Wherefore was this mode of disposing of the dead bodies called “an ass’s sepulture?” It is not sufficient to say that the body of a human being was buried like that of a beast, for then the term would be general and not particular; neither can I imagine that Christian writers used the phrase for the purpose of repudiating the accusation preferred against them by Pagans, of worshipping an ass. (See Baronius, ad. an. 201.  Sec.21.) The dead carcasses{9} of dogs and hounds were sometimes attached to the bodies of criminals. (See Grinds, Deutsche Rechte Alterthum, pp. 685, 686.) I refer to this to show that there must have been some special reason for the term “asinorum sepultura”.  That reason I would wish to have explained; Ducange does not give it, he merely tells what was the practice; and the attention of Grimm, it is plain, from his explanation of the “unehrliches begraebnis” (pp. 726, 727, 728.), was not directed towards it.

W.B.  MACCABE.

* * * * *

+Minor Queries.+

Ransom of an English Nobleman.—­At page 28. vol. ii. of the Secret History of the Court of James I., Edinburgh, 1811 (a reprint), occurs the following:—­

“Nay, to how lowe an ebbe of honor was this our poore despicable kingdome brought, that (even in Queen Elizabeth’s time, the glory of the world) a great nobleman being taken prisoner, was freely released with this farewell given him, that they desired but two mastieffes for his ransome!”

Who was this great nobleman, and where may I find the fullest particulars of the whole transaction?

H.C.

When does Easter end?—­An enactment of the legislature directs a certain act to be done “within two months after Easter” in 1850, under a penalty for non-performance.  I have no difficulty in finding that two calendar months are meant, but am puzzled how to compute when they should commence.  I should be much obliged by being informed when Easter ends? that question set at rest, the other part is easily understood and obeyed.

H. EDWARDS.

Carucate of Land.—­Will any one inform me what were the dimensions of a carucate of land, in Edward III.’s time? also, what was the comparative value of money at the same date?  Are Tables, giving the value of money at various periods in our history, to be found in any readily accessible source?

E.V.

Members for Calais.—­Henry VIII. granted a representative in the English parliament to the town of Calais.  Can any of your correspondents inform me whether this right was exercised till the loss of that town, and, if so, who were the members?

O.P.Q.

Members for Durham.—­What was the reason that neither the county nor the city of Durham returned members to parliament previous to 1673-4?

O.P.Q.

Leicester, and the reputed Poisoners of his Time.—­At page 315. vol. ii. of D’Israeli’s Amenities of Literature, London, 1840, is as follows:—­