Though the expression is generally, if not always, used disparagingly, as the corresponding expressions "birds of a feather" and "of the same kidney," yet I should doubt whether the term "farinæ" is itself expressive of baseness, any more than "feather" or "kidney." By the way, what is the origin of the latter of the above expressions?
E. S. T. T.
The Sempecta ([Vol. iii., pp. 328.] [357.].)—I have to return many thanks to DR. MAITLAND for his kindness in so promptly answering my Query. The reference to Martene has enabled me to find the poem in question. It is in Martene and Durand's Thesaurus novus Anecdotorum, Paris, 1717; and will be found in vol. iii. col. 1333. The poem forms caput iii. of the second book of the Historia Monasterii Villariensis in Brabantiâ, ordinis Cisterciensis (a title which shows the monastery to which the old soldier-monk belonged instead of Croyland), and is headed "Incipit vita beati Franconis." I think there are few of your readers who will not thank me for calling their attention to it, if they will take the trouble to refer to Martene's work.
H. R. LUARD.
Trin. Coll. May 5.
"Nulli fraus tuta latebris" ([Vol. iii., p. 323.]) will be found in Camerar. Emblem., cent. ii. 40.
Q. Q.
Voltaire—where situated ([Vol. iii., p. 329.]).—If the Querist will look to the Critical Essays of an Octogenarian, by J. R. (the learned, venerable, and respected James Roche, Esq., of Cork), he will find, at p. 11. vol. i., that there is no such place, the word "Voltaire" being merely a transposition of the name of the party assuming it as a designation. Thus, he was called Arouet Le Jeune. Transpose the letters of Arouet L. J., and allowing j, u and i, v to be used for each other, you have Voltaire.
K.
By the Bye ([Vol. ii., p. 424.]; [ Vol. iii., p. 109.]).—In further illustration of this phrase, I would advert to the practice of declaring by the bye, which prevailed in the superior courts of common law, before the Uniformity of Process Act (2 Will. IV., c. 39.). The following extract from Burton's Exchequer Practice, 1791, vol. i. p. 149., will sufficiently explain this happily obsolete matter:—
"By the old rules it is ordered, 'That upon every defendant's appearance, the plaintiff may put in as many declarations as he will against every such defendant, provided they all be put in at one and the same time.' If there be more than one declaration delivered at the same time against the same defendant, every additional declaration so delivered is called delivering the declaration by the bye."