Google Book search-1961-"a sheet nine yards long"

[Charles Doyle]

The "snippet" quoted is Frank's paraphrase, of course. Here is what the document says:

"There was a Bill exhibited this last Sessions against a Counsellor for corruption, which was nine yards in length, and a foot in bredth."

>From the _Weekly Intelligencer of the Common-Wealth_, no. 206, for 12-28 Feb. 1653 (i.e. 1654), page 178.

Not so interesting as a precursor of the modern saying . . . .

--Charlie
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---- Original message ----
>Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 15:29:45 -0400
>From: "Douglas G. Wilson" <douglas at NB.NET>

>
>>...and it's a sheet of paper(s).
>>
>>A hit on a book "The Beginnings of the English Newspaper;1620-1660" by Joseph Frank.  p. 239
>>
>>[* I used "sheet nine yards long" and date: 1959-1964.]
>>
>>"...more subdued, still showed a superior range and flexiblity, as well as an occasional sparkle of humor.  With a straight face he referred to an indictment of a lawyer that filled a sheet nine yards long, and in his next-to-last number he commented on himself and his colleagues:"
>
>You can't tell much from the despicable 'snippet' of course, but in this case, the straight-faced reference was likely made in the 1640's. This book is not immediately available to me; maybe I can check it in a week or two; but probably one of the academicians has a handier library.
>
>-- Doug Wilson

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