Three Dukes (Vol. ii., p. 9.).—The verses themselves called them "three bastard dukes;" but the only bastard duke I can find at that time was the Duke of Monmouth; all the other creations of the king's bastards were subsequent to that date. And even if, by poetical licence or courtly anticipation, they could be called dukes, they were all too young to have any share in such a fray. I must further observe, that Evelyn's Diary is silent as to any such events, though he is, about that time, justly indignant at the immoralities of the Court. The "park" referred to, but not named in the verses, is the disreputable place called "Whetstone Park," near Holborn.
C.
Christabel (Vol. i., p. 262.).—After a long hunt among Manx and Highland superstitions, I have just found that the passage I was in search of belongs to "the Debateable Land."
"'Reverend father,' replied Magdalen, 'hast thou never heard that there are spirits powerful to rend the walls of a castle asunder when once admitted, which yet cannot enter the house unless they are invited, nay, dragged over the threshold? Twice hath Roland Grœme been thus drawn into the household of Avenel by those who now hold the title. Let them look to the issue.'"—The Abbot, chap. 15., ad fin., and note.
C. Forbes.
Temple, April 15.
Derivation of "Trianon" (Vol. i., p. 439.; vol. ii., p. 13.).—Your correspondent Aredjid Kooes is certainly right: Trianon was the name of a village, which formerly stood on the site of these two chateaux. (See Vatout, and all the histories of Versailles.) I would take this occasion of suggesting, that it is essential to the value of your work that your correspondents should be careful not to lead us astray by mere guesses. What authority has your correspondent J. K. R. W. (Vol. ii., p. 13.) for asserting that "trianon is a word meaning a pavilion?" And if, as I believe, he has not the slightest, I appeal to him whether it is fair to the public to assert it so confidently.
C.