Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 2.djvu/526

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9> s. 11. DEC. 24,

often called the palsy -wort, or Herba paralysis. In ' The English Physician,' by Dr. Parkins, 1809, p. 99, sub 'Cowslips or Peagles,'* the following occurs :

" Because they strengthen the brain and nerves, and remedy palsies, the Greeks gave them the name Paralysis.

With reference to the second query, Hulme, in his above-mentioned book, vol. i. p. 90, states :

"In some varieties of the primrose the umbel is riised on a stalk, as in the cowslip. This form is sometimes called oxlip ; it is by some writers raised to the dignity of an independent position as a true and distinct species, while others regard it as one of a number of intermediate hybrid forms that may be observed between the primrose and cowslip."

In the 'Encyclopaedic Dictionary,' vol. ii. p. 543, the following different spellings of the word are given : cowslip, cows-lip, cowslap, cowslypp, cowislip, coivslop, cowslope, cotvslek. The Anglo-Saxon name is cusylyppe, cusloppe, or, as Hulme gives it, cuylippe or cushppe. Skeat suggests cu = cow, and slyppe, or sloppe a slop, or piece of dung.

To my certain knowledge the cowslip is called paiyle in Buntingford, Herts, and Bishop's Stortford, also Herts, on the borders of Essex ; but I am told this only applies to the small varieties. C. H. C.

South Hackney.

The yellow bootes

That grows by rivers and by shallow brookes. Rich. Barnfield s ' Affectionate Shepheard,' 1594.

If not a " local name," was this an older one for the cowslip ? Otherwise, what flower is it 1

M. C. L. New York.

' COURSES DE FESTES ET DE BAGUES ' (9 th S, i. 508). I have in my possession a very per- fect copy of the above work, but R. F. G. makes a slight mistake in the title. It is not " Festes " but Testes (heads), and means tilting at heads and rings. The full title is " Courses do Testes et de Bague faites Dar le Roy et Les Princes et Seigneurs de Sa Cour en 1'annee M.DC.LXII." It was published at the Royal Printing Press by the great Perrau It, "In Typo- graphia Regia, Curante Sebastiano Mabre- Cramoisy, ejusdem Typographies Directore, M.DC.LXX.," and contains 104 pages of text and engravings, imperial folio. It is a de- scription of the five mounted and costumed quadrilles that were performed in the Place Vendome under the auspices of Louis XIV., his Majesty leading the first quadrille, magnificently attired as "Emperor of the Romans." Monsieur, the king's brother, was

p. 37i the name Is spelt paigle.
 * In James Donn, 'HortusCantabrigiensis,' 1809,

"King of Persia"; the Prince de Conde "Emperor of the Turks"; the Due d'An- guien (sic), "King of the Indies"; and the Due de Guyse, "King of America." There are forty full-page engravings (one folding double page), an engraved title-page, and numerous " culs de lampe." It is one of the " show-books " of the period. MYRMIDON.

THE 'HISTORICAL ENGLISH DICTIONARY' AND THE DATES OF SHAKSPEARE'S PLAYS (9 th S. ii. 25). Since my last communication I have casually come across the following additional anomalous references :

' 1 Henry IV.' (dated 1596 under ' Back,' and 1597 under 'Afar') is, under ' Eclipse,' dated 1591.

' Henry VIII.' (dated 1603 under ' Abode,' and 1613 under 'A') is, under 'Celebration,' dated c. 1613.

'Tempest' (dated 1600 under 'Cat,' and 1610 under ' Abjure') is, under 'Bite,' dated 1640 !

' Merchant of Venice ' under ' Above ' is dated 1596, under ' Big,' 1598.

' Measure for Measure ' under ' Absolutely ' is dated 1603, under ' Elbow,' 1623.

'Richard III.' under 'Abate' is dated 1594, under ' Enforcement,' 1597.

' Romeo and Juliet' under 'Ado 'is dated 1592, under ' Ell,' 1597.

'Winter's Tale' under 'About' is dated 1611, under ' Elevate,' c. 1611.

There is no edition of any of the above plays corresponding to the dates given, ex- cept the 1597 'Richard III' (Q. 1), the 1597 'Romeo and Juliet' (Q. 1), and the 1623 ' Measure for Measure ' (First Folio).

EDWARD B. HARRIS.

" WILL YE GO AND MARRY, KATIE ? " (9 th S.

ii. 366.) The first verse of the song is given in the Kilmarnock edition of Burns's 'Works,' vol. ii. p. 27, where it is stated that the song has been assigned to Burns by a mistake, and that it was published before the poet was born. See also a note on p. 351.

C. LAWRENCE FORD, B.A.

Am I right in supposing that "wanter" may be the Scotch for wanton ? If so, I find wanton derived by Minsheu from " want one," a man or woman that wants a companion. ALFRED J. KING.

101, Sandmere Road, Clapham.

MADOC AP OWEN GWYNEDD AND THE DIS- COVERY OF AMERICA (9 th S. i. 447). A curious account of Madoc's discovery, the Welsh Indians, and other quaint superstitions con- nected with this subject, may be found in the 'Letters writ by a Turkish Spy,' thirteenth edition, London, 1753, vol. viii. p. 160. I sup- pose they were written circa 1685.

JOHN HOBSON MATTHEWS,

Town Hall, Cardiff,