X.

March 18. 1850.

God tempers the Wind, &c.—­The French proverb, “A brebis tondue Dieu mesure le vent” (God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb), will be found in Quitard’s Dictionnaire etymologique, historique et anecdotique, des Proverbes, et des Locutions proverbiales de la Langue francaise, 8vo.  Paris, 1842.  Mons. Quitard adds the following explanation of the proverb:—­“Dieu proportionne a nos forces les afflictions qu’il nous envoie.”  I have also found this proverb in Furetiere’s Dictionnaire universal de tous les Mots francais, &c. 4 vols. folio, La Haye, 1727.

J.M.

Oxford.  March 18.

The proverb, “A brebis pres tondue, Dieu luy mesure le vent,” is to be found in Jan.  Gruter. Florileg.  Ethico-polit. part. alt. proverb. gallic., p. 353. 8vo.  Francof. 1611.

M.

Oxford.

Guildhalls (No. 20. p. 320)—­These were anciently the halls, or places of meeting, of Guilds, or communities formed for secular or religious purposes, none of which could be legally set up without the King’s licence.  Trade companies were founded, and still exist, in various parts of the kingdom, as “Gilda Mercatorum;” and there is little doubt that this was the origin of the municipal or governing corporate bodies in cities and towns whose “Guildhalls” still remain—­“gildated” and “incorporated” were synonymous terms.

In many places, at one time of considerable importance, where Guilds were established, though the latter have vanished, the name of their Halls has survived.

Your correspondent “A SUBSCRIBER AB INITIO” is referred to Madox, Firma Burgi, which will afford him much information on the subject.

T.E.D.

Exeter.

Treatise of Equivocation.—­In reply to the inquiry of your correspondent “J.M.” (No. 17. p. 263.), I beg to state that, as my name was mentioned in connection with the Query, I wrote to the Rev. James Raine, the librarian of the Durham Cathedral Library, inquiring whether The Treatise of Equivocation existed in the Chapter Library.  From that gentleman I have received this morning the following reply:—­“I cannot find, in this library, the book referred to in the ‘NOTES AND QUERIES,’ neither can I discover it in that of Bishop Cosin.  The Catalogue of the latter is, however, very defective.  The said publication (’NOTES AND QUERIES’) promises to be very useful.”  Although this information is of a purely negative character, yet I thought it right to endeavour to satisfy your correspondent’s curiosity.

BERIAH BOTFIELD.

Nortan Hall.

Judas Bell (No. 13. p. 195.; No. 15. p. 235.).—­The lines here quoted by “C.W.G.,” from “a singular Scotch poem,” evidently mean to express or examplify discord; and the words “to jingle Judas bells,” refer to “bells jangled, out of tune, and harsh.”