320 
NOTES AND QUERIES. [No. 20. | 
may probably be translated “ offices.” See Du- 
eange (Paris Edit. 1845) under the words miste- 
rium and ministerium. Zoscop appears to be a 
word of similar formation to Laudcop and Lahcop 
which occur in the Laws of Ethelred, (Thorpe’s 
Ancient Laws, vol. i. pp. 294, 295). Can it mean 
a fee paid on loosing the vessel in order to leave 
the port ? C. W. G. 
Ormonde House. — Perhaps some of your anno- 
tators on Cunningham's Hand-book of London, will 
be so kind as to inform me whereabouts “* Ormonde 
House” stood in St. James’s Square; also to state 
any particulars respecting its history before and 
afier it was occupied by that noble family. J.G. 
As Morse caught the Mare. —I shall be glad to 
be informed the meaning of this expression — it 
is to be met with in the translation of Rabelais. 
There is also a song sung among the farmers of 
South Devon, of which the last line of each verse 
is “ As Morse caught the Mare.” R.S. B. 
Dustpot — Forthlot. — In a Manorial Compotus, 
temp. Hen. V., I find the following entry, under 
the head of Out-goings : — 
«In custodes earucarum et earectarum nil quia per 
firmarium. Item pro eorum duspot (xij") nil, causa 
predicta. Item pro eorum forlot (ilij*) nil, causa 
predicta,” &c. 
I have in vain consulted the glossaries within 
my reach, — Ducange, Spelman, Halliwell, for the 
meaning of the terms duspot and forlot (or, as 
spelt in another Compotus, dustpot and forthiot). 
They appear to have been customary payments to 
the servants who had the care of the carts and 
carriages belonging to the manor, which, at the 
time of this particular Compotus, were not pay- 
able by the lord, because the demesne lands were 
in farm ; and these dues were paid by the tenant. 
A reference to the Promptorium Parvulorum (a 
further instalment of which I rejoice to learn, 
from Mr. Way’s communication, in No. 15., is in 
a state of progress,) has been equally unpro- 
ductive. The editorial note to the communi- 
cations inserted in No.17., on the interpretation 
of Pokership, induces me to send you this query, 
in the hope of eliciting information, if not from 
the gentleman you there refer to, at least from 
some one or other of your numerous readers 
learned in Archaic words. 
I may, at a future period, trouble you with 
some further remarks arising out of the same 
Compotus. G. A.C. 
Tracts attributed to Eachard.— The writer of 
this article has long had in his possession an old 
volume (among many others of a like kind in his 
collection) published in 1685; and containing the 
following tracts : — Ist. ‘The Grounds and Oc- 
casions of the Contempt of the Clergy,....ina 
letter written to R. L., 9th edition.” This letter 
is signed, T.B. 2nd. “ Observations upon the 
Answer to the Inquiry, &c., in a second Letter 
from T. B. to R. L.” 3rd. “ Hobbe’s State of 
Nature, considered, in a Dialogue between Phi- 
lautus and Timothy;” the “ Epistle Dedicatory” 
is signed, J. E. 4th. “A Letter to his Old Dear 
Friend R. L. from T. B.” 5th. “ A Letter to 
B. D.,” the publisher of Mr. Herbert’s Country 
Parson, from T. B. 6th. “A Letter to the 
Author of the Vindication of the Clergy,” from 
T.B. 7th. “A Letter to T. D.,” the Author of 
Hieragonisticon, or Corah’s Doom, from T. B. 
8th, “ A Letter to I. O. from T. B.” 
Now, it is mentioned in Dr. Hooke’s Ecele- 
siastical Biography (vol. iv., art. Eachard), that 
Eachard was the author of these tracts. But the 
queries I would beg to propose, if any of your 
correspondents can answer them, are these : — 
Ist. Why does Eachard sign himself T. B.; does 
that signature allude to any matter in particular ? 
2nd. Who are meant by the other letters, R. L., 
B.D., I O., &e.; and who, if any persons, in par- 
ticular, by Philautus, and Timothy; and who was 
the author of Hieragonisticon. 
Perhaps “ Philautus” should rather be “ Phi- 
laufos,” and may mean “ Hobbes” himself, as a 
self-sufficient person, and a great admirer or lover 
of himself. I wish these queries may not be 
thought too insignificant for your periodical, 
which to me, and so many others, is of peculiar 
interest and value. Gro. Wyarrt. (Clerk.) 
Burghwallis, 1850. 
Queen of Hearts. — Permit me to request some 
explanation of a passage in Miss Strickland’s Life 
of Queen Elizabeth (vol. vii. p. 292.), where we are 
told that — ; 
“ Lady Southwell affirms that the two ladies in 
waiting discovered the Queen of Hearts, with a nail of 
Iron knocked through the forehead, and thus fastened 
to the bottom of her chair: they durst not pull it out, 
remembering that the like thing was used to the old 
Countess of Sussex, and afterwards proved a witch- 
craft, for which certain persons were hanged,” 
The author moralises upon this, but does not 
refer us to any authority, or tell where the affirma- 
tion of Lady Southwell is to be found, or where 
the account of the old countess is given; defects 
which I hope some of your correspondents will be 
good enough to supply. F R.A. 
Guildhalls. — There are in most villages in this 
neighbourhood houses which from time imme- 
morial have been called Guildhalls. These are 
situate among such small populations that they 
are manifestly unconnected with trade. Will any 
of your correspondents tell me — 
Ist. Why are they called Guildhalls ? 
2nd. For what purpose were they anciently 
used ? 
