Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/114

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

[2"d S. N" 6., FEB. 9. '56.

But Rastell's edition omits the parenthesis relating to Edward IV.'s last illness, and no other edition contains it except that in Hardyng's Chronicle.

But I think I shall be able presently to show that a similar argument exists against Store's authorship of the Latin History, which is not liable to the same objections. The tenor of the English and of the Latin work is almost literally the same ; the one is a translation of the other, and it is a question which is the original.

Both versions give the following anecdote in illustration of Richard's design of usurping the crown :

" And first to show you that by conjecture he pretended this thing in his brother's life, ye shall understand for a truth that the same night King Edward died, one called Mistelbrooke, long ere the day sprang, came to the house of one Potier, dwelling in Redcross Street without Crip- plegate of London, and when he was with hasty rapping quickly let in, the said Mistelbrooke showed unto Potier that King Edward was that night deceased. ' By my troth,' quoth Potier, ' then will my master, the Duke of Glo'ster, be king, and that I warrant thee.' What cause he had so to think hard it is to say, whether he being his servant knew any such thing prepensed, or otherwise had any inkling thereof; but of all likelihood he spake it not of naught."

This is all the English version says about the circumstance ; but the Latin makes a very re- markable addition to the story, implying that the writer remembered hearing these words of Potier reported to his father by some one who had heard the conversation at a time when no one yet sus- pected the treasonable design of the Duke of Glo'ster.* Now, as this design became an accom- plished /act by the elevation of the Duke of Glo'ster to the throne, it is clear that the con- versation at Redcross Street was reported to the father of our author some time before the ac- cession of Richard III. in June 1483. But in 1483, as Sir H. Ellis has pointed out, Sir Thomas More was only three years old, and it is manifestly impossible that he could have remembered any- thing of this nature taking place at such an early date. It is clear, therefore, thqt More was not the writer of the Latin History.

Further, it is evinced, I think, by the same passage, that the writer did not translate from the English. The Latin writer is the original authority for this anecdote, and therefore pre- sumably for everything else in the History, for it is he alone who gives a personal voucher for the truth of this circumstance.

Nor is other internal evidence wanting to cor- roborate this view. It is true that the Latin only

corrupt in many places, sometimes having less and some- times having more, and altered in words and whole sen- tences ; much varying from the copy of his own hand, by which this is printed."

audivcrat jam turn patri meo renunciatum, cum adhuc nulla proditionis ejus suspicio haberetur."
 * " Quern ego sermonem ab eo memini qui colloquentes

records the events of Edward V.'s reign, while the English extends a little way into that of Richard III. But, so far as it goes, the Latin has the appearance of a finished work, while the English bears many marks of incompleteness. The latter, indeed, is frequently more minute in such details as names, places, dates, and distances, but sometimes blanks are left for these matters. In short, it hns all the look of having been written by one who had the Latin work before him, and sought to amplify while he translated, but did not fully complete his undertaking.

The style also, to my notion, bears similar tes- timony. The English is greatly superior to the Latin in point of composition ; but on comparing parallel passages, it appears as if the ideas had been struck off originally in a Latin mint. The conciseness and simplicity of the Latin have fre- quently a very native look. The following ex- tracts may serve to illustrate this.

1. The description of Edward IV. :

Latin.

" Erat corpore procero, specie vero regia; multum illi animi, nee minus consilii, merat ; adversis rebus imper- territus, prosperis latus magls quam elatus; requus in pace clemensque ; in bello acer et ferox ; in aggrediendis periculis promptus ; nee ultra tamen quam posceret ratio prajceps."

English.

" He was a goodly personage, and very princely to be- hold ; of heart courageous ; politic in counsel ; in adver- sity nothing abashed ; in prosperity rather joyful than proud ; in peace just and merciful ; in war sharp and fierce; in the field bold and hardy, and~ natheless no further than wisdom would, adventurous.''

2. After mention of the parliamentary settle- ment of the succession, by which Richard Duke of York was to have the crown after the death of Henry VI. :

Latin. " Quam ille uon moratus."

English. " But the Duke not' enduring so long to tarry."

3. The description of Richard III. :

Latin.

" Supra facilitates profusus, qua3 ne deficerent, ex ;iliis exhaurire cogebatur quod in alios efftmderet. His arlinus factum ut amicitiam instabilem stabile odium pareret."

English.

" Free was he called of dispense, and somewhat above his power liberal ; with large gifts he got him unstead- fast friendship, for which he was fain to pil and spoil in other places, and get him steadfast hatred."

4. His conduct to his nephews :

Latin.

" Quippe Ricardus Glocestrix Dux natura patruus, nomine tutor, beneficiis devinctus, obstricttis sacramento, ruptis omnibus humanae societalis vinculis, contra jus it fas hoc egit, ut nepotibus suis orphanis ac sibi creditis auferre vitam, regnumque in se transferre posset."