Cotgrave says, "Bigot, an old Norman word (signifying as much as 'de par Dieu,' or our 'for God's sake') made good French, and signifying an hypocrite, or one that seemeth much more holy than he is: also, a scrupulous, or superstitious fellow."
Speight says, "Begin, bigot, superstitious, hypocrite." Upon which Thynne remarks, "whiche sence I knowe yt maye somewhat beare, because yt sauorethe of the dispositione of those Begins or Beguines, for that ys the true wrytinge.">[
Replies.
AGE OF TREES; TILFORD OAK.
(Vol. iv., p. 401., &c.)
I hope your correspondent L., in his search for ancient trees, will not overlook the Great Oak at Tilford near Farnham, which is worth a visit for its size and beauty, if not for its antiquity. Mr. Brayley, in his History of Surrey, vol. v. p. 288., thus speaks of it:—
"In the Charter granted by Henry de Blois about the year 1250, to the monks of Waverley, he gives them leave to inclose their lands wherever they please, within these bounds, 'which extend,' says the record, 'from the Oak of Tilford, which is called the Kynghoc I very much doubt the identity of the present tree with the "King's Oak" of Henry de Blois. First, Because the present bounds of Waverley do not run within 300 yards of the tree; and the bounds are hardly likely to have been materially changed, inasmuch as the abbey lands are freehold and tithe-free, whereas the surrounding lands are copyhold and titheable. Secondly, because the tree itself appears still to be growing and vigorous. Cobbett describes it in his Rural Rides, p. 15., 1822, with his usual accuracy of observation: "Our direct road was right over the heath, through Tilford, to Farnham: but we veered a little to the left after we came to Tilford, at which place, on the green, we stopped to look at an oak tree, which, when I was a little boy, was but a very little tree, comparatively, and which is now, taken altogether, by far the finest tree that I ever saw in my life. The stem or shaft is short, that is to say, it is short before you come to the first limbs; but it is full thirty feet round at about eight or ten feet from the ground. Out of the stem there come not less than fifteen or sixteen limbs, many of which are from five to six feet round, and each of which would in fact be considered a decent stick of timber. I am not judge enough of timber to say anything about the quantity in the whole tree; but my son stepped the ground, and, as nearly as we could judge, the diameter of the extent of the branches was upwards of ninety feet, which would make a circumference of about 300 feet. The tree is in full growth at the moment. There is a little hole in one of the limbs, but with that exception, not the smallest sign of decay The tree has made great shoots in all parts of it this last summer, and there are no appearances of white on the trunks such as are regarded as the symptoms of full growth. There are many sorts of oak in England: two very distinct. One with a pale leaf, and one with a dark leaf; this is of the pale leaf." Any other references to the age or history of this tree would oblige. TILFORDIENSIS.