of the Virginian Company.

Can any of your correspondents kindly inform me from what source I can complete the line of

descent, by filling up the interval of three or four generations between the above Raleigh Gilbert and the Hon. Nathaniel Gilbert mentioned by Mrs. Flannigan?

The present Sir George Colebrook and Sir William Abdy are connected, more or less remotely, with the last-mentioned Mr. Gilbert.

The English branch of the family is now established at Tredrea in Cornwall. (See Burke.)

Any information whatever upon this subject would be exceedingly valuable to the inquirer.

C. Gonville.

Minor Queries.

English Bishops deprived by Queen Elizabeth, 1559.—Mr. Dredge's list (Vol. vi., p. 203.) was very acceptable and interesting; but he has left unanswered several points regarding these bishops. 1. Bishop Scot's death is given as at Louvain, but not the period when it occurred. 2. Bishop Bayne is merely said to have "died at Islington in 1560," month unnoticed. 3. Bishop Goldwell is "said to have died shortly afterwards (1580) at Rome," while I gave my authority as to his being still alive in the year 1584 (Vol. vi., p. 100.). 4. Bishop Pate is said to have also "died at Louvain," but no date is mentioned. 5. Bishop Pole "died in 1568." Is neither the place nor month known? In conclusion, with regard to the "English bishops deprived, 1691," only the years of the deaths of Bishops Frampton and White are stated. I trust Mr. Dredge, if he sees this, will forgive my being so minute and particular in my inquiries on the above points, and kindly recollect that I am far away from all public libraries and sources of information. For the replies he has so readily afforded, I am very grateful indeed.

A. S. A.

Wuzzeerabad.

John Williams of Southwark, Esq. (elder brother of Morgan Williams, who married a daughter of Walter Cromwell of Putney, from whom descended Oliver Cromwell: Jones's Brecknockshire, vol. ii. p. 111.).—Will you, or either of your readers, oblige me with some account of the male descendants of such John Williams; or of John Williams ("heir to the paternal estate" of such Morgan Williams: Waring's Recollections of Iolo Morganwg, p. 162.) and his male descendants, or any references to such account?

Glywysig.

"A Screw."—Why should a broken-down horse be called "a screw?" Is it because he has "a screw loose," or because a force equivalent to the screw-propeller must be applied to make him go? This was discussed at a hunting dinner the other evening, and the guests could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion: neither could they agree as to the definite meaning that should be assigned to "screw," and what description of horse came under that very condemnatory designation. Perhaps "N. & Q." can assist them to a proper meaning.

Cuthbert Bede, B.A.

Tanner's MSS.—In a collection of MSS. relative to Eton College, in Birch and Sloane Collection, British Museum, mention is made of Tanner's MSS., which, at the time these MSS. on Eton were collected (1736), were in the Picture Gallery at Oxford. Are these the MSS. inquired for by your correspondent in Vol. vi., p. 434.?

E. G. B.

The Westminster Assembly of Divines.—On the cover of A Collection of Confessions of Faith, &c., of the Church of Scotland, in my possession, is the following memorandum:

"The minutes of the Westminster Assembly are yet reserved in private hands."—Calamy's Abridgment of Baxter's Life, p. 85.

In Dr. Williams's Library, Redcross Street, there is part of a journal; but Neal, in his History of the Puritans (preface), tells us—

"The records of this Assembly were burnt in the Fire of London."

Strype, preface to Lightfoot's Remains, says:

"A journal of the various debates among the learned men in the Westminster Assembly, was diligently kept by Dr. Lightfoot."

And Strype tells us he had seen it.

I shall be much obliged to any of your readers who can inform me where this journal, or any other, of the proceedings of the Assembly can be procured?

Joseph Stansbury.

The Witch Countess of Morton.—Can any one give me any information about a Countess of Morton who was called "The Witch?" Her picture is at Dalmahoy.

L. M. M. R.

Mary, Daughter of King James I. of Scotland.—This princess is stated to have been married to the Count de Boucquan, son of the Lord of Campoere in Zealand, and she had at least one son, born 1451: any information as to her husband's family, her own death, &c. is requested; for all notitia of our royal princesses are interesting.

A. S. A.

Wuzzeerabad.

Hibernicis Hibernior.—Whence, and what the proper form of this proverbial expression?

W. T. M.

Hong Kong.

The Cucking-stool, when last used.—Can any of the correspondents of "N. & Q." inform me of the latest period at which this instrument of punishment for scolds is recorded to have been used

in England? The most recent instance mentioned by Brand was at Kingston-upon-Thames, in 1745. In Leicester, however (and probably elsewhere), the practice continued to a much later period, as appears by the following entry in our municipal accounts for the year 1768-69:

"Paid Mr. Elliott for a cuckstool by order of Hall, 2l."

I have been informed by an octogenarian inhabitant of this town, that he recollects, when a boy, seeing the cucking-stool placed, as a mark of disgrace, against the residence of a notorious scold; and the fact of this use of it here at so comparatively recent a period has been confirmed by another aged person, so that this practice probably obtained for some years after the punishment by immersion, or exposure upon the cucking-stool, had fallen into desuetude.

Did a similar use of the instrument prevail in other places about the same period?

I may mention that an ancient cucking-stool is still preserved in our town-hall.

Leicestriensis.

Grafts and the Parent Tree.—Is there any ground for a belief that is said to prevail among horticulturists, that the graft perishes when the parent tree decays?

J. P.

Birmingham.

Conway Family.—Is it true that Sir William Konias (founder of the Conway family) was Lord High Constable of England under William the Conqueror? The Welsh pedigrees in the British Museum assert as much, and that he married Isabel, daughter of Baldwin, Earl of Blois; but it does not appear that there was a Count of Blois of that name.

Ursula.

Salt.—Dugdale, in his Antiquities of Warwickshire, p. 294., speaking of the town of Leamington, says:

"All that is further observable touching this place is, that nigh to the east end of the church there is a spring of salt water (not above a stone's throw from the river Leame), whereof the inhabitants make much use for seasoning of meat."

Was salt a scarce article in the midland counties in those days?

When and where was the first