[Greek:  Sigma].

Vertue’s Manuscripts.—­Steevens and Malone, in fixing the dates of Shakspeare’s Dramas, frequently quote from Vertue’s MSS.  George Chalmers, in his Supplemental Apology, says, “On making some inquiries, by a friend, what manuscript of Vertue’s it were, which I saw so often quoted about scenic matters, Mr. Steevens was so obliging as to say, ’The books, from which those extracts were made, with several others lost, belonged to Secretary Pepys, and afterwards to Dr. Rawlinson, who lent them to Mr. Vertue.’  When the said MSS. were consulted by the two commentators, they were, I believe, in the possession of Garrick.”  Chalmers adds, “Much is it to be lamented, that any MS. or book, which furnished an illustration of Shakespeare, and having once been seen, should ever disappear.”  Every true lover of our great poet will heartily agree with this remark.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

Loscop.—­The Patent Roll, 1 Edw.  III. part I, membrane 27, contains the exemplification or copy of a grant by Henry I. to his butler William de Albini of—­“Manerium de Snetesham cum duobus hundredis et dimidio scil.  Fredebruge et Smethedune cum wreck et cum omnibus pertinentiis suis et misteria de Luna cum medietate fori et theloneis et cum ceteris consuetudinibus et portu cum applicacione navium et loscop et viam ipsius aquae et transitu cum omnibus querelis.”  I should be greatly obliged to any of your learned correspondents who would explain the word loscop.  Luna is the town or port of King’s Lynn. Misteria {320} may probably be translated “offices.”  See Ducange (Paris Edit. 1845) under the words misterium and ministerium. Loscop appears to be a word of similar formation to Laudcop and Lahcop, which occur in the Laws of Ethelred (Thorpe’s Ancient Laws, vol. i. pp. 294, 295.).  Can it mean a fee paid on loosing the vessel in order to leave the port?

C.W.G.

Ormonde House.—­Perhaps some of your annotators on Cunningham’s Hand-book of London, will be so kind as to inform me whereabouts “Ormonde House” stood in St. James’s Square; also to state any particulars respecting its history before and after it was occupied by that noble family.

J.G.

As Morse caught the Mare.—­I shall be glad to be informed the meaning of this expression—­it is to be met with in the translation of Rabelais.  There is also a song sung among the farmers of South Devon, of which the last line of each verse is “As Morse caught the Mare.”

R.S.B.

Dustpot—­Forthlot.—­In a Manorial Compotus, temp.  Hen.  V., I find the following entry, under the head of Out-goings:—­

     “In custodes carucarum et carectarum nil quia per firmarium.  Item
     pro eorum duspot (xij’d) nil, causa predicta.  Item pro eorum
     forlot (iiij’d) nil, causa predicta,” &c.