Notes and Queries | Page 8

is printed there, "Ab inferiori ad suis superius confuse distribue." Foxe, however, has "suum" instead of "suis."
H.W.
_Cromlech._--I shall feel much obliged if any of your readers will kindly refer me to any authority for the use of the word Cromlech, prior to the sixteenth century, whether in the Welsh or English language.
JAS. H. TODD.
Trin. Coll. Dublin, Jan. 31, 1850.
_Meaning of "Grummett."_--A Constant Reader is desirous of addressing such of your correspondents as are well versed in maritime history,--Mr. Bolton Corney to wit,--on the following subject. In the early ages of our Navy there was a distinct rating, called "Grummett," on board each man-of-war, and he was generally, as may be seen in the Cottonian MSS., placed after the "maryners and gonners." Now, the reader will be highly obliged to any one who will trace the designation to its source, and give information as to what were the special duties of the Grummett, or Gromet.
[Greek: Sigma].
_Vertue's Manuscripts._--Steevens and Malone, in fixing the dates of Shakspeare's Dramas, frequently quote from _Vertue's_ MSS. George Chalmers, in his Supplemental Apology, says, "On making some inquiries, by a friend, what manuscript of _Vertue's_ it were, which I saw so often quoted about scenic matters, Mr. Steevens was so obliging as to say, 'The books, from which those extracts were made, with several others lost, belonged to Secretary Pepys, and afterwards to Dr. Rawlinson, who lent them to Mr. Vertue.' When the said MSS. were consulted by the two commentators, they were, I believe, in the possession of Garrick." Chalmers adds, "Much is it to be lamented, that any MS. or book, which furnished an illustration of Shakespeare, and having once been seen, should ever disappear." Every true lover of our great poet will heartily agree with this remark.
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.
_Loscop._--The Patent Roll, 1 Edw. III. part I, membrane 27, contains the exemplification or copy of a grant by Henry I. to his butler William de Albini of--"Manerium de Snetesham cum duobus hundredis et dimidio scil. Fredebruge et Smethedune cum wreck et cum omnibus pertinentiis suis et misteria de Luna cum medietate fori et theloneis et cum ceteris consuetudinibus et portu cum applicacione navium et loscop et viam ipsius aqu? et transitu cum omnibus querelis." I should be greatly obliged to any of your learned correspondents who would explain the word loscop. Luna is the town or port of King's Lynn. Misteria {320} may probably be translated "offices." See Ducange (Paris Edit. 1845) under the words misterium and ministerium. Loscop appears to be a word of similar formation to Laudcop and Lahcop, which occur in the Laws of Ethelred (Thorpe's Ancient Laws, vol. i. pp. 294, 295.). Can it mean a fee paid on loosing the vessel in order to leave the port?
C.W.G.
_Ormonde House._--Perhaps some of your annotators on Cunningham's _Hand-book of London_, will be so kind as to inform me whereabouts "Ormonde House" stood in St. James's Square; also to state any particulars respecting its history before and after it was occupied by that noble family.
J.G.
_As Morse caught the Mare._--I shall be glad to be informed the meaning of this expression--it is to be met with in the translation of Rabelais. There is also a song sung among the farmers of South Devon, of which the last line of each verse is "As Morse caught the Mare."
R.S.B.
_Dustpot--Forthlot._--In a Manorial Compotus, temp. Hen. V., I find the following entry, under the head of Out-goings:--
"In custodes carucarum et carectarum nil quia per firmarium. Item pro eorum duspot (xij'd) nil, causa predicta. Item pro eorum forlot (iiij'd) nil, causa predicta," &c.
I have in vain consulted the glossaries within my reach,--Ducange, Spelman, Halliwell, for the meaning of the terms dustpot and forlot (or, as spelt in another Compotus, dustpot and _forthlot_). They appear to have been customary payments to the servants who had the care of the carts and carriages belonging to the manor, which, at the time of this particular Compotus, were not payable by the lord, because the demesne lands were in farm; and these dues were paid by the tenant. A reference to the Promptorinm Parvulorum (a further instalment of which I rejoice to learn, from Mr. Way's communication, in No. 15., is in a state of progress) has been equally unproductive. The editorial note to the communications inserted in No. 17., on the interpretation of Pokership, induces me to send you this query, in the hope of eliciting information, if not from the gentleman you there refer to, at least from some one or other of your numerous readers learned in Archaic words.
I may, at a future period trouble you with some further remarks arising out of the same Compotus.
G.A.C.
_Tracts attributed to Eachard._--The writer of this article has long had in his possession an old volume (among many others of a like kind in his