Notes and Queries, Number 54, November 9, 1850 | Page 4

mentioned
at pages 232. and 580. of the FOURTH volume of Fox, but in a way
which throws no light on the subject. The verse which I have quoted
seems as if there was some relic which was supposed to cure the ague,
and by which the juggle was carried on. Now another passage in this
same fifth volume, p. 468., leads me to believe that this relic really was,
and therefore the word 'bote' simply means, a boot. In this passage we
learn, that one of the causes of Robert Testwood's troyble was his
ridiculing the relics which were to be distributed to be borne by various
persons in a procession upon a relic Sunday. St. George's dagger
having been given to one Master Hake, Testwood said to Dr.

Clifton,--'Sir, Master Hake hath St. George's dagger. Now if he had his
horse, and St. Martin's cloak, and Master John Shorne's boots, with
King Harry's spurs and his hat, he might ride when he list.'"
That there is some legend connected with Master John Shorne and "his
bote, whereunto they do say he conveyd the devill," is evident from
{388} a fact we learn from the Proceedings of the Archæological
Institute, namely, that at the meeting on the 5th Nov. 1847, the Rev.
James Bulwer, of Aylsham, Norfolk, sent a series of drawings
exhibiting the curious painted decorations of the rood screen in
Cawston Church, Norfolk, amongst which appears the singular saintly
personage bearing a boot, from which issues a demon. An inscription
beneath the figures gives the name "Magister Johannes Schorn." It is
much to be regretted that fuller details of this painting have not been
preserved in the Journal of the Institute.
The earliest mention of Master John Schorne is in the indenture for
roofing St. George's Chapel at Windsor, dated 5th June, 21 Henry VII.
(1506), printed in the Reliquiæ Antiquæ, vol. ii. p. 115., where it is
covenanted
"That the creastes, corses, beastes, above on the outsides of Maister
John Shorne's Chappell, bee done and wrought according to the other
creastes, and comprised within the said bargayne."
WILLIAM J. THOMS.
* * * * *
CORRIGENDA OF PRINTER'S ERRORS.
In my note on Conjectural Emendation (Vol. ii., p. 322.), your printer,
in general so very correct, has by a fortunate accident strengthened my
argument, by adding one letter, and taking away another. Should my
note be in existence, you will find that I wrote distinctly and correctly
Mr. Field's prænomen Barron, and not Baron. And I have too much
respect for my old favourite, honest George Wither, to have written
Withers, a misnomer never used but by his adversaries, who certainly

did speak of him as "one Withers." I should not have thought it
necessary to notice these insignificant errata, but for the purpose of
showing Printer's errors do and will occur, and that Shakspeare's text
may often be amended by their correction. You will recollect honest
George's punning inscription round his juvenile portrait:
"I GROW AND WITHER BOTH TOGETHER."
PERIERGUS BIBLIOPHILUS.
* * * * *
FOLK LORE OF WALES.
No. 3. Meddygon Myddvai.--On the heights of the Black Mountains, in
Caermarthenshire, lies a dark-watered lake, known by the name of Lyn
y Van Vach. As might be predicated, from the wild grandeur of its
situation, as well as from the ever-changing hues which it takes from
the mountain shadows, many a superstition--gloomy or beautiful--is
connected with its history. Amongst these may be reckoned the legend
of the Meddygon Myddvai or "surgeons of Myddvai." Tradition affirms
that "once upon a time" a man who dwelt in the parish of Myddvai led
his lambs to graze on the borders of this lake; a proceeding which he
was induced to repeat in consequence of his visits being celebrated by
the appearance of three most beautiful nymphs, who, rising from the
waters of the lake, frequently came on shore, and wandered about
amongst his flock. On his endeavouring, however, to catch or retain
these nymphs, they fled to the lake and sank into its depths, singing--
"Cras dy fara, Anhawdd ein dala!"
which may be rendered [eater of] "hard baked bread, it is difficult to
retain us!" Difficulties, however, but increased the determination of the
shepherd; and day after day he watched beside the haunted lake, until at
length his perseverance was rewarded by the discovery of a substance
resembling unbaked bread, which floated on the water: this he fished
up and ate, and on the following day he succeeded in capturing the
nymphs: on which he requested one of them to become his wife; to this

she consented, on condition that he should be able to distinguish her
from her sisters on the following day. This was no easy task, as the
nymphs bore the most striking resemblance to each