There are also charges "for wyne drunk at the exercist dinners, on the viijth of Jany, the fyfthe of Marche, and the ixth of April," 1605. Were these meetings held for the purpose of exorcising the evil spirits and witches, the belief in which had at that time greatly increased in England, through the recent accession of "the modern Solomon" to the throne? and, if so, was the practice a general one, or were they merely for religious exercises?
A few years afterwards nine unfortunate women were tried at our assizes for witchcraft, and were convicted and executed!
Leicestriensis.
Ecclus. xlvi. 20.—Why does the Church order this verse to be omitted in the reading of the lessons? Is it because the passage assumes the fact that Samuel himself appeared to Saul—a statement open to discussion?
Bœoticus.
Edgmond, Salop.
Etymology of Burrow.—In the north of Gloucestershire I have met with the word burrow (I do not answer for the orthography), meaning sheltered, secure from wind, &c. The side of a thick coppice was spoken of as "a very burrow place for cattle." Can any of your correspondents give the etymology of the word, or other instances of its use?
Balliolensis.
Alexander Adamson.—I should be glad to know who Alexander Adamson was (the tutor who accompanied Wm. and Patrick Ruthven, the son of
the Earl of Gowrie, in their flight into England in August 1600), and what became of him? There was a Wm. Ruthven, of Scotland, married at Chitterton, Northumberland, to Esther, daughter of Robert Adamson, vicar of that parish in 1681. Was he any relation to the Gowrie family?