"Haberdasher, a retailer of goods, a dealer in small wares; T. haubvertauscher, from haab; B. have; It. haveri, haberi, goods, wares; and tauscher, vertauscher, a dealer, an exchanger; G. tuiskar; D. tusker; B. tuischer."
This derivation of the term haberdasher is from Thomson's Etymons, and seems to be satisfactory.
Haberdascher was the name of a trade at least as early as the reign of Edward III.; but it is not easy to decide what was the sort of trade or business then carried on under that name. Any elucidation of that point would be very acceptable.
D.
"Rapido contrarius orbi" (Vol. ii., p. 120.).—No answer having appeared to the inquiry of N.B., it may be stated that, in Hartshorne's Book-Rarities of Cambridge, mention is made of a painting, in Emanuel College, of "Abp. Sancroft, sitting at a writing-table with arms, and motto, Rapido contrarius orbi. P.P. Lens, F.L."
Brayley, in his Concise Account of Lambeth Palace, describes a portrait, in the vestry, of "A young man in a clerical habit, or rather that of a student, with a motto beneath, 'Rapido contrarium orbo'" (whether the motto, as thus given, is the printer's or the painter's error does not appear), "supposed to be Abp. Sancroft when young.—Date 1650."
G.A.S.
Robertson of Muirtown (Vol. ii., p. 135.).—C.R.M. will find a pedigree of the family of Robertson of Muirton in a small duodecimo entitled:
"The History and Martial Atchievements of the Robertsons of Strowan. Edinburgh: printed for and by Alex. Robertson in Morison's Close; where Subscribers may call for their copies."
The date of publication is not given; I think, however, it must have been printed soon after 1st January 1771, which is the latest date in the body of the work.