Chapter I: J. H. H

St. Asaph.

_University Hood._--What is the origin of wearing hoods to indicate a man's University degree; and how old is the practice?

J. G. F.

_Black Rood in Scotland--Cross Neytz._--Observing that in Vol. ii. of "N. & Q." pp. 308. 409., and in Vol. iii., p. 104., there is a discussion about the "Black Rood of Scotland," which does not seem to be very satisfactorily concluded, I am tempted to send you a passage from Madox's _Baronia Anglica_, p. 268., &c., which seems to bear upon the point in question, but I am not competent to say how far it may serve to throw any light upon the obscurities of the case.

It there appears that 13th Oct. 1306, James Steward of Scotland swore fealty to King Edw. I.:

"By his corporal oath, taken upon the consecrated body of Christ;
and upon _the two holy crosses_, to wit, the _cross Neytz_, and
the _Blakerode Descoce_, and other holy reliques."

"In the priory of Lanrecost, in the diocese of Carlisle, before W.
Bp. of Lichfield and Coventry, the King's Chancellor; and in the
presence of Adomar de Valence."

I perceive in one of your communications, there is mention of the _English Cross, the Cross Nigth_, which in Madox is called "the Cross Neytz." Perhaps some of your antiquarian correspondents will favour us with some explanation of this cross.

I should wish moreover to elicit some further particulars of _Thomas Madox, the Historiographer Royal_, who has so well deserved of all lovers of ancient English history by the four books in folio which he has left us: especially his _Formulare Anglicanum_, and that work of prodigious industry and research, his _History of the Exchequer_. There is some account in Nichols' _Lit. Anecdotes_, but I should wish to see some more particulars of his life and studies, and a more exact critique upon his several works.

J. T. A.

_Crown Jewels once kept at Holt Castle._--I remember reading many years since (I have forgotten both the title and the subject of the work) that the _crown jewels_ were once deposited in Holt Castle, about five miles from Worcester, for greater safety. Can any of your kind correspondents inform me when and upon what turbulent occasion it was thought necessary to forward them to the above stronghold on the banks of the Severn, and who resided there at the time?

J. B. WHITBORNE.

_"Cane Decane," &c._--I should like to know, if you can inform me, where the following couplet is to be found, upon an ecclesiastic singing a hunting song:

"Cane Decane canis; sed ne cane, cane Decane,
De cane, de canis, cane Decane, cane."

Which may be thus freely translated:

"Hoary Deacon, sing; but then,
Not of dogs, but hoary men."

W. W. E. T.

Warwick Square, Belgravia.

_Rev. John Meekins, D.D._--Are there any letters of the Rev. Jno. Meekins, D.D., Oxon., chaplain to George, Prince of Denmark, the royal consort of Queen Anne, extant? and in what year did he die?

MICOENIS.

_Finsbury Manor._--Will some of your correspondents kindly inform me where I can meet with an authority to prove the Lord Mayor of London is styled _mayor_ by virtue of crown charters, and lord as _lord_ of the manor of Finsbury? I have seen such a statement, but cannot bring to mind the work in which it occurred.

AMANUENSIS.

_Frebord._--I want information on this matter, and consider "N. & Q." peculiarly the place wherein to seek it, because it is a matter mainly dependent on local custom. All the notice of Frebord that I have been able to discover in books is derived from Dugdale. For instance, in Jacob's _Law Dictionary_, ed. 1807, I read--

"Frebord, _Franchordus_, ground claimed in some places more or
less, beyond, or without the fence. It is said to contain two foot
and a half."

_Mon. Ang._, tom. ii. p. 141.

I heard, the other day, of a Warwickshire gentleman who claimed ten or twelve feet; but the immediate reason for my Query is a claim at present under the notice of a friend of mine is for sixty-six feet freebord! Is not such a claim preposterous?

P. M. M.

_The Stature of Queen Elizabeth._--In a book entitled _Physico-Theology_, being the substance of sixteen sermons preached in St. Mary-le-Bone Church, London, at the Honourable Mr. Boyle's lectures in 1711 and 1712, with notes, &c., by the Rev. W. Derham (a _second edition_, with additions, published in 1714), the authors, in treating of the stature and size of man's body, says there is great reason to think the size of man was always the same from the Creation; and in a note at page 330., after quoting Dr. Hakewill's _Apolog._ and other authorities, concludes with these words:--

"Nay, besides all this probable, we have some more certain
evidence. Augustus was five foot nine inches high, which was the
just measure of our famous Queen Elizabeth, who exceeded his
height two inches, if proper allowance be made for the difference
between the Roman and our foot."--Vide Hakewill, _Apolog._, p.
215.

Probably some of your learned correspondents may give additional information on this interesting subject.

J. F. ALLEN.

Macclesfield.

_Portrait of Charles Mordaunt, Earl of Peterborough._--Can any of your readers inform me if there exists an original picture of Charles Mordaunt, the famous Earl of Peterborough, and where such can be seen?

A TRAVELLER.

_Inscription by Luther._--In looking at some of the old books in the library of the British Museum, I observed, on the fly-leaf of an old Bible, an inscription by Martin Luther, the meaning of which was the following:--

"Elijah the prophet said, the world had existed 2000 years before
the law (from Adam to Moses); would exist 2000 years under the
Mosaic dispensation (from Moses to Christ), and 2000 years under
the Christian dispensation; and then the world would be burnt."

The manuscript was in German and very much effaced, so that I am not able to remember the words, though I very well remember the meaning.

Could any reader inform me in what part of the Bible this prophecy of Elijah's is to be found? for I have searched for it in vain.