Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 6.djvu/336

 278 NOTES AND QUERIES. ur-s.v1.o<>».e,1»oo. HOOPER quotes the word “ paradise ” is based 1§>on an article in the Quarterly Review, o. 383, for July, on ‘ New Creatures for Old Countries.’ In that article the word “para- dise” is frequently used in the same sense as in the Dai y News paragraph cited by your correspondent. But the use of the word in this sense is not, I think, novel. According to Todd’s ‘J ohnson’ (s. v.), “Hapd8ew-os significat, 1, hortum apud Xenophontem, vel vivarium et viridarium ” ; according to Liddell and Scott, -:rapc£8ao-os means a park or pleasure ground. J. A. J. HOUSDEN. Canonbury. AGE or ENTRY AT INNs or COURT (9*‘* S. vi. 107, 195).-I thank W. I. R. V. for his answer to my query. In pity to my ignorance, will he tell me for what pur se, except the study of law could young Isis be entered at an Inn of Court? FRANCESCA. [A certain social status is supposed to be con- ferred. Manly persons are called to the Bar with a view to quali ylthemselves for the duties of Justices of the Peace t ev may be called upon to discharge] BIELLARD FAMILY (9"= S. vi. 210).-The Rev. William Mellard was of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, B.A. 1820, M.A. 1823. He was ordained deacon in 1821 and riest in 1822, both by the Bishop of Lincdln. He was inducted to the vicariate of Caddington near Luton, Bedfordshire, in the diocese of Ifly, in 1829, and occupied the benefice more than thirtynyears. In 1870 there was a Mr. Samuel Mella, a cabinet maker, living at Hulme, Manchester. Cass. F. FoRsHAw, LL.D. Bradford. “AIAGERFUL” (9*“ S. vi. 209).-I suppose it means “spiteful,” full of mal gre, or s ite. See magre in my glossary to Barbour, where It occurs as a substantive. WALTER W. SKEAT. This is probably a corruption of the uite common word “majorful ’- ronounced in Fifeshire “mawjorfu”’-which means over- bearing, domineering, or unscrupulously self- assertive. Cp. the expression in ‘Waverley,’ chap. _lx1v.. “ majoring and looking about sae like his honour.” It is not an uncommon thing to find a resolute and self-a pointed leader described as “a mawjorfu’ body” ; and no one probably would have any difliculty about the meaning of such an epithet, or in understanding the military rank of an official called “a mawjor.” But “magerful” looks sufficiently problematic to be suggestive of a fresh invention. If it is only a fantastic divergence in orthography, an appeal should be made to Its author to have it rectified. It is to be hoped that lexicographers will not think of giving serious recognition te all the so-called modern Scotch words that attract their notice. The result of such action would be a sadly muddled vocabulary. Tuonuls BAYNE. TWYFORD YEW TREE (9“‘ S. vi. 29, 154, 218). -MR. GOMAN asks whether the yew is not an appropriate emblem of eternity. It has always been a symbol of immortality-at least, since such Ideas were first entertained by man. Referring to the age of yew trees, I should like to ask whether t e date of those round the churchyard of Caerhun has been estimated by any competent authority. They are evident y of an immense age, far sur- passing that of any others with which I am acquainted. C. C. B. Your contributor is in error in stating that the English archers were armed wit the crossbow at Agincourt. It was the longbow, not the crossbow, that contributed so much to the victories of Cree, Poictiers, and Agin- court. The crossbow droes not seem to have been used by the English in warfare. ALBERT GOUGH. Holywood, co. Down. BRICK DATED 1393 (9"‘ S. iv. 46, 93, 156, 214, 275, 353).-In remarking on the brick dated 1393 discovered by Mr. Rider Haggard I made allusion to a tablet at West Wyke, South Tawten, Devon, carved, as I then believed, with the date 1383; but a second visit to the spot has imposed on me the mortifiing duty of recantation, for I find that w at I too to be a straight top or head of a figure 3, and sketched accordingly, was only simulated by an effect of light and shade on the lichen, and that, in act, the figure corresponds to a modern 5, except that it has no to (or horizontal return) at alh and is considlerably shorter than the 1 an the 8. The same numeral occurs twice in the date, which must therefore read 1585. ETHEL LEGA-WEEKEs. BERNER8 FAMILY (9°'° S. vi. 231%-A. H. will find full information regarding t e manor of Iseldon-Berners in that most valuable work ‘Yseldonz a Perambulation of Isling- ton.’ by Thomas Edlyne Tomlins, 1858. At p. 98 there is a pe igee of the Berners amilly, corrected from ugmdale and Chauncy. Brie y, it may be stated t at the manor was originally known as Iseldon, and that the site was derived as a gift or infeudation from the Bishop of London in right of his cathe- dral church of St. Paul, with the concurrence l (it may be assumed) of the dean and chapter,