The Quarrelsome Weasel. 
73 
nard’s aunt had the reputation of great wisdom, and 
was much dreaded on account of her unlimited power of 
mischief. That mousehunt was at a much later period 
the name of an animal is evident from a passage in 
Milton 
“ Although I know that many pretend to be great rabies in these 
studies, have scarce saluted them from the strings to the title page; 
or to give them more, have been but the mousehunts and ferrets of an 
index.” (Of Reformation in England , etc.) 
The Weasel, like the polecat, was a great enemy to 
poultry. Shakspeare compares England’s Weasel 
invading neighbour to this little intruder :— 
“ For once the eagle England being in prey, 
To her unguarded nest the weasel Scot 
Comes sneaking, and so sucks her princely eggs. 
Playing the mouse in absence of the cat, 
To tear and havoc more than she can eat.” 
(Henry V., i. 2, 169.) 
Pisanio warns Imogen that if she assumes male attire 
she must adopt the manners “ should attend it.” She 
must be— 
“ Eeady in gibes, quick-answer’d, saucy, and 
As quarrelous as the weasel.” 
(Oymbeline, iii. 4, 161.) 
Owing to the want of accurate knowledge of animals 
great confusion exists as to the names given 
to the furs worn at this period. According 
to some authors, Miniver was the lighter portion of the 
skin of squirrels and weasels. According to others it 
was the skin of a small animal caught in Kussia. 
Henry VII. wore at his coronation a “ surcote closed, 
furred with menyver pure, a hode of estate furred with 
menyver pure and purfuld [bordered] with ermyns, a 
gret mantell of crymesyn saten furred also with menyver 
pure.” From this record it would appear that the fur 
