—Sir John Fenner, by will dated 1633, desired his executors to employ monies in purchasing lands (which has since produced 620l. per annum, but now less than that amount), the rent to be laid out every Easter in buying Bibles and distributing money for and amongst the poor of ten parishes in the metropolis. I shall feel thankful for any information relating to that benevolent gentleman communicated either through your columns, or to me at 35. Gifford Street, Kingsland Road, London.
HENRY EDWARDS,
(a Subscriber from the beginning).
Friday at Sea.
—I have heard a story respecting the superstition in which sailors hold Friday as a day of departure. To disabuse them of this superstition, a ship—so runs the tale—was laid down on Friday; launched on a Friday; commanded by a captain named Friday; sailed on a Friday; and—so runs the story—was never heard of afterwards!
Is there—I believe not—any truth in this tradition; and where may the earliest allusion to it be found.
?
Meaning of "Knarres."
—In a minister's account of the time of Edward II., relating to Caernarvonshire, is an entry for rent received "de terra morosa et knarres:" the word is sometimes written gnarres. What does it mean? I believe in Norfolk and in other counties a description of scrubby woodland is known by the name of carrs (Query spelling). We find Knares-borough in Yorkshire, and Knares-dale in Northumberland, Nar-borough in Leicester, Nar-burgh and Nar-ford in Norfolk. Taking the n to be the expressive letter, we have perhaps specimens of its softened sound in the names of Snare-hill, Snar-gate, Snares-brook, &c., in various counties. Some of your etymological readers may be able to explain the derivation of these names, should they be considered to come from a common source, and with that the sentence quoted above.
J. BT.