canto 11.), among the river guests that attended the nuptials of Thames

and Medway came "Yar, soft washing Norwitch walls;" and farther on, that he brought with him a present of fish for the banquet called _ruffins_, "whose like none else could show." Was this description of fish peculiar to the Yare? and is there any record of its having been esteemed a delicacy in Elizabeth's reign?

A. S.

[This seems to be the fish noticed by Izaak Walton, called the _Ruffe_, or _Pope_, "a fish," says he, "that is not known in some rivers. He is much like the perch for his shape, and taken to be better than the perch, but will grow to be bigger than a gudgeon. He is an excellent fish, no fish that swims is of _a pleasanter taste_, and he is also excellent to enter a young angler, for he is a greedy biter." In the _Faerie Queene_, book I. canto iv., Spenser speaks of

"His _ruffin_ raiment all was stain'd with blood Which he had spilt, and all to rags yrent."

To these lines Mr. Todd has added a note, which gives a clue to the meaning of the word. He says, "Mr. Church here observes, that _ruffin_ is reddish, from the Latin _rufus_." I suspect, however, that the poet did not intend to specify the _colour_ of the dress, but rather to give a very characteristical expression even to the raiment of Wrath. Ruffin, so spelt, denoted a swashbuckler, or, as we should say, a _bully_: see Minsheu's _Guide into Tongues_. Besides, I find in _My Ladies' Looking-Glasse_, by Barnabe Rich, 4to. 1616, p. 21., a passage which may serve to strengthen my application of _ruffin_, in this sense, to garment: "The yong woman, that as well in her behaviour, as in the manner of her apparell, is most _ruffian_ like, is accounted the most gallant wench." Now, it appears, that the _ruff_, or _pope_, is not only, as Walton says, "a greedy biter," but is extremely voracious in its disposition, and will devour a minnow nearly as big as itself. Its average length is from six to seven inches.]

_Origin of the Word Etiquette._--What is the original meaning of the word _etiquette_? and how did it acquire that secondary meaning which it bears in English?

S. C. G.

[Etiquette, from the Fr. _etiquette_, Sp. _etiqueta_, a ticket; delivered not only, as Cotgrave says, for the benefit and advantage of him that receives it, but also entitling to place, to rank; and thus applied to the ceremonious observance of rank or place; to ceremony. Webster adds, "From the original sense of the word, it may be inferred that it was formerly the custom to deliver cards containing orders for regulating ceremonies on public occasions."]

_Henri Quatre._--What was the title of Henry IV. (of Navarre) to the crown of France? or in what way was he related to his predecessor? If any {107} one would be kind enough to answer these he would greatly oblige.

W. W. H.

[Our correspondent will find his Query briefly and satisfactorily answered by Henault, in his _Abrege de l'Histoire de France_, p. 476. His words are: "Henri IV. roi de Navarre, ne a Pau, le 13 Decembre, 1553, et ayant droit a la couronne, comme descendant de Robert, Comte de Clermont, qui etoit fils de St. Louis, et qui avoit epouse l'heritiere de Bourbon, y parvient en 1589." The lineal descent of Henri from this Count Robert may be seen in _L'Art de verifier les Dates_, vol. vi. p. 209., in a table entitled "Genealogie des Valois et des Bourbon; St. Louis IX., Roi de France."]

_"He that complies against his will," &c.; and "To kick the bucket."_--Oblige T. C. by giving the correct reading of the familiar couplet, which he apprehends is loosely quoted when expressed--

"Convince a man against his will," &c.

or,

"Persuade a man against his will," &c.

Also by stating the name of the author.

Likewise by giving the origin of the phrase "To kick the bucket," as applied to the death of a person.

[The desired quotation is from Butler's _Hudibras_, part III.