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

is no will of Ludlow's in Doctor's Commons.
_Finkle or Finkel._--I should be glad if any of your numerous
correspondents could give me the derivation and meaning of the word
Finkle, or Finkel, as applied to the name of a street. There is a street so
designated in Carlisle, York, Richmond in Yorkshire, Kendal, Sedberg,
Norwich (in 1508 spelt Fenkyl, and in 1702 Fenkel), and, I believe, in
many other of our more ancient cities and towns. In the township of
Gildersome, a village some few miles from Leeds, there is an ancient
way, till lately wholly unbuilt upon, called Finkle Lane; and in London

we have the parish of St. Benedict Finck, though I do not imagine that
the latter is any way synonymous with the word in question. The
appellation of Finkle is, without doubt, a descriptive one; but the
character of the lane so styled in Gildersome seems to negative the idea
that it has any reference to the peculiarity of trade or class of persons
carried on or inhabiting the locality 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,