Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 6.djvu/23

 vi. JCLY 7,1900.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 17 other parts of this Nation for a. long Considerable space of time before that dreadfull visitation came upon us, and continued still raging in the Northern and other parts of this Nation for a long considerable apace of time, after that it had pleased Almighty God to withdraw his just judgment from us; Bui before this said Distemper amongst the Hornec Cattle and that unnatural Rebellion which broke out in Scotland, there appeared a Comet, or blazing star in shape like a Rod, and was seen every evening Westwardly, and in the Morning East- wardly for a considerable space of time whenas the air was clear. " This was written by me Edward Watson Parish Clark with design to let generations that come after know the wonderfull works ft power of Almighty (Jod, which he hath done in this our time. "In this same year 1754 happened another Mor tallity amongst the Horned Cattle in the Town of Hibaldstowe, which began before Michaelmas, whereof died, as far as I could get account, upwards of forty, and many of them with young. " N.B. Joseph Bacon of the Parish of Bonby had a Cow delivered of 4 Calves in the furend of the Month of May 1765, as by the old style; two of them of the she kind, and two of the he kind, but all died, and the Cow also. This I set down that it might be known hereafter the won- derfull works of Almighty God, his wisdom and power above the cai>asity of Men or Angels to express." EDWARD PEACOCK. THE NATIONAL FLAG (9th S. v. 414, 440, 457, 478 ; and Supplement, 30 June).—In MR. ST. JOHN HOPE'S interesting note it is stated that an Order in Council of so recent a date as 7 Aug., 1899, provides for the Union Flag, with certain additions, being used by Her Majesty's Diplomatic Servants, Ministers Plenipoten- tiary, and Charges d'Affaires. I am sure that it would be universally appreciated if Her Majesty would celebrate this last year of the century by granting an order authorizing the Union Flag pure and simple to be used by all private persons as the National Flag. N. S. S. Can any one say why there is not a flag corresponding to the Red and Blue Ensigns, •with a white field, distinct from the so-calleo White Ensign of to-day, which is really St. George's Ensign, i.e., it is surcharged with a St. George's cross ? Why have we not a real White Ensign, i.e, without the St. George's cross ? Has such a flag ever been used, and for what ? W. H. ST. JOHN HOPE. I should like to make just a few remarks more upon this subject, merely by way of drawing attention to some points which still remain obscure. The flag so well depicted in the late sup- plement seems to be generally accepted. But it appears to be the result of a gradual evolution, as shown by the fact that the description has to be amended in order to suit it. It does not answer to the original official description, which has never been officially altered. The words "It is obvious that the saltire is actually composed of a fitnbriated St. Patrick's cross dimidiated with the cross of St. Andrewper saltire and counterchanged " are only true, in my belief, as long as we employ the word is. If for is we substitute wan much doubt arises. For, whereas the fimbriated St. Patrick's cross is thus made equal in breadth to the St. Andrew's cross, the original wording clearly implies that the wrafimbriated St. Patrick's cross was of that breadth. And it is worth saying that I have quite recently seen flags made on that prin- ciple, so that this old idea is not even yet extinct. Any one who will take the trouble to refer to the woodcut in Boutell's 'Heraldry,' to which I have referred already, will at once understand what has taken place. The breadth of the St. Patrick's cross has been diminished, in order to prevent what I have ventured to call the crooked appearance of the older pattern ; and the result is, artistic- ally, more pleasing. But it ought to be remembered that specimens of the older arrangement still survive, and that no official recognition of any change has yet been made except in practice. We still want an amended official description which shall put the exact construction of the flag past all 'mil H ; and to produce this would by no means be below the dignity of Parliament. WALTER W. SKEAT. MONASTERY AT BIARRITZ (9th S. v. 495).— [ have never heard of any such monastery icar Biarritz. There is a Bernardine convent ror silent women in the forest near Bayonne —unique. Perhaps FORGETFUL was thinking of this. M*A. H. PLUTO IN SHAKESPEARE AS GOD OP WEALTH 9th S. iv. 265, 402, 501).—The last two re- 'erences supply instances (only too numerous) of a regrettable custom, indulged in by con- tributors to' N. it Q.,'of inserting interesting natter under alien headings. Thus, to deal only with the excellent note of MR. F. P. VlARCHANT at the second reference. I sub- mit that that communication would find a more fitting place either in the 'Danteiana' column or under the above title with " Dante " substituted for "Shakespeare." Its present ocation, albeit " corroborative evidence," icrpetuates an ever-recurrent difficulty which ,he Index is powerless to remove. I admit, lowever, the difficulty of always apportion-