King Robert Bruce's Watch (Vol. v., p. 105.).
—The watch known under this name is now, I believe, generally admitted to be a forgery. There is a letter in the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. ii. p. 688., dated Forfar, August 20, 1785, and signed J. Jamieson, who therein states that the watch was offered for sale to him by a goldsmith hawker of Glasgow, who afterwards sold it for two guineas, and it was next sold for five. The letter does not trace this curiosity further; but I find in a little work by Adam Thompson, entitled Time and Timekeepers, that it subsequently found its way into the collection of George III.
W. W. E.
Hornchurch (Vol. v., p. 106.).
—Permit me to call the attention of your correspondents to some other peculiarities relating to Hornchurch. There once, I believe, were (are there now?) a pair of horns over the east window of the church; thence the name is probably derived. The great tithes were once the property of the monks of the celebrated monastery of St. Bernard in Savoy. Are not the horns connected with the arms of Savoy? New College received the great tithes directly from the monks, and have in their possession the license from the crown to alienate.
A. HOLT WHITE.
Buzz (Vol. v., p. 104.).
—Corruption of bouse or booze, to drink to excess. In Scotland they say "bouse a'," drink all.
J. R. J.