“I came to Venice, and quickly took a survey of the whole model of the city, together with the most remarkable matters thereof; and shortly after any arrival in England I overcame any adversaries in the Town of Evill, in my native county of Somersetshire, who thought to have sunk me in a bargain of pilchards, as the wise men of Gottam went about to drown an eel.”

5.  Dr. More’s Antidote against Atheism, cap. ii.  Sec. 14.: 

“But because so many bullets joggled together in a man’s hat will settle a determinate figure, or because the frost and wind will draw upon doors and glass windows pretty uncouth streaks like feathers and other fooleries which are to no use or purpose, try infer thence, that all the contrivances that are in nature, even the frame of the bodies, both of men and beasts, are from no other principle but the jumbling together of the matter, and so because that this doth naturally effect something, that is the cause of all things, seems to me to be reasoning in the same mood and figure with that wise market man’s, who, going down a hill and carrying his cheeses under his arms, one of them falling and trundling down the hill very fast, let the other go after it appointing them all to meet him at his house at Gotham, not doubting but they beginning so hopefully, would be able to make good the whole journey; or like another of the same town, who perceiving that his iron trevet he had bought had three feet, and could stand, expected also that it should walk too, and save him the labour of the carriage.”

6.  Col.  T. Perronet Thompson’s Works, vol. ii. p. 236., Anti-Corn-Law Tracts:—­

    “If fooleries of this kind go on, Gotham will be put in Schedule A.,
    and the representation of Unreason transferred into the West Riding.”

J.R.M., M.A.

K.C.L.  Nov. 26. 1850.

* * * * *

HERSTMONCEUX CASTLE.

Can you find an early place in your pages for the following Queries relative to the history of Herstmonceux Castle and its lords, on which a memoir is in preparation for the next volume of the collections of the Sussex Archaeological Society.

1.  Who was Pharamuse of Boulogne, father of Sybil de Tingry?  He is called the nephew of Maud, King Stephen’s wife; but I believe there is no doubt that she was the only child and sole heir of Eustace Earl of Boulogne, brother of Godfrey, King of Jerusalem.  Where is Tingry, of which place he was lord?  Is there any place in the North of France bearing that name now?

2.  Will any one well skilled in the interpretation of ancient legal documents furnish some explanation of the following extracts from the Rotul. de Fin. (Hardy, i. 19.):—­

    “1199.  William de Warburton and Ingelram de Monceux give 500 marks to
    the king for having the inheritance of Juliana, wife of William, son of
    Aymer, whose next of kin they say they are.”