Note 32 — Chapter I · PATRONYMIC SURNAMES.

‘Sir John’ (‘sir’ being the simple old-fashioned title of respect, as in ‘sir knight,’ ‘sir king,’ &c.) was the familiar expression for a priest. Bishop Bale speaks of them as ‘babbling Sir Johns.’ Bradford, too, writing on the Mass, asks, ‘Who then, I say, will excuse these mass-gospellers’ consciences? Will the Queen’s highness? She shall then have more to do for herself than, without hearty and speedy repentance, she can ever be able to answer, though Peter, Paul, Mary, James, John, the Pope and all his prelates, take her part, with all the singing “Sir Johns” that ever were, are, and shall be.’—Bishop Bradford’s Works. Park. Soc., p. 391.