[Mr. Ker's book was certainly reviewed in _Fraser's Magazine_ at
the time of its appearance, and probably in other literary
journals.]
_By Hook or By Crook_.--I have met with it somewhere, but have lost my
note, that Hooke and Crooke were two judges, who in their day decided
most unconscientiously whenever the interests of the crown were
affected, and it used to be said that the king could get anything by
Hooke or by Crooke. Query, is _this_ the origin of the phrase?
If I cannot give _my_ authority, perhaps "J.R.F." may be able to give
_his_, for deriving it from "_Forest Customs_?"