Minor Queries.
Barrels Regiment.—I suppose that to this regiment a song refers which has for its burden,—
"And ten times a day whip the barrels,
And ten times a day whip the barrels,
Brave boys."
I shall be very much obliged to any one who will tell me where I can find this song, or the circumstances or persons to which it refers. It was probably written about the year 1747.
E. H.
Okey the Regicide.—I should be much obliged for any information relative to the descendants of Colonel John Okey, the regicide, executed April 19, 1662, O.S.
E. P. H.
Clapham.
Lady Mason's Third Husband.—Secretary Davison, in a letter dated London, 23rd December, 1581, and addressed to Lady Mason, requests this lady "to join with his honour her husband" in standing sponsor with Sir Christopher Hatton, or Sir Thomas Skirley, to his son, born a few days before. Sir John Mason, second husband to Lady Mason, died in 1566. Who then was "this honour," her third?
G. S. S.
Creation of Knights.—When were the following knights made?—Sir William Fleming, Sir George Barker, Sir George Hamilton, Sir Edward
de Carteret, Sir William Armourer:—the first by Charles I.; the four following by Charles II.
G. S. S.
Martyn the Regicide.—Was Martyn the regicide married or not? If married, is it known whether he had children? and if any of his children settled in Ireland, and became possessed of property in that country?
E. A. G.
History of the Nonjurors.—What are the best authorities for the history of the Nonjurors and their sufferings? Of course, Lathbury, Hickes's Life of Kettlewell, &c. are well known. Whence came their adopted motto: "Cætera quis nescit?" Any reader who would communicate any information on these points to C. R. would confer a favour.
C. R.
Florin and the Royal Arms.—What is the authority for placing the national arms (which are by royal proclamations ordered to be borne quarterly in ratification of the respective unions, and to be borne under one imperial crown) in separate shields? They surely cannot with any heraldic propriety be so arranged. The absurdity was remarked in the reign of the Georges, for by the separation of the coats the arms of the German Dominions of George I. obtained the second place, viz. the dexter side, with France on the sinister, and Ireland at the bottom or fourth place.
Mat o' the Mint.
A Mistletoe Query.—Why has mistletoe the privilege of allowing the fair sex to be kissed under its branches, on condition that a berry is plucked off at the time? And also, when was this first allowed?[[2]]
J. W. Aston (late of Trin. Col.)
Footnote 2:[(return)]
This Query has been incidentally noticed in "N. & Q.," Vol. v., pp. 13. 208.—Ed.