R. H.
Briwingable (Vol. iv., p. 22.).
—I cannot find this word in any authority to which I have access. I derive it from
Sax. {briþan}, to brew, and {Eafel}, a tax; and think it the same as tolsester, a duty payable to the lord of the manor by ale-brewers, mentioned in Charta 55 Hen. III.: "Tolsester cerevisie, hec est pro quolibet braccino per annum unam lagenam cerevisie."
F. J.
Simnels (Vol. iii., pp. 390. 506.).
—T. very sensibly suggests that Lambert Simnel is a nickname derived from a kind of cake still common in the north of England, and eaten in Lent. I have never met with Simnel as a surname, and have actually been told, as a child, that the Simnels were called after Lambert; which is so far worthy of note as that it connects the two together in tradition, though, no doubt, as T. suggests, it is Lambert who was called after the Simnels. As a child I took the liberty to infer, in consequence, that Parkins (gingerbread of oatmeal instead of flour, and also common in the north of England) were called after Perkin Warbeck. I am aware of the superior claim of Peterkin now; but the coincidence may perhaps amuse your correspondents.
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