[Vossioner seems to be corruption of the Italian vossignor, your lord, or the lord, i.e. owner or proprietor. Many similar words were introduced by the Italian ecclesiastics inducted into Church livings during the sixteenth century. The inscription is given in Dugdale's Warwickshire, vol. i. p. 358.]
The Game of Chess.—At what period was the noble game of chess introduced into the British Isles; and to whom are we indebted for its introduction among us?
B. Ashton.
[The precise date of the introduction of this game into Britain is uncertain. What has been collected respecting it will be found in the Hon. Daines Barrington's paper in Archæologia, vol. ix. p. 28.; and in Hyde's treatise, Mandragorias, seu Historia Shahiludii. Oxoniæ, 1694.]
A Juniper Letter.—Fuller, in describing a letter written by Bishop Grosthead to Pope Innocent IV., makes use of a curious epithet, of which I should be glad to meet with another instance, if it be not simply a "Fullerism":
"Bishop Grouthead offended thereat, wrote Pope Innocent IV. such a juniper letter, taxing him with extortion and other vicious practices."—Church History, book III., A.D. 1254.
J. M. B.
["A juniper lecture," meaning a round scolding bout, is still in use among the canting gentry.]