Since writing thus far I have seen the note by J.S. (Vol. ii., pp. 262-3.) on Münchausen's story of the horn. The idea of sounds frozen in the air, and thawed by returning warmth, was no invention of "Castilian, in his _Aulicus_" (_i.e._ Castiglione, author of _Il Cortegiano_); for, besides that, it is found in his contemporary Rabelais (liv. iv. cc. 55-6), I believe it may be traced to one of the later Greek writers, from whom Bishop Taylor, in one of his sermons, borrows it as an illustration.
_"Sing Tantararara Rogues all," &c._--The above is the chorus of many satirical songs written to expose the malpractices of peculators, &c. Can any of your readers point out who was the author of the _original song_, and where it is to be found?
_Meaning of "Cauking."_--An old dame told me the other day, in Cheshire, that her servant was a { 520} good one, and among other good qualities "she never went _cauking_ into the neighbours' houses." Unde derivatur "cauking?"
The proverb, "As wise as the men of Gotham." is given in Fuller's _Worthies_ (ed. 1662, pp. 315, 316.). Ray, in his note upon this, observes
"It passeth for the _Periphrasis_ of a fool, and an hundred fopperies are feigned and fathered on the townsfolk of _Gotham_, a village in this county [Nottinghamshire]. Here two things may be observed:
"1. Men in all ages have made themselves merry with singling out some place, and fixing the staple of stupidity and solidity therein. So the _Phrygians_ in _Asia_, the _Abderitæ_ in _Thrace_, and _Boeotians_ in _Greece_, were notorious for dulmen and blockheads.
"2. These places thus slighted and scoffed at, afforded some as witty and wise persons as the world produced. So _Democritus_ was an _Abderite_, _Plutarch_ a _Boeotian_, &c.
"As for _Gotham_, it doth breed as wise people as any which causelessly laugh at their simplicity. Sure I am _Mr. William de Gotham_, fifth Master of _Michael House_ in _Cambridge_, 1336, and twice Chancellor of the University, was as grave a governor as that age did afford."--3d. ed. p. 258.
In Thoroton's _Nottinghamshire_, vol. i. pp. 42, 43., the origin of the saying, as handed down by tradition, is thus given:--King John intending to pass through this place towards Nottingham, was prevented by the inhabitants, they apprehending that the ground over which a king passed was for ever after to become a public road. The king, incensed at their proceedings, sent from his court, soon afterwards, some of his servants to inquire of them the reason of their incivility and ill-treatment, that he might punish them. The villagers hearing of the approach of the king's servants, thought of an expedient to turn away his majesty's displeasure from them. When the messengers arrived at Gotham, they found some of the inhabitants engaged in endeavouring to drown an eel in a pool of water; some were employed in dragging carts upon a large barn, to shade the wood from the sun; and others were engaged in hedging a cuckoo, which had perched itself upon an old bush. In short, they were all employed upon some foolish way or other, which convinced the king's servants that it was a village of fools.