Chapter 2

Oysters are only allowed to be sold in London (which city, by the by, levied a tax of two pence on every person going and returning by the river Thames on pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James), after St. James's day. Why is this? I wish Mr. Wansey, who is an able antiquary, and one authorised to look into the records of Fishmongers' Company, would give us the information upon this point which these documents may be expected to furnish.

WILLIAM J. THOMS.

P.S.--I should be glad if any of the readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES" could explain to that Erasmus alludes, when he says, "Culmeis ornatus torquibus, brachium habet ova serpentum," which L'Estrange translated, "Straw-works,--snakes, eggs for bracelets;" and Mr. Nichols, who honestly states that he is unable to explain the allusion, as he does not find such emblems elsewhere mentioned,--"adorned with straw necklaces and bracelets of serpents' eggs."

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NOTE OF A MS. VOLUME OF CHRONICLES AT REIGATE.

Amongst the objects of the useful medium of literary communication afforded by the publication of "NOTES AND QUERIES," one appears to be a record of the casual notice of "some book or some edition, hitherto unknown or imperfectly described." I am induced therefore to inquire, whether the existence of an ancient MS. volume of Chronicles, which I have recently noticed in the little library adjoining Reigate Church, is already known to those who investigate out monastic annals? This volume may probably not have escaped their research, especially since the republication and extension of Wharton's Collection, have been recently proposed. A chronological series of chronicles relativing to the see of Canterbury was announced amongst the projected publications of the "Anglia Christiana Society."

The Reigate library, of which brief mention is made in Manning's and Bray's _History of Surrey_ (vol. i. p. 314.) without any notice of its contents, is preserved in the upper chamber of a building on the north side of the chancel, erected in 1513, and designated as a "vestibulum" in a contemporary inscription. The collection is small, and amoungst the most interesting volumes is a small folio, in the original oaken boards covered with white leather, presented to the library, 7. June, 1701, by William Jordan, of Gatwick, in the adjacent parish of Charlwood, probably the same person who was member for the borough of Reigate in 1717. Of previous possessors of the book nothing is recorded. It comprises several concise chronicles, which may be thus described:--

1. "Cathologus Romanorum Pontificum:"--imperfect, commencing with fol. 11; some leaves also lost at the end. It closes with the year 1359, in the times of Innocent VI.

2. "De Imperatoribus Romanis:"--from Julius Caesar to the election and coronation of Charles IV. after the death of the emperor Lewis of Bavaria, and the battle of Cressy, in 1347.

3. "Compilacio Cronicorum de diversis Archiepiscopis ecclesie Cantuariensis:"--the chronicle of Stephen Birchington, a monk of Canterbury, printed by Wharton, from a MS. in the Lambeth collection. The text varies in many particulars, which may be of minor moment, but deserve collation. The writing varies towards the close, as if the annals had been continued at intervals; and they close with the succession of Archibishop William de Witleseye, in 1368, as in the text printed by Wharton (_Anglia Sacra_, vol. i. pp. 1-48.).

4. "De principio mundi, et etatibus ejusdem.--De insulis et civitatibus Anglie:"--forming a sort of brief preface to the following--"Hic incipit Bruto de gestis Anglorum." The narrative begins with a tale of a certain giant king of Greece, in the year 3009, who had thirty daughters: the eldest, Albina, gave her name to Albion. The history is continued to the accession of William Rufus.

5. "Incipit Cronica de adquisicione Regni Anglie per Willelmum Ducem Normannorum," &c. closing in 1364, with the birth of Edward of Engolesme, eldest son of the Black Prince. Wharton speaks of "Historiae de regibus Anglorum, de Pontificibus Romanis, et de Imperatoribus Romanis," as found together with the chronicle of the archibishops of Canterbury; both in the Lambeth MS. and in another formerly in the possession of William Reede, Bishop of Chichester: and he was inclined to attribute the whole to the pen of Birchington.

6. "Gesta Scotorum contra Anglicos:"--commencing in 1066, with the times of Malcolm, king of Scotland, and ending in 1346, with the capture of David II., and the calamitous defeat of the Scots near Durham.

At the commencement of the volume are found some miscellaneous writings of less interesting character. I noticed, however, an entry relating to the foundation of a chapel at "Ocolte," now written Knockholt, in Kent, by Ralph Scot, who had erected a mansion remote from the parish church, and obtained license for the consecration of the chapel in the year 1281, in the time of Archbishop Kilwareby.

The writing of the MS. appears to be of the latter half of the fourteenth century. Possibly there may be reader of these "NOTES AND QUERIES," more familiar with such inquiries than myself, who may have examined other contemporary MSS. of the compilations of Stephen Birchington. I shall be thankful for any information regarding them, and especially as regards the existence of any transcript of the Canterbury Annals, extended beyond the year 1368, with which this copy as well as that used by Wharton closes; whilst he supposes that in the chronicle as cited by Jocelin, chaplain to Matthew Parker, they had been carried as far as the year 1382.

ALBERT WAY.

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THE MORNING CHRONICLE, ETC.--WHEN FIRST ESTABLISHED.

It is read in the _Newspaper Directory_ that _The Morning Chronicle_ was established in 1770, _The Morning Herald_ in 1781, _The Times_, 1st January, 1788. I believe that not one of these dates is correct, and that of _The Morning Herald_ to be wrong by fifteen years or more. Can you, or any of the readers of "NOTES AND QUERIES," give me the exact dates, or tell me where I can find the earlier volumes; say, the first ten, or either or all?

D.

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VALUE OF A REPOSITORY FOR "NOTES."--NEW EDITION OF HERBERT'S "AMES."

[The suggestions in the following Paper are so extremely valuable, that we are not only pleased to give it insertion, but hope that our readers will take advantage of our columns to carry out Dr. Maitland's recommendations.]

Sir,--My attention has been particularly engaged by one suggestion in your Prospectus, because it seems to hold out a hope that your intended work will furnish what has long been a _desideratum_ in literature. We really do want something that may form a "supplement to works already in existence--a treasury for enriching future editions of them;" while it may also receive (as I have no doubt you meant to include,) such contributions of moderate extent, as may tend to render fuller and more correct some works which have little or no chance of future editions. In this way you may be of great use in every department of literature; and especially in works of reference. With them, indeed, correctness is everything; perfect accuracy is not to be attained, and the nearest possible approximation to it can be made only by many little careful steps, backwards as well as forwards.

By works of reference, however, I do not mean Dictionaries, though I would include them, as a class of works for which I have a singular respect, and to which my remark particularly applies. There are many other books, and some which very properly aspire to the tile of History, which are, in fact and practically, books of reference, and of little value if they have not the completeness and accuracy which should characterise that class of works. Now it frequently happens to people whose reading is at all discursive, that they incidentally fall upon small matters of correction or criticism, which are of little value to themselves, but would be very useful to those who are otherwise engaged, if they knew of their existence.

I might perhaps illustrate this matter by referring to various works; but it happens to be more in my way to mention Herbert's edition of Ames's _Typographical Antiquities_. It may be hoped that some day or other, the valuable matter of which it consists will be reduced to a better form and method; for it seems hardly too much to say, that he appears to have adopted the very worst that could have been selected. I need not tell you that I have no idea of undertaking such a thing, and I really have no suspicion (I wish I had) that anybody else is thinking of doing it:--or, in other words, I am not attempting to make use of your columns by insinuating a preparatory puff for a work in progress, or even in contemplation. I only mention the book as one of a class which may be essentially benefited by your offering a receptacle for illustrations, additions, and corrections, such as individually, or in small collections, are of little or no value, and are frequently almost in the very opposite condition to those things which are of no value to any body but the owner. For instance, when I was in the habit of seeing many of the books noted by Herbert, and had his volumes lying beside me, I made hundreds, perhaps thousands, of petty corrections, and many from books which he had not had an opportunity of seeing, and of which he could only reprint incorrect descriptions. All of these, though trifling in themselves, are things which should be noticed in case of a reprint; but how much time and trouble would it cost an editor to find and collate the necessary books? That, to be sure, is his business; but the question for the public is, _Would_ it be done at all? and could it in such cases be done so well in any other way, as by appointing some place of rendezvous for the casual and incidental materials for improvement which may fall in the way of readers pursuing different lines of inquiry, and rewarded, as men in pursuit of truth always are, whatever may be their success as to their _immediate_ object, by finding more than they are looking for--things, too, which when they get into their right places, show that they were worth finding--and, perhaps, unknown to those more conversant with the subject to which they belong, just because they were in the out-of-the-way place where they were found by somebody who was looking for something else.

S.R. MAITLAND.

* * * * *

A FLEMISH ACCOUNT.

T.B.M. will be obliged by references to any early instances of the use of the expression "_A Flemish account_," and of any explanation as to its origin and primary signification.

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BIBLIOGRAPHIC PROJECT.

Of the various sections into which the history of English literature is divisible, there is no one in which the absence of collective materials is more seriously felt--no one in which we are more in need of authentic _notes_, or which is more apt to raise perplexing _queries_--than that which relates to the authorship of anonymous and pseudonymous works.

The importance of the inquiry is not inferior to the ardour with which it has sometimes been pursued, or the curiosity which it has excited. On all questions of testimony, whether historical or scientific, it is a consideration of the position and character of the writer which chiefly enables us to decide on the credibility of his statements, to account for the bias of his opinions, and to estimate his entire evidence at its just value. The remark also applies, in a qualified sense, to productions of an imaginative nature.

On the number of the works of this class, I can only hazard a conjecture. In French literature, it amounts to about one-third part of the whole mass. In English literature, it cannot be less than one-sixth part--perhaps more. Be it as it may, the SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT of all that has been revealed in that way, and of all that is dicoverable, is essential to the perfection of literary history, of literary biography, and of bibliography.

At the present moment, I can only announce the project as a stimulus to unemployed aspirants, and as a hint to fortunate collectors, to prepare for an exhibition of their cryptic treasures.--On a future occasion I shall describe the plan of construction which seems more eligible--shall briefly notice the scattered materials which it may be expedient to consult, whether in public depositories, or in private hands--and shall make an appeal to those whose assistance may be required, to enable a competent editor to carry out the plan with credit and success.

On the prevalence of anonymous writing, on its occasional convenience, and on its pernicious consequences, I shall make no remarks. Facts, rather than arguments, should be the staple commodity of an instructive miscellany.

BOLTON CORNEY.

Barnes Terrace, Surrey,

29th Oct., 1849.

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NOTES FROM FLY-LEAVES.--NO. 1.

Many scholars and reading-men are in the habit of noting down on the fly-leaves of their books memoranda, sometimes critical, sometimes bibliographical, the result of their own knowledge or research. The following are specimens of the kind of Notes to which we allude; and the possessors of volumes enriched by the Notes and memoranda of men of learning to whom they formerly belonged, will render us and our readers a most acceptable service by forwarding to us copies of them for insertion.

_Douce on John of Salisbury_. MS. Note in a copy of Policraticus, Lug. Bat. 1639.

"This extraordinary man flourished in the reign of Henry II., and was, therefore, of Old Salisbury, not of New Salisbury, which was not founded till the reign of Henry III. Having had the best education of the time, and being not only a genius, but intimate with the most eminent men, in particular with Pope Hadrian (who was himself an Englishman), he became at length a bishop, and died in 1182. He had perused and studies most of the Latin classics, and appears to have decorated every part of his work with splendid fragments extracted out of them."--_Harris's Philosophical Arrangements_, p. 457.

See more relating to John of Salisbury in Fabricii, _Bib. Med. AEtatis_, iv. 380.; in Tanner, _Biblioth. Britannico Hibernica_; in Baillet's _Jugemens des Savans_, ii. 204. See Senebier, _Catalogue des Manuscrits de Geneve_, p. 226.

"Johannes Sarisb. multa ex Apuleio desumpsit," Almclooven, Plagiaror. Syllab. 36.; and it might have been justly added, that he borrowed from Petronius. See the references I have made on the last leaf.

Janus Dousa, in his _Notes on Petronius_, had called John of Salisbury "Cornicula;" but Thomasius, in p. 240 of his work, _De Plagio Literario_, vindicates him satisfactorily. See _Lipp. ad. Tacit. Annal XII_. (pezzi di _porpora_), not noticed by any editor of Petronius. Has various readings. See my old edition.

Lacrimas commodabat. ---- commendabat. Saris. better.

Itaque cruciarii unius parentes ---- cruciati ---- ----. Saris.

The above is from Zanetti's _Collection of Ialian Novels_, 4 vol. 8vo. Venet. 1754.

Mezeray, the French historian, translated this work 1640, 4to; and there is an old French translation of it in 1360 by Denis Soulechat.

The article pasted on the inside of the cover (viz. the following extract) "_Surisberiensis (J.) Policraticus, &c., 8vo. L. Bat. 1595; very scarce, vellum 6s. This book is of great curiosity; it is stated in the preface that the author, J. of Salibury, was present at the murther of Thomas a Becket, whose intimate friend he was; and that 'dum pius Thomas ab impio milite cedetur in capite, Johannis hujus brachium fere simul percisum est_,'" is from Lilly's Catalogue, and the passage relating to Becket was copied from that of Payne, to whom I communicated it, and which is found in the first edition only, being perhaps purposely omitted in all the others.

F.D.

[We believe the majority of the books in Mr. Douce's valuable library, now deposited in the Bodleian, contain memoranda, like those in his _John of Salisbury_; and any of our Oxford friends could not do us a greater service than by communicating other specimens of the _Book-noting_ of this able and zealous antiquary.]

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LIBER SENTENTIARUM.--INQUISITION OF THOULOUSE.

Mr. Editor,--In or about 1756, an ancient manuscript in folio, on vellum, was deposited in the British Museum by Dr. Secker, then Bishop of Oxford, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, and still, I take for granted, remains in that institution. It was intitled upon the cover, _Liber Sententiarum_; but contained the Acts and Decisions of the Inquisition of Thoulouse, from the year 1307 to 1323. It had been purchased by the contributions of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, of the Bishop of Oxford himself, and of various other prelates, the lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons of that time, the Viscount Royston, &c.

Can any of your readers inform me whether any or what portions of this manuscript have been hitherto communicated to the world, either in the way of publication or translation, or of abridgment, in whole or in part? An analysis of this manuscript would be interesting to many readers of ecclesiastical history.

INQUISITORIUS.

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NEW FACTS ABOUT LADY ARABELLA STUART.

The following extracts, from "The Declaration of the Accompte of Nicholas Pay, gentleman, appoynted by warraunte of the righte honorable the lordes of the kinges ma'ts Privie Councell, to receave and yssue sondrye somes of money for the provycon of dyett and other chardges of the ladye Arbella Seymour, whoe by his hignes comaundemente and pleasure shoulde haue bene remoued into the countye Palatyne of Duresme, under the chardge of the Reverende Father in God Will'm lorde Bishpp of Duresme; but after was stayed and appointed to remayne at Eastbarnett duringe his hignes good pleasure," are new to the history of this unfortunate lady. The account includes all sums of money "receaved and yssued ffrom the xiiij'th daye of Marche 1610, untill the vij'th daye of June 1611," and the account itself (as preserved in the Audit Office) "was taken and declared before the right honorable Roberte Earle of Salisbury, Lord Highe Threas of Englande and S'r Julius Caesar, Knighte, Chancellor and Under-Threas of Th'exchequer the xij'th of Ffebruary 1611" [1611/12]. The extracts throw some fresh light on her movements on her road from London to Durham. At East Barnet, it is well known, she eluded the vigilance of her keepers, and threw the king and council into the utmost consternation.

PETER CUNNINGHAM.

"Allowed for money payde for Dyett, lodginge and other necessarie chardges and expences of the said ladye Arbella Seymour and suche p'sons as were appointed to attende her in her journey into the countie Palatyne of Duresme: as hereafter followeth.

"At Highgate for sixe days begonne the xv'th daye of Marche 1610 and ended the xxj'st of the same month, on w'ch day her ladishipp removed to Barnet--xviij'li. v'i. iij'd.

"At Barnett for xj'th dayes begonne the xxj'st of March 1610 and ended the first of Aprill 1611, beinge that daye removed to Estbarnett--lxxj'li. v'i. viij'd.

"Chardges of the Stable for the xvij'en dayes abovemenconed--xxxviij'li. x'i. ix'd.

"Lodginge of some of the retinewe of the lady Arbella and the said lorde Bishopp, and for other necessaries duringe the xvij'en days aforesaid--xij'li. xix'i.

"Ryding and postinge chardges--viz. for posthorses from Lambeth to Highgate and from thence to Barnett. To Mr. Beeston and others for their chardges three severall tymes to Barnett from London and from Highgate. To the servauntes of the lord bishp of Duresme sente at severall tymes to the lordes of the Councell and for other businesses concerninge this service; and to Sir James Crofte, Knight, for the chardges of himselfe, his men, and horses attendinge at London in this service--ix'li. xviij's. vj'd.

"Rewardes to sondryre p'rsons, viz. to messengers sent from the Courte during the staye of the Lorde Bishopp at Highgate and Barnett. To diuerse p'rsons who tooke paynes at Highgate and Barnett. Geven in the Inne for glasses broken, and in rewardes to the meanar servauntes at Barnett, xxx's. &c. In all the some of xij'li. ix's. vj'd.

"Also allowed to the sayde Accomptaunte for money by his owne handes yssued and payde in this service from the time of her ladishipps removinge from the Inne in Barnett to the house of Thomas Conyers Esquir in Estbarnett, as hereafter is menconed:

"Expences of dyett for the lady Arbella her servauntes and others appointed to attende her at Estbarnett by the space of lxviij dayes begonne the first of April 1611, and ended the vij'th of June following at cix's. iij'd. p'r diem--ccclxxj'li. xj's. v'd.

"Chardges of the Stable, viz.--for three lytter horses, one sumpter horse, and fyve coche horses for xxvj dayes at ij's. the horse by daye and night. For the Stable at Estbarnett for lxviij dayes begonne the first of Aprill 1611 and ended the vij'th of June followinge: and for hyer of a coche of Thomas Webster employed in this service by the space of xxiij dyes at xx's. per diem--lxxvij'li. vj's. ix'd.

"Boardwages of Cochemen, Lyttermen and Sumpter-man and their men at viij's. and iij's. iij'd. and iij's. each per diem--l'li. x's.

"Enterteynement to sondrye p'rsons appointed to attende the said lady Arbella Seymour. To Nicholas Pay the accomptaunte xxxv'li. x's. To William Lewen for his attendaunce in the office of caterer of poultrye at iiij's. per diem to himselfe and his horse. To Richarde Mathewe for his attendance in the butterye and pantrye at iij's. per diem for himselfe and his horse. To Thomas Mylles for his attendaunce in the larder and kitchen at iij's. per diem for himselfe and his horse--lxvj'li. ij's.

"To rydinge and posting-chardges, viz. of Henry Mynors at severall tymes from Barnett to Whitehall and backe againe for dyreccons in this service from the lordes of the privie Councell xxxv's. and for post-horses to carye the ladye Arbella Seymour her servauntes from Barnett to London xvij's. For the hier of horses at severall tymes for S'r James Crofte betweene Barnett and London in attendinge the lordes of the Councell in this service xl's.--iiij'li. xij's.

"For caryadges for removing the ladie Arbella and her companie from Lambeth to Highgate and from thence to Barnet, &c.--lxxviij'li. xv's.

"In rewardes to sondrye p'rsons, viz. to the servauntes in Mr. Conyers house and laborers to make clean the house, &c.--iiij'li. xv's.

"To Mathias Melwarde one of the Princes chaplaynes for his paynes in attending the ladye Arbella Seymour to preache and reade prayers duringe her aboade at Estbarnett--v'li.

"Houserent paid to Thomas Conyers Equier, for the rent of his house in Estbarnett for the lady Arbella Seymour and her companie for x'en weekes at xx's. the week--x'li.

"Payde out the Receipte of the Exchequier to thandes of the ladye Arbella Seymour for her own furnishinge in her journey into the Bishoprycke of Durham--cc'li.

"Money payde to Thomas Moundeforde, Doctor of physicke and an Apothecarye appointed by order of the lordes of the privie Councell to geve their attendaunce uppon the saide lady Arbella: viz. for the enterteynement of the saide Doctor Moundeforde for cl'tie dayes begonne the viij'th of Ffebruarie 1610 and ended the vij'th of Julie following 1611 at xxx's. per diem--ccxxv'li.