Notes and Queries, Number 24, April 13, 1850 | Page 9

distinguished by this title.
W.M.
Cowgill, March 13. 1850.
_Coxcombs vanquish Berkeley, &c._--In Lewis's Biography of Philosophy (vol. iv. p. 7.) occurs the following quotation:--
"And coxcombs vanquish Berkeley with a grin."
Who is the author of this line? for I cannot find it in Pope, to whom a note refers it.
R.F. Johnson.
_Derivation of Sterling._--What is the derivation of _Sterling_? Some authors say from "Easterling," a race of German or Dutch traders; but is it not more likely from "steer," a bull, or ox, viz. a coin originally stamped with a figure of that animal? Of this, and parallel cases, we have many instances among the ancients. I find also, that, in a decree issued in the time of Richard I., the word is used, and explained by "peny" as a synonym. Now peny or penny is clearly from pecunia, and that from pecus, so that we have the two words brought side by side, one through the Latin, and the other through the Saxon language.
R.F. Johnson.
_Hanging out the Broom._--In some parts of England a singular custom prevails. When a married woman leaves home for a few days, the husband hangs a broom or besom from the window. When, how, and where did this originate, and what does it signify?
R.F. Johnson.
_Trunck Breeches.--Barba Longa.--Mercenary Preacher._--In reading Smith's Obituary, edited by Sir H. Ellis for the Camden Society, I find the following entries:--
"1640. May 29th, old M'r Grice, in Aldersgate S't, who wore trunck breeches, died."
"1646. Oc'r 1. William Young, Chandler, within Aldersgate, a discreet Juryman, and Barba Longa, died."
"Fe'r 21., old M'r Lewis, the Mercenary Preacher, buried."
Can any of your correspondents explain the meaning of "Trunck Breeches," "Barba Longa," and "_Mercenary Preacher_?"
X.Y.Z.
Suffolk, March 4.
_Apposition._--Can any one give me a little information upon the following passage?--
"Quin age, te incolumi potius (potes omnia quando, Nec tibi nequiequam pater est qui sidera torquet) Perficias quodcunque tibi nunc instat agendum."
_Hieronym. Vid. Christ._ lib. i. 67.
I want to know in what case te incolumi is; and, if in the ablative absolute, can any one bring a parallel construction from the writers of the Augustan age, where the law of apposition appears to be so far violated?
A.W.
_Pamphlets respecting Ireland._--"J." wishes to be informed where copies may be found of the following pamphlets, described in Ware's Irish Writers, under the head "Colonel Richard Laurence," and "Vincent Gookin, Esq.," son of Sir Vincent Gookin, who, in the year 1634, published "a bitter invective, by way of letter, against the nation." Vincent Gookin's pamphlet is dated London, 1655, 4to. Any particulars relative to his family and descendants will oblige.
The title of Col. R. Laurence's book is,--
"The interest of Ireland in the first Transplantation stated; wherein it set forth the benefit of the Irish Transplantation: intended as an Answer to the scandalous seditious Pamphlet, entitled 'The Great Case of Transplantation Discussed.' London, 1655."
The author of the pamphlet was Vincent Gookin, Esq., Surveyor-General of Ireland. He did not, at first, put his name to it; but when Laurence's answer appeared, he then owned himself as the author of it, and published a pamphlet under this title:--
"The Author and Case of Transplanting the Irish into Connaught Vindicated from the unjust Aspersion of Colonel Richard Laurence and Vincent Gookin, Esq. London, 1655."
_Portrait of Sir John Poley._--Perhaps some of your numerous correspondents can answer whether the portrait of Sir John Poley in Bexstead Hall, alluded to No. 14. p. 214., has been engraved.
J.
February 5.
"_Tace is Latin for a candle._"--Whence is this expression derived, and what is its meaning? I met with it, many years ago, in a story-book, and, more lately, in one of the Waverley Novels, in which particular one I do not just now recollect. It seems to be used as an adage, coupled with an admonition to observe silence or secrecy.
W.A.F.
_Poins and Bardolph._--Can any of your correspondents skilled in Shakspearian lore inform me whence Shakspeare took the names Poins and Bardolph for the followers of Prince Hal and Falstaff?
C.W.S.
_Flemish Work on the Order of St. Francis._--Can any of your correspondents tell me any thing about, or enable me to procure a copy of, a book on the order of St. Francis, named, _Den Wijngaert van Sinte Franciscus va Schoonte Historien Legenden, &c._ A folio of 424 leaves, beautifully printed. The last page has,--
"Gheprent Thantwerpen binnen die Camer poorte Int huys va delft bi mi, Hendrich Eckert van Homberch. Int iaer ons heeren M.CCCCC. efi XVIII. op den XII. dach va December."
The only copy I ever saw of it, which belonged to a friend of mine, had the following note on a fly-leaf in an old and scarcely legible hand:--
"Raer boeck ende s��er curieus als gebouwt synde op de Wijsen voor meesten deel op de fondamenten van den fameus ende extra raer boeck genoempt _Conformitatis Vita S. Francisci cum Vit�� Jesu Christi_, de welch in dese diehwils grateert