Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 5.djvu/364

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io. s. v. APRIL u,

"books " which, with word-lists, appear at the con- clusion of each of the volumes, a full account, literary as well as bibliographical, is supplied, including the estimate of the various works formed by Hazlitt and subsequent authorities. According to Hazlitt, * Lusty Juventus' is a piece of "rather heavy and tedious morality, replete with good instruction, but didactic to a fault." In his 'English Dramatic Literature' the Master of Peterhouse savs that this morality breathes the spirit of the idogmatic Reformation of the Protector Somerset.

The second volume consists wholly of anonymous .plays and includes among them the five-act comedy if Gammer Gurton's Needle,' the ascription of which to Bishop Still has been abandoned of late, in favour of that to William Stevenson. Dr. Brad- ley's reasons for crediting the Fellow of Christ's ^College thus named are incorporated by Mr. Farmer in his notes. In the case of all the plays reduced facsimiles of the title-pages, and in some cases of the printers' marks, are supplied. The thoroughness of workmanship apparent in the first production is observed, and the whole in its artistic get-up will .grace any shelves. Specially commendable con- tinue to 'be the "Notebooks," the information in which is serviceable and ample.

The Pocket George Mac Donald. Made by Alfred

H. Hyatt. (Chatto & Windus.) IN a dainty shape, uniform with ' The Pocket R. L. S.' and 'The Pocket Richard Jefferies,' Messrs. Chatto & Windus have issued a volume of Delected passages, in prose and verse, from the writings of George Mac Donald. The thoughtful- aiess and gentleness of the extracts commend them to general admiration and favour.

The Scottish Historical Review, January, 1906-

(Glasgow, MacLehose & Sons.) PROF. HUME BROWN contributes a paper on the .part the Scottish nobles took in moulding the national history. We are on the whole in agree- ment with his conclusions, and are very glad to possess a well-considered sketch of the position of -the Scottish aristocracy from the time of King Robert the Bruce until the middle of the seven- teenth century. It is in no sort a defence of men who were beyond doubt far more turbulent than their neighbours south of the Border, and whose lives were often stained by acts of gross cruelty. It is an explanation rather than a vindication, and will be so regarded by all competent persons whose -minds are not warped by political or religious prejudices.

The leading paper, however first in place and .first in interest is the opening part of Mr. Andrew Lang's account of the portrait and jewels of Queen 3Iary Stuart. It shows a wonderful knowledge of the real and reputed portraits of the victim of Tfotheringhay. That many spurious pictures have T)een, and still are, passed off as likenesses of the queen is certain ; and there are others which are but copies of copies that have lost much of their original truthfulness, the features having become so modified as to represent the ideals of beauty, not of the Tudor time, but of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. That Mary was beautiful in ,her younger days may be regarded as certain. As Mr. Lang points out, we have this on the testimony of enemies as well as friends ; but we have ourselves seen pictures passing under her name that seem as if the painter had studied, in

features as well as costume, some French fashion- book of the early days of Horace Walpole. Mr. John Edwards writes concerning the Grey Friars of Glasgow, tracing the history of their house from its foundation until it fell in the crash of the Reformation. He might with advantage have given further details,;but the paper is, as far as we are able to test it, accurate. Mr. J. H. Round furnishes a first part of what will probably be an elaborate paper on the Barony of Ruthven of Freeland. It would not be fair to comment thereon until the conclusion is reached.

Among the short notices is one on Mr. Rannie's ' Student's History of Scotland,' containing a remark to which it is important to draw attention. The author is praised for knowing, and striving to remember, that a history is not the place where moral judgments should be passed on persons. Wheii such things are wanted, the place for them is the biography or review.

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F. C. C. G. ("Trial of Queen Caroline"). G. F. R. B. stated at 9 th S. xii. 397 that Sir George Hayter's picture is in the National Portrait Gallery, and that an index of the portraits is given in the catalogue.

C. A. BERNAU ("Sun putting out Fire"). See the many articles at 8 th S. viii. 148, 231, 316, 355, 414; xii. '271, 373.

E. ("Marriages of Cousins"). See the numerous references to articles in 'N. & Q.' given by the late EVERARD HOME GOLEM AN at 6 th S. vi. 494. SIGMA, on the same page, deals with the bibliography of the subject.

CORRIGENDUM. Ante, p. 250, col. 2, 1. 26, for "Laragoza" read Zaragoza.

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