NOTES AND QUERIES.
[9 th S. II. DEC. 10, '98.
name is also spelt Wharton 1 ? The name occurs
spelt bo,th ways in Clark's ' Register of Ox-
ford University.' I find that an Anthony
Wharton, son of a commoner of Westmore-
land, matriculated from Queen's College,
11 Dec., 1618, and was then aged eighteen.
There is another Anthony mentioned, out he
would be too early. L believe a Benjamin
Nind (ob. 1860), of Leytonstone, married a
Margaret Wharton or Warton. Perhaps your
querist could tell me if I am right in my
supposition. C. H. C.
WOMEN BARBERS (7 th S. xi. 327, 385, 438 ; xii. 111. 157, 237, 297 ; 8 th S. v. 246, 394). None oi the replies under this or a kindred heading has given Gay's description of a woman barber, though one (7 th S. xii. 157) is a prose account of the incident narrated. In Gay's 'Journey to Exeter' (published in 1716) it is told how, after passing "Morcombe's lake," the travellers reach Axminster, where they sleep. The next morning We rise, our beards demand the barber's art ; A female enters and performs the part. The weighty golden chain adorns her neck, And three gold rings her skilful hands bedeck : Smooth o'er our chin her easy fingers move, Soft as when Venus stroked the beard of Jove.
ALFRED F. BOBBINS.
BISHOPRIC OF OSSORY (8 th S. xi. 489 ; xii. 34, 253 ; 9 th S. ii. 53). In his reply to MR. CAREY, the late REV. F. S. WARREN, of Coventry, said of Ossory :
" The see was transferred to Kilkenny, but the old name retained, and the proper title of the dean is of Kilkenny. There is no other instance of these anomalies."
Now if any reader will consult Thorn's ' Official Directory ' he will find that in the Church of Ireland there is still a " Dean of Ossory," but none " of Kilkenny," though Ossory was not the earliest name of the dio- cese. There are similar anomalies in the diocese of Meath, in which case also the see was transferred, and the dean's title is "of Clonmacnois." Again, there is a "Dean of Ardagh," though there is now no cathedral in that diocese. T. C. GILMOUR.
Ottawa, Canada.
ACORUS CALAMUS (9 th S. ii. 305, 377, 457). Why "sweet flag"1 The sweet rush, which is the commoner of the two rushes on some parts of the lower Thames, and which used to be cut for strewing upon floors, is now commonly called a " flag "; but that name is given to the wild yellow iris and to the culti- vated purple iris. D.
HERALDRY : BADGE OF ULSTER (9 th S. i. 188 ; ii. 153, 317). In the church of Norton, near
Evesham, are many contemporary heraldic
insignia of two families. Three of these show
the "red hand" of two seventeenth -century
baronets, one of whom was of James's creation.
In his case the red hand obliterates one of
three annulets, but in all three instances it
is in the middle of the fess. W. C. B.
The rule is that an honourable augmenta- tion granted by the sovereign must occupy a position of honour on the shield. This is ither the dexter canton or the "nombril point" (en cceur, the French heralds say). But inasmuch as the latter position is used for " shields of pretence," bearing the arms of an heiress or of a principality, it is more usual to place the baronet's shiela of Ulster in the dexter canton. JOHN HOBSON MATTHEWS. Town Hall, Cardiff.
" NECK-HANDKERCHIEF " (9 th S. ii. 169, 375). De minimis curat ' N. et Q' I never wore the chokers described by MR. THOS. RATCLIFFE, but my impression is that the folding began at the apex of the triangle formed by the diagonally doubled square, and not at the long base. The articles were called neck- handkerchiefs, but I was told it would be more correct to say " neck-kerchief." Me- thinks " neck-ker " would have been corrector still. May I be pardoned for this compara- tive ! ST. SWITHIN.
More commonly known as "neckcloth." HAROLD MALET, Col.
GIG (9 th S. ii. 384). This was formerly a slang word, and as such it is difficult to dis- cover its exact meaning. It was doubtless used without much regard to precision. The following, from the comedy of ' The Heir at Law' (IV. ii.), by the younger Colman, throws a ray of light upon the subject :
Dick Dowlas. But what a confounded gig you look like.
Dr. Pangloss. A gig ! Umph ! that 's an Eton phrase ; the Westminsters call it quiz.
' The Heir at Law ' was produced at the Hay market in July, 1797.
CHARLES WYLIE.
BRIDGET CHEYNELL, ABBOT, OR WARNER (9 th S. ii. 87, 155, 433). If the burial of Bridget Warner (wife of John Warner) should be discovered, it is difficult to see on what evidence it could be deemed to be that of the mother of Francis Cheynell, which lady, from the probate of her will (evidence that would be received in a court of law), was undoubtedly, at the date of her death, Bridget Abbot, widow. The fact of there being no issue by an existing husband would in no way account for the startling theory
