The style of Baronet, in the case of Sir Gregory Norton, the regicide, was an assumption not uncommon in those days; as in the case of Prettyman of Lodington, and others.

The regicide in his will styles himself “Sir Richard Norton, of Paul’s, Covent Garden, in the county of Middlesex, Bart.”  It bears date 12th March, 1651, and was proved by his relict, Dame Martha Norton, 24th Sept., 1652.  He states that his land at Penn, in the county of Bucks, was mortgaged, and mentions his “disobedient son, Henrie Norton;” and desires his burial-place may be at Richmond, co.  Surrey.

The descent of Gregory Norton is not known.  There is no evidence of his connexion with the Rotherfield or Southwick Nortons.  His assumption of the title was not under any claim he could have had, real or imaginary, connected with the Rotherfield patent; for he uses the title at the same time with Sir Richard of Rotherfield, whose will is dated 26th July, 1652, and not proved till 5th Oct, 1652, when Sir Gregory was dead; and, what is singular, the will of Sir Richard was proved by his brother, John Norton, by the style of Baronet, to which he could have had no pretension, as Sir Richard died without male issue, and there was no limitation of the patent of 1622 on failure of heirs male of the body of the grantee.

G.

* * * * *

SHAKSPEARE’S WORD “DELIGHTED.”

That the Shakspearian word delighted might, as far as its form goes, mean “endowed with delight,” “full of delight,” I should readily concede; but this meaning would suit neither the passage in Measure for Measure,—­“the delighted spirit,”—­nor (satisfactorily) that in Othello,—­“delighted beauty.”  Whether, therefore, delighted be derived from the Latin delectus or not, I still believe that it means “refined,” “dainty,” “delicate;” a sense which is curiously adapted to each of the three places.  This will not be questioned with respect to the second and third passages cited by {251} MR. HICKSON:  and the following citations will, I think, prove the point as effectually for the passage of Measure for Measure: 

1. “Fine apparition".—­Tempest, Act i. sc. 2.

2.  “Spirit, fine spirit.”—­Ditto.

3. “Delicate Ariel.”—­Ditto.

4.  “And, for thou wast a spirit too delicate,
To act her earthy and abhorred commands.” 
Ditto.

5. “Fine Ariel.”—­Ditto.

6.  “My delicate Ariel.”—­Ditto.  Act iv. sc. 1.

7.  “Why that’s my dainty Ariel.”—­Ditto.  Act v.
sc. 1.

I do not know the precise nature of the “old authorities” which MR. SINGER opposes to my conjecture:  but may we not demur to the conclusiveness of any “old authorities” on such a point?  Etymology seems to be one of the developing sciences, in which we know more, and better, than our forefathers, as our descendants will know more, and better, than we do.