" It is further recommended to "late the
lether ligge so still al a nyzt in his owen _sabras_."
"_I-menbred_, a girdle i-menbred." (Thus, in old French, "menbrer,
_membrer_," &c., Roquefort). Charpentier gives similar use of the Latin
word,--"Membrare, instruere, ornare, Gall. garnir;" citing a French
document, dated 1352: "Item, unam zonam de serico _Membratam_ de argento
et esmandis;" and another of 1366: "Duas zonas de serico, argento
stofatas et _Membratas_." The term was thus used also in England, as in
the inventory of valuables belonging to Edward I. in 1300 (_Liber
Garderobae_, p. 347.):--"Una zona, cum cathenis argenti annell' cum targ'
et membris argenti." It might be supposed from this expression, that the
_membra_ were, strictly speaking, the transverse bars of metals, or
_cloux_, Fr., by which the girdle was divided into several compartments,
the intervening spaces being filled by chased ornaments of goldsmiths'
work, and occasionally by armorial scutcheons, "_targie_."
But enough for the present. I should esteem it a favour if your
correspondent would inform me where these curious terms are found, as
the context would greatly facilitate their elucidation.
ALBERT WAY.
Wonham, Reigate, August 3.
* * * * *
Replies to Minor Queries.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49