Great Lever, Bolton.
This custom is observed in the Cathedral at Norwich, but not (I believe) in the other churches in that city. I remember seeing it noticed in a very old number of the Gentleman's Magazine, and should be glad if any of your correspondents could tell me which number it is. I have looked through the Index in vain. The writer denounced it as a Popish custom!
W.
A dead Sultan, with his Shirt for an Ensign (Vol. ix., p. 76.).—Mr. Warden will find a long and interesting description of Saladin in Knolles' Turkish History, pp. 33. 57., published in London by Adam Islip in 1603. I take from this learned work the following curious anecdote:
"About this time (but the exact period is not stated) died the great Sultan Saladin, the greatest terrour of the Christians; who, mindfull of man's fragilitie, and the vanitie of worldly honours, commanded at the time of his death no solemnitie to be vsed at his buriall, but only his shirt in manner of an ensigne, made fast vnto the point of a lance, to be carried before his dead bodie as an ensigne. A plaine priest going before and crying aloud vnto the people in this sort: 'Saladin Conquerour of the East, of all the greatnesse and riches hee had in this life, carrieth not with him after his death anything more than his shirt.'"—"A sight (says Knolles) woorthie so great a king, as wanted nothing to his eternall commendation, more than the true knowledge of his salvation in Christ Jesu."
W. W.
Malta.
"Houd maet of laet" (Vol. ix., p. 148.).—One of your correspondents desires an explanation of this phrase, which he found in the corner of an old Dutch picture. It is a Flemish proverb; I translate it thus:
"Keep within bounds, though 'tis late."
It may either be the motto which the artist adopted to identify his work while he concealed