Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/41

 I remember to have heard, or read, that it began in the French army, and that in one of Marlborough's battles, an English regiment, advancing with fixed bayonets against a French one similarly prepared to receive them, were astounded by the, to them, incomprehensible phenomenon of a volley of musketry. One piece of evidence decidedly militating against the invention of the screw bayonet in 1689, I possess, in the shape of a treatise on L'Art Militaire, published at Augs- burg, in 1699 (and formerly, as appears by a book-plate, the property of the father of the Schulen- berg Duchess of Kendal), in which the plate illustrating "Fix Bayonets," depicts a soldier evidently using the plug-bayonet, to which variety of the instrument only the description appended could apply. I hope, however, to elicit some communication on the subject from those better informed than myself. Minor Queries.

Satire on James II.I have lately met with the following bitter satire on James II. Can any readers throw light on its authorship, or say if it has been printed, and where it first appeared? "When Israel first provok'd the Living Lord,

He scourged their sin with famine, plague, and sword. Still they rebelled; then God in wrath did fling No thunderbolt among them, but a king. A King like James was Heaven's severest rod, The utmost vengeance of an angry God. God in His wrath sent Saul to punish Jewry, But James to England in a greater fury; For Saul in sin was no more like our James, Than little Jordan can compare to Thames." S. J.

Anonymous Books. Perhaps through your pages I could procure some information of the authorship of the following tracts, which I have bound in a volume:

1. "A Dialogue between the Pope and a Phanatick concerning Affairs in England. By a Hearty Lover of his Prince and Country. 4to., Lond., 1680."

2. "The M-'d Cb [Mitred Club], or, the Lth [Lambeth] Consultation. From a correct Copy. 4to., Lond., 1704."

3. "An exact Discoverie of Romish Doctrine in the Case of Conspiracie and Rebellion, by pregnant Observations; collected (not without direction from our superiors) out of the expresse dogmaticall principles of Popish Priests and Doctors. 4to., Lond., 1605,"

What a pity that Wood's invaluable Athena should be without an index of works.

Walled Towns in England. - Macaulay, in the fourth volume of his History of England, p. 669., in relating the assassination plot of William III., and the steps taken to discover the traitors, says:

"The gates of the City of London were kept many hours closed while a strict search was made within. The

[By Dr. Thomas Morton, Bishop of Durham.]

magistrates of almost every walled town in the kingdom followed the example of the capital."

Can any of your readers give a list of the walled towns referred to by Macaulay ? FKA. NEWBUBN. Darlington.

Narcissus Luttrell. As it appears by a recent correspondence in The Times, that this gentle- man's Diary, eo frequently quoted by Macaulay, is likely to be printed by the Camden Society, may I ask who or what he was, and what were his peculiar facilities for obtaining so much informa- tion upon passing events? if he is the same person with the collector of ballads, broadside?, &c. ? I presume mention of him will be found in some of the woi'ks which touch upon our literary history; any references to these will greatly oblige me. S. L.

Major Andre. Through a former Query, re- specting this gentleman, 1 have derived consider- able assistance, though by no means to the extent that I had hoped for. Being well aware that, " out of sight is out of mind," I take the liberty of repeating my Query. Is there no one who can furnish me with information of his English history ; when and where he was born ; what was his pedi- gree, &c. ? Mr. Andre was a diligent letter- writer:, are there any letters in existence from him to his family and friends ? and, if so, can copies of such letters be procured ? Are there any records left of his commercial career? It would be strange, if America should alone be in a capacity to furnish any testimony to the talents of this accomplished man. He certainly corre- sponded with his family, as well as with Miss Seward and other friends. It is hoped, that at this late day no impropriety will be perceived in an inquiry as to the ultimate fate of these letters.

SEBVIKNS.

Patrick Ker and the Grand Politician. The Grand Politician, or the Secret Art of State Policy discovered, was translated from the Latin of " Con- radus Reinking, Chancellour to his Electoral Highness the Duke of Brandenburgh," and pub- lished at London, 1691, small 8vo. It is dedi- cated to the Earl of Nottingham, by the trans- lator, Patrick Ker. Can any of your numerous readers give information relative to this Patrick Ker? The name would induce a belief thsst he was a Scotchman. No notice of the work, which is a very curious one, occurs in Lownden. Nor does the name of Ker occur in Charters's List of Scotish Write?:?, printed by Mr. Maidment, from the original MS. in the library of the Faculty of Advocates, some years since. But- Charters is far from complete, although his authority, as far as it goes, can always be relied on. J. M. (2.)

Brewer and Waple Arms. I should be glad to know the arms of Samuel Brewer, of the Inner