_The Poley Frog._--More than half a century ago, I was present when this
singular appendage was the subject of conversation in a large literary
party, but being then a schoolboy I made "no note of it." My recollection
now is, that after some jokes on the name of Poley as that of a frog,
allusion was made to an old court story of King James II. throwing a frog
into the neck of William, third Earl of Pembroke. The story, with its
consequences, may be found in the _Tixall Letters_, vol. i. p. 5.; Wood's
_Athenæ Ox._, vol. i. p. 546.; Park's _Royal and Noble Authors_, vol. ii.
p. 249.
[Old English G].
I have never seen a head of any engraving of the portrait of Sir John
Poley, of Boxsted Hall, not Bexstead. I believe there is none.