Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 9.djvu/222

 180 NOTES AND QUERIES. [i2s.ix.Aua.27.i92i. Readings in English Social History. Vol. iii., 1485-1603. Edited by R. B. Morgan. (Cam- bridge University Press. 4s. net.) OUT of the immense wealth of records belonging to Tudor England Mr. Morgan has made a happy selection illustrating the ordinary life of the nation, throughout all its classes, during that period. It has not fallen within his scope to give the original accounts of the greater events ; yet he has included Raleigh's description of the last fight of the Revenge, and an amusing passage from Sir James Melvil's Report of interviews with Elizabeth when, in 1564, he was sent on a mission to her by Mary, Queen of Scots. It is the England of Elizabeth which chiefly occupies us almost too little space, we think, having been allotted to the earlier Tudors, Perhaps a decision to avoid what is already fairly well known accounts for the absence from these pages of Sir Thomas More and of the figures connected with the revival of learning. Cavendish is drawn upon for descriptions of Wolsey's mag- nificence ; Harrison for the general description of Elizabethan England, and Wild Darrell for domestic expenses. From Perlin, and from an Italian ' Relation ' about the year 1500 are extracted opinions of England and the English entertained by foreigners. Aspects of the dissolution of the monasteries are set out from contemporary letters ; and, at the end of the period, we have from the Order of the Privy Council regulations regarding stage plays. Anyone who will read this little volume through with attention, and look carefully at the well- chosen illustrations provided, will certainly build up in his mind a lively picture of sixteenth- century England, so vigorous alike in soul and body. And there must be few who could read these pages without, according to the editor's desire, being tempted to explore the sources further. GEORGE DAMES BURTCHA / ELL. THE tragic and sudden death of Georg% Dames Burtchaell has removed yet another old friend of ' N. & Q.' He died in the Royal City of Dublin Hospital on the 18th inst. as the result of a street accident on the 16th. Born in 1853, Mr. Burtchaell, after taking his degrees at Trinity College, Dublin, was called to the Irish Bar in 1879, taking silk in 1918. His great interest in antiquarian and genealogical subjects made him especially in request in cases connected with peerages and genealogy generally. Athlone Pursuivant (1908) and Registrar in the Irish Office of Arms, and, since 1915, Deputy Ulster King of Arms, he was the author of numer- ous articles on heraldry, genealogy and kindred papers in many periodicals, and also brought out in 1888 ' Genealogical Memoirs of the Members of Parliament for Kilkenny,' and in 1906 ' A Com- plete List of Knights Bachelor dubbed in Ireland/ The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland is indebted to him for services in different offices over a considerable term of years ; and from 1899 to 1903 he was Inspector of Historical MSS. Our readers who make a study of his subjects will miss both the information he had to impart and his criticism of tentative or inaccurate theories. WE have received the following from MR. E. G. CLAYTON : I am preparing a monograph upon Alfred Bower Clayton (1796-1855), artist and architect, of Doctors' Commons, London, and Everton, near Liverpool, at which latter place he died. It will very much oblige me if you will allow me to mention that if any of your correspondents and readers who happen to possess letters from, pictures, sketches, or designs by, or documents relating to, A. B. Clayton, will communicate with me by letter to the address below, and will lend me such letters or other papers as are likely to be serviceable, I shall feel greatly indebted. Documents will be returned to the owners wilh as little delay as possible. Yours faithfully, E. G. CLAYTON. 8, Northolme Road, Highbury Park, N.5. Aug. 23, 1921. Jlottceg to Corretfponbente. ALL communications intended for insertion in our columns should bear the name and address of the 'sender not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. EDITORIAL communications should be addressed to " The Editor of ' Notes and Queries ' " Adver- tisements and Business Letters to " The Pub- lishers " at the Office, Printing House Square, London, E.G. 4; corrected proofs to The Editor, ' N. & Q.,' Printing House Square, London, E.C.4. WHEN answering a query, or referring to an article which has already appeared, correspondents are requested to give within parentheses' immediately after the exact heading the numbers of the series, volume, and page at which the con- tribution in question is to be found. WHEN sending a letter to be forwarded to another contributor correspondents are requested to put in the top left-hand corner of the envelope the number of the page of ' N. & Q.' to which the letter refers. SIGNS USED IN PLACE OP SIGNATURES (12 S. ix. 51, 95). PROFESSOR BENSLY writes : " O. K. S. may find further information at 12 S. ii. 117, in repLes from the late COLONEL FYNMORE and the late MR. JOHN T. PAGE, under the heading ' Symbols attached to Signatures.' MR. PAGE referred to several communications in 9 S. xi. on ' Witnessing by Signs.' " CORRIGENDUM: At ante, p. 158, col. 2, s.v. 'A. Bryant,' for " Mr. T. Chalb " read Mr. T. Chubb. SUBSCRIPTION RATE for Twelve Months, including Volume Indexes and Title Pages, 1 10s. 4d., post free, inland or abroad.