Chapter D: Y. N

[Footnote 2: It refers to Sir Robert Ker Porter's third great battle-piece, AGINCOURT: which memorable battle took place October 25, 1415. Sir Robert presented it to the city of London, and it is still in the possession of the corporation: it was hung up in the Guildhall a few years since.]

[Footnote 3: In 1808, Sir R. K. Porter accompanied Sir John Moore's expedition to the Peninsula, and attended the campaign throughout, up to the closing catastrophe of the battle of Corunna. On his return to England, he published anonymously, _Letters from Portugal and Spain, written during the March of the Troops under Sir John Moore_, 1809, 8vo.--ED.]

_Lord Ball of Bagshot._--Coryat, in his _Crudities_, vol. ii. p. 471., edit. 1776, tells us that at St. Gewere, near Ober-Wesel--

"There hangeth an yron collar fastened in the wall, with one linke fit
to be put upon a man's neck, without any manner of hurt to the party
that weareth it.

"This collar doth every stranger and freshman, the first time that he
passeth that way, put upon his neck, which he must weare so long
standing till he hath redeemed himself with a competent measure of
wine."

Coryat submitted himself to the collar "for novelty sake," and he adds:

"This custome doth carry some kinde of affinity with certain sociable
ceremonies that wee have in a place of England, which are performed by
that most reuerend Lord _Ball_ of Bagshot, in Hampshire, who doth with
many, and indeed more solemne, rites inuest his brothers of his
vnhallowed chappell of Basingstone (Basingstoke?) (as all our men of
the westerne parts of England do know by deare experience to the smart
of their purses), to these merry burgomaisters of Saint _Gewere_ vse to
do."

Will any of your readers state whether the custom is remembered in Hampshire, and afford explanation as to the most Rev. Lord Ball? The writers that I have referred to are silent, and I do not find mention of the custom in the pages of Mr. Urban.

J. H. M.

_Marcarnes._--In Guillim's _Display of Heraldry_ (6th edit., London, 1724), sect. 2. chap. v. p. 32., occurs the following description of a coat of arms: "_Marcarnes_, vaire, a pale, sable."

There is no reference to a Heralds' Visitation, or to the locality in which resided the family bearing this name and coat. It is only mentioned as an instance among many others of the pale in heraldry. I have searched many heraldic books, as well as copies of Heralds' Visitations, but cannot find the name elsewhere. Will any herald advise me how to proceed farther in tracing it?

G. R. M.

_The Claymore._--What is the original weapon to which belongs the name of claymore (_claidh mhor_)? Is it the two-handed sword, or the basket-hilted two-edged sword _now_ bearing the appellation? Is the latter kind of sword peculiar to Scotland? They are frequently to be met with in this part of the country. One was found a few years since plunged up to the hilt in the earth on the Cotswold Hills. It was somewhat longer than the Highland broadsword, but exactly similar to a weapon which I have seen, and which belonged to a Lowland Whig gentleman slain at Bothwell Bridge. If these swords be exclusively Scottish, may they not be relics of the unhappy defeat at Worcester?

FRANCIS JOHN SCOTT.

Tewkesbury.

_Sir William Chester, Kt._--It is said of this gentleman in all the Baronetages, that "he was a great benefactor to the city of London in the time of Edward VI., and that he became so strictly religious, that for a considerable time before his death he retired from all business, entered himself a fellow-commoner at Cambridge, lived there some years' and was reputed a learned man." Did he take any degree at Cambridge, and to what college or hall did he belong? Must there not be some records in the University which will yield this information? I observe the "Graduati Cantabrigienses" only commence in 1659 in the printed list; but there must be older lists than this at Cambridge. Collins mentions that he was so conspicuous in his zeal for the Reformed religion, that he ran great risk of his life in Queen Mary's reign, and that one of his servants was burnt in Smithfield. Can any one inform me of his authority for this statement?

TEWARS.

_Canning on the Treaty of 1824 between the Netherlands and Great Britain._--When and under what circumstances did Canning use the following words?--

"The results of this treaty [of 1824 between England and Holland, to
regulate their respective interests in the East Indies] were an
admission of the principles of free trade. A line of demarcation was
drawn, separating our territories from theirs, and ridding them of
their settlements on the Indian continent. All these objects are now
attained. We have obtained Sincapore, we have got a free trade, and in
return we have given up Bencoolen."

Where are these words to be found, and what is the title of the English paper called by the {366} French _Courier du Commerce_?--From the _Navorscher_.