S. W. Singer.
"Hip, hip, hurrah!" (Vol. viii., pp. 20. 185.).—No one, I think, who heard the cheering of the ships' companies at the late naval review can doubt that Cheverell's explanation of "hip, hip," is the true one. They are not words, but interjectional sounds; with no other meaning than to prepare for and time the coming "hurrah!" When the men are ready to cheer, the boatswain's mate gives the signal "hip, hip," and then follows the general "hurrah!" This practice is adopted in public assemblies for the same reason—to ensure concert and unity in the final cheer. "Hurrah!" also I take (pace Sir F. Palgrave) to be a mere sound: a natural exclamation of pleasure, with no more instrinsic meaning than "Oh!" or "Ah!" for pain, or "Bah!" for contempt. It surely can have no connexion with the phrase of old Norman law—"clameurs de haro:" for "haro" is an exclamation of dissent and opposition. "Crier haro sur quelqu'un," is to excite mischief and scandal against him—the very reverse of hurrah!
C.
Derivation of "Wellesley" (Vol. viii., p. 173.).—In reply to J. M., I think the following particulars I may not be uninteresting to him. There is good reason to believe that the name of Wellesley was derived from an ancient manor about one mile south of Wells, called Wellesleigh, which once, belonged to the Bishops of Bath and Wells. It is certain that a family called "De Wellsleigh" lived, and held considerable lands in this manor at a very remote period. In 1253, a Philip de Wellsleigh, and in 1349 another of the same name, are recorded as holding part of the manor of the Bishops of Bath and Wells. These lands, with the serjeanty and office of bailiff and "cryer of the hundred," passed into the family of the Hills of Spaxton, A.D. 1435. In 7 Henry VII., John Stourton held half a knight's fee in this manor: "formerly held by William de Wellsleigh." I have an original deed in my possession dated 26th Edward I., being a feoffment or grant of lands in Dinder (an adjoining parish) by William Le Fleming, "Dn̄s de Dynder," in which "Thomas de Welesleȝe" and "Robert de Welesleȝe" (so the name is spelt) are, among others, named as witnesses. This manor was held by the Bishops of Bath and Wells until the time of Ralph de Salopia (succeeded A.D. 1329, died A.D. 1363), who gave it to the vicars choral of the cathedral, by who it has been held down to the last year (1852), when they sold the fee of it to Robert Charles Tudway, Esq., M.P. for Wells.
Ina.
Wells.
Penny-come-quick (Vol. viii., pp. 8. 113. 184.).—Your correspondents on the subject of this name do not appear to be aware that there is a place also so called in Ireland: a small public-house, and one or two others, on the high road between Wicklow and Arklow, near the sea-shore, three miles north of the latter town. In Taylor and Skinners Road Maps of Ireland (1776), it is spelled "Penny-con-quick." I have been there, and do not think that the site countenances H. C. K.'s ingenious etymology.
C.
Eugene Aram's Comparative Lexicon (Vol. vii., p. 597.).—Mr. E. S. Taylor will perhaps be glad to know that specimens of the above Lexicon were printed at the end of a small work published about twenty-five years since by Mr. Bell of Richmond (Yorkshire), entitled The Trial and Life of Eugene Aram.
Norris Deck.