Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 2.djvu/477

 g* s. ii. DEC. 10,

NOTES AND QUERIES.

469

number of Temple Bar (p. 33), I read, " Like Montaigne, Hervey might truly be said niaiser et fantasttquer on philosophy." I quote this for two reasons : to ask, first, Who passed this depreciatory judgment on Montaigne ? to ask, second, Is fantastiquer a French word? I dp not find the verb either in Chambaud or in Spiers.

K. M. SPENCE, D.D.

" CORONIAL." This word is used throughout the Australian colonies in connexion with a coroner's inquiry. It does not figure in any dictionary that I am aware of not even in Prof. Morris's 'Austral-English.' It seems distinctly journalese. How does the i come in? for one could understand the expression "a coronal inquiry." Is it a variant of "corony + al"? Perhaps some- what akin to the formation of "baronial" from " barony + al." E. W. D.

Toorak, Victoria, Australia.

HOLY WELLS. I shall be glad to know where I can find an account of the rise and decline of the reverence paid in early and mediaeval times to so-called holy wells. C.

"MAILLS." What are the origin and mean- ing of the above term ? In the Forres Gazette the other day the annual accounts were published, and among them "Burgh Maills due to the Crown for one year and charge, 16s. Id." occurred. I suppose it is some feu duty duo to the Crown ; but what ? W. B.

REV. THOMAS PAWSON. He was vicar of Preston - next - Wingham 1560-65, and pro- bably afterwards of St. Mary's in Sandwich 1565-97. Any particulars as to parentage, wife, &c., would be acceptable.

ARTHUR HUSSEY.

Wingham, Kent.

OLD LEGEND. Can anybody put me on the track of ?. quaint old legend French, I think ; at least I saw it many years ago in the Revue des Deux Mondes somewhat to the following effect? A rather fractious personage, being in difficulties, invokes some deity or saint, and implores his aid. The deity or saint relieves him from his straits, and furthermore presents him with a bugle horn, telling him that should he again at any time require help he need only wind a blast on that horn, and he, the deity or saint, will at once come to his support, always provided that the fractious personage will, for the future, live peaceably and shun all wanton broils. Emboldened by this gift and promise, but neglectful of the condition attached to them, the fractious personage very soon

plunges into quarrels with all sorts of people, and, of course, is very soon in uncommonly hot water. He then winds his horn. The deity or saint appears. Our hero claims his aid. But his patron refuses it, reminding him of the violated condition that his protege" should lead a peaceable life ; and he straight- way, very properly, abandons him to his fate.

This is out an imperfect outline of the story ; still I think it is perhaps sufficient to lead to its identification by any person acquainted with the legend. I should be grateful to any one who would supply a correct version of the tale and will state where it occurs. Convinced that it is a locus dassicus, I am a little ashamed to have forgotten where it is to be found. PATRICK MAXWELL.

Bath.

MIDDLESEX. Can lands situate in the county of London now be rightly described as situate in the county of Middlesex ? The Office of Woods continues the old practice in all the lists of properties, county by county, given in its annual report. D.

HEYSHAM ANTIQUITIES. (9 th S. ii. 222, 281, 409.)

MY anonymous opponent has adopted a less offensive tone in his second letter, but I am bound to feel less surprise than I did that he should wish to keep his name and personality a secret. He does not seem to realize that in these days it is no use quoting second - hand authorities and the opinions of nineteenth - century writers upon events which took place in the sixth or seventh century. Let me give a few examples of the pitfalls into which archaeologists wno do this naturally fall.

1. J. B. S. says that I attribute the old British chapel at Heysham to the fifth or sixth century, and he adds (as he thinks con- clusively), " The building can hardly be Romano - British unless erected before A.p. 449." What can he mean ? Heysham is situated within the limits of the ancient Romano-British kingdom of Cumbria, which so far as we know was not invaded by the Northumbrians until the seventh century. My contention is that the chapel might have been built any time between the days of Patrick and the Northumbrian conquest of North Lancashire.

2. J. B. S. says, " As to the alleged minor differences between early Irish chapels and that at Heysham (ashlar, doorway, and