Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 11.djvu/9

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10 S. XL JAN. 2. 1909.] X< )TKS AND QUERIES.


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LOXDOX, SATURDAY, JAXUAR}' .', 7./-/.V.


CONTENTS. No. 262.

"NOTES :-Sir John Pollard, the Speaker, 1 The Long- mans, 2' Englands Parnassus,' 4 Genealogical Circu- lating Library Orkney Hoginanay Song. 5 Latin Epitaphs Befana : Epiphany All Hallows K'en : Tokens Bristol and the Slave Trade. 6 Cock Ale "Oocoa- nutti " Laneuage Dickens, Pickwick, and Bristol The Muffin Martyr -Sneezing Superstition, 7

QUERIES: George Milton. Scrivener Dickens's Bastille Prisoner Dickens's "Knife-Box" Aerial Navigation Fire Engines Surnames ending in -nell Yorkshire Hunting Incident, 8 Heraldry Lord Melbourne and Baldock Sir H. Walker : Boyne Man-of-War Sulham- wtead Rectory Dunstable Authors of Quotations Wanted The Never Never Land, 9' Village Blacksmith ' 'Parodied Cuthbert Shields Travelling under Hadrian- Bride and Bridegroom at Church " Master Pipe Maker" Capt. Rutherford at Trafalgar "Brokenselde" Ships renamed after the Restoration Gower, a Kentish Hamlet, 10.

REPLIES: Mediterranean, 10 "Psychological Moment" William Blackborough, Milton s Relative Queen Eliza- beth's Day "Old King Ccle," 13 Authors of Quotations Wanted The ' Promptorium 'Italian Genealogy, 14 Tolsey at Gloucester Billy Butler the Hunting Parson Caroline as a Masculine Name "Cardinal " of St. Paul's, 15 Mitred Abbots and Priors Le Blon Mezzos in Four Colours Bishop Sampson of Lichfleld Bell Customs at Sibson Joanna Southcott's Celestial Passports 93, Pall Mall, 16 Samuel Foote, Comedian Rattlesnake Colonel Military Bank-Note : Fort Montague Parcel Post in "1790, 17 Henry Halli well 'Lights in Lyrics 'Manor House c. 1300 Truss-Fail Harris, Silver-Buckle Maker Fleet Prison. 18.

NOTES ON BOOKS : ' The Oxford Thackeray 'Swift's Prose Works.

Booksellers' Catalogues.


SIR JOHN POLLARD, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

IT cannot be said that all difficulty as fco the identity of this knight has been removed. Manning in his ' Lives of the Speakers ' makes no attempt to specify his parentage ; and the writer of the in- teresting article upon him in the ' Diet. Nat. Biog.,' while correctly stating that he was second son of Walter Pollard of Plymouth by Avice, daughter of Richard Pollard, of Way, Devon, seems also to be of opinion though doubtfully that he was the Sir John Pollard knighted on 2 Oct., 1553. Now while it is certain that a person of these names was among the Coronation knights of Queen Mary, it is equally clear that he could not have been the man who was after- wards Speaker. Not only is the latter an " armiger " in the whole of his returns to Parliament between 1553 and 1555, but in the Journals of the House of Commons, at his election to the Chair in both 1553 and 1555, he is styled " John Pollard, esq re ." An examination, however, of his will puts this right. This is dated 2 Aug., 4 and 5


Philip and Mary, and in it he is described as " Sir John Pollard, Knight," with a marginal note " Serjeant-at-law."

" To my wief 500 sheep of the best that shall be going at Newnham. Clyfton, or Baldry ; also house- hold staff at Newnham Courtney, and farm stock, j and 100/. worth of plate, and 1001. money. The | parsonage to Newnham Court to my brother Anthony, and plate that was Sir William Barran- tyne's. To my brother Anthony Pollard all my books and farm stock, 2W. of plate, and 20/. in money. Legacy to Joan Charlton. My Kinsman Sir James Pollard, present parson of Newnhara, 57. to pray for me his masses. To my brother-in- law John Studham 4(W. To my mother 51. A sermon to be preached by a Catholic Doctor or Bachelor of Divinity, 10*. Sir John Williams, Knight. Lord Williams of Thame."

This is followed by another will, made a few months earlier, but obviously ratified and confirmed by, and to be taken as part of, the above-mentioned later document :

"The last will and testament of one John Pollard, esq., made the first day of. May, 4 and 5 Philip and Mary.

" To William Jenkins, my servant, an annuity out of Newnham Court. To my wife, ray manor of Newnham Court. To my brother Anthony Pollard. William Pollard, son of Sir Richard Pollard, Knight, deceased. Phyllyp, daughter of William Sheldon, esq., wife of the said Anthony. Tene- ments in the City of London and in Kingston-upon- Thames, co. Surrey, in right of my wife, being one of the daughters of Richard [? Gray], late of London, deceased."

Both wills were proved 13 Oct., 1557, by Anthony Pollard and Ralph Feme.

From these two wills it is evident that the ex-Speaker received knighthood between 5 May and 2 Aug., 1557 ; and as he was buried 25 Aug., 1557, his enjoyment of the knightly dignity was but brief. He died s.p., though, as we gather from his will, he left a wife, who, if one of the daughters of Richard Gray of London, may have been the " Dame Mary Pollerd, al 8 Norris, widow," to whose estate, on 21 Dec., 1608, administration was granted to Thomas Grey, her next of kin. This last suggestion requires support, fifty years being a lengthy time for a wife to survive her husband.

The heir of the Speaker was his brother Anthony, who, as " Anthony Pollard of Little Baldon," made his will 20 Dec., 18 Elizabeth :

" To repair of highways in Newnam Courtney and Sanford, co. Oxford, 101. To marriage portion of ten poor maids, 10/., 20-s. apiece. To prisoners in gaol at Oxford, 20. To John Grene my servant, 10/.~ [and several like sums! To John Shakespeare mv servant, 101. and a black coat. To Symon Alleine my servant, 101. , and a black gown. Leonard Wilmote, 6V. lSs.4d. John Prince, Thomas Mosden, Robert Mair, 4/. each. Gregory Teroll, Sf. 6. 8d, Alia fferis, 51. if in my house at my death. To Eliza-