of ---- Abbott of Farnham, co.
Surrey.

I wish especially to know what became of Thomas Abbott, only son of Robert,
Bishop of Sarum; which Thomas dedicated his father's treatise against
Bellarmine in 1619 to his uncle the Archbishop, calling himself in the
preface, "imbellis homuncio." His sister was wife to Sir Nathaniel Brent,
whose younger son Nathaniel left all his property to his cousin Maurice
Abbott, of St. Andrew's, Holborn, Gent., in 1688; which Maurice was
possibly son to Thomas.

G. E. ADAMS.

36. Lincoln's Inn Fields.

"_Mairdil_" (Vol. viii., p. 411.).--Is there any affinity between the word
_mairdil_, which is used in Forfarshire, to be overcome with fatigue for
any oppressive or intricate piece of work, and the word _mardel_ or
_mardle_, which signifies to gossip in Norfolk, as stated by MR. J. L.
SISSON? What will H. C. K. say to this subject? Jamieson confines _mairdil_
to an adjective, signifying unwieldy; but I have often heard work-people in
Forfarshire declare they were "perfectly _mairdiled_" with a piece of heavy
work, using the word as a passive verb. _Trachled_ has nearly the same
meaning, but it is chiefly confined to describe fatigue arising from
walking a long distance.

HENRY STEPHENS.

_Bell at Rouen_ (Vol. viii., p. 448.).--Your valuable correspondent W.
SPARROW SIMPSON, B.A., has probably taken his account of the great bell in
the cathedral at Rouen from a note made before the French Revolution of
1792-3, because the George d'Ambois, which was once considered the largest
bell in Europe (it was thirteen feet high, and eleven feet in diameter),
excepting that at Moscow, shared the destructive fate of many others at
that eventful period, and was melted down for cannon. In 1814 the bulb of
its clapper was outside the door of a blacksmith's shop, as you go out of
the city towards Dieppe. It was pointed out to me by a friend with whom I
was then travelling--a gentleman of the neighbourhood, who was at Rouen at
the time it was brought there--and there, if I mistake not, but I cannot
find my note, I saw it again within the last ten years.

H. T. ELLACOMBE.

Rectory, Clyst St. George.

{234}

_Smiths and Robinsons_ (Vol. ix., p. 148.).--Arms of Smith of Curdley, co.
Lancaster: Argent, a cheveron sable between three roses gules, barbed, vert
seeded, or.

Robinson (of Yorkshire): Vert, a cheveron between three roebucks trippant
or. Crest, a roebuck as in the arms. Motto, "Virtute non