Chenapodium Bonus Henricus, "Mercury Goose-foot," "Good King Henry"?

To all the latter the same Query will apply, What is the origin of the name? It is probable but few of the above names will be now found; or, if found, it will be only in those districts where the march of intellect (?) has not banished all traces of household surgery, home legends, and, I may almost add, home feelings.

Much that is interesting to the antiquary and the naturalist is now fast fading out of the land. The very existence of the cheap literature of the day will rapidly root out all traces of traditionary lore; and strong, steady efforts should be made to rescue as much as possible of it from oblivion. It is with this view I send these Queries; and in case they are deemed worthy of insertion, I purpose to follow them up by a second list of Queries, as to the medical virtues of our wild plants. In the mean time I may add, that any Notes on them, whether as charms or cures, would be most desirable.

Enivri.

Tredagh.

POPULAR SAYINGS.

I would feel obliged, Mr. Editor, if you or any of your North of England readers would favour me direct, or otherwise through the medium of "N. & Q.," with the origin and meaning of the following popular local sayings, peculiar to the North Countrie.

Likewise permit me to observe, that if any of them can favour me, through either of the above channels, with a few more of the "dark sayings of antiquity," either in the form of plain prose or rude rustic rhymes, peculiar to any or all of the five northern counties, to wit, York, Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmoreland, they would not only be conferring an obligation upon myself, but likewise upon every one of your numerous readers who take pleasure in the fast-fading traditional relics of our ancestors.

1. As crafty as a Kendal fox.

2. Like the parson of Saddleworth, who could read in no book but his own.

3. Doncaster daggers.

4. The woful town o' Wetherby.

5. As sure as a louse in Pomfret. (Pontefract.)

6. Like the mayor of Hartlepool, you cannot do that. (Co. Durham.)

7. Looks as vild (worthless) as a pair of Yorkshire sleeves in a goldsmith's shop.

8. Hearts is trumps at Eskett Hall. (Near Felton, Northumberland.)

9. Silly good-natured, like a Hexham goose.

10. There are no rats at Hatfield, nor sparrows at Lindham. (Co. Ebor.)

11. A Dent for a Galloway, a Hind for an ass. (Ibid.)

M. Aislabie Denham.

Piersebridge, Darlington, Durham.

Minor Queries.

Hermit Queries.—1. Some years ago a hermitage existed in certain grounds at Chelsea, the proprietor of which frequently advertised for a hermit, and, I believe, never got one. Who was the proprietor of the said hermitage; and did he ever succeed in getting his toy tenanted?

2. In Gilbert White's poem, Invitation to Selborne, the following lines occur:

The only edition of the "Letters" which I possess, is that by Sir William Jardine and Mr. Jesse, which affords a note on the passage, to the effect that the hermitage referred to was used by a young gentleman, who appeared occasionally "in the character of a hermit." What was the name of the eccentric, and what is known of his hermit life? Is the hermitage still in existence?

3. Where is to be found the best account of anchorites, real and fictitious?

Shirley Hibberd.

Derivation of "Cobb."—What is the derivation of the word Cobb? There is but one harbour of that name in England, that of Lyme Regis: there was once another at Swanage. This was also styled, some three centuries ago, the "Cobb or Conners."

Query: What is the derivation of the family name "Cobham?"

G. R. L.

Play-bills.—Will any of your correspondents inform me in what year play-bills were first introduced; and at what period the year was added to the day of the month and week, which only is attached to the early bills?

J. N. G. G.

Sir Edward Grymes, Bart.—A correspondent in a recent number of the Naval and Military Gazette, asks who was Sir Edward Grymes, Bart., whose appointment appeared in the War Office Gazette of December 10, 1776, as surgeon's mate to the garrison at Minorca, when the baronetcy came into the family, when he died, and whether a gentleman of the same rank has ever, before or since that period, served in a similar situation in the English army?

I have transferred these Queries to the columns of "N. & Q.," supposing that they might be answered by some of its correspondents.

W. W.

Malta.

Smollett's Strap.—In "N. & Q.," Vol. iii., p. 123., is an extract from the Examiner, March 26, 1809, relating to Hugh Hewson, who is there mentioned as being "no less a personage than the identical Hugh Strap."

Mr. Faulkner, in his History of Chelsea, vol. i. p. 171., states that Mr. W. Lewis, of Lombard Street, Chelsea, was the original of this character. He established himself in Chelsea by Smollett's advice, and died there about 1785. Faulkner states that he resided with his widow for seven years, and thus having opportunities of being acquainted with the facts, I am inclined to give his account the preference. Now that these different accounts are brought forward, some reader of "N. & Q." may be enabled with certainty to fix who was the identical.

H. G. D.

The Iron Mask.—Mr. James Cornish (Vol. v., p. 474.) says, that "after half a century's active exertions, the Iron Mask was unveiled," and this sanguine person gives it also as his opinion that the author of Junius's Letters will "eventually be unearthed." The last event may perhaps happen; but what authority has he for asserting that the mysterious secret of the "Masque de Fer" has ever been satisfactorily explained? Numerous, learned, and ingenious, as many of the hypotheses on the subject have been for upwards of a century, I have always imagined that an impenetrable veil of secrecy still continued to cover this wonderful historical mystery.

A. S. A.

Wuzzeerabad.

Bland Family.—In the Carey pedigree in the Ducatus Leodiensis, it is stated that Sir Philip Carey of Hunslet, near Leeds (brother of the first Visct. Falkland), married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Rich. Bland of Carleton (about A.D. 1600). Can any of your numerous readers inform me who this Mr. Bland was, whom he married, and which Carleton is meant?

I have searched the Yorkshire Visitations at the Museum, and consulted Nich. Carlisle's History of the Bland Family, with no result.

Possibly Mr. Hunter, who is so deeply versed in Yorkshire matters, might throw some light on the subject.

G. E. Adams.

Oxford and Cambridge Club.

Thomas Watson, Bishop of St. David's, 1687-99, &c.—No notice of the period or place of his death has yet appeared, nor of the age of Bishop Turner of Calcutta, 1829-31, as also that of Bishop Gobat. Regarding, the latter prelate, as he is styled D.D. in the ecclesiastical almanacks and