Notes and Queries, Number 43, August 24, 1850 | Page 2

answer, which might do as well (if the record be correct) for the present publication.
"Q. We read in our public papers of the Pope's Bull and the Pope's Brief; pray, Gentlemen, what is the difference between them?
"A. They differ much in the same manner as the Great Seal and Privy Seal do here in England. The Bull being of the highest authority where the papal power extends; the Brief is of less authority. The Bull has a leaden seal upon silk affixed to the foot of the instrument, as the wax under the Great Seal is to our letters patent. The Brief has sub annulo piscatoris upon the side."
Query. Is this answer complete and correct?
Now for another specimen:
"Q. Wise Oracle show, A good reason why, When from tavern we _go_, You're welcome they cry.
"A. The reason is plain, 'Cause doubtful to know, Till seeing their gain, If you came well or no."
The following is an example of unanswerable refutation. To show why a man has not one rib less than a woman, it is stated that imperfections are not hereditary; as in the case of
"One Mr. L----, an honest sailor not far from Stepney, who has but one arm, and who cannot walk himself without the assistance of a wooden leg, and yet has a son, born some years after the amputation of is own limbs, whom he has bred both a fiddler and a dancing master."
One more, not for the wretched play upon words, but because it may make a new Query,--What does it all mean?
"Q. Gentlemen, in the preamble to the late Earl of Oxford's patent, I observed, 'And whom they have congratulated upon his escape from the rage of a flagitious parricide.' I desire to know by whom, at what time, and in what manner, the said parricide was to have been committed.
"A. Was to have been! He actually was committed--to Newgate."
So much for some of the "NOTES AND QUEERIES" (as the word ought to be spelt) of a century ago.
M.
* * * * *
COLLAR OF SS.
"All the ensigns and marks of honour appertaining to persons of highest distinction, are equestrian."--Sabnasins.
The interest which attaches to this very ancient and distinguished ensign of chivalrous honour will excuse the introduction into your pages of a fuller dissertation upon the subject than what appears in "NOTES AND QUERIES," Nos. 39. and 41., in answer to the several questions put by your correspondents B. and [Greek: Ph].
After referring to the papers on the Collar of SS., and other collars of livery, published a few years ago in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, and his intention to arrange them, and other additional collections on the same subject, in the shape of a small volume, MR. J.G. NICHOLS proceeds to say:
"As a direct answer to B.'s question, 'Is there any list of persons who were honoured with that badge, (viz., the Collar of SS.?)', I may reply, No. Persons were not, in fact, 'honoured with the badge,' in the sense that persons are now decorated with stars, crosses, or medals; but the livery collar was assumed by parties holding a certain position. So far as can be ascertained, these were either knights attached to the royal household or service, who wore gold or gilt collars, or esquires in the like position who wore silver collars."
From the statute for the regulation of apparel, passed in the 2nd year of the reign of Henry IV., it is ordained that--
"All the sons of the king, dukes, earls, barons, and baronettes, might use the livery of our Lord the King of his collar as well in his absence as in his presence; and that all other knights and esquires should use it only in the presence of the king and not in his absence."
The royal assent to this bill was accompanied with further regulations, among which were:
"That the dukes, earls, barons, and baronettes of the realm might use the said livery in their counties and elsewhere; and that knights and esquires might use the said livery in going from the hostel of the king and returning, to it, always provided that they did not use it in the counties and countries in which they resided or sojourned."
That the golden Collar of SS. was the undoubted badge or mark of a knight (_chevalier, eques auratus seu ordo equestris_, for these words respectively indicate the same grade or dignity of knighthood) all our ancient heraldic writers allow. But, were it otherwise, the extract from the statute above given shows that MR. NICHOLS is incorrect in stating, 1st. That there is no list of persons who were honoured with the collar of SS.; 2nd. That persons were not honoured with the badge, in the sense that persons are now decorated with stars, crosses, &c.; 3rd. That the collar was _assumed_; and, 4th.