A Present-day Privilege

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 March 1914, Page 4

A Present-day Privilege

It is an exception nowadays to come across a person with only one Christian name. High or low can have a siring of middle names if they so desire, although the majority stick to bu( two Christian names. In the sixteenth century, however, middle names were illegal in England, and, in accordance with the strictness of that period, no infraction of the- law was admitted. Royalty were the only privileged persons in this respect. Tf they really wished to possess a middle name the law relaxd its severity, and granted their request; hut woe to the ordinary commoner Avho exercised his own authority and gave unto himself more than two appellations.

The whipping-post was his punishment ior tbo first offence. And should his boastfulness exceed his temerity a more lasting punishment cm-reeled his second lapsethe mediaeval custom to remove his thumbs and ears.

Undoubtedly full nomenclature lias been of great use in the legal world. "John Jones" abounds by the hundreds, but John "Seigfund" Jones, for instance, stands a better chance of correct identification and of establishing his identity.