50 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 194. 



In confirmation of this view, let us look to the 

 original language ; there we find the compounds 

 of eag, ea, (Sgh, the eye, of very frequent occur- 

 rence : all of them showing that this compound 

 ea-land is not only legitimate, but extremely pro- 

 bable. Thus we find, eag-aple, the pupil of the 

 eye ; eag-dura, a window-light, eye-door ; eag ece, 

 pain in the eye ; eah-hringas, the orbits of the 

 eyes. In the last instance, the g is dropped ; and 

 it is certain that eag was pronounced nearly as 

 eye now is. From all this, is it too much to con- 

 clude that ea-land is the same as eye-land ? But 

 farther, Ig (A.-S.) sometimes stands by itself for 

 an island, as also do Igland and Igotit, and li 

 was the old name of lona. Now I cannot find 

 that there ever was the slightest connexion between 

 the A.-S. Ig and water; nor do I believe that 

 such an idea would ever have been started, but to 

 support the old derivation of the word ; I have 

 never seen a genuine instance of such connexion 

 brought forward. Then the word Ig, if it be 

 supposed to mean an ei/e, as I contend, may very 

 well stand by itself for island; but, if wafer be 

 expressed by it, I cannot understand how it can 

 serve to import land. 



If any farther confirmation be wanted, we have 

 it in the diminutive eyot, of which ait, aight, eight 

 are corruptions. H. C. K. 



Rectory, Hereford. 



•WEATHER KULES. 



Thomas Passenger, who dwelt at the Three 

 Bibles and Star, on London Bridge, was very 

 celebrated during the latter part of the seventeenth 

 century for publishing popular histories and chap- 

 books. His shop seems to have been the principal 

 place of resort for the hawkers who then supplied 

 the provinces with literature. Many of the works 

 •which issued from his press are now very rare: one 

 of the most curious, and, at the same time, the 

 rarest, is The Shepherd's Kalendar : or, the Citi- 

 zen's and Country Mans Daily Companion, &c. 

 The contents of this book are of a very singular 

 nature, it being a kind of epitome of tlie facts it 

 was then thought necessary for a countryman to 

 be acquainted with. A considerable portion of 

 the work is occupied by remarks on the weather, 

 and on lucky and unlucky days : if I were to extract 

 all on those subjects, this communication would 

 extend to an unreasonable length. 



We are informed, under the head "Observations 

 on Remarkable Days, to know how the whole Year 

 will succeed in Weather, Plenty," &c., that — 



" If the sun shine clear and bright on Christmas day, 

 it promiseth a peaceable year from clamours and strife, 

 and foretells much plenty to ensue : but if the wind 

 blow stormy towards sunset, it betokeneth sickness in 

 the spring and autumn quarters." 



" If January 25 (being St. Paul's day) be fair, it 

 promises a happy year; but if cloudy, windy, or rainy, 

 otherwise : hear in this case what an ancient judicious 

 astrologer writes : 



« If St. Paul be fair and clear, 

 It promises then a happy year ; 

 But if it chance to snow or rain, 

 Then will be dear all sorts of grain: 

 Or if the wind do blow aloft, 

 Great stirs will vex the world full oft; 

 And if dark clouds do muff the sky. 

 Then foul and cattle oft will die.' " 



" Mists or hoar frosts on the tenth of March be- 

 tokens {sic) a plentiful year, but not without some dis- 

 eases." 



" If, in the fall of the leaf in October, many of them 

 wither on the bows, and hang there, it betokens a frosty 

 winter and much snow." 



Under " The Signs of Rain in Creatures " we 

 have the following : 



" When the hern or bitron flies low, the air is gross, 

 and thickening into showers." 



" The froggs much croaking in ditches and pools, 

 &c., in the evening, foretells rain in little time to fol- 

 low : also, the sweating of stone pillars or tombs de- 

 notes rain." 



" The often doping or diving of water fowl foreshows 

 rain is at hand." 



" The peacock's much crying denotes rain." 



There is a list given of Lucky Days, which con- 

 tains all the red letter saints' days of the Reformed 

 English kalendar. We are also informed that 

 there are other days in each month which " are 

 successful enough." Thus — 



" In January there are three, viz. 16. 18. 26. 

 In February there are four, viz. 10. 19. 27. 28. 

 In March there are two, viz. 14. 18. 

 In April there are three, viz. 13. 22. 27. 

 In May there are five, viz. 3. 5. 7. 11. 19. 

 In June there are four, viz. 10. 17. 20. 27. 

 In July there are six, viz. 1. 13. 19. 21. 27. 30. 

 In August there are three, viz. 3. 7. 9. 

 In September there are five, viz. 4. 8. 11. 15. 19. 

 In October there are three, viz. 1 . 8. 13. 

 In November there are four, viz. 3. 9. II. 15. 

 In December there are three, viz. 9. 13. 17." 



Edward Peacock. 

 Bottesford, Messingbam, Kirton-in-Lindsey. 



ON THE MODERN PRACTICE OF ASSUMING ARMS. 



" If any person be advanced into an office or dignity 

 of publique administration, be it eyther ecclesiasticall, 

 martiall, or ciuill : so that the same office compre- 

 hendeth in it idigiiitatem vel dignitatis titulum, either 

 dignitie or (at the least) a title of dignitye : the 

 Heralde must not refuse to devise to such a publique 

 person, upon his instant request and willingnes to 

 beare the same without reproche, a coate of armes : 

 and thenceforth to matriculate him, with his inter- 



