gad §, No23., June 7. °56.] 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
445 
LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1856. 
MR. BELLENDEN KER’s “ ARCHEOLOGY OF POPULAR 
RHYMES AND PHRASES.” 
The reference to this extraordinary work by 
my friend E.G. [of] R. (2°78, i. p. 240.), prompts 
me to make the following Query :—Is it meant 
ta be merely a jeu d'esprit, or have we ali been 
wandering about, like the Shakspearian annota- 
tors, in a foundationless and uncertain system of 
conjectural criticism, as regards these matters, 
while a sure and unerring guide unexpected as 
Mr. Collier's unknown corrector of the folio of 
1632, stood ready to direct us into the true path ? 
The basis of the argument is, that our ancient 
language, at some uncertain period which Mr. 
Bellenden Ker does not define, was identical with 
the Low-Saxon, Alt-Sachsisch, Platt-Deutsch, or 
Deudisch ; which still survives, as to the main, in 
what we now call Dutch; and that this assumed 
language is the parent of the sister-dialects, En- 
glish and Anglo-Saxon. Upon this theory he 
explains many of our nursery rhymes, proverbs, 
and provincial words to be merely corruptions 
of Dutch expressions; corresponding in sound, 
though not in orthographical form, and not always 
in sense, with what we are in thg habit of using, 
however apposi@ély, as we think’ “If this view,” 
therefore, as Mr. Bellenden Ker remarks, “ I have 
presented of the sources of such phrases and terms 
is the true one, the former etymological basis of 
the lexicography of our language vanishes, to be 
replaced (Query) by 2 sounder one.” Now, most 
etymologists admit that much additional light 
might be thrown upon our colloquial expressions, 
and especially on provincialisms, by a comparison 
of the Friesic and Low-Dutch dialects with the 
Anglo-Saxon ; but certainly I am unprepared for 
the extent which Mr. Bellenden Ker alleges, 
“To kick against the pricks,” with him is not a 
translation of pds kévrpa Auxritew in the inspired 
narrative, but “ T’x kicke, er geen’s’t die bruich’s ;” 
q. e. “ Keep it to yourself, if it is nothing that cus- 
tom admits to be said.” ‘ Great ery and little 
wool,” is popularly believed to be the result of an 
abortive attempt to shear a pig; but with Mr, 
Ker it becomes “ G'ereedt hracije aen littel woel,” 
“The crow gets ready upon a slight disturb- 
ance.” 
A “Will of the wisp,” becomes “ Er! wild af 
de wijse'p,’ ‘There! a spontaneous production 
which lights forwatds.” ‘Old Harry” is divested 
of his terrors, and is simply ‘* Hold arrighe,” “A 
deceitful vassalage.” 
“Teach your grandmother to suck eggs,” 
“ Dies uwer geracden moed, Heer, ’te soeck is,” 
“Tn this case, Sir, whatever you can deyise is no 
service.” “He has got the wrong sow by the 
ear,” “ Hie haest gij hotte dij wrongh so by die 
hier.” And, lastly, a jackass is “ Er j’ ack aes,” 
“ There’s the creature of chance food!” 
I can give no opinion upon instances such ag 
these. Mr, Ker complains bitterly of the remarks 
of The Atheneum and the editor of The Times 
(Qu. reference ?) ; but at the risk of being accused 
“of want of argument,” and other more severe 
charges, I fear, with no more light than I see at 
present, I should be compelled to join them. I 
conclude with Mr. Ker’s version of * Hie! diddle 
diddle :” — 
“ Hye’ died t’el, died t’el 
De guit end de vied t’el. 
De kauw j‘hummt; ‘ Hoeve eer; dij moé aen, ” 
De lij t’el doghe laft tot sij sus sport ; 
Hou yl te dies: Ran! haft er dij spaé aen.” 
His translation I refrain from, in hopes that 
De Navorscher, or some one versed in the lan- 
guage, will give us the locality where it is preva- 
lent. E. 8, Taytor. 
THE OLDEST INSURANCE NEWSPAPER. 
[The following, headed as above, appeared in 
the Provident Times, No. 1., Feb. 1854. As the 
paper lived through but five numbers, and scarcely 
sold at all, it is but fair to conclude that in a few 
years not a single number will remain. There 
are some good articles in No. L., but this alone I 
extract as likely to be useful to some readers of 
“N. & Q."] 
“ Numb. 398. Tae Britiss Mercury. Printed for 
the Company of the Sun-Fire- Office,in Threadneedle-Street, 
behind the Royal-Exchange, London; where Policies in 
due Form are deliver’d out for Insuring Houses, moveable 
Goods, Furniture, and Wares from Loss and Damage 
by Fire in any Part of Great Britain, to the Value of 
5007. each Policy, to any Person who shall take them, paying 
the Stamp-Duty, and the first Quarter, viz. Two Shillings 
if they desire no British-Mercury, or Two Shillings and 
six Pence if they will have it. (3° Either of which Quar- 
teridges they are to pay within fifteen Ways after every 
usual Quarter-day of the Year. The rest of the Conditions of 
the Insurance are contain’d in the Company’s Proposals, 
printed the 4th of July last, which are to be had gratis at 
their said Office. Wednesday, February 18, 1712.” 
Such is the heading to the 398th number of 
the first insurance newspaper ever published. 
Whether it was the means or not of making the 
“Sun” the most successful of the fire-offices we 
cannot tell; but we may venture to assert that it 
tended not a little to make it publicly known. 
But to the paper. 
It then gives a continuation of the “ History of 
the World,” extending over three pages, haying 
been begun in a previous number. On the fourth 
begin extracts from the Amsterdam Courant, the 
Leyden Courant, and the Hague Courant ; brought 
over by three mails from Flanders, and giving an 
account of the war in Holland. But one piece of 
