and justices, with a great part of the noblenes of his realm; and with no less solempnite went a procession after the blessed Sacrament, to the great comfort and rejoysance of a great multytud of his subjects which at that time were there gathered to see his grace and the queen, which is a very amyable ladye, and of whom we all have great hope." This letter is dated "London, morrow of Corpus Christi." HERMEN TRUDE.

"WING AND IVINGIOE" (4th S. vi. 277, 331, 428.)-Sir Walter Scott in his preface to Ivanhoe (p. 9 of the Centenary edition) states that the name of that novel was suggested to him by an "old rhyme," which is there given as—

ents.

"Tring, Wing, and Ivanhoe,
For striking of a blow,
Hampden did forego,

And glad he could escape so."

It will be observed that this version varies again slightly from those furnished by your correspondSir Walter moreover gives the third name as "Ivanhoe," and further says that they were the titles of "manors forfeited by the ancestor of the celebrated Hampden for striking the Black Prince a blow with his racquet when they quarrelled at tennis," thus agreeing with MR. PICKFORD'S account (p. 331). Perhaps some one can explain the reason of the dissimilarity between "Ivinghoe" and "Ivanhoe" (for I can find no clue in Chauncy's History of Hertfordshire), and which of the two is the correct one, as it is a pity, suore done, to change, if unauthorised, so familiar a household word as the latter has now become. J. S. UDAL.

Park Street, Grosvenor Square, W. SCHOOLBOY WORDS (4th S. vi. 415.)-Of the words "Bags," or " Bags I," I can give no account, having never heard them used. But in my school, in "auld lang syne,' we used to say "Pike I," or "Prior Pike," when we would lay claim to anything, or assert priority of claim. In 3rd S. vii. 229 appeared an article of mine on another word used in a similar sense, which was " Bar," but it is also there observed that this word was likewise used to claim exemption from any disagreeable job, as "Bar not to fetch coals," or "Bar not," used simply to negative any proposal. Thus a boy would say, "He wanted me to do so-and-so, but I barred not."

The expression "Fain it" was also in common use in the same school in Staffordshire, but not exactly in the sense alluded to by MR. BRITTEN. It was not used so much for demanding a truce as for deprecating consequences. Thus, a boy who had "killed" another at marbles, that is hit his marble, would call out "Fain it," meaning "You mustn't shoot at me in return;' or if a boy was going to shoot, and some inequality of surface was in his way, which he would have cleared away, his antagonist would prevent him by calling out "Fain clears."

However desirable it may be to ascertain the origin of these and similar expressions, I fear all attempts would be useless; they are boys' slang, and slang is usually arbitrary and conventional. Some boy starts a word without any proper meaning; it is taken up for the fun and novelty of it, and so gets into common use without F. C. H. any care about its origin.

In schoolboys' language to "bag" a thing is to appropriate it, whether honestly or otherwise-so the sportsman and the poacher "bag" the game. The schoolboy" bags " a locker at the beginning of the half, or another fellow's cap when he has lost his own. "Bags I," means I bag or secure for myself, and it is a gross breach of etiquette for any one to take a thing that has been thus verbally "bagged." I cannot explain "fain" unless it be from the French fainéant, idle. A boy who is out of breath in a game calls out" Fain it," to ask for an armistice. If a prefect wants anything fetched for him and does not say by whom, those who wish to get off going say "Fain I." I have a list of about a hundred similar words and phrases that were in use at my old school, many of which were, I believe, peculiar to it, just as other public schools have their own peculiar words as well as a slang vocabulary common to all English boys, except perhaps in some highly polite academies for young gentlemen, where the vulgarisms current in our great public schools would not be tolerated. A HURST JOHNIAN.

"Bags" or "Bags I" expresses a resolve on the part of the speaker to bag or pocket (American, trowser) anything.

"Fains" or "Fain it" is, I defend or forbid such or such an action being begun or continued. Cf. the remark of poor Jo, the outcast sojourner in Tom-all-Alone's (was ever portrait of street Arab so vividly drawn?) addressed to Lady Dedlock, "Fen larks: stow hooking it."

Kingsbridge, S. Devon.

A. MIDDLETON.

ROBERT FITZHARNEYS OR HARVEIS (4th S. vi. 414.)-The following is taken from Family of Hervey, by Lord Arthur Hervey :

"Another person of the name of Hervey is said to have been Duke of Orleans in the eleventh century, and his son Robert, called Fitz-Hervey, is said to have accompanied William the Conqueror to England. He is set down in the pedigrees as the lineal ancestor of the Herveys of Thurleigh and Ickworth. But this personage is fairly open to the suspicion of being a myth. The whole hisingly obscure; one or two very meagre allusions to the tory of the early Dukes or Counts of Orleans is exceedfact of there having been any such before Philip of Valois, Duke of Orleans, A.D. 1345, is all that German, French, or English genealogists afford."

After making it appear probable that it should be Herneis and not Herveis, the author goes on to say that in a volume called Histoire et Chronique

de Normandie, published at Rouen in 1581, mention is made of a certain Duke Aubert, who governed Normandy, then called Neustria, in the time of King Pepin, father of Charlemagne. This Aubert married, first, Inda, sister of the Duke of Burgundy (by whom he had the famous Robert le Diable); secondly, one of the race of Dolin de Mayence, by whom he had a son Richard, who succeeded him as Duke of Neustria, A.D. 770, and a daughter who married Sampson, Duke of Orleans, one of Charlemagne's great princes. The issue of this marriage was Ernes, who on the death of his uncle Richard, A.D. 815, obtained the duchy of Neustria in right of his mother. This Ernes laid claim to the kingdom of France, as being descended through his mother from the sister of Chilperic, the last Merovingian king. Taking advantage of the French king Louis's absence in Germany, he came to Rheims, accompanied by a number of French nobles, to be crowned King of France, but was surprised and put to death. At his death the duchy of Neustria returned to the crown of France, with which it continued united till Charles the Simple ceded it to Rollo as the duchy of Normandy. It is natural to conclude, though the history does not mention it, that the same was the case with the duchy of Orleans, which Ernes had in all probability inherited from his father Sampson. From this story of Ernes given in the old history of Normandy (whether true or not it does not signify) Lord A. Hervey conjectures that some reader versed in the histories and romances of the time of Charlemagne, seeing the name of Ernes in the list of those who came over with William the Conqueror, wrote after it "Duc d'Orleans," and thus laid the foundation for this curious error. Lambeth.

Miscellaneous.

NOTES ON BOOKS, ETC.

S. H. A. H.

Household Stories from the Land of Hofer: or, Popular Myths of the Tirol, including the Rose Garden of King Lareyn, by the Author of "Patrañas: or Spanish Stories;" with Illustrations by T. Green. (Griffith & Farran.)

The interest awakened in the subject of popular national fictions by the appearance of the "Kinder- und HausMährchen" of the Brothers Grimm has not yet subsided. Simple and fragmentary as are many of these household stories, there is a spirit of poetry in them which has charms both for youthful readers and grey-haired scholars. Some twelve months since we had to thank the author of the book before us for a very interesting collection of Spanish Legends. The materials for the volume whose title we have just transcribed have been gathered in a scarcely less romantic region-the land of Hofer; and like all such collections, when formed with judgment, the present abounds in most amusing reading for the young, and materials for curious speculation on the part of students of Popular Mythology. But the book has obviously

History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada. By James Anthony Froude, M.A., late Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford. Vols. XI. and XII. (Longman.)

These two new volumes, which complete the new edition of Mr. Froude's admirable work, equal, if they do not exceed, in interest any of their predecessors. The exploits of Drake, the busy intrigues of Elizabeth's persevering enemies the Jesuits, and the dreadful scene enacted at Fotheringham, which brought to a close the chequered life of the unhappy Mary, are among the themes which exercise Mr. Froude's powers of description. With the defeat of the Armada the history properly concludes; but some few pages are devoted to the closing scenes of Elizabeth's reign, when the great queen was left by herself standing on the pinnacle of earthly glory, yet in all the loneliness of greatness, and unlikely to enjoy the honours which Burghley's policy had won for her. The interesting summary of Elizabeth's reign and character, which concludes the work, conveys to our mind the impression that Mr. Froude feels he has not dealt too leniently with the Virgin Queen. "Princes," says Mr. Froude, "who are credited on the wrong side with the evils which happen in their reigns have a right in equity to the honour of the good. The greatest achievement in English history, the breaking the bonds of Rome' and the establishment of spiritual independence, was completed without bloodshed under Elizabeth, and Elizabeth may have the glory of the work." So be it. By every Englishman who values the blessings of civil and religious liberty, the name of Elizabeth will ever be

held in honour.

Curiosities of the Olden Times. By S. Baring Gould, M.A. (Hayes.)

Mr. Goald is quite right in his remark, that "an antiquary lights on many a curiosity while overhauling the dusty tomes of ancient writers," and those who may

hesitate to admit the accuracy of Mr. Gould's statement will speedily be satisfied when they read the fifteen curious little papers on all sorts of out-of-the-way subjects, from "Ghosts in Court" to "Sortes Sacra," which Mr. Gould has encountered in the course of his varied studies, and duly made a note of. The fact that several of the "Curiosities of Olden Times" have already appeared in Once a Week is sufficient evidence of their interest.

The Riches of Chaucer, in which his Impurities have been expunged; his Spelling modernised; his Rhythm accentuated, and his Obsolete Terms explained; also have been added a few Explanatory Notes and a New Memoir of the Poet. By Charles Cowden Clarke. Second Edition, carefully revised. (Lockwood.)

Tales from Chaucer in prose. Designed chiefly for the Use of Young Persons. By Charles Cowden Clarke. Second edition, carefully revised. (Lockwood.)

The promoters of the Chaucer Society, recently established for the publication of the earliest and best texts of the poet's works, could scarcely have anticipated that one of the very first results of their labour would be to awaken a demand for a new edition of the two books by which Mr. Cowden Clarke long since endeavoured to call the attention of general readers to the merits of Chaucer; and to give them a taste for the writings of our earliest and one of our thoroughly English poets. To students of our early language and literature Mr. Clarke's labour

was but as a work of supererogation. But there can be little doubt that innumerable readers who would have turned away alarmed at the antique orthography of the genuine texts, have been tempted by the facility with which they have mastered "The Canterbury Tales" and other poems in Mr. Clarke's modernised form, to study Chaucer, and appreciating the pathos, imagery, and humour which abound in his writings have been eventually induced to study them in their original form, and had their reward for so doing. This was assuredly the first and chief object which the editor had in view; and as what has been will be, we doubt not this new edition will induce many to become readers of Chaucer who might otherwise never have turned over a single page of his writings, and thus add to the daily increasing number of the admirers of the Father of English Poetry. So much for the Riches of Chaucer. Of the Tales from Chaucer, we content ourselves with saying the book is a meet companion for the model on which it has been formed-Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare—but that is saying much.

Poems. By Thomas Hood. Illustrated by Birket Foster. (Moxon & Co.).

The name of Thomas Hood is so closely associated in the mind of the public with that quaint and peculiar humour for which he was distinguished, that the injustice is frequently committed of forgetting the higher qualities

which he exhibited, and overlooking the depth and richness of his powers as a poet of a very high order. This handsome volume, which contains a selection from his minor poems of a very miscellaneous character, exquisitely illustrated by Mr. Birket Foster, is well calculated to recall to the reader the claims of Hood to a place in the foremost rank of England's Minor Poets. These illustrations are two-and-twenty in number; they are beautifully engraved, and the book is altogether got up in a style and with a good taste which cannot fail to win it favour in the sight of all lovers of handsome books. We regret that it reached us at too late a moment for us to do justice to the various points of excellence exhibited by Mr. Foster in his beautiful and appropriate illustrations. Handbook of Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire. With Maps and Plans. (Murray.) Hurrah for Mr. Murray! His great and good work of supplying compact, intelligent, and trustworthy Handbooks for travellers through every quarter of the British Isles is fast drawing to a satisfactory conclusion. We have here, in a volume of between five and six hundred pages, a Guide for the four Eastern Counties, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire, based upon personal knowledge of those Counties, arranged on the same plan as the Handbooks for the other parts of England, which have proved so satisfactory. The volume is accompanied by a well-engraved map, and bound in that new style to which we gave such hearty commendation in our recent notice of The Handbook of Derby, Notts, Leicester, and Stafford.

LONGEVITY. It is with great satisfaction that we see how the wholesome scepticism on this subject, first started by the late Mr. Dilke and Sir George Lewis, and since so frequently insisted upon in these columns, is finding strong support among our contemporaries. The case of Mary Hicks, recently buried at Isleworth, at the supposed age of 104, which has been going the round of the papers, has called forth from the Daily Telegraph some very proper inquiries as to the evidence of identity between the Mary Hicks, baptised at Brosely on the 11th August, 1766, and the Mary Hicks who died at Isleworth, on the 24th November, 1870. We shall be very glad to see this case properly investigated, and the real facts

ascertained. In like manner we should be glad to know what evidence there is in support of another recent case, almost more remarkable, that of Mr. J. F. Smith, who is said to have died at Ashstead Common, Surrey, on Sunday, the 6th of November last, at the age of 105, leaving a widow aged 100. We hope the Daily Telegraph will, in the cause of truth, ventilate this case also.

YORKSHIRE ALMANACS.-We are indebted to the kindness of a friend for five very interesting specimens of local almanacs. It is hard to say whether "Tommy's Annual fer 1871, nah written an' published be Hiz-sen" (Hirst, Leeds)-or, "The West Dewsbere Back at Moon Olmenac, an' T'west Ridin' Historical Calendar for t'Year 1871" (Fearnsides, Batley)—or, "T'Bairnsla Foaks' Annual for 1871, all be Tom Treddlehoyle, Esq., S.W." (Mann, Leeds)—or, "The Nidderdill Olminac, or Ivvery Boddy's Kalinder for 1871, all t'lots dun up by Nattie Nydds" (Thorpe, Pately Bridge)-or, "The Original Illuminated Clock Almanack, 1871, in the Yorkshire Dialect"-be the most quaint and original. Many of them contain some capital songs and stories in the local dialects-hitting off the follies of the people with a good deal of homely satire and quiet humour; and are all distinguished by a thorough good honest old English feeling, very pleasant to meet with.

is said, be published by Messrs. Blackwood, in the course THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LORD BROUGHAM will, it of the ensuing spring.

We understand that Mr. R. W. Dixon is preparing for publication early in the ensuing year, some of Dr. J. H. Dixon's and his own so. "s, wit! his own accompanying music for the piano-forte.

CIVIC CEREMONY... Tuesday afternoon a quaint civic ceremony in connexion with the Corporation of London was performed in the Guildhall, and it is only noticeable on account of the probability that it will be the last of its kind. It was the meeting of what is called a Court of Hustings, which was held on the dais at the eastern end of the Guildhall, in the presence of the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs, who were attended by the sword and mace bearers. There the Common Crier (Mr.Beddome) made the opening proclamation in these terms: "Oyez, oyez, oyez ! All manner of persons who have been five times called by virtue of any exigent directed to the Sheriffs of London, and have not surrendered their bodies to the said Sheriffs, this Court doth adjudge the men to be outlawed, and the women to be waived." After this the business of the Court was transacted, consisting on this occasion merely in the registration by Mr. Tee, one of the attorneys of the Mayor's Court, of a deed in connexion with the Hale Scholarship at the City of London School. This being done, the Court was formally closed with another quaint proclamation, ordering all manner of persons who had anything to do at the Hustings of Pleas of land to "keep their day" there again at the next Court. With this, the ceremony, which lasted about five minutes, ended. The Court of Hustings is the oldest Court in existence in England. Mr. Corrie, the Remembrancer, has recently given notice of his intention to apply to Parliament for a Bill to abolish it, and to confer its powers and jurisdiction on the Mayor's Court. After the ceremony the Lord Mayor presided at a meeting of the Court of Aldermen, but the business was only of a routine character.

THE WESTMINSTER PLAY, it has been announced, is to be suspended for this year. Similar breaks in the annual celebration of the Latin Comedy in the dormitory of St. Peter's College are not unusual. No play, for instance, takes place at the Christmas following the death of the