[It may be as well to state, as a clue to the discovery of this
ancient custom, that the tithes of Hornchurch belong to New
College, Oxford; the warden and fellows of which society are
ordinaries of the place, and appoint a commissary, who holds an
annual visitation. The lessee of the tithes supplies the boar's
head, dressed and garnished with bay leaves, &c. Several curious
notices are given by Hone in his works of the custom observed at
Christmas at Queen's College, Oxford, of serving up at the first
course at dinner, "a fair and large boreshead upon a silver
platter with minstralsye;" but he has omitted to furnish the
origin of the custom at Hornchurch. Perhaps some Oxonian connected
with New College will favour us with a reply.]
_Spectacles._--In recent numbers of "N. & Q." there have been several
allusions to spectacles, and as I am not aware of any clear and
satisfactory data relative to the origin or antiquity of this most
important auxiliary to the extension and usefulness of that sense upon
which the enjoyment and value of life so much depends, I beg to submit
the Query, What is the earliest form in which evidence of the existence
of this invaluable optical aid to the human eye presents itself?