostrophizing him in the contemplation of nis "chest of posthumous elucubrations." Probably the archaism is intentionally introduced, but it is there with- out mark or comment, and its presence con- strains recognition. No doubt it is duly noted in the 'H.E.D.,' which at the moment is not available. THOMAS BAYNE.

[Elucubration is in the 'H.E.D.' with quotations ranging from 1643 to the above from " Father Prout. 55 ]

WEARING HATS IN CHURCH. (See 6 th S. ii., iii., iv. ; 7 th S. i., ii., iii., iv. ; 9 th S. viii. 81). To bring this question up to date I may perhaps quote a rubric from ' The Form and Order of The Coronation of Their Majesties King Ed- ward VII. and Queen Alexandra... | On Thursday, the 26th Day of June, 1902.' Section vi. of the 'Order' provides for the sermon, " which is [happily] to be short," and proceeds :

" And whereas the King was uncovered during the saying of the Litany and the beginning of the Com- munion Service ; when the Sermon begins he puts on his Cap of crimson velvet turned up with ermine, and so continues to the end of it,"

i.e., according to the literal meaning of the words, His Majesty will continue putting on his cap till the end of the episcopal discourse. This strikes one as somewhat tiring, not to say disturbing to the risible faculties of his assembled subjects. O. O. H.

SERJEANTS-AT-LAW UNDER JAMES 1. The following extract from the 'Reports' of Serjeant Bendloes, or Benlowes, may be of interest, ed. 1661, p. 132 :

"On Thursday, 15 new Serjeants were brought to the bar by tipstaves, under subpoena 1000/., which in order of antiquity were Sir George Croke, Diggs, Guynn, Amhurst, Crew, Damport, Bridgman, Darcey, Hoskins, Bing, Thynn, Bramston, Henneage Finch, Hedley, and Crawley. And Croke, being the eldest, said to Signior Williams, Keeper, Dean of Westminster, and Bishop of Lincoln, that they were summoned by subpoena ' south payne de 1000/.' to appear on that day, &c.

"Then the Lord Keeper demands of them if they are willing to accept the degree : and, they saying yea, he commands them to deliver their briefs, which are read. Then he excuses himself for not being able to tell them their duty, and shews them the reason of their name of Serjeants at law, and says that at first, in the infancy of the law, great lords sent their servants to the judges, to know their opinions, and afterwards, when the law increased, they were in great estimation, as appears in Chaucer; and he shews that they were advanced to this de- gree mainly for their erudition. Then they take the oath of supremacy, and are led back to the place where they were before, viz. to the narrow passage between the ' Chancery and bankr.' Sir George Croke made a brief speech of thanks, and presented a ring (annell enamled) to the Lord Keeper, for the

King. Nota that they come in round caps, and at dinner ' prendront lour liknes come Monks.' Rings were given ; and ' Le Posie del Annells fuit, Servit Regi qui servit Legi.' These things happened in Michaelmas Term, 21 Jacobi."

RICHARD H. THORNTON. Portland, Oregon.

"RETURNING THANKS." One of the oddest and most out-of -place phrases is that of " re- turning thanks" which appears in tradesmen's business announcements and notices. It is understood to be the tradesman's way of thanking his customers for their past favours. Giving thanks would, perhaps, be better, for his customers would scarcely thank him for allowing them to deal with him. " Return- ing thanks " in this sense is very different from that of " returning thanks " to " a health " at a public dinner. When did "returning thanks " on the part of business people first appear in advertisements ?

THOS. RATCLIFFE. Worksop.

<l ROCK-BOTTOM PRICES." I confess that this expression is new to me. A hosier in this district, in soliciting my custom (per printed circular), assures me of the excellence of his goods, and guarantees that they are all supplied at " rock-bottom prices."

W. ROBERTS.

47, Lansdowne Gardens, S.W.

WEATHERCOCK AT EXETER. What is said to be the oldest existing weathercock in this country crowns the octagonal turret on the south-eastern corner of the fifteenth-century western tower of St. Sid well's Church, Exeter. It and the ornamental iron spindle upon which it revolves were both made (according to the Cathedral Fabric Rolls) by a local follower of Vulcan, under the direc- tion of Bishop Courtenay, A.D. 1484, and were then fixed upon the low spire at that time built over the northern Norman tower of Exeter Cathedral. There the weathercock remained until 1752 (i.e., 268 years), when the spire was removed. Stored securely in the pre- cincts of the cathedral until 1812, it was then iut upon the new spire built in that year over it. Sid well's tower, and remained in situ eighty-eight years i.e., until 2 May, 1900 when that spire in turn was taken down. The venerable tower since then has been renovated, and upon 13 May, 1902, cock and accompanying vane were again elevated, and now occupy the position indicated above. The brave old chanticleer is of hammered
 * opper, made in two plates, soldered together.

It measures 2 ft. 9 in. from the point of the beak to the extreme outside curve of the