Manchester, Feb. 22, 1851.
Lincoln Missal (Vol. iii., p. 119.).—It is clear that one of the most learned ritualists, Mr. Maskell, did not know of a manuscript of the Lincoln Use, else he would have noted it in his work, The Ancient Liturgy of the British Church, where the other Uses of Salisbury, York, Bangor, and Hereford, are compared together. In his preface to this work (p. ix.) he states—
"It has been doubted whether there ever was a Lincoln Use in any other sense than a different mode and practice of chanting."
Mr. Peacock would probably find more information in the Monumenta Ritualia, to which Mr. Maskell refers in his preface.
N. E. R. (A Subscriber.)
By and bye (Vol. iii., p. 73.).—Your correspondent S. S., in support of his opinion that by the bye means "by the way," suggests that good bye may mean "bon voyage." I must say the commonly received notion, that it is a contraction of "God be wi' ye," appears to me in every way preferable. I think that in the writers of the Elizabethan age, every intermediate variety of form (such as "God b' w' ye," &c.) may be found; but I cannot at this moment lay my hand on any instance.
In an ingenious and amusing article in a late Number of the Quarterly, the character of different nations is shown to be indicated by their different forms of greeting, and surely the same may be said of their forms of taking leave. The English pride themselves, and with justice, on being a peculiarly religious people: now, applying the above test,—as the Frenchman has his adieu, the Italian his addio, the Portuguese his addios, and the Spaniard his "vaya usted con Dios,"—it is to be presumed
that the Englishman, also, on parting from his friend, will commit him to the care of Providence. On the other hand, it must be admitted that the Germans, who, as well as the English, are supposed to entertain a deeper sense of religion than many other nations, content themselves with a mere "lebe-wohl." I should be obliged if some one of your readers will favour me with the forms of taking leave used by other nations, in order that I may be enabled to see whether the above test will hold good on a more extensive application.
X. Z.
Gregory the Great.—This is clearly a mere slip of the pen in Lady Morgan's pamphlet. I I think it may confidently be asserted that Gregory VII. has not been thus designated habitually at any period.