W.H.K. 
Drayton Beauchamp.

Gootet.—­In Eccleshall parish, Staffordshire, Shrove Tuesday is called Gootet.  I am not aware if this be the true spelling, for I have never seen it in print.  Can any of your readers supply the etymology, or state whether it is so called in any other part of England?  I have searched numerous provincial glossaries, but have hitherto been unsuccessful.

B.G.J.

* * * * *

THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH’S POCKET-BOOK.

It is reasonable to conclude, that the article copied from Chambers’ Edinburgh Journal, in No. 13., furnishes the strongest evidence that can be adduced in support of the opinion, that the book in the possession of Dr. Anster is the one found on the Duke of Monmouth when captured, after his defeat at Sedgemoor; and, if so, it is impossible to admit the hypothesis, because a portion of the contents of the real book has been given to the world and contains matter far too important to have been passed over by Dr. Anster, had it existed in his volume.  In the 6th edition of Dr. Welwood’s Memoirs of the most material Transactions in England for the last Hundred Years preceding the Revolution in 1688, printed for “Tim.  Goodwin, at the Queen’s Head, against St. Dunstan’s Church, in Fleet Street, 1718,” the following passage is to be found at p. 147.:—­

“But of the most things above mentioned there is an infallible proof extant under Monmouth’s own hand, in a little pocket-book which was taken with him and delivered to King James; which by an accident, as needless to mention here, I have leave to copy and did {398} it in part.  A great many dark passages there are in it, and some clear enough that shall be eternally buried for me:  and perhaps it had been for King James’s honour to have committed them to the flames, as Julius Caesar is said to have done on a like occasion.  All the use that shall be made of it is, to give in the Appendix some few passages out of it that refer to this subject, and confirm what has been above related.”

In the Appendix the following extracts are given from the Duke’s book:—­

“October 13.  L. came to me at eleven at night from 29, told me 29 could never be brought to believe I knew anything of that part of the plot that concern’d Rye House; but as things went he must behave himself as if he did believe it, for some reasons that might be for my advantage.  L. desired me to write to 29, which I refus’d; but afterwards told me 29 expected it; and I promis’d to write to-morrow if he could call for the letter; at which S.L. shew’d a great concern for me, and I believe him sincere though S is of another mind.

    “14.  L. came as he promis’d and receiv’d the letter from 3
    sealed, refusing to read it himself, tho’ I had left it open
    with S. for that purpose.