Erratum.  P. 181 col. 2. line 3., for obscurities, read obscenities.

Cambridge, Jan. 31. 1850.

GASTROS.

Pokership—­God tempers the Wind.—­I am disposed to think that Parkership will turn out to be the right explanation, because almost every forest or chase contained a fenced park, in which the deer were confined; and the charge of the woods and park might be consigned to the same person; and the error in spelling the word was probably copied from one genealogist to another.

Nevertheless, Mr. Corney’s conjecture may be right, as Forby (Vocabulary, vol. ii. p. 258.) mentions Poke-Day as the day on which the allowance of corn is made to the labourers, who, in some places, receive a part of their wages in that form. Now the Pokerer might be the officer who distributed the grain on these occasions.

I open my note to add, that Mr. Gutch (No. 14. p. 211.) will find, in Sterne’s Sentimental Journey,—­“God tempers the wind,” said Maria, “to the shorn lamb.”

The words which I have underlined are printed in Italics in my edition of the work (London, 12mo. 1790), which may indicate that they are quoted from some other author.

BRAYBROOKE.

Audley End, Feb. 2.

Walewich or Watewich.—­I have made the reference suggested by “W.B.M.”

Canute was residing at Walewich, and the Abbot of Ely was consecrated there by the Archbishop of Canterbury.  This “Walewich” can be no obscure place, and we need not look for it in Cambridgeshire.

I am inclined to think that the word ought to have been written Warewich, i.e. Warwick.

Soham Mere (Mare de Soham) once covered 1369-1/2 acres.—­Lyson’s Cambridge, 254.

Portum Pusillum, if not Littleport, was a place upon the Cam or the Ouse, within sight of Ely Minster.

Does your correspondent suppose that Northmouth was among the fens?  If so, he may consult Inquisitio Eliensis, or Dugdale’s Map of the Bedford Level, which is in the Museum.

J.F.M.

Dec. 22.

Madoc’s Emigration to America.—­“ANGLO-CAMBRIAN” (No. 4. p. 57.), in contradiction to the occurrence of Madoc’s emigration, has adduced what he supposes to be a gross anachronism in the words “Madoc was directed by the best compass, and this in 1170!” Now, unfortunately for this opinion, the passage on which it is founded will not allow of his interpretation.  The original words are in Sir Thomas Herbert’s Travels, and, in his expressive language, they are as follows:—­“By Providence, the best compass, and benefit of the pole-star, he returned safely to his own country.”  Most certainly this cannot imply that Madoc was acquainted with the mariner’s compass.