illustrated with drawings from nature, one volume of which has already appeared.—A most commendable method of providing for their poor, not only without expense to themselves or the public, but by a pursuit so very pleasing in itself, and which, besides, cannot fail of proving curious, and may in many respects, turn out extremely useful."
The annual collection in connexion with this ancient school, now the Ashford School, is well known, but I should be glad to have some more information about the work referred to. Was it completed? If so, what is the title of it, &c.? D. M. R.
Segrave: de Segré.—Did the Segrave family derive their origin from the town of Segré (viz., six hills), near Angers and Le Lion d'Angers in Brittany? and was the above the original spelling of the family name?
There is a village of Sigry in Wiltshire. I believe the Segrave family was anciently associated with that county.
The arms of Segrave are Sable, a lion rampant or, crowned. Doubtless the lion is to be referred to Le Lion d'Angers.
Derby: Lord Exeter's House: Cecil Family.—Can any one kindly inform me when the house in Derby belonging to the Marquis of Exeter, which was pulled down in 1854, was first built, and by whom? I believe it stood in Full Street.
I should also be glad of any information regarding the nature of the connexion between the Cecils and the town of Derby.
Bigraphical Information Wanted.—1. Elliot.—Granville Elliot was admitted to Westminster School in February, 1724/5, aged 11; Richard Elliot in September, 1728, aged 10; and William Elliot in April, 1743, aged 16. Any information about these Elliots is much wanted.
2. Timothy Enright was admitted to Westminster School in July, 1740, aged 14. Particulars of his parentage and career and the date of his death are desired.
3. Thomas Entwistle matriculated at Oxford University from Brasenose College 24 Feb., 1720/21, aged 17. I should be glad to obtain particulars of his career and the date of his death.
4. Thomas Ewbank was admitted to Westminster School in May, 1722, aged 9. Can any correspondent give me information about him? G. F. R. B.
Replies.
'WIDSITH,' l. 18, AND "GAUTIGOTH,"
(11 S. vi. 7, 201.)
In his note Mr. Anscombe tries to prove, by a rather complicated series of linguistic arguments, that the vowel of the Anglo-Saxon word Gotan (which has hitherto been accepted as meaning "Goths") is long; that the word, therefore, cannot be equivalent to the Latin Gothi, the vowel of which is short; and that, therefore, Gotan does not mean "Goths" at all.
The word Gotan occurs in certain Anglo-Saxon poems, 'Widsith' and 'Deor,' which are obscure and full of difficult problems. Even here, in spite of the obscurity of the poems, there had never been any serious doubt as to the meaning of the word till Mr. Anscombe raised his scruples. He says:—
"That the phrase Eormanric weold Gotum means exactly the same as Hermanaricus rexit Gothos is a fundamental assumption which underlies so large a part of the results of German criticism of 'Widsith,' that it has been tacitly advanced to the position of a postulate. I am about to show that this assumption is erroneous."
Now in the first place the error, if error it be, can hardly in fairness be laid to the door of the Germans. The phrase was interpreted in the way Mr. Anscombe combats by the first editor of 'Widsith,' Conybeare, and by the second editor, Kemble, both Englishmen. From then to now every German scholar—and, with one exception, every English one—who has dealt with the poem has interpreted the passage in the same way: "Eormanric ruled over the Goths." But that this is not due to any peculiar German perversity or English docility is proved by the fact that the same view is taken by American scholars like Lawrence, Danish scholars like Olrik or Schütte, Norwegian scholars like Bugge, and Dutch scholars like Symons or Boer—who, however they may differ, are agreed that the Eormanric who in Anglo-Saxon poetry rules over the Gotan is the Hermanaric of history and tradition who ruled over the Goths.
Mr. Anscombe argues that if the word Gotan were Old Saxon of the Continent it would have a long o. However this may be, the word is Anglo-Saxon, not Old Saxon, and must be judged by Anglo-Saxon sound-laws. Now these laws show us that when an Anglo-Saxon word has ō in the root
