—I long ago suggested in your pages that Whitsun Day, or, as it was anciently written, Witson Day, meant Wisdom Day, or the day of the outpouring of Divine wisdom; and I requested the attention of your learned correspondents to this subject. I cannot refrain from thanking C. H. for his fourth quotation from Richard Rolle (Vol. iv., p. 50.) in confirmation of this view.
"This day witsonday is cald,
For wisdom & wit seuene fald
Was youen to þe apostles as þis day
For wise in alle þingis wer thay,
To spek wt outen mannes lore
Al maner langage eueri whore."
H. T. G.
Anagrammatic Pun by William Oldys.
—Your correspondent's Query concerning Oldys's Account of London Libraries (Vol. iv., p. 176.), reminded me of the following punning anagram on the name of that celebrated bibliographer, which may claim a place among the first productions of its class. It was Oldys himself, and is attached to one of his own transcripts in the British Museum: