12 s. viz. JULY io, 1920.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 37 t ELEPHANT AND CASTLE (12 S. vi. 11, 49, 132). The origin for this tavern -sign pro- posed by MB. J. W. BROWN seems a little far -fetched. Is it not the Beaumont badge ? The custom of using the "Arms" of the nobility as tavern-signs is perhaps peculiar
- o England. I do not remember anything
of the kind in France, Spain, or Italy I am
- not quite sure about Germany, that land
of heraldic display. In America the English custom seems common, e.g., the "Everett Hotel" (in Boston, I think) with the Everett arms : Gu., a chevron between three mullets ^arg., for signboard. When was this peculiar English custom introduced ? I note that MB. PAUL DE CASTRO'S interesting list of London taverns omits the Elephant and Castle, and that ^besides the Royal Arms there are only three noble cognizances honoured as public-house signs in London : Bedford, Northumberland, ^nd Oxford. This last may be intended lor the University. What was the origin of ,this custom, so common in rural England ? G. J., F.S.A. ROYAL ABMS FOB VILLAGE WAB MEMOBTAL
- (12 S. vi. 250). I am not quite sure whether
<JT. R. H. wishes to put the original coat-of- sarms of Charles I. which he states he possesses above the panels with the names. If the original stone has been removed from the hall-door and the hall-door still exists why not replace it there ? If not, then the proper place for the original carving to rest seems to be a museum. If the arms were intended to be placed only over the hall-door, they would be out of ?lace on another part of the building. Also ; think, that to mix up anything of the seventeenth century with what belongs to the twentieth is a mistake. I do not sup pose there would be any illegality in G. R. H doing what he likes with what he possesses as the arms are not the same as those usec by the House of Windsor. HERBERT EOUTHAM. THE USE OF THE ROYAL ARMS ON WAR MEMORIAL BOARDS (12 S. vi. 312 ; vii. 19). I think it would be distinctly illegal to place the Royal Arms of King George V. over the Roll of Honour in the hall of a school ; o in any other place. The arms are those belonging to the King (like the Roya Standard), and can only be used on certain occasions, and by " Royal Warrant " holders. I presume that if the Kinp "endowed a school, then he might permit hi rivate coat-of-arms to be used in some way. think that all those schools of the Royal oundation of King Edward VI. can use that aonarch's arms ; I believe many do so. HERBERT SOUTHAM. ROBES OF SERGEANTS-AT-LAW (12 S. i. 334). Some information on this subject s contained in a paper read by me on May 5, 877, to the London and Middlesex Archseo- ogical Society, published in their Trans- lations, v. 234-254. I have been told that ergeant Kinglake endeavoured to revive he wearing of parti-coloured robes without uccess. E. BRABBOOK. Wallington, Surrey. FUNERAL PABLOUB (12 S. vi. 272, 316). ?his term is very commonly used in the Qnited States in the connexion mentioned y MAJOR BALDOCK. In this city an undertaker, who recently purchased a large residence for his business, las placed upon it a sign reading " Mor- tuary Home and Funeral Chapel," and lescribed himself as " Mortician and Em- calmer." The term "mortuary home " is, [ believe, new to this part of the United States, and I have never heard of its use elsewhere. WENDELL HERBRUCH. Canton, Ohio. DAVIDIANS : DAVID GEORGE'S SECT (12 S. vi. 227, 257). De Blainville ('Travels,* vol. i. p. 385) writes that on Jan. 10, 1707, in the council-chamber of the town-house at Basle he was shown " the Portrait of the famous Arch-Heretic, David George, drawn from the Life, who came from Delft in. Holland to reside at Basil with all his Family, in the year 1544." Is this painting still to be seen at Basle, and if so, where ? JOHN B. WAINEWRIGHT FOLK-LORE OF THE ELDER (12 S. i. 94 ; vi. 259, 301). There is still a great deal of the folk-lore of the elder-tree unrecorded. It is supposed to be the tree on which the arch- trait or Judas hanged himself. Its scent is evil, and if, while green, branches are burnt on a bonfire, the Evil One himself, it is said, goes about in torment while the burning lasts. If branches are put on a house-fire the devil rages round the house lashing his tail. Branches of elder brought into a house cause illness and smell of death. On the other hand its virtues are many. A brew of its flowers makes the best country-side remedy for a cold, by inducing a sweat, and flowers and buds make a good emetic
