Plafery.—In Carew's masque of Cœlum Britannicum, acted before the court at Whitehall, the 18th of February, 1633; Momus, arriving from Olympus immediately after Mercury, says to him—
"The hosts upon the highway cry out with open mouth upon you, for supporting plafery in your train; which, though, as you are the god of petty larceny, you might protect, yet you know it is directly against the new orders, and oppose the reformation in diameter."
What is plafery? It is evident that the joking allusion to it was rather bold, for Mercury exclaims,—
"Peace, railer, bridle your licentious tongue,
And let this presence teach you modesty."
B. R. I.
St. John's Bridge Fair.—In what county in England was St. John's Bridge Fair held in the year 1614, and in what town in the county?
Josephus.
Queries on Costume.—In Wilson's Life of De Foe there is an anecdote of Charles II. concealing himself, when a fugitive from Worcester, beneath a lady's hoop, while his pursuers searched the house in which he had taken refuge. Were hoops worn so early as the year 1651? In the Book of Costume I find no mention of them before the beginning of the eighteenth century; but I do not think this circumstance conclusive, as the "Lady of Rank" is not always very accurate.
Writing in the reign of Anne, she says, "Fans were now very much used," but omits to mention that they were in fashion long before, having been indispensable to Catherine of Braganza and her ladies at home and abroad, in the church and the theatre.