W. S. W.
Cardinal Wolsey (Vol. iv., p. 176.).
—The following anecdote, taken from a common-place book of Sir Roger Wilbraham, who was Master of the Requests in the time of Queen Elizabeth, appears to have some bearing on the subject referred to in the page of your publication which I have quoted above:—
"Cooke, attorney, at diner Whitsunday [1] ista protulit.
"Wolsey, a prelate, was flagrante crimine taken in fornication by Sr Anthony Pagett of ye West, and put in ye stokes. After being made Cardinall, Sr Anthony sett up his armes on ye middle Temple gate: ye Cardinall passing in pontificalibus, and spying his owne armes, asked who sett them up. Answare was made yt ye said Mr. Pagett. He smiled saying, he is now well reclaymed; for wher before he saw him in disgrace, now he honoured him."
[1] This was probably in 1598.
W. L.
Nervous (Vol. iv., p. 7.).
—Nervous has unquestionably the double meaning assigned to it in MR. BANNEL'S Query. The propriety of the English practice, in this respect, may be doubted. Nervous is correctly equivalent to Lat. nervosus; Fr. nerveux, strong, vigorous. In the sense of nervous weakness, or, perhaps more correctly, nervine weakness, the word should probably be nervish, analogous to qualmish, squeamish, aguish, feverish, &c. In Scotland, though the English may regard it as a vulgarism, I have heard the word used in this form.
F. S. Q.