Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 3.djvu/353

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io* s. m. APRIL is, 1905.] NOTES AND QUERIES.


289


., which he says is "equal to 1,040. of to-day." Other writers vary in regard to the equivalent of to-day. Eight times appears to me too high. I should like to have some authority for such an estimate. By consider- ing what was paid for entrance into the public theatres, such as the Globe, where the charge varied from 2d. to 2s. 6c?., we must be astonished by the wealth of the public in Shakespeare's day, who could pay from Is. 4d. to 20s. for permission to see a stage play. Turning to Adam Smith's ' Wealth of Nations ' (chap, xi.), I find that the price of butcher-meat was then about 4d. to 5d. per pound, and wheat was 4s. 2d. per bushel. Butcher- meat has more than doubled, but wheat has practically remained unchanged. Labour has been paid an increase of probably six times. Under these different and varying values, what is a correct estimate of, say, a pound sterling of Shakespeare's time in the equivalent value of to-day 1 ? and how is the estimate arrived at ? D. K. CLARK.

Glasgow.

[See 9 th S. xi. 393 and the earlier references there cited.]

TWITCHEL. At Shillington, Beds, there is a narrow pathway bearing this quaint name, about which tradition is silent. It has a hedge on either side, and leads down the hillside from the ancient church to the high road. Can any one enlighten me on the subject ? CONSTANCE ISHERWOOD.

Meppershall Rectory, Beds.

ARMORIAL. Can you refer me to any book which gives the year in which armorial bearings were granted to various families, together with the Christian name and address of the person to whom granted ? If no such book be published, are there any records kept in the British Museum (or other) Library to which reference can be made by the public 1

R. G. H.

SCRIPTURES IN GAELIC. Where can one find the most complete catalogue of the translations of the Biole, or parts of it, in the Gaelic of Eireland, Man, and Scotland ?

E. S. DODGSON.

THEATRE PARKGATE. Having a few play- bills of this theatre, I am seeking to identify its locality, but so far without success. The entertainment, consisting of a comedy, a farce, with a few songs as an interlude, commenced at seven o'clock, and was given at various dates during the summer of 1811. The same company appeared throughout the season, with Mr. Koscoe and Mr. and Mrs. Edwards taking the principal parts. The


I prices of admission were pit 2s., gallery Is. "Tickets to be had cf Mr. Edwards, at Mr. T. Brown's, Drury Lane ; at Mr. J. Davies, Grocer ; and at Mrs. Hall, Milliner." The bills are printed by " Carnes, Holy well."

The two most obvious suggestions are that this theatre was situated either at Notting- ham, from the address and that of the printer, or at Knightsbridge, equally from the address and the fact that tickets could be obtained in London. Perhaps some student of dramatic history will oblige by identify- ing its correct locality.

ALECK ABRAHAMS.

39, Hillmarton Road, N.

QuENTERY OR QUAINTRY. I am anxious, if possible, to discover if this family name is common in any part of England or Scot- land. I have come across it in arranging our parish records, and the family appear to have been strangers here. Is it Lowland Scotch, or a corruption of Queen - tree= Queen Post ? The only male members of the family, father and son, were carpenters.

W. NORTH, M.A. Public Offices, Dyne Road, Kilburn, N.W.


'THE LASS OF RICHMOND HILL.' (10 th S. iii. 66.)

I INSERTED a query anent the above in Yorkshire Notes and Qiteries some months ago, and in my November issue my friend Dr. George Severs replied thereto. As this reply contains information which did not appear during the lengthy controversy on the subject in ' N. & Q.' some years ago, and as it (in my opinion) settles a very much disputed question, I shall be obliged if you will insert it in 'N. & Q.' :

" Disputes have often arisen between Yorkshire- men and Surreyites as to whether Yorkshire or Surrey could claim the above song. The Yorkshire- men have been quite sure that the Hill referred to was in Yorkshire, while the men of Surrey were equally certain that it was on the banks of the Thames. That the Yorkshiremen have the right to claim both the hill and the lass is proved without the least shadow of doubt by the following facts, which are taken partly from a paper by Mr. John Gates in The Genealogical Magazine for Sep- tember, 1903, and partly from -Mr. Harry Speight's ' Romantic Richmondshire,' p. 87.

" The song was written by Leonard MacNally, a clever and witty barrister-at-law and solicitor. It was first printed in The Public Advertiser of Mon day, August 3rd, 1789. It was set to music by James Hook, a popular composer, father of the famous Theodore Hook, and grandfather of the late Dean of Chichester, formerly vicar of Leeds, Yorkshire,