14. Man of War, why a Ship of War so called.
—Will any of your readers inform me the origin of a ship of a certain number of guns being called "a man of war?" In Shakspeare the term is applied to Falstaff: Davy inquires of Shallow:
"Doth the man of war stay all night, Sir?"
And it is singular to remark, in the same scene, the first of Act V., the Second Part of Henry IV., that the dinner ordered by Shallow for Falstaff is just such as any country gentleman would now provide for an unexpected guest:—
Some pigeons, Davy; a couple of short-legged hens; a joint of mutton; and any pretty little tiny kickshaws, tell William cook."
The only difference is the sex of the cook, as country gentlemen in these days have females in that capacity.
AN M. D.
15. Secret Service Money of Charles II.
—In Mr. Akerman's preface to this work, just published by the Camden Society, I find this passage:
"Amongst these (sums lavished on female favourites) the payments to the Duchess of Portsmouth are most conspicuous. No less a sum than 136,688l. 10s. appears to have been bestowed by the profligate monarch on this woman within the space of one year."—See Payments under the year 1681, p. 42.