Bishop Barnaby

The origin of the term "Bishop Barnaby," as applied to the Lady-bird, is still unexplained. I wish to observe, as having some possible connexion with the subject, that the word "Barnaby" in the seventeenth century appears to have had a particular political signification. For instance, I send you a pamphlet (which you are welcome to, if you will accept of it) called "*The Head of Nile, or the Turnings and Windings of the Factious since Sixty, in a dialogue between Whigg and Barnab*y," London, 1681. In this dialog, Whigg, as might be expected, is the exponent of all manner of abominable opinions…