P.H.F.

Amongst the bequests to the Clothworkers’ Company of London is one by Barbara Burnell, by will dated 27th June, 1630, wherein she directs the company to bestow 4l. 6s. yearly in woollen cloth to make six waistcoats and six safeguards for six poor women.[17]

Also we find that John Skepworth, by will dated 17th Oct. 1678, gave two closes of land to the parish of Louth, to the intent that the churchwardens and overseers of the poor there should apply the rents and profits of the same in providing so much coarse woollen cloth as would make ten suits yearly to be given to ten poor people of Louth, the men to have coats and breeches, and the women to have waistcoats and safeguards.[18] {268}

If “BURIENSIS” has a friend belonging to the Clothworkers’ Company, it is probable that he will acquire much information on this subject from their old records.

H. EDWARDS.

    [17] Reports from the Commissioners of Charities b. 235. 32nd
    part 4.—­696.

    [18] Ibid.

Derivation of “Calamity" (No. 14. p. 215.)—­“Calamity” is from the Latin calamitas, from calamus a straw or stalk of corn, signifying, 1st, the agricultural misfortune of the corn being beaten down or laid by a storm; and thence, any other trouble or disaster:—­

“Ipsa egreditur nostri fundi calamitas.”

Ter. Eun. i. 1.

Upon which the commentator in the Delph. ed. has this note:—­

    “Calamitas est grando et tempestas, quae calamos segetum
    prosternit et conterit.  Unde Cicero Verrem vocat ’calamitosam
    tempestatem.’”

Ainsworth, quoting the above passage from Terence, adds:—­

    “Ubi Donatus.  Proprie calamitatem rustici vocant quod
    comminuat calamum; h.e. culmen et segetem.”

The etymology of its synonym, “disaster,” is more direct—­[Greek:  dhus hasthaer], a star of evil influence, or, as we say, “born under an ill planet.”

[Greek:  Philologos]

Forcellini, s.v.  Calamitas, says:—­

    “Proprie significat imminutionem clademque calamorum segetis,
    quae grandine vel impetuoso aliquo turbine aut alia quapiam de
    causa fit.”

He then quotes Servius, Ad Georg, i. 151:—­

    “Robigo genus est vitii, quo culmi pereunt, quod a rusticanis
    calamitas dicitur.”

Then follows the note of Donatus on Ter. Eun. i. 1. 34.

It appears to me, if “calamitas” were derived from calamus, it would mean something very different from what it does.

Another suggestion is, that the first syllable is the same as the root of cad-o, to fall; l and d, everybody knows, are easily interchangeable:  as Odysseus, Ulixes:  [Greek:  dakruon], lacrima, tear, &c. &c.  If so, calamitas is a corrupted form of cadamitas.  Mar.  Victorinus, De Orthogr. p. 2456., says:—­