Minor Queries with Answers.
The Fish "Ruffins."—In Spenser's Faerie Queene we read (book iv. canto 11.), among the river guests that attended the nuptials of Thames and Medway came "Yar, soft washing Norwitch walls;" and farther on, that he brought with him a present of fish for the banquet called ruffins, "whose like none else could show." Was this description of fish peculiar to the Yare? and is there any record of its having been esteemed a delicacy in Elizabeth's reign?
A. S.
[This seems to be the fish noticed by Izaak Walton, called the Ruffe, or Pope, "a fish," says he, "that is not known in some rivers. He is much like the perch for his shape, and taken to be better than the perch, but will grow to be bigger than a gudgeon. He is an excellent fish, no fish that swims is of a pleasanter taste, and he is also excellent to enter a young angler, for he is a greedy biter." In the Faerie Queene, book i. canto iv., Spenser speaks of
"His ruffin raiment all was stain'd with blood
Which he had spilt, and all to rags yrent."
To these lines Mr. Todd has added a note, which gives a clue to the meaning of the word. He says, "Mr. Church here observes, that ruffin is reddish, from the Latin rufus." I suspect, however, that the poet did not intend to specify the colour of the dress, but rather to give a very characteristical expression even to the raiment of Wrath. Ruffin, so spelt, denoted a swashbuckler, or, as we should say, a bully: see Minsheu's Guide into Tongues. Besides, I find in My Ladies' Looking-Glasse, by Barnabe Rich, 4to. 1616, p. 21., a passage which may serve to strengthen my application of ruffin, in this sense, to garment: "The yong woman, that as well in her behaviour, as in the manner of her apparell, is most ruffian like, is accounted the most gallant wench." Now, it appears, that the ruff, or pope, is not only, as Walton says, "a greedy biter," but is extremely voracious in its disposition, and will devour a minnow nearly as big as itself. Its average length is from six to seven inches.]
Origin of the Word Etiquette.—What is the original meaning of the word etiquette? and how did it acquire that secondary meaning which it bears in English?
S. C. G.
[Etiquette, from the Fr. étiquette, Sp. etiqueta, a ticket; delivered not only, as Cotgrave says, for the benefit and advantage of him that receives it, but also entitling to place, to rank; and thus applied to the ceremonious observance of rank or place; to ceremony. Webster adds, "From the original sense of the word, it may be inferred that it was formerly the custom to deliver cards containing orders for regulating ceremonies on public occasions.">[
Henri Quatre.—What was the title of Henry IV. (of Navarre) to the crown of France? or in what way was he related to his predecessor? If any one would be kind enough to answer these he would greatly oblige.
W. W. H.
[Our correspondent will find his Query briefly and satisfactorily answered by Hénault, in his Abrégé de l'Histoire de France, p. 476. His words are: "Henri IV. roi de Navarre, né à Pau, le 13 Décembre, 1553, et ayant droit à la couronne, comme descendant de Robert, Comte de Clermont, qui étoit fils de St. Louis, et qui avoit épousé l'héritière de Bourbon, y parvient en 1589." The lineal descent of Henri from this Count Robert may be seen in L'Art de vérifier les Dates, vol. vi. p. 209., in a table entitled "Généalogie des Valois et des Bourbon; St. Louis IX., Roi de France.">[
"He that complies against his will," &c.; and "To kick the bucket."—Oblige T. C. by giving the correct reading of the familiar couplet, which he apprehends is loosely quoted when expressed—
"Convince a man against his will," &c.
or,
"Persuade a man against his will," &c.
Also by stating the name of the author.
Likewise by giving the origin of the phrase "To kick the bucket," as applied to the death of a person.
[The desired quotation is from Butler's Hudibras, part iii. canto iii. l. 547-8.:
"He that complies against his will,
Is of his own opinion still."
As to the origin of the phrase "To kick the bucket," the tradition among the slang fraternity is, that "One Bolsover having hung himself to a beam while standing on the bottom of a pail, or bucket, kicked the vessel away in order to pry into futurity, and it was all up with him from that moment—Finis!" Our Querist will find a very humorous illustration of its use (too long to quote) in an article on "Anglo-German Dictionaries," contributed by De Quincy to the London Magazine for April, 1823, p. 442.]
St. Nicholas Cole Abbey.—There is a church in the city of London called St. Nicholas Cole Abbey: what is the origin of the name or derivation?
Ellfin ap Gwyddno.
[This Query seems to have baffled old Stowe. He says, "Towards the west end of Knight Rider Street is the parish church of St. Nicolas Cold Abby, a comely church, somewhat ancient, as appeareth by the ways raised thereabout; so that men are forced to descend into the body of the church. It hath been called of many Golden Abby, of some Gold (or Cold) Bey, and so hath the most ancient writing. But I could never learn the cause why it should be so called, and therefore I will let it pass. Perhaps as standing in a cold place, as Cold Harbour, and such like." For communications on the much-disputed etymology of Cold Harbour, see "N. & Q.," Vol. i., p. 60.; Vol. ii., pp. 159. 340.; and Vol. vi., p. 455.]