Chapter 3

That he possessed rare books I collect from this: that the author of _Grammatica Reformata_, 12mo. 1683, namely John Twells, Master of the Free School at Newark, says, in his preface, that he owed the opportunity of perusing _Matthew of Westminster_ "to the kindness of that learned patron of learning, Edward Lee, of Norwell, Esquire."

And now, having given you a Note, I will add a Query, and ask, Can any one inform me what became of this library, or who were the representatives and heirs of Edward Lee, through whom this MS. may have passed to Mr. Conybeare, or give me any further particulars respecting this Edward Lee?

A person who asks a question in such a publication as yours ought to endeavour to answer one. I add therefore that Mr. Thorpe--no mean authority on such a point--in his _Catalogue_ for 1834, No. 1234, says the E.F. in the title-page of _The Life of King Edward II_, represents "E. Falkland:" but he does not tell us who E. Falkland was, and it is questionable whether there was any person so named living at the time when the book in question was written. There was no Edward Lord Falkland before the reign of William III. Also, in answer to Dr. Maitland's Query respecting the fate of Bindley's copy of _Borde's Dyetary of Health_, 1567, in a priced copy of the Catalogue now before me, the name of Rodd stands as the purchaser for eleven shillings.

JOSEPH HUNTER.

Nov. 26. 1849

* * * * *

QUERIES ANSWERED, NO. 3.

_A Flemish Account, &c._

The readiness with which we adopt a _current saying_, though unaware of its source and therefore somewhat uncertain as to the proper mode of applying it, is curiously exemplified by the outstanding query on the origin and primary signification of the phrase _A Flemish account_.

I have consulted, in search of it, dictionaries of various dates, the glossaries of our dramatic annotators, and the best collections of proverbs and proverbial sayings--but without success.

The _saying_ casts no reproach on the Flemings. It always means, I believe that the sum to be received turns out less than had been expected. It is a commercial joke, and admits of explanation by reference to the early commercial transactions between the English and the Flemings.

I rely on the authority of _The merchants mappe of commerce_, by Lewes Roberts, London, 1638, folio, chap. 179:--

In Antwerp, which _gave rule in trade_ to most other cities, the accounts were kept in _livres, sols, and deniers_; which they termed pounds, shillings, and pence _of grosses_. Now the _livre_ was equal only to twelve shillings sterling, so that while the Antwerp merchant stated a balance of 1l. 13s. 4d., the London merchant would receive only 1l.--which he might fairly call _A Flemish account!_

The same instructive author furnishes me with a passage in illustration of a recent question on the _three golden balls_, which seem to require additional research. It occurs in chap. 181:--

"This citie [Bruges] hath an eminent market in place with a publicke house for the meeting of all _marchants_, at noone and evening: which house was called the _Burse_, of the houses of the _extinct families Bursa_, bearing _three purses for their armes_, ingraven upon their houses, from whence these meeting places to this day are called _Burses_ in many countries, which in _London_ wee know by the name of the _Royall Exchange_ and of _Britaines Burse_."

BOLTON CORNEY.

I think it probably that the expression "Flemish Account" may have been derived from the fact that the Flemish ell measures only three quarters of our yard, while the English ell measures five quarters, and that thence the epithet Flemish was adopted as denoting something _deficient_.

Q.Q.

When commerce was young, the Flemings were the great merchants of Western Europe; but these worthies were notorious, when furnishing their accounts current, for always having the balance at the right side (for themselves), and hence arose the term. I am not at this moment able to say where this information is to be had, but have met it somewhere.

JUNIOR.

I wonder that some better scholar than myself should not have explained the phrase "Flemish account;" but though I cannot quote authority for the precise expression, I may show whence it is derived. To _flem_, in old Scotch (and in old English too, I believe), is to "run away;" in modern slang, to "make oneself scarce," "to levant." _Flemen_ is an outcast, an outlaw. It is easy to understand the application of the word to accounts. Your querist should consult some of the old dictionaries.

SCOTUS.

There is an old story that a Count of Flanders once gave an entertainment to some Flemish merchants, but that the seats on which they sat were without cushions. These "princes of the earth" thereupon folded up their costly velvet cloaks, and used them accordingly. When reminded, on their departure, of having left their cloaks behind, they replied, that when asked to a feast they were not in the habit of carrying away with them the chair cushions. Could this have originated the expression "Flemish account?" In this case the proud merchants gave such an account of a valuable article in their possession, as made it out to be quite worthless to the owner.

MUSAFIR.

* * * * *

ANSWERS TO MINOR QUERIES.

_Richard Greene, Apothecary._

Mr. Richard Green, the subject of H.T.E.'s Query (No. 3. p. 43.), was an apothecary at Lichfield, and related to Dr. Johnson. He had a considerable collection of antiquities, &c., called "Green's Museum," which was sold, after his death, for a thousand pounds. See Boswell's _Johnson_, Croker's edition, vol. v. p. 194.

* * * * *

_Form of Petition._

Sir,--In reply to B. in your third number, who requests information as to the meaning of the "&c." at the foot of a petition, I fear I must say, that at the present day, it means nothing at all. In former times it had a meaning. I send you a few instances from the _Chancery Records_ of the year 1611. These petitions to Sir E. Phillips or Phelips, M.R., end thus:--

"And he and his wife and six children shall dailie praie for your Worship's health and happines!

"And shee shall accordinge to her bounden duetie pray for your good Worship in health and happinesse longe to continewe!

"And both your said supliants and their children shal be bound dailie to praie for your Worship's health and happines with increase of honour!"

These instances are taken at random from amongst many others. The _formula_, slightly varied, is the same in all. The modern form was, however, even at that early date, creeping in, for I see a petition to L.C. Ellesmere, of the same year, has

"And he shall dailie, praie, &c."

This will probably suffice to answer B.'s Query.

CECIL MONRO.

Registrar's Office, Court of Chancery, Nov. 20. 1849.

* * * * *

_Greene of Greensnorton._

Sir Thomas Greene, of Greensnorton, Co. Northampton, Knt. died 30 Nov. 1506--22 Hen. VII. By Jane, daughter of Sir John Fogge, Knt., he left issue two daughters and coheirs:

_Ann, the eldest_, aet. 17, at her father's death, was wife of Nicholas Vaux, Lord Vaux, of Harrowden, who died in 1556, now represented by George Mostyn, Baron Vaux, and Robert Henry, Earl of Pembroke, and Edward Bourchier Hartopp, Esq.

_Matilda, the youngest_, was aged 14 at her father's death, and married Sir Thomas Parr, by whom she had William Marquess of Northampton (who died s.p. 1571); Anne, wife of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke (now represented by Robert Henry, Earl of Pembroke); and Catherine, Queen Consort of King Henry VIII. The assumption of arms, by Richard Green, the Apothecary, in 1770, will afford no ground for presuming his descent from the Greensnorton family.

G.

* * * * *

_Cottle's Life of Coleridge, when reviewed in the Times._

The _Times_ review of Joseph Cottle's _Reminiscences of Coleridge and Southey_, appeared Nov. 3. 1847; and on the following day, Mr. Thomas Holcroft complained by letter of a misrepresentation of his father by Mr. Cottle.

*

* * * * *

_Times, Herald, Chronicle, &c., when first established._

We are enabled, by the courtesy of several correspondents, to furnish some reply to the Query of D. (No. 1 p. 7)

_The Times_ first appeared under that title on the 1st January, 1788, but bore the Number 941, it being a continuation, under a new name, of the _Universal Register_, of which 940 numbers had been published.--_The Morning Chronicle_ must have commenced in 1769, as a correspondent, F.B., writes to tell us that he possesses No. 242. dated Monday, 12th March, 1770. See further Nichol's _Literary Anecdotes_, i. 303; and for _Morning Advertiser_, established in 1794, the same volume, p.290. Another correspondent writes:--During 1849 the _Morning Chronicle_ has completed its 81st year; next in seniority stands the _Morning Post_, at 77; and the _Morning Herald_, at 65. _The Times_ in the numbering of its days, is in its 64th year, but has not really reached its grand climacteric, for its three years of infancy passed under the name of _The Universal Register_, it having only received its present appellation in the opening of 1788. _The Morning Advertiser_ is wearing away its 54th year.

_The Public Ledger_, commenced in 1759, or 1760, is however, the oldest Daily Paper.

* * * * *

_Dorne the Bookseller--Henno Rusticus, etc._

Sir,--In answer to W. in page 12. of No. 1, I beg to suggest that Dormer, written Dõmr in the MS.--a common abbreviation--may be the name of the Oxford bookseller, and _Henno Rusticus_ may be _Homo rusticus_, "the country gentleman." The hand-writing of this MS. is so small and illegible in some places, that it requires an Oedipus to decipher it; and the public will have much reason to thank those lynx-eyed antiquaries who have taken great pains to render it intelligible. "The _Sige_ of the End," is of course properly explained to be "the Signe of the End."

J.I.

* * * * *

SANUTO'S DOGES OF VENICE.

Sir,--The high value of your Journal as a repertory of interesting literary information, which without it might be lost to the world, is becoming daily more apparent from the number and character of your correspondents. You have my best wishes for its success.

The communication of Sir FREDERICK MADDEN respecting the singular and obvious error in Marin Sanuto's _Lives of the Doges of Venice_, has renewed in me a desire for information which I have hitherto been unable to obtain; and I will, therefore, with your permission, put it here as a _Query_.

Who was the _foreigner_ who gave to the world the very interesting book respecting _Sanuto_ under the following title?--_Ragguagli sulla Vita e sulle Opere di Marin Sanuto, &c. Intitolati dall' amicizia di_ _uno Straniere al nobile Jacopo Vicenzo Foscarini.--Opera divise in trè perti_, Venezia, 1837-8. in 8vo.

The able writer has noticed that the very mutilated and incorrect manner in which Muratori has printed all that he has given of Sanuto, and especially _Le Vite de' Dogi_, of which the original copy still remains inedited in the Estensian Library at Modena. There can be no doubt that some ignorant or indolent transcriber made the mistake of _iudeo_ for _richo_, so satisfactorily and happily elucidated by SIR FREDERICK MADDEN. How much it is to be regretted that the _Diary_ of Sanuto, so remarkable for it simplicity and ingenuous truthful air, should still remain inedited. It relates to an epoch among the most interesting of Modern History, and the extracts given in the _Ragguagli_ only make us wish for more.

From this Diary it appears that the Valori were among the most distinguished citizens of a state which could boast that its merchants were princes. The palace they inhabited is no known by the name of the Altoviti, its more recent owners, and many of the tombs of the Valori are to be found in the church of St. Proculus. Macchiavelli mentions Bartolomeo Valori among the _Cittadini d' autorita_, and, according to Nardi, he was Gonfaloniere in the first two months of the years 1402, 1408, and 1420. He was also one of the Platonic Academy that Ficino assembled around him. In this Diary of Sanuto will be found many minute and interesting details respecting Savonarola, and the relation of the tragical death of Francisco Valor, who had also been several times Gontaloniere, and whom Savonarola, in his confession, said it was his intention to have made perpetual Dictator.

I would have given a specimen of this very interesting diary, but that I scrupled to occupy space which your correspondents enable you to fill so effectively, for I fully subscribe to the dictum of the _Ragguagliatore_, "Il Sanuto si presenta come la Scott degli Storiei, compincendosi come Sir Walter delle giostre, delle feste, e delle narrazioni piacevole e di dolce pietà.

S.W.S.

Mickleham, Nov. 23, 1849.

* * * * *

MSS. OF ROGER TWYSDEN.

Sir,--An answer to the following "Query" would be most interesting to myself, and, perhaps, not altogether without its value to the literary world.

Among Sir Roger Twysden's MSS. I have a letter from him to his son at Oxford, requesting his intercession with the University for the loan of the MS. of Walter Mapes "_de nugis curialium_," in order that he might prepare it for publication. He instances the liberality of the Archbishop of Canterbury in having lent him from Lambeth the _Epistles of Amselm and Becket_; and adds, that, by being permitted to retain these MSS. in his hands for some years, he had now prepared them for the press.

I cannot learn that they were ever printed, and among the voluminous MS. remains of Sir Roger now in my hands, I cannot find the smallest trace of them. Can any one your readers inform me what became of this collection, which, by Sir Roger's statement, was finished and completely ready for the press?

To this "Query" I may as well add a "Note," which may be interesting to some of your readers.

In Sir Roger's MS. Journal of his persecutions by the Parliament, he states:

"It is sayd King Charles subscribed the byll for taking away the votes of Bishops, in y't very house where Christian religion was first preached,--viz. St. Augustines by Canterbury."

LAMBERT B. LARKING.

Ryarsh Vicarage, Nov. 17.

* * * * *

MINOR QUERIES.

_Honnore Pelle_.

Who was "Honnore Pell, 1684"? My reason for asking this is, I have a marble bust of Charles II. of colossal size, most splendidly sculptured, with the long curling hair and full court dress of the period, and the execution and workmanship of which would do honour to any sculptor of the past or present time. On the stump of the arm are the name and date which I have given above, and I have in vain looked into biographical works.

W.L.

_Bust of Sir Walter Raleigh_.

Is there an authentic bust of Sir Walter Raleigh in existence? and if so, where is it to be found?

J.B.

_Motto of University of Cambridge_.

From what author, "chapter and verse," comes the motto of the University of Cambridge, HINC LUCEM ET POCULA SAGRA? It is used as a quotation in Leighton on St. Peter's Epistle, but in the last edition the learned editor does not give a reference.

J.J.S.

_Family of Giles of Worcestershire_.

Can you tell me any thing of a family named "_Giles_," whose crest was a horse's head? They were connected with Worcestershire.

*

_Passage from an Old Play._

Can any of your many readers oblige me by informing me where the following very striking passage can be found? I have seen the lines quoted as from an "Old Play;" but a tolerable extensive knowledge of old plays, and a diligent search, have not hitherto enabled me to find them:--

"Call you the city gay, its revels joyous? They may be so to you, for you are young,

Belike and happy. She was young in years, But often in mid-spring will blighting winds Do autumn's work; and there is grief at heart Can do the work of years, can pale the cheek, And cloud the brow, and sober down the spirit. This gewgaw scene hath fewer charms for her Than for the crone, that numbering sixty winters, Pronounceth it all folly.--Marvel not 'Tis left thus willingly."

C.A.H.

Athenæum Club, Nov. 17, 1849.

_Dalton's Doubting's Downfall._

About thirty years ago the following appeared in Lackington and Co.'s book catalogue: "Dalton (Edward) Doubting's Downfall, 1_s._ 6_d._" Application was made, when other books were ordered, three several times; in each case the answer was "_sold_." Since that date inquiries have been instituted from time to time, in the usual quarters, but always unsuccessfully. No clue can be given as to the size or date, but from the quaintness of the title it is presumed to be about the period of the Commonwealth.

Should any of your readers procure this work, the liberal price of 20_s._ if a book, or 10_s._ if a pamphlet, will be paid for it through your medium, by

G.

_Authors of Old Plays._

Query the authors of the following plays?--

1. The Tragedy of Nero newly written. London, printed by Aug. Mathewes for Thomas Jones, and are to be sold at his shoppe in Saint Dunstane's Churchyard in Fleete Street. 1633.

2. Sicily and Naples, or the Fatall Vnion, a Tragædy. By S H. A B è C. Ex. Oxford: printed by William Turner, 1640.

3. Emilia. London: printed for the author, 1672.

4. Sir Gyles Goose-Cappe Knight, a comedy lately acted with great applause at the private House in Salisbury Court. London: printed for Hugh Perry, and are to be sold by Roger Ball, at the Golden Anchor in the Strand, neere Temple Barre, 1636.

I have given the title-pages in full, omitting a Latin motto which adorns the title-page of the M.A. of Exeter College.

Q.D.

_Periwinkle--a Mocking Emblem._

Can any of your readers, learned in the language of flowers, inform me why, when Sir W. Fraser (the last of Wallace's adherents) was led in triumph through the streets of London, with his legs tied under his horse's belly--"a garland of Periwinkle was in mockery placed upon his head?" See Tytler's _History of Scotland_, cap. 3.

MELANION.

_Wives of Ecclesiastics._

Sir,--In looking over some ancient charters a few days ago, I met with one dated 22 Edw. III, by which "Willielmus de Bolton clericus et Goditha uxor ejus," release a claim to certain lands. If William de Bolton was an ecclesiastic, as I suppose, how is it that his wife is openly mentioned?

I shall be must obliged to any of your readers for an explanation.

A SUBSCRIBER.

_Whelps._

Sir,--In Howell's _Letters_, Sect. 5. p. 9. the following words occur:--

"At the return of this fleet two of the _Whelps_ were cast away, and three ships more."

I should feel obliged to any of your correspondents who may be able to favour me with an explanation of the word _Whelps_ in this passage.

J.J.

* * * * *

NOTES ON BOOKS, CATALOGUES, SALES, ETC.

J.J.S. informs us, with reference to a Note in No. 2. (p. 21.), "that an account of Anglesey Abbey, in Cambridgeshire, is ready, and will be published ere long."

Our attention has been directed to the Prospectus of a series of "Cottage Prints from Sacred Subjects, intended chiefly for distribution among the poor," which will be so produced as to form a set of illustrations to the Bible; "although it is chiefly contemplated that the Prints, protected by a small frame, should find their way into the homes of the poor, and decorate their walls." The Editors, the Rev. H. J. Rose and Rev. J.W. Burgon, well observe: "We shall in vain preach reverence to the ear on Sundays, if the eyes may be familiarised with what is irreverent for the six days following. On the other hand, we shall surely be supplying ourselves with a powerful aid, if we may direct the eye to forms of purity and beauty; and accustom our village children, (who are now our hope,) from infancy, to look daily on what is holy, and pure, and good."--Subscribers of one guinea in advance are promised, in the course of the year, at least fifty such engravings as the four which accompany the Prospectus.

Messrs. Puttick and Simpson commenced on Thursday a nine days' Sale of the "Curious, rare, and valuable Library of a well-known Collector, deceased;" also another Collection, including--

Theology; Spanish, English, and other Chronicles: Specimens of the Early Typography of English and Foreign Printers; a very complete Series of the Productions of the Family of Aldus; rare editions of the Classics; numerous interesting and important Spanish Books; a very extensive Collection of Works relating to the Discovery, History, Natural History, Language, Literature, and Government of America and it Dependencies, Mexico, the East and West Indies, &c. Voyages, Travels, and Itineraries: Fine Books of Prints; Botanical Works; Natural History and Philosophy; Works containing Specimens of Early Engraving, Wood-cuts, and Emblems; a most interesting Collection of English Poetry, Plays, and Works illustrative of the History and Progress of the English Language and Literature, including a perfectly unique Collection of the Works of Daniel De Foe; several hundred rare Tracts, particularly an extensive Series relating to Charles I. and his Contemporaries, others of a Local and Personal Character, Biographies, rare Histories of remarkable Characters, Facetiae, and an unusually large assemblage of curious and rare Articles in almost every Class of Literature; a few MSS. &c.

Among the Lots deserving attention in the course of the coming week, are Nos. 1323 to 1375, a large collection of publications relative to America; Nos. 1612 to 1620, relating to Canada.

1574 Barros (Joan, de) Decades da Asia. Decada 1, 2. Lisboa, 1552-53; Decada 3, _ib_. 1563; Decada 4, Madrid, 1615; Couto, Decada 4, 5, 6, Lisboa, 1602-16; Decada 8, 9, 10. _ib_. 1736--together 8 vols. morocco

Nearly all the copies of the 6th Decade were destroyed by fire, and the few that are to be met with are generally, if not always, deficient in some leaves. The title-page to this copy (as in Mr. Grenville's) is supplied by the title to the 4th Decade, and a few leaves are wanting. For the rarity of this work, see _Bibliotheca Grenvilliana_, vol. i. p. 60.

And, lastly, Lot 1701; which contains a matchless series, in 154 vols., of the Works of Daniel De Foe, whom Coleridge was inclined to rank higher than Addison for his humour and as a writer of racy vigorous English.

The Lot is thus described:--

"THIS MATCHLESS SERIES of the Works of this distinguished Author was formed with unwearied diligence by his Biographer, the late Mr. Walter Wilson, during the greater portion of his life.

"The numbers to 208 refer to the Catalogue of the Works as published in his _Life of Defoe_, 3 vols. 1830; those following have been discovered by Mr. Wilson since the period of the publication. This Collection is rendered still further to complete by the addition of upwards of forty pieces by a recent possessor. The extreme difficulty of forming such a collection as the present is very apparent when we compare its voluminous contents with those very few collections which, during the last fifty years, have on the dispersion of celebrated libraries occurred for sale."

We have this week received a most important and valuable

"Catalogue of Bibles and Biblical Literature, containing the best works, ancient and modern, on the Criticism, Interpretation, and Illustration of Holy Scripture, and including such of the Fathers and Ecclesiastical Writers as have treated on these subjects, _classified_ with Analytical Table of Contents and Alphabetical Indexes of Subjects and Authors, &c. on Sale, by C.J. Stewart, 11. King William St., West Strand."