Notes and Queries, Number 69, February 22, 1851

    J. Sansom.

Sauenap, Meaning of (Vol. ii., p. 479.).—The word probably means a napkin or pinafore; the two often, in old times, the same thing. The Cornish name for pinafore is save-all. (See Halliwell's Arch. Dict.) I need not add that nap, napery, was a common word for linen.

    George Stephens.

Stockholm.

Sir Thomas Herbert's Memoirs (Vol. ii., p. 476.).—The memoirs of Charles I. by Sir Thomas Herbert were published in 1702. I transcribe the title from a copy in my possession:—

"Memoirs of the two last years of the reign of that unparall'd prince, of ever blessed memory, king Charles I. By sir Tho. Herbert, major Huntingdon, col. Edw. Coke, and Mr. Hen. Firebrace, etc. London, Rob. Clavell, 1702, 8vo."

The volume, for a publication of that period, is of uncommon occurrence. It was printed, as far as above described, "from a manuscript of the Right Reverend the Bishop of Ely, lately deceased." The remainder of the volume consists of reprinted articles.

    Bolton Corney.

Robert Burton (Vol. iii., p. 106.).—The supposition that the author of the Anatomy of Melancholy was born at Fald, Staffordshire, instead of Lindley, Leicestershire, seems probable from the fact, that in an edition of the History of Leicestershire, by his brother William, I find that the latter dates his preface "From Falde, neere Tutbury, Staff., Oct. 30. 1622." In this work, also, under the head "Lindley," is given the pedigree of his family, commencing with "James de Burton, Squier of the body to King Richard the First;" down to "Rafe Burton, of Lindley, borne 1547; died 17 March, 1619;" leaving "Robert Burton, bachelor of divinity and student of Christ Church, Oxon; author of the Anatomy of Melancholy; borne 8 of Febr. 1578;" and "William Burton, author of this work (History of Leicestershire), borne 24 of Aug. 1575, now dwelling at Falde, ann. 1622."

    T. T.

Leicester.

Drachmarus (Vol. iii., p. 105.).—If your correspondents (Nos. 66 and 67.) who have inquired for a book called Jartuare, and for a writer named "Drachmarus," would add a little to the length of their questions, so as not by extra-briefness to deaden the dexterity of conjecturers, perhaps they might be nearer to the reception of replies. Many stranger things have happened than that Drachmarus should be renovated by the context into Christian Druthmar.

Averia (Vol. iii., p. 42.).—I have long desired to know the exact meaning of averia, but I have not met with a good explanation until lately. It is clear, however, from the following legal expression, "Nullus distringatur per averia carucæ." Caruca is the French charrue, and therefore averia must mean either cart-horses or oxen which draw the plough.

    P.

Dragons (Vol. iii., p. 40.).—I think the Draco of the Crusaders' times must have been the Boa constrictor. If you will look into St. Jerome's Vitas Patrum, you will find that he mentions the trail of a "draco" seen in the sand in the Desert, which appeared as if a great beam had been dragged along. I think it not likely that a crocodile would have ventured so far from the banks of the Nile as to be seen in the Desert.

    P.

Miscellaneous

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC

The members of the Percy Society have just received the third and concluding volume of The Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer, a new Text, with Illustrative Notes, edited by Thomas Wright, Esq. It is urged as an objection to Tyrwhitt's excellent edition of the Canterbury Tales, that one does not know his authority for any particular reading, inasmuch as he has given what he considered the best among the different MSS. he consulted. Mr. Wright has gone on an entirely different principle. Considering the Harleian MS. (No. 7334.) as both "the oldest and best manuscript he has yet met with," he has "reproduced it with literal accuracy," and for the adoption of this course Mr. Wright may plead the good example of German scholars when editing the Nibelungen Lied. That the members of the Society approve the principle of giving complete editions of works like the present, has been shown by the anxiety with which they have looked for the completion of Mr. Wright's labours; and we doubt not that, if the Council follow up this edition of the Canterbury Tales with some other of the collected works which they have announced—such as those of Hoccleve, Taylor the Water Poet, &c.—they will readily fill up any vacancies which may now exist in their list of members.

Mr. Parker has just issued another handsome, and handsomely illustrated volume to gladden the hearts of all ecclesiologists and architectural antiquaries. We allude to Mr. Freeman's Essay on the Origin and Development of Window Tracery in England, which consists of an improved and extended form of several papers on the subject of Tracery read before the Oxford Architectural Society at intervals during the years 1846 and 1848. To those of our readers who know what are Mr. Freeman's abilities for the task he has undertaken, the present announcement will be a sufficient inducement to make them turn to the volume itself; while those who have not yet paid any attention to this interesting chapter in the history of Architectural progress, will find no better introduction to the study of it than Mr. Freeman's able volume with its four hundred illustrations.

Mr. Foss has, we hear, gone to press with two additional volumes of his Judges of England, which will carry his subject down to the end of the reign of Richard III.

The Athenæum of Saturday last announces that the remaining Stowe MSS., including the unpublished Diaries and Correspondence of George Grenville, have been bought by Mr. Murray, of Albemarle Street, from the Trustees of the Duke of Buckingham. The correspondence will form about four volumes, and will be ready to appear among our next winter's novelties. The Grenville Diary reveals, it is said, the secret movements of Lord Bute's administration—the private histories of Wilkes and Lord Chatham—and the features of the early madness of George III.; while the Correspondence exhibits Wilkes, we are told, in a new light—and reveals (what the Stowe Papers were expected to reveal) something of moment about Junius; So that we may at length look for the solution of this important query.

Messrs. Puttick and Simpson (191. Piccadilly) will sell, on Monday and Tuesday next, a collection of Choice Books, mostly in beautiful condition. Among the more curious lots are, an unpublished work of Archbishop Laud, on Church Government, said to have been presented to Charles I. for the instruction of Prince Henry; and an unique Series of Illustrations for Scotland, consisting of several thousand engravings, and many interesting drawings and autographs.

We have received the following Catalogues:—Bernard Quaritch's (16. Castle Street, Leicester Square) Catalogue (No. 24.) of Books in European and Oriental Languages and Dialects, Fine Arts, Antiquities, &c.; Waller and Son's (188. Fleet Street) Catalogue of Autograph Letters and Manuscripts, English and Foreign, containing many rare and interesting Documents.

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES WANTED TO PURCHASE

Conder's Provincial Coins. Publisher's name I cannot recollect.

Historical Register for 1st February, 1845, price 6d. No. 5.; also for 22d February, 1845, price 6d. No. 8., and subsequent Numbers till its discontinuation. Published by Wallbridge, 7. Catherine Street, Strand.

Lullii (Raymondi) Opera, Mogunt, 10 Vols. fol., 1721-42.

Liceti (Fortunii) de quæsitis per Epistolas, Bonon. 7 tom. 4to., 1640-50.

Scalichii sive Scaligeri (Pauli) Opera, Basil, 1559, 4to.

–– Occulta Occultorum, Vienn. 1556, 4to.

–– Satiræ Philosophicæ, Regiom. 1563, 8vo.

–– Miscellaneorum, Colon. 1570, 4to.

–– De Vita ejus et Scriptis, 4to., Ulmæ, 1803.

Responsa Juris consultorum de origine gente et nomine Pauli Scaligeri, Colon. 1567, 4to.

Scaligeronum Annales, Colon. sine anno in 12mo.

Scaligeri (Jos.) Mesolabium, Ludg. Bat. 1594. fol.

Grubinii (Oporini) Amphotides Scioppianæ, Paris, 1611, 8vo.

Cardani (Hieron) Opuscula Medica et Philosophica, Basil, 1566, 2 Vols. 8vo.

–– Contradicentium Medicorum, Lugd. 1584, 4to.

–– Theonoston, Rom. 1617, 4to.

–– De Immortalitate Animorum, Ludg. 1545, 12mo.

–– De Malo Medendi Usu, Venet. 1536, 12mo.

Campanellæ (Thomæ) Philosophia Sensibus Demonstrata, Neap., 1591, 4to.

Gassendi (Petri) Epistolica Exercitatio, in quâ principia Rob. Fluddi Medici deteguntur, Paris, 1630, 8vo.

Scioppii (Gasp.) Elogia Scioppiana, Papiæ, 1617, 4to.

–– De Augustâ Dom^s Austriæ origine, Const., 1651, 12mo.

–– Observationes Linguæ Latinæ, Francof., 1609, 8vo.

Naudæi (Gab.) Gratiarum Actio in Collegio Patav., Venet., 1633, 8vo.

–– Instauratio Tabularii Reatini, Romæ, 1640, 4to.