Sleck Stone, Meaning of (Vol. iii., p. 241.; Vol. iv., p. 394.).
—The expression sleck-stone has, I think twice, been spoken of in "N. & Q." as equivalent to whet-stone: this is a mistake. The first word is possibly misprinted in the work in which it is found, but at all events the thing intended is a sleek-stone (Old Fr. Calendrine) an implement formerly used by calendrers; often, if not always, made of glass, and in shape much like a large mushroom: it is used reversed, the stalk forming the handle. Those which I have seen were about four inches in diameter, some more and some less. Sleek-stones are now, I believe, entirely superseded by machinery.
R. C. H.
Bishop Bridgeman (Vol. v., p. 80.).
—The matriculation registers of the University of Cambridge, could MR. CLAY ascertain the year Bridgeman entered (and this might be found by searching them), will give his age at that time, the Christian names of his parents, and their place of residence. I do not know whether it is the case at Cambridge, but at Oxford one has to pay half a guinea for an extract from the archives. Surely these important records should be more accessible to the student in this respect.
CRANMORE.
Bow Bell (Vol. v., p. 28.).
—In Eastward Hoe, by Ben Jonson, John Marston, and George Chapman, printed 1605, Girtred, the proud daughter of the citizen Touchstone (Act I. Sc. 1.), taunts her modest sister Mildred, who is endeavoring to check her arrogant manner, with the scornful expression "Bow Bell!" evidently intending to reproach her as a Cockney. She afterwards asks her intended husband, Sir Petronel Flash, to carry her out of the scent of Newcastle coal and the hearing of Bow Bell.
W. S. S.