By Hook or Crook

"As in the phrase 'to get by hook or crook;' in the sense of, to get by any expedient, to stick at nothing to obtain the end; not to be over nice in obtaining your ends—By *hucke o'er krooke*; e.g. by *bending the knees*, *and by bowing low*, or as we now say, by bowing and scraping, by crouching and cringing." —Bellenden Ker's *Essay on the Archaeology our Popular Phrases and Nursery Rhymes*, vol. i. p. 21. ed. 1837. I wish your correspondent, "J.R.F.," had given a reference to the book or charter from which he copied his note. Has Mr. B. Ker's work ever been reviewed? [Mr. Ker's book was cer…