Shipster

A *scip-steora* among our Anglo-Saxon ancestors was a pilot ("*ship-steerer*"). The word has descended to our own times in the surname of the family Shipster. As a common noun it was not obsolete in the days of Wynkyn de Worde, who printed that curious production "*Cock Lorelle's Bote*," one line of which runs thus:— "With gogle-eyed Tomson, *shepster* of Lyn." It is pretty certain, however, that this masculine occupation was not the one followed by "Marie Fraunceys de Suthwerk!" Pray accept this "Reply" for what it is worth. Perhaps I might have done better by meeting Mr. John R. Fox's "Query…