Oaths (Vol. viii., p. 605.).—Archbishop Whitgift, in a sermon before Queen Elizabeth, thus addresses her:
"As all your predecessors were at this coronation, so you also were sworn before all the nobility and bishops then present, and in the presence of God, and in His stead to him that anointed you, 'to maintain the church lands and the rights belonging to it;' and this testified openly at the Holy Altar, by laying your hands on the Bible then lying upon it. (See Walton's Lives, Zouch's ed., p. 243.)"
I quote from the editor's introduction to Spelman's History of Sacrilege, p. 75., no doubt correctly cited.
H. P.
Double Christian Names (Vol. vii. passim).—The earliest instances of these among British subjects that I have met with, are in the families of James, seventh Earl, and Charles, eighth Earl, of Derby, both of whom married foreigners; the second son of the former by Charlotte de la Tremouille, born 24th February, 1635, and named Henry Frederick after his grand-uncle, the stadt-holder, is perhaps the earliest instance to be found.
J. S. Warden.
Chip in Porridge (Vol. i., p. 382. Vol. viii., p. 208.).—The subjoined extract from a newspaper report (Nov. 1806) of a speech of Mr. Byng's, at the Middlesex election, clearly indicates the meaning of the phrase:
"It has been said, that I have played the game of Mr. Mellish. I have, however, done nothing towards his success. I have rendered him neither service nor disservice" ["No, nor to anybody else," said a person on the hustings; "you are a mere chip in porridge.">[
W. R. D. S.
Clarence Dukedom (Vol. viii., p. 565.).—W. T. M. will find a very interesting paper on this subject, by Dr. Donaldson, in the Journal of the Bury Archæological Society.