Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 2.djvu/188

 180

NOTES AND QUERIES.

s. n. AU. 27, '98.

been brought against it, and lie compares Anthony Wingfield's defence with Sir Walter Raleigh's assertion concerning the Armada, that " in all their sailing round about England " they did not " so much as sink or take one ship, bark, pinnace, or cock-boat of ours, or even burn so much as one sheepcote on the land." Still, brave as our countrymen showed themselves when they fought on sea and on land, the results compared but poorly with those obtained in previous ven- tures. Turning to other subjects, we find a mention of the honoured name of Francis Beaumont. It is not that of the dramatist, however, but of his father the judge. From a curious entry concerning one Mathewe le Brock, who is described as aged in years, and should, therefore, have known better than to commit adultery with Mary le Vesconte, we learn that the penalty in Guernsey for a male offender was whipping. Tortures are ordered to be inflicted in Bridewell upon a goldsmith (name not given) supposed to have some knowledge concern- ing the robbery of the Lord Willoughby's plate. In cases of the seizure of French ships, those trading with Huguenot ports, notably La Rochelle, are restored at the intercession of M. de Buzenval or Buernvall, Ambassador from the King of Navarre. One is surprised to hear of a charge of assault being

brought against Dethicke, Garter King of

Arms. One or two entries appear of sums to be paid the players for performances of interludes before the queen. The sums of 201. or 3(V. are to be given to the Lord Admiral's players, the Queen's players, and the Children of Paul's.

Literary Byivays. By William Andrews. (W.

Andrews. )

MR. ANDREWS is an indefatigable compiler or col- lector of antiquarian facts and literary oddities. He is indeed, as the title to his latest volume shows, a frequenter of byways. His present work is no less readable and entertaining than those which have gone before. It deals with matters such as authors at work, the profits of authors, English folk-rhymes, &c. , and it gives an account of more than half -for- gotten writers and quaint or curious individuals. To those who read for amusement the volume may be commended. It may be taken up or laid down at any moment, and the reader will be unlucky indeed if he comes on a dull chapter or page. At the same time we should be glad of a little more accuracy. P. G. Hamerton wrote no such work as ' Marmone.' A reply of Rich to Quin is misquoted, but this, in the interest of propriety, may be for- given. The Duke in ' Twelfth Night ' asks for excess of music, not "access." "Arm, fight, and conquer for fair England's sake" will not scan when, as in the present case, the word "fair" is omitted ; nor will " There are some shrewd contents in yon same paper " when for " yon same " " your " is substituted. We could point to a rather long array of similar omissions or lapses. No great harm is done, however, since ' Literary Byways ' will scarcely be consulted as a work or reference. Accuracy is none the less a point on which ' N. & Q.' is called to insist.

Bacon or Shakespeare? An Historical Enquiry.

By E. Marriott. (Stock.)

SOME care has been exercised in 'N. & Q.' to keep its columns free from the Bacon-Shakspeare craze. We venture, however, with some trepidation to recommend to those of our readers whom the

pother on the subject may have disturbed this well-written, erudite, and closely argued pamphlet the work, we believe, of an elderly lady in which the unreasonableness of the claim put forward on behalf of Bacon is clearly shown.

The Kingis Quair and the New Criticism. By Robert Sangster Rait. (Aberdeen, Brown Co.) THIS is a closely reasoned and well-written pam- phlet, opposing the view of Mr. J. T. T. Brown which would deprive King James I. of Scotland of the authorship of ' The Kingis Quair.' See 8 th S. x. 187. We must leave to experts the decision of the question, but will commend the study of Mr. Rait's brochure to those interested in the subject.

DR. T. N. BRUSHFIELD has reprinted from the Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society a strikingly readable and valuable paper on The Salmon Clause in the Indentures of Apprentices. It is interesting to learn that Dr. Brushfield regards the thing as a myth.

SIR WILLIAM AUGUSTUS FRASER, or, as he pre- ferred to style himself, Sir William Fraser of Lede- clune, Bart., whose death at the age of seventy- three has been announced, was a constant, if occasional, contributor to ' N. & Q.' He was a familiar figure in London society, and wrote several works on social or antiquarian subjects.

WE are sorry to announce the death of the Rev. E. C. Leaton Blenkinsopp, M.A., a contributor during many years to our columns. His name appears early in the Fourth Series, and is retained until the last volume of the Eighth.

10

We must call special attention to the following notices :

ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for pub- lication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately.

To secure insertion of communications corre- spondents must observe the following rule. Let each note, query, or reply be written on a separate slip of paper, with the signature of the writer and such address as he wishes to appear. Correspond- ents who repeat queries are requested to head the second communication " Duplicate."

INFERNAL (" Greatest Heat recorded in Eng- land"). We have no meteorological record from which we could give the information you seek.

NOTICE.

Editorial Communications should be addressed to "The Editor of 'Notes and Queries'" Advertise- ments and Business Letters to "The Publisher" at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C.

We beg leave to state that we decline to return communications which, for any reason, we do not print ; and to this rule we can make no exception.

TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION BY POST For this Year, Ft f ty-three Numbers.

For Twelve Months, 1

For Six Months 10

s. d. 11