APRIL 27. 1850.] 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
415 
Query, what is the date of the first introduction 
of the umbrella into England ? 
Epwarp F. Rimpavrt. 
MINOR QUERIES. 
Duke of Marlborough—The Annual Register 
for the year 1758 (pp. 121—127) contains an ac- 
count of the circumstances connected with the trial 
of one Barnard, son of a suryeyor in Abingdon 
Buildings, Westminster, on a charge of sending 
letters to the Duke of Marlborough, threatening 
his life by means “too fatal to be eluded by the 
power of physic,” unless his grace “ procured him 
a zenteel support for his life.” The incidents are 
truly remarkable, pointing most suspiciously to- 
wards Barnard; but he escaped. Can any of your 
readers refer me to where I can find any further 
account or elucidation of this affair? Burrensits. 
“MV. or N.”—Of what words are “ M. or N.” the 
initials? Wide the answers to be given in the 
Church Catechism, and some of the occasional 
offices in the Liturgy. 
[It has been suggested that “ M. or N.” originated 
in a misreading of “ Nom,” a contraction for “ nomen.” 
This is certainly an ingenious explanation, though not 
a satisfactory one. ] 
Song of the Bees—— Who was the author of the 
lines under this title, beginning — 
“ We watch for the light of the moon to break, 
And colour the grey eastern sky 
With its blended hues of saffron and Jake,” &e. 
I have always understood them to be Dr. Aikin’s, 
but latterly that has been contradicted. 
Buriensis. 
William Godwin.— Can any of your correspon- 
dents tell me where I can find an account of the 
leading events of the life of William Godwin, 
author of Caleb Williams, St. Leon, Mandeville, 
&c., or any reference to his last hours? His sen- 
timents, political and religious, are said to have 
been peculiar. N. 
Woodbridge, April 15, 
Regimental Badges.x—When were the regi- 
mental badges granted to the first nine infantry 
corps of the line, and under what circumstances 
were they so granted ? J.C. 
London, April 15. 1850. 
Mother of Thomas a Bechet.— The well-known 
romantic legend of the origin of this lady has been 
introduced into the Pictorial History of England, 
on the authority of “ Brompton, in X Scriptores,” 
And on the same page (552. vol.i.) is a pictorial 
representation of the “‘ Baptism of the Mother of 
Becket, from the Royal Ms. 2 B. vii.” 
Now, Lord Campbell, in his Lives of the Chan- 
cellors, repudiates this story in toto; but without 
assigning any other reason for doing so, than an 
inference from the silence of Becket himself and 
his secretary, Fitzstephen, on the point. 
Can any of the learned gentlemen, whose dis- 
tinguished names adorn your valuable pages, 
direct an humble student to the fountain of truth, 
for the settlement of this vexata questio 2 
W. Franxs Matuews. 
Kidderminster, April 7. 1850. 
Swords worn in public. —Can any of your cor- 
respondents say when swords ceased to be worn as 
an article of ordinary dress, and whether the prac- 
tice was abolished by act of parliament, or that 
they gradually went out of fashion ? J.D.A. 
April 17. 1850. 
Emblem and National Motto of Ireland. — How 
long has the harp been the emblem, and Hrin-go- 
bragh the national motto of Ireland? To this I 
give another query, What is the national motto of 
England ? KE. M. B. 
Latin Distich and Translation. — Who were the 
authors of the following Latin distich, and its 
English translation ? — 
“ Mittitur in disco mihi piseis ab archiepisco— 
—Po non ponatur, quia potus non mihi datur.” 
“‘T had sent me a fish ina great dish by the archbish — 
— Hop is not here, for he gaye me no beer.” 
E. M. B. 
Verbum Grecum. — Who was the author of 
“ Like the verbum Grecum 
Spermagoraiolekitholakanopolides, 
Words that should only be said upon holidays, 
When one has nothing else to do.” 
The verbum Grecum itself is in Aristophanes’ 
Lysistrata, 457. E. M. B. 
Pope Felix.— Who is “ Pope Felix,” mentioned 
in lfric’s Homily on the Birthday of St. Gre- 
gory? ilfric, in speaking of the ancestors of 
St. Gregory, states that “ Felix se eawfaesta papa 
waes his fifta faeder,”—“ Felix the pious pope was 
his fifth father,” (%.e. great grandfather’s grand- 
father). E. M. B. 
April 15. 1850. 
“Where England's Monarch,” and “I'd preach 
as though.’ — Will any of your subscribers have 
the kindness to inform me who was the author of 
the lines — 
“ Where England’s monarch all uncovered sat, 
And Bradshaw bullied in a broad-brimm’d hat.” 
And also of these, quoted by Henry Martyn as 
“ well-known :”” — 
« I’d preach as though I ne’er should preach again, 
I'd preach as dying unto dying men.” ain 
Milford, April 15. 1850. 
