Notes and Queries, Number 85, June 14, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.   By: Various

NOTES AND QUERIES:

A MEDIUM OF INTER COMMUNICATION

FOR

LITERARY MEN, ARTISTS, ANTIQUARIES, GENEALOGISTS, ETC.

"When found, make a note of." CAPTAIN CUTTLE.

VOL. III. No. 85. SATURDAY, JUNE 14. 1851.

Price Threepence. Stamped Edition 4 d.

CONTENTS.

NOTES:

Illustrations of Chaucer, No. VIII.: The Armorican Word "Menez" 473

Folk Talk: "Eysell," "Captious" 474

An Old Man whose Father lived in the Time of Oliver Cromwell 475

Minor Notes: On a Passage in Sedley On a Passage in "Romeo and Juliet" Inscription on a Tablet in Limerick Cathedral 476

QUERIES:

Princesses of Wales 477

Minor Queries: Lady Mary Cavendish Covey Book wanted to purchase The Devil's Bit Corpse passing makes a Right of Way Nao, a Ship William Hone Hand giving the Blessing Tinsell, a Meaning of Arches of Pelaga Emiott Arms Well Chapels Davy Jones's Locker Æsopus Epulans Written Sermons Pallavicino and the Conte d'Olivares 477

MINOR QUERIES ANSWERED: Athelney Castle, Somersetshire Legend of St. Molaisse Bogatzky 478

REPLIES:

Greene's Groatsworth of Witte, by Rev. Thos. Corser 479

The Dutch Martyrology 479

Replies to Minor Queries: Spick and Span New Under the Rose Handel's Occasional Oratorio Stone Chalice Thanksgiving Book Carved Ceiling in Dorsetshire "Felix quem faciunt," &c. The Saint Graal Skeletons at Egyptian Banquet Sewell Col fabias Poem from the Digby MS. Umbrella The Curse of Scotland Bawn Catacombs and Bone houses Bacon and Fagan To learn by heart Auriga Vineyards in England Barker The Tanthony, &c. 480

MISCELLANEOUS:

Notes on Books, Sales, Catalogues, &c. 487

Books and Odd Volumes wanted 487

Notices to Correspondents 487

Advertisements 487

Notes.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF CHAUCER, NO. VIII.

(Vol. iii., pp. 388. 420.)

The Armorican Word "Menez."

I have been induced, in consequence of the scene of one of the Canterbury Tales being

"In Armorike that called is Bretaigne,"

to re examine that tale (the Frankleine's) in the expectation that in it, if anywhere, some light might be thrown upon this newly discovered Chaucerian word "menez"; and I think I have succeeded in detecting its use in the sense of points or summits of rocks emerging from the surface of the water.

But in weighing the probability of this being the true sense in which it is used in the present instance by Chaucer, the wide applicability of the word "means" in its usual acceptation of instrument to an end , must not be lost sight of. There is scarcely the name of any one thing for which "means" may not be made a plausible substitution; so much so, that if a man were to ask for a hat to cover his head, his demand would be quite intelligible if expressed by "a means" to cover his head.