Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 4.djvu/163

 IV. SEPT. 23, '99.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 247 and that a tax of 10s. to 14s. on such a budget as mine must have a restrictive effect; so that it would be to the interests of correspondents on both sides if genealogical MSS. could be included among such papers as are allowed to pass at the lower rate. We hear much of the desire for an Anglo-American rapprochement. Would not a reduction in the postal charges for all letters above a certain weight—or better still the establishment of a parcel post (if the duty difficulties could be over- come)—be a long step in the right direction ? ETHEL LEGA-WEEKES. Quotes* WE must request correspondents desiring infor- mation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that the answers may be addressed to them direct. " INDISPENSABLE."—In the' Correspondence of C. Kirkpatrick Sharpe' (1888), i. 265,1 find, anno 1806, •" the rows of pretty peeresses who sat [during Lord Melville's trial] eating sandwiches from silk indispensables." What were these receptacles 1 Does the term occur elsewhere 1 J. A. H. MURRAY. Oxford. "BARD WIF," &c. — The following entries occur in the accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, 1500-5, which are about to be published as one of the Govern- ment Record Series. Considerable research has failed to find satisfactory definitions of the words in italics, and I should be much obliged if any of your correspondents could throw light on them. 1. "To the bard wif in the Canonegait xiiii *." Can this be a singing woman ? James IV. was devoted to music, and the accounts contain many entries of gratuities to minstrels and singers. 2. " For ane burd of belt to hir, of gold xv s." This is in connexion with a lady's wardrobe expenses. 3. "To the IiiKlesman that eit the hors iiii Ib. iiii s." The entry is unfortunately defective in the original, and I can form no idea as to what is meant. 4. "For three elne fyne Mars blak to be hose v Ib. viii s." Elsewhere called March black ; evidently the name of some cloth or other fabric. Where was it manufactured ? 6. " To John Auchlek goldsmith iiii salutis, ane ridar & vi Scottis crownis to mak ringis and hornis for cardis for the King viii Ib. v s." The salutis were French gold coins worth about 15s. 6d., and the ridar was a Scottish coin of the value of 22s. or 23s. The coins were evidently intended to be melted down in order to make the " ringis and hornis." Were these any kind of markers for card games 1 The king was a great card-player; but it may be noted that when cards are mentioned in the accounts they are always spelt "cartis," not "cardis." 6. "For lynyn and packthread to the tentouris of it iii s." " It" refers to a chasuble of cloth of gold. J. BALFOUR PAUL. EDWARD HOWARD, NINTH DUKE OF NOR- FOLK.—Can any reader of 'N. <fc Q.' inform me whether Edward Howard, prior to in- heriting the dukedom in 1730, lived in Lambeth in 1722 ; also where he was staying in November, 1755 ? J. SCHWARTZ. " GROUT."—According to Leigh's ' Cheshire Glossary' this word is used in the popular saying "Grout afore brass, for me !" What would be the exact equivalent of this saying in the literary language ? A. L. MAYHEW. Oxford. " THE GROPSING OF THE EVENING."—In the Records of the Wiltshire Quarter Sessions, Mich., 1606, quoted in the Wilts Arch. Mag., xxii. 227,1 find the following : " Both came unto the sayd Tryvatts howse in the gropsing of the yevening." I should be glad to get another quotation for this phrase. A. L. MAYHEW. Oxford. COLLECTION OF BIBLICAL QUOTATIONS.—Can any of your readers tell me of a book where happy Biblical quotations, whether historical or not, may be found ? I only know the few specimens which are given in the ' Book of Humour,' and some of the most famous and trite which I happened to read scattered in different works or to learn from English friends. I do not mean reference books con- taining Biblical extracts, but collections of bons mots—repartees as you call them—which are founded on a Biblical text. PAOLO BELLEZZA. Circolo Filologico, Milan. HERRIES.—Can any one inform me where I can find accounts or the various families of Herries? I particularly wish to trace the family of Sir Robert Herries, Kt., the uncle (and not, as Stoddart gives in his 'Scottish Arms,' the father) of the Right Hon. J. C. Herries, sometime Chancellor of the Ex- chequer. J. D.-S. SIR EDMUND WRIGHT, LORD MAYOR OF LONDON, 1640-1. — Is it known whom he married, when he died or where he was