H.W.

French Maxim.—­Who is the author of the following French saying?—­

    “L’hypocrisie est un hommage que le vice rend a la vertu.”

R.V.

Ave Trici and Gheeze Ysenoudi.—­If “S.W.  SINGER” can give information as to what convent, English or foreign, the sisters Ave Trici and Gheeze Ysenoudi, mentioned in his note on Otloh, state themselves (or are assumed) to have belonged, he will much oblige, by doing so,

H.L.B.

A Latin Verse.—­Everybody has seen the following quotation—­

  “Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis,”

and everybody thinks he knows from whence it is taken.  Which of your readers can verify it?

E.V.

Table-Book.—­Can any of your readers refer me to a museum containing a specimen of an ancient table-book?  Douce had one, which was in Mr. Rodd’s catalogue, but now sold; and Hone also possessed one.  These two, and another in the hands of a friend of mine, are the only specimens I have heard of; but they are not quite as old or as genuine as one could wish.

J.O.  HALLIWELL.

Origin of the name “Polly."—­Will you allow me to ask how persons of my name came to be called Polly?

MARY.

Tomlinson, of Southwingfield, Derbyshire.—­The parochial register of the parish of Southwingfield, in the county of Derby, contains, among its earliest entries (A.D. 1586), the name Tomlinson, as then resident therein.  The family, to the present time, continues to reside within the parish, as respectable yeomen, and has thence extended itself to many of the neighbouring parishes, as well as to more distinct localities.  Blore’s History of Southwingfield makes no mention of such a family connected with the parish, as tenants or otherwise; nor does it appear that there is at present any family of Tomlinson bearing arms that can have been derived from any of the ancient lords of Wingfield.  The wills at Lichfield, to whose registry Southwingfield belongs, are in a very dilapidated and unsatisfactory state, at the time immediately preceding the commencement of the Southwingfield parochial register.  Probably some genealogist will be enabled to offer a suggestion as to the means which are available for tracing the genealogy of this fanily prior to the year 1586.

The Phrase “To have a Button in the Room,” and “Sally."—­I have again been reading that most amusing book, The Lives of the Norths.  At p. 88 of vol. i. (edit. 1826) there is a passage which has always puzzled me.  Speaking of some law proceedings in which the Lady Dacres was concerned, Roger North says:—­

    “And herein she served herself another way, for her adversary
    defamed her for swearing and unswearing, and it was not amiss to
    have a button in the room.”

At p. 92. (post) there is another strange expression:—­ {216}