Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 7.djvu/101

 9*s. vii. FEB. 2, 1901.) NOTES AND QUERIES.

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s City of Westminster, lately called Mampden 5, which I hold by lease from the Crown, and ck Court, which I hold of the Collegiate ih of St. Peter, Westminster; all of which

under the Chancel at Croyden, in the County of Cambridge, by the body of my wife Frances Downing. To my sons George Downing, Esq., and

William Downing House in or near King Street,

in the City of Westminster, lately called Hampden House, Peacock Church

are now demolished and rebuilt or rebuilding, and called Downing Street, to Edward, Viscount Mor- peth, and to Sir Henry Pickering, Baronet, my son- in-law, in trust, and also my houses in St. James's Park/

J. H. RIVETT-CARNAC.

JOHN BRIGHT on 'CRANFORD' (9 th S. vi. 445). Precisely the same anecdote is recorded in the Kaleidoscope (a Liverpool publication) of 22 March, 1825, but it was then tacked on to "a Liverpool gentleman long deceased." It is a conceit of which doubtless both Mrs. Gaskell and John Bright would disavow the authorship. RICHARD LAWSON.

Urmston.

"HEAF" (9 th S. vi. 508). The 'H.E.D.' settles the question. There one finds that "heaf" means "accustomed pasture ground (of sheep)." It is a modification of heft, haft. "Haft" means "settled or accustomed pas- ture ground." A connexion is indicated with G. he/ten, to fasten, attach, O.S. heftian, to make fast. When a mallet is hafted it is fitted with a haft, or a haft is fixed in. The Dictionary gives this suggestion as associated with the derivation. Halliwell says " heave " means "a place on a common on which a particular flock of sheep feeds." "Eaves," which, according to the 'E.D.D.,' has the meaning "the edges or skirts of enclosed ground," though similar in sound, is a dif- ferent word, and conveys neither the idea of fixity nor yet association with common land. ARTHUR MAYALL.

"Heaf" is stated in the 'N.E.D.' to be a modification of heft, itself a form of haft, " to establish in a situation or place of residence, to locate, fix ; spec, to accustom (sheep, cattle) to a pasturage." This word is of uncertain origin, possibly connected with O.S. heftian, to make fast ( = G. heften, to fasten, attach). In February we shall hope to see whether Dr. Wright's ' E.D.D.' has any further light on the point. O. O. H.

MEDIAEVAL TITHE BARNS (9 th S. vi. 309, 397, 496). There is a fine tithe barn at Beartstye, a farm standing on the high ground about midway between Lindfield and Ardingly, co. Sussex. It is built of sandstone, and roofed with Horsham slate. The external dimensions are 57ft. Gin. by 24ft. 6 in., all walls 2ft. thick. There are four buttresses on both

north and south sides, with a projection of 2 ft. 4 in. and 2 ft. wide. I should be pleased to forward a photograph of the barn if it would be of any use. W. SHARP.

Eythorne, Kent.

ATWOOD FAMILY (9 th S. vi. 409, 510). I sus- pect that by Little Bury is meant Littlebury, and by Stamford Rivers, Stanford Rivers, a parish in Essex near Chipping Ongar. Many years ago, when a boy, the old place was, as I remember, a dilapidated farmhouse on the banks of the little river Roding, or Roothing, which flows into the Thames at Barking Creek. There were, I think, some fragments of stained glass in the windows. JOHN PICKFORD, M.A.

Newbourne Rectory, Woodbridge.

KILLING PIGS IN THE WANE OF THE MOON (9 th S. vi. 426, 516). In the Republic of Colombia wood for building, timbering mines, making fences, &c., also the vines, the stalks of which are used for binding the latter, are always cut in the wane of the moon, the first three days being allowed to pass before cutting. Wood cut with the moon crescent is said to last only three years, whereas that cut while it is in the wane lasts seven, the trees in the waxing of the moon being full of sap. Trees are always pruned in the wane ; also human hair is cut at the same time lest it should fall off.

IBAGUE.

For many instances of this and kindred superstitions see Frazer, 'Golden Bough,' second edition, ii. 155 seqq. W. CROOKE.

Langton House, Charlton Kings.

SIR JAMES DOUGLAS (9 th S. vii. 28). The good Sir James of Douglas undoubtedly was born in wedlock, son of Sir William "le Hardi" and Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander the Steward, grandfather of Walter the Steward, who married Marjory, daughter of Robert I. of Scotland, and mother of Robert II., her only child. The name of Sir James's wife is unknown, though be left a legitimate son William, who suc- ceeded him ; but his natural son, Archibald " the Grim," became far better known than William. He was Lord of Galloway, and in 1389, although illegitimate, became third Earl of Douglas in succession to Earl James, who fell at Otterburn. It is not clear how hie was allowed to assume the earldom. To the estates he succeeded under the entail effected upon the resignation of Hugh Douglas the Dull (a priest) in 1342. His succession was disputed by Sir Malcolm Drummond, husband of Sir James's sister