Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 7.djvu/486

 478 NOTES AND QUERIES. [u s. vii. JUNE M, ww. BRITISH AMBASSADOR IN FRANCE, 1595 : DE ST. MARSAULT (11 S. vii. 367).— The then English agent in France was probably Antonio Perez, a Spaniard, who was origin- ally attached to the French embassy in England, but " deserted " to the English queen in August, 1593. The Venetian ambassadors in France report on 2 Feb., 1595, that the English " ambassador " was captured at Soissons. According to their report of 27 Sept., the English agent had been summoned to Paris, and on 14 Oct. of the same year, before the king left Paris, he had a long and intimate conversation with Antonio Perez, who shortly afterwards is reported to have gone to the Queen of England. La Fere capitulated on 16 May, 1596. See ' Venetian Calendar.' L. L. K. MATTHEW ARNOLD'S POEMS (11 S. vii. 349, 397). — I have been informed that Arnold's poem ' Requiescat ' referred to the famous French actress Rachel. It will be remem- bered that Arnold wrote three very fine Bonnets on her. I may say that the poem in question has been set to beautiful music by the late John More Smieton of Droughty Ferry. J- WILLCOCK. Lerwick. , . ON HOMER : " FEAST OP POETRY " (11 S. vii. 387). — Compare ' Love's Labour 's Lost,' V. i. 40 : — Moth. They have been at a great feast of languages, and stolen the scraps. WM. H. PEET. " BREXEN JOURNEYS" (11 S. vii. 389). — I think emendation must be attempted, and I should propose to read, " A paire of broken harneys on his backe." " Harneys " is a sixteenth-century spelling of " harness." For the phrase " a pair of harness." meaning " a set of harness," see ' N.E.D.,' a.v. ' Pair.' sb. '.6. L. R. M. STRACHAN. Heidelberg. "BoB's" (US. vii. 409).— Probably the allusion is to Bob Croft's, a popular night resort, of which some particulars will be found on pp. 162-3 of the first volume of the late Edmund Yates's ' Recollections and Experiences,' published by Bentleys in 1884. WILLOUGHBY MAYCOCK. DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA (11 S. vii. 406). — May I point out that the extract from a Bristol paper of 1771 given by PROF. LEEPER relates to Tahiti, not Austr/ilia ? The reporter's ignorance has, however, shifted the Society Islands to the equator, and made them into a continent. Tahiti had been discovered in 1767 by Wallis, who named it " George the Third's Island " ; hence the reference to " King George's- Land," and confusion with the Southern continent which Cook was known to be seeking. S. P. ilutro on SBoohs. The Aldermen of the Ciiy of Tendon. By the Rev. Alfred B. Beaven. Vol. II. (Corporation of London.) WE reviewed on its appearance in 1908 the fanner volume of this work, which is now completed by the continuation of the chronological succession of Aldermen of London to the end of the year 1012, and the addition of some interesting biographical notes on individual holders of that office. A complete index of persons and another of subjects greatly enhance the value of the work as a whole. The author indicates in his Preface his intention (which we trust will be carried out) of supple- menting the present with a companion record of the various officials of the City of London. Mr. Beaven has long been known to our readers as a contributor to our columns, and also by occasional articles in The English Historical Renew, and has established a reputation for accuracy and for knowledge of historical and biographical ininutiir relating to Parliamentary and civic notabilities which the present work will confirm. In addition he bos contrived to enliven the monotony and dullness which ons expects in a mere record of names and dates by various obiter dicln suggested by some of the names, such as remarks on modern geometrical teaching, and on the contrasts between earlier and later methods of political warfare, and by quaint extracts from ancient writers and the Corporation records. The thoroughness with which the author has com- pleted his work is attested by the fact that, in order to record the exact dates of death of the various Aldermen, he has personally examined at Somerset House many hundreds of wills and administrations, and by the long list of printed and MS. authorities under the heading of Biblio- graphy. To the historical student, as distinct from the searcher after merely individual biographical details, the most valuable feature of the work is the Historical Introduction of 53 pages, in which are dealt with the origin of the Court of Aldermen as the governing body of the City in early time ; the date of the introduction of the designation " Lord Mayor" ; the territorial connexion of Aldermen with their Wards in Norman and An- gevin days ; the interference of monarchs and ministers of State with the civic elections ; the changes in the dates at which Mayor and Sheriffs were chosen, and in the constituencies which chose them ; the frequent translation of Alder- men from one Ward to another ; the rise of the- custom of choosing the chief magistrate from the Aldermen by rotation of seniority ; many per- sonal items as to the descent of great families and eminent personages from Aldermanic ances- tors ; and the connexion of Aldermen, collectively and individually, with the events of national history.