aid his addresses, saw through the disguise at first; but
from the king's good acting, when he pretended to be afraid that the dongs
would "rive his meal pokes," she began to think she had been mistaken. Then
she expressed her disgust by saying, that she had thought her lover could
not be anything less than the Laird of Brodie, the highest untitled
gentleman probably in the neighbourhood: implying that she suspected he
might be peer or prince.

W. C.

_Mulciber_ (Vol. viii., p. 102).--It may not be a sufficient answer to MR.
WARD'S Query, but I wish to state that there was no "Mayor of Bromigham"
until after the passing of the Reform Bill. I think that it may be inferred
from the extract given below, that the mayor was no more a reality than the
shield which he is said to have wrought:

"His shield was wrought, if we may credit Fame,
By Mulciber, the Mayor of Bromigham.
A foliage of dissembl'd senna leaves
Grav'd round its brim, the wond'ring sight deceives.
Embost upon its field, a battle stood,
Of leeches spouting hemorrhoidal blood.
The artist too expresst the solemn state,
Of grave physicians at a consult met;
About each symptom how they disagree!
But how unanimous in case of fee!
And whilst one ass-ass-in another plies
With starch'd civilities--the patient dyes."

N. W. S.

_Voiding Knife_ (Vol. vi., pp. 150. 280.).--The following quotation from
Leland will throw more light on the ancient custom of _voyding_:

"In the mean time the server geueth a voyder to the carver, and he doth
_voyde_ into it the trenchers that lyeth under the _knyues_ point, and
so cleanseth the tables cleane."--_Collectanea_, vol. vi. p. 11., "The
Intronization of Nevill."

Q.

Bloomsbury.

_Sir John Vanbrugh_ (Vol. viii., pp. 65. 160.).--Previous to sending you my
Query about the birthplace of Sir John Vanbrugh, I had carefully gone
through the Registers of the Holy Trinity parish, Chester, and had
discovered the baptisms or burials of seven sons and six daughters of Mr.
Giles Vanbrugh duly registered therein. Sir John's name is not included in
the list; therefore, if he was born in Chester, his baptism must have been
registered at one of the many other parish churches of this city. The
registers of St. Peter's Church, a neighbouring parish, have also been
{233} examined, but contain no notice of the baptism of the future knight.
I will, however, continue the chace; and should I eventua