Notes and Queries, Number 09, December 29, 1849

Greek Verse.—Can any of your readers inform me who is the author of the line—

"[Greek: Pollai men thnaetois glottai, mia d' athanatoisi]?"

    C.

Dr. Dee's petition to James I.—"E.F.R." states that he has lately discovered, in the lining of an ancient trunk, two or three curious broadsides, one of which purports to be Dr. Dee's petition to James I., 1604, against the report raised against him, namely, "That he is or hath bin a Conjurer and Caller, or Invocator of Divels." He would be glad to know whether this curious broadside has been printed in any memoir of Dr. Dee.

Vondel's Lucifer.—"F." desires to be informed whether the tragedy or dramatic poem Lucifer, of the Dutch poet Vondel, which has been said to bear some analogy to Paradise Lost, has ever been translated? and if not, why not? The French writer, Alfred de Vigny, in Stella, calls Vondel (Wundel in his spelling) "ce vieux Shakspeare de la Hollande."

Discurs Modest.—In Bishop Andrewes' Reply to the Apology of Bellarmine, chap. i. p. 7, ed. 4to. London, 1610, certain jesuits in prison are reported to have confessed, Rem transubstantiationis patres ne attigisse quidem; as authority for which is quoted Discurs Modest, p. 13. From this work apparently the passage is copied by Jeremy Taylor, Real Presence, sect. 12. § 16; Dissuasive, part i. chap. 1. § 5, and part 2. book 2. sect. 3. 3: also by Cosin on Transubstantiation, chap. 6. § 17. Can any of your readers favour me with a clue to the Modest Discourse?

    A.T.

Ptolemy of Alexandria.—"QUERY" wishes to be informed what works of Ptolemy of Alexandria are to be met with in an English translation.

Vanbrugh's London Improvements.—In the London Journal of March 16th, 1722-23, there is the following paragraph:—

"We are informed that Sir John Vanbrugh, in his scheme for new paving the cities of London and Westminster, among other things, proposes a tax on all gentlemen's coaches, to stop all channels in the street, and to carry all the water off by drains and common sewers under ground."

Sir John Vanbrugh was chiefly known as an architect of noblemen's and gentlemen's mansions. Can any of your readers supply me with a reference to any detailed plan, from Sir John, for the general improvement of the metropolis?

    B.M.

Becket's Grace-Cup.—The inscription round the neck of this so-called cup, of which a representation is given in No. 1. of Mr. Scott's Antiquarian Gleanings, is thus printed by him—GOD FERARE—: to which he adds, in explanation, "probably the name of the goldsmith." At the foot of an earlier print of this relic, the inscription is given thus—FERARE GOD—and till the appearance of Mr. Scott's version, I had considered the former word as an accidental error of the engraver, instead of FEARE; which would present a moral motto, suiting the SOBRII ESTOTE round the lid.—As Mr. Nichols, in his recent interesting work on Pilgrimages to Walsingham and Canterbury, noticing the misnomer of the cup (p. 229, n.), indicates its date to be of "the early part of the sixteenth century," perhaps some one of your well-informed readers could state if any artist-goldsmith of that era, and of that name, be known.

    ALICUI.

Sir Henry Herbert's Office-Book.—I should be glad to know if any of your readers can tell me the "whereabouts" of Sir Henry Herbert's Office-Book, a MS. frequently referred to by Malone, Chalmers, and Collier. Sir Henry Herbert was Master of the Revels to King James the First, and the two succeeding kings, and the said MS. contains an account of almost every piece exhibited at any of the theatres from August, 1623, to the commencement of the rebellion in 1641. Malone, in his Historical Account of the English Stage (edit. Boswell, iii. 57.), says, in a note—

"For the use of this very curious and valuable manuscript I am indebted to Francis Ingram, of Ribbisford, near Bewdley, in Worcestershire, Esq., Deputy Remembrancer in the Court of the Exchequer. It has lately been found in the same old chest which contained the manuscript Memoirs of Lord Herbert of Cherbury, from which Mr. Walpole, about twenty years ago, printed the life of that nobleman, who was elder brother to Sir Henry Herbert."

In another place, Malone adds:—

"This valuable manuscript, having lain for a considerable time in a damp place, is unfortunately damaged, and in a very mouldering condition; however, no material part of it appears to have perished."

Such being the case, it becomes more than ever desirable that this interesting volume should be sought after, and the whole of its contents put on record before its total decay. Surely, if its depositary is known, and accessible, it is well worth the attention of the Shakespeare Society, or some other learned body instituted for the preservation of documents of this nature.

A biographical account of the various persons that have held the appointment of "Master of the Revels," with such particulars of the stage as would necessarily fall in, would form a valuable Prolegomena to the publication of Sir Henry's Office-Book. We have, it is true, much information upon this subject, but in a very scattered form.

I have now before me a list of the "Masters of the Revells," with the dates of their patents, which I beg to transcribe. It is of more than ordinary value, being in the handwriting of Sir Henry Herbert himself, and copied at the back of the worthy knight's "Petition to Charles the Second against the Grant to Killegrew and Davenant to form Two Companies of Players."

"Masters of ye Revells.

    EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES

WANTED TO PURCHASE

(In continuation of Lists in former Nos.)

1. DR. BROOK TAYLOR'S PERSPECTIVE. 1st edit. 1715.

2. DR. AUSTIN'S CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FIRST SIX BOOKS OF EUCLID. (Date not known.)

3. DR. ABRAHAM ROBERTSON ON RATIO AND PROPORTION. Oxford. 1804.

4. LAWSON'S DISSERTATION ON THE ANALYSIS OF THE ANTIENTS. Edited by Fryer, and printed in Bristol, 1809.—[The particular copy wanted is interleaved with thick paper and MS. alterations by the Editor. It was surreptitiously obtained from its owner; but the books of the person who had it are dispersed.]

Letters, stating particulars and lowest price, carriage free, to be sent to MR. BELL, Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS

It will be seen by our leading article that having been unable to procure by any other means sufficient copies of our early numbers, to supply perfect sets to all who applied for them, we have reprinted Nos. 1. 2. 3. and 4., so that our subscribers have now an opportunity of completing their sets.

Our correspondent who inquired respecting the Life and Diary of Haydon the Painter, is informed that its publication is suspended for the present.

We have to explain to correspondents who inquire as to the mode of procuring "NOTES AND QUERIES," that every bookseller and newsman will supply it if ordered, and that gentlemen residing in the country may be supplied regularly with the Stamped Edition, by giving their orders direct to the publisher, MR. GEORGE BELL, 186. Fleet Street, accompanied by a Post Office order for a Quarter (4s. 4d.).

A neat Case for holding Numbers of "NOTES AND QUERIES" until the completion of each volume, is now ready, price 1s. 6d., and may be had, by Order, of all Booksellers and Newsmen.

We are again compelled to omit many Notes, Queries, and Answers to Queries, as well as Answers to Correspondents.

[Illustration: A pilgrim in a field.]

This day is published, price 6s.,

THE PILGRIMAGES OF WALSINGHAM and CANTERBURY: by DESIDERIUS ERASMUS. Being his Colloquy on Pilgrimage, translated and illustrated with Notes, by JOHN GOUGH NICHOLS, F.S.A.; together with the Colloquy on Rash Vows, and the Characters of Archbishop Warham and Dean Collet, by the same Author.

"This entertaining little volume will afford to many a reader not only much information on the subject of Pilgrimages, but also numerous illustrations of the feelings and habits of the times."—Athenæum.

"We can conceive no more perfect translation than Mr. Nichols has given; most delicately does he express the quiet eloquence and quieter irony of the original; while his Notes—which occupy about three-fourths of the handsome volume—are full of the most curious, learned, and interesting matter."—Weekly News.

"In the Appendix, Mr. Nichols gives a very interesting dissertation on pilgrimages in general, and furnishes us with much curious information relative to Walsingham, and a judicious summary of facts and circumstances connected with the murder of Archbishop Becket."—Salisbury Journal.

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE.

The Obituary of the Gentleman's Magazine is generally allowed to be one of its most valuable features, and unremitting attention is devoted to the task of making it as complete and comprehensive as possible. It records the decease of all persons of station in society or of individual merit, and biographical memoirs are given (amounting every year to more than three hundred) of eminent characters, whether statesmen, senators, officers in the public service, members of the learned professions, men of science, authors, artists, &c. &c. The Magazine for January will contain, among others, Memoirs of Her Majesty the Queen Dowager; Sir John Dashwood King, Bart.; Sir Thomas Lethbridge, Bart.; Rear-Adm. Sir S.J.B. Pechell, Bart.; Admiral Sir J. Hawkins Whitshed; General Sir George Anson; General Sir John Vandeleur; Lieut.-Col. John Browne; Charles Lyell, Esq.; John Musters, Esq.; Louis Hayes Petit, Esq.; Wm. Cooke Taylor, L.L.D.; Mr. Kenney, the dramatist; Charles Edw. Horn, the composer, &c. &c.

The Number for January will be embellished with two Plates of the Roman Pavements recently found at Cirencester.

NICHOLS AND SON, 25. Parliament Street.

Vols. I. and II. 8vo., price 28s., cloth.

THE JUDGES OF ENGLAND; from the TIME of the CONQUEST. By Edward Foss, F.S.A.

"A work in which a subject of great historical importance is treated with the care, diligence, and learning it deserves; in which Mr. Foss has brought to light many points previously unknown, corrected many errors, and shown such ample knowledge of his subject as to conduct it successfully through all the intricacies of a difficult investigation, and such taste and judgment as will enable him to quit, when occasion requires, the dry details of a professional inquiry, and to impart to his work, as he proceeds, the grace and dignity of a philosophical history."—Gent. Mag.