Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 8.djvu/455

This page needs to be proofread.

10 s. VIIL NOV. 9, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.


377


deep as Chelsea " ; and " As deep as the North Star," the latter expressing unusual " knowlngness." It is current in Haver- fordwest, and possibly in other seaport towns, and had its origin probably in the fact of all eyes (of mariners) having been formerly turned towards the Pole star for guidance in navigation.

J. HOLDEN MACMlCHAEL.

This phrase was discussed at 6 S. iv. 386, 540, under the head "As artful as Garrick," recorded as heard in Surrey. The " deep " variety was reported as known in Lincolnshire, Sussex, and the Midlands. It was suggested that the phrase, as used in Cornwall, should be "as deep as a car- rick," a submarine rock; but this seems to be an effort of pure imagination.

G. L. APPEBSON.

In West Cornwall we say " As deep as garlic " and (more frequently) " As deep as charlock " (Brassica sinapistrum). Any farmer will appreciate the meaning of the latter, at any rate. YGBEC.

CHBISOM, BAPTISMAL ROBE (10 S. viii. 270). If Miss POOLE will consult Procter and Frere's ' History of the Book of Com- mon Prayer,' 1901, p. 640, she will see that the " accustomed offerings " are not given instead of the chrisom, but were made at the churching when the chrisom was returned. The use of this garment (which was church property) was discontinued probably in 1552.

With regard to the other articles men- tioned, unless this was a local custom, Miss POOLE has probably been misinformed. HABBY P. POLLABD.

Bengeo, Hertford.

"In the Prayer Book of 1549 the rubric ran,

  • The woman that is purified must offer her chrisome

and other accustomed offerings.' The former was omitted in 1552." Hook's 'Church Diet.,' 200, i.

The offerings are for the use of the priest :

" She payeth to the curate his accustomed duty.

It is a portion of the pastor's living, appointed

and limited unto him by the Church. Whitgift, 'Works,' ii. 559.

L. A. P.

The question is based on the assumption that there was a time when the thank- offering of money took the place of the offering of the chrisom ; but this is a mis- take. Up to a certain time mothers at their churching made their thankoffering for mercies received, and also offered the chrisom in which their child was to be


christened. After a certain time the thank- offering alone was made. Consult Wheatley on ' The Book of Common Prayer ' (" Bohn's Library "), p. 498. The chrism was offered that it might be blessed before it was put on the child at its baptism. FBANK PENNY.

I cannot answer the inquiry as to the date when the " accustomed offerings " made when a woman was " churched " were given in money, instead of the chrism ; but as to the signification of the latter offering, and the articles it comprised, I do not think it will be found that it always included robe, cap, mittens, and cushion, as these things would be beyond the means of poor people. At Wickenby, Lincolnshire, it consisted of a piece of material and a penny only. Last Whitsuntide I copied the following item (among other church dues) from inside the second cover of the earliest register-book there :

"The Chrysom & a Gracepeny always to be given at ye woman's churching. The Chrysom must be halfe a yard of fine linnen long, & a full yarde in breadth. Ita testor, G. Buddie."

A. STAPLETON. 158, Noel Street, Nottingham.

SIB THOMAS WABNEB'S TOMBSTONE (10 S. viii. 288). When ' Antigua and the Anti- guans ' was published in 1844 portions of the stone were missing. In Davy's Suffolk Collections at the British Museum (Add. MS. 19,154) I found a copy made in 1785, when the inscription was perfect, and this was printed in my ' History of Antigua,' vol. iii. p. 202. V. L. OLIVEB.

Sunninghill.

JAMAICA RECOBDS : WEST INDIAN REGIS- TERS (10 S. viii. 29, 274). The communica- tion of MB. NOEL B. LIVINGSTON, concerning existing registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials in Jamaica, is interesting and valuable. May I ask whether MB. LIVING- STON, or any other reader, can supply similar lists for Antigua and Martinique ? H. A. STAPLETON.

LATTA STJBNAME (10 S. viii. 190, 317). Surely we cannot accept Ferguson's ' Teu- tonic Name-System' (1864) as having any value or authority. He gives himself away when he connects the A.-S. lath, loath, with the Gothic lathon, to invite ; for these words have no connexion with each other, and belong to different systems of gradation. And neither of these is related to Latimer, which is of French origin, as explained in the N.E.D.' WALTEB W. SKEAT.