In Howell's _Dictionary_, published in London in May 1660, I find it thus
recorded

"Ambages, or circumstances."
"Full of ambages."

W. W.

Malta.

"_Going to Old Weston_" (Vol. iii., p. 449.).--In turning over the pages of
the third volume of "N. & Q." recently, I stumbled on ARUN'S notice of the
above proverb. It immediately struck me that I had heard it used myself a
few days before, without being conscious at the time of the similarity of
the expression. I was asking an old man, who had been absent from home,
where he had been to? His reply was, "To Old Weston, Sir. You know I must
go there before I die." Knowing that he had relatives living there, I did
not, at the time, notice anything extraordinary in the answer; but, since
reading ARUN'S note, I have made some inquires, and find the saying is a
common one on this (the Northamptonshire) side of Old Weston, as well as in
Huntingdonshire. I have been unable to obtain any explanation of it, but
think the one suggested by your correspondent must be right. One of my
informants (an old woman upwards of seventy) told me she had often heard it
used, and wondered what could be its meaning, when she was a child.

W. W.

B---- Rectory, Northamptonshire.

_Reynolds's Nephew_ (Vol. viii., p. 102.).--I think I can certify A. Z.
that two distinct branches of the Palmer family, the Deans, and another
claiming like kindred to Sir Joshua Reynolds, still exist; from which I
conclude that Sir Joshua had at least two nephews of that name. I regret
that I cannot inform your correspondent as to the authorship of the piece
about which he inquires; but, in the event of A. Z. not receiving a
satisfactory answer to his Query through the medium of our publication, if
he will furnish me with any farther particulars he may possess on the
subject, I shall be happy to try what I can do towards possessing him with
the desired information.

J. SANSOM.

Oxford.

_The Laird of Brodie_ (Vol. viii., p. 103.).--I. H. B. mistakes, I think,
the meaning of the lines. The idea is not that the Laird was less than a
gentleman, but that he was a gentleman of mark; at least, I have never
heard any other interpretation put upon it in Scotland, where the ballad of
"We'll gang nae mair a-roving," is a great favourite. King James is the
_subject_ of the ballad. That merry monarch made many lively escapades, and
on this occasion he personated a beggarman. The damsel, to whom he
successfully p