8- s. ii. SEPT. u,
NOTES AND QUERIES.
227
everything they come near, it would be hard
to say. A child understands the meaning of
bob-baw the first time he hears it that is, so
far as my observation goes though infantile
perversity insists upon personal examination
in spite of repeated "bob-baws." Is it
another form of " bar-bar," used occasionally
in the same sense, but not in connexion with
the ways and wiles of infants? It is used in
at least four Midland counties.
THOMAS RATCLIFFE. Worksop.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION. Can you inform me if there is an English translation of ' Les Sciences Occultes,' by Eusebe Salverte ?
B. H. WHITELOCKE.
ROBERT WILKS. A portrait of this actor was in 1732, the year of his death, painted by John Ellys or Ellis (1701-57), and was en- graved by J. Faber. In whose possession is it now 1 What other portraits of Wilks are known ? URBAN.
MOTTO. Wanted, the origin and meaning of the heraldic motto "Habent sua sidera teges." W. S.
'LYRA INNOCENTIUM,' ix. 17. Can any reader kindly identify the allusion in the following lines 1 They probably refer to the boast of some Spanish king after the dis- covery of America :
Tis said, of yore some child of pride Would vaunt him how his empire wide The bright sun never left.
W. L.
"BALE." This word is defined inBrockett's ' Glossary ' as " a low, flat, marshy ground by the side of a river, synonymous with 'haugh.'" It is of frequent occurrence in names of places in Northumberland ; see Hodgson's ' History ' (1827), vol. i. pt. ii. p. 86, and Heslop's ' Glos- sary ' (1892). Query, the etymology?
A. L. MAYHEW.
Oxford.
" HOOLIGAN." This term has been much in vogue lately to describe the members of a
gang of street ruffians infesting the neigh- ourhpod of South-Eastern London. It has by this time become quite a recognized addi- tion to a certain class of slang terminology, and must, I suppose, be put on a par with " larrikin " and the American " hoodlum," which are in some degree synonymous. There is no doubt that eventually some one will raise a question perhaps in l N. &Q.' as to the origin of the name " Hooligan " in its present connexion. It might be well, there- fore, to make a note of the fact that a short
time ago, while some of the members of the
gang were in court to answer for their mis-
conduct, a question was raised as to how the-
name came to be, applied to them. A gentle-
man in the court so I read in the Daily MaiL
I think said he believed the name was used
in a comic song sung in music-halls about
two years ago, and the impression is that it
is derived therefrom. It would be interesting
to learn if this were really so. Can any other
explanation of the name be given 1
C. P. HALE.
ROMAN CATHOLIC. What is the earliest known instance of this name? With this may be coupled the question, By what de- nominational name did our English forebears style themselves in the Middle Ages 1 Was it "Catholic," "Roman Catholic, or simply " Christian " ? Any information on this heaa will greatly oblige. F. KING.
SILVER PLATE. Having recently come across an old inventory of silver plate headed "An account taken June 26, 1756, in consequence of a late Act of Parliament, and* which was weighed by a silversmith," I shall, be glad to learn the purpose and date of the- Act to which the writer of the MS. referred.
I. C. GOULD.
WILLIAM PENNINGTON was elected from Westminster School to Trinity College, Cam- bridge, in 1575. Can correspondents of ' N. & Q.' give me any particulars concern- ing him ? G. F. R. B.
POEM ON ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Can any one tell who wrote the poem on the death of Abraham Lincoln which appeared in Punch on 6 May. 1865? It was ascribed at the time, somewhat doubtfully, to Tennyson.
ALBERT J. EDMUNDS.
Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
"HONOURABLE." Are the sons of Scotch Law Lords and Life Peers of Scotland legally justified in using this title ? HENRICUS.
TOWN DRUMMER. In Scotland the town drummer was an important personage, and performed many duties. When beggars or suspicious characters could not give a satis- factory account of themselves on being brought before the bailies, and were ordered to be placed in the pillory or in the iougs, they were afterwards drummed out of the town. The drummer would also make known, after beating his drum to attract attention, notices relating to town affairs, roupings under judicial authority, &c. In Gommes 'Index of Municipal Offices of England and Wales. ' I do not find any mention of a town drummer.
