."

Again, in Pipe 3 Joh.

"In liberatione constituta portario de Hereford, 30s. 5d."

A similar entry is to be found in other rolls, as well printed as
inedited. I could indulge some other criticisms on the communication
of your correspondent in Spring Gardens, but I prefer encouraging
him to make further inquiries, and to produce from the records in
his custody some more satisfactory solution of the difficulty. In the
meantime, let me refer to a Survey of Wrigmore Castle in the Lansdowne
Collection, No. 40. fo. 82. The surveyor there reports, that the
paling, rails, &c. of the park are much decayed in many and sundry
places, and he estimates the repairs, with allowance of timber from
the wood there, "by good surveye and oversight of the _poker_ and
other officers of the said parke," at 4l. The date of the survey is 13
May, 1584.

Comparing this notice of the office with the receiver's accounts
tempore Hen. VII. and Hen. VIII. (_ante_, p. 269.), in which the
officer is called "pocarius omnium boscorum," I cannot doubt that his
duty, or at least one of his duties, was that of woodward, and that,
as such, he assigned timber for repair of the premises. How he came by
his local title and style of poker is a mystery on which we have all
hitherto failed to throw any light.

E.S.

_Vox Populi Vox Dei_,--about the origin of which saying "QUAESITOR"
asks (No. 21. p. 321.),--were the words chosen by the Archbishop of
Canterbury, Simon Mepham, as his text for the sermon which he preached
when Edward III. was called to the throne, from which the nation had
pulled down his father, Edward II. This we learn from Walsingham, who
says:

"Archiepiscopus vero Cantuariae praesenti consensit electioni,
ut omnes praelati et archiepiscopus quidem assumpto themate,
_Vox populi Vox Dei_, sermonem fecit populo, exhortans
omnes ut apud regem regum intercederent pro electo."--Tho.
Walsingham, _Hist. Angl._ ed. Camden, p. 126.

DANIEL ROCK.

_A living Dog better than a dead Lion_.--I no not know whether your
correspondent (No. 22. p. 352.) ever goes to church; but if he is not
prevented by rain next St. Swithin's day, he will learn who was the
author of this proverb. It will be a good thing, if your work should
sometimes lead your readers to search the Scriptures, and give them
credit for wisdom that has flowed from them so long, and far, and
wide, that its source is forgotten; but this is not the place for a