Middle Temple
and the Inner Temple, from the foresayd Ioannites.... But the other
third part, called the Outward Temple, Doctor Stapleton, Bishop of
Exceter, had gotten in the raign of the former King, Edward the Second,
and conuerted it to a house for him and his successors, Bishops of
Exceter ... of whom the late Earle of Essex purchased it, and it is now
called Essex house: hauing first beene (as I haue sayd) a part of the
Templers' house, and in regard of the scituation thereof, without the
Barre, was called the Outward or Utter Temple, as the others, for the
like causes, were called the Middle Temple and the Inner Temple."--Sir
George Buc, in _Stow_ by Howes, ed. 1631, p. 1068.

This seems decisive, if Buc is to be relied on, as I think he is. But new
facts, such as MR. FOSS'S researches and MR. BURTT'S diligence are likely
to bring to light, may upset Buc's statement altogether.

I must join MR. FOSS in his wish to ascertain _when_ the names Inner Temple
and Middle Temple were first made use of, with a further Query, which I
should be glad to have settled, _when_ the See of Exeter first obtained the
site of the so-called {376} "Outer Temple?" Stapleton, by whom it was
_perhaps_ obtained, was Bishop of Exeter from 1307 to 1326.

PETER CUNNINGHAM.

* * * * *

OBEISM.

(Vol. iii., p. 59.)

In reply to F. H., I beg leave to state that Obeism is not in itself a
religion, except in the sense in which Burke says that "superstition is the
religion of feeble minds." It is a belief, real or pretended, in the
efficacy of certain spells and incantations, and is to the uneducated negro
what sorcery was to our unenlightened forefathers. This superstition is
known in St. Lucia by the name of _Kembois_. It is still extensively
practised in the West Indies, but there is no reason to suppose that it is
rapidly gaining ground. F. H. will find ample information on the subject in
Pere Labat's _Nouveau Voyage aux Isles francaises de l'Amerique_, tome ii.
p. 59., and tome iv. pp. 447. 499. and 506., edition of 1742; in Bryan
Edwards' _History of the West Indies_, vol. ii. ch. iii., 5th edition
(London, 1819); and in Dr. R. R. Madden's _Residence in the West Indies_,
vol. ii. letter 27. Perhaps the following particulars from Bryan Edwards
(who says he is indebted for them to a Mr. Long) on the etymology of
_obeah_, may be acceptable to some of your readers:--