Of course I cannot tell on what authority he says this; but he is certainly wrong: for in the Oxford edition (1844) of the Homilies and Canons this clause stands thus: "and that it may lawfully so be used." And so it is printed in Hodgson's Instructions, p. 8., and in the Instructions to be observed by Candidates for Holy Orders in the Diocese of London: and I myself not long ago subscribed to it in this form. There is then no difference here at all; the Latin being rendered by the English, not only fully, but literally. I will only add, that the grammatical meaning of taliter, or so, appears to me in this place to be plain enough, without requiring a "theological controversy" to determine it.
F. A.
"Arborei fœtus alibi," &c. (Vol. v., pp. 58. 189.).
—I am afraid I did not make myself intelligible in my former communication. Certainly W. A. C. does not understand me. The question is, are we justified in translating alibi atque "otherwhere than," in like manner as we translate aliter atque "otherwise than?" W. A. C. takes for granted that the line in question refers to only one district. But that is the very point in doubt. The "head master's" translation makes it refer to two.
W. S.
Horn-blowing (Vol. v., p. 148.).
—In reference to this practice, I may state that a similar custom prevails here (Gainsborough, Lincolnshire), but on the 29th May, or "Royal Oak Day." For some days previously the boys collect all the birds' eggs they can find or purchase, and early in the morning of the 29th, they may be seen returning from the woods in crowds, with an ample supply of oak. They next procure a large quantity of flowers, with which they construct a garland in the form of a crown, the apples of the oak being all gilded, surrounded by flowers and festoons of birds' eggs. The garland is then suspended across the street, and every little urchin being provided with a horn, some the natural horn of the cow, others of tin, similar to those formerly used by the guard of the mail coaches, they keep up throughout the day a most terrible blowing of horns; the doleful noise being ill in accordance with the festivity and rejoicing which the garlands are presumed to indicate. I have been unable to learn the origin or import of this singular custom.
T. DYSON.
Gainsborough.