Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 5.djvu/337

. V.APRIL 28, ism] NOTES AND QUERIES.

329

LONDON, SATURDAY, APEfL 28, 1900.

CONTENTS. No. 122.

NOTES : Shakespeare's Books Shakespeariana, 329 Modern Zodiacs, 331 " Luggage Train " Epitaph Theatrical Deadheads "Soldiers' "Bacca" " Centorie Lands " " Hallam's Kiddle," 332 St. George's, Blooms- bury : Orientation Long and Young Family On veri- fying Quotations "Any" Wandering Jew, 333 Shake- speare's Portraits Hot Cross Buns, 334.

QUERIES :" Intimidated thrones" Des Cartes's 'De- monology ' St. Christopher Infectious Disease among Cattle Valentines Mrs. Billington as St. Cecilia Moutlowe Cholmley Costume, 335 Melek Tftus Shilston of Devon Devil walking through Athlone "Les Graces "Familiar French Quotations Duchess of Gordon Stevenson Delagoa and Algoa Fur Dyeing Sir R. and Sir W. Stuart" Butt " of a Cheque" Sweep- stakes," 336 Declaratory Act " Esto perpetua " Whately and J. B. Peres Bread and Cheese Club Thebal-Earl's Palace, Kirkwall, 337.

REPLIES : Unclaimed Poem by Ben Jonson, 337 Ame- rican Worthies, 340 Ancient Dogs Egyptian Chessmen Emery Capt. S. Gpodere, 341 Wisdom Family "Out of print" Edge's Discoveries "Barnyard" for "Farm- yard" Pigeon Cure, 343 Mark on the Spine Terms in Ancient Leases Old and New Style of Chronology Price paid for China, 344 Gothic " Spaurds "Oldest Trading Corporation Cockayne Family Mounted Infantry in Early Times Pythagoras and Christianity " Seriff," 345 Assassin of William the Silent Dominican Order " Argh " Thames Tunnel " Hopping the wag," 346.

NOTES ON BOOKS : Hoby's ' Book of the Courtier ' Farrer's ' Chartulary of Cockersand Abbey ' ' Lancashire and Cheshire Wills ''Minutes of the Bury Presbyterian Classis,' &c.

Notices to Correspondents.

SHAKESPEARE'S BOOKS.

SHAKESPEARE was familiar with books the commentators have not yet quoted. This I knew before I called attention to the use he has made of Puttenham's ' Arte of Poesie ' and the ' Euphues ' of Lyly. I think he displays throughout his works greater knowledge of English literature than is to be found in all the comedies and tragedies of the dramatists of his time. Halliwell says:

"The inventory of the poet's goods that was taken after his decease has not been discovered. If it ever comes to light it can hardly fail to be of surpassing interest, especially if it contains a list of the books preserved at New Place. These must have been very limited in number, for there is no allusion to such luxuries in the will. Anything like a private library, even of the smallest dimen- sions, was then of the rarest occurrence, and that Shakespeare ever owned one at any time of his life is exceedingly improbable."

The facts of the case do not support Halli- well's assumption. In the first place, if Shakespeare had many books at the time of his death, they would have passed, without being mentioned, under the following clause to his residuary legatees :

" All the rest of my goodes, chattels, leases, plate, jewels, and household stuffe whatsoever, after my dettes and legaices paied, and my funerall expenses

discharged, I gyve, devise and bequeath to my sonne in lawe, John Hall, gent., and my daughter Susanna, his wief, whom I ordaine and make executours of this my last will and testament."

In the second place, although the inventory has not been found, and private libraries in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I. may have been of the smallest dimensions and of the most rare occurrence, and although it cannot be proved that Shakespeare ever owned a library, yet there is ample evidence throughout his works that he had great knowledge of English literature, therefore it may be considered reasonable to conclude that he owned at the time of his death, or some time during his life, many of the books he knew so well.

The old book to which I now call atten- tion has been in my library many years. Unfortunately it is not complete. Some pages have been lost and the title-page is missing, therefore I cannot, at present, give the old author's name, but I hope to be able to supply the deficiency by inquiry at the Library of the British Museum :

Menecrates. We, ignorant of ourselves,

Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers Deny us for our good; so find we profit By losing of our prayers.

4 Antony and Cleopatra,' II. i.

" God the searcher of all secrets, who knoweth all things before they be done, to whom things past and to come are open and manifest, as well as things present, by wnom all things are made and estab- lished in equity and judgement and are perfectly guided and governed, whose devine and incompre- ensible wisdome extendeth it selfe from the begin- ning to the ending, gratiously disposing and ordering everything in particular : God, 1 say, that auncient of daies and of all eternity, doth sometimes make frustrate and disappoint the wishes and desires of mortal men, and doth not suffer them alwaies to enjoy them, according to their own willes and con- tentment. For though in the eie of man they may seemegood and profitable, yet in the sight and secret knowledge of his devine Maiesty, he knoweth them to be otherwise : and there be many things which unto us appeare to be profitable and benencall, but his wisdome foreseeth that they will greatly pre- judice us."

In these passages Shakespeare and the old author express the same sentiment and use the same words. W. L. KUSHTON.

(To be continued.)

SHAKESPEARIANA.

'THE WINTER'S TALE,' IV. iv. 150 (the references are to the Globe edition).

Perdita. With wisdom I might fear, my Doricles, You wpo'd me the false way.

Florizel. I think you have

As little skill to fear as I have purpose To put you to 't.