Devenschyr, le Wayte, et Alicia de Wetinge, ux. ej.

1307. Johes Mengy de Besthorp, et Martha de Felmingham, ux. ej.

—— Thos. Toyth, et Juliana le Ropere, ux. ej.

1316. Agnes Richeman (Rickman), Relicta Ric. Holveston defti.

1318. Rob. de Poswyk, Taverner, et Alicia Godesman, ux. ej.

1352. Isabell. de Mundham fuit ux. Willi de Dunston, et nunc uxor Simonis Spencer."

It is also to be noticed that wives, if more than once married, are frequently described in old documents by the names, distinctly and united, of their several husbands.

III. Examples of changes in the form of particular designations:

Between 1332 and 1348 the name borne by the famous knight, Sir Rob. de Salle, commemorated by Froissart, and who was killed by the insurgents near Norwich in 1381, is severally written, de la Sale, de Salle, de Aula, de la S'aule, de Halle, Saul, and Halle.

In temps. Ed. II. and III. is the following name thus modified: Fitz Benedict, Benediscite, Bendiste, Bendish, Bennett.

The twenty-ninth bishop of Norwich (1446-1472) is styled Walter Lyhart, Le Hert, and Hart.

In 1337 we have "Jas. de Briseworth als. de Bliclingg;" and in 1368, "Johes. de Welburn (Frat. Thome de Welburn nuper defti), als. de Cobeslound de Welburne, Taverner."

Then, again, it were easy to produce innumerable examples of professional and business descriptions, which have originated many modern surnames, as Joh. le Lytester (Lister, Dyer), Regin, le Paumer (Palmer), Bateman le Espicer, (Spicer), &c.

But this Note has already somewhat unduly encroached upon your pages; and it is now brought to a conclusion with the single observation, that many of the causes of various readings and differences of form in the same original surname, as well as of a total change from one designation to another, are now in full force and daily practical operation in many isolated parts of the country, where, from the predominance of identical family and baptismal appellations, some method, such as is illustrated in the foregoing examples, must obviously be adopted, in order to distinguish one individual from another. In many of the remote valleys, indeed, of the North of England, a more comprehensive reply might be given than that which the unsuccessful gaberlunyie woman, mentioned by Sir W. Scott, received in a certain Scottish dale, when, in the bitterness of her disappointment, she exclaimed, "Are there no Christians here?" and was answered, "Christians! nae; we be a' Elliots and Armstrongs!" So—but certainly not under like circumstances—it might be replied, "We're a' Meccas (Ang. Metcalfes)!"

COWGILL.

Number of Surnames.

—Probably some of your numerous correspondents could give me some idea as to the number of surnames there are in this country used by British subjects. We have no good work on surnames, as those of Lower and others do not go sufficiently into the subject to satisfy the curiosity of those who wish to know the origin and date of the names in use among us. A work of some study and research, giving all the names in use at present in the country, and showing when they were first adopted or brought into the country, with the changes that have been made in them, would be very interesting, and as worthy, if not more so, than many that are brought before the public.

J. H.

P.S.—I would suggest that the names should be classed in the different periods of history, beginning with the Britons.

LICENSE TO MAKE MALT IN 1596.

Among the old family deeds relating to the manor of Wishanger, I find the following curious and interesting document. It affords evidence that in 1596 there was a dearth of corn which was general through the kingdom; that barley was then much used for bread; that there was a custom, either general, or occasioned by the scarcity, that the poor should be served in open market, at an accustomed hour; that one of the means relied upon to supply food to the people was to restrain the making of malt; and, therefore, that malt liquor must have been very generally consumed by our forefathers at that time.

The writing is in perfect preservation, and the ink jet black.

I give it in the original orthography, according to the literature of those easy times when every man spelled that that was right in his own eyes and the world was little troubled with dictionaries or critics.

JULIUS PARTRIGE.

Birmingham.

"Glour.—Wee, her Mats Justices of the Peace within this Countey, whose names are hereunder writen accordinge to the late orders publyshed by her Matie and the Lo. of her most honorable privye Counsell for and concerninge the dearth of corne and graine, and for the better effectinge whereof we have taken recognizance of all such as shall make any malte, what quantitye they shall make, and where they shall buy it, and when, and to sell the same soe by them converted into malte in the open markett next unto them adioining, and for that none can soe doe without he be thereunto especially licenssed by us and pesented by the Jury Have therefore licenssed and by these psents doe licensse the Bearer hereof Georg Fowler of Hibley to convert into Malte one quarter weekly and to buy the same Barley soe by him to be converted in the any the next Mkett Towne unto him adioininge and that one houre after the poor shall be served at the least. praying yose to whom it shall and may appertaine quietly to pmitt and suffer him soe to doe whout anye of yor lette interupcion or molestation the said Georg Fowler comitinge nothing to the hdance of our last orders only (these[2]) psnts in execution.

"In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names the fourthe of December in the nine and thirtiethe year of the raigne of our Sovraigne lady Elizabethe by the grace of God of England Fraunce and Ireland Queene Defender of the ffaith A.D. 1596.

"H. WINSTON.
⁎⁎⁎
⁎⁎⁎"

[2] The word "these" is not in the original; and two of the three signatures at foot are not readable.

WHERE LOLLARD WAS BURIED, AND WHAT BECAME OF HIS BONES.

In referring to the passage of Heda's history relating to bishop-boiling, the following curious fact caught my eye. Speaking of the same bishop, Florentius de Wevelichoven, he says:

"Fecit et exhumari ossa cujusdam hæretici Matthæi Lollaert atque ante atrium Pontificale comburi, cineresque in fossas urbis dispergi."—Hist. Episcopor. Ultraject. p. 259.

Now though the Christian name, Matthæus, of this Lollaert does not agree with that usually assigned to Lollard, viz., Walter; nor yet this assertion that his bones were dug up, and burned at Utrecht, with the current story that Lollard was buried alive at Cologne; yet it is evident from the note upon this