Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 2.djvu/447

. XL NOV. .-,, 190*.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

Temple hall, which, as it is entirely new, I take leave to reproduce :

41 In April, 1616, George Lowe, the chief cook, petitioned the bench for some compensation to be allowed him in respect of his chamber in the cloisters, by reason that * a great part thereof and the chimney therein was, at Christmas was a twelve- month, broken down by such as climbed up at the windows of the hall to see the mask which then was.' This entry has reference to the winter festivities of 1614-15, when on the 13th January a very graceful entertainment, called 'The Inner Temple Masque,' written with much poetic feeling, and free from the grossness which contaminates many productions of the age, was given in the Inner Temple hall. The musicians of the society took part in the performance, and there were several changes of scenery effected by the drawing of a curtain across the stage while the company was being entertained by a song. It was written

-and arranged by William Browne of Tavistock

The revel was graced by the presence of many ladies, and the crowd was so great that not only were the hall and its approaches filled, but, as we learn, the anxious spectators climbed the outer sills of the \yindows to obtain a view of the show going on within. The names of the performers are not given, but they were members of the Inn, several of whom had by this time probably gained considerable experience in this kind of entertainment."

Unlike most of his craft, Browne would seem to have been in easy circumstances. According to Anthony Wood, he was received into the household of the Herberts at Wilton, and there "got wealth, and purchased an estate." Wood's informant was Aubrey, and it may be as well to cite Aubrey's exact words :

'* William Browne, who wrote the ' Pastoralls,'

whom William, earle of Pembroke, preferr'd to

be tutor to the first earle of Carnarvon (Robert Dormer), which was worth to him 5 or 6,000 li., i.e., he bought 300 li. per annum land." * Brief Lives,' ed. A. Clark, i. 312.

GORDON GOODWIN.

WE must request correspondents desiring in- formation on family matters of only private interest to affix their names and addresses to their queries, in order that the answers may be addressed to them direct.

SUPPRESSION OF DUELLING IN ENGLAND. Being much interested in the Anti-Duelling League recently formed in Austria and Ger- many, I have been requested by its represen- tatives to obtain information on the following points, and should be exceedingly grateful to any one who would kindly answer my ques- tions either through the medium of ' N. & Q.' or to my private address as given below.

1. Does there exist any work treating in reliable and exhaustive fashion of the sup-

pression of the duel in England, viz., contain- ing a clear exposition of the ideas and prejudices regarding the so-called " point of honour " prevalent in English society up to the year 1850 or thereabouts, and of the means which proved so efficacious in exter- minating the barbarous practice of duelling within a relatively short space of time ]

2. Upon what basis was the then Anti- Duelling League in England formed ? Who were its principal champions? and what part did the late Prince Consort play in this matter 1

3. Any information regarding the forma- tion of ** Courts of Honour "and of the results of these proceedings would be most grate- fully received.

4. In what precise fashion did the military authorities use their influence towards this end ? And would it be possible to obtain authentic copies of any new military law or laws against duelling issued at this period say between 1840 and 1850 ? E. GERARD.

Neuling Gasse 9, Vienna, III., 3.

ITALIAN SCHOLAR HOAXED. Several years ago I read in one of the daily papers that an Italian scholar, who had made a life study of inscriptions, had been cruelly hoaxed by a friend, who sent him, for publication in his forthcoming book, a tracing of what seemed to be a genuine inscription, giving, in the usual way, the initial or first two or three letters of words followed by stops. The scholar fell into the trap, filled up the appa- rent r gaps left by his friend, and published the whole as a real Roman inscription in his book. After the publication his friend in- formed him that the letters which he had sent, if pieced together, without any other letters intervening, would read in Italian, "If you

Eublish this you are an ass." The scholar )lt the hoax so keenly that he took to his bed and died soon afterwards. As the news- paper gave the name of the victimized editor and the title of the book, and we had the book in the University Library, I was able to see the inscription and the Italian phrase as indicated by the paper.

I am now anxious to recur to this book and its ill-fated inscription, but cannot remember its author or its title. Remembering to some extent its whereabouts in the library, I have some idea that it must be Giandomenico Bertoli, ' Le Antichita d' Aquileja,' Venezia, 1739, fol., as this work answers in every way to the impression left on my mind as to its size, binding, contents, and place in the library. But it would be a serious labour to examine all the inscriptions in this book