C.B.

Complutensian Polyglot.—­“Mr. JEBB” asks (No. 14. p. 213.), “In what review or periodical did there appear a notice of the supposed discovery of the MSS. from which the Complutensian Polyglot was compiled?”

He will find an article on this subject in the Irish Ecclesiastical Journal for April, 1847; from which I learn that there was a previous article, by Dr. James Thomson, one of the agents of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in the Biblical Review, a London periodical publication.  Dr. Thomson, if I understand the matter aright, professed to have found at Madrid the MSS., so long supposed to have been lost.

There is also an article on the same subject by Dr. Bowring, in the Monthly Repository, vol. xvi. (1821), p. 203.

Tickhill, God help me (No. 16. p. 247.).—­Of Tickhill I know nothing; but Melverley in this county goes by the soubriquet of “Melverley, God help;” and the folk-lore on the subject is this:—­Melverley lies by Severn side, where that river flows under the Breiddon hills from the county of Montgomery into that of Salop.  It is frequently inundated in winter, and, consequently, very productive in summer.  They say that if a Melverley man is asked in winter where he belongs, the doleful and downcast reply is, “Melverley, God help me;” but asked the same question in summer, he answers quite jauntily, “Melverley, and what do you think?” A friend informs me that the same story appertains to Pershore in the vale of Evesham.  Perhaps the analogy may assist Mr. Johnson in respect to Tickhill.

Let me take this opportunity to add to my flim-flam on pet-names in your late Number, that Jack appears to have been a common term to designate a low person, as “every Jack;” “every man-jack;” “Jack-of-all-trades?” “Jackanapes;” &c.

B.H.  KENNEDY.

Shrewsbury, Feb. 18.

Bishop Blaise (No. 16. p. 247.).—­Four lives of the martyr Blasius, Bishop of Sebaste in Cappadocia, are to be found in the Bollandine Acta Sanctorum, under the 3rd of February.  It appears that the relics and worship of this saint were very widely spread through Europe, and some places seem to have claimed him as indigenous on the strength merely of possessing one of his toes or teeth.  The wool-comb was one of the instruments with which he was tortured, and having become a symbol of his martyrdom, gave occasion, it would seem, to the wool-combers to claim him as their patron, and to ascribe to him the invention of their art.  See Ellis’s Brand’s Popular Antiquities, vol. i. pp. 29, 30; and query whether the veneration of St. Blaise by these artizans were not peculiar to England.  Blasius of Sebaste is said to have been a physician; in consequence of the persecution raised by Diocletian, he retired to a mountain named Argaeus, whither all the wild beasts of the country resorted to him, and reverentially attended him.  But there is a legend of another Blasius of Caesarea in Cappadocia, who is represented as an owner of herds ([Greek:  boukolos]), and remarkable for his charity to the poor.  His herdsman’s staff was planted over the spot where he was martyred, and grew into an umbrageous tree.