In reading, "Sir Roger de Coverley" with notes by Willis, published in the Traveller's Library, I find at p. 134. what I consider a fair explanation. A full account is there given of the manner in which the citizens of London intended to celebrate, in 1711, the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession on 17th November; some parts of which would almost seem to have been copied during the excitement against the papal bull in November 1850.
I have little doubt that originally the unfortunate boy who had to endure the rude bumping by his schoolfellows was intended to represent the pope or one of his emissaries, and that those who inflicted the punishment were looked upon as good Protestants.
Is there any other school where this day is celebrated; and if so, what particular custom prevails there?
The boys always attended morning service at Christ Church on this day.
F. B. RELTON.
251. Chatter-box.
—The derivation of this word would seem very plain, and yet I have some doubts about it. I used to think that we called a person a "chatter-box" because he or she was, metaphorically speaking, a box full of chatter, as we should call another person a bag-of-bones. And this seemed confirmed by the German plaudertasche, or a chatter-bag, till I learnt from Wackernagel, Glossar, that in the Middle High German Tasche = a woman. (See under "Flattertasche.") I believe we meet with the word again in the epithet Maultasche applied to the celebrated Margaret Maultasche, the wife of Louis the Elder; i.e. Margaret, the woman with the large mouth. The word also occurs in the Danish Taske = a girl, a wench. Hence, I conclude that there is no doubt but that the German plaudertasche means a chattering woman. Has our chatter-box the same meaning—i.e. is there a word for woman or female in any of our ancient languages from which box might arise? The only word which occurs to me just now as confirming such a supposition is buxom ("to be bonere and buxom, in bedde and at borde." Ancient Matrimony Service), which is thus = womanly.
J. M. (4)
St. Mary Tavy, Tavistock.