Made of a quill pluckt from an Angell's winge."
These lines, which I find in the notes to Todd's Milton (vol. v. p. 454., edit. 1826), being addressed "To the King of Scots whom as yet he had not seen," must have been written before 1603, and were first printed on a MS. volume by Todd in his first edition, 1801; where Wordsworth, who was no reader of scarce old tracts like "Diana Primrose's Chain of Pearl," may very probably have seen them.
W. L. N.
Bath.
Smock Marriages (Vol. vi., p. 561.).—In reference to your remark on this article, I remember that a Scotchman once told me that in the Scotch law of marriage there is a clause providing that "all under the apron string" at the time of marriage shall be considered legitimate; and that instances have been known where children born out
of wedlock have been legitimatised, on the marriage of their parents, by being placed beneath the mother's apron, and having the string tied over them, during the ceremony.
Perhaps some of your correspondents can give information as to whether such a provision does, or did, exist in the Scotch marriage law.
F. H. Brett.
Wirksworth.
"Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love," (Vol. iv., pp. 24. 72.).—These lines will be found in Act I. Sc. 1. of J. P. Kemble's comedy of The Panel, which is an alteration from Bickerstaff's comedy of 'Tis Well It's No Worse. Not having access to the original comedy, I am unable to say to which of the two authors the lines should be given; but I presume them to be Kemble's.