Notes and Queries, Number 18, March 2, 1850

With reference to the query regarding the word Pokership (No. 12. p. 185.), I would observe, that the word is correctly copied from the grant, and that it was so spelt in all the previous grants that I have been able to refer to. As to the meaning of the word, I am of the opinion that it is intended to express the office of keeping the hogs in the forest, i.e. Porcarius. Pokership was probably spelt in early times Pawkership, from Pawn, I apprehend; subsequently it was either spelt or pronounced Paukership or Pokership. In corroboration of this view, I would mention, that on referring to the Pipe Roll, 6 John, county of Hereford, the following will be found:—"Hubert de Burgo, Et i libæ const. Parcario de heford, xxxs. vd." If, however, Parkership be deemed the more correct reading, still it does not of necessity apply to the custody of a park; it might have denoted the pound-keeper, for, in matters relating to manors, parcus means a pound.

With respect to the query about Gib Cat, you will find the subject treated on largely in the Etymologicon—I may say, exhausted.

By the bye, there can be no doubt that Emerod means Emerald; formerly Emerald would be spelt Emeraud, and the transition is natural to Emerode—Emerod. With regard to the supposed size being an objection to this reading, it will be found that anciently the matrix of the Emerald, which is tinged green, went by the name of the more valuable jewel.

    T.R.F.

Spring Gardens, Feb. 1850.

Golden Frog (No. 14. p. 214.).—Sir John Poley's frog may have been a device alluding to his name; I imagine that Poley is an appelative of frogs. I find in Halliwell's Dict. of Archaic Words, "Pollywig," and in Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary, "Powlick," both meaning tadpole, and both diminutive forms; and Rowley Poley is closely (though not very logically) connected with the frog who would a-wooing go. The word has probably the same root as poole, puddle, &c.

    R.R.

Madoc.—In addition to what is stated (No. 4. p. 56.) on this subject, may be noted, that in the MS. Add. 14,957. British Museum, fol. 149., is a letter from Dr. David Samwell to the Gwyneddigion Society, dated 23rd March, 1791, in which he states, that the result of an interview, held by himself and William Owen with General Bowles, "places the existence of a race of Welsh Indians beyond all matter of doubt." This race is identified with Padongas on the Missouri, who are said to be of a different complexion from the other Indian races, and to have books, which they were not able to read. Is this information to be depended on or not?

    F.M.

MSS. of Sir Roger Twysden (No. 5. p. 76.).—Twysden's MSS. were purchased by Sir Thomas Sebright, in or before the year 1715, and in the Sebright sale at Leigh and Sotheby's, in 1807, appear to be two of the MSS. inquired after by the Rev. L.B. Larking, namely, Lot 1224., "Vita et Epistolæ Sancti Thomæ, Archiepiscopi Cant." (purchased by Heber, and, at his sale in 1836, resold [Lot 323.] to Sir Thomas Phillipps), and Lot 1225., "Epistolæ Beati Anselmi, Archieposcopi Cant.", purchased by Dardis; but what became of it afterwards I know not.

    F.M.

Royal Genealogies (No. 6. p. 92.).—The inquirer will find, probably, what he requires, in a work by J.F. Dambergen, entitled, "Sechzig genaealogische auch chronologische und statistische Tabellen, zu Fürstentafel und Fürstenbuch der Europäischen Staatengeschichte," fol. Regensburg, 1831, in which the descents are brought down to a recent period.

    F.M.

Astle's MSS. (No. 15. p. 230.).—After the death of Astle, in 1803, his collection of MSS. was purchased, pursuant to his will, for the sum of 500l., by the Marquess of Buckingham, and they remained at Stowe till the spring of last year, when they passed, with the rest of that noble collection, into the hands of the Earl of Ashburnham, for the sum of 8000l.;—a loss to the public much to be regretted.

    F.M.

Dr. Hugh Todd's MSS. (No. 16. p. 246.).—The first of the five MSS. mentioned by Mr. Walbran, namely, the Chartulary of Fountains Abbey, is at present in University College, Oxford, and perhaps some of the other MSS. may be there also. A catalogue of the MSS. of this College has been printed, compiled by the Rev. H.O. Coxe, of the Bodleian Library; but I have not been able to consult a copy of it in London.

    F.M.

Sir William Ryder (No. 12. p. 186.),—"H.F." is informed that Sir William Ryder, Lord Mayor of London in 1660, lived at Bethnal Green, received the honour of knighthood, 12th March, 1660 or 1661; died 30th August, 1669; and was buried 9th September following at St. Andrew Undershaft, London. He had two sons, one of whom was Thomas Ryder, who was an equerry to King James II., and lord of the manor of Bilsington, in Kent. He performed some service at the coronation of Queen Anne; and his son, Sir Barnham Ryder, was knighted at the coronation of her successor. The other son of Sir William Ryder was William Ryder, gentleman. Sir William Ryder had five daughters:—1. Elizabeth, who married Richard, son of Sir Thomas Midleton, of Chirk Castle in Denbighshire, knight. 2. Priscilla, the wife of Richard Baylie, son of Dr. Baylie, Dean of Sarum. 3. Mary. 4. Anne. 5. Martha.—Harl. MSS. 5801, 5802.

    F.E.

Scole Inn.—In answer to the query (No. 16. p. 245.) respecting the Sign and House at Scole Inn, I beg to refer to vol. ii. p. 142., of the History of Norfolk, published by Crouse and Booth of Norwich, in 1781, in 10 vols. 8vo.

I beg to state that I have impressions of two large prints, one of the "House," and the other of the "Sign." They were published in 1740.—"Joshua Kirby," del., "John Fossey," sculpt.

I have also a smaller print of the "Sign" taken from the opposite side—from the larger one—apparently by the same parties, but the names of the drawer and engraver are cut off.

I think the Sign was not take down till after 1795, as I have a recollection of having passed under it when a boy, in going from Norwich to Ipswich.

The sign was large and handsome, and extended across the road.

In Kirby's Print, it is stated to have cost Mr. James Peck, who was a merchant at Norwich, 1057l.

The prints are not very scarce, and may be got at many of the printsellers in London.

    J.B.

About twenty years ago I have seen hanging up on the wall of the principal entry of this inn, a print of its original front, comprising the various figure, coats of arms, &c. which adorned it: in this account the founder Peck was called a citizen of Norwich, and the traveller was puzzled by this piece of information. "It is called Scole Inn, because it is at about the same distance from Norwich, Ipswich, and Bury."

    M. Prendergast.

7. Serjeant's Inn. Fleet Street, Feb. 19. 1850.

Killigrew Family and Scole Inn Sign (No. 15. p. 231.).—Doubtless there are pedigrees of the Killigrew family in the Visitations of Cornwall, which would answer Mr. Lower's questions. Many notices of them also occur in Gilbert's History of Cornwall, and Wood's Athenæ Oxon., Bliss. ed., and both those works have good indexes.

There is a folded engraving of Scole Inn Sign (No. 16. p. 245.) in Armstrong's History of Norfolk, vol. ii. p. 144., but I never could learn when or why the sign was removed. The couchant stag in the centre was the Cornwallis crest.

    Braybrooke.

Audley End.

Pavoise of the Black Prince (No. 12. p. 183).—It is very probably that the Pavoise which "Bolton" mentions as hanging in his time at the tomb of Edward the Black Prince, was no part of the original collection.

"A quilted coat-armour, with half-sleeves tabard fashion," reads oddly as part of this prince's costume; but we know that sometimes "Coming events cast their shadows before."

    T.W.

Welsh Ambassador.—The following use of the word "Welsh" in metaphor, may perhaps serve as a clue to, or illustration of, G.'s query (No. 15. p. 230.):

Andrew. "In tough Welsh parsley, which in our vulgar tongue, is Strong hempen altars."—Beaumont and Fletcher, Elder Brother, Act. 1. ad fin.

    Petit André

Pleissis-les-Tours, Fevrier, 1850.

Phoenix—by Lactantius.—"Seleucus" is informed, in answer to his query in No. 13. p. 203., that he will find the Latin poem of the Phoenix, in hexameters and pentameters, in that scarce little volume, edited by Pithaeus, and published at Paris in 1590 (see Brunet), Epigrammata et Poematia Vetera, &c. (of which I am happy to say I possess a most beautiful copy), where it is headed "Phoenix, Incerti Auctoris;" and again at the end of the edition of Claudian by P. Burmann Secundus Amsterdam, 1760), with the following title,—Lactantia Elegia, de Phoenice; vulgo Claudiano ad scripta, &c., where also another correspondent, "R.G." (in No. 15. p. 235.), will find much information as to who was the author of the poem.

    C.J.C.

Feb. 9. 1850.

Catsup (no. 8. p. 125.).—"Catsup" is to be found thus spelt in Todd's Johnson's Dictionary (London, 1818). He describes it as a kind of Indian pickles imitated by pickled mushrooms; and quotes these two lines of Swift:

"And for our home-bred British cheer,
Botargo, catsup, and cavier."

An eminnet Sanscrit scholar informs me that "kuck-hup" is the Hindostanee word for Turtle; it is to be met in the Vocabulary attached to Gilchrist's East Indian Guide (8vo. London, 1820). May not the name of the sauce take its origin from the use of it in preparing the turtle for the table? In the Cuisinier Royal, par Viart, p. 75., it is mentioned among the "petites sauces," as ket-chop, "ou Soyac;" and the receipt for making it ends with "servez le avec le poisson." (Published at Paris, 1840.)

    C.I.R.

The Buckingham Motto (No. 9. p. 138., and No. 16. p. 252.).—On examining the original manuscript the true reading of this motto appears to me to be,

Sovente me sovene,